Sunday 25 November 2012


Apr 14, '10 6:09 AM
for everyone
Learn How to Protect Your Computer 

At some point you are going to need your computer repaired. Hardware and software issues will always happen at some point.

I’m sure you already new this but almost half of all computer repairs are actually the end users fault. That’s right it’s your fault. Close to half if not more of all computer repair jobs have to do with removing spyware or viruses from computers. If the person had protection in the first place they would not have to pay a few hundred bucks to get it repaired.

I already have Anti-Virus so I’m good

This is 100% false. In fact many people out there think that just because they have anti-virus software installed they are protected. End users need at least three things to be protected while on-line. If you are missing just one of them your system is at risk. Those three must haves are a good firewall a good anti-virus client and a lastly spyware protection. If you don’t have all three then at some point and time you will be infected with something.

The sad truth is most people out there want to save a buck. They go out and download a free anti-virus client and call it quits. I’m not knocking free software but there is not one free anti-virus client that can match the protection of most paid software. Yes they do work but for many you do not get live protection, it’s only after you are infected that the software kicks in and removes the threat. By that time it may be too late. Another misconception is not having to re-purchase your software. Every year you have to pay to re-new your client software. If not then you are leaving yourself open to all the latest threats.

For the most part people do have an anti-virus client installed and by default in XP and Vista you have a firewall. While the Vista firewall is decent the XP one is really lacking and you should not really on it. The one thing most people skip out on is spyware protection. Spyware is more prevalent on the net nowadays then viruses are. The reason is simple. Spyware is where these crocks can make a ton more money. Rather then just crashing your system, why not have a thousand pop-ups and push fake anti-virus software onto people? That’s why spyware has taken over as the leading threat online.

What can I do about It.?

This one is simple. Go out and pay the 3o bucks for an anti-spyware program. If you need virus protection and a firewall then add anther 20 bucks onto that and you’re good to go. It’s a very wise investment and the next time your co-worker complains about being infected you will be glad you did.

About Author

This article was written by Spyware Removal Hell. Our goal is to rid the world of Spyware and inform people about the dangers before they fall victim. Please take a second to read a bit more about us on our Spyware Removal site or visit our Spyware Removal Software page.

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-brainbox-4969.html
http://www.1888articles.com/learn-how-to-protect-your-computer-01mm52jl06.html
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Apr 14, '10 5:59 AM
for everyone
Essential Health Tips

"He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything." -Arabian Proverb

1. Move More
Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it. Meanwhile, move more. Thought for the day: Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do it!

2. Cut Fat
Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then be one!

3. Quit Sm0king
The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that sm0king was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of t0bacco products that kill. Just recently, we've seen a surge in sm0king in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late s0oke cig@rettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood sm0kers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cig@rette…. the next one.

4. Reduce Stress
Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible. Thought for the day: When seeing red, think pink clouds….then float on them.

5. Protect Yourself from Pollution
If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good pollution and dirt from the street deterrent. Thought for the day: 'Smoke gets in your eyes'…and your mouth, and your nose and your lungs as do pollutants….hum the tune daily.

6. Wear Your Seat Belt
Statistics show that seat belts add to longevity and help alleviate potential injuries in car crashes. Thought for the day: Buckle down and buckle up.

7. Floss Your Teeth
Recent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it's because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don't? Thought for the day: Floss and be your body's boss.

8. Avoid Excessive Drinking
While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer. Thought for the day: A jug of wine should last a long time.

9. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook
There's a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life. Thought for the day: You can't be unhappy when you're smiling or singing.

10. Choose Your Parents Well
The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. But just because one or both of your parents died young in ill health doesn't mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you. Thought for the day: Follow these basic tips for healthy living and you can better control your own destiny.
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Apr 14, '10 5:54 AM
for everyone
Herbal Beauty Recipe of Facial Mask

Facial masks are beneficial for removing dead skin, unclogging pores and helping prevent premature lines and wrinkles. Applying a facial mask once a week can dramatically improve your skin’s overall health.
If you’re interested in making your own facial mask with ingredients you can find in your refrigerator, check out the two facial mask recipes below. These masks will your skin feeling soft and smooth and looking great!

Cucumber Avocado Facial Mask

½ cup chopped cucumber

½ cup chopped avocado

1 egg white

2 tsp. powdered milk

In a blender combine all of the ingredients until they form a smooth, paste-like consistency. You can apply the mask immediately or refrigerate it for 30 minutes.
Apply 2 tablespoons of the cucumber avocado mask to your face and neck in circular upward motions. Leave the mask on for 30 minutes, or until dry. To remove the mask simply rinse your face and neck with warm water, followed by a cold water rinse. Finally, pat dry your face and neck.
(contents : not verified)

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Apr 14, '10 5:51 AM
for everyone
Shutdown XP Faster

Like previous versions of windows, it takes long time to restart or shutdown windows XP when the "Exit Windows" sound is enabled. To solve this problem you must disable this useless sound.
Click Start button.
Go to settings > Control Panel > Sound, Speech and Audio devices > Sounds and Audio Devices > Sounds.
Then under program events and windows menu click on "Exit Windows" sub-menu and highlight it. Now from sounds you can select, choose "none" and then click Apply and OK.
Now you should see some improvements when shutting down your system.
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Apr 14, '10 5:44 AM
for everyone
                                            [][]




   []1. The nice men are ugly. 
  2. The handsome men are not nice.
  3. The handsome and nice men are gay.
  4. The handsome, nice, and heterosexual men are married.
  5. The men who are not so handsome, but are nice men, have no money.
  6. The men who are not so handsome, but are nice men with money think
 wom e n are only after their money.
  7. The handsome men without money are after women’s money.
  8. The handsome men, who are not so nice and somewhat heterosexual,
 don't think wom e n are beautiful enough.
  9. The men who think wom e n are beautiful, that are heterosexual, somewhat
 nice and have no money, are cowards.
  10. The men who are somewhat handsome, somewhat nice and have money
   and thank God are straight, are shy and NEVER MAKE THE FIRST
   MOVE!!!   11. The men who never make the first move, automatically lose interest
  in women when th e y take the initiative. 



[]





                                    
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Apr 14, '10 4:12 AM
for everyone
At first it was Brad and Angelina

People called them Brangelina!

Next, it was Saif and Kareena  

People called them Saifeena!

Now, its Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik ...

What should they be called?

as they are going to reside in Dubai 
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Salik, meaning open or clear, is Dubai’s new electronic toll collection system was launched in July 2007, which emphasizes the system’s congestion management objectives as well as the choice of technology for the toll system.

Salik utilizes the latest technology to achieve free flow operation with no toll booths, no toll collectors, and no impact to traffic flow, allowing vehicles to move freely through the tolling point at highway speeds. Each time you pass through a Salik tolling point, the toll of AED 4 will be deducted from your prepaid toll account using advanced Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.






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Apr 13, '10 12:31 PM
for everyone
Written by Ali Jawad   
Tuesday, 22 December 2009 13:45
Whenever mention is made of Muslim ibn Aqeel (a), one is immediately reminded of loyalty, courage and sacrifice. Integrity, valour and steadfastness still shine upon the pages of time with pride at the achievements of this great personality. Indeed, he stands as an eternal symbol of fortitude, faith and virtue for millions across the world.

Meanwhile, when mention is made of Kufan society one thinks of treachery, deceit and cowardice. Worldly covetousness, wavering belief and compromise in the face of oppression are seen as hallmarks of a community which through word and deed betrayed their Imam, and ultimately their own souls.

From this simple preface, one can begin to appreciate the true extent of the alienation and solitude experienced by Muslim in his final hours. It was not merely physical solitude as he wandered through the alleys of Kufa in search of an aid or a helper, but rather, his alienation was a restatement of the fundamental divergence in two contradictory understandings of life and living that existed within the Ummah.

Due to their separation from the values of the Islamic message, Kufan society -- by way of their treatment of Muslim ibn Aqeel -- gave testament to the famous prophecy of the Holy Prophet (s):

“Islam will again be a stranger among men, as it was in the beginning, but blessed is the state of the stranger.”

---------------

After sending thousands of letters to Imam Husain (a), the heads of tribes and noble men of Kufa -- each of whom represented thousands -- sent a message urging the Imam to make haste in coming to Kufa. One of their final communications read:

“Come to us and make haste in it as people are waiting for you and they do not want anyone else. So please hurry up. Hurry up!”

A critical decision had to be made. For decades, the Imam had intimately followed the affairs of Kufan society. At first during the caliphate of Imam Ali (a) who set the headquarters of the Islamic state in Kufa, and later during the brief rule of his elder brother Imam Hasan (a). In both instances, the ending was tragic as the Kufans turned on their backs, and made empty words of their pledges of allegiance.

On the other hand, tensions were high even in the safety of the holy sanctuary in Makkah. Times had changed. Yazid had responded with a firm hand to news of the Imam’s safe departure from Medina to Makkah by instating a repressive, brutal governor. On his way to Makkah, the Imam encountered Abdallah bin Muti’ who pleaded with the Imam:

“be wary of proceeding to Kufa for it is an unlucky city where your father was killed and your brother abandoned and struck by a blow that almost killed him”

The Kufans however had declared their rejection of Yazid’s claim to the caliphate. Some one hundred thousand individuals had signed letters urging the Imam to come to Kufah to lead the community on the path of the Messenger of Allah (s) from which they had diverted. As noted by Shaheed Mutahhari, the Imam had no choice but to accede to the calls of the Kufans due to:

“his sense of responsibility [that] made it incumbent on him to respond to their call … [for] had he chosen to ignore the plea of the Kufans, we would have stood today criticising him for "not doing so"”

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With the weight of history bearing down on the mission of the Imam to reform the community of his grandfather (s), the Imam had to resort to a capable individual for the sensitive task of surveying the affairs of Kufa. An individual who could command the respect of the masses was the need of the moment. Further, the task required an individual with clarity of vision; one who could penetrate the mere surface in order to uncover where the loyalties of the Kufans truly stood -- simply, one who was able to accurately study and evaluate the political situation in Kufa. But perhaps even more importantly, the task required an individual with the character and strength to remain firm in the face of adversity; one who would continue to act with principle and integrity should the expected treachery of the Kufans come to pass.

This was the foremost concern of the Imam. For at stake here was nothing less than the very objective behind the Imam’s uprising against Yazid. A representative to Kufa who lost his bearings in the heat of the moment was tantamount to failure of the entire mission.

For this critical task, the Imam turned to his trusted cousin Muslim ibn Aqeel. Along with instructions for the people of Kufa, the Imam reminded his cousin of piety, God-consciousness and the need to adopt the path of caution and discreetness before bidding him farewell.

Muslim ibn Aqeel surged forward towards Kufa with full knowledge of the importance of the task that stood before him in this mission to reform the Ummah of Muhammad (s); to awaken it from its drunken state by returning it once again to the standard of truth and justice. Destiny followed his every step towards Kufa where one of the most luminous chapters of loyalty and sacrifice was to be written by a man driven by duty towards the Almighty.

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Upon his arrival in Kufa after an arduous journey, Muslim took residence at the home of Mukhtar whose wife was the daughter of the governor of Kufa. A calculated move that provides further testament of the detailed awareness that the Imam’s camp had of the socio-political circumstances of the time.

From that point onwards, Muslim began to receive the Kufans who had previously sent messenger after messenger to the Imam with, in effect, one message: ‘Come to us O our Imam, the Kufans have no leader except you. We wholly pledge our allegiance to stand by your side and turn away from the rule of tyrants and oppressors’.

Thousands streamed to Muslim during his stay in Kufa to renew their pledges of allegiance with tear-filled eyes as the message of the Imam was read out to them. Kufa had become full of incident, and with every passing day the pace of developments was leading towards a climax.

At this point, the elites of Kufa who had benefitted immensely from the reign and injustice of the Umayyads became anxious of the widespread following enjoyed by Muslim. In a last gasp attempt to keep firm the pegs of a system of exploitation that had allowed them to multiply their wealth and power at the expense of the masses, the home-grown Yazids of Kufa sent out a letter to their caliph in Damascus underlining the weakness of the presiding governor in the face of an existential threat, and urged him to immediately send in his place a man who would rule with an iron fist.

On the order of Yazid, Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad -- a man renowned for his ruthlessness and blood-shedding -- was dispatched to Kufa with immediate effect from the nearby Iraqi city of Basra. The orders were clear: ‘get a grip of the situation in Kufa with whatever force it takes, and send me the head of Muslim ibn Aqeel’.

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This was the moment of trial, in earnest, for the Kufans who had pledged allegiance to the Imam. Would they hold firm to their oaths, and refuse to submit to the sword at the expense of their consciences? Or would they pay the ultimate compromise, and succumb to a life of humiliation under rulers who silenced the spirit of Islam with their swords and lashes?

As we all now know, the Kufans failed miserably in their test. By forsaking the emissary of the Imam, they forever branded their souls with haunting shame and regret. However, it is important to pay close attention to the conduct of Muslim ibn Aqeel when all those around him turned on their heels. For this was the crucial litmus test of success and failure in his mission.

It is important to scrutinize the conduct of Kufan society on the one hand, and to identify the causes that led to their historic crime; from worldly covetousness and treachery to their shaky commitment to truth and justice. Yet on the other, it is equally necessary to monitor the conduct of Muslim ibn Aqeel in his moment of trial. Indeed, for those who aspire to join the ranks of the Final Proof, Imam Al-Mahdi (atf), one must learn from the mannerisms of Muslim ibn Aqeel and the sources of strength that he turned to for succour when he was surrounded by social conditions that betrayed the message of Islam.

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During Muslim ibn Aqeel’s stay in Kufa, an interesting episode occurred at the home of his close associate Hani ibn Urwah. Having received Yazid’s orders to head to Kufa with haste, Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad left Basra with a small entourage which included Shareek ibn A’war; a man with strong inclinations towards the Imam who acted as a secret channel of information to disclose the Umayyad’s vile plots.

Whilst in Kufa, Shareek had become bed-stricken with illness at Hani’s home where Muslim ibn Aqeel was also residing. In one of those strange moments of fate, the Umayyad governor Ubaydullah decided to visit Shareek. Upon receiving knowledge of the governor’s intent to visit him, Shareek urged Muslim to seize the opportunity, and thus pave the way for the Imam’s arrival in Kufa:

“Tonight the wicked man will be coming to meet me, and when he sits down you may come from behind and kill him. Then you may go to the palace and take the reins into your hands while no one will stop you from doing so.”

It was at this moment that Muslim displayed his integrity and principle. Through his actions, the trusted representative of the Imam established the true basis for the uprising against Yazid. Had he been a follower of blind worldly pragmatism, Muslim could easily have found pretext to lunge at the oppressor; after all did any doubt the ruthlessness of Ibn Ziyad?!

However, what would have been the net result had he adopted that course of action? The Imam never sought to win the hearts of the Ummah through the use of force and bloodshed, but he rather rose to awaken them to the reality of their sorry state. Martial valour and military victory were not a solution to the deep problems afflicting the Ummah. By slaying Ubaydullah, nothing would have changed amongst the masses except for their slogans.

Muslim emphatically replied to Shareek that he could not proceed with his suggestion for he had heard the saying of the Holy Prophet (s): ‘The faith [Islam] has handcuffed assassination, a believer does not assassinate’.

Through his actions, Muslim emphasised that the uprising of the Imam was neither for power nor out of worldly longing. The lofty motive of the Imam was one that reverberated in the hearts of his followers such that Muslim ibn Aqeel would, in that determinative instance, choose to let free Ubaydullah rather than unsheathe his sword and thereby compromise the objective of the Imam’s mission.

“I have taken this stand not out of arrogance or pride, neither out of mischief or injustice. I have risen to seek reform in the community of my grandfather. I would like to bid good, forbid evil, and follow the tradition of my grandfather and my father Ali bin Abi Talib.”– Imam Husain (a)

In the world of today marked by greed and blind pursuit of self-interest, the integrity of Muslim ibn Aqeel represents a clarion call to all of humanity to hold firm to principle and virtue. There is no price that can be paid in return for righteousness and truth.

Likewise, for those modern-day agitators who label the religion of Islam with vile names, and to those who commit crimes in the name of Islam -- through the use of a ‘ends justify means’ mentality or otherwise -- the conduct of Muslim in Kufa raises itself as a supreme paradigm of the mujahid in the Islamic tradition.

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The shroud of night falls over Kufa where Muslim now wanders through its alleys in silence and solitude. His leading supporters in Kufa are either dead or in the dungeons of Ibn Ziyad. In fright of Ibn Ziyad’s henchmen, those who previously swore their oaths of allegiance have dispersed and forsaken the emissary of the Imam. In this strange town, there is none to hear Muslim’s deepest pains; the dream of establishing the just state of Ali (a) has been destroyed by the treachery of Kufan society.

Uttering the name of Ali in praise is now a crime, supporting his son is a crime, offering sanctuary to his lonely representative is also a crime …

These are the debased laws of the land; all in the name of Islam! Exhausted by troubles, heartbroken by the deceit of so-called followers and apprehensive of the safety of his Imam. This is the condition of Muslim ibn Aqeel.

A virtuous woman by the name of Taw’ah offered Muslim her home the very moment she heard this lonely, broken figure was the emissary of the grandson of the Holy Prophet (s). Grateful for the sanctuary, and perhaps even more for witnessing the strong love for the AhlulBayt (a) in the heart of this brave lady, Muslim took shelter in her home -- for what proved to be the last night of his life.

Muslim ibn Aqeel spent his final night engrossed in worship. In his whispered prayers, Muslim placed his affairs solely in the Supporter of those who have no support; the Refuge of those who have no refuge; the Friend of those who have no friend.

As was the lofty trait of this noble household, the axis of existence revolved around obedience to the Almighty and seeking His closeness. None other than Him was the source of support and strength, no matter what distresses and calamities befell them.

“Peace be on you, O the pious, obedient servant of Allah, His Messenger, Ameerul Mu’mineen, Hasan and Husain, blessings and greetings of Allah be on them.”

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As we commemorate the tragedy of Karbala, we extend our condolences to the Master of our Time (atf) on the martyrdom of Muslim ibn Aqeel.

We also make a firm commitment to work on ourselves, our religiosity, our characters, our etiquettes; on our families and those around us, in order to build the complete believer. A believer who is true to his cause; who will remain in action; who does not hand over Muslim ibn Aqeel to Ibn Ziyad, nor does he leave Imam Husain for Ibn Sa’ad.

It is a frequent saying amongst many Muslims when they remember the martyrs of Karbala to repeat: “If only we were with you, for surely we would have been victorious.” Today we are presented with a similar challenge. We have an Imam in occultation waiting for us to reach out towards him. He is patiently waiting for that time to come where a small group of individuals will truly be of his followers; who will remain by his side in the face of the harshest storms and trials.

Just as it was once the opportunity of Kufan society to make a choice, it is now our moment of decision.


Ali Jawad is a political activist and member of the AhlulBayt Islamic Mission (AIM)
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Apr 13, '10 11:49 AM
for everyone


No Imam began his Imamat in a more tragic atmosphere. The first day of his Imamat saw him seriously ill and a captive of the army of Yazid in Karbala. His father and predecessor had sacrificed all he had on the altar of truth; and Imam Zayn al-'Abidin found himself with a group of helpless widows and orphans being led from place to place, from the durbar of Ibn Ziyad to the court of Yazid. Finally they were thrown into a prison, where the Imam spent the first year of his Imamat, cut off from the followers of his father and unable to look after their affairs.

Understandably, the tragedy of Karbala had created a chaos in the Shi'a world. Shi'as were in the throes of a dark pessimism, and the community was in disarray. A movement had already begun to accept Muhammad al Hanafiyah, son of Amir-ul-Mu'minin 'Ali as the 4th Imam. Muhammad al Hanafiyah himself had no such design. But the problem was: how to stop that movement without putting the life of Imam Zayn al-'Abidin in danger?

Yazid had not hesitated to murder Imam Husayn in spite of the highest prestige the Imam had in the Muslims' eyes. It would have been far more easier for him to kill Imam Zayn al-'Abidin a young man of 23 years of age, whose divine virtues were yet to shine before the Muslim community. And it was not in the interest of Islam that Imam Zayn al-'Abidin be martyred so soon after Imam Husayn.

Altogether, Imam Zayn al-'Abidin had three difficult tasks before him:

1. To announce his Imamat publicly without seeming to oppose outsiders.
2. To weld the community together, making a "tasbih" (rosary) out of the scattered beads - doing it in such a way as not to give Yazid and Yazidites an excuse to retaliate.
3. To expand true faith, providing a beacon of light to guide the seekers of truth to the safety of true faith and virtuous deeds - doing it without attracting untoward attention of his enemies.

Any of these Himalayan tasks would have defeated a lesser being. But Imam Zayn al-'Abidin under divine guidance did achieve all these aims in such a beautiful and unobtrusive way that even his followers, who tremendously benefited, and are benefiting, from his superb leadership did not consciously realise how they were being guided.

Announcement of his Imamat

This took the form of a family dispute:

Muhammad al-Hanafiyah claimed that he was the Imam after his brother, Imam Husayn (as Imam Husayn, had become Imam after the eldest brother, Imam Hasan). Imam Zayn al-'Abidin said that his uncle's claim was wrong; that he (i.e. Imam Zayn al-'Abidin) was Imam after his father, by divine appointment. This family "feud" apparently could not be resolved; and ultimately Imam Zayn al-'Abidin suggested that the "Black Stone" (al-Hajarul-aswad) of Ka'bah be approached for its judgement. Muhammad al Hanafiyah readily agreed and both parties went to Mecca during Hajj season, when thousands of pilgrims had assembled for the pilgrimage.

The stranger than fiction news must have spread like wild fire that 'Ali bin al-Husayn and Muhammad al-Hanafiyah wanted the Black Stone to judge between them. Everyone must have wondered how could a stone judge between two persons. They must have eagerly waited to see the outcome when the two parties would approach the Stone. What would they say when the Stone, being a stone, would not respond to their arguments!

This must have been the feeling of the crowd when the uncle and the nephew slowly advanced towards the Black Stone. First Muharnmad al-Hanafiyah talked to the Stone; there was no response. Imam Zayn al-'Abidin said: "Had you, O Uncle, been the Wasi and Imam, it would certainly have answered you."

Muhammad al-Hanafiyah said "Now, O Nephew, you pray and ask it." Imam Zayn al-'Abidin prayed to Allah and then asked the Black Stone to declare in clear Arabic as to who was the Wasi and Imam after al-Husayn bin 'Ali.

There was a tremor in the Stone and then Allah made it speak in clear Arabic: "O Allah, verily Wisayah and Imamah, after al-Husayn bin 'Ali is for Zayn al-'Abidin 'Ali bin al-Husayn, son of 'Ali bin Abi Talib and Fatimah bint Rasulillah." Muhammad al-Hanafiyah accepted the verdict and declared his allegiance for Imam Zayn al-'Abidin. (al-Ihtijaj of al-Tabrasi, al-Kafi of al-Kulaini, Basa'-erud-Darajat, A'lumul-wara, Manaqib of Ibn Shahr 'Ashob, Biharul-Anwar, Vol. XI, of Majlisi).

This "dispute" was the beginning of the end of the Kaisaniyah movement, which wanted to accept Muhammad al-Hanafiyah as Imam. The schism in the Shia rank was arrested; and as it was only a "family feud", Yazid could not object to it in any way.

But the miraculous nature of the episode and the timing served its purpose. The pilgrims on returning to heir homes must have felt compelled to narrate this strange story; and thus the Shi'as throughout the Muslim world came to know, without any formal proclamation, that Imam Zayn al-'Abidin was their divinely-appointed Leader and Guide.

Uniting the Shia Community

This is an even more fascinating aspect of his Imamat.

How was he to unite all the Shi'as in an, ever-lasting bond? What was the factor which could join them permanently?

Philosophical exhortations? But they have effect on only small group of intellectuals; man-in-the-street is not influenced by them. Moreover, it cannot influence the "feelings"; and "unity" is a feeling of oneness. Some joyous aspects of religion? Joy and happiness is a "feeling", no doubt. But it does not necessarily "unite" the people. Many is the time when a man celebrates a joyous function and his brother refuses to join him, because of some minor misunderstandings. But let there be a tragedy in that house, and the same brother would rush therein to share that sorrow.

This tendency of human nature brings us to the third alternative Sorrow.

Sorrow and grief succeeds in binding the mourners together, while intellectual arguments and joyous functions fail to achieve that object. Have not you seen how at the time of a national tragedy all political differences are genuinely forgotten and how the whole nation unites together to share the sorrow and shoulder the resulting responsibilities? Imam Zayn al-'Abidin under divine command selected this method to unite the community.

And again it was adopted apparently just as a personal way of life, without its being aimed against anyone.

Majlisi (in Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. XI) has written a chapter, "His mourning and Weeping on the Martyrdom of his Father, May Grace of Allah be on Both", in which he, inter alia, writes:

"And it is said that he (i.e. Imam Zayn al-'Abidin) continued to weep till his eyes were endangered. And whenever he took water to drink, he wept till the tears filled the pot. Someone talked to him about it and he replied: "Why should not I cry, when my father was denied the water which was free to the beasts and animals?

"And never was food brought to him but that he wept, so much so that a servant told him: "May I be your ransom, O Son of the Messenger of Allah! I am afraid that you would die (of this weeping)". The Imam said: 'I only complain of my distraction and anguish to Allah and I do not know. Never do I remember the massacre of the children of Fatimah but that tears strangle me.'"

Naturally, this example set by their Imam was followed by the Shias every where; and they joined hands to establish mourning of Imam Husayn whenever possible. This created a feeling of oneness and unity in all persons attending those mourning-sessions.

And how could Yazid or Yazidites tell Imam Zayn al-'Abidin not to remember his father?

This institution of mourning became the focal-point of all religious activities of the Shia community and the life-line of their faith. In later periods, the enemies of the faith realised the vital role which the "mourning" plays in religious education and character-building of the Shias, and they tried to stop it by the force of their "Fatwa". Now they have changed their tactics. Now they ask: Why should one mourn for an event which occurred more than 1300 years ago? They ask it while they are fully aware that these mourning sessions (Majalis) are the best-organised, well-attended religious schools, where the participants willingly learn the basic tenets of faith, are exhorted to emulate the way of life of Ahl i-Bayt; and thus their Islamic outlook on the life and the world is fortified.

This seat of learning was given to the Shi'a community by Imam Zayn al-'Abidin so unobtrusively that even the community did not realise its importance and significance in the beginning.

Teaching True Islam

The previous two tasks were stepping-stones to reach this most important of his responsibilities. We have seen how the Imam announced his Imamat by means of a "family feud", and how he gave his followers a platform of unity in the form of his mourning for his father. In neither instance he addressed any outsider; still the message got through. Likewise, in meeting this third and most important of his tasks, he did not address any human being. He selected the form of Du'a (invocation) for this purpose. He recorded his Du'as in a book form and asked his two sons to make copies of the book. This recording itself is an, indication that these invocations were not just a prayer, but also a means of guidance for the Muslims.

How could anyone tell him not to ask his wants from Allah? How could anyone come between Allah and His servant, when raising his hands he called his Lord in a heart-rending voice to come to his aid and to help him out of his difficulties. But those recorded duas are a treasure of Islamic knowledge. One finds in them almost all theological and ethical questions answered eloquently and eruditely. Reading them, the heart is filled with true belief and sincere love of Allah; and the light of virtue and nobleness illuminates the character.

It is not possible to give here even a short review of this sacred book, generally known as "As-Sahifatus-Sajjadiyah" and "As-Sahifatul-Kamilah"; and also called "Psalm of 'Ale Muhammad" and "Injil of Ahlul Bait."

When this book was shown to Egyptian scholars, they were thunderstruck and awed by its beauty. They were amazed and stunned by the purity of thought and perfection of character to which this book irresistibly leads its reader.

The renowned scholar, late Al-Tantawi wrote:

"I have studied this book with utmost care. I have gone through the Du'as (invocations) and Munajats (supplications) with a searching eye. I was stunned by the lofty meanings and deep sense contained therein. I was deeply impressed by the value and magnificence of these invocations. I wonder how the Muslims all along been ignorant of such valuable treasure. They have been in deep slumber all these centuries. They could not even feel that Allah had supplied them with such a precious store of knowledge.

"The invocations in this book have two distinct approaches: the one seeks for the knowledge and guidance to keep away from sins and evil things, while the other persuades and exhorts one to enable one's 'self' by performance of virtuous deeds. We may say that these Invocations, full of knowledge and guidance, are a wonderful treasure of secrets, and contain hints regarding self-reproachment, admission of shortcomings, with tears and self-purification, warding off vicissitudes and difficulties, safe-guarding oneself from the tyrannies of the enemy, recovery from various diseases and so on. All such Du'as are found mostly in the first part of the book, while the later part consists of the loftiness and grandeur of Allah, His creation and other wonders of His power and might.

"Is it not wonderful? Does not it show that these holy personages are unveiling many secrets of learning and unravellirig many mysteries of knowledge for Muslims, who happen to be completely ignorant of it. It is a fact that the affairs of human beings are divided into two parts: The one is to keep away from evil, the other to acquire good traits together with the knowledge of Divine existence, which is essential for self-purification and spiritual perfection."

Then he goes on expounding these points with help of many invocations. In another article, he compares an invocation of Imam Zayn al-'Abidin with the prayer of the Prophet Nuh (Noah). Just to give an example of the high religious and ethical standard taught by our Holy Imam, I am quoting here extracts from a Du'a, known as Makerim-ul-Akhlaq (Noble Character). This Du'a is enough to lead the reciter on the right path, making him a perfect Muslim and a virtuous believer.
O Lord, Thou art my shelter if I grow sad, and Thou art my resource if I am in need and unto Thee I cry for help, when deeply afflicted, and with Thee is recompense for what is lost, and reformation for what is corrupted, and alteration for what Thou disapprovest:

Therefore, favour me with security before calamity, and bounty before begging (for it) and right direction before error and spare me from bearing me peace on the day of resurrection and favour me with hand some guidance.

O Lord, bless Muhammad and his Al (family) and ward off (evil) from me with Thy grace, and nourish me with Thy blessing, and reform me with Thy graciousness and cure me with Thy goodness and hide me in the shelter of Thy mercy and clothe me with Thy approbation, and help me, when matters grow difficult about me, (to choose) the most righteous of them, and when actions become dubious, (to select) the purest of them, and when the creeds conflict, (to adopt) the most praiseworthy of them.

O Lord, bless Muhammad and his Al (family) and crown me with sufficiency and adorn me with the grace of Thy love and grant me true guidance and do not try me with prosperity and confer on me the beauty of comfort and do not make my life a succession of trials, and do not reject my prayer with repulsion; for, I do not recognise any as Thy rival, and I do not call upon any as Thy equal.

O Lord, bless Muhammad and his Al (family) and restrain me from extravagance and preserve my subsistence from waste and increase my possessions by giving blessing therein and let me walk along the path of benevolence; in whatever I spend my (wealth).

In this way Imam Zayn al-'Abidin spent his life providing guidance not only for the Muslims of his time, but also for the generations to come. When he left this world, he had more than accomplished all that he was entrusted with by Allah.

Written by Sayyid Saeed Akhtar Rizvi   
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Apr 13, '10 11:39 AM
for everyone

An extraordinary series of articles, reports and presentations by Israel's influential Reut Institute has identified the global movement for justice, equality and peace as an "existential threat" to Israel and called on the Israeli government to direct substantial resources to "attack" and possibly engage in criminal "sabotage" of this movement in what Reut believes are its various international "hubs" in London, Madrid, Toronto, the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

The Reut Institute's analyses hold that Israel's traditional strategic doctrine -- which views threats to the state's existence in primarily military terms, to be met with a military response -- is badly out of date. Rather, what Israel faces today is a combined threat from a "Resistance Network" and a "Delegitimization Network."

The Resistance Network is comprised of political and armed groups such as Hamas and Hizballah who "rel[y] on military means to sabotage every move directed at affecting separation between Israel and the Palestinians or securing a two-state solution" ("The Delegitimization Challenge: Creating a Political Firewall," Reut Institute, 14 February 2010).

Furthermore, the "Resistance Network" allegedly aims to cause Israel's political "implosion" -- a la South Africa, East Germany or the Soviet Union -- rather than bring about military defeat through direct confrontation on the battlefield.

The "Delegitimization Network" -- which Reut Institute president and former Israeli government advisor Gidi Grinstein provocatively claims is in an "unholy alliance" with the Resistance Network -- is made up of the broad, decentralized and informal movement of peace and justice, human rights, and BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) activists all over the world. Its manifestations include protests against Israeli officials visiting universities, Israeli Apartheid Week, faith-based and trade union-based activism, and "lawfare" -- the use of universal jurisdiction to bring legal accountability for alleged Israeli war criminals. The Reut Institute even cited my speech to the student conference on BDS held at Hampshire College last November as a guide to how the "delegitimization" strategy supposedly works ("Eroding Israel's Legitimacy in the International Arena," Reut Institute, 28 January 2010).

The combined "attack" from "resisters" and "delegitimizers," Reut says, "possesses strategic significance, and may develop into a comprehensive existential threat within a few years." It further warns that a "harbinger of such a threat would be the collapse of the two-state solution as an agreed framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the coalescence behind a 'one-state solution' as a new alternative framework."

At a basic level, Reut's analysis represents an advance over the most primitive and hitherto dominant layers of Israeli strategic thinking; it reflects an understanding, as I put it in my speech at Hampshire, that "Zionism simply cannot bomb, kidnap, assassinate, expel, demolish, settle and lie its way to legitimacy and acceptance."

But underlying the Reut Institute's analysis is a complete inability to disentangle cause and effect. It seems to assume that the dramatic erosion in Israel's international standing since its wars on Lebanon in 2006 and Gaza in 2009 is a result of the prowess of the "delegitimization network" to which it imputes wholly nefarious, devious and unwholesome goals -- effectively the "destruction of Israel."

It blames "delegitimizers" and "resisters" for frustrating the two-state solution but ignores Israel's relentless and ongoing settlement-building drive -- supported by virtually every state organ -- calculated and intended to make Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank impossible.

It never considers for a moment that the mounting criticism of Israel's actions might be justified, or that the growing ranks of people ready to commit their time and efforts to opposing Israel's actions are motivated by genuine outrage and a desire to see justice, equality and an end to bloodshed. In other words, Israel is delegitimizing itself.

Reut does not recommend to the Israeli cabinet -- which recently held a special session to hear a presentation of the think tank's findings -- that Israel should actually change its behavior toward Palestinians and Lebanese. It misses the point that apartheid South Africa also once faced a global "delegitimization network" but that this has now completely disappeared. South Africa, however, still exists. Once the cause motivating the movement disappeared -- the rank injustice of formal apartheid -- people packed up their signs and their BDS campaigns and went home.

Instead, Reut recommends to the Israeli government an aggressive and possibly criminal counter-offensive. A powerpoint presentation Grinstein made to the recent Herzliya Conference on Israeli national security actually calls on Israel's "intelligence agencies to focus" on the named and unnamed "hubs" of the "delegitimization network" and to engage in "attacking catalysts" of this network. In its "The Delegitimization Challenge: Creating a Political Firewall" document, Reut recommends that "Israel should sabotage network catalysts."

The use of the word "sabotage" is particularly striking and should draw the attention of governments, law enforcement agencies and university officials concerned about the safety and welfare of their students and citizens. The only definition of "sabotage" in United States law deems it to be an act of war on a par with treason, when carried out against the United States. In addition, in common usage, the American Heritage Dictionary defines sabotage as "Treacherous action to defeat or hinder a cause or an endeavor; deliberate subversion." It is difficult to think of a legitimate use of this term in a political or advocacy context.

At the very least, Reut seems to be calling for Israel's spy agencies to engage in covert activity to interfere with the exercise of legal free speech, association and advocacy rights in the United States, Canada and European Union countries, and possibly to cause harm to individuals and organizations. These warnings of Israel's possible intent -- especially in light of its long history of criminal activity on foreign soil -- should not be taken lightly.

The Reut Institute, based in Tel Aviv, raises a significant amount of tax-exempt funds in the United States through a nonprofit arm called American Friends of the Reut Institute (AFRI). According to its public filings, AFRI sent almost $2 million to the Reut Institute in 2006 and 2007.

In addition to a state-sponsored international "sabotage" campaign, Reut also recommends a "soft" policy. This specifically involves better hasbara or state propaganda to greenwash Israel as a high-tech haven for environmental technologies and high culture -- what it terms "Brand Israel."

Other elements include "maintain[ing] thousands of personal relationships with political, cultural, media and security-related elites and influentials" around the world, and "harnessing Jewish and Israeli diaspora communities" even more tightly to its cause. It even emphasizes that Israel should use "international aid" to boost its image (its perfunctory foray into earthquake-devastated Haiti was an example of this tactic).

What ties together all these strategies is that they are aimed at frustrating, delaying and distracting attention from the fundamental issue: that Israel -- despite its claims to be a liberal and democratic state -- is an ultranationalist ethnocracy that relies on the violent suppression of the most fundamental rights of millions of Palestinians, soon to be a demographic majority, to maintain the status quo. There is no "game changer" in Reut's new strategy.

Reut is apparently unaware even of the irony of trying to reform "Brand Israel" as something cuddly, while at the same time publicly recommending that Israel's notorious spies "sabotage" peace groups on foreign soil.

But there are two lessons we must heed: Reut's analysis vindicates the effectiveness of the BDS strategy, and as Israeli elites increasingly fear for the long-term prospects of the Zionist project they are likely to be more ruthless, unscrupulous and desperate than ever.

---
Ali Abunimah is co-founder of The Electronic Intifada and author of One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse.

Source: Electronic Intifada
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Apr 13, '10 11:34 AM
for everyone
The great speech of Lady Zaynab has been an extension of the uprising of Karbala and a good representation of its values and goals. Let us now refer to some goals that the speech achieved:

1) Lady Zaynab referred to the false elation of Yazid who thought of himself as victorious in that encounter. She uncovered the truth that his military superiority was transient and that Almighty Allah let the unbelievers enjoy bliss in this world so that their sons will increase and, thus, they will have a painful chastisement on the Day of Resurrection.

2) She reproached Yazid for taking the harem of the Prophet's Household as captives. While it was the Holy Prophet (s) who freed Yazid and his unbelieving family on the Conquest of Mecca while they were captives of the Islamic armies. Instead of thanking the Prophet (s) who saved him from slavery, Yazid rewarded his family very badly.

3) She referred to the hereditary, educational, and psychological motives beyond Yazid's slaying the Prophet's family. She referred, as an instance, to his grandmother, Hind, who chewed the liver of Hamzah out of her limitless malice against the Prophet and the Hashemites, She also referred to Yazid's grandfather Abu Sufyan who was the leading enemy of Islam and who led campaigns against the Prophet and his Divine Mission. Not forgetting Yazid's father, Lady Zaynab referred to Mu'awiyah who slew innocent Muslims and violated all what Allah has deemed respected.

4) She disapproved of Yazid's citing poetic verses in which he wished his forefathers whom were killed at the hands of Imam 'Ali, as well as Muslim warriors, during their conflicts against the holy Prophet to be witnessing him so that they would take revenge upon the Holy Prophet. She also asserted to Yazid courageously that he would certainly face the same fate of those cursed forefathers.

5) She shed light on an important point; the tyrant, by slaying Imam al-Husayn and his pure family members and companions, has in fact slain himself, none else. The souls of the martyrs are pure, alive, abiding, and covered by auras of glory. Disgrace and loss would be Yazid's only.

6) She mentioned those who paved the way to Yazid to hold such a position with words of scolding as she added them to Yazid. This point should be studied carefully.

7) She referred to her high standing and unreachable honor as another way of making little of the tyrant. Despite all the misfortunes that inflicted on her and weakened her, she showed her power and scolded the tyrant so harshly that he could not find any answer.

8) She proved that all Yazid's endeavors to eradicate the immortal good mention of the Ahl al-Bayt would fail, because they represent the right, which will inevitably triumph.

Thus, days have proved that Imam al-Husayn and his party were the triumphant, while Yazid and his party have been always the losers. At any rate, the speech of Lady Zaynab includes tens of lessons not all of which can be contained in this brief study. It is quite enough to say that this speech was one of the deathblows that snapped the Umayyad State.

Having seen the collapse of his pride and arrogance, Yazid could not find any words to answer except citing a poetic verse not related to the subject in any extent. Moreover, the political atmospheres were over-clouded against him whose perplexity, owing to the scandalous situation that Lady Zaynab put him in, disabled him to do anything. He once tried to find himself excuses for his crime and, at other times, tried to make a comparison between the Imam and himself.

Tags: 
Apr 13, '10 11:29 AM
for everyone
Written by Bouthaina Shaaban   
Sunday, 14 February 2010 14:57
The report of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon caused a shock to all those concerned about justice and human rights. In his report to the UN General Assembly on February 5, 2010, on the Israeli war on Gaza, he says: “No determination can be made on the implementation of resolution 64/10 by the parties concerned,” pointing out that he has “called upon all of the parties to carry out credible domestic investigations into the conduct of the Gaza conflict.” Ban does not live on the moon, of course; and, unlike American officials, he visited Gaza and saw for himself the hundreds of homes and schools, some of which are UN schools, shelled by the missiles and phosphorus bombs fired by Israeli warplanes.

TV screens all over the world had shown the dead bodies of children, women and unarmed civilians killed by Israeli bombs. He saw for himself the smoke of white phosphorus in the sky over Gaza. In order to ascertain himself of the credibility of the Palestinian narrative, he only has to look at the disabled people who lost their limbs, eyes and members of their families. Putting the Israelis and the Palestinians in the same category implies a great deal of injustice; and ignoring the tragic conditions imposed on the Palestinians for 60 years as a result of occupation and blockade is an injustice and a shame that will haunt those who committed it and those who condone it.

Although human life is sacred and must not be subject to the litany of figures, it might be useful to remind Western politicians who ask idiotically “Why do they hate us?” that Gaza was destroyed a year ago, not by earthquake as in Haiti, but by a war launched by Israel that killed over 1,400 Palestinian civilians and wounded over 8,000 other civilians, most of them seriously. The war destroyed the infrastructure; agricultural land was flooded by sewage water; and Israel continues to use collective punishment and blockade on over 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza where over 300 civilians have died as a result of the blockade. Still, Western officials ignore this horrible tragedy. The same is done by the UN secretary general, who is supposed to represent international conscience. He equates Israeli generals with their unarmed civilian victims. He and Western officials ignore the testimony of Israeli soldiers who revealed that they were ordered not take any account of the life of Palestinian civilians. The Israeli organization “Breaking the Silence” has revealed new facts about Israeli practices in the West Bank and Gaza. So, why this cover up of the crimes of those generals and why equating criminals with their victims by politicians and journalists who repeat the question: “Why do they hate us?”

Ban’s report, which reveals the international community’s failure to condemn war criminals if they were not Muslim or African, came days after US President Barack Obama made the State of the Union address, in which he ignored the Middle East completely.

The fact is that hundreds of millions of Muslims all over the world have for decades been watching the reactions of Western leaders toward tragedies caused by their policies, particularly their support for the Israeli occupation, settlements and blockade. They see that international institutions dominated by the West do not care about the killing and displacement of their brothers and sisters and the deprivation of their freedoms and human rights. If anyone makes a move to insure that justice takes its course, the American veto is there to thwart this effort. After all this, Western politicians still ask: “Why do they hate us?”

Even news of what is happening to Arabs and Muslims in terms of injustice, imprisonment, starvation and torture have been prevented from reaching international conscience. Here is the US, which boasts about the freedom of the press, banning satellite TV stations en masse if they try to uncover the depth of the human suffering of a people under occupation, while the occupiers enjoy unprecedented international immunity. They commit war crimes, and no one has the right to demand that they should be deterred and punished, as if the lives of Arabs and Muslims are not equal to the lives of other humans in Western standards.

Indifference to human suffering caused by occupation, injustice and oppression increases indignation against this gap between this painful reality and the double standards of the powers which control international media and politics.

The enquiry involving former British Premier Tony Blair shows the fragility of the logic which turns the lives of millions into a daily tragedy. But if Blair, like the prime minister who did not notice the racial segregation wall which is destroying the life of the Palestinians because he does not care about them, cannot see the millions of orphans, widows and handicapped produced by the war on Iraq, how is he supposed to regret supporting that disastrous war on the whole Iraqi people? Such trials have no significance and are no longer able to polish the image of Western democracy which has revealed its reality through its stances regarding the events in the Middle East.

Violence is the result of using unjust force instead of trying to achieve justice in Palestine. And whether Western politicians understand that or not, Palestine, the cradle of Jesus Christ, is the bleeding wound which will never be healed until the US, Europe and international bodies take a just position which restores to the Palestinians their freedom, rights and dignity. These countries and bodies, by funding and arming Israel, are responsible for depriving the Palestinians of their freedom and human rights; and when they grant immunity to its war criminals, they become accomplices in Israeli wars and blockades. When the American administration, and with it Europe and the highest international body, ignore atrocious documented war crimes committed by the occupation forces, only because the war criminals are Israeli, and turn a blind eye to the cruelest forms of suffering imposed on a whole people, only because they are Muslim, there will always be Jews, Christians and Muslims in America, Europe and even in Israel who will support the oppressed against their oppressors.

Source: Daily Star
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Apr 13, '10 11:16 AM
for everyone
ITS A POWER POINT PRESENTATION
Attachment: Muhammad(pbuh) (1).pps
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Apr 13, '10 11:10 AM
for everyone
PLEASE SEE ATTACHED POWER POINT PRESENTATION
Attachment: Nahjul Blagah PPS.ppt
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Apr 13, '10 11:06 AM
for everyone


JUMBRELLA follows the axiom that "bigger is better". Again, a portable, easily assembled, easily transported design by Gary Regester. Much more than a BIG umbrella, Jumbrella is also a giant graduated ring light, or a 3D silk or the largest Chinese lantern on the block - we have yet to learn all the various ways you can use this new tool- As a giant umbrella, position the telescoping boom and light spigot as you wish - either to fill the umbrella with even light or to direct the light only one part or half of the Jumbrella allowing the remaining surface to act as a concave graduating reflector - with your camera position is front of Jumbrella , you have created a giant attenuated ring light on your subject. 
 
OR affix a small translucent umbrella to the lighthead on the central boom resulting in hard / soft "single core" lighting. Conversely, aim several light sources into different parts of the black / silver Jumbrella's curving surface for multiple sized soft sources of light. OR retract the central boom and use multiple lightsources on extra lightstands to simply increase total light output from a single soft source or to use different types of light souces - say, flash with HMI or tungstun for stop / blur effects from the same source of diffusion.
OR exchange the black / silver cover for the TRANSLUCENT cover (shown above). The translucent Jumbrella is a very new and unique tool - for the first time, an image maker is able to mimic natural sky cover by lighting an edge of the resulting dome from the outside with a separate light on a separate light stand - a 3D silk!
OR invert the translucent Jumbrella into a hemispheric translucent "bowl" or "Chinese lantern" which, when used with an "open faced" light source (HMI, incandescent or flash) will create  a soft 360° hemisphere of light.  Such light control of this size and shape has never been available before.
All Jumbrellas feature a patented tensioned "tent"  frame whose folding spokes hinge back at their mid-point to reduce total travel size to that similar to a golf bag or slightly longer - 2 meter diameter / to 50 inches; 3 meter / to 60 inches; 4 meter to 70 inches.  A carry bag is included.
As this is a very new idea, please review the instructions before purchase - JUMBRELLA ASSEMBLY Instructions.
PRICING: 4 Meter (13.5 feet) Diameter with BOTH Black / Silver and White Translucent covers - $ 1195 3 Meter (10 feet) Diameter with BOTH Black / Silver and White Translucent covers - $ 995 2 Meter (7 feet) Diameter with BOTH Black / Silver and White Translucent covers - $ 795

Tags: 
Apr 13, '10 6:19 AM
for everyone
MAKHRUH CONDUCTS IN ISLAM -
Some of them, according to Shari’ah, are prohibited. 
  • To seek revenge.
  • To boast about oneself.
  • To be very optimistic about oneself.
  • To consider one's own good deeds as great.
  • To belittle other's good deeds.
  • To consider other's bad deeds as great.
  • To belittle one's own bad deeds.
  • Not to care about one's own bad conduct and ignore other's protests against it.

  • To look down up on people.
  • To cause inconvenience to others.
  • Hurting others even though an act causing it may not be unlawful, such as building one's house such that it blocks light or air from reaching the neighbour's.
  • Insulting others even if not in unlawful ways.
  • Frightening people even if not to the unlawful degrees.
  • Hostility even if less than the unlawful limits.
  • The use of bad words even if not unlawful.

  • Jealousy.
  • Wanting.
  • To be rancorous and vindictive.
  • To be stingy.
  • To be malevolent.
  • To be greedy.
  • To be hasty.
  • To cause commotion.
  • To be hardhearted.
  • To be awkward and not to get on with others.
  • To be bad mannered.
  • To be arrogant.
  • To show off even in non-worship matters.
  • To suspect people.
  • To be afraid of people.
  • Going back on one's promise.
  • To be excessive in sexual lust.
  • To have no self-respect.
  • To have a low self-esteem and enthusiasm.
  • To have no sense of honour.
  • To have eager and fervour unnecessarily.

  • Publicising matters that would have been better to be kept private.
  • Lying when joking.
  • To accuse someone of something in a joke.
  • To make fun of others.
  • To joke a lot.
  • Too much laughing.

  • To rely on others.
  • To burden others.
  • Doing useless things.
  • Talking about things that are not one's concern.
  • Spying on things that are not one's business.

  • Taking good deeds lightly.
  • Neglecting desirable acts.
  • Persisting on detestable matters.
  • To be curious about indecent things.
  • Involving one self in undesirable matters, even if they are not unlawful.

Materialism

  • To confine oneself with material issues, e.g. clothing and housing, etc. in a similar way to those who lead an extravagant life.
  • To express grief in hardship.
  • To complain about life.
  • To grief about worldly things.
  • To have long worldly hopes.
  • To be unhappy about one's possession in life.
  • To be unconcerned about issues of the hereafter.
  • Love of being praised.
  • Love of leadership or high position.
  • Love of this world.
  • Love of wealth.
  • To be too busy in earning.
  • To be too wealthy that would lead to arrogance.

  • To be pessimist about Allah.
  • Not to have trust in Allah.
  • To ignore Allah's guidance, and warnings, etc.
  • Not to care about the rules of Shari’ah.

  • Discrimination, fanaticism, and racism.
  • To get angry without justifiable reasons.

  • To be disrespectful to the elders.
  • To be unkind to children.
  • To be unfair.
  • To be ungrateful.
  • To be unthankful.
  • To be two-faced.
  • To be insolent.
  • To neglect the believers.
  • To sleep a lot.
  • To have no work or skills.
  • Not to observe cleanliness.
  • Scrupulosity and obsession, even in worldly matters.
  • To be either extremist in one’s affairs or indifferent.
  • Associating with sinners.
Keeping company of contemptible individuals.
Tags: 
Apr 13, '10 6:04 AM
for everyone
This is how Ayesha got married to Shoaib on phone.

Ayesha - "Hello Shoaib, Afghanistan ka capital kya hai ?
Shoaib - "Kabul"

Ayesha - sunai nahi de raha hai!Shoaib - "Kabul"

Ayesha - arre baba phir se bolo.
Shoaib - "Kabul"

3 times  Kabul!
 This is how they got married.
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Apr 12, '10 4:03 PM
for everyone

Thor's Well – A Gate to the Undersea



Thor's Well an amazing place to visit located at Cape Perpetua, Oregon, the surf surge rock without doubt is very unique. In any event, it makes a great photo. It occurs at a moderate to high tide with strong surf. However, it is not easy to take a snap of the place because of sharp rocks are everywhere. Plus, a very strong surge could sweep right up and be very dangerous. The hole can be seen from the parking area at the far end of the rock shelf on the north side of Cook's Chasm. Following are the photos taken from very brave and dedicated photographers. 
Thors Well A Gate to the Undersea

Thors Well A Gate to the Undersea

Thors Well A Gate to the Undersea

Thors Well A Gate to the Undersea

Thors Well A Gate to the Undersea

Thors Well A Gate to the Undersea
Tags: 
Apr 12, '10 3:58 PM
for everyone

Worlds Largest Water Slide Looks Deadly



Worlds Largest Water Slide Looks Deadly
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Apr 12, '10 3:50 PM
for everyone
How E-MAIL works - Informative

An E-mail Message
The first e-mail message was sent in 1971 by an engineer named Ray Tomlinson. Prior to this, you could only send messages to users on a single machine. Tomlinson's breakthrough was the ability to send messages to other machines on the Internet, using the @ sign to designate the receiving machine.
An e-mail message has always been nothing more than a simple text message -- a piece of text sent to a recipient. In the beginning and even today, e-mail messages tend to be short pieces of text, although the ability to add attachments now makes many e-mail messages quite long. Even with attachments, however, e-mail messages continue to be text messages -- we'll see why when we get to the section on attachments

E-mail Clients

You have probably already received several e-mail messages today. To look at them, you use some sort of e-mail client. Many people use well-known stand-alone clients like Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora or Pegasus. People who subscribe to free e-mail services like Hotmail or Yahoo use an e-mail client that appears in a Web Page. If you are an AOL customer, you use AOL's e-mail reader. No matter which type of client you are using, it generally does four things:
It shows you a list of all of the messages in your mailbox by displaying the message headers. The header shows you who sent the mail, the subject of the mail and may also show the time and date of the message and the message size.
It lets you select a message header and read the body of the e-mail message.
It lets you create new messages and send them. You type in the e-mail address of the recipient and the subject for the message, and then type the body of the message.
Most e-mail clients also let you add attachments to messages you send and save the attachments from messages you receive.
Sophisticated e-mail clients may have all sorts of bells and whistles, but at the core, this is all that an e-mail client does.

A Simple E-mail Server

Given that you have an e-mail client on your machine, you are ready to send and receive e-mail. All that you need is an e-mail server for the client to connect to. Let's imagine what the simplest possible e-mail server would look like in order to get a basic understanding of the process. Then we will look at the real thing.
You know that machines on the Internet can run software applications that act as servers. There are Web servers, FTP servers, telnet servers and e-mail servers running on millions of machines on the Internet right now. These applications run all the time on the server machine and they listen to specific ports, waiting for people or programs to attach to the port . The simplest possible e-mail server would work something like this:
It would have a list of e-mail accounts, with one account for each person who can receive e-mail on the server. My account name might be mbrain, John Smith's might be jsmith, and so on.
It would have a text file for each account in the list. So the server would have a text file in its directory named MBRAIN.TXT, another named JSMITH.TXT, and so on.
If someone wanted to send me a message, the person would compose a text message ("Marshall, Can we have lunch Monday? John") in an e-mail client, and indicate that the message should go to mbrain. When the person presses the Send button, the e-mail client would connect to the e-mail server and pass to the server the name of the recipient (mbrain), the name of the sender (jsmith) and the body of the message.
The server would format those pieces of information and append them to the bottom of the MBRAIN.TXT file. The entry in the file might look like this:

From: jsmith To: mbrain Marshall, Can we have lunch Monday? John

There are several other pieces of information that the server might save into the file, like the time and date of receipt and a subject line; but overall, you can see that this is an extremely simple process.
As other people sent mail to mbrain, the server would simply append those messages to the bottom of the file in the order that they arrived. The text file would accumulate a series of five or 10 messages, and eventually I would log in to read them. When I wanted to look at my e-mail, my e-mail client would connect to the server machine. In the simplest possible system, it would:
Ask the server to send a copy of the MBRAIN.TXT file
Ask the server to erase and reset the MBRAIN.TXT file
Save the MBRAIN.TXT file on my local machine
Parse the file into the separate messages (using the word "From:" as the separator)
Show me all of the message headers in a list
When I double-clicked on a message header, it would find that message in the text file and show me its body.
You have to admit that this is a very simple system. Surprisingly, the real e-mail system that you use every day is not much more complicated than this.

The Real E-mail System

For the vast majority of people right now, the real e-mail system consists of two different servers running on a server machine. One is called the SMTP server, where SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. The SMTP server handles outgoing mail. The other is either a POP3 server or an IMAP server, both of which handle incoming mail. POP stands for Post Office Protocol, and IMAP stands for Internet Mail Access Protocol. A typical e-mail server looks like this:
The SMTP server listens on well-known port number 25, POP3 listens on port 110 and IMAP uses port 143
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