20,000 Copies Of Filipino Qur'an.

Saudia to publish 20,000 copies of Filipino translation of al Qur`an.

Jeddah: To reach out to more Filipino Muslims worldwide, some 20,000 copies of the Filipino version of the Qur’an – including translation and commentary - will be published in Saudi Arabia for distribution.

The Industrial City Dawa Office in Jeddah, one of the oldest centers propagating Islam among expatriates, said this is a gift for Filipino Muslims.

“We’ll also set up a website on the Internet for this Qur’an project, so that Tagalog speakers all over the world can access this great work,” IDCO general manager Fuad Kawther said in an interview posted on Arab News.

The report said the new Qur’an translation, to cost SR45 (P526), will encourage more Filipinos to learn about Islam.

The center intends to print more copies of the 1,380-page work based on demand.

The Arab News report said more than 4,000 Filipinos have so far converted to Islam through ICDO over the past years.

http://www.ummid.com/news/2012/January/17.01.2012/filipino_version_of_quran.htm

'Alaykum Salam.

4 Satans Run Away.

JAIPUR: The four writers, who read out the banned Satanic Verses in violation the law of land, have run away from the Jaipur Literature Festival to undisclosed destination. They were facing imminent arrest following carrying and reading out extracts from Salman Rushdie's banned novel, "The Satanic Verses".

William Dalrymple, the co-Director of the Jaipur Literature Festival told the Hindu newspaper that Hari Kunzru, Ruchir Joshi, Amitava Kumar and Jeet Thayil have all left the Jaipur on the advice of their lawyer.
The paper said that the police had gone to Hari Kunzru's room to question him but he had already hurriedly left town.

“What a lot of people don't realise is that even reading from a banned book is against the law. This is part of a piece of absurd and draconian legislation going back to 1867 or thereabouts. I am convinced that the writers who did the readings were not aware that this is a punishable offence and could carry a fairly long prison sentence. You can discuss book, read from other writings by the author, have conversations with him, invite him, but you cannot either possess a copy or publicly read from a book that is banned. That is a punishable offence,” Dalrymple realized after his esteemed guests already committed punishable offence.

Meanwhile noted writer Chetan Bhagat said that organizers of the festival should not make heroes out of people who have been banned.

“Let us not make heroes out of people who have been banned,” said the best- selling author  in clear reference to Salman Rushdie.

“They have been banned for hurting people. They have been banned for hurting Muslims. They shouldn’t be banned but they are not heroes,” he said.

“You can say Muslims are backward, aggressive, that’s fine. But they are right to get upset when their god is attacked. I wouldn’t like it if my gods are attacked,” Bhagat contended.

The legal experts say the police should book the authors (who read out portion of the banned book) under sections 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) and 295 A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code and immediately arrest them.

As Salman Rushdie could not make it to the festival due to perceived threat to his life, authors Hari Kunzru, Amitava Kumar and two others used their session at the festival to read from "Satanic Verses", giving clear indications that the festival was organized to create ill will within India..

The controversial book was banned in the India shortly after it was published in 1988, for hurting the sentiments of Muslims.

These authors referred to the book during their own readings and discussions and actually went on to read out portions from the book.

http://theindianawaaz.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5850&catid=12

'Alaykum Salam.

Tomb Worshipers Say: Don't Vote For Deobandis.

Al Salamu 'Alaykum.

Elections in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh are around the corner. Muslims constitute 18% of the population of UP and are a very important factor in deciding who will win the elections. All secular political parties are trying to woo the Muslims, particularly the Deobandis. No one is looking at the Quburis. Smarting from this insult, a Barelwi body called the AIUMB (ALL INDIA UNION OF THE MENTALLY BLUNTED) has launched a campaign asking tomb worshipers in the state to vote against Deobandi candidates. The chief of this body is someone called Ashraf Kichkichwee (or whatever) who apparently sits at some Dargah. 
No political party in the state has taken the threat of the Ahl Halwa Puri seriously.
Reportage here: http://twocircles.net/2012jan14/elections_barelwi_group_vows_crush_candidates_deobandi_background.html#.TxeiK9a9nD8.facebook
Wa 'Alaykum Salam.

Iran Mocks US With Toy Drone.

Al Salamu 'Alaykum.

OK, Ikhwan. So here is the story.
There is this big cat called the United States of Arrogance that thinks that all nations in the world besides it are mice. And the worst little mice in the world are concentrated in that area that is known as the Middle East and are squatting over the largest stores of black Gold in the entire damned Universe. Except for a little nebish, kosher mouse called Israel, the rest are all good for eating, particularly a jumpy mouse called Iran.
So, it sent one of its unmanned drones over Iran in order to gather "intelligence". Unfortunately, Iran brought the drone down and captured it. Now the big cat wants the drone back and like a good girl is asking the bad mouse to quietly return it. The bad mouse is so bad....oh...how the cat would like to break its neck....the bad mouse is saying that it will make a toy drone 1/80th the size of the original engineering marvel and send it back to Uncle Tom Obama in the Yewnited States. Not only that it is making toy copies and selling them in stores for its citizens!
And that my brothers, is the end of this cat and mouse story for now. Watch this space for more developments.
You can read the reportage here: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/iran-give-us-drone-back-toy-form/story?id=15379182#.TxZYQqWcB4o
'Alaykum Salam.

China To US : Don't Meddle!

BEIJING (AP) — China warned the United States on Wednesday against using religious incidents as a pretext to interfere in itsdomestic affairs, after the U.S. expressed concern over a series of self-immolations by Tibetans.

At least 15 Buddhist monks, nuns and former monks are believed to have set themselves on fire in the past year, mostly in traditionally Tibetan areas of southwestern Sichuan province. Most have chanted for Tibetan freedom and the return of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who fled to India amid an abortive uprising against Chinese rule in 1959.

Three men reportedly set themselves on fire in the past week.

The U.S. State Department on Monday said it was seriously concerned by the latest reports of self-immolations. SpokeswomanVictoria Nuland said the incidents reflected "enormous anger and enormous frustration" over severe Chinese government restrictions on human rights and religious freedom.

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said the government "attaches great importance and safeguards the basic rights of ethnic groups, including their freedom of religious belief."

"We firmly oppose making use of religious affairs to interfere in China's domestic affairs," he added.

The continued self-immolations do not "meet the aspiration of people in Tibet for realizing a peaceful life," Liu said.

China has accused supporters of the Dalai Lama of encouraging the self-immolations.

China claims Tibet has always been part of its territory, but many Tibetans say the Himalayan region was virtually independent for centuries.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/china-warns-us-not-meddle-affairs-120608920.html

'Alaykum Salam.

US Funding For Barelwis.

FOR THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER.

ISLAMABAD: The US gave money to a Pakistani Muslim group that organised anti-Taliban rallies, but which later demonstrated in support of an extremist who killed a leading liberal politician, the US Embassy in Pakistan said Wednesday.

US government website Usaspending.gov shows that the group, the Sunni Ittehad Council, received $36,607 from Washington in 2009.

A US diplomat said that the embassy had given money to the group to organise the rallies, but that it had since changed direction and leadership. He said it was a one-off grant, and wouldn’t be repeated. He didn’t give his name because he wasn’t authorised to speak about the issue on the record.

The grant was first reported by the Council of Foreign Relations on its website.

The Ittehad council was formed in 2009 to counter extremism. It groups politicians and clerics from Pakistan’s traditionalist Barelvi Muslim movement, often referred to as theological moderates in the Pakistani context.

The American money was used to organise nationwide rallies against militants and suicide bombings, the embassy official said. The demonstrations received widespread media coverage, and were some of the first against extremism in the country.

The rhetoric at the rallies was mostly focused on opposing militant attacks on shrines, which Barelvis frequent but are opposed by Deobandi Muslims, Pakistan’s other main Muslim sect.

In 2011 and also this month, however, the council led demonstrations in support of the killer of Salman Taseer, a governor who was killed a year ago for his criticism of anti-blasphemy laws. The displays have appalled Pakistani liberals and stoked international fears that the country is buckling under the weight of extremism.

Taseer’s assassin, Mumtaz Qadri, is a Barelvi. He claimed he acted to defend the honour of Prophet Mohammed.

At its rallies, the group maintains its criticism of the Taliban even as it supports Qadri — a seemingly contradictory stance that suggests its leaders may be more interested in harnessing the political support and street power of Barelvis than in genuinely countering militancy.

Two leading members of the council who have been with the group from the beginning of its existence denied receiving any American funds. The apparent discrepancy could be explained by lack of transparency within the organisation. However, given the current anti-American climate, owning up to receiving funds from the United States would invite criticism.

”This propaganda is being unleashed against us because we are strongly opposed to Western democracy and American policies in the region and in the world,” said Sahibzada Fazal Karim, the head of the council, before reiterating the group’s support for Qadri.

”We are against extremism, but we support Qadri because he did a right thing,” he said.

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/11/us-aided-pakistan-group-which-supported-extremists.html

'Alaykum Salam.

Keep Rushdie Out - Deoband.

Salamun 'Alaykum.

The author of the "Satanic Verses", Salman Rushdie is slated to visit India later this month to attend the Jaipur Literary Festival. The same government that refused to issue visas to foreign Muslim speakers who wished to attend Zakir Naik's conference has given Rush_to_die a visa with alacrity. Hadrat Mawlana Abul Qasim Nu'mani, VC of Dar al 'Uloom Deoband, the top Islamic Seminary in India and arguably in the entire Islamic world slammed the Union Government's decision. He said that this act was an inappropriate one.

He also asked Muslim organizations in this country to oppose Rushdie's visit. He further said that Deoband was sending a letter to the PM and if the permission was not withdrawn, then they would write to the External Affairs Minister as well as the Congress Party Head, Mrs Sonia Gandhi.

Those who want to see the reportage of the secular media can go to this link:
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/blasphemy-darul-uloom-deoband-opposes-salman-rushdie-arrival/1/168016.html

'Alaykum Salam.