THE AMPHITHEATRE OF EL-JEM: The Unique Roman Landmark In Africa.

 

Visiting Tunisia-III

The Amphitheatre of el-Jem

Is The Unique Roman

Landmark In Africa

(M. Javed Naseem)

 

The Amphiteatre of el-Jem (Tunisia) is the second biggest (the first is in Rome, Italy) Roman collosseum in the world. It is Tunisia's star attraction and draws visitors from all over the world. A visit to Tunisia cannot be considered complete without visiting this landmark in el-Jem. The amphitheatre of El Jem is the third amphitheatre built on the same place. It is very well preserved and well-maintained too. The entree fee is 12-Dinars ($3.50) and you can wander in all three floors and the slave quarters/prisons in the basement too. It is just aweful and offers some amazing views. While wandering in the corridors of this huge colloseum, you can easily get lost in time and the ancient history.

History

The amphitheatre was built around 238 AD in Thyusdrus, located in the Roman province of Africa Proconsularis, in present-day El Djem, Tunisia. It is one of the best preserved Roman stone ruins in the world, and is unique in Africa. As other amphitheatres in the Roman Empire, it was built for spectator events, and it is one of the biggest amphitheatres in the world. The estimated capacity is 35,000, and the sizes of the big and the small axes are respectively 148 metres (486 ft) and 122 metres (400 ft). The amphitheatre is built of stone blocks, located on a flat ground, and is exceptionally well conserved. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The amphitheatre of El Jem is the third amphitheatre built on the same place. The belief is that it was constructed by the local proconsul Gordian, who became emperor as Gordian-II. In the Middle Ages, it served as a fortress, and the population sought shelter here during the attacks of vandals in 430 and Arabs in 647. In 1695, during the Revolutions of Tunis, Mohamed Bey El Mouradi made an opening in one of the walls to stop the resistance of the followers of his brother Ali Bey al-Muradi who gathered inside the amphitheater.

It is believed that the amphitheatre was used as a saltpetre manufacture in the end of the 18th and in the 19th century. Around 1850, the breach in the wall was enlarged by Ahmad ibn Mustafa to approximately 30 metres (98 ft). In the second half of the 19th century, the structure was used for shops, dwellings, and grain storage.

Muslim History

Mohamed Bey el-Mouradi was a Muradid leader and Bey (Governor) of Tunis from the year 1675 until his death in 1696. He was the eldest son of Murad-II Bey.

Mohamed Bey's reign was plagued with upheaval and civil war worsened by constant raiding from neighboring Algiers. His uncle, Pasha Mohammed Al-Hafsi and brother Ali bin Murad would attempt several times to usurp the throne. Al-Hafsi was exiled in 1679 but Ali bin Murad, disappointed by his share in the division of power sought refuge in the Beylik of Constantine, a governorate of the Regency of Algiers. He brought the tribes of northwest Tunisia led by Muhammad ben Cheker over to his side with promises of gold and silver.

He besieged Tunis, while Muhammad Bey al-Muradi fled from Tunis to Kairouan before the troops of his brother arrived. Ali besieged the city but Muhammad broke out of the siege, and met Ali on the field of battle. The Battle of El Kerima, which took place on the plain of Fahs in 1677 was decisively won by Ali. He had his troops besiege Kairouan and returned to Tunis to be recognised as Bey in place of his brother who remained under siege in Kairouan.

After some mediation by the Dey of Algiers, a treaty was signed in 1679 between the Muradid princes, but this peace didn't last long. The Turkish Janissaries of Tunis elected their own leader, Ahmed Chelebi, who attempted to take over the country. He was defeated by the Algerians who feared that the revolutionary spirit of the Janissaries in Tunis would spread to their own country. They sacked Tunis in 1686, and left the country in ruins. Mohamed Bey suspected his brother Ali of supporting the Algerians, and thus killed him and seized power for himself.

In 1694 Dey Hadj Chabane invaded Tunisia with the help of a pretender called Mohammed ben Cheker. The resulting war ended in the total annexation of Tunis for several months. During that time Chaabane appointed ben Cheker as the Bey of Tunis, a new Beylik of Algiers similarly functioning in the same way as the Beylik of Constantine.

This didn't last long though, and in 1695, the Tunisians revolted and defeated ben Cheker at the battle of Kairouan, reinstating the Muradid dynasty.

Despite the troubled times, Mohamed Bey was responsible for building several monuments in Tunis including the Sidi Mahrez Mosque, modelled on the mosques of Istanbul, with a great central dome. He constructed many buildings of worship and education within the country including construction works in Beja, el-Kef, Gafsa, Tozeur and Gabes. In 1690 Mohamed Bey built a bridge between Tebourba and Medjerda.

He died on October 14, 1696, and was buried in the mausoleum of his grandfather Hammuda Pasha Bey. He was survived by two sons, Mourad and Hassan, but as they were too young to reign, his brother, Ramadan Bey, inherited his estate.

References in popular culture

It was featured in films such as Monty Python's Life of Brian and the television travel series Long Way Down.

It is commonly believed that the Hollywood movie 'The Gladiator' was filmed here but that's not true. The movie was filmed at the island of Malta (between Tunis and Italy) where they built a replica of the Amphitheatre. But they might have used the pictures/videos of the site.

American sportswear company Nike used this location in 1996 to shoot a television commercial titled "Good vs Evil", which depicts a gladiatorial-style soccer game set in a Roman Amphitheatre. Football players from around the world, including Eric Cantona, Ronaldo, Paolo Maldini, Luis Figo, Patrick Kluivert and Jorge Campos defend 'the beautiful game' against a team of unsportsmanlike demonic warriors, which ends with Cantona receiving the ball from Ronaldo, pulling up his short collar as was his trademark, and delivering the final line, "Au Revoir", before striking the ball which punches right through the demon goalkeeper.

The fourth episode of The Amazing Race 1 concluded at the amphitheatre.

(Courtesy: Wikipedia.org)

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HISTORICAL CARTHAGE RUINS; Antonin Baths & Town of Sidi Bou Said.

Visiting Tunisia-II

Historical Carthage Ruins;

Baths of Antonin; And

Town of Sidi Bou Said

(M. Javed Naseem)

Carthage ruins

According to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, Carthage was founded in the 9th century B.C. on the Gulf of Tunis. From the 6th century onwards, it developed into a great trading empire covering much of the Mediterranean and was home to a brilliant civilization. In the course of the long Punic wars, Carthage occupied territories belonging to Rome, which finally destroyed its rival in 146 B.C. A second – Roman – Carthage was then established on the ruins of the first.

Outstanding Universal Value

Founded by the Phoenicians, Carthage is an extensive archaeological site, located on a hill dominating the Gulf of Tunis and the surrounding plain. Metropolis of Punic civilization in Africa and capital of the province of Africa in Roman times, Carthage has played a central role in Antiquity as a great commercial empire. During the lengthy Punic wars, Carthage occupied the territories that belonged to Rome, which then destroyed its rival in 146 AD. The town was rebuilt by the Romans on the ruins of the ancient city.

Exceptional place of mixing, diffusion and blossoming of several cultures that succeeded one another (Phoenico-Punic, Roman, Paleochristian and Arab), this metropolis and its ports have encouraged wide-scale exchanges in the Mediterranean. Founded at the end of the 9th century BC by Elyssa-Dido and having sheltered the mythical love of Dido and Aeneas, Carthage produced a warrior and strategy genius in the person of Hannibal, the navigator-explorer Hannon, and a famous agronomist, Magon. Carthage has always nourished universal imagination through its historic and literary renown.

The property comprises the vestiges of Punic, Roman, Vandal, Paleochristian and Arab presence. The major known components of the site of Carthage are the acropolis of Byrsa, the Punic ports, the Punic tophet, the necropolises, theatre, amphitheatre, circus, residential area, basilicas, the Antonin baths, Malaga cisterns and the archaeological reserve.

The historic and literary renown of Carthage has always nourished the universal imagination. The site of Carthage is notably associated with the home of the legendary princess of Tyre, Elyssa-Dido, founder of the town, sung about by Virgil in the Aeneid; with the great navigator-explorer, Hannon, with Hannibal, one of the greatest military strategists of history, with writers such as Apulée, founder of Latin-African literature, with the martyr of Saint Cyprien and with Saint Augustin who trained and made several visits there.

Although its integrity has been partially altered by uncontrolled urban sprawl during the first half of the 20th century, the site of Carthage has essentially retained the elements that characterise the antique town: urban network, meeting place (forum), recreation (theatre), leisure (baths), worship (temples), residential area, etc. The conservation of the site guarantees the maintenance of the intact character of the structures. However, it continues to face strong urban pressure that has, for the most part, been contained thanks to the national listing of the Carthage-Sidi Bou-Said Park.

Restoration and maintenance work carried out over the years is in accordance with the standards of international charters and has not damaged the authenticity of the monuments and remains of the site of Carthage. The site benefits from a maintenance protocol.

(Courtesy: UNESCO World Heritage Convention. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/37/)

Wikipedia adds:

Antique and medieval Carthage continued to play an important cultural and economic role in the Byzantine period. The city was sacked and destroyed by Umayyad forces after the Battle of Carthage in 698 to prevent it from being reconquered by the Byzantine Empire. It remained occupied during the Muslim period and was used as a fort by the Muslims until the Hafsid period when it was taken by the Crusaders with its inhabitants massacred during the Eighth Crusade. The Hafsids decided to destroy its defenses so it could not be used as a base by a hostile power again.

The regional power shifted to Kairouan and the Medina of Tunis in the medieval period, until the early 20th century, when it began to develop into a coastal suburb of Tunis, incorporated as Carthage municipality in 1919. The archaeological site was first surveyed in 1830 and excavations were performed in the second half of the 19th century. The site of the ruins is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Carthage was one of the largest cities of the Hellenistic period and was among the largest cities in pre-industrial history. Whereas by AD 14, Rome had at least 750,000 inhabitants and in the following century may have reached 1 million, the cities of Alexandria and Antioch numbered only a few hundred thousand or less. According to the history of Herodian, Carthage rivaled Alexandria for second place in the Roman empire.

 

The Baths of Antoninus continued to function in the Arab period and the eleventh-century historian al-Bakri stated that they were still in good condition at that time. They also had production centers nearby. Constantine the African was born in Carthage.

The Medina of Tunis, originally a Berber settlement, was established as the new regional center under the Umayyad Caliphate in the early 8th century. Under the Aghlabids, the people of Tunis revolted numerous times, but the city profited from economic improvements and quickly became the second most important in the kingdom. It was briefly the national capital, from the end of the reign of Ibrahim-II in 902, until 909, when the Shia Berbers took over Ifriqiya and founded the Fatimid Caliphate.

The fortress of Carthage was used by the Muslims until Hafsid era and was captured by the Crusaders during the Eighth Crusade. The inhabitants of Carthage were slaughtered by the Crusaders after they took it, and it was used as a base of operations against the Hafsids. After repelling them, Muhammad-I al-Mustansir decided to raze Cathage's defenses in order to prevent a repeat.

Carthage is some 15 km northeast of Tunis; the settlements nearest to Carthage were the town of Sidi Bou Said to the north and the village of Le Kram to the south. In the old, Carthage used to be an industrial hub. Each day it produced one hundred and forty finished shields, three hundred swords, five hundred spears, and one thousand missiles for the catapults... . Furthermore, [Carthage although surrounded by the Romans] built one hundred and twenty decked ships in two months... for old timber had been stored away in readiness, and a large number of skilled workmen, maintained at public expense.

The textiles industry in Carthage probably started in private homes, but the existence of professional weavers indicates that a sort of factory system later developed. Products included embroidery, carpets, and use of the purple murex dye (for which the Carthaginian isle of Djerba was famous). Metal-workers developed specialized skills, i.e., making various weapons for the armed forces, as well as domestic articles, such as knives, forks, scissors, mirrors, and razors (all articles found in tombs). Artwork in metals included vases and lamps in bronze, also bowls, and plates. Other products came from such crafts as the potters, the glassmakers, and goldsmiths.

The Greeks were favourably impressed by the constitution of Carthage. Aristotle remarked:

'Many of the Carthaginian institutions are excellent. The superiority of their constitution is proved by the fact that the common people remain loyal to the constitution; the Carthaginians have never had any rebellion worth speaking of, and have never been under the rule of a tyrant.'

(Courtesy:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carthage)

Sidi Bou Said

Sidi Bou Said is a town in northernTunisia located about 20km northeast from the capital Tunis.

Named after a religious figure who lived there, Abu Said al-Baji, it was previously called Jbel el-Menar. The town itself is a tourist attraction and is known for its extensive use of blue and white.

In the 12/13th century AD, Abu Said Ibn Khalaf Yahya al-Tamimi al-Beji arrived in the village of Jabal el-Menar and established a sanctuary. After his death in 1231, he was buried there. In the 18th century wealthy citizens of Tunis built residences in Sidi Bou Said.

During the 1920s, Rodolph d'Erlanger introduced the blue-white theme to the town. His home, Ennejma Ezzahra, is now a museum that has a collection of musical instruments, and organizes concerts of classical and Arabic music.

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OLDEST OPERATING UNIVERSITY: Fatima al-Fihiriya Is The Connection Between Kairouan & Qarawiyyin.

 

_{(Visiting Tunisia-1)}

_{The Oldest Operating University Of The World:}

_{Fatima al-Fihiriya Is The Connection}

_{Between Kairouan (Tunisia)}

_{And Qarawiyyin (Morocco)}

(M. Javed Naseem)

Fatima bint Muhammad al-Fihriya al-Quraishia was an Arab Muslim woman who is credited with founding the oldest existing, continually operating and the first degree-awarding university in the world, the University of al-Qarawiyyin in Fez, Morocco, in 859-CE. She is also known as Umm al-Banayn.

Fatima was born around 800-AD in the town of Kairouan, in present-day Tunisia. She was of Arab Quraishi descent, hence the name ‘Fatima al-Fihri al-Quraishiyya. Her family was part of a large migration to Fez from Kairouan. Her father Mohammed al-Fihri was a successful rich merchant. She and her sister Maryam were well-educated and studied the Islamic jurisprudence, Fiqh and Hadith. Both went on to found mosques in Fez. Fatima founded al-Qarawiyyin and Maryam founded al-Andalus. Al-Qarawiyyin library suffered a large fire in 1323-AD. Fatima Al-Fihri was married but both her husband and father died shortly after the wedding. Her father left his wealth to both Fatima and her sister Maryam, his only children, who used it to establish mosques and institutions of Islamic learning in today’s Morocco.

Great Mosque of Kairouan, Tunisia

The history of the the Great Mosque of Kairouan in Tunisia is spread over a millennia. It is the oldest Muslim place of worship in Africa as it was founded in the year 670-AD.

Kairouan flourished under the Aghlabid dynasty in the 9th century. Despite the transfer of the political capital to Tunis in the 12th century, Kairouan remained the principal holy city of Maghrib. Its rich architectural heritage includes the Great Mosque, with its marble and porphyry columns, and the 9th-century Mosque of the Three Gates. This ancient mosque is an architectural time portal. The magnificent structure — the oldest Muslim place of worship in Africa, illustrates the mixed influences of pre-Islamic, Roman and Byzantine architecture.

The city of Kairouan, Tunisia, has long been the Maghreb’s most ancient and holy city, a key gathering place for Arabo-Muslim civilization. The Great Mosque, also known as the Uqba Mosque, is at the heart of the city’s heritage. Standing at the nexus of 15 different thoroughfares, in the center of the country between the mountains and the sea, it is considered the fourth holiest site in Islam after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.

The structure is part of an expansive complex, the mosque itself covering 10,800 square meters (115,660 square feet). Outside, there is a decorated flagstone courtyard and towering, three-story minaret, reminiscent of Roman lighthouses. At 32 meters (104 feet), it remains one of the city’s highest structures. The mosque’s architecture reflects features of pre-Islamic and Eastern Islamic art, as well as later Roman and Byzantine influences. The design has served as a model for many other Maghreb mosques.

 

The mosque was originally constructed by a general named Uqba ibn Nafi (also written as Sidi Okba) as a Friday prayer mosque, used for communal prayers on the Muslim holy day. Though the structure built by Uqba no longer exists, the mosque we see today is sometimes still called “Mosque of Sidi Uqba” or simply Uqba Mosque.

The mosque was rebuilt at least twice in the 8^th century, and then again in the 9^th century, when Prince Ziyadat Allah-I, the Aghlabid governor, demolished most of the existing structure and rebuilt the mosque in sturdier materials of stone, brick, and wood. The surviving version includes a dome -- borrowed from Roman and Byzantine architecture -- and supporting buttresses, added in the 13th century. The mosque sits in the city’s historic walled district of the Medina. The structure is beautiful to look at, both during the day and at night, when the minaret is aglow with lights.

Kairouan is the most ancient Arabo-Muslim base of the Maghreb (670 AD) and one of its principal holy cities. Capital of Ifriqiya for five centuries, it was a place of outstanding diffusion of Arabo-Muslim civilization. Kairouan bears unique witness to the first centuries of this civilization and its architectural and urban development. The medina contains some remarkable monuments including the Great Mosque, an architectural masterpiece that served as a model for several other Maghreban mosques, the Mosque of the Three Doors that represents the most ancient existent sculpted facade of Muslim art. The Basins of the Aghlabids, an open-air reservoir formed by two communicating cisterns that date back to the 9th century, constitute one of the most beautiful hydraulic ensembles conceived to provide water to the town. The Zawiya of Sidi Sahib shelters the remains of the companion of Prophet Mohammed, Abou Zama El-Balawi.

With the Great Mosque, the Mosque of the Three Doors, and the Basin of the Aghlabids, not to mention the numerous archaeological vestiges, Kairouan bears exceptional witness to the civilization of the first centuries of the Hijra in Africa.

Kairouan is one of the holy cities and spiritual capitals of Islam. Next to the Great Mosque, the first place of worship founded in the Maghreb only 38 years after the death of the Prophet, is the Zawiya of Sidi Saheb where the remains of Abu Djama, one of Prophet’s companions, are kept. The historic ensemble of Kairouan, with its central part and its suburbs, has been conserved, without alteration.

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STEADFASTNESS IS PATIENT PERSERVERANCE And The Steadfast Is A Winner.

 

Steadfastness Is Patient

Perseverance And The

Steadfast Is A Winner!

(M. Javed Naseem)

“And verily We shall pay those

who are steadfast, a recompense

in proportion to the best of

what they used to do.”

(al-Quran 16:96)

Fidelity and steadfastness are two basic requirements of Islam. A total surrender to the will of God Almighty and then staying on course is the way of a perfect Muslim. It is a hard course, full of all kinds of obstacles and temptations, but it is still achievable. Remember the story of a hare and the tortoise ? We all read it during our school years. The tortoise was slow but steady, and that won him the race.

If you can stay true and faithful to your cause and follow the course with perseverance or steadfastness, you are a winner. But that is not an easy job. You have to give your best or 100 percent to achieve the grade. That means one should always be good – every time and all the time. That’s steadfastness.

Being good to others is charity (Sadaqah) that brings rewards not only in this world but also in the Hereafter. If a person develops a character of being good to others, not harming or hurting anybody, he is earning the blessings of Almighty Allah all the time. This is a very simple case of steadfastness.

God the Gracious commands mankind to be faithful and steadfast. The Almighty says in the Holy Quran :

“O you who believe! Seek help in

steadfastness and prayer. Lo,

Allah is with the steadfast.”

(al-Quran 2 :153)

We should always try to do good – whatever good is in our capacity, and do it continuously. Even if we do a little but do it on a regular basis, that’s fine. That’s being steadfast. We will definitely be rewarded for that. The Almighty will shower His blessings on us. But as they say: Everything comes with a price, so is the steadfastness. When we try to be good and honest in life, we are tested by God. We should make sure that we pass those tests and go through those trials with patience. And don’t quit, ever! Perseverance is the best asset along with faith (Iman) that a Muslim possesses. Allah says:

“And surely We shall try you with

something of fear and hunger, and

loss of wealth and lives and crops;

but give glad tidings to the steadfast.”

(al-Quran 2:155)

The tests and trials are very discouraging and heart-breaking. But then again you have to rise up to the occasion. Show your mettle and prove to the world, with your perseverance and steadfastness, that you are true to your cause; honest in your struggle; and faithful to your Creator. Your conviction only can earn you honors.

There is another very important factor in Islam. All deeds or good work you do, you’ve got to do voluntarily and willingly. If you don’t feel Islam in your actions, they are not Islamic. A Muslim is a volunteer who willingly and knowingly surrenders himself to the will of God. It is a way of life for ‘believers’. You believe in the powers of Allah and, therefore, you are sure that your actions are counted and accounted for. You believe that every action contributes towards the ‘balance sheet’ which will be presented to you in the Hereafter on the Day of Justice. And on the basis of that you will merit Heaven or Hell. But if you don’t believe in the Hereafter, then this world is all you have got because in the Hereafter your destination would be Hell. Allah the Great tells us that at many places in the Holy Quran. Therefore, believe and do good!

There was that saint who was famous for his kindness, sweet manners and highly civilized ways. Somebody asked him:

“Where did you learn these good manners?”

“From the ill-mannered and ignorant people,” he replied. “Everything they used to do, I would not do.”

How simple! But very difficult at the same time. The most difficult thing in our lives is to resist the temptation. This is the real ‘Jihad’. If we succeed in that, we win all the honors; but if we fail, we fall prey to the evil. And evil leads to Hell. In our struggle for good, we always need to seek help of Allah because without it we cannot achieve anything. And don’t forget that Allah helps not the evil-doers.

Here is a beautiful story! Naffia narrates that once Abdullah bin Umar was traveling out of Medina. He was accompanied by his friends and servants. In the afternoon they stopped near a village to have a meal. The servants spread the sheets and fixed the food. Then all of them sat together around it and started eating. Right at that time, a shepherd passed by along with his sheep. Abdullah bin Umar invited him to eat with them. The shepherd replied that he was fasting. Abdullah bin Umar said that it was terribly hot and scorching wind was blowing in the desert. How could he fast in such conditions? The shepherd answered back that he was receiving the reward of his ‘past days’. He was referring to these holy verses of the Quran:

“(And it will be said unto those therein):

Eat and drink at ease for that which you

sent on before you in past days.”

(al-Quran 69:24)

Abdullah bin Umar started enjoying the conversation with the shepherd and decided to test him. He said that he wanted to buy a goat, therefore, he should tell him the price of the goat. He further said that he will slaughter that goat and give the shepherd some meat too, so that he could have a good meal for breaking his fast in the evening.

The shepherd said that those were not his goats. They belonged to his master who was also the chief of his tribe.

Abdullah bin Umar said that his chief would never know. And if he asked, he could tell him that a wolf took the goat away. The shepherd signaled toward the sky and asked:

“And where would Allah go?”

Abdullah bin Umar was very amused by this answer and started repeating shepherd’s words: “And where would Allah go; and where would Allah go?” He told his companions that it was amazing that a shepherd was aware of Allah’s presence and knew that He was watching over everybody. And that kept him faithful and sincere to his master.

Later on, when Abdullah bin Umar returned from his business, he contacted that tribal chief and bought that slave and the goats from him. And then he freed the slave and gave him the gift of those goats. 

Remember! In your struggle in life, when events frustrate you and knock you down, only Faith can lift you up. It gives you hope and strength to stand up to the whole world. In your heart you know that what you are doing is right. Therefore, the Almighty hears your cries and comes closer to help you.

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'LOWER YOUR GAZE AND BE MODEST!' Modesty Is A Virtue.

 

'Lower Your Gaze

And Be Modest!'

Modesty Is A Virtue

(M. Javed Naseem)

The Almighty God has commanded all believers in the Holy Quran to be modest. He says:

“Be modest in your bearing and subdue

your voice. Lo, the harshest of all voices

is the voice of the donkey.”

(al-Quran 31:19)

Modesty is a virtue – the virtue of the prophets and the saints. It can only bring good and protect us from evil. It is actually a part of our faith that will lead us to Heaven. Muslims are required to be modest in all walks of life. The true Muslim community always encourages the believers to be modest, kind and generous. Modesty is a virtue the Prophet Muhammad (saw) was keen to stress upon. He himself had a very modest lifestyle and believed to be simple. Modesty is a universally acclaimed virtue and most of the world‟s religions or cultures praise it. In Islam, it is a part of the faith itself. It, not only, promotes simple lifestyle but also eliminates the evil of selfishness from the society. A Muslim cannot be a snob or an arrogant.

In the Western society people sometimes cast an air of disapproval on modesty considering it a weakness. They say that it inhibits a person from claiming what is due to him. They emphasize the need to be assertive so that others do not take advantage of their modesty. It is probably true for a society that has no concept of modesty.

Here is a true story from our modern times. Everybody knows Muhammad Ali, the late heavyweight boxing champion of the world. An incident took place when Ali’s daughters arrived at his place wearing clothes that were not modest. Here is the true account as narrated by one of his daughters:

“When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father’s suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us (great sense of humour!). We exchanged as many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day. My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said:

“Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered by layers and layers of rock.You’ve got to work hard to get to them.”

He looked at me with serious eyes and said:

“Your body is sacred. You are far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.”

(From the book: “More Than A Hero: Muhammad Ali’s Life Lessons Through His Daughter’s Eyes”.)

Now, that is a beautiful piece of advice from an experienced and wise father to his young and aspiring daughters. Indeed, it is a great message of modesty.

Islam has elevated the status of woman by giving her more rights than other nations, but at the same time granting her a lot more respect for her modesty. In the Western materialistic cultures, a woman is an object of physical pleasure. A pretty model or a blonde actress of film/TV can attract big gatherings. But if you ask those people who come to see her, they will tell you that they came because they ‘liked’ her, and not because they ‘respected’ her. It is physical (sexual) attraction. On the contrary, a modest and pious woman is considered a treasure in Islam and men are considered lucky to have such a wife. She is more valuable than all the gold and silver you can possess.

Some people misinterpret modesty. They think it is like poverty. Not at all. Modesty is a great quality that springs from contentment. When you are satisfied and content with whatever God has provided for you, you are modest. There are millions of examples of people living in different eras who had the means and the wealth but they chose a modest lifestyle. Simplicity is a part of modesty. A modest life is a simple life, close to nature and far from material corruption. Living within your means also falls within the limits of modesty.

Here is a beautiful example of modest living. Laith bin Saad was a famous scholar of Islamic studies during the time of Caliph Haroon Rasheed. His daily income during certain period was around one thousand Dinars. But he was never liable for paying Zakat because he never kept the money. He always distributed among the poor and the needy. Amazing! Zakat is payable on the money that you store, invest or keep for one year. His son Shoaib narrates that during certain time his father’s income was around 25 thousand Dinars per year but he was always under debt. Zakat was never due from him. The amount of income kept fluctuating during different periods of time but he always gave away his money in charity. So, at the end of the year he never had a taxable amount.

One day a woman came to Laith bin Saad with a small empty cup and said that she needed some honey. Laith gave her a leather-skin full of honey. Somebody said: O Laith! She was asking for a little bit of honey but you gave her a whole bag. Hazrat Laith replied: She asked for it according to her need and I gave her according to my capacity. Allah has blessed me with His bounties, therefore, I cannot hold back.

Those who understand Islam, they know that modest living can protect them from material problems or corruption. Despite the fact that sometimes they had a lot of money, they used only what was sufficient for their needs. The rest of it they shared with the less fortunate. When you lead simple life, you are modest in your appearance too. Men are not allowed to wear silk clothes and gold jewellery, and women are asked to pay Zakat on their jewellery. Gold and silver utensils are not allowed in a Muslim household.

Muslims should look modest in their clothing too – no luxury robes. And then comes the modesty of character. The Almighty Allah (SWT) directed all believers to be modest. He says in the Holy Quran, Surah Noor (An-Nur), Ayah 30 & 31:

“Tell the believing men to lower their

gaze and be modest. That is purer for them.

Lo, Allah is Aware of what they do.”

(al-Quran 24:30)

“And tell the believing women to lower

their gaze and be modest; and to display

of their adornment only that which is apparent;

and to draw their veils over their bosoms;

and not to reveal their adornment save to their

own husbands or fathers or …..”

(al-Quran 24:31)

The woman gets concession when she is among the family members. Otherwise, both men and women have the lines drawn, the limits or the ‘Hudood’ in this respect. The rules have been laid down, clear as black and white.

I live in a so-called Arab Muslim country and always see the young girls on the beach in their bikinis. Some of them dressed far worse than the non-believing women. Even the young women who wear Hijab, dress in very tight, revealing pants or shorts, skimpy blouses and short skirts. It is a shame to see the city streets full of ‘sexy’ looking objects, and not self-respecting young ladies. There is no doubt that their parents will get their share of punishment for not bringing up their children according to the teachings of Quran and Sunnah. How strange that people feel the heat of summer to dress half-naked and do not feel the heat of Hell that is waiting for them!

It is unfair to blame the society or the surroundings for all the evil in our lives. We are the society; we are the community and we are responsible for the surroundings. As Muslims, we are terrible role-

models for others. It is time to get up and play the role we are supposed to play for the sake of our future generations.

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A REMINDER: THE CREATOR COMMANDS: "Follow The Revelaion!"

 

A Reminder

Creator's Command:

"Follow The Revelation!"

Many nations and towns were

destroyed for their sins!

(M. Javed Naseem)

 

The Quran is the last Reminder to the mankind from the Supreme Creator, Almighty Allah. If we ignore His signs and the Reminder, we will be doomed not only in this world but also in the Hereafter. The fate of the earlier nations is the proof scattered all over the world; and that invites those who believe in God to reflect and ponder upon their existence.

Here are the first 10 verses of Surah al-Araaf (Chapter 7) of the Holy Quran. The Almighty tells us:

“(It is) a Scripture that is revealed unto you

(O Muhammad); so let there be no heaviness in

your heart on that account – that you may warn

thereby; and (it is) a Reminder unto believers.”

(al-Quran 7:2)

That revelation is a Scripture (the Quran) which has been sent down to the mankind to remind them to be God-conscious and be warned in case they disregard God’s signs and commands. Allah, the Almighty, reminds us every day, in every phase of our journey and in every sphere of life that He is running the show; He is the Master of Ceremony and He is the Supreme Controller. Whatever is in the heavens, on earth and in-between, belongs to Him; and to Him belongs the sovereignty of the universe. He has no partners and there is nobody else who could save us from any disaster, any catastrophe or death. There is no king or president or premier that was appointed as God's deputy on this earth. Humans have rights and obligations; and nobody has the right to enslave them. 

“Follow (O men!) the revelation given unto

you from your Lord; and follow not, as friends

or protectors, other than Him! Little it is

you remember of admonition.”

(al-Quran 7:3)

The floods, forest fires, earthquakes and other natural disasters are actually warning signs for us human beings from the Supreme Creator Who is telling us that He alone is running the show and He is not pleased with us. If we don’t repent and seek His forgiveness; and don’t fix what needs to be fixed to serve humanity better, we better be prepared for bigger disasters which we have no means of controlling at all. The Elite mafia – Dajjal's servants – is busy tightening its grip on the countries and independent governments of the world. They have an evil agenda to establish the Devil's government on earth. There are the puppet rulers of many countries – Muslim and non-Muslim alike – who are obediently serving the Devil. They should be aware of their end and the grave punishment. Here is a reminder of Allah's warning!

“How many towns have We destroyed (for

their sins)? Our punishment took them on a

sudden by night or while they slept for

their afternoon rest.”

(al-Quran 7:4)

“When (thus) Our punishment took them, no cry

did they utter but this: "Indeed we did wrong."

(al-Quran 7:5)

Yes, we are going to realize it one day that we were wrong but then it would be too late – way beyond the possibility of fixing it. The time to act is now. It is now or never! The Evil Empire, controlled by the Devil, has been destroying the countries of the world, one after the other, to exercise its total control and show its super powers to the corrupt, dishonest and coward world leaders who have no courage, nor plans to stand up for justice, honesty and democracy – actually humanity. They are all (Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc.) trying to please the Evil Empire only to stay in power in their own countries. It’s a shame that the world has come to that point today! People are showing their moral bankruptcy with a bold face!

Today, believers are believers in word only, not in practice. Those hypocrites say something else but do something else with a cunning smiles on their faces. They use lies and deceptions to start wars and kill innocent people because those people refuse to obey them. But God is watching them all and every action of theirs is being recorded. On the Day of Judgment that book of records will be thrown on their faces. And eventually, the justice will be delivered by the Supreme Judge.

“And verily, We shall recount their whole

story with knowledge, for We were never

absent (at any time or place).”

(al-Quran 7:7)

Allah tells us in the Quran that justice will be delivered – every good deed will earn good rewards and every bad/evil deed will be punished. Those in the corridors of power today, are following the Devil’s plot. They don’t want to hear about Allah, God, the Scriptures or the Quran. They are lost in power and wealth. They’ll come to their senses after losing that power. And it’s going to happen soon – maybe very soon!

 

Now is the time for checks and balances; preparing the profit-&-loss accounts and clearing all dues. Once the term-limit is over, the game will be over! We should worry about our scales – the scales of good and bad deeds!

“The balance that day will be true (to nicety):

Those whose scale (of good deeds) will be

heavy, will prosper.”

(al-Quran 7:8)

“Those whose scale will be light, will be their

souls in perdition, for that they wrongfully

treated Our signs.”

(al-Quran 7:9)

No Super Power will be able to protect the evil-doers, whether they are kings, presidents, prime ministers or Emirs in this world. They will all be begging for mercy on the Day of Justice which is approaching fast. If they want to avoid all humiliation and burning in the Hellfire, they better change their ways NOW, or else!

The King of the kings is reminding us again that all power belongs to Him and He alone bestows it upon whom He wills. But those who are given authority or power, they will be questioned about its use. Power and Authority mean responsibility. Most of them seem like drifting towards Hellfire though – because they are not only wrong-doers and unfair, they are also ungrateful to the Almighty, Who gave them the power in the first place.

“It is We Who have placed you with authority

on earth, and provided you therein with means

for the fulfillment of your life. Small are the

thanks that you give!”

(al-Quran 7:10)

There’s still time (maybe very little time left) to reflect and put the house in order, if we are serious and honest about it!

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THE JEWISH STATE WAS BASED On The Theft of Land From Indigenous Palestinians!

 

The Bitter Truth About Israel

The Jewish State Was Based

On The Theft Of Land From

The Indigenous Palestinians!

(M. Javed Naseem)

Palestine is still bleeding because the so-called ‘civilized’ world keeps ignoring its plight. It keeps ignoring the injustice, the cruelty and the crimes against humanity being committed against Palestinian children, women, elderly and helpless unarmed civilian population. This is hypocrisy on the highest criminal level. The most modern Zionist military, equipped with the latest weapons and war equipment has been killing unarmed innocent civilians on fake/false accusations. But the irony is that the brutal, inhumane and violent occupation goons, who are committing genocide, are still claiming to be the ‘victims’ of aggression! And the media Presstitutes, hired/employed by the Zionist organs, are promoting that narrative with full force.

The world conscience is dead! The truth is that the creation of the Zionist/Jewish state (Israel) was based on the theft of land from an indigenous people. While Jews would prefer to believe that their country is a 'miracle in the desert,' for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, it is an everlasting nightmare. In truth, it is the ‘Triangle of Evil’ (or Axis of Evil?) – U.S. + U.K. + Israel – that is behind this cruel crime. The West purposely created the Zionist Jewish state on Arab territory to control or colonize the oil-rich Middle East. The U.N. and European Union are both acting like puppets, facilitating the blockade and denying Palestinians the justice.

The Israeli leaders have abandoned the two-state solution. Their policy now is to confiscate Palestinian territory, and they've announced publicly that it the Palestinians have to recognize not just Israel but Israel as a Jewish state, even though 20% of the Israeli community are non-Jews. Netanyahu has also decided that even the Jordan valley has to be under Israeli control. So, those factors indicate quite clearly that Netanyahu has decided that the two-state solution is not what he wants. He wants what is being called Greater Israel, Eretz Israel. That's the latest development.

Joseph Weitz:

In 1948, Joseph Weitz, Director of the Jewish National Land Fund and Head of the 3rd “Transfer Committee” stated:

“We must direct our war towards the

removal of as many Arabs as possible

from boundaries of our state.”

 

“Israelis' policy is to confiscate Palestinian territory” – Jimmy Carter

"Both sides should cease all hostilities," says former US President Jimmy Carter. "Israel should end its blockade of Gaza, and Western countries should work to facilitate reconciliation between Hamas and their Palestinian rival, Fatah. As long as Gaza remains isolated, the situation in and around Gaza will remain volatile."

“Israel's leaders don't want a Palestinian state”, Carter told Metro in an interview. Carter, who still conducts international negotiations and is now a member of The Elders, won the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize.

The dishonest and unfair pro-Israel narrative continues with its portrayal of Arab aggression, ignoring mass murder and destruction of Palestinian homes; but noting the wars in 1948, 1967 and 1973 as proof that the country was under perpetual attack. While it is true that the Arab nations attacked Israel after it declared itself a nation in 1948 on Arab territory, it must be remembered that if Mexican immigrants declared a state of Mexico in Arizona, it is unlikely the U.S government would not see it as an act of aggression and take immediate military action. After almost 75 years, the game of playing ‘victim’ is still being played to fool the world.

The wars in 1967 and 1973 were started by Egypt and Syria, not the Palestinians, and the Israelis used it as an excuse to annex more Palestinian land (Gaza, the Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights and the West Bank), an act illegal under international law. The Palestinians, as always, suffered the consequences of competing empires.

The continued occupation of the Palestinian people and the relentless expansion of the Israeli state is a text book definition of colonization. The Palestinians have a right to resist this occupation, and the onus is on Israel to stop it so that peace talks can resume. But the way things are moving, it is not going to happen in our life-time.

British Foreign Office, June 1920:

The Balfour Declaration “has also been interpreted as giving priority to a small minority of Jews over the mass of people in Palestine. It is idle to propose that preference should be given to one-tenth who has gone to the country (Palestine) only lately over the nine-tenths who have been there, from father to son, for generations”.

 

Noam Chomsky:

“Hamas is regularly described as 'Iranian-backed Hamas, which is dedicated to the destruction of Israel.' One will be hard put to find something like 'democratically elected Hamas, which has long been calling for a two-state settlement in accord with the international consensus'—blocked for over 30 years by the US and Israel. All true, but not a useful contribution to the Party Line, hence dispensable.”

“The new crimes that the US and Israel were committing in Gaza as 2009 opened do not fit easily into any standard category—except for the category of familiarity.” – Noam Chomsky (Gaza in Crisis).

“Israel's demonstration of its military prowess in 1967 confirmed its status as a 'strategic asset,' as did its moves to prevent Syrian intervention in Jordan in 1970 in support of the PLO. Under the Nixon doctrine, Israel and Iran were to be 'the guardians of the Gulf,' and after the fall of the Shah, Israel's perceived role was enhanced. Meanwhile, Israel has provided subsidiary services elsewhere, including Latin America, where direct US support for the most murderous regimes has been impeded by Congress. While there has been internal debate and some fluctuation in US policy, much exaggerated in discussion here, it has been generally true that US support for Israel's militarization and expansion reflected the estimate of its power in the region.”

“The effect has been to turn Israel into a militarized state completely dependent on US aid, willing to undertake tasks that few can endure, such as participation in Guatemalan genocide. For Israel, this is a moral disaster and will eventually become a physical disaster as well. For the Palestinians and many others, it has been a catastrophe, as it may sooner or later be for the entire world, with the growing danger of superpower confrontation.” – Noam Chomsky.

“People who call themselves supporters of Israel are actually supporters of its moral degeneration and ultimate destruction.” – Noam Chomsky.

 

George Galloway: Free Palestine

"Free Palestine, Free Afghanistan, Free Speech" - George Galloway. (Speech made at St. Andrew's Wesley United Church, Vancouver, Canada).

“The Palestinians are the victims of one of the greatest crimes of

the 20th century now bleeding into the 21st century”, he notes.

“Israel has broken more U.N. Security Council Resolutions

than all the other countries of the World combined. They

have broken more international law than all the countries

of the world put together.

The Palestinians who are the victims of terrorism

are called the terrorists, and the Israelis who are

the ‘Terrorists’ are referred to as the victims by

Zionist-controlled politicians and Zionist-controlled

media in the West. They are never punished.

Shame, shame on the West!”

Nelson Mandela:

(Nelson Mandela's memo to Thomas Friedman about Israel & Palestine, by Nelson Mandela, in Jefferson Corner - America's Speaker's Corner, 28th March, 2001.)

 

"If you want peace and democracy, I will support you.

If you want formal Apartheid, we will not support you.

If you want to support racial discrimination and

ethnic cleansing, we will oppose you."

Theodor Herzl, Founder of Political Zionism, May 1896:
"Without preparation, I told [Michael von] Newlinsky that we imagine that Palestine would be given to us for £20 million ($100 million [in 1896]). Two million would be given to Palestine on the basis of the capitalization of its present [1896] yield of £80,000 annually. With the other £18 million, we should free Turkey from the Control Commission”.
(Theodor Herzl, founder of political Zionism, 1860 - 1904, from a Personal Diary entry 18^th May, 1896).

"We shall endeavor to expel the poor population [of Palestine] across the border unnoticed, procuring employment for it in the transit countries, but denying it any employment in our country”.
(Theodor Herzl, founder of political Zionism, 1860 - 1904, from a Personal Diary entry 12^th June, 1895).

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