SHAFAQNA

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) –On the occasion of Ghadir holiday, the Canadian House of Wisdom held a dinner party in downtown Montreal on Sunday November 11th 2012. This was a great occasion to bring together members from the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim community to celebrate this great holiday. Amongst those present were Dr. Mohsen Fatemi , psychology professor at the University of Toronto and Harvard University, Iraqi ambassador to Canada Dr. Abdul Rahman Hosseini and also Seyyed Nabil Abbas, Imam at Lebanese Islamic Center in Montreal. The evening started with speeches from distinguished guests about the greatness of Imam Ali and his importance in human history. Each speaker stated in their own way the significance of Imam Ali’s contributions to human society. After dinner, honorary certificates were handed out by president of Canadian House of Wisdom Dr. Shahrestani. This successful event was able to bring together people to celebrate Imam Ali’s contributions to the world and the Canadian house of Wisdom plans on throwing such events gain in the future. The point of this event was to make a brotherhood between all nations and religions.— www.shafaqna.com/English

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – On Friday 02 November 2012 Muslims of various nationalities and of all ages celebrated Eid-ul-Ghadeer in Manchester, UK. These celebrations were held at the Manchester Islamic Centre (MIC) and lasted for three hours. The programme started at 7 PM with congregational prayers followed by the Quran recitations and continued with speech, nasheeds and giving presents.

In his speech the Chairman of the (MIC), Sheikh Badeie, welcomed all the participants. He then went on to talk about the importance of Eid-ul-Ghadeer and explained why this great occasion should be celebrated, researched into, believed and why Muslims should follow the instructions left by the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) on his last Hajj (Hajjatul weda) in Ghadeer-e-Khumm. He referred to “verses 3 and 67” of “Sura Ma’eda” in the Holy Quran pointing to Ghadeer. In verse 3, Allah said “This day I have perfected your religion for you and completed my favour upon you and I have chosen Islam to be your faith.”

Prophet of Islam (PBUH) in some parts of his Ghadeer Khotba (sermon) in ‘Hajjatul weda’, said “I have left behind two precious things amongst you; one is greater than the other, the ‘book of Allah’ and my ‘itrah (kindred)’. So watch out how you treat them after me, for verily they will not separate from each other until they come back to me by the side of the pond (in Paradise). Verily Allah is my lord and master (mawla) and I am mawla of all believers. Then he took ‘Imam Ali (AS)’ by the hand and said; This (Ali) is the mawla of whomever I am his mawla. O’ Allah, love whoever loves him and be the enemy of his enemy.” www.shafaqna.com/english

(AS) or Alayhe Salaam - Allah’s mercy on him       (PBUH) – Peace (& mercy of Allah) Be Upon Him— www.shafaqna.com/English

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association)– We are on the heels of the commemoration of the glorious event of 'Eidul Ghadir. May Allah (SwT) make this a graet day of celebration for all of the Shia, and grant us all the ability to follow in this school of thought which aims to make us true human beings. The ethical tradition and verse of the Qur`an on the occasion of 'Eidul Ghadir concerns the greatness of the Commander of the Faithful,'Ali b. Abi Talib (as).

هُوَ الَّذِي أَيَّدَكَ بِنَصْرِهِ وَبِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ. وَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ لَوْ أَنْفَقْتَ مَا فِي الأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا مَا أَلَّفْتَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَلٌكِنَّ اللٌّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيْنَهُمْ…

“He (Allah) it is who has strengthened you (Muhammad) with His aid and with (the company of) the believers. And (moreover) He has put affection between their hearts (the believers). Now if you had spent all that is in the Earth could you have produced that affection? But Allah (alone) has done it…”[65]
In this verse, the Noble Qur`an was speaking directly to Prophet Muhammad (S) and saying that one of the miracles of this great personality was his ability to bring the hearts of the true believers together; and in addition, they also rose up to assist the Prophet (S).
The word “بنصره” translated as “with His aid” points to the Hidden help and assistance which was given (to the Prophet (S)) in various battles that he fought and even in other non-wartime events such as the event know as Laiatul Mabit (the night that the Prophet migrated from Makkah to Madinah). If the help of the Divine was not present, then it is very difficult to say if the Prophet (S) would have been saved (on that night), or not.
Allah (SwT) assists the true believers - actually not all of the believers - rather, only those believers whose hearts are united with one another! In continuation, this verse tells us that the joining of the hearts was not something which the Prophet (S) did by himself, rather, this was brought about through the power of Allah (SwT).
We see that during the time of ignorance of the 'Arabs, there was a great deal of animosity for one another and this hostility was even inherited and passed down from one generation to the next and (even generations later), revenge would be taken against another tribe. Such a hatred and animosity that existed in this group of people could never be removed through the normal means at one's disposal. Thus, Allah (SwT) said that if all that was in the Earth would have been given in charity, still the hearts of the 'Arabs would not have been united - rather, it is through Allah (SwT) that the hearts of the believers were made into one.
In this noble verse of the Qur'an, the word “مؤمنين” has appeared in the plural form and this can be done for two reasons: sometimes it is done to mean the actual, complete definition of the word (in the plural sense of the word), and sometimes it is done to show respect to one person. Thus, the plural is used, however it indicates only one person - and in this verse, both interpretations can be accepted.
In relation to this verse of the Qur'an, the late 'Allamah Amini in his work al-Ghadir[66] narrated two tradition - one which has been mentioned from the work by Khatib al-Baghdadi who is one of the most well known scholars of the Ahlus Sunnah, and another tradition from al-Suyuti (another well known scholar of the Ahlus Sunnah). In addition, others have also related this tradition.

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ (صَلَّى اللٌّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ (وَسَلَّمَ)): لَمَا عُرِجَ بِي رَأَيْتُ عَلى سَاقِ الْعَرْشِ مَكْتُوباً: لاٌ إلٌهَ إِلاَّ اللٌّهُ، مُحَمَّدً رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ، أَيَّدْتُهُ بِعَلِيٍّ نُصْرَتُهُ بِعَلِيٍّ

.
The Prophet (S) said, “When I was taken up (into the heavens on the Me'raj), I saw the following written on the leg of the Throne (of Allah): 'There is no creature or entity worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and I have strengthened him (Muhammad) with 'Ali and I have assisted him (Muhammad) with 'Ali.”

عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ (صَلَّى اللٌّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ (وَسَلَّمَ)): مَكْتُوبٌ فِي بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ اللٌّهُ السَّمٌّوَاتِ وَ الأَرْضِ بِأَلْفى سَنَّةٍ: لاٌ إِلٌهَ إِلاَّ اللٌّهُ مُحَمَّدً رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ أَيَّدْتُهُ بِعَلِيٍّ

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Jabir narrated from the Prophet (S) that he said, “One thousand years before Allah created the heavens and the Earth, it was written on the Door of Paradise: ''There is no creature or entity worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and I have strengthened him (Muhammad) with 'Ali.”
The Divine Throne is the point where the beginning of creation took place and Jannah (Paradise) is the end of the path - meaning that from the beginning to the end (of this universe), the entire trail or pathway is emblazoned with the name of Allah (SwT), the Prophet Muhammad (S) and Imam 'Ali (as). This points to the fact that 'Ali (as) was trained and brought up as the helper, brother, assistant, supporter and protector of the Prophet (S), and in instances where everyone else ran away, it was only 'Ali (as) who stayed to defend the Prophet (S) and the best example of this was during the battle of Uhud.
What is the difference between assistance (نصرت) and confirming (تأييد)? If these two words are used separate from one another (not in one sentence), then they carry the same meaning. However, when they are used together, then the meaning of confirming (تأييد) is to help one in spiritual affairs while assistance (نصرت) is in the meaning of the physical help one gives to another person.
This tradition quoted above has a message for everyone and it tells us that 'Ali (as) did not reach to the rank that he possessed for nothing. Rather, through his helping the religion of the Prophet (S), he reached to that grand status.
Helping the religion of the Prophet (S) is not achieved through holding gatherings (majalis) to commemorate joyous occasions in the Islamic calendar, nor is it achieved through simple recitation of poems, nor even going for Ziyarat. Rather, that person who claims to be of the Tashayya' (Shia), must traverse on the path of being a fighter for the religion, especially during our present time where various types of attacks are being leveled against the Shia, and those things which the Shia hold sacred.
Of course, this enmity against the Shia clearly shows that the spread of the teachings of the Ahlul Bait (as) and the Shia beliefs are on the increase and thus, the enemies have also risen up against us and our beliefs.
One of the proofs of the truthfulness of the Shia beliefs is the sources and references for all of our beliefs can also be found in the books of the Ahlus Sunnah. In addition, all of the spiritual greatness that have been recorded about the Ahlul Bait (as) in our books are also mentioned in their books!
When it comes to defending the issue of Wilayah and the teachings of the Ahlul Bait (as), we must do so with logic and related proofs and continue such discussions with a cool head and complete control of our entire presence.
It is our hope that Insha-Allah, we are able to be living examples of “أيده بنصره” and that we too can assist the school of the Ahlul Bait (as)!
Notes:
[65] Surat al-Anfal (8), Verses 62 and 63
[66] Mustadrak Safinat al-Bihar, vol. 2, pg. 50

www.shafaqna.com/English

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – As a revert to Islam, Eid al-Ghadeer is the one Eid that always has made the most sense to me and has been the most significant in my worldview. Part of me has found Eid al-Fitr tempered by the loss of the holy days of the month of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha significant if you or a loved one is performing the Hajj, but otherwise less so. But Eid al-Ghadeer has always been special to me, because it is a celebration of the culmination of Islam – a celebration of the very events that first enabled me to know the status of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) and the crucial role of the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) in the preservation of the True Religion so that I, in 1994, had the blessed chance to discover true Islam for myself. It is only because of the Ahlul Bayt that I had that chance – without them, the True Religion would have long ago been lost in corruption and time.

I remember feeling exhausted after becoming Muslim. I had spent a year in intensive research, questioning the entire framework of my existence and engaging in deep self-evaluation so that in the end, I had turned my life upside down and accepted all the conflict and challenges that would bring my way. But I had yet to scratch the surface of Islamic knowledge and had so far yet to go. I had become aware of the sects and divisions between Muslims, much to my sadness. As a Christian, I had been dismayed by all the man-made churches, none of them holding God’s Truth more than any other. I regretted that I might again find nothing in Islam that provided complete access to Reality.

But then, I read about Ghadeer Khum. The more I read, the lighter my burden became. Here was what I had known must exist – the evidence that God had protected His message from corruption. Every time a revelation from God has come down, man has corrupted it. But the Qur'an has survived because God has protected it, and in Ghadeer Khum, I found the means. I felt tears of deep joy and gratitude to find the protectors of the Qur'an, the ones who have lived the real Islam; for without them, I would have no chance of ever finding the truth. I would have remained a deprived wayfarer, unsatisfied with the religions of man’s making.

If I had not been blessed to know about Ghadeer and appreciate the status and role of the Ahlul Bayt, I would have been left very disappointed after my struggle to find the Truth. While I would have gained the clarity of Tawhid (monotheism) that is in Islam, I would yet know I was stuck in a quagmire of man-made distortions that rip apart the Truth and replace it with ignorance and oppression.

In the Qur’an, Allah says, "And hold fast, all together, by the Rope which God (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude God's favor on you; for you were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, you became brethren; and you were on the brink of the Pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does God make His Signs clear to you, that you may be guided." (3:103)

Numerous narrations inform us that the Rope is none other than the blessed Ahlul Bayt.

I feel this verse resonating deep in the very fiber of my existence. Without the Rope, I would have nothing to hold to, no hope for access to God’s Truth. It is a great favor from God for which I owe immeasurable gratitude that I was able to find this Rope and try with my best effort to cling to it. I cling to this Rope with the love of the Ahlul Bayt, who made my journey to Islam possible,and who have provided me the means to hope for progress on the journey of Truth and salvation from the fire of hell.

The Ahlul Bayt have given me, and have given all of us, the chance to realize our potentials, the ability to hope, and the opportunity for the complete peace that can only be found in one who has glimpsed the Truth. Therefore, the Eid of Ghadeer is the most joyous and meaningful Eid to me. It is the Eid of hope and opportunity for all of us. May Allah bless Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad with His greatest blessings and grant them the most fulfilling peace, and may more and more of humanity come to realize the great gift given to all of us when Allah perfected religion by securing the role of the Ahlul Bayt at Ghadeer Khum.— www.shafaqna.com/English

Source: Islamicinsights

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) - Thousands of Canadian Muslims in the southern Saskatchewan province have celebrated `Eid Al-Adha, one of the two major Muslim feasts, in an impressive display of unity and compassion to the wider community.

"The whole idea of this is to show our unity and you see one person leading the prayers and thousands praying after him," Muhammad Mustafa Mustaan, vice-president of the Islamic Association of Saskatchewan, told The Star Phoenix.

"This is the whole spirit of Islam."

Arriving from early hours in the morning, throngs of Muslim men, women and children representing Saskatchewan Muslim community gathered at the SaskTel Sports Centre, one of the only spaces in the city large enough to accommodate such crowds.

Long rows of prayer mats were rolled out, with men and women praying on separate halves of the large soccer pitches.

Mustaan said Saskatoon's Muslim community is comprised of people from 70 different nations.

Despite these diverse ethnic backgrounds, Saskatoon's Muslim community comes together in observance of their faith, he added.

`Eid Al-Adha, or "Feast of Sacrifice”, is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations, together with `Eid Al-Fitr.

The four-day `Eid, which started on Friday, October 26, marks the end of hajj season.

After special prayers to mark `Eid Al-Adha, Muslims offer udhiyah, a ritual that reminds of the great act of sacrifice Prophet Ibrahim and his son Isma`eel were willing to make for the sake of God.

Festivities and merriment then start with visits to the homes of friends and relatives.

Traditionally, everyone wears new clothes for `Eid, and the children look forward to gifts and the traditional `ediya (cash).

Unity

Marking the end of hajj season, `Eid al-Adha ignited Muslims passions towards the life-time journey to the holy city of Makkah.

"If you go there you will know, God is there," Ahmed Yar Malik, who completed the Hajj in 2002, said.

"You will say bismillah: Allah is great."

Malik said that the pilgrimage left a powerful impression and that other Muslims are interested to hear about his experiences at Makkah.

`Eid festivities, including giving udhiya meat to the poor, also showed the true message of Islam.

"We are eating, we are cooperating with the poor people and helping them," Malik, who hails from Punjab in Pakistan, said.

"That is our Eid."

A financially-able Muslim sacrifices a single sheep or goat or shares six others in sacrificing a camel or cow as an act of worship during the four-day `Eid Al-Adha.

The ritual commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail to Allah as an act of obedience and submission.

The Udhiyah meat should be divided in three equal parts, one each for one's own family, friends and the poor.

It is permissible that someone in another country could perform the sacrifice on one's behalf.

Muslims make around 1.9 percent of Canada's 32.8 million population, and Islam is the number one non-Christian faith in the north-American country.

A survey has showed the overwhelming majority of Muslims are proud to be Canadian.— www.shafaqna.com/English

Source: On Islam

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) - Spreading `Eid festivities, Emirati officials helped scores of new Filipino and Chinese Muslim converts to celebrate their first `Eid Al-Adha,  emphasizing on social solidarity between Muslims.

“The department wants to share Eid happiness with new Muslims and to emphasize the virtue of Eid and social solidarity between Muslims,” Aisha Al Kash, the head of Edification and Religious Guidance Department at the New Muslims Section of Dubai’s Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD), said in a statement cited by Gulf News on Sunday, October 28.

The event, held on Saturday and Sunday, was hosted by IACAD which invited new Filipino and Chinese Muslim converts in the UAE.

Filipino expatriates were invited on Saturday and Chinese expatriates on Sunday.

Offering new converts answers about the significance of `Eid al-Adha and Islam, guest speakers also gave lectures and took questions from the audience.

New Muslims were also invited for a get-together in Mamzar Park after the presentations.

Games and religious rhymes for children were arranged, said Xiaoping Gao, Chinese Languages Senior Guide at IACAD.

A number of non-Muslims from the two communities also showed up to learn about Eid and Islam in their own language, a Chinese IACAD official said.

`Eid Al-Adha, or "Feast of Sacrifice”, is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations, together with `Eid Al-Fitr.

The four-day `Eid, which started on Friday, October 26, marks the end of hajj season.

After special prayers to mark `Eid Al-Adha, Muslims offer udhiyah, a ritual that reminds of the great act of sacrifice Prophet Ibrahim and his son Isma`eel were willing to make for the sake of God.

Festivities and merriment then start with visits to the homes of friends and relatives.

Traditionally, everyone wears new clothes for `Eid, and the children look forward to gifts and the traditional `ediya (cash).

Spreading Joy

Receiving Muslim converts all through the year, the event was praised as a chance to emphasize on social solidarity between Muslims.

“We get people coming in everyday to accept Islam, sometimes five at a time, sometimes 20,” Gao, the Chinese Languages Senior Guide at IACAD said.

“Many are Filipinos and some are Chinese also; it’s the first time we’ve done something like this for them.”

Similar initiatives in Arabic and English are also planned, he added, saying “even Arab Christians from Egypt or Lebanon, for example, are accepting Islam. Non-Muslims are welcome; the idea is to give people the right information about Islam because many people have got the wrong information.”

During the event, some converts shared details of their journey to Islam with attendance.

The conversion of Omar Ibrahim to Islam, a 33-year-old Chinese Muslim, did not only change his life, as his wife, son, parents, some in-laws and cousins have also become Muslim in his footsteps.

“I had too many questions in my heart, about life, death and what happens next. I started learning about Islam because I met good Muslims in the UAE,” Ibrahim, who runs a garments business, told Gulf News on the event’s sidelines on Sunday.

“I read the Quran in Chinese, studied it for six months, and told myself ‘I want to be like such Muslims.’ I called my wife in China and said ‘come here, our lives are going to change.’”— www.shafaqna.com/English

Source: On islam

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) - Every time you install new software, whether it’s an accounting package or the latest game, there’s an end-user licence agreement (EULA) to contend with. Usually there’s a button to click saying you accept it. Sometimes you’re forced to scroll through the entire text before the button becomes active.

Everyone should, because the conditions in that EULA are a contract that’s likely enforceable, says Michael Geist, a law professor and holder of the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law at the University of Ottawa.

Not having read the terms is no excuse.

The courts tend to “examine whether the user had reasonable notice of the terms and then whether the person manifested some affirmative agreement to the terms,” adds Richard Santalesa, senior counsel for InfoLawGroup LLP based in Fairfield, Conn. “This doesn’t mean, in many cases, that the user actually read the terms, but merely had the clear opportunity to do so.”

So if you click “OK” – which you usually have to do to complete the installation – you’re likely on the hook.

The issue is so widespread that an open source user initiative known as Terms of Service; Didn’t Read has begun in Europe with the goal of rating EULAs and terms of service (ToS) so people can make an informed decision about their acceptability without having to wade through the legalese (it does not, however, claim to offer definitive legal advice, and does recommend actually reading the agreements). Instead, it presents high and low points in the ToS, based on peer-reviewed input from users.

The Terms of Service; Didn’t Read website states: “‘I have read and agree to the Terms’ is the biggest lie on the Web. We aim to fix that. ToS;DR aims at creating a transparent and peer-reviewed process to rate and analyze Terms of Service and Privacy Policies in order to create a rating from Class A to Class E.” It has already raised more than €20,000 ($25,700) to fund the project.

Meantime, what should you watch out for?

Toronto lawyer Jordan Nahmias, who specializes in media, intellectual property and corporate law, examines EULAs his clients are asked to sign and also drafts them for their products. He advises his clients to think about these factors:

What can or can’t you use the product for? Can it be used to generate a profit? Is there a royalty or other fee payable for certain uses?

How is intellectual property treated under the EULA? Do you own your messages, for example, or does the EULA say you’re granting the rights to your words to the vendor? What about user-generated content?

Does the entity have a privacy policy? If so, how is information treated? What about third party information?

Are there limitations of liability? In particular, are there financial limitations on liability placed on the licensor?

How many licences are included in the EULA?

Is there a warranty, or is the service provided as is? What is excluded from warranty?

Are there dispute-resolution methods?

How do local laws affect the EULA? Some jurisdictions don’t permit vendors to absolve themselves of all liability, for example.

Courts have been willing to enforce EULAs, Dr. Geist notes. That puts the obligation on the individual. And there’s a greater expectation that business people will read the agreements and be compliant, compared with ordinary consumers

Adds Mr. Nahmias, “Small businesses should always be best prepared in the event that there will be a dispute or litigation. If there is an element of the EULA that one is not comfortable with [such as intellectual property ownership], then explore other options.

“And, if there are no options available, then be very sure about what one is getting into before hitting ‘Accept’ or ‘I agree.’”— www.shafaqna.com/English

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) - While millions of Muslims worldwide are welcoming `Eid Al-Adha, one of the two major Muslim festival, residents of Pakistan’s tribal belt are celebrating yet another fearful and somber feast.

“We are not thinking much about `Eid,” Nasir Dawar, a resident of Mir Ali town in North Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan, told OnIslam.net.

“We are thinking whether or not we will be sacrificed on this `Eid in the name of a military operation.”

Unlike other Muslims worldwide, residents of North Waziristan are growing worried of a new military offensive in the area, which is the hub of the Haqqani network, a group suspected of launching attacks against US-led foreign troops in Afghanistan.

“We have been celebrating `Eids under a virtual siege for last four-five years,” Nasir, who owns a small transport business, said.

“But this time the fears of a military operation have added to our miseries.

“Earlier, there were only drone attacks to scare us, even during the `Eid days, but it seems as if there would be additional gifts of shelling and firing on this Eid.”

Since the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, US drone aircraft launch regular attacks in Pakistan’s northern tribal belt on claims of fighting terror and hunting down Taliban and Qaeda leaders.

Washington has stepped up the attacks, which were launched based on information gathered by local tribesmen, since Barack Obama was elected president.

But the unmanned attacks are slammed for killing hundreds of civilians and only a few militants.

In calculation, more than 3,000 tribesmen, including women and children, have been killed in over 300 drone attacks in Waziristan since 2004.

According to Investigative Bureau of Journalism, an investigative think tank based in London, the ratio of high-value targets killed in these drone attacks is merely 2 percent.

In an investigative report, The New York Times found that the majority of the victims of US drone attacks are civilians, including women and children.

Killer Drones

Despite their fears, Waziris insist on bringing the `Eid joy to the faces of their children.

“I have bought clothes and shoes for my children,” Nasir, a father of three, told OnIslam.net.

“I do not want them to feel in a way we are doing. They are too young, and I want them to enjoy `Eid festivities at least for next few years until they understand what’s happening around them.”

`Eid Al-Adha, or "Feast of Sacrifice”, is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations, together with `Eid Al-Fitr.

Celebrated by Muslims worldwide, it marks the end of annual hajj.

After special prayers to mark the day, Muslims offer Udhiyah, a ritual that reminds of the great act of sacrifice Prophet Ibrahim and his son Isma`eel were willing to make for the sake of God.

Habib-ur-Rehman, a student of Mir Ali Degree College, plans to celebrate `Eid with his friends in Bannu, a nearby town.

“There will be at least peace there,” Habib told OnIslam.net.

“Here, you never know when and where be drone attack, whether it’s an `Eid gathering or any other festivity.”

Huge `Eid gatherings are main features of tribal societies.

In Waziristan, males gather at a ground or any other main meeting place to meet and greet each other on `Eid day.

However, such gatherings have been marginalized for the past few years due to drone attacks on public gatherings, jirgas, and even in some cases on funeral prayers.

“They (drones) won’t care if it is `Eid day or a day of mourning,” Habib said.

“So it’s better to avoid any such `Eid gathering, where you may lose your life.”

Somber `Eid

Thousands of displaced Waziris are also celebrating a somber `Eid away from their homes and families.

“It’s been the fourth consecutive year when I am celebrating `Eid Al-Adha away from my home,” Tariqullah Mehsud, a resident of Sararogha town of South Waziristan, told OnIslam.net.

Tariqullah had to leave his area following a military onslaught to uproot Taliban militants from the area.

Since then, he, like thousands of other refugees, has been unable to perform Udhiyah in line with the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him).

“I am, understandably, not in a position to perform the Sunnah of sacrifice on this `Eid too because what I am earning here is just sufficient to meet my family’s daily necessities,” Tariqullah, who is teaching in a private school and earns Rs 10,000 (110 dollars) per month, said.

“I am expecting from Islamic charities, which have promised to provide meat on this `Eid,” he said, referring to various Islamic charities that have arranged mass sacrifices for displaced tribesmen in different parts of the country.

A number of Pakistanis perform Udhiyah through Al-Khidmat Foundation, Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation, Edhi Foundation, Maimar Trust and other Islamic charities to help the displaced people.— www.shafaqna.com/English

Source: On Islam

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — A wave of attacks that came as Muslims marked the second day of Eid al-Adha, a major festival, claimed at least 15 lives in the Baghdad area and in the northern Sunni city of Mosul, police officials said Saturday.

At least five Shiite pilgrims were killed when a roadside bomb in Taji, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the capital, Baghdad, struck a minibus carrying them to visit Al-Askariya, or the "Golden Mosque."

A dozen more were wounded in the blast. Police said most of those killed and injured were Iranian pilgrims.

A roadside bomb also exploded in an outdoor market in al-Mamel Shiite neighborhood in northeastern Baghdad, killing five people and wounding 13 others, police officials said.

In Mosul, about 380 kilometers north of Baghdad, five people were killed and seven more wounded in four separate attacks in different locations in and around the city, according to police officials.

Most of those affected were from minority Shabak sect. The attacks including two shootings and two explosions targeting houses and shops related to the sect.

Baghdad's Shiite-dominated government has blamed the recent attacks on Sunni insurgents with ties to militant network al Qaeda.

Last month, 365 people, including police and soldiers, were killed, making it the deadliest month since August 2010.

www.shafaqna.com/English

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — is the Eid of Ghadir made by Shi’ites?

Answer: Naviry and Maqrizy say: Mu’izzudoleh Ali Ibne Booyeh has made this Eid up. In defining Islam Eids, Naviry said in <Nihayatal-Arab Fi Fonunil-Adab> (1):” Shi’ites have made this Eid up and have named it Ghadir Eid. They think its reason is the contract of brotherhood by messenger of God with Ali Ibne Abby Talib in Ghadir Khum day. The day which they have made this Eid up is 18^th of farewell pilgrimage; because the contract of brotherhood in the 10^th year of Hegira has occurred in that day which had been in farewell pilgrimage.

They performed ritual prayers during all the nights of that Eid and morning ritual prayer of 2 Rak’ats before sunrise. Their motto was, wearingnew clothes, releasing slaves, being kind to outsiders and sacrificing.

And Mu’izuddole Abul-Hassan Ali Ibne Booyeh was the first person who made this Eid up [later we will mentioned about him in the year (352)]. By heterodoxy of Shi’ia and considering it as Sunna, People of Sunna also regarded the day which is 8 days after Shi’ia Eid, as mirth day in the year (289) and said: messenger of God- may God bless him and his household- and Abu Bakr Saddiq entered in the cave in this day. So they feasted and built fire in this day.

Maqrizi said in <Khatat> (2): Eid of Ghadir had not been a legitimate Eid and none of former leaders of community who were the people’s exemplars, have regarded this day as Eid. This day had been regarded as Eid for the first time in Iraq and during the empire of Mu’izuddole Ali Ibne Booyeh who made it up in the year (352) and consequently Shi’ia named this day as Eid thereafter.

What can you say about a historian who writes in the course of history of Shi’ia without any knowledge of truth or maybe he knew the truth and forgot it when writing or perhaps based on a pre-determined plan, he overlooked the truth. Perhaps he did not know what he was writing about or at least he was indifferent to his word. Isn’t he Mas’udi who died in (346) and said in <Al-tanbih Val-ashraf> (3):” the children of Ali-pbuh- and his Shi’ites respect this day”? And isn’t he Kulayni, the narrator of Ghadir hadith in <Kafi> (4) who died in (329)? And before him, here is the commentator, Farat Ibne Ibrahim Kufi who is the narrator of another hadith in his commentary book (5), he is one of Kulayni reliable sheikhs of Islam. And historically these books obviously have been written before what Naviry and Maqrizi have been claimed in the year (352).

And isn’t he Fayyaz Ibne Muhammad Ibne Tussy who has informed about the Ghadir Eid in the year (259) and said:” he witnessed that Imam Reza-pbuh- died in 203-had feasted this day and had mentioned its virtue and not being heresy and he had quoted it from his fathers.

Imam Sadiq –pbuh- died in 148- had said about this Eid to his companions and had informed them about traditions of prophets which they name the day of appointing their vicegerent as Eid. Like as the habit of kings and commanders who used to feast the days of coronation. Religious Imams-pbut- also ordered their Shi’ites to do good acts, particular prayers and deeds in this day.

This is the reality of Eid of Ghadir. And these 2 persons wanted to detriment to Shi’ia and as a result denied the righteous forbearers and made it the heresy which is attributed to Muizzudole.

(So, the truth prevailed and what they were doing was annulled, they were defeated and turned belittled,)(6). (7)

1. Nihayatal-Arab 177:1 [184/1].

2. Al-khatat 222:2 [388/1].

3. Al-tanbiah Val-ashraf: 221.

4. Kafi [149/4, H3].

5. The commentary of Farat Kufi [p117, H123].

6. The Elevated Places Sura: 118 – 119

7. Shafi’I Shaahroudi / a comprehensive selection of Al-ghadir, page 81.

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