The main purpose of the association is to facilitate the improvements at Zahira, stressing on the ingredients, which will enhance the improvement of educational standard.

With much regret, a brief discussion on the rise and fall of Zahira took place and all agreed that it is incumbent on all old Zairians in particular and Muslim Community in general to give a helping hand to the administration to bring back Zahira to its past glory.

A steering committee, consisting of the following was formed to draw up the constitution and to pave the way for a fruitful association.

• A G A Barrie
• Aqil Osman
• Faizal Nazeer
• Mohamed Asif
• Mohamed Ashrath
• Abddul Zakir
• Fareed Kuhafa
• Mohamed Anas
• Mohamed Siddiqui

The gathering adjourned after the Iftar and scheduled to meet on Sunday the 26th September, Insha Allah, to review the proposed constitution and to elect the office bearers.

"Whosoever performs the night prayer on the night of Al-Qadr with Eemaan (firm belief) and seeking reward will have all his past sins forgiven."

2 This hadeeth is evidence for the virtue of the night of Al-Qadr as well as performing qiyaam during it. And it indicates that it is a grand night, which Allaah has honored and made better than a thousand months in regards to its blessing and the blessings found in the righteous deeds that are performed in it. Thus it is better than the worship of a thousand months and that is equivalent to eighty-three years and four months. Due to this, whoever performs qiyaam (night prayer) with true faith and while seeking reward in it, will be forgiven his past sins. There were certain versesverses concerning this virtue:

Allaah says:

"We sent it (the Qur'aan) down on a blessed night. Verily We are Ever-Warning. Therein (on that night) is decreed every matter of ordainment ." 3 Therefore, it is a “blessed night” meaning it possesses much good and blessing due to its merit and the great reward that awaits the one who does good deeds in it. Among its blessings, is that Allaah revealed the Qur’aan in it. Allaah says:

"Verily, We have sent it (the Qur'aan) down in the night of Al-Qadr. And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr is? The night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Rooh (Jibreel) by their Lord's permission with all decrees. (All that night) there is peace, until the appearance of dawn .

Ibn Katheer (ra) said concerning Allaah’s saying: “Therein descend the angels and the Rooh”:

—

1 The following is taken from Ahaadeethus-Siyaam: Ahkaam wa Aadaab(pg.141-143). 2 Al-Bukhaaree (4/2550 and Muslim (759) 3 Surat-ud-Dukhaan: 3-4 4 Surat-ul-Qadr: 1-5

—

“This means that the descending of the angels increases during this night due to the vast amount of its blessings. And the angels descend along with the descent of blessing and mercy, just as they descend during the time when the Qur’aan is recited and encompass the gatherings in which Allaah is remembered and spread their wings for the true seeker of knowledge, showing respect for him.” 5

This night occurs only in Ramadaan, since Allaah revealed the Qur’aan in it. He informs us that its revelation occurred during the month of Ramadaan in His saying: "Verily, We have sent it (the Qur'aan) down in the night of Al-Qadr." 6

And His saying: "The month of Ramadaan in which was revealed the Qur'aan.” 7

This means that its revelation from Allaah to His Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) began in it.Allaah’s statement: “The night of Al-Qadr” is either an indicative of the honor and station of that night, as it is said: "Such and such person has great Qadr". The conjunction of "the night" to Al-Qadr is the joining of a descriptive feature to it, thus making it mean "An honorable night". The word “Al-Qadr” may also be in reference to the ordainment and disposal of affairs. Thus, its being joined to the word "the night" would be in order to denote a place or time to it. So it would mean "the night in which all that will occur in the following year will be decreed." This is similar to Allaah's saying: "Therein (on that night) is decreed every matter of ordainment." 8

Qataadah said of this: "Therein is decreed every matter of the (upcoming) year” 9

and Ibn Al-Qayyim said that this is the correct opinion.” 10

What seems most correct is that there is nothing that restricts the possibility of these two understandings and Allaah knows best.

His statement: “with Eemaan” means with firm conviction in what Allaah has prepared for those who stand in prayer during this magnificent night. And “seeking reward” means looking for reward and the attainment of recompense.

Thus, this is a grand night, which Allaah has chosen for beginning the revelation of the Qur’aan. So the Muslim must acknowledge its weight in worth, by guarding it andspending it in worship whilst having firm conviction and seeking the reward of Allaah, in order that Allaah may forgive all of his previous sins. This is why the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) 5

—

Tafseer Ibn Katheer: (8/465) 6 Surat-ul-Qadr: 1 7 Surat-ul-Baqarah: 185 8 Surat-ud-Dukhaan: 4 9 Reported by At-Tabaree in his Tafseer (25/65) as well as Al-Baihaqee in his book Fadaa'il-ul-Awqaat (pg. 216). Its chain of narration is saheeh. 10 See Shifaa'-ul-'Aleel of Ibn Qayyim (pg. 42)

— 

warned us about being heedless of this night and being neglectful of spending it in worship, for the Muslim would be prevented from its good.Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said:"Ramadaan has come to you — a blessed month. Allaah has made it obligatory upon you to fast in it. During this month, the gates of heaven are open, the gates of the Hellfire are closed and the evil devils are chained. To Allaah belongs a night in it, which is better than a thousand months. Whosoever is prevented from its good, then he has been prevented." 11

The Muslim should supplicate much on the nights in which the night of Al-Qadr is sought. And he should supplicate with that which the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)instructed ‘Aa’ishah RAA with, when she asked him: “What if I know on which night the night of Al-Qadr occurs, what should I say?” So he (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: “Say: O Allaah, indeed you are All-Pardoning. You love forgiveness, so forgive me.” 12

Ibn Katheer (ra) said:“It is recommended to supplicate a lot at all times and (to supplicate) more than that during the month of Ramadaan, its last ten days and its odd days. And it is highly recommended to increase ones invoking with this supplication: ‘O Allaah, indeed you are All-Pardoning. You love forgiveness, so forgive me.’” 13

—

11 This hadeeth is reported by Ahmad and An-Nasaa'ee. See Ahmad Shaakir's checking of the Musnad (no. 7148) and Saheeh At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb of Al-Albaanee (1490) as well as Tamaam-ul-Mannah (395) 12 Reported by At-tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah with an authentic chain. [Editor's note: The supplication transliterated from Arabic reads: "Allaahumma Innaka 'Afuwwun Tuhibbul-'Afwa Fa’affoo ‘annee."] 13 Tafseer Ibn Katheer: 8/472

—

While the Obama administration continues to affirm its intention to withdraw US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, the US' military presence in the Muslim world is actually expanding and this is exacerbating tensions and inflaming animosities.

Barack Obama's promise to open a new page with the Muslim world on the basis of mutual respect and interests – supplemented and enforced by the use of soft rather than hard power – now rings hollow.

This is most evident in the withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq and the corresponding surge in Afghanistan – an exercise in redeploying military forces, not extracting them.

As the gap between words and deeds; declarations and policies; public diplomacy and military strategy deepens, so the political and strategic crisis facing the Obama administration continues to deepen.

Enduring presence

There are now more than 140,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan – from the 100,000 Americans to the three Austrians – in an estimated 400 bases.

But, almost a decade after it invaded and a year after the adoption of a new AfPak strategy, the escalation of fighting there serves to underline the failure of the US to implement an effective counter-insurgency strategy.

The complete military and political failure in places such as Marjah, in Helmand province – which was presented as a prototype for future operations – has further complicated the military mission in the country.

But Robert Gates, the US secretary of defence, Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, and General David Petraeus, the commander of US forces in Afghanistan, have been unequivocal in insisting that their priority is to 'get the job done' – which places a big question mark over previous presidential commitments to draw troops down by the end of next year.

The US generals are adamant and are lobbying their Nato allies to also expand their presence in the country.

And in Iraq …

US and Iraqi generals question the wisdom of a total US troop withdrawal by the end of next year, with some like Lieutenant-General Babaker Zebari, going as far as to speak of another decade of US deployment in the country.
 
Moreover, the US state department's decision to hire and deploy a private army of some 7,000 additional mercenaries in Iraq – to add to the estimated 200,000 private contractors already deployed there and in Afghanistan, is further militarising its diplomatic presence in the region.
 
As of next month, there will still be some 50,000 US soldiers in more than 100 military bases in Iraq. 
 
As former US Colonel Andrew Bacevich, the author of an insightful new book calledWashington Rules and whose son was killed in Iraq, told EMPIRE: If it looks and sounds like an occupation, the US presence in Iraq will still be just that.

The political paralysis in the country and recent escalation of violence aren't making matters any easier.
 
The wider region

A new report show that the Obama administration is intensifying its secret war and covert operations in the Muslim world, including assassinations through the use of drones.
 
Much of this is being executed by the CIA, turning the intelligence agency into, in the words of The New York Times, a "paramilitary organisation". 

Other covert operations are being carried out by unaccountable private contractors who are complicating US missions and rules of engagement.
 
Although the covert operations are defended as less costly in terms of "collateral damage" or human losses, their use comes in addition to, not instead of, military operations – or, in the words of the 'terrorismologists', using the "scalpel" in addition to, not instead of, the "hammer".
 
According to the report, the CIA's operations have been expanded in Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Kenya, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Yemen.
 
US military attacks in Pakistan and Yemen have led some to warn that, just as George Bush got America stuck in Iraq and Afghanistan, Obama might get the US trapped in these two complex countries.
 
At a crossroads

Unfortunately, despite its continuous and costly military fiascos, Washington persists in using military power to impose its political will, resulting in terrible human and political losses. 
 
The US fiasco in Iraq and Afghanistan has exposed the limits of the superpower's military capacity to win wars, let alone hearts and minds, in faraway lands. Instead, Western wars in Eastern lands have spread chaos and exposed its weaknesses.

And yet, in addition to hundreds of military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, the US military continues to deploy its forces in more than 100,000 structures in over 700 bases in more than 100 countries around the world. 

Indeed, for decades Washington has further redeployed, not withdrawn, its forces from the world.

Since the end of the World War II, and over the last six decades, the US fought three major wars – Korea, Vietnam and Iraq. 

It is still deployed heavily between the Koreas, lost Vietnam and remains an occupying power in Iraq two decades after it first attacked in 1991 and seven years after it invaded in 2003. 
 
Some reckon Obama, a liberal who never served in the military, is worried about being seen as a wimp. 

Others lament that he has been out-manoeuvred by powerful forces in Washington, including the Pentagon and its generals. 

And yet others remain hopeful that he will prevail and eventually downsize the US military presence overseas.
 
Consider me a realist, but I doubt the empire will be downsized any time soon. 

However, the good news is that the majority of Americans today – like the absolute majority of the Greater Middle East – would like to see the US mind its own business and stop interfering militarily around the world.
 
Call me an idealist, but I think in a democracy, it is the people and their political representatives that have the last word, not the generals.

I guess a "readealist" (realist/idealist) reading of the US empire shows it's better to keep your expectations of its generals low, and your hopes regarding the people high.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/imperium/2010/08/25/us-wars-people-vs-generals

She begun by saying, marriage a blessed union between a man and a woman and its through marriage the man and the woman becomes halal for each others and everything between them, from talking to touching to starting a family through marriage it becomes permissible for them And through marriage, the man and the woman starts the long trip of life in which they help each others, complement each others and assisist each other and are in need of each others, and Allah said, From His signs is that He created from you amongst yourself spouses to dowel therein and He placed between you love and mercy.

So this relationship is a divine relationship, because Allah created the man for the woman and the woman for the man. And they met each others upon love and understanding and with a desire to help each others, to perfect the manners and their imperfections for the other person, and its through marriage the muslim family is built and its through marriage the muslim community gets strengthened.

And the woman has a big role in that and she mentioned the hadith, where the prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, the world is a provision and the best provision is a righteous wife. So a righteous wife is a great blessings because he finds comforts with her, and he finds with her things that he would be able to find with any body else.

So the question comes, how can you be the best provision for your husband? So that you are honored, loved and sheltered by your husband. This is by taking the qualities of a righteous wife. So who is the righteous wife? She is the wife who is obedient to her husband so long this obedience is not in disobedience to Allah, and she is a wife who is keen to please her husband always. And she is also happy with him even despite what he doesn’t have. So she doesn’t look to what he doesn’t have whether its money or stuff he can’t afford or the qualities he doesn’t have but rather she looks at what he does have and she is pleased with that.
And the prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, the traits of the woman of this world who goes paradise is that they are patient and they have Ihsan when they serve their husband which means that they try to serve their husband and their homes in the most perfect way.

And one great example for us is that of Fatimah as-zahra, the daughter of the prophet and the wife of ali ibn abi talib, she was always working hard in house, always making bread and carrying water from the well to her house, and cleaning her house, to the point that her hand grow calashes and when a group of servants were distributed amongst the muslims, her husband told her: ‘ go to your father, and request a servant to help you.’ So she went to her father prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam and asked him for a servant. And he told her to go back and he came to her while she was with her husband and he told to her, ‘be patient and tend to your house’, and he said,

‘Should I not teach you something better than what you asked?’ He said,

‘before you go to bed say, subhan Allah 33 times, alhamdulillah 33 times, and allahu akbar 34 times.’ She said she continued doing that, and they never left this dhikr once they learned it from the prophet sallallahualayhe wa sallam.

And another example of a righteous wife who is keen on serving her husband and her house no matter how much fatigue she went through, is the Asma bint abi bakr, the wife of Zubayr, and she said that zubayr was poor. He had no wealth, slave or anything . He only had a horse and a camel and she used to graze his horse and provided with food to it and look after it and ground dates for his camel and besides that she used make arrangement to provide its water and patch up its leather bucket and kneed the flour. She said: ‘I
> wasn’t good at baking breads so my female neighbor used to make the bread for me and I used to carry the seeds from zubayr’s lands which the prophet gave to him, and it was a distance of 2 miles from madina and she used to make this trip every day. And this was in her old age and despite her old age, she did this every day until one day the prophet sent her a servant who took care of the horse for her, and once the servant took care of the horse, she felt like she was emancipated. So despite the house work she was doing,she didn’t complain. And she took care of her husband and home to the best way she could. And this is how the Sahabiyat were and this is how they served their husband and the righteous believing woman should do the same and she should know the rights of the husband upon her, because his rights upon her are great, as the prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, if he could order any human to make sujud to another human he would have ordered the woman to make
sujud to her husband due to the rights he has upon her.

Subhan Allah, shaykah asked, do we remember this? Do we remember this when we interact with our husband, that their rights upon us are so great that this is what the prophet would have ordered. And she mentioned that Aysha radiallahu anha asked the prophet who has the greatest right upon a woman, he said, her husband and then she asked who has the greatest right upon a man, he said, his mother. Another hadith she mentioned, a woman came to the prophet for a need, and when he finished tending to her need, he asked her, are you married, she said, yes, he said, how are you with your husband, she said, I fulfill his rights except what I can’t do, so he said to her, look to how you are with him, because he is your paradise and he is your hell.

So the shaykah said, subhan Allah, how can you hear this sisters, and still fall short to your responsibility to your husband and house. Everything you do, should be first seeking the reward of Allah, and don’t make it just to please your husband, but make it first seeking reward of Allah, so you get reward for what you do.

And she said that, the women of the past they knew their obligation very well, whereas woman of today, they are ignorant of the rights and obligations their husbands have over them. But that when a woman takes care of her husband and house, this is the mark of the true woman. And it is an obligation upon a woman to do to what pleases her husband and to stay away from his displeasure. So another trait of the believing wife is that she should know how to win the heart of her husband, and this is part of the intelligence of the wife, and so a good wife also helps her husband in his deen, and also helps him to attain best manners. Best manners are not what you show toward your community, but best manners are what you show towards your family, specially, your husband and we will be asked about our manners towards our husband and we will be rewarded if our manners toward him were good and punished if our manners toward him was bad.
And another trait is that woman should respond to the call of her husband if he calls her to the bed, and she should never turn him away, because this is something that will bring happiness to the marriage life. Because obedience to husband leads a woman to Jannah.

The prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, if a woman prays the five prayers, fast month of Ramadan and obeys her husband, and protects her private part, she will be ordered to enter jannah by any doors she pleases, and this is what we seek. We seek jannah for obeying husband; this is a small price for jannah. And then she told of a sahabiyah, she knew how to reach the heart of her husband, the sahabiya was Umm Sulaym, he was one of the ten who was promised jannah, and they had a son, who was very sick, and abu talha used to asked about him every day, and one day he was away and the son died, and she told the members of the family, do not this news to abu talha until I tell him. So abu talha came home, she prepared dinner, he took it, while he did that, she adorned herself in a way that she had not done before, so she came to him, and they had a relationship that night and when they were done she said to him, Abu talha, if some people borrowed a jug or jars from another family, and the family asked for it, so would they have right to refuge, he said, no. so she said, I inform you of the death of your son, so be patient, and he was annoyed. He said ‘you didn’t tell me about this until I was intimate with you and you later gave me information of my son.’ So he went to the prophet to complain about this and the prophet told him, ‘May Allah bless both of you the night that you spent’ and she became pregnant and she gave birth to a son who became hafith of Qur’aan, and that son had many other righteous children. So this woman was a smart woman who knew how to break the news to her husband. And because of her intelligence Allah blessed both of them with much good. Because the way she dealt with the situations.

The prophet said, should I not tell you of your woman in paradis?, And the Sahaba said, yes. So he (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said, ‘alwalul [woman who is very fertile] and alwadud [woman who is very loving toward her husband]’ and he said, ‘the woman of paradise if she angers her husband, she says to her husband, here is my hands in yours, and I will not blink an eye until you are pleased me. So another trait of the righteous wife is that she doesn’t leave her husband to sleep until he is pleased with her. And this is a reason for a happy life and this is one of the praise worthy traits of the believing woman. And it is hard but never the less one of the reward for it is jannah. Because it is one of the trait of the woman of jannah, they do not sleep until their husband is pleased with
them

And she re-emphasized the importance of responding to the call of the husband if he calls to bed and she mentioned the hadith where the prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, if a man calls his wife to bed, and she doesn’t respond, and he sleeps while he is mad at her, then the angels curse her until he wakes. And this again goes back to husband sleeping while he is angry with his wife. And in this case, this la’ana it is very dangerous and something that we should fear.

And the prophet said, by the one in whose hand is my soul [so prophet swore and oath that shows the severity] no man calls his wife to bed and she refuses, except that those in heaven are angry with her until he is pleased with her.

So the anger of the husband also angers those in the heaven for the wife, so the curse of those in heaven is upon the disobedient woman so the shaykhah reminded us that marriage in islam is full of responsibility, and the woman must answer the call of her husband and as long as she could do this, no matter when and where, except if she has a valid excuse like she is on period.

And the prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, a woman must respond the call of her husband even if she was at the back of the riding beast or at the woven. So there isn’t any excuse in not answering the call of your husband even if you are busy and tired still you are commanded to respond to the call of your husband.

And Islam allows the man to marry woman and in return she has to obey him and she must protect him from fitnah and the way to do this is by answering his call. The prophet said, if a man sees a woman outside of his home and he feels something in him, feels attracted to her, he should come to his wife because that will take away what he felt.

"Fasting is prescribed on you as it was prescribed upon those before you so that you may achieve Taqwa. " [Al-Baqarah 2:187]

This Taqwaa can only be achieved by the person who abstains from all evils no matter how small.

Abu Huraira (R) said that the Messenger (S) of Allah (T) said: "Whoever does not avoid false speech and acting on it, Allah (T) does not have any need for him to leave his food and drink". [Bukhaaree]

Abu Huraira said that the Messenger (S) said: "Fasting is not (merely) to leave off eating and drinking, but it is to abstain from vain talk and obscene behaviour". Therefore, if anyone insults you or behaves foolishly towards you, then say: "I am fasting, I am fasting." [Bukhaaree]

For this reason there has reached us strong reprimand from the Messenger (S) for anyone who involves in these types of evil behaviours, he (S) said: "All that some people gets from their fasting is hunger and thirst. " [Ibn Majah, Daramee]

10. THINGS THAT BREAK THE FAST

There are many things that the fasting person must avoid because if he does them during the daytime of the month of Ramadaan his fast would be void, and he would have increased his sins. The following are things that break the fast:

Intentional eating and drinking
Allah (T) said:

{And eat and drink until the white thread of Fajr becomes distinct from its black thread, then complete the fast until the night.} [Baqarah 2:187]

This verse shows that the fasting is abstaining from eating and drinking and therefore whoever intentionally indulges in either of them has destroyed his fast. However, if eating or drinking is done through forgetfulness or being mistaken, or it is done under duress then his fast is still valid and he does not have to make it up.

The following hadeeth establishes this.

The Messenger (S) said: "If anyone forgets and eats and drinks, then let him complete his fast because it is Allah who fed him and gave him to drink." [Bukhaaree and Muslim]

He (S) also said: "Indeed Allah (T) has freed my Ummah from the burden of mistakes, forgetfulness and what they do under duress." [Al-Haakim, Ad Daarqutnee]

Note:
Qadaa (one dayof fasting) has to be made for intentional eating and drinking.

Intentional vomiting

If someone is overtaken by vomit then he continues his fast and completes it to the end of the day it would be valid. If, however he intentionally vomits then his fast for that day is voided. This is based on the following Hadeeth. The Messenger (S) said: "Whoever is overtaken by vomiting then he does not have to make up that day. Whoever vomits intentionally must make up a day." [Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, Ahmad]

Note:
Qadaa of one day has to be made up for every day missed.

Menstruation and post-childbirth bleeding

If the woman starts menstruating or post childbirth bleeding anytime during the daytime of Ramadaan, regardless if it is at the beginning or at the end of the day, then her fast is broken and she has to make it up at another time after the month is finished. If she decides to continue her fast it will not be valid.
The prophet (S) said: "Is it not so that if she starts menstruating she does not pray nor fast? We said: "Yes" He (S) said: "Then that is defect in her Deen (religion)."

Aa'isha (R) was asked: Why does the menstruating woman have to do Qadaa for the fasting that she misses and she does not have to do Qadaa for the Salaat (prayer)?" She answered: "This used to affect us and we used to be commanded to do Qadaa for the fasting and not for the Salaat."

Note:
One day has to be made up for each day missed.

Nutritional feeding from other than the mouth

This breaks the fast because it takes the place of eating and drinking. This ruling is derived by Qiyaas (analogy).

Note:
One day has to be made up for each day missed.

Intentional sexual intercourse

This is based on the saying of Allah (T):

{…And now you can have intercourse with them…} [Baqarah2:186]

Meaning that during the duration of the fast sexual intercourse is forbidden. Whoever's fast is broken because of sexual intercourse during the daytime of Ramadaan must do Qadaa and Kafaara based on the following Hadeeth

Abu Huraira said, a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said: "O Messenger of Allah I am destroyed."
The Messenger of Allah (T) said: "What destroyed you?"
He said: "I had sexual intercourse during Ramadaan."
He (S) said: "Are you able to free a slave?"
He said: "No."
He (S) said: "Are you able to fast two consecutive months?"
He said: "No."
He (S) said: "Are you able to feed sixty poor people?"
He said: "No."
He (S) said: "Sit!" So he sat, and someone brought a basket with dates. The prophet (S) said: "Give it in charity."
He said: "There is none that is poorer than me."
He (the narrator) said: "Then the Messenger (S) laughed until his molar teeth could be seen and then he said: "Go and feed your family with it." [The Group]

11. THE TARAWEEH PRAYER

Establishing the night prayer during the nights of Ramadaan

It is established in the Shar'iah that this Salaah (Prayer) was offered in congregation by the Messenger of Allah (S).

Aa'isha said: "The Messenger of Allah (S) went out during the late part of the night and prayed in the masjid and some men prayed with him. The following day the people began to talk about it and then more people prayed (on the following night). Again the following morning the people began to talk about it, and on the third night many more people came out. The Messenger (S) Of Allah (T) came out, and they all prayed with him. On the fourth night the masjid was unable to hold the amount of people that came out, however, the Messenger (S) (did not come out). He (S) came out for the Fajr Salaat instead. After finishing the prayer he turned to the people and declared the Shahadah and said: "Your position was not hidden from me, but I was fearful that it would be made obligatory upon you and then youwould become unable to continue establishing it." [Bukhaaree]

The Messenger (S) of Allah (T) died and the affair relative to the Taraweeh salaah remained thus (i.e. it is recomended and it can be prayed in congregation). This is because the fear for it to become compulsory was removed after his (S) death. The rightly guided Caliph Umar Ibn al-Khattaab revived this Sunnah of having the prayer of Taraweeh in congregation.

Abd Ar-Rahman said: "I went out with 'Umar (R) to the masjid during one night of Ramadaan and the people were divided. You could see one person praying by himself while another would bepraying and others would pray with him. 'Umar then said: "I see that if I bring together these people and make them all one congregation led by one person that would be better. He then decided to do this: so he gathered them and made Ubay Ibn Ka'b as their Imaam. Then I went out with him on another night and the people were praying behind their Imaam. Umar said: " What a good thing this is..". [Bukhaaree]

The Number of Raka'at for the Taraweeh Salaat

There is difference among the scholars about the number of raka'at to be established for the Night Prayer of Ramadaan. However, the correct amount is established by what the Messenger (S) did i.e. eight raka'at and three raka'at for the Witr prayer.

Aa'isha said "Allah's Messenger (S) never exceeded eleven raka'at in Ramadaan or during other months (for the night prayer). [Bukhaaree].

There is no evidence to suggest that the Messenger (S) prayed both Tahajjud and the Taraaweeh prayer on those four nights (relying on the fact that the Tahajjud and Taraaweeh prayers are two different prayers). All the various names such as Tahajjud, Taraaweeh, Qiyaamul-Lail refer to the eight raka'ahs and three witr which the Messenger (S) used to prayer whether in Ramadaan or not as Aa'ishah has explained.

Jaabir Ibn 'Abdullah agreed with 'Aaeisha, he said: " When the Prophet prayed with the people one night during Ramadaan he prayed eight raka'at and then made Witr." [Ibn Hibbaan].

When Umar enlivened this practice of having the Taraweeh prayer done in congregation under Ubay Ibn Ka'b, he had him pray eleven raka'at as was the practice of the Messenger (S). Sa'eed Ibn Yazeed said. "Umar lbn Al-Khataab ordered Ubay Ibn Ka'ab and Tameeman Ad Daarie to establish eleven raka'at with the people. The reciter used to recite hundreds of verses and we used to lean on our sticks because of their long standing, and we did not leave until the beginning of Fajr." [AI-Muwatta of Immam Maalik]

The above is the most authentic narration relative to the number of raka'at that Umar (R) had established. Any other narration relative to the number of rakaah (most of them are related to Umar) for the night prayer is weak. Furthermore they contradict what is firmly established from the Messenger of Allaah (S).

Men of the Protestant fraternal organisation Orange Order are seen through a security barrier under police presence during the Apprentice Boys march in Londonderry, Northern Ireland on August 14,2010. Up to 15 000 people and 140 bands are expected to attend. The Apprentice Boys of Derry is a Protestant fraternal society with a worldwide membership, founded in 1814

BELFAST — A bomb exploded in a bin in Northern Ireland on Saturday, leaving three children with minor injuries, police said.

The blast in Lurgan, County Armagh, injured a two-year-old and two 12-year-olds with its flying debris, said the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

It came as security forces were focused on policing a major Protestant parade in Londonderry, the province's second biggest city.

Police said the attack had been designed to lure in police officers with a vague warning and then injure or kill them.

Chief Inspector Sam Cordner said it was "an absolute miracle" that the children were not more seriously injured.

The blast "was an obvious attempt to kill police or injure police officers providing a service to this community as they responded to a neighbouring area following a very vague warning that a device had been left at a local school," he said.

No police were in the area when the blast hit, but "three young children were and they received injuries that left them badly shaken and requiring hospital treatment," said Cordner.

"It is an absolute miracle that these children were not more seriously injured by this sickening attack on the most vulnerable members of our community."

[25:64 ] Those who spend the night in adoration of their Lord prostrate and standing;

[25:65 ] Those who say, "Our Lord! avert from us the Wrath of Hell, for its Wrath is indeed an affliction grievous,-

[25:67 ] Those who, when they spend, are not extravagant and not niggardly, but hold a just (balance) between those (extremes);

[25:68 ] Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred except for just cause, nor commit fornication; – and any that does this (not only) meets punishment.

[25:72 ] Those who witness no falsehood, and, if they pass by futility, they pass by it with honourable (avoidance);

[25:73 ] Those who, when they are admonished with the Signs of their Lord, droop not down at them as if they were deaf or blind;

[25:74 ] And those who pray, "Our Lord! Grant unto us wives and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and give us (the grace) to lead the righteous."

[25:75] Those are the ones who will be rewarded with the highest place in heaven, because of their patient constancy: therein shall they be met with salutations and peace,

(Al-Quran)

May Allah guide us to follow His instructions truly……………Aameen