The Qareen in Islam: A Mysterious Companion

 

In Islam, a "qareen" refers to a concept associated with the belief in the existence of a personal, supernatural companion or "jinn" (genie) that is assigned to each human being from birth. This qareen is believed to be a constant companion to an individual throughout their life and is intimately aware of their thoughts, desires, and weaknesses.

Here are some key points to understand about the concept of the qareen in Islam:

Creation: According to Islamic tradition, the qareen is created by Allah alongside the human being. It is made from smokeless fire, similar to other jinn.

Influence: The qareen is thought to influence a person's thoughts and behavior, often trying to lead them astray or tempt them into sinful actions. It is considered a whisperer of evil thoughts and can incite negative emotions and desires.

Temptation and Test: The qareen is seen as a test for human beings. It is believed that it tempts individuals to commit sinful acts, and resisting these temptations is seen as a way of earning Allah's favor.

Protection Through Prayer: Islamic tradition teaches that seeking protection from Allah and reciting certain prayers and verses from the Quran can help shield an individual from the negative influence of their qareen.

Not to Be Confused with Guardian Angels: It's important to note that the concept of a qareen in Islam is distinct from the idea of guardian angels found in some other religious traditions. Guardian angels are seen as benevolent and protective, while the qareen is often perceived as a test or a source of temptation.

Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness: Islam teaches that repentance and seeking forgiveness for one's sins can weaken the influence of the qareen. When a person turns to Allah in sincere repentance, it is believed that their qareen may also encourage them to do good deeds.

It's important to understand that the belief in the qareen is rooted in Islamic folklore and is not universally accepted by all Muslims. Some Islamic scholars and schools of thought place more emphasis on this concept than others. Additionally, interpretations of the qareen's role and influence can vary among individuals and communities within the Muslim world.

The Prohibition of Gambling in Islam: A Moral and Spiritual Perspective

In the realm of Islamic teachings, the prohibition of gambling stands as a fundamental principle that upholds the spiritual and ethical well-being of believers. Gambling, often referred to as "maisir" in Arabic, encompasses a range of games of chance, betting, and speculative activities that are deemed haram, or forbidden, by Islamic scholars. This blog post delves into the reasons behind the prohibition of gambling in Islam, shedding light on its detrimental effects on individuals and society.

The Foundations of Islamic Morality:
Islam places a strong emphasis on ethical conduct and the development of a righteous character. The prohibition of gambling aligns with these core principles, as it fosters values such as honesty, hard work, and responsibility. Gambling, on the other hand, encourages the pursuit of wealth through chance rather than through honest labor, undermining the fabric of moral values that Islam seeks to uphold.

Risk of Exploitation and Injustice:
Gambling often preys on vulnerable individuals, enticing them with the prospect of quick riches while masking the harsh reality of substantial financial losses. This creates an environment where those who are economically disadvantaged are disproportionately affected, exacerbating social inequalities and contributing to a cycle of exploitation. Islam promotes social justice and equality, making the prohibition of gambling a crucial step in safeguarding the welfare of all members of society.

Deterioration of Family and Community Bonds:
Gambling can lead to the breakdown of family and community relationships. Individuals who become consumed by the pursuit of gambling are more likely to neglect their responsibilities to their families, leading to strained relationships, financial hardship, and emotional distress. Islam places immense importance on the institution of the family and the strength of communal bonds, making the avoidance of activities that threaten these connections imperative.

Erosion of Personal Character:
Islam emphasizes the development of self-discipline, self-control, and self-restraint. Engaging in gambling contradicts these values, as it encourages impulsive behavior, greed, and a lack of moderation. Such behaviors can lead to a degradation of one's character and moral compass, hindering personal growth and spiritual development.

The Impact on Mental and Emotional Well-being:
Studies have shown that gambling addiction can have severe negative effects on mental and emotional well-being. The stress, anxiety, and depression that often accompany gambling losses can have far-reaching consequences on an individual's overall quality of life. Islam promotes the preservation of physical and mental health, making the avoidance of activities that jeopardize well-being a fundamental aspect of the faith.

The prohibition of gambling in Islam is rooted in the preservation of moral, spiritual, and social well-being. It reflects the holistic approach that Islam takes towards human life, aiming to create a just and harmonious society where individuals can thrive both spiritually and materially. By understanding the underlying principles that guide the prohibition of gambling, believers can make informed choices that align with the teachings of Islam and contribute to their own personal growth and the betterment of society at large.

Ilford 'Snapchat queen' guilty of manslaughter of her boyfriend

A “Snapchat queen” who posted a video of her boyfriend dying in a pool of blood has been found guilty of orchestrating his killing.

Fatima Khan, 20, plotted with a love rival to kill Afghan asylum seeker Khalid Safi, 18, whom she had been seeing for two years.

Safi was repeatedly stabbed in the chest by Raza Khan in North Acton, west London, on the evening of 1 December 2016, jurors were told.

Fatima Khan filmed him as he lay dying in the street and posted it on Snapchat with the caption: “This is what happens when you fuck with me.”

The self-confessed Snapchat addict denied murder and alternative counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm, saying she was ashamed of the video.

But a jury at the Old Bailey deliberated for 18 hours and eight minutes to find her guilty of manslaughter by a majority of 10-1 on Tuesday.

During the trial, jurors were shown the disturbing footage as well as CCTV images of the fatal confrontation between Safi and 19-year-old Raza Khan.

Prosecutor Kate Bex QC said the two men had fought over Fatima Khan a few years earlier, at which time Safi had been injured. And in the runup to the killing, Fatima Khan had been in daily contact with Raza Khan via Snapchat, jurors heard. She became upset when Safi bought her a watch and presented it to her at her home five days before his death, jurors heard.

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Enjoin justice and forbid evil: Verse of the day

"Had not God repelled some people by the might of others, the monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which God's praise is celebrated daily, would have been utterly demolished. God will certainly help those who help His cause. . .These are the people who, if We establish them in the land, will remain constant in prayer and give in charity, enjoin justice and forbid evil." The Holy Quran, 22:40-41

Israel tore Fadi Alloun’s family apart; then it killed him

 

Last week, Fadi Alloun celebrated his 19th birthday with friends in Issawiyeh, a village in occupied East Jerusalem. He was thrilled that he had recently obtained a driving license. As a birthday gift, his father promised to help him buy a car.

Fadi had no stable job but was eager to find enough paid work so that he could realize this dream.

Five days later, Fadi was slain by militarized Israeli police in the Musrara neighborhood, beside Jerusalem’s Old City.

The Israeli police claim Fadi had tried to stab an Israeli teenager. But video evidence from the scene of Fadi’s killing on Sunday does not corroborate this claim.

Rather, the videos show the Israeli police executing Fadi in cold blood. A group of Israeli Jews was filmed rejoicing at his death.

Fadi’s family insisted that the stabbing accusation was just an excuse used by Israel to try and provide some “justification” for his slaying.

“If he’d tried to stab a settler, we wouldn’t hide it,” said Haya Alloun, one of Fadi’s eight aunts. “Palestinian youth have every right to resist those who occupy our land. But I’m sure that he didn’t and you can be sure of this by watching the videos.”

Fadi’s experience with Israel’s apartheid system began when he was less than two years old.

His mother, who carried a Jordanian passport, travelled to Amman at that time to visit her sick father, taking Fadi’s younger brother with her.

The Israeli authorities banned her from returning to Jerusalem, tearing the family apart. For nearly 18 years, Fadi was unable to see his mother and brother. He could only talk to them on the phone or via the Internet.

Even after his death, the Israeli authorities have not yet granted his mother and brother a permit to pay Fadi a final farewell.

Because of the ban imposed on his mother, Fadi was raised by his father as an only child. His father, in his turn, refused to marry again, entirely devoting himself to his son, whom he described as “my heart and soul and everything in my life.”

“He was everything to me, the most precious thing in my life,” Samir Alloun, Fadi’s father, told The Electronic Intifada. “I was his father, his mother and his best friend. Our relationship was very special.”

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Seek Refuge

Afghan woman, whose genitalia was severed by her husband, fights for justice amid rising violence against women

 

Sadia quietly entered the room, lifted her burqa and took a seat. She's thin, almost emaciated, and old beyond her years.

"It was the second night of Ramadan," Sadia recounted, and she woke her husband up for suhoor, the morning meal served just before dawn.

"I prepared food and I told him to get up. When he got up he asked me why I didn't make milk tea. I told him I would go make it, but he didn't listen. He just started beating me."

Beatings were frequent over the course of their two-year marriage. Two months in, her husband and his family stopped feeding and giving Sadia clothes. They would shut all the windows and doors of the house and take turns beating and strangling her.

"When they beat me, they would tell me, 'You're all alone, scream as loud as you want, there is no one here to hear you.'"

"I asked from God to die."

Three-time abuse rule

Sadia returned to her family home three times because she was beaten so badly. At the husband's family's request, she was sent back, with a promise that the abuse would end.

Afghanistan's traditional justice system, one deeply woven into society, seemingly functions on a three-times rule. If, after the third time, a woman is still being abused by her husband, then elders, who often preside over the cases, will typically allow for a divorce.

Some families, however, intervene immediately so there is no second time. Others, not at all.

Mohammad Islam, Sadia's father, a poor daily labourer, admitted to seeing his daughter being beaten by her husband - not once, but several times. However, Sadia's husband, part of an armed group, sometimes known as arbakai, is led by a well-known, powerful local commander named Noor Mohammad.

Local armed groups have flourished in order to counter the threat from the Taliban as the central government's control barely runs beyond the capital, Kabul.

Afghan first lady in shadow of 1920s queen?

The growing fragility of the north can be seen on the vital highway linking the provincial capital of Takhar, where armed gunmen dot the road passing through the picturesque hills.

"The commander and his men put pressure on Sadia's family, who then come here and tried to pressure us to send her back. They have gone to the hospital and told the doctors to say this incident never happened," said Razmara.

"They also told the prosecutor to not touch the case. They have tried every means possible to get Sadia back."

As the director spoke, Sadia, probably 19 or 20 as she doesn't know her exact date of birth, leaned into the conversation, her hands clasped in her lap, looking down, continuously shaking her head in agreement.

Before passing out on that second night of Ramadan from the beating, Sadia recalls her husband getting on top of her, sitting on her face and then withdrawing his knife.

"I don't know how much time passed, but when I woke up he started beating me again. His brother's son came to the window and asked what was going on. I got up and walked to the window, my husband followed and continued to beat me. I crawled out of the window and my husband also followed."

When Sadia arrived at the hospital the following morning, according to Dr Safi, the director of public health, and Razmara, they found out that the right side of her major labia (outside fatty tissue covering the vagina) had been severed off by a knife. Her pelvis was mutilated and "abused" by hand, and her vaginal canal had been penetrated - with parts of her insides torn out.

"Violence against women is increasing day by day," Safi told Al Jazeera. "Today we even have a case of a woman with her ear cut off."

"But," he continued, "I have never seen anything like this before … not anywhere."

"In order for her to fully recover she needs plastic surgery. We can't do this in Afghanistan, she would need to go outside the country. We were also not able to give her a proper checkup, so we don't even know the full extent of the damage," Safi said.

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The searing hypocrisy of the West

Since the teens went missing from Gush Etzion, a Jewish-only colony in the West Bank, Israel has besieged the 4 million Palestinians who already live under its thumb, storming through towns, ransacking homes and civil institutions, conducting night raids on families, stealing property, kidnapping, injuring, and killing.

Warplanes were dispatched to bomb Gaza, again and repeatedly, destroying more homes and institutions and carrying out extrajudicial executions.

Thus far, over 570 Palestinians have been kidnapped and imprisoned, most notably Samer Issawi, the Palestinian who went on a 266-day hunger strike in protest of a previous arbitrary detention.

At least 10 Palestinians have been killed, including at least three children, a pregnant woman, and a mentally ill man. Hundreds have been injured, thousands terrorized.

Universities and social welfare organizations were ransacked, shut down, their computers and equipment destroyed or stolen, and both private and public documents confiscated from civil institutions.

This wonton thuggery is official state policy conducted by its military and does not include the violence to persons and properties perpetuated by paramilitary Israeli settlers, whose persistent attacks against Palestinian civilians have also escalated in the past weeks.

And now that the settlers are confirmed dead, Israel has vowed to exact revenge. Naftali Bennet, Economy Minister said, "There is no mercy for the murderers of children. This is the time for action, not words."

Although no Palestinian faction has claimed responsibility for the abduction, and most, including Hamas, deny any involvement, Benjamin Netanyahu is adamant that Hamas is responsible. The United Nations requested that Israel provide evidence to support their contention, but no evidence has been forthcoming, casting doubt on Israel’s claims, particularly in light of its public ire over the recent unification of Palestinian factions and President Obama’s acceptance of the new Palestinian unity.

In the West, headlines over pictures of the three Israeli settler teens referred to Israel's reign of terror over Palestine as a "manhunt" and "military sweep." Portraits of innocent young Israeli lives emerged from news outlets and the voices of their parents are featured in the fullness of their anguish. The US, EU, UK, UN, Canada and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) condemned the kidnapping and called for their immediate and unconditional release. Upon discovery of the bodies, there has been an outpouring of condemnation and condolences.

President Obama said, "As a father, I cannot imagine the indescribable pain that the parents of these teenage boys are experiencing. The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms this senseless act of terror against innocent youth."

Although hundreds of Palestinian children are kidnapped, brutalized or killed by Israel, including several in the past two weeks, there is rarely, if ever, such a reaction from the world.

Just prior to the disappearance of the Israeli settler teens, the murder of two Palestinian teens was caught on a local surveillance camera. Ample evidence, including the recovered bullets and a CNN camera filming an Israeli sharpshooter pulling the trigger at the precise moment one of the boys was shot indicated that they were killed in cold blood by Israeli soldiers.

There were no condemnations or calls for justice for these teens by world leaders or international institutions, no solidarity with their grieving parents, nor mention of the more than 250 Palestinian children, kidnapped from their beds or on their way to school, who continue to languish in Israeli jails without charge or trial, physically and psychologically tortured.

This is to say nothing of the barbaric siege of Gaza, or the decades of ongoing theft, evictions, assaults on education, confiscation of land, demolition of homes, color coded permit system, arbitrary imprisonment, restriction of movement, checkpoints, extrajudicial executions, torture, and denials at every turn squeezing Palestinians into isolated ghettos.

None of that seemingly matters.

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"He culturally believed he had the right to hit his wife and discipline his wife.”

 I hope he enjoys the dhal in prison! So disgusted....

A Pakistani immigrant beat his wife to death in their Brooklyn home after she made the mistake of cooking him lentils for dinner instead of the hearty meal of goat meat that he craved, according to court papers.

Noor Hussain, 75, was so outraged over the vegetarian fare that he pummeled his wife, Nazar Hussain, 66, with a stick until she was a “bloody mess,” according to prosecutors and court papers.

“Defendant asked [his wife] to cook goat and [his wife] said she made something else,” the court papers indicated as Hussain’s murder trial opened on Wednesday.

“The conversation got louder and [his wife] disrespected defendant by cursing at defendant and saying motherf- -ker, and . . . defendant took a wooden stick and hit her with it on her arm and mouth.”

Defense attorney Julie Clark admitted Hussain beat his wife — but argued that he is guilty of only manslaughter because he didn’t intend to kill her. In Pakistan, Clark said, beating one’s wife is customary.

“He comes from a culture where he thinks this is appropriate conduct, where he can hit his wife,” Clark said in her opening statements at the Brooklyn Supreme Court bench trial. “He culturally believed he had the right to hit his wife and discipline his wife.”

Prosecutors, however, said Hussain meant for his wife to die.

“His intentions were to kill his wife,” Assistant District Attorney Sabeeha Madni said in court. “This was not a man who was trying to discipline his wife.”

Madni said that Hussain “brutally attacked his wife as she lay in her bed” — leaving deep lacerations on her head, arms and shoulders, and causing her brain to hemorrhage.

He beat her with a stick that the family had found in the street and used to stir their laundry in a washtub, the court papers state.

He then tried to clean up the blood that had splattered onto their bedroom wall before calling his son for help, Madni said.

“I killed her. Hurry up and come over,” Hussain told his son, according to prosecutors.

Madni also said Pakistani women who lived in the same building as the Hussains would testify about the beatings Nazar received at the hands of her husband.

“They have told us about years of abuse they witnessed,” Madni said.

Hussain met his wife in Pakistan and the couple married before moving to Brooklyn, prosecutors said.

The trial continues Thursday before Judge Matthew D’Emic.

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InshaAllah this evil man will die in prison, shunned by his entire community. Also the daughter must have known what what was going on she should have been  punished accordingly.

A pensioner who repeatedly raped a deaf and mute girl he had trafficked into the UK to work as his domestic servant has been jailed for 13 years.

Ilyas Ashar, 84, brought the girl to the UK from Pakistan in June 2000 when she was aged around 10. She was beaten and forced to sleep and work in the cellar of Ashar's five-bed family home in Eccles, Greater Manchester.

Their victim, who had no family or friends in the UK and had never been to school in Pakistan or Britain, was taught by the Ashars to sign her name so they could steal more than £30,000 in benefits. She was made to work for the Ashars for almost a decade.

The girl was sexually abused from pre-puberty, Minshull Street crown court in Manchester heard. Ashar would routinely rape the girl in the cellar and other houses the family owned while she tried to fight him off.

Ashar was convicted by a jury last week of 13 specimen counts of rape, though the court heard that the abuse happened "many, many times more". He was convicted at an earlier trial of two counts of trafficking a person into the UK for exploitation, two counts of furnishing false information to obtain a benefit and one of permitting furnishing of false information to obtain a benefit.

His wife, Tallat Ashar, 68, was jailed for five years for two counts of trafficking a person into the UK for exploitation and four counts of furnishing false information to obtain a benefit.

Their daughter, Faaiza Ashar, 46, who was found guilty at an earlier trial of two counts of furnishing false information to obtain a benefit and one count of permitting furnishing of false information to obtain a benefit, was given a 12-month community order with 300 hours of unpaid work.

Passing sentence, the judge Peter Lakin said: "You Ilyas Ashar and you Tallat Ashar did not treat this girl as a human being. To you she was merely an object to be used, abused and cast aside at will.

"You took full advantage of her extreme vulnerability. You exploited her physically, you exploited her mentally and you exploited her economically. There was throughout a distasteful undercurrent of violence and intimidation.

"All that she had in her life was the love of her family and her own human dignity. You two took that away from her. You consigned her to a life of misery and degradation."

He added: "Throughout these proceedings not one of you have shown any remorse. You are concerned with your own selfish, self-centred interests. You Ilyas and Tallat Ashar are deeply unpleasant, highly manipulative and dishonest people."

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HADITH OF THE DAY: MILITARY COMMANDERS SHOULD DISOBEY IMPROPER ORDERS

A military commander appointed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once issued an improper order to his troops. When the soldiers asked the Prophet about how they should have reacted to the order, he said: "(There is) no obedience (required) for evil deeds, obedience is required only in what is good." Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Hadith 363

HADITH OF THE DAY: PREVENTING EVIL

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) related a parable comparing those who obey God's commands to those who do not. He said they are like people who draw lots for seats in a ship. "Some of them got seats in the upper part, and the others in the lower. When the latter needed water, they had to go up to bring water (and that troubled the others), so they said, 'Let us make a hole in our share of the ship (and get water) and save those who are above us from being troubled.' If the people in the upper part left the others do what they had suggested, all the people of the ship would be destroyed, but if they prevented them, both parties would be safe." Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 673

Recognising Evil

Whoever does not recognize evil is more likely to fall into it.

– Umar bin Khattab (Radi-Allahu anhu)