The first Islamic satellite, expected to be used in the crescent sighting, will go into orbit in 15 months’ time, with the launch planned for 2006, according to Dr Omar Al Khateeb, Head of Research and Fatwa Section, who represented the UAE at the Satellite committee meeting held in Cairo on December 21, 2004.
In an interview with Khaleej Times, Dr Al Khateeb said that the project was proposed by Dar Al Ifta in Egypt in 1997. “The satellite is expected to present a solution to the problem resulted from the differences over the lunar months- a fact which prompted Arab and Muslim countries to support the project,” Al Khateeb, pointed out.
He added that the committee, which comprises Arab Islamic scholars, representatives of Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Muslim World League, reached an agreement to put to tender the manufacturing of the satellite in January 2005. The tendering would take place in cooperation with the Cairo University’s Space Studies Centre (CUSSC). Al Khateeb explained that moon sighting has always been a controversial issue among Muslim countries, and scholars have different views over the issue. “Many scholars believe that Muslims in different countries should follow one sighting as long as the sightings are made on the same night in these countries, while others believe that Muslims worldwide should abide by the lunar calendar of Saudi Arabia,” he said. Al Khateeb explained that the launch of the Islamic satellite project would present a solution to this controversial problem.
The satellite, to be manufactured on the basis of specifications and descriptions determined by CUSSC, would be operated by a main station located in Cairo and a sub-station in the holy city of Makkah. More than $8 million would be generated by some Islamic countries to fund the project, he noted. Al Khateeb said the satellite would be forwarding images of the crescent to the ground stations in Egypt and Makkah.. “In the first phase, the satellite’s mission will be sighting the crescent. Later on, the satellite will be developed so as to be linked with Islamic media channels to play a great role in correcting the misconception about Islam in western countries,” he said.
US Muslim Opinion Poll :87% Support Palestinian State
Washington D.C:
Only 13 per cent Muslims supported US war in Iraq while 35 per cent supported war in Afghanistan. Fifty seven per cent Muslims knew someone who has experienced anti-Muslim discrimination at workplace or school, or other own neighbourhoods, after 9/11 incidents. These results come from a poll titled ‘Muslims in the American Public Square’ (MAPS) by Zogby International done recently. The poll said 38 per cent Muslims felt the US is waging a war on Islam while only 33 per cent felt it was a war against terror.
The polls revealed that nearly a quarter of Muslims said they had been victims of racial profiling in the United States. It said 87 per cent Muslims want the US to support a Palestinian state while 80 per cent want reduction in support to Israel. Sixty six per cent Muslims said they wanted the US to reduce support to the undemocratic Muslim states. 87 per cent wanted the US to deal with social, economic and political inequalities around the world to defeat terrorism.
Despite their disillusionment with the current administration, the survey found 51 per cent Muslims still said this was a good time for being in America.
Malaysia Offers Working Model for Muslim World
Malaysia has offered the Muslim world what it describes as a modest working model of renewal, reform and the beginnings of a renaissance. In outlining the model derived from the 10 fundamental principles of Islam, prime minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said this was an effort to bring the ummah back to basics and return to the primacy of values and principles as prescribed in the Quran and Hadith. “Malaysia can offer insights into the building blocks of a progressive and modern Muslim nation,” said Badawi in his keynote address on Islam, at Jamia Millia Islamia University recently. “Those of other faiths, although a minority, have never been persecuted and there is no tolerance in my administration for discrimination and prejudice against any religious group. I am a Muslim, but I am also a leader of all Malaysians,” he said. Abdullah said Malaysia would invite scholars of Islam from all over the world to initiate the process of intellectual reform and renewal in its efforts to be a platform for thriving Islamic thought. Talking on Malaysia’s experience, the prime minister said the multi-religious ruling party had demonstrated during the March general election that “we can roll back the Islamists not by engaging in holier-than-thou contests but by addressing the root causes of anger and frustration”.
Comprehensive Encyclopedia
Mashhad:
The first-ever unique Encyclopedia of the Holy Qur’an in Arabic entitled “Al-Mojam fi Figh Luqhat al-Qur’an wa Sirr Balagha”(A Dictionary of Quranic Lexical Items and its Rhetorical Secret) compiled in 25 volumes has been compiled by the Islamic Research Foundation, affiliated to Astan Quds Razavi (the holy shrine of Imam Reza located in the holy city of Mashhad, Iran).This comprehensive work is the most valuable lexicon in the etymology of the words in the holy Qur’an. This first-ever unique Encyclopedia of the holy Qur’an has been brought out after 20 years of incessant efforts of a group of 20 distinguished scholars in Qur’anic sciences under the supervision of Emeritus Professor Ayatullah Muhammad Vaez Zadeh Khurasani, who is the leading professor of the Islamic seminary (Hawzah) and University in Iran. The total cost of the 8 volumes of this work including postal charges is 75 US Dollars or 60 Euro. For more information contact: Islamic Research Foundation, Near Tabarsi Underpass, Adjoined to the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza(A.S.) P. O. Box: 91735-366 Mashhad - Iran, E-mail: info@islamic-rf.org Website: www.islamic-rf.org
People
Sharifa Alkhateeb, Muslim woman activist and American writer, died at her home at Ashburn in Virginia after some months of illness. Sharifa was president of the American Council for Muslim Women as well as of the Muslim Educational Council. She produced a program ‘Middle Eastern Parenting’ for Virginia’s Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) between 1993 and 1997 which proved beneficial in building relationships between schools in the county and the Middle Eastern and Muslim parents in the area.
Sharifa was born to a Yemeni father and Czech father and married an Iraqi Majdi AlKhateeb. She briefly worked at Saudi Gazette in Jeddah and taught English to Saudis.
'Wheels of Justice' rolls on in US
Washington D.C:
Several organisations in the United States have joined together to float a ‘Wheels of Justice’ tour bus that puts on show American injustices in the Middle East. The bus carries picture galleries and speakers who speak against the injustice committed by the US foreign policy in the Middle East ranging from support to Zionist state of Israel, its occupation of the Palestinian land, its war in and occupation of Iraq and killings of Iraqi civilians by the US forces. The bus rolls down on the highways to visit one city after another and solicits support for a just foreign policy. It has been endorsed by International Solidarity Movement, Middle East Children Alliance, Christian Peacemakers Team, Jews Against the Occupation, September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrow, Montana Peaceseekers and Veterans for Peace.
Canadian Pilot Embraces Islam in Doha
Doha:
Neil Sharp, a Canadian pilot working with Qatar Airways has embraced Islam in Doha. He declared his acceptance of Islam as his faith at a simple ceremony at Qatar Centre for the Presentation of Islam (QCPI) recently. “The Stipulation for prayer five times a day is an effective means of direct communion with Allah the Almighty and the weekly congregation of Jumma prayer is a good opportunity for social interaction.”
“The prohibition imposed by Islam on liquor and pork is for the good of mankind. It is medically proven that these things are harmful to man’s health. It was my late father who two decades ago introduced me to Islam. Since then I have been reading a lot about Islam and have gone through a lot of introspection. Finally, I decided Islam is the religion of my choice, he said.”
Saudis Reject Fish Market Jobs
Jeddah:
In its attempts to provide jobs for its citizens, the Saudi Kingdom has been aggressively encouraging its businesses to provide, and even create, jobs for Saudis. Although most companies are looking for Saudis, the Saudis seem to be hiding. Arab News visited both the fish market and the vegetable market to see how many Saudis were working there. Although the vast majority of people at the fruit market are not Saudis, a Saudi presence is obvious and Saudis make up a considerable minority there.
On the other hand, when Arab News visited the fish market, they found that there were hardly any Saudis working there at all. After inquiring at what was primarily a Bangladeshi workplace, they were directed to the waterfront where they found a single Saudi supervisor. “Sometimes Saudis come to work here but they don’t stay for very long,” he observed. He explained that the work required at the fish market is generally rejected by most Saudi men who see it as low-paying and menial.
Hamburg Kiosk Defends Islam
Hamburg:
At first glance one might reckon that a kiosk standing on a street in this northern German city was selling sweet or drinks. A closer look, however, reveals flyers and pamphlets containing essential information about Islam. Some 40 Muslim youth, aged 18-30, were busy distributing their illustrative materials in central Hamburg among attentive and enthusiastic passers-by recently. The creative way of clearing stereotypes and misconceptions about Islam is the brainchild of the Council of the Muslim Minority in Hamburg, which was founded in 1999. Muslim volunteers used “Muslims Against Terror” as their mantra to reinforce the fact that Muslims have nothing to do with terrorism. It further urged authorities to ban religious discrimination, allow Muslims to build mosques and women to wear hijab in workplace. There are some 3.4 million Muslims in Germany, including 220,000 in Berlin. An estimated two thirds of them are of Turkish origin.
Lamu's Lost Glory
Lamu:
For the first time in the history of East Africa, an Islamic University has been launched in Lamu Island This was initiated by Habib Swaleh bin Alwy Jamalulyl who built the Riyadha Mosque and founded it to be the center of education. The University College of Islamic studies affiliated to Riyadha Mosque will be offering courses in Islamic Sharia (law) and it related subjects. Meanwhile a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with African International University of Sudan, Al-Azhar University and other reputed Islamic Universities is underway for curriculum development and exchange programs. This is the beginning of a new era that will bring back Lamu’s lost glory as the center of Islamic knowledge in the region.
Young Arab Leaders
Riyadh:
Young Arab Leaders (YAL), an independent pan-Arab organization aiming to galvanize 500 of the most accomplished, result-oriented young Arabs, has opened its first branch in Riyadh. It plans to recruit 100 Saudi executives as members next year.
Al-Faiz, who has been named the secretary-general of the organization, said their immediate task is to get the association registered. This will be followed by a membership drive next year. Besides business leaders, YAL’s membership is open to government officials, sportsmen, prominent public figures, journalists, musicians, artists and academics under 45 years of age. Al-Faiz said the association’s mission is to identify, promote and prepare the youth for a better future as tomorrow’s leaders. Young Arab Leaders aims at including 500 accomplished leaders from across the Middle East.
Set up in Dubai, YAL will also extend its network of branches to Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Oman, Bahrain, Morocco, Palestine and Kuwait.
Palestinian news website
Gaza:
The Zajel Youth Exchange Program based at An-Najah National University in Nablus has launched its news website www.zajel.org for information on Palestine. The website provides information on history of Palestine, its heritage, religion and current status and removes myth about the Palestine and the Palestinian struggle for a homeland.
