Category: News

by: Mohd. Nasir Ahmed
Ramadan (Sawm) is one of the five pillars of Islam and the ninth month ofthe Muslim calendar. The meaning of Sawm is to ‘abstain’. In this month,Allah SubhanaWaTaala (SWT) has made it compulsory that the fastingbe observed by day, and he has made the ‘Taraweeh’ (Ramadan nightlyprayer) a ‘Sunnah’. Fasting is to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, saying, looking, listening bad things andconjugal relations from dawn till sunset. The goal of fasting is to develop self-restrain (Taqwa).

Ramadan is an annual training programme to refresh us for carrying outour duties towards Allah (SWT). Fasting develops self-control and helps usto overcome selfishness, greed, laziness and other faults. This month ofpatience gives us an opportunity to experience for ourselves what it is liketo have an empty stomach. This develops our feeling for the poor andhungry people. Fasting teaches us to control the love of comfort.

If difficulty is experienced in fasting, one should bear it cheerfully and notcomplain. Should we feel fatigued at the time of Taraweeh (Ramadan nightlyprayer), this too should be borne with fortitude.It should also be borne in mind that fasting does not aim at inflictingpunishment upon people or taking on unbearable burdens. The underlyingidea behind it is to teach moderation and spiritual discipline so that humantemptations may not become so wild and uncontrollable as to flout thecommands of the Great Master. To be a true servant of Allah (SWT), it isessential that man should be able to conform his behavior to the moral andspiritual discipline embodied in the Shari’ah of Islam. Fasting isindispensable for this moral and spiritual training.The Prophet (pbuh) said, “When the month of Ramadan starts, thegates of mercy are opened and the gates of Hell are locked and thedevils are chained”. (Sahih Muslim, Book 006, Number 2361)

The hadith (sayings of prophet) below gives some very important points regarding Ramadan:The Prophet (pbuh) said “Fasting is a shield or protection from the fireand from committing sins. If one is fasting, he should avoid sexualrelation with his wife and quarrelling, and if somebody should fight orquarrel with him, he should say, ‘I am fasting.’ There are two pleasuresfor the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and other atthe time when he will meet Allah; then he will be pleased because ofhis fasting.” (SahihBukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 128)

In this month, the rebellious ‘Shayateen’ (Satans) are chained, so as not toprovoke those evils which they normally do during months other thanRamadan. A question may arise here that, when the ‘Shayateen’ arechained, how it is that we still do see evil committed? The reply is that evilmay not necessarily be caused by the rebellious ‘Shayateen’. People havefor eleven months lived in obedience to ‘Shayateen’ whims and wishes, andso performing evil deeds instigated by them becomes second nature.Consequently, evil is being done in and out of Ramadan.Therefore the feelings and lessons we experience should stay with usthroughout the year. In Al-Qur’an, Muslims are commanded to fast so thatthey may “become pious”. This piety and devotion is especially felt duringRamadan, but we all must strive to make the feelings and attitude stay withus during our “normal” lives. That is the true goal and test of Ramadan.

Fasting is the way to piety and the fear of God. Fasting narrows the food andblood arteries. They are known to be canals of the devils, hence fastingreduces their insinuation. It further weakens carnal desires, thoughts andtemptations of disobedience.Fasting enhances bodily health. It gets rid of contaminated matter, eases thestomach, purifies the blood, eases the working of the heart, brightens thespirit, refines the soul and disciplines the character. When an individual fasts,his soul is humbled and his carnal desires are dispelled. There is a greatreward for fasting, as it shows a Muslim obeying Allah (SWT) and submittingto His command.

According Dr. Jack Goldstein author of the book “Triumph over Disease by Fasting and Natural Diet” says that “Fasting give vital organ a complete rest, promotes elimination of metabolic wastes, allows the body to adjust and normalize its bio-chemistry and also its secretion, lets the body break down and absorb swellings, deposits, diseased tissues, and abnormal growth; restores a youthful condition to cells and tissues, increases the power of digestion and assimilation and permits the conservation and re-routing of energy; it clears and strengthens the minds”.

Fasting in Ramadan is not merely physically restraining from the obvious foodand drink, but the total commitment of the servant’s body and soul to the letterand spirit of fasting.
1) The fast of the self means to be free from all carnal desires.
2) The fast of mind is avoiding thoughts about things other than Allah (SWT).
3) The fast of the hand is not touching/taking what does not belong to it.
4) The fast of the nose means not sniffing or smelling unlawful things.
5) The fast of the feet is not going places where sinful acts are propagated.
6) The fast of the eye is to prevent it from seeing forbidden things.
Allah (SWT) says in Al-Qur’an, “Tell the believing men to lower theirgaze and be mindful of their chastity; this will be most conducive totheir purity. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and bemindful of their chastity, and not display their charms (in public) beyondwhat may (decently) be apparent thereof, hence let them draw theirhead-covering over their bosoms”. (Al-Qur’an 24:30-31)
7) The fast of the tongue is guarding against lying, backbiting, slandering,reviling, abusing others, cursing, indecent conversation, swearing and falseevidence. The Prophet (pbuh) said: “A Muslim is he from whose tongue andhands other Muslims are safe”.
The Prophet (pbuh) said, “”Whoever does not give up forged speechand evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink(i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)”(SahihBukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 127)
The fast of the ears is not to listen to idle talk, gossip, lyrics and notes thatcontain obscene and indecent things. Listening to Al-Qur’an bears the fruit offaith, guidance, light and prosperity. It fills the heart with wisdom, tranquility,intimacy and contentment. It is a source of protection from the dangerous,deviant and sinful thoughts.
9) The fast of the heart means casting out from it the love of worldly thingsand by emptying it of all corrupt material such as, false beliefs, evilsuggestions, filthy intentions and degenerate thoughts.

The Prophet (pbuh) said: “There is a piece of flesh in the body if itbecomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it getsspoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart.”(SahihBukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 49)

The believer’s heart abstains from pride and egotism as these traits breaks itsfast. Egotism is when the individual sees himself as perfect as and better thanothers. The cure for this self-importance is to look at one’s faults and shortcomings,thousands of sins and misdeeds that one has committed, wrongs thatone has done and forgotten, but knowledge of which are with Allah (SWT).

Allah (SWT) says in Al-Qur’an, “do they, perchance, envy other people forwhat God has granted them out of his bounty?” (Al-Qur’an 4:54)

The heart of the believer fasts and abstains from envy as envy lowersrighteous deeds and stops its progress toward Allah (SWT).

Fasting and healing
Studies are being conducted to treat serious illnesses like osteo-or rheumatoid arthritis or asthma utilizing fasting for a short duration of a few days to medically supervised water (only fasts of 30 days) to help the body heal itself. It has been known that both children and animals refuse to eat when sick as a natural response. The severely sick have no appetite, but they take the food only at the urging of the family members.

The severely sick feel no hunger because food in severe sickness intervenes with natural response. The body is always trying to heal itself. When the patient is resting and consuming water only, the body heals itself and fasting acts as a facilitating process. One can get rid of coffee, cigarettes salty or sugary foods, which are addictive, through fasting, as fasting can help clear the taste buds and healthful foods start to taste better again. However insulin-dependent diabetics should not fast because of ketosis in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes, who cannot break down the ketones and use them as fuel. Healthy people use the ketones (by-products of fat metabolism) to maintain energy. (To conserve the glycogen stores, glucose becomes restricted to the central nervous system, mainly the brain. Instead of taking the glucose from the brain, the body begins breaking down the fatty acids in adipose (fatty) tissue). People with non-insulin-dependent diabetes (the majority of people who have diabetes) can improve their health through fasting.

Fasting helps cardiovascular disease, arthritis, asthma, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, ulcers, and digestive disorders, lupus, skin problems (including cysts, tumors and kidney stones). Even quitting smoking and obesity respond favourably to fasting.

Hence fasting during the month of Ramadan does not cause any adverse medical effects, on the other hand may have some beneficial effects on weight and lipid metabolism.

Charity in Ramadan
It is reported that “The Prophet (pbuh) was naturally the most generous of people and he used to be more generous than ever in the month of Ramadan”. (SahihBukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 126)

Allah (SWT) has given you, so Muslims should try to give generously in Ramadan, both Sadaqah (optional charity) and Zakaah (obligatory charity). Every time a servant of Allah (SWT) gives something in charity Allah (SWT) eases his physical, spiritual and mental conditions. He expands for him His sustenance. Sadaqah does not only have to be money. It can also be a good deed—such as helping another person—done for the sake of Allah (SWT) and without expecting any reward from the person. Even a smile is considered charity in Islam. Most Muslims pay their Zakaah during Ramadan because the reward is so much greater in that month. Wealth is like water, if its flow is obstructed it becomes brackish, and if it flows, it becomes sweet and fresh. The Prophet (pbuh) said “This is the month of charity in which believer’ssustenance is increased. Whosoever feeds a fasting person or gives afasting person a single date or a sip of water, to break the fast, for himthere shall be forgiveness of his sins and he will be saved from the fire ofhell, and for him shall be the same reward as for him (whom he fed)”.(Tirmidhi Hadith 1965)

In conclusion, this is what I was able to write about issues concerning fasting. I ask Allaah to help us to remember Him, thank Him and worship Him properly, and to conclude our Ramadan with forgiveness, and to save us from the Fire. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad, and his family and companions, and grant them peace.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/ramadan-a-general-perspective/

By Babina
Who will protect us from the hands of dirty politicians & filthy militants?

The biggest fear rising in the minds of every single citizen of the state right now is who will protect and ensure safety of the people in Manipur. Almost all the top political leaders who have set itself up as the guardians of the public trust are rotten and corrupt to the core. All self-declared guardians of the state are dishonest or crooked at heart. Who then is to guard the guardians of the state?

We have a grave situation in Manipur in which personal accumulation of wealth have been closely tied to politicians backed by armed groups and vice-versa either through corruption or extortion. And since positions of leadership have been dominated by these individuals, the two vices of corruption and nepotism have become part of the daily vocabulary of many under our political system.

There is a crippling inability on the part of the political leadership to deal with this issue of militancy. Could it be that this inaction stems from the fact that we are expecting action to be taken from the very people that are corrupt? For, power can and does transform good men and women into corrupt and greedy leaders. And the victims of this struggle for spoils have obviously been the people of this state.

Why is our government doing nothing despite claiming of having concrete evidences of the particular militant organization involving in carrying out the recent bomb blast at Sangakpham that killed 5, including that of a father and son duo and 2 little innocent girls aged around 10 years? How can our state leaders just ignore when armed goons enjoy unbridled freedom to carry out brutal attacks on civilians in broad daylight and go scot-free?

ISTV news on 2nd August 2011 carried that, at a news conference held at New Delhi, Home Minister Chidambaram declared that the bomb attack at Sangakpham was done by the NSCN (IM). Why then is the Govt of India unable to take up any action? Or is it GOI`s one dirty strategy to intensify the ethnic clashes between the Nagas and the Meiteis?

Just like the state government, the self-declared guardians did not care to prevent such inhuman and barbaric act of planting bombs at busy market place. How can they just watch silently the half-torn bodies lying on the same soil like a piece of log? How can they just let NSCN (IM) plant a bomb in such public place and stay quiet, if at all the said outfit was behind the blast? Is NSCN (IM) bigger than PLA, RPF, UNLF, PREPAK, KCP, KYKL, and the endless number of factions?

Whether they realize it or not, but NSCN spat on the face of the many revolutionary organizations operating in the heart of Imphal by attacking the public right under their nose. The very statement given by NSCN (IM), “the fact that some groups in Manipur targeting innocent public in order to make their political statement has become a matter of grave concern” is rather a big shame for our meitei revolutionaries.

Refuting the allegations that NSCN was responsible for the blast at Sangakpham, the outfit also slaps the Govt of Manipur saying that the reaction of the Manipur government and its CM, Ibobi is nothing but an act of impropriety and recklessness, considering their irrational opposition to peace and the ongoing political dialogue between the government of India and the NSCN.

Officially or unofficially, NSCN (IM) has been carrying out its terror administration along with setting up offices in all the Naga inhabited districts of Manipur, although the ceasefire is not legitimately extended to the state.

In a press statement published in The Sangai Express, Manipur Naga Revolutionary Front (MNRF) said the AC battalion of NSCN (IM) is at Phunchong in Chandel district, the NP battalion is in Oklong in Tamenglong district, Kishimung battalion is in Grehang village in Ukhrul district and Huthrong Brigade is in Senapati district. Moreover, NSCN (IM) has been openly collecting taxes at Mao Gate in Senapati, Pallel Gate in Chandel district, Litan Gate in Ukhrul district and at Noney in Tamenglong district, MNRF added.

Why then is the Govt of Manipur as well as the Govt of India giving a blind eye and deaf ear to this outfit? Is NSCN (IM) bigger than the state and central government?

The government must not only have those responsible for Sangakham blast victims brought to justice immediately but also deactivate all militants who have become a law unto themselves in Manipur. So long as they are given freedom to act according to their whims, civilians will not be safe. It is high time they are dealt with appropriately. Else, attempts being made to rebuild Manipur are bound to fail. Needless to say development does not take root in a culture of impunity.

We can`t accommodate terrorism. When someone uses the slaughter of innocent people to advance a so-called political cause, at that point the political cause becomes immoral and unjust and they should be eliminated from any serious discussion, any serious debate. Every leader, and every regime, and every movement, and every organization that steps across the line to terrorism must be banished from the discourse of civilized human life.

If the so called sons of the soil really want to build a new Kangleipak, then they should pull up their socks before the public starts protesting against them. They should stop slaughtering innocent people in the name of revolution before the public starts killing them morally. They should stop being the obstacle to the state`s development before the public throws them out of the very state they are fighting for. They hurl bombs and threaten anybody who refuses to pay them money but they can`t stand up and fight the infiltrators. If they can be the first to impose illegal tax and extort money in the name of the state`s welfare, how can they be the last on earth when it comes to protecting their own people?

Try as we should, the question that I want to pose is this: Is there any hope that we will ever root out corruption and terrorism in this new millennium? Does anyone out there in the corridors of power listening to us? Yes, perhaps they are but many of them not hearing!

The real epidemic in our state is poor political leadership, government economic mismanagement, corruption and insurgency. These are the causes of our continuing crisis and not much else. Accepting responsibility for one`s actions and for a system that has gone badly wrong is the starting point on the road to our economic recovery. I see this as the greatest challenge facing today.

And as civic society, we must continue to pile pressure on corrupt leaders so that in the end they do the honorable thing and resign from their positions of power whether they are politicians or self-declared guardians because the latter can be corrupt as well.

However, my faith in Manipur is strengthened by the fact that brave men will stand against any injustice and by my belief that the people of this state will never lack the leaderships of dynamic and dedicated men and women in the future.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/who-will-guard-the-guards-of-manipur/