Where is the justice Saudi Arabia?

This man is a Saudi cleric, his name is Faihan Alghamdi. He has killed his 5 years old daughter after months of torturing her. Two days ago, the judge has decided to release him from prison after he pays diya or blood money to his ex wife. If his ex wife (mother) had murdered the child then she would be executed. The child's mother has objected to this unfair verdict and is asking for a new trial. The woman said she had not appointed a lawyer during the trial to demand execution of her husband on the grounds she is “ignorant in the law.”

“The body of my daughter has been in the morgue for nearly four months.. I have just received a court permit to bury her,” she said.

In a report in late 2012, the Saudi Arabic language daily Alyoum said the scholar often appears on a local satellite TV channel to deliver religious lectures.

The paper said his daughter Lama died in hospital after spending several weeks suffering from broken arms, skull fracture and head bruises.

It quoted the girl’s mother as saying her daughter had been systematically tortured by her father and his new wife before she was admitted to hospital in a serious condition.

Source:

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/11/11/249009.html

Our Polly has taken ill

Yesterday morning I received news that our parrot who has been with us for the past 30 years is ill and has been admitted to a veterinary clinic close to our home.It appears that he is unable to breathe properly and requires nebulization. Most African Grey parrots die due to respiratory conditions. Even though he was not as close to me as he was to my brother and mom, I kind of felt an inner sadness. He has been literally a part of our family. I know of many people out there who find it strange if you cry or feel sad at the loss of an animal. I have also come across individuals who have pets but fail to take them to the vet when they are ill based on the grounds that they are just animals, so what if they die. Many of these individuals practice Islam and preach about Islam but they forget to uphold the rights of God Almighty's creation. There are numerous sayings of the Prophet Muhammed (saw) related to the humane treatment of animals. I always believe that having a pet in your house is equivalent to adopting a child into the home. The pet requires the same basic needs that a child requires which is of course being fed on time and provided with tender loving care.I hope that the our parrot gets well soon. Our house and family environment will never be the same without him.

KIDS FROM HELL

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A few weeks ago I was visiting the home of a member of the Royal family along with a close friend of mine. The middle aged lady was a patient at our hospital and over a period of time she had taken a liking to me. Despite hailing from an aristocratic family, she is a very simple, down to earth woman that displays exemplary character to all around her. Her son Abdul Aziz has adopted his mother's fine qualities and personality traits. To be honest, I have never encountered such down to earth people in my life despite their excessive wealth and status within society. I was quite taken aback to find Abdul Aziz having his dinner on the floor with his drivers and other helpers who reside on the huge property. After dinner, we all gathered at the back of the property on the outside porch overlooking the garden and swimming pool area. Whilst chatting about mundane, everyday topics about life, my friend' s mobile phone rang. She answered the call and suddenly her tone of voice changed. She seemed worried and shocked at the same time. When she eventually hung up the call, she related to us a story that sounded just like a movie. The story is about a family who now resides in Makkah. They are originally from Pakistan and hail from Karachi. The father was a successful businessman owning a huge textiles factory. Years ago, after getting all four daughters married into wealthy homes, he decided to retire and hand over his entire business empire to his only son. However, things went horribly wrong. His son was kidnapped by members of the underworld who demanded a huge ransom for his release. Part of the ransom included the factory. Months went by and there was no trace of his son despite seeking help from the police. During this period, his wife became ill due to stress and worry. When he finally lost hope that his son is perhaps dead, he received a note saying that his son is alive but he needs to hand over the factory. Not being able to bare the torment any further, he handed over the factory and other valuable items to the kidnappers. His son was eventually released and whilst everyone rejoiced and celebrated their financial situation was in turmoil. At this point in time none of the son in laws were interested in extending a helping hand. The father, his wife and son then decided to move to Saudi Arabia.He was hopeful and optimistic that his son would acquire an excellent job due to his education and will thus be able to support him and his aging wife. How wonderful it would be to simply retire and spend most of the day in the Haram gazing at the house of Allah. The father was confident that his well educated son will be able to get a good job and support his parents. He also felt that after being through a lot it would be a perfect time to simply relax and be in the city of Makkah engrossed in prayer. Once again, his life took a drastic turn. The son that he gave up everything for became a monster. He started abusing his parents with the support of his wife depriving them of their basic needs like proper clothing and food. There has been occasions where the daughter in law hits her mother in law with a stick if she asks for money to buy essential items like medication. As my friend continued to relate the story, I noticed Abdul Aziz's eyes filling up with tears. I was speechless. How could any individual be so cruel and heartless I thought to myself. My friend met the mother of the house a few years ago in the haram after discovering the woman crying inconsolably. She has been helping the lady ever since. Abdul Aziz instructed me to call the lady and find out what her needs are in terms of medications etc. The next day I called her and whilst weeping on the phone, she related her story to me. Thus far, we have sent her some money and medications but hopefully another close friend of mine who is a fellow blogger as well will find a permanent solution to her issues soon.

Just a while ago my dear friend Ayedh came by the pharmacy and he was relating to me a story about a woman who came to the emergency department some time back with cancer and required an emergency operation to remove a tumor from her brain. Neither her husband nor her kids accompanied her to the hospital. When the doctor called the husband asking him to come by to sign the consent forms, the husband simply replied that he was very busy and had no time to come by. Hence, the doctor and my friend Ayedh, took the responsibility for this woman's treatment. In another bizarre incident that occurred around twenty years ago, a Saudi man took his aged mother and left her in the desert as he felt that she was a burden to him and could not look after her any longer. He told her to wait in the desert whilst he goes to city to bring back some water for her but he never returned.

Hours went by and evening set in. A group of youth came to the desert to picnic and noticed the old lady sitting on the hot scorching desert sand. She told them that she was waiting for her son to come back from the city. The youth stayed with her for some time and eventually forced her into the car and drove her back to the city despite are insistence that she would wait for her son to return. They took her to the local masjid and only after some time did the realization finally set in that her son, her own flesh and blood wanted to get rid of her. The imam arranged a home for her and took care of the woman's needs until her death. How heartbroken she must have felt. In South Africa, I use to work with a lady years ago, whose son use to beat her up black and blue. There were many times that she would just have a nervous break down. I lost touch with her over time but I do hope that her situation has improved.

And whilst you do get kids from hell on the other hand you get individuals like my dear friend, in fact he is more like a brother to me, Ayedh. He turned down a scholarship to further his studies in the USA simply to look after his parents and be there for them in their old age. He is the eldest son in his family and feels that he needs to gain maximum reward by looking after his parents who require his help and support in their old age. I guess it is because of this that Ayedh has gained much success in his career and God Almighty has opened up for him numerous doorways leading him to success and prosperity. He always speaks words of wisdom and I guess I am really fortunate to be associated with such a kind soul. During our conversation I was quite astounded to hear that in Riyadh there is in fact one old age home. I always thought that old age homes did not exist in the Kingdom. Ayedh has promised to find out the exact location of this old age home and we have agreed to visit the elderly when I return from my five week vacation God willing. Ayedh suggested that we take some food and other goodies with us. It is always a delightful experience to put a smile on someone else's face and to make a person feel loved and wanted.

To the youth out there, instead of being engrossed in utter nonsense like computer games, video games, mobile phones, and television, isn't it more beneficial to be involved with social work and being a part of organizations that visit old age homes, orphanages, schools for the blind and disabled. It does not always have to be a monetary contribution. Simply being there for someone else and making a difference in someone else's life is a rewarding experience in itself.To everyone out there who has parents, value your parents, shower them with love and affection.It is only through their blessings that you acquire happiness and success in this world. As God Almighty says in the holy Quraan, 

"And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as] 'uff' [i.e., an expression of irritation or disapproval] and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say: 'My Lord! Have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.'" [Quran 17:23-24].

Are we true to the Holy Prophet’s teachings?

by Khaled Almaeena (Saudi Gazette)

Not a day passes without some depressing news from one Muslim country or another. Either it is a terrorist attack in Afghanistan or the Syrian Air Force bombing its own people. Iraq continues to be hit with violence of the most gruesome kind. Mali now joins the list of Muslim countries facing internal turmoil and external intervention. People continue to be killed in Pakistan either in drone attacks by the US or in inter-sectarian strife. Why?

I think no one who reflects on the worsening conditions in the Muslim world can fail to ask these questions: Is this the community envisaged by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who was born on 12 Rabi Al-Awwal, and is this the world we would have witnessed if Muslims had proved true to their religion and had lived according to the guidance provided by their Prophet (pbuh) and the teachings of the Holy Qur’an?

Muslims may complain of many things but they cannot complain that they have no role model. They have the perfect role model in their Prophet (pbuh).There is no other prophet on whose life so much light has been shed. Living in the full glare of history, his sayings and actions have been documented as no other prophet’s have. Recorded in minute detail, their authenticity has not been questioned by fair-minded scholars and honest historians.

It is extremely difficult for the Muslims of today to imagine and much less to endure the hardships that the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions underwent. In the ninth year of his mission, the Prophet (pbuh) — having been persecuted and terrorized by his people in Makkah — headed for Taif, home of the Banu Thaqif tribe. If anything, he was treated even more rudely by the tribal elders, who told him to leave the place and even sent street urchins after him to beat him and pelt him with stones. He bled profusely. His entire body was covered with blood and his sandals became clogged to his feet because of the severity of the beating and torture he was subjected to. Those who would resort to violence at what they perceive to be insults to the Prophet (pbuh) and Islam should realize that he bore no ill will toward his tormentors. Instead, he made a heartrending invocation to God Almighty beseeching mercy for the people who had persecuted him. Those Muslims who are intolerant and become violent at the slightest provocation are doing a great disservice to their religion and the principle of tolerance it espouses.

When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) noticed the continued absence of a woman in Makkah who used to insult him and throw garbage on him as he walked the streets, he asked people about her and visited her after learning that she had fallen ill.

Over 14 centuries have gone by since he left us, but his message still lives on. It can lead us from darkness to light as it once led the Arabs from backwardness to the heights of success and glory. His life was one of mercy, compassion, care, consideration, kindness and tolerance for all. His sayings, known as Hadiths, bear testimony to this.

One particular theme he was never tired of stressing concerns the rights of women. You should look at what the Prophet (pbuh) said and did in order to realize what an honorable and respectable position Islam affords women. However, it is sad to see that many Muslims ignore this or behave in a way that gives a very wrong impression about women’s position in an Islamic society. “Fear Allah in respect of women,” the Prophet (pbuh) said. On another occasion he said: “The best of you are they who are best to their wives.”

Here is another Hadith: “A Muslim must not hate his wife, and if he be displeased with one bad quality in her, let him be pleased with one that is good.” According to him, “The more civil and kind a Muslim is to his wife, the more perfect in faith he is.”

In what was considered a revolutionary idea at that time, the Prophet (pbuh) taught his companions to remain in their mothers’ service, saying that Paradise lies beneath their feet.

Today, we violate the Prophet’s teachings over this and so many other things, which creates so many problems for us and brings a bad name to our religion.

Start with the self-appointed guardians of faith. They preach piety, but are they pious? Do they live by the tenets of Islam? They preach, but do not practice. What about those who spew hate, abuse and defame others – all in the name of religion? Have they not read about the Prophet’s attitude and behavior toward all those around him including the ones who abused him and tried to kill him?

Do people in authority follow the precepts of the Prophet (pbuh)? If they did, so many Muslim countries would not be in ferment, providing an opportunity for outsiders to intervene in their affairs or to set one section of the people against another.

Are our bureaucrats punctual and sincere? Do they cater to the public’s needs? The functioning of government departments throughout the Muslim world in the holy month of Ramadan tells its own story.

Most of our problems are self-inflicted. There is no point in crying that enemies are plotting our destruction or hatching conspiracies against us. Of course that is what enemies everywhere have been doing throughout history. The question is whether we should help enemies by our own actions or inaction.

Take, for example, scientific progress and economic development. Muslims once led Europe in science and the pursuit of knowledge. All experts agree that without the Arabic numbering system, which included decimals and the cipher (zero), modern science and business would have been impossible. The first university of Europe was established by Muslims in Spain. From the 8th to the 10th centuries, Baghdad flourished as the world’s most civilized city. Its university was attended by 6,000 students from all over the world.

Aristotle and Plato were rediscovered by Muslim scholars who translated many Greek manuscripts into Arabic. Even non-Muslim historians admit that Muslims were the originators of modern chemistry, meteorology, mathematics, sociology and geography. Muslim surgeons were also the first to dissect the human body. The first known telescope was built for a Muslim ruler.

We should remember that we are the followers of a Prophet (pbuh) who said that one should seek knowledge even if it means traveling as far as China.

Today, as we stumble through a confused and turbulent world and as uncertainly and depression grip large parts of the Muslim world, we should go back to the teachings of the Prophet (pbuh). This is the only way to get rid of the social ills from which we suffer.

Unfortunately, we say one thing and practice something else. The Holy Qur’an says: “Allah will never change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves.” Surah Al-Ra’d - Ayah 11 (13:11).

Let us teach ourselves and our children about the life of the Prophet (pbuh) with a firm resolve that we will use it in our daily lives. Let us be more tolerant, more forgiving and show compassion to all people irrespective of their race or religion. This is the best way to show our love and respect for our Prophet (pbuh).

Source:

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130124150436