By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: The US administration on Saturday sought to allay
the fears of the Muslim community by sending a clear cut message that
the USA is not against Muslims or Islam.
US under-secretary of State for political affairs Nicholas Burns hosted
lunch to prominent Muslim elders of Hyderabad at the historic Nizam
Club as part of the world-wide US exercise to build bridges with
Muslims.
The relations between the USA and the Muslim world have
turned bitter after the September 11 terrorist attacks and the invasion of
Afghanistan and Iraq by American-led forces.
Senior Muslim leaders including eminent jurist Justice Sardar Ali
Khan, Jamia Nizamia rector Syed Akbar Nizamuddin, former minister
Bashiruddin Babukhan, Information Minister Muhammad Ali Shabber,
Munsif Urdu daily chief editor Khan Lateef Khan and Siasat Urdu
daily chief editor Zahid Ali Khan attended the dinner.
The Muslim leaders posed an array of questions to the US
undersecretary wanting to know when the US will attack Iran and what
is the fate of the Iraq Commission report. Khan Lateef Khan and others
made it clear that Muslims are not against the people of America but
against the policies of the US government.
Nicholas enquired about the socio-economic status of Muslims in
South India vis-a-vis north India.
Saturday, December 9, 2006
Thursday, November 2, 2006
It is going to be a "cool" haj with the temperatures coming down
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, Nov 2: It is going to be a "cool" Haj for over two million
Muslims from the around the world when they gather in the Islamic holy city
of Mecca in Saudi Arabia this December.
The Haj 2006-II season spreads over December and January, which are the
coldest months of the year in Mecca and Madina. And the Haj season is
falling in December after a gap of 33 years. Islamic calendar being a lunar
one, Muslim festivals fall in different seasons in different years with a
periodic cycle spanning over one-third of century.
Haj authorities in Saudi Arabia as also the Indian consulate-general in Jeddah
have advised intending pilgrims to carry warm woollen clothes. Around 1.5
lakh Muslims from India perform Haj every year and they usually carry light-
coloured or white clothes to beat the scorching heat of the desert cities. But
this time around with the Haj season falling in December and spilling over to
January, they may have to wear extra clothing to keep them warm.
"Haj-1426-II will fall in December 06-January 07. These are the cold months
and hence you would need to use warm woollen clothing like sweaters and
blankets. Rooms in Makkah and Madina and the tents in Mina are all air-
conditioned and hence you may feel cold, especially during the night. Please
note that there are no heating arrangements at any of these places," a travel
advisory issued by the Consul-General of India in Jeddah pointed out.
The common health complaints from Indian Hajis have thus far been
dehydration, sunstroke, stomach upset, scraped thighs and blisters on the feet.
This season there may not be such complaints because of relatively cooler
days and cold nights.
Haj seasons (excepting those in January and December) have always been the
best example of the scientific effect of high temperatures on pilgrims or a
huge gathering of humanity. Temperatures in Mecca typically range between
30 degrees and 50 degrees C. This time average maximum temperature is
likely to be around 31.2 to 33.4 degrees C with the average minimum
temperature forecast at 20.1 to 21.1 degrees C.
In a research study published by the American Scientist some time ago, it
was stated that since pilgrims are tightly packed together in suffocatingly
small spaces during the Haj, their body temperatures climb rapidly. This
often had led to sunstroke deaths.
The American Scientist research study also pointed out that when
temperatures are cooler (as in the Haj season this year), there can be a better
chance of survival for at-risk groups such as the elderly during the coldest
months. In case of gradual temperature increase in colder months because of
body heat from millions of people around, one can expect a decline in
mortality from cardiovascular and pulmonary disease.
Hyderabad, Nov 2: It is going to be a "cool" Haj for over two million
Muslims from the around the world when they gather in the Islamic holy city
of Mecca in Saudi Arabia this December.
The Haj 2006-II season spreads over December and January, which are the
coldest months of the year in Mecca and Madina. And the Haj season is
falling in December after a gap of 33 years. Islamic calendar being a lunar
one, Muslim festivals fall in different seasons in different years with a
periodic cycle spanning over one-third of century.
Haj authorities in Saudi Arabia as also the Indian consulate-general in Jeddah
have advised intending pilgrims to carry warm woollen clothes. Around 1.5
lakh Muslims from India perform Haj every year and they usually carry light-
coloured or white clothes to beat the scorching heat of the desert cities. But
this time around with the Haj season falling in December and spilling over to
January, they may have to wear extra clothing to keep them warm.
"Haj-1426-II will fall in December 06-January 07. These are the cold months
and hence you would need to use warm woollen clothing like sweaters and
blankets. Rooms in Makkah and Madina and the tents in Mina are all air-
conditioned and hence you may feel cold, especially during the night. Please
note that there are no heating arrangements at any of these places," a travel
advisory issued by the Consul-General of India in Jeddah pointed out.
The common health complaints from Indian Hajis have thus far been
dehydration, sunstroke, stomach upset, scraped thighs and blisters on the feet.
This season there may not be such complaints because of relatively cooler
days and cold nights.
Haj seasons (excepting those in January and December) have always been the
best example of the scientific effect of high temperatures on pilgrims or a
huge gathering of humanity. Temperatures in Mecca typically range between
30 degrees and 50 degrees C. This time average maximum temperature is
likely to be around 31.2 to 33.4 degrees C with the average minimum
temperature forecast at 20.1 to 21.1 degrees C.
In a research study published by the American Scientist some time ago, it
was stated that since pilgrims are tightly packed together in suffocatingly
small spaces during the Haj, their body temperatures climb rapidly. This
often had led to sunstroke deaths.
The American Scientist research study also pointed out that when
temperatures are cooler (as in the Haj season this year), there can be a better
chance of survival for at-risk groups such as the elderly during the coldest
months. In case of gradual temperature increase in colder months because of
body heat from millions of people around, one can expect a decline in
mortality from cardiovascular and pulmonary disease.
Thursday, June 8, 2006
Women panel controls Wakf properties in Andhra Pradesh
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: 8: In a revolutionary decision, the Andhra Pradesh State
Wakf Board has handed over the control of 11 prime Wakf properties to an
all women panel in the city.
The five-member womencommittee under the presidentship of Salma Jalees
was constituted on May 23. On Thursday the Board handed over the
management of 11 Wakf properties to the committee.
The women members will protect, manage and develop these Wakf
properties spread across twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. This is
the first time that women are controlling Muslim endowment properties in
the country.
The committee has been entrusted with the job of paying seven per cent
Wakf Fund to the Board. It will spend 10 per cent on maintenance of the
institutions and the remaining 83 per cent will be spent on welfare activities.
Till now these 11 institutions were under the direct management of the Wakf
Board.
The Muslim clergy in the city has reacted sharply to the Board's decision. In
an oral fatwa, Moulana Mufti Abdul Moghni of Sabeelus Salam, an
influential religious institution of higher learning, described the move as
irreligious and against the spirit of the Wakf Act. Moulana Syed Shah
Badruddin Al-Qadri Al-Jeelani, chief patron of Sunni Ulema Board also
described the appointment as un-Islamic.
Hyderabad: 8: In a revolutionary decision, the Andhra Pradesh State
Wakf Board has handed over the control of 11 prime Wakf properties to an
all women panel in the city.
The five-member womencommittee under the presidentship of Salma Jalees
was constituted on May 23. On Thursday the Board handed over the
management of 11 Wakf properties to the committee.
The women members will protect, manage and develop these Wakf
properties spread across twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. This is
the first time that women are controlling Muslim endowment properties in
the country.
The committee has been entrusted with the job of paying seven per cent
Wakf Fund to the Board. It will spend 10 per cent on maintenance of the
institutions and the remaining 83 per cent will be spent on welfare activities.
Till now these 11 institutions were under the direct management of the Wakf
Board.
The Muslim clergy in the city has reacted sharply to the Board's decision. In
an oral fatwa, Moulana Mufti Abdul Moghni of Sabeelus Salam, an
influential religious institution of higher learning, described the move as
irreligious and against the spirit of the Wakf Act. Moulana Syed Shah
Badruddin Al-Qadri Al-Jeelani, chief patron of Sunni Ulema Board also
described the appointment as un-Islamic.
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