Page 23 - Religion Belief
As Ramzan holy month begins, Muslims prepare with fasts
With the start of the holy month of Ramzan, devout Muslims prepare to observe intense dawn to dusk fasts.Preparations are in full bloom and grocery markets are overcrowded with women buying date-palms, dry fruits, vermicelli, sharbat and other food items consumed during Iftar, the after sunset feasts through which people break their fasting.Razia Sultan, a devout Muslim woman says, "The preparations regarding the same began a fortnight ago. This is the month of prayer and Allah is very merciful. We are buying all sorts of things that are required to break the fast. Children are very excited about it."Yasmin, another Muslim woman who visits a grocery shop in her nearby locality in Surat says, "During Ramzan Allah is very merciful. The food lies in front of us but we do not eat it unless we hear Azan, such is the fear of Allah in our minds and heart.""We have started procuring date and dry-fruits almost two months ahead of the Ramzan. The demand for these things and especially sharbat ..
Over Ramadan iftar, Sudan protesters vow to get civil rule
After a day of abstaining from food and drink, Sudanese protesters Monday broke their fast on the first day of Ramadan with chicken soup and vowed to press their campaign for a civilian rule. As the call for the sunset prayer rang out, crowds gathered outside army headquarters in Khartoum for an iftar meal with many saying they were determined not to let the sweltering heat or fasting sap their energy. "We will be able to survive Ramadan and the heat," Hassan Bushra told AFP at the sprawling sit-in site. "What made us survive the bullets and bombs of (ousted president Omar al-) Bashir will make us survive the scorching heat. We are Sudanese. We are used to that," he said. Temperatures soared to 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) on Monday as the Sudanese like other Muslims around the world began observing Ramadan, during which the faithful fast from dawn to dusk. As the sun began setting protesters thronged the sit-in site to perform the Maghreb (dusk) prayer, and an iftar meal ...
Telangana CM KCR meets Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao met with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here on Monday.The meeting between the two leaders took place at the official residence of Kerala chief minister.According to sources, both the Chief Ministers held discussions on contemporary politics in view of ongoing Lok Sabha elections.Rao who is on a visit to state also offered prayers at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in the city earlier in the day.Later, Rao is also expected to visit Rameswaram and Srirangam temples before returning to Hyderabad.
Guj HC seeks state govt's response to PIL against pilgrimage devp board
The Gujarat High Court Monday directed the state government to respond to a PIL which termed "unconstitutional" the latter's decision to develop only Hindu pilgrimage sites through Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board since it was set up in 1997. The division bench of acting Chief Justice Anant S Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav directed the government to file its reply by June 14, stating why it has not included pilgrimage sites of religions other than Hinduism for development through the board. Petitioner Mujahid Nafees had filed a PIL in October 2018, through his lawyer K R Koshty, contending that setting up the Pavitra Yatradham Board was illegal as it only promoted pilgrimage sites of Hinduism. The state government had earlier sought time to file its reply. The petitioner had sought the court's direction to hold as "illegal and violative of Constitution of India" the government's decision to exclude pilgrimage sites of other religions for development through the board. The PIL ...
Modi utters untruths to sharpen communal polarisation: Yechury
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said Monday Prime Minister Narendra Modi "utters untruths" to sharpen communal polarisation, shortly after Modi slammed him for his "derogatory" remarks against two great Hindu epics. "As is his wont, Modi distorted what was said in Bhopal where BJP has fielded a terror-accused. Like terror knows no religion, violent people can be found in all groups. Even epics Ramayana & Mahabharata speak of such people. To sharpen communal polarisation, Modi utters untruths," Yechury tweeted. At an election rally in West Bengal's Jhargram earlier Monday, Modi said it had become a "fashion for Communists to use derogatory language against Hinduism". "I can understand if Communists abuse religion. Even those who have Sita and Ram in their names don't respect religion. It is fashionable for them to make derogatory references to our holy books and our religion," he said. Yechury had recently said Ramayana and Mahabharata were specimens of Hindu violence. In .
Sri Lanka min asks security forces to avoid incidents that may lead to radicalisation of Muslims
Sri Lankan security forces should avoid the incidents that caused some people face social stigma during the search operations after the Easter Sunday blasts carried out by a "cult" within the community, as it may lead to radicalisation of moderate Muslims in the country, a Minister has warned. Minister of City Planning, Water Management and Higher Education Rauff Hakeem said Muslims welcome and support the security forces and police to carry out search operations following the April 21 carnage in which over 250 people were killed. There have been few incidents of concern during these operations, which should be avoided as these could lead to radicalisation of moderate Muslims in the country, he was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror on Monday. "Some people have suffered social stigma as a result of some minor happenings during search operations being sensationalised. One must not get carried away if Islamic literature written in Arabic or in Tamil is found in a house. It may not be .
Avoid radicalization of moderate Muslims: SL Minister
Radicalization of moderate Muslims should be avoided in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, Minister of City Planning Rauff Hakeem has said as he blamed "a cult" within the community for the carnage.
Month of Ramadan fasting for many Muslims begins Monday
Muslims in Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, and much of the Middle East, including Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, will fast on Monday for the start of the month of Ramadan. Millions more, however, in India, Pakistan and Iran, will likely be marking the start of the lunar month on Tuesday based on moon sightings there. Muslims follow a lunar calendar, and a moon-sighting methodology can lead to different countries declaring the start of Ramadan a day or two apart. Traditionally, countries announce if their moon-sighting council spots the Ramadan crescent the evening before fasting begins. Across the world, Muslims fast each day for the entire month of Ramadan, abstaining from food and drink from dawn to dusk. That means around 15 hours without food, water, cigarettes or caffeine. Fasting is aimed at drawing worshippers closer to God through self-control, remembrance and humility. The challenge of fasting for many is also a chance to reset spiritually and ...
K'taka to observe holy month of Ramzan from tomorrow
The holy month of Ramzan will be observed from Monday in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka after District Qazi Twaka Ahmad Musliyar announced the sighting of moon at Kappad Beach in Kerala's Kozhikode.Ramzan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad according to Islamic belief.Ramzan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which involves rigorous fasting for about 30 days including festive foods like dates, typically serves as appetizers, before a lavish meal served after sunset.During this month, Muslims do not take food or water from dawn to dusk. They eat Suhur (a pre-dawn meal) and break their day-long fast with 'Iftar' in the evening. A time to celebrate with loved ones and seek the blessing of elders.India's 1.2 billion people include 175 million Muslims, and constitute the third-largest Muslim population in the world.Here is how people wishing each other and spreading love to ...
Ramzan from May 7
Ramzan, the month of fasting in Islam, will begin from Tuesday. A spokesperson of Delhi's Jama Masjid said the moon was not sighted Sunday night and hence fasting will begin from May 7. Ramzan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar when Muslims abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset. Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramzan.
Lankan blasts: Muslims show solidarity
In an expression of solidarity to their Christian brethren in the wake of the recent serial blasts in Sri Lanka, members of the Muslim community gathered outside the Milagres Church here during the mass on Sunday. The group of Muslims held aloft placards which read "terrorism has no religion," "from New Zealand to Sri Lanka we are united in peace", "Muslims are with Christians" and "terror will not not break our bonds." Christians coming out of the Church also pledged their solidarity with the Muslims. Appreciating the gesture, parish priest Valerian DSouza said both Christians and Muslims are united in condemning the terror attacks in Sri Lanka. Members of Muslim community distributed dates and water to those returning from the morning mass. The series of devastating blasts in three churches and three luxury hotels on April 21 killed 253 people and injured over 500 others.
Lawyer files complaint against Yechury for linking Hinduism
: A lawyer lodged a complaint with police here Sunday against CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury over his alleged comments at Bhopal on May 3, linking Hinduism with violence. K Karuna Sagar, in his complaint, accused the CPI(M) leader of making offensive remarks on the Hindu sacred texts the 'Ramayana' and 'Mahabharata' and hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus. Sagar, who is also associated with a local organisation 'Hindu Sanghatan', said he came through Yechury's comments in a portal while browsing a the internet on Saturday. "Many kings and principalities have fought battles in the country. Even the Ramayana and Mahabharata are also filled with instances of violence," the CPI(M) leader had said in Bhopal on Friday. Sagar in his complaint said Yechury insulted and annoyed Hindus with his derogatory remarks. He said the Hindu epics and scriptures promote noble values like victory of good over evil, universal brotherhood and non-violence Yechury's fraudulent .
Sri Lanka Catholics celebrate Mass via TV amid new warnings
Sri Lankan Catholics celebrated Sunday Mass in their homes for a second week as churches remain closed after reports of possible fresh attacks by Islamic extremists. Cardinal Malcom Ranjith, the archbishop of Colombo, offered a televised Mass from his residence that was attended mostly by priests and nuns. A letter from Pope Francis addressed to him was read out at the end of the service in which the pontiff said he prayed that "hearts hardened by hatred may yield to His will for peace and reconciliation among all his children." At St. Anthony's Shrine in Colombo, one of the sites targeted by Easter suicide bombings that killed 257 people, a Mass was celebrated for a small group of children and youth as a means for inner healing. Almost all churches remained closed with armed soldiers and police guarding them. Authorities canceled Sunday services after reports emerged that a Catholic church and lay institution could be targeted this weekend. Catholic schools have also been closed ...
Shared meals and torch-lit parades: Indonesia Muslims welcome Ramadan
From cleaning up relatives' graves and sharing food with the poor to holding colourful torch-lit street parades, millions of Indonesians are getting ready to welcome the holy month of Ramadan in the world's populous Muslim-majority country. Ramadan begins on Monday, with devotees fasting from dawn to dusk until Eid celebrations marking the end of the holy month. In the conservative province of Aceh, Muslim families break their fast by eating meat together and sharing the meal with the poor, in a centuries-old tradition known as Meugang. As customers lined up in wait, butchers in the western province were busy at work, chopping bones and slicing meat. "It's a tradition that we must follow, I'll cook rendang and eat with my family," Ramla, who like many Indonesians has only one name, told AFP, referring to a popular beef stew. In the capital Jakarta, thousands of Muslims marked the holy month by visiting cemeteries to clean up their relatives' graves and pray for the departed so they ...
Washington: Activists, politicians voice concern over human rights violations in Pak's Sindh
Human Rights activists and politicians have shown concern over the growing state-run violations of human rights in Sindh and other provinces of Pakistan at a seminar here on Saturday.The event titled 'Rights, Security and Development in Sindh: Realities for Pakistan's Southern Province' was organised by the World Sindhi Congress.A panel of speakers including Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Michael Kugelman, the Deputy Director of the Asia Program and Senior Associate for South Asia at the Wilson Centre and T Kumar, former International Advocacy Director Amnesty International USA, highlighted the persecution of Sindhi political activists in the hands of state and non-state actors in Pakistan.The speakers deliberated on issues of US-Pakistan relationship, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Human Rights in Sindh and Sindh's key geopolitical role.Lakhu Luhana, Secretary General of World Sindhi Congress said, "The overwhelming message of the seminar was that Pakistan is a security state, ...
Ramdev lodges complaint against Yechury for linking Hinduism with violence
Yoga guru Ramdev on Saturday lodged a complaint against CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury in Haridwar for allegedly linking Hinduism with violence. In his complaint, Ramdev said by linking Hinduism with violence, Yechury has hurt Hindu sentiments all over the country, SSP Haridwar Janmaijai Khanduri told PTI on phone. "It is an attempt by Yechury to defame the religion which must be condemned," Ramdev said. An FIR was registered in the case, the SSP said, adding that officials concerned were asked to look into the matter. Referring to claims by BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that Hindus cannot indulge in violence, Yechury had Friday said Hindu mythological books like the Ramayana and Mahabharata were replete with instances of violence. "It is a fallacy to say that Hindus cannot engage in violence," Yechury had said.
Ramdev files complaint against Yechury
Yoga guru Ramdev, along with other seers, on Saturday filed a complaint with SSP Haridwar against CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury for his statement that epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are also filled with instances of violence and battles."We have filed a complaint against Yechury who has insulted our ancestors. This is an offence. He should be put behind the bars. We have demanded a strict investigation into the matter," Ramdev told reporters here.On Thursday, Yechury attacked the BJP for fragmenting society for votes through its divisive policies, branding religious epics Ramayana and Mahabharata as specimens of Hindu violence."Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur said that Hindus don't believe in violence. Many kings and principalities have fought battles in the country. Even the Ramayana and Mahabharata are also filled with instances of violence. Being a 'pracharak', you narrate the epics but still claim Hindus can't be violent? What is the logic behind saying there is a religion ...
Muslim edu group chief receives death threat over ban on face-covering attire
The chief of a Muslim educational group in Kerala, which recently barred its students from covering their faces with any attire on campuses, has received death threat, police said Saturday. Muslim Educational Society (MES) president P A Fazal Gafoor lodged a complaint alleging that an unidentified caller had threatened him with dire consequences if he did not withdraw the circular asking students not to attend classes wearing face-covering attire. A Kozhikode-based progressive group, MES runs 150 educational establishments, including schools and professional colleges. "The threat call was received from an international number, suspected to be from the Gulf. According the complaint, the caller used threatening and demeaning words against Gafoor, a police official told PTI. A case is yet to be registered but investigation is already on to trace the caller, the police added. In the internal circular on April 17, Gafoor had said that any "inappropriate" trend on the campuses should be ...
BJP seeks Yechury's apology for 'trying to defame Hindu religion'
The BJP on Friday accused CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury of linking Hinduism with violence, saying it is yet another instance of vote bank politics by a desperate opposition and sought an apology from him. "We demand an apology from him by trying to defame the Hindu religion and spreading lies and hate against Hindu epics and scriptures that have promoted noble values like victory of good over the evil, universal brotherhood and non-violence," BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said in a statement. The world knows that the communists are violent, and Hindus peace-loving, he claimed. In an article for the CPIM mouthpiece, People's Democracy, Yechury had said the BJP's decision to field Pragya Singh Thakur as its candidate from Bhopal is an expression of its efforts to consolidate the Hindutva "communal" vote bank. Yechury also took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his claim that Hindus can never be violent, alleging that Modi erases Indian history replete with gruesome ..
Owaisi attacks Modi over Wardha speech
Citing media reports that a man from Maharashtra was the mastermind behind the killings of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar and others, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi Friday asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi would "walk back" from his recent speech at Wardha. "@PMOINDIA are you willing to walk back from your speech in Wardha? Or is that youll ask MURLI to contest in Maharashtra Assembly elections," Owaisi tweeted. He was referring to media reports of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) charge that M D Murli, a right wing activist,was the mastermind behind the killings of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, social activist Govind Pansare and others. Asked about the Election Commission giving a clean chit to Modi on the Wardha speech, Owaisi had said on May 1 that he was concerned more about what Modi talked about terrorism. Modi had on May 1 launched a broadside against the Congress, accusing it of branding "peace-loving Hindus" as terrorists and insulting those who