everibudehisfree

fill this blanks with yes or No…..

1._______________ i don’t have a brain.
2._______________ I don’t have any sense.
3. _______________ i am stupid.
4. _______________ i am mad.

Higher Education has a vital role to play in creating debate and offering leadership on sustainable development. Through its research, teaching, learning and community engagement higher education can help society anticipate, adapt and offer alternatives to current and future environmental, social and economic problems.

The University has long recognised that we have a responsibility to promote the understanding and values needed for sustainable development. But to achieve this will require a cultural change in our management practices and in the behaviour of our students and staff towards sustainable development.

The Ecoversity Programme aims to embed the principles and practice of sustainable development across the entire institution by getting people in involved, taking the lead on issues, and encouraging and making it easier for people to adopt sustainable behaviours and lifestyles

The Vision of an Ecoversity

The Ecoversity vision includes meeting four core objectives:

Working towards sustainable education

Shaping a more sustainable future by engaging students, staff, the local community and employers on the skills and knowledge needed in the pursuit of sustainable development.

Working towards a healthy environment

Protecting the environment by minimising our resource use and emissions whilst also enhancing the surrounding environment.

Working towards social well-being

Creating a greener, safer environment in which our students, staff and the local community can live, interact, study, and be active.

Working towards a thriving economy

Developing research, innovation and knowledge transfer to bring greater prosperity to our students, the University, City and Region.

Energy and Carbon

Carbon Management

Recognising that the use of energy has widespread environmental impacts, particularly through the release of carbon dioxide the main greenhouse gas (GHG), University has to make a commitment to carbon reduction. The development of a carbon footprint of operations implemented a carbon management system and developed for five year carbon saving plan. This work could be extended for further resourced with the recruitment of a Energy Manager and development of an Energy Investment Programme for energy saving projects, e.g. a campus wide building management system with automatic monitoring and targeting of energy savings.

Work can also be done on campus wide feasibility studies of wind-power, biomass boilers and combined heat and power generation

Energy Saving Advice

To help you better manage energy use within your office ……

ENERGY MYTHS

Some work related facts and figures

· Turning your thermostat down by just 1°C can knock 10% off the cost of heating your office and you’ll be unlikely to notice any difference in comfort. This won’t cost you anything and could save the University between £15-£30 a year (the statutory aim for office temperature is 19°C)

· Switching off a typical fluorescent light for one hour in each working day will save 30kg of carbon dioxide emissions annually

· Lighting an empty office overnight wastes enough energy to heat water for 1000 cups of coffee

· Switching off all non-essential office equipment (computers, printers, faxes, photocopiers and lights) will save enough energy to drive a small car 100 miles

· A PC monitor left on overnight wastes enough energy to laser print 800 pages

· A PC left running for 24 hours per day will use £70 worth of electricity over 12 months

· A photocopier left on overnight wastes enough energy to print 1500 A4 copies

· A window left open overnight wastes enough energy to drive a small car 35 miles

Good housekeeping measures at work

Heating & Cooling

· Set your radiator thermostat to reasonable levels. The statutory aim is 19^oC

· Ensure radiators are not blocked by furniture or files, as they will absorb the heat

· If it gets too hot in the winter, don’t open a window, try turning down the radiator first

· Ensure all extractor fans are off overnight and when not required

· Don’t leave doors open between areas of a different temperatures

· Do not use portable heaters.

· Put aluminium foil behind any radiators fitted to an outside wall to stop heating escaping through the walls

· Keep doors and windows closed in air-conditioned areas. If you don’t your letting the cool air escape requiring further cooling

Lighting

· Try to use as much natural light as possible – working nearer windows will save turning on lights so often and ensure windows are kept clean

· Switch off light whenever you leave the room (toilet, meetings, lunch and evenings)

· Between your colleagues make sure the last to leave in the evenings is responsible for turning off all lights

IT Equipment

· Activate your PCs Power Saving Device.
For Windows 2000 select: Start > Settings > Control Panel > Power Options > Settings for home/office desk power scheme.
Alternatively: Right click on the desktop > Properties > Screen Saver > Power.
Ideally you should set your monitor to turn off after 10 minutes and the PC to turn off after an hour and a half. Remember you monitor will reactivate within a few seconds after moving your mouse

· Switch off computer screens when away from your desk (especially during lunch and meetings) and turn the whole PC off at night

· Don’t switch on computers and printers until you need them

· Make sure you share printers between colleagues

· Switch off photocopiers and printers at night

· Purchase electrical equipment with a high energy saving value

Kitchen

· When you make a hot drink, boil just the amount of water you need and in a day we could save enough energy to light every street lamp.

· Regularly defrost your fridge to avoid wasting energy. You should also check the seals on your fridge/freezer to ensure no warm air is getting in – the seals should be tight enough to hold a piece of paper securely when closed

· Fit a 7 day timer to vending machines and water coolers so that they are not unnecessarily using electricity at night and over the weekends

Allaah has chosen for us Islam as our religion and He will not accept any other religion from anyone, as He says: “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers [Al Imran 3:85]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us that groups of his ummah would follow the enemies of Allaah in some of their rituals and customs, as it says in the hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him), who narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“You will certainly follow the ways of those who came before you, span by span, cubit by cubit, until even if they were to enter a lizard’s hole, you would follow them.” We said, “O Messenger of Allaah, (do you mean) the Jews and Christians?” He said, “Who else?!” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari 4/2054)

What the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) spoke of has indeed come to pass and has become widespread in recent times, in many of the Muslim countries. Many of the Muslims follow the enemies of Allaah in many of their customs and ways of behaving, and imitate them in some of their rituals and in celebrating their holidays.

In recent years, a new phenomenon has spread among the Muslim youth – males and females alike – which does not bode well. This is manifested in their imitation of the Christians in their celebration of the Valentine’s Day, which has led the scholars and daa’iyahs to explain the rulings of sharee’ah concerning that, out of sincerity towards Allaah, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk, so that Muslims may have a clear understanding of this issue and so that they will not fall into that which will undermine the belief (‘aqeedah) with which Allaah has blessed them.

This is a brief discussion of the origins, development and purpose of this holiday, and what the Muslim should do with regard to it.

The story of the Festival of Love (Valentine’s Day)

The Festival of Love was one of the festivals of the pagan Romans, when paganism was the prevalent religion of the Romans more than seventeen centuries ago. In the pagan Roman concept, it was an expression of “spiritual love”.

There were myths associated with this pagan festival of the Romans, which persisted with their Christian heirs. Among the most famous of these myths was the Roman belief that Romulus, the founder of Rome, was suckled one day by a she-wolf, which gave him strength and wisdom.

The connection between Saint Valentine and this festival

Saint Valentine is a name which is given to two of the ancient “martyrs” of the Christian Church. It was said that there were two of them, or that there was only one, who died in Rome as the result of the persecution of the Gothic leader Claudius, c. 296 CE. In 350 CE, a church was built in Rome on the site of the place where he died, to perpetuate his memory.

When the Romans embraced Christianity, they continued to celebrate the Feast of Love mentioned above, but they changed it from the pagan concept of “spiritual love” to another concept known as the “martyrs of love”, represented by Saint Valentine who had advocated love and peace, for which cause he was martyred, according to their claims. It was also called the Feast of Lovers, and Saint Valentine was considered to be the patron saint of lovers.

It was also said concerning the origins of this holiday that when the Romans became Christian, after Christianity had become widespread, the Roman emperor Claudius II decreed in the third century CE that soldiers should not get married, because marriage would distract them from the wars they used to fight. This decree was opposed by Saint Valentine, who started to perform marriages for the soldiers in secret. When the emperor found out about that, he threw him in jail and sentenced him to execution. In prison, he (Saint Valentine) fell in love with the jailer’s daughter, but this was a secret because according to Christian laws, priests and monks were forbidden to marry or fall in love. But he is still regarded highly by the Christians because of his steadfastness in adhering to Christianity when the emperor offered to pardon him if he forsook Christianity and worshipped the Roman gods; then he would be one of his closest confidantes and he would make him his son-in-law. But Valentine refused this offer and preferred Christianity, so he was executed on 14 February 270 CE, on the eve of February 15, the festival of Lupercalis. So this day was named for this saint.

Anyone who looks at what is said above about the myths surrounding this pagan festival will clearly understand the following:

Firstly: That its origins lie in the pagan beliefs of the Romans, where it was an expression of the spiritual love of the idols which they used to worship instead of Allaah. Whoever celebrates it is celebrating an occasion of shirk on which the idols are venerated. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, whosoever sets up partners (in worship) with Allaah, then Allaah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) there are no helpers” [al-Maa’idah 5:72]

Secondly: That the development of this festival among the Romans was connected to myths and legends which no sound mind can accept, let alone the mind of the Muslim who believes in Allaah and His Messengers (peace be upon them). Can anyone of sound mind believe that a she-wolf suckled the founder of the city of Rome and gave him strength and wisdom. Moreover, these myths go against the belief (‘aqeedah) of the Muslim because the One Who bestows strength and wisdom is the Creator, may He be glorified and exalted, not the milk of a she-wolf! The same applies to the myth that their idols could protect them from evil or keep wolves away from their flocks.

Someone may ask: why do we Muslims not celebrate this festival?

This question may be answered in several ways:

1. In Islam, the festivals are clearly defined and well established, and no additions or subtractions may be accepted. They are an essential part of our worship and there is no room for ijtihaad or personal opinion. They have been prescribed for us by Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

“Festivals are part of the laws, clear way and religious ceremonies of which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

‘To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way [al-Maa’idah 5:48]

‘For every nation We have ordained religious ceremonies which they must follow’ [al-Hajj 22:67]

Like the qiblah (direction faced in prayer), prayer and fasting. So there is no difference between joining them in their festival and joining them in their other rituals. Agreeing with the whole festival is agreeing with kufr. Agreeing with some of their minor issues is the same as agreeing with them in some of the branches of kufr. Festivals are the most distinctive things by which religions are told apart, so whoever celebrates their festivals is agreeing with the most distinctive rituals of kufr. Undoubtedly going along with them in their festivals may in some cases lead to kufr. Dabbling in these things, at the very least, is a sin. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) referred to the fact that every nation has its own festivals when he said:

‘Every nation has its own Eid and this is our Eid’ (al-Bukhaari , 952, Muslim, 1892).” (al-Iqtidaa’, 1/471-472)

Because Valentine’s Day goes back to Roman times, not Islamic times, this means that it is something which belongs exclusively to the Christians, not to Islam, and the Muslims have no share and no part in it. If every nation has its own festivals, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said – “Every nation has its Eid” (narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim) – then this means that every nation should be distinguished by its festivals. If the Christians have a festival and the Jews have a festival, which belongs exclusively to them, then no Muslim should join in with them, just as he does not share their religion or their direction of prayer.

2. Celebrating Valentine’s Day means resembling or imitating the pagan Romans, then the Christian People of the Book in their imitation of the Romans in something that was not a part of their religion. If it is not allowed to imitate the Christians in things that really are part of their religion – but not part of our religion – then how about things which they have innovated in their religion in imitation of idol-worshippers?!

Imitating the kuffaar in general –whether they are idol-worshippers or People of the Book – is haraam, whether that imitation is of their worship – which is the most serious form – or of their customs and behaviour. This is indicated by the Qur’aan, Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them. It is they for whom there is an awful torment” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:105]

Allaah has forbidden imitation of the kuffaar; He has described it as hateful and has warned against the consequences of that, in many aayahs, on many occasions, and in various ways, especially imitation of the kuffaar. Sometimes He does that by forbidding following them or obeying them; sometimes by warning against them or being deceived by their plots, following their opinions, or being influenced by their actions, conduct or attitude. Sometimes He does that by mentioning some of their characteristics that will put the believers off from them and from imitating them. Most of the warnings in the Qur’aan refer to the Jews and hypocrites (munaafiqeen), then the People of the Book in general and the mushrikeen. Allaah tells us in the Qur’aan that imitating and obeying the kuffaar may constitute riddah (apostasy). Allaah also forbids following them, obeying them, or following their whims and desires and bad characteristics.

Prohibition of imitating the kuffaar is one of the basic principles of sharee’ah. Allaah sent His Messenger with guidance and the true religion so that it might prevail over all other religions, and Allaah has perfected His religion for mankind:

“This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion” [al-Maa’idah 5:3 – interpretation of the meaning].

Some people may wonder, and say, you mean to deprive us of love, but in this day and age we express our feelings and emotions – what is so wrong with that?

We it is a mistake to confuse what they call the day with what the real intentions are behind it. The love referred to on this day is romantic love, taking mistresses and lovers, boyfriends and girlfriends. It is known to be a day of promiscuity and sex for them, with no restraints or restrictions… They are not talking of pure love between a man and his wife or a woman and her husband, or at least they do not distinguish between the legitimate love in the relationship between husband and wife, and the forbidden love of mistresses and lovers. This festival for them is a means for everyone to express love.

The Muslim’s attitude towards Valentine’s Day

From the above discussion, the Muslim’s attitude towards this holiday should be clear:

(1) He should not celebrate it, or join others in their celebrations of it, or attend their celebrations, because of the evidence quoted above which shows that it is forbidden to celebrate the festivals of the kuffaar.

Al-Haafiz al-Dhahabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “If the Christians have a festival and the Jews have a festival, which belongs only to them, then the Muslim should not join them in that, just as he does not join them in their religion or their direction of prayer.” (Tashabbuh al-Khasees bi Ahl al-Khamees, al-Hikmah magazine, 4/193).

Source: www.islambradford.com

setelah saudaraku membaca…….. the CHOICE IS YOURS, totally and absolutely.

VALENTINE’S DAY

Muslim authorities decry Valentine’s Day celebrations as many of the Muslims follow customs and ways of behavior like non muslims, and imitate them in some of their rituals and in celebrating their holidays. In recent years, a new phenomenon has spread among the Muslim youth – males and females alike – which does not bode well. This is manifested in their celebration of the Valentine’s Day without knowing its origin, whether it is permissible in Islamic beliefs or otherwise.

Allah has chosen for us Islam as our religion .Islam commands its followers to avoid many things. Some of them are prohibited because they contradict some of the doctrines in which a Moslem is supposed to believe. Some of them are prohibited because they are immoral or unethical or unhealthy or because they represent disobedience to the devotional duties, the violation of which may constitute a major sin. And the Prophet (pbuh) told us that groups of his ummah would follow the enemies of Allaah in some of their rituals and customs, “You will certainly follow the ways of those who came before you, span by span, cubit by cubit, until even if they were to enter a lizard’s hole, you would follow them.” (al-Khudri (Bukhaari/Muslim).What the Prophet (Pbuh) spoke of has indeed come to pass and has become widespread in recent times, in many of the Muslim countries. Many of the Muslims follow the enemies of Allaah in many of their customs and ways of behaving, and imitate them in some of their rituals and in celebrating their holidays. In recent years, a new phenomenon has spread among the Muslim youth – males and females alike – which does not bode well. This is manifested in their imitation of the Christians in their celebration of the Valentine’s Day, which has led the scholars and daa’iyahs to explain the rulings of sharee’ah concerning that, out of sincerity towards Allaah, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk, so that Muslims may have a clear understanding of this issue and so that they will not fall into that which will undermine the belief (‘aqeedah) with which Allaah has blessed them. This is a brief discussion of the origins, development and purpose of this holiday, and what the Muslim should do with regard to it.

The story of the Festival of Love (Valentine’s Day)

The Festival of Love was one of the festivals of the pagan Romans, when paganism was the prevalent religion of the Romans more than seventeen centuries ago. In the pagan Roman concept, it was an expression of “spiritual love”.
There were myths associated with this pagan festival of the Romans, which persisted with their Christian heirs. Among the most famous of these myths was the Roman belief that Romulus, the founder of Rome, was suckled one day by a she-wolf, which gave him strength and wisdom.

The Romans used to celebrate this event in mid-February each year with a big festival. One of the rituals of this festival was the sacrifice of a dog and a goat. Two strong and muscular youths would daub the blood of the dog and goat onto their bodies, and then they would wash the blood away with milk. After that there would be a great parade, with these two youths at its head, which would go about the streets. The two youths would have pieces of leather with which they would hit everyone who crossed their path. The Roman women would welcome these blows, because they believed that they could prevent or cure infertility.

The connection between Saint Valentine and this festival, Saint Valentine is a name which is given to two of the ancient “martyrs” of the Christian Church. It was said that there were two of them, or that there was only one, who died in Rome as the result of the persecution of the Gothic leader Claudius, c. 296 CE. In 350 CE, a church was built in Rome on the site of the place where he died, to perpetuate his memory.

When the Romans embraced Christianity, they continued to celebrate the Feast of Love mentioned above, but they changed it from the pagan concept of “spiritual love” to another concept known as the “martyrs of love”, represented by Saint Valentine who had advocated love and peace, for which cause he was martyred, according to their claims. It was also called the Feast of Lovers, and Saint Valentine was considered to be the patron saint of lovers.

One of their false beliefs connected with this festival was that the names of girls who had reached marriageable age would be written on small rolls of paper and placed in a dish on a table. Then the young men who wanted to get married would be called, and each of them would pick a piece of paper. He would put himself at the service of the girl whose name he had drawn for one year, so that they could find out about one another. Then they would get married, or they would repeat the same process again on the day of the festival in the following year.

The Christian clergy reacted against this tradition, which they considered to have a corrupting influence on the morals of young men and women. It was abolished in Italy, where it had been well-known, then it was revived in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when in some western countries there appeared shops which sold small books called “Valentine’s books”, which contained love poems, from which the one who wanted to send a greeting to his sweetheart could choose. They also contained suggestions for writing love letters.

It was also said concerning the origins of this holiday that when the Romans became Christian, after Christianity had become widespread, the Roman emperor Claudius II decreed in the third century CE that soldiers should not get married, because marriage would distract them from the wars they used to fight. This decree was opposed by Saint Valentine, who started to perform marriages for the soldiers in secret. When the emperor found out about that, he threw him in jail and sentenced him to execution. In prison, he (Saint Valentine) fell in love with the jailer’s daughter, but this was a secret because according to Christian laws, priests and monks were forbidden to marry or fall in love. But he is still regarded highly by the Christians because of his steadfastness in adhering to Christianity when the emperor offered to pardon him if he forsook Christianity and worshipped the Roman gods; then he would be one of his closest confidantes and he would make him his son-in-law. But Valentine refused this offer and preferred Christianity, The emperor, impressed with the young priest’s dignity and conviction, attempted to convert him to the roman gods, to save him from certain execution. Valentine refused to recognize Roman Gods and even attempted to convert the emperor, knowing the consequences fully. Valentine was in prison awaiting his fate, he came in contact with his jailor, Asterius. The jailor had a blind daughter. Asterius requested him to heal his daughter. Through his faith he miraculously restored the sight of Asterius’ daughter. Just before his execution, he asked for a pen and paper from his jailor, and signed a farewell message to her “From Your Valentine,” a phrase that lived ever afterThe first Valentine card grew out of this practice. Cupid, another symbol of the holiday, became associated with it because he was the son of Venus, the Roman god of love and beauty. Cupid oftValentine thus become a Patron Saint, and spiritual overseer of an annual festival. The festival involved young Romans offering women they admired, and wished to court, handwritten greetings of affection on February 14. The greeting cards acquired St.Valentine’s nameen appears on Valentine cards. Valentine was executed so this day was named for this saint.

In The Story of Civilization, it says that the Church devised a calendar in which every day was designated as the feast day of one of the saints. In England, Saint Valentine’s Day was to come at the end of winter. When that day came, according to them, the birds mated enthusiastically in the forests, and the young men would put flowers on the windowsills of the homes of the girls whom they loved. (The Story of Civilization by Will Durant, 15/23) (source www.islam q &A).

In Islam, the festivals are clearly defined and well established, and no additions or subtractions may be accepted. They have been prescribed for us by Allah and Prophet(pbuh)‘For every nation We have ordained religious ceremonies which they must follow’[al-Hajj 22:67]Because Valentine’s Day goes back to Roman times, not Islamic times, this means that it is something which belongs exclusively to the Christians, not to Islam and celebrating Valentine’s Day means resembling or imitating the pagan Romans, From the Sunnah: the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” (Ahmad, Abu Dawood).

The Fatwa of the Standing Committee & many Muslim scholars Shaykh Muhamamd ibn Saalih ibn ‘Uthaymeen , Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Jibreen concerning about Valentine’s Day ; The Muslim’s attitude towards this day should be clear;It is haraam for the Muslim to help with this festival or any other haraam celebration in any way, be it food, drink, buying, selling, manufacturing, corresponding, advertising or in any other way, because all of that constitutes helping one another in sin, transgression and disobedience towards Allah and His Messenger.so it is not permitted on this day to do any of the customs associated with that holiday, whether that be connected to food, drink, clothing, exchanging gifts or anything else. The Muslim should be proud of his religion and not be so weak of character that he follows everyone who makes a noise. I ask Allah to protect the Muslims from all temptations, visible and invisible, and to take care of us and give us strength. And Allaah knows best. So the Muslim must adhere to the Qur’aan and Sunnah in all his affairs, especially at times of fitan (temptation and tribulation) and when corruption is widespread. He should be smart and be careful to avoid falling into the misguidance of those who have earned the anger of Allaah and of those who went astray, and of the evildoers who hope not for reward from Allaah and do not show any respect towards Islam. Al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyah wa’l-Iftaa’
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (mahmoh)said: “It is not permissible for the Muslims to imitate them in anything that is specifically part of their festivals, whether it is food, clothing, bathing, lighting fires, or changing a custom of daily life or worship… To sum up, they should not do any of the specific rituals of their (the kuffaar’s) festival on that day; rather the day of their festival should be just another ordinary day for the Muslim.” (Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 25/329) .”He should not help any Muslims who celebrate it. it is not permissible for Muslim businessmen to deal in gifts for Valentine’s Day, whether they are particular kinds of clothes, red roses, or whatever. Similarly, it is not permissible for the one who is given a gift on this occasion to accept it, because by accepting it, he is showing approval of this holiday” Ibn Taymiyah said,.Alas for the Muslim girls! Among the things that have been seen among the Muslims on this holiday: large numbers of female students wear something with red heart-shaped stickers on their faces, wearing red make-up,writing names and hearts on their hands, or just initials.;printing love poems on card exchange red balloons on which are written provocative words, the female students agreeing with their friends to tie a red ribbon on the right wrist. All of these acts are in contradistinction to our religious beliefs,We must oppose these things by all possible means. The responsibility rests with us all. And religious scholars have advised that We should not accept congratulations on Valentine’s Day, because it is not a holiday or an Eid for the Muslims. If the Muslim is congratulated on this occasion, he should not return the congratulations. Ibn al-Qayyim () said: “With regard to congratulating others with the congratulations used by the non believers on such occasions, it is haraam by scholarly consensus, such as congratulating them on the occasion of their festivals or fasts, wishing them a blessed festival, etc (Ahkaam Ahl al-Dhimmah, 1/441-442)

The things that result from that, such as partying, idle play, singing, music, insolence, impertinence, unveiling, wanton display, mixing of men and women, and the appearance of women before non-mahrams, etc., are all things which are haraam, or are means which lead to immorality. So it should not be justified as an excuse for relaxation and entertainment, or claims that they will not overstep the mark, because that is not right. The one who cares about himself should keep away from sin and all that leads to it.

On this basis, it is not permissible to sell these gifts and roses, if one knows that the purchaser will celebrate these holidays, give them as gifts or otherwise use them to honour these days, so that the vendor will not be sharing in the guilt of the one who does this innovated action. And Allaah knows best.

Finally, the religious scholars have requested people of understanding that they should urge the khateebs of the mosques,teachers of schools to explain the reality of this holiday to warn the people and students with a copy of the fatwas of the Standing Committee and of Shaykh Muhamamd ibn Saalih ibn ‘Uthaymeen , Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan (may Allaah forgive him). Every person should make the effort to contact the imaam of his mosque and tell him about this. Certainly there are imaams of mosques,and teachers among the brothers so perhaps the responsibility of telling them about this will be discharged when they read the article. Copy (islam q& a) All that should begin a week beforehand in order to be of any benefit.Each person should make his family members aware of this.The Excellence of Bringing Up Girls is quiet clear in Islam ,as Prophet(SAW) said, “Whoever takes care of two girls until they reach adulthood – he and I will come (together) on the Day of Resurrection – and he interlaced his fingers (meaning in Paradise).” (Muslim.) So can there be any greater honor given to daughter!? And for those who wish to have them and bring them up properly!? And he said in another Hadith: “Whoever has three daughters or sisters, or two daughters of two sisters, and lives along with them in a good manner, and has patience with them, and fears Allah with regard to them will enter Paradise.” (Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhee and other. And in another Hadith: “They will be a shield for him from the Fire.” (Ahmad and Ibn Maajah).WHOEVER HAS SISTERS IN SCHOOL OR BROTHERS SHOULD TELL THEM AND WARN THEM ABOUT THIS MATTER, BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF THIS HOLIDAY AND WHAT IT MEANS. SO IT IS NOT PERMISSIBLE FOR MUSLIMS TO JOIN IN THE CELEBRATIONS OF THIS DATE, BECAUSE WE ARE COMMANDED TO DIFFER FROM THEM IN THEIR RELIGION, CUSTOMS AND OTHER THINGS THAT BELONG EXCLUSIVELY TO THEM, AS IS STATED IN THE QUR’AAN AND SUNNAH AND SCHOLARLY CONSENSUS. We ask Allaah to protect the Muslims from the harm of temptations and from the evil of their own selves and the plots of their enemies.( excerptsare from Ruling on celebrating Valentine’s Day www..Islam Q & A; a treatise more than 7300 words on the evils and dangers of Valentine’s Day) Allah knows the best.

every single thing will be counted whether bad or good

be smart be Vigilant

(By. Ahmad Sudarsono)

Halo Friend,

Time for a “hypothetical”, an exercise in imagination, fiction and history. What would have happened if the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) had emerged victorious from the events of September 30, 1965?

I’d like to invite Indonesia Matters readers to contribute their own imagined histories and scenarios.

Mine will follow. I’ll probably get a lot wrong, and my scenarios may be wild and fantastic. Some may find it controversial. No doubt, some will accuse me of justifying dictatorship.

There will be a lot of problems with this exercise.

Everyone will have a different view, but that’s the point.

But here goes.

Three different versions of history in instalments.

Communists Take Power in Indonesia, 1965.

In each scenario, I’ll imagine that some of the Military were concerned with purely their own interests and sided with the winners, in this case the PKI. We’ll assume a Islamic/Nationalist faction side against with the communists and decide to fight. The Navy and Air Force (I think) were already leaning towards the PKI.

Optimistic: Scenario 1.

Aidit, PKI leader, is appointed emergency President of Indonesia. He orders the military to restore order. There are clashes between pro-and anti PKI forces in the villages, countryside and cities. The military is ordered not to use excessive force or to intervene. Confused, the soldiers stand by and let the civilian militia fight it out. The fighting dies down after about five years, but the military is accused of “doing nothing.”

Aidit eventually becomes chairman of the Indonesian Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR), and restores democracy, but the other major parties, Masyumi, and the Partai Nasionalis Indonesia (PNI) complain of heavy bullying and intimidation. Nevertheless, the PKI emerge as kind of “Eurocommunists.”

The PKI restore democracy, bringing an end to Soekarno’s “Guided Democracy.” They nationalize all remaining Western and many private businesses. Bulog is created, totally taking over distribution of food and basic commodities. (Indonesia’s ethnic Chinese are very angry and become staunch opponents of the communists).

The PKI pursue a Soviet Bloc/Chinese model of development, pursuing “Socialism with Indonesian Characteristics”. Economic growth is 0% due to the withdrawal of capital and economic disruption, but famine is averted.

Islamist leaders in Aceh, West Java, Makassar, and other devout parts of Indonesia all set aside cherished desires for an Islamic state and accept Communist-led government. Initially, some PKI leaders had worried about secessionists, but are happy to allow Islamist leaders to call on the Umat to revolt and in some cases, mercilessly slay the godless atheists.

Yet multi-party democracy is allowed. In 1970, Indonesia holds its first multi-party elections since 1955, and the PKI are soundly defeated, with a PNI-Masyumi coalition taking power. PNI-Masyumi follow a conventional Western model of development, but the PKI, who still control 35 % of parliament, stall all major efforts at reform.

Eventually, Indonesia settles on a Socialist-Democrat model, pursuing a similar growth path to India. Mass poverty (as measured by the World Bank), remains, as India’s did, at over 50% for 25 years. The public-works programs financed by Jakarta alleviate some of the the worst symptoms of poverty, as they did in Kerala and China, but Indonesia remains amongst Asia’s very poorest nations. In the mid 1990s, Indonesia embarks on a messy stop-start market liberalization program that continues to this day.

Medium: Scenario 2.

PKI realize persuasion – as well as force – must be used to bring about Communism in Indonesia. Soekarno announces “Nasakom”, the blend of Nationalism, Communism and Religion, will be the guiding ideology of Indonesia. Soekarno stays in power.

The PKI strikes a deal with the Nahdlatul Ulama: Muslims still allowed to pray and practice in in private life in return for supporting the party. Some Kyais accept. Some violently object, joining a nation-wide widespread Islamic revolt against Jakarta, supported by the Muhammadiyah.

The ideological battle for the countryside that has been raging since the mid-1950s continues. By about 1970, the rivalry between Soekarno and the PKI intensifies, with Soekarno wooing the nationalist faction of the military. Inflation remains at 600% overall and 1000% in rice prices, bringing about widespread malnutrition in Java and famine in Eastern Indonesia, East of Lombok.

By 1972, the human crisis has become unbearable and the army intervenes whilst the politicians bicker. A reckoning with the PKI’s forces in the countryside follows.

Pessimistic: Scenario 3

Aidit appointed emergency President. Like Soekarno he appoints himself President for life and declares Indonesia must “return to the year zero”. Forced collectivization of the countryside, as in China and Cambodia. Village life is completely reordered around rural collectives.

All land becomes the property of the state and the PKI, which is the vanguard of the people. There is no problem because the people still own the land. Capitalist running-dogs are to be eliminated and the military is deployed to enforce the will of the people.

Religious and ethnic rebellions in Aceh, Makassar, West Java, Bali, Madura, and many parts of Central Java, where a Maoist state in Jakarta radicalizes even some Nahdlatul Ulama. Factions of the Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) side with the rebels. Aidit vows he will fight to his death to bring about the “Will of the People” in Indonesia. Civil war ensues. Jakarta proves unable to retain control over much of Sumatra and Sulawesi. Kalimantan secedes, as does Papua. Java left to support Eastern Indonesia.

NOBODY’S PREFECT

EVERYONE HAS THOSE DAYS

united we stand

SUHARTO

THE PRESIDENT OF INDONESIA

IN MEMORIAM

Mohammed Suharto (1921- 2008), second president of Indonesia (1968-1998), who oversaw the country’s unprecedented economic growth and emergence as a regional power.

Born to a peasant family in Kemusu, a village near the city of Yogyakarta in central Java (then under Dutch control), Suharto had an unsettled childhood. His parents’ marriage broke up before he was two years old, and he was brought up variously by each of his remarried parents and by relatives in other villages and towns around Yogyakarta. Suharto attended local Javanese schools, worked for a short time in a village bank, and joined the Dutch colonial army in 1940.

MILITARY CAREER

By 1942 Suharto had been promoted to sergeant. That year, Japan invaded and occupied Indonesia during World War II. Believing that cooperation with the Japanese offered the best hope for eventual Indonesian independence, Suharto joined a Japanese-led militia and received military training. After Japan surrendered and Indonesia declared its independence in August 1945, Suharto joined the newly established Indonesian army and fought in a five-year war against the Dutch, who attempted to regain control of the region after Japan’s withdrawal. The Dutch captured much of Java in 1947 and Yogyakarta the following year. In March 1949 troops under Suharto’s command attacked the Dutch in Yogyakarta and recaptured the city. The Dutch agreed to leave all of Indonesia except Dutch New Guinea (West Irian) later that year.

Over the next 15 years, Suharto rose steadily through the military ranks. In the early 1950s Suharto led military operations to suppress uprisings by Muslim and Dutch-led groups in various parts of Indonesia, and in 1957 he took command of the central Javanese army division. Suharto became a brigadier general in 1960, and in 1962 he headed a military operation to recover West Irian (now the province of Papua; formerly Irian Jaya) from the Dutch. In 1963 he was put in charge of the army’s strategic command, a special force kept on alert for national emergencies.

By the mid-1960s both the military and the Indonesian Communist Party (Partai Komunis Indonesia, or PKI) had gained considerable power under the regime of Indonesian president Sukarno. When a group of dissident pro-Communist army and air force troops attempted to seize control of the government in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, in October 1965, Suharto successfully suppressed them. Although he was not Indonesia’s dominant military leader at the time, Suharto outmaneuvered his military competitors for power during the succeeding months. The army alleged that the PKI was responsible for the abortive coup, and in late 1965 army units and Muslim groups began to massacre Communists and their supporters throughout the countryside. In March 1966 Suharto successfully persuaded President Sukarno to authorize him to restore security and order, which effectively transferred executive authority to Suharto. In 1967 the Indonesian parliament appointed Suharto acting president. He was elected full president by the parliament in 1968 and was reelected to successive five-year terms in 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, and 1998. The Indonesian constitution does not limit the number of terms a president may serve.

PRESIDENT OF INDONESIA

From the outset, Suharto focused heavily on national security, adopting a strong anti-Communist stance in contrast to his predecessor, Sukarno. Suharto quickly eliminated the PKI and associated organizations and subsequently began repressing other organizations and people he viewed as a threat to his hold on power. These included Muslims pursuing a more prominent role for Islam in state affairs, writers desiring greater artistic freedom, and politicians seeking increased freedom to promote their ideas to the public. When Portugal ended its colonial rule of the territory of East Timor in 1975, Suharto intervened in the struggle for control of the region. The Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (Fretilin), a leftist revolutionary party, eventually took power, and in December Suharto ordered an invasion of the region, arguing that an independent East Timor under Fretilin would threaten the unity of the Indonesian state. Suharto’s government annexed East Timor the following year.

Suharto also sought to restore Indonesia’s relations with the Western world, which had deteriorated under Sukarno. Suharto ended Indonesia’s hostile stance toward Malaysia, whose independence Sukarno had felt was a front for continued British colonial activities in the region. Suharto also rejoined the United Nations (UN), from which Sukarno had withdrawn in 1965, when Malaysia was elected a nonpermanent member. Finally, Suharto froze the diplomatic ties forged by Sukarno with Communist China.

With internal political stability largely in place by the 1980s, Suharto set out to expand Indonesia’s role in international politics. He continued the country’s leadership role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional economic and political alliance that Indonesia had helped found in 1967. In the late 1980s and early 1990s he promoted efforts to bring peace to Cambodia and also normalized relations with China. In 1992 Indonesia chaired the Nonaligned Movement, an association of nations not specifically allied with a world superpower.

Economic development was another major focus of Suharto’s presidency. Under his rule, Indonesia experienced unprecedented growth beginning in the early 1970s. Economic success resulted from substantial foreign investment and from economic diversification, which reduced the country’s reliance on oil and agriculture. Suharto’s government developed roads and irrigation systems and implemented food production programs. The government also made social improvements, expanding health and educational facilities and family planning programs. Although most Indonesians enjoyed greater economic security than ever before, the benefits of the country’s growth were experienced unequally, as Suharto’s family members and their business partners became immensely wealthy.

By 1997 Suharto was concluding his sixth five-year term of office and had not given any indication that he was contemplating retirement. Although critics periodically raised the question of succession, Suharto always managed to deflect the issue. He also ensured that his vice presidents were always politicians with no reasonable likelihood of succeeding him. In the second half of 1997 the value of the Indonesian currency began to plummet, sparking a massive economic crisis in which inflation soared and unemployment rose. Negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) produced three possible rescue packages for the economy. However, these packages failed to convince international financial managers that recovery was possible. These managers made it clear that they did not believe economic stability could be restored as long as Suharto was president.

In March 1998 Suharto was elected to a seventh term. His cabinet appointments—mostly loyalists unlikely to challenge his authority or push for change—sparked demonstrations by university students calling for democratic reforms. In May police shot six students at a demonstration, triggering two days of arson and looting in Jakarta in which about 500 people died. Opposition to Suharto’s rule spread to many political and community leaders who had previously supported him. On May 21 Suharto bowed before this pressure and resigned. His vice president, B. J. Habibie, succeeded him as president.

NOBODY’S PERFECT

EVERYONE HAS THOSE DAYS

SELAMAT JALAN THE SMILING GENERAL

EVERY BODY IS FREE

Ladies and Gentlemen

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be
it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…I will dispense this advice now. Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh never mind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.

But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you Sing. Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours. Floss Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself. Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, and tell me how. Keep your old love letters; throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t. Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children, maybe
you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.

Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.. Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them. Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly. Get to know your parents; you never know when they’ll be gone for
good. Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the
people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were
noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders. Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one
might run out. Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you’re 40, it will
look 85. Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who
supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of
fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the
ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth. But trust me on the sunscreen…

Brother and sister

Together we’ll make it through

Some day a spirit will

Lift you and take you there

I know you’ve been hurting

But I’ve been there

Waiting to be there for you

And I’ll be there just helping you out

Whenever I can

Everybody’s free to feel good

Everybody’s free to feel good

We are all a family

That should stand together as one

Helping each other

Instead of just wasting time

Now is the moment to

Reach out to someone

It’s all up to you

When everyone’s sharing their hope

Then love will win through

Everybody’s free to feel good

An old man lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson.

Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Quraan . His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could. One day the grandson asked, “Papa, I try to read the Quraan just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Quraan do?”

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.” The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.

This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.

The old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough,” and he went
out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty.

Out of breath, he said, “See Papa, it’s useless!” So you think it is useless?” The old man said, “LOOK AT THE BASKET.”THE BOY LOOKED AT THE BASKET AND FOR THE FIRST TIME REALIZED THAT THE BASKET WAS DIFFERENT. IT HAD BEEN TRANSFORMED FROM A DIRTY OLD COAL BASKET AND WAS NOW CLEAN, INSIDE AND OUT.

“Son, that’s what happens when you read the Quraan. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Allah in our lives.”