... The HOPE Bulletin..

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1 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful... The HOPE Bulletin.. Health, Ongoing Projects, Education etåtwtçbx w ECDC 1 P age

2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Akbar Abdullah, Editor On behalf of The HOPE Bulletin team, I extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who has submitted their Eid-ul-Fitr messages, greetings and photographs that has enabled us to put together this special edition of The HOPE Bulletin. For those of you who were not able to meet our deadline, we still encourage you to send your material and we will publish it in our regular monthly Bulletins, Insha Allah. We look forward to your continued support and we welcome your feedback. HAZRAT AMEER S MESSAGE FOR EID UL FITR 1431 Hijra, September 2010 CE In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Surely We have revealed the Reminder, and surely We are its Guardian. (Al Hijr - The Rock: 15:9) 2 P age Blessed is He Who sent down the Discrimination upon His servant that he might be a warner to the nations. (Al Furqan - The Discrimination: 25:1) Dear Sisters and Brothers, Eid, literally meaning Happiness, has lost its significance for Pakistan in the wake of the misery its citizens are facing because of the devastating floods and the heartless acts of some misguided people. This year we will be celebrating Eid only as a religious duty as our hearts will be devoid of the usual happiness attached to this festive occasion. The comment I have made is true, absolutely true, if we only take the outwardly, the Zahiri aspect of this occasion; however I would hasten to correct myself; yes, there will be the inner happiness, the Baatini aspect. This is the happiness one feels because of closeness to Allah.

3 We have had the opportunity to foster a real closeness to Him by fasting and prayers during the Blessed month of Ramadan, especially the last ten nights. It was during one of these nights, Laila tul Qadr or the Night of Majesty, that revelation of the Holy Qur an commenced and Prophethood was granted to Hazrat Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. We may lose the apparent happiness from time to time but the inner happiness, once achieved is long lasting; and this is the true Eid. This solace and bliss we strive for is not possible to achieve if we keep the Qur an only as an elevated symbol in our houses for bringing blessings and good fortune, Barkat. Such happiness comes from comprehension of the verses of Al Furqan (the Discrimination) and living in their light. I pray that this Eid brings us the kind of happiness which our souls yearn for. If we succeed in achieving that, then we have found the spirit of Eid; which was the aim of our supplications during Ramadan. As we revere the Quran and follow its teachings we should also make an effort to remove all the misunderstandings about Islam that are being portrayed in the world especially the West. As the Qur an has been revealed by Allah for all mankind and its protection is assured by Him; as the verses above state; this message is not only for Ahmadis who have the sole mission of spreading Islam through the teachings of the Quran, it is for all people who dwell in this global village. Today hatred for Islam has incited some people to plan the burning of the Quran. This would only reflect the intolerance of the very people who stand there declaring that Islam is intolerant. It is important to appreciate this paradox. It is time for all the residents of this global village to realise that misinterpretation of Qur anic verses by some of those who profess Islam do not make these verses unholy. All Scriptures have to be interpreted in the context of their revelation otherwise many, including the Bible, have passages in them in which killing enemies while fighting is allowed. I send this appeal to the worldwide community to abandon aggressive and extreme steps like the sacrilege of Holy Books to score points against one another. Burning of pages does not bring us closer together nor closer to our common goal of a peaceful world for all to reside in. The protection of the Qur an we leave to Allah who says: Surely We have revealed the Reminder, and surely We are its Guardian. I pray for a better understanding amongst all religions and all the peoples of the world. I pray for those affected by the floods in Pakistan and those facing difficulties resulting from misdeeds of some who call themselves Muslims. I pray for the souls of all those, Muslims and Non-Muslims, who lost their lives in the tragic events of 9/11 and the relatives they left behind; I pray that Allah will accept our ibadat of Ramadan and we will continue to live in His service as we have resolved. Aamen. Professor Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed Ameer and President Worldwide Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement 3 P age

4 AUSTRALIA Mohammed Usman Dearest Uncle, Jak Akbar. Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahe wa Barakatuh. Allah ho Akbar! The blessed month of Ramadhan was most productive and aspiring as far as the Sydney Anjuman was concerned. Members did their very best to be as close to Allah and follow his Commandment as much as possible. Here is a brief report of how the month progressed. Saturday August 22nd 2010 Jamaat and family members were invited for Roza Iftar at the residence of Mr and Mrs Feroz and Zarina Dean at Blacktown. The function was very well attended, we held our Maghrib prayers and it was concluded with our Tarawih prayers. Sunday September 5th Lailatul Qadr This grand night was observed at the residence of Mrs C B Sahu-Khan and Mrs Nur Jehan Alam's residence, Haberfield. The Anjuman s president, Dr M.A Sahu Khan, did the welcome speech. I did the Quran Tilawat which was followed by a talk and dua by Mr Ameen Sahu Khan. Mrs Nur Jehan Alam, one of the vice-presidents, moved a vote of thanks. This Jalsa was well attended and was concluded with the Isha Prayers. Friday September 10th Eid-ul-Fitr Namaaz was held at the Wentworthville Community Centre, commencing at 8:45 am. The president, Dr M A Sahu Khan, welcomed everyone for the Eid prayers and read messages received from abroad. Mr Ameen Sahu Khan led the Namaaz and delivered the Khutba. Eid namaaz was very well attended by members and some non-members also. I concluded the programme by reading the very inspiring and thought provoking Eid-ul-Fitr message from our Hazrat Ameer. I also read the summarised version of Eid-ul-Fitr message from Mr Shaukat A Ali - Regional Coordinator AAIIL, Asia and Pacific Region, which was most interesting. Ladies from the Jamaat had made arrangements to bring refreshments, which the members enjoyed after the formal function. Pakistan Flood Appeal Anjuman will be sending its donations to Central Anjuman in a very near future. Hope the photos sent earlier would be helpful. Khuda Hafiz, Mohammed Usman ^^^ 4 P age

5 Muhammad Ameen Sahu Khan, Australia EID MUBARAK MAY THE JOYS AND BLESSINGS OF EID-UL-FITR BE YOURS AND YOUR FAMILY S TODAY, TOMORROW AND FOREVER. MAY ALLAH SUBHANAHU-WA-TA ALA BE FOREVER PLEASED WITH YOU. MAY HE FORGIVE US ALL OUR SINS AND GUIDE US ONTO THE RIGHT PATH, THE PATH OF THOSE UPON WHOM HE HAS BESTOWED FAVOURS. REMEMBER ME IN YOUR SPECIAL DUAAS. With Love from Ameen and Mumtaz Click on the link below to view present from Ameen Sahu Khan: 5 P age

6 CANADA Ahamed Hosein, President, OAAIIL, Toronto Assalaam O Alaikum Brothers & Sisters. With the end of the month of Ramadan, brings us to the joyful day of Eid ul Fitr. As we celebrate this special event we must remember our Muslim brothers & sisters who are suffering aches & pain with the massive flood in Pakistan. We should all say a Special Duah for assistance from Allah for our unfortunate brothers &sisters. We must also remember that Allah does not give a people more than they can bear. Attached are pictures from the Toronto Jamaat for Laitul Qudar and Eidul Fitr celebration We were fortunate to have Maulana Kemal with us for the month of Ramadan. Under his leadership and the dedication of our members we had a Ramadan of dedication and messages of True Islam The Mercy of the Mighty Allah help us to fulfil the obligation of Fasting and a Joyous celebration of Eid. Eid Mobarak to all our members of the Ahamadiya Anjumn worldwide. Respectfully Ahamed Hosein OAAIIL (Toronto) 6 P age

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18 HOLLAND A.S. Abdul Santoe, Regional Co-ordinator, Europe With this holy month of RAMADHAN coming to its end and the joyful EIDUL FITR approaching with a sense of achievement, let us also reflect on those who are in need of help particularly the flood victims in Pakistan. May Allah SWT grant them relieve and the hope for the future. May the ALMIGHTY also grant us the peace, harmony and protection needed to carry out the noble task of Tabligh set out for us in the Holy BOOK. For it is only in unity and sincere brotherhood that we will be able to perform. 18 P age

19 EID MUBARAK to all the members of your jamaat. May ALLAH SWT shower HIS choicest blessings and barkaats upon us all, Ameen. A.S. Abdul Santoe Courtesy Harry Boedhoe 19 P age

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21 INDIA Report from Abdul Gaffar and Mumtaz Alam, Delhi, India Assalamu Alaikum. We are pleased to provide a report on Eid-ul Fitr in India. At Delhi, after the prayers and Khutba, Eid-ul Fitr messages from Hazrat Ameer e Qaum, Prof. Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed Pasha, and the Regional Coordinator were read for the benefit of the members. This was followed by the message regarding Quran burning from Hazrat Ameer. The Regional Coordinator, Shaukat A. Ali, called from Thailand and spoke to those present for about ten minutes on the speaker phone. He stressed the need to attain and maintain taqwa and to continue the spirit of Ramadan for the next eleven months and beyond. He said there was a great need for propagation and distribution of our literature to universities and libraries and to professional people throughout India so that they are aware of the true beliefs of Lahori Ahmadies. Members thanked the Sydney, Australia Jamaat and the Regional Coordinator for providing funds for Sadaqa-al Fitr which was distributed in advance to over 130 poor and needy families in various locations in India. The celebrations were subdued because of severe opposition by other Muslim groups and heavy rain. However, members visited each other for the rest of the day. Reports from other areas in India indicate that Ramadan and the Eid-ul Fitr went very well. Allah hafiz. Abdul Gaffar and Mumtaz Alam Delhi, India 21 P age

22 Mufti Mumtaz Alam is delivering khutba Listening to the khutba and the messages from Hazrat Ameer and the Regional Coordinator 22 P age

23 Eid Message from Dr Khurshid Alam Tareen, Srinagar, Kashmir He is indeed successful who causes it to grow, and he indeed fails who buries it (Qur an, 91:9-10). Some four decades ago we were awarded our Medical Degrees. All of us were very happy and were rejoicing over the Final Success. Suddenly the hall echoed with the following remarks from the Dean: There is no reason to rejoice over this success, for this is not end of examination, in fact now you are being transferred to a bigger examination hall, where every new patient will put all your abilities to a fresh test. So you have unending array of challenges ahead, be prepared for all this. Same is true of Ramadan, in this sacred month every Muslim is rigorously trained to rule his desires, to make them work as he likes, his will power is so developed that he can command himself that is the real Eid or happiness. But this virtuous and cherished achievement should not end with Ramadan or Eid-ul-Fitr only. Hazrat Ali is reported to have once said on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr itself: People are celebrating Eid today, they will forget this festivity by tomorrow. But our Eid is incessant and unending, for every such occasion is an Eid for us when we show full obedience to God s dictates and commands or shun evil inclinations with full might. In fact, this is the real meaning of the Arabic word Eid, which comes from aw-d, i.e., repetition of joyous moments. Thus we have not to celebrate only a fixed Merry Day but to make every day a Eid Day as Hazrat Ali has rightly put it. If we deeply ponder over the verses given on top they too convey the same message. May Allah bless us all. Wassalam! Dr. Khurshid Alam Tareen Srinagar Friday, September 10, P age

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26 Amir Aziz, General Secretary, AAIIL Dear brothers and sisters Assalamu Alaikum. 26 P age PAKISTAN On behalf of members of AAIIL accept heartiest Eid greetings. Eid Muabarik. May this day bring happiness, joy and mirth for us all. Eid is a special enjoyable occasion for the Muslims to celebrate this day with great fervor after having spent blessed month of Ramadan in complete humility to their Lord. It s a day to make resolution that we will keep our duties to Allah and fulfil our responsibilities to our fellow beings. The lesson we get through this day is crux of our Religion The Religion of Islam to be subservient to Allah and serve His creature with best of our abilities. While celebrating this day, we must not forget our brothers and sisters who are not privileged enough as most of us are. We must pray for them and make promise to ourselves to assist them in the best possible way.

27 This year Eid in Pakistan has a shadow of sadness and gloom as many of our fellow beings lost their lives and properties in flood victim areas and many became victim of terrorist activities. We stand with all such families who suffered irreparable loss and pray that may Allah help them bear this loss with patience and perseverance. Yours truly, Amir Aziz General Secretary AAIIL Mudassar Aziz, PA to Hazrat Ameer Dear brothers and sisters Assalamu Alaikum. Eid Muabarik. Mudassar Aziz P age

28 SOUTH AFRICA Greetings from Ebrahim Muhammad, President, South Africa Jama at As Salamu Alaikum. To all Ahmadi Brothers and Sisters worldwide. We pray that you are all well with the Grace of Almighty Allah. We wish you all a joyous Id and pray that Almighty Allah, in his infinite Mercy, heed our prayers for a society free of religious persecution and oppression. We pray for the success of our humble efforts to keep true Islam above all other creeds and faiths in the world, in a manner that is peaceful, rational and inspirational. 28 P age

29 Please forward our good wishes and prayers to all. Was Salaam. Ebrahim and Sheega Mohamed, for AAIIL, South Africa Surinaamse Islamitische Vereniging (SIV) SURINAME 29 P age

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31 31 P age Extract from Suriname newspaper on Eid celebrations by the SIV

32 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Excerpt from Eid khutba delivered by Imam Kalamazad Mohammed Part of Imam Kalamazad Mohammed s sermon on sincerity dealt with an explanation of 29:69 of the Holy Qur an by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. The following are a few excerpts quoted from the writings of Mirza Sahib: 1. Man s heart goes through several conditions or states till finally Allah, Most High, banishes the weaknesses of good and righteous souls and gives them purity and strength as a gift so that everything that Allah, Most High, detests, they too detest, and they love every path that Allah, Most High, loves. And know that among you is Allah s Messenger. Were he to obey you in many a matter, you would surely fall into distress; but Allah has endeared the faith to you and has made it seemly in your hearts, and He has made hateful to you disbelief and transgression and disobedience. Such are those who are rightly guided A grace from Allah and a favour. And Allah is Knowing, Wise (49:7-8). They then receive such strength that leaves no weakness in them and such an enthusiasm for goodness and piety that brooks no laziness and such taqwa that leaves no sinfulness in them, and Allah, Most High, is so pleased with them that they make no mistakes. But these favours come after a long while, for at first man stumbles in error after error but then after strenuous struggles Allah, Most High, sees that His servant is so sincere and truthful and confers on him extraordinary powers of body, intellect and soul. 2. The assistance which the believer gets from the Holy Spirit is solely a gift from Allah, Most High, and he gets this only if he is truly sincere in his belief in Allah, Most High, and the Holy Prophet (sas), and the Holy Qur an. Struggle alone cannot attract the Holy Spirit, but it is faith, and this is a grace from the Almighty on condition that the believer s heart is true and his feet are firm and he exhibits sabr (patience) in times of trial and disappointments and calamities. Of course, hard striving is also needed, as the verse states: And those who strive hard for Us, We shall certainly guide them in Our ways. And Allah is surely with the doers of good (29:69). A striver is like a blind person who still cannot see clearly yet, but the Holy Spirit s assistance helps him to think good thoughts and gives him spiritual power which makes him love to strive in goodness, and after striving he receives another spirit which is stronger than the first, but they are in fact one spirit and not two. This difference is only in degree, just as there is one God Whose special manifestation and glory and protection come to the lot of the faithful. He Who shows miracles to them does not exhibit the same wonders to negligent and heedless or sinful people. Then those people who are blessed with the Holy Spirit engage in such good deeds that they conquer Satan. In order to seek Allah s pleasure they undertake such mighty striving that it is beyond an ordinary man s power to conceive their strength of purpose. In God s path they consider their lives as less than chaff or rubbish. Eventually they are accepted by Allah, Most High, and Allah makes their hearts hate sinfulness and implants love for goodness, as stated here, in 49:7 and 2:148 they do good spontaneously as if it is second nature to them: Wa man tatawwa a khairan fa huwa khairul-lah. 3. Allah, Most High, has truly promised that whoever searches for His path with a sincere heart and a pure motive will find that Allah, Most High, will open the door of guidance and deep spiritual knowledge for him as He Himself has promised in 29: P age

33 Striving in Our way means that only the persons whose sincere and pure intentions are based on love of God will achieve their objective. But if we make fun of this search for Allah, Most High, and only put Him to trial we will be left deprived and lost. So if we strive on these foundations of sincerity of heart and pure intentions and make abundant du a, then we will find that Allah is Ghafur and Rahim (Forgiving and Merciful). Otherwise Allah, Most High, is beyond need and does not care for jokers. Imam Kalamazad Mohammed and family UNITED KINGDOM Greetings from Jameela Khan, President, AAIIL-UK Assalamu 'Alaikum. We reciprocate all the Good Wishes that Jamaats round the World sent to each other. There is a lot of "HOPE" for us, as Hazrat Ameer says, "Hold fast to the Rope that binds us together. From London on the Greenwich Meridian it extends as far East as Fiji and New Zealand to California and Vancouver on the West. North from Sweden to South Africa. THE SUN NEVER SETS ON AHMADIYYA ANJUMANS. Thanks to Mr Akbar Abdullah 'The HOPE Bulletin' keeps us closer to each other. Let us Pray for his Good Health and Happiness so that he may continue in this Pivotal Role that he bears. 33 P age

34 This year Hazrat Ameer has visited 16 (I think) Jamaats in the powerful yet humble position that Allah has decreed for him. He deserves our Admiration, and we Pray that his determination to lead from the front continues to Inspire all the Jamaats Worldwide. May the Peace and Blessings that we received during this Glorious Month of Ramadaan stay with us throughout the year. EID MUBARAK ONE AND ALL FROM U.K. JAMAAT. ^*^ Talk given at first iftari held on 14 August, 2010 at Darus Salaam, Wembley Nasir Ahmad FASTING A MONTH OF SELF-DISCIPLINE, CHARACTER-BUILDING AND GROOMING OF SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS We have gathered here this evening for the first iftari of the blessed month of Ramadan. It is a month when we make a special effort to observe self-discipline individually and collectively. It is also a month of physical and spiritual exercise to correct and improve our thoughts and behaviour in our day-to-day working, in our relations and attitude towards one another, and when we try to develop more active realisation towards the well-being of our dear and near ones and those who need our help and attention. The prime importance of this month is that Allah, our Creator, revealed the final guidance for mankind in order to help us to achieve physical and spiritual purity and high moral character which are very much needed for a disciplined, healthy and progressive society. After salah or prayers, fasting has been prescribed to attain inner purity in order to increase our fine qualities, for which the Qur an has used the word taqwa. The Holy Qur an says the following in this regard: O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you so that you may guard against evil. And the month of Ramadan is that in which the Holy Qur an was revealed, a guidance to men, and clear proofs of the guidance and the criterion. And when my servants ask you concerning Me, surely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should hear My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way (2:183, 185 &186). As the Qur an rightly points out, fasting has been widely practised at all times of man s religious history. The extreme rigour and the long duration of the Islamic fast fulfils, in addition to the general aim of spiritual and physical discipline and purification, a threefold purpose: 1. To commemorate the beginning of the Qur anic revelation. 2. To provide an exacting exercise of self-discipline. 3. To make everyone realise, through his or her own experience, how it feels to be hungry and thirsty and thus to gain a true realisation of the needs of the people who cannot afford sufficient means to sustain their day-to-day living. Now, coming back to verses 183, 185 and 186, we find that the first verse is addressed to the believers while the second one is addressed to mankind as a whole. Again, the first verse tells us that the Holy Qur an was revealed as a guidance for mankind (please note the words as a guidance and not just dogmas to seek salvation), and in the second verse fasting has been prescribed for believers to guard against evil. Thus, fasting has been prescribed as a special physical and spiritual exercise for the believers to enable them to seek and follow the commandments of the Holy Qur an in word and in spirit. In fact, the objective of all the commandments including fasting is to enable a believer to guard against evil and 34 P age

35 attain righteousness and to improve and give correct direction to his physical and mental capabilities. Keeping this objective in view, if we study the three verses further we find that each verse ends with a word carrying special significance or direction for the spiritual development and character building of a believer. For example, verse 183 ends with the word tattaqoon, verse 185 ends with the word tashkuroon, and verse 186 ends with the word yarshudoon. Let me give you brief meanings of each word and how each one of them represents stages of spiritual progress. In other words, these three words indicate the objectives that fasting, intense supplications, and charitable acts performed during the month of Ramadan that should help a believer to progress spiritually and morally from one stage to the next until he is firmly on the right path to success. The Holy Qur an, in chapter 91, The Sun, verse 9, considers purification of the self a sure indicator to success. Allama Muhammnad Asad has rendered it beautifully as: Indeed he shall attain a happy state who causes his self to grow in purity. The word tattaqoon comes at the end of the verse prescribing fasting. Obviously it emphasises that the object of keeping fast is to achieve taqwa. As this word occurs frequently in the Qur an and especially in connection with fasting, we need to understand its deeper meaning. Imam Raghib, a great lexicologist, in his Mufradaat, has explained it as to guard a thing against something which may injure or harm it. It also means to save oneself from something which may cause fear because of the punishment which may be inflicted on a wrongdoer. That is why most of the commentators have translated it as fear. In Islamic terminology, it means to save oneself from or guard against sin or evil. Its meaning as fear of Allah certainly goes against the very concept of Allah in Islam. Fear always keeps one away from something. But Allah is the greatest source of love and mercy and that is why time and again the Holy Qur an exhorts a believer to attain nearness to Him. Even in verse 185 it says: Surely I am nigh. Actually, the fear here means not fear of Allah but fear of the consequences of a sin committed and as a result of it taking one away from Allah. In chapter 50, verse 16, the Holy Qur an has described how a believer is likely to be trapped by the evil inclinations of his mind if he does not strive to keep away from sin or from disobedience of the commandments which save him from sin and bring him nearer to Allah. It says: And certainly We created man, and We knew what his mind suggests to him and We are nearer to him than his life-vein. Elsewhere in the Holy Qur an it is mentioned that man is most likely to drift away or incline towards sin unless he is saved by the protecting hand of Forgiving and Merciful Allah: And I call not myself sinless; surely man s self is mostly likely to command evil, except those on whom my Lord has mercy. Surely my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful (12:53). Next we come to the word tashkuroon. It is from shukr, meaning a state of thankfulness, or reward granted by Allah in return for a good deed. An equitable law regarding reward for doing a good deed and punishment for an evil deed has been mentioned in these words: Whoever brings or does a good deed will have tenfold like it, and whoever brings an evil deed, will be recompensed only with the like of it, and they shall not be wronged (6:159). Further on in Chapter 14, Abraham, verse 7, Allah has made another promising announcement regarding awarding good deeds when a believer becomes more submissive and thankful to Allah. It says: And when your Lord made it known; If you are grateful, I will give you more. And if you are ungrateful, My 35 P age

36 chastisement is truly severe. Yet further on, in chapter 40, Believer, verse 40, Allah gives an assurance to doers of good to enter Paradise. It says: Whoever does evil, he is recompensed with the like of it. And whoever does good, whether male or female, and he is a believer, these shall enter the Paradise and will be given their sustenance without measure. The Holy Qur an, and for that matter, the whole fabric of Islamic teachings, serves to groom a believer in all aspects of his life. There are numerous instructions, even regarding minor things such as replying to a retort, staying late at home when one is invited to a dinner party, and not talking in a loud voice in a discussion or otherwise. Undoubtedly, all these fine details of social life are meant to bring happiness and nobility in a believer s character. Some of these have been enumerated in verses 16 to 19 of Chapter Luqman, after the name of an Ethiopian prophet, who exhorted his son in the following words: O my son, keep up prayer and enjoin good and forbid evil, and bear patiently that which befalls you. Surely this is an affair of great resolution. And turn not your face away from people in contempt, nor go about in the land exultingly. Surely Allah loves not any self-conceited boaster. And pursue the right course in your going about and lower your voice. This is just a glimpse of fine qualities which a believer is required to practice in his daily living. A passing remark about how to show patience and restraint has been made in a well-known hadith where the Holy Prophet (sas) is reported to have said: When you are confronted with a person who tries to engage you in unnecessary discussion, tell him: I am fasting. It shows that belief in Allah and following the example of His Holy Messenger demonstrate a high sense of civility, especially during the month of Ramadan. Again, in Chapter 3, entitled Family of Amran, in verse 157 we come across another very important guideline and very useful advice for social cohesion, mutual respect, and understanding. It is a command to the Holy Prophet by Allah: Thus it is by Allah s mercy that you are gentle to them. And had you been rough, hard-hearted, they would certainly have dispersed from around you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them, and consult them in matters. Individuals make a society good or bad. Fasting is a wholesome exercise which promotes abstention from evil, and encourages good deeds, discipline, charitable acts, self-control, and realisation of the pains, needs and suffering of others. These restraints that are enjoined and the charitable acts prescribed bring a change on an individual level and also in the society as a whole. The Holy Qur an has very rightly pointed out that the only way to bring change is through reformation of individuals. It says: Allah changes not the condition of a people until they change their own condition (13:11). Here the word aanfusakum, which literally means their own selves, needs our special attention. The change in the society comes through change in the individuals. The message of change which should be wholesome is the crux of the teachings of Islam. And the three verses recited at the start contain essential components of bringing that required change, that is, from abstention to thankfulness and ultimately treading along the right path. And that is why Surah Fatihah or the Opening chapter is so important: that to purify our inner selves we should intensely seek Allah s guidance by saying: O Lord! Keep us on the right path. At the end I would like to quote an extract from an sent to me. It says: How will the value of your life and the days spent on this earth be measured? What will matter is not what you bought but what you built. Not what you got, but what you gave. Not what you learnt but what you taught and demonstrated. Surely what will matter is every act of integrity, charity, compassion and sacrifice that enriched, 36 P age

37 empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example. And thus what will matter is not your competence but your own character. Eid celebrations Dr Zahid Aziz getting ready to lead the Eid prayers Dr Mujahid Saeed giving the Eid khutba Dr Zahid Aziz giving the Jumu ah khutba 37 P age

38 Mr Nasir Ahmad & Dr Zahid Aziz Mr Anis Ahmad & Mr Mubarak Fogarty Dr Zahid Aziz, Mr Arjumand Sadiq, Mr Nasir Ahmad Our Queen Mothers -- Mrs NasiraTufail, Mrs Akhtar Aziz (Abdul Haq Vidiharty s daughter) & Mrs Khadija Ashraf 38 P age

39 Zain Ahmad Saeed & his father Our young men. (Left [in suit] is Mudassar Aziz, Webmaster, Virtual Mosque Manager & Technical Adviser.) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Oakland, California 39 P age

40 40 P age Ikram Jhangiri giving short taqreer before Eid prayer

41 Mohammed Mustapha speaking about Eid prayer Hasmullah delivering the khutba 41 P age

42 Jaffer Ali Buksh reading Amir Aziz s Eid message Zafar Abdullah reading Hazrat Ameer s Eid message Children receiving prizes 42 P age

43 Children receiving prizes Closing du a by Mohammed Mustapha 43 P age

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45 Mohamed and Akela Haroun, Tampa, Florida Waiting for Eid... Here it comes... Here it comes P age

46 Eid Mubarak. Hope all your dreams & wishes come true. Yay It s Eid!!!!!!! May Almighty God keep you and your loved ones safe & happy. Ameen. CONTACT INFORMATION Akbar Abdullah Editor, The HOPE Bulletin Mailing Address: P.O. Box Sacramento, California , U.S.A. Address: akbar_786us@yahoo.com Telephone Number: (773) P age