London Riot

Tonight was a night unlike other nights. London has seen a riot unlike other. Mothers were scared for their sons’ safety and wives were scared for their husbands who went to the Masjid for Taraweeh in the blessed night of Ramadhan.

The riot actually stared a number of days ago in London as you may have seen on the news , but the rioters came and carried their activity in the borough of Tower Hamlets tonight. Their protest for justice turned violently into a riot then sometimes into looting. A friend of mine texted me that “...one man got beaten really bad; it was really scary, the police could not catch the rioters...” And how could they because they do not stay there after they do anything. They leave the area swiftly.

When I was driving by to I actually have seen a van full of black youths parking near a Masjid who are thought to be from the borough of Hackney. It looked obvious that the wanted to attack the MASJID and its glass doors and windows. They thought twice and went somewhere else because there were many young Muslims still outside the Masjid.

I also have seen that some major stores such as TESCO and McDonalds, their windows have been smashed and now police are guarding tem from looters. I thought the rioters will have mercy on the small businesses, but some rioters are looters. They have found the riot to be a good opportunity to loot and steal. Of course they may be a lot of rioters rioting sincerely for justice for the black mini cab driver, who was shot dead by the police, but there are some who are looting and they are looting even the small businesses too. This is the reason why I realised even after mid night; shopkeepers are standing outside their shops on commercial road to guard their shops because their loss would be too much of a loss compared to TESCO.

After I dropped all my friends home, I sat next to my computer and felt I just had to tell you this. In my next article, I will be looking the root cause of the riot.

COME BACK FOR THE NEXT ARTICLE ON THE CAUSE OF THE LONDON RIOT!

LONDON ISLAMIC SCHOOL WIN INTER-SCHOOL ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

LONDON ISLAMIC SCHOOL WIN INTER-SCHOOL ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS.

The 4th annual United Madrasah Championships in Athletics 2011 (UMC) organised by London Islamic School in partnership with new official partners Newark Youth London took place on Wednesday the 13th July 2011 at the Mile End Stadium. The event was sponsored by the Canary Wharf Group and other local businesses. It involved four Tower Hamlets based Independent Secondary schools for boys named Mazahirul Uloom London, Ebrahim Academy, London Islamic School and London East Academy competing against each other in mini olympic style fashion to be labelled the United Madrasah Championship winners 2011. The event was further enhanced by health stalls promoting healthy eating, healthy living and a smoke-free Tower Hamlets to provide information, advice and guidance to pupils who don’t always have the opportunity to access such services.

After a hard fought day, young people worked hard to gain points for their respective year groups and schools overall in events such as the 4 by 1 relay, high jump, discus, triple jump and many others, with the year 8 shield going to Mazahirul Uloom London, the year 9 shield going to London East Academy, the year 7, year 10 and the overall championship being won by London Islamic School, who excelled in the various events. Arif Abdurrahmaan, the PE Teacher at London Islamic School said ‘There is so much talent in independent schools in the field of Athletics which sometimes goes unnoticed, with the Olympics coming soon to London, we want an event like this to bring together all the local independent schools so we can identify some of these prospects and refer them to borough teams as well as promoting healthy eating and lifestyles overall’. The event also aims to support the Tower Hamlets a healthy borough initiative by bringing together 500 plus young people in one venue to attain information, advice and guidance from voluntary sector groups while engaging in activities which promote healthy lifestyles.

Newark Youth London Chairman, Emrul Islam said ‘we are very proud to be official partners of this event and are looking forward to working with London Islamic School to help this event grow further in the coming years using our 27 years of experience providing services for young people. We are also creating formal links with the participating local independent schools to benefit them with the many other services and projects we run in the different LAPs in and around Tower Hamlets’.

The day ended with encouraging words from Chair of the Council, Councillor Mijan Choudhury at the presentation ceremony who showed his support for such an event by saying ‘It’s great to see such an event, with the Olympics coming to the London, we would like to see young people from Tower Hamlets being part of this in whatever capacity they can’.

Isra' and Mi'raj

Narrated Anas bin Malik (Radi Allah Anhu): The night Allah's Apostle (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam) was taken for a journey from the sacred mosque (of Makkah) Al-Ka'ba: Three persons came to him (in a dreamy) while he was sleeping in the Sacred Mosque before the Divine Inspiration was revealed to Him. One of them said, "Which of them is he?" The middle (second) angel said, "He is the best of them." The last (third) angle said, "Take the best of them."

Only that much happened on that night and he did not see them till they came on another night, i.e. after The Divine Inspiration was revealed to him. (Fateh-Al-Bari Page 258, Vol. 17) and he saw them, his eyes were asleep but his heart was not----and so is the case with the prophets: their eyes sleep while their hearts do not sleep. So those angels did not talk to him till they carried him and placed him beside the well of Zam-Zam. From among them Gabriel (Alaihissalam) took charge of him. Gabriel (Alaihissalam) cut open (the part of his body) between his throat and the middle of his chest (heart) and took all the material out of his chest and abdomen and then washed it with Zam-Zam water with his own hands till he cleansed the inside of his body, and then a gold tray containing a gold bowl full of belief and wisdom was brought and then Gabriel (Alaihissalam) stuffed his chest and throat blood vessels with it and then closed it (the chest).

He then ascended with him to the heaven of the world and knocked on one of its doors. The dwellers of the Heaven asked, 'Who is it?' He said, "Gabriel." They said, "Who is accompanying you?" He said, "Muhammad (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam)." They said, "Has he been called?" He said, "Yes" They said, "He is welcomed." So the dwellers of the Heaven became pleased with his arrival, and they did not know what Allah would do to the Prophet (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam) on earth unless Allah informed them.


The Prophet (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam) met Adam (Alaihissalam) over the nearest Heaven. Gabriel (Alaihissalam) said to the Prophet (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam), "He is your father; greet him." The Prophet (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam) greeted him and Adam (Alaihissalam) returned his greeting and said, "Welcome, O my Son! O what a good son you are!" Behold, he saw two flowing rivers, while he was in the nearest sky. He asked, "What are these two rivers, O Gabriel?" Gabriel (Alaihissalam) said, "These are the sources of the Nile and the Euphrates." Then Gabriel (Alaihissalam) took him around that Heaven and behold, he saw another river at the bank of which there was a palace built of pearls and emerald. He put his hand into the river and found its mud like musk Adhfar. He asked, "What is this, O Gabriel?" Gabriel (Alaihissalam) said, "This is the Kauthar which your Lord has kept for you."


Then Gabriel (Alaihissalam) ascended (with him) to the second Heaven and the angels asked the same questions as those on the first Heaven, i.e., "Who is it?" Gabriel (Alaihissalam) replied, "Gabriel". They asked, "Who is accompanying you?" He said, "Muhammad (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam)." They asked, "Has he been sent for?" He said, "Yes." Then they said, "He is welcomed.'' Then he (Gabriel Alaihissalam) ascended with the Prophet (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam) to the third Heaven, and the angels said the same as the angels of the first and the second Heavens had said. Then he ascended with him to the fourth Heaven and they said the same; and then he ascended with him to the fifth Heaven and they said the same; and then he ascended with him to the sixth Heaven and they said the same; then he ascended with him to the seventh Heaven and they said the same.


On each Heaven there were prophets whose names he had mentioned and of whom I remember Idris (Alaihissalam) on the second Heaven, Haaron (Alaihissalam) on the fourth Heavens, another prophet whose name I don't remember, on the fifth Heaven, Abraham (Alaihissalam) on the sixth Heaven, and Moses (Alaihissalam) on the seventh Heaven because of his privilege of talking to Allah directly. Moses (Alaihissalam) said (to Allah), "O Lord! I thought that none would be raised up above me."


But Gabriel (Alaihissalam) ascended with him (the Prophet Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam) for a distance above that, the distance of which only Allah knows, till he reached the Lote Tree (beyond which none may pass) and then the Irresistible, the Lord of Honor and Majesty approached and came closer till he (Gabriel Alaihissalam) was about two bow lengths or (even) nearer. (It is said that it was Gabriel who approached and came closer to the Prophet (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam). (Fate Al-Bari Page 263, 264, Vol. 17).


Among the things which Allah revealed to him then, was: "fifty prayers were enjoined on his followers in a day and a night." Then the Prophet (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam) descended till he met Moses (Alaihissalam), and then Moses (Alaihissalam) stopped him and asked, "O Muhammad ! What did your Lord enjoin upon you?" The Prophet (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam) replied, "He enjoined upon me to perform fifty prayers in a day and a night." Moses (Alaihissalam) said, "Your followers cannot do that; Go back so that your Lord may reduce it for you and for them." So the Prophet (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam) turned to Gabriel (Alaihissalam) as if he wanted to consult him about that issue. Gabriel (Alaihissalam) told him of his opinion, saying, "Yes, if you wish." So Gabriel ascended with him to the Irresistible and said while he was in his place, "O Lord, please lighten our burden as my followers cannot do that." So Allah deducted for him ten prayers where upon he returned to Moses (Alaihissalam) who stopped him again and kept on sending him back to his Lord till the enjoined prayers were reduced to only five prayers.

Then Moses (Alaihissalam) stopped him when the prayers had been reduced to five and said, "O Muhammad! By Allah, I tried to persuade my nation, Bani Israel to do less than this, but they could not do it and gave it up. However, your followers are weaker in body, heart, sight and hearing, so return to your Lord so that He may lighten your burden."

The Prophet (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam) turned towards Gabriel (Alaihissalam) for advice and Gabriel (Alaihissalam) did not disapprove of that. So he ascended with him for the fifth time. The Prophet (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam) said, "O Lord, my followers are weak in their bodies, hearts, hearing and constitution, so lighten our burden."

On that the Irresistible said, "O Muhammad!" (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam)

The Prophet (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam) replied, "Labbaik and Sa'daik."

Allah said, "The Word that comes from Me does not change, so it will be as I enjoined on you in the Mother of the Book."

Allah added, "Every good deed will be rewarded as ten times so it is fifty (prayers) in the Mother of the Book (in reward) but you are to perform only five (in practice)."

The Prophet (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam) returned to Moses (Alaihissalam) who asked, "What have you done?" He said, "He has lightened our burden: He has given us for every good deed a tenfold reward." Moses (Alaihissalam) said, "By Allah! I tried to make Bani Israel observe less than that, but they gave it up. So go back to your Lord that He may lighten your burden further." Allah's Apostle (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam) said, "O Moses! By Allah, I feel shy of returning too many times to my Lord." On that Gabriel (Alaihissalam) said, "Descend in Allah's Name." The Prophet (Sal-Allahu-Alleihi-Wasallam) then woke while he was in the Sacred Mosque (at Makkah).


[ Sahih Bukhari: Book #93, Hadith #608 ]