Jihad is permanent and continuous process

Dear readers, Jihad is an Arabic word which means to try utmost. It is a permanent and continuous process. In its first phase, a Muslim learns to control his own bad desires and intentions. We need to strive hard to achieves this . the duty of a Mujahid is to establish right thins (Marud) and remove evil thins (Munkar) from the society. It demands the use of all our material and mental resources.

Fight in the cause of Allah

Allah said in the gracious Quran: Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve, fight in the cause of Taghut (Shaitan). So fight you against the friends of Shaitan. Ever feeble indeed is the plot of Shaitan. (Nisa: 76) if declares that we are real servant of Almighty then we have to participate in Jihad.

The most desirable aim and objective of a Muslim

We should use all that we have in the cause of Allah. If we can do this, then we will be able to seek His mercy as well as His pleasure and eventually attain paradise. Allah declared that He will forgive the sins of the people who are fighting in His way. Therefore, without any question the most desirable aim and objective of  a Muslim should be to fight in His way. Finally, we like to see truth prevail and untruth vanish. May Allah give us ability to fight for Allah’s cause.

Md. Moshiur Rahman

Allah did not create anything aimlessly

Dear readers, among the things we see around us, everywhere there are signs of Allah, and everything of this universe providing proof of Allah’s Oneness. If we think deeply, we will see that Allah did not create anything without any target and aimlessly, as Allah says in the Quran: Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): “Our Lord! You have not created all this without purpose, glory to You! (Exalted are You above all that they associate with you as partners.) Protect us from the punishment of the Fire. (Al Imran: 191) Allah, the almighty also tells us, “and on the earth are signs for those who have Faith with certainty. And also in your own selves, will you no then see?” (Adh DHariyat: 20-21)

Think about some organs of your body

Well, let us think about our two eyes, one tongue and two lips. Is there anyone in this world who can speak freely using one lip? No it is quite impossible. Now think deeply what Allah says in the Quran: Have We not made for him two eyes? And a tongue and two lips? And sown him the two eyes? (Al Balad:8-10) In the verse, the two ways mean the way of good and evil, the way of Paradise as well the way of Hell.

The uprising after death

Dear readers, sometimes doubt might strike us that how will we be brought to life after death? So there is a best example in the following verse to understand it. Allah says in the Quran: And is a sigh for them is the dead earth. We have brought in to life and brought forth it grain, and from it, they eat. (Yasin: 33)

We see the land lies dry and dead, and then Allah quickens it so it begins to bloom in no time. So many kinds of fruits and grain grow in gardens and fields and we are the people who utilize them all. However, the dead land is a sign for us. If we think deeply and observe it, we can easily understand the Uprising after death. Therefore, it is clear that Allah will be able to resurrect us on the Day of Judgment.

Md. Moshiur Rahman

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah

Hope you are fine. Some of you might have suffered from cold. Just take a little more care of your health, taking some seasonal local fruits and extra fluid. Those who live in Dhaka city know that it is going to be divided into north and south. So far as we know Dhaka is going to the first city to have two mayors in spite of protests from different corners govt is going ahead with its plan to provide better services to the citizens. The plan was approved by the cabinet and then the bill was tabled in Parliament, paving the way for division of the 400-year-old city. However if solution to poor service anywhere lies in the division of that place, the theory can be applied to many sectors including constituencies, divisions, departments, villages, municipalities, ministries etc. Because many people of Bangladesh do not get due services from different govt agencies what they are supposed to. Happiness was either in past or in future never present. We are hoping against hope. As it is a big issue we are making it into cover story of this issue.

Hope to see you next month inshallah.

The United Nations has declared 2012 the Year of Sustainable Energy for All. Not so hard to understand that the target of this declaration is to ensure natural energy for the whole humanity. The year is also declared as the year of cooperatives but that is not a point to discuss here. However an energy summit will be held on 16-19 January 2012 in Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates. This is an annual summit for alternative energy, clean technology and environment industries ultimately a call for ‘going green’ which is being made popular day by day.

What are sustainable energies?

According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary sustainable energy is that energy which involves the use of natural products and energy in a way that does not harm the environment. It sounds very ethical that everyone on the earth will have access to the energy. No one will have to pay for other’s development. The first-generation sustainable energy sources include hydropower, biomass combustion, and geothermal power and heat. Some of these technologies are still in widespread use.

Second-generation technologies include solar heating and cooling, wind power, modern forms of bioenergy, and solar photovoltaics. These are now entering markets as a result of research, development and demonstration (RD&D) investments since the 1980s. The initial investment was prompted by energy security concerns linked to the oil crises (1973 and 1979) of the 1970s but the continuing appeal of these renewables is due, at least in part, to environmental benefits. Many of the technologies reflect significant advancements in materials.

Third-generation technologies are still under development and include advanced biomass gasification, biorefinery technologies, concentrating solar thermal power, hot dry rock geothermal energy, and ocean energy. Advances in nanotechnology may also play a major role.

First- and second-generation technologies have entered the markets, and third-generation technologies heavily depend on long term research and development commitments, where the public sector has a role to play.

A 2008 comprehensive cost-benefit analysis review of energy solutions in the context of global warming and other issues ranked wind power combined with battery electric vehicles (BEV) as the most efficient, followed by concentrated solar power, geothermal power, tidal power, photovoltaic, wave power, coal capture and storage, nuclear energy, and finally biofuels.

Colonial mentality

From 1757 to 1947 we were in the British colony and after their quits we owed to them for our post-colonial mentality and they owed to us for the resources— kohinoor, mayur singhason etc — they plundered from the subcontinent. So still we value everything foreign, viz. certificate, idea, thought, food and activities. We aren’t in a position to buy local goods, have the least love for the country. We go abroad for shopping or during different festivals. We treat their near or dear ones in Singapore or America or Britain hospitals and our female members often talk about the amount they spent over there for treatment. It’s a token of class and superiority.

War for Energy

When the world is struggling to cope with energy crisis, the automobile factories are racing against time. Gadget companies are competing with thousand others to fund the research of gadgets every day. Don’t talk about arms race and arms producing countries. Energy hungry states are invading resourceful countries one after another under lame excuses.

Car or curse?

In the early years of life most of Bangladeshi kids have heard from their elders reciting ‘those who study can afford a car and those who don’t, can’t. Ignorant and uneducated people, usually thought to be poor, have to hire cars or ride on other’s vehicles.’ This oft-quoted small poem further reads that ‘those who don’t attend school most likely to be run over by a motor car’. These lines never failed to inspire the people of the post colonial era particularly those who are the puppets of masters abroad and their dependants. As people tend to toe the lines of the ruling class, follow their fashion, life style they want naturally to live the life of the upper class no matter whether the upper class people are upright or not. Most of the business tycoons or the greedy corporate or the rulers lead the same extravagant life with paucity, power, and pelf. Spacious house certainly with costly and foreign fittings, luxurious car more often more than one etc are the tokens of the people of the upper class.

This rich section of the society can’t guess or think what will happen to the energy-hungry earth if everyone of the planet affords a car. Can the planet afford 700 crore cars? With the ever depleting petroleum reserves the earth can’t afford the present 1 billion cars let alone 7 billion. You might have known that the world has now over 99 crore 99 lakh 99 thousand cars. In 2011 in the US there were 23 crore cars with 1.3 persons having a car and in China there are over 7.8 crore cars. With one billion cars around 1.2 billion go to bed hungry. If everyone wants to have a car run by biofuels, everyone of the planet will have to go to bed hungry. The more the cars the more the planet will be cursed.

Energy for All: Possible or impossible?

Without coordinated effort the ‘international communities’ are trying to mitigate the energy crisis and looking for sustainable energy for everyone. Doing nothing to contain consumerism, hedonism, extravaganza and tendency to lead posh life the policymakers are repeatedly calling for an end to energy scarcity. Whereas the energy hungry countries are invading one country after another to ensure the supply of gas, oil, uranium and so on. Not only that with the Breton Woods Institute diktat the countries are still building dams and barrages to satiate power hunger ultimately changing the course of nature. There are now as many as 45000 dams and barrages which have done lots of damages to the mother earth.  And the World Bank is responsible for these dams. But is it possible to purify water of a well without removing the dead and rotten rat which is stinking the water there.

You have come to me out of antiquities
We have loved one another for generations
We have loved one another for centuries

You teach me to trust the voice of my voices
You teach me to believe my own believings
You touch the palpability of my possibilities

Together we reflect what our mirrors conceal
Together we upgrade the sun in our meridians
We remain open night and day to transcendence

You are incompletely disguised as a mortal

1.

O bird of the morning, learn love from the moth
Because it burnt, lost its life, and found no voice.
These pretenders are ignorantly in search of Him,
Because he who obtained knowledge has not returned.

2.

How could I ever thank my Friend?
No thanks could ever begin to be worthy.
Every hair of my body is a gift from Him;
How could I thank Him for each hair?
Praise that lavish Lord forever
Who from nothing conjures all living beings!
Who could ever describe His goodness?
His infinite glory lays all praise waste.
Look, He has graced you a robe of splendor
From childhood’s first cries to old age!
He made you pure in His own image; stay pure.
It is horrible to die blackened by sin.
Never let dust settle on your mirror’s shining;
Let it once grow dull and it will never polish.
When you work in the world to earn your living
Do not, for one moment, rely on your own strength.
Self-worshiper, don’t you understand anything yet?
It is God alone that gives your arms their power.
If, by your striving, you achieve something good,
Don’t claim the credit all for yourself;
It is fate that decides who wins and who loses
And all success streams only from the grace of God.
In this world you never stand by your own strength;
It is the Invisible that sustains you every moment.

The lady is
Known now
Up-to-date;

Who wanders
Here there
With male mate.

Who traps
Swallows mind
At a glance;

Life makes
Blank letter,
Defines as blanch.

Why suchLady isModern to you?
How sheMay be??From which view???

I want to fly—
Not in here in the sky
Being ringed legs; how can I?
Feel doubt on myself sometimes—
Really, ‘Am I a guy?’

I don’t get drinking water
How can they afford wine & bear?
I have no complains and no ambition,
Because what is the value of breaking ambition?

No need to have Adidas boot,
I am happy on the naked foot;
Why they are different from us?
Sorry to say—‘‘Any curriculum mistake’s God?’’

Want to be on high
Oh sorry! I forgot ‘’I am not a guy’’
Laughing on myself! I can’t go on without lie
Oh no! What can I do? I can’t die

Only after my death, I can fly
After all, I want to fly……

When your clock-hands join palms together, it is 31st December midnight. The Gregorian calendar trumpets the beginning of the 2012 ledgers. Nations kiss goodbye to the old, relatively pale 2011. There is excitement as usual but also there is presentiment lurking in the back of most people’s mind. The presentiment which creates fear and trepidation among many men emanates from mainly Mayan prophecies. The prophecies tell us that a date in the imminent year remains in hiding when the world ‘as we know it’ will end.

To measure the magnitude of the people’s fear, you surf the net. It brings you up over seven million hits now. More than 6,500 video posts about the apocalyptic day have been posted on YouTube and there are countless books written on the topic. A few polls even reveal that up to 18 per cent of the people have pieced together the tidbits of information on the doomsday. ‘Ask an Astrobiologist’, a NASA public outreach website, has received over five thousand questions from the people on the topic since 2007. The dominant questions are whether people should kill themselves, their children or their pets. Many contemporary fictional references to the year 2012 refer to December 21 as the day of cataclysmic event, including the bestselling book of 2009, Dan Brown’s ‘The Lost Symbol.’

The 2009 disaster film ’2012′, inspired by the phenomenon, became one of the most successful of its year, grossing nearly $770 million worldwide. Lars Von Triers 2011 film ‘Melancholia’ features a plot, making several references to the 2012 doomsday phenomenon.

It has also inspired successful pop music hits including 2012 (It ain’t the End) performed by Jay Sean and (Till the World Ends) by Britney Spears.

However, the prophecies thousands of people are scratching their heads about need to be explained first.

Ancient Mayan societies, known for their advanced mathematics and astronomy, followed a ‘long count’ calendar that lasts 5,126 years. When their charts are translated to the Gregorian calendar, the international standard used today, time runs out on December 21, 2012. Experts, however, have differing views. Some illustrate that the Mayans must have had pre-knowledge of a worldwide catastrophe while others think that the calendar currently in use just ends on the particular day and will then start over without event.

But, in addition to the predictions of the Mayan Shamans, the prophecies of the Incan and Egyptian pre-historic races as well as the prophecies of Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce and the I Ching, Hopi Indians have further shaken the people’s belief. They all indicated that the apocalypse would occur on December 21, 2012. Edgar Cayce said that the earth axis would slightly tilt. As a result of this, the earth will be broken up in the western portion of America and the greater portion of Japan must go into the sea. Nostradamus predicted a great comet, Nibiru, which would impact the Mediterranean on December 21, 2012.

What the astronomers throughout the world have said as media reports have it, have only added to the confusions of the people. Most of them said that the sun would be aligned with the centre of the Milky Way for the first time in 26,000 years on December 21, 2012. Experts warn that the alignment of the sun with the centre of the Milky Way might disrupt the energy flow to the earth, or that the high rate of sunspots or sun flares that the NASA has predicted for the year 2012 could affect the earth magnetic fields.

What the Bible states is all the more striking: the mankind reaches the gates of the end of this era. The prophecy, however, does not refer to an ‘end of the world’ but the end of the time of the gentiles or as a few have referred to it, the end of the Christian era. The prophecy states that there would be signs on earth and in the heavens, which could be reference to the issues mentioned above. Many believe that the rapture of the church is the next part of this prophecy to be fulfilled. But contrary to the popular belief, the Bible’s assertions kept mum about the date when the Lord (Jesus Christ) would appear to take his own ‘out of the way’. The Bible reads, ‘But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only’ (Matt. 25:13). So the Bible assertions reduce people’s confusion to some extent, by rejecting the 2012 phenomenon. The Bible, however, does not rule out possibilities of cataclysmic events the world might face. It says that after the rapture of the church occurs, there would be major catastrophes across the globe. As a result of this, one-third of the world’s population would be destroyed. This would give cause to the rise of anti-Christ.

The Jewish experts, however, came heavily upon those resting faith on the foretelling of the Mayan shamans. They questioned the veracity of the predictions the Mayans left for the posterity. They argued that while the Mayans’ prophets set a date for the end of the world, the end for them came hundred of years ago—not in that 2012 future time. The Jewish experts rather claim that the prediction of one of their famous prophets, Isaiah, came true. They asked the people throughout the world to see how the Jews were back from their nomadic life, under the same name as a nation-Israel as predicted by Isaiah. ‘Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it’ (Zech. 12:1-3).

Unlike the Mayans, the Hebrew prophets gave no dates for the end of the world. Actually the Bible says the world would never end. It would be remade by holy fire. ‘…we according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth the righteousness’ (2 Pt. 3:13).

However, when ominous sounds of the 2012 rumble in the ears of the people of this generation, in the other world the Chinese people, which constitutes one-fourth of the world’s population, appear not at all worried. Rather they are preparing themselves to celebrate the advent of the Dragon year.

It is because of the Chinese Zodiac that tells the year 2012 is the Year of Dragon, which begins on January 23, 2012 and ends on February 9, 2013.

Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal’s year would have some of that animal’s personality. So those born in Dragon years share certain characteristics: innovative, self-assured, brave and passionate. They find pleasure in helping others, and you can always count on their help. Their generous personalities give them the ability to attract friends. Dragon people tend to take thrilling risks, and burn the candle at both ends so they are fortunate to be blessed with good health. It is also suggested that they have true and sincere love, which comes from the depths of their hearts.

Usually, in preparation of the great fiesta, the people in China clean and decorate their houses. Their buying list includes red cloths which they wear on New Year’s Day, and food ingredients to prepare most cherished dish, which, what they believe, would bring good luck and prosperity. Children will get red-coloured envelops with ‘lucky money.’ Red symbolizes fire, which according to legend, can drive away bad luck. There will be a dragon dance. The dragon, stretching a hundred feet long, is typically made of silk, paper and bamboo. Traditionally the dragon is held aloft by young men who dance through the streets. But this year, the most striking and amazing information is thousands of parents who have waited passionately for the Year of Dragon are going to have chances to be blessed with dragon children. May the celestial dragon bring good luck to them.

However, thousands of people throughout the world do not believe in any of the issues mentioned above. They say this would be utter madness to believe that either the world is going to end in 2012 or the specified year could bring any good luck to the mankind. There is no single scrap of real evidence for the end of the world and the lucky breaks. They further say that the 2012 disasters and dragon stories would allow only movie makers to make a lot of money from the ignorant interested people. Those phenomena give the con artists to make lots of fortunes—just as the good old days of Y2K.

Belief in Judgement Day is one of the fundamental pillars of Islamic faith. It is the day when everyone is to get reward and punishment for one’s work and has to go to heaven or hell according to one’s deeds. This is the reason each and every Prophet warned his people of the Day of Judgement.

As for the knowledge of the time of Qiyamah (End of the World), it has not been given to any angel or Prophet (PBUH). Nobody besides Allah knows when the final hour is.
In Surah Luqman the Quran states, O Prophet the infidels ask you about the time of Qiyamah. So tell them that it’s knowledge is with Allah only.

However certain events are going to take place prior to the coming of the final hour. These events are known as the Signs of Qiyamah. All the Prophets informed their people of the signs of the final hour. Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) being the last and the seal of Prophets, knowing that Doomsday is to come upon this very ummah, explained clearly and in considerable detail the signs of the final hour to the extent that sometimes he (PBUH) would lecture his companions all day on this subject.
Abu Zaid (R.A.) says, ‘The Holy Prophet (PBUH) sat down on the pulpit after Fajr Prayer and began a deliver a long sermon until the time for Zuhr prayer came. After saying the Zuhr prayer he (PBUH) again sat on the pulpit and began the sermon, which continued till Asr prayer. After the Asr prayer He (PBUH) resumed the sermon so much so that the sun set. He (PBUH) related whatever happened in the past and also related in detail whatever is to happen in the future. Those amongst us who had good memories retained many things.’ (Muslim)

The signs of the final hour can be divided into two groups.
1) Minor signs

Minor signs are events of normal nature prophesised by our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to take place before Qiyamah like the consumption of alcohol, lifting of knowledge and prevalence of ignorance and immorality and signs of this nature. The majority of the minor signs have appeared while some are occurring and some will appear with major signs.

2) Major signs

Major signs are events of extraordinary nature prophesied by our Prophet (PBUH) to take place before Qiyamah like all the events mentioned in the following hadith narrated by Hudhaifa ibn Usayd that the Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘The last hour will not arrive till  you have seen ten signs. He (PBUH) then mentioned the Smoke, Dajjal, Beast, Rising of the Sun from the place of it’s setting, the Descent of Isa, Ya’juj Ma’juj, Three Landslides, one in the East , one in the West and one in the Arabian Peninsula after that a Fire would spread from Yemen and drive the people to their place of gathering.’ (Muslim)

Three sentences from an old holy Book will conclude this write-up:  ‘For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their etching ears want to hear. They will turn their eyes away from the truth and turn aside to myths.’

Many Americans outside the Northeast weren’t much warmer. Even Tallahassee, Fla., saw temperatures drop to 25°F. Outside the US, South Koreans are seeing the lowest temperatures in almost a century, prompting the government to require public agencies to keep the thermostat set below 64°F to save energy.

Still, these temperatures are downright balmy when compared to some places on Earth. Here’s a list of sites that will make today seem like T-shirt weather.

4. International Falls, Minnesota

Widely described as the coldest city in the continental United States, International Falls, Minn, sits on the Rainy River, just across from Fort Frances, Ontario.

The town has long promoted itself as the “Icebox of the Nation,” but the trademark for this slogan has been repeatedly challenged by the town of Fraser, Colo. In 1986, International Falls paid Fraser to relinquish its claim, and then registered it as a federal trademark. Ten years later, the town forgot to renew the trademark, and Fraser tried to snap it up. A 12-year legal battle ensued, with International Falls prevailing in the end. Needless to say, relations between the two towns remain chilly.

3. Oymyakon, Sakha Republic, Russia

On February 6, 1933, a temperature of -90 degrees F was recorded in Oymyakon, the coldest place in the northern hemisphere and the coldest permanently inhabited place on Earth.

Home to a few hundred people, Oymyakon’s single schools closes only when the temperature drops to 61 degrees F below zero. The city of Yakutsk, population 210,000 is a three day-drive away, and is the world’s coldest city. There, according to the BBC, residents leave their cars running all day. Visitors are advised not to wear glasses outside, as they may become difficult to subsequently remove.

2. Vostok Station, Antarctica

The lowest reliably-measured, naturally-occurring temperature on the Earth’s surface happened about 800 miles East of the South Pole and at an altitude of 11,444 feet, on July 21, 1983. There, temperatures dropped to minus 126.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

The site is Vostok Station, Antarctica, a Russian research outpost whose fields of inquiry include hot cocoa, fuzzy socks, and getting dressed very quickly in the morning. It is one of the most inaccessible and inhospitable places on Earth. Some 25 scientists live there in the summer, where temperatures get up to a relatively pleasant minus 25 degrees F. Only 13 or so remain there through the long winter, when the mercury plunges to minus 85 degrees F. (We mean that metaphorically, because mercury actually freezes solid at around 40 below zero.)

1. Up in the air

The earth’s coldest natural temperatures are occurring about sixty miles above your head, where temperatures can get as low as 146 degrees Fahrenheit below zero.

This is the top of the mesosphere – the layer of the earth’s atmosphere above the stratosphere. Being too high for aircraft but too low for orbiting spacecraft, the mesosphere is the least-understood part of our atmosphere. The coldest part of the mesosphere is the mesopause, the boundary between the mesosphere and the thermosphere.

Above the mesopause, solar radiation can push temperatures to over 2,700 degrees, although the gas molecules at these altitudes are so far apart that temperature cannot be measured in a conventional sense.