By Dr Riffat Hassan Dr Riffat Hassan is professor emerita of the University of Louisville, Kentucky. The ongoing global debate on segregation and the hijab in Islam is both fierce and divisive.  It is not possible to discuss all aspects of this subject in a short article. However, the Quranic injunction to “lower your gaze” which is commonly understood as applying only to women and what may be considered ‘decent’ attire for Muslim women is briefly discussed below. In the context of proper attire and conduct, the Holy Quran states: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (avoiding its … Continue reading The Quran on the issue of modesty

Osama bin Laden is alive, says son Omar By Online Omar bin Laden, Osama bin Ladenâ��s son LONDON: Omar bin Laden, son of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has said that his father is alive but maintains he doesn’t know anything about Osama’s whereabouts. Omar told The Sun on Thursday, “My dad is on the Earth but I don’t know where. He’s still alive. If that sort of person dies, you could never make it a secret. The world changes if he dies.”  He added, “I still love him – of course I do – he’s my father. That’s … Continue reading Osama bin Laden is alive

Controversial Preacher Seeks to Establish “Outreach Center” Near Ground Zero Posted on July 14, 2010 by Richard Bartholomew A new player has stepped into the controversy over a proposed Islamic Centre close to Ground Zero in New York. Charisma reports: A Florida evangelist is responding to efforts to build a multimillion-dollar mosque two blocks from Ground Zero with plans to open a religious center of his own. Bill Keller (pictured), host of the evangelistic website Liveprayer.com, said his 9/11 Christian Center near Ground Zero will begin holding Sunday prayer meetings Sept. 5. The services will be held at a hotel in downtown New York until … Continue reading Christian Extremist Bill Keller says HE IS GOD!

A Scientist Takes On Gravity Elwood H. Smith By DENNIS OVERBYE It’s hard to imagine a more fundamental and ubiquitous aspect of life on the Earth than gravity, from the moment you first took a step and fell on your diapered bottom to the slow terminal sagging of flesh and dreams. Kirsten Luce for The New York Times ZERO GRAVITY Dr. Erik Verlinde says, “For me gravity doesn’t exist.” In a recent paper he expounded on his theory. But what if it’s all an illusion, a sort of cosmic frill, or a side effect of something else going on at … Continue reading Gravity is an illusion?

Submitted by Arwa Aburawa on July 12, 2010  http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/07/12/24233/eco-mosque-england/ Architect Marks Barfield is to design a £13 million “eco” mosque on a 0.4 hectare brownfield site in Cambridge. England’s historic city of Cambridge, with its world-famous university and idyllic countryside, will soon count a mosque amidst its stunning skyline of spires. But this isn’t just any old mosque. In fact it is the first-purpose built mosque in the city which also happens to be environmentally-friendly! After years of dealing with overcrowding at various small sites across the city, the growing Muslim community decided that it was time to take action. … Continue reading Cambridge to Build Europe’s First Eco-Mosque

Should Jerusalem be sung here? Jerusalem isn’t Christian enough for some Anglicans, but it’s a favourite at weddings. What do you think of the hymn? Open thread guardian.co.uk, Thursday 15 July 2010 16.04 BST Article history William Blake’s Jerusalem is a popular choice at church weddings. Photograph: AlamyThe Church of England has issued new advice to churches on the use of the popular hymn Jerusalem at weddings. In the past, some conservative groups have claimed that it’s not suitable for official services. William Blake, who wrote the poem later set to music by Sir Hubert Parry, had a distinctly unorthodox … Continue reading Should Jerusalem be sung?

Daily Express protest misses the point – and doesn’t help Zac A real gay asylum seeker has had his life endangered by the Sun. So what are you going to do about it? Paul Canning guardian.co.uk, Thursday 15 July 2010 13.59 BST Article history There’s a protest happening outside the Daily Express office in London this afternoon. Any protest against the Express gets two thumbs up from me. It’s a vile, nasty rag. But this one seems a tad pointless and the anger misplaced. Last week’s supreme court decision on gay and lesbian asylum seekers generated the Express front-page headline: … Continue reading Daily Express gets bored with Muslims and starts up on Gays!

So long as Afghan troops are worse treated and more in the firing line than foreign mentors, they remain a risk to UK soldiers Zuhra Bahman guardian.co.uk, Thursday 15 July 2010 18.00 BST Article history Afghan and US army officers in Marjah, Helmand, earlier this year. Photograph: Patrick Baz/AFP/Getty ImagesThe killing of three British soldiers by a member of the Afghan national army (ANA) may not tell us much about the success of the Taliban but it says a lot about the shortcomings of security sector reform in Afghanistan. Recruits to the ANA go through basic training that is often … Continue reading Afghan and Nato forces: working together yet worlds apart

Britain’s Machiavellian torture policy Documents show security services to be more concerned about secrecy and reputation than the plight of prisoner Clive Stafford Smith guardian.co.uk, Thursday 15 July 2010 12.00 BST Article history This week, new revelations have emerged about the security services and their attitudes to torture. While shocking, it is worth noting that these documents still do not include the contentious “torture policy” documents from 2004. However, judging by the 2006 policies that have come to light, it is unlikely that the earlier ones will set the security services or the government in a very happy light. Legal … Continue reading Britain’s torture policy?

Raoul Moat, this troubled man David Cameron should realise that, no matter how depraved the crimes, sympathy is normal Tanya Gold The Guardian, Thursday 15 July 2010 Article history David Cameron turned away from defending public service-ocide yesterday, to address the subject of Raoul Moat at prime minister’s questions. I do not understand why politicians feel they must contribute to every crime drama that screams across the tabloids (remember Tony Blair’s attempts to intervene in the plot lines of Coronation Street?), but even so, Cameron paused to express his bewilderment – at the flowers left where Moat took his own … Continue reading Raoul Moat – David Cameron should realise that sympathy is normal