Islam in Hong Kong

Islam is practised in Hong Kong by about 300,000 Muslims.[1][2] About 20,000[3] of the Muslim families in Hong Kong are 'local boy' families, Muslims of mixed Chinese and South Asian ancestry descended from early Muslim South Asian immigrants who took local Chinese wives and brought their children up as Muslims.[4][5] Hui Muslims from Mainland China also played a role in the development of Islam in Hong Kong, such as Kasim Tuet from Guangzhou, one of the pioneers of Muslim education in the city, for who the Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College is named.[6] In the new millennium, the largest number of Muslims in the territory are Indonesian, in which most of them are female foreign domestic workers. They account for over 120,000 of Hong Kong's Muslim population.[7] The vast majority of Muslims in Hong Kong are Sunni.

History

The history of Muslims in Hong Kong started since the British Hong Kong government period. The first Muslim settlers in Hong Kong were of Indian origin, in which some of them were soldiers. From the mid 19th century onwards, more and more soldiers and businessmen arrived in Hong Kong from South Asia and Mainland China. As the number of them increased, the British Hong Kong government allocated land for them to build their communities and facilities, such as mosques and cemeteries. The British government respected the rights of those Muslim communities by giving them aid. [9][10]

Chinese Muslims first arrived in Hong Kong in the late 19th and early 20th century, coming from southern Chinese coastal areas, where they had lived for centuries prior. They established their community around Wan Chai District (location of the Wan Chai Mosque). Later Chinese Muslim influxes occurred following episodes of unrest on the mainland.[11] Some Chinese are also more recent converts to Islam.[12] As of 2004, the Chinese Muslims account for over 50% of the Muslim resident population of Hong Kong, and they play an important role in the Islamic organisations of Hong Kong.

Contemporary Islam in Hong Kong

Food

Over the past few years, there has been an increasing number of Halal restaurants to cater for Muslim dietary needs, as well as supermarkets selling more and more Halal products. In 2010, there were only 14 Halal restaurants, but after a year the number had jumped three times.[13]

Finance

There has been a plan by HSBC to implement the Islamic finance system in Hong Kong, although the realisation has yet to be waited. In 2007, the HK Islamic Index was established by Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong to support Hong Kong's ambitions to develop into an Islamic financial centre. In the same year, Financial Secretary John Tsang announced a plan to capture part of the world's Islamic finance pie, which is worth around US$1.3 trillion. Hang Seng Bank has issued a retail Islamic fund in November 2007.[14]

Education

Until January 2010, Hong Kong has 29 Islamic schools, scattered around Kowloon and New Territories. The development of those schools have been remarkably fast.[15]

Some of the Islamic educational institutes:

• Hong Kong Institute of Islamic Studies
• Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College

Social challenges

Due to the limited lunch break time on Friday for working-class people in Hong Kong, Friday prayers are often held in a relatively short time. Muslims may also find difficulties in finding suitable place to pray at work or in school. Due to the absence of mosques in New Territories, Muslims living there may find it hard to go to Hong Kong's current six mosques due to their location in Kowloon or Hong Kong Island. Some of them rent flats and turn them into prayer rooms to serve Muslims living around the area. There are currently eight flats in Hong Kong being turned into prayer rooms

Mosques

There are currently six principal mosques in Hong Kong that are used daily for prayers. Hong Kong's 7th mosque, the Sheung Shui Mosque is currently under construction in New Territories.[9] Beside mosques, there are many Muslim prayer halls scattered around Hong Kong.

Jamia Mosque

The oldest is the Jamia Mosque on Hong Kong Island, which was built in the 1840s and rebuilt in 1915. The first Imam was Al Haaj Abul Habib Syed Mohammed Noor Shah, from 1914 to 1946.

Kowloon Mosque

The Kowloon Mosque in Nathan Road, opened in 1984, can accommodate about 3,500 worshipers. It is the largest mosque in Hong Kong.

Ammar Mosque

The Ammar Mosque at Oi Kwan Road in Wan Chai was opened in September 1981 and can accommodate a congregation of 700 to 1,500 people, depending on the requirements.

Chai Wan Mosque

Chai Wan Mosque is located at the Cape Collinson Muslim Cemetery.

Stanley Mosque

Stanley Mosque is located in the Stanley Prison.

Ibrahim Mosque

Ibrahim Mosque is located in the Yau Ma Tei was opened in November 2013

People

Maulana Qari Muhammad Tayaib Qasmi is an Islamic scholar who has lived in Hong Kong since 1989. He served as a Chief Imam and Khatib of Kowloon Mosque. He is currently running seven large Islamic Centres throughout Hong Kong, under the name of Khatme Nubuwwat Islamic Council, giving free after-school Quranic education to over 1,500 students, including adult students and young boys and girls, who study full-time in local schools in Hong Kong.

Short Biography of Imam Bukhari

His mother woke up with a start and said happily: "What a pleasant dream! Allaah’s messenger Ibraaheem appeared in my dream, and said: "O woman! Allaah restored your son’s eye sight because of your frequent supplications". She said: "O Allaah, make it a glad tiding. "O Allaah answer my supplications and restore the sight of my child."

The pious mother walked to her son’s room, hardly able to move her feet. When she reached his bed, she was about to wake him up but she hesitated. Her broken heart was beating and she kept tenderly and kindly caressing his head with her shaky hands. She was still supplicating and hoping that Allaah would answer her frequent supplications and cure her son. The young boy woke up and started looking in amazement and moving his eyelids in confusion. He said in a breaking voice:

"Mother!! I can see you, I can see your beautiful face! I can see my room and my toys!"

All perfect praise be to Allaah! All perfect praise be to Allaah! Allaah gave me back my eyesight!"

She was so happy that she thought she was dreaming. But she soon realized that it was real when she saw her beloved son running and playing as he used to do. Filled with faith and happiness, she said: "All perfect praise be to Allaah! All perfect praise be to Allaah who has the power to do everything."

One day, when the mother was tidying up the house in the morning, she came across a few papers containing some narrations of the Prophet . She remembered her beloved husband and said sadly and painfully while wiping the tears off her cheeks: "May Allaah have mercy on you, Muhammad’s father. You were a man who used to fear Allaah. You dreamed for a long time that your son Muhammad would be a religious scholar! I promise you that I will do my best to achieve your dear wish, Allaah willing." Then she called her son kindly, and Muhammad hurried to her obediently. Then, she said to him: "It is time for you, my son to seek religious knowledge and benefit yourself and the people around you. Tomorrow I will send you to a small school where you can memorize the Quran, learn Prophetic narrations and study the Arabic language to become an honourable scholar like your father, Ismaa'eel.

The young boy, Muhammad, said cleverly: "Mother! Was my father an eminent scholar?"

The mother replied: "Yes, my son." Mohammad, then said politely: "I promise you, Mother, that I will follow his footsteps seriously and exert all my efforts."

The city of Bukhaaraa (now in Islamic Uzbekistan) was located at that time in one of the greatest countries beyond the Transoxus (now Turkistan). Schools of knowledge where people could learn Arabic, the Quran, history, and Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) were spread throughout the city. The young boy, Muhammad Ibn Ismaa’eel Al-Bukhaari then set out to quench his thirst for knowledge from these sweet springs. Early in his life, he showed signs of intelligence that surprised everyone around him. He had a sharp mind, an attentive heart, an amazing memory, and an incredible ability to memorize. Before he was ten, he had memorized the whole Quran, mastered the Arabic language, covered much of the Fiqh, and memorized many Prophetic narrations. His pious good mother always encouraged her son and prepared a suitable atmosphere for him to acquire knowledge. When Al-Bukhaari finished his studies in the small schools, his wise mother thought to send him to the well-known study circles in Bukhaaraa, Samarqand, Bekend, Marw, and Nesabor. He became famous among the scholars to the point that he used to argue with his professors and even corrected them sometimes!!    

The success and physiognomy of Al-Bukhaari didn't end there. His shaykh and teacher Mohammad  Ibn Salaam Al-Bekandy the scholar of Buhaaraa and the scholar of Prophetic narrations across the Transoxus (now Turkistan), used to ask him to revise some of his books and corrected any mistakes he found. Scholars used to wonder in astonishment: "Who was that boy who edits the books of his professor?!"

Imaam Bekandi used to say proudly about his clever student: "This boy is unique of his kind."

On many occasions Imaam Bekandi talked to his colleagues about his student, Al-Bukhaari who memorized seventy thousand Prophetic narrations by heart. In addition to this, he never reported a narration of the companions or the generation following them unless he knew when and where they were born, as well as where they lived and died!

The years passed and Mohammad Ibn Ismaa'eel reached the age of sixteen years. He felt a great need to go and seek knowledge in every corner of the world to satisfy his thirst for knowledge. He headed to Makkah, accompanied by his mother and elder brother, Ahmad, in 210 AH to perform Hajj (pilgrimage) and seek more knowledge. After the pilgrimage, his mother and brother Ahmad returned to Bukhaaraa while he stayed in Makkah to move between its domes of knowledge: East, and west; North and South. Before the end of two years in this sacred city, he started writing his book The Issues of the companions and their Followers which marked the beginning of his renowned books.

Al-Bukhaari always loved to visit Madeenah. Among the fruits of his visits to that blessed place was writing his book: "The Big Book of History" which is considered the first book that comprises the names of the narrators of Prophetic narrations and the details of their lives. From that wonderful sacred spot, Al-Bukhaari set out on a relentless endeavor to visit all the Islamic territories out of his love for compiling the Prophetic narrations. He traveled to Hijaaz (Saudi Arabia), Levant (Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon), Egypt, and Khurasaan (a vast area between north east Iran, southern Russia, and western Afghanistan). He visited Basrah and settled for some time in Baghdad which was the capital of the Abbasid state at that time. He greatly benefited from these journeys seeking knowledge. He had the pleasure of meeting most the narrators of Prophetic narrations at that time, sat with them, listened to the narrations, and memorized whatever knowledge they had.

One night, Al-Bukhaari had a strange dream that later had a great impact on his life. He saw himself standing before the Prophet holding a palm-leaf fan in his hand with which he pushed all evil away from the Prophet . He was so confused and surprised that he went to his scholars asking them to interpret his dream. They said happily: "You will clear the lies and false claims away from the Prophet." Al-Bukhaari then remembered his teacher, shaykh Is-Haaq Ibn Raahawayh, the prominent scholar of Khurasaan, when he told his students once: "It would be great if you can compile a concise and brief book containing the authentic narrations of the Prophet."

These words echoed in Al-Bukhaari’s heart and he remembered that dream which was always in his mind since he started learning the Prophetic narrations. Thereupon, he immediately made an intention to actively and seriously pursue this mission and started to strive in his long journey of writing this great book in 217 AH when he was twenty three.

Because of that dream, Al-Bukhaari traveled thousands of miles moving from one Islamic territory to another, undergoing all sorts of difficulties, hardships, and weariness, sometimes to obtain only one narration of the Prophet . He sometimes even had to eat grass to satisfy his extreme hunger after he had spent all his money. Even the few hours of night in which he snatched short naps to rest a while, were not so resting for him, as he used to wake up fifteen to twenty times a night to lit his lamp and sit to classify the narrations he had collected. Al-Bukhaari made a pact with himself that he wouldn’t include a narration from any narrator until he had personally met him, and listened to the narration with his own ears. He never accepted narrations except from the ones who were known for being honest, diligent, accurate, fearing Allaah, and having a sharp memory. After this process, he would have a ritual bath; pray two Rak'as and then include only the narration that had met all these conditions in his book.

After sixteen years of continuous effort and hard work, Al-Bukhaari finished his valuable book that comprised around 7000 authentic narrations which he selected from amongst 600,000 authentic and non-authentic narrations.  He overlooked many authentic narrations so that his book wouldn’t be too long. He chose to name the book "The Authentic Book Encompassing a Brief Authentic Narrations of the Prophet, his Tradition and Life" to become the title of the most authentic book after the Quran. The book is known as 'Saheeh Al-Bukhaari' (The authentic narrations reported by Al-Bukhaari). This book became well known and it gave him a high rank that someone like him truly deserved to achieve. He had a vast knowledge, great manners, a tolerant nature, dignity, and an untainted tongue. He cared so little for this life, he had deep faith, and had Allaah's consciousness at all times. After Imaam Al-Bukhaari became famous throughout the world, thousands of scholars came to him as students of the leader in memorization of authentic narrations until the number of people who attended his study circles in Baghdad reached 20,000. Among the most remarkable figures of his students were Imaams At-Tirmithi, An-Nasaa'ee, Muslim, and others.

In 250 AH, Al-Bukhaari left to Nisabor, a city in Khurasaan and stayed there for a while teaching the people. Then he decided to return to his dear city, Bukhaaraa, and when he did the people rushed to welcome him in a great celebration in which huge tents were pitched and decorations were hung. They threw flowers and golden and silver coins on the Imaam upon his arrival into the city. There was an overwhelming atmosphere of happiness that prevailed throughout all Bukhaaraa.

Allaah Willed, out of mercy to the Imaam, that Al-Bukhaari would only meet his Lord after peace and happiness had found their way into his heart again. One day, the people of Samarqand sent a message for him asking him to come. He agreed and packed with great joy. When he started walking towards his animal he said: “Take me back, I have become weak and very ill”. When they took him back to his house, he said some supplications then he laid on his bed sweating a lot, then his pure soul ascended to its Creator. His death was on a Friday night, the beginning of the month of Shawwaal, 256 AH (870 AD). He was sixty-two years old when he died. He was buried in the village of Khartank which is now known as 'Khawaajah Saaheb'. May Allaah have mercy upon the great Imaam and may Allaah admit him into Paradise. Aameen.

Source: http://www.a2youth.com/articles/history_and_biographies/short_biography_of_imam_bukhari/

Syrian Troops Advance on Raqqa, as Islamic State Militants Pressed on Four Fronts

Government forces close in on extremists’ de facto capital as Iraqi forces, rebels and al Qaeda Affiliate Nusra Front attack ISIS in other areas

BEIRUT—Syrian troops on Saturday reached the edge of the northern province of Raqqa, home to the de facto capital of Islamic State militant group’s self-styled caliphate, in a push that leaves the extremists fighting fierce battles on four fronts in Syria and neighboring Iraq.

Islamic State, which is also known by the acronyms ISIS and ISIL, controls large swaths of territory in both countries and is fighting Syrian troops, U.S.-backed fighters and opposition militants in northern Syria. It also is battling an offensive by Iraqi government forces on its stronghold of Fallujah.

The Syrian government hasn’t had a presence in Raqqa since August 2014, when Islamic State fighters captured the Tabqa air base and killed scores of government soldiers. The provincial capital, Raqqa, became the first city under the militants’ control.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian troops reached the “administrative border” of Raqqa province under the cover of Russian airstrikes. It said that during three days of fighting 26 Islamic State fighters and nine Syian troops and pro-government gunmen were killed.


Syrian troops began their advance toward the province on Wednesday, the same day U.S.-backed forces launched an attack on the militant stronghold of Manbij, some 72 miles to the northwest of Raqqa. It is unclear if the attacks were coordinated.


The U.S.-backed predominantly Kurdish Syria Democratic Forces on Saturday advanced closer to Manbij, which lies on a key supply route linking the Turkish border to the city of Raqqa.

The Observatory said SDF fighters had captured 34 villages near Manbij. Another activist group, the Local Coordination Committees, said the fighting is now concentrated on the south of the town.

Islamic State fighters are also engaged in fierce battles for the rebel-held stronghold of Marea, a town west of Manbij. Islamic State has surrounded Marea on three sides but has failed to capture the city, which is under control of Syrian rebels and fighters from the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front. “The fighting is very intense on three fronts in Marea,” said opposition activist Baraa al-Halaby, who is based in northern Syria.

While battles raged in Raqqa province, Manbij and Marea, Islamic State fighters were also under fire in their Iraqi stronghold of Fallujah. Iraqi forces launched their offensive on the city almost two weeks ago and say they have reached the edge of town.

On the city’s northern edge, Iraq’s military said Islamic State had been pushed out of the neighborhood of Saqlawiya on Saturday. It also said an Iraqi flag had been raised above the area.

The main push into the city center has been slow, however. Heavy militant counterattacks and concerns for the tens of thousands of civilians trapped inside the city have slowed Iraq’s elite counterterrorism troops, who are leading the push, according to Iraqi Prime Minister Haider alAbadi.

Meanwhile, violence in and around the contested northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest and once commercial center, claimed more lives on Saturday. The city has been the scene of fierce fighting, even during a truce brokered by the U.S. and Russia that went into effect in late February and collapsed weeks later.

The Russian military’s Reconciliation Center in Syria said the Nusra Front heavily shelled several government-held neighborhoods of the city.

Syrian state TV said the shelling of government-held parts of contested Aleppo killed 22 and wounded 23 people, while opposition activists said dozens were killed or wounded in rebel-held neighborhoods.

Intense fighting also took place south of Aleppo, where insurgents led by the Nusra Front attacked Syrian army position near the Khan Touman area, according to the Observatory and the activist, al-Halaby. “The aim of the attack south of Aleppo is to reduce pressure on the city” by government forces, al-Halaby said.

Source : http://www.wsj.com/articles/syrian-troops-advance-on-raqqa-as-islamic-state-militants-pressed-on-four-fronts-1465067257

Tibetan Muslims

The Tibetan Muslims, also known as the Kachee (Tibetan: ཀ་ཆེ་, Wylie: ka-che; also spelled Kache), form a small minority in Tibet. Despite being Muslim, they are officially recognized as Tibetans by the government of the People's Republic of China, unlike the Hui Muslims, who are separately recognized. The Tibetan word Kachee literally means Kashmiri and Kashmir was known as Kachee Yul (Yul means Country).

Ancestry

Generally speaking, the Tibetan Muslims are unique in the fact that they are largely of Kashmiri descent through the patrilineal lineage and also often descendants of native Tibetans through the matrilineal lineage, although the reverse is not uncommon. Thus, many of them display a mixture of Indo-Iranian and indigenous Tibetan facial features.

History

The appearance of the first Muslims in Tibet has been lost in the mists of time, although variants of the names of Tibet can be found in Arabic history books.

During the reign of the Ummayad Caliph Umar bin Abdul Aziz, a delegation from Tibet and China requested him to send Islamic missionaries to their countries, and Salah bin Abdullah Hanafi was sent to Tibet. Between the eighth and ninth centuries, the Abbasid rulers of Baghdad maintained relations with Tibet. However, there was little proselytisation among the missionaries at first, although many of them decided to settle in Tibet and marry Tibetan women.

In 710-720, during the reign of Me Agtsom, the Arabs, who now had more of a presence in China, started to appear in Tibet and were allied with them along with the Eastern Turks against the Chinese.

During the reign of Sadnalegs (799-815), there was a protracted war with Arab powers to the West. It appears that Tibetans captured a number of Arab troops and pressed them into service on the Eastern frontier in 801. Tibetans were active as far West as Samarkand and Kabul. Arab forces began to gain the upper hand, and the Tibetan governor of Kabul submitted to the Arabs and became a Muslim about 812 or 815 [1]

Balti people

The Balti people of Baltistan in Pakistan and Kargil are descendants of Tibetan Buddhists who mostly converted to Shia Islam, with a Sunni minority. Their Balti language is highly archaic and conservative and closer to Classical Tibetan than other Tibetan languages.

Prophet Samuel and King Saul

The Ancient Kingdom of Israel – An Islamic Perspective : Prophet Samuel and King Saul

According to Biblical history[1], the ancient Kingdom of Israel was ruled over by a succession of Kings.  After wandering in the desert for an undetermined length of time, the Children of Israel (Israelites) entered the Promised Land and split into two distinct kingdoms.  King David managed to unite the two Kingdoms, while his son Solomon led the children of Israel into a period of prosperity and peace known as the Golden Age.  For many readers, it may come as a surprise to learn that Islamic history also contains stories of kings, Saul, David, and Solomon.  Muslims believe that David and Solomon are Prophets and as such, they are required to believe in, and love and respect them as part of the creed of Islam.  What follows is an account of the Kingdom of Israel from an Islamic perspective[2].

When Prophet Moses led his people out of bondage in Egypt, he faced severe tests and challenges.  After generations under the brutal yoke of the Egyptians, the Children of Israel needed a period of recovery.  Their souls had been hardened by the idolatrous practices prevalent in Egypt and this caused a blackness to settle upon their hearts.  Although God directed Moses to lead his people to the Promised Land they were prevented from entering until Moses’ entire generation had passed away and were replaced by people whose hearts were filled with remembrance of God.  Joshua led the Children of Israel into the Promised Land and for some time their condition remained pure and their hearts and minds remained focused on pleasing the One God.

Time passed and their moral condition deteriorated, the Israelites began to commit many sins, including the abdominal crime of killing their Prophets.  Consequently, God decreed that a tyrannical king who cared little for his people rule them.  He shed their blood, treated them with contempt and his aggression involved them in wars with neighbouring countries.  During the endless wars, the Israelites carried with them a chest containing relics and treasures from their Prophets Moses and Aaron.

The chest was known as the Ark of the Covenant and the Israelites set such store by it, they even carried into battle.  It bought them great peace and filled them with courage.  Their enemies however, believed the chest contained special powers and it filled them with fear.  In time, the Philistines overcame that fear, defeated the Israelites, and captured the chest.  When the tyrannical king learned that the chest had been captured, he collapsed and died.  The children of Israel remained lost, like sheep without a shepherd until God sent Prophet Samuel to guide them back to the true path- to worship One God, without partners, sons, daughters, or rivals.

Appoint for us a King

Disheartened by the loss of their power the Israelites beseeched Prophet Samuel to appoint for them a king.  They asked for a strong man  to lead them back to power and prosperity but Samuel was wary of their promises and pleas.  He feared that their blackened hearts would not allow them to fight for the sake of God.  Samuel was a wise man and he prayed that God direct him to a man suitable to be the King of the Israelites.  God chose Saul (Talut) to be the King and informed Prophet Samuel that he would recognise this pious young man.

Saul was a tall, well-built young man who worked with his father on a farm.  One day when some donkeys wandered away from the farm Saul and a servant went in search of them.  The search led them into Prophet Samuel’s  town.  Saul was a wise man who took his servants advice and approached Prophet Samuel about the loss of the donkeys.  Samuel recognised him immediately as the future king and assured Saul that the donkeys were already being returned to his father.  Prophet Samuel informed Saul that God had chosen him to be the King of the children of Israel.

Saul was shocked and amazed, he immediately responded by saying that he was not worthy of such an honour because he was from the tribe of Benjamin, a lowly tribe that most Israelites considered unworthy for such greatness.  Prophet Samuel explained that this was of no consequence since God had already decreed that Saul be the King.  Samuel presented Saul to the Israelites saying , “Indeed God has appointed Saul (Talut) as a king over you.” (Quran 2:247)

The children of Israel’s immediate reaction was to complain.  Even though they had begged God for mercy and deliverance from oppression, they responded contemptuously towards both the pious young man, whose heart was filled with love for the One God, and Prophet Samuel.  They said, “How can he be a king over us when we are better fitted than him for the kingdom, and he has not been given enough wealth.” (Quran 2:247)

The Israelites’ hearts had once again become hardened and diseased.  They were concerned with wealth and status rather then piety, and found fault with God’s chosen leader.  Although Saul had neither wealth nor status, God had blessed him with knowledge and stature.  Prophet Samuel tried to reason with them.  He said, “Verily, God has chosen him above you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature.  And God grants His Kingdom to whom He wills.” (Quran 2:247) However the Israelites continued to complain and object asking for a sign from God that Saul was indeed fit to be their king.

God, in His infinite mercy and wisdom, decided to provide  the Israelites  with the sign  (or miracle) they demanded.  God instructed the angels to return the Ark of the Covenant that had been captured by the Philistines.  God not only returned their beloved wooden chest, filled with the relics of the past but He added tranquillity to its contents.

“And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them: Verily!  The sign of His Kingdom is that there shall come to you a wooden box, wherein is Sakinah (peace and reassurance) from your Lord and a remnant of that which Moses and Aaron left behind, carried by the angels.  Verily, in this is a sign for you if you are indeed believers.” (Quran.2:248)

Saul was officially appointed King.  He established and prepared an army in order to take back the lands stolen from the children of Israel.  However, Saul insisted that his army only comprise of courageous and pious men.  The men under Saul’s command would be those whose hearts were filled with love for the One True God.

Footnotes:

[1] (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook06.html#The%20National%20Monarchy)

[2] Based on the work of Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets.

Source : http://knowingallah.com/en/articles/the-ancient-kingdom-of-israel-an-islamic-perspective-prophet-samuel-and-king-saul/

Syria civil war: Russia denies conducting Idlib raids

Moscow refutes accusations it carried out raids that killed 50 people, including children, and damaged hospital.

More than 250,000 people have been killed during Syria's war

Russia has angrily denied its planes carried out air strikes overnight against the Syrian rebel-held city of Idlib, which the Syrian Civil Defence said had killed at least 50 people.

"Russian planes did not carry out any combat missions, to say nothing of any air strikes, in the province of Idlib," Igor Konashenkov, a Russian Defence Ministry spokesman, said in a statement on Tuesday.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said earlier on Tuesday the death toll was 23, including seven children.

Turkey also accused Russia of killing at least 60 people in its air strikes on Idlib.

Ten overnight strikes on Monday in Idlib hit areas around the National Hospital and other parts of the city centre, according to Rami Abdul-Rahman, head of the Observatory.

"The air strikes are the most intensive on Idlib since the beginning of the truce," Rahman told the AFP news agency. "Even though Idlib is not covered by the truce, it had been relatively calm with only intermittent raids."

The strikes on Monday evening on the north-western city, which is held by a coalition of rebel groups, including al-Nusra Front, come five days after Moscow said it was suspending strikes on Syrian "gunmen".

The Russian Defence Ministry had said the pause was to allow groups who signed up for a US and Russian-backed cessation of hostilities a chance to cut their links with the al-Nusra, a powerful Syrian group with ties to al-Qaeda.

"We have been hearing from different sources on the ground that more than eight areas have been targeted by Russian air strikes," Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra reported from Gaziantep in Turkey. "One area is close to a hospital. Because of that explosion, half of the hospital was destroyed."

Ahelbarra said there were concerns that the death toll could climb as a rescue operation was under way.

Searching the rubble 

"Idlib is a major opposition stronghold run by a coalition of military factions, including conservative parties such as Ahrar al-Sham. There is also a strong presence by al-Nusra Front," he said.

"The opposition says Russians are taking advantage of a ceasefire in place since February, and are trying to undermine defence lines of the opposition."

Idlib is considered the de facto capital for rebels.

Rebels have accused Russia of repeatedly targeting groups not linked to ISIL or al-Qaeda, while the US has said that battlefield alliances between al-Nusra and other rebels have complicated implementation of the truce, especially around the key northern city of Aleppo.

A volunteer with the Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets rescue group, said the strikes appeared to have been carried out by Russian aircraft.

Rescue workers were searching for survivors under the rubble of the bombed buildings, the volunteer, who asked to be known only as Majed, told the dpa agency.

The Syrian conflict, which began with peaceful protests in March 2011, has spiralled into a multi-sided civil war.

The death toll has risen to more than 250,000 people while half the country's population have been forced from their homes, according to UN estimates.

Source : http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/05/syria-civil-war-russia-raids-idlib-kill-civilians-160531082734910.html

Islam in Bhutan

The minority religion of Bhutan is Hinduism, whose adherents-- those of Nepalese origin--officially constitute 28 percent of the population. Despite Buddhism's status as the state religion, Hindus had de facto freedom of religion. The Druk Gyalpo decreed major Hindu festivals as national holidays, and the royal family participated in them. An even smaller religious minority--about 5 percent of the population in 1989--practiced Islam. Although foreign religious personnel were permitted to work in Bhutan, primarily as educators, they were not allowed to proselytize.

Source : http://www.muslimpopulation.com/asia/Bhutan/topic.php