The closest we can get to Allah in this Dunya is in Salah, particularly in prostration. We lower our knees and forehead to the earth, to the dirt the lowest of all elements. Not only does it instill humility in the depths of our souls but it also reminds us where we are from. We have been created from the earth, born in the wombs of our mothers, taking the journey of life and soon to taste death, returning us to the depths of the earth. Whereupon reality will become crystal clear…
Friday, October 24, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
The Night Preceding Eid ul Fitr
I can't believe Ramadhan is almost and practically over! It just flew by! No, it actually zoomed by! It's just so sad... May Allah (swt) accept all our acts of worship and all our du'as, May He (swt) forgive our never-ending sins, save us from His punishments and enter us into Jannatul Firdaws.
So Eid Mubarak to those celebrating Eid tomorrow...yeah, it's just wierd knowing that after reading that it's going to be impossible to see the moon today but there's a small possibility of seeing it in the Ploynesian Islands (Moonsighting.com) And there's Isna who announced Oct. 1st to be Eid... we'll just be following the Sunnah and wait for the news tomorrow evening (T.O Hilal committee and Cresent Watch)
Ahh! I have soooo much left too do!
Remember me in your du'as all!
Labbayk, Rhymes of Praises
The group is called Labbayk, and their new album is called Rhymes of Praise. MashaAllah it has no instruments and no duff, just voice! (You know how much I prefer that, and there's not too many options out there with voice-only nasheeds)
So alhamdulillah and mashaAllah they sound great and their words are beautiful too (from whatever I've heard in the samples). So here's 2 of teh videos that are out, and the link to their site.
Rhymes of Praises
Monday, September 22, 2008
Church makes Ramadan fast meals
A Christian church in the Indonesia city of Solo is providing meals for fasting Muslims during Ramadan in the hope it will help build community relations.
Watch video report here.
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Sunday, September 21, 2008
Make the Most of the Last Ten Days
May Allah (swt) help us take advantage of these last 10 days of Ramadhan, accepting all our worship (small to big) and all our du'as. May He(swt) forgive our sins, save us from His anger, from the fitnas of Shaytan, fitnas of Dajjal, from the love of this dunya, from the diseases of the heart, from all the evil that which is in this dunya, from the punishments of the grave, from the torments of the Day of Judgment and from the fire of hell.
May Allah (swt) through His infinite Mercy and Grace, purify our hearts, minds, souls and nafs, filling it with His Noor and love for Him (swt) and His Rasul (s.a.w) only. May Allah (swt) give us success in both worlds and make us and raise us amongst those that He (swt) loves and favours. May Allah (swt) forgive those that have died and fill their graves with His Noor, mercy and blessings. May Allah (swt) forgive, give sabr, and grant ease to all those believers in hardship and sickness. May the Most Just (swt), help oppressed, give them sabr and give justice to those who know no justice.
We are the ummah of Allah (swt)'s beloved Nabi, Sayyidinah Rasulullah (s.a.w), and today we are drowning in our own sins and in the love of this dunya. We've become deluded to the extent that we take, see, practice, and preach from this deen only we want. Our ignorance and arrogance have made us blind and deluded from the true way of Islam.
Allah (swt) says, "It is the same (to Him) whether any of you conceals his speech or declares it openly, whether he be hid by night or goes forth freely by day. For him (each person), there are angels in succession, before and behind him. They guard him by the command of Allah. Verily, Allah will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves. But when Allah wills a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back, and they will find besides Him no protector." (13:10-11)
Allah (swt), the Most Merciful has given us the Night of Power for a reason, and we all know quite well what that reason is. So lets take advantage of these last 10 days and so that we may purify ourselves and become closer to Him (swt).
Make the Most of the Last Ten Days
Jamiatul Ulama (KZN), www.jamiat.org.za
"Most certainly We have revealed it in the Night of Power; And what will inform you what is the Night of Power? The Night of Power is greater than a thousan
d months; The angels and Jibraeel (alayhis salaam) descend in it with the permission of your Lord with all decrees; Peace prevails till the rising of dawn." (Surah Qadr)
The Night of Power is indeed unique in every sense. Most befittingly it has been afforded exclusively to the Ummat of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), which is in itself unique from all previous Ummats (nations). The magnanimous rewards and benefits of this auspicious night also dictate that its occurrence remains partially disclosed. Allah Ta’ala alone knows the true date of Laylatul Qadr and those wanting to earn this night have to vigilantly search for it in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadaan.
The person who finds this night and observes it appropriately earns himself a great fortune, a fortune that will only be realised and appreciated in the hereafter. It has been the practice of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), the Sahaba (radiyallahu anhum), Mashaikh, Ulama and generations of Muslims too observe I’tikaaf (seclusion) in the Masjid during the last ten days of Ramadaan in search of this auspicious night.
Ubada bin Saamit (radiyallahu anhu) reports that he asked Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) about "Laylatul Qadr". Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) replied: "It is in Ramadaan, during the last ten days, on the unevenly numbered nights, either the 21st 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th or the last night of Ramadaan. Whosoever stands in 'Ibadah' (worship) on this night, with sincere faith and conviction of gaining reward, his previous sins will be forgiven. Among the signs of this night is that it is a serene, quiet, shining night, neither hot, nor cold but temperate as if a moon is shining clear, and no meteors are shot at the 'Shayateen' on that night; it lasts until the break of dawn. Another sign is that in the morning, the sun rises without any radiant beams of light, appearing rather like the moon in its fullness. On that day, Allah Ta’ala prohibits the 'Shayateen' from rising up with the sun." (Fazaail A’maal)
May Allah Ta’ala grant us all this auspicious night.
I'tikaaf in the Last Ten Days of Ramadan
The observation of I’tikaaf during the last ten days of Ramadaan was a practice which Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) observed assiduously throughout his life in Madinah Munawwarah. The devotion that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) attached to this beautiful Sunnah can be understood by the fact that on one occasion when he was unable to observe I’tikaaf, due to being out on an expedition, he observed twenty days I’tikaaf the following year.
The spiritual benefits that are attained from this wonderful Sunnah are innumerable. Who can possibly describe the spiritual ecstasy experienced from communicating in solitude with Allah Ta’ala, while one is a guest in the Masjid with the Malaaikah (angels) as his companions.
Undisturbed seclusion in the Masjid is indeed an excellent way to exclusively engage oneself in personal communication with Allah Ta’ala. Away from the comfort of the home, family members and daily work routine, I’tikaaf enhances one’s proximity to Allah Ta’ala and secures the internal and external purification of the Mu’takif .
Remember! Such precious moments come but once a year - and who can guarantee being present for the next Ramadaan.
Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas (radiyallahu anhuma ) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said; "Whosoever performs I’tikaaf for a day thereby seeking the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala, Allah Ta’ala will open three trenches between him and the fire of hell, the width of each (trench) being the distance between the heaven and the earth." (Tabraani)
The Ulama, considering the importance attached by Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) to this noble practice, have ruled it necessary that this Sunnah be observed by at least one member of every locality. Failure to do so will result in the entire locality being guilty of neglecting this great Sunnah.
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Friday, September 12, 2008
Ramadan Reruns- Ummah Films
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Thursday, September 11, 2008
CityNews: Mississauga Grandfather Held For Ransom For Three Days By Kidnappers
Mississauga Grandfather Held For Ransom For Three Days By Kidnappers
Thursday September 11, 2008When Kuldip Bhullar walked out of his Mississauga home around 8pm Monday night to go for a walk, it was part of his normal routine.
What happened next was anything but normal.
The 58-year-old grandfather found himself in the middle of a terrifying kidnapping, lured by several suspects and spirited away to a hiding place that may have been in Brampton...
CityNews: Mississauga Grandfather Held For Ransom For Three Days By KidnappersWednesday, September 10, 2008
" It is done for Me and I will give reward for it..."
"Every good deed of the son of Adam will be multiplied. He will receive ten-fold to seven-hundred-fold reward for a good deed. Allah the Glorious and Majestic has said 'but fasting is exceptional, for it is done for Me and I will give reward for it, since one abandons his passion and food for My sake. There are two occasions of joy for one who fasts, joy when he breaks it and joy when he meets his Lord; and the breath (of an observer of fast) is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk."
[Related by AI-Bukhari and Muslim].
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Love For Allah
A Saudi man reads the Koran during the Muslim month of Ramadan in downtown Riyadh September 7, 2008. REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed (SAUDI ARABIA)
‘Love For Allah” By Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmad (translated by Brigadier Ashfaq Ashraf)
is an
amazing book that I recommend everyone read. This book is one of the best
books I’ve read. SubhanAllah, the effects of it can be felt deep inside where it starts (or adds to what was) a flame of great love for Allah (swt). Sadly, for many of us, this flame is on the edge of burning out. I can say for sure that this book can fuel that spark and make it burn inside with great passion. I seriously can’t think of the right words that could do justice to it. You need to read it to experience it. It makes your heart yearn to be closer to Allah (swt), it wakes you from the darkness and leaves your heart filled with awe and love for Him (swt).
I was thinking of sharing something from it, but I just can’t make up mind! I want to share everything but then I’d have to type out the whole book! So inshaAllah, every once in a while I’ll type us a little
something from it. So for now, I thought since it’s Ramadhan and we all read Tarawih, many of us read
a few du’as or praises in between the rakats, and here’s a story behind one of them that was in this book.
A Story About Prophet Ibrahim (a.s)
Once, when Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) was grazing his flock of sheep, a man passed by loudly reciting the following words in praise of Allah (swt):
Suhana dhil mulki wal malakoot , subhana dhil I’zaati wal a’dhmati wal haybati wal quoodrati wal kibriyaee wal jabaroot.
Glorified is the Master of the earthly and heavenly kingdoms. Glorified is the Honored One, the Exalted One, the Venerated One, the Powerful One, the Magnificent One, and the Omnipotent One.
When Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) heard his Beloved (swt) praised with such beautiful words, his heart leaped in exultation. He requested the man to kindly recite the words one more time. The man asked what he would give him in return. Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) replied that he would give half of his flock of sheep. The man complied and repeated the words. Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) was so captivated by these beautiful words that he asked him to repeat the words again. The man asked what he would be given in exchange this time. Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) replied that he would give the remaining half of the flock. The man complied and repeated the words for a third time. Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) was so overcome with ecstasy by these words the he once again implored the man to repeat his words. The man responded, “You have nothing left. Now what will you give me?” Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) replied, “O brother, I will tend your sheep forever if you recite these praises of my Beloved (swt) one more time.” The man then said, “Ibrahim Khalilullah [friend of Allah]. I bring you glad tidings. I am an angel sent by Allah (swt), who told me, “Go and take My name before My Khalil and see how much he values it.”
SubhanAllah.
Page 34
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Visually impaired Palestinian students read verses of the Quran, Islam's holiest book, written in Braille, during the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Al-Qabas Islamic school in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008. The Islamic school is funded by local donations, that usually increase during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.
(AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Ramadhan Mubarak/Kareem!
"O people: You are about to enter the shadow of a great blessed month. A night therein is better than a thousand months. Allah (swt) made fasting during this month an obligation and encouraged people to perform extra prayers during its nights.
Seeking nearness to Allah (swt) through a good deed would be considered like performing an obligatory act of worship. In turn, performance of an obligatory act of worship during this month would be rewarded seventy times more than during any other month. It is the month of patience, and the reward for patience is Jannah. It is the month of comforting others, and the month during which believers would enjoy plentifulness.
The Prophet (s.a.w) went on to say:" Make sure you frequently do four things, two of which would please your Lord and the other two are indispensable for your salvation in the Hereafter. As for the two things that would please your Lord, they are: testifying to the oneness of Allah (swt) and seeking repentance. And the other two are: asking Allah the favour of entering Jannah and seeking refuge in Him from the Hell Fire."
"Whosoever fasts in Ramadan with faith and seeking Allah's reward, all his past sins will be forgiven."
(Bukhari)
Ramadhan Mubarak/Kareem!
Alhamdulillah, Allah (swt) has bestowed upon us yet another year in which we can take advantage of this Blessed month and even for that we must do shukr. Many die before Ramadhan approaches yet many of us are still here, given another opportunity to cleanse, purify, and illuminate our hearts and souls with the mercy and light of Allah (swt) and to be closer to Him (swt). It is the month wherein the Holy Qur’an was revealed to Sayyidinah Rasulullah (s.a.w) on the Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr), the night that is better then a thousand months of worship. SubhanAllah, how great is Allah (swt)’s mercy for the Ummah of His beloved Nabi (s.a.w).
May Allah (swt) make it easy for us during this blessed month to gain guidance, taqwa, ilm, piety, subr, His mercy, His forgiveness and His pleasure. May Allah (swt) save us from the punishments of the grave and hellfire and raise us amongst those that He loves and favours and make our home Jannatul Firdaws. Ameen
Remember me in your du’as (by NAME!) and I ask for forgiveness from anyone who I might have wronged knowingly/unknowingly.
Narrated by Abu Huraira (ra):
The Prophet (s.a.w) said, "Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)" [Bukhari Vol. 3: No. 127]
An officer of Brunei's Islamic authority leads a call for prayer or Athaan during the sighting of the new moon for Ramadan over the sky of Bukit Agok outside Bandar Seri Begawan August 31, 2008. Muslims scan the sky at dusk at the end of their lunar calendar's eighth month in search of the new moon to proclaim the beginning of Ramadan, Islam's holiest month during which observant believers fast from dawn to dusk. REUTERS/Ahim Rani (BRUNEI)
People buy food before the breaking of fast on the first day of Ramadan in Lahore September 2, 2008. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and conducting sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Mohsin Raza (PAKISTAN)
"Most certainly We have revealed it in the Night of Power; And what will inform you what is the Night of Power? The Night of Power is greater than a thousand months; The angels and Jibraeel (alayhis salaam) descend in it with the permission of your Lord with all decrees; Peace prevails till the rising of dawn." (Surah Qadr)
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Sunday, August 24, 2008
BBC NEWS | Special Reports | Audio slideshow: Inside influential Indian madrassa
An Islamic theological school in northern India is undergoing a major image makeover.
The teachings at the Darul-Uloom Deoband madrassa are said to have inspired tens of thousands of other seminaries across south Asia - but also groups such as the Taleban.
Now the school is trying to equip its students with 21st-Century skills.
The BBC's India Correspondent Sanjoy Majumder made a rare visit to the institute, which for years has been closed to the outside world.
click on the link below to see and hear the the audio slideshow.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Death and Pre-Ordainment
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un
Family mourns man in Wasaga Beach drowning --The Toronto Sun
Man, 20, drowns at Wasaga Beach --CTV Toronto
Irfan Jogiat...
This is the first time someone I know and met a few times before, has passed away. It came as a shock and as a great reminder from Allah the Almighty about death, and how we must all face it, no matter how old or young we are.
May Allah (swt) open the gates and windows of Jannah tul Firdaws in his grave, illuminate his grave with His (swt) blessings and Noor, raise him amongst those that He loves and favours and grant sabr (patience, understanding, acceptance, etc) to his loving family and friends. Ameen
Here is an excerpt from the book, Don’t Be Sad. It’s perfect for this loss…
The pen has dried, the pages have been lifted: all events that shall come to pass have already been written.
Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us (9:51)
Whatever has befallen you was not meant to escape you, and whatever has escaped you was not meant to befall you: If this belief were to firmly ingrained in your heart than all hardship and difficulty would become ease and comfort. The Prophet (s.a.w) said, “Whoever Allah wishes good for, He inflicts him (with Hardship)”
For this reason, do not feel overly troubled if you are afflicted with sickness, the death of a son, or a loss in wealth. Allah has decrees these matters to occur and the decisions are His, and His alone. When we truly have this faith, we shall be rewarded well and our sins shall be atoned for.
For those that are afflicted with disaster, glad tidings await them: so remain patient and happy with our Lord.
He cannot be questioned as to what He does, while they will be questioned. (21:23)
You will never completely feel at ease until you firmly believe that Allah has already pre-ordained all matters. The pen has dried and with it has been written everything that will happen to you. Therefore do not fell remorse over that which is not in your hands. Do not thing that you could have prevented the fence from falling, the water from flowing, the wind from blowing, or the glass from breaking. You could no have prevented these things, whether you wanted to or not. All that has been preordained shall come to pass.
Then whosoever wills let him believe, and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve. (18:29)
Surrender yourself: believe in pre-ordainment, before pangs of anger and regret overwhelm you. If you have done all that was in your power, and afterwards what you had been striving against still takes place, have firm faith that it was meant to be. Do not say, ‘Had I done such-and-such, such-and-such would have happened’; rather say, ‘This is the decree of Allah, and what He wishes, He does.’
Page 40-41 from the book, Don’t Be Sad (La Tahzin) by ‘Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Happy Anniversary to me and Happy Canada Day!
My husband isn't here so he told my sis-in-law to buy a rose and give it to me today(the one in the pic), along with presents that he bought for me! MashaAllah, he also left a sweet letter that I had to open today...it made me cry!
Those that are still single and do not want to get married, believe me it can be one of the most wonderful things that can ever happen to you. Not only do you fulfill half of your Iman, but you also get a best friend, a lover, a partner (inshaAllah in the Hereafter as well), and a person who becomes your other half. As Allah (swt) says in Suran al-Baqarah, “they are garments for you and you are garments for them…” your spouse becomes your garment in ways you might have never thought. They become a barrier between you and evil, a way to become closer to Allah (swt) and His Rasul (s.a.w), an adornment, a comfort, a warmth, the coolness of your eyes, your passion, your jannah in this world and without them you feel incomplete and empty. SubhanAllah, it’s truly amazing how Allah (swt) blesses us with such beautiful gifts, we just need to make sure we’re grateful to Him (swt) and thank Him as often as we can. May Allah (swt) give us the Tawfiq to do so.
Wow, it’s the summer and a time where your wallet just seems to have a hole in it! I just went shopping yesterday with the girls, got some good deals at Heartland Town Centre, and not to mention a really big migraine by the end of the day. From spending almost an hour in every store to some very hungry girls “accidentally” breaking a table at Popeye’s to going to the Tim Horton’s drive-thru 3 times in a row (some people just can’t make up their minds) can give anyone a headache but a lot of laughs too!
Oh and it’s Canada Day! I just love Canada, even though it can be so expensive sometimes (yeah, I’m thinking of yesterday). Still, you can never really hate Canada, eh?
Anyways, that’s all for now folks! I’ll try to update soon, inshaAllah.
In the mean time check out this nasheed.Wednesday, June 25, 2008
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Dubai plans 'moving' skyscraper
The world's first moving building, an 80-storey tower with revolving floors giving a shifting shape, will be built in Dubai, its architect says.
The Dynamic Tower design is made up of 80 pre-fabricated apartments which will spin independently of one another.
"It's the first building that rotates, moves, and changes shape," said architect David Fisher, who is Italian, at a news conference in New York.
"This building never looks the same, not once in a lifetime," he added.
The 420-metre (1,378-foot) building's apartments would spin a full 360 degrees, at voice command, around a central column by means of 79 giant power-generating wind turbines located between each floor.
Computer animation of David Fisher's 'Dynamic Tower'
The slender building would be energy self-sufficient as the turbines would produce enough electricity to power the entire building and even feed extra power back into the grid, said the Italian architect at the unveiling of the project in New York.
The apartments, which will take between one and three hours to make a complete rotation, will cost from $3.7m to $36m.
There are also plans to build a similar, 70-storey skyscraper in Moscow.
"I call these buildings designed by time, shaped by life," said the Florence-based architect, who has never built a sky-scraper before.
"These buildings will open our vision all around, to a new life."
The skyscraper will cost an estimated $700m to build and should be up and running in Dubai in 2010.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
BBC NEWS | Business | Oil summit calls for supply boost
Leading oil exporters have acknowledged the need to boost supplies to curb soaring prices but stopped short of specific commitments on extra output.
Following their crisis summit in Saudi Arabia, officials noted price levels were "hostile" and more investment was needed to ensure "adequate" supplies.
Saudi Arabia blamed speculation, not lack of supply, for surging prices but said it was willing to raise output.
Earlier, Gordon Brown said more supply was needed to ease price "instability".
'Ready to act'
The US, UK and other major consumers of oil have urged producers to boost supply, blaming lack of capacity for the recent price surge.
Business Secretary John Hutton reacts to Jeddah summit
In a statement issued at the end of the meeting in Jeddah, officials from Opec oil exporters and consumers said "an appropriate increase in investment" in production was needed to ensure that the markets were "well supplied in a timely and adequate manner"...
continue reading hereCityNews: CityNews Exclusive: Toronto Family Terrified By Abduction Attempt In Home
A Toronto mother was still trembling Sunday, hours after an alleged abduction attempt was foiled just feet from her three-year-old daughter's bed.
The near-tragic turn of events apparently unfolded around 10pm Saturday, at a Regent Park home near Sumach and Gerrard.
A shadowy male figure reportedly reached through an open window into the child's room, attempting to pick up and abscond with the youngster.
Perhaps it was a mother's intuition, perhaps just saving grace, but it was reportedly at this time the girl's mother caught on, spotting the would-be abductor in the act and scaring him off with a scream.
It was then he jumped into a waiting car and sped away.
Mother Newa Begum doesn't speak English, but her eldest daughter explained the frightening exchange.
"She opened the whole thing (window) and then the guy grabbed her," Tanjila (pictured) explained. "And then my mom yelled ... and he went away."
Friday, June 06, 2008
Got My CD!
Boy is it getting hot in Toronto or what? With humidity it's 41 C. Which is just insane. It feels like there's a gigantic heater blowing outside along with a humidity machine...
I was supposed to be ironing, but I thought the blog needed some updating.
As you can tell, I got my NBN (NoBeatsNecessary) cd (Open Your Eyes). I actually got it a few weeks ago, just never got to update about it on the blog. What can I say? It's the only thing playing in our car other then 680 news. In the beginning we didn't really love all the tracks because it was different from all the other nasheeds we were used too. It only took a few times listening to them and they started growing on us. Now we're loving it! MashaAllah I have to say they've done an awesome job. The words have great meaning and really makes you think, like this track that I added on the blog.
Enjoy!
I'll update again later this week inshaAllah.
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008
BBC NEWS | Middle East | 'Bush apology' for Koran shooting
'Bush apology' for Koran shooting
US President George W Bush has made a personal apology over the shooting of a Koran by an American soldier, Iraq's government has said in a statement.
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's office said Mr Bush had promised to send the accused American sniper to trial.
The soldier was sent home by the US military after the Muslim holy book was found riddled with bullet holes at a shooting range by Iraqi police.
continue reading -> BBC NEWS | Middle East | 'Bush apology' for Koran shooting
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Wednesday, April 30, 2008
CBC news -- Israel Doesn't Want You to See! THE OCCUPATION
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Thursday, April 24, 2008
SubhanAllah
SubhanAllah
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