However am curious, for those of us, whom are the majority, living in western countries how do we fufill this very important obilgation. Is the maasjid the only place where u can do this? Just thought i would up date this with the link i found. Am sure there several other means and methods of Paying Zakat this is just one online example i found. Islamic American Relief Agency Types of Zakat Zakatu-rid Tijaarah Zakah of profits of merchandise.(Source:IslamIQ) Zakatul Huboob Zakah of grain/corn.(Source:IslamIQ) Zakatul Ma'dan Zakah of minerals.(Source:IslamIQ) Zakatur Rikaaz Zakah of treasure/precious stones.(Source:IslamIQ)

Intreatsing article ------------------------------------------------------ Patrick Seale: Has the Bush administration declared war on Islam? | | 28-11-2003 Print friendly format | Email to Friend On more than one occasion since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush has denied his "war on terror" is aimed at Islam. He has visited mosques, invited Muslim leaders to the White House and praised Islam as a religion of peace. But few Muslims are convinced of his sincerity or goodwill. This is because many contrary indications suggest that Bush, and more particularly the neo-conservatives now setting the pace in Washington, conceive of their struggle as a global conflict between the forces of "democracy" and the "enemies of freedom", between "civilisation" and "barbarism", between the West and Islam. The question must be posed: Are the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the world-wide terrorist manhunts, no more than the early skirmishes of a prolonged war between the world's only superpower and the world's fastest-growing religion? Bush has hinted the war could last a generation, like the religious wars of past centuries and that victory might take "one day, one month, one year, or one decade." Echoing his messianic rhetoric, Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair has vowed to "finish the job", however long it takes. Between the two of them, we seem to be promised war without end. No one doubts the United States is the most powerful country in history. Bush has signed the 2004 military budget of over $400 billion, greater than the combined military budgets of all other major powers. The $87 billion recently approved for US military operations and reconstruction in Afghanistan and Iraq is an additional item! America's "global military footprint" dwarfs that of every earlier empire, including the British Empire at its peak. Thousands of US troops, supported by formidable air forces and navies, armed with strategic and tactical nuclear weapons, and the latest conventional weapons, are stationed at major bases in 35 foreign countries. Unequalled military power Living in the shadow of this colossus, it is only fair to ask how the US intends to use its unequalled military power. For people worried about the spreading violence and disorder in the world, it is today's most important question. The short answer is that the US intends to impose its will by force, by coercion, rather than by persuasion or mutual accommodation. Over recent years, a few things have become clear about American objectives which can be summarised by saying that in the ongoing Washington power struggle, the Pentagon has triumphed over both the State Department and the Treasury. America's militaristic and unilateralist foreign policy has been set by Pentagon hawks, aided by their friends in the Vice-President's office and in the National Security Council, and cheered on by Washington's myriad right-wing, pro-Israeli think-tanks. Moderate voices have been silenced, swept aside or been forced to toe the line. What then are the main aims of Bush's foreign and security policy? It is evident the US wants to use its power to achieve global dominance, and to retain it for the future. It has declared it intends to prevent the emergence of any rival. It wants a "unipolar" world order dominated by itself, rather than the "multipolar" world countries such as France, Germany, Russia and China prefer, where compromise and accommodation is necessary. From this perspective, America's "war on terror" seems little more than a cover for its avowed intention of global dominance. It is a conclusion drawn from the fact that countries targeted for American hostility are chosen not because they sponsor terror but because they refuse to acquiesce. The members of Bush's "axis of evil" – Iraq, Iran and North Korea – have no connection with the September 11 attacks or Al Qaida. The message from Washington, therefore, is that states that fail to acknowledge American hegemony risk pressure, destruction or "regime change". Their equality with other states, their sovereignty, are no longer recognised. Another pillar of Bush's security doctrine is the unilateral use of force for its benefit. The US has gone beyond that by claiming the right to launch pre-emptive wars against potential threats, illustrated by its war against Iraq. The policies of deterrence and containment are dismissed as inadequate and outdated. A number of disturbing conclusions spring from this posture. It marks the end of "balance of power" politics which kept the peace and held aggressive states in check. The US feels free to act as it pleases. International order is thus characterised by a profound disequilibrium. Moreover, as the US dispenses with consent from the international community, international law is repudiated. It is a law of history, however, that any attempt by a state to impose its hegemony inevitably breeds resistance, whether from other states, from non-state actors or private citizens. Resistance to America's global dominance has emerged and takes different forms. There is, for example, the grassroots worldwide anti-war movement which, during Bush's visit to London, brought thousands of people onto the streets. There is diplomatic resistance from countries like France, Germany and Russia, usually manifested in international fora like the UN Security Council. But perhaps the most striking resistance of all lies in the widespread anger at American policies in the Arab and Muslim world, of which the terrorism of Al Qaida and other Islamic groups is the most violent expression. The battle against these militants is now engaged and is becoming increasingly bloody, plunging countries into cycles of violence. Stabilise the situation The paradox is that instead of using military force and coercion against Muslim states and Islamic militants, the US might be better advised to mobilise them to stabilise the situation. Iran and Syria have a role to play in resolving the crisis in Iraq, but there is no sign the US is ready to seek their aid rather than threaten them. In Lebanon, Hizballah is an essential and permanent actor on the political scene, a fact that will not be altered by designating it a terrorist organisation (because of its success in containing Israel). If Washington hopes to stabilise the situation in Iraq before the presidential election, it must seek the active co-operation of the Shia clerics of Najaf, and give them a greater role. In the Palestinian territories, it is pointless and counter-productive to demonise and destroy movements such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad. On the contrary, they will need to be brought into a unified and more legitimate Palestinian leadership before any durable deal with Israel can be contemplated. In all these theatres of conflict, US policy is extraordinarily perverse, confirming most Muslims belief that Bush is waging war against Islam. America should be warned: it is not a conflict it can hope to win. Patrick Seale is an eminent commentator and the author of several books on Middle East affairs. He can be contacted at: pseale@gulfnews.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Its a question of fundemental change. Those occur during ramadan. We pray more, our character improves, we become more patient. Why, because we are constantly reminded and encouraged to take the advantages of this great month, lest it be our Last Ramadan. I think its about trying to maintain as much of those changes that you make that noticible improve your character and imaan during Ramadan. Change of Lifestyle Change of Company and so on.... whatever it takes do it.

lol yeah bro, in this new dynamic world one's got to be flexible

lol

I got this from my Pakistani friend just now and thought i would share it with u guys lol. -------------------------------------------------------------- >A Pakistani walks into a New York City bank and asks to see the loan-officer. > >He says he is going to Europe on business for two weeks and needs to borrow >$25,000. The bank officer says the bank will need some kind of security for >such a loan, so the man hands over the keys of a new Rolls Royce parked on >the street in front of the bank. Everything is checked out, and the bank >agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan. An employee drives the >Rolls into the bank's under ground garage and parks it there. > >Two weeks later, the man returns, repays the $25,000 and the interest, which >comes to 15.41. The loan officer says," We are very happy to have had your >business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a >little puzzled. > >While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a >multimillionaire. What puzzles us is why would you bother to borrow >25,000?". >The Pakistani replied, "Where else in New York can I park my car for two weeks >for 15 bucks with additional security?" > >Cheers ! Pakistanis Are Pakistanis....., Smart brains. > > ------------------------------------------------------------

Now this is an issue that we need to investigate further. When we talk about doing some thing to help out back home, we can start by educating ourselves on such issues as this. If the natural resources (which are at best always limited) are being abused, then how will there ever be a future for somali's back home? Its something on this that i can be passianote about. I rember somebody once mentioning forming pressure groups to alert the countries we reside in as to the goings on of the Warlord, Polotisions and the Countries that aid an abet their Illegal Fradulent and Damaging activities.

hE DOESNT SOUND LIEK AN ANGEL EITHER Son :eek:

Manchesters,Inters and Juve's? When you answer that,you will understand the credit this club deserves I begg to differ You see thats the point. Man u have dominated the Premiership and have been a great european team. i'v lost counts of how many doubles amongst the trebile the'v won. And they have the champions league record for for 5 straight Quater Final appreance, Inc 2 Semi's and a Final. Players like Giggs, Scoles, and Keane are plaers that are consistent performers at this level yet they havent even been mentioned for the short lists. They year the worn the champions league Keane was should at least have been nominated, abit like Nedved he Was the the driving force behind great team performances. Arsenal have done won winning 2 doubles, but significantly u havent dominated like man u i.e. 2 titles in a row. And in europe you have , to be polite, not done well at all. Its abit like OwEn winning European player of the year very highly debated and dibious decision. But thats football, full of suprises.

Here we go here we go Baay bro like i said some where else your team is yet to qualify, and even if you do so i dont see u progressing further than the next knock out stage, if u get that far. I could be wrong, but i no my Footie very well . This is not out of spite, its just relaity mate, ur team performs crap in champions league because they are not good enough simple. Wolrd Player. All the greatest payers that have graced the sport, with the exception of Cryuff and Pele have plyied their trade in Italy, and have set the standard for world player. Maradonna, ZIco, Van Basten, Weah, Zidane, Ronaldo etc etc, and i think the trend will continue, and ightly so, it reflects the fact that Sera A is the best league in the world Now let me see. Whats the Confederations Cup?? whats its significance?? Nothing... whats this about aggregate scores?? lol Bro u team deservedly beat my beloved Roma 3-1 who were below par last year who (Finished a lowly 8th in the league) so thats not saying much, And you team lucky escaped with a draw at home (rember monetlla's last gasp miss)despite being 1 man up for most of the game, ( btw did u also notice how Emerson bullied Viera) despite it being a crunch game? Now thats a mark of an average team. Also where was henry that night? AWOL again :rolleyes: , missing in action?? I'll remind you here was in Samuels ack pocket Might i remind you also that if u want to go on wins then i could easly turn around and remind you that Roma have Beat Real away 1-0 and Valencia 3-0 last year, AWAY from home!!! not many teams do that. Also Braca 3-1 the year beforeOlympico? But my team was not good enough to progess to the last round. Am a realist i dont by the hype around one off results. Conversely did you see the way Juve Played away from home at the Nou Camp with Davids off? Now that is a great team, with great players. I measure great teams or player on performance in Crunch games. Not small games The fact remains that Arsenal have not done so well in Europe despite several years in arow in the chapions league. WhY? I suspect the answer s pretty obvious, average players and average team. Again i will give u a good example, u beat Bay Leverkuson 4-1 @ home, But u still get knocked out. Bay on the other had Beat liverpool and man u on their way to the final losing to a great Zizou Goal. Now that time was a good team. I dont hate any players, i just dont by the idea that 'A' Henry is on Par to say Ronaldo, Thats Pure Hype and Media Hystriea. I would luv to see him prove me wrong but i doubt it very much, he is a premadoner.

Let me see, 1. Funny Recreational companionship NO NO NO ((I got plenty of those)) in addition to freash from the Boat brothers garanteed to make u laugh 2. True Love Yes of course Ideally situation No? but reality dictates to me, and not My Heart 3. An attractive spouse Mos Deff, why not. I thnk its time i found me a Beauty Queen worthy of my time. Someone Statue'sk and sublimly beautifull, but amazingly down to earth and humble. Ihave some idea's of where to start, u got any ideas Bro?? 4. Domestic support A maid would be nice , but no i can clean my own Pants thanks . 5. Admiration I have been accused of having no ego, so i perhaps wouldnt appreciate the admiration from a female, besides i doubt that females admire guy's at all :confused: lol, lust pehrpas. Year Add: :cool: 6. Lust thats a powerfully simple straight forward emotion, that one ned not act on, but may still derive great pleasure from (now people dont read between the lines, u might end up in the gutter ) I dont want 'A' miss Right, i wanna check out some Miss Alright's, and see whether i can find Me someone to call my Missies

Man even if both teams qualify am sure that they will be knocked out the next round. Infact am certain, so much so that am willing to keep my mouth shutt for the rest of the Clander year if they do indeed progress further than the first round of the Knock out stages, if they reach there. Although Inter have the pedigree, they are in dirstaits right now, and Arsenal are simply over hyped, and it takes just one bad game fo them to capitulate like Inter (3-0, as appose to 1-5). No i would look to Real, Juve, & Stutgart and chealsa as dark houses.

Thats true beckham has proven himself if nothing else a bigg game player, and has won at Man u the Chapions Leauge as well as playing many great games in countless Semi's and Qt's of Chapions League. Now are u trying to say that Henry has proven himself a great Player on the Cub stage? perhaps a good player, but a great player. I Struggle to think of an Individual at arsenal that has achieved that. And you cant have any excuses you have had many goes at it now, and yet u have only managed to achieve one Quater Final appreance, where Ray Parlour scored a fantistic goal, only to see henry waste a golden Oppotunity to close off the home tie 3-1. Those are Facts, that u cnat ignore. In the premership and arsenal arsenal are 2 different teams why?? ...

Thats right, am thinking of the second goal.

Historically the best player in the world have always been the No: 10 or Super Strikes like Pele, Maradonna, Van Basten, George Weah. Now looking at todays current crop, the are only 2 people i would readly add to such a list. They are Zidane, and Ronaldo. When both are fight and healthy, there is no competition mate , even from Totti I just dont belive that u serious belive henry to be a more important effective player than Nedved?? But then Juve we lucky to get all the way to the Champions league beating Depro, Barac, and Real on the way to teh final huh :rolleyes: ....lol com'on bro dont be so difficult. Arsenal are not a great team, and without Henry, there are even more average. When has a player been crowned World Player of the Year without Winning shit? Ronaldo and Ziziou at least won La Lig and the World Club Cup last year, and Nedved Seria And A Runners up medal in Champions Leauge. FA Cup mate lol, what with Rotherom, and Teams like Acrington Stanley please. If it deserves to go on merit then hands down, its Nedved, but on ability, There is no one even close to Ziziou. After havin the privilage of watching him live this weekend i was left awe struck. He is the best Player in the world know no doubt.

lol cheap shots are becoming your trade mark bro.

Bigg Respect for the action, very admirable

many of us (including me) are very ignorant when it comes to adopting a strategy to relay a message... we do not however use the western phrase of "I don't know".. Instead, we try to explain matters that we don't know...not from a layman perspective, but we adopt an all knower attitude.,,, Indeed :rolleyes: , but that doesnt really explain some of the responses that i have seen either, and really i dont think one needs to go to the lenght og identifying A B or C, the have been quite a few.

Na money can coem an go easliy, in my case, very easily ohh shucks (what did the say about Grad's cant spell :rolleyes: ) I would swap my Nationality if and when cimcustance dictated . For example if some semblence of peace and normality return bacl home i would go back in a jiffy

Na Da, just caught up with Family and friends, and gave some of my cousins some Ciid Money

You've got to love the Mentality lol

Look what i found. Interesting Comment Look for the Duck errghh i mean Pires's comment

Yeah you need him back in the line up a great Midfled General

Indeed my Sentiments exactly lol, but lets just wait and see how things pan out. Whats the Uefa Looking like tonight

henry left Javier Zanett if i rember correctly it was Marco materrazi and not Zannetti who got left.