About.com Islam

4 Hajj Pilgrims Die of H1N1

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:54:54 +0000

Despite extensive precautions,�Al-Jazeera reports that a few dozen�cases of H1N1 have been seen�among Hajj pilgrims.� And now, four pilgrims have died of complications from the virus.� The Hajj officially begins in a few days, but millions of pilgrims have been arriving in Makkah (Mecca)�during the past weeks.� The four deaths come just days before the climax of the pilgrimage, the Day of Arafat, which will fall�on Thursday.

Saudi officials have responded by�reiterating their advice about H1N1 vaccination and hygiene.� The four pilgrims who died had not been vaccinated against the virus, and also unfortunately did not heed previous Saudi government�instructions for certain groups of people to�refrain�from Hajj.� One was a minor child, and three were over the age of 75 -- both high-risk groups who had been advised to avoid Hajj this year.

4 Hajj Pilgrims Die of H1N1 originally appeared on About.com Islam on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 16:54:54.

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Arafat Day on November 26th

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:49:14 +0000

The government of Saudi Arabia has announced that today, Wednesday, 18 November 2009, is the first day of Dhul-Hijjah (the month of Hajj).� The announcement came after several people witnessed the new crescent�moon, marking the new month,�on Tuesday evening.

Therefore, the Day of Arafat during this year's Hajj will be on November 26th, and Eid Al-Adha will be the following day, on November 27th.

May those who are traveling for Hajj have a safe and pleasant journey for the sake of Allah.� Labayk Allahumma Labayk!

Arafat Day on November 26th originally appeared on About.com Islam on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 09:49:14.

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Muslim Beliefs About Creation

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:30:24 +0000

In the debate over the theory of evolution and creationism, Muslims generally fall in the middle.� According to the Qur'an, the universe was created in six stages (eons), beginning with a "big bang."� Muslims also accept that life first developed in water, and later�in stages, over a period of time.� Muslims naturally attribute this natural�order to a plan put in place by the Creator.� Most find this belief to be compatible with scientific theories on evolution.

Most Muslims also�believe, however, that human beings are a unique life form that did not follow the path of evolution from apes.� Islam teaches that human life was created "from a single pair of a male and a female."

Muslim Beliefs About Creation originally appeared on About.com Islam on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 05:30:24.

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U.S. Muslims Condemn Fort Hood Attack

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:31:45 +0000

A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy group has condemned�Thursday's attack on Fort Hood military base in Texas that left at least 13 people dead.� The suspect in the shooting is an Army psychiatrist who treated soldiers at�Fort Hood for post-traumatic stress disorder.

In a statement, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said:

"We condemn this cowardly attack in the strongest terms possible and ask that the perpetrators be punished to the full extent of the law. No religious or political ideology could ever justify or excuse such wanton and indiscriminate violence. The attack was particularly heinous in that it targeted the all-volunteer army that protects our nation. American Muslims stand with our fellow citizens in offering both prayers for the victims and sincere condolences to the families of those killed or injured."

In a�Thursday evening press conference on Capital Hill, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad reiterated this condemnation and added:

"The motive of the attacker is not yet known. We urge all Americans to remain calm in reaction to this tragic event and to demonstrate once again what is best about America - our nation's ability to remain unified even in times of crisis. We urge national political and religious leaders and media professionals to set a tone of calm and unity.

"Unfortunately, based on past experience, we also urge American Muslims, and those who may be perceived to be Muslim, to take appropriate precautions to protect themselves, their families and their religious institutions from possible backlash."

U.S. Muslims Condemn Fort Hood Attack originally appeared on About.com Islam on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 12:31:45.

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Hajj Countdown - 3 Weeks

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:08:37 +0000

The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) is one of the five "pillars" of the Islamic faith. All those who are physically and financially able are required to make this journey to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. The 2009 pilgrimage season approaches amidst some confusion about swine flu vaccination requirements, travel bans, and other concerns. Nevertheless, nearly 3 million pilgrims are expected to arrive in Mecca during the coming weeks.

Hajj Countdown - 3 Weeks originally appeared on About.com Islam on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 14:08:37.

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Mahr - Marriage Gift, Not Price

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:54:06 +0000

A friend of mine�was in a discussion recently�about Islamic marriage customs.� One well-meaning but ignorant question was asked:� "How much did your husband pay for you?"� She set the record straight:�a bride is not someone who can be bought and sold.� The required mahr is a gift that�the husband gives to his new bride, not to her family, in order for her to have financial independence and stability in the marriage.

Islamic Marriage Contract

Islamic Weddings

Mahr - Marriage Gift, Not Price originally appeared on About.com Islam on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 10:54:06.

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Should Muslims Celebrate Halloween?

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:32:55 +0000

The colorful costumes and candy are in the shops, enticing children into the Halloween excitement. Do Muslims celebrate Halloween? How is Halloween perceived in Islam? To make an informed decision, we need to understand the history and traditions of this festival.

Photo by Rick Gershon / Getty Images: A Halloween parade in New York City features images of death and the supernatural.

Should Muslims Celebrate Halloween? originally appeared on About.com Islam on Thursday, October 15th, 2009 at 13:32:55.

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Report: 1/4 of Human Beings Are Muslim

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:19:25 +0000

A new survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life reveals that one in four human beings�is a�Muslim. The report, "Mapping the Global Muslim Population," finds that there are 1.57 billion Muslims among the current world's population of 6.8 billion.

As a CNN report on the survey summarizes, Indonesia and Pakistan remain the most populous Muslim countries. Surprisingly, researchers found that non-Muslim countries such as Russia, China, and India round out�a list of countries with the largest Muslim populations. Only 1/5 of Muslims live in the Middle East and North Africa.

Report: 1/4 of Human Beings Are Muslim originally appeared on About.com Islam on Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at 04:19:25.

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Tunisia Bans Hajj This Year

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:54:23 +0000

The Sydney Morning Herald and other news organizations report that Tunisia has become the first country to ban its citizens from attending the 2009 Hajj.� Tunisian authorities announced that the ban is intended to "preserve human life," since an H1N1/swine flu vaccine will not be available in that country in time to vaccinate pilgrims.� Ten thousand pilgrims from Tunisia usually travel for�Hajj each year.

In the meantime, schools in Saudi Arabia will begin opening for the 2009-10 school year in the coming two weeks.� Officials had delayed the start of school in order to give time for teachers to be trained on flu�prevention techniques, and as a preventative measure against the spread of the flu among children returning from summer and Ramadan travel.

Do you think the fear of�swine flu�is overblown, or do you think that these precautions (and maybe more) are necessary?

Tunisia Bans Hajj This Year originally appeared on About.com Islam on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at 23:54:23.

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Muslim Stamp Sparks Boycott

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:05:13 +0000

Last month, the U.S. Postal Service re-issued its "Eid" stamp in a new 44-cent version.� The stamp, part of the USPS "Holiday" series, was originally released in�the summer of 2001.� Although the stamp has existed for over eight years, the�most recent release�has sparked email rumors and calls for a boycott against this "Muslim" stamp.� Critics claim that honoring an Islamic holiday is a "slap in the face" to Americans who have died in terrorist attacks.

Muslim Stamp Sparks Boycott originally appeared on About.com Islam on Friday, October 2nd, 2009 at 11:05:13.

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