<![CDATA[AussieMuslims.com - Home of Australian Muslims - Society, Culture & Family]]> http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/ Issues relating to society, culture and family. en Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:25:02 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/images/aria/misc/rss.png <![CDATA[AussieMuslims.com - Home of Australian Muslims - Society, Culture & Family]]> http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/ Islam: Cherish your Daughters http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?55004-Islam-Cherish-your-Daughters&goto=newpost Sat, 01 Jun 2013 05:07:20 GMT The recommendation to beget children is inclusive of both sons and daughters, and along with this general encouragement Islam has given special merits to seeking and bringing up female children - in stark contrast to Pre-Islamic Arabia and other civilizations where daughters were a burden to be... The recommendation to beget children is inclusive of both sons and daughters, and along with this general encouragement Islam has given special merits to seeking and bringing up female children - in stark contrast to Pre-Islamic Arabia and other civilizations where daughters were a burden to be ashamed of. The Arabs prior to Islam took their hatred of daughters a step further by burying them alive.

"And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief! He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonor or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision." (An-Nahl 16:58-59)

But the Messenger of Islam, Muhammad(saw) broke from the evil norms of his society, welcoming into his household his famous four daughters Zaynab, Ruqayya, Umm Kulthoom and Fatima and nourishing them with his immense love in his household which he shared with his beloved wife Khadijah [RA]. The Prophet's love for his daughters was and still is without parallel.

The Prophet was audience to one man who rehearsed his sorry tale, a tale of a brutal crime against humanity which brought tears to the Prophet's blessed eyes. Here was the man's tale:

''When I had not embraced Islam, a daughter was borne to me. When I heard the news of her birth, I wanted to bury her as was expected of me. My ancestors had done the same because it was considered better to kill the girl at birth before she could run away with someone in youth and bring shame to the whole family. The culture and tradition demanded that I bury the daughter as soon as she was born, but my heart had already developed feelings for the child and I could not do so. Time went by, and she grew day by day. Every day, I felt an urge to kill her but every day the fatherly love wrestled with the thought and put it to rest. But when she came to the age of becoming a lady, the thoughts of her running away and bringing shame to the whole family started to haunt me every second of the day. It grew so unbearable that I could not rest; I could not sleep or eat. One day, I asked my wife to dress her in nice clothes and get her ready and tell her that I was going to take her out so she could play with her friends. Although my wife did the same, but somehow she sensed this was not what I intended to do. She kept on crying silently while she combed my daughter’s hair and dressed her. My daughter, on the other hand was delighted that I was going to take her out.

When she was finally done and I was about to leave, my wife mustered up enough courage to come up to me and whisper in my ears, ”Don’t lose your trust!”

I rushed out of my house with my daughter and started on my way. I had no plan; my mind was in a state of confusion. Should I kill her or not? If I should, then how? Suddenly I saw an old deserted well that I knew was filled up with sharp stones. Should I throw my daughter in the well? My heart and mind were going in two opposite directions. My mind told me to kill her as she would bring shame to me one day while my heart kept on fighting but the fatherly love grew weaker and weaker. All this while, my daughter had been running around me, talking to me about things she would do with her friends oblivious to what a turmoil I was going through. I could not stand it no longer; I grabbed her and pushed in the well.

She must have been surprised, but all she could say was “Don’t lose your trust!” and this is what she kept on repeating until I could hear her no longer.''

When the man finished his story, he looked up and saw the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The Prophet’s (SAW) beard was soaked with tears and he said that "If He had been allowed to punish a person for his crimes before embracing Islam, that man would have been the first one to get punished."

The religion that was sent with the Nabi prescribed a special reward for those who cherished and nourished their daughters. This has been oft recorded in several authentic Ahadeeth.

"Whoever takes care of two girls until they reach adulthood - he and I will come (together) on the Day of Resurrection - and he interlaced his fingers (meaning in Paradise)." (Reported by Muslim)

"Whoever has three daughters or sisters, or two daughters of two sisters, and lives along with them in a good manner, and has patience with them, and fears Allah with regard to them will enter Paradise." (Reported by Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhee and others)

And in another Hadith: "They will be a shield for him from the Fire." (Reported by Ahmad and Ibn Maajah)

Of course this extended to the daughters of the daughters as well.

Zaynab's daughter, Umamah, remained as the sweet memory of her mother. She was one of the loveliest members of the Prophet's family and dearest to his heart. 'A'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was once given a necklace as a present and said, "l'll give it to the dearest one in my family."

All the women said, "The daughter of Abu Quhafa ('A'ishah) will take it." But he called Umamah to him and hung it around her neck.

"One day he (s.a.w) led his Companions in Prayer whilst carrying Umaamah bint Zaynab(ra) when he made rukoo’ he would put her down, then when he stood, he would pick her up." (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Therefore, it is upon the parents who have intellect to accept whatever Allah’s(swt) gift is with full joy and happiness, whether the gift is male or a female. Since its being a male or being a female is due only to Allah’s(swt) order alone - He, the One free from all imperfections - and Most High says:

"To Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He bestows female (offspring) upon whom He wills, and bestows male (offspring) upon whom He wills. Or He bestows both males and females, and He renders barren who He wills. Verily, He is the All-Knower and is Able to do all things." (Ash-Shura 42:49-50)

It was narrated on the authority of Jaabir (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever has three daughters whom he gives refuge to, provides for and shows mercy to, Paradise is certainly guaranteed for him.” A man asked, “And (for) two, O Messenger of Allaah?” He replied: “And also (for the one who has) two (daughters)." [Ahmad] [Al-Bukhaari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad]

On the authority of ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him: The Messenger of Allaah - صلى الله عليه وسلم - said:

"…and whoever takes care of three daughters or three sisters and raises them upon good manerisms, is merciful towards them until Allaah makes them independent of him, Allaah would obligate the entrance to Jannah for him.

A man said: 'O Messenger of Allaah, or two?'

He responded: 'or two.'

Even if they said one, he would have said one…"

[Sharh as Sunnah: 13/14]

So, be eager to bring up your daughters to abide in the home, and adhere to firmness for it is more beneficial for their religion and more likely to bring you honor in this world and the
Hereafter.

And the horrid attitude in some cultures to divorced daughters was tossed out by the Prophet too. When his beautiful, beloved daughters Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthoom were divorced by the sons of Abu Lahab on Umm Jamil and the Quraish's instagnation, then the Prophet did what was unthinkable in the pagan Meccan society which stigmatised divorcees-he welcomed them home with open arms. He did not treat them as a burden.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Shall I guide you to the best (form of) charity? It is to provide for your daughter when she (returns) to you (because of divorce or other circumstances) and has no one but you to provide for her." - Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1296

Subhanallah ]]> Aseer Magnesium http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?55004-Islam-Cherish-your-Daughters Cardinal George Pell admits Church covered up cases of child sex abuse http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?54972-Cardinal-George-Pell-admits-Church-covered-up-cases-of-child-sex-abuse&goto=newpost Mon, 27 May 2013 08:09:42 GMT Cardinal George Pell admits Church covered up cases of child sex abuse

Australia's top-ranking Catholic has admitted to a Victorian parliamentary inquiry that some members of the Church tried to cover up child sexual abuse by other members of the clergy...

Some members of the packed public gallery wept as Cardinal Pell was forced to answer questions about the Church's systemic cover-up of cases of rape of children as young as five-years old.

Cardinal Pell says he recently learned that former Ballarat Bishop Ronald Mulkearns had destroyed documents to hide cases of abuse and he admitted that in some cases members of the clergy were placed above the law...


Quote:
Key points

*Cardinal George Pell apologises for decades of abuse in Melbourne diocese.
*Cardinal Pell admits a systemic cover-up of child abuse within the Church.
*He says former Ballarat Bishop Ronald Mulkearns destroyed documents relating to abuse cases.
*He says former Melbourne archbishop Frank Little covered up cases of abuse.
*Cardinal Pell says abuse became widespread because the Clergy did not talk about the problem.
*Cardinal Pell has defended the Melbourne Response which he established to deal with abuse cases.
*He defended maximum compensation level of $75,000 for victims of abuse.
Solidarity with 'the lowest of the low'

He was questioned about his support for former priest and one of Australia's worst paedophiles Gerald Ridsdale.

In 1993 Ridsdale pleaded guilty to 30 charges relating to sexual offences committed against nine boys aged between 12 and 16.

He defended his solidarity towards Ridsdale, who he lived with for 12 months and who he accompanied to court when he pleaded guilty to child sex offences.

"I felt there was something in the gospels where Christ speaks about being with the lowest of the low. As an expression of solidarity, I gave that limited support," he said...He says he did not realise the insult this would be to the victims.

Fears of 'bleeding the Church dry'

Cardinal Pell has been questioned extensively on the issue of compensation for victims of Church abuse and over claims he thought it could "bleed the Church dry".

But he says he has only tried to be prudent with the Church's funds.

He was asked how he is able to stay in a $30 million "palace" in Rome, when Australian victims of abuse are limited to just $75,000 in compensation.

Parliamentary secretary Andrea Coote suggested the Church sell off the Italian property so it could afford more generous compensation, but Cardinal Pell says the Church did not need to do that..."It's an investment there..."

...In the United States, Church abuse victims can typically receive around $1 million in compensation, but Cardinal Pell says the huge differences between the US and Australia is because America is a litigious society where they pay a much higher rate...When asked if he thought $75,000 was an appropriate sum for people who had been anally and orally raped by priests when they were children, Cardinal Pell says the Church pays what the Government recommends...

Daughters repeatedly raped by priest

Cardinal Pell was pressed over the way he personally dealt with cases of abuse, in particularly that of the Foster family, whose two daughters were repeatedly raped by Melbourne priest Kevin O'Donnell from when they were as young as five years old.

One of the daughters died of a medication overdose in 2008 at the age of 26, while the other daughter became a binge drinker and is now mentally and physically disabled.

The father, Anthony Foster, has said that when he met with Cardinal Pell to air his concerns, he showed a "sociopathic lack of empathy" towards the case of his daughters.

The Fosters have since received a $750,000 payout after going to court to seek compensation.

Cardinal Pell called the meeting "unfortunate".

"The Church paid out $100,000 for counselling for the Fosters, and that was money well spent," Cardinal Pell said.

Church screening processes were 'far too loose'

Cardinal Pell says he thinks there are several factors that could contribute to the high levels of abuse seen in the Victorian Catholic Church.

Priests' celibacy and the high number of children being dealt with by the institution are both factors, he said.

"Also... the entry procedures, the criteria, the searching, the investigation of candidates back say in the middle of last century was much too loose."

Cardinal Pell told the inquiry the Church has been the victim of years of "intermittent hostility from the press" but he says this has helped uncover some of the Church's failings

Cardinal Pell was the Archbishop of Melbourne between 1996 and 2001.

In its submission to the inquiry, the Catholic Church said at least 620 Victorian children had been abused by its clergy in the past 80 years...

...A large overflow room was set up to accommodate the large crowds but at least 20 people have been forced to wait outside, sparking heated scenes and clashes in the corridor.

Victims and members of support groups are being forced to stand along the walls of the spillover room, which quickly reached capacity.

Earlier today, Premier Denis Napthine said Cardinal Pell needed to be upfront about the church's failings in its handling of abuse allegations and paedophile clergy.

"I think there is an opportunity here for Cardinal Pell to be open with the people of Victoria and Australia, I think he should be fully apologetic, should be absolutely sorry about what has occurred in the Catholic Church," he said.

"I think it's time for George Pell, on behalf of the Catholic Church, to be open and frank, not only with the inquiry, but also with the people of Victoria and Australia."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-2...nquiry/4714964 ]]> falah http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?54972-Cardinal-George-Pell-admits-Church-covered-up-cases-of-child-sex-abuse Lets be honest on Polygamy http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?54965-Lets-be-honest-on-Polygamy&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 08:34:44 GMT A personal situation My wife, who is with our daughters in Yemen, contacted some people to marry me off to another woman. My wife feared that being a single man in America is harmful. The sister was attracted, a convert, and had a young daughter. She was 27 and after a life of sin, repented abd... A personal situation

My wife, who is with our daughters in Yemen, contacted some people to marry me off to another woman. My wife feared that being a single man in America is harmful. The sister was attracted, a convert, and had a young daughter. She was 27 and after a life of sin, repented abd came back to Islam. She wanted to get married. She had a substantial amount of money, so she didn't care about the man's financial situation, she just wanted a good marriage. I rejected her.

There was this 17-year-old brother that came to me weeping. He wanted to live a good halal life, and wanted to go overseas to study. He prayed five-times a day, stayed away from women, and even prayed tahajjud from time to time. His hormones were very high. He wanted desperately to get married. He had one major sin he committed time and again: masturbation. He'd stay away from that sin, and after two weeks he's be distraught again. His parents agreed to marry him off, because the kid so badly wanted to stop sinning. The parents were poor and the boy had no money. Fasting wasn't working either.

I told the sister about a single man that has memorized the Qur'an and wants to go overseas and study. She became excited until she found out he was only 17. After talking to her (with her brother present), she agreed to marry him. It's been a year now, and mashallah, his depression is over. His sinning ended. My wife said the sister got over the age gap. The brother thanks me all the time whenever we talk. He's so grateful to have a wife and that the sinning stopped. He told me that he actually became suicidal over his sinning.

There are so many single men. They do commit haraam, but I don't think women can fully understand a man's need for sex. Sometimes if you eliminate a man's need for sex, it makes getting into the deen much easier. Before we become overly eager to get men second, third, or forth wives, let's help out all these single men.

There are actually slightly more men then women in the world. While it is true, men can marry up to 4 wives while there are still single men out there, the point is, it is more important for a single man to marry then married man to take a second wife. The first wife is not actually considered dunyah, she's considered someone for a husband's aakirah. The additional wives are considered accumulation of dunyah. Now, if the husband is marrying additional wives only for the sake of Allah, those wives then aren't considered dunyah. However, since that was mentioned as a side note, it indicates that even centuries ago, men took on more wives for pure lust reasons.

We also must take into consideration that there are so many single men that need to get married, which outweighs the need for married men to take on even more wives.

What we really need to talk about how to get single people married and make their marriage good. It's more important for a single man to marry than a married man to take on a 2nd wife.

People, living in non-Muslim lands, are talking about polygamy dying. The fact of the matter is, polygamy is well and alive. Anyone that lives in Muslim lands knows this. What is dying is the sunnah of young men marrying. That is in crisis.

" because marriage is delayed men are turning into homosexuals "

" spinsters roam the streets of egypt and Egyptian officials use their unmarried status as a means to justify rampant sexual harassment"

" a single muslim man is full of hormones and has no outlet, he'll force himself on a relative "

" A lot of these men also act out and have harsh hearts. Considering they are full of testosterone, and don't have a halal way to alleviate it, they've become irritable. "

"A lot of Arab men go on marriage tours"


http://www.muslimsandtheworld.com/do...h-pornography/

The unmarried youth in Muslim countries and their activities is proof of this.


Also with the amount of excess men in many countries there is a big crisis. There is a HUGE surplus of young and unmarried men in Egypt where I come from as well as in many other Muslim countries. They are turning to haram each day with no one bothering to get them married.



Studies also find that due to a surplus of unmarried men in polygamous societies [due to wealthy men marrying multiple wives at the expense of their brothers] the societies are much more prone to crime and the like.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mot...-polygamy.html


What happened to wanting for your brother what you want for yourself? So many single people are yet to complete half their deen yet wealthy men in gulf countries marry and divorce like flies.

Polygamy is merely Mubah. Umar [RA] once banned Muslim men from marrying Kitabis because he was concerned about who would marry the Muslim girls, even though the practise was Mubah. Islamic Khulufa governments have the right to make such laws that go for the benefit of society, as such practises are merely permissible. Similar laws could be applied to polygamy in certain places where there are an excess of young men who are unmarried. One just needs to search up the gender demographics in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the gulf countries to see the surplus amount of unmarried men. ]]> Aseer Magnesium http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?54965-Lets-be-honest-on-Polygamy 50% of Westerners Mentally Ill? http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?54938-50-of-Westerners-Mentally-Ill&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 12:19:18 GMT *DSM5: Psychiatry guide is medicine gone mad* HALF the Australian population could be classified as mentally ill under the controversial new diagnostic bible for psychiatry. The DSM5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) is being released this weekend... ...University of NSW Professor Gordon... DSM5: Psychiatry guide is medicine gone mad

HALF the Australian population could be classified as mentally ill under the controversial new diagnostic bible for psychiatry.

The DSM5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) is being released this weekend...

...University of NSW Professor Gordon Parker says the diagnostic criteria in the manual are so loose that it will dramatically expand the number of people who could be classified as having a mental illness.

"There have been studies showing 50 per cent of the western population would now generate a DSM diagnosis," he told an Australian Science Media briefing....

...New research has found that the chance of two doctors agreeing on its diagnosis of major depression is just 60 per cent.

"That's only moderately better than chance," Professor Hickie said.

The current version of the manual, produced by the American Psychiatric Association, is used widely in Australia and leading local psychiatrists have already called for the new version to be boycotted.

Child psychiatrist Professor Jon Jureidini is particularly worried the DSM5 will lead to over diagnosis and over medication.

US psychiatrist Professor Allen Frances, who developed the existing version, has also warned it will lead to new fad diagnoses that could see normal toddler tantrums and grief treated as illnesses.

And the head of US peak mental health body the National Institute of Mental Health, Professor Tom Insel, recently declared it would not be using the manual as the basis for any of its research.'

Professor of neuropsychiatry at the University of NSW, Perminder Sachdev, who worked as a consultant on DSM5, has rejected claims that those involved had links to pharmaceutical companies and had an interest in expanding definitions to provide a larger medication market...

http://www.news.com.au/national-news...-1226645625932 ]]> falah http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?54938-50-of-Westerners-Mentally-Ill <![CDATA[Church 'no better than bikie gangs']]> http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?54936-Church-no-better-than-bikie-gangs&goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 14:30:03 GMT Church 'no better than bikie gangs'

Catholic Church officials have been likened to outlaw motorcycle gangs, drug cartels and people smugglers in an explosive speech delivered at a legal conference in Victoria.

Lawyer and lobbyist Bryan Keon-Cohen said the church, currently at the centre of a royal commission into the handling of child sex abuse complaints, saw itself as above the law and resisted governmental responses to child sex abuse.

Dr Keon-Cohen, the president of community lobby group COIN (Commission of Inquiry Now), said the church's own mechanisms for investigating abuse, such as Towards Healing and the Melbourne Response, were insufficient and objectionable.

"They seek to replace due process of civil and criminal law, while not being open for public scrutiny and accountability," he said.

Dr Keon-Cohen said the church's refusal to recognise assault as a crime first and not merely a sin amounted to it putting Catholic doctrine before the law of the land.

"(This) places these officials ... in the same smelly bed as outlaw motorcycle gangs, the mafia, drug cartels and people smugglers," he said.
In the speech at the Australian Lawyers Alliance Victorian State Conference on Friday, Dr Keon-Cohen also said wealthy organisations should help pay for the royal commission where it could be proven they were responsible for offences.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse had already cost $22 million by April and was expected to run long past its current deadline of December 2015, Dr Keon-Cohen said.

He estimated it could cost "in the order of $500 million"...

...The royal commission should explore whether organisations it was investigating could help cover the cost, Dr Keon-Cohen said.

"I suggest that the [inquiry] be required to examine a further source of funds, i.e. wealthy organisations found, on the evidence, to have substantially contributed, due to their derelict practices, to the sexual abuse scandal," Dr Keon-Cohen said.

Such contributions should reflect their assets and "degree of culpability", he said.

Institutional cover-ups of the primary crime, the criminal assault, constituted a second level of abuse, Dr Keon-Cohen said.

"Such callous disregard for the victim's plight ...amounts to not merely rank hypocrisy, but a second round of abuse," he said...

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/ch...517-2jqkx.html ]]> falah http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?54936-Church-no-better-than-bikie-gangs