The Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, which has been shrouded in corruption has allegedly defied instructions by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to revise the five-member official delegation to be sent to Saudi Arabia to make arrangements for the forthcoming Hajj Pilgrimage. The initial five-member delegation, comprising Minister A.H.M. Fowzie (head of delegation), S. Alavi Moulana (Governor of the Western …

  Assalamu alaikum.   As you all are ware rains are causing havoc in Sri Lanka. Today 600 people in Maligawathe and about 1000 people in Mabole have left their homes and are in makeshift homes in schools and mosques. the government has only give dry rations for two meals within the last three days. Many went hungry last night …

UNITED NATIONS, May 18, 2010 (IPS) – The United States, and most of the Western world, have transformed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad into a virtual bogeyman, thereby spreading fear throughout the neighbouring countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A nuclear-powered Iran, so the argument goes, is a …

Names whose use is forbidden   Muslims must choose a name that has a righteous meaning, that will befit and bring blessings to the child throughout his or her life. It is reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "On the Day of Resurrection, you will be called by your names and by your fathers' names, so give yourselves good names." (Hadith …

Mumbai’s Mid Day newspaper group was sold by the Ansari family this week. The Ansaris had owned it for 72 years, and they were the only Muslims to own a major English newspaper. Ansaris are converts from the Vankar caste of weavers. Many are from Uttar Pradesh, which they are thought to have fled after the 1857 mutiny. The British …