Author: islamnewsday
Once a year, Muslim pilgrims flowing into Saudi Arabia unite in a series of religious rituals and acts of worship as they perform the Hajj, one of the pillars of Islam. As they fulfill a religious obligation, they immerse themselves in what can be a spiritual experience of a lifetime for them and a chance to seek God’s forgiveness and the erasure of past sins.Here’s a look at the pilgrimage and its significance to Muslims.WHAT IS HAJJ?Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia that is required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford…
Afghanistan’s stability vital for neighbors, says Iranian ambassador Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s ambassador and special representative to Afghanistan, stressed the importance of Afghanistan’s situation for its neighbouring countries, TOLO News reports. Speaking after the Regional Contact Group meeting, Qomi noted that developments in Afghanistan affected the entire region and announced the start of physical border fortification between Iran and Afghanistan.Photo: Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s ambassador and special representative to AfghanistanSource: Google ImagesQomi mentioned ongoing security cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan, resulting in a stable security environment at their borders in recent months. He emphasized the need for realistic assessments of…
Hailing the kind gesture, Bin Zayed said the Dubai Islamic Humanitarian Foundation has been supportive to Dar Al Ber charity projects and programs for years. Read more… By Ahmed Shaaban (senior Reporter) Published: Wed 17 Jun 2015, 6:48 PM Last updated: Mon 3 Oct 2022, 1:33 PM Dubai – The Dubai Islamic Humanitarian Foundation, as part of its tireless effort to support the charity associations here, has contributed Dh20 million to Dar Al Ber Society for the benefit of the poor and needy. The Foundation, one of the Dubai Islamic Bank institutions, has generously made the contribution during a premier…
The major art event will be happening in Jeddah… Saudi Arabia has been supporting local and international artists in showcasing their artworks to a wider audience. One way the country has been accomplishing this is by launching the Diriyah Biennale Foundation and hosting the first-ever art biennales in the Kingdom. And now, the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 is officially happening. Scheduled to take place in Jeddah, from Wednesday January 25 to Sunday May 25 2025, the Islamic Arts Biennale will unfold within the iconic Western Hajj Terminal at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport. This ground-breaking affair provides guests with an…
(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Published: Fri 7 Jun 2024, 3:55 PM Last updated: Sat 8 Jun 2024, 6:51 AM India and Pakistan have announced the first day of Eid Al Adha 2024 after the crescent moon was spotted in the respective countries. According to Pakistan media, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced that the moon of Dhul Hijjah has been sighted on Friday, June 7. Accordingly, the first day of EidAdha in the country will be on Monday, June 17. In India, too, moon sighting committees in Lucknow and Jammu and Kashmir announced the spotting of the crescent moon on Friday evening,…
The Federal Shariat Court’s (FSC) groundbreaking decision in April 2022 signalled a major shift in Pakistan’s financial sector by aiming to eliminate interest from the economy by December 2027. As the financial sector prepares to transition to an Islamic financial system, the effort to establish an interest-free banking and financial framework encounters several challenges. One of the primary obstacles is the need to improve the expertise of human resources within the financial sector, ensuring they have a thorough understanding of Islamic finance principles and the necessary depth of knowledge. Additionally, enhancing the knowledge and skills of current banking professionals is…
June 3, 2024 MANILA – For the second straight year, a global travel index has recognized the Philippines as an “Emerging Muslim-friendly destination” among nonmembers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Saturday. Based on the 2024 results of the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index—an annual report benchmarking destinations in the Muslim travel market—the Philippines managed to develop initiatives such as including halal food and integrating Muslim-friendly amenities at major tourist spots in the country. READ: DOT to further boost ‘Muslim-friendly,’ halal tourism Increasing appeal “Tourism authorities have placed halal tourism high on…
Eid-Ul-Adha 2024 Date And Time: Also known as ‘Bakrid’, Eid-ul-Adha is regarded as one of the most holy festivals of the Muslim community. This festival, which is also celebrated as Eid-ul-Adha, Greater Eid, or Hari Raya Haji, is regarded as extremely significant in Islam. On the tenth day of Dhu Al-Hijjah, the month that comes to a conclusion on the Islamic calendar, the 12th, Muslimes celebrate the festival of Bakrid. It is a global holiday honouring Prophet Ibrahim for his readiness to offer his son Ismael as a sacrifice in obedience to God. Eid-ul-Adha 2024 Date Celebrated as a public…
Islamic finance assets in Qatar grew 3.3% year-on-year to QR656bn in 2023, of which Islamic banks accounted for 87.6 % of the total and sukuk for 11.1%, according to Bait Al Mashura, a leading domestic Shariah-principled financial consultancy firm.The assets of Islamic banks grew 3.6% on an annualised basis to QR563.7bn in 2023 with financing witnessing a marginal increase of 0.6% to QR382.7bn, the firm said in its latest report.”The Islamic finance has several promising prospects for the growth that are underlying in its continuous expansion, and accelerated development in terms of environment and penetration of new ecosystems,” Prof Khalid…
TEHRAN – The empowerment programs of the late President Raisi’s administration have resulted in the self-sufficiency of more than 126,000 women heads of household.Female entrepreneurs have expanded business, resulting in the creation of sustainable employment for women, as well as the support for job-creating skills, IRNA quoted Ensieh Khazali, the vice president for women and family affairs, as saying. The empowerment programs covered women with abusive husbands, women breadwinners, single girls aged over 45, women suffering from social harm, and women who are heads of household. Also, the national sustainable family-oriented business plan, with the assistance of women entrepreneurs managed…
The Academic Council of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has greenlighted the introduction of various new programs, including BS degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas (PGD), certificate courses, and short-term courses. This decision was made during a meeting attended by department heads, key officers, and external members. This was the council’s 67th meeting and also marked the 51st gathering of the Academic Planning and Development/Research and Educational Technology Committee (APD/RET) at AIOU. The session, chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nasir Mahmood, was coordinated by Registrar Raja Umer Younis, and the minutes from the previous meeting were unanimously endorsed. The council approved updates…
This article first appeared in Digital Edge, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on June 10, 2024 – June 16, 2024In the dynamic landscape of Islamic finance, Malaysia stands out as a global hub with a 24% market share of the global Islamic financial assets of more than US$3.6 trillion (RM16.9 trillion). In respect to the Islamic digital economy, Malaysia often ranks first for its Islamic fintech. With a robust regulatory framework and a burgeoning fintech ecosystem, the country has been at the forefront of promoting shariah-compliant financial solutions. Within this thriving ecosystem, however, a concerning trend has emerged — an increasing…
Standard Bank chairman Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, also chairman of the CSBIB executive committee, addresses a national seminar titled ‘Accounting, Auditing, and Governance of Islamic Banks’ at a hotel in Dhaka on Saturday. | Press release A national seminar titled ‘Accounting, Auditing, and Governance of Islamic Banks’ was held on Saturday at a hotel in Dhaka under the joint auspices of the Central Shariah Board for Islamic Banks of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management. Three keynotes were presented in the seminar and detailed discussions on them were held, said a press release.Md Abdullah Sharif, secretary general of Central…
The Islamic Republic of Iran purchased 300 tons of refined uranium from Niger in a secret deal that is part of Tehran’s drive to amass the resources for the construction of a nuclear weapons device.The London-based independent news organization Iran International published a report in early June about Iran’s clandestine negotiations with Niger’s Junta government.Banafsheh Zand, an Iranian-American journalist, wrote that the deal was first reported by the France-based news organization Africa Intelligence in late April. Iran reached an agreement with Niger to purchase 300 tons of yellowcake in exchange for the delivery of drones and surface-to-air missiles to…
Gulf, Arab and Islamic countries strongly condemned on Sunday the horrific massacre committed by the Israeli army in the Nuseirat camp in Gaza on Saturday that left hundreds of Palestinians dead, mostly women and children. At least 274 Palestinians were killed and hundreds more were wounded in the Israeli raid that rescued four hostages held by Hamas, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Sunday. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation slammed the attack, saying it was an example of organized state terrorism and genocide. In a statement, it condemned it as a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and relevant United Nations resolutions.…
Bahrain’s Al Salam Bank is to provide Islamic banking consultancy and training to Libya’s Sahara bank; it was revealed yesterday. The revelation came after Sahara Bank’s Acting Director General received, on Monday 3 June, at Sahara bank’s Tripoli headquarters representatives of the Al Salam Bank. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways of cooperation between the banks in light of the transformation of Sahara Bank to an Islamic bank (announced on 8 January 2024). The meeting discussed cooperation plans that will be implemented soon, which aim to provide consultations in the field of Islamic banking and provide training programmes…
Image caption, The damaged school on Thursday Article informationAuthor, Matt MurphyRole, BBC News 6 June 2024Updated 7 June 2024The US has told Israel it must be fully “transparent” over an air strike that reportedly killed at least 35 people at a central Gaza school packed with displaced people on Thursday morning.Local journalists told the BBC a warplane had fired two missiles at classrooms on the top floor of the school in the Nuseirat urban refugee camp.The Israeli military said it had conducted a “precise” strike on a “Hamas compound” in the school, but Gaza’s Hamas-run government media office denied the…
A recent video of tourists drinking alcohol on a Shikara in Srinagar’s Dal Lake is making rounds on the internet with many calling it a ‘vulgar’ and ‘Un- Islamic’ act.Tanvir Sadiq, Chief Spokesperson of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and Advisor to the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah posted the video on his X handle, where some tourists can be seen having alcohol.In the post the Sadiq wrote, “Under the garb of “Kashmir Badal Raha Hai,” the government must remember that such behavior is not acceptable here. A modern society doesn’t dance vulgarly in the streets…
Sheikh Muhammad al-Babaiedi, the secretary general of the Islamic Media and Guidance Center in Lebanon, spoke to IQNA in an interview about the role of holding conference on the cause of Palestine in helping the Palestinian nation. He hailed the stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran in support of Palestine and the resistance axis and said they are based on the verses of the Quran and in line with the views of Imam Khomeini (RA). He said since the beginning of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, it was clear that it was also a revolution of Palestine.…
AMMAN, Jordan (OSV News) — For Iraqi Catholics, it’s a date they will never forget. The takeover of Mosul by militants of the Islamic State group 10 years ago began their bloody and destructive rampage over the weeks that followed through the country’s ancestral heartland which Christians called home for the past 16 centuries. “Young men spread the warning that Daesh (Arabic-language acronym) was entering Mosul,” Rita, a native of Iraq’s once second-largest city, told OSV News. She recounted the horror inside the compound of Mary Mother of the Church Parish in Marka — the northeastern suburb of Amman, the…
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has embarked on an ambitious journey to embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution, commonly associated with the period around the late 2000s to the early 2010s. Recognizing its transformative potential for economic diversification and societal advancement, the nation unveiled its ambitious Vision 2030 plan on April 25, 2016, highlighting the strategic National Industrial Development and Logistics Program, or NIDLP. This initiative aims to cultivate high-growth sectors domestically and foster an open economy receptive to foreign capital infusion. Additionally, it serves as a catalyst for integrating Industry 4.0 technologies across diverse sectors. Speaking to Arab…
Saudi Arabia’s second Islamic Arts Biennale will open on January 25, 2025, organisers have revealed.The only biennale dedicated to the arts of Islamic civilisation will return to the Western Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah for a four-month period until May 25, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation announced on Sunday.Consisting of five galleries, the 2025 Islamic Arts Biennale will include a curated exhibition combing the work of contemporary artists and historical objects in a vast outdoor space.Makkah and Madinah – two of the most significant cities in Islamic culture – will be celebrated at the event with their…
Incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi on Saturday petitioned the Islamabad High Court seeking suspension of the sentence and subsequent release in the fake marriage case.The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and his wife Bushra Bibi have been convicted in what has come to be known as the iddat case, for their marriage allegedly during the iddat period. “It is imperative to decide the suspension of sentence of the petitioner (Bushra) as early as possible in the interest of justice,” The News International cited the plea filed by the former first lady as saying. Bushra Bibi filed the…
Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its series of articles, Exploring Kazakhstan, City by City, this time focusing on Kazakhstan’s oldest city Taraz. We are setting out to unveil the rich diversity of cities to bring you closer to the heart and soul of Kazakhstan. ASTANA – The once-mighty city of Taraz, the cradle of Islamic culture, craftsmanship and trade, besieged by wars, now holds a unique cultural and political identity. These days, the administrative center of the Zhambyl Region, located on the Talas River in the south of Kazakhstan, has inadvertently become a perfect destination for history lovers and…
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Indonesia’s Defense Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto said he welcomed the suggestion of former East Java governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa to send 1,000 Gaza evacuees to Islamic boarding schools (pesantrens).”I will report it to Mr. President (Jokowi),” he told journalists on Friday, June 7, 2024, in response to the former East Java governor’s idea of providing the Gaza evacuees with education and treatment at pesantrens in East Java.Earlier, at the recent IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Prabowo Subianto said President Joko Widodo a.k.a. Jokowi had urged him to evacuate around 1,000 Palestinians injured by Israeli attacks in the Gaza…