20th Annual International Sunni Ijtema concludes in Mumbai

By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net,

Mumbai: Quran is a catalogue for all time revealed 1400 years ago by the Creator of this world and it can never be kept aside, Allama Qamruzzaman Khan Azmi, General Secretary, World Islamic Mission said addressing the last day of 20th Annual International Sunni Ijtema here on Sunday.

Addressing tens of thousands of people at the ijtema conducted by Sunni Dawate Islami at Azad Maidan, Allama Azmi said: "Just check out the principles of witness in Islam, there are punishment for the witness who lies, but today there is nothing like it and therefore injustices are prevailing in our society."

Like these, he said, many things revealed 1400 years ago but are applicable even today because human nature can't be changed and these laws are revealed by the one who created this world. He said, “It’s like a catalogue for this world revealed by its creator.”

Maulana Shakir Noorie, Amir Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat, referring to West, explained that Wealth, Material gain and supremacy does not mean Allah is happy with them and rewarding but this is a cause of major concern. They are responsible for Injustices, violence and lack of peace prevailing in this world.

He called everyone not to suppress the feeble and not to be arrogant if you are powerful.

Allama Nasim Ashrafi, from Africa, praised Islam as the best way of Life and asked every human “to understand and implement each and every part of Islam in their life for peaceful co-existence.” He also called Muslims to raise their morals and respect everyone.

Mufti Nizamuddin sahib, Azmatullah sahib, Banglore, Khwaja Muzaffar Husain, Allama Qamruzzaman Khan Azmi, of London, UK and Maulana Shakir Noorie, Amir of Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat, a major sect in Sunni Islam were the major speakers in this ijtema.

Some important topics of speeches included:

Womanhood, an Islamic Perspective and Solutions to their Problems
The Rights & Responsibilities of Marriage
Family Life in Islam
Purpose of Shariah, the Sacred Law
Islamic System of Law and Justice
Islam’s Contributions to Human Civilization
Natural Calamities – Causes and Solutions
Rights and Responsibilities of Relatives and Neighbors
Loving the beloved (Peace be upon him), and Purification of heart
Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him), The Best of Creation
Islam and Modernity
Misuse and Abuse of Modern Media and its Harmful Consequences on Youth
The True Spirit Of Islam
The Hajj-Its Spiritual And Social Significance and its Practical Demonstration

India, China are two major re-foresters: Jairam Ramesh

By IANS,

New Delhi: Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh Monday said China's green house gas emissions are four times that of India, but both countries are united in being the two "major re-foresters" in the world.

"China's emissions are about four times that of India's and in no way can India be equated to China in emissions but both these countries are adding to forest cover and are two major re-foresters," Ramesh said.

He was speaking at the inaugural session of "China and India: 60 years and beyond" organised by the foreign affairs department of the Congress party.

He also said both the countries have relatively low per capita income. The common factor is that neither of the countries would like an international barrier in their growth.

"India and China are looking at clean energy collaboration... We are also discussing collaboration in the field of glaciology (study of glaciers)," he added.

Senior leaders from the Congress and the Communist Party of China also spoke at the day-long seminar

http://twocircles.net/2010nov01/india_china_are_two_major_reforesters_jairam_ramesh.html

24,000 Chinese Haj pilgrims to visit Mecca in 2010

By IANS,

Beijing: Over 24,000 Chinese Muslims will visit Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the Haj pilgrimage this year, Xinhua reported Monday.

A total of 11,200 Chinese Muslims have already left for the holy city, the State Administration for Religious Affairs said.

Thirteen thousand more are expected to leave on 41 chartered flights from Beijing, Lanzhou, Urumqi, Yinchuan and Kunming cities, Yang Shuli of the China Islamic Institute said.

Islamic leaders, doctors and officials are accompanying each group of pilgrims. China has about 23 million Muslims.

The first plane took off from Zhongchuan Airport in Lanzhou, the capital of China's northwestern Gansu province Oct 18. The last plane is scheduled to leave Nov 4.

http://twocircles.net/2010nov01/24000_chinese_haj_pilgrims_visit_mecca_2010.html

Dubai's non-oil trade reaches $102 bn

By IANS/WAM,

Dubai : Dubai's non-oil trade has reached 377 billion dirhams (about $102 billion) in the first eight months of this year, up 18 percent, compared to the figure in the same period last year.

Ahmed Butti Ahmed, Dubai Customs Director General, said the strategic location as well as flexible and competitive set of legislations contributed to the rise in the trade.

He said Dubai's direct exports scored the highest growth rate in the past five years, exceeding up to 44 billion dirhams by August 2010 with a growth rate of 39 percent.

"This reflects on the trust put in the Emirati goods in external markets and proves its competitiveness and high quality," Butti said.

The statistics issued by Dubai Customs also revealed a boost in the imports during the first eight months of 2010 with a total value of 239 billion dirhams, up 14 percent, compared to the figures in the corresponding period last year.

The figure shows that India has topped Dubai imports list with 45 billion dirhams. China came second with 29 billion dirhams followed by the US which contributed to the eight percent of Dubai's total imports with a value of 18.7 billion dirhams.

http://twocircles.net/2010nov02/dubais_nonoil_trade_reaches_102_bn.html

20 million Britons don't speak to family members after quarrel

By IANS,

London: Nearly 20 million Britons are not speaking to members of their family after bitter arguments, a survey has showed.

Experts said mothers are the relatives we are most likely to fall out with. Two out of five adults admitted they are currently feuding with a family member, Daily Express reported Monday citing a study.

The arguments are most likely to be over lending money, favouritism and disliking a relative's partner.

While most rows are resolved within a year, one in five has gone more than three years without talking to a loved one - and one in 10 has refused to speak for more than 20 years.

The study also revealed that a third of Britons would call their families "dysfunctional".

Eight out of 10 people surveyed said it was women who were responsible for starting any trouble.

A third had gone for periods of time not talking to their mothers. Fathers were in second place when it comes to the relatives we are most likely to fall out with, followed by sisters.

Many feuds never get resolved, with one fifth of people admitting that a family member had gone to the grave without making peace.

The figures emerged in a survey of 3,000 adults by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment to celebrate the launch of Family Guy Season 9.

A spokesman for Fox said: "Although mums were the family members we were most likely to fall out with, the study showed that women were much more likely to recognise if their family behaved dysfunctionally and if there were problems in the family."

http://twocircles.net/2010nov01/20_million_britons_dont_speak_family_members_after_quarrel.html