Nr. 163-164

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Nº: 163 - 164 14th year, May + June 2013 - Rajab + Shaaban 1434H
Bismillahir
ahmanir
Rahim
Dear Reader,
Up Hold the Book of Allah when seditions
approach you like pieces of the dark night;
you should then take to the Qur’an”
The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h)
Is it the fate of this nation, in its numerous peoples, extending lands, great ideological
legacy, and in the huge resources with which the Almighty has blessed it, to stay and
continuously live throughout epochs and periods up to present-day pressures, woes, crises,
successive calamities and tragedies, domestic and foreign, contemptible and unjustified?
Should it continue to be a target of foreign hostile admissions created by its weakness,
dispersal and reluctance as a result of these destructive struggles?
The Almighty wants this nation to be the very best; therefore, it ensures such a status only
if it adheres to the teachings of His Revealed Book and the teachings, lifestyle and struggle
of His Greatest Prophet (p.b.u.h). This is the only guarantee that it can remain secure, lofty
and fortified in its individuals, nations and entities.
Ali (A.S) has said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h) saying, ‘There will be seditions.’
I said, ‘What is the way out of them?’ He (p.b.u.h) said, ‘It is through the Book of Allah, a
record in which Allah tells about past nations and future ones, and it rules among you; it is
the final decree and not a sport; a tyrant who abandons it will have his back split by Allah,
and one who seeks the wrong goal will be permitted by Allah to remain in misguidance.”
But are the Muslims nowadays implementing this assurance? What about their rulers and
those who assist them? Most of them are concerned mostly about firming their rule and
spreading their influence even at the expense of values and Islamic principles, or even the
true interests of people.
As for the scholars, the trustees of Allah’s Messengers, they are supposed to unite the ranks
and to encounter those who seek division and blind sedition.
The problem lies in those who follow dubious and harmful plans, embellishing for people the
image and the actions of such rulers. Yet the most serious problem lies in those who pay attention
to those who are ignorant of true Islam, the advocates of Takfirism, those who feed extremism,
who are ignorant of the essence of and truth about Islam, those who through their shameful
actions distort Islam’s image, tear up the Muslims’ ranks and commit the most heinous and
prohibitive actions, killing people in disgusting savage ways, demolishing mosques and sacred
shrines, violating the sanctity of the dead and of the mausoleums that are respected by all Muslims
just as has recently been done by those who desecrated and interned the grave of the great sahabi
(companion of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h)) Hijr ibn Adiy, a heinous action that caused pain in the
hearts of the believers and has been faced by wide denunciation from various groups.
Finally, just as we lived the past couple of holy months, remembering the greatness of the
daughter of the Holiest Prophet 5, namely the Lady of the Women of the World, Fatima J, we
now have to be prepared, work hard and try to benefit from the lights of guidance, from the
boons and grants that await those who do righteousness in the season of faith and goodness,
in the sacred months of Rajab, Sha`ban and Ramadan. May Allah Almighty accept our good
deeds, and may there be ease and the removal of the distress from this struggling nation.
Noor al-Islam Magazine
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Yassin T. Al Jibouri
C O N T E N T S
■
Kufa: Earth’s Metropolis (Reportage)
3
■ Hadiths About Imam Mahdi (A.S.) (Our Leaders)
21
■ From MTV to Mecca: Kristiane Backer (Welcome to Islam)
24
■ Around the World
30
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Reportage
KUFA: EARTH’S
METROPOLIS
By: Basima Shami Bazzi, Ph.D.
In the conscience of the Muslims in general and Shiite Muslims in particular,
Kufa enjoys a prominent place and a distinctive status. Why not, since this
Iraqi city has in the past been the capital of the Islamic caliphate during
the time of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (A.S.), and it has Suhail Mosque which
is known as the Sahla Mosque and which will be, according to the belief
of the Shiites, the quarters of the Awaited Imam Mahdi (A.S)? In addition
to the Sahla Mosque, there is another mosque that bears the name of this
city; Imam Ali (A.S.) was martyred in it and is buried near it in Najaf in the
quarter known as the outskirt of Kufa, and it is given the name “al-Ghari”.
3
Languistic Derivation
In language, “Kufa” means the red
sands, collectively, and it is said it is
circular or sands mixed with gravels or
just sands.
In Terminology
The above paragraph dealt with
language; as in terminology, it is one of
the most famous Iraqi cities. It was thus
name either due to its construction being
circular, according to a viewpoint, or
due to people assembling round it, or
due to being red sandy mixed with gravels,
according to yet another viewpoint.
Kufa City is located in Najaf Governorate
on the western mid-Euphrates side, about
170 km southwest of Baghdad and 10 km
northeast of Najaf. Its land is high plain
about 22 m above the surface of the sea.
From the north, it is bordered by the Kifl
district (Babylon Governorate). From
the east, it is bordered by the Saniyya
and Salahiyya districts (Diwaniyya
Governorate). From the west, it is
bordered by Kari Sa`d, and from the
south, it is bordered by Abu Skhair county
and the Heera district.
Founding
Kufa was founded to be an immigration
home and a military base for the Muslims
4
Map of Iraq
instead of Madaain (Ctesiphon). It was
founded by Sa`d ibn Abu Waqqas on
orders of Omer ibn al-Khattab in 17
A.H./638 A.D. In his book Futooh alBuldan, al-Balathuri says that Omer ibn
al-Khattab wrote Sa`d ibn Abu Waqqas
ordering him to undertake an immigration
home for the Muslims, and that he should
not let a sea separate him from them, so he
went to the Anbar and wanted to use it as
home, but there were too many flies, so he
turned to another site which was not good.
After that, according to a suggestion by
Abdul-Maseeh ibn Baqeela al-Ghassani,
he turned to the quarter known as Surstan,
that is, “Virgin’s Cheek”, which he
charted and distributed plots to people,
settling tribes, so much so that it became
one of the most important cities in which
the Arabs of that time settled.
As for the one who undertook the charting,
it was Abul-Hiyaj Amr ibn Malik alAssadi. Kufa’s schematics were to a great
Reportage
Kufa Mosque.
extent similar to that of Basra: Its mosque
bricks. Soon construction overwhelmed
was placed in the center of the city, and
all its quarters and areas. Then its early
the government house was near it, and he
residents went to live in it: Arabs,
let people live around the place chosen for
Persians, Syriacs, Jews and Christians
the mosque and government house.
till it became quite a city unmatched in
One of Kufa’s plans was to let its main
significance except by Basra, Medina,
streets be 40 yards wide, the medium
Sham (Syria) or the Jazeera.
ones to be 20 yards wide and the alleys 7
During the time of Imam Ali (A.S.),
yards wide, and that a 60 yard open space
who used Kufa as the capital of the
should be in the center of every quarter.
caliphate, soon this city turned into a
Its homes should be adjacent to each
center for religious, logic and grammar
other provided each house is no more
sciences with no competitor in this
than one story, and that the number of its
regard save Basra. This took place
rooms does not exceed three.
before Baghdad, which was built by the
Simplicity in the beginning prevailed
Abbasid al-Mansour, attracted thereafter
over city buildings, for they were built
the leadership of the cities to be the
with reeds, but a short period thereafter,
metropolis of the Islamic world and the
those homes were burnt, so their walls
center of its political, scientific, literary
were replaced with clay then with baked
and intellectual movement.
5
Kufa Mosque
saddlers market; it was charted by Adam
(A.S.), and I hate to enter it riding…” He
The Kufa Mosque, which is located in
was asked, “Who changed its plan?” He
its center according to many texts in
(A.S.) said, “The first to do that is the
history and biography books, is regarded
flood during the time of Noah, then it was
as one of the oldest mosques asides from
changed by the fellows of Kisra [Khosru
the Inviolable House of Allah. It has
I] and al-Nu`man ibn Munthir. Then it
been a place of worship for the angels
was changed by Ziyad ibn Abu Sufyan.”
before Allah had created Adam, and it is
What we deduct from this narrative is that
the place of worship for Adam and the
the Kufa Mosque existed before Abul-
prophets, righteous and truthful ones who
Hiyaj al-Assadi had charted it during the
came after Adam.
days of Sa`d ibn Abu Waqqas, and that it
Sheikh al-Saduq has said in his book
was much larger than it was built in early
titled Man la Yahdhuruhu al-Faqih that
Islamic period.
the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) is quoted as having
This mosque’s foundations were rebuilt in
said, “During the night journey, I passed
17 A.H./638 A.D. following the Muslims’
by the site of the Kufa Mosque as I was
victory in the Qadisiyya Battle and the
on the Buraq and accompanied by Gabriel
populating of Kufa, and it is the first
who said [to me], ‘O Muhammed! This
building charted on a square plot of land
is Kufan, and this is its Mosque. Get
in order to accommodate forty thousand
down and pray in this place.’ I, therefore,
worshippers.
got down and prayed then said, ‘O
In this regard, there is a narrative cited
Gabriel! What is this place?’ He said, ‘O
by al-Tabari thus: “A man stood in its
Muhammed! This is Kufan and this is its
midst, a tough archer, so he shot on his
Mosque. I have seen it twenty times in
right side; it was ordered that whoever
ruin and twenty times constructed, and
wanted could build behind the spot
between each time and the other is the
where his arrow had fallen. Then he shot
span of five hundred years.’”
in front of him and behind him, and it
was ordered that whoever wanted could
6
Building the Mosque
build behind the spots where the arrows
In his book titled Man la Yahdhuruhu al-
had fallen. The mosque was thus left in a
Faqih, Sheikh al-Saduq has quoted Imam
square ghulwa, an Arab expression used
al-Sadiq (A.S.) as saying, “The border
to measure distances and is equivalent to
of the Kufa Mosque is the end of the
the distance of almost a quarter of a kilo
Reportage
Alhuja Gate which later installed, located in the western side of the Mosque.
meter or 184.80 meters, from all its sides.
Its canopy was built in the façade without
sides or rears. The square shape was
chosen so people would not over-crowd.
Also, mosques, with the exception of the
Inviolable House of Allah, were built so
they would not be similar to the latter
Mosque out of reverence for its sanctity.
Its side was two hundred yards built on
marble columns which the Kisras had laid
down, and their names were like those of
Roman churches. They dug up a ditch
around the courtyard so nobody would be
adjacent to it with any structure.”
Mosque’s Gates:
A - Old Ones:
Historic references have reported several
names for the gates of the Kufa Mosque
as follows:
Serpent Gate: It was located near the
northwestern corner of the mosque, and
it was the mosque’s main gate. Historic
references point out that it was called
the Serpent Gate because when the
Commander of the Faithful (A.S.) was
delivering a sermon from his pulpit in the
Kufa Mosque, a serpent appeared from the
pulpit’s side and kept dragging and rising
7
The Serpent Gate: The most popular among the Kufa Mosque gates.
till it was close to the Commander of
the Faithful (A.S.). People were terrified
and were about to push it away from the
Imam (A.S.) who signaled to them to
leave it alone. When the serpent was on
the pulpit and reached the area over which
the Imam (A.S.) was, the Imam (A.S.)
bent on the serpent. The latter stretched
itself till it reached the Imam’s ear. People
were puzzled. It was speaking to the
Imam (A.S.), and those who were nearby
heard the speech of the serpent. Then the
serpent returned and the Commander of
the Faithful (A.S.) resumed his sermon
8
and completed it. When he was done,
he descended from the pulpit. People
gathered around him to ask him about
the serpent and the amazing thing which
it had done. The Imam (A.S.) said, “It
is not as you thought. Rather, this was a
ruler over the jinns, and he was confused
about a matter which he found to be too
tough for him, so he came to ask me about
it, and I explained it to him, whereupon
he supplicated for me to earn goodness
and left.” The serpent had entered from
the main gate through which people now
enter, so it was called the Serpent Gate
Reportage
and became well known as such. Banu
Umayyah hated to see this distinction for
the Commander of the Faithful (A.S.),
so they tied an elephant to that gate and
wanted this distinction to be forgotten. It,
therefore, came to be known for lengthy
periods as the Elephant Gate, but it is now
known as the Serpent Gate.
is located in the center of the mosque’s
northern wall. This gate was built in the
year 1388 A.H./1968 A.D.
3 - Al-Hujja Gate is located in the
western side of the mosque, and it was
installed in the previous century’s 1990s.
4 - Muslim ibn Aqeel Gate leads to close
to his shrine.
The present Serpent Gate entrance has
B - New Gates:
Kufa Mosque’s Sanctuaries:
These are the sites which the prophets or
Imams used as standing places [for their
prayers] or to worship; they include:
1 - Sanctuary of Prophet Abraham (A.S.)
2 - Sanctuary of Prophet Muhammed
(p.b.u.h)
3 - Sanctuary of Prophet Adam (A.S.)
4 - Sanctuary of al-Khidr (A.S.)
5 - Sanctuary of Gabriel (A.S.)
6 - Sanctuary of Imam Zainul-`Abidin
(A.S.)
7 - Sanctuary of Prophet Noah (A.S.)
8 - Sanctuary of Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.)
9 - Sanctuary of the Commander of the
Faithful (A.S.) which includes the prayer
niche of the Imam (A.S.), and it is there
that he (A.S.) was martyred.
The above form a list of the old mosque’s
gates. As for the gates that were later
installed, they include:
1 - Clock Gate that leads to the courtyard
of both resting places of Muslim and Hani
ibn `Urwah
2 - The Rahma (mercy) Gate which
Places Appended to it:
1 - House of the Washbowl: It is the
place that witnessed a miracle by the
Commander of the Faithful (A.S.) with
regard to an unmarried girl who drowned
in water where there were many worms
undergone several renovations during the
span of decades, and the present condition
was done in 1955.
Anmat [norms] Gate: It parallels the
Serpent Gate, but there are no traces for
it now.
Sadda [dam] Gate: It is the gate that
faces the Serpent Gate. It was through it
that the Commander of the Faithful (A.S.)
used to enter to his niche.
Kinda Gate: It is located on the right
edge of the mosque from the western
side. Its relics now include a small half a
meter arch closed-in with yellow bricks,
while the features of the rest of the gate is
buried underneath the external wall.
9
one of which found its way to the girl’s
wish to set out to Jerusalem.” The Imam
inside, causing her stomach to swell and
(A.S.) said to him, “Set out, sell your she-
prompting her family to think ill of her.
camel, eat your ration and go to the Kufa
They went to the Commander of the
Mosque, for it is one of the four mosques
Faithful (A.S.) in order to look into this
two rek`ats (prostrations) in which equal
issue. He ordered a curtain to be put in
many at other mosques, and the blessing
an area of the mosque, then he ordered a
from it tops twelve miles from any place
washbowl of warm water to be brought
you approach it.”
in which the girl was placed. When the
The SECOND is attributed to Imam
Abu Ja`far (A.S.) who says, “The Kufan
Mosque is one of the gardens of Paradise.
One thousand and seventy prophets
prayed in it.”
worm felt the warmth of the grease, it
came out of her body in the direction of
the washbowl, thus proving the girl’s
innocence.
2 - Judiciary Platform: It is a bench
which Imam Ali (A.S.) used as a place to
judge among disputants.
3 - The Compass: a stone pillar set up in
the center of the mosque to determine the
sun’s zawal time
4 - Noah’s Ark: It is a place in the center
of the mosque which is said to be the
place where the ark of Noah (A.S.) landed
after the flood.(1)
Distinction of the Kufa Mosque
Narratives detailing the distinctive
status enjoyed by the Kufa Mosque are
numerous; suffices to cite two of them;
FIRST: A man went to Imam Ali (A.S.)
and said, “O Commander of the Faithful!
I have undertaken rations, bought a shecamel and settled my affairs, and I now
Shrines Adjacent to the Mosque:
There are shrines that are adjacent to the
Kufa Mosque, and they are venerated and
respected by the pilgrims; they include:
a - Shrine of Muslim ibn Aqeel: Muslim
Muslim ibn Aqeel is cousin of Imam alHussain (A.S.) and his ambassador to
Kufa. Al-Hussain (A.S.) dispatched him
to it after its residents demanded his going
to them, but they soon betrayed him. He
was martyred there in 60 A.H./680 A.D.
His shrine is located in the eastern side
of the Kufa Mosque. Ibn Jubayr says the
following as he narrates his 580 A.H./1184
A.D. journey: “In the eastern side of the
mosque, there is a small house reached by
stairs, and it contains the grave of Muslim
ibn Aqeel ibn Abu Talib.” Perhaps the
(1) According to confirmed reports, Noah’s ark landed on the Judi Mountain which is known in today’s Turkey as Ararat.
Other reports say that the Kufa Mosque was the place where prophet Noah built the ark, not landed it. – Tr.
10
Reportage
The University of Kufa.
first construction on Muslim’s shrine took
place during the time of al-Mukhtar alThaqafi.
b - Hani ibn `Urwah Shrine: He is
Hani ibn `Urwah ibn Namran. His
origin is traced to the Mathhaj tribe. He
was a prominent sahabi (companion of
the Prophet) who was martyred in 60
A.H./680 A.D. in Kufa; he was killed
by Ibn Ziyad, and he was more than 83,
some say 90, years old. His shrine is
located behind the Kufa Mosque in the
same courtyard which includes the Shrine
of Muslim ibn Aqeel.
c - Shrine of al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi:
He is al-Mukhtar ibn Abu Ubaid ibn
Mas`ud al-Thaqafi. He sought to avenge
the killing of al-Hussain, killing a large
number of those who had taken part in
killing the Imam (A.S.). He was martyred
in 67 A.H./687 A.D. after fighting and a
lengthy siege with Mus`ab ibn al-Zubayr
and his army. His shrine is beside that of
Muslim ibn Aqeel.
Most Important Surrounding Shrines:
a - Shrine of Maytham al-Tammar: He
is Maitham ibn Yahya al-Tammar, a slave
of Banu Assad, a virtuous scholar and
one of the supporters of Imam Ali (A.S.).
11
He was martyred in Kufa
in 60 A.H./680 A.D.
Abdullah [Ubaydullah]
ibn Ziyad killed him. His
shrine is located west of
the Kufa Mosque and
is adjacent to the main
street, the Kufa-Najaf
highway.
Shrine of Lady Khadija
Daughter of Imam Ali
(A.S.): She is Khadija
daughter of Imam Ali
(A.S.); it is said that she
died a small child, and
her grave faces the Kufa
Mosque.
Shrine
of
Sayyid
Ibrahim ibn al-Hassan
II ibn Imam Ali (A.S.).
His shrine is located in
the Kinda quarter near
the Najaf-Kufa main
highway.
Imam Ali (A.S.) house.
Location
The Sahla Mosque
It is one of the blessed mosques which
Imam Ali (A.S.) mentioned. He (A.S.)
said, “The mosque of Banu Zafr is a
blessed mosque; by Allah, there is a green
rock in it; Allah did not send a prophet
save an image of his face is in it; it is the
Sahla Mosque.”
The Sahla Mosque is located from the
northwestern side of the Kufa Mosque
and is about two kilo meters distant from
it.
Establishment
It was established in Kufa during the first
Hijri century. That location was chosen
due to the presence of some shrines of
12
Reportage
prophets and men of righteousness in
which is located in the northwestern
that place. It is a rectangular mosque 140
corner
meters long and 125 meters wide and is
2 - Shrine of Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq
surrounded by a 22 meters high fence
(A.S) which is located in the center of
supported by semi-circular towers. In the
the mosque
middle of the eastern side, a long minaret
3 - Shrine of Imam Zainul-`Abideen
is located 30 meters high, and it is said that
(A.S) which is located in the southeastern
the mosque used to have an old minaret
corner
which was demolished. The present
4 - Shrine of the prophets and the
minaret was built in 1387 A.H./1967 A.D.
righteous which is located in the
Its construction is documented by Sayyid
northeastern corner
Muhammed al-Hilli who composed these
5 - Shrine of the Righteous Servant
verses of poetry about it:
al-Khidr (A.S.) which is located in the
It is the Sahla do I seek and myself do I
southeastern corner
shield
6 - Shrine of Prophet Idris (Andreas)
From every affliction and every hardship.
which is located in the southwestern
It is a mosque in which worship rises
corner
In loftiness and in silence.
7 - Shrine of the Imam of the Time
The minaret in it has been built
(A.S.) which is located in the center of
For the athan by raising the voice
the southern side
Since it was said in its history:
“They call for the prayers at all times.”
Names:
Many renovation and repair works have
Many other names are applied to this
been carried out and continue to be carried
mosque the most important of which are:
out throughout the mosque which are
1 - Banu Zafar Mosque: It is said that
undertaken by those who are concerned
the Banu Zafar are the real builders of
about it due to the religious and historic
the mosque, and they are a branch of the
importance this mosque enjoys.
Ansar who settled in Kufa; therefore, the
mosque was first known as the Mosque of
Shrines:
Banu Zafar.
Throughout the mosque’s courtyard,
2 - Al-Qura Mosque: It is reported that
several shrines and niches for prophets,
Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) asked al-Alaa ibn
Imams and friends of Allah spread; they
Razeen: “Do you pray at the mosque
are:
which you call the Sahla Mosque and
1 - Shrine of Prophet Abraham (A.S)
which we call the Qura Mosque?”
13
3 - Al-Birr Mosque: It is called so due to
the abundance of its goodness and blessings.
4 - Abdul-Qais Mosque: It is named so
because it falls within the chart of Banu
Abdul-Qais, one of the Arab mother tribes.
5 - Al-Sahla Mosque: This is the most
famous name due to the ease of its land.
There is another probability for this name
which is attributed to Sahl, a slave of
Banu Zafar and a sahabi who participated
in the Battle of Uhud with the Prophet
(p.b.u.h.). Abu Hamzah al-Thumali is
quoted as having said, “It was said to me
by Abu Abdullah Ja`far ibn Muhammed
al-Sadiq (A.S.): ‘O Abu Hamzah! Do you
know Sahl’s mosque?’ I said, ‘We have a
mosque called the Sahla.’ He said, ‘I did
not refer to any other one…’”
Merits:
Many traditions and narratives by Ahl alBayt (A.S.) explain the lofty status of this
mosque. One of them is narrated about
Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) as saying, “If you
enter Kufa, go to the Sahla Mosque to
pray in it and to ask Allah to fulfill your
need for your life and for your hereafter,
for Masjid al-Sahla is the home of Idris
(Andreas) the prophet (A.S.) where
he used to sew and worship. One who
supplicates in it to Allah with regard to
what He deems as permissible, He will
fulfill his needs and will raise him on the
Judgment Day to a lofty station, to the
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degree of Idris, and he will be protected
from life’s hated things and from his
enemies’ schemes …”
Another is narrated by Imam Muhammed
al-Baqir (A.S.) when he was asked by Abu
Bakr al-Hadrami about the best spot that
is next to the precinct of Allah and that
of His Messenger (p.b.u.h.), whereupon
he (p.b.u.h.) said, “O Abu Bakr, it is the
good and the pure spot where there are
gravesites of prophets, messengers and
others such as wasis and truthful ones,
and where there is the Sahl Mosque: No
prophet whom Allah sent except that he
prayed in it. It is in it that Allah’s justice
will prevail, and in it there will be His
Qaim and those who acct according to
him after him, and it houses the homes of
prophets, wasis and the righteous.”
Some of Kufa’s Old Mosques:
- Mosque of Sa`sa`ah ibn Sawhan alAbdi which is located on the eastern
side of the Sahla Mosque. Sa`sa`ah ibn
Sawhan is one of the masters of Abd Qais
and one of those who charted in Kufa and
a disciple of Imam Ali (A.S.). He was
banished by al-Mughirah ibn Shu`bah on
orders of Mu`awiyah from Kufa to Awal
Island (Bahrain) where he died in about
60 A.H./680 A.D.
- Mosque of Zaid ibn Sawhan which is
located in the southern side of the Sahla
Mosque. Zaid ibn Sawhan was one of
Reportage
Kufa’s people and one of the closest
friends of Imam Ali (A.S.). His hand
was amputated in the Qadisiyya war, and
he participated in the War of the Camel
during which he was martyred in 36
A.H./657 A.D. His shrine is in Basra.
- Mosque al-Hamraa which is located
in the right side of the Euphrates. It was
called “al-Hamraa” on account of the
redness of the faces of non-Arab residents
of Kufa who used to pray in this mosque.
- Mosque of Banu Kahil which is known
as the mosque of the Commander of the
Faithful (A.S.)
- Mosque Ju`fi
- Mosque al-Hanana which is located
northwest of Kufa, and it dates back to the
time of Imam Ali (A.S.), and the shrine of
the head of al-Hussain (A.S.) exists in it. It
is narrated that a miracle took place when
the body [corpse] of the Commander of
the Faithful (A.S.) was passed by it.
Kufa’s Modern Mosques
The above deals with Kufa’s ancient
mosques. Presently, its mosques are:
- Mosque of Sayyid Hassan al-Hamoud
al-Thabhawi which is one of Kufa’s
modern mosques, and it was built in 1340
A.H./1922 A.D. in the Alawi market.
- Mosque al-Suhailiyya which is located in
the Suhailiyya village of Kufa. Its construction
was completed in 1325 A.H./1907 A.D.
- Mosque of Hajj Hadi al-Saffar which
is located in the Rashadiyya quarter and
was built in 1342/1924 A.D.
- Mosque al-Rashadiyya which was
built in 1334 A.H./1916 A.D.
- Mosque al-Mulla is the oldest mosque
in modern Kufa and is located in the
Imam al-Hussain Street in the Sarai
quarter. Its construction was completed in
1278 A.H./1862 A.D.
- Mosque and Husainiyya of the Kurds
which was built by a group of Kurds who
resided in Kufa at their own expense.
- Mosque and Husainiyya of Al Muhyi
ad-Deen which, at the time, was the
largest of Kufa’s modern mosques. Its
building was inaugurated by Sayyid
Abul-Qasim al-Khoei.
Archeological Sites in Kufa
Government House: It is known as the
Sa`d Mansion or the Emirate Mansion
and was built by abul-Haija al-Assadi for
Sa`d ibn Abu Waqqas after the charting of
Kufa and of planning its mosque near the
mosque separated by a 200-yard roofed
road, and the baytul-mal was in it. But
after a short period, the baytul-mal in this
house was robbed, so Sa`d wrote Omer
about it, and Omer ordered him to move
the mosque to the side of the house and to
let his house be facing it because during
daytime, there are people in the mosque.
It is noteworthy that this house was
15
undertaken by caliphs, kings and emirs
who came after him as their home, and in
it was the country’s policy administered.
Government Mansion Demolished:
The government mansion was exposed to
demolition, or a portion of it, the arc, was,
according to a narrative by al-Mas`udi,
during the time of the fifth Umayyad
caliph, Abdul-Malik ibn Marwan. It is
said that Abdul-Malik ibn Umayr went to
see Abdul-Malik ibn Marwan as the latter
was sitting in the government mansion
and in front of him was the head of
Mus`ab ibn al-Zubair, so Ibn Umayr said,
“O commander of the faithful, I sat with
Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad in this assembly
and saw al-Hussain’s head in front of him,
then I and al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi sat when
the head of Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad was in
front of him. Then I and this Mus`ab sat
when the head of al-Mukhtar was in front
of him. Then I sat with the commander
of the faithful when the head of Mus`ab
was in front of him. I seek refuge lest the
evil of this place of assembly may harm
the commander of the faithful.” It was
then that Abdul-Malik ibn Marwan was
terrified; he immediately stood up and
ordered the mansion demolished.
Government Mansion in Modern
Times: The government house was
discovered as recently as the year 1938
through searching and excavating. Before
then, the mansion was a yard covered
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with sands. The Iraqi Office of Antiquities
sent delegations to excavate the site, and
it continued to excavate and maintain
it from the year 1929 to the year 1958.
excavations unveiled the features of the
planning of the government house and its
embellishments, and it became clear that
the house was comprised of a number of
buildings each of which was built on the
ruins of the other.
After 1982, the site of the government
house suffered from a rise in the level of
subterranean waters which covered its
internal courtyard. These waters reached
the height of four meters, filling the yard
with reeds. When Najaf was selected as
Capital of the Islamic Culture for the year
2013, the government house was included
among heritage projects, and many ideas
were submitted to maintain the site
and how to get rid of the subterranean
waters and of the reeds. The UNESCO
participated in putting the plans by
agreeing with the ministry of culture and
with the office of antiquities.
The official spokesman for the
governorate of al-Najaf, Ziyad al-Salihi,
has said, “The repair plan falls in three
phases: The first phase includes raising
the levels of the site’s grounds in order to
rid it of the subterranean waters that float
on its surface. The second phase includes
flooding and cutting the reeds plants. And
the thried phase is the rebuilding of the
Reportage
structural foundations according to the
ancient procedures and schematics.”
Work continues on the government
house in order to demonstrate its
effaced archeological features. Through
excavation processes, baked clay urns,
glass bottles and types of beads were
found in addition to brass metal coins that
date back to the Abbasid period.
House of Imam Ali (A.S.): It falls
outside the Kufa Mosque. It is there that
Imam Ali (A.S.) lived during the years of
his caliphate which started in 36 A.H./657
A.D. and where his body was given the
burial bath following his martyrdom, and
its ruins remain till our day after several
repairs have been made to it.
Archaeological Archway: It was built
in 1132 A.H./1720 A.D. to draw water to
the Kufa Mosque, and the marks of this
archway remain till our day at the distance
of 500 meters from the Sahla Mosque.
The Kufa Ditch: The digging of the Kufa
Ditch goes back to the period that preceded
Islam and is linked to the state of the Munthirs
in Heera, and its marks are still there; it is
known by the name of “Kari Sa`da”.
Its Villages and Rivers:
a - Villages: Among Kufa’s old villages
are: Jar`a, Jarir, al-Hassasa, Aqsas, Aqr
Babel… And among its modern villages
are: Alwat al-Fahl village, al-Kuraishat
village, al-Tajiyya, Al Eisa village…
Kufic Calligraphy.
b - Rivers: Among the most important
Kufa rivers is the Euphrates River which
passes by it on the eastern side. As
regarding its ancient rivers, the marks of
which remain till ur day, these included:
Bardan River, Sura River, al-Ghadir River,
al-Buwayb River, al-Saneen River…
Its Scholary Status:
a - During the time of Imam Ali (A.S.):
After Imam Ali (A.S.) had undertaken
Kufa city as the capital of his caliphate
in the year 36 A.H./657 A.D., the Kufa
Mosque undertook a scholarly nature,
becoming a school for teaching the
recitation of the Qur’an, education and
literacy. The Imam (A.S.) used this
mosque as a place to deliver his sermons,
scholarly lectures and valuable lessons.
Among the sciences which the Imam
(A.S.) spread in this mosque are: the
science of fiqh (jurisprudence), grammar,
the first rules of which were established
by Imam Ali (A.S.) and which he
presented to Abu al-Aswad al-Du’ali who
built on it and followed its methods, so
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much so that the Kufa Mosque became
the first university in Islam for the science
of grammar and for all sciences of Arabic
such as rhetoric, oratory, speech and
logic.
b - During the time of Imam alSadiq (A.S.): It was in the city of Kufa
that Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) stayed for a
period of time and where he founded his
scientific school which attracted pillars
from Basra, Wasit and Hijaz.
Al-Washa has said, “I saw in the Kufa
Mosque nine hundred mentors, each
saying, ‘I was taught hadith by Ja`far ibn
Muhammed…’”
Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) set in Kufa the
foundations of the science of hadith, and
he used to cite sahih (authentic) hadith,
revealing the fallacy of extremists. Aban
ibn Taghlib was one of the companions
of the Imam (A.S.) who was in close
contact with him, narrating thirty
thousand ahadith (narratives) from him.
The number of those who narrated from
(quoted) the Imam (A.S.) reached four
thousand.
It is worth mentioning that the imams
of the famous Islamic sects were either
students or dependents of Imam al-Sadiq
(A.S.). Abu Hanifah says, “I never saw
anyone more knowledgeable of the fiqh
than Ja`far ibn Muhammed…”
c - Kufa’s Grammar School: Kufa has
come to know many logical debates,
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philosophical and juristic diatribes. Yet the
most important of what this city contained
is the science of language and grammar: It
was famous for its grammar school which
was a peer to the Basra school. Among
the most prominent scholars of grammar
in it were: Abu Ja`ar al-Ru’asi who was
described by Ibn al-Nadeem as the head
of Kufa’s grammarians. Then Mu`ath alHarraa became famous in it after him, and
so was al-Kisaa’i (d. 189 A.H./805 A.D.)
and al-Farraa (d. 207 A.H./823 A.D.).
d - Poets: In its first period, a number of
poets became prominent. Among them
were: Abul-Atahiyya, abu Dulamah,
al-Kumait ibn Zaid and Abul-Tayyib alMutanabbi…
e - Cultural Exchange with Basra,
Baghdad and Najaf: Although Kufa
carried the flag of Islamic knowledge,
its scholars used to go to Basra and
learn from its scholars; therefore, this
status created taking and giving on the
one hand and ideological disputes on
the other, especially when it comes to
grammar: There was a Basri school of
grammar and there was another that was
Kufi. When the city of Baghdad was
founded in 145 A.H./762 A.D., many
scholars of Kufa and Basra migrated
to it, and the Kufis were brought closer
by the caliphs and emirs more than the
Basris: al-Mufaddal al-Dabi al-Kufi,
for example, was commissioned by al-
Reportage
Mansour to educate his son, al-Mahdi.
Al-Mahdi commissioned al-Kisaa’i to
educate his son, al-Rashid, whereas alRashid commissioned him to educate his
son, al-Ameen. Also, al-Mamoun asked
al-Farraa to teach his sons grammar,
whereas al-Mutawakkil asked Ibn alSikkeet to educate his sons.
As Najaf city rose as a house of science
and knowledge since the third Hijri
century/9th A.D. and till our time, a
school was started being built in al-Najaf
al-Ashraf. Thus, Kufa moved to it and
kept pouring into the sea of al-Najaf up to
the 8th Hijri century/14th A.D., and it was
then that al-Najaf absorbed everything
that had been in Kufa.
Kufa’s Modern Uuniversity
The Kufa University was founded on
December 23, 1987 and incorporated
both colleges of medicine and of
education for girls. In 1989, the College
of Arts was established, and it contained
two departments: language and history.
In 1991, Saddam Hussein’s regime
abolished the university following the
Sha`ban Uprising, but two years later,
it was re-established to start the march
of expansion in its colleges and science
departments, so in 1993, both colleges
of administration and of economics and
sciences were established. In 1997, the
College of Agriculture was founded
followed by the College of Pharmacy in
1999. in 2004, an independent college
taught the law after the law used to
be a department of the College of
Administration and Economics.
The year 2006 witnessed the establishment
of two colleges: The College of Dentistry
and the College of Veterinary Science.
That year also witnessed the reopening
of the college of Fiqh which had been
founded in 1958 and was abolished by a
political decision in 1991.
In 2008, both colleges of mathematics and
of computers were founded as well as the
college of physical education. In 2009,
both mixed colleges of education, and of
basic education, were founded. With the
start of the academic year of 2011-2013,
the Kufa University opened a college for
antiquities, heritage and planning.
During a celebration of laying the
foundation stone for the Jabir ibn Hayyan
Medical University in Kufa city, it was
announced by Dr. Ali al-Adeeb, minister
of higher education and scientific research,
that he agreed to create three new colleges
in the Kufa University. These were: the
College of Political Sciences, the Fine
Arts Academy, and the Media College.
Kufic Calligraphy
Throughout history, one of the things
that has been associated with Kufa is the
calligraphy attributed to it which is known
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as the Kufic calligraphy and which is still
being used as a decorative handwriting.
Al-Qalqashandi has said, “The Arabic
calligraphy is what is now called the Kufic
one. From it did the rest of calligraphies
develop.” But in his book titled An
Encyclopedia of Islam, Mortez says that
the origins of the Arabic calligraphy go
back to one hundred years before the
building of Kufa. Before Islam, Arabic
used to be written in four calligraphies:
- the Heeri (after Heera city) calligraphy
from which the Kufic calligraphy was
derived
- the Anbari (after the Anbar) calligraphy
the Mecci (after Mecca the Venerable)
calligraphy
- the Medeni (or Medenite) calligraphy
(after the Enlightened Medina)
- The Kufic calligraphy has been used
particularly in the writing of the Holy
Qur’an: All Qur’an that were copied
before the fourth Hijri century were
written in the Kufic calligraphy. It was also
used in inscriptions on walls of mosques
and mansions, and it incorporates more
than thirty kinds which include: cursive
Kufic, floral Kufic, wooded Kufi, freestyle Kufic.
Cultural Ambassador Festivity
On Shawwal 5, 1422 (September 4
according to the Julian calendar or August
22 according to the Gregorian calendar,
of the year 2011 A.D.), and coinciding
20
with the anniversary of Muslim ibn Aqeel
entering Kufa City as an ambassador and
an envoy sent by Imam al-Hussain (A.S.),
the secretariat of the Grand Kufa Mosque
and the holy sites associated with it held the
First Annual Cultural Ambassador Festivity.
This initiative is regarded as the first in
such a pioneering cultural plan held on
the land of this city which went on for six
days and held an exhibit of photography
pictures by the Iraqi Photographers
Association and another for handwritten
manuscripts and Islamic inscription in
which the Iraqi Calligraphers SocietyNajaf Branch participated, in addition
to an inclusive book exhibit. Regarding
the goal behind holding this festivity, alKhalkhali, the general secretary for the
Kufa Mosque, said, “The idea of holding
the First Cultural Ambassador Festivity
came due to the importance of the Kufa
Mosque and connection to the Islamic
history and to the rise of the first Islamic
university incorporating various sciences
which the touches of Imam Ja`far alSadiq (A.S.) enhanced, hence the mosque
as a center for intellectual, cultural and
scientific radiance for the whole world…
“In order to be connected to the past
and to raise the status of the mosque in
the presence of the shrine of Muslim ibn
Aqeel, cousin of Imam al-Hussain (A.S.)
and his ambassador, adjacent to the
mosque…, all of this has prompted us to
hold this cultural celebration…”
Our Leaders
Hadiths About Imam Mahdi (A.S.)
- I am a remainder from Adam, a relic of Noah, a choice from Abraham and elite of
Mohammad (PBUT).
- Indeed, right is with us and in us, and nobody else say that but a liar and an impostor.
- Truly, the Exalted Allah is the one who created all forms and apportioned the provision;
because He is not a form nor is He embodied in a form; nothing can be compared with
him; and he is the All-hearing All-knowing
- Verily, Allah is with us and we have no need to other than Him; right is with us so we
won’t be distressed by those who desist from helping us; we are the willing tools of our
Lord and people are our willing tools.
- Knowledge is ours; do not care about the unbeliever’s unbelief
- If our devotees’ (may Allah give them success in obeying Him) hearts are gathered on
meeting their obligation, their good fortune of meeting us would not have been delayed,
and their joy of seeing us would have been expedited
- I declare-unto Allah and His Messenger-that I am not accountable for whoso claims that
we know what is hidden (the divine secret), that we share with Allah His rule, or places
us in a rank other than that which Allah approved for us.
- The superiority of invocation and glorification of God subsequent to the obligatory
prayers, over the invocation subsequent to the supererogatory prayers is like the superiority
of the obligatory over the supererogatory prayers.
- And as for prostrating on a grave, it is not permissible.
- Nothing spites Satan like performing the prayer, so perform it and spite him.
- Indeed, I am a safeguard to the inhabitants of earth as the stars are safeguards to the
inhabitants of heaven.
- But Allah’s foreordainment could not be struggled with, His will could not be refused
and His (granting of) Success could not be preceded.
- And as for the reason behind the occurrence of the (my) occultation, Allah The Almighty
said, “ Believers, do not ask questions about things which, if made known to you would
only pain you”.
21
- Indeed, earth could not be without a hujja (a proof, a prophet or his vice), either manifest
or occult.
- Whenever an authority disappears, another one appears; and if a star sets, another one
rises.
- O Allah, bestow upon us the success of obedience, the avoidance of disobedience,
sincerity and knowledge of the forbidden; and confer upon us guidance and straightness.
- He is cursed (twice) he who delays performing the early morning prayer until the stars
disappear (the sun rises).
- Every one of my forefathers was committed by a pledge of allegiance to the tyrant of
his time, and at the time of my rising, I will rise without being committed by a pledge of
allegiance to anyone of the tyrants.
- I am the last of the vices, and by me Allah wards off distress from my household and
my devotees.
- Allah shall provide for his needs he who needs Allah.
- Almighty Allah refuses but to perfect the truth and to make falsehood vanish and He is
a witness over me in what I am saying.
- And as for the way of benefiting from me during my occultation, it is the same as
benefiting from the sun when it is beclouded; and I am a safeguard to the inhabitants of
earth as the stars are safeguards to the inhabitants of heaven.
- Increase praying for the expediting of my manifestation because indeed it is your release
from suffering.
- If you ask for guidance, you shall have it; and if you pursue something, you shall find it.
- No one is permitted to act independently regarding another’s possessions-without his
permission.
- There is no kinship between Allah and anyone; whoso denies me, does not belong to me.
- I seek refuge in Allah from blindness after clearness, from error after guidance and from
the mortal sins and the deadly trials.
- The outcome of Allah’s gracious handiwork shall be benign for them as long as they
avoid (committing) the prohibited sins.
- I ask Allah to protect me (from the enemies), to be gracious to me and to bring forth my
rule.
22
- We are neither negligent of caring for you nor forgetful of you; and if it were not for
that, hardship would have befallen you and the enemies would have massacred you, so
fear God and support us.
- And as for the recent occurrences, turn to the relaters of our Hadiths for they are my
proof upon you, and I am Allah’s proof upon them.
- If you ask Almighty Allah for forgiveness, He will forgive you.
- Allah did not create the creation in vain, nor did He leave them alone to no purpose.
Let everyone of you do what ingratiates him with us and avoid what arises our aversion
and displeasure with him.
- O Allah, fulfill your promise to me, complete my rule for me, increase my force and fill
earth by me with justice and fairness.
- I bear witness that there is no god but He-and the angels, and men possessed of
knowledge- upholding justice; there is no god but He the All-mighty, the All-wise; the
true religion with Allah is Islam.
- I am Allah’s Remainder (representative) in His earth, and the avenger on his enemies
- Our hearts are receptacles for Allah’s will, so that if He wills we comply.
- Were it not for our desire to see you righteous and the mercy and pity we feel for you,
we would have been too occupied to address you.
- I am al-Mahdi (the guided one), I am the imam of the time and I am the one who fills it
(earth) with justice just as it was filled with injustice and tyranny.
- The oppressors alleged that Allah’s proof is invalid, and if we were permitted to speak
out, the uncertainty would disappear.
- The sign of the emergence of my rule is the increase in chaos and persecution.
- We have comprehensive knowledge of your news, and not a thing of it escapes us.
- The faith is Mohammed’s (his assignment), may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him
and his household; and guidance is `Ali’s (`Alee, Eli), the Commander of The Believers,
may peace be upon him, because it is meant for him and will remain in his descendants
until the Day of Resurrection.
- And whoso oppresses us will be one of those who wrong us, and Allah’s curse shall rest upon
him because of the Almighty’s saying, “ Surely, Allah’s curse shall rest upon the wrongdoers”.
-All my fathers and I are servants of Almighty Allah.
23
Welcome to Islam
From MTV to Mecca
❋ Kristiane Backer uses her life story
to tell the world about Islam. It is not
every day that you hear of a former
MTV presenter writing a book on Islam.
“From MTV to Mecca: How Islam
Inspired My Life” is a riveting account
of how Kristiane Backer went from
being one of the most recognised faces
on MTV Europe to converting to Islam
after meeting with Pakistani cricketing
legend (now turned politician) Imran
Khan.
24
“I wrote this book because I have been
Backer joined MTV Europe in 1989
a victim of Islamophobia,” she tells
as one of its first VJs. In the years that
Weekend Review. “The Islam I read
followed, her stardom rocketed as she
about in the media on a daily basis is
presented shows such as “The Coca
not the Islam I converted to and the
Cola Report”, “European Top 20”
Islam my teachers taught me. It is such
and “MTV at the Movies”. In 1992,
a wide gap that I wrote the book to take
alongside working for MTV, she also
people by the hand and show them how
landed herself a youth show on German
I discovered Islam and how I overcame
national television, Bravo TV.
these prejudices. I want to show the true
Yet, even though she had everything a
values of Islam.”
young person could dream of, Backer
felt something was lacking. She was
had an interest in philosophy, ethics
fed up of having to constantly perform
and religion in school,” she says. “He
— one show chasing the next — and
talked to me about God, our purpose in
then being home alone again. “I thought
life and a higher goal to look at.”
what I was missing was love for a
One of the books she read, which deeply
man,” she says. “But then I realised
influenced her, was “The Road to
that the inner void I’d felt could only be
Mecca”, by Mohammad Asad, formerly
filled by Allah — not by a human being.
a Jewish journalist who famously
Because people come and go — love
converted to Islam in Berlin in 1926
happens, then it disappears again, and
after travelling the Arabian lands. “He
then what? Only one love is for ever
described the beautiful noble Arab
and eternal and that is the love for God.
soul so eloquently before the arrival
There came a point when I experienced
of oil,” Backer says. “That was when
a personal crisis. I was so stressed out
he was there in the Arabian peninsula,
from all the pressure that I was ready to
hanging out with the Bedouin. He
go: ready to die, basically — I felt that
describes beautifully how you could
depressed. As I was rushing to a show
travel throughout the whole Arabia and
I was supposed to host in Belgium, I
never pay a penny as the people were
thought if the [aircraft] crashed it didn’t
so hospitable. He observes the striking
matter. Who cares? No joy here.
contrast between the warmth of the
Shortly after came a turning point in her
Arabian people he encountered in the
life. In 1992 she met Imran Khan at a
desert and the miserable and stressed
friend’s dinner and they began to see
passengers of the Berlin tube. When
each other frequently. Khan incidentally
Asad came home he opened the Quran
at that time was finding his own faith. He
and read, ‘You are obsessed by greed
was reading a lot of books about Islam
for more and more, until you go down to
and enthusiastically started sharing
your graves.’” And he thought this was
everything with her. “I was somehow
the answer to what he had seen on the
receptive to that because I had always
tube.” Backer’s own encounters with
25
26
Muslims had some strange parallels to
Shortly afterwards Backer went to
Asad’s.
Germany to participate in a major TV
Khan invited Backer to travel to the
event. “The boss of my TV station asked
northern regions of Pakistan. Backer
my producers who were then driving
was impressed by the hospitality of the
back to the hotel and if he could get a
village people she met who were living
lift,” she says. “In the car, they debated
with so little.
among themselves briefly and concluded
“We passed many poor people who had
time is money — that would be a ten-
a light in their eyes,” she says. “When
minute detour, so no, couldn’t give a lift.”
I returned I had an experience similar
But it wasn’t just these contrasting
to Mohammad Asad’s. You realise
experiences which drew her to Islam.
people are miserable because they can’t
For Backer the attraction to the religion
get the latest Prada handbag that has
was on different levels. “I saw so many
sold out. Or they haven’t got the right
people on the team of Imran Khan’s
VIP all-access pass. I was commuting
cancer hospital,” she says. “They all
between two worlds. I saw for myself
donated their time, money, and effort
the difference between attitudes. OK, I
just to help build this hospital for the
will give you an example.”
people of Pakistan, where the poor
She recounts her experience on the
would be treated free of charge. Pakistan
flight back from Pakistan. Backer was
never had a cancer hospital, or indeed a
sitting next to a Pakistani man and
health-care system — it was sad. Imran
they began chatting. “At the airport in
built the first cancer hospital there
London a whole tribe was waiting for
with an army of volunteers, and I was
him,” she laughs, “And he noticed I was
really touched by that. When I travelled
alone. So he suggested he and some of
through the Karakorum mountains,
his family members take me home first.
I saw very poor people who lived in
This delayed the family visit by an hour
little mud houses and slept above their
or so. Unbelievable, I didn’t even know
animals so that the heat rose and kept
these people.”
them warm. It was heartbreaking — I’d
never seen anything like it. Yet, what
contract was just signed. Then they
touched me was their generosity. When
pretended the contract didn’t exist. It
we got out of our jeep and visited the
practically finished my career.”
villages the people offered us whatever
Backer credits her faith for pulling her
they had — almonds, apricots, walnuts
through all her professional difficulties.
— with a ‘Bismillah’, ‘in the name of
“I lost everything at the same time,”
God’.”
she says, “my job, my relationship.
However inspired she may have been
But I had gained my faith, the most
by the simple Muslim people she
precious gift of all. I was going to a
encountered, her interest in Islam ended
certain mosque where there were a lot
up costing Backer her job. In 1995 she
of spiritual people, Sufis. They helped
was celebrating the 100th episode of
me see these difficulties from a higher
her show on Bravo TV. One journalist
perspective and understand that there
had done his research really well and
is some good even in suffering. If God
asked if she had already converted
loves you, he afflicts you, a Hadith
for her friend. I said no, but that I
says. And who experienced the most
was a Muslim at heart. I had still not
difficulties? The prophets. So I suppose
converted at that time. This little remark
anybody going through a difficult time
practically ended my career. A negative
is a good sign, God loves you.”
media campaign followed, the press
Backer believes there is a message in
accused me of having lost the plot,
the book for people caught up in today’s
presenting my youth show from behind
materialistic lifestyle. “A lot of young
the burqa or supporting terrorism. On
people
top of all that, a week later, I lost my
culture,” she says. “I had all that and
youth show. It all happened at the same
I can tell you it doesn’t bring lasting
time, unbelievable.”
happiness. I would never want my old
Prior to the press demonization there
life back. That emptiness I felt before I
hadn’t been any problems with Bravo
converted is now filled with meaning. I
TV. “What can I say?” she says. “The
have a focus, a purpose in my life and
want
MTV,
entertainment,
27
28
that constant connection with God —
Being a convert to Islam has its
an anchor in heaven.”
challenges,
She also makes a distinction between
particularly with regard to finding a
religious practices and the culture,
like-minded social circle. Even more of
which people often mix up. “For an
a struggle for converts can be to locate
European, converting to Islam doesn’t
a suitable marriage partner, as many
mean wearing the abaya in London,” she
are stuck between two worlds. Backer
says. “The abaya is a cultural custom.
herself is divorced and finds life at
We can wear our modest European
times can get a bit lonely. “Muslims are
clothes, pray, give charity and abstain
so keen on converting people to Islam,”
from alcohol — adhere to the principles
she says. “But I always say, what about
but not necessarily take on other cultural
the aftercare? That is when the real work
traits. I don’t need to wear a shalwar
starts. Don’t just think about converting
kameez or an abaya, although I have
someone and then leaving them to
a few of each and enjoy wearing them
their own devices. I am fortunate to
when suitable. But normally, in the West,
have developed a good network of
I wear my European clothes. Basically I
friends in faith by now. Thank God. But
try to practise Islam with my European
how many Eids have I not celebrated
understanding of things.” Backer feels
because I am on my own? And every
certain essential values which can be
Eid it is the same, going to the mosque,
characterised as European, such as a
and then it is business as usual for me,
respect for human rights and concern for
unfortunately. Unless I am really lucky
the environment, are also Islamic values.
and someone invites me, but it doesn’t
Yet these are missing in a lot of Muslim-
always happen.”
majority countries. “Mohammad Asad,
However she is not alone in this
in the last century, said you find a lot of
experience. “Often, on Eid, I end up
Islam in Europe but few Muslims, yet
having dinner with one convert friend
you find a lot of Muslims in the East but
who also doesn’t have a Muslim
very little true Islam,” she says.
family,” she says. “And on Christmas,
acknowledges
Backer,
we are both not really welcome
cabs. Her picture was featured on the
among our own families anymore
posters with the words, “I believe in
either because they think we have
protecting the environment, so did
chosen something else. It’s the same in
[Prophet] Mohammad [PBUH].” The
Ramadan. I don’t have anyone to share
campaign
sahoor with in the morning, or open
in the media. More recently she was
my fast with — except of course when
interviewed by the BBC to talk about
invited for iftar. A degree of isolation
the controversy surrounding the anti-
is a part of being a convert or a revert,
Islam film “Innocence of Muslims”.
although, of course, we are now always
One of her concerns remains that
in the best company of all — God. And
a majority of people in the United
it is the faith that pulls us through any
Kingdom
challenge, although I have heard of a
about Islam from what the media tells
number of new Muslims who gave up
them. “People don’t go into Islamic
again because of a lack of support from
bookshops and buy books by Gai Eaton
the Muslim community. Only yesterday
or other scholars,” she says, “They
I met a lady who was a practising
just read the Daily Mail or watch TV,
Muslim for ten years or so and then
and then form their opinion on Islam.
later became a Christian minister.”
I believe it’s all about education. That
Backer keeps busy with efforts to
is why I usually do all these interviews.
improve the public image of Islam
When The Sun calls, a lot of people say,
in Britain. She was one of the names
‘Oh, I don’t want to speak to The Sun.’
behind an “Inspired by [Prophet]
I do it because even if I could just get a
Mohammad [PBUH]” campaign in
drop of the truth into that ocean it could
London that aimed to present a positive
have a ripple effect.
was
positively
draw
their
received
knowledge
message of the religion by displaying
adverts at bus stops, tube stations and
29
Around the World
First Muslim Woman in NSW Parliament
Dr Faruqi will replace NSW upper house MP Cate Faehrmann when she resigns
from NSW politics in June to run for a seat in the Senate.
She won the Greens preselection following a postal ballot from among a field of
seven women-only candidates, in another first for the party.
The move makes her the first Muslim woman appointed to any parliament in
Australia, the party said.
While she will be advocating for Islamic-sensitive issues such as same-sex marriage
in her new role, there would be no potential conflict of ideas, Dr Faruqi said.
“It’s the law of the land that I will be pursuing in parliament and that’s how I will
be talking to my community as well.”
She migrated from Pakistan with her family in 1992. Dr Faruqi describes herself
as an “environmental engineer, climate change and education activist, proud
union member and feminist”.
She said her Islamic faith was only “one element” of her background.
“I am proud of my culture and heritage but I’m also proud of my professional
achievements.
“I believe I might be the first environmental engineer in the NSW parliament as
well.”
Dr Faruqi said her appointment was a “very progressive” move for Australia,
and she would seek to build stronger relationships with migrant communities in
her new role.
“We do need a spectrum of diverse politicians in Australian parliaments who can
represent our communities.
“It shows the world that we really value multiculturalism.”
30
Around the World
Athens to have at least 7 mosques
The approval to build a mosque in the Greek capital of Athens has opened the way for
the legal operation of one to two mosques in each of the city’s seven districts. Athens
Mayor Giorgos Kaminis announced at a Municipal Assembly meeting that one or, at
most, 2 mosques may be permitted to operate legally.
According to a news report, Mayor Kaminis expressed his support for the decision for
the construction of a mosque in Athens due to the right to belief and equal citizenship,
as well as due to “the practical aspect of putting unofficial places of worship in order.”
Kaminis said: “the construction of a mosque in central Athens opens the way for the
start of the legalization operation of mosques which today operate unofficially and
which fulfill the necessary conditions.”
Pork in Halal sausage In Sweden
Pork meat, whose consumption is forbidden in Islam, was found
in sausage labeled Halal products sold in Slovenia and Sweden.
"We will now inform the EU about the results of our analysis and we are following
up with the company who sold the falsely labeled salami in Sweden", said a
spokesman for the agency, Louise Nyholm, in a statement. "It is unacceptable
that products labeled Halal contain pork. Many people absolutely do not want
to eat pork, so it is important that companies take responsibility and verify that
their products are not sold with wrong information", she added.
31
Around the World
East London Mosque Opens Doors
To Non-Muslims
The East London Mosque is opening its doors to non-Muslims in an attempt to
promote a better understanding of Islam and what goes on inside the building.
Members of the local community are invited to take a look inside the mosque, observe
prayers and ask questions about the religion, however challenging.
There will be an exhibition about the way of life for Muslims in the UK, as well as
information about culture and history.
According to the 2011 census, there are now 2.7 million Muslims in England and
Wales (4.8% of the population).
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