Dubai-based Virgin Radio DJ Revin John fired for offensive comments
Published: October 23, 2008, 13:17
Dubai: Dubai-based radio station Virgin Radio fired one of its DJs for making offensive comments on air, the station said on Wednesday. South African DJ Revin John who hosted the morning breakfast show was fired after mocking religion and impersonating God on air, the Arabian Radio Network said in a statement. In a sketch aired on Monday, John pretended to act out a telephone conversation with God, prompting complaints from various listeners. "He intended to be funny, not to offend anybody," the Arabian Radio Network Chief Operating Officer Steve Smith to the Associated Press. "However, what he did was highly offensive to the Muslim and Christian community in the UAE."
John was allowed back on air on Tuesday to apologise for his comments but was then dismissed, Abdullatif Al Sayegh, chief executive of Arab Media Group said. A Facebook group set up in response to the comments currently stands at 626 members. Mariam Zarouni, a 20-year-old chemical engineering student at the American University of Sharjah, told the AP she formed the group because she was so offended by his comments. "When somebody crosses the line, then you have to defend your religion," Zarouni said. "Honestly ... how can he do this? We're in a Muslim county. But even Christians would take offense to that. You can't insult God."In an interview with Gulf News magazine in June, the popular DJ said he researched the Dubai market before arriving in the country so that he could get to know his audience. “The sensibilities of a listener in Dubai and the boundaries of what's acceptable and what's not were looked into,” he said.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
"Sasha Fierce"
Beyonce would like to be known as "Sasha Fierce"
Just like the "Seinfeld" episode where George wanted everyone to call him "T-Bone," Beyonce Knowles would like to be known by a bold new name.
The R&B singer has christened herself "Sasha Fierce" for her new double album, "I Am ... Sasha Fierce," due in U.S. stores on November 18, and has released a lengthy justification for the comical moniker.
"I have someone else that takes over when it's time for me to work and when I'm on stage, this alter ego that I've created that kind of protects me and who I really am," the former Destiny's Child frontwoman said in a statement.
"Sasha Fierce is the fun, more sensual, more aggressive, more outspoken side and more glamorous side that comes out when I'm working and when I'm on the stage."
Additionally, she has set up a cryptic MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/sashafierce) that gives a "lucky person" the opportunity to receive a personal message and a gift bag valued at $500.
As George found out, nicknames usually do not work when they are self-bestowed. His colleagues thought he should be called Koko the monkey. In real life, rapper Eminem had better luck with his alter ego "Slim Shady," which he said came to him while he was on the toilet.
Beyonce released her previous solo album, "B'Day," to coincide with her 25th birthday in September 2006. It debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. pop chart and yielded the No. 1 single "Irreplaceable."
"I Am ... Sasha Fierce" will be distributed by Columbia Records, a unit of Sony Corp's Sony Music Entertainment.
Just like the "Seinfeld" episode where George wanted everyone to call him "T-Bone," Beyonce Knowles would like to be known by a bold new name.
The R&B singer has christened herself "Sasha Fierce" for her new double album, "I Am ... Sasha Fierce," due in U.S. stores on November 18, and has released a lengthy justification for the comical moniker.
"I have someone else that takes over when it's time for me to work and when I'm on stage, this alter ego that I've created that kind of protects me and who I really am," the former Destiny's Child frontwoman said in a statement.
"Sasha Fierce is the fun, more sensual, more aggressive, more outspoken side and more glamorous side that comes out when I'm working and when I'm on the stage."
Additionally, she has set up a cryptic MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/sashafierce) that gives a "lucky person" the opportunity to receive a personal message and a gift bag valued at $500.
As George found out, nicknames usually do not work when they are self-bestowed. His colleagues thought he should be called Koko the monkey. In real life, rapper Eminem had better luck with his alter ego "Slim Shady," which he said came to him while he was on the toilet.
Beyonce released her previous solo album, "B'Day," to coincide with her 25th birthday in September 2006. It debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. pop chart and yielded the No. 1 single "Irreplaceable."
"I Am ... Sasha Fierce" will be distributed by Columbia Records, a unit of Sony Corp's Sony Music Entertainment.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Soldiers pet
Chantilly: An Iraqi dog has arrived in his new home in the United States to be with his owner, a US soldier. The dog, Ratchet, has been the object of an online petition urging the US army to let it come home with Sgt. Gwen Beberg from Minneapolis. Thousands signed the petition.Beberg and another soldier rescued the dog from a burning pile of trash in Iraq. Beberg said she did not want to leave Ratchet behind, saying the dog may be killed. "I'm very excited that Ratchet will be waiting for me when I get home from Iraq," Beberg said in an email to family and friends. She is scheduled to return home next month. "I hope that Ratchet's story will inspire people to continue the efforts to bring more service members' animals home from Iraq and Afghanistan," she said.
Ratchet arrived at a Virginia airport on Monday and is spending a night in a kennel on Tuesday before flying to Minneapolis, where Beberg's parents will pick him up. Baghdad Pups coordinator Terri Crisp, who brought Ratchet back from Iraq, said animals adopted by soldiers help them get through difficult times. The military bars troops from caring for pets on duty or taking them home. "I hope Ratchet and his story will lead to some dialogue with the military," Crisp said.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Wify material
An author have a friend who spent two weeks in Europe with his girlfriend, and some of it didn't go too well. He didn't like the haircut she got pre-trip.
She didn't like the way his eye wandered on the streets of Paris. They fought some. So when my friend got back home, he asked a wise friend (no, certainly not me) what he should do.
Here's the advice he got: Every relationship is going to come up against some obstacles. They'll either break it up, or make it stronger. If it ends, it wasn't meant to be. If you push through, the relationship will be better than ever.
That's stuck with me for a long time, in part because my friend is now 21 years into marriage with that one-time girlfriend. So I'm just guessing that their relationship grew stronger when they faced obstacles. What made the difference for my friend, and for guys in general, when they face that step-up or break-up moment? Here are some ideas....Marriage Maker 1: (In)dependenceGuys like all the things that can come with marriage - the companionship, the safety, a guarantee of having good sheets on the bed and good reasons to change them. But one of the things they fear the most: that they're going to feel more constricted than David Blaine in an ice block. Upgrade your relationship today.
While most men understand that being married doesn't mean that they can play six nights a week like they did in their bachelor days, they also want to feel like they have the blessing, support, and encouragement to play golf with their pals every once in a while, to knock a few back at the sports bar when the big game is on, to still feel free even when they've willingly surrendered some independence.Marriage Maker 2: Adoring, Yet Not NeedyFew things turn a guy on as much as a woman who makes her man feel like he's the only guy for her. And few things turn off a guy as much as a woman who makes her man feel like he's the only guy for her.
Right, both statements are the same, but hugely different. It all has to do with where the woman and man are coming from. If they're equals, they're not making undue claims on each other, and they can be an even stronger pair. If either one of them is weak and needy, however, that emotional burden can drag both partners down. So, throw your partner some compliments and some assurances, but don't tell him the planets spin around him.
He knows they don't, and will question your sanity if you say they do. Especially at the start of a relationship, it won't hurt for him to know that you're perfectly OK without him, thank you very much, but that it's more fun when you're together. Learn how to avoid 7 relationship killers.Marriage Maker 3: An Imaginative MindThere's a lot of press these days about men who worry about dating successful women, that they feel their masculinity is threatened if their women make more money or have more power. To that I say baloney (low-fat).
Men are very turned on by women who have big goals, big dreams, and big imaginations - whether they're career-oriented or not. Because when a woman is driven, that means that she's moving forward, and the whole family is, too. Here are 10 other things men love about women.Marriage Maker 4: Jekyll and HydeNot that we want our partners to flip-flop and pretend to be people they're not, but there's something intrinsically exciting about a partner who has the ability to be a sort of chameleon - a little fun and imaginative in bed, yet charming at a family reunion.
It's the all-in-one woman who can equally pull off the roles of wife, mother, boss, friend, neighbor, vixen. That's not asking too much, is it? After all, if a guy is going to commit for a lifetime, he'll want his partner to be able to react to a lifetime's worth of challenges and opportunities, right?
She didn't like the way his eye wandered on the streets of Paris. They fought some. So when my friend got back home, he asked a wise friend (no, certainly not me) what he should do.
Here's the advice he got: Every relationship is going to come up against some obstacles. They'll either break it up, or make it stronger. If it ends, it wasn't meant to be. If you push through, the relationship will be better than ever.
That's stuck with me for a long time, in part because my friend is now 21 years into marriage with that one-time girlfriend. So I'm just guessing that their relationship grew stronger when they faced obstacles. What made the difference for my friend, and for guys in general, when they face that step-up or break-up moment? Here are some ideas....Marriage Maker 1: (In)dependenceGuys like all the things that can come with marriage - the companionship, the safety, a guarantee of having good sheets on the bed and good reasons to change them. But one of the things they fear the most: that they're going to feel more constricted than David Blaine in an ice block. Upgrade your relationship today.
While most men understand that being married doesn't mean that they can play six nights a week like they did in their bachelor days, they also want to feel like they have the blessing, support, and encouragement to play golf with their pals every once in a while, to knock a few back at the sports bar when the big game is on, to still feel free even when they've willingly surrendered some independence.Marriage Maker 2: Adoring, Yet Not NeedyFew things turn a guy on as much as a woman who makes her man feel like he's the only guy for her. And few things turn off a guy as much as a woman who makes her man feel like he's the only guy for her.
Right, both statements are the same, but hugely different. It all has to do with where the woman and man are coming from. If they're equals, they're not making undue claims on each other, and they can be an even stronger pair. If either one of them is weak and needy, however, that emotional burden can drag both partners down. So, throw your partner some compliments and some assurances, but don't tell him the planets spin around him.
He knows they don't, and will question your sanity if you say they do. Especially at the start of a relationship, it won't hurt for him to know that you're perfectly OK without him, thank you very much, but that it's more fun when you're together. Learn how to avoid 7 relationship killers.Marriage Maker 3: An Imaginative MindThere's a lot of press these days about men who worry about dating successful women, that they feel their masculinity is threatened if their women make more money or have more power. To that I say baloney (low-fat).
Men are very turned on by women who have big goals, big dreams, and big imaginations - whether they're career-oriented or not. Because when a woman is driven, that means that she's moving forward, and the whole family is, too. Here are 10 other things men love about women.Marriage Maker 4: Jekyll and HydeNot that we want our partners to flip-flop and pretend to be people they're not, but there's something intrinsically exciting about a partner who has the ability to be a sort of chameleon - a little fun and imaginative in bed, yet charming at a family reunion.
It's the all-in-one woman who can equally pull off the roles of wife, mother, boss, friend, neighbor, vixen. That's not asking too much, is it? After all, if a guy is going to commit for a lifetime, he'll want his partner to be able to react to a lifetime's worth of challenges and opportunities, right?
Student steals identity to fund vacation!
PHILADELPHIA – A college student who with her boyfriend stole the identities of friends and neighbors was sentenced Friday to five years in prison and ordered to pay more than $100,000 in restitution.Jocelyn Kirsch, a former Drexel University student, and then-boyfriend Edward Anderton used the money for expensive salon visits, exotic vacations and fancy dinners.
Federal guidelines called for a prison sentence of 70 months, but U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno credited Kirsch for her apparent remorse and for her July 14 guilty plea to aggravated identity theft and other counts.
Kirsch, 23, and Anderton acknowledged stealing the identities of friends and neighbors in the Philadelphia area in 2006 and 2007 to net more than $116,000 in goods and services.
The scheme unraveled when an employee at an upscale salon told police that a check for Kirsch's $2,250 hair extension job had bounced. About the same time, a neighbor of the couple told police a package she did not order had been sent to her.
Police released photos showing the two posing in matching red swimsuits by a luxury hotel pool and kissing near the Eiffel Tower.
Anderton, a 25-year-old University of Pennsylvania graduate originally from Everett, Wash., is to be sentenced Tuesday.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The real meaning of Ramadan
Ramadan is a time for social service, for helping the poor, for inviting people to a shared meal.
Nadia Abdul Samad, a Filipino married to Abdul Samad Ali Khalil Juma, a UAE national, told Gulf News: "We contribute to charity, not just in financial terms, but more through service. We help those in need, even non-Muslims. We serve special food to the people after iftar. We are there to guide them. Sometimes when I cannot support them, I pray to Allah to give me strength to be able to help them."
Before embracing Islam in 1993, she had to learn Quran. She said: "All the questions on my mind about Islam, especially Ramadan, were cleared."
She has devoted herself to serving the Almighty all the time. Even if she is ill, she will see to it that special food is prepared for the poor during Ramadan.
"It is my duty to serve Muslims and Allah for as long as I live. We have a Filipino community called Abu Bakr Assiddiq Islamic Centre in Dubai. And our director, Absic Ostad Amir Esmail Daham, a Filipino, is the one who guides all new Muslims, regardless of nationality. He was the one who guided me, my husband and our children to a better understanding of Islam," she said.
Abstinence
From sunrise to sundown, Muslims should shun eating, drinking, smoking and engaging in relations during Ramadan. Through the year, Muslims should shun any sin, whatsoever, against God and mankind.
She said: "Muslims have an obligation to fast and to give more to charity every Ramadan. Parents have a duty to raise their children well and bring them up properly.
"We urge my children, Mohammad Abdul Samad Ali, Ahmad Abdul Samad Ali, and Abdul Basit Abdul Samad Ali, to engage in works of charity. We did not hire a maid because we want to guide our children more closely. We always remind our children about the poor and needy who cannot find even a mouthful of food."
The couple make an effort to explain to their children how to pray and guide them based on the teachings of Islam.
She said: "We encourage them to fast as it is meant to teach a person the virtues of patience, sacrifice and humility. Abstaining from food and drink shows Muslims' honest faith and strong love for Allah."
She added that a person should be thankful to the Almighty, who has blessed him or her with His bounty.
"This should make him or her more sympathetic and willing to share their blessings."
The call for prayer, the congregation and the celebrations after are what Halim Al Deen Mohammad, a Sri Lankan expatriate residing in Abu Dhabi, appreciates most about Ramadan.
He said: "I consider myself lucky to be living the life that has been granted to me. Ramadan is a blessing that greets us once in a year and brings with it the festivities and spirituality."
Mohammad had shifted to Abu Dhabi eight years ago, with his wife and two daughters. "My wife and eldest daughter are very devoted and during Ramadan, they are extra cautious. They never miss a prayer. My youngest daughter is only two years old," he said.
His memories of Ramadan in Sri Lanka are very different from those in the UAE. The busy schedules take up most of his time now.
He said: "We barely have the time to socialise. Back home, we were acquainted with everyone in our area. We exchanged greetings daily, shared food and dined together."
What he misses most about his home country is the social norms that were adopted during Ramadan. "Our families would always prepare extra food during the day, which was later distributed amongst the poor at dusk," he added.
'Sadaqa', or voluntary charity, is a very important part of Mohammad's life. During the month of Ramadan, he makes it a habit to send money to Sri Lanka for the purpose of charity.
'Charity begins at home'
He said: "I belong to the middle-income group, but there are others who do not earn as much. I send money to my relatives back home who are in dire need of funds. For me, charity begins at home."
Some of the money he transfers to his relatives is distributed to charity organisations as well. "Even a small sum of money is a big deal for the poor. With the amount of money we spend on a daily basis, an entire family back home can have a meal for a week," he added.
With a big heart and generous attitude, Mohammad has set out to make the most of the month. "It is our acts that matter in the end. Who knows if I will be around for next year's Ramadan," he said.
Muslims share their blessings with the less fortunate through the year, especially during Ramadan.
Are they obliged to do so? Or is it voluntary? Who should be the recipient?
Amyn Jaffer Ali Gulam Ali, 20, from Tanzania, said: "Charity is encouraged through the year, but you tend to give more during Ramadan. I believe that the head of the family should provide for his wife and dependents and then give to the community."
Every Muslim gives 'zakat', which means a percentage of their savings each year, to the poor and needy.
Ali said: "I understand that two-and-a-half per cent is taken from the monthly salary after deducting expenses for basic necessities such as food, housing and education. Muslims can offer 'zakat' to the mosque or to the poor.
"If you know somebody personally who needs financial assistance, then, for me, it is best to give it to him or her directly. I used to accumulate money for six months and send it to my dad in Tanzania for him to hand it over to the poor. Now I stopped sending money as I have found someone in Dubai who badly needs financial assistance."
Ali, who works in a bank, firmly believes that Muslims can also give to non-Muslims who are in need.
He said: "It is debatable, as some say Muslims should only give to fellow Muslims. But based on what I have learnt, we should extend a helping hand to the poor, regardless of religion and race. And it is our belief that every single human being is a child of God. We are taught that all human beings should be treated with equality and given equal opportunity."
Ali explained that the significance of fasting was that it made one feel what the poor feel. We would then realise there are less fortunate people out there who need us.
Then you would feel obliged to give 'zakat', which is required. Fasting in a way tests the strength of one's willpower and self-discipline.
Ali said: "Imams told me a story, that has been passed on from generation to generation, that during Ramadan, God locks up Satan so that we are free from temptations. And thus you alone control your actions. This tests your willpower and ability to follow and worship Him.
"I don't have any resolutions because I tend to break them. But my smoking habit has reduced. It is a sort of miracle that I find no craving for smoking from sunrise to sundown.
"Moreover, I have a short temper, but during Ramadan I become more tolerant, instinctively."
Fasting, literally translated, means the process of abstaining from food. However, for Babak Tehrani, an Iranian expatriate residing in Sharjah, it is a personal challenge and a test of his endurance.
"I believe it is a personal achievement when I am able to stay away from food for the major part of the day," he said.
Ramadan sheds new light on the life of this 21-year-old university student. While on-campus, in the scorching heat, thirst is a factor that cannot be ignored.
He said: "I generally drink a lot of water during the day. Last week, I walked out of class to get a drink of water. Fortunately, I realised just in time that I was fasting."
People who are unwell are excused from fasting, and if someone eats or drinks something without realising it, the fast does not break.
However, Tehrani believes that a fast begun at the crack of dawn should only be ended at dusk.
Come what may
"I would never consider breaking my fast, regardless of the circumstances. If I break my fast, I feel like I have sinned," he said.
A lot of times, people tend to be ignorant of their responsibilities towards society, but Ramadan serves as a wake-up call for them.
"During Ramadan, I try to be nice to everyone around me. I travel by taxis almost every day, and when I pay the fare, I do not take the change back. I consider it to be 'Sadaqa', or a voluntary Islamic charity," Tehrani said.
Many things in people's day-to-day life go unnoticed, but the purity of this month makes Tehrani realise his mistakes.
Extreme caution
"I try to be extremely careful of my actions. Even if certain things are wrong, I generally fail to recognise them. However, during Ramadan, I become conscious," he said.
It is important for people to create individual boundaries that prevent them from doing wrong, he said.
"I try to be patient and guard my tongue while I fast. My main aim is to discipline myself in the eyes of the religion," Tehrani added.
Nadia Abdul Samad, a Filipino married to Abdul Samad Ali Khalil Juma, a UAE national, told Gulf News: "We contribute to charity, not just in financial terms, but more through service. We help those in need, even non-Muslims. We serve special food to the people after iftar. We are there to guide them. Sometimes when I cannot support them, I pray to Allah to give me strength to be able to help them."
Before embracing Islam in 1993, she had to learn Quran. She said: "All the questions on my mind about Islam, especially Ramadan, were cleared."
She has devoted herself to serving the Almighty all the time. Even if she is ill, she will see to it that special food is prepared for the poor during Ramadan.
"It is my duty to serve Muslims and Allah for as long as I live. We have a Filipino community called Abu Bakr Assiddiq Islamic Centre in Dubai. And our director, Absic Ostad Amir Esmail Daham, a Filipino, is the one who guides all new Muslims, regardless of nationality. He was the one who guided me, my husband and our children to a better understanding of Islam," she said.
Abstinence
From sunrise to sundown, Muslims should shun eating, drinking, smoking and engaging in relations during Ramadan. Through the year, Muslims should shun any sin, whatsoever, against God and mankind.
She said: "Muslims have an obligation to fast and to give more to charity every Ramadan. Parents have a duty to raise their children well and bring them up properly.
"We urge my children, Mohammad Abdul Samad Ali, Ahmad Abdul Samad Ali, and Abdul Basit Abdul Samad Ali, to engage in works of charity. We did not hire a maid because we want to guide our children more closely. We always remind our children about the poor and needy who cannot find even a mouthful of food."
The couple make an effort to explain to their children how to pray and guide them based on the teachings of Islam.
She said: "We encourage them to fast as it is meant to teach a person the virtues of patience, sacrifice and humility. Abstaining from food and drink shows Muslims' honest faith and strong love for Allah."
She added that a person should be thankful to the Almighty, who has blessed him or her with His bounty.
"This should make him or her more sympathetic and willing to share their blessings."
The call for prayer, the congregation and the celebrations after are what Halim Al Deen Mohammad, a Sri Lankan expatriate residing in Abu Dhabi, appreciates most about Ramadan.
He said: "I consider myself lucky to be living the life that has been granted to me. Ramadan is a blessing that greets us once in a year and brings with it the festivities and spirituality."
Mohammad had shifted to Abu Dhabi eight years ago, with his wife and two daughters. "My wife and eldest daughter are very devoted and during Ramadan, they are extra cautious. They never miss a prayer. My youngest daughter is only two years old," he said.
His memories of Ramadan in Sri Lanka are very different from those in the UAE. The busy schedules take up most of his time now.
He said: "We barely have the time to socialise. Back home, we were acquainted with everyone in our area. We exchanged greetings daily, shared food and dined together."
What he misses most about his home country is the social norms that were adopted during Ramadan. "Our families would always prepare extra food during the day, which was later distributed amongst the poor at dusk," he added.
'Sadaqa', or voluntary charity, is a very important part of Mohammad's life. During the month of Ramadan, he makes it a habit to send money to Sri Lanka for the purpose of charity.
'Charity begins at home'
He said: "I belong to the middle-income group, but there are others who do not earn as much. I send money to my relatives back home who are in dire need of funds. For me, charity begins at home."
Some of the money he transfers to his relatives is distributed to charity organisations as well. "Even a small sum of money is a big deal for the poor. With the amount of money we spend on a daily basis, an entire family back home can have a meal for a week," he added.
With a big heart and generous attitude, Mohammad has set out to make the most of the month. "It is our acts that matter in the end. Who knows if I will be around for next year's Ramadan," he said.
Muslims share their blessings with the less fortunate through the year, especially during Ramadan.
Are they obliged to do so? Or is it voluntary? Who should be the recipient?
Amyn Jaffer Ali Gulam Ali, 20, from Tanzania, said: "Charity is encouraged through the year, but you tend to give more during Ramadan. I believe that the head of the family should provide for his wife and dependents and then give to the community."
Every Muslim gives 'zakat', which means a percentage of their savings each year, to the poor and needy.
Ali said: "I understand that two-and-a-half per cent is taken from the monthly salary after deducting expenses for basic necessities such as food, housing and education. Muslims can offer 'zakat' to the mosque or to the poor.
"If you know somebody personally who needs financial assistance, then, for me, it is best to give it to him or her directly. I used to accumulate money for six months and send it to my dad in Tanzania for him to hand it over to the poor. Now I stopped sending money as I have found someone in Dubai who badly needs financial assistance."
Ali, who works in a bank, firmly believes that Muslims can also give to non-Muslims who are in need.
He said: "It is debatable, as some say Muslims should only give to fellow Muslims. But based on what I have learnt, we should extend a helping hand to the poor, regardless of religion and race. And it is our belief that every single human being is a child of God. We are taught that all human beings should be treated with equality and given equal opportunity."
Ali explained that the significance of fasting was that it made one feel what the poor feel. We would then realise there are less fortunate people out there who need us.
Then you would feel obliged to give 'zakat', which is required. Fasting in a way tests the strength of one's willpower and self-discipline.
Ali said: "Imams told me a story, that has been passed on from generation to generation, that during Ramadan, God locks up Satan so that we are free from temptations. And thus you alone control your actions. This tests your willpower and ability to follow and worship Him.
"I don't have any resolutions because I tend to break them. But my smoking habit has reduced. It is a sort of miracle that I find no craving for smoking from sunrise to sundown.
"Moreover, I have a short temper, but during Ramadan I become more tolerant, instinctively."
Fasting, literally translated, means the process of abstaining from food. However, for Babak Tehrani, an Iranian expatriate residing in Sharjah, it is a personal challenge and a test of his endurance.
"I believe it is a personal achievement when I am able to stay away from food for the major part of the day," he said.
Ramadan sheds new light on the life of this 21-year-old university student. While on-campus, in the scorching heat, thirst is a factor that cannot be ignored.
He said: "I generally drink a lot of water during the day. Last week, I walked out of class to get a drink of water. Fortunately, I realised just in time that I was fasting."
People who are unwell are excused from fasting, and if someone eats or drinks something without realising it, the fast does not break.
However, Tehrani believes that a fast begun at the crack of dawn should only be ended at dusk.
Come what may
"I would never consider breaking my fast, regardless of the circumstances. If I break my fast, I feel like I have sinned," he said.
A lot of times, people tend to be ignorant of their responsibilities towards society, but Ramadan serves as a wake-up call for them.
"During Ramadan, I try to be nice to everyone around me. I travel by taxis almost every day, and when I pay the fare, I do not take the change back. I consider it to be 'Sadaqa', or a voluntary Islamic charity," Tehrani said.
Many things in people's day-to-day life go unnoticed, but the purity of this month makes Tehrani realise his mistakes.
Extreme caution
"I try to be extremely careful of my actions. Even if certain things are wrong, I generally fail to recognise them. However, during Ramadan, I become conscious," he said.
It is important for people to create individual boundaries that prevent them from doing wrong, he said.
"I try to be patient and guard my tongue while I fast. My main aim is to discipline myself in the eyes of the religion," Tehrani added.
Nepal living goddes
KATMANDU, Nepal - Hindu and Buddhist priests chanted sacred hymns and cascaded flowers and grains of rice over a 3-year-old girl who was appointed a living goddess in Nepal on Tuesday.
Wrapped in red silk and adorned with red flowers in her hair, Matani Shakya received approval from the priests and President Ram Baran Yadav in a centuries-old tradition with deep ties to Nepal's monarchy, which was abolished in May.
Wrapped in red silk and adorned with red flowers in her hair, Matani Shakya received approval from the priests and President Ram Baran Yadav in a centuries-old tradition with deep ties to Nepal's monarchy, which was abolished in May.
The new "kumari" or living goddess, was carried from her parents' home to an ancient palatial temple in the heart of the Nepali capital, Katmandu, where she will live until she reaches puberty and loses her divine status.
She will be worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists as an incarnation of the powerful Hindu deity Taleju.
A panel of judges conducted a series of ancient ceremonies to select the goddess from several 2- to 4-year-old girls who are all members of the impoverished Shakya goldsmith caste.
The judges read the candidates' horoscopes and check each one for physical imperfections. The living goddess must have perfect hair, eyes, teeth and skin with no scars, and should not be afraid of the dark.
As a final test, the living goddess must spend a night alone in a room among the heads of ritually slaughtered goats and buffaloes without showing fear.
Having passed all the tests, the child will stay in almost complete isolation at the temple, and will be allowed to return to her family only at the onset of menstruation when a new goddess will be named to replace her.
"I feel a bit sad, but since my child has become a living goddess I feel proud," said her father Pratap Man Shakya.
During her time as a goddess, she will always wear red, pin up her hair in topknots, and have a "third eye" painted on her forehead.
Devotees touch the girls' feet with their foreheads, the highest sign of respect among Hindus in Nepal. During religious festivals the goddesses are wheeled around on a chariot pulled by devotees.
Critics say the tradition violates both international and Nepalese laws on child rights. The girls often struggle to readjust to normal lives after they return home.
Nepalese folklore holds that men who marry a former kumari will die young, and so many girls remain unmarried and face a life of hardship.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
