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A spokesman for the Nuseirat municipality in central Gaza said yesterday that the town’s mayor, Iyad al-Maghari, had been killed in an Israeli strike while visiting a water pumping station.Maghari had been at the water management facility that serves Nuseirat when an air strike hit it at around 10:30pm (1930 GMT) on Thursday, spokesman Mohamed al-Salhi said at the nearby Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where mourners gathered ahead of the funeral.“We were surprised by a treacherous and cowardly attack on the mayor inside the plant, which led to the martyrdom of the mayor, Dr Iyad al-Maghari, and four members of his family,” Salhi said. The Israeli army said it was aware of reports that Maghari had been killed in the strike and said he was a Hamas fighter.AFP journalists at the water station yesterday said the facility was in tatters, with concrete strewn about, electrical equipment torn apart and bloodstains on the ground.Workers were assessing the damage to the large pipes that transport water to Nuseirat’s residents.One resident, Ibrahim al-Hur, said: “We heard several explosions, and we were surprised that the explosions were right next to us, in the nearby water station.”“With just one missile, look what happened,” he said, pointing to the demolished wall of the station behind him.At the hospital, the mayor’s body was wrapped in a white sheet adorned with a high-visibility vest, before it was loaded onto an ambulance on a stretcher. The Nuseirat municipality said it mourned “its mayor, who chose to fulfil his duty with dedication and devotion to serve our people in Nuseirat until his last moments”.The Hamas-run government media office said in a statement Maghari was “sincere and devoted to his work, serving his people and homeland”.The war broke out after Hamas’ unprecedented October first week storming of Israel.Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,731 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.The violence has left much of Gaza in ruins, and an Israeli siege on the territory has led to dire shortages of clean water and other basic needs.

Plans by South Africa’s ANC to form a government of national unity after last week’s general election met a cool reception yesterday, with some potential partners reserving judgement or appearing hostile to the idea. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) won 40 percent of the vote - its lowest score ever - and for the first time since the advent of democracy in 1994 it needs the backing of other groups to govern.The new parliament is to meet in about 10 days and one of its first tasks will be to elect a president to form a new government. After marathon ANC talks on Thursday, Ramaphosa said the party had decided to try to band together with a broad group of opposition parties, ranging from the far right to the hard left.But Julius Malema, leader of the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), seemed unwilling to join hands with rivals holding radically different political views. “We can’t share power with the enemy,” Malema wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “You can’t dictate the way forward as if you have won elections. We are not desperate for anything, ours is a generational mission.”The ANC will have 159 members in the 400-seat National Assembly, down from 230 in 2019. Ramaphosa said negotiators already held talks with parties including EFF, the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA) and the anti-immigrant Patriotic Alliance (PA).The EFF, which secured 39 lawmakers supporting land redistribution and the nationalisation of key economic sectors, is ideologically at odds with the DA, which won 87 seats with a liberal, free-market agenda. Yet, analyst Sandile Swana noted the two parties have cooperated in the past and Malema’s outburst might be tactical. “To get anything out of negotiations you have to demand the maximum upfront. It’s a starting position,” he said.A broad coalition could work if it focused “on the technocratic aspects rather than the ideological aspects”, he added. South Africa has had a government of national unity before. The first democratic administration led by late anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela included the ANC and its bitter rivals the National Party and the IFP.Yesterday, the IFP, which won 17 seats last week, said that “in principle” it was not averse to a repeat.“However, the devil is in the details, which will become clearer in the coming days thus enabling the IFP to make a well-considered decision,” said spokesman Mkhuleko Hlengwa. PA spokesman Charles Cilliers similarly told AFP that the party, which won nine seats, retained “an open mind”. “We will consider the ANC’s proposal and then make a decision,” he said.Others, like the right-wing ActionSA party, had already said they had no interest in working with the ANC and would remain in opposition. The DA is yet to comment on the matter.

US President Joe Biden met Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris yesterday, apologized for congressional delays in approving the latest US aid package, and announced a fresh $225mn tranche on the sidelines of D-Day events.The meeting was their first face-to-face encounter since Zelensky visited Washington in December, when the two pressed Republicans to overcome opposition in their party to more support for Ukraine.They will meet again next week at a G7 summit in Italy, as rich Western nations discuss using Russian assets frozen after the Ukraine invasion to provide $50bn for Ukraine.Zelensky told Reuters last month that Western countries are taking too long to make decisions about aid.“You haven’t bowed down, you haven’t yielded at all, you continue to fight in a way that is...just remarkable,” Biden told the Ukrainian leader at the start of their meeting yesterday. “We’re not going to walk away from you.”Biden apologised to Zelensky for the delays before the last US aid package passed in Congress in April.He confirmed that he was signing an additional tranche of $225mn to help Ukraine reconstruct its electric grid.“I apologise for...those weeks of not knowing” what’s going to happen in terms of funding, the US president said. “Some of our very conservative members (of Congress) were holding it up. But we got it done, finally.”“We’re still in, completely, totally,” Biden said.Zelensky thanked Biden for US military, financial and humanitarian support.“It’s very important that you stay with us. This bipartisan support with the Congress, it’s very important that in this unity, United States of America, all American people stay with Ukraine, like it was during World War II, how United States helped to save human lives, to save Europe,” he said in English.In remarks in Normandy, France, on Thursday, Biden drew a link between the World War II battle against tyranny and Ukraine’s war with Russia, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a tyrant.Ukraine has struggled to defend the Kharkiv region after an offensive launched by Moscow on May 10 overran some villages.The new security package includes air defence interceptors, artillery systems and munitions, armoured vehicles, anti-tank weapons, and other capabilities, and will also help strengthen Ukraine’s air defences and reinforce Ukrainian capabilities across the front lines, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.Last week Biden shifted his position and decided Ukraine could launch US-supplied weapons at military targets inside Russia that are supporting the Kharkiv offensive.The United States is trying to catch up with Ukraine’s weaponry needs, deputy national security adviser Jon Finer said in Washington on Thursday.“If there were two things that we could provide an infinite number of to the Ukrainians to try to turn the tide in this war, it would be artillery munitions and air defence interceptors”, but the US lacked supply, Finer told a forum by the Centre for a New American Security.Outside the physical battlefield, the Russia-Ukraine war is “also a competition that takes place in our factories, the factories in Europe, the factories in Ukraine”, the official said.Reaching consensus on the frozen assets has been complicated, Daleep Singh, the US administration’s deputy national security adviser for international economics, told the same group.“We’re waist-deep in the sausage-making of trying to strike a deal,” said Singh, adding that he was heading back to Italy to continue the negotiations.Putin: Russia does not need to use nukes to beat Ukraine – Page 11

As two Philippine vessels meet on the high seas to transfer a sick Filipino soldier, China Coast Guard boats shadow, block and bump them, according to video released by the Philippine Coast Guard yesterday.The incident happened last month during the medical evacuation of a soldier who was stationed on a grounded Philippine Navy vessel, the BRP Sierra Madre, on Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea.The Philippine Coast Guard said they had deployed a boat on May 19 to retrieve the soldier from a Philippine Navy speedboat, and had informed the China Coast Guard of the “humanitarian nature” of their mission.In a series of videos released by the Philippine Coast Guard, a Chinese-flagged inflatable speedboat is seen bumping into the two stationary Philippine vessels as they prepare to transfer the patient.Other boats - identified by the Philippines as belonging to the China Coast Guard - are also seen shadowing and blocking the path of the Philippine Coast Guard boat.The Chinese boats “engaged in dangerous manoeuvres” and “intentionally rammed” the Philippine Navy vessel, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Jay Tarriela said in a statement.“The barbaric and inhumane behaviour displayed by the China Coast Guard has no place in our society,” Tarriela said.“What should have been a simple medical evacuation operation was subjected to harassment,” he said. “Their actions clearly demonstrated their intention to prevent the sick personnel from receiving the proper medical attention he urgently needed.” China’s foreign ministry said in response to the accusation it could “allow” the Philippines to deliver “necessary supplies” and evacuate personnel from the Sierra Madre if Beijing were notified in advance.“However, the Philippines should not use this as an excuse to ship construction materials to the deliberately grounded warship in an attempt to permanently occupy the Ren’ai Reef,” spokeswoman Mao Ning said, using China’s name for Second Thomas Shoal.Beijing claims almost the entire waterway and there has been a series of confrontations involving Chinese and Philippine vessels near contested reefs, often around Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.Second Thomas Shoal is about 200km from the western Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000km from China’s nearest major landmass, Hainan island.The Filipino soldier was eventually loaded onto the Philippine Coast Guard boat and taken to Palawan, where he received hospital treatment. The Philippines did not provide details of the soldier’s medical condition.Other videos released by the Philippines yesterday showed China Coast Guard vessels shadowing three Philippine Coast Guard speedboats carrying marine scientists from the University of the Philippines this week.The scientists were examining crushed coral found at two sandbars in Sabina Shoal, also in the Spratlys.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be sworn in at the weekend after securing a third term in office following an unexpectedly close election that forced his party to rely on coalition partners to keep him in power.Modi and his ministers will take the oath of office tomorrow evening, a statement from President Droupadi Murmu’s office said yesterday.Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled outright for the past decade but failed to repeat its previous two landslide wins this time around, defying analyst expectations and exit polls.He was instead forced into quick-fire talks with the 15-member National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition, which guaranteed him the parliamentary numbers to govern, although there are no indications yet of any concessions he may have had to offer in return.Modi presented signed letters of support showing his majority to President Murmu, who in turn invited him to form the next government.“I thank the people that they gave the NDA government a third chance to serve them,” Modi said yesterday evening.“This is the opportunity and will of the people and I thank them with my heart for this opportunity,” he said.Modi earlier addressed a meeting inside India’s parliament of nearly 300 lawmakers forming his coalition and thanked them for unanimously supporting his leadership.The meeting was a formality after the leaders of each party guaranteed their backing this week. It was also an opportunity to demonstrate the concord between Modi and his new partners in government.“Modi has a vision and a zeal, and his execution is perfect, and he is executing all his policies with a true spirit,” said Chandrababu Naidu, the leader of the premier’s largest coalition party ally.“Today India has the right leader for the right time - that is, Narendra Modi.”Other party leaders adorned Modi with a garland of purple flowers, while Nitish Kumar, another key supporter, bent to touch the 73-year-old’s feet in a traditional gesture of respect.

US President Joe Biden made an impassioned call yesterday for the defence of freedom and democracy at the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, urging Western powers to stay the course with Ukraine and not surrender to Russian tyranny.At a joint ceremony with French President Emmanuel Macron and US veterans at the Normandy American Cemetery, Biden said it is “simply unthinkable” to surrender to Russian aggression and he promised no let-up in support for Ukraine.He urged Western and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) allies to recapture the spirit of D-Day and work together at a time when he said democracy was under greater threat than at any time since the end of World War Two.“Isolationism was not the answer 80 years ago and is not the answer today,” Biden said in his speech.On June 6, 1944, more than 150,000 Allied soldiers invaded France by sea and air to drive out the forces of Nazi Germany, coming ashore at five beaches codenamed Omaha, Juno, Sword, Utah and Gold or dropping from the sky.With the numbers of veterans fast dwindling – many are aged 100 or more – this is likely to be the last major ceremony in Normandy honouring them in their presence.Biden said it was the highest honour to salute the assembled US veterans, some huddled in warm blankets, turning to tell them: “God love ya.”“The men who fought here became heroes,” he said. “They knew beyond any doubt there are things that are worth fighting and dying for.”Veterans, around 200 of whom were present, have been the stars of commemorations throughout the week.As veterans arrived at an international commemoration at Omaha Beach yesterday, world leaders applauded each of them as they were pushed past them on wheelchairs, some of them smiling proudly and saluting.Some leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, kneeled to be at the same level as the veterans in wheelchairs as they exchanged a few words.With war raging in Ukraine on Europe’s borders, the anniversary of this turning point in World War II carries special resonance.It also takes place in a year of many elections, including for the European Parliament this week and in the US in November.Critics fear former president Donald Trump, who will go head-to-head with Biden in the election, would reduce US support for Ukraine.Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska received an ovation when they arrived at the Omaha Beach ceremony as World War II bombers flew overhead.Zelensky hugged Macron and talked with many of the heads of state present.“Allies defended Europe’s freedom then, and Ukrainians do so now. Unity prevailed then, and true unity can prevail today,” Zelensky said on the social media platform X.Macron echoed Biden’s comments, also making a link between Ukraine and D-Day.“Thank you to the Ukrainian people for their courage, for their love of freedom. We are here and we will not weaken,” Macron said at Omaha beach to applause from other world leaders.Speaking at a British commemoration in Ver-sur-Mer earlier in the day, Britain’s King Charles, in full military uniform, also urged greater international collaboration to fight tyranny.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and many others also took part in the day of tributes.Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, touching off Europe’s biggest armed conflict since World War II, was not invited.In a speech, however, Macron paid tribute to the contribution of the Red Army and soldiers across the Soviet Union to the defeat of Nazi Germany.Leaders were set to adopt a declaration saying democracy was once more under threat in Europe and promising to defend freedom and democracy, two sources said.Thousands of service personnel from Britain, the United States, Canada and other nations were killed, as well as their German foes and thousands of civilians across Normandy.At the US ceremony in Colleville-sur-Mer, where row after row of white marble crosses – some with names, some unmarked – show the toll of the invasion, Macron awarded the Legion d’Honneur to US veterans, many sporting caps that read “WWII veteran”.“You are back here today at home, if I may say,” Macron told the 180 American World War II veterans, including 33 D-Day veterans, saying that France would not forget their sacrifice.Moving letters from some of them were read out at the British ceremony.“I want to pay my respects to those who didn’t make it. May they rest in peace,” veteran Joe Mines said, in words read by actor Martin Freeman. “I was 19 when I landed, but I was still a boy ... and I didn’t have any idea of war and killing.”

1. This is a journey that was taken by Prophets and Messengers before you. Those who take the path of the Prophets magnify the Tawheed of Allah and His House. There are those, however, who come to perform Haj and their hearts are attached to other than Allah. They invoke the dead and the righteous, whether present or absent. This is the opposite of Tawheed, it is Shirk no matter what they call it because it is setting up rivals besides Allah. So, free your intention from any kind of devotion to other than Allah. Repent and come with a sincere heart submitting to Allah remembering what Ibrahim and his son Isma’il said when they were raising the foundations of Allah’s House, the Ka’aba.“O our Rabb! Accept from us and make us submit to You in Islam and show us our Manaasik (all the rite of Haj) and accept our repentance.” – Qur’an 2:1282. You are set to depart and you may or may not return to your home. Make this journey to Allah’s House as Allah wants it. Think of the next journey that is surely coming, the one that leads to the meeting of Allah, Most High. This raises questions like: What did I prepare for that Day? Am I following Allah’s Commands? Am I a follower of the Sunnah of Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam? Do I really know of Allah? Am I a believer that Allah is above the seven heavens over His ‘arsh as He has stated in His Book and as His Messengers have asserted? Am I a believer that believes Allah has a true Face that suits His Majesty as He has affirmed in the Qur’an and as has been affirmed by His Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam? Am I believer in all of Allah’s Names, Attributes and Actions which He has affirmed in His Book and by His Messengers? Or do I just take and accept by my doubt, rejecting, or distorting (through what is called figurative interpretation of His Attributes) the meanings of Allah’s Attributes and Actions?And invoke not any other ilaah (god) along with Allah, la ilaaha ilaa huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), Everything will perish save His Face, His is the Decision, and to Him (all) shall be returned. – Qur’an 28:883. Know, may Allah’s Mercy upon you, that when you reach the Meeqaat there is another Meeqaat that is still to come. It is the Meeqaat (appointed meeting) on the Day of Resurrection:Say (O Muhammad): (Yes) verily, those of old, and those of later times. All will surely be gathered together for an appointed Meeting of a known Day. – Qur’an 56:49-504. When you start saying the Talbiyah remember the Command of Allah to Prophet Ibrahim:And proclaim to mankind the Haj. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from deep and distant (wide) mountain highways (to perform Haj). – Qur’an 22:27The Talbiyah you make is in response to Prophet Ibrahim’s proclamation to visit Allah’s house of worship. Allah is Most Great.5. Upon entering Makkah remember that you are in the Secure Sanctuary:Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary (Makkah), to which are brought fruits of all kinds, a provision from Ourselves, but most of them know not. – Qur’an 28:57Let one commit himself to repentance, having a good opinion of Allah, hoping that Allah will grant him security from His Punishment.6. You will enter one of the gates of Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. Then there you are before the magnificent House of Allah, Most High, the Ka’aba. Now you see what you hoped to see for a long time. Thank Allah for making this possible and hope that He will grant you the greatest reward of seeing His Majestic Face on the Day of Resurrection. This thankfulness is not just in saying “alhamdu-lillaah,” but also by obeying Allah while on Haj and for the rest of your life.7. You start your Tawaaf knowing that it is a great time for magnifying Allah the Exalted. Remember Him by His Names, Attributes and Actions. Also while in Tawaaf try to reflect upon the time when Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was prevented from doing the same thing you are doing today. Then think about what he did in clearing out the site from the symbols signifying worship to other than Allah! All idols were demolished. Busy yourself with du’aa. Ask Allah, the Most Great to make you hold to the correct belief and Path of the Salaf and make you die on it. Ask Allah to save you from all forms of Shirk and Bid’ah.8. While in Sa’yi, contemplate on Haajar, the mother of Isma’il, when she asked her husband Ibrahim: “Did Allah order you to do this (leaving her and her baby Isma’il in Makkah)? He said: “Yes.” Her great response was: “Then He (Allah) will not neglect us!” Think about this great dependence upon Allah when you are in the Sa’yi walking the same path which Haajar took in search for water and for the means of life around the mounts of Safa and Marwah. Think about her endurance, perseverance and truth in Allah. The Sa’yi exemplifies the strong belief that we are in need for the One Who Sustains and Provides – Allah, the Exalted.Think about Ibrahim’s invocation on his way to Palestine:O our Rabb! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley with no cultivation, by Your Sacred House (the Ka’aba at Makkah); in order, O our Rabb, that they may offer prayers perfectly, so fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks. – Qur’an 14:37Men and fruits came to Makkah from many places. Ibrahim returned to visit and later to share with his son Isma’il the noble task of raising the foundations of the Ka’aba.9. The standing on ‘Arafaat is the Haj. The crowds should remind you of the Day of Resurrection. Humble yourself to Allah, manifest your ‘Uboodiyyah to Him Alone through du’aa, sincere intention and strong determination to free yourself from the sins of the past and to build up a commitment to rush for doing what is good. Think of becoming a better person when you return. Rid yourself of false pride and showing off because it may ruin what you may gain on this day.10. You gathered the pebbles and you are about to embark on stoning the Jamaraat. This is an act of obedience and remembrance of Allah, Most Magnificent. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “When you cast the small pebbles (ie at the Jamaraat), it will be a light for you on the Day of Resurrection.”11. When performing the sacrifice remember that saying of Allah, the Most High:It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is your devotion that reaches him. – Qur’an 22:3712. When you have completed your Haj, do not think that the remembrance of Allah has ended. Listen to what Allah says:So when you have accomplished your Manaasik (ie the rites of Haj) remember Allah as you remember your forefathers or with a far more remembrance. – Qur’an 2:200Special note: If you go to Madinah then the objective of your visit should be according to the Sunnah and not Bid’ah. Your intention is to set on a journey to visit the Prophet’s mosque and not his grave. When you reach the mosque and you pray upon entering then you may go to the grave and say, “As-salaama ‘alayka ayyuhan-nabiyy.” The same salaam is also mentioned when you pass by Abu Bakr and ‘Umar without innovations like:a. Visiting the grave of the Prophet before praying in the mosque.b. Making du’aa facing the grave.c. Seeking nearness to Allah by means of the Prophet. This is a prohibited form of tawassul.d. Seeking intercession from the Prophet.e. Placing the hands upon the grills around the room containing the Prophet’s grave to seek blessings, etc.Remember the Prophet’s sayings: “Do not make my grave an ‘Eid (place of celebration)...“May Allah’s curse be on the Jews and Christians for taking the graves of their Prophets as places of worship.”“Those before you took the graves of their Prophets as places of worship. Do not take graves as places of worship for verily I forbid you to do so.”13. The Haj journey is not meant to gain any material reward. It is a selfless sacrifice solely for Allah, Most Majestic. It demands true love and fear of Him. It should be performed with full consciousness of one’s heart, with full humility and submission to Allah. It should not be thought of as a tourist-type excursion or be performed as mere physical rites. It develops sincerity, piety, humility, self-control, sacrifice, and true knowledge of the meaning of submission and obedience to Allah, Most High. It helps the pilgrim to be a better person who is devoted to Allah in every aspect of life.PRIOR TO HAJ AND/OR ‘UMRAH THE MUSLIM SHOULD:1. Purify his creed (‘Aqeedah) from any aspects of shirk, greater or lesser, as shirk destroys one’s deeds.2. Devote his Haj purely and sincerely for Allah.3. Sincerely repent for all of his sins.4. Acquire knowledge about Haj and its rites.5. Use Halaal (lawful) means to support this great journey, taking what he will require (ie not begging while on Haj to meet his needs).6. Record all of his debts and include them in his Islamic Will.7. Relieve himself from any kind of injustice which he may have inflicted upon others.8. Secure the needs of his family members whom he leaves home.9. Accompany the knowledgeable and righteous Muslims and stay away from the Mubtadi’ah (innovators in Deen).10. Perform Salaat on time and as prescribed during the journey and in the Haj period.11. Safeguard his tongue from backbiting, arguing, complaining.12. Keep his beard and not shave it for Haj or for any other reason, as this is prohibited.13. Remember that it is unlawful for men to wear gold (rings included).Note: The position of the scholars regarding visiting the grave sites by women can be summarised as follows:a. Disliked but not unlawfulb. Allowable, if done infrequently. If a woman is known as being unable to behave herself within the limits of Shariah at a grave site, then she should be prevented from visiting the graves.c. Forbidden, andd. A grave sinMany scholars state that women visiting the Prophet’s Mosque may pronounce their salaam upon the Prophet away from the grave site since it is confirmed by many Ahaadith that the salaam is related to the Prophet wherever the person may be. The Prophet is in a state of Barzakh ( a state of existence that begins with death and lasts until the Day of Resurrection) the nature of which is only known to Allah.Virtues of the first ten days of Dhul-HijjahBy Shaykh Abdullah Ibn Abdur-Rahman al-JibreenAll praise is due to Allah, and may He render our Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, safe from every derogatory thing, and exalt his mention, and the mention of his household and Companions.Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these 10 days.” The people (the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them) asked: “O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the path of Allah?” He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Not even Jihad in the path of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing (lost both his property and life).” [Al-Bukhari]In another version, Ibn Umar, radiallahu ‘anhumaa, reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: There are no days during which good deeds are greater or more beloved to Allah than these ten days. So recite more often the Tahleel (Laa Ilaaha Illallah) , Takbeer (Allahu Akbar), Tahmeed (Alhamdulillah). (Imam Ahmad)Jaabir reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: The best day is the Day of Arafah.Ten Kinds of Observances In These DaysFirst: Performing Haj and ‘Umrah, which are the best of all observances. Its excellence is signified by many Prophetic traditions. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: Performing ‘Umrah and following it with another expiates sins that are committed in between. And the perfect Haj would be requited with nothing other than Jannah. There are also many authentic traditions to that effect.Second: Observing fasting on all or some of these days, particularly on the Day of Arafah. There is no doubt that fasting is the best of observances; for it is one of the observances which Allah relates to Himself, according to the holy tradition (hadith Qudsi): Fasting is for Me, and I shall requite it. My slave relinquishes his desires, food, and drink for My sake.Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri, radiallahu ‘anhu, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: Any slave of Allah who observes fast of a day in the cause of Allah, Allah would separate between him and the Fire a distance of seventy years on account of observing that day. (Agreed upon).Abu Qataadah, radiallahu ‘anhu, narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: Observing fasting on the Day of Arafat; I expect Allah to expiate the sins that were committed during the preceding year, and the sins that will be committed in the year after. (Imam Muslim)Third: Reciting Takbeer, and Dhikr in these days according to the words of Allah, the Exalted: And mention the name of Allah in certain days. [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:203] These certain days are said to be the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Therefore, scholars recommend Dhikr more often during these days, according to a tradition which is reported by Ibn Umar, radiallahu ‘anhumaa: Therefore, recite more often, Tahleel, Takbeer, and Tahmeed.Ibn Umar and Abu Hurairah (radiallaahu ‘anhum) used to go out to the marketplaces during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and recite out loud the Takbeer and people would repeat it after them.Ishaaq (rahimahullah) reported that the jurists (rahimahumullah) used to recite during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah: “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa Ilaaha illallah, wallahu Akbar, wa lillaahil-hamd.” It is commended to recite them out loud in marketplaces, at homes, roads, mosques and elsewhere. According to the commands of Allah: That you may exalt Allah for having guided you, and that you may be grateful to Him. [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185]It is not permissible to recite the Takbeer in unison. That is, when a group of people recite the Takbeer in one voice, for it has never been reported that the Pious Predecessors did so. The proper way, according to the Sunnah, is that everyone recites the Takbeer individually. This applies to all supplications and Dhikr; unless one is ignorant, then someone may teach him and he recites after him. It is permissible to recite whatever forms of Takbeer, Tahmeed, and the rest of the legitimate supplications.Fourth: Repentance and relinquishing acts of disobedience and all sins, in order to acquire forgiveness and mercy. Acts of disobedience are means of banishing, while acts of obedience are means of gaining favour with Allah. Abu Hurairah, radiallahu ‘anhu, reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: Verily Allah feels jealous, and the jealousy of Allah is aroused when man violates what Allah prohibits. (Agreed upon)Fifth: Accomplishing more good deeds of voluntary observances, such as: salaat, charity, Jihad, Qur’anic recitation, enjoining the good and forbidding the wrong, and the like; for the rewards of such observances are multiplied during these days. Observances during these days are unsurpassed in excellence and they are better and more beloved to Allah than other excellent observances including Jihad, which is the best of deeds, unless one sacrifices both, his life and his steed.Sixth: It is legal during these days the recitation of the Takbeer in general at all times, day or night until ‘Eid prayer. The restricted Takbeer is that which is to be recited after the obligatory prayers. As for the non-pilgrims, the Takbeer begins from the Day of Arafah, and for pilgrims it begins from the noon prayer of the Day of Sacrifice and continues until Asr prayer of the last of the days of Tashreeq.Seventh: Offering the sacrificial animal during the day of sacrifice and the Days of Tashreeq. It is the Sunnah of our father Ibrahim, may Allah exalt his mention, in commemoration of the occasion when Allah ransomed Ibrahim’s son with a large ram. It has been authentically confirmed that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, sacrificed two black and white rams with horns. He killed them with his own hand, and invoked the name of Allah upon them, recited the Takbeer, and placed his foot on their sides, when he killed them. (Agreed upon.)Eighth: Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: When you see the new moon of Dhul-Hijjah, and one of you wants to sacrifice an animal let him refrain from cutting or shaving his hair or clipping his finger nails, or toenails. In another version: Let him not cut his hair or his fingernails until he has slaughtered his sacrificial animal. This perhaps is enjoined on non-pilgrims to have something in common with the pilgrims who bring along with them their sacrificial animals. Allah, the Exalted, says: And do not shave off your heads until the sacrificial animal is slaughtered. [Surah Al-Baqarah 197] This prohibition seems to apply only to a person who is making the offering, not his dependents, unless one of them has his own sacrificial animal. There is no harm in washing the head even if some hairs fall off.Ninth: The Muslim must make sure to observe Eid prayer in its designated place, and attend the Khutbah of the Eid. He should also know the purpose of the Eid, and that it’s a day of giving thanks and a chance for accomplishing good deeds. He should not turn it into a day of mischief, disobedience, or an excuse for violating the prohibited things; such as singing music, illegitimate amusements, consuming liquor, or the like. All of these things are detestable and nullify the good deeds that one may have accomplished during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.Tenth: After knowing all the above observances, every Muslim, male or female, must utilise these days in obedience to Allah, remembering Him, expressing gratefulness to him, fulfilling all the obligatory observances, avoiding the reprehensible things and taking advantage of this season to acquire His mercy and the pleasure. It Allah alone who grants success and guides to the right path.May He exalt the mention of Muhammad, and his household, and Companions, and may He render them safe from every derogatory thing.

It’s been a banner year for the major US stock indexes, but one economically sensitive corner of the market sticks out as a sore spot.The Dow Jones Transportation Average has fallen about 5% so far this year, a significant contrast with the 9% year-to-date rise for the benchmark S&P 500 and the 1% rise in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which topped 40,000 points for the first time this month.While major indexes including the S&P 500, the Nasdaq Composite and the Dow have all set new all-time highs this year, the Dow transports have yet to top their November 2021 record, and are some 12% below that level.Some investors said the struggles for the 20-stock transport index — which includes railroad operators, airlines, package shipping companies and trucking firms — could signal weakness in the economy or prevent the broader market from making significant further gains unless they bounce back.The Dow transports are “a barometer for future economic activity,” said Chuck Carlson, chief executive officer at Horizon Investment Services. “They may be indicating that while a recession isn’t imminent, that there is probably a slowdown in the economy that’s ahead here.” The weakness in the transports is an example of how gains in the tech-led S&P 500 — propelled by megacap stocks such as semiconductor giant Nvidia — may be overshadowing weaker performance in other corners of the economy following the Federal Reserve’s most aggressive monetary policy tightening in decades.Other areas that have struggled include small cap stocks, which some analysts believe are more sensitive to economic growth than large caps, as well as real estate shares and some high-profile consumer stocks such as Nike, McDonald’s and Starbucks.Data this week showed the US economy grew at a 1.3% annualised rate in the first quarter, down from the 3.4% fourth-quarter 2023 pace. A key test for the economy’s strength and for markets comes with the June 7 release of the monthly US jobs report.Among the Dow transports, the biggest year-to-date laggards are car rental company Avis Budget, off 37%, trucking firm JB Hunt Transport, down 21%, and American Airlines, off 17%.Shares of major package shipping companies UPS and FedEx, are down 13% and 1% respectively, while rails Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have both slumped about 7%. Only four of the 20 components have outperformed the S&P 500 so far this year.Matthew Miskin, co-chief investment strategist at John Hancock Investment Management, said it could be harder for the broader market to break significantly higher unless the transports pick up steam.“There is something to be said about the guts of the market not necessarily confirming all-time highs in the overall S&P 500,” Miskin said. “So softness in some of the transports, I think do warrant some caution.” Stocks have pulled back this week, with the S&P 500 down more than 2% from a record high set earlier in May, with rising bond yields causing concern about equity performance.Not all investors believe the transport index is reflective of the broader economy. The index is price-weighted, like the Dow industrials — as opposed to weighted by market value like many indexes — and includes only 20 stocks.Meanwhile, another group also considered to be an economic bellwether — semiconductors — has fared much better.The Philadelphia SE semiconductor index has gained 20% this year, as investors flock to Nvidia and other chip companies poised to capitalize on excitement over the business potential of artificial intelligence.The overall market trend remains bullish for Horizon’s Carlson, who tracks the Dow transports and Dow industrials together to determine market trends, known as “Dow Theory.” But the fact that the transports closed at their lowest point since November on Wednesday is worrisome, he said.

Daily life has become “apocalyptic” in parts of southern Gaza since Israel moved into the city of Rafah, though the situation in the north is improving, the UN’s food agency said yesterday.“The exodus that we’ve seen in the past 20 days or so out of Rafah has been an awesome and horrific experience for many, many people,” Matthew Hollingworth, the World Food Programme (WFP) director for the Palestinian territories.They have fled the fighting to areas where there was not enough water, healthcare or fuel, where food was limited, telecommunications had stopped and there was not enough space to dig pit latrines, Hollingworth told an online briefing.The public health situation was “beyond crisis levels”, he said, adding: “The sounds and smells of everyday life are horrific and apocalyptic.” People “sleep to the sounds of war...and they wake to the same sounds”, he said.The WFP was able to provide “ever decreasing amounts of assistance”, with all of its bakeries in Rafah closed due to a lack of fuel and supplies, he said.From May 7 — when Israeli tanks and troops entered Rafah’s east — to May 20, “not a single WFP truck crossed from the southern corridors from Egypt”, Hollingworth said.The WFP also lost access to its main warehouse in the south of the Gaza Strip because it was in an evacuation zone, with 2,700 tonnes of food either looted or destroyed in fighting.Hollingworth said the WFP was serving around 27,000 people with hot meals in Rafah — “but that’s not enough”.In central areas of the Gaza Strip, where many people fled, the WFP is providing around 400,000 hot meals a day, and has kept six bakeries functioning.Commercial food is also getting in, he said, but many people have no money, with some even resorting to trading their identity cards — which they need if they want to register for aid. Hollingworth said aid trucks from Egypt had begun entering the Gaza Strip through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing.“Since May 20, we have started to get a trickle of assistance in,” he said, though he warned the security situation was still slowing down the deliveries.“That has to turn into a flood of assistance if we’re going to ensure we don’t start seeing the most acute forms of hunger becoming more common,” he said.In the north of the Palestinian territory, by contrast, where UN agencies warned of imminent famine in March, Hollingworth said the situation was improving.With the opening of crossings, around 12,000 tonnes of inter-agency assistance, mostly food, had been delivered since May 1.“There has been a step change in terms of availability of food,” he said, though problems of healthcare, clean water supply and sewage remained.The US has built a temporary pier into Gaza, but it was damaged in poor weather, suspending deliveries.During the two weeks it was open, about 1,000 tonnes of inter-agency aid moved through the pier, Hollingworth said.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his government is doing everything to avoid famine in Gaza, and noted a study saying that calorie consumption in the territory was 3,200 a day — more than enough.“I have not seen anybody, aid workers alike who live off protein bars, eat 3,000 calories or more in Gaza,” Hollingworth said.The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’s October first week storming of southern Israel.Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,284 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

Yemen’s Houthis threatened yesterday to escalate attacks on Red Sea shipping after overnight strikes by the United States and Britain that the fighters said killed 16 people.The toll announced by the Houthis, which AFP could not independently verify, would make the strikes some of the deadliest since the US and Britain launched their campaign in January against disruption of the vital trade route.The rebels, who control much of Yemen, have carried out scores of drone and missile attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November, citing solidarity with Palestinians over the Israel-Hamas war.The US military’s Central Command (Centcom), said 13 Houthi facilities were targeted in the latest strikes.“The American-British aggression will not prevent us from continuing our military operations,” Houthi official Mohamed al-Bukhaiti said on X, vowing to “meet escalation with escalation”.AFP journalists heard explosions in the capital Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah overnight from Thursday to yesterday.Strikes also targeted telecoms infrastructure in the city of Taez, the rebels said.In a statement on X, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said 16 people were killed and more than 40 wounded in Hodeidah alone, including an unspecified number of civilians.In response, the rebels launched a missile attack on US aircraft carrier the USS Dwight D Eisenhower in the Red Sea, Saree said, an operation that Washington has yet to confirm.The Houthis “will not hesitate to respond directly and immediately to every new aggression on Yemeni territories”, Saree said.At a demonstration in Sanaa, Hussein Ali, a resident of the rebel-held capital, was also defiant.“No matter how much they bomb us, this won’t stop us at all,” he said. “Even if they destroy the houses on top of us, we won’t back down from the Palestinian issue.” Yemen’s Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah television broadcast a video showing bloodied men wounded in a purported strike on a building housing a radio station in Hodeidah.The channel showed victims receiving treatment at a hospital, although AFP could not independently verify the authenticity of the images.A hospital employee in Hodeidah said many fighters were among those killed and wounded in the attack, but was unable to give exact figures.The British defence ministry said its warplanes launched strikes in “a joint operation with US forces against Houthi military facilities”.The ministry said intelligence indicated two sites near Hodeidah were involved in the attacks on shipping, “with a number of buildings identified as housing drone ground control facilities and providing storage for very long range drones, as well as surface to air weapons”.

Australia, Britain, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore have agreed to stage more complex military drills in the region this year involving drones, fifth-generation fighter planes and surveillance aircraft.The announcement yesterday by defence ministers from members of the 53-year old Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue defence meeting in Singapore comes as the tempo of military exercises in Asia increases along with tensions between global powers.“We are increasing the assets that we are bringing to bear in exercises so (at) Bersama Lima later this year, for the first time, Australia will be contributing F-35 Joint Strike Fighters,” said Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles.Bersama Lima, “Five Together” in the Malay language, is an annual military exercise held by the five powers. It was held last year in Malaysia.Marles said running more complicated exercises were an example of increasing ambition in the agenda of the FPDA.New Zealand’s Defence Minister Judith Collins said a P-8 Poseidon would be deployed to Singapore for the first time as part of the drills.The P-8 aircraft is the premier US submarine hunter-tracker and is increasingly deployed in the region against China’s submarine patrols.Singapore is close to important submarine channels in Indonesia linking the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.Marles said the FPDA was “not about China” but rather about “our desire to work closely together”. Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said this year’s exercises would involve drones, among other “non-conventional” elements.British representative Paul Wyatt, director general for security policy, said Britain planned sending an aircraft carrier to the region in 2025 and had discussed how the tour might fit with the FPDA’s exercise programme.

Soaring temperatures in India’s capital have proven to be too much for some courts and are putting to the test a law in place since 1961 that requires lawyers to wear heavy black robes and coats.At least three High Courts have permitted lawyers to discard the robes and coats for the summer, although the Supreme Court is being urged to make it a general rule for all lawyers in the country.Judges at one New Delhi court postponed a case this week until later in the year, complaining about a lack of air conditioning and water supply.While India’s Supreme Court and most high courts have air conditioning, many lower courts and consumer forums depend on fans and have poor ventilation.New Delhi recorded temperatures of around 50C for the first time this week, forcing authorities to restrict water supply, shut schools and set up heatstroke units at hospitals.They have also deployed paramedics to polling stations for the final day of India’s massive general election today in case any voters fall ill as they queue in the heat. A 40-year-old labourer died of heat stroke on Wednesday.The northwest of India has been experiencing high temperatures for several weeks. India’s meteorological department has predicted two or three times the usual number of heat wave days in the region this month, or days defined by abnormally hot weather.For Delhi, that means sweltering temperatures that are effecting people across the city, including its legal system.At a consumer court in the southwestern district of Dwarka, judges presided over cases against insurance companies in a courtroom fitted with two non-functioning air conditioners. Ceiling fans and open windows offered the only respite from the weather.Three of the court’s judges issued a written order this week stating they had declined to hear a case due to high temperatures in the court room. They adjourned the case for the cooler month of November.“There is neither air conditioner nor cooler in the court room... There is too much heat. In these circumstances, arguments cannot be heard,” the order said.In 2021, India’s then chief justice said courts “still operate from dilapidated structures without proper facilities”, which was “severely detrimental” for both litigants and lawyers.

Teams of robots jostled on a miniature artificial soccer pitch as androids answered trivia questions and took jabs at human ignorance yesterday at an artificial intelligence (AI) summit on the technology’s wide-ranging uses.Organisers said the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva showed the ways the technology could improve and even transform lives.“Sometimes we think about AI as just something big,” said Tomas Lamanauskas, deputy secretary-general of the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which staged the event. “At the same time AI can be embedded in so many more things in everyday life ... whether it’s for flood forecasting, disaster management and early-warning systems, in agriculture, in health. It’s across the board.”Displays showed off prosthetic limbs that could learn from a user’s behaviour and adapt to muscle activity, devices to help visually impaired people avoid obstacles in the street and bionic cats and dogs built to act as companions.The football-playing robots were the work of a group of students from the university of ETH Zurich.The team kicked, passed and kept track of the ball based on input from sensors.“The project allows our undergraduate and graduate students to collect experience on a full robotic platform,” Jan-Nico Zaech, the project’s scientific supervisor, said. “It’s a platform to test algorithms that can run in the real world afterwards.”Meanwhile, a top UN official warned that humanity is in a race against time to harness the colossal emerging power of AI for the good of all, while averting dire risks.“We’ve let the genie out of the bottle,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin.“We are in a race against time,” she told the opening of a two-day AI for Good Global Summit. “Recent developments in AI have been nothing short of extraordinary.”The thousands gathered at the conference heard how advances in generative AI are already speeding up efforts to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems, such as climate change, hunger and social care.“I believe we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to guide AI to benefit all the world’s people,” Bogdan-Martin told AFP ahead of the summit.However, she lamented that one-third of humanity still remains completely offline, and is “excluded from the AI revolution without a voice”.“This digital and technological divide is no longer acceptable.”Bogdan-Martin highlighted that AI holds “immense potential for both good and bad”, stressing that it was vital to “make AI systems safe”.She said that was especially important given that “2024 is the biggest election year in history”, with votes in dozens of countries, including in the United States.She flagged the “rise of sophisticated deep fakes disinformation campaigns” and warned that the “misuse of AI threaten democracy (and) also endangers young people’s mental health and compromises cybersecurity”.Other experts at the conference agreed.“We have to understand what we’re steering towards,” said Tristan Harris, a technology ethicist who co-founded the Centre for Humane Technology.He pointed to lessons from social media – initially touted as a way to connect people and give everyone a voice, but which also brought addiction, viral misinformation, online harassment and ballooning mental health issues.Harris warned the incentive driving the companies rolling out the technology risked dramatically swelling such negative impacts.“The number one thing that is driving Open AI or Google behaviour is the race to actually achieve market dominance,” he said.In such a world, he said, “governance that moves at the speed of technology” is vital.Azeem Azhar, founder of Exponential View, also stressed the need for a more robust institutional response.“This is a technology that tends to winner-take all, and the rewards are so high that there is quite the unseemly landgrab going on at the moment,” he told the gathering. – Reuters/AFP

More than two months of gruelling and acrimonious campaigning in India’s general election that played out in sweltering heat ended yesterday, two days before the final phase of polling, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency will cast its votes.India began voting in seven phases in the world’s largest election on April 19 and it is set to conclude on June 1. Votes will be counted on June 4 although television channels conduct exit polls and project results after voting ends.Modi, who is seeking a record-equalling third straight term and is widely expected to win, began his re-election campaign by focusing on his achievements over the last 10 years but soon switched to mostly targeting the opposition by accusing them of favouring India’s minority Muslims.This change of tack, analysts said, was likely aimed at firing up his Hindu nationalist base after a low turnout in the first phase sparked concerns that supporters of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were not voting.India’s election rules stop campaigning about 36 hours before voting begins.Modi addressed one rally in the northern state of Punjab yesterday, while his main opponent, the Congress party’s Rahul Gandhi, spoke at rallies in the states of Odisha and Punjab.“It is clear from the overwhelming support of people ... that there is going to be an unprecedented victory” for BJP and the alliance it leads, Modi posted on X minutes before campaigning ended. Modi will spend the next two days meditating at the southernmost tip of India at an island memorial for Hindu philosopher Swami Vivekananda, located at where the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean converge.Opposition parties criticised his decision, saying it was a form of campaigning as his meditation would be shown on TV and so was in breach of the rules, with the Congress complaining to the Election Commission.“This is a blatant violation of the code of conduct. We don’t mind if he goes to meditate anywhere after June 1,” Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said.Modi meditated at a cave in the Himalayas two days before the last phase of voting in 2019, an election BJP won resoundingly.

Allah prescribed Haj once in a lifetime upon the Muslims who have the means and are physically able to perform it. There are three types of Haj: Haj at-Tamatt’u, Haj al-Qiran and Haj al-Ifrad. In this article, we will explain the procedure for Haj at-Tamatt’u as it is the most recommended one. In this type, one is to perform ‘Umrah and Haj in the same year with a sacrifice slaughtered in Mina. These are the steps for Haj at-Tamatt’u:Ihram: Ihram is the intention of the person willing to perform all rites of ‘Umrah, Haj or both when he arrives at the Meeqat. Each direction coming into Makkah has its own Meeqat. It is recommended that the one who intends to perform Haj makes Ghusl (a complete bath with the intention to purify one’s self), perfumes his body, but not in his garments, and puts on a two-piece garment with no headgear. The garments should be of seamless cloth. One piece to cover the upper part of the body, and the second to cover the lower part. For a woman the Ihram is her normal dress except that she should not use perfumes at all and her dress should cover the whole body decently, leaving the hands and the face uncovered.The pilgrim should say the intention according to the type of Haj. For Haj at-Tamatt’u one should say:“Labbayka Allahumma bi ’Umrah” which means “O Allah I answered Your call to perform ‘Umrah”.It is recommended to repeat the well known supplication of Haj, called the Talbiyah, as frequently as possible from the time of Ihram till the time of the first stoning of Jamrat Al-Aqabah in Mina. Men are recommended to utter the Talbiyah aloud while women are to say it quietly. The Talbiyah is:“Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk. Labbayka La Shareeka Laka Labbayk. Inna-alhamda Wan-n’imata Laka Wal Mulk. La Shareeka Lak.”(Here I am at Your service. O my Lord, here I am. Here I am. No partner do You have. Here I am. Truly, the praise and the provisions are Yours, and so is the dominion. No partner do You have.”Performing ‘UmrahTawaf: When a Muslim arrives in Makkah, he should perform Tawaf around the Ka’aba, as a gesture of greeting Al-Masjid Al-Haram. This is done by circling the Ka’aba seven times in the counterclockwise direction, starting from the Black Stone with Takbeer, keeping the Ka’aba to one’s left. Then the pilgrim goes to Maqam Ibrahim (Ibrahim’s Station), and performs two rak’ah behind it, near to it if possible, but away from the path of the people making Tawaf. In all cases one should be facing the Ka’aba when praying behind Maqam Ibrahim.Sa’i: The next rite is to make Sa’i between Safa and Marwah. The pilgrim starts Sa’i by ascending the Safa. While facing the Ka’aba he praises Allah, raises his hands and recites the Takbeer “Allah-u Akbar” three times, then makes supplication to Allah. Then the pilgrim descends from the Safa and heads towards the Marwah. One should increase the pace between the clearly marked green signposts, but should walk at normal pace before and after them. When the pilgrim reaches the Marwah, he should ascend it, praise Allah and do as he did at the Safa. This is considered one round and so is the other from the Marwah to the Safa. A total of seven rounds are required to perform the Sa’i. After Sa’i, the Muslim ends his ‘Umrah rites by shaving his head or trimming his hair short all over the head (women should cut a fingertip’s length from their hair). At this stage, the prohibitions pertaining to the state of Ihram are lifted and one can resume his normal life.Although it is recommended to recite the supplications that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to say during the performance of these rites, there are no required formulas or supplications for Tawaf or for Sa’i. It is up to the worshipper to praise Allah or to supplicate Him with any acceptable supplication or to recite portions of the Qur’an. It must be noted that ‘Umrah can be performed by itself as described above at any time of the year.Performing HajGoing to Mina: A pilgrim performing Haj at-Tamatt’u should make the intention for Ihram, from the place where he is staying, on the 8th day of Dhul-Hijjah, which is the Tarweyah Day, and leave for Mina in the morning. In Mina, the pilgrims pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha of the 8th day of Dhul-Hijjah and Fajr of the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah. Dhuhr, Asr and Isha are each shortened to two rak’ah only, but are not combined. The pilgrim remains in Mina until sunrise of the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah and leaves for ‘Arafat.Departure to ‘Arafat: On the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah, the Day of ‘Arafat, the pilgrims stay in ‘Arafat until sunset. The pilgrims pray Dhuhr and Asr at ‘Arafat, shortened and combined during the time of Dhuhr to save the rest of the day for glorifying Allah and supplication asking forgiveness. A pilgrim should make sure that he is within the boundaries of ‘Arafat, not necessarily standing on the mountain of ‘Arafat. The Prophet said: “I stood here on this rocky hill and all ‘Arafat is a standing place.” (Muslim). One should keep reciting the Talbiyah, glorifying Allah the Greatest and repeating supplication. It is also reported that the Prophet used to say the following supplication: “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, the One without a partner. The dominion and praise are His and He is powerful over everything.”In the vast square plain of ‘Arafat, tears are shed, sins are washed and faults are redressed for those who ask Allah for forgiveness and offer sincere repentance for their wrongdoings in the past. Happy is the person who receives the Mercy and Pleasure of Allah on this day.Departure from ‘Arafat: Soon after sunset on the Day of ‘Arafat, the pilgrims leave for Muzdalifah quietly and reverently in compliance with the advice of the Prophet who said when he noticed people walking without calmness: “O people! Be quiet, hastening is not a sign of righteousness.” (Bukhari)In order to follow the example of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) it is preferable to keep reciting the Talbiyah, glorifying Allah the Greatest and mentioning the names of Allah until the time of stoning Jamrat Al-Aqabah (a stone pillar in Mina). In Muzdalifah, the pilgrim perform Maghrib and Isha prayers combined, shortening the Isha prayer to two rak’ah. Pilgrims stay overnight in Muzdalifah to perform Fajr prayers and wait until the brightness of the morning is widespread before they leave for Mina passing through the sacred Mash’ar valley.Women and weak individuals are allowed to proceed to Mina at any time after midnight to avoid the crowd.Stoning Jamrat Al-Aqabah: When the pilgrims arrive at Mina, they go to Jamrat Al-Aqabah where they stone it with seven pebbles glorifying Allah “Allah-u Akbar” at each throw and calling on Him to accept their Haj. The time of stoning Jamrat Al-Aqabah is after sunrise. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) threw the pebbles late in the morning and permitted weak people to stone after leaving Muzdalifah after midnight. The size of the pebbles should not be more than that of a bean as described by the Prophet who warned against exaggeration. The pebbles can be picked up on the way to Mina from Muzdalifah or in Mina.Slaughter of Sacrifice: After stoning Jamrat Al-Aqabah, the pilgrim goes to slaughter his sacrifice either personally or through the appointment of someone else to do it on his behalf. A pilgrim should slaughter either a sheep, or share a cow or a camel with six others.Shaving the head or trimming the hair: The final rite on the 10th day after offering his sacrifice is to shave one’s head or to cut short all of the hair. Shaving the head is, however, preferable for it was reported that the Prophet prayed three times for those who shave their heads, when he said: “May Allah’s Mercy be upon those who shaved their heads.” For women, the length of hair to be cut is that of a fingertip. The stoning of Jamrat Al-Aqabah and the shaving of head or trimming of hair symbolises the end of the first phase of the state of Ihram and the lifting of its restrictions except for sexual intercourse with one’s spouse.Stoning of Jamrat Al-Aqabah, slaughtering the sacrifice and shaving the head or cutting part of the hair are preferred to be in this order, as it is the order that the Prophet did them. However, if they are done in any other order, there is no harm in that.Tawaf Al-Ifadhah: Tawaf Al-Ifadhah is a fundamental rite of Haj. The pilgrim makes Tawaf Al-Ifadhah by visiting Al-Masjid Al-Haram and circling the Ka’aba seven times and praying two Rak’ah behind Maqam Ibrahim. Then the pilgrim should make Sa’i between the Safa and the Marwah. After Tawaf Al-Ifadhah the state of Ihram is completely ended and all restrictions are lifted including intercourse with one’s spouse. Tawaf al-Ifadhah can be delayed until the days spent at Mina are over.Return to Mina: The pilgrim should return to Mina and spend there the days of Tashreeq (ie the 11th, 12th and 13th day of Dhul-Hijjah). During each day, and after Dhuhr prayer, the pilgrim stones the three stone pillars called “Jamarat”: the small, the medium and Jamrat Al-Aqabah, saying “Allah-u Akbar” with each throw of the seven pebbles stoned at each pillar. These pebbles are picked up in Mina. A pilgrim may leave Mina for Makkah on the 13th or on the 12th if he wishes, there is no blame on him if he chooses the latter, but he has to leave before sunset.Farewell Tawaf: Farewell Tawaf is the final rite of Haj. It is to make another Tawaf around the Ka’aba. Ibn Abbas said: “The people were ordered to perform the Tawaf around the Ka’aba as the last thing before leaving Makkah, except the menstruating women who were excused.” (Bukhari)Those are the rites of Haj. They should be performed in the way prescribed by the Qur’an and Sunnah with no addition or subtraction. But they should also be performed with consciousness and not just as mere mechanical gestures.A history of HajHaj literally means ‘to set out for a place’. Islamically, however, it refers to the annual pilgrimage that Muslims make to Makkah with the intention of performing certain religious rites in accordance with the method prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). Haj and its rites were first ordained by Allah in the time of the Prophet lbrahim [Abraham] (‘alaihi-s-salaam) and he was the one who was entrusted by Allah to build the Ka’aba – the House of Allah – along with his son Ismaa’eel [Ishmael] at Makkah. Allah described the Ka’aba and its building as follows:“And remember when We showed Ibrahim the site of the [Sacred] House [saying]: Associate not anything [in worship with Me and purify My House for those who circumambulate it [i.e. perform Tawaaf] and those who stand up for prayer and those who bow down and make prostration [in prayer, etc.].” (Surah al-Haj 22:26) After building the Ka’aba, Ibrahim would come to Makkah to perform Haj every year, and after his death, this practice was continued by his son. However, gradually with the passage of time, both the form and the goal of the Haj rites were changed. As idolatry spread throughout Arabia, the Ka’aba lost its purity and idols were placed inside it. Its walls became covered with poems and paintings, including one of Jesus and his mother Maryam and eventually over 360 idols came to be placed around the Ka’aba. During the Haj period itself, the atmosphere around the sacred precincts of the Ka’aba was like a circus. Men and women would go round the Ka’aba naked, arguing that they should present themselves before Allah in the same condition they were born. Their prayer became devoid of all sincere remembrance of Allah and was instead reduced to a series of hand clapping, whistling and the blowing of horns. Even the talbiyyah* was distorted by them with the following additions: ‘No one is Your partner except one who is permitted by you. You are his Master and the Master of what he possesses’. Sacrifices were also made in the name of God. However, the blood of the sacrificed animals was poured onto the walls of the Ka’aba and the flesh was hung from pillars around the Ka’aba, in the belief that Allah demanded the flesh and blood of these animals. Singing, drinking, adultery and other acts of immorality were rife amongst the pilgrims and the poetry competitions, which were held, were a major part of the whole Haj event. In these competitions, poets would praise the bravery and splendour of their own tribesmen and tell exaggerated tales of the cowardice and miserliness of other tribes. Competitions in generosity were also staged where the chief of each tribe would set up huge cauldrons and feed the pilgrims, only so that they could become well-known for their extreme generosity. Thus the people had totally abandoned the teachings of their forefather and leader Ibrahim. The House that he had made pure for the worship of Allah alone, had been totally desecrated by the pagans and the rites which he had established were completely distorted by them. This sad state of affairs continued for nearly two and a half thousand years. But then after this long period, the time came for the supplication of Ibrahim to be answered:“Our Lord! Send amongst them a Messenger of their own, who shall recite unto them your aayaat (verses) and instruct them in the book and the Wisdom and sanctify them. Verily you are the ‘Azeezul-Hakeem [the All-Mighty, the All-Wise].” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:129)Sure enough, a man named Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullaah (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was born in the very city that Ibrahim had made this supplication centuries earlier. For 23 years, the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) spread the message of Tawheed [true monotheism] – the same message that Ibrahim and all the other Prophets came with – and established the law of Allah upon the land. He expended every effort into making the word of Allah supreme and his victory over falsehood culminated in the smashing of the idols inside the Ka’aba which once again became the universal centre for the worshippers of the one True God. Not only did the Prophet rid the Ka’aba of all its impurities, but he also reinstated all the rites of Haj which were established by Allah’s Permission, in the time of Ibrahim. Specific injunctions in the Qur’an were revealed in order to eliminate all the false rites which had become rampant in the pre-Islamic period. All indecent and shameful acts were strictly banned in Allah’s statement:“There is to be no lewdness nor wrangles during Haj.” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:197)Competitions among poets in the exaltations of their forefathers and their tribesmen’s’ achievements were all stopped. Instead, Allah told them:“And when you have completed your rites [of Haj] then remember Allah as you remember your forefathers; nay with a more vigorous remembrance.” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:200) Competitions in generosity were also prohibited. Of course, the feeding of the poor pilgrims was still encouraged as this was done in the time of Ibrahim but Allah commanded that the slaughtering of the animals which was done for this purpose should be done seeking the pleasure of Allah rather than fame and the praise of the people. He said:“So mention the name of Allah over these animals when they are drawn up in lines. Then, when they are drawn on their sides [after the slaughter], eat thereof and feed the beggar who does not ask, and the beggar who asks.” (Surah al-Haj 22:36)As for the deplorable practice of spattering blood of the sacrificed animals on the walls of the Ka’aba and hanging their flesh on altars, then Allah clearly informed them that:“It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is Taqwaa (piety) from you that reaches Him.” (Surah al-Haj 22:37)The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) also put a stop to the practice of circling the Ka’aba in a state of nudity and the argument that the pagans put forward to justify this ritual was sharply rebutted in Allah’s question:“Say: Who has forbidden the adornment [i.e. clothes] given by Allah which He has produced for His Slaves?” (Surah al-A’raaf 7:32)Another custom which was prohibited through the Qur’an was that of setting off for Haj without taking any provisions for the journey. In the pre-Islamic period, some people who claimed to be mutawakkiloon (those having complete trust in Allah) would travel to perform Haj begging food the whole journey. They considered this form of behaviour a sign of piety and an indication of how much faith they had in Allah. However Allah told mankind that to have sufficient provisions for the journey was one of the preconditions for making Haj. He said:“And take a provision [with you] for the journey, but the best provision is at-Taqwaa (piety).” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:197)In this way, all the pre-Islamic practices, which were based in ignorance, were abolished and Haj was once more made a model of piety, fear of Allah, purity, simplicity and austerity. Now, when the pilgrims reached the Ka’aba, they no longer found the carnivals and the frolic and frivolity that had once occupied the minds of the pilgrims there before. Now, there was the remembrance of Allah at every step and every action and every sacrifice was devoted to Him alone. It was this kind of Haj that was worthy of the reward of paradise, as the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “The reward for an accepted Haj is nothing less than paradise.” [Saheeh al-Bukhari] May Allah grant us all the ability to visit His House and perform the Haj in the manner of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).

The world’s first wooden satellite has been built by Japanese researchers who said their tiny cuboid craft will be blasted off on a SpaceX rocket in September.Each side of the experimental satellite developed by scientists at Kyoto University and logging company Sumitomo Forestry measures just 10cm.The creators expect the wooden material will burn up completely when the device re-enters the atmosphere — potentially providing a way to avoid the generation of metal particles when a retired satellite returns to Earth.These metal particles could have a negative impact on the environment and telecommunications, the developers said as they announced the satellite’s completion on Tuesday.“Satellites that are not made of metal should become mainstream,” Takao Doi, an astronaut and special professor at Kyoto University, told a press conference.The developers plan to hand the satellite, made from magnolia wood and named LignoSat, to space agency JAXA next week.It will be sent into space on a SpaceX rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in September, bound for the International Space Station (ISS), they said.From there, the satellite will be released from the Japanese ISS experiment module to test its strength and durability.“Data will be sent from the satellite to researchers who can check for signs of strain and whether the satellite can withstand huge changes in temperature,” a Sumitomo Forestry spokeswoman told AFP yesterday.Also on Tuesday, a rocket carrying a separate sophisticated satellite — a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and JAXA — blasted off from California on a mission to investigate what role clouds could play in the fight against climate change.The EarthCARE satellite will orbit nearly 400km above Earth for three years.

China is to send giant pandas to Washington’s National Zoo, US First Lady Jill Biden and officials said yesterday, in a surprise announcement signalling a new era of panda diplomacy between the superpowers.Bao Li and Qing Bao will arrive in the United States before the end of the year under a decade-long breeding and research agreement, the zoo said in a statement celebrating the return of animals “beloved around the nation and the world.”“We are excited for children near and far to once again enjoy the giant pandas’ adorable and joyful adventures at our @NationalZoo,” the first lady posted on X.Amid soaring tensions between Washington and Beijing, only a handful of the iconic black and white bears remain in the United States, with three having left the national zoo in Washington six months ago.But President Xi Jinping said after meeting President Joe Biden at a summit in California last November that China could send new pandas as “envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American people.”The White House said it would be happy to have more bamboo-chewing bears.“We’re thrilled to announce the next chapter of our breeding and conservation partnership begins by welcoming two new bears, including a descendent of our beloved panda family, to Washington, DC,” said Brandie Smith of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.“This historic moment is proof positive our collaboration with Chinese colleagues has made an irrefutable impact.”China has been using so-called “panda diplomacy” since 1972, when the first animals were sent to the United States as a gift, following then-president Richard Nixon’s historic visit to the Communist nation.Strained relations between the rival superpowers in recent years have led Beijing to call some of the pandas back home. All three giant pandas at Washington’s zoo — Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, who arrived in 2000, and their three-year-old cub Xiao Qi Ji (“Little Miracle” in English) — flew back on a cargo plane to China in November last year.The last remaining US-based pandas, at a zoo in the southern city of Atlanta, are due to return to China later this year, although the Asian giant announced plans in February to send a pair to the San Diego Zoo.The Washington arrivals, both two years old, were born within a month of each other at a conservation centre in the southwestern province of Sichuan. Both still live in the province, in separate facilities.

South African voters queued — many of them for hours — to cast their ballots yesterday in a landmark general election that leaves the ruling ANC fighting to protect its three-decade-long exclusive grip on power.More than 27mn voters are registered for the most uncertain poll since the African National Congress (ANC) led the nation out of apartheid rule, but with voting delayed in many districts, some were forced to wait.With opposition challenges from both the left and right, unemployment and crime at near record levels and a new generation growing up with no memory of the struggle against white-minority rule, the ruling party may lose its absolute majority and be forced to share power.The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said it projected turnout to go “well beyond” the 66 percent recorded in the last election in 2019.“We are experiencing a late surge and are processing a large number of voters” in big cities, IEC’s head Sy Mamabolo told a press conference.Thousands of South Africans were still waiting in hours-long queues outside polling stations after nightfall, just over an hour away from their planned closure.All those who joined the line before closing time would be allowed to vote, Mamabolo said.Earlier the IEC said seven percent of stations opened late because of delays in delivering election materials.After voting, President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is seeking re-election, said: “I have no doubt whatsoever in my heart of hearts that the people will once again invest confidence in the ANC to continue leading this country.”But John Steenhuisen, leader of the biggest opposition party the Democratic Alliance (DA), predicted no single party would win an outright majority, creating an opening for his party and an alliance of smaller outfits.“For the first time in 30 years, there’s an opportunity for change in South Africa”, he said after voting in his home city, Durban.In Soweto, the president’s hometown and unofficial capital of the anti-apartheid battle, elderly ANC loyalists turned out early but, as the queues lengthened, there were signs of disillusionment among younger voters.Kqomotso Mtumba, a 44-year-old bank official, sporting burgundy and black beaded braids, said she voted ANC in the past but had now chosen an “upcoming party” whose manifesto had impressed her. “The last party I voted for, their promises didn’t work out so I’ll be trying this one,” she said.In the eastern city of Durban, accountant and first time voter 25-year-old Sibahle Vilakazi, said she had abandoned the long queue at her polling station three times already but was now back and determined to stick it out.“We’re honestly in need of change in this country and I think that is why the queues are so long,” she said. “I’m not giving up, we need to see the change.”Voters will choose the 400 members of the National Assembly who in the coming weeks will then choose a president from among their number.For the first time since the advent of democracy in 1994, the ANC could be forced to negotiate a coalition to remain in government.“South Africa’s general election is a watershed moment in the political history of the country,” said Aleix Montana, an analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft. Under the leadership of the late Nelson Mandela, the ANC won freedom for black South Africans after decades of apartheid, then lifted millions out of poverty by creating a broad social welfare system.But many in the nation of 62mn are fed up with high unemployment, currently at 32.9%, rampant crime, corruption scandals, and regular power cuts and water shortages.The economy grew a meagre 0.6% in 2023, and polls suggest the ANC could win as little as 40% of the vote, down from 57% in 2019.If the ANC wins fewer than 201 seats, Ramaphosa would have to negotiate with opposition parties and independent MPs to secure a majority. On the right, the DA has vowed to “Rescue South Africa” through clean governance, privatisation and deregulation but has struggled to shake off its image as a party for the white minority.Polls put DA support below 25%.On the left, it is bleeding support to former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) and Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which are pushing for land redistribution and nationalisations. Polls estimate these two parties are tied at around 10%.Malema waited alongside ordinary voters for four hours to cast his ballot.“We are calling on the IEC to be more efficient and try to reduce the queues,” he said outside his polling station. Long queues were causing people to leave before voting, which compromised the freedom and fairness of the elections, he added.Were the ANC to come close to 50% it could strike an easier deal with some of the dozens of smaller groups in the running. Full results are not expected before the weekend.