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A group of students from MES Indian School took part in an educational programme organised by Expo 2023 Doha, by joining the flower planting event which saw flower beds shaped to resemble the outline of Qatar in the International Zone of Al Bidda Park.About 3,200 students from 80 schools were present to plant 80,000 flowers. The event aimed to promote environmental awareness and foster a sense of pride in the country’s natural beauty among the younger generation. Under the guidance of the organising committee's volunteers, students planted flowers in designated areas following the contours of Qatar’s map.The Expo hosted environmental workshops that inspired young minds and encouraged the new generation to adopt sustainable practices. The teachers in charge of the event from MES were Jency George, Shailaja Nishad, Rajesh K S, Mary Jainsha and Kavitha Rajan.

Doha College, one of the oldest international schools in Qatar, recently hosted the sixth edition of the nationwide choral competition for children, 'Qatar School Choir of the Year' (QSCoY).Launched in 2017 with the motto 'Uniting Children through Singing,' QSCoY experienced a surge in popularity and participation.The event hosted at Doha College's Al Wajba campus, featured 16 choirs from across the country competing in three age categories: 5-8, 7-11 and 11-18. Taking the helm this year was Doha College’s new director of music, William Morrow, who led the various music departments through the two-day event.This year’s lead adjudicator, Alison McNeill, a UK-based opera singer, conductor, and musician, led workshops and supported pupils and staff in delivering outstanding performances. She was joined in the grand final by long-time panel member Olga Protopopova, principal of the International Centre for Music, and Zlatan Fazlic, director of the Qatar Music Academy, who also delighted the audience with a performance conducting the "Qatar Junior National Choir."This edition saw new laureates GEMS Wellington in first place in the 5-8 category. Last year’s champions, American School of Doha, repeated their win for the 7-11 category, while Park House English School clocked their first victory in the 11-18 category and the overall QSCoY award.Morrow, shared his elation at the completion of his first QSCoY edition. "I was extremely impressed by the performances of all choirs from across Qatar, and as host of my first QSCoY competition, it highlighted to me how strong the support for music and arts is across the country. All students dazzled audiences and the adjudication panel. I want to extend a huge congratulations and thanks to parents, the students for all their hard work, the teachers, conductors and accompanists for their hours of dedication and commitment."Principal David Tongue, said: "I was absolutely delighted with the quality of the singing on display, and the judges had a challenging job choosing between the excellent finalists."

Pakistan International School Qatar (PISQ) hosted a spectacular Food Festival Day, bringing together students from the Cambridge Branch, Primary Wing, Girls Wing, Boys Wing and the Evening Wing. The heart of the celebration was the variety of stalls featuring an array of Arabic, Pakistani and continental cuisine. From biryanis to falafels and desserts, the students showcased their culinary skills and expressed their creativity and cultural diversity through the art of cooking. Dressed in chef costumes including antibacterial gloves and hats, the young chefs not only showed how good they were at cooking but also how committed they were to keeping the kitchen as clean as possible. Teachers and faculty members mentored the students.

The International Women’s Day was celebrated by World Malayalee Council (WMC) Qatar with veteran Malayalam actress Mallika Sukumaran as the chief guest.She inaugurated the event with a cake-cutting ceremony along with the members of WMC Qatar Women’s Forum. The popular actress was honoured during the event for her 50-year journey in the Malayalam film industry. She addressed the gathering with anecdotes of her life interspersed with humour and humility, and enlightened the audience on the importance of education, self-reliance and honesty in all endeavours.She remarked that empowerment comes from within and emphasised the role of women as mothers in creating strong and capable individuals regardless of gender. She held the audience captive with her simplicity and honest discourse.WMC Qatar general secretary Kajal Moosa welcomed the gathering. Chairman V S Narayanan and president Suresh Kariyad spoke.

The religion of Islam contains all benefits, and Shari’ah enjoins everything that is beneficial. Islam is based on wisdom and benefiting people. Imam Al-Baidawi stated in his book Al-Minhaj: “Evidence indicates that Allah, the Almighty, prescribed all His rulings to benefit His servants.” (p. 233) Real jurisprudence means knowing this wisdom and realising these objectives. Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “The person who understands the Law-Giver’s wisdom is the real jurist.” He also said: “The core of jurisprudence is to know the wisdom, objectives, and merits of Shari’ah.” (Al-Fatawa: 11/354)When the worshipper realises the objectives and wisdom of the acts of worship, the acts of worship become easier for him, and he can feel their spirituality and significance. This enables the worshipper to offer the acts of worship not as inherited habits and traditions whose sweetness is not felt and whose objectives are not understood. Sheikh Mustafa Al-Siba’i said in this regard: “This is in order for the act of worship to be more effective and influencing, so that the believer can be more tranquil and reassured when performing the act of worship and putting Shari’ah into effect.”Fasting is one of the rituals prescribed by the blessed Shari’ah. Without the scholars’ explanation of the wisdom behind enjoining fasting and clarification of some of the objectives they realised, minds would not have been able to understand the wisdom of The All-Wise and the kindness of The Most-Kind and the All-Aware (of everything). The following includes the sayings of different scholars in relation to the wisdom of enjoining fasting.First: Feeling Pity for the Deprived and Disseminating a Sense of Consolidation among the BelieversImam Ibn Rajab mentioned in his book Lata’if Al-Ma’arif (p. 314) that one of the predecessors was asked: “Why was fasting enjoined?” He said: “In order for the rich to feel hungry so that they do not forget the poor and the hungry.”When Prophet Yusuf, ‘alaihi assalam, was asked: “Why do you not satisfy your hunger although you are in charge of the storehouses of the land?” He said: “I fear that satiety may cause me to forget the hungry.” Only the one who experienced tiredness can realise its meaning and only the one who experienced pain can understand its severity.Only the one who suffered from longing can understand its meaning,And only the one who experienced ardent love can realise how it feels.Therefore, one of the great objectives of fasting is to experience the suffering of deprivation and hunger, to practically implant mercy in the hearts of rich Muslims towards the poor, so that they may remember the continuous deprivation of the poor and realise their suffering and pains. As a result, the hearts of the rich may soften, and they become willing to help the poor with money, food, charity, and different types of generosity and benevolence. This is the greatest social consolidation which creates harmony among the Muslims and strengthens relations among the members of the society.Second: Consoling the Hearts of the PoorWhen the rich are also deprived of food, drink, and pleasures, the hearts of the poor get consoled because they become on equal footing with the rich, even for one hour of daytime.Third: Controlling the Sexual Desire to Avoid SinningA person may have a desire for women without being able to fulfil it, and may fear of committing a sin. So, he may resort to fasting in order to weaken his desire. Therefore, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention), advised the youth, saying: “O young men, those among you who can support a wife should marry, for it restrains eyes from casting (evil glances), and preserves one from immorality; but those who cannot, should devote themselves to fasting for it is a means of controlling sexual desire.”Fourth: Feeling the Weakness and Need of ServitudeWhen a person feels the pain of hunger, they feel how weak, humble, and needy they are, so they submit to their Lord and realise the extent of their weakness and inability. They see how they have lost power due to their need of even a morsel of food or a mouthful of water. If the servant does not see how humble and submissive he is, he will not know the greatness of his Lord. It was said: “The one who has known himself will be able to know his Lord.” This means that the one who has realised his weakness, destitution, and need will understand the power, richness, and might of his Lord, the Almighty.Fifth: Lessening Satan’s Effect on the Fasting PersonSatan circulates in the body like the blood; when the Muslim fasts, Satan finds a limited opportunity to affect him, so he loses the ability to influence the fasting Muslims or insinuate whisppers to them in the manner he does when they are not fasting. This helps Allah’s servant to have self-control, which leads to all happiness; however, falling under the control of one’s desires and self leads to all misery and distress. Ibn Al-Qayyim said: “Fasting keeps the heart and organs healthy and restores to them that which desires have stolen from them.” (Zad Al-Ma’ad 2/29)Imam Al-Kamal ibn Al-Humam stated in Fat’h Al-Qadeer: “Fasting controls the self, which is inclined to evil, and restrains it curiosity in relation to the eyes, the tongue, the ears, and private parts. Therefore, it was said that if a person becomes hungry, all the organs become satisfied and tranquil, and if a person becomes sated, all the organs become out of control.”Sixth: Getting Accustomed to Patience During Calamities and Steadfastness During HardshipsThe fasting person obliges himself to abstain from that which it craves for due to fasting, although these desired matters are lawful when they are not fasting. Therefore, fasting boosts the Muslim’s strong determination and patience, especially at the end of the daytime, when they become very hungry and thirsty, although water and food are available, but the Muslim cannot eat or drink, regardless of how much they crave for them. This is out of patience, endurance, and aspiration for rewards from Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Therefore, fasting is half of patience.Seventh: Reminding Allah’s Servant with the Difference between the Submission of Servitude and the Might of the LordAs fasting reminds the person of his need of food and drink and his inability to dispense with them, it rids him of arrogance, pride, and self-conceit and causes him to be submissive to his Creator and Sustainer. Accordingly, no one can claim that he is a god, such as Pharaoh, Nimrod, and the like. Therefore, Allah denounced those who considered Prophet ‘Isa and his mother as gods, saying: “The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on before him. And his mother was a supporter of truth. They both used to eat food.” (Qur’an 5: 75) Both of them need Him and are submissive to Him; God cannot be in need of anything or submissive, but should be one, self-sufficient, free of any need, and all creatures need him. This is in accordance of Allah’s saying: “O mankind, you are those in need of Allah, while Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy. If He wills, He can do away with you and bring forth a new creation.” (Qur’an 35: 15-17)Eighth: Attaining PietyThe most sublime and greatest objective of enjoining fasting is to enable the fasting people to attain the status of the pious. Fasting is one of the greatest acts of worship by which a person trains to attain this great status. Everything related to fasting enables the person to attain piety if they fast according to the prescribed manner.According to Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, piety means: “Fearing the Majestic, acting according to Shari’ah, and getting ready for death.” The fasting person combines all the attributes of piety; they fast out of fear of Allah; otherwise, he will not fast. In addition, fasting implies adherence to the Book of Allah, obedience to His commands, and submissiveness to Shari’ah. The fasting person does all these acts in order to be prepared for the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet said: “Indeed, anyone who fasts for one day for Allah’s Pleasure, Allah will keep his face away from the (Hell) fire for (a distance covered by a journey of) seventy years.” Nothing can be equal in reward to fasting, according to the following Hadith: “The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it.”According to Talq ibn Habib, may Allah have mercy upon him, piety means acting in obedience to Allah with His guidance, seeking Allah’s reward, abstaining from acts of disobedience with His guidance, and fearing Allah’s punishment.” These qualities also apply to the fasting person, as fasting is an act of obedience in which the fasting person adheres to a time set by the Law-Giver, seeking Allah’s reward. Fasting also involves abstaining from everything that incurs Allah’s wrath or spoils this act of worship, out of fear of losing the reward of fasting and deserving Allah’s punishment.Among the greatest evidence that piety is attained by fasting is that Allah’s servant does not break his fast without a reasonable excuse, even if he is punished or beaten. This is in order to honour Allah’s command. Ibn Rajab and other scholars mentioned that the greatest evidence that fasting involves piety is that the believer dislikes food, drink, and sexual desire because he knows that Allah dislikes them at a certain time (while fasting), then likes these things at the time when Allah makes them lawful (after breaking the fast). The greatest evidence is that the fasting person abstains from the unlawful things he desires even when he is not seen by people because he knows that Allah, the Almighty, sees him. This is the rank of perfection in religion, which is attained by worshipping Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion, then you must consider that He is looking at you.The subject of the wisdom and objectives of fasting is vast and is open to discussions and additions. O Allah, the Most Merciful of those who show mercy, enable us to learn and understand, and accept our good deeds.Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/

Meta announced that a new Threads app for Windows is now available.Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted an edited old photograph of him using the Threads app on an old PC running Windows XP. "Really enjoying the new Threads desktop app for Windows. Excited to hear what you all think," he said in a post while announcing the app.The Threads app is now available to download on the Microsoft Store and requires a device running Windows 10 version 19041.0 or later with at least 2GB RAM. The social media app currently supports the English language only and is about 0.7MB in size, according to its Microsoft Store listing.Just like Android and iPhone, you can log in to the Threads Windows app using your Instagram account.

Apple announced more changes related to the mechanism for developers to offer their applications by allowing those who meet certain criteria to make their applications available on their websites and enabling users to download them directly.The Web Distribution option will allow developers to publish their applications more widely outside the company's App Store.For developers to be eligible to take advantage of the new option, they will need to agree to the new App Store rules imposed by Apple, which makes them pay a fee for each installation after certain limits, and to be members of the Apple Developer Program for at least two years.Another criterion set by the company is that developers must have an application that received "more than one million first annual installs on iOS in the EU in the prior calendar year," according to the support document published on its official website.With these amendments, Apple faces harsh criticism and is accused of adhering to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the EU only formally, which may make it subject to scrutiny by the relevant authorities.The DMA forced Apple to allow alternative application stores to the App Store and to allow users to download applications from outside the store.The company currently allows developers to launch app stores that contain their own apps only.

Allah, the Almighty, enjoined fasting on His servants not to make them suffer, nor that He, the Almighty benefits from their fasting, as He is not in need of His servants and the acts of worship they offer. Rather, Allah enjoined fasting in order to benefit His servants in the worldly life and in the Hereafter, physically and spiritually, and in relation to their morals and religion. Allah, the Almighty, evidently mentioned in the Qur’an the intention of fasting is to become righteous. Moreover, the one who reflects on the objectives of fasting will find that these benefits are limitless and beyond description. According to Ibn al-Qayyim, fasting acts like a rein for pious people, protection for fighters, and a sport for righteous people and those drawing closer to Allah. It is also offered for the sake of Allah more than any other act of worship and is considered a secret between Allah and His servant as no one else sees it. Fasting has an amazing impact on guarding the outward limbs and inward powers and protecting them from anything that may spoil them or make them unsound. Fasting protects the heart and the organs and restores to them that which illegal desires have stolen from them, as fasting is the greatest helper with piety. The benefits of fasting include the following: Fasting maintains the power of Allah’s servant and protects him from the diseases which are caused by repletion and satiety, as the stomach is the home of disease and diet is the basis of remedy. Imam Ahmad, Imam At-Tirmithi, and Imam Ibn Majah reported from Al-Miqdam Ibn Ma’d Yakrib, may Allah be pleased with him, that he heard the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention), saying: “No man fills a utensil worse than his stomach. A few morsels that keep his back upright are sufficient for a man. If eating is necessary, he should fill one-third with food, one-third with drink, and leave one-third for easy breathing.” (Saheeh Al-Jami’a, 5674) The fullness of one’s stomach leads to the arousal of desires and enables Satan to control the person and lead him to sins, evils, and abominable acts, as satiety and gluttony lead to all evils. Al-Qurtubi said: “Whenever a person decreases the amount of food he eats, his desire will be weak; whenever the desire becomes weak, acts of disobedience will decrease.” When the stomach becomes full, the person becomes inclined to acts of disobedience and oppression, but when a person fasts, he becomes calm, tender-hearted, and tranquil. Therefore, the person who fasts is protected from all evils, preserved from all abominable acts, and guarded against all pitfalls. The two Saheeh (authentic) Books of Hadith (Saheeh Al-Bukhari and Saheeh Al-Muslim) stated the following Hadith: “Fasting is a protection against sins.” Ibn Mas’ooud, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “He who can afford to marry should marry because it will help him refrain from looking at other women, and save his private parts from committing illegal sexual relation; and he who cannot afford to marry is advised to fast, as fasting will diminish his sexual power.” (Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim) Fasting guards the servant’s organs, as Jabir Ibn Abdullah said: “If you fast, then let your hearing, sight, and tongue refrain from lying and forbidden deeds; do not annoy your servant, and be dignified and tranquil on the day of your fast; do not let the day when you fast and the day when you do not fast be the same.” Al-Musnad and Saheeh Al-Bukhari stated that Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Unless one abandons falsehood and indecent deeds, Allah will have no need in his abstaining from food and drink.” The intention for the acts of worship and the result of the acts of obedience is piety, as Allah, the Almighty, Says in the Qur’an (what means): {O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous} [Qur’an 2: 21] Piety is also one of the greatest objectives of fasting, as fasting is the main act that leads to piety. Moreover, the person who fasts in the manner prescribed by the Messenger of Allah should attain piety, as Allah, the Almighty, Says (what means): {O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous} [Qur’an 2: 183] Due to the above-mentioned reasons, fasting is an act of worship offered sincerely to Allah Alone, as Allah singles it out for Himself. Although all the other acts of worship are for the sake of Allah, fasting has some specialty with regard to sincerity, rather than any other act of worship. This is in accordance with the Sacred Hadith: “All the deeds of Adam’s sons (people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.” (Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim) Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/

Throughout the Noble Qur’an, Almighty Allah ordered us to be conscious and fearful of Him, for might and honour lie in fearing Him. Only the people of piety and righteousness are the people of joy and pride. Piety is a great treasure of this life and of the life to come.Allah, The Most Exalted, Says (what means): “... And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah.” [Qur’an 2: 197]Almighty Allah made having Piety a condition for the acceptance of deeds through the verse (which means):“Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him].”[Qur’an 5: 27]We are promised forgiveness and reward for having Piety, for Allah Says (what means):“and whoever fears Allah - He will remove for him his misdeeds and make great for him his reward.” [Qur’an 65: 5]The people of piety and righteousness are the people of high rank in the Hereafter as well as in this life. Allah Says (what means): “That home of the Hereafter (Paradise) We assign to those who do not desire exaltedness upon the earth or corruption. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous.” [Qur’an 28: 83]Fasting and piety:The blessed month of Ramadan is approaching us - a month which Allah has made obligatory upon us to fast so that we might become righteous, pious, fearful and conscious of Allah.The objective of fasting is to enhance the state of our piety which is represented by our fear of Allah, working in accordance with His revelation and being satisfied with whatever little he provides – as well as our preparation for the day of departure.The particular type of piety that we will try to gain in Ramadan is the very sensitive type. The fasting person can only acquire this, because he/she gives up what he desires to avoid that which he is fearful of- the punishment of Allah Almighty.A fasting heart draws closer to Allah by obedience and humble submission to Him. It fully admits the responsibility of performing all the obligations of Islam as well as refraining from all the acts prohibited by Allah. This type of heart sincerely worships Allah alone. Lusts and desires do not distract it nor does greed divert it. This is a strong and pious heart whose fasting, prayer and all other actions are purely for the Sake of Allah. In fact, the whole of its life and death are for Him.The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam,said: “He who fasts the month of Ramadan out of sincere belief and seeking Allah’s reward of its fasting, will be forgiven for all the sins he has committed prior to it.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]If the heart is rectified then the limbs will be likewise rectified. They will follow the lead shown by the heart, be obedient to Allah and stay away from His prohibitions.Not being constantly full of food weakens or even prevents Satan from having a stronghold on such a person. Regarding this, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam,said: “Satan runs in the veins of the son of Aadam just like his blood.” [Al-Bukhari & others]. Not having a constantly full stomach enables the limbs to do good deeds with ease. It softens the heart and makes it easy for tears of piety to be shed, which reduces the effect of Satan.Miserable people:Indeed, those who make Ramadan a month of over eating and excessive spending are wretched, miserable people. They do not realise anything but hunger – hunger that their stomachs cannot handle and thirst which their veins cannot tolerate.What kind of piety and how much resistance exists in these people? These people are the people of no resistance or determination in the face of hunger. Their hearts become harder the more they eat, resulting in oversleeping and laziness. Those who only desire to eat and dress well – those who surrender in defeat - in a battle against a few bites, where they have to abstain from for a few hours, such people are not worthy of an exalted and honorable life.Behaviour of the pious:Allah has ordained fasting to purify us and distinguish between the pious and the impious. He who starts his day abstaining from food, drinks and sexual intercourse with his objective being the pleasure of his Beloved - Allah- gets the reward stipulated in the following Qudsi narration: “Fasting is for me and I shall reward it.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]Those who fast and have Piety are those who are always alternating between prayer, recitation of the Qur’an, remembrance of Allah, keeping good relationships with their relatives and being kind to others – this is whilst they continue in their everyday work and other duties.Righteous people who are fasting have to search amongst their relatives and neighbours for the poor and needy amongst them. They should also search for the strangers amongst their brothers, be good to them and make them share their provisions. We must remember the hunger and thirst of our poor fellow Muslims, remember the tears of the miserable ones and the situation of those who have no dwellings, remember too the loneliness of those who are away from their families. We should also supplicate for them in the month of piety and accountability.The correlation between fasting and piety is stated in the verse (which means):“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous – (Fasting for) a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey (during them) - then an equal number of days (are to be made up). And upon those who are able (to fast, but with hardship) - a ransom (as substitute) of feeding a poor person (each day). And whoever volunteers excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew. The month of Ramadan (is that) in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights (the new moon of) the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and (wants) for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that (to) which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.”Ahead of us is a great month full of virtuous days and nights. So we should do well and utilise them, take advantage of them in the same way that the Salaf, may Allah be pleased with them, did. They did not prepare for Ramadan by preparing and consuming more food and drinks, rather they prepared with acts pleasing to their Lord, such as acts of worship and generosity. They were obedient servants to their Lord and generous and kind towards their fellow Muslims. The best example for all of these acts was their leader, Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, who used to be most generous during Ramadan.Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/

The Guides of MES Indian School attended a training camp organised by the Qatar Scouts and Guides Association at Ideal Indian School on the theme ‘Sustainability and World Thinking Day.’The camp started with a formal function followed by ‘Yell and Clap’ and ‘Patrol Flag Designing’. Various training sessions such as self-defence, knots, fire and safety and camp essentials were organised by different trainers of the school.The orientation had the presence of the Qatar Scouts Association officials, including Sara al-Sultan (scouts activities consultant), Muna Jumah al-Mansouri (first scout activities expert), Paramjeet Kaur Bhullar (trainer/co-ordinator, Expats Schools, Qatar Scouts and Guides), and the school officials. The session concluded with the celebration of the birth anniversary of Lieutenant-General Baden Powel, the founder and first Chief Scout of the worldwide Scout Movement, and prize and certificate distribution for the winners of various events. MES Indian School won the second position in the ‘Yell and Clap’ competition.

Enas Said al-Absi’s journey at Qatar University (QU) started in the Biomedical Sciences department in QU’s College of Health Sciences.Following her graduation, she joined a team of researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College, Qatar and published her first paper in 2013 entitled “Prevalence of Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection in the general population of Women in Qatar.”Consequently, she joined QU’s Biomedical Research Center (BRC) where she became a Research Assistant and established a research laboratory under the supervision of Dr Gheyath Nasrallah, Associate Professor of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences. There she conducted research in various fields such as immunology, virology, microbiology as well as molecular biology.She then became a lab manager, which included training and supervising younger students and newly hired staff and later joined a team from Sidra Medicine to establish the first zebrafish facility in Qatar at QU, where she found her passion in utilising this animal model in various research fields.From 2013 until now, Enas has published 13 research papers in highly impacted journals. Having a valuable career and being a full-time employee as a laboratory technologist/zebrafish specialist propelled her to academic excellence and led her to apply for a master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences – clinical research track.Enas has consistently worked on fostering collaborations with others and was involved in extra research activities with other researchers in the Biomedical Science Department at the College of Health Sciences as well as outside QU such as ExonnMobil Research Qatar, where she focused on the field of health and environmental toxicology.She excelled in working on a thesis project entitled “Toxicity Assessment of Produced Water from Gas Fields Using Qatari Native Animal Species and Zebrafish Embryo Assay.” The project had significant implications for both environmental and health contexts and was accepted for oral presentation at local and international conferences. In addition, she secured first place for the postgraduate scientific oral presentation at the 2nd AAU Health and Biomedical Postgraduate Symposium at Al Ain University in Abu Dhabi. Guided by a team of supervisors, including her main supervisor Dr Maha al-Asmakh (College of Health Sciences), Dr Fatiha Benslimane (Biomedical Research Center) and Dr Suhur Saeed (ExxonMobil Research Qatar), her work is expected to add a valuable contribution to the field of biomedical research.She says of the challenges and her professional outlook: “While maintaining academic rigour proved demanding at times, I learned to effectively manage my time and seek help from my mentors when needed. I like to encourage other students to join QU health graduate programmes and inspire them to stay dedicated and believe in themselves, as well as to work hard on what they are passionate about.”“Career wise, I have taken professional training courses at well-known facilities in Italy and the US, and continue to seek professional development in the field of zebrafish research. I imagine myself excelling in my academic journey and hope to join a PhD programme soon after graduation.”

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader and Member of Parliament E T Mohamed Basheer has hailed the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) for implementing a host of welfare, empowerment and educational initiatives. While addressing the valedictory ceremony of Malappuram Peruma (Malappuram Carnival) by KMCC Malappuram district committee in Doha, the veteran legislator said the organisation has left an impressive mark in Qatar while reaching out to the expatriate community through its schemes. Basheer noted KMCC’s social security was an unprecedented initiative that benefited thousands. Qatar KMCC state president Dr Abdul Samad inaugurated. District committee president Savad Veliyamkode presided. IUML Kerala state committee secretary and former Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly K M Shaji delivered the keynote address. He urged the expatriates to actively participate in the electoral process of India. Communist Marxist Party general secretary C P John praised Qatar for its efforts to ensure global peace. The ‘Malappuram Carnival’ in its 5th edition featured sports competitions and arts and culinary festival attended by 16 KMCC constituency committees in Malappuram district. The valediction marked the distribution of prizes. Representatives of various Indian community organisations attended the event. Lt Mohamed Ahmed Khalaf al-Shammari from Qatar Police Sports Federation, organising committee chairman K Mohamed Easa and KMCC Malappuram district office-bearers Abdul Akbar Vengasseri, Mehboob Nalakath, Ismail Hudawi and Abdul Jabbar Palakkal were present.

Qatar University (QU) Young Scientists Centre (YSC) concluded the final ceremony for the second cycle of the Design Thinking and Innovation Programme for the secondary stage.The cycle began in January this year, with 163 participating students from six schools in Qatar.The schools were Rawdha Bint Jassim Secondary School for Girls, Qatar Banking Studies and Business Administration School for Girls, Al-Zubara Primary, Preparatory and Secondary School for Boys, Nasser Al-Attiyah Secondary School for Boys, Ahmed Ibn Hanbal Secondary School for Boys and Simaisma Secondary School for Boys. The Design Thinking and Innovation programme includes several research activities and scientific experiments based on the STEM curriculum: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The effective learning strategies used in the programme also enhance students’ scientific knowledge and stimulate their creativity, in addition to developing 21st century skills, including critical thinking, collaboration, scientific communication and problem-solving skills.During the final ceremony, the qualifying groups competed to create innovative projects, evaluated by a committee of professors and specialists at QU to select the winning group. At the end of the ceremony, the first-place winning groups were announced and honoured: The QBS group from the Qatar Banking Studies and Business Administration School for Girls and the Newton Group from the Nasser Al-Attiyah Secondary School for Boys.Professor Dr Noora Jabor al-Thani, director of the YSC, said: “Design thinking empowers students with 21st century skills that enable them to use strategies innovatively and find new ways of thinking to develop solutions creatively and develop the skills necessary to deal with complex problems, which enhances students’ abilities to innovate.”She also thanked the partners of QU-YSC, such as the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science and the Unesco office in Doha.

Pakistan International School Qatar (PISQ) celebrated the Qatar Environment Day (QED) with an array of events engaging management, staff and students across all five wings: Kindergarten, Primary, Girls Wing, Boys Wing and the Cambridge Branch, under the leadership of environment manager Reema Rashid over three days.On day one, Pakistan ambassador Dr Muhammed Aejaz, his wife and Cambridge Branch principal Syed Asif Ali Shah visited Desert Green Qatar in Al Khor. On day two, students, teachers and staff went on a cleaning drive at Al Shamal Beach. Day three began with Shah inaugurating the composting station, underscoring its pivotal role in promoting sustainable practices within the school community. Conventional Branch principal Dr Neelum Nisar also joined the planting activity along with the students.Workshops and interactive sessions saw students crafting models and costumes echoing the slogan ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.’ The morning assembly resonated with the harmonious chant of ‘Let Us Save Water.’Students lent their voices to the Climate Pledge Board, adorning it with messages of hope and determination for a greener tomorrow. A special assembly dedicated to Environmental Day was a showcase of talent, with drawings and paintings by budding artists.Contests were held in painting, drawing and photography, highlighting environmentaladvocacy, along with speeches, placards and role plays amplifying the call for conservation. Students transformedwaste cardboard into bracelets and badges.

Tawheed is traditionally divided into three major categories. Here is a brief explanation of them for the purpose of clarification. We will attempt to use clear expression as much as possible although the use of certain “technical” terms is unavoidable.The division of Tawheed into several components was not done by the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) or his noble companions (radiallahu ‘anhum). There was no necessity to analyse such a basic principle in that manner at that time. That is, the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and his companions (radiallahu ‘anhum) did not sit in circles of learning and begin teaching Tawheed by saying, “Category one of Tawheed is such and such...”Nonetheless, each of the foundations and components of the categories of Tawheed are clearly based in the Qur’an and the authentic statements of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) as will become clear in the coming explanations of each category.Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah (The Unity of Lordship) This is the fundamental understanding that Allah is Ar-Rabb (commonly translated as the Lord). That is, He is the maintainer and sustainer of all things without Whom nothing would exist. The word Rabb in itself refers to a relationship of dominance and control. He created and sustains all of the creation, without any need of it nor does He need any assistance to maintain or provide for His creatures. Nothing occurs unless He allows it to occur, and it is He who gives any power at all to His creation.Allah states (which means):“Allah created all things and He is the Wakeel (Trustee, Disposer of affairs, Guardian)” [Al-Qur’an 2: 62]And Allah created you all and whatever you do. [Al-Qur’an 37: 96]It was not you who threw when you threw, but it was Allah Who threw. [Al-Qur’an 8: 17]And no calamity strikes except by Allah’s permission. [Al-Qur’an 64:11]The Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) stated: “Be aware that if the whole of mankind gathered together in order to do something to help you, they would not be able to do anything for you unless Allah had already written it for you. Likewise, if the whole of humanity gathered to harm you they would only be able to harm you if Allah had already written that for you.” [Reported by Ibn Abbaas and collected by At-Tirmidhee]His is verily all creation and commandment, blessed is Allah the Lord of all the worlds. [Surah Al-’Araaf Aayah 54]The belief in predestination, or Qadr, is incorporated in this aspect of Tawheed. Qadr is the belief that everything that happens is from the knowledge, will and power of Allah. It also incorporates the belief that Allah Alone has the right to legislate and judge (Al-Haakimiyyah). Ar-Ruboobiyyah is found in virtually every chapter of the Qur’an and is a type of foundation for all other aspects of Tawheed. Because of His status as Ar-Rabb, He alone merits worship, reverence, submission, praise, remembrance, supplication, hope and fear. He alone possesses the power to create and command and He is the Creator, Master and Controller who must necessarily possess the perfect qualities and attributes in order to be Ar-Rabb.The Qur’an mentions Ar-Ruboobiyyah in the context of praising, worshipping, surrendering, submitting and supplicating to Allah. Even the polytheists of old and most people today recognise this aspect of Tawheed although they may have denied the others or have an incorrect understanding of each.If you ask them (i.e. the disbelievers) ‘Who created the heavens and the earth?’ they will surely say ‘Allah’. [Surah Az-Zukhruf 87]Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah or Tawheed Al-’Ibaadah [The Unity of Deity (Godhood) or Worship]This means to single out Allah as the object of all worship (‘ibaadah) such that a person does not take anything or anyone else besides Allah as an object of worship nor do acts of devotion as he does for Allah. Neither prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, total obedience, complete trust, absolute love or hope is to be given to other than Allah because He alone is the true deity (ilaah).The pagan polytheists in the time of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) believed that Allah was their Rabb, yet that alone did not make them Muslims. They used to devote various types of worship to Him and even claimed to be followers of the religion of Ibrahim (‘alaihi salaam). Some even believed in the Resurrection and a Final Judgment and others in divine decree (Al-Qadr). Despite all this they were still classified by Allah in the Qur’an as disbelievers (kuffaar) and polytheists (mushrikoon) because of their disbelief in this most important of the categories of Tawheed. They joined other gods with Allah and did not accept the unity of Allah.The unity of worship – that is, that worship is to and for Allah Alone – must be maintained because He alone deserves to be worshipped and He alone can benefit man as a result. No intercessor or intermediary such as a priest or holy man is needed between any person and Allah. The importance of directing all forms of worship to Allah Alone is emphasised time and again in the Qur’an. It is the purpose and goal of creation and the message that was the central to the mission of all the Prophets (anbiyaa’) and messengers (rusul) of Allah.Allah states: I did not create the Jinn nor Mankind except for My worship. [Surah Adh-Dhaariyaat 56]Verily We have sent to every nation a messenger (saying), ‘Worship Allah and stay away from false gods’. [Surah An-Nahl 36]You alone do we worship and from You alone do we seek help. [Surah Al-Faatihah]The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, If you ask in prayer, ask only Allah, and if you seek help, seek it only from Allah. [Reported by Ibn Abbaas and collected by At-Tirmidhee]The confirmation and belief in Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah necessitates the denial of all forms of intercession or association of partners with Allah such as praying or making any supplication to a dead or living person, or to an inanimate object for any reason. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, Duaa (prayer or supplication) is worship.Asking a righteous living person to supplicate on one’s behalf is permitted because one is not asking them to grant the blessing, favour or help but rather asking them to ask Allah on one’s behalf. As for the dead, they are unable to hear, nor are they able to help themselves! And those whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even the thin membrane over the date-stone.If you invoke or call upon them, they hear not your call and if in case they were to hear you they could not grant your request and on the Day of Resurrection they will disown your worshipping them. [Surah Al-Fatir 13-14]Verily you cannot make the dead to hear, nor can you make the deaf to hear the call when they flee turning their backs. Nor can you lead the blind out of their error. You can only make to hear those who believe in Our Ayaat and who have submitted themselves as Muslims. [Surah An-Naml Aayah 80-81]The Qur’an mentions the excuse of those who would rationalise their worship of idols. They said, “We only worship them so that they may bring us closer to Allah.” [Surah Az-Zumar 3]Their idols were used only as intermediaries yet Allah nonetheless condemned them for their practices. Many Christians direct their prayer to Jesus or his mother. The Catholics have numerous saints to whom they direct their prayers for various occasions. Catholics use priests as intercessors. Some deviated Muslim sects devote certain hours of the day for prayer to members of the family of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). Many visit the grave of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) in hopes that he would answer their prayers and he specifically condemned this practice so much so that it was among his last words...Do not make my tomb a worshipped idol. [Muwatta Imam Malik]. The curse of Allah falls upon the Jews and Christians for they have made their prophets’ tombs places of worship. [Al-Bukhari and Muwatta Imam Malik].A significant part of belief in Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah involves implementation of Shari’ah (Islamic Law) because to do so is recognition of Allah as the ultimate Law-giver who is to be obeyed absolutely. To do otherwise is an act of disbelief in divine law and an expression of belief in the correctness of systems other than Allah’s system. In this point we can clearly recognise the relationship with Ar-Ruboobiyyah and Allah’s right to judge, legislate and be obeyed.Tawheed Al-Asmaa wa Sifaat – The Tawheed of Allah’s names and attributesAnd Allah has the most excellent and perfect names, so call on Him by them, and abandon the company of those who deviate and commit shirk with regard to them – they will be punished for what they used to do. [Surah Al-A’raaf (7): 180]His is the highest and most perfect description (none has the right to be worshipped but him, and nothing is like Him) in the heavens and the earth, and He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. [Surah Ar-Room (30): 27]There is nothing like Him, and He is the All-Seeing, the All-Hearing. [Surah Ash-Shoorah (42):11]In general, the unification of Allah’s names and attributes (Tawheed Al-Asmaa wa Sifaat) means the firm conviction that Allah, the Glorious and Mighty, is characterised by all the attributes of perfection, is above all defects and deficiencies, and that He alone is distinguished from His creation by these characteristics. This Tawheed is achieved by:1. Attesting to all the names and attributes of Allah reported about Himself and those confirmed by His Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) in the Qur’an and Sunnah. This is called ithbaat.2. Not altering their expression or meaning. This alteration is called tahreef3. Not nullifying them by denying all or some of them. To nullify called ta’teel4. Not modifying them by attempting to determine their essence and assigning a certain form to them. To modify is called takyeef5. Not comparing them to any human characteristic such as assigning to Him the qualities that are not suiting His majesty but rather belong to His creation or assigning qualities that befit Allah alone to His creation. Such similitudes are called tamtheel and tashbeeh respectively.Guidelines For Understanding Allah’s Attributes (Sifaat) We emphasise that the only way to know Allah’s attributes is by learning what He says about Himself and what His Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) says about Him. The Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah are sufficient, and must be taken as the only sources for this knowledge. We should restrict ourselves to them, without trying to improve on them by referring to earlier scriptures or books of wisdom, or by relying on our limited power of reason.Some of the reasons for this are as follows:1) Allah’s attributes and qualities are part of the knowledge of the ghayb (that which is unseen and beyond human capability to perceive), which cannot be subjected to our human senses. Revelation is the only channel through which we can acquire true knowledge of the ghayb.2) Allah is the one who knows what we need to learn about Him in order to conduct our lives in a successful way. Had we needed more knowledge, He would definitely have provided us with it.3) A quality of the pious, for which they are praised in the Qur’an, is that they believe in the ghayb without questioning or doubting it, as long as it comes from the Qur’an or the authentic Sunnah.4) Allah the Creator cannot be subjected to the limited faculties of His creatures. No matter how intelligent a human being is, he can never be a match for Allah in knowledge, nor can he ever overstep the bounds that his Creator set for him.The Foundations of Tawheed of Names and AttributesThe Tawheed of Allah’s names and attributes is based upon three foundations. Whoever deviates from them does not attest to the Tawheed of Allah’s names and attributes.First: Placing Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, above any likeness to human beings, and beyond any imperfections. The attributes of Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, bear no resemblance whatsoever to any human attribute.This principle is clearly stated in the following verses: There is nothing like unto Him. [Surah Ash-Shoorah (42):11]And there is none coequal or comparable unto Him. [Surah Al-Ikhlaas (114):4]So put not forward similitudes for Allah (as there is nothing similar to Him, nor does He resemble anything). In his interpretation of the aayah, “There is nothing like unto Him”, the great Islamic scholar Al-Qurtubi (rahimahullah) said: “It is believed, in this subject, that Allah in His Greatness, Glory, Sovereignty, beauty of names and venerable of attributes, is unlike any of His creation, and nothing could be described through likeness to Him.The terms the Shari’ah (Islam) employs to describe both the Creator and His creation might be similar in appearance, but they indicate no resemblance between them in reality. The attributes of The Eternal, Exalted and Glorious is He, are incomparable to those of His creation.” Al-Waasiti (rahimahullah) said: “Allah’s self is not like any other self, nor are His names like any other names, nor are His actions like any other actions, nor are His attributes like any other attributes, except in the sense that the same terms are employed to describe Him and His creation. The Eternal is above having the attributes of the newly created, and the newly created cannot possibly have any of His Eternal attributes. This is the creed of the people of Truth, the Sunnah and Jama’ah.” (Tafseer Al-Qurtubi, Vol. 16, pg. 8)Another component of this principle is placing Allah above anything that contradicts His description of Himself; or the descriptions by the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) of Him.The Tawheed of the attributes of Allah means that the Muslim should believe his Creator to be above having a spouse, partner, child, assistant, intercessor (without Allah’s permission) or protector. In addition, he should also place Allah above all imperfections, such as sleep, exhaustion, fatigue, mortality, ignorance, injustice, absent-mindedness, forgetfulness, prejudice, and so on.Second: Belief in the names and attributes established in the Qur’an and the Sunnah, without detracting from them, expanding upon them, altering or nullifying them.This principle stipulates that the only names and attributes to be ascribed to Allah are those mentioned in the Qur’an or in the Sunnah; they are directly communicated to us and are not the products of opinion and interpretation. Allah is to be described only by the attributes with which He had described Himself or with which His Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) had described Him. And He is to be named only by the names with which He had named Himself or with which His Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) had named Him.Allah surely knows best about Himself, His names and His attributes. Allah says: Do you know better, or does Allah? [Surah Al-Baqarah (2): 140] As He knows best about Himself, and His Messengers were truthful and believed, only telling their people what Allah had revealed to them, then His names and attributes should be derived solely from the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy upon his soul), said: “Allah should only be attributed with those characteristics He described Himself with or was described by His Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). His names and attributes should not extend beyond the Qur’an and Sunnah.” (Sharh Al-’Aqeedah Al-Waasitiyyah, pg. 21)Naim ibn Hamood, the teacher of Al-Bukhari, said: “A person who compares Allah to His creation becomes disbeliever (Kaafir), and a person who denies the attributes Allah ascribed to Himself, or that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) ascribed to Him, has become a disbeliever. None of those attributes bear any likeness or comparison.” (Sharh Al-’Aqeedah Al-Waasitiyyah and Athaaf Al-Kaa’inaat)This principle requires everyone to believe in the names and attributes mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah of His Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). The believer should comprehend them by the clear and common meanings they have in the Arabic language, with no amendments (through rejecting them or denying some of them) or alteration of their evident, direct meaning.Third: Abandoning any desire to ascertain the form of those attributes.This requires a person to believe in these names and attributes mentioned in the Qur’an and the Sunnah without inquiring after their nature and manner or investigating their essence. As attributes vary according to the self they characterise, finding out how they manifest themselves depends upon knowing that self and how it acts. As we cannot inquire into the nature of Allah, His essence and into how His actions take place, we cannot then ask about the way in which His attributes are manifested.

Loren Gray, a successful content creator, social media personality, and entrepreneur, highlighted the importance of prioritising genuine connections with the viewers while remaining steadfast to personal values.“I didn't start social media from a place of looking to build a business. I was a lonely pre-teen in my room, and that audience followed me through my childhood and teenage years,” she told attendees of the Web Summit Qatar yesterday (February 28).From a bullied teenager to a global influencer with more than 50mn followers on TikTok, Gray was sharing her insights on the natural expansion of her social media following at the session.She pointed out that this foundation was built through shared experiences and personal growth, fostering natural engagement and loyalty over time. Her entry into social media, she added, was not planned but stemmed from a desire for connection as a lonely pre-teen.About staying relevant and ahead of the curve in both social media and music, Gray said her brand is an extension of her authentic self, making it easier to gauge what content resonates with her audience without compromising her comfort or values.“I’m not going to do something that makes me uncomfortable just because I think it’s going to get numbers,” Gray said, underlining her commitment to authenticity as a key factor in her longevity as a content creator and musician. She recently released her debut album, marking another milestone in her multifaceted career.Regarding her presence on a number of social media platforms, she revealed a selective approach, focusing primarily on TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram. She explained that creating original content for every platform was impractical and opted for syndication, tailouring content to platforms that align with her audience and interests.“I focus on the ones that excite me, that my audience loves, that my demographic loves and I syndicate content from there. Facebook I don’t have the app on my phone, that is why,” she said.Gray also shared her experience with YouTube, recognising the challenges of balancing long-form content with the demand for consistent short-form content. She noted the platform’s shift towards shorter content formats and emphasised the significance of doing what excites her than conforming to trends or platforms that don’t align with her strengths.For aspiring content creators grappling with self-esteem and public scrutiny, she offered advice based on her journey, suggesting finding a balance between online presence and personal well-being. She urged them to establish boundaries and prioritise self-care amid the pressures of social media.“In the beginning, especially being so young, it was really difficult for me. But with time, I’ve learned to separate my self-esteem from public opinion,” said Gray, who began her career at the age of 13.

The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said about Sha’baan: “That is a month concerning which the people are heedless, between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which good deeds are taken up to the Lord of the worlds, and I would like my deeds to be taken up when I am fasting.” [An-Nasaa’i; Al-Albaani; Hasan]If you observe the habits of the successful people in different walks of life, you would notice that they strive hard to prepare and get ready for their tasks. A student who excels prepares for his studies before the year begins; a good runner prepares for the race long before it starts and there other numerous examples in our daily life.Not everyone who prepares gains the fruit of his endeavours or reaches the peak of success. People vary even in the success of their preparation and each one attains success according to the effort they exert. Keeping this in mind, we must ask ourselves: how can one attain any fruits without preparation, or rather without any concerns whatsoever to prepare for it?Sha‘baan is the last stage in the preparation of entering the month in which one can be saved from Hellfire, i.e. the month of Ramadan, the month of the Qur’an and the month of mercy. So, contemplate the conditions of those who seek to win worldly competitions and the effort they exert to achieve that. What then should be the case with those who seek the reward of the Hereafter? Indeed, there is no point of comparison between them. Is not the reward of the Hereafter more deserving of our effort?Immediately after Ramadan, our Salaf (righteous predecessors), may Allah have mercy upon them, used to ask Allah The Almighty for six months to accept Ramadan from them and then for the next six months, they would ask Him to enable them to live until the next Ramadan. This is the degree of importance they accorded Ramadan and its precious days.Allah willing, what we aim for and prepare for are acts of worship from the Sunnah (Prophetic tradition), not innovated acts, but our objective is to increase the frequency of performing these acts.Do not start a deed unless you have a sincere intention. Your deed will not be accepted unless it is done with a sincere intention in accordance with the rulings of the religion (Islam). Therefore, you should learn the rulings of fasting and teach them to your family and acquaintances starting now.Discipline yourself and be committed to righteous deeds as of now, for Ramadan is the school of the righteous. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.}[Qur’an 2: 183] And the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Whoever does not give up false speech and ignorance and acting accordingly, Allah has no need of his giving up his food and drink.” [Al-Bukhari]Make haste to maintain the ties of kinship and beware of severing them. The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Allah created His creation, and when He had finished, Ar-Rahim (the womb) got up. He said, ‘What is it?’ Ar-Rahim said: ‘This is the position of one who is seeking refuge with You from being cut off.’ He said, ‘Will you not be pleased if I should maintain ties with the one maintain ties with you, and cut off the one who cuts you off?’ Ar-Rahim said, ‘Of course, O Lord.’ He said, ‘Then it will be so.’” Then, Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, recited the verse in which Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {So would you perhaps, if you turned away, cause corruption on earth and sever your [ties of] kinship?} [Qur’an 47: 22] [Al-Bukhari]If we know this, let us ask, who is the person that upholds the ties of kinship? This is what the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, has explained saying: “The one who upholds the ties of kinship is not the one who reciprocates, rather the one who upholds the ties of kinship is the one who upholds those ties even if his relatives cut him off.” [Al-Bukhari]Is there better bliss than a clean heart? You spend your day and night in peace of mind while others burn with jealousy and hatred towards others. Be keen on having a clean heart from now on, clearing it to be occupied by Ramadan and nothing else. The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was asked who is the best of people. He answered: “The one with a pure heart and a truthful tongue”. They said: “The one with a truthful tongue we know, but who is the one with a pure heart?” He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, replied: “He is pious and pure with no sin nor injustice nor grudge nor envy (against anyone).” [Ibn Maajah]Unfortunately, many people waste many bounties and golden opportunities in Ramadan. How far removed are they from Imaam Maalik ibn Anas, may Allah have mercy upon him, who, when Ramadan arrived, used to withdraw from reviewing Hadith and sitting with the people of knowledge to dedicate himself to reciting the Noble Qur’an from the Mus-haf. Start now: if you are an Internet addict, lessen the hours you spend surfing the Internet and know that Ramadan will not wait for you.In Ramadan, most people are keen to make a complete recitation of the Noble Qur’an. In order to make the recitation and completion become easy and swift for you, begin reciting in the month of Sha‘baan, increasing the time of recitation gradually, so if you are accustomed to recite one part daily let it be two or even three – in fact, why not complete a full recitation every 10 days?In Ramadan, different voluntary prayers are performed such as Taraweeh (night prayer that takes place after the prayer of ‘Ishaa’), Qiyaam (standing in supererogatory prayer at night), and other supererogatory prayers. In order to get used to long periods of standing without any fatigue or exhaustion, dedicate a longer time for night prayer in Sha‘baan. Begin by dedicating an hour, increase it gradually, and start getting used to long bowing and prostrating.Accustom yourself to dedicating a longer period of time for supplicating Allah The Almighty, and memorise some of the authentic supplications of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, for they include precise words with comprehensive meanings, and they are better, more blessed, and more likely to be answered, Allah willing.Allah The Almighty Says (what means):{And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous.} [Qur’an 3: 133]{So for this let the competitors compete. }[Qur’an 83: 26]We must be determined to make the best use of Ramadan by the will of The Most Gracious. Do not let its days slip by like any other days; the days of Ramadan are precious, if they lapse they may never come back again. How many people do not reach or witness Ramadan? How many people were not destined to reach the upcoming Ramadan? From now on, put down a plan with an objective and a sincere intention to prepare for Ramadan. Hence, if death overcomes you before reaching Ramadan, then you will die with a sincere intention and a righteous deed, Allah willing.Let us take a look at some of the plans of preparation for Ramadan during the days of Sha‘baan. However, before that, keep in mind the importance of time, do not let even a minute in Sha‘baan pass without benefiting from the preparation for Ramadan.What would you do if you were to expect an important guest, while your home is in a mess and needs to be cleaned? Would you start decorating it in its unclean state or start cleaning before anything else?Begin by setting right your obligations, adhere to the limits of Allah The Almighty, and hold yourself accountable for the sins you committed throughout the last 11 months since the past Ramadan. Repent from the past sins of the year before receiving the new month of Ramadan. Purify your heart of any doubts or desires, repent from every forbidden glance, or sins involving hearing, or any misdeed your hand committed and your feet walked towards. Remember that Allah The Almighty feels Jealous (which implies His wrath) when the matters He The Exalted has forbidden are violated. Beware of putting off repentance or procrastinating in this matter. Do not be deceived by the patience of Allah The Almighty and His concealment of your sins. Indeed, Allah The Almighty gives respite to the oppressor, but when He finally seizes him, He does not let him escape.Accustom yourself to spending more time in the Masjid (mosque) after performing congregational prayer to prepare for I‘tikaaf (staying in seclusion in the mosque with the intention of worship) in the last 10 days of Ramadan, Allah willing. If you cannot perform full I‘tikaaf, you could prolong your stay in the masjid, which is also considered I’tikaaf , as there is no minimum stipulated time limit for it.Get used to fasting so that you do not feel worn out while fasting the first couple of days in Ramadan. Fast on alternate days or in the most of the days of Sha‘baan, Imaam al-Bukhari, may Allah have mercy upon him, reported that ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, did not fast in any month more than he did in Sha‘baan, and he used to fast all of Sha‘baan.”Give alms on a daily basis in the month of Sha‘baan, so that you may get used to daily charity in Ramadan and to be among those mentioned in the Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “There is no day on which the people get up but two angels come down and one of them says, ‘O Allah, give in compensation to the one who spends (in charity),’ and the other says, ‘O Allah, destroy the wealth of the one who withholds.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]If it was your habit to give charity in other than Ramadan, then increase the quantity you give out in Sha‘baan whenever you can. Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was the most generous of people, and he was at his most generous during Ramadan, when Jibreel (angel Gabriel) met him. Jibreel used to meet with him every night and teach him the Qur’an. The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was the most generous person, even more generous and faster in spending than a strong blowing wind.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]Lessen your intake of food during Sha’baan; the more food you eat the more difficult it is to perform acts of worship in Ramadan.Avoid staying up late, try to sleep earlier, and wake up one hour prior to Fajr prayer or earlier to practise Qiyaam (voluntary night prayers) and supplicate to Allah The Almighty before dawn.Train yourself to sleep less. If your habit is to sleep eight hours, make it six or less without exhausting your body, compensating for it with a mid-day (short) nap.If you are unable to perform ‘Umrah in Ramadan for some reason, know that if you remain seated after Fajr prayer until sunrise and perform two Rak‘ahs (units of prayer) you would receive the reward of a complete Haj and ‘Umrah. Anas ibn Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Whoever prays Fajr in congregation then remains sitting (in the masjid) remembering and mentioning Allah until the sun rises, then prays two Rak‘ahs (15 minutes after the sun rises), will have a reward like that of performing Haj and ‘Umrah, complete, complete, complete.” [At-Tirmithi, Al-Albaani: Hasan li-ghayrih]Organise your time and make a timetable to evaluate your performance and the acts of worship you schedule for yourself. This is not an innovation in the religion, but is only a practical measure to monitor your acts of worship and to attain Paradise, Allah willing, which is your chief aim.From this moment on, engage your tongue to be moist with the remembrance and mention of Allah The Almighty; do not slacken in the remembrance and mention of Allah The Almighty, seeking forgiveness, glorifying Allah The Almighty and reciting Takbeer (i.e. Allahu Akbar). It is an easy form of worship with a heavy and great reward from Allah The Almighty.Revise what you have memorised of the Noble Qur’an or memorise some new Surahs (chapters) in Sha‘baan so that you could recite it in your supererogatory prayers in Ramadan. How happy is the one who prays and supplicates with verses he knows by heart!This was an attempt to provide some guidelines to follow during the month of Sha’baan in preparation for the blessed month of Ramadan. However, one can custom make his own list and add to this whatever he/she sees more suitable for his/her own situation.Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/

Samsung officially announced its new Galaxy Book 4 360 laptop in the new Book 4 series, which carries 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a 14th generation Intel Core i5 processor.Samsung provides other versions of the device with an Intel Core i7 RAM 150U class of 16GB, 512GB of storage and terabytes.The new Samsung Galaxy Book 4 360 carries a large 15.6-inch touchable Super Amold display with Full HD resolution, 60 Hz refresh rate, with S Pen writing and drawing pencil, and the device's screen is up to 360 degrees, meaning it can be converted into a tablet, with Windows 11 running.The device weighs about 1.46kg, features a 68W/h battery, with a 65W fast charger, the device supports 6E WiFi networks and Bluetooth 5.3 and has two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, a 3.5mm wired speaker port, a microSD port to add an external storage card and a USB A.The device also has a wide-field webcam with Full HD resolution, fingerprint sensor and supportive outdoor Astrio headphones for Dolby Atlos technology, large-area touchpad, backlit keyboard, and Samsung provides the device in grey and silver.

In the heartbeat of New York, where the city's pulse meets the elegance of Upper East Side, The Pierre NY by Taj reigns supreme—a living fantasy for those who've yearned for a Gossip Girl escapade amidst the glamour of the city that never sleeps. Nestled on 61st Street and 5th Avenue, adjacent to the iconic Central Park, this distinguished establishment stands tall with its 714 rooms and forty-two stories, evoking a regal charm that captivates from the moment you arrive.“Nothing beats a New Years Eve like one in New York, and it’s always nice to have an old friend from the neighbourhood along. Luxury stores and Ai Fiori. I locked down the Fifth Avenue and became a muse to all. Meanwhile, my friend ruled the other side. Storming the coffee shops and consuming the classics at The Met. Sampling sugary snacks was part of the equation too. But to put it out there, both of our stories sizzled and fizzled. It was our rude-awakening that Upper East Side monarchs aren’t born at the top. They have to secure a residence up-there. So, we shopped at Saint Laurent, and checked in at The Pierre New York. We knew there’s no concept of a coup d’ etat from a foreign land in New York.As I stepped into the gilded, black-and-white marble-floored entrance, the air of grandeur was palpable. This was not a minimalist haven; it was a realm of old-world splendor where the porters adorned tails and top hats, and the suites, amongst the city's most spacious, exuded a timeless elegance. My personal haven was a spacious suite with ample closet space and large windows framing a breathtaking view of Central Park.The hotel, a haven of refinement, extended its commitment to excellence to its breakfast offerings. Tasteful and diverse, the breakfast menu featured a range of American classics. However, for those desiring a touch of familiarity, an array of Indian breakfast options adorned the menu. It was a delightful fusion of flavors, echoing the hotel's commitment to catering to the diverse tastes of its guests. As I sipped my coffee and indulged in a breakfast that seamlessly blended the essence of America and India, The Pierre NY by Taj continued to elevate my stay into a symphony of luxury, comfort, and personalization.“Spotted: A and Y. Chic and cheerful up on 5th Avenue. They dallied at department stores and stayed awhile at Tiffany and Co. Down a little, they courted couture at Balmain. And found the perfect outfits to Dior the competition. Then they headed to the Pulitzer Fountain. Carrying the luxury goods, the opiate of choice.”The Pierre has not merely been a witness to history; it has been a part of it. Featured in Hollywood movies, including the illustrious Ocean 13 with Anne Hathaway, the hotel exudes a cinematic charm that seamlessly blends with the picturesque backdrop of New York City. The grand ballroom, a frescoed rotunda, and a stunning rooftop with a copper crown-like roof elevate the hotel to the echelons of iconic Fifth Avenue gems.The iconic Rotunda, with its trompe l’oeil-painted charm, became my rendezvous point as the evening unfolded. A drink in hand, surrounded by the opulence of the space, it was a moment suspended in time—a prelude to the grandeur awaiting outside. As the clock ticked towards midnight, the rooftop offered a panoramic view of the city's fireworks, a spectacle that painted the night sky in hues of celebration.Beyond the grandeur, The Pierre unveiled its commitment to personalization. The attentive staff, guided by the spirit of old-world hospitality, ensured that every need was met with grace. The seamless blend of historic charm and modern comfort became a defining feature of my stay, transforming it into a curated experience that resonated with the very essence of New York City.During my two-day stay, which coincided with the most happening New Year's Eve, The Pierre proved to be a strategic haven for a citywide celebration. Its location on the Upper East Side, renowned for upscale shopping, added an allure to the stay. The proximity of luxury boutiques and iconic flagship stores turned my shopping spree into a Serena and Blair moment, with my best friend ofcourse, with everything conveniently within reach.As my stay at The Pierre NY by Taj drew to a close, it became more than a luxurious sojourn; it was a narrative woven into the fabric of New York City's illustrious history. The Pierre is not just a hotel; it's a living testament to the city's grandeur, offering a timeless elegance that resonates with every visitor.

Celebrating Qatar's vibrant and fast-evolving cinema ecosystem, the Doha Film Institute will host a special Competition screenings of Made in Qatar films. Directed by Qatari nationals and those who call Qatar home, the films will be shown on February 20 and 21 by invitation only at VOX Cinemas, Doha Oasis Mall in Msheireb. Winners of the competition will be announced after the screenings on Feb. 21.Public screenings of the programme will run from Feb. 22-25.Doha Film Institute's Made in Qatar programme has become an internationally recognised and celebrated initiative that shines a spotlight on the country's film industry. Dedicated to nurturing local talent, the programme offers Qatari and Qatar-based filmmakers a platform to showcase their unique creativity and perspectives through cinema.Fatma Hassan Al Remaihi, Chief Executive Officer of Doha Film Institute, said: "Made in Qatar has helped build a robust cinema industry in Qatar, encouraging emerging filmmakers in the country to pursue their dreams and realise their ambitions. Nurturing homegrown talent is a top priority and commitment of the Institute in realizing our leadership's vision to build our talents and provide them with an enriching environment. The programme plays a pivotal role in the development of a vibrant and sustainable film community in the rich cultural landscape of Qatar, and to foster a new generation of storytellers and cinematic voices from the heart of the Middle East. Made in Qatar films also play a significant role in portraying our stories - of our nation, people, culture and hopes - authentically to global audiences."The 14 shorts will vie for the Made in Qatar Awards, chosen by a jury led by director and producer Tala Hadid, and includes actress Yassmine Al Masri and Dr. Firat Oruc from Georgetown University in Qatar.Competition films screening in Made in Qatar - Programme 1 on Feb. 20 are: A Simple Cut (Qatar) directed by Maha Al Jefairi; The Chandelier (Egypt, Qatar) by Karim Emara; Civilization of Equality (Qatar) by Ibrahim Albuainain; When It's Time (Qatar) by Awad Hashim Karrar; A Few Seconds (Iran, Qatar) by Arman Mansouri; Fraiha (Qatar) by Amal Al Shammari and Hossein Heydar; Sanad (Qatar) by Noor Al Nasr.Films screening in Made in Qatar - Programme 2 on Feb. 21 are: A'wan Al Kheir (Egypt, Qatar) by Farah Gomaa; A Proposal (Qatar) by Nadia Al Khater; Do You Remember Me (Qatar) directed by Maryam Al Mohammed; Fragments (Qatar) by Zaid Al Najati; Awal Yom 'Aza' (Qatar) by Jehad Hallaq; Kinship (Qatar) by Ali Al Hajri; Above the Tamarind Tree (Qatar) by Buthyna Al Mohammadi. (QNA)