NEW CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN AL AIN

Gulf News, Friday, 17 October, 2008

In today's edition of the Gulf News, an article [p.2] entitled "Marthoma community to build new church in Al Ain" reports that the foundation stone of this new church is to be laid today in the Mezyad district of Al Ain. The Diocesan Bishop of the Marthoma Church Chenai-Bangalore Diocese, the Right Reverend Mar Theodosius Episcopa, will attend the ceremony with Mr KM Johnson, the Vicar of the church. Mr Johnson expressed his gratitude to the Emirati Government and pointed out that the Marthoma Christian community would continue to play its role in the development of the United Arab Emirates. The church building itself will house a praying area, a manse, and a conference hall.

This is yet another example and demonstration of an authentic Islam, one that allows people to worship as they choose to.

PHOTOS OF LAILAT AL-QADR

A brother in Islam who also lives in Al Ain, has posted some awesome photos of Lailat Al-Qadr. Here is the URL where you can see his photos. Of this blessed night, the Holy Qur'an says:

"Verily, we have sent it [this Qur'an] down in the Night of Al-Qadr. And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr is?

The Night of Al Qadr is better than a thousand months.

Therein descended the angels and the Ruh [the Angel Gabriel] by Allah's Permission with all Decrees.

There is peace until the appearance of dawn"

[Al-Qadr, 1-5].

http://someone1986.blogspot.com/2008/10/muslims-prayersalat-al-qader.html

RESEARCHER CLAIMS CHAUVINISM IN YEMEN

Gulf News, Friday, October 10, 2008

Dr Afaf Al Haimi presented a paper at a symposium in Sana'a, Yemen, this week. The paper focused on the role of tribes in Yemen, Jordan and Iraq. The subtitle of an article about his paper in the Gulf News [p. 23] reads - education failing young girls, study says.

The article opens with this paragraph: "Women are not allowed to live their lives like men in Yemen because the social traditions still look at women as minors who need help and support however matured and educated they are...".

Amongst the alarming findings of Dr Al Haimi, the following need to be mentioned:

• illiteracy rates among women in the rural areas reaches 75.7%
• illiteracy rates among women in the urban areas reaches 40.5%
• 90,464 women are employed by the Yemeni Government, whereas 440,061 men are employed

The Gulf News article concludes: "The researcher also critisised the educational curriculum in Yemen, saying it discriminates against women and focuses only on male power". It seems crucial to point out, once more, that it is often a set of socio-cultural values and perspectives that is responsible for the status of women in a predominantly Islamic society, and not inherent religious values and perspectives.

ORBS OF LIGHT - WHAT IS THIS PHENOMENON?

It was an amazing experience at Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi last night [3 October, 2008]. Below these strange photos you will see examples of my own. Here are some photos that I got on the web of a phenomenon that some people call "orbs".

http://www.diepart.com/mediac/400_0/media/DIR_114701/orbs.jpg

http://www.lacarte.org/health/chemtrails/orbs/x

http://www.freewebs.com/hidyaphrodite/Garden%20Orbs.jpg

http://the.haikuist.googlepages.com/SuburbanORBS.JPG/SuburbanORBS-full.jpg

http://files.meetup.com/362710/It

I have no idea what they are, but I have had my own experience of them. First, look at some examples on the www of this phenomenon, and then, below them, look at some examples of my own. I would be most happy for someone to tell me that this is nothing more than a light trick or some other reasonable explanation. Until the verdict is out, I post these photos simply for the sake of better understanding...

ORBS OF LIGHT AT SHEIKH ZAYED MOSQUE

A while ago, I saw photos on Google and MSN and Yahoo that were remarkable. This category of photos goes by different names. Mostly, though, people use the word "orb" in some sense for this phenomenon. I have seen this same phenomenon on YouTube. Anyway, last night, at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, I had my first experience of these "orbs of light" around the Mosque. It happened only in certain directions - towards the Qibla, and towards the tomb of Sheikh Zayed. Initially, I thought it was just a light trick and that my lens was dirty. I cleaned it, aimed again, and the same phenomenon happened. My 2 friends were with me, and the 3 of us were gob-smacked at the photos I took. This did not seem to work on other cameras. I also shot videos in the same direction, but there was no phenomenon on the videos. Here are some photos...

3 OCTOBER 2008 - VISIT TO ABU DHABI, SHEIKH ZAYED MOSQUE, AND A FRIEND

3 OCTOBER 2008 - VISIT TO ABU DHABI, SHEIKH ZAYED MOSQUE, AND A FRIEND

3 OCTOBER 2008 - VISIT TO ABU DHABI, SHEIKH ZAYED MOSQUE, AND A FRIEND

3 OCTOBER 2008 - VISIT TO ABU DHABI, SHEIKH ZAYED MOSQUE, AND A FRIEND

3 OCTOBER 2008 - VISIT TO ABU DHABI, SHEIKH ZAYED MOSQUE, AND A FRIEND

Some more photos of the 3 of us at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

3 OCTOBER 2008 - VISIT TO ABU DHABI, SHEIKH ZAYED MOSQUE, AND A FRIEND

Yesterday, brother Paul and I went to Abu Dhabi for a visit. First, we had lunch in the Marina Mall, then we met up with a friend for some sheeshah as we celebrated our unity and brotherhood in Islam. Afterward, we went to the breathtaking Sheikh Zayed Mosque for Al-Maghrib. Words simply CANNOT describe how awesome that mosque is. I will post a few photos of it, but nothing comes even remotely near to capturing its beauty and magic.

THURSDAY - 2 October 2008 - friends visit us in Al Ain

Here are some photos of the gang in Al Ain Oasis, eating [as usual], and at the Al Ain Palace Museum.

THURSDAY - 2 October 2008 - friends visit us in Al Ain

Here are some photos of the Al Ain Palace Museum which was the home of the father of the late and honourable Sheikh Zayed, founder of the United Arab Emirates.