In the Black

Operating System that refuses to die!

2008-06-30T18:02:00.002+05:30

When it was launched in October 2001, the new version of Microsoft’s operating system for personal computers, Windows XP was so named for the new eXPerience it provided.

Today, XP will spell eXPiry. Microsoft will stop selling the XP version to PC Manufacturers & Retailers from Today (June 30 2008). They have been asked to stop preloading Windows XP on their products from today. There is a small exception made for low cost platforms, which will be able to continue loading the stripped down HOME version of XP for another 6 months.

But to the rest of us, Microsoft seems to be saying: “We gave you better version called Windows Vista, more than 18 months ago. So start learning to love it or lump it.” But lay users as well as corporate customers say: “Thanks but we don’t care for Vista: it is bloated and sluggish; it irritates us with a hundred promptings; it doesn’t work with most of peripherals like Printers, Scanners , CD/DVD Drivers and Portable Hard Disk Drives; and it takes so long to start or stop, that it is driving us crazy”.

There is lots of good things in Vista: multiple tagged browser pages; a whole new 3-D look and feel but the canny Indian ‘janatha’ user hasn’t found it to be ‘paisa vasool’ and in any case XP still works fine.

As PCs become smaller, lighter, less power-consumption, what people want is smaller, quicker PC software that lets you get on the Web which today houses a lot of their tools and files – fast. Vista is not that which people need.

“XP will die at the hands of a misguided killer: Microsoft,” said the Web Magazine, www.ITWorld.com a few days ago and many in the industry agree.

Over 140 million copies of Vista have been sold, says Microsoft; but analysts Forrester found in April that only half the enterprise world has planned an upgrade to Vista.

The entire Intel Organization (a Key Microsoft Partner) has decided to stick with XP. So what can the rest of us do?

Microsoft has already announced that the next iteration after Vista will be Windows 7 – possibly in mid 2009. If we want to continue using XP on our machines, no can really stop us. The Canny Indian reseller and assembler community will find ways to support us, with or without Microsoft help. We can continue doing our computing, the XP way, till we see what Windows 7 offers, leapfrogging over Vista in the process.

Best wishes Sam on your Birthday

2008-06-28T16:29:00.002+05:30

Sam Puri,

I wish that

days weren't

quite so busy,

and that

weeks passed

less quickly,

and there were

more days like today

Just for

celebrating you . . .

I hope

you always know

how much

you mean to me,

and what

a wonderful

brother you are.

Happy Birthday with Love

When

I think about the

people who

really

mean a lot

to me

My thoughts

Always

Turns to you

Just knowing

you’re there

and that you care

makes my world

a happier place

May Allah shower blessings on you… Many More Happy Returns of the Day Sam Puri...

With Love Haseem

Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic Movie Review

2008-06-28T15:08:00.003+05:30

I was really very eager to see my favorite pair Saif Ali Khan & Rani Mukherjee after the Blockbusters Hum – Tum & Ta Ra Rum Pum. Now here by the review of Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic …

Ranvir Talwar ( Saif Ali Khan ) is a self-made man who grew up as an orphan. He has got everything – a flourishing business empire, a sensuous bimbo in tow ( Amisha Patel ), a swanky bungalow and, not to forget, a constant frown on his face. But he’s got no time.

Ranvir’s life changes after a car accident in which a couple dies because of his mistake. The court, instead of kicking him off to prison, gives an unusual verdict. Ranvir has to be the guardian of the four orphans of the dead couple and take care of them until the youngest of them becomes an adult.

But the kids hate Ranvir. And Ranvir feels no different towards them. Put up in the house of their parents’ killer, the kids plot revenge.

It would take nothing less than a divine intervention to foster peace and love between Ranvir and the vengeful tots. The good God himself takes the trouble of summoning one of his favourite fairies, Geeta ( Rani Mukherjee ), to go to the world of humans and do His work.

And down she comes, cycling on a rainbow (like some lost sister of Lance Armstrong) and straight into the life of Ranvir and his four cute ill-wishers. What happens thereafter better be seen than written about.

The most commendable thing about ‘Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic’ is that it makes the most ludicrous of scenes engaging and fun to watch. Be it the fairy (as the nanny of the kids) turning the boring National Museum into a magical, living theatre of history, or the four naughty kids ruining the poolside party of Ranvir’s skimpily clad squeeze (Amisha) – you relish it all with the buoyancy of an adolescent yourself.

Besides humour, the film is also high on melodrama. I know it has almost become a dreadful word – thanks to many a weepy Bollywood movies – but the tear-jerking scenes in TPTM don’t pinch you like other run-of-the-mill sob tales. You bear them, at times with suppressed embarrassment of being seen moist-eyed by the fellow sitting next to you in theatre.

Saif Ali Khan does superb as the frowning, scowling, busy-as-a-bee businessman who gradually transforms into a loving, caring, doting guardian. Rani Mukherjee is pretty good as the blabbermouth fairy who performs magical feats as if she was doing something trivial, like playing carrom. And it is a great relief to see her play a character that doesn’t weep.

Amisha Patel is convincing as the minimally clad, dumb bimbo with a superficial accent. The kids are all right. The sardar kid (Iqbal) wins you over with his humour.

Kunal Kohli’s direction has many rough edges. For instance, his style of shot composition needs a great deal of improvement. The film’s music is also ho-hum.

Apart from this, ‘Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic’ is pretty enjoyable. It has many engaging moments. My favourite is the one in which Iqbal tells Ranvir that he doesn’t want to be a Sikh. Another favourite of mine comes at the end. I’m not sure if the director intended it. But on a street in Hollywood, the camera captures two delightful words written on a wall. The words are: Buck Fush. Written on an American street, it doesn’t take much imagination to figure out what they mean.

‘Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic’ does not belong to any one actor. Speaking in cricket parlance, it’s a team effort.

Verdict: All cinematic blasphemies can be forgiven when you see a delightful, heart-winning tale filled with fun, frolic, fantasy and some tear-jerking drama unfold on the screen. That’s what Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic is.

Rating: 3 ½ Stars on 5

Dasavatharam Movie Review

2008-06-14T22:48:00.003+05:30

Kamal Hassan's magnum opus film Dasavatharam directed by K.S.Ravi Kumar and produced by Oscar Ravichandran released on June 13. Already the film had been touted as the biggest Indian film to hit the screens. Over one thousand prints of the film have been screened worldwide. In Karnataka Dasavatharam and its Telugu version released simultaneously. While the Tamil film been released in Bangalore, in other districts like Kolar the Telugu version was released.

One man doing 11 roles, 10 on screen and one off it (as scriptwriter) is a first in the history of world cinema. You have heard a lot about the story, probably more than what you have about any film before its release. A story that spans 9 centuries and takes you across the globe on a big adventure and on a canvas so big that Indian cinema, maybe world cinema, has never witnessed. Here's a look at just how big the film is & Dasavatharam review is out:

Banner: Oscar Films

Cast: Kamal Haasan, Asin, Mallika Sherawath, Jayapradha, Rekha, K R Vijaya, Nagesh, Nepolean, Santhana Bharathi, M S Bhaskar, P Vasu, R Sundarrajan, Ramesh Khanna, Erode Sounder, Pandu

Direction: K S Ravikumar

Production: V Ravichandran

Music: Himesh Reshammiya

Kamal Hassan’s Roles in the Movie

Rangarajan Nambi – An Iyengar

Govind Ramaswamy – An American Scientist

Fletcher – Anti Hero (A Former CIA Officer)

Balram Naidu – Investigator

Boovaragan – Annachi

Mrs. Krishaveni – An Old Woman of 95 years.

Japanese Martial Arts Trainer

Kalifullah Khan - A Muslim Guy

Mr. Avatar Singh – A Punjabi Pop Singer

George W Bush – American President

As a Script Writer

The story line to very complicated woven – The team has tried to highlight a lot of stuff into the Single story – Religion, Bio-Weapon, Tsunami, Illegal stealing of Sand, Cancer, Celebrity’s life & US supremacy.

The story starts with an incident taking place in 12^th century during the rule of the Chozha dynasty when Hindus were divided into Saivites and Vaishnavites. Rangarajan Nambi (Avatar No.1) is a loyal disciple of Ramanuja Azhwar. King Kulothunga (Napolean - what a fantastic performance!), a follower of Lord Siva, compels Nambi to change his religious beliefs and worship Lord Siva instead of Lord Vishnu but Nambi refuses. The king then orders for the immersion of the statue of Lord Ranganatha along with Nambi into the sea.

After this meaningless first avatar, the movie shifts to the present scientific world. Govind Ramaswamy (Avatar No.2), an American scientist invents a dangerous bio weapon in his lab but wants to destroy the same after realizing its dangerous consequences. But the US Govt and scientists don’t allow him to do that. One fine day, Govind runs away from the lab with the bio weapon but Fletcher (Avatar No.3), a former CIA officer turned Villian, chases him to get the weapon back to destroy other countries.

The weapon is mistakenly sent to an Indian address by courier where a 95 year old lady (Avatar No.4) receives the parcel. Govind immediately rushes to India and traces down the address. He is followed by Fletcher who is accompanied by his prostitute cum translator (Mallika Sherawat). The old lady refuses to give the weapon to them without understanding the danger it could cause and puts it inside a statue of Lord Vishnu.

The scientist captures the statue and starts running with it pulling Asin close relative of the old lady, along with him. Fletcher chases him till the end of the film. A foolish police officer Balram Naidu (Avatar No.5) too is in the race always chasing both these characters.

In between a Punjabi singer (Avatar No.6), US President George Bush (Avatar No.7), a tall Muslim (Avatar No.8), a martial arts trainer (Avatar No.9) and a Southern district resident Annachi (Avatar No.10) comes, does something and disappears.

Finally the tsunami comes to the rescue of the Scientist and destroys the weapon along with drowning Fletcher. The statue of Lord Rangaraja, which was immersed in the sea in 12th century, also appears on the shore after the tsunami.

What did Kamal Hassan really want to convey? Lord Ranganatha, the almighty who is sleeping inside the sea for centuries, finally sends a tsunami to destroy the bio weapon along with the bad guy.

What is the necessity or compulsion of portraying Kamal in 10 different get ups? To create some mindless hype or register it as a record in the Industry? Highly idiotic! Particularly the role of Punjabi Singer, Muslim tall man Kalifullah Khan, Annachi and Japanese martial arts trainer unnecessarily intervene in the flow of story.

There is no professionalism in makeup also. For most of the characters, the makeup looks very amateur. Kamal looks like an animation character playing the bad guys role because the makeup is over done. However, one must appreciate him for the hard work put into playing so many different characters to perform in many roles simultaneously at this age.

Apart from Kamal, Asin plays dual roles for the first time but nothing is special in any of her get ups. Her performance is also not par excellence. Jayapradha appears in few scenes and does well in them. Nothing is special in Himesh Reshammiya’s songs or Devi Sri Prasad’s background score. Ravi Varman unnecessarily lifts the camera to top angle and shakes even inside a house.

Technically the film is far superior to any other Tamil movie in some scenes, particularly in the tsunami climax. The special effects of Jennie in the last 15 minutes simply rocks. Also the body language of Japanese Kamal is simply excellent. Watch this movie to see Kamal in 10 different avatars. But is it really enough to make a fan to watch a film? This is a big question stand before Kamal fans those known as the lovers of good movies like sensational Mahanadhi or Kuruthipunal!. Kamal Ji we expected a lot from you.

Verdict: No doubt, Dasavatharam is really an average movie with a poor plot and characterization that fails in most of the departments and fails to attract the viewers.

Rating: 3 & ½ Stars on 5

Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na Movie Preview

2008-06-12T12:46:00.003+05:30

Banner: Aamir Khan Productions, PVR Cinema

Cast: Imraan Khan, Genelia Dsouza, Manjari Phadnis

Special Appearance: Ratna Pathak, Naseruddin Shah, Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, Arshad Warsi & Paresh Rawal

Direction: Abbas Tyrewala

Production: Mansoor Khan, Aamir Khan

Music Direction: A R Rahman

Cassettes and CD's on: T-Series

Opposites attract. But they do repel as well. Such is the story of Jai and Aditi, the protagonists of ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’.

The movie introduces Aamir Khan’s nephew Imran Khan opposite Genelia D’Souza, who has already acted in a couple of Bollywood films.

Set in a college campus, the film is a tale of friendship, bonding and love. It is about discovering love in one’s heart.

Imran Khan as Jai Singh Rathore

Jai is a Rajput, but he can’t even kill an ant. He is perhaps the most non-violent Rajput you would find in either side of the Aravallis.

Genelia as Aditi

Aditi is the diametric opposite of Jai. She is violent and over-passionate. The most unfortunate thing a person can do is pick a fight with her. When Aditi shoots off her mouth, there is no stopping her.

Synopsis:

For all the right reasons, Jai thinks Aditi’s parents should have rinsed her mouth with soap when she was a kid. Then, perhaps, she would have been mellower.

On the other hand, Aditi thinks Jai is a coward. There is nothing Rajput-like in him.

Two distinct personalities at the same place and same time. Heaven seems to have mixed up apples with oranges.

And there are others as well in the campus group. There is Rotlu who weeps secretly for Aditi. There is Bombs whose heart throbs for Jai. There is Jiggy who applies golden mascara to his hair. And there is Shaleen, the ever-enthusiastic guitar player.

Everybody thinks Jai and Aditi are perfect for each other despite their contrasting personalities. But do Aditi and Jai think so?

Do they really know what their hearts desire? Will they find love in each other?

‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’ marks the directorial debut of Abbas Tyrewala who has written films like Maqbool, Munnabhai MBBS and Main Hoon Na.

The movie also brought back the prodigal director Mansoor Khan from his self-chosen hibernation. Mansoor is the film’s producer along with Aamir Khan .

The film’s music is given by A R Rahman while the songs are written by Abbas Tyrewala.

The movie also has special appearances by a host of actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, Arshad Warsi and Paresh Rawal.

‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’ will hit the Screens on July 4, 2008.

Sarkar Raj Movie Review

2008-06-06T16:20:00.002+05:30

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Govind Namdeo, Tanisha Mukherjee, Victor Banerjee, Supriya Pathak

Direction: Ram Gopal Varma

Production: Nitin Chandrachud, Abhijit Ghatak, Praveen Nischol

Written by: Prashant Pandey , Ram Gopal Varma

With Sarkar, Ram Gopal Varma had precisely established the central characters, set the ambience, defined the aura and demarcated the genre. So in the follow-up he simply had to take the legend ahead while narrating a new episode. And to a decent degree he succeeds in carrying the legacy forward.

In the second installment, Sarkar aka Subhash Nagre (Amitabh Bachchan) takes a backseat as son Shankar Nagre (Abhishek Bachchan) takes hold of the family empire. An NRI industrialist Anita Ranjan (Aishwarya Rai) approaches the Nagre family with a power plant project to be set in the local lands of Maharashtra under Sarkar’s domain. After initial reluctance, Sarkar gives a go ahead to the venture which soon takes shape of a political conspiracy.

Ramu’s storytelling pattern is such that he initially builds up the drama and subsequently breaks down the politics behind the play. He effectively employs all the original techniques from the predecessor by making use of the same theme for the background score (Amar Mohile), caustic editing pattern (Amit Parmar, Nipun Gupta), sepia tone effect and erratic camera angles (Amit Roy).

But while adhering to the original, he occasionally, also sets up repetitiveness in the screenplay with similar setup and shot execution. For instance he sketches a group of negative forces absolutely analogous like the villain quartet from Sarkar with identical intentions to crumple the Nagre kingdom. Reprehensibly their caricature characterizations do not gel with the solemn temper of the film. Sayaji Shinde hams endlessly while Govind Namdeo and Upendra Limaye are consistently theatrical, appearing more as comic sidekicks.

To an extent, even the screenplay is moulded in the vein of the forerunner film when Shankar wages a political war against his opponents. But the treatment is twisted as Ramu reverses the roleplay of the father-son duo in this film in clear contrast to the format adopted in the earlier episode. While the father takes a backseat in the initial reels giving authority to son, he grabs charge of the proceedings in the concluding portions.

Like in Sarkar, Ramu sharply balances the role runtime of both the father and the son justifying the collective presence of Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan. But he simultaneously swaps their zones of prominence thereby bringing a variation in their contribution. Despite drama being the highlight, the texture is subtle throughout.

From a political war, the film intermittently shifts track to a regular revenge drama till it arrives to a volatile climax that forms a highlight of the enterprise, escalating the entire graph. Sarkar Raj clearly gains major marks for its clever culmination, which was so much lacking from recent RGV products. The considerately and crisply penned dialogues by Prashant Pandey add a lot of insight to the scenes and depth to the characterizations.

From the cast, Aishwarya Rai plays a mere spectator to the scenes than a participant to the politics. She is her usual self and her act doesn’t seem to be sculpted by the RGV touch. The other two Bachchans have exhaustive scope and completely submit to Ramu’s visualization.

Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan, once again, employ the intensity of their piercing eyes to give sight to Ram Gopal Varma’s distinctive vision.

Verdict: Sarkar Raj was widely heralded as an homage to the Godfather trilogy, though director Ram Gopal Varma refutes comparisons, describing Sarkar Raj as “the new adventures of the Nagare family…. showcasing the aura of power.”

Rating: 3 stars on 5

Best wishes Priya on your Birthday

2008-06-06T11:22:00.002+05:30

Each year your birthday reminds me

That I really want to say

I’m very glad I know you;

I think of you each day.

I hope you enjoy your birthday,

All the pleasures it has in store,

And because I appreciate you,

I hope you have many more!

Many More Happy Returns of the Day Priyu

Once a year I get the chance
To wish you birthday cheer.
It pleases me no end to say,
I wish you another great year.

So happy birthday to you Priyu,
From the bottom of my heart.
And may your good times multiply,
Till they’re flying off the chart!

May Allah shower blessings on you… Many More Happy Returns of the Day Priyu...

With Love Haseem

Best wishes Srila on your Birthday

2008-06-06T11:06:00.004+05:30

Instead of counting candles,

Or tallying the years,

Contemplate your blessings,

As your birthday nears.

Consider special people

Who love you, and who care,

And others who’ve enriched your life

Just by being there.

Think about the memories

Passing years can never mar,

Experiences great and small

That have made you who you are.

Another year is a happy gift,

So cut your cake, and say,

"Instead of counting birthdays,

I count blessings every day!"

May Allah shower blessings on you… Many More Happy Returns of the Day Srila...

With Love Haseem

Best wishes Sashi on your Birthday

2008-06-05T12:37:00.003+05:30

Each year your birthday reminds us

That we really want to say

We’re very glad we know you;

We think of you each day.

We hope you enjoy your birthday,

All the pleasures it has in store,

And because we appreciate you,

We hope you have many more!

Once a year we get the chance

To wish you birthday cheer.

It pleases us no end to say,

We wish you another great year.

So happy birthday to you Sashi,

From the bottom of our heart.

And may your good times multiply,

Till they’re flying off the chart!

Instead of counting candles,

Or tallying the years,

Contemplate your blessings,

As your birthday nears.

Consider special people

Who love you, and who care,

And others who’ve enriched your life

Just by being there.

Think about the memories

Passing years can never mar,

Experiences great and small

That have made you who you are.

Another year is a happy gift,

So cut your cake, and say,

"Instead of counting birthdays,

I count blessings every day!"

It’s your birthday...

and We’re thinking how glad we are

that you were born.

You have given us so much--

supported us, encouraged us,

cared for us; We didn't even need to ask.

We celebrate your wonderful self!

We’re in awe of your boundless generosity,

your infinite kindness--that gentle inner glow

that you so freely use to warm our life.

Your birthday is as much a celebration for us

as it is for you, maybe more,

and we wish for you the best of birthdays,

the best one ever.

May each birthday be better than the last.

Most of all, We hope you will always be

As happy as you have made us.

When

We think about the

people who

really

mean a lot

to us

Our thoughts

Always

Turns to you

Just knowing

you’re there

and that you care

makes our world

a happier place

May Allah shower blessings on you… Many More Happy Returns of the Day Sashi ...

With Loads of Hugs & Love

Hari, Haseem, Maya & Suja

Best wishes Sohana on your Birthday

2008-06-03T10:57:00.002+05:30

Sohana Akka,

I wish that

days weren't

quite so busy,

and that

weeks passed

less quickly,

and there were

more days like today

Just for

celebrating you . . .

I hope

you always know

how much

you mean to me,

and what

a wonderful

sister you are.

Happy Birthday with Love

Instead of counting candles,

Or tallying the years,

Contemplate your blessings,

As your birthday nears.

Consider special people

Who love you, and who care,

And others who’ve enriched your life

Just by being there.

Think about the memories

Passing years can never mar,

Experiences great and small

That have made you who you are.

Another year is a happy gift,

So cut your cake, and say,

"Instead of counting birthdays,

I count blessings every day!"

Hey, Soha -

Don’t hate me

because I’m

adorable

Hate me

because

I am younger

than you

Nah-nah-nah-nah-poo-poo!

Happy Happy Birthday ma Sweet Soha Akka

When

We think about the

people who

really

mean a lot

to us

Our thoughts

Always

Turns to you

Just knowing

you’re there

and that you care

makes our world

a happier place

May Allah shower blessings on you… Many More Happy Returns of the Day...

With Love Haseem & Fathima

Perfume

2008-06-02T12:16:00.001+05:30

Of the three favorite things of the Holy Prophet, perfume is one. It has been specially liked by him owing to several reasons. It gives a sense of joy and offers a contenance of cheerfulness. It gives joy to others who comes in contact with the man who uses perfume. It supplies wisdom to the brain if it is constantly used. It is especially useful for a man who mixes in society, because bad odour is always adominable. The Holy prophet prohibited a man to enter a mosque or join congregational prayer when he comes there after eating uncooked garlic and onions. Perfumed oil or extract of juice or otto may be quite lawfully used, but perfume mixed with spirit is abominable. A beg of perfume should be always at hand as the Holy Prophet did. He prohibited using of Khulug odour saying that the prayer of one who uses Khulug is not accepted. The perfume of woman should be odourless but with colour, and the perfume of man should be without colour but with odour. Females should not use perfumes when they come out to join congregational prayer. There are four things of the practices of the Prophet; use of perfumes is one of them.

Difference between the two Kings

2008-06-02T12:11:00.000+05:30

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

"Reciting Salawath on our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is an activity that will be accepted by Allah, even if we don't have Ikhlas (piety)".

A minister of a king suddenly disappeared. The king asked his people to search for him and he was found in a far away place leading a normal life. When asked to come back to the palace, he refused and said that he is now in the service of a great king. When this was conveyed to the king he got curious and went in person to meet the minister.

After exchange of pleasantries, the king asked the minister who was the king he was serving. The minister replied saying that he is the greatest king of all and I found 5 differences between him and all other kings of this world. The minister said that these differences made him love this great king more and he will serve him till his death. The king asked him to list the differences and the minister listed them.

1. All kings of this world will be sitting while their slaves have to stand while conversing with them. But, this king actually carries his slaves wherever the slaves go.

2. All kings of this world sleep in palaces and their slaves have to keep a watch on them and serve them, many a times sacrificing their own sleep. But, this king lets the slaves sleep and he keeps a watch on them. He himself never sleeps or naps.

3. All kings of this world eat the best of foods and his slaves who cook the food hardly get to taste any of them. They may even lose their lives if the king dislikes the food. But, this king feeds his slaves all through the life and he has no need for food.

4. The punishment for a mistake from the kings of this world is multiple times bigger than the mistake. But, this kings Forgiveness is bigger than the biggest of the mistakes of his slaves.

5. I used to fear the death of the king worrying about my future. The new incumbent may throw me out or even put me in prison for my loyalty to the previous regime. But, this king has no death.

This king is Allah, my creator and sustainer, the one without any needs, fulfiller of all our needs. If you have been His slave once, you will not be a slave to anyone else.

The king went back to his palace with something to think.

Qurban - Sacrifice

2008-06-02T12:08:00.000+05:30

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

"Reciting Salawath on our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is an activity that will be accepted by Allah, even if we don't have Ikhlas (piety)".

The true sacrifice is accepting the truth that our existence is due to Allah's essence. A sheep sacrifices itself for a single recitation of "Allahu Akbar" but, we say "Allahu Akbar" repeatedly in our regular prayers - but we don't sacrifice ourselves even once. Whenever you say, "Allahu Akbar", make sure that you remember Allah's omnipresence and that we subsist because of His essence. That's the sacrifice we will have to do every time we pray.

Women and Islam

2008-06-01T19:43:00.000+05:30

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

"Reciting Salawath on our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is an activity that will be accepted by Allah, even if we don't have Ikhlas (piety)".

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The complex relationship between women and Islam is defined by both Islamic texts and the history and culture of the Muslim world. Sharia (Islamic law) provides for differences between women's and men's roles, rights, and obligations. Muslim-majority countries give women varying degrees of rights with regards to marriage, divorce, civil rights, legal status, dress code, and education.

Even where these differences are acknowledged, scholars and other commentators vary as to whether they are unjust and whether they are a correct interpretation of religious imperatives. Conservatives argue that differences between men and women are due to different status and responsibilities, while liberal Muslims, Muslim feminists, and others argue that more progressive interpretations of the role of women are more just.

Sources of influence

Islamic law is the product of Quranic guidelines, as understood by Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), as well as of the interpretations derived from the traditions of Muhammad (hadith), which were also selected by a number of historical Islamic scholars. These interpretations and their application were shaped by the historical context of the Muslim world. Furthermore, whether or not Muslims tended to follow these rules was dependent on the prevailing culture, which differed between social classes, local conditions, and regions. Quranic reforms, which in many regions improved the position of women relative to their situation prior to Islam, have often been undermined by the reassertion of tribal customs, or the use of such customs under the name of Islamic law. The spirit of the Quranic reforms may also have been modified by historical or cultural interpretations, reaffirming male dominance and perpetuating gender inequality.

Early historical background

To evaluate the effect of Islam on the status of women, many writers have discussed the status of women in pre-Islamic Arabia, and their findings have been mixed. Some writers have argued that gender roles before Islam were relatively egalitarian, drawing on disparate evidence ranging from the marriage of Muhammad's parents to the worship of female idols at Mecca. Other writers, on the contrary, have argued that women's status in pre-Islamic Arabia was poor, citing practices of female infanticide, unlimited polygyny, and patrilineal marriage.

Islam changed the structure of Arab society and to a large degree unified the people, reforming and standardizing gender roles throughout the region. According to Islamic scholar William Montgomery Watt, Islam improved the status of women by "instituting rights of property ownership, inheritance, education and divorce."

In terms of women's rights, women generally had fewer legal restrictions under Islamic law than they did under certain Western legal systems until the 20th century. For example, restrictions on the legal capacity of married women under French law were not removed until 1965.

Early reforms under Islam

During the early reforms under Islam in the 7th century, reforms in women's rights affected marriage, divorce and inheritance. Women were not accorded with such legal status in other cultures, including the West, until centuries later. The Oxford Dictionary of Islam states that the general improvement of the status of Arab women included prohibition of female infanticide and recognizing women's full personhood. "The dowry, previously regarded as a bride-price paid to the father, became a nuptial gift retained by the wife as part of her personal property." Under Islamic law, marriage was no longer viewed as a "status" but rather as a "contract", in which the woman's consent was imperative. "Women were given inheritance rights in a patriarchal society that had previously restricted inheritance to male relatives." Annemarie Schimmel states that "compared to the pre-Islamic position of women, Islamic legislation meant an enormous progress; the woman has the right, at least according to the letter of the law, to administer the wealth she has brought into the family or has earned by her own work." William Montgomery Watt states that Muhammad, in the historical context of his time, can be seen as a figure who testified on behalf of women’s rights and improved things considerably. Watt explains: "At the time Islam began, the conditions of women were terrible - they had no right to own property, were supposed to be the property of the man, and if the man died everything went to his sons." Muhammad, however, by "instituting rights of property ownership, inheritance, education and divorce, gave women certain basic safeguards." Haddad and Esposito state that "Muhammad granted women rights and privileges in the sphere of family life, marriage, education, and economic endeavors, rights that help improve women's status in society."

Gender roles

In Islam, relations between the sexes are governed by the principle of complementarity rather than the principle of equality. In many Islamic societies, there is a division of roles creating a woman’s space in the private sphere of the home and a man’s in the public sphere. Because of this economic reliance of women on men, the Qur'an justifies that men should always be in charge over women. A woman's primary responsibility is usually interpreted as fulfilling her role as a wife and mother, whereas a man’s role is to work and be able to financially support his wife and family. The Qur'an also directs men to honour their mothers[Qur'an 4:1] and strongly disapproves of parents who feel ashamed over the birth of a daughter instead of a son. Islamic scholars maintain that the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, affirms women's religious and moral equality.

Sex segregation

Islam discourages social interaction between men and women when they are alone, but not all interaction between men and women. This is shown in the example of Khadijah, a rich, twice widowed businesswoman who employed Muhammad and met with him to conduct trade before they were married, and in the example set by his other wives, who taught and counseled the men and women of Medina.

In some Islamic countries, such as Saudi Arabia, sex segregation has been or is strictly enforced. The Taliban treatment of women in Afghanistan is an extreme example of this. Even in countries where the sexes mingle socially, they generally remain segregated within the mosque.

Financial matters

Islam gives women the right to own, which entitles them to have personal possessions. While women have fewer financial obligations than men, some of their financial rights are limited. Women's share of inheritance, as outlined in the Qur'an, is typically less than that of men. Women's right to work is also disputed.

According to Bernard Lewis, while Islam sanctions a social inequality between man and woman, Muslim women have historically had property rights unparalleled in the modern West until comparatively recently.

Financial obligations

A woman, when compared with her husband, is far less burdened with any claims on her possessions. Her possessions before marriage do not transfer to her husband and she is encouraged to keep her maiden name. She has no obligation to spend on her family out of such properties or out of her income after marriage. A woman also receives a mahr (dowry), which is given to her by her husband at the time of marriage. Women, unlike men, also have the right to be supported financially.

Inheritance

In Islam, women are entitled the right of inheritance, [Qur'an 4:7] but often a woman's share of inheritance is less than that of a man's. In general circumstances, Islam allows females half the inheritance share available to males who have the same degree of relation to the deceased. Some argue that this difference derives from men's obligation to support their wives financially, while the women's share would be entirely at her own disposal.

In most Muslim nations, the law of the state concerning inheritance is in accordance with this law.

The Qur'an guarantees women the right to inherit a proportion of their father's estate. A widowed woman inherits a portion of her husband's estate.

Employment

Women are allowed to work in Islam, subject to certain conditions, and even recommended to do so should they be in financial need. This is supported by the Quranic example of two female shepherds ([Qur'an 28:23]). Islam recognizes that the society needs women to work for the sake of development. In general, women's right to work is subject to certain conditions:

The work should not require the woman to violate Islamic law (e.g., serving alcohol), and be mindful of the woman's safety.
If the work requires the woman to leave her home, she must maintain her modesty.
Her work should not affect more important commitments, such as those towards her family.

Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the Muslim community to organize work for women, so that she can do so in a Muslim atmosphere, where her rights are respected.

However, the employment of women varies over fields in Islamic law. Whereas women may seek medical treatment from men, it is preferred that they do so from female physicians. It is also preferred that female schools, colleges, sports centers and ministries are staffed by women rather than men. On the contrary, there are disagreements between Islamic schools of thought about whether women should be able to hold the position of judge in a court. Shafi`ites claim that women may hold no judicial office, while Hanafites allow women to act as judges in civil cases only, not criminal ones. These interpretations are based on the above quoted Medinan sura (verse) [Qur'an 4:34].

Even when women have the right to work and are educated, women's job opportunities may in practice be unequal to those of men. In Egypt for example, women have limited opportunities to work in the private sector because women are still expected to put their role in the family first, which causes men to be seen as more reliable in the long term. Patterns of women's employment vary throughout the Muslim world: as of 2005, 16% of Pakistani women were "economically active" (either employed, or unemployed but available to furnish labor), whereas 52% of Indonesian women were.

Legal and criminal matters

The status of women's testimony in Islam is disputed. Some jurists have held that certain types of testimony by women will not be accepted. In other cases, the testimony of two women can equal that of one man.[Qur'an 2:282] The reason for this disparity has been explained in various manners, including women's lack of intelligence, women's temperament and sphere of interest, and sparing women from the burden of testifying. In other areas, women's testimony may be accepted on an equal basis with men's.

Commentators on the status of women in Islam have often focused on disparities in diyyat, the fines paid by killers to victims' next of kin after either intentional or unintentional homicide, between men and women. Diyya has existed in Arabia since pre-Islamic times. While the practice of diyya was affirmed by Muhammed, Islam does not prescribe any specific amount for diyyat nor does it require discrimination between men and women; the Qur'an has left open its quantity, nature, and other related affairs to be defined by social custom and tradition. Traditionally, however, diyya for a woman is half that of a man; this is currently codified in the laws of some Muslim-majority countries such as Iran.

Rape

Islamic criminal jurisprudence does not discriminate between genders in punishments for crimes. In case of sexual crimes such as zina (fornication), however, women may be found guilty more easily than men, because of the visible evidence of pregnancy; without a pregnancy, four witnesses are required to file a zina case. The difficulty of prosecuting rapists and the possibility of prosecution for women who allege rape has been of special interest to activists for Muslim women's rights. In the past decades there have been several high profile cases of pregnant women prosecuted for zina who claim to have been raped.

The overwhelming majority of Muslim scholars believe that there is no punishment for a woman coerced into having sex. According to a Sunni hadith, the punishment for committing rape is death, there is no sin on the victim, nor is there any worldly punishment ascribed to her. However, the stringent requirements for proof of rape under some interpretations of Islamic law, combined with cultural attitudes regarding rape in some parts of the Muslim world, result in few rape cases being reported; even the cases brought forward typically result in minimal punishment for offenders or severe punishment for victims. It can be difficult to seek punishment against rapists, because a zina case cannot be brought without four witnesses, even for rape cases. Some scholars, however, treat rape instead as hiraba (disorder in the land), which does not require four witnesses. The form of punishment and interpretation of Islamic law in this case is highly dependent on the legislation of the nation in question, and/or of the judge.

Honor killings

So-called honor killings (murders, nearly exclusively of women, of persons who are perceived as having brought dishonor to their families) are often identified with Islam, though they predate the introduction of Islam into Arabia and are non-Quranic. However, honor killings are sanctioned in Iran's and Afghanistan's penal codes in which honor killing is legal or lightly punished. Honor killings are more common in Muslim-majority countries, though they occur in other countries as well. Many Muslim scholars and commentators say that honor killings are a cultural practice which is neither exclusive to, nor universal within, the Islamic world.

Marriage and sexuality

Who may be married?

According to Islamic law (sharia), marriage cannot be forced.

No age limits have been fixed by Islam for marriage. Children of the youngest age may be married or promised for marriage, although a girl is not handed across to her husband until she is fit for marital sexual relations.

Islamic jurists have traditionally held that Muslim women may only enter into marriage with Muslim men, although some contemporary jurists question the basis of this restriction. This is pursuant to the principle that Muslims may not place themselves in a position inferior to that of the followers of other religions. On the other hand, the Qur'an explicitly allows Muslim men to marry chaste women of the People of the Book, a term which includes Jews, Sabians, and Christians. However, fiqh law has held that it is makruh (reprehensible) for a Muslim man to marry a non-Muslim woman in a non-Muslim country.

Polygamy is permitted under restricted conditions, but it is not widespread. Women are not allowed to engage in polyandry, whereas men are allowed to engage in polygyny.

Widow inheritance is about 1/8 of the property of her deceased husband. The widow woman is allowed to marry any non-mahram person, if she wishes. [Qur'an 4:19]

Marriage contract

The contract specifies the dowry (mahr) the groom gives to the bride upon their marriage. It may also specify where the couple will live, whether or not the first wife will allow the husband to take a second wife without her consent, whether or not the wife has the right to initiate divorce, and other such matters. The marriage contract somewhat resembles the marriage settlements once negotiated for upper-class Western brides, but can extend to non-financial matters usually ignored by marriage settlements or pre-nuptial agreements.

In practice, most Islamic marriages are entered into without a written contract, or with a "fill in the blanks" form supplied by the officiant. In such cases, Islamic law, influenced by custom and/or rulings by local courts based on local law, governs the treatment of a divorcee or widow, and is often, in the opinion of Islamic feminists, unfair or unkind. Islamic feminists have been active in informing Muslim women of their rights under Islamic law (sharia) and encouraging them to negotiate favorable contracts before marriage.

Behavior within marriage

The Qu'ran considers the love between men and women to be a Sign of God. [Qur'an 30:21] Islam advocates a harmonious relationship between husband and wife, and mandates that the will of the woman be honoured. It puts the main responsibility of earning over the husband. Both are asked to fulfill the other's sexual needs. Husbands are asked to be kind to their wives and wives are asked to be obedient to their husbands. The Qur'an also encourages discussion and mutual agreement regarding family decisions.

In case of "rebellious" behaviour, Verse 34 of an-Nisa says the husband should urge his wife to mend her ways, refuse to share her bed, and admonish her by beating. In particular, there is conflict about the proper severity of beatings, and whether the aforementioned remedies for rebellion must be taken in sequence. Some scholars say that beating should be used only as a last resort, and that not beating is preferable to beating. While many of the scholars allowing "beating" stress that it is a last resort, discountenanced, and must be done so as not to cause injury, women often face "extra pressure" in Muslim-majority cultures to submit to such violence.

Sexuality

More positively, some hold that Islam enjoins sexual pleasure within marriage; see Asra Nomani's polemic "Islamic Bill of Rights for Women in the Bedroom".

A high value is placed on chastity (not to be confused with celibacy) for both men and women. To protect women from accusations of unchaste behaviour, the scripture lays down severe punishments towards those who make false allegations about a woman's chastity. [Qur'an 24:4]

Female genital cutting has been associated with Islam and in certain areas has acquired a religious dimension; however, a UNICEF study of fourteen African countries found no correlation between religion and prevalence of FGM.

Though slavery is today widely viewed to be opposed to Islamic principles of justice and equality and has been outlawed in almost all of the Muslim world, the Qur'an permits sexual relations between a male master and his female slave outside of marriage. (The major juristic schools of Islam traditionally accepted the institution of slavery.)

Divorce

The rules for talaq (divorce) vary among the major Islamic schools. For both Shi'a and Sunni Muslims, the right to demand a divorce is primarily for men. Unless otherwise specified in the marriage contract, women can only seek divorce through court proceedings by convincing a qadi to grant a divorce. Shi'as and Sunnis believe that a wife can ask for a hula (also transliterated khulah) divorce.

Usually, assuming her husband demands a divorce, the divorced wife keeps her mahr (dowry), both the original gift and any supplementary property specified in the marriage contract. She is also given child support until the age of weaning, at which point the child's custody will be settled by the couple or by the courts.

Women’s right to divorce is often extremely limited compared with that of men in the Middle East. While men can divorce their wives easily, women face many legal and financial obstacles. For example, in Yemen, women usually can ask for divorce only when the husband’s inability to support her life is admitted, while men can divorce at will.

In practice in most of the Muslim world today divorce can be quite involved as there may be separate secular procedures to follow as well.

This contentious area of religious practice and tradition is being increasingly challenged by those promoting more liberal interpretations of Islam.

Movement and travel

Both husbands and wives are required to inform their spouses before leaving home. A woman needs her husband's permission to leave home, though general permission is sufficient for routine trips—with such permission, the wife need not seek permission for each individual trip.

Although no limitation or prohibition against women's travelling alone is mentioned in Quran, there is a debate in some Islamic sects, especially Salafis, regarding whether women may travel without a mahram (unmarriageable relative). Some scholars state that a woman may not travel by herself on a journey that takes longer than three days (equivalent to 48 miles in medieval Islam). According to the European Council for Fatwa and Research, this prohibition arose from fears for women's safety when travel was more dangerous. Some scholars relax this prohibition for journeys likely to be safe, such as travel with a trustworthy group of men or men and women, or travel via a modern train or plane when the woman will be met upon arrival.

Sheikh Ayed Al-Qarni, a Saudi Islamic scholar known for his moderate views, has said that neither the Qur'an nor the sunnah prohibits women from driving and that it is better for a woman to drive herself than to be driven by a stranger without a legal escort. (He also stated, however, that he "personally will not allow [his] wife or daughters or sisters to drive.") Women are forbidden to drive in Saudi Arabia per a 1990 fatwa (religious ruling); Saudi Arabia is currently the only Muslim country that bans women from driving. When the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, they issued a 2001 decree that also banned women from driving. John Esposito, professor of International Affairs and Islamic Studies at Georgetown University, has argued that these restrictions originate from cultural customs and not Islam.

Dress code

Hijab is the Quranic requirement that Muslims, both male and female, dress and behave modestly. The most important Quranic verse relating to hijab is sura 24:31, which says, "And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts and not to display their adornment except that which ordinarily appears thereof and to draw their headcovers over their chests and not to display their adornment except to their [maharim]..."

Scholars agree that a woman should act and dress in a way that does not draw sexual attention to her when she is in the presence of someone of the opposite sex. Some scholars specify which areas of the body must be covered; most of these require that everything besides the face and hands be covered, and some require all but the eyes to be covered, using garments such as chadors or burqas. Most mainstream scholars say that men, in contrast, should cover themselves from the navel to the knees.

Sartorial hijab as practiced varies throughout the Muslim world. In Iran, strict hijab requirements are enacted in law, while in Muslim-majority areas of India, social norms rather than law dictate the wearing of hijab. At the opposite end of the spectrum is Tunisia, where the government is actively discouraging women from wearing the veil.

Sartorial hijab, and the veil in particular, has often been viewed by Westerners as a sign of oppression of Muslim women. It has also been the cause of much debate, especially in Europe amid increasing immigration of Muslims; the 2006 United Kingdom debate over veils and the 2004 French law on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools are two notable examples.

Arab women often observe purdah. It is important to differentiate between purdah and hijab. Hijab is an Islamic tradition that is based on physical and psychological morality, while purdah does not necessarily conform to Islamic teachings.

Women in religious life

In Islam, there is no difference between men and women's relationship to God; they receive identical rewards and punishments for their conduct.

According to a saying attributed to Muhammad, women may not be forbidden to enter mosques. However, as Islam spread, it became unusual for women to worship in mosques because of fears of unchastity caused by interaction between sexes; this condition persisted until the late 1960s. Since then, women have become increasingly involved in the mosque, though men and women generally worship separately. (Muslims explain this by citing the need to avoid distraction during prayer prostrations that raise the buttocks while the forehead touches the ground.) Separation between sexes ranges from men and women on opposite sides of an aisle, to men in front of women (as was the case in the time of Muhammad), to women in second-floor balconies or separate rooms accessible by a door for women only. There is a growing movement of women who complain of second-class conditions in separate female sections of mosques. On the Hajj (the mandatory pilgrimage to Mecca) men and women pray side by side.

While in menstruation, women are considered unclean and therefore advised against praying.

In Islam's earlier history, female religious scholars were relatively common. Mohammad Akram Nadwi, a Sunni religious scholar, has compiled biographies of 8,000 female jurists, and orientalist Ignaz Goldziher earlier estimated that 15 percent of medieval hadith scholars were women. After the 1500s, however, female scholars became fewer, and today—while female activists and writers are relatively common—there has not been a significant female jurist in over 200 years. Opportunities for women's religious education exist, but cultural barriers often keep women from pursuing such a vocation.

Women's right to become imams, however, is disputed by many. A fundamental role of an imam (religious leader) in a mosque is to lead the salah (congregational prayers). Generally, women are not allowed to lead mixed prayers. However, some argue that Muhammad gave permission to Ume Warqa to lead a mixed prayer at the mosque of Dar.

Women and politics

The only hadith relating to female political leadership is Sahih Bukhari 5:59:709, in which Muhammad is recorded as saying that people with a female ruler will never be successful. (The al-Bukhari collection is generally regarded as authentic, though one Muslim feminist has questioned the reliability of the recorder of this particular hadith.) However, some classical Islamic scholars, such as al-Tabari, supported female leadership. In early Islamic history, women including Aisha, Ume Warqa, and Samra Binte Wahaib took part in political activities. Other historical Muslim female leaders include Razia Sultana, who ruled the Sultanate of Delhi from 1236 to 1239, and Shajarat ad-Durr, who ruled Egypt from 1250 to 1257. In the past several decades, many countries in which Muslims are a majority or a large minority, including Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Turkey have been led by women.

According to Sheikh Zoubir Bouchikhi, Imam of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston’s Southeast Mosque, nothing in Islam specifically allows or disallows voting by women. Until recently most Muslim nations were non-democratic, but most today allow their citizens to have some level of voting and control over their government. The disparate time at which women’s suffrage was granted in Muslim-majority countries is indicative of the varied traditions and values present within the Muslim world. Azerbaijan has had women's suffrage since 1918, but some Islamic states did not have women's suffrage until the last ten years. Today, aside from Brunei (where neither men nor women can vote) and Saudi Arabia (where only men can vote), all Muslim-majority nations allow women to vote. (Lebanon requires proof of education for women to vote.) It is to be noted that even where women's suffrage as a right is technically present, women may not as a practical matter be able to vote.

Modern debate on the status of women in Islam

Within the Muslim community, conservatives and Islamic feminists have used Islamic doctrine as the basis for discussion of women's rights, drawing on the Qur'an, the hadith (the sayings of Mohammed), and the lives of prominent women in the early period of Muslim history as evidence. Where conservatives have seen evidence that existing gender asymmetries are divinely ordained, feminists have seen more egalitarian ideals in early Islam. Still others have argued that this discourse is essentialist and a historical, and have urged that Islamic doctrine not be the only framework within which discussion occurs.

Whether perceived injustice is according to Islamic religious doctrine or culture is disputed.

Conservatives and the Islamist movement

Conservatives reject the assertion that different laws prescribed for men and women imply that men are more valuable than women, arguing that the only criterion of value before God is piety. Some Islamic scholars justify the different religious laws for men and women by referring to the biological and sociological differences between men and women. For example, regarding the inheritance law which states that women’s share of inheritance is half that of men, the imam Ali ibn Musa Al-reza reasoned that at the time of marriage a man has to pay something to his prospective bride, and that men are responsible for both their wives' and their own expenses but women have no such responsibility.

The nebulous revivalist movement termed Islamism is one of the most dynamic movements within Islam in the 20th and 21st centuries. The experience of women in Islamist states has been varied. Women in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan faced treatment condemned by the international community. Women were forced to wear the burqa in public, not allowed to work, not allowed to be educated after the age of eight, and faced public flogging and execution for violations of the Taliban's laws. The position of women in Iran, which has been a theocracy since its 1979 revolution, is more complex. While Iranian Islamists are ideologically committed to inequality for women in the civil code and to sex segregation, there are female legislators in Iran's parliament and 60% of university students are women.

Liberal Islam, Islamic feminism, and other progressive criticism

Liberal Muslims have urged that ijtihad, a form of critical thinking, be used to develop a more progressive form of Islam with respect to the status of women. In addition, Islamic feminists have advocated for women's rights, gender equality, and social justice grounded in an Islamic framework. Although rooted in Islam, pioneers of Islamic feminism have also used secular and western feminist discourses and have sought to include Islamic feminism in the larger global feminist movement. Islamic feminists seek to highlight the teachings of equality in Islam to question patriarchal interpretations of Islamic teachings.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, international attention was suddenly focused on the condition of women in the Muslim world. Critics asserted that women are not treated as equal members of Muslim societies and criticized Islam for condoning this treatment. Some critics have gone so far as to make allegations of gender apartheid due to women's status. At least one critic has alleged that Western academics, especially feminists, have ignored the plight of Muslim women to be "politically correct."

Marriage

2008-06-01T19:40:00.000+05:30

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

"Reciting Salawath on our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is an activity that will be accepted by Allah, even if we don't have Ikhlas (piety)".

Marriage. Marriage is the union of two souls for love and two bodies for procreation and legalizing of children. Man is free and therefore, it is argued, that he can claim a free intercourse with every woman. If this theory is accepted, it will mean disorder and chaos in the society leading ultimately to destruction of human civilization. In that case he is nothing but only a beast. The limitation to free love and free intercourse by marriage is for the ultimate benefit of human development as a whole and particularly for the progress of human civilization. Marriage engenders love at first for wife, then for children, then for kith and kin, then for the society and ultimately for the human race as a whole. The real unit of human civilization is the family and there can be no family if there is no marriage. ‘Free Love’ creates no responsibility, the ownership of property and no kith and kin. If free love is allowed indiscriminately and lasts for nearly a century, the world will be field of chaos, blood-shed and social disorder of the first magnitude.

Benefits of Marriage. Marriage contributes to manly-sided progress of a man, physical, mental, social, moral and spiritual. In an unmarried stage, these things cannot be achieved in all perfections. There is therefore a great deal of distinction between a bachelor and a married man, or an unmarried woman and married woman.

(1) Physical Benefit. We see daily around us how a man was erewhile sickly and suffering from various diseases but as soon as he got married, his diseases generally disappeared with in a short time. This is also true in case of girls and women. Marriage is, therefore the best medicine for certain kinds of diseases in grownup men and girls. It also contributes to the physical beauty of the married couple.

(2) Mental Benefit. Marriage gives peace of mind. The Holy Quran Says: And out of this signs there is that He creates mates for you from yourselves, that you may find peace of mind in them; and He put between you and compassion. Surely there are sign in this for a people who reflect (33:21). By marriage, an idle man is turned into an active man, a spend thrift prugal and hard-hearted kind. It is therefore a harbinger of new thoughts, ideas, responsibilities and obligations. It sets up the mind to and actions which were dormant before marriage.

(3) Social Benefit. Marriage creates a family consisting of children and wife. Families create society and the progress of the family means the progress of the society. Marriage creates a new company of kith and kin, because sons and daughters to create new families. Hospitalities, fellow-feeling, kindness and mutual help become binding among these relations. Marriage therefore gives the rights of inheritance and ownership in property to the nearest relations. The Quran says: And He ii is who has created man from water, then He has made for him blood and marriage relationships – 25:54 Q.

(4) Moral Benefit. Marriage is a great medicine for checking unruly sexual passions and falling to sins and crimes. The Holy Prophet said: It shuts up eye-sight and guards private parts (17:1). It is well-known that out of sexual passions, many great sins are committed in this world. If it is satisfied by marriage, many a crime will disappear from this world. It contributes thus no moral welfare of individuals, families and societies.

(5) Spiritual Benefit. Moral progress leads to progress which then leads ultimately to the Blessed Company.

Harms of Marriage. The following are some of the harms that may possibly arise out of marriage.

(1) The married man becomes rather weak in lawful earnings as he is required to meet the increased needs of the family life.

(2) He is to look after the maintenance, education and other necessary things of the family which he was not bound to do before marriage.

(3) A great strain is put upon him by the wife and the members of the family in the form of suffering and mental anxieties in many ways.

What is true renunciation? Is it not to marry? The answer is simply an emphatic no. The instinct of parsion is provided by nature not only in man but all animals, so that by procreation of children and animals, the world can go on from years to years. Go against nature and you will certainly pay the penalty of your rash action. See Plants. They are provided with flowers and with portion like generative organs. Insects come, dive inside flowers to gather honey, come out covered with some powder called ‘Pollen’ and go unto other flowers mixing pistol into them and thus there arises fecundation of seeds. All the religious personalities except Jesus Christ were married to one woman or more. Once three men praying throughout the night and fasting all day long come to the Holy Prophet. He instructed them to marry in order to have perfection. True renunciation is to marry and then to remain aloof from attachment of the world.

Marriage in Islam. A Muslim marriage is a civil contract based on mutual consent of the bride and bridegroom, as distinguished from the sacramental form of marriage. Most of the incidents of contract and consequently applicable to such a marriage, for example, consideration of marriage in the form of dower, breach of the contract by divorce, giving of legal rights and obligations on the contractual parties and bestowing no greater power on the husband that what the contract provides in a lawful manner. A Muslim marriage requires no priest and no sacramental rights. At the best, the registration of mutual consent may be done. A woman has got absolute right in he acquired properties before and after her marriage. In addition, she has a distinct lien upon her husband’s property for her ante-nuptial settlements.

Nature of Injunctions for Marriage. The Quran gives the order of marriage in following verse: And marry those among you who are single and those who are fit among your male slaves and female slaves. If they are needy, Allah will save them from want out of His grace. And Allah is Ample-giving, Kind. And tell those who do not find a match to keep Chaste until Allah makes them from went of His grace – 24:30 Q. It appears from the above verses that marriage is the natural law. It may be delayed for two reasons, for not finding a suitable match and for finding no means wherewith to maintain her. If the conditions are removed with the finding a match and also the means of maintenance. God’s direction is then to contract a marriage. The reason given is “that you may not deviate from the right course” – 4:3 Q. The jurists have, however, laid down the following rules. When the sexual passion is strong that there is every chance of a man falling into sin, marriage then become Farz (binding). When the sexual passion is very strong, marriage is Wajeb. When the passion remains in normal degree, it is Sunnat Muakkadah. Marriage becomes Makruh when there is no means of maintenance and when no suitable match is found.

Mere Baap Pehle Aap Preview

2008-05-31T15:16:00.002+05:30

Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Naseruddin Shah, Shobhana, Paresh Rawal, Om Puri, Rajpal Yadav, Manoj Joshi, Genelia Dsouza, Archana Puran Singh

Direction: Priyadarshan

Production: Raman Maroo, Ketan Maroo, Mansi Maroo

Music Direction: Vidyasagar

Lyricist: Sameer

Cinematography: Piyush Shah

Editor: Arun Kumar

Priyadarshan is ready with his latest film titled ‘Mere Baap Pehle Aap’ with seasoned actors like Paresh Rawal, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Akshaye Khanna and Rajpal Yadav who have tickled the funny bones in many a films.

Ritesh Deshmukh’s close friend Genelia D’Souza too makes a comeback in Hindi films after a long time. She was earlier seen in Tujhe Meri Kasam and Masti opposite Ritesh Deshmukh.

The music of Mere Baap Pehle Aap has been composed by Vidyasagar and the lyrics have been penned by Priyadarshan’s favourite lyricist - Sameer.

Paresh Rawal, who plays Janaradhan Wishvanbhar Rane (Paresh Rawal) in the movie, is a widower. He has two sons Chirag (Manoj Joshi) and Gaurav (Akshaye Khanna). Janardhan dedicates his life for the proper upbringing of his two sons.

When the kids grow up, the younger son Gaurav starts taking care of his father. He keeps a watchful eye on his father’s activities and protects him from the shadow of Madhav Mathur (Om Puri), Janardhan’s best friend. Madhav is a divorcee, looking forward to re-settle in life. Gaurav has to burn the brunt of the pranks played by Madhav in the company of his father Janardhan.

Soon, a girl enters into Gaurav’s life – Sheeka Kapoor (Genelia D’Souza). Sheekha is a young and chirpy girl, who gets in touch with her old college friend Gaurav. Moreover, Sheekha’s guardian Anuradha (Shobhana) is Janardhan’s first love.

When Gaurav observes the change in the behavioural pattern of his father, he decides to link up the couple once again. With Sheekha’s help, Gaurav devices plan to make his father marry his first love.

With Madhav joining the duo, the proceedings become more hilarious. The awesome threesome craves out tricky routes to attain their mission.

All this also includes the making of Gaurav and Sheekha’s love history.

Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na Music Review

2008-05-25T17:57:00.001+05:30

Banner: Aamir Khan Productions, PVR Cinema

Cast: Imraan Khan, Genelia Dsouza, Manjari Phadnis

Special Appearance: Ratna Pathak, Naseruddin Shah, Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, Arshad Warsi & Paresh Rawal

Singers: Rashid Ali, Blaze, Mohd Aslam, Tanvi, Anupama Deshpande, Benny Dayal, Darshana, Satish Subramanium, Runa Rizvi, Swetha Bhargave, Naresh Iyer, Satish Chakravarthye, A R Rahman, Vasundhara Das & Sukhwinder Singh

Direction: Abbas Tyrewala

Production: Mansoor Khan, Aamir Khan

Music Direction: A R Rahman

Cassettes and CD's on: T-Series

‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’ music releases very much the Aamir Khan style under the hands of mentor Shammi Kapoor. The movie produced by Aamir Khan might just prove to be the perfect launch pad for nephew Imraan Khan. The movie promises more with director Abbas Tyrewala penning down some beautiful lines and with the ace A.R.Rahman at work.

The album opens to some fine guitar beats in complete symphony with the youthful and melodious voice of debutant Rashid Ali supporting the charming looks of yet another debutant Imraan Khan. The track ‘Kabhi Kabhi Aditi Zindagi’ , has already been creating the required buzz with the current promos and is sure to be remembered as one of the top tracks of the year.

Anupama, Benny Dayal, Blazee, Tanvi, Darshana, Satish Subramanium and Aslam bring in the ‘Pappu can’t dance’ number. The song has already had its share of hype thanks to the lyrical links to bollywood hunk Salman Khan. Though Aamir has cleared the apparent links to Salman by stating that Salman is indeed a better dancer, the audiences may still carry the Salman-Pappu linkage.

Though the track reminds you of Rahman’s ‘Girlfriend ‘number from ‘Boys’, it fails to make the same impact. The music is loud and calls for all the Pappu’s to prove their might. The remix version in indeed racy and the track is set to do well with the ongoing promotion.

‘Jaane Tu Mera Kya Hai( Aditi)’ has been rendered by yet another newcomer Runa. The lines of this one along with the soft background beats enhanced by the vocals provides for a great track for those lovelorn or solitude seeking personalities.

The male version of the track ‘Jaane Tu Meri Kya Hai(Jai)’ crooned by the brazen Sukwinder Singh grabs you with the very first go. Sukwinder makes you feel for the broken hearted and takes you to just another world.

'Nazrein Milaana Nazrein Churaana' yet again brings in a bunch of talent in the form of Benny Dayal, Satish Chakravarthy, Naresh Iyer, Darshana, Shwetha, Tanvi, Bhargavi, Anupama. The composition is very much like a Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy saga but it just shows you how versatile Rahman can get. The track though isn’t the finest around but tends to grow on you after a while. Some good promotion will boost it further.

'Tu Bole Main Boloon', which apparently is the title track of the movie, brings in some beautiful composition enhanced by Rahman’s vocals. The lines of the track too draw some attention. The track brings in the western jazz feel and is one of those quietly funny yet romantic numbers that explore the differences between a girl and boy.

'Kahin To Hogi Ho' equates to being exactly what ‘Pehla Nasha’ was to ‘Joh Jeeta Wohi Sikandar’. The soulfully power packed track brings forth Rashid Ali to deliver his second splendid number on his debut album. Vasundhra Das provides some back up on the vocals. This one is sure to be a favorite amongst the ones in love or the lovelorn listeners. The serenity just grabs you instantly as the track unveils. As for Rashid Ali, he seems to be Rahman’s next Naresh Iyer (who made his mark with ‘Ru Ba Ru’ in ‘Rang De Basanti’).

On the whole, Rahman returns to such youthful campus love story after a hiatus but still proves he’s got enough romance running right through. The album backed by Abbas Tyrewala’s lyrics provides enough support for his directorial venture. As for Imraan, looks like the music promises the same platform that Uncle Aamir Khan had with ‘Qayamant Se Qayamat Tak’ and ‘Joh Jeeta Wohi Sikandar’.

Rating: 4 stars on 5

Best wishes Paaventhan on your Birthday

2008-05-24T10:01:00.003+05:30

Each year your birthday reminds me

That I really want to say

I am very glad I know you;

I think of you each day.

I hope you enjoy your birthday,

All the pleasures it has in store,

And because I appreciate you,

I hope you have many more!

Many More Happy Returns of the Day Jaypee

On your birthday,
I wish for you the fulfillment
of all your fondest dreams.
I hope that for every candle
on your cake
you get a wonderful surprise.
I wish for you that
whatever you want most in life,
it comes to you,
just the way you imagined it,
or better.
I hope you get as much pleasure
from our friendship as I do.
I wish we were sisters,
so I could have known you
from the beginning.
I look forward to
enjoying our friendship
for many more of your birthdays.
I'm so glad you were born,
because you brighten my life
and fill it with joy.

Happy Birthday Jaypee!

May Allah shower blessings on you… Many More Happy Returns of the Day Jaypee...

With Love Haseem

Best wishes Rekha on your Birthday

2008-05-22T11:21:00.003+05:30

Happy Birthday!

May Allah shower blessings on you… Many More Happy Returns of the Day Rekha...

With Love Haseem

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Movie Review

2008-05-21T16:22:00.003+05:30

Here in the unenchanted world of ordinary movie going, it has been about two and a half years since “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” the first installment in Walt Disney and Walden Media’s mighty “Chronicles of Narnia” franchise. In wartime England, where the Pevensie children live when they’re not consorting with talking lions and battling witches, a year or so has gone by. But in Narnia itself, to which the four plucky Pevensies return in “Prince Caspian,” the second movie in the series, centuries have passed, and everything has changed. The grand hall where Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy were made monarchs of the realm has fallen into ruin, and the friendly woodland creatures with their homey British accents and computer-animated fur seem to have vanished from the scene.

When the exiled child kings and queens are thrown back into Narnia (thanks to a sudden outbreak of special effects in a London tube station), they seem no longer to be in a children’s fantasy story but rather in some kind of Jacobean tragedy, a reminder that C. S. Lewis was, along with everything else, a scholar of English Renaissance literature. In a dark castle in a dark forest, men with heavy armor and beard-shadowed faces quarrel and conspire. Instead of fauns and Turkish delight, there are murder and betrayal, and a grave, martial atmosphere lingers over the story, even when the spunky dwarfs and chatty rodents return. (Aslan the lion also shows up eventually, speaking in the soothing voice of Liam Neeson.)

So “Prince Caspian” is quite a bit darker than “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” both in look and in mood. It is also in some ways more satisfying. Its violent (though gore-free) combat scenes and high body count may rattle very young viewers, but older children are likely to be drawn into the thick political intrigue. The relative scarcity of digital effects in the first part of the movie allows the director, Andrew Adamson, and the director of photography, Karl Walter Lindenlaub, to explore the beauty of the Narnian landscape by more traditional cinematic means. Its lush glades and rocky escarpments provide a reminder that the supernaturalism of fairy tales originates in the magic of the natural world.

And tales of heroic adventure, however fanciful, are grounded in human problems of power, cruelty and conflict. “Prince Caspian” is named for its square-jawed, rather bland hero (played by Ben Barnes), but its major source of dramatic energy is the villain, Caspian’s uncle Miraz, who is played with malignant grandeur by the great Italian actor Sergio Castellitto. Miraz is a classic royal usurper, who has taken the throne from Caspian’s father, the rightful king, and who plans to pass it along to his own newborn son once Caspian is out of the way. His court is a viper’s nest of double-dealing and shifting allegiance.

Cue grumpy dwarfs, swashbuckling mice and apple-cheeked Pevensies. And hail the popular struggle of the Narnian underground! Since the Telmarines took over and suppressed the old magic, a hardy remnant of Narnians has been hiding amid the pacified trees, sustaining themselves with the legends of King Edmund (Skandar Keynes), Queen Lucy (Georgie Henley), Queen Susan (Anna Popplewell) and High King Peter (William Moseley). When these rulers return, they rescue Trumpkin (Peter Dinklage), a small, angry Narnian taken prisoner by Miraz’s soldiers, and eventually join Prince Caspian, who exchanges some long, half-smoldering looks with Susan.

In spite of this hint of romance, what ensues is basically a war movie, with elaborate battle sequences in a castle courtyard and on a grassy plain, accompanied by thundering hoofbeats, whizzing arrows, clanking swords and Harry Gregson-Williams’s rousing score. These sections are ostensibly what the public wants to see, and certainly what the producers pay heavily to bring to life. There is a risk of sameness and tedium, which Mr. Adamson does not entirely overcome, though he and his fellow screenwriters, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, sprinkle in enough witty dialogue to keep the movie’s long middle from feeling like too much of a slog.

The main characters, whose sometimes fractious sibling dynamic provided the first “Narnia” movie with a hint of psychological complexity, seem a little flatter here, as if they’ve grown accustomed to their jobs as action heroes. And “Prince Caspian” isn’t really about them, anyway, except insofar as the kids in the audience identify with their courage and good sense.

On Spot of Prince Caspian

The cloak of allegory in which Lewis swathed the Narnia books is worn lightly on the screen, and some of their charm and novelty has been chipped away — not so much by any lapse on the part of the filmmakers as by a sense of familiarity. Tales of good and evil set in enchanted lands populated by mythical beasts are ubiquitous these days, which may diminish the power of each new spell. The Pevensie children can withdraw to London between episodes, but moviegoers are unlikely, and also perhaps unwilling, to escape from Narnia and the other increasingly numerous, and therefore increasingly mundane, places like it.

Verdict: This return to Narnia reveals a darker world that doesn't quite mesh with the film's kid-friendly sensibility.

Rating: 3 & ½ Stars on 5

Running Time: 116 minutes

MPAA Rated: PG for epic battle action and violence.

Best wishes Beulah Margaret on your Birthday

2008-05-21T10:43:00.002+05:30

Instead of counting candles,

Or tallying the years,

Contemplate your blessings,

As your birthday nears.

Consider special people

Who love you, and who care,

And others who’ve enriched your life

Just by being there.

Think about the memories

Passing years can never mar,

Experiences great and small

That have made you who you are.

Another year is a happy gift,

So cut your cake, and say,

"Instead of counting birthdays,

I count blessings every day!"

Once a year I get the chance

To wish you birthday cheer.

It pleases me no end to say,

I wish you another great year.

So happy birthday to you Maggie,

From the bottom of my heart.

And may your good times multiply,

Till they’re flying off the chart!

May Allah shower blessings on you… Many More Happy Returns of the Day Maggie...

With Love Haseem

Islam

2008-05-20T16:29:00.000+05:30

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

"Reciting Salawath on our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is an activity that will be accepted by Allah, even if we don't have Ikhlas (piety)".

The literal meaning of Islam is peace; surrender of one’s will i.e. losing oneself for the sake of God and surrendering one’s own pleasure for the pleasure of God. The message of Islam was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) 1400 years ago. It was revealed through angel Gabriel (on whom be peace) and was thus preserved in the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran carries a Divine guarantee of safeguard from interpolation and it claims that it combines the best features of the earlier scriptures. The prime message of Islam is the Unity of God, that the Creator of the world is One and He alone is worthy of worship and that Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) is His Messenger and Servant. The follower of this belief is thus a Muslim - a Muslim’s other beliefs are: God’s angels, previously revealed Books of God, all the prophets, from Adam to Jesus (peace be on them both), the Day of Judgment and indeed the Decree of God. A Muslim has five main duties to perform, namely; bearing witness to the Unity of God and Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) as His Messenger, observing the prescribed prayer, payment of Zakat, keeping the fasts of Ramadhan and performing the pilgrimage to Mecca. Islam believes that each person is born pure. The Holy Quran tells us that God has given human beings a choice between good and evil and to seek God’s pleasure through faith, prayer and charity. Islam believes that God created mankind in His image and by imbuing the attributes of God on a human level mankind can attain His nearness. Islam’s main message is to worship God and to treat all God’s creation with kindness and compassion. Rights of parents in old age, orphans and the needy are clearly stated. Women’s rights were safeguarded 1,400 years ago when the rest of the world was in total darkness about emancipation.

Islamic teachings encompass every imaginable situation and its rules and principles are truly universal and have stood the test of time. In Islam virtue does not connote forsaking the bounties of nature that are lawful. On the contrary one is encouraged to lead a healthy, active life with the qualities of kindness, chastity, honesty, mercy, courage patience and politeness. In short, Islam has a perfect and complete code for the guidance of individuals and communities alike. As the entire message of Islam is derived from the Holy Quran and indeed the Sunnah and Hadith (the traditions and practices of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings on him) it is immutable in the face of change in time and place. It may appear rigid to the casual eye, in actual fact it is most certainly an adaptable way of life regardless of human changes. Islam teaches that the path to spiritual development is open to all. Any individual who searches the One Creator can seek nearness to God through sincere and earnest worship; it is central to establishing a relationship with the Almighty. This positive message for humanity fills hearts with hope and courage. At present there are 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide and they form the majority in more than 50 countries of the world. Today Islam is the fastest growing faith in the world - its beautiful message is reaching millions in the far corner of the earth.

Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "Islam is based on five articles:

1. To bear witness that there is none worthy of worship save Allah and that Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah.

2. To observe Prayer (Salat).

3. To Pay Zakat (Alms giving)

4. To perform the Pilgrimage to the House of Allah (Hajj).

5. To observe fasting during Ramadhan." (Bukhari) Abdullah ibn Amr bin Aas, may Allah be pleased with them, relates that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "A Muslim is one against whose tongue and hands other Muslims are secure, and an Emigrant is one who departs from what Allah has forbidden." (Bukhari)

A Muslim expresses his/her faith (Iman) in the following words: Ash-hadu anla ilaha illal-Lahu Wahdahu la Sharika Lahu wa-ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu

The English translation of the Shahadah is as follows: I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, the One, without any partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger. The declaration of faith consists of two distinct parts, i.e., the absolute belief in the Unity of Allah (God) and the belief in the Holy Prophet Muhammad as a mortal human being and the Messenger of Allah. Islam's fundamental belief is the Unity of God. All other beliefs hang on this belief. Therefore the acknowledgement and 'bearing witness' of this is the key to the Muslim faith. Unless this is observed one cannot be a Muslim.

A Muslim accepts Allah as the only God, and only Master, Lord and Ruler with no partner sharing in any way His Being, Powers and Attributes. He is One; He is Unique; He is not the father of any one, nor He has or had any father. He is Almighty and Self-Sustaining. He is there forever, and will be there forever. A Muslim believes in Allah as the Ruler and must not disobey Him. In fact everything that exists in the universe obeys Him. He is the Fashioner of all the Universes that may exist. The belief in the Prophet Muhammad (on whom be peace) as the servant and Messenger of Allah completes one’s faith. The Holy Prophet was the greatest of all the Prophets of Allah, yet he was only a human being with no share in Divinity. This is a very important belief that keeps Muslims from associating partners with Allah. This part of the Declaration of Faith where reinforces the first part of Allah being the only Supreme Being with no partners also establishes the absolute authority of the Holy Prophet as the Messenger of Allah, who must be obeyed as well in all the matters of faith. The Holy Prophet is the last prophet who brought us the last Book (the Holy Quran) to be followed. He lived among his people for a long time and his life is documented in utmost detail. He lead his followers by example. The way he lived his life and admonished his followers to live their lives is called Sunnah of the Holy Prophet. The second part of the Declaration of Faith makes obeying and following the advice of the Prophet Muhammad equally important to the belief in absolute Unity of Allah. This declaration make one to completely submit to the Will of Allah and that is why one who declares this belief is called a Muslim - one who completely submits to the will of Allah.

Salat is one of the five pillars of Islam; it is a most important constituent of the faith. It is prayer of a very high level. The Holy Quran repeatedly enjoins the offering of salat and indeed declares it to be a fundamental trait of a believer. The benefits of salat are countless. The Holy Quran says: "And enjoin Prayer on thy people, and be constant therein. We ask thee not for provision; it is We that provide for thee. And the end is for the righteous". Salat strengthens man's spiritual faculties. It is the best way to form a relationship with one's Creator. It purifies one's spirit, and through it, constant remembrance of Allah delivers one of the self that incites to evil. God created man to worship Him and salat is the most excellent kind of worship. The Holy Quran also says: "Recite that which has been revealed to thee of the Book, and observe Prayer. Surely, Prayer restrains one from indecency and manifest evil, and remembrance of Allah indeed is the greatest virtue. And Allah knows what you do." (29:46) Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that he heard the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be on him, say: "Tell me if one of you had a stream running at his door and he should take a bath in it five times every day would any dirt be left upon him? He was answered: No dirt would be left on him. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) observed: This is the case of the five prayers. Allah wipes out all faults in consequence of them." (Bukhari)

As for the punishment of not observing the salat, all matters of reward and punishment rest solely with Allah. Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that he heard the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say: "Giving up prayer is tantamount to disbelief and associating partners with Allah." (Muslim) Five Daily Prayers Salat, the obligatory Muslim prayer, is said at appointed time fixed in relation to the sun's position. The time of Fajr, the Morning Prayer begins at dawn and ends just before sunrise. The time of Zuhr, the midday prayer, begins after the sun has crossed the zenith point and has begun to decline. The Asr prayer is said when the sun has further advanced in decline, in the late afternoon. The time of the Maghrib prayer begins immediately after sunset. It lasts till dusk. The Isha prayer can be said after dusk has finally disappeared, giving way to darkness of the night.

Fajr Zuhr Asr Maghrib Isha'

Along with salat, another important form of worship is fasting. It is obligatory for each Muslim, apart from some exemptions, to fast in the month of Ramadhan. During the hours of fasting, food and drink and conjugal relations between husband and wife are forbidden. It is enjoined that during fasting one should pay attention to remembrance of God and study the Holy Quran in abundance. One should try to curtail one's worldly pastimes as much as possible during Ramadhan, and to be particularly inclined towards charity and alms giving. Human life is dependent on food and drink and the continuation of the human race depends on the marital relationship. While fasting one refrains from them both, as if bearing witness to God that for His pleasure man gives up the factors (temporarily) upon which his very existence depends. The various other benefits of fasting are that man gets to exercise sacrificing physical comfort and to endure hunger and thirst. Fasting creates a sense of equality between the rich and the poor. By developing an appreciation of hunger and thirst, it makes the well-off think of the needs of the poor and impresses a feeling of compassion in their hearts. It makes them appreciate, through the practicality of it, the state a human being endures when hungry and thirsty. Ramadhan is a most effective and excellent means of spiritual development for mankind.

Zakat (Alms giving) is a part of devotion enjoined upon Muslims by the Holy Quran. It is a means where the well-off pay a set amount of their wealth. Zakat means to purify oneself. It is obligatory on Muslims to pay a little percentage of their accumulated wealth towards Zakat, which is used for the benefit of the needy and the poor. Zakat is not levied on one's property that is in personal use, rather on the assets which have a means of increasing and which are surplus to one's needs. It is a means of social justice and order. It teaches sympathy of the highest order.

Hajj is the fifth Pillar of Islam and another form of worship. It is an annual pilgrimage to the holy sites in Mecca which each adult Muslim, who can afford it, has to perform once in life time. Apart from the financial aspect, the ability to afford the pilgrimage also means that one is able to travel and perform the Hajj in peace. Muslims perform Hajj in order to visit for themselves the holy sites where their faith started. More importantly it is a pilgrimage to the Ka'aba, which we believe is the first place of worship ever built on this earth; Muslims thus refer to it as House of God. The ceremony of Hajj is also symbolic of the Unity of God; all Muslims gather from four corners of the earth in one spot at an appointed time and worship God. There are no difficulties to perform Hajj apart from the obvious financial commitment in order to travel to Mecca. That is the reason why, strictly speaking, Hajj is only obligatory to those who have fulfilled all their worldly needs and have no pressing commitments left and indeed can afford the passage to Mecca. It is a Muslim belief that God is everywhere and He answers those who truly seek Him. In this respect indeed going to a particular place to seek the pleasure and nearness to God is not the issue. However, it is the physical presence of being in the holiest of the holy places for the Muslim faith and indeed the congregational worship with millions of other fellow Muslims that leaves an indelible mark on the spiritual life of a person. It is a most supreme form of worship and is most desirable to God. During Hajj, the person who intends to perform it is required to travel to Mecca during the prescribed days and observe all the rites and ceremonies.

During Hajj Muslims from all corners of the world gather in Mecca and perform the rites of Hajj and thus strengthen the bond of Muslim unity. During Hajj each place brings to mind some event of the blessed life of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings on him). It refreshes the memory of the supreme sacrifices made by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings on him) for the sake of Islam.

There are six articles of faith in Islam:

1. Belief in Allah

2. Belief in Angles,

3. Belief in the Books (Scriptures) of Allah

4. Belief in the Prophets of Allah,

5. Belief in the Day of Judgment and

6. Belief in the Divine Laws Umar ibn Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, relates: We were sitting in the company of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, when suddenly a man arrived. He was wearing clean, white clothes and his hair was jet black. He did not look as though he were a traveler and he was not known to any of us. He sat down close to the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his knees touching the knees of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. He said: O Muhammad, tell me something about faith. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, replied: "Faith is that you should believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books and His Prophets; that you should believe in the Day of Judgment and that you should believe in the Divine Laws relating to good and evil." (Tirmidhi) Ali ibn Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that he Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "The faith is that one recognizes God at heart, accepts Him verbally and acts on His commandments." (Ibni Majah)

Pyramid

2008-05-20T10:40:00.003+05:30

A pyramid is any three-dimensional polyhedron where the faces other than the base are triangular and converge on one point, called the apex. The base of a pyramid can be any polygon; it is typically a square or a triangle, leading to four or three non-base faces.

A pyramid is said to be regular if its base is a regular polygon and its upper faces are congruent isosceles triangles.

Cutting off the top of a pyramid, using a plane parallel to the plane of the base, leaves a frustum of a pyramid, sometimes called a flat-topped pyramid, though it no longer satisfies the definition of a pyramid.

Pyramid-shaped structures were built by many ancient civilizations.

List of Pyramids Worldwide

India

Many giant granite temple pyramids were made in South India during the Chola Empire, many of which are still in religious use today. Examples of such pyramid temples include Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram. However the largest temple pyramid in the area is Sri Rangam in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu. The Brihadisvara Temple was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1987; the Temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram were added as extensions to the site in 2004.

China

There are many flat-topped pyramids in China. The First Emperor of Qin (circa 221 B.C.) was buried under a large pyramid outside modern day Xi'an. In the following centuries about a dozen more Han Dynasty royals were also buried under flat-topped pyramidal earth works.

Egyptian pyramids

The ancient pyramids of Egypt

The most famous pyramids are the Egyptian pyramids — huge structures built of brick or stone, some of which are among the largest man-made constructions. In Ancient Egypt, a pyramid was referred to as mer, literally "place of ascendance." The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest in Egypt and one of the largest in the world. Until Lincoln Cathedral was built in 1300 A.D., it was the tallest building in the world. The base is over 13 acres in area.

It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and the only one of the seven to survive into modern times. The Ancient Egyptians capped the peaks of their pyramids with gold and covered their faces with polished white limestone, though many of the stones used for the purpose have fallen or been removed for other structures.

France

There is a Roman era pyramid built in Falicon, France. There were many more pyramids made in France in this period.

Greece

Pyramid of Hellinikon

There are several structures in Greece that archaeologists have called pyramids. Dotted throughout the landscape are remains of buildings that were described by ancient travelers as pyramids, they were first excavated by Americans and Germans in the early 1930s and the 1990s.

Pausanias, a Greek traveler in the second century A.D. described several of the structures as pyramids. One of these pyramids was located in Hellenikon, Ελληνικό in Greek, a village near Argos near the ancient ruins of Tiryns. The story surrounding the monument was that it was built as a polyandria, a common grave, for those soldiers who had fallen in the struggle for the throne of Argos back in the 14th Century B.C. He described the structure as something that resembled a pyramid with the decorations of Argolic shields, showing the military connection to it. Another pyramid that Pausanias saw on his journeys was at Kenchreai, another polyandria dedicated to the Argives and Spartans who lost their lives at the Battle of Hysiai in 669 B.C. Unfortunately neither of these structures remain fully intact today to test how closely they resembled the pyramids of Egypt nor is there any proof that they even resembled an Egyptian pyramid at all.

There are two surviving pyramid-like structures still available to study, one at Helleniko and the other at Ligourio, a village near the ancient theatre Epidaurus. With these two pyramid’s base stones remaining, it is possible to determine that Grecian pyramids existed, but were not used as the Egyptians used them. These buildings were not constructed in the same manner as the pyramids in Egypt. The buildings at Helleniko and Ligourio were no more than 100 feet tall and were surrounded by walls, with the base of the Helleniko pyramid being nine meters by 7 meters. The stone used to build the pyramids was limestone quarried locally and was cut to fit, not into freestanding blocks like the Great Pyramid of Giza. The base of the structures also differed from the Egyptian pyramids as they were rectangular, not square. This simple construction shape made it very difficult to make the top of the building come together in a point. As such, it makes more sense that these structures could have been peaked by a roof or platform.

There are no remains or graves in or near the structures. Instead, the rooms that the walls housed were made to be locked from the inside. This coupled with the platform roof, means that one of the functions these structures could have served was as watchtowers. Another possibility for the buildings is that they are shrines to heroes and soldiers of ancient times, but the lock on the inside makes no sense for such a purpose.

The dating of these ‘pyramids’ has been made from the pot shards excavated from the floor and on the grounds. The latest dates available from scientific dating have been estimated around the 5th and 4th centuries. There are many researchers who have given dates to the structures that pre-date the pyramids at Giza, but the method to obtain these dates was thermo luminescence of the stone. Normally this technique is used for dating pottery, but here researchers have used it to try and date stone flakes from the walls of the structures. This has created some debate about whether or not these ‘pyramids’ are actually older than Egypt, which is part of the Black Athena controversy. The basis for their use of thermo luminescence in order to date these structures is a new method of collecting samples for testing. Scientists from laboratories hired out by the recent excavators of the site, The Academy of Athens, say that they can use the electrons trapped on the inner surface of the stones to positively identify the date that the stones were quarried and put together.

The issue with this method is that they date the pyramids with a margin of error of up to over 700 years. This method dated the Helleniko pyramid to 2730 B.C. with an error factor of plus or minus 720 years. It also dated the Ligourio pyramid to 2260 B.C. with an error of plus or minus 710 years. Though these initial dates are indicative of these structures being built before the pyramid complex at Giza, it also means that they could have been built well after Khufu’s Great Pyramid was erected. Some archaeologists, however, have indicated that these samples may have been very select in their choice of which stones to sample. Further excavations of the site at Helleniko reveal that it was constructed on a previously existing structure, giving a possibility that the new methods of dating may be a misinterpretation.

Along with these two structures there are 14 more pyramid-like buildings, or their remains, scattered throughout the rest of the country side of Greece. These sites do not get as much attention as the two at Helleniko and Ligourio as they are the only ones mentioned in surviving accounts of ancient travelers

Mesoamerican pyramids

Pyramid in the Mayan city of Chichen-Itza, Mexico

Pyramid of the Sun on the city of Teotihuacán, Mexico

A number of Mesoamerican cultures also built pyramid-shaped structures. Mesoamerican pyramids were usually stepped, with temples on top, more similar to the Mesopotamian ziggurat than the Egyptian pyramid. The largest pyramid by volume is the Great Pyramid of Cholula, in the Mexican state of Puebla. This pyramid is considered the largest monument ever constructed anywhere in the world, and is still being excavated. There is an unusual pyramid with a circular plan at the site of Cuicuilco, now inside Mexico City and mostly covered with lava from an ancient eruption of Xictli. Pyramids in Mexico were often used as places of human sacrifice.

Mesopotamian pyramids

The Mesopotamians also built pyramids, called ziggurats. In ancient times these were brightly painted. Since they were constructed of mud-brick, little remains of them. The Biblical Tower of Babel is believed to have been a Babylonian ziggurat.

North American pyramids

Many mound-building societies of ancient North America built large pyramidal earth structures known as platform mounds. Among the largest and best-known of these structures is Monk's Mound at the site of Cahokia, which has a base larger than that of the Great Pyramid at Giza. While the North American mounds' precise function is not known, they are believed to have played a central role in the mound-building people's religious life.

Nubian pyramids

Nubian pyramids were constructed (roughly 220 of them) at three sites in Nubia to serve as tombs for the kings and queens of Napata and Meroë.

The Nubians built more pyramids than the Egyptians, but they are smaller. The Nubian pyramids were constructed at a steeper angle than Egyptian ones and were monuments to dead kings.

Pyramids were still being built in Nubia up to AD 300.

Rome

Pyramid of Cestius

The 27-meter-high Pyramid of Cestius was built by the end of the first century BC and still exists today, close to the Porta San Paolo. Another one, named Meta Romuli, standing in the Ager Vaticanus (today's Borgo), was destroyed at the end of the 15th century.

These Roman imitations of Egyptian monuments are important as contemporary "portraits" of the Egyptian ones, providing some sense of their original color and smoothness.

Medieval Europe

Pyramids have occasionally been used in Christian architecture of the feudal era, e.g. as the tower of Oviedo's Gothic Cathedral of San Salvador. In some cases this leads to speculations on masonic or other symbolical intentions.

Modern pyramids

The Louvre Pyramid, a modern pyramid built as an entrance to the Louvre Museum in Paris

Examples of modern pyramids are:

The Louvre Pyramid in Paris, France, in the court of the Louvre Museum, is a 20.6 meter (about 70 foot) glass structure which acts as an entrance to the museum. It was designed by the American architect I. M. Pei and completed in 1989.
The Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco, California, designed by William Pereira.
The 32-story Pyramid Arena in Memphis, Tennessee (built in 1991) was the home court for the University of Memphis men's basketball program, and the National Basketball Association's Memphis Grizzlies until 2004.
The Slovak radio building in Bratislava, Slovakia. This building is shaped like an inverted pyramid.
The Walter Pyramid, home of the basketball and volleyball teams of the California State University, Long Beach, campus in California, United States, is an 18-story-tall blue pyramid.
The Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, United States, is a 30-story pyramid with light beaming from the top.
The Summum Pyramid, a 3 story pyramid in Salt Lake City, Utah, used for instruction in the Summum philosophy and conducting rites associated with Modern Mummification.
The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The three pyramids of Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas.
The Co-Op Bank Pyramid or Stockport Pyramid in Stockport, England is a large pyramid-shaped office block in Stockport in England. (The surrounding part of the valley of the upper Mersey has sometimes been called the "Kings Valley" after the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.)
The GoJa Music Hall in Prague.
The Muttart Conservatory greenhouses in Edmonton, Alberta.
The unfinished Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang.
Small pyramids similar to those of the Louvre can be found outside the lobby of the Citicorp Building in Long Island City, Queens NY.

Bhoothnath Movie Review

2008-05-19T14:59:00.002+05:30

Banner: B R Films

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Juhi Chawla Shahrukh Khan, Aman Siddiqui, Priyanshu Chatterjee

Direction: Vivek Sharma

Production: Ravi Chopra

In Nath Villa, situated in Goa, there lives the spirit of the owner who frightens away anyone who comes to live there. However, the ghost meets his match in a kid who befriends him and even makes him doubt whether he really is a bhoot!

Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla move to Goa after SRK gets an official transfer. With them is their naughty son Banku (Aman Siddiqui). As SRK has to report for duty the next day, it's left to Juhi to get the bungalow in order. But no one is willing to work in this house, as tales of it being haunted is folklore in Goa. In his quest to frighten the family away Bhoothnath (Amitabh Bachchan) fails, and instead falls in love with Banku and the two are soon inseparable.

Bhoothnath teaches Banku that life is not magic, but lots of hard work. He follows him to school for some hilarious episodes. Juhi is rattled with Banku's constant chatter about his 'Angel Friend'. Banku then requests his friend to meet his mother. The story then unfolds. Bhoothnath is Kailash Nath, the owner of the bungalow, 'Nath Villa'. He sends his son to America for further studies who returns only for his mother's funeral. He also tries to sell the bungalow. Kailash Nath is not interested. For him, his house is a treasure of memories. Unable to get his way, the son leaves for the US with his wife and kid. In trying to stop them, Kailash Nath falls down the stairs and dies. His spirit continues to reside in the bungalow.

This film is perfectly timed. With the holiday season well into its second month, it's sure to find a huge audience with kids tagging their parents along.

It's your normal, ordinary drama that we see on screen, but credit to the makers for adding an interesting twist in the form of a ghost with loads of special effects. Amitabh as Bhootnath is scary at first. He portrays well his transformation; from scary to lovable. His yearning for being with his son is well enacted which traps him in the house as a ghost.

Aman as Banku is likeable. Comparisons are likely to be made with TAARE ZAMEEN PAR star Darsheel Safary. To be fair to Aman, he does a decent job. Juhi Chawla plays her sweet self yet again and Shah Rukh Khan in a guest appearance adds his special touch to the proceedings.

Music is where the makers could have scored heavily, peppering the film with peppy numbers. Sadly, it fails to pass muster. They make up in special effects though. There is one particular scene, when Kailash Nath falls off the steps and runs out of the house after his son. When he comes back in, he is in for a shock because he realizes he has just died. You can't help but think of the Demi Moore-Patrick Swayze starrer GHOST. Also there is one particular scene when Banku falls off the steps and he is rushed to Holy Spirit Hospital. This one is in Mumbai! Another sore point is the sudden disappearance of Rajpal Yadav who plays Anthony the drunk. There is no link to his sudden absence on screen.

On the whole, BHOOTHNATH is a well-told story that has all it takes to appeal to kids and kids at heart, besides striking a chord with the families. Has the merits and potential to end the dry spell at the box-office.

Verdict: BHOOTNATH will have lots of kids for company.

Rating: 4 stars on 5

Birthday

2008-05-19T14:49:00.002+05:30

Birthday is the name given to the particular date each year on which many people in many cultures celebrate the anniversary they were born. It is often marked by a birthday party and/or friends when gifts are given to the person celebrating the birthday. It is also customary to treat people specially on their birthday, either generally acceding to their wishes, or subjecting them to a rite of transition.

It is thought the large-scale celebration of birthdays in Europe began with the cult of Mithras, which originated in Persia but was spread by soldiers throughout the Roman Empire. Such celebrations were uncommon previously so practices from other contexts such as the Saturnalia were adapted for birthdays. Because many Roman soldiers took to Mithraism, it had a wide distribution and influence throughout the empire until it was supplanted by Christianity. The Jewish perspective on birthday celebrations is disputed by various rabbis.

The celebration of birthdays is not universal. Some people prefer name day celebrations, and Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate either, considering their origins to be pagan festivals along with Christmas and Easter. Some adults loathe celebrating it as it reminds them that they are getting progressively older.

Traditions

A birthday is considered a special day for the person, and so the person will often get special treatment from friends and family. This is especially true for children, who eagerly anticipate their own special day. In addition to parties, people often receive gifts on their birthday. Birthday parties for children often include fun games, which are relevant to the local culture, or the visit of a magician to entertain. Typical birthday party decorations include balloons, streamers and confetti. There are also traditions of surprise parties. Not all traditions are equally generous. In certain circles, the birthday boy or girl is expected to treat their party guests; this varies depending on the local culture and may involve party gifts or other nice gesture. In some cultures, the birthday at which the youngster reaches the legal age for alcohol consumption may be celebrated with a party at which free or abundant alcoholic drinks are available.

In most English-speaking countries it is traditional to sing the song Happy Birthday to You to the honored person celebrating a birthday. The Happy Birthday song tune is thought to be the most frequently sung melody in the world. Similar songs exist in other languages such as "Lang zal hij/zij leven" (and several others) in Dutch, "Zum Geburtstag Viel Glück" in German, "Feliz Cumpleaños" in Spanish, "Sto lat" in Polish, "Lá Bhreithlá Shona Duit" in Irish, "Joyeux Anniversaire" in French, "Tanti Auguri a te" in Italian and "Iyi ki dogdun, Mutlu Yillar Sana" in Turkish. This happens traditionally at a birthday party while someone brings a birthday cake into the (often darkened) room. Druze is a religion which celebrate this event

Birthday cake

The birthday cake is traditionally highly decorated, and typically covered with lit candles when presented, the number of candles signifying the age of the celebrant. The person whose birthday it is makes a silent wish and then blows out the candles. If done in one breath, the wish is supposed to come true (but only if the person keeps the wish to himself or herself). "Trick" candles have also been used to play practical jokes on the birthday boy or girl. These candles do not go out when blown upon, making it difficult to get the wish associated with blowing out all of the candles. It is also common for the "birthday boy" or "birthday girl" to cut the initial piece of the cake as a newlywed couple might with a wedding cake. If the knife touches the bottom, or when withdrawn from the cake comes out with pieces of cake adhering to it, the birthday boy or girl may have to kiss the nearest person of a different sex.

Birthday cakes date back as far as the Middle Ages when the English would conceal symbolic items such as gold coins, rings and thimbles inside their cakes. Each item was associated with a prediction. For example, a person finding a gold coin in a birthday cake would supposedly become wealthy; a person discovering a thimble would never marry.

For special birthdays and for when the number of candles might be considered impractical or a fire hazard, special candles are substituted for the many individual candles in the shape of a numeral. For example, on the fifth birthday, there may be one candle on the cake in the shape of the numeral five, and on the fiftieth birthday there may be two candles on the cake, one in the shape of the numeral five followed by the other in the shape of the number zero.

Birthday cakes are often designed especially for what the person who has the birthday likes. They may be home-made or purchased.

Special Birthdays

Notable birthdays can include:

When the most significant digit changes, for example one's 1st, 10th, 20th, 30th, 50th, or 100th birthdays.
Certain coming-of-age years often accompanied by an increase in legal privileges and responsibilities; in Western nations these often traditionally happen at ages 12, 15, 16, 18, 19 and 21.
One's champagne birthday, also called a golden birthday, is the day when the age someone turns is the same as the day in the month he or she was born. It is also common for the birthday individual to have champagne, thus champagne birthday. For example, someone born on January 31st would celebrate his or her golden birthday when he or she turns 31. According to the Dictionary of American Regional English, this meaning is most prevalent in Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota, although it is used elsewhere.
One's platinum birthday is the birthday when the age matches the concatenated numeric value of the month and the day. For example, somebody turning 43 on 4/3 would be celebrating their platinum birthday. This time-honored tradition originated in east central Minnesota. (This, however, is not advantageous if you were born on, say, December 15, as very few people live to age 1,215.)
One's Beddian birthday is the day when the age one turns is the same as the last two digits of one's birth year. For example, people born in 1954 would celebrate their Beddian birthday when they turned 54 in 2008. This birthday is named for a NYC firefighter, Bobby Beddia, who noted this coincidence days before he was killed in a seven-alarm blaze near Ground Zero.
In most legal systems, one becomes a legal adult on a particular birthday (often 18th or 21st), and at different ages gains different rights and responsibilities — voting, certain drug use (for example, alcohol, purchasing tobacco), eligibility for military draft or voluntary enlistment, purchasing lottery tickets, vehicle driving licences, etc.
The birthdays of historically significant people, like national heroes or founders, are often commemorated by an official holiday. Some saints are remembered by a liturgical feast (sometimes on a presumed birthday). By analogy, the Latin term Dies natalis 'birthday' is applied to the anniversary of an institution (such as a university).
Many cultures have one or more coming of age birthdays:

Jewish boys have a bar mitzvah on or around their 13th birthday. Jewish girls observe a bat mitzvah on or around their 12th birthday, or sometimes on or around their 13th birthday in Reform and Conservative Judaism.
In some Christian traditions, generally Catholic and Anglican, Confirmation is the ritual by which a young person receives a Sacrament thought to bestow certain gifts of the Holy Spirit. The timing of the reception of this Sacrament serves, on a sociological level, as a sort of "rite of passage" into adulthood.
In Latin America the quinceañera celebration traditionally marks a girl's 15th birthday.
Some girls and a few boys in the United States have "sweet sixteen" birthday parties.
In the United Kingdom 18th and 21st are traditional coming of age birthdays.
In many Asian countries, the 14th birthday is celebrated as the day one becomes a man, or a woman, in society.
Many Filipino girls celebrate their 18th birthdays with a cotillion and debutante ball, commonly known as a debut.

Official/Alternative birthdays and name day

Some notables, particularly monarchs, have an official birthday on a fixed day of the year, which may not necessarily match their actual birthday, but on which celebrations are held. Examples are:

The King's or Queen's Official Birthday in Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom; in Canada this day is known as Victoria Day.
Jesus of Nazareth's traditional birthday is celebrated as Christmas Day around the world: 25 December. As some Eastern churches use the Julian calendar, 25 December falls on 7 January in the Gregorian calendar every year until 2100.
The Grand Duke's Official Birthday in Luxembourg: 23 June.
The King's official birthday in Belgium: November 15 (on saint Leopold, liturgical feast of the dynasty's founder's patron saint).
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia celebrates his federal official birthday on the first Saturday of June.
Koningsdag or Koninginnedag in the Kingdom of the Netherlands is fixed on 30 April (Queen's Day; celebration of the reigning Queen's accession). Queen Beatrix fixed it at the birthday of her mother, the previous Queen, to avoid the winter weather associated with her own birthday in January.

While it is uncommon to have an official holiday for a republican head of state's birthday, this can become a permanent posthumous honour, especially in the case of a so-called father of the fatherland, for example George Washington (best known as Presidents' Day; also celebrated in the US is Lincoln's Birthday)

In cases where a mythical figure's actual birthday is unknown, it is common for a particular date to be substituted.

People born on leap day (February 29), which occurs only during leap years, often celebrate their birthday in other years on February 28, or March 1 (the first day they have, measured in whole years, a new age).

In some Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox countries such as France, Hungary, or Greece, it is common to have a 'name day'/'Saint's day'. This is celebrated in much the same way as a birthday, but is held on the official day of a saint with the same Christian name as the birthday boy/girl; the difference being that one may look up a person's name day in a calendar, or easily remember common name days (for example, John or Mary); however in pious traditions, the two were often made to concur by giving a newborn the name of a saint celebrated on its birthday, or even the name of a feast, for example, Noel or Pascal (French for Christmas and "of Easter"). In some countries, name days are celebrated with much more elaborate festivities than birthdays; in the past, birthdays often were not celebrated at all in those countries.

In school, a half-birthday or other unbirthday is sometimes celebrated for those whose birthdays do not fall on a school day (especially for birthdays falling during holiday and vacation periods).

All racehorses traditionally celebrate their birthday on (that is, calculate their age in years from) 1 August in the Southern Hemisphere, and on 1 January in the Northern Hemisphere.

Technical issues

A person's birthday is usually recorded according to the time zone of the place of birth. Thus people born in Samoa at 11:30 PM will record their birthdate as one day before UTC and those born in the Line Islands will record their birthdate one day after UTC. They will apparently be born two days apart, while some of the apparently older ones may be younger in hours. Those who live in different time zones from their birth often exclusively celebrate their birthdays at the local time zone. In addition, the intervention of Daylight Saving Time can result in a case where a baby born second being recorded as having been born up to an hour before their predecessor (but the time the clock is changed back is such that the second of twins does not have an earlier birthday).

Best wishes Jowhara Banu on your Birthday

2008-05-19T11:50:00.003+05:30

Instead of counting candles,

Or tallying the years,

Contemplate your blessings,

As your birthday nears.

Consider special people

Who love you, and who care,

And others who’ve enriched your life

Just by being there.

Think about the memories

Passing years can never mar,

Experiences great and small

That have made you who you are.

Another year is a happy gift,

So cut your cake, and say,

"Instead of counting birthdays,

I count blessings every day!"

May Allah shower blessings on you. Many More Happy Returns of the Day Jows’.

With Love Haseem

Best wishes kirthika on your Birthday

2008-05-19T10:45:00.002+05:30

Each year your birthday reminds me

That I really want to say

I am very glad I know you;

I think of you each day.

I hope you enjoy your birthday,

All the pleasures it has in store,

And because I appreciate you,

I hope you have many more!

It’s your birthday...

and I’m thinking how glad I am

that you were born.

You have given me so much--

supported me, encouraged me,

cared for me; I didn't even need to ask.

I celebrate your wonderful self!

I am in awe of your boundless generosity,

your infinite kindness--that gentle inner glow

that you so freely use to warm my life.

Your birthday is as much a celebration for me

as it is for you, maybe more,

and I wish for you the best of birthdays,

the best one ever.

May each birthday be better than the last.

Most of all, I hope you will always be

As happy as you have made me.

Many More Happy Returns of the Day Kirthi

Love Always Syed Ali Fathima

Best wishes Hilfa on your Birthday

2008-05-19T10:39:00.001+05:30

It’s your birthday...

and I’m thinking how glad I am

that you were born.

You have given me so much--

supported me, encouraged me,

cared for me; I didn't even need to ask.

I celebrate your wonderful self!

I am in awe of your boundless generosity,

your infinite kindness--that gentle inner glow

that you so freely use to warm my life.

Your birthday is as much a celebration for me

as it is for you, maybe more,

and I wish for you the best of birthdays,

the best one ever.

May each birthday be better than the last.

Most of all, I hope you will always be

As happy as you have made me.

Each year your birthday reminds me

That I really want to say

I am very glad I know you;

I think of you each day.

I hope you enjoy your birthday,

All the pleasures it has in store,

And because I appreciate you,

I hope you have many more!

Many More Happy Returns of the Day di Kulfi

Love Always Syed Ali Fathima