Fleeing Fallujans Killed as Crisis Deepens
Source: AlJazeera

US soldiers have fired on a minibus full of civilians near a checkpoint on the outskirts of the besieged Iraqi town of Falluja.


Witnesses said a hail of bullets from occupation forces on Thursday turned the vehicle into a ball of fire.

Iraqi policeman Fuad al-Hamdani said four civilians were killed in the unprovoked attack.

People have been leaving Falluja following major US airstrikes on the town, 50km west of Baghdad.

No one was able to explain why soldiers fired at the vehicle and the US military said it had yet to receive information on any incident in the area.

Aljazeera's correspondent in Falluja, Abd al-Adhim Muhammad, said 24 Iraqis were wounded during the US bombardment on Wednesday night.

>>Siege escalating<<

Residents have reported sporadic bombings but said there had been no resumption so far of the massive artillery barrage and air strikes that shook the city of 300,000 on Wednesday.


None the less, US commanders around Falluja have been appealing for more firepower.

The Pentagon, in a reversal of policy favouring lighter units, said it was sending dozens of main battle tanks and other armoured vehicles.

ِAbout two dozen heavy M1A1 Abrams tanks will attempt to end the siege within days.

>>Appeal for calm<<

But UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan appealed to US President George Bush to show restraint in Falluja.

"The more the occupation is seen as taking steps that harm the civilians and the population, the greater the ranks of the resistance grows," Annan told a news conference in New York.

Occupation forces have surrounded Falluja since the public killing there of four US security guards.

Hundreds of Iraqis have died in the ensuing attempt to wipe out resistance in the town, with some doctors putting the toll at around 600.

I like this old poem:

"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost (1874-1963)


Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
And miles to go before I sleep.

Exams am comen up in 4 weeks' toyme, i've got so much werk ter does...not ter mention revision...an' I ain't even started yet - typical. tomorrow's booked for the open doy an' shappen for revision guides. so, sundoy I need ter pull me socks up an' get ter werk. inshaaallaah. i went into college on toyme this mornen weege is amazen...but whats even mower amazen is the fact that I actually went ter the psychology lesson yesterdoy!!!

"an' yaw point is....?" yom thinkin'...

the point is that psychology is at 8am, arr AM! that's before school even starts. I think thru ert the wool year, i've only bin ter..like...12..13 lessons. i'm surprised I ain't bin kicked off the couss. alhamdulillaah. the goy guy got kicked off tho..an' I missed mower lessons than him! haha. ee left by the woy, the goy geeza did, ter does a ...............wait for it....................... hairdressen couss. yup. typical.
*puke*

so, where was I? yeah...i went in on toyme to-die an' so I quickly registered an' just hung abart at reception waiten for the bell ter goo so I cud get chem over an' done with. so the'er I was, sitten on those big blue chairs an' then 2 people caught me eye. they were someone we know. they were waiten for sum teacher...when ee came, ee greeted them as they does in places loike this: ee stuck his 'and ert. fust at the geezer, they shook 'ands. then at the lady, she shot 'er 'and ert an' shook it aswell! I was gobsmacked. "ang on, am ya sure 'ers even a muslim?" I thought ter muself. I peered agen closely an' saw that it was, in fact, a lady we knoo. a Muslim lady. a Muslim lady who just shook 'ands with a geezer.

Whats the world comen ter eh?

I would've said mower...except me stomach's croiyin for food.

So, I'll be off then.

By the woy, I just blogged in the accent people yav round eya.

I'm terribly sorry but ugh, one rairlairh hates that accent.

Cheerio .

Was-salaamu'alaykum.

Sunday, April 18, 2004
Commander Of Arab Fighters In Chechnya Killed
Source: IslamOnline


RIYADH, April 18 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Abdul Aziz Al-Ghamdi, the commander of Arab fighters in Chechnya, has been killed, a family member confirmed Sunday, April 18.

A brother of Ghamdi, aka Abul Walid, said the family had received news of his martyrdom Sunday morning, but did not say how the 34-year-old commander had died, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The Saudi website Islam Today said Ghamdi had "been hit in the back" while preparing for prayers on Friday, April 16, adding the incidents took place in one of the camps of the mujahedeen fighting the Russian occupation forces in Chechnya.

The brother, who asked not to be named, told AFP the family were receiving condolences at their home.

He said Abul Walid, who was married to a Chechen, had been in Chechnya for the past six years and had also fought then-Soviet forces in Afghanistan during the 1980s.

Chechnya's pro-Russian President Akhmad Kadyrov said he had no knowledge of the death.

"There are major special operations under way in Chechnya, in the regions of Vedeno, Nojay-Yurt and Chelkovskoy, but no information so far concerning the death of Abul Walid," Kadyrov was quoted as saying by Ria-Novosti news agency.

The agency quoted a Russian military source as saying that Ghamdi may have been killed in a missile attack in recent days.

"There is no information about his death, but the situation will become clearer in the coming days," the source said.

Abul Walid, succeeded Arab commander Khattab, also Saudi-born, after he was killed two years ago.

Khattab, whose real name was Thamer bin Saleh al-Suwailem, and who fought with Arab fighters against Moscow's troops in Chechnya, was killed in March 2002.

Russia's intelligence agency FSB, the former KGB, said the following month that it had killed Khattab during an undercover operation that lasted more than a year and played on internal divisions among Chechen fighters.

According to Chechen fighters, Khattab died five minutes after receiving a poisoned letter, which had been delivered by a messenger known to him.

Russia claimed Khattab had links to Saudi-born Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network.

A Chechen group later said its members killed the man blamed for the slaying of Khattab.

The small mountainous republic of Chechnya has been ravaged by conflict since 1994, with just three years of relative peace after the first war between Russian forces and Chechen fighters ended in August 1996 and the second broke out in October 1999.

At least 100,000 civilians and 10,000 Russian troops are estimated to have been killed in both wars, but human rights groups have said the real numbers could be much higher.

Last October, human rights groups accused the West of ignoring blatant and state-sanctioned abuses in Russia for the sake of improving relations with President Vladimir Putin.

The U.N. Human Rights Committee slammed in a panel on November 7 the ill-treatment of detainees under interrogation, executions and torture in the republic of Chechnya.

[http://www.islamtoday.net/albasheer/show_news_content.cfm?id=27889]

Saturday, April 17, 2004
Top Hamas Leader Rantissi Killed in Israeli Raid
Source: Reuters

GAZA (Reuters) - An Israeli helicopter missile strike on a car in Gaza City killed top Hamas leader Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi on Saturday, Hamas sources and medics said.
Witnesses said two of Rantissi's bodyguards were also killed in the attack.

Medics said Rantissi had been rushed to a Gaza City hospital in a critical condition after the attack. Sources said he had been wounded in the head with shrapnel.

Hundreds of Hamas members and supporters flooded to the hospital after news of the Israeli raid.

The air strike occurred hours after an Israeli border policeman was killed by a Palestinian suicide bomber at the Erez crossing on the Israeli-Gaza border.

No immediate comment was available from the Israeli army on the helicopter strike.

Rantissi, a co-founder of Hamas, has become one of its two main leaders since Israel's killing of Hamas spiritual head Ahmed Yassin in Gaza on March 22.

Israel tried to kill Rantissi, public face of a Palestinian militant group that normally stays in the shadows, last June.

On that occasion he and his teenage son were wounded in an Israeli helicopter missile strike on his car, also in Gaza City.

Rantissi had refused to go into hiding like many of his comrades on Israel's wanted list since Hamas launched a suicide bombing campaign to spearhead a 3 1/2-year-old Palestinian uprising.

He had long depicted himself as a Hamas politician with no links to the military wing.

But Israel had refused to accept the distinction, accusing him of being a top decision-maker on attacks and of using his media role to incite violence.

With Rantissi filling the role of Hamas spokesman, camera crews from around the world have trooped to his modestly furnished living room to hear him issue vows of revenge, often in calm, even tones, for Israel's killing of militants.

بسم ألله ألرحمان ألرحيم
ألسلام عليكم و رحمة ألله

Anyone heard 'Maashi be Noorillaah'? I dunno who its sung by...but its really kewl. You can hear it at http://www.balabelaltahleel.com . This nasheed brings back memories...

Apart from Arabic and English nasheeds, I like listening to some naats (urdu nasheeds). These two are classics:

(13) Fasiloon Ko Takalluf Hai - sung by Iqbal Azeen &
(15) Hum Faqeeron ko Madeeneh kee galee.. - dunno who its sung by

They're both in praise of the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam). 'Hum Faqeeron ko Madeeneh ki galee achee lagee' basically means "Us poor people like the streets of Madeenah.."...reminds me of the time I was in Madeenah. The streets were quiet, full of tranquility. When the adhaan was being called out, not a sound from anyone was to be heard...nobody would talk loudly, the kids would stop giggling, the babies would stop crying, the cars' horns would stop beeping, everyone would be walking to the masjid quietly, dressed in Sunnah clothing, repeating after the muaddhin....a scene of complete serenity. Words can't describe it...I know that sounds so cliched..but its true. Its one of those atmospheres where one would have to be present, themselves to experience the beauty. I hope I'm given another chance to go back...sit in the peaceful shade of the Ka'bah and pray to the Owner for His Mercy and Blessings. You can be the most arrogant, up-tight, thankless sinner, yet Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) will still give you the chance to ask for His forgiveness. And He (SWT), will still forgive you. Thats what it means when we say Allaah is Al-Ghafoor Ar-Raheem - The most Forgiving and the most Merciful.

Innit.

As-salaamu 'alaykum.

My heart rate's slowed down now from yesterday. Eeeeeeeeewwww...I didn't know we had a rat here. Gotta sort it out. The whole city needs to be sorted out, in fact.

So anyways...I'm so glad we're goin back on the wednesday and not monday. I got an extra 2 days to revise, alhamdulillaah. The timetable I made ages ago is gathering dust - I can't follow it. I knew that would happen.. :P I did a bit of bio yesterday...didn't do any today cuz I was out all day...but I made the day useful: I bought a revision guide. All I need to get now is revision guides for module 3..bio and chem, plus psychology. I've looked everywhere for psych revision guides tho...hmmm. I should've just bought bio mod 3 today aswell...but I was skint as usual. InshaaAllaah, the dosh'll start flowing after the hols...I think. I need to save it up tho..shouldn't be too hard to do that. Hopefully.

Hmm. Anyone heard that nasheed by Imad Rami? Well, it ain't exactly a nasheed...its like...well it goes like this:

"SubhaanAllaah walhamdulillaah, wa laaaaa ilaaha ilallaah, wallaahu AKBAR! [X2] ....{forgot the rest}"

Kinda like dhikr...'cept it has duffs beating in the background. Someone wanted it, but its got duffs...they dont like duffs at all, its unneeded, they say. And I guess they're right...nasheeds sound good and get their message across without the sound of duffs beating in the background, thankyouverymuch. But...still...its ear-candy :P (If there is such a thing...gross..i'm picturing ear wax now...). Its not haraam, after all, innit?

Did you know Imad Rami is an ex-pop singer? Yeah. I know. He was at that nasheed extravaganza thingamajig aswell, apparently. Well, I didn't go cuz these nasheed 'concerts' are a complete waste of time. It indirectly promotes freemixing. I went to the very first one...and I hated it. There was these silly women screaming at the top of their lungs, and singing and clapping like there's no tomorrow. The men's eyes were darting everywhere...I'm guessing this. But I know the womens' eyes were. Apparently, a sourve of mine says some people this time went as far as *dancing*! Astaghfirullaah man.
It seems most people just go to these things to find a potential spouse! Its really thick man. Hey, its organised by YM...whaddaya expect?!

Aaaaaaaaaaaanyways. I better be off.

Peace out, yo. :P

As-salaamu 'alaykum.

Its 01:19am. Yes, am. If my parents know I'm awake...on the computer at this hour, I'm dead meat. I don't even know what I'm doing here man. The sheer joy must've gotten to my head. Yuuuuup. A friend from skewl/6th form made my day: we're goin back on WEDNESDAY, not monday! woooooooooohooooooooooooo!!!

OH MY GOD. I JUST SAW A RAT.


i'm gettin outta here...what the hell is a RAT doin here man?!?!?! *heart racing*

salaams.

As-salaamu 'alaykum and greetingz,

I was just scrolling thru my blog earlier, lookin out for things I need to improve etc (as you do). Anyways, I noticed some comments that I'd missed...specifically the comments under the story 'Ameer ul-Mu'mineen'. I'd missed a comment by Visitor:

I enjoyed reading your blog entry to do with david-dawed, however it also showed up the point that christians and muslims will argue until they are both blue in the face ( possibly from juice! ) about their beliefs. All religions are a con, you have been brainwashed, your entry highlighted the brainwashing of this guy david, i dont care what he converted from, the fact he follows any religion at all sickens me. Stop blindly following things people have told you, or what you are pressured into and start thinking for yourself. You only have a short time on this Earth, don't waste it following the restrictions of religion.

I thought I'd reply here. I dunno if Visitor still checks this blog out...but just in case...thanks for droppin by :) I really liked that story ('Ameer ul-Mumineen') cuz it was well-written and it keeps you reading till the end. The storyline was wicked too. Ya know, I'd say exacltly the same thing as Visitor, that religion is a con and it has too many restrictions. I'd say exactly the same...IF I hadn't found Islaam, cuz Islam isn't a religion, its a way of life. When I think of the word 'religion', I think rituals and robotic actions, and unnecesary restrictions. That's because I don't think of Islam as religion..like i said, its a complete way of life. It teaches me how to eat, drink, walk, talk, dress, deal with money, people, animals, plants...etc. I'd say now that not all religions have unnecesary restricitons...you can't murder 'cuz its inhumane, you can't mistreat the elderly 'cuz its just wrong, you can't dress like a pro 'cuz there'll definitly be unwanted consequences, you can't eat or drink certain foods 'cuz they're impure..for the body and mind. These are just a few examples of some 'rules' (for want of a better word) that many religions have. Most of it is common sense. Most people spend half their lives trying to work out whats 'right' and whats 'wrong', why we're here on this earth, what'll happen to us after we die...the million dollar question[s]. I think 'religions' provide the answers to these questions from the beginning so one doesn't have to 'waste' their life trying to work why they're living it (the life..). I dunno if I'm making any sense lol...but yeah, that's my view. I can think for myself, and I *have* thought for myself, which is why I'm a Muslim.There's alot more I wanna say, but I dunno how to put it eloquently :P...or even coherently lol. But yeah...that's what I think of 'religion'..I don't think its a bunch of rules to brainwash you into robotic-like actions. Well, Islam ain't anyway. Other religions, (specifically Christianity and Judaism), aren't a bunch of dead rules either, its just the people who tend to follow religions make it seem so. (That's a diff story in itself tho...). To end, I don't think I've been brainwashed or pressured or restricted. Nor have over 95% of people on this earth who follow a religion. But to each his own, innit? :)

As-salaamu 'alaykum.

I feel bad. I've been extremely ill so I didn't get any revision done at all today. I didn't even get to glare at my books cuz I've been so sick. Was supposed to start on my English Anthology after the kids'd gone...but it just got worse. I feel better now (alhamdulillaah for that). Tomorrow I'll be starting psychology..so I'll have to fit in the anthology that I missed today in some other block. Hmmmm.

Snotty if you're reading this...sorry I didn't call last night...we had people round so had to help out and stuff...then that film came on...crouching tiger hideen dragon or whatever..strange film, that. Very strange. I dn't understand what people find so cool about it...hmmm. And the 'flying'...that's so obviously fake. Of course it can't be real, but people usually make stuff like flying etc in films seems even remotely realistic. That was just outright fakeness :P

Hmmm. I had some gross russian chocolate earlier. I've still got the horrible taste in me mouth..i'm gonna eat something to replace it. I think I'll have a tangerine or a banana or something. Hmm.

I'm in 2 minds about this blog. I always thought blogs were for people with sad lives...then I guess I changed me mind when I created this one :P Hmm...now I'm having second thoughts...lol. I think its dumb when people tell the whole [online] world about their life story...what they had for breakfast, the day they were born, what colour socks they planned on wearing the next day...honestly...

...no offence to all those who *do* do that..lol.

Anyways...I need some vaseline...

Wassalaam.

As-salaamu 'alaykum.

I hate the exam season, there's always so much tension in the air..especially when theres only a few weeks left. The tension increases as the gap decreases. There's about 6 weeks left till the dreaded exams and I ain't even started revising yet man. I'm gonna start some serious revision from tomorrow, inshaaAllaah. I've even made a timetable...but whether I'll actually follow it this time is another story. I'm gonna really try this time. InshaaAllaah. I really really hate exams. And I really really hate having to revise for 'em. But I need to pull me socks up and get to work. Man, if I fail this year..there's gonna be so many negative effects :S Firstly, I'll prolly have to stay an extra year in this dump..either that or I'll get kicked out. I'd prefer the second option :P cuz I SO loath this place. The place stinks. No, really. It literally stinks. I should wear a gas mask before entering the building. The place is fulla Sikhs..so its understandable.



Actually, I shouldn't say that 'cuz its just wrong. But...it is true...

Anyways, moving swiftly on...another knock-on effect of failing: my parents are gonna be so gutted. One feels quite pressured sometimes when parents have high expectations of them. I really need to pass so my parents are happy. I don't care half as much as they do. When you invest in something, you expect to get something of good quality back. My parents spent time, money etc on my education, so I really need to make it worth it all. I don't wanna remain a jaahil person...Islam-wise and dunya-wise aswell. My parents certainly don't want that to happen either. And Islamically, jahiliyyah is not recommended, to say the least. So...yeah. Lots of other things...but I can't be bothered to type anymore. Plus, I'm starving. I can smell daal [lentils] from here. I'm off to eat white rice and daal. Yum.

Wassalaamz.

My Eman

by Gillette aka Hassan[uddin] Khaja

i miss my eman
whenever i kill my heart, she beats me back to life with the qur'an
and drags me to the masjid, 'cause no one else wanted to call the adhaan
i always tell her that i miss her
but she complains that i only express my love with superficial "proud to be muslim" bumper stickers
i complain that i can't constantly feed her with dhikr
i say that blood is thick, but my love for her is even thicker
but she asks why i run away from her quicker
than people who try to trick her creator
i insist that i don't hate her
but when i see the waiter come by,
"i gotta eat, i'll make up salah later"
she complains that i only see her five times a day during prayer
but i insist that i never disobey her
she asks who i want to be with, i say her
but if i see some women, i tell her, "maybe we need some time apart."
that's when it starts
i hate the part when i blacken my heart
and she says "my lord's gonna be [angry].
soon, he's gonna send an angel to take away all of this.
death and destruction are the only women you'll ever kiss.
i'm a custom-made import sent by al-azeez to protect what's between your jaws and knees.
you'll need me if it's him you want to please.
so, you don't want me? fine! i'm gonna leave!"
she flew through the door, and i went after her, screaming "give me back my car keys!"
i saw her speed out of the driveway
i said to myself "who cares? i don't need her, i'll do things my way."
i took a look at my stuff and said, "we're fine how we are."
later, i wanted to go to the masjid, but i had no car.
"i'll just walk, it isn't far."
i needed to hurry as the sky was starting to darken
i left my house, and i saw my car, with a few minor markings
"she brought it back," i thought, "but she's terrible with parking."
so i walked into the musalla, and in the first row, who was right behind the imam,
saving a spot for me? my eman

LOL. This is hilarious man:

http://www.hidayaonline.com/archives/000056.html

As-salaamu 'alaykum.

Potatoes do wonders for the bags under one's eyes. Peel, wash and cut a very thin piece of potato and place it on ur eye. Leave it for about 10 minutes...maybe longer and voila! Your bags have become lighter. Cucumbers don't seem to work for me.
Natural remedies are kewl.