Latest news with #Prophet
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Eid-ul-Adha 2025: Oman predicts Dhul Hijjah crescent moon sighting date and time, scores 5-day holiday for June getaway
As the crescent moon ushers in a sacred chapter in the Islamic calendar, Omanis can officially begin preparing for a long and meaningful holiday for Eid-ul-Adha (also known as Bakra Eid, Bakrid, Bakhreid, Eid-ul-Zuha, Eid al-Adha, Eid Qurban, Qurban Bayarami or the Feast of Sacrifice). Based on precise astronomical predictions, Eid-ul-Adha 2025 in Oman will begin on Friday, June 6, giving the Sultanate's residents a generous long weekend to celebrate and reconnect with family and friends. According to Dr Subaih bin Rahman Al Saadi, a leading Omani expert in celestial sciences, the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah 1446 AH is expected to be sighted on the evening of Tuesday, May 27. His calculations show that the moon will set 36 minutes after sunset in Muscat, appearing 8 degrees from the sun and 7 degrees above the western horizon — ideal conditions for a confirmed sighting. This sighting means that Wednesday, May 28, may mark the first day of Dhul Hijjah, placing Arafah Day on Thursday, June 05, followed by Eid Al Adha on Friday, June 06, 2025. Thanks to Royal Decree No. 88/2022, Oman will observe the official Eid-ul-Adha holidays from Dhul Hijjah 9 to 12. However, with the first day of Eid-ul-Adha falling on a Friday, the government has announced a compensatory day off to ensure that the public and private sectors enjoy a complete holiday stretch. As a result, Omanis are in for a five-day break — starting Thursday, June 5, and continuing through Monday, June 9. It is the perfect opportunity for family gatherings, spiritual observance, serene staycations or a quick travel escape. Eid-ul-Adha, or the 'Festival of Sacrifice,' is one of the most revered occasions in the Islamic calendar as it commemorates the unwavering faith of Prophet Ibrahim and is marked by prayers, charitable acts and the symbolic sacrifice of livestock. Beyond its spiritual significance, it is also a time for families to come together, share meals and reconnect with tradition. With a long weekend ahead, residents in Oman have ample time to embrace both the religious and leisurely aspects of the holiday. Whether you are planning a quiet retreat in the mountains, a family trip to the coast or simply soaking in the calm of a slower pace, Eid-ul-Adha 2025 promises a deeply meaningful and refreshingly restful break. Stay tuned for more lifestyle tips and travel ideas to make the most of your Eid-ul-Adha holidays in Oman.
Sharjah 24
13-05-2025
- General
- Sharjah 24
Sharjah council backs SSEF endowment to empower orphans
This meeting marks a key milestone in the Foundation's efforts to explain the project's details and mechanisms for participation through an interactive booth set up in public and private institutions across the UAE. The initiative aims to raise awareness of the project's value and areas of support, and to foster societal and institutional partnerships that ensure the charitable impact of the project remains sustainable. In this context, Mona bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Foundation, praised the collaboration with the Consultative Council, stating: The endowment project carries a noble humanitarian message. Through it, we seek to revive the Prophetic tradition of charitable endowment (waqf) and to empower a cherished group in our society by ensuring the sustainability of their support. This is achieved through a series of endowments whose returns directly benefit the care and empowerment programmes provided by the Foundation.' She added: 'Our presence here is part of our efforts to promote "Prophet's Neighbours" across the UAE, starting from Sharjah. We aim to establish an endowment as a sustainable development tool that guarantees continued support for beneficiaries. We extend our gratitude to the Consultative Council for its generous hosting and constructive engagement with our message. This reflects societal awareness of the importance of support and meaningful participation, reinforcing solidarity and cooperation within the community and enhancing its unity.' Al Suwaidi concluded: 'We sincerely invite every individual in our community to contribute to the Prophet's Neighbours Endowment project. It is a profound opportunity to leave a lasting legacy and engage in ongoing charity that will directly impact our beneficiaries. Your contributions help build a secure future for those who have lost their providers and revive the practice of endowment advocated by our beloved Prophet. Every contribution brings you closer, God willing, to being neighbours of the Prophet in Paradise.' On his part, Ahmed Saeed Al Jarwan, Secretary-General of the Sharjah Consultative Council, emphasised the importance of hosting impactful community initiatives with lasting humanitarian value. He pointed out that the project, launched by the Sharjah Social Empowerment Foundation, serves as a pioneering model of institutional charity work and reflects a civilised vision focused on empowering orphans and securing their future through sustainable endowment resources. Al Jarwan confirmed that the Consultative Council is committed to supporting initiatives that enhance social solidarity and promote collaboration between governmental and community institutions. He stated that this cooperation with the Foundation aligns with the Sharjah emirate's approach to nurturing and empowering individuals both materially and morally, in an environment that upholds their dignity and ensures their growth and integration. He added that the Council remains open to every developmental and humanitarian initiative that benefits society and aligns with the high directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, which call for strengthening responsible community action and promoting endowment as a developmental tool to secure sustainability and goodness for future generations. The Foundation is adopting a promotional strategy involving field visits to introduce the project at various government and private entities and across national events. The goal is to convey the project's message to the widest possible segment of society and enhance community involvement in supporting orphans who lack parental care. It is worth noting that Prophet's Neighbours is an endowment initiative launched by the Foundation to empower its beneficiaries and ensure the sustainability of their support through charitable endowments. All returns are fully allocated to programmes that empower orphans and meet their comprehensive needs, providing them with a stable environment and fair opportunities for growth and success.
Arab News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
First Jordanian passenger plane lands in Syria's Aleppo after 14-year hiatus
How Syria can overcome sectarian unrest to rebuild trust and national unity LONDON: In the Damascus suburb of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, the sounds of prayer bells and muezzins used to blend peacefully into the rhythm of daily life. Here, families from Syria's diverse communities — Sunni, Druze, Christian, and Alawite — shared neighbors' bread and exchanged Eid and Christmas greetings with equal sincerity. But that culture of mutual respect, already strained by more than a decade of civil war, is now on the brink of disappearing altogether. A small audio clip uploaded online in late April was all it took to set off a chain of disruptive events. Within days, Syria's fragile social compact broke down in places thought to be stable. Violent clashes erupted between armed groups and civilians. Security forces, once seen as protectors in these moments of tension, were either absent or accused of collusion. Entire neighborhoods were transformed into battlefields. For observers of Syria's long and bloodied path since 2011, the resurgence of sectarian strife in recent months is a warning less about the past than about the road ahead. With a transitional government led by President Ahmad Al-Sharaa trying to navigate a volatile political landscape, and with major world powers distracted by other crises, some of Syria's minorities are wondering where they belong in the nation's future. Druze clerics and relatives carry coffins of members of the Syrian minority who were killed in recent sectarian clashes. (AFP) The message of these regional analysts can be summed up thus: The Syrian government must be willing to listen to its citizens and open the door to political change — not military solutions or rule by militias. It must embrace and engage the country's diverse ethnic and religious communities and commit to political inclusion. The latest wave of unrest began on April 26 when the audio clip — whose authenticity remains unverified — circulated across messaging platforms. The man accused of criticizing Prophet Muhammad in the voice recording was Marwan Kiwan, a respected Druze scholar known for his initiatives in interfaith dialogue. Kiwan quickly issued a video denial, saying: 'Whoever made this is evil and wants to incite strife between components of the Syrian people.' His words did little to contain the rage. The Druze, a small religious community that makes up about 3 percent of Syria's population, have long walked a delicate line between asserting autonomy and pledging loyalty to the state. But by April 28, fighting had broken out in Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya — suburbs once considered models of coexistence — between militants and local Druze groups. IN NUMBER • 50% Minorities (Alawites, Kurds, Druze and others) as a fraction of Syria's population. • 60% Fraction of the population who were food insecure in 2021. • $100bn Real GDP (purchasing power parity) of Syria in 2022. Source: CIA's The World Factbook The violence quickly spread south, to villages in Suweida — Syria's Druze heartland — such as Ira, Rasas and Al-Soura Al-Kubra. At least 100 people were killed over the course of a week. Mortar shelling and heavy machine-gun fire struck residential areas. On Thursday, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hajari condemned the violence as an 'unjustifiable genocidal campaign' against his community. He called for international intervention to help restore peace. By Friday, May 2, at least 100 people, including civilians, were reportedly dead. Other Druze religious figures took a more conciliatory tone. In a joint statement, they affirmed the community's 'commitment to a country that includes all Syrians, a nation that is free of strife,' the Associated Press news agency reported. They also urged the government to secure the vital Suweida-Damascus highway, a critical lifeline increasingly targeted by militants. Christian and Muslim clerics attend the funeral of members of Syria's Druze community who were killed in recent sectarian clashes. (AFP) The authorities issued statements blaming the violence on 'outlaw groups,' while local activists and human rights monitors accused pro-government militias of targeting Druze neighborhoods. Amid the chaos, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that his government had carried out airstrikes near the presidential palace in Damascus on May 2 to 'send a message' following the attacks on Syria's Druze population. For many Syrians, this only added to the confusion — and to the perception that sectarian politics had become a tool for foreign manipulation. Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, dismissed Israel's posturing. 'Israel has threatened the regime of Al-Sharaa by landing a few warning bombs, but it cannot protect the Druze,' he told Arab News. Worse, he added, the overtures could backfire. 'Israel's intervention on behalf of the Druze compromises them in the minds of many Syrians, who now accuse them of treason.' Ghassan Ibrahim, founder of the Global Arab Network, went further in his criticism of Israel's role. 'Israel doesn't care about the Syrian Druze,' he said. 'It focuses on the Druze within its borders and projects a false message that it wants to help the community in Syria, rather than offering meaningful support.' In a statement on Friday, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria said continued Israeli airstrikes could cause greater civilian harm and fragmentation. Members of Syria's security deploy at the entrance of Jaramana near Damascus. (AFP) While the situation 'remains fluid,' it noted that a tentative agreement had reportedly been reached between leaders in Suweida and authorities in Damascus. Still, it stressed the government's obligation to protect all civilians within its jurisdiction. The commission also pointed to earlier violence in Syria's coastal areas in March as evidence of the country's fragile security and the urgent need for de-escalation. Regional analysts echoed the commission's concerns, warning that foreign interference and deepening internal divisions jeopardize chances of long-term peace. Many urged the government to double down on reconciliation and called on the international community to support inclusive, Syrian-led solutions. For Ibrahim, the true path to peace lies not in foreign intervention but in inclusive, homegrown governance. 'The less negative external involvement we have, the better it is for Syrians to sit down and talk,' he said. 'That process still requires support, including engagement with the UN and other organizations, to help Syrians find a path toward political compromise.' Opinion This section contains relevant reference points, placed in (Opinion field) He emphasized that stabilizing the country requires sidelining armed groups and initiating a credible national dialogue. 'This needs support from Arab states, neighboring countries, the international community — and even Israel, which must halt its involvement in the conflict,' he told Arab News. Ibrahim urged the new government to break with extremist allies and pursue political reform. 'The Syrian government must be willing to listen to its citizens and open the door to political change — not military solutions or rule by militias,' he said. 'It must reach out to minorities and embrace Syria's diverse ethnic and religious fabric.' Members of Syria's security forces deploy in an area near the Syrian capital Damascus. (AFP) He also called on the government to engage with Syria's diverse ethnic and religious communities and commit to political inclusion. 'Syria has always been home to different communities, and it must remain that way,' he said, stressing that a more inclusive approach could 'unlock reconstruction aid, ease sanctions, and rebuild trust in state institutions.' Such measures, according to Ibrahim, would not only incentivize reform but also reassure minorities that the international community remains committed to their protection. 'Western governments would prefer a Syria that aligns with the West rather than fall under extremist influence again,' he said. 'At the moment, it doesn't appear that global powers are paying much attention to Syria — there is no real road map, guidance or incentives being offered. Syria today is being treated like Afghanistan after the withdrawal from Kabul — largely abandoned.' Landis, the US academic, believes Western leverage over Syria remains limited. 'The only leverage that the West has is sanctions, which are a double-edged sword; they hurt the people even more than the government,' he said. Though many sanctions were eased in 2025, the US State Department reiterated in April that any further relief would require a verifiable crackdown on terrorism, disarmament of chemical weapons, and the protection of minorities. Members of Syria's Druze community chant slogans in Damascus during the funeral of people killed during clashes with Syrian security forces. (AFP) Landis blamed the government for not hesitating 'to call for a general mobilization to send irresponsible militias to go kill Alawites on the coast, where some 1,700, mostly unarmed civilians, were murdered,' adding: 'Now, the Defense (Ministry) Forces have attacked the Druze, with no serious effort to stop the mobilization against them.' Within Syria's civil society, some analysts believe small, symbolic actions could yet help ensure accountability and rebuild trust. Karam Shaar, a senior fellow at the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy, pointed to one viral video in which an armed fighter is seen forcibly shaving a Druze man's moustache — an act widely viewed as a cultural insult. 'A gesture as simple as identifying that individual, ensuring they apologize publicly, and bringing them before a court could send a powerful message,' he said. 'These symbolic steps matter.' He noted that various actors had committed abuses, including attacks on government security personnel. 'That's completely unacceptable,' he told Arab News. According to Shaar, the broader goal should be to foster a sense of equal protection under the law for all Syrians. 'That feeling has not been consistently present,' he said, emphasizing that the state 'sets the tone for justice and accountability.' The Druze have long walked a delicate line between asserting autonomy and pledging loyalty to the state. (AFP) Camille Otrakji, a Syrian analyst and longtime observer of the regime's internal dynamics, believes the government is caught between contradictory pressures. 'A significant gap — in values, priorities, and trust — persists between the government's conservative base and a broader segment of Syrians, including ethnic and religious minorities as well as many Arabs, who favor a more inclusive and less ideological vision for the country,' he said. Otrakji said while the government had acted to contain sectarian tensions, 'the recurring unrest has deepened doubts — both inside Syria and abroad — about the government's ability to maintain a stable and inclusive order.' According to him, both sides of the political divide — government and opposition — are lobbying Western powers, with the regime portraying itself as a stabilizing force and its critics warning of ideological extremism within the ruling bloc. 'For Western policymakers, the path forward remains deeply uncertain,' he told Arab News. 'Some argue that, however imperfect, the Al-Sharaa government represents the only viable vehicle for preserving a measure of stability in post-Assad Syria. 'Others see in the current leadership signs of deeper fragmentation and are preparing for the possibility of yet another period of disruptive — and potentially violent — transition.' The resurgence of sectarian strife in recent months is a warning less about the past than about the road ahead. (AFP) History has shown that sectarian wounds, once opened, do not heal easily. Iraq and Lebanon offer cautionary tales of what happens when multi-ethnic societies are left to drift without strong civic foundations. Syria's challenge is arguably greater: It must not only contain current unrest but also address the grievances of millions of citizens displaced, detained or bereaved over five decades of Assad dynasty rule. Syria has historically been a place where multiple religions and cultures coexisted — not always perfectly, but with dignity. That memory is still alive in millions of Syrian hearts. Unsurprisingly, many voices are emerging, calling for a tolerant vision that goes beyond sect or party. It is a vision rooted in Syria's pluralistic past and projected into an as yet unknown future.
Hamilton Spectator
29-04-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Evidence matters': Greenbelt coalition puts science above ideology
Few warnings have the impact and clarity like the one that can be found on the last page of the Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition's (SCGC) information package that promotes the benefits of expanding the Greenbelt. 'Ultimately, what happens to our environment happens as well to us and our community,' it says. In one short sentence, the local organization has attempted to cut through all of the clutter to deliver what the boxing world would call 'the knockout punch' — a claim so direct and accurate, there's virtually no room to debate it. At an education/information session Sunday afternoon, presented by the Facebook group Engaging Residents of Oro-Medonte and held at the Oro-Medonte Community Arena, a few dozen area residents turned out to hear what they can do to ensure the long-term health of their communities, watersheds and local agricultural systems. 'We're here as part of a four-part series about how the Greenbelt can be beneficial to water security in Simcoe County,' said Margaret Prophet, executive director of SCGC. 'This is the second event. We had one in Tiny Township about two weeks ago and we're going to have another one in Alliston and then up towards Clearview. 'We're talking specifically about the Oro Moraine and how important it is, not only to the residents of Oro-Medonte but to the greater water security in Simcoe County and how we can make sure that we can have places that provide our water, feed our farms, provide us with recreation and tourism dollars and make sure our communities are livable,' she added. Rather than direct the conversation with traditional talking points, the organizers of the afternoon session put the direction and onus of the conversation on those who attended. Prophet and her session 'facilitators' encouraged the residents to share their values, their vision and their concerns. 'We find that residents really know their communities best,' Prophet said. 'We're trying to have a conversation about how the Greenbelt can be beneficial for them to kind of cue into their own concerns about water security.' At one of the 'break-out' tables, the discussion ranged from how folks got their water, the value of wetlands in the community and the impacts of aggregate mining to the urbanization of rural areas. Discussing these topics, and others, allowed residents to keep their concerns top of mind so when the Greenbelt's 10-year statutory review is held sometime later this year, they'll have their input prepared and ready to go. According to Prophet, when the last review was done, the province designated Simcoe County as a high priority for Greenbelt expansion because urbanization was threatening water security. 'Growth pressures were kind of overwhelming the water table and it was written about in various reports,' Prophet said. 'So that was a proposal that was trying to figure out how do we keep the moraine and the watershed, the rivers and the wetlands, all of those things, healthy and still have room for housing. 'It's a balancing act versus an erasure of one over the other,' she added. Understanding there are competing priorities at work is essential to building the right plan, Prophet said, but it only works if everyone is using the same factual information. She said facts, not ideology, are the keys to success. 'The government's responsibility really should be 'we're making decisions based on the evidence,'' Prophet said. 'There has been this feeling of, you know, governments lie. I don't know if they necessarily lie, but at the same time, we have forgotten that evidence matters.' She compared the government's actions to an individual making an insurance claim after a car crash. 'If you make a claim, you have to tell them what the value of the vehicle is, how badly damaged it is and you have to have receipts to back it up,' Prophet said. 'We need the evidence.' She said she's made numerous presentations that have been criticized by government decision-makers because they don't like the facts — not that they disagree with them. 'The presentation I did today is a short version of what I would normally do,' Prophet said. 'It kind of feels a little bit like I'm going to depress you, but I really need you to understand what the baseline is here.' She gets that she's not delivering good news, but that doesn't sway her commitment. 'This is civics engagement 101,' Prophet said. 'Like who's doing what? Who's got your interests at heart? People need to know that someone's going to listen to them.'
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Who are the Seraphites? Inside the beliefs of The Last of Us' mysterious cult
The gripping post-apocalyptic saga The Last of Us continued to push emotional and narrative boundaries. Picking up in the aftermath of Joel's brutal death at the hands of Abby (played by Kaitlyn Dever), the series plunged viewers into Ellie's raw grief and her growing thirst for vengeance. As Ellie embarked on a perilous quest for justice, a new and mysterious faction known as the Seraphites was introduced. Also Read: Gene Hackman's final autopsy report reveals shocking details; No food, acetone, advanced Alzheimer In the latest episode, the leader of the Seraphites explained to a young girl that they are a religious cult that believes in a prophet. Nothing much has been revealed about the prophet except that she died many years ago, however, her teachings continued to influence many. According to the video game from which The Last of Us series has been adapted, the Seraphites' prophet believed that the cordyceps infection was divine judgment. This inspired her to live nomadic asceticism, which means living a simple life away from modern technology and in search of spiritual enlightenment. In the latest episode, the Seraphites appeared to be killed by the WLF. The Seraphites in the show are very similar to how they were shown in the video game. They've been stuck in a long, drawn-out fight with a group called the Washington Liberation Front, or WLF. Both groups are battling for control over what used to be the city of Seattle, as reported by The Mirror US. Also Read: MrBeast shares racist post but quickly deletes it, netizens say 'this can't be real' The Seraphites are called the Scars in teh video game because of the cuts they make on their faces. The game's fandom page described, 'The Seraphites were formed in the Lower Queen Anne suburb of Seattle between September 2013 and March 2014.' It continued, 'It was here that a woman supposedly had a vision from which she became inspired to live an egalitarian life, and strive for humanity to live off the land again, detached from mortal pleasures and reliance on technology. She was also a fierce fighter, able to defeat numerous infected that attacked the community.' It further read, 'Her charismatic sermons preaching that the Cordyceps brain infection was a punishment brought on by humanity's own sins and was a second chance for humanity to redeem itself inspired members in the community to do likewise, with the residents soon living independently.' It also added, 'They fought off infected and looters and grew food on the land they lived on. In time, the woman became their leader and was dubbed the 'Prophet'." During the ongoing conflict, the WLF managed to capture the Seraphites' spiritual leader, known as the Prophet. While in captivity, she formed unexpected bonds with some of the WLF soldiers guarding her. Through quiet conversations, she began to challenge their beliefs, making some question the war and their way of life. Her growing influence became a threat, leading WLF leader Isaac Dixon to declare her too dangerous to keep alive.
