Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raaji’oon. The Muslim Ummah has lost a great legend. It is with profound sadness that ICNA announces the passing of Allama Delawar Hossain Sayedee while in prison. He was the Naaib Amir of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. He was an internationally acclaimed exegete (Mufassir) of the Qur’an and former Member of Parliament. This great leader was unjustly imprisoned for well over a decade and was never given a chance of a fair trial. According to reports, even his family was not allowed to meet him after his recent illness and heart attack. The death of Allama Sayedee is a great loss to this Ummah and particularly to the people and the Islamic Movement of Bangladesh. It is very difficult to describe in words the level of impact that Allama Sayedee had in the lives of people, worldwide. His passion, his dedication, his charisma, his eloquence and yet so simple and humble, were beyond captivating. He had a dynamic personality with a resoundingly impactful legacy – a truly unique icon whose contributions will benefit generations to come Insha Allah! May Allah have mercy on him and enter him into the highest levels of Paradise. Allama Delawar Sayedee has joined those great souls that have returned to Allah SWT after sacrificing all they have in this world, for Allah SWT’s sake. May Allah accept him as a martyr and fulfill his dream to become a Shaheed. By the Will of Allah their sacrifices will not be forgotten and the quest for justice and Deen continues. Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raaji’oon!Image Courtesy: The Muslim NewsImage Courtesy: Siliconeer.com

Significance Of Ashura – 10th Of Muharram By Sh. Abdool Rahman Khan بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Ashura 2023, 1445 We begin reflection of Ashura by the Words of Allah SWT 4Indeed, Pharaoh transgressed in the land and divided its people into groups. He persecuted a group among them by slaughtering their sons and keeping their females alive. Surely, he was one of those who spread corruption (on earth) [28:4]   Muharram is from the sacred months and comes at the beginning of the FOUR of them. Al Hassan Al Basree (May Allah have mercy on him) said: Allah Almighty opened the year with a sacred month, that is Muharram and concluded the year with a sacred month that is Dhul Hijjah. It is the only month that is known as “The Month of Allah” as in the Hadith where Rasoolullah SAS calls it : شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA), Rasoolullah SAS said: أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ وَأَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ مسلم The most excellent fast after Ramadan is God’s month. al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night. Muslim Al-Qurtubi said: Fasting in Muharram is the best fasting, because it is the beginning of the year and it opens with fasting, which is the best of deeds. Ashura Ashura The 10th of Ashuraa is one of such virtuous days of Fasting A day when Allah SWT grants victory to o Prophet Musa (AS) and the Believers o While defeat was granted to falsehood – to Pharaoh and his people. This victory is still a matter of consideration for us. o We are still in a world of Pharaohs fighting Believers o So, we sure can learn from the struggle that Prophet Musa (AS) had with the ruthless Pharaoh. Thus, it is highly recommended for us to fast on this day out of gratitude to Allah A lesson how Allah SWT causes His righteous servants to inherit the earth. As Allah Almighty said: Quran وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ Allāh has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them authority on the earth just as He granted it to those before them An Nur (24:55) The martyrdom of the beloved grandson of Rasoolullah SAS We also recall another incident in the history of Islam which also took place on the 10th of Muharram and that is the martyrdom of Hussain (RA) the beloved grandson of Rasoolullah SAS. Hopefully next year we will discuss this in details by the grace of Allah SWT and this too is a struggle between the faith and sincerity of Hussain (RA) and insincerity and ruthlessness of those clamoring for power. The Messenger of Allah PBUH said: “Hussain is from me, and I am from Hussain . Allah loves whoever loves Hussain. Hussain is a generation among the generations.” (Tirmidhi) The Martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA) – Click here to Read By Syed Abul Aala Maududi History of Prophet Musa (AS) Musa AS was a descendant from the lineage of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), and from the lineage of Prophet Yaqub (AS) Over time, the people forgot the message of Islam o Eventually they were overtaken by Pharoah – one of the mightiest rulers in history o Egypt was the rich superpower of the world at that time. However, he was also considered to be the most ruthless and oppressive leader in history and in addition he had power, authority and wealth. No wonder why his story is depicted in so many verses in The Quran as a warning to today’s Pharaoh. And a hope for Believers. Power and wealth made him exceedingly arrogant, and he went so far as to proclaim himself to be the lord of creation. Allah SWT says: Then he gathered his people and cried aloud, (23) Saying: “I am your lord, most high” (79:23-4) Pharaoh, together with his ministers, Qarun and Haman, ruled the land with an iron rule. Pharaoh heard that a leader will arise from Bani Israel As time went by, Pharaoh was informed of the legacy of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) which Bani Israel would often talk about that there would be a leader from Bani Israel who would again lead them to a position of strength. Pharaoh was greatly disturbed by these predictions, and as a precaution, ordered that all the pregnant women of Bani Israel be strictly monitored. No woman delivered a baby boy without the Pharaoh’s army knowing about it, and thus these newborns were immediately killed in cold-blooded, systematic infanticide. o Just imagine the horror! The murder of innocent babies! In the Quran Allah SWT says: 4Indeed, Pharaoh transgressed in the land and divided its people into groups. He persecuted a group among them by slaughtering their sons and keeping their females alive. Surely, he was one of those who spread corruption (on earth) [28:4] So, Pharaoh began this merciless killing of the young male babies o How often we see this repeated throughout generations by tyrants and even till this day and age of a so-called civilized world of human rights. Another evil of Pharaoh was to divide Bani Israel and enslaving them. Today the Muslim Ummah has also become victim of this plot. Ibaadallah! We are one Ummah, but unfortunately, we succumb to the same tactics what Pharaoh did to Bani Israel. Alternate killings of the boys So, Musa (AS) was born the year when the male infants were to be killed while his brother Harun was spared as Pharaoh was advised to alternate the years of killing to male born. According to all the decree of the land, Musa AS should have been killed. However, Musa’s (AS) life demonstrates o the power of the Qadr of Allah above all human planning no matter how powerful their plots are When the mother of Musa was pregnant for him, she went completely unnoticed. But

ICNA Condemns the Burning of The Quran in Sweden ICNA strongly condemns the burning of The Quran in front of a Masjid in Sweden on The Day of Eid-ul Adha. All this is happening under the guise of “freedom of speech”. In January of this year also, a Danish-Swedish man burnt a Quran in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm and that too was endorsed by the Swedish government. Such despicable act goes against the principles of respect, tolerance, and freedom of belief. Everyone should have the right to practice his or her religion peacefully. Such a vile act towards Islam’s most sacred text is deeply offensive and disrespectful to the beliefs and sentiments of over two billion Muslims worldwide. Insulting or demeaning other religions solely in the name of “free speech” is deeply hurtful, disrespectful, and can contribute to the discord in society. The west, time and again has proved that their support for freedom of speech is “selective”. Where on one hand they allow and support hateful acts like this one to happen while on the other hand they do not allow oppressed individuals and communities to raise their voice against the barbarism they face in countries like Palestine and Kashmir. While individuals may have the legal right to express their opinions, it is crucial to exercise that right responsibly and with sensitivity towards the beliefs and feelings of others and governments must not condone when it is more of a hate speech than free speech. If it was the other way around, there would have been a big hue and cry. But just for the records, it is prohibited in Islam to use verbal insults to deities of other faiths let alone to burn their sacred texts. If any true Muslim were to have done that, the Muslim world would outrightly condemn it. The timing of the burning of Islam’s holy book, during the important Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, is a further insult to the entire Muslim World. This happened on the Day when the sacrifice of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) of his son Prophet Ismail (peace be upon him) is commemorated. ICNA hopes that we can learn from one another, rather than using this so-called “freedom of speech” as a justification for spreading hate, inciting violence, or perpetuating discrimination. While the door of repentance is always open, the aggressor should know that such an act, Allah Almighty says in 9:63: “Do they not know that whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger will be in the Fire of Hell forever? That is the ultimate disgrace.”