Archbishop of Brisbane calls on Catholics to open doors to Syrian Muslims

SHAFAQNA - THE Archbishop of Brisbane wants Catholics to open their churches and schools to persecuted Syrian Muslims. Archbishop Mark Coleridge will today urge the tens of thousands in his archdiocese to take in hundreds of Syrian refugees…

Greek Orthodox Archbishop: We are united with Muslim brothers in face of Israeli attacks

SHAFAQNA - Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia Atallah Hanna visited Wednesday morning the Jerusalemite youths who were injured over the past three days while trying to prevent Israeli settlers and forces’ break-ins into al-Aqsa mosque. During…

Yemen Resistance Movement seizes control over city in Saudi Arabia

SHAFAQNA - Members of Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement, backed by fighters from allied Popular Committees, have reportedly managed to wrest complete control of a town in Saudi Arabia’s southwestern Asir region. On Tuesday, the Yemeni…

Imam Hussain shrine launches Housing project, free of charge for the poor

SHAFAQNA - The Imam Hussein Holy Shrine has launched a housing project in order to house the poor for free of charge. The project will be built on a 155-acre site, and the cost of it will be $55 dollars. The project will include 1000 housing…

Bahrain regime forces released senior Shia scholar

SHAFAQNA - Bahraini regime forces have arrested a prominent Shia Muslim cleric as the ruling Al Khalifa monarchy is pressing ahead with its heavy-handed crackdown on opposition forces and political dissidents in the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom. On…

New billboard campaign in San Diego presents true image of Islam

SHAFAQNA - Presenting the true message of Islam, three billboards campaign are now up in San Diego, to correct misconception surrounding the faith and offer reliable answers to those seeking more information about Islam. Islamic Circle of…

US Muslims Debate How to Build Diverse Communities

SHAFAQNA - Discussing ways to reassure Latino, elderly and refugee Muslim communities, Muslim community leaders and activists have come together to discuss ways towards building diverse communities during North America largest Muslim convention. "Islam…

US - Student abused over Islamic attire

SHAFAQNA - A Muslim student was asked if he is going to follow the suit of those responsible for 9/11 attack in New York, reflecting a deep-rooted Islamophobia in the 14th anniversary of the horrific event. A 16-year-old boy at Runcorn…

Rochester Muslim Community Honors 9/11 Victims by Hosting Blood Drive

SHAFAQNA - A blood drive in Rochester's Ahmadiyya Muslim Community honored the victims of 9/11 Friday night. “Some people who claimed to be Muslims on that day took lives, so we’re giving our blood to save lives as Muslims,” said Mubarak…

Libya rejects peace deal amendments

SHAFAQNA - Libya's internationally recognised government said on Tuesday it had rejected changes introduced by its rivals to a draft UN peace deal, denting hopes of a breakthrough in the country's political crisis. A statement from the recognised…

Egyptian mogul identified & negotiating to buy 2 Greek islands for refugees

SHAFAQNA - An Egyptian billionaire, who has been offering to buy a Mediterranean island to provide refugees with decent living conditions, has identified potential locations and is now in talks to purchase two private Greek islands.Egyptian…

12 killed, 10 injured in tourist convoy as Egyptian forces ‘hunting ISIS’ shoot Mexicans by mistake

SHAFAQNA - At least 12 people were killed and 10 injured when a convoy transporting Mexican tourists through Egypt’s Western Desert was mistakenly attacked by the military. The tourists were taken for Islamist militants, whom the forces had…

Egyptian President rushes to form new government following mass resignation

SHAFQNA -  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday asked Oil Minister Sherif Ismail to form a new cabinet within one week after the government submitted its resignation, a statement from the presidency said. It was not immediately…

The Organic RevolutionaryThe Environment matter says Jairo Restrepo to Shafaqna

SHAFAQNA - Jairo Restrepo is a leading champion of organic farming in Brazil whose influence and no sense attitude has spread across the world. His mission too has expanded to include campaigning for the rights of small scale farmers, and an…

An insight into Orthodox Christianity - Vladimir Saker Interview for Shafaqna

SHAFAQNA - Since the fall  of the Soviet Union Russia has witnessed a form of religious and of course spiritual renaissance, in that more people have been looking for answers through faith. This yearning to belong and find God has led them…

Wife of Raif Badawi: "All of this has taught me to be stronger"

SHAFAQNA - In 2013, the Saudi blogger Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in jail. His wife Ensaf talks about the effect it has had on their family. On an unremarkable residential street in the suburbs of Sherbrooke, southern…

From Wahhabism to Shia Islam - Conversion of a Muslim Cleric to AhlulBayt

SHAFAQNA -  [LINK=http://en.abna24.com/cultural/archive/2014/04/29/605458/story.html]Dr. Esam Ali Yahya El-Emad[/LINK], a Muslim researcher who was born to a Zaidiyyah family in A`b City, Yamen, 1968. He studied to get his PhD degree, through…

INTERVIEW - Japanese Buddhist offers praise over Imam Hussain's stand against terror

SHAFAQNA - Itsumo Okada, famous Japanese novelist and journalist, known for his great literary works and words derived from his previous environment where he lived in El-Hureya Eth-Thaneya area, Baghdad. He speaks the Iraqi accent; he wrote…

Christians, Muslims talk peace on Cyprus - EXCLUSIVE

SHAFAQNA - Talks between the heads of Cyprus’ Christian and Muslim communities and the leaders of the ethnically split island’s Greek- and Turkish-speaking communities give “great hope” that religion can better contribute to peace,…

A religious bridge: When Islam and Judaism traditions overlap PRESS RELEASE

SHAFAQNA - “Use words. Help me understand.” As mothers, we have both found this phrase useful from time to time in helping our children navigate the terrain of conflicting emotions. As people deeply engaged in conflict resolution and building…

Pope calls for every European parish to take in refugee family

SHAFAQNA - Pope Francis on Sunday called on every Catholic parish in Europe to take in a refugee family, saying the Vatican's two parishes would lead by example. Calling for a "concrete gesture" ahead of a Jubilee Year of Mercy starting…

Rise of the Muslim Bishop - OPED

SHAFAQNA - It was not for nothing that detractors called Archbishop Josiah Idowu Fearon of the Anglican Communion a Muslim Bishop: he is a bishop, no doubt; but obviously, he is not a Muslim, even though he knows the religion better than many…

Why doing good deeds in secret is recommended?

SHAFAQNA - Doing good deeds in secret remove any doubt of hypocrisy, showing off and issues like these and show the pure intention in doing good. The one, who carries out good deeds in secret, does so just for the sake of God and nothing else.…

What is beneficence?

SHAFAQNA - The arch angel Jabrail said: O’ Prophet of Allah (SWT), tell me about beneficence (the word “Ehsan” in Arabic). The Prophet of Islam (PBUH) replied: Beneficence is that you do deeds for the sake of God as if you see God. Therefore,…

Who are the patient ones?

SHAFAQNA - [#]Those who (believe) are the patient ones and do good deeds (They will not be disappointed by losing things in life nor deluded by gaining them); they will have forgiveness and big reward (Ayah 11-Surah Al-Hood) \[1].[/#] [#]How…

How to assess wisdom?

SHAFAQNA - It is narrated from Imam Ali (AS) who said: Wisdom is assessed with 6 things, companionship, trade, ruling, to dismiss someone, having wealth and poverty \[1]. \[1] Qorarul Hekam, Hadith Number 5600.

Love of God is irreplaceable

SHAFAQNA - Allah (SWT) says in the holy Quran: Those who believe, love God more than anything else. In a divine narration, the Almighty says: I will never gather my love and love of the world in one heart. This means that each heart has capacity…

Believer’s independence

SHAFAQNA - It is narrated from Imam Jawad (AS) who said: Believer's wealth is his/her independence from people \[1]. \[1] Beharul Anwaar, Vol 75, page 109

Treasures of paradise

SHAFAQNA - Imam Ali (AS) said: Four ethical virtues are treasures of paradise and will take human being to prosperity in paradise, they are: Doing good deeds, hiding good deeds, be patient in calamities and hide difficulties (meaning, do not…

The supreme observer

SHAFAQNA - Imam Sadeq (AS) told Ishaq ibn Ammar: O’ Eshaq, fear God as if the Almighty can see you; then if you cannot see God, truly God can see you. If you doubt that God can see you, know that you have become a disbeliever and if you are…