By Victor Tjahjadi – BANDA ACEH, Indonesia
But across these battered shores, dozens of mosques still stand, their minarets glinting defiantly in the sun – a phenomenon survivors in the deeply Islamic region credit as much to divine intervention as robust architecture.
“God’s invisible hands prevents the mosque’s destruction,” said Mukhlis Khaeran, who saw the sea sweep away his home village of Baet outside the north Sumatran city of Banda Aceh, but leave the neighbourhood mosque relatively intact.
“He punishes us for our greed and arrogance but He will protect his house,” Khaeran said, his arms covered with injuries sustained in the disaster that killed at least 100,000 people around the north Sumatran province of Aceh.
Mosques are an everyday sight in most of Indonesia, but especially in Aceh, credited with the being one of Islam’s main gateways into the archipelago of islands which now forms the world’s largest Muslim-populated country.
Despite a long-lasting independence struggle, Aceh, parts of which are under traditional Islamic sharia law, has remained a Muslim heartland for Indonesia, which mostly practices a very relaxed interpretation of the faith.
Spiritual beliefs in Aceh and around the Indian Ocean were tested to the limit on December 26 when an epic earthquake sent towers of water crashing ashore, obliterating virtually everything in their path.
But while some spoke of “God’s wrath”, hundreds turned to their mosques, in panic for shelter from the advancing tides and later for spiritual comfort in a time of desperate need.
In the village of Kaju, also outside Banda Aceh, hundreds of homes were annihilated while the local mosque suffered only a few cracks in the walls.
“There is a saying among Acehnese that a mosque is God’s house and no one can destroy it but God Himself,” said Ismail Ishak, 42, who was digging rubble from his crumbled house while searching for seven of his relatives.
In Pasi Lhok, some 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of the north Aceh town of Sigli, 100 frightened people sheltering inside their mosque were spared while almost every house in the surrounding five villages was pulverised, according to chief cleric Teungku Kaoy Ali.
In Meubolah, a town on Aceh’s western coast less than 150 kilometres (95 miles) from the quake epicentre which bore the full force of the tsunami, leaving at least 10,000 dead, mosques stand sentinel over a vanished town centre.
Banda Aceh resident Achyar said when he saw the waves pounding in from the sea, his first instinct was to turn and run for the nearest mosque.
“I climbed the mosque tower and hung on to an electric wire until water receded,” he said. “Many of my friends, many of them ethnic Chinese, died because they climbed to the second floor of their shops and were trapped there,” he said.
Another, less divine, explanation for the survival of the mosques is that many are built much more sturdily than most of the other structures in the towns and cities of Aceh.
However one mosque in Sigli was made only of wood but still survived unscathed despite all the other buildings around it being destroyed.
Banda Aceh’s grand Baiturrahman mosque suffered partial damage from the quake and tsunami, but proved invaluable to the city’s survivors in the minutes, hours and days that followed the cataclysm.
For many it became a rallying place to search for missing friends or relatives, a makeshift hospital to treat the injured and a morgue to collect the dead.
With much of Banda Aceh likely to remain in ruins for months, residents were quick to repay their debt to their cherished religious buildings, working swiftly to ensure the Baiturrahman mosque was one of the first places restored.
On Sunday, some 300 survivors gathered for their first prayers since their five-times daily ritual was halted – a major step on the long road back to normality in Aceh.
Jan 05
7
Yemen during sixth century A.D
Another inscription carrying reference number RY509 clearly indicated the existence of the later Himyar King. It was discovered in an area called Masel Al-Jamha situated in Central of Arabia. An indication of such Arab tribes had been in that historical reference through stating that they participated in the military campaign of Abu Karb Sa’ad. Moreover, this king is known in the heritage of the northern Arabia’s tribes with the name Asa’ad Al-Kamel. Certain sources mentioned him the “great conqueror”.
During the fifth century A.D. other Kings folowed Himyar’s succession of the throne. These were Shara-Habtheil Yafer, Shara-Habthiel Yankuf and their sons Yanuf Aat, Luhay Aat, Murshed Adhlan Yanuf, and Ma’di Karb. No fundamental changes happened during the ruling of these kings, apart from inscription reference numebr CIHS 596 which stated that one Himyar known of unknown name during that century sent a military expedition to Oman. Thereby, it seemed that the State of Himyar during the fourth and fifth century had been able to incorporate all urban regions of Yemen and other desert regions of central Arabia.
In describing the ancient Yemen’s history during the sixth century, it is important to refer to the external political situation of Himyar’s state i.e. the links and relationship with the other states, particularly Abyssenia (Ethiopia). Such ties were intiated throughout several centuries according to certain sources, the biggest portion of which were related to the fifth and sixth centuries. The vivid commerce between ancient Yemen and Abyssenia is also respectively important. At the same time, the ancient state of Himyar had firstly strengthened its political and commercial relationship with the Roman Empire since the first century B.C., and later with Bezentenia of the Persian Empire.
In one book; of a Russian scholar; “Bezentenia on the way to India” it was indicated in details documentary evidence on the mission of the Persian prince “Mophil Andos” to Yemen. It was sent by the Emperor “Constance” during the years 337-361. Though of no real existence of information on Yemen’s relationship with Persia at that time, it is possible to point out of some of relationships between them.
It is worthed to note here that the important relationship of Himyar Kingdom since the very ancient periods of history with India, which were well illustrated in the “Bible” on one hand. While on the other that link with the dominion of the Mediterranean Sea; could be regarded the two factors through which religious relationship consequently emerged in between the kingdom and all other states of the foreign world. In other words Christianity and Judiasm infiltrated into Yemen through Syria, Palestine, and Egypt. There were conflicts within the two religions for the purpose of occupying positions of political importance in Yemen. Since Christianity in Bezentenia (known in Arabic Bizanta), it became an essential medium as from the fourth century of expansion, and the element of widening the Persian influence on the Middle East region. The wider spread of Christianity in any state meant the existing of good relationship with Bezentenia. Alliteratively, the Empire of Assasins used the religious as an ideological weapon against the Persian expansion, whereby it placed itself the servant of Juadism in Yemen to a large extent.
Since the ancient ages Yemen was empowered with strong commercial relationship with Palestine. This was stated in the Holly Book which called named Kings of Sheba. Clay pot articles with Yemeni inscriptions were discovered in “khalifa Hill” and other locations of Jerusalem. In some established locations in Yemen, the Jewish religion penetrated and stayed firmly as from the fourth century. While Christianity particularly had originated from Syria, Costantinople, Herira, Ethiopia and Egypt. From such central locations Christianity through commercial routes penetrated Yemen.
The relationship of state of Himyar became even stronger since the establishment of Kinda State, when their strong man Hassan Yah-Na-am, with his partner bin Abi Karb Asad were able to strengthen it with the various tribes and states of the Arabian Land. Certain sources from Northern sector of Arabia which relate to the year 425 A.D. and anwards verity such strong contacts.
One important remark here is that Himyar rulers in general did occupy a good social status in the Arabian land as their effects reached many of the beduin tribes. It even extended to the state of Lahm tribes in central Arabia. Again the Himyar State did interfere in the internal tribal affairs through their support of one tribe against another, or one tribal chief against the opposer. Thus, in this way it played the role of an arbitrating council.
The reason behind the Himyarite’s conquests of northern Arabia and its economic objectives was related to the fact of their continuos efforts of controlling the commercial routes that passed the Arabian island and Arabian peninsula on one hand, and ensuring the safety of their rural citizens (farmers and peasants) against the attacks of the desert beduins.
Source: An article published by “El-Iklil” periodical, Issue No. 3&4 of Autumn Season, 1988.
| From Great Health Hints and Handy Tips |
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The time you spend at the office may be the most stressful part of your day, but it doesn’t have to be. You have a greater ability to shape your office environment than you may realize.
- Take breaks throughout the day. It will help clear your mind and relieve pressure. Something as simple as going to the water cooler for a drink may do the trick.
- Enroll in a noontime or an after-work exercise class. This will give you a chance to unwind and a way to relieve stress.
- To help your workday go smoothly, try pacing your activities: Do more demanding work in the morning, when your energy level is higher, and easier work later in the day, when you may be tired.
- Try listening to music recordings, such as a pounding surf or songbirds, to help you relax. Such tapes are sold commercially. Use headphones if you’ll be listening to them in the middle of the workday.
- Get to work early or stay late once a week. You may be able to accomplish more when you vary your routine.
If your stress comes from job insecurity, take stock of yourself. Update your resume, and remind yourself of your skills and strengths. Also, make sure you keep up with new developments in your field. This will make you valuable to employers.
Don’t let work rumors, which are usually false, cause you worry. A co-worker may just be thinking out loud about worst-case scenarios.
If your office is less structured (or if you are the boss), consider a company mascot. A cat or dog can do wonders for workers’ morale.
Copyright © The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. All rights reserved.
“tamne khair ni wasiyat karine sikhaman dai ne silat karuu chhuu. tame ehne dilo na kaano si suni te mutabiq amal karine mara dil ne khush karjo, aa tamaru istima ane amal ye mara saath tamaru silat
chhe.”
Aqa Maula TUS then bestowed mumineen with a hadiya of the most glorious nasihats written by Sydna Taher Saifuddin RA:
“Allah Taala nu hamd tu karje”, and “Biradar tu Nasihat sun”,
This hadiya is so valuable that we are indeed blessed to hold it in our two hands; even more blessed is he who will now hold it in his heart.
These nasaeh are nourishment for the soul; it is thus mandatory on every mumin, muminah and farzand, to listen and digest it at every available opportunity, and do amal accordingly.
May Allah TA grant our Maula, Naseh Ameen, Sydena Mohammed Burhanuddin a long healthy and prosperous life till the day of Qiyamat. Aameen.
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Not all posts on this blog are my own words. Nor are all articles written by me. The blog is intended serve as my journal and dairy of interesting reading I have enjoyed and want to share. Some write-ups do not have the name of its author, the reason behind it is that I do not know the original source nor the author. If someone knows it they can add it to the comment box.
