Human Rights, Education and Islam

Since times immemorial, man has, at the hand of man, been suffering all kinds of miseries and cruelties; his rights have been violated; he has become alienated from his own species.

Today, most of the evils humanity is confronted with are rooted in the violation and deprivation of human rights. No doubt in the dark corridors of history, we hear echoes reverberating protest against human sufferings and exploitation. No doubt in these very corridors sometimes we also see a chink of light of hope for man in the form of Charters, such as Magna Carta, English Petition of Rights, The Virginian Declaration of Rights, American Bill of Rights and so on and so forth. However, when we critically look at these various documents, we are a bit disappointed. We soon realise that they are not after all what humanity expected them to be. They disappoint not so much in what they say, but in what they leave out to say. They give no redeeming hope to man, or offer any source of perennial light for humanity.

(Lecture delivered by Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad Ayaz, O.B.E. at: University of Malta)

For more click on the links below:

http://www.lakbimanews.lk/portal/news/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1045:letters-a-events&catid=39:lounge&Itemid=11

http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2011/03/28/human-rights-education-and/

The death of liberalisation!

The Malta Independent: Friday, 18th March 2011 By LAIQ AHMED ATIF

Extremism, fundamentalism, fanaticism and terrorism are being considered the grave threats for today’s world. Presence of these ‘isms’ in any society are highly dangerous. Unfortunately, these characteristics have occupied many countries and societies around the world, where even governments bend their knees in front of these powers.

Extremism and fundamentalism are great threats to those countries and societies where these exist. And if these are not eliminated completely and immediately from such places, I am afraid, they might bring to risk the existence, freedom, liberty and independence of such countries and societies.

For the better development of a country or a society, tolerance and harmony are very crucial and important. Without dialogues and without being ready to accept others’ point of view, societies and countries cannot prosper and cannot gain better achievements in any field.

We have seen the results of fundamentalism in the past, and we are even witnessing them now in some parts of the world. In recent weeks we have seen two high profile murders in Pakistan, where on 4 January, Salman Taseer the Governor of Punjab, and later Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic, Federal Minister for Minority affairs of Pakistan, were assassinated. The most painful and saddest aspect of these events is that the killer was presented rose petals and protests were carried out for his release. This is grave insensitiveness.

The death of Mr Bhatti and Mr Taseer is not a death of two persons, but this can be considered the death of liberalisation and openness, because the extremists have once again won against the liberal, secular, open-minded and tolerant persons. And they have hijacked the nation, and any voice against their violent ideology is put to silence by these extremists. This is extremely dangerous, and these are clear signs of intolerance and inharmoniousness.

Killing a person is a grave crime, and in the Holy Quran it is mentioned that “killing a single human life is like killing all humanity.” But very unfortunately we have seen people celebrating the death of innocent men, distributing sweets and presenting rose bouquets to the killer.

We believe that not only Islam, but all the major religions of the world preach respect and human dignity. Killing innocent people is completely forbidden and it is considered a grave sin in all the religions and civilised societies.

When we dig into the details, we do not come across any crime by those who were killed. So, why were they killed? The answer is very simple: Because they were speaking up for justice, they were speaking to repeal a law which was introduced to gain political favours and interests; this legislation was totally unacceptable, was being misused for the last 25 long years, was being used to gain personal and political ends and was totally against the Islamic teachings.

And I should say that they were killed for their outstanding stands on principles. They were killed because they said the truth. They were killed because they were trying to help the victims. They were killed because they raised their voices for innocent Asia Bibi, who is behind bars because of allegations of blasphemy against her, even though she is denying to all charges. The blasphemy law has been used against minorities e.g. Christians, Hindus and Ahmadis, and in the last 25 years dozens of people were brutally killed, injured, persecuted, sentenced and put to death because of the misuse of this infamous blasphemy law.

And the clerics and religious zealots are speaking in favour of this law, saying that in Islam there is only death penalty for such people. Please permit me to write a few lines to prove that this is not according to the Quran. This law is totally against Islamic teaching. The Holy Quran mentions nowhere that the punishment for blasphemy is death, nor even a lesser punishment. I admit that the religious clerics and zealots have misinterpreted the teachings.

I believe that respect is a basic human right for all, and religious personalities deserve even more respect from their followers and even from others; and to disrespect those noble personalities is really a grave crime. But, there is no worldly punishment mentioned, not at all. Nor did the prophet Muhammad punish anyone who blasphemed him during his time.

I thus appeal to such forces that let us build bridges, let us promote tolerance, harmony, love, respect and brotherhood in every part of the world and let us promote and establish the human dignity.

Laiq Ahmed Atif is President Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta amjmalta@gmail.com

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=121989

Muslim leader praises British spirit of tolerance

Muslim leader praises British spirit of tolerance‏

On Saturday 26th March 2011 the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, spoke at length upon the issue of achieving global peace whilst delivering the keynote address at the 8th Annual Peace symposium of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat UK, held at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden. The event attracted an audience of over 1,000, including Government Ministers, MPs, senior Foreign Embassy officials and members of the British armed forces. During the event the 2nd Ahmadiyya Peace Prize was presented to Abdul Sattar Eidhi, the founder of the Eidhi Foundation, in recognition of his continued efforts in terms of social welfare and humanitarian relief. The award was accepted by Mr. Eidhi via a video message due to him being otherwise engaged in facilitating the relief efforts for the Japan earthquake victims.

Siobhain McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden, quoted a verse of the Holy Qur’an which advocates justice and fair dealing in all circumstances. She said that justice and tolerance were fundamental to a peaceful society. Lord Eric Avebury who last year won the inaugural Ahmadiyya Peace Prize for his continued efforts to promote human rights across the world said that the root cause of all the recent conflict in the world was intolerance. He said that existing UN mechanisms required reform and that he felt that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat was very well placed to play a key role in that process. Ed Davey, MP for Surbiton and Kingston and Minister for Employment Relations, paid tribute to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat for ‘championing the cause of peace of peace worldwide’. He said that the Jamaat’s motto of ‘Love for All, Hatred for None’ was a truly inspiring message.

During his keynote address Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad spoke about the causes underpinning the current political turmoil sweeping through many Arab and North African countries; about Britain’s long term pursuit of tolerance and justice; the failure of the United Nations to fulfill its mandate, the restrictions placed upon Muslims in certain countries and the continued peaceful reaction of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in the face of the bitterest persecution.

During his keynote address Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad spoke about the causes underpinning the current political turmoil sweeping through many Arab and North African countries; about Britain’s long term pursuit of tolerance and justice; the failure of the United Nations to fulfil its mandate, the restrictions placed upon Muslims in certain countries and the continued peaceful reaction of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in the face of the bitterest persecution.

Ahmadiyya Organised Peace Conference 2011

Laiq Ahmed Atif, president Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta with H.E Dr Eddie Fenech Adami, Former Prime Miniser & President Emeritus of Malta

(From L To R) Rev. Joseph Farrugia, Hon. Dr Owen Bonnici MP and Shadow Minister, Mr. Abdullah Wagishauser Amir Jamaat Germany, H.E Dr Eddie Fenech Adami President Emeritus of Malta, Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad Ayaz and Mrs. Meena Vaswani.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta organised “Peace Conference” on 25^th February, at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, Floriana. In this gathering H.E Dr Eddie Fenech Adami, President Emeritus of Malta; Hon. Dr Owen Bonnici, MP and Shadow Minister; Rev. Dr Joseph Farrugia, lecturer at University of Malta; Mrs. Meena Vaswani, lecturer on Hinduism and culture and Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad Ayaz O.B.E, Head of the Tuvalu Islands Mission in the UK, and Senator of the World Nations Congress delivered their talks on the importance of peace and how to establish peace in our societies. Audience also put their questions to the speakers. Nearly 80 people, from different sections of the society attended this very interesting, informative and important meeting.

Ahmadiyya Community organises such meetings all around the world. The aim of these gatherings is to know more about the opinions of each other, and thus a better atmosphere of love, peace, harmony and understanding is developed.

Respecting human dignity and freedom

The Times: Saturday, 12th March 2011

Laiq Ahmed Atif, President Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Liberty is a prerogative of every single human being and it is considered one of the most cherished fruits of human life. Man in all ages and times remained fond of his liberty and freedom but, very amazingly, man is not ready to give this right to his fellow beings.

When we ponder over the contemporary situation of today’s world we find that two very important and crucial slogans are influencing the entire world. Their intensity and connotations may differ from one part to another but their influence is seen on every part of this planet. These two slogans have attracted the attention of all the world media and they are liberty and emancipation.

With the passage of time and civilisation, no doubt, man has gained greater awareness and consciousness in the importance and value of liberty and freedom. Man has become more sensitive and knowledgeable about the price and cost of his freedom and he knows how important his liberty is.

It is an undeniable reality of this age that there is a pressing need felt everywhere in the world for emancipation but from what? Is it from the yoke of foreign rule, dictatorship, fascism, theocratic or other regimes with totalitarian philosophies, oppressive democracies and corrupt bureaucracies, the economic stranglehold of the poor countries by the rich, ignorance, superstition or fetishism?

The recent days are great witness of this reality, where we have seen huge tsunamis of people in the streets holding placards with these slogans. But the question is: Why is all this happening?

When human beings are deprived of their basic human rights, when human dignity is not honoured, when people are not allowed to express themselves, when citizens of a country have no authority to have their own opinion, when human liberty and freedom of speech is dishonoured and when people are forced to obey and to bend their heads, when people’s voices are ignored, when people’s sufferings are not eliminated, when people face physical, mental and emotional oppression and when, instead of the rule of law, “might is right” prevails, the result is that these circumstances and challenges could create huge storms and bring great revolutions.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights assures freedom and liberty to every human being. Articles 18 to 20 of this declaration state: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. (2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.”

I believe freedom and liberty are basic human rights and there is no exception for anyone. So, these rights should be honoured and respected. Liberty and freedom of speech and expression are vital to make the voice of people heard as well as to restore human dignity. This time requires us to show solidarity with people and to condemn every sort of violence and bloodshed of innocent men, women and children while they are struggling for their human liberty and freedom.

And we all must remember that swords can win territories but not hearts and force can bend heads but not minds. And to win hearts it is important to respect human dignity and liberty.

It is my fervent prayer that all mankind enjoys its freedom and liberty; may we all find everlasting peace and may good prevail on this planet.

amjmalta@gmail.com

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110312/opinion/respecting-human-dignity-and-freedom

L-OMM – International Women’s Day

Kull sena fit-8 ta’ Marzu niċċelebraw “Jum Internazzjonali tan-nisa” u f’Mejju niċċelebraw “Jum l-omm”. Dawn ijiem huma importanti ħafna għax jfakkruna dwar l-importanza u d-dinjità tal-mara fis-soċjetà.

Nemmen li n-nisa jistħoqilhom rispett kbir, għax il-mara hija l-omm, il-mara hija l-bint, il-mara hija l-oħt kif ukoll mart ir-raġel. Kull relazzjoni hija tant sabiħa u ta’ rispett kbir. Illum irrid nikteb xi ħaġa dwar mara bħala l-omm.

L-omm hija l-iktar persuna importanti fil-familja. L-omm hija barka kbira minn Alla, li jista’ kollox. L-omm hija bniedma tajba, sabiħa, sinċiera u l-aħjar fost in-nisa. Meta ngħinu lil ommijietna nistgħu nġibu l-imħabba ta’ Alla tagħna. Kulħadd jista’ jikseb il-ferħ ta’ Alla u l-Ġenna Tiegħu billi jirrispetta lil ommu.

Meta nħarsu dwar ir-reliġjonijiet u s-soċjetajiet ċivili, nindunaw li kull wieħed minnhom ta importanza kbira għar-rispett lejn l-omm. Alla jgħid fil-Koran Imqaddes:

“L-amar tagħna lill-bniedem huwa li juri tjubija mal-ġenituri tiegħu, ommu ġarritu bi tbatija, u wellditu bi tbatija; jinġarr (fi ħdan ommu) u jinfatam fi żmien tletin xahar.” (46:16)

Il-Bibbja Mqaddsa tgħallem: “Weġġaħ ‘il missierek u ‘l ommok, bħalma l-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, ordnalek; sabiex tgħix ħajja twila, u jkollok ir-riżq fl-art li l-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, se jagħtik.” (Id-Dewteronomju: 5:16)

“Weġġaħ ‘il missierek u ‘l ommok, u ħobb lil għajrek bħalek innifsek.” (San Mattew: 19:19)

Wara dan it-tagħlim ċar tar-reliġjonijiet hija importanti li nuru rispett kbir lill-ommijietna. Darba waħda f’kull sena jiġi jum l-omm biex ifakkarna li dan hu d-dmir tagħna li nħobbu u nuru unur kbir lejn ommijietna.

Darba waħda qrajt l-istorja ta’ xi ħadd li kien raġel tajjeb, famuż u ta’ għerf kbir, taż-żmien tiegħu. L-istorja tiegħu kienet impressjonabbli ħafna. Kien dejjem iħobb u jgħin ħafna lil ommu, li kienet xiħa.

Lejla waħda ommu qaltlu għal ftit ilma. Meta ra li ma sabx ilma fid-dar, lanqas ftit, ħa l-bomblu u mar barra biex ifittex l-ilma. Wara nofs siegħa, meta wasal lura d-dar bl-ilma sab li ommu kienet rieqda. Qal bejnu u bejn ruħu, “X’nagħmel issa? Jekk norqod u ommi titlobni l-ilma u jien nibqa’ rieqed u ma nqumx biex nagħtiha l-ilma, dak ma jkunx tajjeb għax għandha ħafna għatx”. Ħaseb u ddeċieda li ma jorqodx u joqgħod bil-wieqfa ħdejn is-sodda tagħha. Hekk għamel u qagħad wieqaf tul il-lejl kollu bl-ilma ħdejha.

Meta sebaħ u qamet qaltlu: “Għaliex inti bil-wieqfa ħdejn is-sodda tiegħi?”

Hu qal l-istorja kollha lil ommu li meta riedet l-ilma ma sabx fid-dar. Qalilha: “Għalhekk mort barra biex inġiblek l-ilma u meta wasalt lura d-dar sibtek rieqda. Imlejt tazza bl-ilma u qgħadt nistenniek tqum biex nagħtik x’tixrob. U għalhekk bqajt bil-wieqfa l-lejl kollu.” Meta semgħet l-istorja kollha kienet ferħana ħafna bl-għemil tiegħi u bdiet titlob lil Alla, għall-barka Tiegħu, fuqi.

Dan hu eżempju tajjeb u impressjonabbli għalina. U jekk aħna rridu li l-ommijiet tagħna jkunu ferħanin magħna, kif ukoll Alla tagħna, li jista’ kollox, allura huwa importanti li nħobbu, ngħinu u nirrispettaw ommijietna mill-qalb tul il-ħajja tagħna. Nitlob lil Alla għall-barka Tiegħu fuq l-ommijiet kollha tagħna. Ja Alla berkilna ommijietna. Amen

Omm!… xi ħlewwa, xi tjieba ta’ isem!

Omm, il-kelma tal-faraġ fil-hemm,

Omm, il-kelma tal-ħniena fil-ħtija,

Omm, il-kelma li trażżan id-demm. (Minn “Waħdi” ta’ Dun Karm Psaila)

http://www.l-orizzont.com/ It-Tlieta 8 ta’ Marzu 2011

Peace Conference 2011

Peace is one of the most cherished fruit of life. The love towards peace is ingrained in human nature. Since the beginning of life on this earth human beings have been struggling and have been very keen to find the path to eternal and everlasting peace.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat is organising a peace conference on 25^th February, where speakers from different sections of society and religious representatives of various denominations will deliver talks on the factors destroying peace, importance of peace and how to establish peace in society.

You are cordially invited to

Programme

Friday 25^th February 2011, 6.00pm

Venue: Grand Hotel Excelsior – Floriana

Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami: The President Emeritus and the Former Prime Minister of Malta

Hon. Evarist Bartolo: MP and Shadow Minister for Education

Fr. Joseph Farrugia: Lecturer at University of Malta

Mrs. Meena Vaswani: Lecturer on Hinduism and culture

Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad Ayaz (O.B.E): (Officer of the Excellent Order of the British Empire) Head of the Tuvalu Islands Mission in the UK, and Senator of the World Nations Congress

Question & Answers

Refreshment

The Event is free, open to all, and will be in English. Those interested should contact on amjmalta@gmail.com OR call 79320139.

Id-Dinjità Umana tan-Nisa

Illum, il-Ħadd 6 ta’ Frar 2011

Kull bniedem għandu d-dinjità tiegħu, u kull persuna fid-dinja irrispettivament il-kulur, ir-razza, in-nazzjonalità u l-fidi, iħobb il-libertà u d-dinjità umana tagħha. Huwa importanti li l-kunċett tal-umanità u r-rispett għal-libertà individwali jiġi msaħħaħ. Pero, meta nħarsu lejn l-istorja tal-bniedem insibu li dejjem kien hemm il-konflitti għall-libertà bejn dawk li jixtiequ jgħixu fil-libertà kollha u bejn dawk li ma jridux jirrispettaw il-libertà umana. Naraw ukoll li kulħadd iħobb u jixtieq id-dinjità u r-rispett għalih innifsu, imma hemm numru ta’ nies mhux ħażin li m’humiex lesti biex jirrispettaw id-dinjità tal-oħrajn.

Din il-problema tidher ukoll bejn in-nisa u l-irġiel; il-persuni li huma miżżewġin. Hemm nies li jemmnu li l-mara hija l-propjetà tar-raġel, jew jemmnu li r-raġel huwa superjuri għall-mara. Imma, fil-verità, l-irġiel, in-nisa u l-bnedmin kollha ta’ kull razza huma ndaqs quddiem Alla u huma biss l-għemejjel tajba li jgħollu persuna ’l fuq minn oħra, u m’hemmx spazju għall-esplojtazzjoni soċjali, politika, ekonomika jew reliġjuża.

U naraw kemm hemm nuqqas kbir ta’ rispett u ta’ toleranza bejniethom u minħabba dan, kull sena naraw li ħafna nisa jiġu maqtula, jew jiġu abbużati u jgħaddu minn esperjenzi koroh ta’ vjolenza domestika, madwar id-dinja. Il-vjolenza domestika hija problema serja ħafna madwar id-dinja, hija tikser id-drijttijiet fundamentali tal-mara. L-istatistiċi juru li waħda minn kull tliet nisa fid-dinja esperjenzat abbuż sesswali, fiżiku, emozzjonali jew xi forma ta’ abbuż ieħor fil-ħajja tagħha.

Ħafna drabi nisimgħu l-frażi li “ladies first – in-nisa l-ewwel”, din hija frażi sabiħa, imma kemm hemm nies li jipprattikaw din f’ħajjithom. Sfortunatament, u din hija r-realtà u ma nistgħux naħarbu minnha, kemm-il darba naraw u nisimgħu kif din ma tiġix prattikata, fejn in-nisa jiġu ttratti fl-aħħar u xi kultant b’insult.

Ħafna drabi aħna ninsew l-importanza tar-rispett lejn in-nisa. Nemmen li dan hu dmir tal-irġiel biex jittrattaw lin-nisa tagħhom mill-aħjar li jistgħu u jgħixu magħhom bit-tjieba. U ma jinsewx li, jekk jobogħduhom, jistgħu jkunu qed jobogħdu xi ħaġa li Alla qiegħed fiha ġid kbir. U wkoll ma jinsewx li jekk ma jogħġobhomx xi ħaġa fihom, possibbilment hemm affraijiet minn tagħhom li jogħġbuhom. Għalhekk huwa importanti li dejjem naraw il-kwalitajiet tajba bejnietna.

Nemmen ukoll li n-nisa jistħoqilhom rispett kbir, għax il-mara hija l-omm, il-mara hija l-bint, il-mara hija l-oħt kif ukoll mart ir-raġel. Kull relazzjoni hija tant sabiħa u ta’ rispett kbir.

Nemmen ħafna u jien ċert li jekk kull wieħed u kull waħda minna jipprova jgħix bil-valuri t-tajba, nistgħu nistabbilxxu relazzjonijiet sodi bejn il-mara u r-raġel. U kif ngħidu: ‘dak li tiżra taħsad’, jekk niżrgħu ż-żrieragħ tal-imħabba u nistabbilixxu l-bond tar-rispett u tat-toleranza bejn il-mara u r-raġel, allura nistgħu neliminaw il-vjolenza domestika.

https://newspaper.maltatoday.com.mt/list_mt/illum

Diżastri Naturali fl-2010

It-Torċa, il-Ħadd 6 ta’ Frar 2011

Meta ma rajniex diżastri naturali? Imma l-2010 kienet l-agħar sena fis-snin riċenti rigward id-diżastri naturali. U rajna traġediji kbar u ħorox matul is-sena fejn minħabba għargħar, terremoti, vulkani, nirien u karestiji mietu eluf ta’ nies u miljuni sofrew minn problemi oħra skont iċ-ċirkostanzi.

Fl-2010, total ta’ 295,000 mietu minħabba diżastri naturali madwar id-dinja u l-ħsara ekonomika kienet tammonta għal madwar 130 billjun dollaru.

Fil-bidu tas-sena, ftit jiem biss wara li spiċċaw iċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet tas-sena l-ġdida, rajna l-agħar terremot fil-Ħaiti fejn mietu 222,570 persuna f’daqqa waħda u miljuni oħra sofrew mill-konsegwenzi ħarxa li ħalla warajh it-terremot. U iktar minn miljun u nofs ruħ spiċċaw bla saqaf fuq rashom. Din it-traġedja kienet waħda mill-akbar f’dan l-aħħar seklu. Ħafna nies mietu minħabba mard differenti li nfirex wara din it-traġedja.

Ftit ġmigħat wara din id-disgrazzja, terremot ieħor laqat il-pajjiż Sud Amerikan taċ-Ċili, fis-27 ta’ Frar, u iktar minn elf persuna ġiet maqtula. Fir-Russja, mietu eluf kbar ta’ nies minħabba s-sħana u nirien fil-foresti.

Il-Pakistan, sofra wieħed mill-agħar għargħar fil-istorja tal-pajjiż. Fil-fatt, il-Ġnus Maqgħuda sa anke fissret dan l-għargħar bħala għargħar eqqel minn dak tat-Tsunami. F’dan l-għargħar mietu 1,760 ruħ u aktar minn għoxrin miljun sofrew mill-konsegwenzi li ġabet magħha din id-disgrazzja xejn mistennija. U l-ħsara ekonomika wkoll kienet ta’ miljuni ta’ dollari. Eluf ta’ djar ġew meqruda u sal-lum, eluf ta’ nies jinsabu mingħajr kenn għalihom u għal familthom.

L-erużjonijiet tal-vulkani Iżlandiċi f’April, kienu fost l-akbar problemi li s-sena 2010 kellha tħabbat wiċċha magħhom, fejn sħab iswed ikkawżat mill-erużjonijiet, kesa partijiet mill-Ewropa u eluf ta’ titjiriet ġew imħassra u b’dan jikkaġuna kaos fl-ivvjaġġar għal għexieren ta’ eluf ta’ passiġġieri. Il-ħsara finanzjarja kienet tammonta għal miljuni ta’ dollari. U x-xita qawwija li laqtet partijiet mill-Kolombja u kkawżat għargħar fatali kmieni f’Diċembru li ħataf il-ħajja ta’ mijiet ta’ nies sfortunati tassew.

Fost it-traġedji naturali, kien hemm ukoll terremot fiċ-Ċina li qatel 2,700 persuna, u 1,470 oħra ġew maqtula minn għargħar fiċ-Ċina stess. F’Settembru, kien hemm terremot fin-New Zealand u f’Ottubru kien hemm terremot ieħor fl-Indonesja li qatel 113-il persuna, kif ukoll terremot fi New York.

Minn fost id-950 diżastru naturali li ġie rrekordjat matul is-sena li għaddiet, hawnhekk rajna ftit li ħakmu d-dinja tagħna. Tajjeb ninnutaw, li dawn id-diżastri dehru kważi f’kull kontinent ta’ din il-pjaneta li baxxiet rasha quddiem din il-qerda naturali.

http://www.it-torca.com/news.asp?newsitemid=11040

In death but still full of life

The Times www.timesofmalta.com : Friday, 28th January 2011

Laiq Ahmed Atif, president, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Ta’ Xbiex

Life is a great gift of God, it is beautiful and priceless. Life is a name of challenges, efforts, competitions and struggles. Life is full of ups and downs. Death is also as true a reality as life on this planet. One day or the other, every soul shall taste of death. Death is an undeniable reality, and it spares no one and knows no boundaries.

Abraham Lincoln said: “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years”. Annabelle Vassallo, who passed away on January 24, was a real picture of this saying.

Despite the fact that she lived a very short life, it was full of hope and inspiration for others and it can be said that her life in years counted a lot.

Annabelle is a symbol of great courage; she was suffering from a severe disease but she never gave up; she looked into the eyes of death with great courage and boldness. She always had a smile on her face, and despite passing through a very difficult time, she always said that life was so beautiful and priceless. She gave the message through her life that despite the hardships, one can still enjoy life.

According to a saying of Aristotle, “All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire”. The life of Annabelle was full of reason, passion and desire. Especially the last few years of her life were a great reflection of these qualities. She did not live for herself but she extended the lesson of how to live, how to enjoy, how to struggle and how to be hopeful to the whole nation. I have a great admiration for her, the way she lived and the way she battled with her death.

In an interview she once said: “I see death running after me every day”. But she didn’t give up and she didn’t stop. She was a symbol of hope for those who destroy their lives by their own hands; her life is a great message for them. She gave the message of courage, livelihood, friendship and happiness.

There is also a great lesson in her life for those who are passing through such hard times and traumas; she is a beacon of hope for many people suffering from harsh diseases and her life is an inspirational instrument for them.

In the end I would like to quote Aristotle again: “Happiness is an expression of the soul in considered actions”. I believe that the life of Annabelle was full of these expressions of happiness and she spread smiles on the faces of others.

May she rest in peace in eternal life. We extend our heartiest condolences to her family and dear ones.

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