15 distinct regions identified in Antarctica

Scientists have identified 15 distinct regions of Antarctica and its
near-shore islands, based on the geography, geology, climate, flora
and fauna of the ice-free areas, including the biologically distinct
Antarctic Conservation Biogeographic Regions.
Australian Antarctic Division terrestrial biologist Aleks Terauds, who
led the study, said thisis the first time a continent-wide
assessmentof the biogeography of Antarctica has been made using all of
the available biodiversity data.
"The new research amalgamated 38,000 terrestrial records, including
the diverse biology such as microbes, invertebrates and plants.
Itrevealed a complex ecosystem which can be divided into 15 very
distinct and potentially delicate biogeographic regions which are
characterised by different climates, landscapes and species," Terauds
said.
"Previously terrestrial Antarctica has been dividedinto two main areas
based on aspects like geography geology or specific types
ofbiodiversity," Terauds said, Diversity and Distribution Journal
reports.
Introduced species are identified as one of the biggest threats to the
Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems, particularly in a warming climate,
according to an Australian Antarctic statement.
"With about 40,000 peoplevisiting Antarctica over a summer, as
tourists, scientists or station support personnel, there's the
potential that more species will be accidentally transferred to and
within Antarctica."
"While quarantine procedures are already in place for
inter-continental travel, such as cleaning clothing and equipment
before arriving in Antarctica, there are less biosecurity measures for
intra-continental movement," he said.
"The Antarctic ConservationBiogeographic Regions represent an
important basis for biosecurity measures to manage the risk of
species, including species native to Antarctica, being transferred
from one biogeographic zone to another."
Terauds presented the newresearch at the Scientific Committee on
Antarctic Research lecture at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative
Meeting in Hobart, Australia.

Eid greatings

No shadows to depress u, Only joys to surround u, God himself to bless
u, these r my wishes for u, today, tomorrow, and every day. Eid
Mubarak.
=
The moon has been sighted, samosas are ready. EID is here, so just go
steady. Lots of dua's is all I request & I wish you all the BEST. 'Eid
Mubarak'
=
Do you know the Meaning of EID? I think it means 'ENJOY in DUNIYA!!'
So, In your life all moments bring EID for you.... Wish You...EID
MUBARAK.
=
Aaj se Amiri Garibi ka fasle na rahe,Har Insaan ek dujeko apna bhai
kahe, Aaj sabkuch bhool kar aa gale lag ja, Mubarak ho tuje ye EID ka
tyohaar.

The Supplication andAl-Qadar

There is one group that perceives this question to be valid and so
they have abandoned the supplication and are of theview that there is
no benefit in doing it. These people, along with their excessive
ignorance and misguidance are in clear contradiction, for if we were
to follow their opinion, it would require us to reject all the
different means for attaining something (desired).
So it can be said to one of them:
If satisfying your appetite and quenching your thirst were already
decreed for you, then there is no doubt that they are going to come to
pass, whether you eat and drink or you don't. And if they were
notdecreed for you, they will not come to pass, whetheryou eat and
drink or you don't.
And likewise, if a child were decreed for you, then you will
definitely receive it, whether you have sexual intercourse with your
wife or you don't. And if that was not decreed for you, then it will
not come to pass. Thus there is no need for marrying, having sexual
relations and so on and so forth.
Who says such a statement? Is it one possessing common sense or a
beast? Rather, even the animal has a natural inclination (fitrah)
towardsseeking the means of attaining something (desired), which (for
example) will give it sustenance and livelihood.So the animals have
more common sense and possess more understanding than these types of
people who are like cattle – nay, far worse!
Some of them try to be clever and say:
Preoccupying oneself withsupplication falls into the realm of worship
solely – Allaah will reward the onesupplicating, without that having
an effect on what he is asking for in any way. According to this type
of person, there is no difference between supplicating and
refrainingfrom supplicating by heartand tongue, with regard to that
having an effect onattaining what is being asked for. And according to
them, the relation of the supplication to it (what is being asked for)
islike its relation with silence. There is no difference between them.
Another group, more slick than this one says:
Rather, the supplication is a sign, which Allaah displays as a symbol
that amatter has been carried out. So when Allaah grantshis servant
the ability to supplicate, it is a sign and a symbol that the matter
he was requesting has been carried out. This is just as if one were to
see afrigid black cloud during the winter season. It is a sign and an
implicationthat it will rain.
They say: Similarly is enacting good deeds with respect to reward, and
committing disbelief and sins with respect to punishment – they are
pure signs for the occurrence of (either) reward or punishment – not
means (by which the result will be attained).
Likewise, according to them, with the matters of breaking, kindling
and destroying – none of thesethings serves as a means for the
occurrence (result) of a wreck, fire and death, respectively. Nor is
there any connection between those things and what results from them,
other than the fact that they are normally paired together – not that
one is caused due to the means of the other!
They have contradicted perceptual observation and common sense with
this opinion, as well as revelation and fitrah (natural inclination),
not tomention all of the other intellectual groups. Rather,those with
intellects laughat them!
The correct view: There is a third category, apart from those
mentioned by the questioner. And it is that the decreed result is
preordained along with itsproper means, which lead to its occurrence.
One of these means is the supplication. It is not preordained just
like that, without any means (leading to its occurrence), rather it is
preordained along with its proper means (which will ensure its
occurrence). So when a person comes across the means, the decreed
matterwill come to pass. And if he does not come across those means,
the decreed matter is denied.
So satisfying one's appetite and quenching one's thirst are
preordained with (the means of) eating and drinking. Children are
preordained with (the means of) sexual intercourse. Harvesting crops
is preordained with (the means of) planting and, the withdrawal of
thesoul from an animal is decreed with slaughter. Likewise, entrance
into Paradise is preordained with (good) deeds, while entrance into
the Hellfire is preordained with (bad) deeds.
This category is the true one. And it is the one that the questioner
has been deprived of and not granted.

Can Dua Change Qadar?

Question:
Dear scholars, As-Salamu`alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. I know
that belief in the Qadar (Divine predestination) is a prerequisite for
sound faith. However, I'dlike to know if there is any conflict between
theQadar and Du`a'? How can the Du`a' influence one's Qadar, which is
already predetermined by Allah, Most High. Jazakum Allah Khairan.
Answer:
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be
upon His Messenger.
Dear brother in Islam, we really thank you for showing keenness on
learning the teachings of Islam, and we appreciate the great
confidence you have in us. We hope our efforts meet your expectations.
In Islam Du`a' is the essence of worship as stated in an authentic
Hadith. Qadar (Divine predestination) is a pillar of faith in Allah,
as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, mentioned when asked
byAngel Jibril (Gabriel), peacebe upon him, about Iman (faith),
saying: "It is to believe in Allah, His angels,His Books, His
Messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in Divine predestination,
both the good and the evil thereof."(Reported by Muslim)
The eminent Muslim scholar, Dr. `Atiyyah `A. Lashin, Professor of
Jurisprudence at Al-Azhar University, states:
"Qadar, or Divine predestination is of two kinds:
1. Unconditional predestination
2. Conditional predestination.
Du`a' has nothing to do with the first kind, while itmay change the
second one. This ruling is based on the Hadith that reads:"Nothing
could change theQadar except Du`a'."
(Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 5, Hadith no. 277; Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Vol. 3,
Hadith no. 139; and classified as Hasan (good) Hadith by Al-Abaani in
Sahih Al-Jami`, Hadith no. 7687)"
Shedding more light on this issue, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi , former
president of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and member of
the Fiqh Council of North America, answers:
"Du`a' has great power; it can change many things. We should always
pray to Almighty Allah and should never give up hope in the acceptance
of Du`a'. Du`a' is the most important act of worship. It does not mean
that we or any other human or jinn have power, but it means that
Allah, the Almighty, has power and He can do whatever He wills. Du`a'
is the recognition and acknowledgement of our dependence upon Allah,
Most High, and our deep faith that He can change anything. There are
many verses in the Qur'an and many Hadiths that emphasize the
importanceand necessity of Du`a'. TheProphet, peace and blessings be
upon him, said, "Du`a' benefits in the things that have happened as
well as the things that have not happened yet. The calamity comes
down, but the Du`a' confronts itand they may continuously wrestle
until the Day of Resurrection." (Reported by Al-Hakim.)
In another Hadith, it is reported that the Prophet,peace and blessings
be upon him, said, "Nothing can change the Qadar except the Du`a'…"
This Hadith is reported by several authorities on Hadith, such as Imam
Ahmad, Ibn Hibban, Al-Hakim, and Ibn Majah… etc. Most of the scholars
ofHadith consider it an acceptable Hadith.
There is no contradiction between our faith in the power of Du`a' to
Allah and in our belief in the Qada' and Qadar of Allah. Scholars have
explained that there are two types of Qada' (Allah's Decrees):
a. those that are known asQada' Mubram (absolute decrees);
b. and those that are known as Qada' Mu`allaq (conditional decrees).
The absolute decrees do not change, but the conditional one may change
if and when the conditions are fulfilled. Such decrees are based on
the fulfillment of causes, as well as Du`a'. However, it is important
to keep in mind that every thing is inthe pre-existent knowledge of
Almighty Allah. The knowledge of Allah, Most High, does not change,
but the conditional decrees may change. Allah Almighty says in the
Qur'an: "Allah effaceth what He will, and establisheth (what He will),
and with Him is the source of ordinance." (Ar-Ra`d: 39)/