News :->Meng Jianzhu inspects Mekong tragedy site amid gangsters' threat to revenge 2012-07-13 04:31:02 GMT 2012-07-13 12:31:02(Beijing Time) SINA.com

Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu
arrived Thursday in Chiang Saen, Thailand where 13 Chinese sailors
were slain last October, for an inspection tour.(Photo:.people.com.cn)
Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu
arrived Thursday in Chiang Saen, Thailand where 13 Chinese sailors
were slain last October, for an inspection tour.(Photo:.people.com.cn)
By Wang Qi, Sina English
Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu
arrived Thursday in Chiang Saen, Thailand where 13 Chinese sailors
were slain last October, for an inspection tour, despite threats from
the notorious Naw Kham gang.
The remnants of Naw Kham gang, which is charged with murdering 13
Chinese sailors, had threatened to take revenge on the Chinese police,
according to Thai security officials accompanying the Chinese
inspection delegation.
The Thai officials spoke highly of the Chinese government officials,
whocame to inspect the "Golden Triangle" area, regardless of high
securityrisks.
Meng Jianzhu made the inspection tour following his visits to Laos,
Myanmar and Bangkok of Thailand, during which the three countries
pledged to make joint efforts to promote security and law enforcement
cooperation in order to safeguard the volatile area.
"As more and more Chinese citizens go abroad, the Chinese government
must protect them." Meng said, "Criminals in the Mekong case must be
brought to justice in accordance with law."
Under the security cooperation joint launched by China, Laos, Myanmar
and Thailand, main perpetrator of the Mekong case Naw Kham has been
arrested and extradited to China for investigation. The next step is
for Thailand to submit the case to its court. Meng said police of both
countries have almost got to the bottom of the case and the Thai side
planned to put the case on trial in August.
Pansiri Prapawat, Thailand's deputy police chief, said 109 witnesses
were interviewed over the gruesome murder, according to a report on
the website of English newspaper Bangkok Post.
The sailors were on two cargo ships when they were attacked by armed
men on October 5. Besides, Thai police have issued arrest warrants for
nine soldiers over suspected involvement in the murder of 13 Chinese
sailors. They will face two counts of accusations: murdering and
hiding the bodies of the Chinese sailors.
Thailand's army commander echoed that the army will not shield the
nine soldiers from punishment if they are proved guilty so as to give
people of both China and Thailand a satisfactory answer.
After inspecting the site where the appalling Mekong tragedy took
place, Minister Meng visited the Mekong River coordinating center for
preventing and cracking down on crimes.
He stressed again that he expected the case could soon be put on trial
in order to punish the criminals, bring justice to victims and deepen
security cooperation of the countries concerned.

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How can we prepare forthe arrival of Ramadaan?

How can we prepare for Ramadaan? What are the best deeds in this blessed month?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
You have done well to askthis question, because youhave asked how to
prepare for the month of Ramadaan. Many people misunderstand the true
nature of fasting, and they make it an occasion for eating and
drinking, making special sweets and staying up late at night and
watching shows on satellite TV. They make preparations for that long
before Ramadaan, lest they miss out on some food or prices go up. They
prepareby buying food, preparingdrinks and looking at the satellite TV
guide so they can choose which shows to follow and which to ignore.
They are truly unaware of the real nature of fasting in Ramadaan; they
take worship and piety out of the month and make it just for their
bellies and their eyes.
Secondly:
Others are aware of the real nature of fasting in the month of
Ramadaan, so they start to prepare from Sha'baan, and some of them
even start before that. Among the best ways of preparing for the month
of Ramadaan are:
1 –Sincere repentance
This is obligatory at all times, but because of the approach of a
great and blessed month, it is even more important to hastento repent
from sins between you and your Lord, and between you and other people
by giving them their rights, so that when the blessed month begins you
may busy yourself with acts of worship with a clean heart and peace of
mind. Allaah says (interpretationof the meaning):
"And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you all, O believers, that you
may be successful"
[al-Noor 24:31]
It was narrated from al-Agharr ibn Yasaar (mayAllaah be pleased with
him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: "O people, repent to Allaah for I repent to Him one hundred
times each day." Narrated by Muslim (2702).
2 –Du'aa' (supplication)
It was narrated from some of the salaf that they used to pray to
Allaah for six months that they would live until Ramadaan, then they
would pray for five months afterwards that He would accept it from
them.
The Muslim should ask hisLord to let him live until Ramadaan with a
strong religious commitment and good physical health, and he should
ask Him to help him obey Him duringthe month, and ask Him to accept
his good deeds from Him.
3 – Rejoicing at the approach of the blessed month
The arrival of Ramadaan is one of the great blessings that Allaah
bestows upon His Muslim slave, because Ramadaan is one of the
occasions of good in which the gates of Paradise are opened and the
gates of Hell are closed. It is the month of the Qur'aan and of
decisive battles in the history of our religion.
Allaah says (interpretationof the meaning):
"Say: 'In the Bounty of Allaah, and in His Mercy (i.e. Islam and the
Qur'aan); —therein let them rejoice.' That is better than what (the
wealth) they amass"
[Yoonus 10:58]
4 – Discharging the duty of any outstanding obligatory fasts
It was narrated that Abu Salamah said: I heard 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah
be pleased with her) say: I would owe fasts from the previous Ramadaan
and I would not be able to make them up except in Sha'baan.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1849) and Muslim (1146).
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
From her keenness to do that in Sha'baan it may beunderstood that it
is not permissible to delay making them up until another Ramadaan
begins.
Fath al-Baari (4/191).
5 – Seeking knowledge in order to be able to follow the rulings on
fasting and to understand the virtues of Ramadaan.
6 – Hastening to completeany tasks that may distract the Muslim from
doing acts of worship.
7 – Sitting with one's family members – wife and children – to tell
them of the rulings on fasting and encourage theyoung ones to fast.
8 – Preparing some bookswhich can be read at home or given to the imam
of the mosque to read to the people during Ramadaan.
9 – Fasting some of the month of Sha'baan in preparation for fasting Ramadaan.
It was narrated that 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said:
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
used to fast until we said: He will not break his fast, andhe used not
to fast until we said: He will not fast. And I never saw the Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) complete a month
of fasting except Ramadaan, and I never saw him fast more in any month
than in Sha'baan.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1868) and Muslim (1156).

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Are people who live in extremely hot regions obliged to fast even though it is difficult for them?

In the Sahara region, the month of Ramadan may come in the summer and
it is difficult for them to fast and it may be impossible for them.
This will continue for a number of years. How should these people
fast?.
Praise be to Allaah.
When the month of Ramadan begins, every Muslim who is accountable, not
travelling and in good health is obliged to fast. Allah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"So whoever of you sights(the crescent on the first night of) the
month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm
(fasts) thatmonth, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number
[of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be made up] from
other days"
[al-Baqarah 2:185].
So fasting is obligatory even at times when it is hot, because fasting
Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam. If a personfasts and then
suffers intense thirst in which there is the fear that he may die, he
may break the fast by drinking enough to keep him alive,then he should
refrain from eating and drinking, and make up that day at another
time. And Allah knows best.
And Allah is the source of strength. May Allah send blessings and
peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and Companions. End
quote.
Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas
Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn 'Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz, Shaykh 'Abd-Allaah ibn
Ghadyaan, Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan, Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez Aal
al-Shaykh, Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah – vol. 2, 9/145.

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The cry of the grave

Hadrat Abu Huraira (RA) is reported to have said thatonce he, in the
company of the Holy Prophet (SAW), joined a funeral. When the Holy
Prophet (SAW) reached the graveyard, he went to a grave and told that
there was not a single day that the grave did not make the clear
announcement."Oh, the offspring of Adam! you have forgottenme, I am
the place of solitude and I am the abode of loneliness, I am a lodging
of much straitened provided the Almighty expands me in the case of a
person whom He holds in esteem. After that the Holy Prophet (SAW)
said: The grave is either one of the gardens of Paradise orone of the
pits of hell.

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