Anger over Pakistani support-English
Pakistan has agreed to support the king against the protestors
ONE Middle Eastern intervention makes the headlines every day. The other barely rates a mention. The first is ostensibly aimed at...
Pakistan has agreed to support the king against the protestors
ONE Middle Eastern intervention makes the headlines every day. The other barely rates a mention. The first is ostensibly aimed at protecting civilians and at facilitating change, the second at safeguarding the status quo.
Libya’s Muammar Qadhafi has been told he must go. Bahrain’s ruling Al Khalifa family, on the other hand, must stay. Some Arabs, one could be forgiven for assuming, are worthier of democracy and civil rights than others.
Yet the degree of hypocrisy may not be as great as it seems. After all, while the future of Tunisia and Egypt remains unwritten, there can be little reason to doubt that the US and its allies would prefer to preserve the basic structures of the Ben Ali and Mubarak regimes, albeit with new figureheads and, if possible, less visible signs of oppression and the odd concession to pluralism.
From their point of view, the ideal outcome in Bahrain would be similar: a few nods in the direction of cosmetic reform to placate the restive segments of society, but not much more than that — and certainly nothing that could jeopardise Bahrain’s crucial strategic relationship with the US, especially its status as a home for the Fifth Fleet. The trouble, of course, is the impossibility of rearrangements that could be passed off as regime change.
At best the prime minister, in situ for four decades, could be replaced. But he is the king’s uncle, and even if he could be persuaded, without occasioning a family split, to step aside, his successor would inevitably be another Al Khalifa.
That US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton felt obliged earlier this month to mildly berate the regime in Manama for its transgressions against mostly peaceful protesters was obviously in large part a consequence of not wishing the contrast with western actions in Libya to seem too stark. It is highly unlikely that the decision by Saudi Arabia and the UAE to send in troops was taken without Washington’s imprimatur, given that both are effectively American satrapies in geo-strategic terms.
The foreign troops, which are officially supposed to guard strategic installations, rather than assist in ‘crowd control’, were evidently despatched under a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) agreement dating back to Saddam Hussein’s neighbour-threatening rhetoric in 1990, which preceded the invasion of Kuwait. (His stance was thoroughly embarrassing at the time for oil-rich states that had during the previous decade supported Iraq in its war against Iran.)
That was, however, a joint defence pact among the Gulf potentates, to the effect that the violation of any GCC state’s sovereignty would be construed as aggression against all. Internal unrest did not figure in their calculations. Bahrain does not face any external threat, although there can be little doubt its emissaries have, in private discussions, conjured up the bogey of a threat from Iran.
Tehran’s domestic and foreign policies are often indefensible, but cables from Bahrain-based US diplomats over recent years, released by WikiLeaks, suggest it hasn’t lately been going out of its way to interfere in Bahrain. The Gulf state’s majority Shia population resents the almost exclusively Sunni regime because of irrefutable instances of discrimination rather than because of imprecations from Iran.
Given that at least 70 per cent of Bahrainis are Shias, it is hardly surprising that the majority of those who are economically disadvantaged fall in the same category. But their exclusion from privilege is not just a matter of demographics.
For instance, in order to keep out Bahraini Shias from the security forces, the government regularly recruits troops from abroad — notably from Yemen and Pakistan. And whereas the value of public representation can be judged by the fact that a royally nominated senate can overrule the elected lower house, even so the constitutional arrangements sanctioning the latter preclude the possibility of a Shia majority.
It inevitably follows that the monarchy’s supporters are mostly Sunni and its opponents mostly Shia, and even though the protests launched last month weren’t, on the face of it, sectarian in nature, casting them in that light tends to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Bahrain does not differ from its Gulf neighbours only in a demographic sense: it’s also relatively less well endowed with natural resources, and therefore poorer in per capita terms. And it has been rocked by popular unrest more frequently.
Referring to an uprising in the mid-1950s, Prof Fred Halliday noted in Arabia Without Sultans: “The British realised that Bahrain had a more advanced and therefore dangerous political character than any other Gulf country. Because the oil revenue and level of production was so much lower than in Kuwait, they had been unable to turn the indigenous population into a parasitic class with an enslaved migrant proletariat underneath. Their response was intensified repression, and a tightening of control by the Al Khalifa family.”
Notwithstanding the differences, however, Bahrain’s neighbours realise that if the Al Khalifas are toppled the Al Sauds, Al Nahyans and Al Jabers could follow. The marriage of tribal feudalism and modern capitalism cannot forever endure, but efforts will no doubt be made to preserve it for as long as petroleum remains crucial to meeting western energy needs.
In terms of totalitarian tactics, the Al Sauds in particular are more than a match for Qadhafi and his sons. But don’t expect any push for democracy in Saudi Arabia. Pressure for often intangible and invariably more or less meaningless reforms is at far as it will go.
Bahrain falls in the same basket, essentially. Were the situation to become too fraught, the US would probably begin disentangling itself from its intricate defence links with the troubled kingdom. In the interests of advancing potentially democratic interests, it would make much more sense to do so right away. But don’t hold your breath.
The Yemeni regime, meanwhile, will also continue, for as long as it is feasible, to enjoy the benefit of the doubt. Syria, on the other hand, is a much more likely candidate for the Libyan treatment.
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Pakistan has agreed to support the king against the protestors
ONE Middle Eastern intervention makes the headlines every day. The other barely rates a mention. The first is ostensibly aimed at protecting civilians and at facilitating change, the second at safeguarding the status quo.
Libya’s Muammar Qadhafi has been told he must go. Bahrain’s ruling Al Khalifa family, on the other hand, must stay. Some Arabs, one could be forgiven for assuming, are worthier of democracy and civil rights than others.
Yet the degree of hypocrisy may not be as great as it seems. After all, while the future of Tunisia and Egypt remains unwritten, there can be little reason to doubt that the US and its allies would prefer to preserve the basic structures of the Ben Ali and Mubarak regimes, albeit with new figureheads and, if possible, less visible signs of oppression and the odd concession to pluralism.
From their point of view, the ideal outcome in Bahrain would be similar: a few nods in the direction of cosmetic reform to placate the restive segments of society, but not much more than that — and certainly nothing that could jeopardise Bahrain’s crucial strategic relationship with the US, especially its status as a home for the Fifth Fleet. The trouble, of course, is the impossibility of rearrangements that could be passed off as regime change.
At best the prime minister, in situ for four decades, could be replaced. But he is the king’s uncle, and even if he could be persuaded, without occasioning a family split, to step aside, his successor would inevitably be another Al Khalifa.
That US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton felt obliged earlier this month to mildly berate the regime in Manama for its transgressions against mostly peaceful protesters was obviously in large part a consequence of not wishing the contrast with western actions in Libya to seem too stark. It is highly unlikely that the decision by Saudi Arabia and the UAE to send in troops was taken without Washington’s imprimatur, given that both are effectively American satrapies in geo-strategic terms.
The foreign troops, which are officially supposed to guard strategic installations, rather than assist in ‘crowd control’, were evidently despatched under a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) agreement dating back to Saddam Hussein’s neighbour-threatening rhetoric in 1990, which preceded the invasion of Kuwait. (His stance was thoroughly embarrassing at the time for oil-rich states that had during the previous decade supported Iraq in its war against Iran.)
That was, however, a joint defence pact among the Gulf potentates, to the effect that the violation of any GCC state’s sovereignty would be construed as aggression against all. Internal unrest did not figure in their calculations. Bahrain does not face any external threat, although there can be little doubt its emissaries have, in private discussions, conjured up the bogey of a threat from Iran.
Tehran’s domestic and foreign policies are often indefensible, but cables from Bahrain-based US diplomats over recent years, released by WikiLeaks, suggest it hasn’t lately been going out of its way to interfere in Bahrain. The Gulf state’s majority Shia population resents the almost exclusively Sunni regime because of irrefutable instances of discrimination rather than because of imprecations from Iran.
Given that at least 70 per cent of Bahrainis are Shias, it is hardly surprising that the majority of those who are economically disadvantaged fall in the same category. But their exclusion from privilege is not just a matter of demographics.
For instance, in order to keep out Bahraini Shias from the security forces, the government regularly recruits troops from abroad — notably from Yemen and Pakistan. And whereas the value of public representation can be judged by the fact that a royally nominated senate can overrule the elected lower house, even so the constitutional arrangements sanctioning the latter preclude the possibility of a Shia majority.
It inevitably follows that the monarchy’s supporters are mostly Sunni and its opponents mostly Shia, and even though the protests launched last month weren’t, on the face of it, sectarian in nature, casting them in that light tends to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Bahrain does not differ from its Gulf neighbours only in a demographic sense: it’s also relatively less well endowed with natural resources, and therefore poorer in per capita terms. And it has been rocked by popular unrest more frequently.
Referring to an uprising in the mid-1950s, Prof Fred Halliday noted in Arabia Without Sultans: “The British realised that Bahrain had a more advanced and therefore dangerous political character than any other Gulf country. Because the oil revenue and level of production was so much lower than in Kuwait, they had been unable to turn the indigenous population into a parasitic class with an enslaved migrant proletariat underneath. Their response was intensified repression, and a tightening of control by the Al Khalifa family.”
Notwithstanding the differences, however, Bahrain’s neighbours realise that if the Al Khalifas are toppled the Al Sauds, Al Nahyans and Al Jabers could follow. The marriage of tribal feudalism and modern capitalism cannot forever endure, but efforts will no doubt be made to preserve it for as long as petroleum remains crucial to meeting western energy needs.
In terms of totalitarian tactics, the Al Sauds in particular are more than a match for Qadhafi and his sons. But don’t expect any push for democracy in Saudi Arabia. Pressure for often intangible and invariably more or less meaningless reforms is at far as it will go.
Bahrain falls in the same basket, essentially. Were the situation to become too fraught, the US would probably begin disentangling itself from its intricate defence links with the troubled kingdom. In the interests of advancing potentially democratic interests, it would make much more sense to do so right away. But don’t hold your breath.
The Yemeni regime, meanwhile, will also continue, for as long as it is feasible, to enjoy the benefit of the doubt. Syria, on the other hand, is a much more likely candidate for the Libyan treatment.
3:39
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10 Facts About Great White Sharks - English
Remarkably little is known about great white sharks, but they are similar to humans in a lot of ways - they give birth to live young, maintain a higher body temperature than their surroundings and...
Remarkably little is known about great white sharks, but they are similar to humans in a lot of ways - they give birth to live young, maintain a higher body temperature than their surroundings and they are apex predators. There are also many misconceptions about these sharks: people think they don\'t get cancer and that they reside mainly in shallow waters near beaches. In this video I summarize some of the most interesting things I learned about sharks on my cage diving adventure.
Special thanks to Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions for making this trip possible: http://bit.ly/rodneyfox
Thanks also to Tourism South Australia for facilitating the trip: http://bit.ly/1aq9MgV
Chris Cassella or C² as he is known after this trip was a shark spotter extraordinaire. He also took some of the best shark footage in this video. It was his idea to go on this expedition, which was definitely a once in a lifetime experience, so I am in his debt. Chris, I look forward to going on more great adventures with you. Check out Chris\'s facebook page ScienceAlert http://on.fb.me/18nhyLp
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Description:
Remarkably little is known about great white sharks, but they are similar to humans in a lot of ways - they give birth to live young, maintain a higher body temperature than their surroundings and they are apex predators. There are also many misconceptions about these sharks: people think they don\'t get cancer and that they reside mainly in shallow waters near beaches. In this video I summarize some of the most interesting things I learned about sharks on my cage diving adventure.
Special thanks to Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions for making this trip possible: http://bit.ly/rodneyfox
Thanks also to Tourism South Australia for facilitating the trip: http://bit.ly/1aq9MgV
Chris Cassella or C² as he is known after this trip was a shark spotter extraordinaire. He also took some of the best shark footage in this video. It was his idea to go on this expedition, which was definitely a once in a lifetime experience, so I am in his debt. Chris, I look forward to going on more great adventures with you. Check out Chris\'s facebook page ScienceAlert http://on.fb.me/18nhyLp
2:34
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[30 May 13] Foreign investment growth below international average in Iran - English
Iran\'s reformist presidential candidate Mohammad-Reza Aref has stressed the need for facilitating both domestic and foreign investment in the country, vowing to slash unemployment.
In his...
Iran\'s reformist presidential candidate Mohammad-Reza Aref has stressed the need for facilitating both domestic and foreign investment in the country, vowing to slash unemployment.
In his televised speech on Wednesday night, Aref said, if elected, his administration would give assurances to Iranian investors and redirect people\'s money away from brokers and gold and foreign currency exchange markets to the country\'s industries.
He also pledged measures to encourage foreign investment. \"Unfortunately the rate of foreign investment growth in Iran is below the international average and we are having an unfavorable situation,\" he said.
Aref criticized the \"unacceptable\" rate of unemployment, especially among the country\'s university graduates, and promised to create over one million jobs annually.
He said he would try to achieve the figure by boosting tourism, which he said would provide an annual 200,000 job opportunities, besides expanding the information and communications technology industry as well as the country\'s lucrative energy sector.
\"We are planning to keep the added-value of energy products at home. We should try not to sell crude oil or natural gas,\" he stated.
Aref also highlighted Iran\'s unique geopolitical situation and thus the opportunity for the country to become a regional hub in various fields, such as commerce, communications and goods transit.
This will improve the country\'s economy and help the country\'s national security, the presidential candidate pointed out.
Aref is vying against Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Secretary of Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, President of the Center for Strategic Research of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election and this year\'s election is scheduled for June 14.
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Iran\'s reformist presidential candidate Mohammad-Reza Aref has stressed the need for facilitating both domestic and foreign investment in the country, vowing to slash unemployment.
In his televised speech on Wednesday night, Aref said, if elected, his administration would give assurances to Iranian investors and redirect people\'s money away from brokers and gold and foreign currency exchange markets to the country\'s industries.
He also pledged measures to encourage foreign investment. \"Unfortunately the rate of foreign investment growth in Iran is below the international average and we are having an unfavorable situation,\" he said.
Aref criticized the \"unacceptable\" rate of unemployment, especially among the country\'s university graduates, and promised to create over one million jobs annually.
He said he would try to achieve the figure by boosting tourism, which he said would provide an annual 200,000 job opportunities, besides expanding the information and communications technology industry as well as the country\'s lucrative energy sector.
\"We are planning to keep the added-value of energy products at home. We should try not to sell crude oil or natural gas,\" he stated.
Aref also highlighted Iran\'s unique geopolitical situation and thus the opportunity for the country to become a regional hub in various fields, such as commerce, communications and goods transit.
This will improve the country\'s economy and help the country\'s national security, the presidential candidate pointed out.
Aref is vying against Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Secretary of Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, President of the Center for Strategic Research of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election and this year\'s election is scheduled for June 14.
26:25
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[21 June 2012] Syria Scenario - News Analysis - English
[21 June 2012] Syria Scenario - News Analysis - English
A recent report from the mainstream daily newspaper New York Times has gone into detail as to how the CIA is facilitating arms and other...
[21 June 2012] Syria Scenario - News Analysis - English
A recent report from the mainstream daily newspaper New York Times has gone into detail as to how the CIA is facilitating arms and other assistance to armed groups in Syria, and it's doing it on Turkish soil, near the borders with Syria. Damascus has always been very vocal that Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia were assisting, funding and arming armed groups operating on the Syrian soil.
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[21 June 2012] Syria Scenario - News Analysis - English
A recent report from the mainstream daily newspaper New York Times has gone into detail as to how the CIA is facilitating arms and other assistance to armed groups in Syria, and it's doing it on Turkish soil, near the borders with Syria. Damascus has always been very vocal that Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia were assisting, funding and arming armed groups operating on the Syrian soil.
8:20
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The Central Book City in Iran - 10 April 2011 - English
Book shops are many people's favorite place to visit. In this edition of Iran, Hoda Lezgi visits one of the central branches of Book City; a chain store that sells books, stationary, educational...
Book shops are many people's favorite place to visit. In this edition of Iran, Hoda Lezgi visits one of the central branches of Book City; a chain store that sells books, stationary, educational games and much more.
Book City was founded in 1995 with the aims of promoting the culture of reading books and facilitating access to foreign publications
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Book shops are many people's favorite place to visit. In this edition of Iran, Hoda Lezgi visits one of the central branches of Book City; a chain store that sells books, stationary, educational games and much more.
Book City was founded in 1995 with the aims of promoting the culture of reading books and facilitating access to foreign publications
5:02
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[20 Dec 2013] Sons of 3 Turkish ministers, top business leaders among detainees - English
Turkish prosecutors in Istanbul have charged eight people with corruption and fraud. The defendants have been placed in pre-trial detention as part of a wide graft investigation.
The eight are...
Turkish prosecutors in Istanbul have charged eight people with corruption and fraud. The defendants have been placed in pre-trial detention as part of a wide graft investigation.
The eight are among 52 people who were arrested in a series of raids on Tuesday. They are accused of offences, including accepting and facilitating bribes for development projects. The sons of three ministers and several top business leaders are among those arrested. In the wake of the raids, several dozen police officers have also been sacked, accused of abusing power. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has labeled the corruption investigation a dirty operation aimed at undermining his government. The probe has prompted opposition parties to call for the government\\\'s resignation.
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Description:
Turkish prosecutors in Istanbul have charged eight people with corruption and fraud. The defendants have been placed in pre-trial detention as part of a wide graft investigation.
The eight are among 52 people who were arrested in a series of raids on Tuesday. They are accused of offences, including accepting and facilitating bribes for development projects. The sons of three ministers and several top business leaders are among those arrested. In the wake of the raids, several dozen police officers have also been sacked, accused of abusing power. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has labeled the corruption investigation a dirty operation aimed at undermining his government. The probe has prompted opposition parties to call for the government\\\'s resignation.
2:50
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[08 Feb 2014] US concerned about American militants returning from Syria - English
The US Homeland Security Chief is concerned about Americans who have fought in Syria and are now back home.
Jeh Johnson says the issue has become an issue of homeland security. He added that law...
The US Homeland Security Chief is concerned about Americans who have fought in Syria and are now back home.
Jeh Johnson says the issue has become an issue of homeland security. He added that law enforcement and security forces across the world are focused on foreign nationals Heading to Syria including those from the US, Canada and Europe. Western officials are concerned that their nationals fighting the Syrian government become even more radical after joining other insurgents. US authorities have confirmed that militants from some fifty countries are in Syria fighting the government there. Damascus says some western and regional countries are facilitating insurgent infiltration into the country.
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The US Homeland Security Chief is concerned about Americans who have fought in Syria and are now back home.
Jeh Johnson says the issue has become an issue of homeland security. He added that law enforcement and security forces across the world are focused on foreign nationals Heading to Syria including those from the US, Canada and Europe. Western officials are concerned that their nationals fighting the Syrian government become even more radical after joining other insurgents. US authorities have confirmed that militants from some fifty countries are in Syria fighting the government there. Damascus says some western and regional countries are facilitating insurgent infiltration into the country.
2:40
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[1 June 13] Iran presidential candidate vows to alter state-run economy - English
Iranian presidential candidate, Mohsen Rezaei, says if elected, he would minimize the role of the government in running economic activities and create a multicultural economy independent of oil...
Iranian presidential candidate, Mohsen Rezaei, says if elected, he would minimize the role of the government in running economic activities and create a multicultural economy independent of oil money.
He criticized the countries oil-dependent economy as the root of all problems faced by different administrations in the past decade. The secretary of Iran\'s Expediency Council also stated that his economic \"revolution\" would consist of such components as facilitating tourism, expanding trade, stepping up production in various fields, and exporting non-oil products.
Rezaei said he plans to widely install \"mobile refineries\" in different provinces, especially in border areas, and sell their products to make up for nearly one million barrels of crude oil which Iran has not been able to sell due to Western sanctions
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Iranian presidential candidate, Mohsen Rezaei, says if elected, he would minimize the role of the government in running economic activities and create a multicultural economy independent of oil money.
He criticized the countries oil-dependent economy as the root of all problems faced by different administrations in the past decade. The secretary of Iran\'s Expediency Council also stated that his economic \"revolution\" would consist of such components as facilitating tourism, expanding trade, stepping up production in various fields, and exporting non-oil products.
Rezaei said he plans to widely install \"mobile refineries\" in different provinces, especially in border areas, and sell their products to make up for nearly one million barrels of crude oil which Iran has not been able to sell due to Western sanctions
2:31
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[13/10/19] Rouhani: Ending Yemen war key to regional peace - English
Rouhani said Iran and Pakistan also believe that regional issues can be resolved through dialogue. He said Iran would reciprocate any goodwill gesture. Also in his remarks, Rouhani referred to...
Rouhani said Iran and Pakistan also believe that regional issues can be resolved through dialogue. He said Iran would reciprocate any goodwill gesture. Also in his remarks, Rouhani referred to Friday’s missile attacks on an Iranian tanker in the Red Sea near the Saudi port city of Jeddah. He said it would be an absolute mistake for a country to think that it can create instability in the region, but receives no response. For his part, the Pakistani premier said his trip to Tehran is aimed at facilitating talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Watch Live: http://www.presstv.com/live.html
Twitter: http://twitter.com/PressTV
LiveLeak: http://www.liveleak.com/c/PressTV
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#PressTV #Iran #News
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Rouhani said Iran and Pakistan also believe that regional issues can be resolved through dialogue. He said Iran would reciprocate any goodwill gesture. Also in his remarks, Rouhani referred to Friday’s missile attacks on an Iranian tanker in the Red Sea near the Saudi port city of Jeddah. He said it would be an absolute mistake for a country to think that it can create instability in the region, but receives no response. For his part, the Pakistani premier said his trip to Tehran is aimed at facilitating talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Watch Live: http://www.presstv.com/live.html
Twitter: http://twitter.com/PressTV
LiveLeak: http://www.liveleak.com/c/PressTV
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PRESSTV
Instagram: http://instagram.com/presstvchannel
#PressTV #Iran #News
68:57
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15:15
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Juz 25 of 30 | Journeying our eyes through the Quran | Sister Fatemah Meghji | English
This episode moves towards facilitating a theme-based discussion of the Quran. By combining verses from Juz 25, 26 and 27, an embedded exploration of the reality of death, what it is, and how it is...
This episode moves towards facilitating a theme-based discussion of the Quran. By combining verses from Juz 25, 26 and 27, an embedded exploration of the reality of death, what it is, and how it is discussed in the Quran is provided. Collectively across these Juz’s, there are 13 Makkan Surahs and 5 Madani Surahs, thus highlighting a focus on issues surrounding aqaid (beliefs) and akhlaq (morals) on one side and legislative issues on the other. The Surahs used to explore the theme of death include Surah Mulk, Surah Qaf, Surah Fussilat, Surah Al-Hadid and Surah An-Najm.
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Description:
This episode moves towards facilitating a theme-based discussion of the Quran. By combining verses from Juz 25, 26 and 27, an embedded exploration of the reality of death, what it is, and how it is discussed in the Quran is provided. Collectively across these Juz’s, there are 13 Makkan Surahs and 5 Madani Surahs, thus highlighting a focus on issues surrounding aqaid (beliefs) and akhlaq (morals) on one side and legislative issues on the other. The Surahs used to explore the theme of death include Surah Mulk, Surah Qaf, Surah Fussilat, Surah Al-Hadid and Surah An-Najm.