Source: gulfnews.com
Dubai – A football team from Cameroon, including the coach and female priest, has embraced Islam after attending a training camp in Dubai, officials said.
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More than 2,800 embraced Islam in Dubai last year
Source: futureofdubai.com
More than 2,800 people from 91 nationalities embraced Islam in 2014, the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai (IACAD) said.
The New Muslims Section in IACAD said 2014 witnessed the conversion of 2,815 people to Islam, 2,047 of whom were women, while the remaining 768 were men.
‘IACAD works in light of the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, that Dubai becomes a beacon of peace and religious tolerance, and an example of coexistence,’ Dr. Omar Al Khateeb, CEO of Islamic Affairs Sector in IACAD, said.
The department dedicates resources to New Muslims Section’s projects. Its projects include specially designed programmes and various activities, which are held not only in the department’s buildings and Islamic centres, but also in clubs, shopping malls, and other public sites. And there are also the printed and electronic publications that focus on Islam’s teachings and its moderate and global message.
Movie: City Of Life (Full Video)
A privileged young male Arab at odds with his cultural identity and his less fortunate street smart friend; a disillusioned Indian taxi driver who bears an uncanny resemblance to a famous Bollywood star; and a former Romanian ballet dancer now working as a flight attendant and searching for love and companionship … these individuals all live in Dubai and their lives are about to collide for better or for worse in a city where ambition, growth and opportunity are encouraged and dreams can still manifest. “City of Life” is an urban drama that tracks the various intersections of a multi-ethnic cast, examining how random interactions and their consequences can irrevocably impact another’s life. As the name suggests, City of Life’s inordinately humane kaleidoscope of converging experiences introduces a city that is in itself a living pulsating character. “City of Life” ultimately reveals how unexpected tragedy and loss can lead to hope and profound transformation as it explores and exposes the complex network that exists in an emerging multi cultural society’s race, ethnicity and class divide. Written by Tanya Wagner.
The world’s tallest buildings (Sign of the hour)
By: Omar Suleiman
Forget about the poverty, corruption, and institutional racism in the Middle East, they’re clearly making progress. I mean check out these buildings and the price tags on them:
Mile High Tower, Jeddah: 13.6 billion USD
Burj khalifa, Dubai: 1.5 billion USD
Burj al Arab, Dubai: 2 billion USD
Abraj al bayt, Makkah: 2 billion USD
Rose Tower, Dubai: 180 million USD
Aspire Tower: 173 million USD
Kingdom Center, Riyadh: 453 million USD
“Of the signs of the hour is that you will see barefoot bedouins competing with the construction of tall buildings.” – Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)
Cameroon footballers embrace Islam
Entire team, coach and priest embrace Islam after Dubai training camp
The team from the African country represents a football academy for the homeless, orphans and impoverished youth.
Documentary: Money in Minutes (Video)
Migrants send money home to support their families, but there is a dark side to cash transfers.
Money transfers — or remittances sent home by migrant workers — is big business. Some $500 billion dollars circle the globe every year.
Money in Minutes looks at the business of money transfers in the context of global migration. Filmmakers follow migrant workers such as Brando Alvarenga, a construction worker in Miami who sends funds to his family in Honduras; Li Wang, a textile worker in Italy who sends money home to China; and Gauri Gurung, a cloth vendor from Nepal working in Dubai.
It Is a fiercely competitive business, and there are many companies providing the service to migrants sending money home.
But there is also a darker side, involving money laundering and smuggling rings. How do the authorities deal with this growing problem of misuse?
More documentaries…
The first “green mosque” opens in Dubai
By: Mohammed N Al Khan
Source: http://www.thenational.ae/
The Muslim faithful filled the grand and expansive Khalifa Al Tajer Mosque to its capacity at its official opening for Friday prayer, last Friday.
Located in Deira, the first environmentally friendly mosque in the Islamic world is Dubai’s largest, and Sheikh Salih Al Maghamsi, the imam of the famous Quba Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia, inaugurated the mosque by delivering the Friday sermon.
The Dh22 million building is able to accommodate 3,500 worshippers, and many of them on Friday were unaware of its significance.
“This is a very nice mosque. I didn’t realise it was environmentally friendly, as it doesn’t look like they are skimping on anything,” said Khalid Ali Al Haj, a 35-year-old supervisor at Deira City Centre bus terminal. He came to the mosque because he was rushing to find one near his workplace to pray.
“All the mosques should be green. God hates wasteful people, so these green solutions are very appropriate, and this is the best place for people to learn about environmental conservation.
“I think I will have all my prayers at this mosque when I’m at work, it is only a few steps from the terminal.”
Ahmad Al Sharif, a 34-year-old Egyptian legal consultant, said the new mosque was very nice, comfortable and beautiful. “I didn’t find anything different or lacking about it from any other mosque,” he said. “I came here today because this is now the closest mosque to my home. I used to go to the mosque across the street, but it gets too crowded at Friday prayers.”
The Khalifa Al Tajer Mosque has sensors for the air-conditioning and lighting, and solar-powered water heaters and exterior lights. The ablution stations are also designed to save water.
“This mosque has been designed to save 20 to 25 per cent on energy and water resources,” said Tayeb Abdul Rahman Al Rais, the secretary general of Awqaf and Minors’ Affairs Foundation, a Dubai government body.
“We have built this mosque in support of the goal and strategies of Dubai emirate to promote sustainable designs and support environmental solutions to preserve this land for many generations to come. We have materials that resist wear and tear and will last a long time.”
The 4,180-square-metre mosque has three halls: the grand prayer hall, the daily prayer hall and the women’s prayer hall. The women’s prayer hall, which is the same size as the daily prayer hall, is on the second floor. It has its own ablution stations on the first floor.
“The grand prayer hall will remain closed on regular days, and will only be used for Friday prayers and special occasions to conserve energy. All other prayers will be conducted in the daily prayer hall,” said Mr Al Rais.
“This mosque is the first of its kind in the Islamic world, but not for long, as requests have already come in from Ahmed bin Sulayem to have an identical mosque built in DMCC community [Jumeirah Lakes Towers].”
The Khalifa Al Tajer Mosque complies with the silver standard of the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) certification.
“The new mosque was built to meet guidelines set out by the US Green Building Council Standards and Specifications. We will be receiving our Silver Leed certification in a few months. We chose to go with the Silver certification, because it seemed to be the most appropriate and the most feasible financially,” said Mr Al Rais.
“The mosque integrates renewable energy solutions in its design.”
The mosque, which will be operated by the Islamic Affairs Department, was opened during the last 10 days of Ramadan, as it is the holiest time in the Islamic calendar, as it was during these days that the Quran was bestowed upon the Prophet Mohammed.
Understanding Islam: Mufti Menk, Dr. Zakir Naik & Nouman Ali Khan in Dubai 2014 (Video)
A special live episode of Understanding Islam at the International Peace Convention from Dubai, Featuring Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan, Dr. Zakir Naik and Mufti Menk. April 18th 2014. This video is a property of DubaiMedia.
More video’s…
PASS THE KNOWLEDGE (LIGHT & LIFE) 