Book review: Unveiling the Hidden History of Women Ulema

Book Review- Banat-e Islam Ki Dini Wa Ilmi Khidmat ('The Religious and Intellectual Contributions of Muslim Women') by Yoginder Sikand

Books in English and Urdu on Muslim history rarely, if ever, mention the role and contribution of numerous remarkable Muslim women scholars. Yet, as the author of this fascinating monograph, the late Qazi Athar Mubarakpuri (1916-1996), points out, early Muslim history records many such women, several of whose names are mentioned in contemporary Arab chronicles. Indeed, he asserts, many of these texts had separate chapters devoted to such women. Some early Arab Muslim writers even penned separate books dealing with women scholars.

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Serial blasts rip through Jaipur, 60 dead; JIH condemns

By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net

Jaipur: Terror struck again. This time they chose one of the most busy tourist cities in the country: Jaipur. It was 7:30 pm, 13th May, prime time for shopping when daytime temperature is above 40 degree. Markets were bustling but within minutes they were shaking with serial blasts. Seven blasts rocked the city of Jaipur, killing 60 (by 11:30 pm report from TwoCircles.net (TCN) source in the city) and wounding 100. The blasts of medium intensity took place in the walled city whose residential areas are heavily Muslim populated.

Rajasthan unit of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has condemned the blasts in strongest terms.

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Bush vows to look into issue of Kuwaiti prisoners in Guantanamo

Submitted by Mudassir Rizwan on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 09:18.

By NNN-KUNA

Washington : US President George W. Bush vowed here Friday that the US government would ponder over the issue of Kuwaiti detainees in Guantanamo Bay.

The vow was made by Bush at a media meeting with Arab media representatives in the White House. The meeting was attended by former Kuwaiti minister of information Saad bin Tafla al-Ajami.

Responding to a question in this context, Bush said the US policy now was to repatriate Guantanamo detainees to their homelands.

But, he said this would take place in light of developments and judicial verdicts issued by US supreme courts.

He added that if security and legal guarantees were provided by their original countries, then those prisoners would be repatriated.

The US had earlier handed over several Kuwaiti detainees to Kuwait. Only four Kuwaiti detainees notably; Fouad al-Rabeaa, Fawzi al-Awdah, Fayz al-Kandari and Khalid al-Matiri, are still being held in Guantanamo Bay.

Also during the meeting, the US president said he would visit Kuwait next week as part of his coming regional tour, aiming to make consultations with US friends and allies on several weighty issues, chiefly the Middle East peace process based on a bi-state solution.

He added that his regional tour would be also intended to maintain security and stability in the Gulf region.