Press TV: Iran is slated to hold the first International Tour Operators Conference, hosting tour and travel agencies from 40 countries in Tehran.
Organized by the Iranian Tour Operators Society and Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO), the event is said to be the first of its kind in the world.
“Over 100 tour operators from 50 countries will participate in the event to learn about Iran’s tourism potentials,” said a member of the Iranian Tour Operators Society’s Board of Directors, Mahmoud Bonakdarnia.
“Participants will discuss Iran’s tourism attractions and will then visit Shiraz, Isfahan and Kish Island,” he announced.
“A workshop will also be held on the last day of the event to allow tour operators to exchange information and lay the grounds for cooperation,” added Bonakdarnia.
Iran’s International Tour Operators Conference will be held from Nov. 24 to 27, 2008.
Iran is considered one of the most attractive tourism hubs in the Middle East due to the country’s unique natural, historical and archeological sites.

The Times of India - ZAFAR MEHDI SAFVI : Fasting or saum is one of the vital pillars of Islam. Saum is from the root ’sama’ which means ‘to abstain’ ^ from evil speech, thoughts and deeds. Saum is an act of worship; it is prayer for attaining spiritual exaltation and eternal salvation.
Fasting is an exercise in self-discipline. It strengthens our faith in God. The month of Ramadan is also called the month of God, Shahrullah, as it strengthens the bond between Him and us, ashraful makhlooqat. The purpose of fasting is not simply refraining from eating and drinking but refraining from indulging in prohibited acts. “There are many people who fast, whose fast is nothing but hunger and thirst. There are whose prayer is no better than wakefulness and hardship. The eating and drinking in case of the former and sleeping in the latter’s case is a far better option” (Nahjul Balagha).

The month of Ramadan is the month of barakah or divine grace, when the gates of heaven are thrown wide open. The Prophet said “It is the month of endurance and the reward of endurance is paradise”.

Allah revealed the Holy Qur’an via His apostle and messenger, the Prophet, in this blessed month. Ramadan honours the memory of sending down of the Qura’n. It is the month of action, piety, reform, creativity, generosity, besides it being host to a special occasion, the immortal night, Laylatul Qadr.

Fasting is the sword and shield against sins. Ramadan is the best time to seek Allah’s forgiveness for past sins. The Prophet said: “He who fasts during Ramadan with pure faith and seeks reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. He who spends nights in Ramadan praying will have his past sins forgiven, and he who passes ‘Laylatul Qadr’ in prayer, seeking reward from Allah will have his sins forgiven” (Sahih Al Bukhari).

The Prophet said “A fasting person is in a state of worship even if asleep in bed. Every breath he takes while asleep is ‘Tasbih’, and his sleep itself is worship. O people, anybody who in this blessed month cultivates good and ethical manners will walk over Sirat, the bridge to Paradise on the day when the feet of others will tend to slide”.

Earlier fasting meant abstention from food and drink to denote mourning or grief. S M Shahid of Allama Iqbal University, Islamabad says: “In the days of Christ, fasting was regarded as a special mark of devotional spirit. Then, in Arabia, in Prophet Mohammad’s time, Makkans observed fast on days of Ashura (10th of Muharram) which also coincided with the custom of changing cover of Holy Kaabah. After the Prophet migrated to Medina , he too observed this fast as duty, till such time that obligatory fasts were prescribed” .

Regular observance of fasts creates remarkable endurance power in a person, besides special feeling of empathy for the needy and creates sense of equality between the rich and poor. Net result is manifested individually as well as collectively through refinement of character and purification of soul. Fasting invites Allah’s blessings and mercy. Besides fasting also has great medicinal value. It is a key to sound health and fit body.

Fasting is recognised to be instrumental in alleviating a number of physical diseases and so helps keep the body fit. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain from fasting

A record number of Muslim stars has lead the twice crowned European champions France in the 13th European football championship, Euro 2008, which starts Saturday, June 7.
The 23-man squad of Les Bleus (the nickname for the French soccer team) featured nine Muslim players. Leading among Muslim stars is Germany’s Bayern Munich right-sided winger Franck Ribery.
The 25-year-old Ribery is known for supplicating to God before the game kickoff. “Islam is the source of power for me inside and outside the football field,” Ribery has said.
“My life was hard enough and I had to find something to take me to safety and I found Islam.”
Ribery’s reversion to Islam, which was leaked in 2006, was first noticed during France’s opener against Switzerland in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The blue-eyed boy of the French soccer fans started his playing career at his home town club US Boulogne and then moved to Alès, Brest and FC Metz in consecutive seasons.
His move to Olympique Marseille has earned him top French player honors for the months of August, October and November 2005. He was selected for the French squad for the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany.

Muslim Stars
A second Muslim soccer star, Eric Abidal, also appeared in French colors in Euro 2008. The 29-year-old Barcelona defender reverted to Islam five years ago and named himself “Bilal”.
Abidal, who was considered one of the best fullbacks in the French league, says his Muslim faith encourages him to spare no efforts to serve his team.
“I embraced Islam in full conviction,” Abidal, who is married to an Algerian woman, has told Paris Match magazine.
Abidal, a father of two, started his professional career with AS Monaco on September 16, 2000, where he earned 22 first-team appearances.
He moved to Lille OSC and at the end of 2004, he returned to his native region by joining Olympique Lyonnais. In June 2007, Abidal moved to FC Barcelona, the world’s second richest club, for 15 million sterling pound.
Les Bleus also featured Muslim striker Thierry Henry, who moved to Barcelona from Britain’s Arsenal for 16.1 million sterling pound.
Henry usually encourages people to read more about Islam and the Noble Qur’an to get more acquainted with the faith. Henry, known as the magician, was twice nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year. He led the French national team to win the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. Defender Lilian Thuram is also another Muslim star in the French team.
There is also super striker Anelka, who reverted to Islam in 1991 when he was 16. The French team also features Muslim midfielder Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth), striker Karim Benzema (Lyon), midfielder Samir Nasri (Marseille) and left-winger Hatem Ben Arfa (Lyon).
Sixteen teams are vying in the tournament, which is jointly organized by Austria and Switzerland and will run until June 29.

Adapted from: Islam Online

PS: Although the French squad has been eliminated from Euro 2008 with all of its famous stars, but it was a source of honor for this team to experience its first international appearance with 9 Muslim players out of 11.

Not exclusively for the Muslims, the Holy Quran is a book of trustworthiness, peace, love and blessing belonging to all of the broad-minded and freeborn around the world regardless to their religion, nationality and gender.
Quran means “readable” etymologically and considered as one of the most marvelous and elevated books in the history of world culture.
Holy Quran is counted as the miracle of Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) since the almighty lord inspired its verses celestially to him and the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) wrote them, although he was uneducated.
There is no sign of coarseness or roughness found in this holy book and all is love, satisfaction and guidelines toward a pure life, while the extremists try diligently to alter and tamper it.
The holy Quran is consisted of 114 esteemed chapters, each of them devoted to one aspect of human life, inviting the mankind elegantly to change their unfavorable habits, try to assist the poor and helpless, dedicate their time to study and thinking. This is all the Holy Quran requests of us…
Now you decide how honorable and respected is a religion that is based on culture, tenderness and “Book”…

 ”In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful” words that seekers of sanctuary permanently repeat…
Nowadays anti-Islamic sentiments are being aroused among the western nations in the name of democracy and freedom of speech by the so-called parliament members and intellectuals who are in fact some dangerous seditious evils wearing the masks of benevolent humans.
They don’t spare any method or instrument to insult the latest divine religion and its holy prophet (Peace be upon him) and trample all the ethnic values and customs.
The peaceful and tranquil way of thinking, speaking and behaving in the Islamic culture is not so endurable for those who want to spread war, terror, horror and violation between children, women and undefended people.
Casting a short glance at the statistic of US imposed war on Iraq unveils the indigestible truth to us. More than 300,000 Iraqis have been killed during 5 years of invasion over their country.
Who is the real quarrelsome? Who is inflaming the fire of aversion and hostility in the world?
I am not judging on the radices of US imposed war to Iraq and the trustiness of Americans accusation of former dictator’s genocide weapons which finally convinced UNSC to issue the charter of war against Saddam regime. I want just to ask that what is going up with the innocent Arab children in Iraq who are being slaughtered such wildly these days? Which sin or crime they are being tortured for?
You decide on who is really extending disagreement and division among people.
You decide on how much that so-called Dutch MP (Geert Wilders, the creator of Fitna the movie) thinks every day and how much he studies before lecturing, remarking and expressing his thoughts!
I guess that he is mentally incompetent and lacks any strength for decision-making and thinking. Nobody knows, maybe he is a mentally crippled and that’s evident of his statements.
His base of producing that short movie is the 60th esteemed verse of Holy Quran. Let’s take a look of the translation:
“In the name of God the compassionate the merciful, Use any available force to encounter your enemies, prepare yourself with the best cavalry and spread horror inside the hearts of the enemies of God and your enemies and the other group which you don’t know. Everything that you donate for the sake of God and his values will return you. You’ll not be oppressed.”
In the verses above, the majesty lord encourages us to resist against the enemies and ones who desire the untruth, indecency and separation between Muslims and damage their unity.
What’s wrong with that? I mean, what will be your natural reaction against those who want to violate your privacy, kill your beloved, steal your morals and destroy your cities in the name of freedom and peace?
But the interesting face is here. Mr. Geert and his conspirators have never considered the numerous verses of Holy Quran which advice and sometimes seriously precept the Muslims to help the wayfarer, the poor and orphan children. Holy Quran strongly prohibits Muslims to aggress the belongings and wages of orphan children in any age they are. Also Holy Quran encourages the Muslims all around the world too food the poor and hungry and benefit them with friendly and mild behavior.
Muslims are required to dedicate one fifth of their annual income to those who involved in poverty and those in need, otherwise their Islamic duties are incomplete. This rate is called “Khoms” or “Koms” and all the family managers (father or mother) are ordered to do this.
Islam is the religion of peace, love, modesty and cooperation. Nobody is allowed to act on his personal advantages if others are in shortage and difficulty.
Today, the flag of Islamic friendship and brotherhood is fluttered everywhere in the world and nobody dares to tamper its verity.
Of course you know all that terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and suicide bombers who strive in the name of Islam and threat the global security are vigorously backed militarily and supported financially by Imperialist governments to bruise and harm the kind and tender personality of Iran.
Have you forgotten the convulsive days in which the US president of time (Ronald Reagan) equipped Saddam with the best modern army facilities and weapons and ordered Saddam to bombard Iran? An unequal war which caused more than 300,000 Persian youth killed…
I am sure that you are all wise enough to decide about these types of feeble and shortsighted to Islam and its holy prophet. You are the best to decide about the main seditious…