After 500 years, Granada's Muslims get their mosque

After a wait of more than 500 years, Spanish Muslims have finally succeeded in building a mosque of their own in the shadow of the Alhambra, once the symbol of Islamic power in Europe. The opening, by Muslim and Spanish officials on Thursday, will be rich in symbolism.

As Al-Jazeera television broadcasts the event live, a muezzin will climb the minaret of Granada's Great Mosque and call the faithful to prayer for the first time in half a millennium.

It is, say its builders, the symbol of the revival of Islam in Europe and Spain's "glorious Islamic heritage".

For that reason, though, many Spaniards are quietly unhappy. "Everybody is opposed to it, but they know it's politically impossible to voice their objections," said one local journalist.

It is more than 500 years since the Spaniards re-conquered the southern districts of the country, bringing to an end almost eight centuries of Moorish rule.

Taken From: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/07/08/wmosq08.xml

Malaysia: Ulema symposium to discuss restoration of Ummah’s strengt

Putrajaya,

A two-day symposium of scholars that is to be held here from July 10 is expected to bring together 700 scholars from different parts of the Muslim world, among them 85 prominent Ulema, such the Sheikh of Azhar, Dr. Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi. Several working papers would be presented to the symposium, most of them focusing on some of the hot topics concerning Muslim, among them the mistaken and distorted image of Islam, and what to do about it.

Taken From: http://www.islamicnews.org/english/en_daily.html

Nation of Islam to bring 'celebration' to Green

MORRISTOWN - Members of the Chicago-based Nation of Islam have teamed with the local Wind of the Spirit immigrant advocacy organization to host a "celebration of blacks and Latinos" on the Green on Saturday.

The Nation of Islam has been labeled a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The event, scheduled for1 to 5 p.m., will offer free food, music, arts and crafts for children and information about legalization for immigrants. The motto expressed on the event flier is, "United we stand, divided we fall."

Glenn Coutts Sr., president of the trustees for the Green, said Wind of the Spirit had applied for a permit in April to use the Green on Saturday. The group has use of the Green from2 to8 p.m., although the celebration is billed for 1 to 5 p.m.

Taken From: http://www.dailyrecord.com/news/articles/news2-celeb.htm