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A woman and child walk past festive decorations, part of a Ramadan fair organised by the local government during the Muslim holy month, at dusk in Surabaya, Indonesia, Wednesday.  

One of the favours that Allah could bestow upon a Muslim is to prolong his life until he reaches the month of Ramadan and then enables him to fast it and pray the optional night prayers during it. Rewards for good deeds in this holy month are multiplied; ranks are elevated; and Allah frees many people from the Hellfire.Therefore, a Muslim should utilise this month and take advantage of it, and should rush to perform as many good deeds as he can. A Muslims must also fulfil his responsibility towards his children, by properly cultivating them and instructing them and guiding them to the path of righteousness and training them to perform acts of virtue, because the child will grow up according to the manner he was trained.During these blessed days, the father and the mother must play a pivotal role to help their children utilise this month better, and so we advise them with the following with regards to their children:Follow up with them and make sure they fast and encourage those amongst them who might fall behind or become lazy.Remind them with the essence of fasting and that it is simply refraining from food and drinks, and that it is actually a means to attain piety and forgive one’s sins. Remind them with the narration of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, who reported: “Whilst the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was delivering a speech on the pulpit once he said: “Aameen, Aameen, Aameen”, He was asked: “O Messenger of Allah! Why were you saying this?” He replied: “Jibreel came to me and said: ‘May Allah humble the one who goes through Ramadan whilst not being forgiven’ so I said; Aameen. Then he said: ‘May Allah humble the one whose parents (one or both) reach an old age and they were not a cause for him to enter Paradise (i.e. due to him being dutiful to them)’ so I said; Aameen. Then he said: ‘May Allah humble the one in front of whom I was mentioned and he did not supplicate Allah to exalt my mention’ so I said; Aameen.” [Ibn Khuzaymah & Ahmad].Teach the children the rulings and etiquette of eating, like eating with the right hand, eating from the side of the plate directly in front of them and from the opposite end of it, uttering the name of Allah saying “Bismillaah”. Remind them that eating more than one’s need is prohibited and harmful to the body.Do not allow them to spend too much time eating to the point that they miss the prayer with the congregationRemind them with the situation of the poor and the needy who cannot find a bite to satisfy their hunger with and the Muslims who are afflicted and misplaced from their homes.Instruct them to help the mother in preparing the table and cleaning after eating.Remind them to prepare for the optional night prayers by not excessively eating and by getting ready early enough to make it on time for the prayer.Remind them with the blessings of eating Suhoor (the pre-dawn meal) and that it gives energy whilst fasting.Make sure they pray Fajr with the congregation, especially those amongst them who are obliged to pray.Emphasise the importance of taking advantage of the last ten nights of the month, and remind them with the practice of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, who used to wake his family members up during these last ten nights and make sure that exerted their utmost in worship.Reward the young children who fast with gifts as a means of encouragement.It would be excellent if the parents can take their children to perform ‘Umrah during Ramadan.Instruct the children and wife to strive to read as much as they can from the Qur’an during Ramadan as it is the month of the Qur’an.Sit with them and read for them from a book related to fasting and its merits.Prevent the children from staying up late at night watching TV or any other useless activity, unless they stay up to pray or recite the Qur’an.The husband should not overburden the wife with cooking and preparing different dishes of food and sweats, and should not make the month one of food invitations and meals. The husband must remember that his wife also needs to worship and recite the Qur’an and busying her with food deprives her from this.The family should take the opportunity and regain ties with any family member with whom such ties have been severed. Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/ 

The Philippine Muslim Federation (PMF) Qatar successfully conducted back-to-back community activities in early February, strengthening unity and promoting Islamic values among Filipino Muslims in the country.On February 4, PMF organised the 2nd PMF Bowling Tournament at the Qatar Bowling Centre. The event served as a fundraising activity for the upcoming Qur’an for Kids Season 5. A total of 10 teams participated and showed strong support for the noble cause.The Philippine Muslim Association emerged as the champion of this year’s tournament. The Organisation of Muslim Mindanao Overseas Workers secured second place, followed by Al Salaam Inc in third. Davao Muslim Organisation Qatar in fourth place and Team Primoz in fifth. Other participating teams included the Philippine Overseas Muslim Development Association, Team Radz, Al Muttahidat, HMC-POGS, and Fazicaldo.The tournament was marked by a spirit of sportsmanship, friendship, and brotherhood among the participants, making it a memorable evening for the community.On February 6, PMF conducted another major activity in preparation for the blessed month of Ramadan. The PMF Istiqbal Ramadan programme was held at the Academia International Institute and Studies. The event featured three esteemed speakers: Ustadz Mohammad Bin Mohd Tayb Sacatan Pagayawan, Ustadz Zacaria Abbas Madale, and Ustadz Tirmidhi Musa, who shared valuable insights on spiritual and physical preparation for Ramadan.PMF president Cary Yasir M Aragat thanked all supporters and participants who contributed to the success of the programme. He also extended special appreciation to Annaliza Noor Diet for generously allowing the organisation to use its hall as the venue. Aragat said that PMF has lined up several meaningful activities for the month of Ramadan and beyond, including a Ramadan Lecture and Iftar on February 20, the Qur’an for Kids Season 5 on March 7, the PMF Ramadan Umrah, and the PMF Post-Eid’l Fitr celebration. These programmes aim to further strengthen faith, unity, and active participation within the Filipino Muslim community in Qatar. 

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation, attended the opening day of Jadal -- Al-Mujadilah Centre and Mosque for Women’s annual research summit -- designed to build and extend research networks on topics related to the contemporary challenges and lived realities of Muslim women around the world.Jadal was also attended by Her Excellency Buthaina bint Ali al-Jabr al-Nuaimi, Minister of Social Development and Family, and other distinguished guests and dignitaries. Held at Al-Mujadilah, Jadal has welcomed over 100 delegates from North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, bringing together Muslim women scholars, researchers, and practitioners from across the globe and providing a home for international female Muslim scholarship. They will explore the summit’s 2026 strategic theme, ‘Muslim Women Navigating Theology, Ethics, and Society’.The summit will explore the role of Muslim women within the Islamic intellectual tradition and examines how they draw from this living heritage to navigate and respond to contemporary challenges. Through dialogue, research, and public engagement, Jadal continues to advance scholarship rooted in faith, lived experience, and global perspectives.The opening remarks were delivered by Dr Sohaira Siddiqui, executive director of Al-Mujadilah, who emphasised the importance of bridging scholarly knowledge and community life. She spoke on the need for research that is both rigourous and accessible, and for institutions that place Muslim women at the centre of knowledge production, ethical inquiry, and public engagement.She said, “Al-Mujadilah was founded on a simple but demanding premise: that religious knowledge is a form of stewardship. It carries responsibility to history, to ethics, and to the community it serves. It must be rigourous yet accessible, principled yet responsive, rooted in tradition while attentive to context.“Jadal was conceived not simply as a conference, but as a conversation, one that unfolds over time, across disciplines, and within our Muslim community.”During the summit, a new partnership between the Ministry of Social Development and Family and Al-Mujadilah was launched, marking a shared commitment to highlighting women’s contributions in Islam across history and in contemporary life. Rooted in awareness and renewed impact, the partnership will deliver a series of public initiatives aimed at deepening understanding of women’s roles in shaping knowledge, community, and society, grounded in faith, values, and lived experience.The collaboration was announced in the presence of HE al-Nuaimi, who shared reflections on women, community, and social development. ‘More Muslim’, a new narrative audio documentary podcast exploring the Muslim experience in all its complexity and depth, was also launched during Jadal.Blending storytelling and historical reflection, the series takes listeners on transhistorical journeys into themes that have shaped, and continue to shape, Muslim life in the modern world. This first season, produced by Al-Mujadilah, examines the lived experiences of Muslim women, sharing thoughtful, layered stories that illuminate faith, culture, and belonging beyond simplified narratives.Across the three days of Jadal 2026, panels and sessions are exploring themes including women’s agency and ethical leadership in Islamic history and civilization, as well as their normative authority and intellectual contributions from the inception of Islam to the present day. 

The anti-immigration Reform UK party Wednesday named Muslim businesswoman Laila Cunningham as its candidate to run in London's 2028 mayoral elections.Reform leader Nigel Farage announced Cunningham, a former lawyer, as the party's pick to contest the post held since 2016 by current mayor Sadiq Khan.Khan, a Labour party politician who became the UK capital's first Muslim mayor, has been fiercely criticised by the far-right over his policies, which often celebrate London's diversity and large immigrant population. He has not announced if he intends to run for a fourth term in office.Born to Egyptian immigrant parents, 48-year-old Cunningham is Reform's first local councillor in London.Cunningham would lead the party in an ambitious bid to win big in local elections in London in May, Farage said.Reform could struggle to win over voters in the diverse, busy UK metropolis, despite growing popularity across other parts of the country.At a press conference Wednesday, Farage described Cunningham as "articulate... passionate" and "a mother".Elected in the central borough of Westminster in 2022 as a Conservative, Laila Cunningham defected to Reform last year.Born in the capital to parents of Egyptian origin who arrived in the UK in the 1960s, she called London the "greatest city in the world"."But I am not blind to what it has become," she added, vowing there would be a "new sheriff in town".Cunningham worked as a lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), but had to resign last year after making comments considered too politically partisan."People that come to London have to embrace British culture. You don't come to London expecting London to change for you," she said Wednesday.She announced her priority would be to fight crime, arguing that London "is no longer safe" particularly for women, and attacking Khan's policies. 

The Philippines has showcased unified efforts to promote the country’s diverse offerings, including halal and Muslim-friendly tourism, as part of its bid to attract Qatari travellers during the recently held Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) 2025. The Department of Tourism (DoT), led by Undersecretary Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar, and the Philippine embassy in Qatar, joined forces with other government agencies during the event to position the Philippines as a premier travel destination and highlight the country’s hospitality and cultural richness. Valderrosa-Abubakar said the Philippine delegation’s presence was part of a broader effort to highlight readiness and inclusivity, adding that the participation at QTM 2025 reflected a “whole-of-nation” approach, with representatives from local government, the private sector, and Muslim affairs joining the campaign. She explained that the DoT has institutionalised Muslim-friendly tourism through Memorandum Circular 2024-003, which sets six guidelines for accredited establishments. “As of today, we have already recognised 42 accommodation establishments throughout the country to be Muslim-friendly,” she said, citing Megaworld Hotels & Resorts’ 13 properties receiving the ‘Muslim-Friendly Accommodation Establishment’ certification, and Robinsons Hotels and Resorts (RHR) as among those inspected by the DoT. The accreditation requires staff training, Qibla directional markers in rooms, alcohol-free minibars, and listings of nearby mosques and halal restaurants, Valderrosa-Abubakar further explained. Beyond accreditation, the DoT has rolled out new facilities and tools, stated Valderrosa-Abubakar, who pointed to the launch of a Muslim-friendly travel log, accessible via QR code, and the opening of the Marhaba Boracay Cove, an “800sq m beach area exclusively for Muslim travellers”. “After Marhaba Cove, Bohol province is also looking for a place that can be converted to a beach cove for our Muslim brothers and sisters,” she told Gulf Times on the sidelines of the travel mart, adding that hotels in Cebu are being prepared ahead of the Asean Tourism Forum 2026. Asked about developments in the Philippines’ inbound tourism, the undersecretary noted that there’s been a “10%” increase from 2023 to 2024, describing the growth as “steady, not stagnant but increasing”. According to Valderrosa-Abubakar, Malaysia ranks among the Philippines’ top 10 source markets. She also said the DoT is benchmarking with Thailand’s halal tourism model and learning from Japan’s service providers to strengthen its offerings. Valderrosa-Abubakar also underscored the impact of halal certification on Muslim tourists, citing how halal-certified Filipino food had impressed a top tourism officer from Brunei. This reception demonstrates both readiness and innovation, positioning halal tourism as a bridge to stronger ties with the Gulf market, she added. 

The Muslim World League welcomed the decision of the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia to officially recognize the State of Palestine. In a statement, the League's General Secretariat described the move as a historic and principled step that affirms the legitimate historical and legal rights of the Palestinian people.It stressed that the recognition reflects adherence to the values of justice and comes at a critical time in support of international efforts to achieve the two-state solution.The Muslim World League affirmed that such positions represent the only viable path toward achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the region.

The Muslim World League has welcomed the outcomes of the final communique issued by the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit, which was held in Doha. Secretary-General of the League, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al Issa, praised the summit and its statement for embodying values of solidarity and unity in the face of Israeli aggression against Qatar, describing it as an attack on all Arab and Islamic countries.He emphasized the firm rejection of any attempts to justify this aggression under any pretext. At the same time, Dr. Al Issa highlighted the summit's outcomes, which hold the Israeli government responsible for undermining any prospects for peace in the region through its aggressive policies, including genocide, ethnic cleansing, starvation, blockades, settlement activities, and its expansionist policies — leading up to the recent treacherous attack on Qatari territory.He noted Qatar's role as a key mediator in efforts to secure a ceasefire and end the war on Gaza, describing this as a dangerous escalation and an attack on diplomatic efforts to restore peace.Dr. Al Issa also stressed the importance of the statement's rejection of Israeli occupation rhetoric, which employs "Islamophobia" to legitimize its violations of international law and distort the image of Arab and Islamic countries.He further commended the UN General Assembly's adoption of the "New York Declaration" regarding the implementation of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, viewing it as a clear expression of international support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

Despite several challenges, Muslim youth in Qatar are turning to faith as a source of strength. Islam provides spiritual resilience, confidence, and guidance in navigating societal pressures. As global interest in Islamic youth leadership and authentic Muslim voices rises, it is clear that faith can empower – not isolate – the next generation.As the global conversation on youth aspirations continues, Qatar Foundation (QF) is hosting its inaugural Qiyada conference, sponsored by Qatar International Islamic Bank. The conference will take place on September 19-20 at Multaqa and is open to students of all faiths aged 17-24 who are eager to engage in honest conversations, share fresh perspectives, and explore faith-driven solutions to challenges.Tarteel Elamin Emam, a Muslim student pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at QF's Hamad Bin Khalifa University says: “My faith inspires my strength. I didn’t reach this phase of my life despite my faith; rather, because of it.“In Arabic, there is a word called Sanad which means backbone: a source of support, strength, and empowerment. And my faith is that – Sanad. It is the hand that will always catch me no matter how many obstacles I face or how many challenges lay ahead.”For Emam, staying true to her faith is success in itself. “I’ve met many people who reject my beliefs,” she says. “They walk their path, and I walk mine. At times, our paths intersect, but this doesn’t take away from my journey, and it won’t determine my path ahead. Even the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) encountered opinions, resistance, and misunderstanding."Tasami Kamal Elobied Hussein, a student at Qatar University’s College of Nursing, says empowerment and faith aren’t in conflict – they feed each other. “I don’t feel powerful despite being Muslim; I feel powerful because I am,” she says.“My faith doesn’t limit me; it liberates me and protects me from manipulation, doubt, and losing myself amid people’s arguments or expectations. I know many enjoy questioning faith, especially in an era where science is idolized and spirituality is often dismissed.“It’s not just about praying or checking boxes. Even when I feel different from others – whether they are Muslims who treat religion as culture, or non-Muslims who see it as blind faith – I still stand tall. And even if I haven’t changed the world yet, simply being aware of its reality, and my role in it, makes me powerful.”When asked about achieving her goals while staying true to her religious values, Hussein says: “Success means remaining aligned with my values, purpose, and Islamic worldview. It means living as a vicegerent on Earth, not just as a contributor within the system. My academic performance is a tool that serves my purpose, but it doesn’t define my worth or tell the whole story. Real success is when my beliefs become practical; when I use my worldview to generate new ideas, take action, and grow.”