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Category: Lifestyle

  • Israel-Gaza conflict: Young American TikTokers turn to Quran for understanding and empathy

    Israel-Gaza conflict: Young American TikTokers turn to Quran for understanding and empathy

    TikTok is becoming a platform for the propagation of Islamic values amidst the Israel-Gaza Conflict as so many young Americans are picking up the Qur’an to understand the resilience of Muslim Palestinians. The Guardian‘s article showcases the growing reach of the platform and how the understanding of Islam-once a vilified religion in the West-has started growing because of it.

    Videos under the hashtag “quranbookclub” – which has a modest 1.9 million views on the app – show users holding up their newly purchased texts and reading verses for the first time. Others are finding free versions online, or listening to someone sing the verses while they drive to work. Not all the people reading the Qur’an on TikTok are women, but interest overlaps with the #BookTok space, a subcommunity where mostly female users gather to discuss books.

    @megan_b_rice #freepalestine ❤️ ♬ original sound – Megan Rice

    Megan B Rice, a 34-year-old book enthusiast from Chicago, recently found a new passion – reading the Quran. After speaking out about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, she organized a “World Religion Book Club” on Discord to explore the Islamic faith. Rice, who wasn’t religious before, discovered alignment between the Holy Book’s content and her core beliefs, leading her to convert to Islam.

    This trend isn’t unique to Rice; on TikTok, under the hashtag “quranbookclub,” young people are delving into the Book to better comprehend a religion often misunderstood in the West. With themes like anti-consumerism, feminism, and environmentalism, the Quran resonates with the values of many young, left-leaning Americans.

    @megan_b_rice Welcome to The World Religion Book Club! I’m looking forward to learning from each and every one of you. ♥️ #thequran #bookclub #whatsapp ♬ original sound – Megan Rice

    Nefertari Moonn, a 35-year-old from Florida, also turned to the Quran to understand what inspires people facing adversity. Her emotional connection to the text led her to take the shahada, becoming a Muslim revert.

    @nefertarimoonn It’s been a great journey so far, the Qur’an is so beautiful. #quran #islam #alternative #fyp ♬ so What now – ugh

    Misha Euceph, a Pakistani American writer, and podcast host notes that the Quran’s themes align with progressive values, embracing science and advocating for equality between men and women.

    @meuceph Who is a believer, a disbeliever and a hypocrite in the Quran? #quran #muslim #islam #quranbookclub #palestine #freepalestine #qurantok ♬ original sound – Misha Euceph

    In the aftermath of 9/11, the Quran became a bestseller, but this time around, people are turning to it not to confirm biases but to understand the resilience and faith of Muslim Palestinians. As readers like Rice express empathy for those in Gaza, the Qur’an takes on a new role in their lives, bridging gaps in understanding and fostering connections across different backgrounds.

    For Rice, the experience has been transformative, challenging preconceptions and internalized misconceptions about Islam. She emphasizes that regardless of one’s religious background, learning about someone’s faith can foster empathy, making it a powerful tool for building connections.

    @megan_b_rice #quran #quranreading #islam ♬ original sound – Megan Rice
  • Imaam-e-Kaaba to lead Jumma Prayers at Faisal Masjid on November 24

    Imaam-e-Kaaba to lead Jumma Prayers at Faisal Masjid on November 24

    Imam e Kaaba Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid arrived in Pakistan on a four-day visit on Wednesday. He will lead Jumma Prayers at the grand Faisal Mosque on coming Friday (tomorrow), November 24.


    He was received by Special Representative to the Prime Minister on Religious Harmony and Pakistani Diaspora in the Middle East and Muslim Countries, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi who expressed widespread anticipation of his visit.


    As part of his tour, Imam-e-Kaaba is set to engage in crucial meetings with key figures, including the President, Prime Minister, Chief of Army Staff, and other high-ranking officials.

  • 16-year-old kills older teenager for Rs 350 in India

    16-year-old kills older teenager for Rs 350 in India

    A 16-year-old boy in New Delhi killed an 18-year-old with sixty stabs of the knife.


    As per Indian Media, the shocking incident took place in New Delhi where a young boy robbed an 18-year-old boy for INR 350 and left him lying on the street in a pool of blood. The killer then celebrated the murder by dancing over the body of the murdered boy.

    The police has recovered a blood-stained knife from the murderer and acquired CCTV footage. The suspect has been shifted to the police station.

  • Schools, colleges to be closed in Punjab on Friday, Saturday

    Schools, colleges to be closed in Punjab on Friday, Saturday


    The caretaker government in Punjab has announced a long weekend off due to uncontrolled toxic smog. The Punjab Cabinet Anti-Smog Committee has announced the closure of all schools, colleges, and universities on Friday, while markets, gyms, cinemas, theatres, and factories are to be completely shut on Saturday as well.

    Restaurants will also be told to close for dine-in on Saturday with permission to be granted only for takeaway and home delivery. The government identified six districts that are stricken by smog the most. These are Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Sahiwal and Sargodha.


    The meeting also proposed limiting public and private vehicles in Lahore, they said, adding that in government offices, only half of the employees will be asked to come to work.

    “Only cycles will be allowed till five in the evening on Lahore’s Mall Road,” added caretaker Chief Minister Punjab.

  • Mysterious pneumonia outbreak: WHO asks China for more data on respiratory illness

    Mysterious pneumonia outbreak: WHO asks China for more data on respiratory illness

    Beijing (AFP) – The World Health Organization has asked China for more data on a respiratory illness spreading in the north of the country, urging people to take steps to reduce the risk of infection.

    Northern China has reported an increase in “influenza-like illness” since mid-October when compared to the same period in the previous three years, the WHO said.

    “WHO has made an official request to China for detailed information on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children,” the UN health body said in a statement on Wednesday.

    China’s National Health Commission told reporters last week that the respiratory illness spike was due to the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens, namely influenza and common bacterial infections that affect children, including mycoplasma pneumonia.

    The Chinese capital of Beijing, located in the north of the country, is currently experiencing a cold snap, with temperatures expected to plummet to well below zero by Friday, state media said.

    Temperatures plummeted as the city “entered a high incidence season of respiratory infectious diseases”, Wang Quanyi, deputy director and chief epidemiological expert at the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told state media on Wednesday.

    Beijing “is currently showing a trend of multiple pathogens coexisting”, he added.

    Calls for transparency

    Over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, the WHO repeatedly criticised Chinese authorities for their lack of transparency and cooperation.

    More than three years after cases were first detected in Wuhan, heated debate still rages around the origins of Covid-19.

    Scientists are divided between two main theories of the cause: an escape from a laboratory in the city where such viruses were being studied and an intermediate animal that infected people at a local market.

    Earlier this year, WHO experts said they were sure that Beijing had far more data that could shed light on the origins of Covid, and called it a moral imperative for the information to be shared.

    A team of specialists led by the WHO and accompanied by Chinese colleagues investigated China in early 2021, but there has not been a team able to return since and WHO officials have repeatedly asked for additional data.

    WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has stressed that getting to the bottom of the mystery could help avert future pandemics.

  • Government aims to send back million ‘illegal aliens’ in second phase, says Balochistan’s Information Minister

    Government aims to send back million ‘illegal aliens’ in second phase, says Balochistan’s Information Minister

    Jan Achakzai, Balochistan’s caretaker Information Minister, has said that the second phase of repatriation of Afghan refugees has begun. In this phase the government aims to repatriate a million undocumented immigrants back to their countries by 2024.


    The minister said in a press conference that over 2,000 illegal Afghans have already been sent back to Afghanistan through Chaman border after getting arrested, reports Dawn.


    “The government has now launched a ‘stop and search policy’ under which police and other law-enforcement agencies will stop and check the national identity card of any suspected person,” Mr Achakzai said.


    Mr Achakzai said that around one million Afghan refugees got themselves registered with UNHCR in Quetta where they were issued Proof of Registration (POR) cards. He said that 200,000 fake cards were issued in Balochistan which have now been blocked by National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).


    Mr Achakzai said that all concerned institutions and agencies were coordinating with each other while implementing orders issued to them by the federal government about illegal immigrants in the country, adding that no one would be allowed to stay illegally in the country.

  • TikTok users call for Black Friday shopping boycott in protest for Palestine

    TikTok users call for Black Friday shopping boycott in protest for Palestine

    TikTok has turned into an influential platform for speaking up against the atrocities going on in Gaza.

    After several Jewish actors like Amy Schumer, Sacha Baron Cohen accused the platform of being ‘anti-semitic’, TikTok heads had to release a statement clarifying that today’s teens were vocally pro-Palestinian, hence the algorithm showing more content in their favour.

    Right now, the hashtag #FreePalestine has over 25 billion views, while #damifalasteeni- the song by Palestinian singer Mohammad Assaf, has over 1.4 million views on the platform.

    READ MORE: Palestinian content leaves Israel miles behind on social media

    TikTok users have consistently used the platform to debunk lies and propaganda spread by IDF soldiers to justify their invasion of Gazan hospitals. TikTok users started a trend, pretending to be Israeli soldiers and mocking their failed attempt at finding the ‘Khamas’ troops at Al-Shifa hospital.

    @drewparker2k This propaganda is getting laughably absurd #freepalestine ❤️ # #ceasfire #propaganda #politics #leftist #gaza #fyp #drewparker2k ♬ original sound – Aseyat
    @unculltured I could go on… #arab #arabtiktok #muslim #muslimtiktok ♬ original sound – khalid ☘️

    Yesterday, Israel agreed to a four-day ceasefire during which Hamas and IDF will exchange prisoners who were captured by their forces, as well as allow aid and fuel to enter Gaza. But many TikTok users slammed this as an attempt to silence the worldwide outrage over the genocide, as well as the timing when the ceasefire was announced with Black Friday, Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday around the corner. The hashtag #boycottblackfriday has over 4 million views on the platform.

    TikTok users are now taking to their accounts to urge their followers to keep boycotting brands and ensure a truce is established so the Palestinians get back their land and all the hostages, including 800 children held captive in Israeli prisons.

    @dontaskabbey ♬ original sound – dontaskabbey

    Fawn Diaz, who has over 41K followers on TikTok, shared a post calling out the greed of American capitalism in upholding a ‘humanitarian ceasefire’ at the same time it was Black Friday weekend.

    @fawn.diaz Boycott tf out of americas christmas and black friday money machine #freepalestine #revolution #freepalestine ♬ Wendigoon is a cool dude – audio

    TikTok user Yourfavouriteguy, who has 3 million followers on the platform, pointed out the ceasefire came in too late when already 20,000 Palestinians have been killed and 50% Gaza was reduced to rubble, and is not a permanent solution which is why social media needs to keep ensuring the pressure remains on their governments to support Palestine.

    @yourfavoriteguy here’s what you need to know about the temporary 4 day ceasefire that has been called in the Gaza Strip #YOURFAVORITEGUY ♬ original sound – YourFavoriteGuy

    TikTok is leading the growing boycott of international coffee chain Starbucks, which had sued workers union for releasing a statement standing in favour of Palestine. The hashtag #boycottstarbucsk has over 101.2 million views on the platform.

    @wwearybaby #boycottstarbucks ♬ الصوت الأصلي – ahmed fawzy
  • Noor Mukadam’s family expresses faith in judicial system after US officials visit Zahir Jaffer

    Noor Mukadam’s family expresses faith in judicial system after US officials visit Zahir Jaffer

    Update: In light of the rumors of US intervention in Noor Mukadam’s case by facilitating the death row inmate Zahir Jaffer, Noor’s family has expressed full faith in the judicial system.

    In addition to that, an elaboration of the recent meeting in Adiala Jail has been released on the JusticeforNoor page on Twitter. It emphasised that the spread of fake news regarding his impending escape should be stopped because this was a routine visit.

    Officials of the US Embassy in Islamabad met with death row prisoner Zahir Jaffer, convicted for killing Noor Mukadam, at the Adiala Central Jail on Tuesday.

    As per the report of The Express Tribune, the convict demanded access to lawyers and vegetarian food during the meeting with the officials while the head of the US delegation, Mitchell P Murphy, gifted him two books.


    The meeting went on for about half an hour where the consul inquired about Zahir’s health, accomodation and facilities in the jail. The three-member American delegation approached Zahir Jaffer through the consular office of the American Embassy.

    Islamabad High Court has upheld Zahir’s death sentence by a trial court but also turned his life imprisonment into a death sentence in a case relating to the rape and murder of Noor. The pleas of his domestic help-Mohammad Iftikhar and Mohammad Jan — both co-accused in the case —have also been dismissed by IHC. He earlier received a 25-year imprisonment sentence with hard labour and a fine of Rs0.2 million after the rape was proven.

    Noor Mukadam was beheaded at Zahir’s residence in Islamabad’s upscale Sector F-7/4 on July 20, 2021. Her death sparked national outrage, including protests and candlelight vigils across the country.

  • Former US diplomat charged with hate crime over Islamophobic comments

    Former US diplomat charged with hate crime over Islamophobic comments

    Security advisor to former president Barack Obama, Stuart Seldowitz, who was recorded on video spewing Islamophobic slurs at a halal food vendor in Manhattan, has now been arrested and is facing multiple charges.

    The New York Police Department has reportedly charged Seldowitz with “aggravated harassment in the second degree, harassment, hate crime/stalking, stalking to cause fear, and stalking at place of employment”, according to communication NYPD shared with Documented.

    The video has been circulating on social media where he can be seen calling the man “terrorist”.

    “If we killed 4,000 Palestinian kids, you know what? It wasn’t enough”, he added while the vendor insists Seldowitz to leave.

    Seldowitz approached the food vendor twice after the first incident.

    In one of the videos, he alludes to his “friends in immigration” saying, “the Mukhabarat wants your picture,” apparently making reference to an Egyptian intelligence agency.

    “The Mukhabarat in Egypt will get your parents. Does your father like his fingernails? They’ll take them out one by one,” he continues.

    Since October 7, when Hamas allegedly attacked Israel which led to Israeli attacks on Gaza, islamophobia has reportedly increased in America.

    The New York Times reported that on Tuesday, the police said that no reports had been filed against Seldowitz, but they “confirmed that the commanding officer of the 19th Precinct was aware of the videos and that precinct personnel were monitoring the situation”.

    NYT also writes that Seldowitz gave a phone interview in which he claims to have not seen the viral videos and that it all started when he asked the vendor if he was Egyptian. According to Seldowitz, the man supported Hamas although no such claims are recorded on any of the videos circulating the internet.

    “At that point, I got rather upset and I’ve said things to him, that in retrospect, I probably regret, though — that I do regret,” Seldowitz said. “Instead of focusing in on him and what he said, I expanded into insulting his religion and so on.”

    He further said that he returned to the vendor to ask him whether he was “still a supporter of Hamas,” adding that “I was upset at the fact that he was selling food in a neighborhood in New York.”

    And while he is captured giving extremely offensive comments in relation to Islam, Seldowitz denies being Islamophobic.

    “I’ve worked with Muslims,” he said, stating that “I have many people who are Muslims and Arabs and so on, who know me very well and who know that I’m not prejudiced against them.”

  • 41 Indian construction workers trapped in tunnel closed to be rescued

    41 Indian construction workers trapped in tunnel closed to be rescued

    The men became trapped after a portion of the 4.5-kilometer (2.8-mile) tunnel, which was under construction in the mountainous vicinity of the Himalayas, caved in on itself after a landslide. The tunnel collapsed around 200 meters (656 ft.) from its entrance.

    Construction of the tunnel is part of the Chardham all-weather road, a flagship project of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that aims to connect Hindu pilgrimage sites, so that the state can better accommodate the growing influx of pilgrims and tourists to the region.

    The workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel in northern India for over a week are getting their first hot meals on Tuesday through a new six-inch wide steel pipe as rescuers pursue an alternative plan to free them. “We will bring you out safely, do not worry,” rescuers told the men, according to translations by Al Jazeera.

    Indian rescuers have drilled two-thirds of the way through debris toward 41 workers trapped in a collapsed road tunnel, officials said Wednesday, warning that the next 24 hours could be critical.

    Engineers are working to drive a steel pipe through at least 57 metres (187 feet) of the tonnes of earth, concrete, and rubble that has divided the trapped men from freedom since a portion of the under-construction tunnel in the northern Himalayan state of Uttarakhand collapsed 11 days ago.

    Looking into the Silkyara tunnel entrance on Wednesday, an AFP journalist could see sparks flying as workers welded metal tube sections together, with the site busy as excavators and heavy trucks brought in equipment.

    “I am very happy to share… that 39 metres of drilling have been completed,” said Mahmood Ahmad, a road and highways ministry official involved in the operations.

    “If there is no blockage, we hope there could be happy news late tonight or tomorrow,” Ahmad told reporters at the site.

    “We are moving forward at a fast pace,” he added.