Monthly Archives: December 2020

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New marriages from the age of 18 in Saudi Arabia

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As the Saudi Gazette reported, the Saudi Justice Ministry has set 18 years as the minimum age for marriage. The Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, Sheikh Walid Al-Samaani, enacted the new policy in a circular on December 22, 20 that was sent to all courts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

So far, child marriages have been usual in Saudi Arabia: every seventh girl marries before the age of 18.

According to the regulations of orthodox Islamic law, girls are allowed to marry from the age of nine. These Islamic law is based on the marriage of the Prophet Muhammad with his third wife Aisha, who, according to Islamic tradition (Hadith), was six years old at the time of the marriage contract and nine years old at the wedding.

According to UNICEF, Continue reading New marriages from the age of 18 in Saudi Arabia →

Israel, news

Normalization with Israel

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Saudi companies want to invest in Israel with the help of intermediaries from Bahrain. The potential investors are primarily interested in the high-tech offer in Israel.

After rumors about a possible normalization of relations between Indonesia and Oman with Israel, the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said that soon we will see many more Muslim states normalizing their relations with Israel.

In addition to Oman and Indonesia, the “Jerusalem Post” also names states such as Mauritania, Niger and Saudi Arabia, but also Pakistan as possible states that could establish relations with Israel.

The Israeli Jerusalem Post quoted Israeli officials as saying that Saudi Arabia would announce normalization with Israel within 12 months.

Jesus

Jesus as a bridge between Islam and Christianity

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The Islamic theologian Mouhanad Khorchide told domradio:

Jesus serves as a bridge between Islam and Christianity.

In the Koran, Jesus is valued much more strongly, is much more central, than Mohammed himself. Very few people know that.

Jesus is referred to in the Koran as the Word of God, Spirit of God. The miracles of Jesus are also described in the Koran.

So I think: Muslims should also honor this day. When I say that one congratulates one another or even celebrates Christmas, it doesn’t mean that Muslims become Christians, but they remind us of this appreciation.

In contrast to Khorchide, it should also be noted: In the Koran, Jesus is referred as “the son of Mary”, as the Arabic name ʿĪsā ibn Maryam shows. To difference oneself from the term “Son of God”.Isa is a prophet in the Koran and Jesus the Son of God in the New Testament.

Mt 16:16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Mt 27.43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’

Lk 22.70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.”

Jn 10:36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?

 

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Saudi Arabia needs to diversify

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The low oil prices and the corona pandemic are exacerbating the financial crisis in Saudi Arabia. Due to the slowdown in the global economy, the relevant oil price fell from around $ 60 to less than $ 20 per barrel and has not recovered completely since then. The annual average price is around $ 40. For a balanced national budget, however, Saudi Arabia needed an oil price almost twice as high.

In addition to oil exports, pilgrimage tourism to the holy sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina also brings a lot of money into the conservative kingdom every year. The income of more than $ 20 billion corresponds to almost 3% of the annual national income. But because of the Corona crisis, Riyadh closed the borders to foreign pilgrims for seven months. Since November, travel to Mecca has been possible again with restrictions. Continue reading Saudi Arabia needs to diversify →

Jesus

Praying with Zacharias (Part 7)

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Luke 1,78-79: “Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, a wonderful picture. In your love you visit us as the light of the world to show us the way out of darkness and to guide us on the path of peace.

Isaiah said in chapter 9.2: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9: 2). This is Christmas Divine light comes into our world.

Jesus says in John 8:12: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Thank you, Jesus, for leaving the glory to show us the way to Heavenly Father. Thank you that we can celebrate Christmas, the great beginning of your search for the people who have lost touch with you. We want to accept your saving offer and ask you to come into our life and it will be light in us. Amen.

Mary Christmas to you all.

Israel, news

A turning point in Islam

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Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani, the spiritual leader of the Islamic Clergy Community, declared on Saturday December 19 in Pakistan:

Muslim scholars should read the Koran, in which Mohammed writes: Enter the Holy Land which Allah has destined for you ˹to enter˺ (Sure 5:21). Muslims need to read the Koran and understand the text what the Koran says. The Koran and history prove to us that Israel belongs to the Jews. King David built the house of God in Jerusalem for the Israelis and not for the Palestinians.  Continue reading A turning point in Islam →

Jesus

Praying with the Praise of Zechariah (Part 6)

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Luke 1: 74-75: “To rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, there is something special that we love you and not have to be afraid of you. Because you loved us first, so we can trust you.

It says here that you rescued us from the hands of the enemy. You have released us from the hand of the enemy, the devil. But we are still in a world in which some things scare us. But you promised us your peace in the midst of trouble. The angels praised you before the shepherds with the words: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14).

And Jesus said: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

That is why we want to serve you without fear, because you are our peace in the midst of all fear in this world.

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Saudi Arabia de-escalated

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Saudi Arabia removes anti-Semitism and anti-Israel material from school textbooks. While the kingdom has not yet made peace with Israel, it is taking steps to revise the narrative for future generations.

“The Saudi authorities have started to eradicate anti-Jewish hatred, including an infamous hadith (Kitāb al-fitan No. 82), which fuels anti-Semitism in the Muslim world,” said Marcus Sheff, CEO of Impact-se.

Most references to jihad and martyrdom, such as “In the path of Allah, jihad is the height of Islam” have been removed. Israel is not fully legitimized, for example it still does not appear on the maps.

Jesus

Praying with the Hymn of Zechariah (Part 5)

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Luke 1: 72-73: To show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you keep what you promise. You promised Abraham in Genesis 12: 3: “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” This promise is fulfilled in Jesus, a descendant of Abraham.

Paul writes in Ephesians 1:3: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

Thank you for keeping your word. So we can lives on your promises. You promised: Whoever invites Jesus into his life and lets himself be changed by the Holy Spirit, you will complete his life, as Paul says in Philippians 1: 6: “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Thank you for your mercy on our lives. We live on your mercy and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

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Christmas becomes a national holiday in Iraq

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With one voice the Iraqi parliament decided Christmas will now also be a national holiday in Iraq.

It was Patriarch Sako who proposed to President Salih on October 17 that a bill should be introduced in parliament to recognize Christmas as a public holiday throughout Iraq.

On this occasion, Salih also reaffirmed his intention to encourage the return of the displaced Christians to their areas of origin in every way possible.

President Salih is a Kurdish engineer who graduated from the UK.