The 7 Hebrew words for Praise
AUGUST 09, 2006
Source: Click Here
When reading the Psalms, it is important to note that there are several words translated into English as "praise," or in Farsi as تسبيح يا پرستش يا حمد but the various root words have very different meanings.
Psalm 108:1,3
"O God, my heart is fixed, I will sing and give praise (ZAMAR), even with my glory (honor)...I will praise (YADAH) Thee, O Lord among the people. And I will sing praises (TEHILLAH) unto Thee among the nations."
Psalm 145
Verse 2: "Every day I will bless Thee, and I will praise (HALAL) Thy name forever and ever."
Verse 3: "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised (HALAL)"
Verse 4: "One generation shall praise (SHABACH) Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts."
Verse 10: "All Thy works shall praise (YADAH) Thee O Lord, and Thy saints shall bless Thee."
1. YADAH
Definition: Yadah is a verb with a root meaning, "the extended hand, to throw out the hand, therefore to worship with extended hand." According to the Lexicon, the opposite meaning is, "to bemoan, the wringing of hands."
Example: Psalm 63:4 -- "Thus I will bless Thee while I live, I will (YADAH) lift up my hands in Thy name"
Other References: Ps 134:2, Ps 141:2; II Chron 20:19-21
2. TOWDAH
Definition: Towdah comes from the same principal root word as Yadah but is used more specifically. Towdah literally means, "an extension of the hand in adoration, avowal, or acceptance." By way of application, it is apparent in the Psalms and elsewhere that it is used for thanking God for "things not yet received" as well as things already at hand.
Example: Psalm 50:14 -- "Offer unto God praise (TOWDAH) and pay thy vows unto the Most High"
"What I want from you is your true thanks. I want your promises fulfilled." [Tay]
Other References: II Chron 29:31; Jer 30:19; Ps 26:7
3. HALAL
Definition: Halal is a primary Hebrew word for praise. Our word "hallelujah" comes from this base. It means, "to be clear, to shine, to boast, show, to rave, celebrate, to be clamorously foolish."
Example: Psalm 113:1 -- "Praise (HALAL) ye the Lord, Praise (HALAL) O ye servants of the Lord, praise (HALAL) the name of the Lord."
Other References: Ps 104, 105, 106
4. SHABACH
Definition: Shabach means, "to address in a loud tone, to commend, to triumph, to exclaim, glory, shout."
Example: Psalm 145:4 -- "One generation shall praise (SHABACH) thy works to another and declare Thy mighty acts."
Other References: Ps 63:1,3,4; Ps 117:1; Ps 35:27; Is 12:6; Ps 106:47
5. BARAK
Definition: Barak means, "to kneel down, to bless God as an act of adoration." When used in the scripture it implies, "expecting to receive a blessing from the Lord."
Example: Psalm 95:6 -- "O come let us worship and bow down; let us kneel (BARAK) before the Lord our maker."
"Come let us throw ourselves at His feet in homage." [NEB]
"Let us bend thy knee in the presence of Jehovah our Creator." [Spurrel]
Other References: I Chron 29:20; Neh 9:5
6. ZAMAR
Definition: Zamar means, "to touch the strings" and is used concordantly with instrumental worship. Psalm 150 is a perfect example of this kind of praise. David said, "Awake my glory; awake harp and lyre, I will awaken the dawn!
I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises (ZAMAR) to Thee among the nations."
Example: Psalm 21:13 --
"Be Thou exalted O Lord, in Thine own strength, so will we sing and praise (ZAMAR) Thy power."
"We sing and strike the harp to Thy power" [DeWitt]
"With song and with string we will sound forth Thy power" [RHM]
Other References: Ps 66:2,4; Is 12:5
7. TEHILLAH
Definition: Tehillah simply means, "to sing, to laud." "God is enthroned on the praises (TEHILLAH) of Israel" (Ps 22:3). This is the kind of praise that God dwells in. Any form of singing can be praise, but one of the higher forms was the Dorean mode which was neither western major nor oriental minor. It was sort of chanting whereby the words of HALAL were melodiously chanted. This is the expression of praise the Psalmist said God inhabited.
Examples:
Psalm 33:1 -- "Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; for praise (TEHILLAH) is comely for the upright."
Psalm 34:1 -- "...His praise (TEHILLAH) shall continually be in my mouth."
Other References: I Chron 16:35; Is 42:10,12; II Chron 20:22
by www.farsipraise.com
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Many times we under-estimate the Power in the Word of God
Rex Al Opusunju:
Inspiring Quotes by Rex al Opusunju D.D - 34
Today at 5:17am
Source: Click Here
Miracles are performed through the HEARING OF FAITH !
Many times we under-estimate the Power in the Word of God. We fail to discern God's purpose. Every provision God has made for us can be accessed through His Word. Wisdom, prosperity, health, understanding, good success, protection, deliverance, favor, promotion, answered prayers, faith, miracles, healing...ALL begin and terminate on God's Word !
God's Medicine...the WORD OF GOD...has no expiration date. Its potency...effectiveness...power...strength lasts FOREVER once its administered !
Praying the prayers of Apostle paul for the Ephesian Church for myself for several years innumerable times has opened me up to revelation Knowledge of God's Word. Dare to make the same prayers for yourself ! (Eph. 1: 17-23; Eph 3: 14-21).
When we walk in the love of God...we live in God's fullness without limits !
Copyright 2003-2009 Abounding Love Christian Centre:: All Rights Reserved
Inspiring Quotes by Rex al Opusunju D.D - 34
Today at 5:17am
Source: Click Here
Miracles are performed through the HEARING OF FAITH !
Many times we under-estimate the Power in the Word of God. We fail to discern God's purpose. Every provision God has made for us can be accessed through His Word. Wisdom, prosperity, health, understanding, good success, protection, deliverance, favor, promotion, answered prayers, faith, miracles, healing...ALL begin and terminate on God's Word !
God's Medicine...the WORD OF GOD...has no expiration date. Its potency...effectiveness...power...strength lasts FOREVER once its administered !
Praying the prayers of Apostle paul for the Ephesian Church for myself for several years innumerable times has opened me up to revelation Knowledge of God's Word. Dare to make the same prayers for yourself ! (Eph. 1: 17-23; Eph 3: 14-21).
When we walk in the love of God...we live in God's fullness without limits !
Copyright 2003-2009 Abounding Love Christian Centre:: All Rights Reserved
A church teamed up with satan to increase attendance
Detroit-Area Church Campaigns with 'Satan' Signs
By Audrey Barrick
Christian Post Reporter
Wed, Sep. 02 2009 04:00 PM EDT
Metro South Church in Trenton, Mich., is the latest church to grab the attention of the local community and media outlets through a marketing campaign that includes signs signed by Satan.
"MetroSouthChurch.com Makes Me Sick" says one sign. "MetroSouthChurch.com Sucks," says another.
The signs are plastered throughout the Detroit metropolitan area and lead viewers and passers-by to the website SatanHatesMetro.com.
Youth Pastor Adam Dorband told Fox 2 that the signs are intended to grab people's attention.
"There's so much noise out there that if you don't do something that's a little bit more on the edge, people just ignore it," he said.
Lead Pastor Jeremy Schossau said the campaign isn't meant to offend anyone. He felt the Satan signs were clever and whimsical.
So what does Satan have against Metro South? According to the website, it might have to do with the church helping people connect with God.
"I've been trying so hard to work with you ... but you will not get rid of this Jesus thing," a man dressed as Satan says on the website. "I hate your church."
Viewers are encouraged to check out the congregation if they have questions about God, the Bible or church or just need somebody to talk to.
The non-denominational congregation describes itself as "a different kind of church" that's relevant, loud, creative and isn't about religion. Empathizing with those who feel going to church means being scolded, subjected to boring sermons and leaving with less money, Metro South Church says it doesn't blame others for not wanting to attend.
"We think one of the biggest barriers to getting to know God has been the church itself," the church website states. "It's predictable and cold at best."
Hoping to change that, the congregation touts a "laid back environment" with "real people looking for real solutions to real life problems."
It's a "no strings attached," "come as you are" church where people can come to investigate Christianity without guilt or pressure and hear the Truth without any finger pointing.
"In short, we're doing all we can to be the same kind of church described in the New Testament," the church says.
By Audrey Barrick
Christian Post Reporter
Wed, Sep. 02 2009 04:00 PM EDT
Metro South Church in Trenton, Mich., is the latest church to grab the attention of the local community and media outlets through a marketing campaign that includes signs signed by Satan.
"MetroSouthChurch.com Makes Me Sick" says one sign. "MetroSouthChurch.com Sucks," says another.
The signs are plastered throughout the Detroit metropolitan area and lead viewers and passers-by to the website SatanHatesMetro.com.
Youth Pastor Adam Dorband told Fox 2 that the signs are intended to grab people's attention.
"There's so much noise out there that if you don't do something that's a little bit more on the edge, people just ignore it," he said.
Lead Pastor Jeremy Schossau said the campaign isn't meant to offend anyone. He felt the Satan signs were clever and whimsical.
So what does Satan have against Metro South? According to the website, it might have to do with the church helping people connect with God.
"I've been trying so hard to work with you ... but you will not get rid of this Jesus thing," a man dressed as Satan says on the website. "I hate your church."
Viewers are encouraged to check out the congregation if they have questions about God, the Bible or church or just need somebody to talk to.
The non-denominational congregation describes itself as "a different kind of church" that's relevant, loud, creative and isn't about religion. Empathizing with those who feel going to church means being scolded, subjected to boring sermons and leaving with less money, Metro South Church says it doesn't blame others for not wanting to attend.
"We think one of the biggest barriers to getting to know God has been the church itself," the church website states. "It's predictable and cold at best."
Hoping to change that, the congregation touts a "laid back environment" with "real people looking for real solutions to real life problems."
It's a "no strings attached," "come as you are" church where people can come to investigate Christianity without guilt or pressure and hear the Truth without any finger pointing.
"In short, we're doing all we can to be the same kind of church described in the New Testament," the church says.
Are lawyers really clever?
These are from a book called 'Disorder in the American Courts' and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters that had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget.
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
___________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
WITNESS: He's twenty, much like your IQ.
___________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Are you shitting me?
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: getting laid
___________________________________________
ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death.
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS: Take a guess.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Unless the Circus was in town I'm going with male.
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?
WITNESS: All of them. The live ones put up too much of a fight.
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
WITNESS: Oral.
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: If not, he was by the time I finished.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Are you qualified to ask that question?
______________________________________
And the best for last:
ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget.
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
___________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
WITNESS: He's twenty, much like your IQ.
___________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Are you shitting me?
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: getting laid
___________________________________________
ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death.
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS: Take a guess.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Unless the Circus was in town I'm going with male.
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?
WITNESS: All of them. The live ones put up too much of a fight.
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
WITNESS: Oral.
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: If not, he was by the time I finished.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Are you qualified to ask that question?
______________________________________
And the best for last:
ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Transforming Power!
8 Sept 2009
Dear Prayer Partners,
1. TQ for your prayers! It was wonderful to be able to speak in the Family Church Camp for the church in Kuching, Sarawak. About 170-180 people came, mostly families. I spoke for the same church’s youth camp in Aug 2007.
2. The Lord moved and challenged many hearts to obey and worship Him. The camp climaxed on the last service where they had an oil anointing service for each family. The Lord spoke to many families and inspired them as we prayed for them. Many were just weeping gently in the presence of the Lord and soaking in His love.
3. They have asked me to come back again to do some leadership training as well as some church consultancy in my next trip. They are praying for the next level of growth. A number of the church leaders are my previous students who had studied in West Malaysia in the 1980s.
4. My vision at that time was to disciple and developed them so that they can become spiritual leaders for their local churches, and make an impact for the Savior. Fast forward 27 years later, it is amazing to see that vision fulfilled right before my eyes and continue to unfold further.
5. I did not expect so many of them to be in the same church and become significant leaders of the church – and for them to work together to bring me to minister to the whole church. Some of them even jokingly introduced me as their grandmaster.
6. When I initially decided to disciple-mentor them in the 1980s, a number of church leaders questioned the wisdom of doing so. They were tribal, rural, children of ex-headhunters, poor, shy, passive, Malay-speaking - in short, they were not in the mainstream and may lack leadership potential.
7. But God knew otherwise. They went on to universities and got their degrees and became the first generation in their families (and for some, their villages) to have a graduate. They all point to the fact of God’s goodness.
8. I rejoice for that opportunity that God has given to me to be part of that journey with them. It’s not only for them but also their children and their children’s children. This foundation has changed & will continue to change the course of their future generations. And it happened because of the transforming power of the gospel. It broke them out of poverty, illiteracy, and spiritual darkness.
9. Pray that they will in turn catch the heavenly vision to entrust the life-changing gospel to the next generation and that they will fulfill the Savior’s command – to evangelize and make disciples of all nations. Only Jesus can bring sustainable transformation!
10. After the Kuching camp, it was off to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. I conducted Bible Study (BS) for several days with a group of 4 women. They were hungry for the Word and took annual leave to dig into it. They are all classmates from the 1980s in Labuan.
11. Then several of them went over to West Malaysia in 1990 and bumped into me. I was still actively ministering to uni students at that time (I started to slow down in 1994 to study). I started mentoring them and now – despite the fact some of them are married with kids, have their master degree – still owe their BS assignment to me!
12. At night, I was preaching in revival meetings in a church. The Lord moved greatly in the services and many were touched by His presence. I actually had ministered at this church in April this year – and many of them came expecting.
13. The leader had invited others from various churches to come for this meeting too. After seeing the HS moved, they are now inviting me to go into their villages and churches to do revival meetings and camps.
14. Sabah has been on my heart for the past few years. From my limited observations, the spirituality and commitment of the tribal people has declined sharply for some time. In the 1980s when they were being persecuted, there were stories after stories of revival and deliverance.
15. But in the 1990s after major political changes, paralyzing materialism, and church in-fighting, the level of spirituality has declined significantly. I am praying that God will grant me an opportunity to minister to them, probably this Christmas season. And then may be next year to do some camps and concentrated ministry time with them.
16. Thank you for all the wishes, sms-es, and angpows for my birthday on the 7th Sept. I appreciate all the effort that you took to remember it. Please pray for me and family as we seek to serve the Lord in the capacities that He has given to us.
17. Pray for me as I spend the next few days to prepare for the next camp in Cameron Highlands and revival meetings among the indigenous people in N. Sembilan.
God bless! Only He reigns!
Dear Prayer Partners,
1. TQ for your prayers! It was wonderful to be able to speak in the Family Church Camp for the church in Kuching, Sarawak. About 170-180 people came, mostly families. I spoke for the same church’s youth camp in Aug 2007.
2. The Lord moved and challenged many hearts to obey and worship Him. The camp climaxed on the last service where they had an oil anointing service for each family. The Lord spoke to many families and inspired them as we prayed for them. Many were just weeping gently in the presence of the Lord and soaking in His love.
3. They have asked me to come back again to do some leadership training as well as some church consultancy in my next trip. They are praying for the next level of growth. A number of the church leaders are my previous students who had studied in West Malaysia in the 1980s.
4. My vision at that time was to disciple and developed them so that they can become spiritual leaders for their local churches, and make an impact for the Savior. Fast forward 27 years later, it is amazing to see that vision fulfilled right before my eyes and continue to unfold further.
5. I did not expect so many of them to be in the same church and become significant leaders of the church – and for them to work together to bring me to minister to the whole church. Some of them even jokingly introduced me as their grandmaster.
6. When I initially decided to disciple-mentor them in the 1980s, a number of church leaders questioned the wisdom of doing so. They were tribal, rural, children of ex-headhunters, poor, shy, passive, Malay-speaking - in short, they were not in the mainstream and may lack leadership potential.
7. But God knew otherwise. They went on to universities and got their degrees and became the first generation in their families (and for some, their villages) to have a graduate. They all point to the fact of God’s goodness.
8. I rejoice for that opportunity that God has given to me to be part of that journey with them. It’s not only for them but also their children and their children’s children. This foundation has changed & will continue to change the course of their future generations. And it happened because of the transforming power of the gospel. It broke them out of poverty, illiteracy, and spiritual darkness.
9. Pray that they will in turn catch the heavenly vision to entrust the life-changing gospel to the next generation and that they will fulfill the Savior’s command – to evangelize and make disciples of all nations. Only Jesus can bring sustainable transformation!
10. After the Kuching camp, it was off to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. I conducted Bible Study (BS) for several days with a group of 4 women. They were hungry for the Word and took annual leave to dig into it. They are all classmates from the 1980s in Labuan.
11. Then several of them went over to West Malaysia in 1990 and bumped into me. I was still actively ministering to uni students at that time (I started to slow down in 1994 to study). I started mentoring them and now – despite the fact some of them are married with kids, have their master degree – still owe their BS assignment to me!
12. At night, I was preaching in revival meetings in a church. The Lord moved greatly in the services and many were touched by His presence. I actually had ministered at this church in April this year – and many of them came expecting.
13. The leader had invited others from various churches to come for this meeting too. After seeing the HS moved, they are now inviting me to go into their villages and churches to do revival meetings and camps.
14. Sabah has been on my heart for the past few years. From my limited observations, the spirituality and commitment of the tribal people has declined sharply for some time. In the 1980s when they were being persecuted, there were stories after stories of revival and deliverance.
15. But in the 1990s after major political changes, paralyzing materialism, and church in-fighting, the level of spirituality has declined significantly. I am praying that God will grant me an opportunity to minister to them, probably this Christmas season. And then may be next year to do some camps and concentrated ministry time with them.
16. Thank you for all the wishes, sms-es, and angpows for my birthday on the 7th Sept. I appreciate all the effort that you took to remember it. Please pray for me and family as we seek to serve the Lord in the capacities that He has given to us.
17. Pray for me as I spend the next few days to prepare for the next camp in Cameron Highlands and revival meetings among the indigenous people in N. Sembilan.
God bless! Only He reigns!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Law recognises conversion to Islam as a ground for divorce
Conversion and the family
IKIM VIEWS
By PROFESSOR DATUK DR ZALEHA KAMARUDDIN
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL
Tuesday September 8, 2009
Various legal hurdles still stand in the way of a dissolution of the marriage and custody of the children where only one spouse embraces Islam.
AS DIFFERENT family laws apply to different communities within the same national legal system, by right, there should be minimal inter-relationship. However, on the few occasions that they intersect, there is much confusion and tension is created.
Family law in Malaysia now consists of Islamic law for all Muslims — contained in state legislation comprising administrative provisions and the substantive law based on the Quran and Sunnah (the primary sources) and authoritative interpretations (fiqh) and — since 1976, the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act (hereafter the Act) for all non-Muslims.
The separation extends to the courts: Syariah courts for Muslim family matters, which is the substantial part of its jurisdiction anyway, and a state entity, and the civil court, a Federal entity, for non-Muslim families. The Syariah court is prohibited by the Federal Consti tution from assuming jurisdiction over non-Muslims.
Notwithstanding the same provision spelling out that the matters listed in it (mainly family matters) are within the jurisdiction of the Syariah court, the civil courts have encroached on the remit of the Syariah courts, in some instances, even in the same case.
To overcome this problem, the Constitution was amended to provide that the civil court will not encroach on matters within the jurisdiction of the Syariah court. However, the separation is still not complete.
The legal issues and problems that may arise upon conversion may be adumbrated as follows:
First, . So upon conversion, the marriage becomes invalid after a fixed period; the Act requires that it be formally dissolved.
Second, (Sec. 51) and an imperative one at that; the two-year minimum period of marriage that must lapse before a petition may be presented is dispensed with [Sec. 51 (3)].
Third, the converting spouse is not allowed to petition for divorce; he or she may appear in the civil court only in response to the proceedings initiated by the non-Muslim spouse [Sec. 51 (1) of the Act].
Fourth, if the non-Muslim spouse does not petition for divorce, is he or she entitled to the estate of the Muslim spouse, and what are the rights of the Muslim who has married the converting spouse?
Fifth, which law is to apply, the Act or Syariah, to the dissolution of the marriage and the custody of the children?
Sixth, which court is to decide? Strictly speaking, this is not a substantive family law question, but experience has shown that it has complicated matters with the civil and Syariah courts making conflicting, pre-emptive decisions.
For these complex questions to be resolved, there should, to begin with, be only one forum for both parties to go to as of right.
The Royal Commission on Non-Muslim Family Law Reform (hereafter the Ong Commission), which drafted the Act, took the view, as it said so in its report, that married individuals, nearly always men, converted to Islam only to escape their obligations under their existing marriages, which is of course insulting to Islam and Muslims.
The failure to amend Section 51 of the Act is all the more difficult to understand as other provisions have been amended to ensure that the non-Muslim wife’s rights are not affected by the other spouse’s conversion to Islam, and should discourage conversion to Islam for the perceived purpose of avoiding marital obligations.
The position taken by the Ong Com mission is also incompatible with its avowed aim to do away with “fault” in the sense of matrimonial misconduct as the basis for divorce, and to replace this with the modern concept of “breakdown” of the marriage: whether, taking the relationship in totality, the marriage could be said to have broken down irretrievably.
Conversion to Islam though a right under Islamic law and the Federal Constitution is, as far as the Act is concerned, to be seen as a matrimonial offence for which the converting spouse has to be put at a considerable disadvantage.
In providing that the Muslim spouse should remain trapped in a marriage that has broken down, the legislation goes against one of the principal considerations of the Ong Commission, that estranged spouses should be given an expeditious dissolution of their marriages.
Authoritative Muslim and non-Muslim family law scholars and lawyers are of the view that the Act should be amended to allow the Muslim spouse to go to the civil court on his/her own initiative as the marriage was at its inception a civil law marriage.
Since 2007, the Attorney-General has organised a series of face-to-face meetings between Muslim and non-Muslim groups to arrive at fair, practically negotiated solutions to all questions of ancillary relief consequential upon divorce.
To both Muslims and non-Muslims the discussions have been salutary; they had to think not only in terms of what was demanded by their side only but also to think in terms of what was and fair and acceptable to both sides.
And Muslim representatives ex hausted the whole range of interpretations of Islamic law to find solutions rather than relying on some basic propositions. However, they had to be extra careful, not only taking into account that the Sultans are heads of religion in their respective states but also that observing Islamic law and teachings in all aspects of life is the main Islamic duty of all Muslims, as encompassed in the concept of tauhid.
It is expected that the earlier provisions having been accepted by both sides (without any further interventions from unseen hands), will be an interesting instance of harmon isation of Malaysian civil law and Islamic law, and will be a truly Malaysian contribution to the resolution of conflict of laws within a national legal system.
IKIM VIEWS
By PROFESSOR DATUK DR ZALEHA KAMARUDDIN
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL
Tuesday September 8, 2009
Various legal hurdles still stand in the way of a dissolution of the marriage and custody of the children where only one spouse embraces Islam.
AS DIFFERENT family laws apply to different communities within the same national legal system, by right, there should be minimal inter-relationship. However, on the few occasions that they intersect, there is much confusion and tension is created.
Family law in Malaysia now consists of Islamic law for all Muslims — contained in state legislation comprising administrative provisions and the substantive law based on the Quran and Sunnah (the primary sources) and authoritative interpretations (fiqh) and — since 1976, the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act (hereafter the Act) for all non-Muslims.
The separation extends to the courts: Syariah courts for Muslim family matters, which is the substantial part of its jurisdiction anyway, and a state entity, and the civil court, a Federal entity, for non-Muslim families. The Syariah court is prohibited by the Federal Consti tution from assuming jurisdiction over non-Muslims.
Notwithstanding the same provision spelling out that the matters listed in it (mainly family matters) are within the jurisdiction of the Syariah court, the civil courts have encroached on the remit of the Syariah courts, in some instances, even in the same case.
To overcome this problem, the Constitution was amended to provide that the civil court will not encroach on matters within the jurisdiction of the Syariah court. However, the separation is still not complete.
The legal issues and problems that may arise upon conversion may be adumbrated as follows:
First, . So upon conversion, the marriage becomes invalid after a fixed period; the Act requires that it be formally dissolved.
Second, (Sec. 51) and an imperative one at that; the two-year minimum period of marriage that must lapse before a petition may be presented is dispensed with [Sec. 51 (3)].
Third, the converting spouse is not allowed to petition for divorce; he or she may appear in the civil court only in response to the proceedings initiated by the non-Muslim spouse [Sec. 51 (1) of the Act].
Fourth, if the non-Muslim spouse does not petition for divorce, is he or she entitled to the estate of the Muslim spouse, and what are the rights of the Muslim who has married the converting spouse?
Fifth, which law is to apply, the Act or Syariah, to the dissolution of the marriage and the custody of the children?
Sixth, which court is to decide? Strictly speaking, this is not a substantive family law question, but experience has shown that it has complicated matters with the civil and Syariah courts making conflicting, pre-emptive decisions.
For these complex questions to be resolved, there should, to begin with, be only one forum for both parties to go to as of right.
The Royal Commission on Non-Muslim Family Law Reform (hereafter the Ong Commission), which drafted the Act, took the view, as it said so in its report, that married individuals, nearly always men, converted to Islam only to escape their obligations under their existing marriages, which is of course insulting to Islam and Muslims.
The failure to amend Section 51 of the Act is all the more difficult to understand as other provisions have been amended to ensure that the non-Muslim wife’s rights are not affected by the other spouse’s conversion to Islam, and should discourage conversion to Islam for the perceived purpose of avoiding marital obligations.
The position taken by the Ong Com mission is also incompatible with its avowed aim to do away with “fault” in the sense of matrimonial misconduct as the basis for divorce, and to replace this with the modern concept of “breakdown” of the marriage: whether, taking the relationship in totality, the marriage could be said to have broken down irretrievably.
Conversion to Islam though a right under Islamic law and the Federal Constitution is, as far as the Act is concerned, to be seen as a matrimonial offence for which the converting spouse has to be put at a considerable disadvantage.
In providing that the Muslim spouse should remain trapped in a marriage that has broken down, the legislation goes against one of the principal considerations of the Ong Commission, that estranged spouses should be given an expeditious dissolution of their marriages.
Authoritative Muslim and non-Muslim family law scholars and lawyers are of the view that the Act should be amended to allow the Muslim spouse to go to the civil court on his/her own initiative as the marriage was at its inception a civil law marriage.
Since 2007, the Attorney-General has organised a series of face-to-face meetings between Muslim and non-Muslim groups to arrive at fair, practically negotiated solutions to all questions of ancillary relief consequential upon divorce.
To both Muslims and non-Muslims the discussions have been salutary; they had to think not only in terms of what was demanded by their side only but also to think in terms of what was and fair and acceptable to both sides.
And Muslim representatives ex hausted the whole range of interpretations of Islamic law to find solutions rather than relying on some basic propositions. However, they had to be extra careful, not only taking into account that the Sultans are heads of religion in their respective states but also that observing Islamic law and teachings in all aspects of life is the main Islamic duty of all Muslims, as encompassed in the concept of tauhid.
It is expected that the earlier provisions having been accepted by both sides (without any further interventions from unseen hands), will be an interesting instance of harmon isation of Malaysian civil law and Islamic law, and will be a truly Malaysian contribution to the resolution of conflict of laws within a national legal system.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Prediction given in Jan 2008, some have come to pass
Pat Robertson Predicts Stock-Market Crash, Rising Gold Prices and Spiritual Breakthrough in China
Bob Allen
Posted: Friday, January 4, 2008 12:00 am
Source: Click Here
Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson predicted global violence and chaos in 2008, along with economic recession in the United States, in annual prognostications broadcast on Wednesday's "700 Club" television program.
In what has become an annual tradition, the one-time presidential candidate explained an apparent error in what he thought he heard God telling him in a prayer retreat at the end of 2006.
"Last year I felt God was saying there was going to be some kind of terrorist attack that might involve a nuclear weapon," Robertson said. "That hasn't happened, didn't happen in 2007."
"All I can think is that somehow the people of God prayed, and God in his mercy spared us," Robertson said.
But Robertson, who once agreed on television with the late Jerry Falwell that the 9/11 attacks were God's judgment on America's sin, indicated he isn't sure the nation is yet off the hook.
"I think some of those things that have been stored up are going to happen, but it's just a question of when," he said. "And it didn't happen, obviously, in 2007. We had terrible fires. We had awful floods in the Northwest. We had some other disasters in the Heartland, but we didn't have a terrorist attack. And for that I'm very grateful. So did I miss it? Possibly. On the other hand, did God avert it? Possibly. But whatever, it didn't happen. So I think we can all rejoice in that."
This year's prophecy brought more doom and gloom.
"The Lord was saying there's going to be violence and chaos in the world," Robertson said of his most recent prayer retreat. "This is not going to be a peaceful year."
"And lo and behold, we had hardly finished the prayer meeting when the screens were filled with violence in Kenya," he said. "There's violence in Pakistan. We've just begun to see what's going to happen. The nations are going to be convulsed with violence. This is not going to be a fun year in terms of political activity. There will be violence all over the world."
Economically, "I think is we're going to have a recession here in America, if we are not already in it," he said. He predicted the price of gold will hit $1,000, oil will increase to $150 a barrel and the dollar will continue to fall. "That will not necessarily be a good thing for our economy," he said.
"I also believe the Lord was saying by 2009, maybe 2010, there's going to be a major stock market crash, and not just a little blip like we've had, but a major crash," he said. "And we'll have time to kind of run for the lifeboat. It's not there yet, but it will be coming down the road."
On the upside, Robertson predicted that evangelism will intensify, as hard times force people to seek spiritual answers. In particular he sees "a great move of God in China and India."
"What I'm praying about is China," he said. "I'm asking for 250 million in China. We haven't had that breakthrough yet, but I think we're going to get it. God's going to give us China, and China will be the largest Christian nation on the face of the earth. They're going to come to Jesus."
Robertson's interests in China are more than spiritual. He has media holdings there, and in 2006 said the U.S. should seek economic partnership with China, breaking ranks with other evangelicals who oppose dealing with China unless the nation improves its record on human rights.
Robertson said he didn't "have any revelation" about U.S. future in Iraq. "I had a deep unease about this Iraq war from the very beginning," he said, "that just in my spirit I knew, and the Lord told me, it would be a disaster. Well it has been a disaster."
But Robertson said he received a clear word about Israel. "The Lord shared with me, and I believe I heard the Lord, that the leadership of Israel is in a fog, that their minds are in a fog," he said. "And they don't see the danger, the danger that is coming to them. And it's as plain as the nose on your face to see what a tragedy it would be if you turned the West Bank over to terrorists and give half of Jerusalem to these people. It's going to be an unbelievably bloody mess."
"Just like now in the Gaza Strip, factions of the Palestinians are fighting one another," he said. "They have mismanaged. There's been corruption. There has been all kind of veniality. There has been persecution of minorities. You say, 'How can these people be partners in peace?' And yet the Bush administration, as one more example of folly in foreign policy, is pushing with all its effort to make this thing happen, like it's going to be some sort of a trophy. Well they're moving toward self-destruction, and those of us who love Israel are very concerned. I am one of them."
Concerning his own ministry, Robertson said: "I think in this year to come, more than anything, that what God's emphasis for CBN needs to be is helping the poor and the downtrodden. There are people in this world that are just crying out to God for help, and the Lord basically was saying to me if you take care of them, then you're taking care of me. And if you minister to them you are ministering to me. And if you look after them I am going to look after you."
Robertson also implied God told him who will be elected president in 2008.
"He told me some things about the election, but I'm not going to say, because some old man on '60 Minutes' would make fun of me, so I'm not going to tell you who the winner's going to be," he said.
But he may have hinted that it won't be Hillary Clinton, the only woman who is running. "We will not name the name of the gentleman who will be doing that," he said in a joking rejoinder to a question tossed in by "700 Club" co-host Terry Meeuwsen.
It also didn't appear the nod would be going to Republican Rudy Giuliani, whom Robertson has endorsed. "I'll just keep that to myself and look with horror at what may be happening," he quipped.
In 2004 Robertson predicted President Bush would win a second term in a "blowout." Bush defeated John Kerry 51 percent to 48 percent and carried the electoral vote by a single state.
In 2005 Robertson forecast "triumph" in Bush's second term. Since Election Day 2004, the president's approval ratings slipped to an all-time low, and Republicans lost control of Congress in mid-term elections in 2006.
Robertson has been wrong before. He said Russia would invade Israel in 1982, that there would be a worldwide economic collapse in 1985 and that U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller would be elected president in 1996.
Bob Allen is managing editor of EthicsDaily.com.
Previous stories:
Robertson Predicts 'Triumph' in Second Bush Term
Robertson Predicts `Blowout Election' for Bush
Bob Allen
Posted: Friday, January 4, 2008 12:00 am
Source: Click Here
Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson predicted global violence and chaos in 2008, along with economic recession in the United States, in annual prognostications broadcast on Wednesday's "700 Club" television program.
In what has become an annual tradition, the one-time presidential candidate explained an apparent error in what he thought he heard God telling him in a prayer retreat at the end of 2006.
"Last year I felt God was saying there was going to be some kind of terrorist attack that might involve a nuclear weapon," Robertson said. "That hasn't happened, didn't happen in 2007."
"All I can think is that somehow the people of God prayed, and God in his mercy spared us," Robertson said.
But Robertson, who once agreed on television with the late Jerry Falwell that the 9/11 attacks were God's judgment on America's sin, indicated he isn't sure the nation is yet off the hook.
"I think some of those things that have been stored up are going to happen, but it's just a question of when," he said. "And it didn't happen, obviously, in 2007. We had terrible fires. We had awful floods in the Northwest. We had some other disasters in the Heartland, but we didn't have a terrorist attack. And for that I'm very grateful. So did I miss it? Possibly. On the other hand, did God avert it? Possibly. But whatever, it didn't happen. So I think we can all rejoice in that."
This year's prophecy brought more doom and gloom.
"The Lord was saying there's going to be violence and chaos in the world," Robertson said of his most recent prayer retreat. "This is not going to be a peaceful year."
"And lo and behold, we had hardly finished the prayer meeting when the screens were filled with violence in Kenya," he said. "There's violence in Pakistan. We've just begun to see what's going to happen. The nations are going to be convulsed with violence. This is not going to be a fun year in terms of political activity. There will be violence all over the world."
Economically, "I think is we're going to have a recession here in America, if we are not already in it," he said. He predicted the price of gold will hit $1,000, oil will increase to $150 a barrel and the dollar will continue to fall. "That will not necessarily be a good thing for our economy," he said.
"I also believe the Lord was saying by 2009, maybe 2010, there's going to be a major stock market crash, and not just a little blip like we've had, but a major crash," he said. "And we'll have time to kind of run for the lifeboat. It's not there yet, but it will be coming down the road."
On the upside, Robertson predicted that evangelism will intensify, as hard times force people to seek spiritual answers. In particular he sees "a great move of God in China and India."
"What I'm praying about is China," he said. "I'm asking for 250 million in China. We haven't had that breakthrough yet, but I think we're going to get it. God's going to give us China, and China will be the largest Christian nation on the face of the earth. They're going to come to Jesus."
Robertson's interests in China are more than spiritual. He has media holdings there, and in 2006 said the U.S. should seek economic partnership with China, breaking ranks with other evangelicals who oppose dealing with China unless the nation improves its record on human rights.
Robertson said he didn't "have any revelation" about U.S. future in Iraq. "I had a deep unease about this Iraq war from the very beginning," he said, "that just in my spirit I knew, and the Lord told me, it would be a disaster. Well it has been a disaster."
But Robertson said he received a clear word about Israel. "The Lord shared with me, and I believe I heard the Lord, that the leadership of Israel is in a fog, that their minds are in a fog," he said. "And they don't see the danger, the danger that is coming to them. And it's as plain as the nose on your face to see what a tragedy it would be if you turned the West Bank over to terrorists and give half of Jerusalem to these people. It's going to be an unbelievably bloody mess."
"Just like now in the Gaza Strip, factions of the Palestinians are fighting one another," he said. "They have mismanaged. There's been corruption. There has been all kind of veniality. There has been persecution of minorities. You say, 'How can these people be partners in peace?' And yet the Bush administration, as one more example of folly in foreign policy, is pushing with all its effort to make this thing happen, like it's going to be some sort of a trophy. Well they're moving toward self-destruction, and those of us who love Israel are very concerned. I am one of them."
Concerning his own ministry, Robertson said: "I think in this year to come, more than anything, that what God's emphasis for CBN needs to be is helping the poor and the downtrodden. There are people in this world that are just crying out to God for help, and the Lord basically was saying to me if you take care of them, then you're taking care of me. And if you minister to them you are ministering to me. And if you look after them I am going to look after you."
Robertson also implied God told him who will be elected president in 2008.
"He told me some things about the election, but I'm not going to say, because some old man on '60 Minutes' would make fun of me, so I'm not going to tell you who the winner's going to be," he said.
But he may have hinted that it won't be Hillary Clinton, the only woman who is running. "We will not name the name of the gentleman who will be doing that," he said in a joking rejoinder to a question tossed in by "700 Club" co-host Terry Meeuwsen.
It also didn't appear the nod would be going to Republican Rudy Giuliani, whom Robertson has endorsed. "I'll just keep that to myself and look with horror at what may be happening," he quipped.
In 2004 Robertson predicted President Bush would win a second term in a "blowout." Bush defeated John Kerry 51 percent to 48 percent and carried the electoral vote by a single state.
In 2005 Robertson forecast "triumph" in Bush's second term. Since Election Day 2004, the president's approval ratings slipped to an all-time low, and Republicans lost control of Congress in mid-term elections in 2006.
Robertson has been wrong before. He said Russia would invade Israel in 1982, that there would be a worldwide economic collapse in 1985 and that U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller would be elected president in 1996.
Bob Allen is managing editor of EthicsDaily.com.
Previous stories:
Robertson Predicts 'Triumph' in Second Bush Term
Robertson Predicts `Blowout Election' for Bush
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