Ismail

By Fatma Naib in Africa on January 2nd, 2011
The daughter of Sudan's first president (R) shares the family history [Photos by Fatma Naib]

A day after Sudan marked the 55th anniversary of its independence from British ruling, Jalaa al-Azhari, the daughter of Sudan's first president Ismali al-Azhari, marked the event by half raising the flag. A sign of sadness at the state of the nation in the light of the looming referendum that could see Africa's largest country split in two halves.

As I entered the big former presidential building, I looked up to see the old Sudanese flag with the green, yellow and black colours raised in half. I sensed the somber atmosphere as I looked around the courtyard that had big banners with her father's pictures on the flag with the slogan: A nation that includes everyone.

As the team arrived at the house, kindergarden children started arriving to pay their respect to the first president of Sudan, seeing them diffused the sad mood, it was a moment that exhumed innocence.

By Sohail Rahman in Middle East on November 15th, 2010
Photo by Al Jazeera's Fadi El Binni

More than two million Muslims are on their way to the plain of Arafat in Saudi Arabia, having moved now from Mina as the Hajj rituals swing into full gear.

The tented city of Mina is where pilgrims will be at one with God and where they will return to stone the representation of the devil depicted as huge stone slabs in a ritual in the coming days.

This comes as the pilgrims begin their journey to attain the vital steps towards the status as Hajjis.

Part of that is to sacrifice an animal to commemorate the prophet Abraham’s willingness to give up his son Ismail as an offering to God.

At the last second, Muslims believe God  - seeing Abraham’s devotion to him - swapped Ismail with a sheep, hence the slaughtering of animals as part of Hajj.

This all happens at Mina and up to 750,000 camels, cows, sheep and goats are being prepared for sacrifice.

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