Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

User talk:SirSadiq

2011-01-29T08:21:54Z

SirSadiq: /* No link with this Sock Puppet case HelloAnnyongtalk */ update the date

</center>
{{Usertalkback|you=watched|me=watched|icon=attn}}
{{Boxboxtop|}}
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== kindly contact me ==

I am Coordinator of Muhammad Zaka Ashraf. Kindly contact with me to make his profile more perfect.
Thanks
051-9252774
03008365350 —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Asadalich|Asadalich]] ([[User talk:Asadalich|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Asadalich|contribs]]) 07:59, 30 November 2010 (UTC) 

== Speedy deletion declined: [[:Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani]] ==
Hello SirSadiq. I am just letting you know that I declined the speedy deletion of [[:Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani]], a page you tagged for speedy deletion, because of the following concern: '''Not unambiguously promotional.''' Thank you. [[User:JohnCD|JohnCD]] ([[User talk:JohnCD|talk]]) 10:29, 13 December 2010 (UTC)

== Medina-i-Munawwarah ==

Are you sure about the redirection? Woudn't it be Medina-l-Munawwarah (or so)? '''[[User:Qoan|Qoan]]''' ([[User talk:Qoan|tell me!]]) 19:42, 16 December 2010 (UTC)
:Ok, thanks ;) '''[[User:Qoan|Qoan]]''' ([[User talk:Qoan|tell me!]]) 07:28, 17 December 2010 (UTC)

== Speedy deletion declined: [[:DHA Valley Islamabad]] ==
Hello SirSadiq. I am just letting you know that I declined the speedy deletion of [[:DHA Valley Islamabad]], a page you tagged for speedy deletion, because of the following concern: '''A7 cannot be applied to towns or places.''' Thank you. -- '''''[[User:Phantomsteve|PhantomSteve]]'''''/[[User talk:Phantomsteve|talk]]|[[Special:Contributions/Phantomsteve|contribs]]\ 19:27, 17 December 2010 (UTC)

==[[Wikipedia:Proposed deletion|Proposed deletion]] of [[Ahmad Jawad Asghar]]==
[[Image:Ambox warning yellow.svg|left|48px|]]

The article [[Ahmad Jawad Asghar]] has been [[WP:BLPPROD|proposed for deletion]] because under Wikipedia policy, all '''[[WP:BLP|biographies of living persons]]''' created after March 18, 2010, must have at least one [[WP:V#Sources|source]] that directly supports material in the article.

If you created the article, please don't take offense. Instead, consider improving the article. For help on inserting references, see [[Wikipedia:Referencing for beginners]] or ask at [[Wikipedia:Help desk]]. Once you have provided at least one [[WP:V#Sources|reliable source]], you may remove the {{tl|prod blp}} tag. '''Please do not remove the tag unless the article is sourced.''' If you cannot provide such a source within ten days, the article may be deleted, but you can {{#ifexist:Ahmad Jawad Asghar|request that it be undeleted|[[Wikipedia:Requests for undeletion|request that it be undeleted]]}} when you are ready to add one. [[User:Fences and windows|Fences]]&[[User talk:Fences and windows|Windows]] 00:50, 29 December 2010 (UTC)

==File source problem with File:SalmanTaseer.jpg==
[[File:Copyright-problem.svg|64px|left]]
Thank you for uploading '''[[:File:SalmanTaseer.jpg]]'''. I noticed that the file's description page currently doesn't specify who created the content, so the [[copyright]] status is unclear. If you did not create this file yourself, you will need to specify the owner of the copyright. If you obtained it from a website, please add a link to the website from which it was taken, together with a brief restatement of that website's terms of use of its content. However, if the copyright holder is a party unaffiliated from the website's publisher, that copyright should also be acknowledged.

If you have uploaded other files, consider verifying that you have specified sources for those files as well. You can find a list of files you have created [{{fullurl:Special:Log|type=upload&user=SirSadiq}} in your upload log]. '''Unsourced and untagged images may be deleted one week after they have been tagged''' per Wikipedia's [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion|criteria for speedy deletion]], [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion#F4|F4]]. If the image is [[Wikipedia:Copyrights|copyrighted]] and [[Wikipedia:Non-free content|non-free]], '''the image will be deleted 48 hours after 13:30, 4 January 2011 (UTC)''' per [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion|speedy deletion]] criterion [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion#F7|F7]]. If you have any questions or are in need of assistance please ask them at the [[Wikipedia:Media copyright questions|Media copyright questions page]]. Thank you. [[User:XLerate|XLerate]] ([[User talk:XLerate|talk]]) 13:30, 4 January 2011 (UTC)

==[[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion|Speedy deletion]] nomination of [[:Ahmad Jawad Asghar]]==
[[Image:Ambox warning pn.svg|48px|left|alt=|link=]]
{{Quote box|quote=If this is the first article that you have created, you may want to read [[WP:Your first article|the guide to writing your first article]].You may want to consider using the [[Wikipedia:Article wizard|Article Wizard]] to help you create articles.|width=20%|align=right}}
A tag has been placed on [[:Ahmad Jawad Asghar]], requesting that it be speedily deleted from Wikipedia. This has been done under [[WP:CSD#G11|section G11 of the criteria for speedy deletion]], because the page seems to be unambiguous advertising which only promotes a company, product, group, service or person and would need to be fundamentally rewritten in order to become an encyclopedia article. Please read [[Wikipedia:Spam|the guidelines on spam]] and [[Wikipedia:FAQ/Business]] for more information.

If you think that this notice was placed here in error, you may contest the deletion by adding {{tlc|hang on}} to '''the top of [[:Ahmad Jawad Asghar|the page that has been nominated for deletion]]''' (just below the existing speedy deletion, or "db", tag; if no such tag exists, then the page is no longer a speedy delete candidate and adding a hang-on tag is unnecessary), coupled with adding a note on '''[[Talk:Ahmad Jawad Asghar|the talk page]]''' explaining your position, but be aware that once tagged for ''speedy'' deletion, if the page meets the criterion, it may be deleted without delay. Please do not remove the speedy deletion tag yourself, but don't hesitate to add information to the page that would render it more in conformance with Wikipedia's policies and guidelines. If the page is deleted, you can contact [[:Category:Wikipedia administrators who will provide copies of deleted articles|one of these administrators]] to request that the administrator [[Wikipedia:Userfication#Userfication_of_deleted_content|userfy]] the page or email a copy to you.   [[User:Terrillja|Terrillja]][[User Talk:Terrillja| talk]] 14:34, 28 January 2011 (UTC)
==Removing Speedy at [[Ahmad Jawad Asghar]]==
[[Image:Information.svg|25px|alt=|link=]] [[Wikipedia:Introduction|Welcome]] to Wikipedia. It might not have been your intention, but you removed a [[Wikipedia:Speedy deletions|speedy deletion]] tag from [[:Ahmad Jawad Asghar]], a page you have created yourself. If you do not believe the page should be deleted, you can place a {{[[Template:hangon|hangon]]}} tag on the page, under the existing speedy deletion tag (please do not remove the speedy deletion tag), and make your case on the page's [[Talk:Ahmad Jawad Asghar|talk page]]. Administrators will look at your reasoning before deciding what to do with the page. Thank you. - [[User:SDPatrolBot|SDPatrolBot]] ([[User talk:SDPatrolBot|talk]]) 18:49, 28 January 2011 (UTC)

==[[Wikipedia:Sock puppetry|Sockpuppetry]] case==
{| align="left" style="background: transparent;"
|| [[File:Puppeter template.svg|35px]]
|}
Your name has been mentioned in connection with a [[Wikipedia:Sock puppetry|sockpuppetry]] case. Please refer to [[Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Azamishaque]] for evidence. Please make sure you make yourself familiar with [[Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/SPI/Guidance#Defending yourself against claims|the guide to responding to cases]] before editing the evidence page. [[User:Terrillja|Terrillja]][[User Talk:Terrillja| talk]] 03:39, 29 January 2011 (UTC)

== No link with this Sock Puppet case; [[User:HelloAnnyong|HelloAnnyong]][[User Talk:HelloAnnyong|talk]] ==

I have no link with this sock puupet case. I think this user [[User:Terrillja|Terrillja]][[User Talk:Terrillja| talk]] have some mis understanding as well not copy their user page. why should i affect him. i dont know even him. iam the wikipedia contributor and creat many articles and many other contribution on wikipedia. you can see my contribution. kindly remove this tag. Thanks [[User:SirSadiq|SirSadiq]][[User Talk:SirSadiq|talk]] 11:15, 29 January 2011 (UTC)

{{unblock | reason=i dont involve in any sock puppet case relating to [[Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Azamishaque]]. kindly remove this tag from my username, its some mis-undersatnding from the user who complaint. iam a wikipedia user assume good faith. iam doing remarkable contribition as a [[WP]] user. if some one has issue on my contributions they can discuss me on my talk page as per rules.}} instead.

User talk:SirSadiq

2011-01-29T08:01:56Z

SirSadiq:

</center>
{{Usertalkback|you=watched|me=watched|icon=attn}}
{{Boxboxtop|}}
{{Boxboxbottom}}

== kindly contact me ==

I am Coordinator of Muhammad Zaka Ashraf. Kindly contact with me to make his profile more perfect.
Thanks
051-9252774
03008365350 —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Asadalich|Asadalich]] ([[User talk:Asadalich|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Asadalich|contribs]]) 07:59, 30 November 2010 (UTC) 

== Speedy deletion declined: [[:Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani]] ==
Hello SirSadiq. I am just letting you know that I declined the speedy deletion of [[:Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani]], a page you tagged for speedy deletion, because of the following concern: '''Not unambiguously promotional.''' Thank you. [[User:JohnCD|JohnCD]] ([[User talk:JohnCD|talk]]) 10:29, 13 December 2010 (UTC)

== Medina-i-Munawwarah ==

Are you sure about the redirection? Woudn't it be Medina-l-Munawwarah (or so)? '''[[User:Qoan|Qoan]]''' ([[User talk:Qoan|tell me!]]) 19:42, 16 December 2010 (UTC)
:Ok, thanks ;) '''[[User:Qoan|Qoan]]''' ([[User talk:Qoan|tell me!]]) 07:28, 17 December 2010 (UTC)

== Speedy deletion declined: [[:DHA Valley Islamabad]] ==
Hello SirSadiq. I am just letting you know that I declined the speedy deletion of [[:DHA Valley Islamabad]], a page you tagged for speedy deletion, because of the following concern: '''A7 cannot be applied to towns or places.''' Thank you. -- '''''[[User:Phantomsteve|PhantomSteve]]'''''/[[User talk:Phantomsteve|talk]]|[[Special:Contributions/Phantomsteve|contribs]]\ 19:27, 17 December 2010 (UTC)

==[[Wikipedia:Proposed deletion|Proposed deletion]] of [[Ahmad Jawad Asghar]]==
[[Image:Ambox warning yellow.svg|left|48px|]]

The article [[Ahmad Jawad Asghar]] has been [[WP:BLPPROD|proposed for deletion]] because under Wikipedia policy, all '''[[WP:BLP|biographies of living persons]]''' created after March 18, 2010, must have at least one [[WP:V#Sources|source]] that directly supports material in the article.

If you created the article, please don't take offense. Instead, consider improving the article. For help on inserting references, see [[Wikipedia:Referencing for beginners]] or ask at [[Wikipedia:Help desk]]. Once you have provided at least one [[WP:V#Sources|reliable source]], you may remove the {{tl|prod blp}} tag. '''Please do not remove the tag unless the article is sourced.''' If you cannot provide such a source within ten days, the article may be deleted, but you can {{#ifexist:Ahmad Jawad Asghar|request that it be undeleted|[[Wikipedia:Requests for undeletion|request that it be undeleted]]}} when you are ready to add one. [[User:Fences and windows|Fences]]&[[User talk:Fences and windows|Windows]] 00:50, 29 December 2010 (UTC)

==File source problem with File:SalmanTaseer.jpg==
[[File:Copyright-problem.svg|64px|left]]
Thank you for uploading '''[[:File:SalmanTaseer.jpg]]'''. I noticed that the file's description page currently doesn't specify who created the content, so the [[copyright]] status is unclear. If you did not create this file yourself, you will need to specify the owner of the copyright. If you obtained it from a website, please add a link to the website from which it was taken, together with a brief restatement of that website's terms of use of its content. However, if the copyright holder is a party unaffiliated from the website's publisher, that copyright should also be acknowledged.

If you have uploaded other files, consider verifying that you have specified sources for those files as well. You can find a list of files you have created [{{fullurl:Special:Log|type=upload&user=SirSadiq}} in your upload log]. '''Unsourced and untagged images may be deleted one week after they have been tagged''' per Wikipedia's [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion|criteria for speedy deletion]], [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion#F4|F4]]. If the image is [[Wikipedia:Copyrights|copyrighted]] and [[Wikipedia:Non-free content|non-free]], '''the image will be deleted 48 hours after 13:30, 4 January 2011 (UTC)''' per [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion|speedy deletion]] criterion [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion#F7|F7]]. If you have any questions or are in need of assistance please ask them at the [[Wikipedia:Media copyright questions|Media copyright questions page]]. Thank you. [[User:XLerate|XLerate]] ([[User talk:XLerate|talk]]) 13:30, 4 January 2011 (UTC)

==[[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion|Speedy deletion]] nomination of [[:Ahmad Jawad Asghar]]==
[[Image:Ambox warning pn.svg|48px|left|alt=|link=]]
{{Quote box|quote=If this is the first article that you have created, you may want to read [[WP:Your first article|the guide to writing your first article]].You may want to consider using the [[Wikipedia:Article wizard|Article Wizard]] to help you create articles.|width=20%|align=right}}
A tag has been placed on [[:Ahmad Jawad Asghar]], requesting that it be speedily deleted from Wikipedia. This has been done under [[WP:CSD#G11|section G11 of the criteria for speedy deletion]], because the page seems to be unambiguous advertising which only promotes a company, product, group, service or person and would need to be fundamentally rewritten in order to become an encyclopedia article. Please read [[Wikipedia:Spam|the guidelines on spam]] and [[Wikipedia:FAQ/Business]] for more information.

If you think that this notice was placed here in error, you may contest the deletion by adding {{tlc|hang on}} to '''the top of [[:Ahmad Jawad Asghar|the page that has been nominated for deletion]]''' (just below the existing speedy deletion, or "db", tag; if no such tag exists, then the page is no longer a speedy delete candidate and adding a hang-on tag is unnecessary), coupled with adding a note on '''[[Talk:Ahmad Jawad Asghar|the talk page]]''' explaining your position, but be aware that once tagged for ''speedy'' deletion, if the page meets the criterion, it may be deleted without delay. Please do not remove the speedy deletion tag yourself, but don't hesitate to add information to the page that would render it more in conformance with Wikipedia's policies and guidelines. If the page is deleted, you can contact [[:Category:Wikipedia administrators who will provide copies of deleted articles|one of these administrators]] to request that the administrator [[Wikipedia:Userfication#Userfication_of_deleted_content|userfy]] the page or email a copy to you.   [[User:Terrillja|Terrillja]][[User Talk:Terrillja| talk]] 14:34, 28 January 2011 (UTC)
==Removing Speedy at [[Ahmad Jawad Asghar]]==
[[Image:Information.svg|25px|alt=|link=]] [[Wikipedia:Introduction|Welcome]] to Wikipedia. It might not have been your intention, but you removed a [[Wikipedia:Speedy deletions|speedy deletion]] tag from [[:Ahmad Jawad Asghar]], a page you have created yourself. If you do not believe the page should be deleted, you can place a {{[[Template:hangon|hangon]]}} tag on the page, under the existing speedy deletion tag (please do not remove the speedy deletion tag), and make your case on the page's [[Talk:Ahmad Jawad Asghar|talk page]]. Administrators will look at your reasoning before deciding what to do with the page. Thank you. - [[User:SDPatrolBot|SDPatrolBot]] ([[User talk:SDPatrolBot|talk]]) 18:49, 28 January 2011 (UTC)

==[[Wikipedia:Sock puppetry|Sockpuppetry]] case==
{| align="left" style="background: transparent;"
|| [[File:Puppeter template.svg|35px]]
|}
Your name has been mentioned in connection with a [[Wikipedia:Sock puppetry|sockpuppetry]] case. Please refer to [[Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Azamishaque]] for evidence. Please make sure you make yourself familiar with [[Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/SPI/Guidance#Defending yourself against claims|the guide to responding to cases]] before editing the evidence page. [[User:Terrillja|Terrillja]][[User Talk:Terrillja| talk]] 03:39, 29 January 2011 (UTC)

== No link with this Sock Puppet case [[User:HelloAnnyong|HelloAnnyong]][[User Talk:HelloAnnyong|talk]] ==

I have no link with this sock puupet case. I think this user [[User:Terrillja|Terrillja]][[User Talk:Terrillja| talk]] have some mis understanding as well not copy their user page. why should i affect him. i dont know even him. iam the wikipedia contributor and creat many articles and many other contribution on wikipedia. you can see my contribution. kindly remove this tag. Thanks [[User:SirSadiq|SirSadiq]][[User Talk:SirSadiq|talk]] 11:15, 30 January 2011 (UTC)

{{unblock | reason=i dont involve in any sock puppet case relating to [[Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Azamishaque]]. kindly remove this tag from my username, its some mis-undersatnding from the user who complaint. iam a wikipedia user assume good faith. iam doing remarkable contribition as a [[WP]] user. if some one has issue on my contributions they can discuss me on my talk page as per rules.}} instead.

User talk:SirSadiq

2011-01-29T06:15:53Z

SirSadiq: /* No link with this Sock Puppet case HelloAnnyongtalk */ new section

</center>
{{Usertalkback|you=watched|me=watched|icon=attn}}
{{Boxboxtop|}}
{{Boxboxbottom}}

== kindly contact me ==

I am Coordinator of Muhammad Zaka Ashraf. Kindly contact with me to make his profile more perfect.
Thanks
051-9252774
03008365350 —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Asadalich|Asadalich]] ([[User talk:Asadalich|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Asadalich|contribs]]) 07:59, 30 November 2010 (UTC) 

== Speedy deletion declined: [[:Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani]] ==
Hello SirSadiq. I am just letting you know that I declined the speedy deletion of [[:Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani]], a page you tagged for speedy deletion, because of the following concern: '''Not unambiguously promotional.''' Thank you. [[User:JohnCD|JohnCD]] ([[User talk:JohnCD|talk]]) 10:29, 13 December 2010 (UTC)

== Medina-i-Munawwarah ==

Are you sure about the redirection? Woudn't it be Medina-l-Munawwarah (or so)? '''[[User:Qoan|Qoan]]''' ([[User talk:Qoan|tell me!]]) 19:42, 16 December 2010 (UTC)
:Ok, thanks ;) '''[[User:Qoan|Qoan]]''' ([[User talk:Qoan|tell me!]]) 07:28, 17 December 2010 (UTC)

== Speedy deletion declined: [[:DHA Valley Islamabad]] ==
Hello SirSadiq. I am just letting you know that I declined the speedy deletion of [[:DHA Valley Islamabad]], a page you tagged for speedy deletion, because of the following concern: '''A7 cannot be applied to towns or places.''' Thank you. -- '''''[[User:Phantomsteve|PhantomSteve]]'''''/[[User talk:Phantomsteve|talk]]|[[Special:Contributions/Phantomsteve|contribs]]\ 19:27, 17 December 2010 (UTC)

==[[Wikipedia:Proposed deletion|Proposed deletion]] of [[Ahmad Jawad Asghar]]==
[[Image:Ambox warning yellow.svg|left|48px|]]

The article [[Ahmad Jawad Asghar]] has been [[WP:BLPPROD|proposed for deletion]] because under Wikipedia policy, all '''[[WP:BLP|biographies of living persons]]''' created after March 18, 2010, must have at least one [[WP:V#Sources|source]] that directly supports material in the article.

If you created the article, please don't take offense. Instead, consider improving the article. For help on inserting references, see [[Wikipedia:Referencing for beginners]] or ask at [[Wikipedia:Help desk]]. Once you have provided at least one [[WP:V#Sources|reliable source]], you may remove the {{tl|prod blp}} tag. '''Please do not remove the tag unless the article is sourced.''' If you cannot provide such a source within ten days, the article may be deleted, but you can {{#ifexist:Ahmad Jawad Asghar|request that it be undeleted|[[Wikipedia:Requests for undeletion|request that it be undeleted]]}} when you are ready to add one. [[User:Fences and windows|Fences]]&[[User talk:Fences and windows|Windows]] 00:50, 29 December 2010 (UTC)

==File source problem with File:SalmanTaseer.jpg==
[[File:Copyright-problem.svg|64px|left]]
Thank you for uploading '''[[:File:SalmanTaseer.jpg]]'''. I noticed that the file's description page currently doesn't specify who created the content, so the [[copyright]] status is unclear. If you did not create this file yourself, you will need to specify the owner of the copyright. If you obtained it from a website, please add a link to the website from which it was taken, together with a brief restatement of that website's terms of use of its content. However, if the copyright holder is a party unaffiliated from the website's publisher, that copyright should also be acknowledged.

If you have uploaded other files, consider verifying that you have specified sources for those files as well. You can find a list of files you have created [{{fullurl:Special:Log|type=upload&user=SirSadiq}} in your upload log]. '''Unsourced and untagged images may be deleted one week after they have been tagged''' per Wikipedia's [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion|criteria for speedy deletion]], [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion#F4|F4]]. If the image is [[Wikipedia:Copyrights|copyrighted]] and [[Wikipedia:Non-free content|non-free]], '''the image will be deleted 48 hours after 13:30, 4 January 2011 (UTC)''' per [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion|speedy deletion]] criterion [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion#F7|F7]]. If you have any questions or are in need of assistance please ask them at the [[Wikipedia:Media copyright questions|Media copyright questions page]]. Thank you. [[User:XLerate|XLerate]] ([[User talk:XLerate|talk]]) 13:30, 4 January 2011 (UTC)

==[[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion|Speedy deletion]] nomination of [[:Ahmad Jawad Asghar]]==
[[Image:Ambox warning pn.svg|48px|left|alt=|link=]]
{{Quote box|quote=If this is the first article that you have created, you may want to read [[WP:Your first article|the guide to writing your first article]].You may want to consider using the [[Wikipedia:Article wizard|Article Wizard]] to help you create articles.|width=20%|align=right}}
A tag has been placed on [[:Ahmad Jawad Asghar]], requesting that it be speedily deleted from Wikipedia. This has been done under [[WP:CSD#G11|section G11 of the criteria for speedy deletion]], because the page seems to be unambiguous advertising which only promotes a company, product, group, service or person and would need to be fundamentally rewritten in order to become an encyclopedia article. Please read [[Wikipedia:Spam|the guidelines on spam]] and [[Wikipedia:FAQ/Business]] for more information.

If you think that this notice was placed here in error, you may contest the deletion by adding {{tlc|hang on}} to '''the top of [[:Ahmad Jawad Asghar|the page that has been nominated for deletion]]''' (just below the existing speedy deletion, or "db", tag; if no such tag exists, then the page is no longer a speedy delete candidate and adding a hang-on tag is unnecessary), coupled with adding a note on '''[[Talk:Ahmad Jawad Asghar|the talk page]]''' explaining your position, but be aware that once tagged for ''speedy'' deletion, if the page meets the criterion, it may be deleted without delay. Please do not remove the speedy deletion tag yourself, but don't hesitate to add information to the page that would render it more in conformance with Wikipedia's policies and guidelines. If the page is deleted, you can contact [[:Category:Wikipedia administrators who will provide copies of deleted articles|one of these administrators]] to request that the administrator [[Wikipedia:Userfication#Userfication_of_deleted_content|userfy]] the page or email a copy to you.   [[User:Terrillja|Terrillja]][[User Talk:Terrillja| talk]] 14:34, 28 January 2011 (UTC)
==Removing Speedy at [[Ahmad Jawad Asghar]]==
[[Image:Information.svg|25px|alt=|link=]] [[Wikipedia:Introduction|Welcome]] to Wikipedia. It might not have been your intention, but you removed a [[Wikipedia:Speedy deletions|speedy deletion]] tag from [[:Ahmad Jawad Asghar]], a page you have created yourself. If you do not believe the page should be deleted, you can place a {{[[Template:hangon|hangon]]}} tag on the page, under the existing speedy deletion tag (please do not remove the speedy deletion tag), and make your case on the page's [[Talk:Ahmad Jawad Asghar|talk page]]. Administrators will look at your reasoning before deciding what to do with the page. Thank you. - [[User:SDPatrolBot|SDPatrolBot]] ([[User talk:SDPatrolBot|talk]]) 18:49, 28 January 2011 (UTC)

==[[Wikipedia:Sock puppetry|Sockpuppetry]] case==
{| align="left" style="background: transparent;"
|| [[File:Puppeter template.svg|35px]]
|}
Your name has been mentioned in connection with a [[Wikipedia:Sock puppetry|sockpuppetry]] case. Please refer to [[Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Azamishaque]] for evidence. Please make sure you make yourself familiar with [[Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/SPI/Guidance#Defending yourself against claims|the guide to responding to cases]] before editing the evidence page. [[User:Terrillja|Terrillja]][[User Talk:Terrillja| talk]] 03:39, 29 January 2011 (UTC)

== No link with this Sock Puppet case [[User:HelloAnnyong|HelloAnnyong]][[User Talk:HelloAnnyong|talk]] ==

I have no link with this sock puupet case. I think this user [[User:Terrillja|Terrillja]][[User Talk:Terrillja| talk]] have some mis understanding as well not copy their user page. why should i affect him. i dont know even him. iam the wikipedia contributor and creat many articles and many other contribution on wikipedia. you can see my contribution. kindly remove this tag. Thanks [[User:SirSadiq|SirSadiq]][[User Talk:SirSadiq|talk]] 11:15, 30 January 2011 (UTC)

Kinnaird College for Women

2011-01-26T09:55:10Z

SirSadiq: add new principal name

{{Infobox college
|name = Kinnaird College for Women
|motto = Light to guide us, courage to support us and love to unite us.
|established = 1913
|type = Semi- Government
|calendar = Semester
|principal = Dr. Rukhsana David<ref>http://www.kinnaird.edu.pk/faculty</ref>
|students = 3000
|city = [[Lahore]]
|Province = [[Punjab]]
|nickname = KCites
|website = [http://www.kinnaird.edu.pk/ Kinnaird College]
}}

'''Kinnaird College for Women''' is a college in [[Lahore]], [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]]. It is partially semi- government institute recognized by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.

==Early history==
The college was established at the start of the 20th century when it was housed near Kinnaird High School. Initial tuition focused on Intermediate classes beginning in 1913, followed by B.A. classes four years later. The college moved to Jail Road in 1926 after it was determined that more space was needed. In 1933, the college acquired land near Lahore's canal and new buildings were constructed to house the increasing numbers of girls studying at the college. By 1939 the college had grown into a {{convert|20|acre|m2|adj=on}} campus.

Kinnaird College, the premier women's college in Pakistan, was founded in 1913 by the Zenana and Bible Medical Mission, now called Interserve. Pupils of Kinnaird High School (founded 1864) pleaded to continue their education. so the first Intermediate class (FA) started with Miss Joan McDonald as Principal. BA classes commenced in 1917. The American Presbyterian Mission and the Church Missionary Society joined in 1919 to make Kinnaird a union institution. Others followed. From 1913 to 1922 the college was the only women's liberal arts college in the Punjab.

The science department was not founded until 1950 - two world wars, lack of finance and partition of the subcontinent were the main hindrances. The student body grew from 6 to 170 by 1951. (By 2003 it was over 2,000). The early students were mainly Christians joined by more and more Hindus. Kinnaird College moved from its first site in and around Kinnaird High School in 1926 to Lake Road, and in 1938 to its present site. In 1932 the Principal, Miss McNair, agonized about moving to Agra where the College had been offered the campus of St. John's College. This offer was declined, and Kinnaird with its campus was preserved for what was to become Pakistan. The partition of 1947 and the creation of Pakistan brought a dramatic exodus of Hindus and an increasing influx of Muslims. {{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

==Degrees and Courses==
Kinnaird launched its honors program in 2003, the four year bachelors followed by a dissertation. An honors degree is available in the following subjects:
* [[Biochemistry]]
* [[Botany]]
* [[English Literature]]
* [[Environmental Science]]
* [[Food and Nutrition]]
* [[Psychology]]
* [[Physics]]
* [[French language|French]]
* [[Political Science]]
* [[International Relations]]
* [[Urdu]]
* [[Business Administration]]
* [[Zoology]]
* [[Geography]]
* [[Economics]]
* [[Mathematics]]
* [[Computer Science]]

One and two year masters degrees are available in the following:
* [[English Literature]]
* [[Environmental Science]]
* [[International Relations]]
* [[English Literature]]
* [[English Language Teaching]]
* [[Business Administration]]

M.Phil degree offered in:
* [[Environmental Science]]
* [[English Literature]]
* [[International Relations]]

==Extra courses at Kinnaird==
Kinnaird offers summer and winter courses in graphic design, communication skills, French, and other courses to improve knowledge and expertise. {{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

==Extra-curricular activities==
A part from academic activities Kinnaird has its annual sports day, swimming festivals, annual plays and Drama competitions every year. Besides that activities are going on within the college and hostel for students throughout the year.

==The Student's Council==
The Students' Council was formed under the Presidency of the Senior Student assisted by the Deputy Senior Student and the Hostel Deputy. The Council is advised by the Students' advisor. The council is responsible for general internal discipline and for extra-curricular activities at the College. Its main objectives are to organize programs and projects. The council members assist at all college activities and help out other clubs and societies whenever needed.

==Notable alumni==
*[[Bano Qudsia]]
*[[Sara Suleri]]
*[[Bapsi Sidhwa]]
*[[Kamini Kaushal]]
*[[Faryal Gohar]]
*[[Nasira Iqbal]]
*[[Tahira Syed]]
*[[Musarrat Nazir]]
*[[Ayesha Sana]]
*[[Kashmala Tariq]]
*[[Vaneeza Ahmad]]
*[[Hadiqa Kiyani]]
*[[Asma Jahangir]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.kinnaird.edu.pk/ Kinnaird College]
* [http://www.kinnairdcollege.org/ Official website for Kinnaird College Alumni residing in USA]
* [http://www.pakstudy.com/index.php/board,30.0.html Pakstudy (Kinnaird College Section)]

{{Lahore Colleges}}
{{coord missing|Pakistan}}

[[Category:Women's universities and colleges in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Lahore]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Lahore District]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1913]]
[[pnb:کنیئرڈ کالج فار ویمن]]

Mashreq (bank)

2011-01-26T06:42:53Z

SirSadiq: primary source is missing

{{Primary sources|date=Janauary 2011}}
{{Infobox Company |
| company_logo = [[File:Mashreq logo.png]]
| company_name = Mashreqbank psc
| company_type = [[Public company|Public]] ({{DFM|MASQ}})
| foundation = [[1967]]
| location = [[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates]]
| key_people = [[Abdullah Al Ghurair]]([[Chairman of the board]]), [[Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair]]([[CEO]])
| industry = Financial Services
| products = Banking and insurance
| revenue = $770 [[1000000000 (number)|million]] ([[2006]])
| homepage = http://www.mashreqbank.com/
}}

'''Mashreq bank PSC''' is one of the leading banks in the [[United Arab Emirates]] (UAE), with total assets as of 31 December 2006, of US$ 23.8 billion, net profits of US$ 627.9 million and shareholders equity of US$ 2 billion. The bank is listed on the [[Dubai Financial Market]]. The Bank is also the largest [[Private bank|privately owned Bank]] in the [[UAE]]

== History ==
The bank was established in 1967 as the Bank of Oman Limited. It is the 2nd oldest [[commercial bank]] in the UAE. In 1993, the bank changed its name to Mashreqbank. The bank has been a pioneer in the UAE market having been the first to introduce products such as ATMs and credit cards. The bank is also the recipient of several awards including the Dubai Quality Award, Shaikh Khalifa Award for Excellence as well as other citations from financial magazines.

== Management ==
The bank is controlled by the [[Al Ghurair]] of Dubai. The CEO [[Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair]]
was also recently elected as the speaker of the Federal National Council of the UAE. Day-to-day management is the responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer who is also a member of the Board. Top management is headed by Members of the Leadership Forum who lead the bank's seven business groups and support divisions, and report directly to the CEO.

== Franchise ==
The bank has a strong franchise in retail and corporate banking in the UAE. The bank has a relationship with one in every two households in the country with a wide range of product offerings in every segment. The bank's unique MashreqMillionaire savings program with prize draws running to millions of dirhams is one of the most popular banking products in the UAE market.

The bank operates 48 branches in the UAE. The bank also operates branches/representative offices in Qatar, Bahrain, India, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan, UK and USA.

Their current auditors are Deloitte & Touche ME.

==References==
{{Empty section|date=January 2011}}

{{Members of Euro Banking Association}}

[[Category:Banks of the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Companies based in Dubai]]

{{UAE-stub}}
{{asia-bank-stub}}

Mashreq (bank)

2011-01-26T06:41:02Z

SirSadiq: references section are empty

{{Infobox Company |
| company_logo = [[File:Mashreq logo.png]]
| company_name = Mashreqbank psc
| company_type = [[Public company|Public]] ({{DFM|MASQ}})
| foundation = [[1967]]
| location = [[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates]]
| key_people = [[Abdullah Al Ghurair]]([[Chairman of the board]]), [[Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair]]([[CEO]])
| industry = Financial Services
| products = Banking and insurance
| revenue = $770 [[1000000000 (number)|million]] ([[2006]])
| homepage = http://www.mashreqbank.com/
}}

'''Mashreq bank PSC''' is one of the leading banks in the [[United Arab Emirates]] (UAE), with total assets as of 31 December 2006, of US$ 23.8 billion, net profits of US$ 627.9 million and shareholders equity of US$ 2 billion. The bank is listed on the [[Dubai Financial Market]]. The Bank is also the largest [[Private bank|privately owned Bank]] in the [[UAE]]

== History ==
The bank was established in 1967 as the Bank of Oman Limited. It is the 2nd oldest [[commercial bank]] in the UAE. In 1993, the bank changed its name to Mashreqbank. The bank has been a pioneer in the UAE market having been the first to introduce products such as ATMs and credit cards. The bank is also the recipient of several awards including the Dubai Quality Award, Shaikh Khalifa Award for Excellence as well as other citations from financial magazines.

== Management ==
The bank is controlled by the [[Al Ghurair]] of Dubai. The CEO [[Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair]]
was also recently elected as the speaker of the Federal National Council of the UAE. Day-to-day management is the responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer who is also a member of the Board. Top management is headed by Members of the Leadership Forum who lead the bank's seven business groups and support divisions, and report directly to the CEO.

== Franchise ==
The bank has a strong franchise in retail and corporate banking in the UAE. The bank has a relationship with one in every two households in the country with a wide range of product offerings in every segment. The bank's unique MashreqMillionaire savings program with prize draws running to millions of dirhams is one of the most popular banking products in the UAE market.

The bank operates 48 branches in the UAE. The bank also operates branches/representative offices in Qatar, Bahrain, India, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan, UK and USA.

Their current auditors are Deloitte & Touche ME.

==References==
{{Empty section|date=January 2011}}

{{Members of Euro Banking Association}}

[[Category:Banks of the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Companies based in Dubai]]

{{UAE-stub}}
{{asia-bank-stub}}

Pakistan Customs

2011-01-26T06:37:54Z

SirSadiq: no importance of this article as per WP, mark for speedy deletion

{{db-inc}}
'''Pakistan Customs''' is a government organization working under the federal [[Ministry of Finance (Pakistan)|Ministry of Finance]] and the [[Federal Board of Revenue]] in Pakistan. Its headquarters is FBR, [[Islamabad]].

[[Image:New Custom House.jpg|right|thumb|New Custom House building Karachi]]

==Pakistan Customs Ranks==
{{Empty section|date=January 2011}}

==External links==
*[http://www.cbr.gov.pk/newcu/ Official]
{{coord missing|Pakistan}}
*[http://www.paccs.gov.pk/ Pakistan Customs Computerized System]
*[http://www.pakcustoms.org/ Pakistan Customs information portal]
*[http://www.fbr.gov.pk/newcu/ Pakistan Customs]

[[Category:Pakistan federal departments and agencies]]
[[Category:Customs services]]

{{Pakistan-stub}}

Asif Ali Zardari

2011-01-22T06:08:49Z

SirSadiq: remove dead link

{{pp-semi-blp|expiry=25 January 2011|small=yes}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
|name = Asif Ali Zardari آصف علی زرداری آصف علي زرداري
|image = AsifZardari.jpg
|office = [[President of Pakistan]]
|primeminister = [[Yousaf Raza Gillani]]
|term_start = 9 September 2008
|term_end =
|predecessor = [[Muhammad Mian Soomro]] ([[Acting President|Acting]])
|successor =
|office2 = Co-Chairman of [[Pakistan Peoples Party]]
|alongside2 = [[Bilawal Zardari Bhutto]]
|term_start2 = 30 December 2007
|predecessor2 = [[Benazir Bhutto]]
|successor =
|birth_date = {{bda|1955|7|26|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Karachi]], [[Dominion of Pakistan]]<ref name="Profile: Asif Ali Zardari" />
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = [[Pakistan Peoples Party|Peoples Party]]
|spouse = [[Benazir Bhutto]] (1987–2007)
|children = [[Bilawal Zardari Bhutto|Bilawal]] Bakhtawar Asifa
|residence = [[Islamabad]], [[Pakistan]]
|religion = [[Shia Islam]]<ref name="ZardariShia">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/parvez-sharma/the-martyrdom-of-benazir-_b_79560.html |title=The Martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=2008-01-03 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref><ref name=shi3a>[[Vali Nasr]] ''The Shia Revival: How Conflicts Within Islam Will Shape the Future'' (W. W. Norton, 2006), pp. 88-90 ISBN 0-3933-2968-2</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20023973-503543.html | work=CBS News | first=Farhan | last=Bokhari | title=Pakistan-Saudi Relations Appear Strained in Leaked Cables | date=2010-11-29}}</ref>
}}
'''Asif Ali Zardari''' ([[Urdu]]: '''آصف علی زرداری'''; [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]]: '''آصف علي زرداري'''; born 26 July 1955) is the [[List of Presidents of Pakistan|11th and current]] [[President of Pakistan]] and the Co-Chairman of the [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] (PPP). Zardari is the widower of [[Benazir Bhutto]], who twice served as [[Prime Minister of Pakistan]]. When his wife was [[Assassination of Benazir Bhutto|assassinated]] in December 2007, he became the leader of the PPP. It has been claimed that Zardari is among the five richest men in Pakistan with an estimated net worth of [[USD|US$]]1.8 billion (2005).<ref>{{cite web|last=Malik |first=Salik |url=http://www.daily.pk/president-asif-ali-zardari-2nd-most-richest-man-of-pakistan-6666/ |title=President Asif Ali Zardari 2nd most Richest man of Pakistan | Pakistan Daily |publisher=Daily.pk |date=2008-10-26 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Burns |first=John F. |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/09/world/house-graft-tracing-bhutto-millions-special-report-bhutto-clan-leaves-trail.html |title=HOUSE OF GRAFT - Tracing the Bhutto Millions - A special report. - Bhutto Clan Leaves Trail of Corruption - Special Report |location=Pakistan |publisher=NYTimes.com |date=1998-01-09 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Asif Ali Zardari is a [[Sindhi people|Sindhi]] of [[Baloch people|Baloch]] origin from [[Sindh]].<ref name="thepresident"/><ref name="afcea">{{cite web|url=http://nightwatch.afcea.org/NightWatch_20071230.htm|title=For the Night of 30 December 2007|publisher=AFCEA International|accessdate=23 November 2009}}</ref> He was born in [[Karachi]] and is the son of [[Hakim Ali Zardari]], head of one of the Sindhi tribes,<ref name="Profile: Asif Ali Zardari">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4032997.stm South Asia Profile: Asif Ali Zardari]. 6 September 2008. ''BBC News''. Retrieved 2009-03-02.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://jang.com.pk/thenews/feb2008-weekly/nos-17-02-2008/instep/mainissue.htm |title=INSTEP Magzine |publisher=Jang.com.pk |date=1998-05-28 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> who chose urban life over rustic surroundings. His mother is from the family of Khan Bahadur Hassan Ali, who was among the founders of the first educational institution in Sindh, "Sindh Madarsa-tul-Islam Karachi".

Zardari received his primary education from [[Karachi Grammar School]] and his secondary education from [[Cadet College, Petaro]].<ref name="thepresident">[http://www.president.gov.pk/Pages/ThePresident.ksp President Asif Ali Zardari]. gov.pk. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref> Zardari also attended [[St Patrick's High School, Karachi]].<ref name="WSJ0809">Peter Wonacott (September 5, 2008). [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122058073564902483.html Zardari Set to Assume Pakistan's Presidency]. ''Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved 2009-12-22.</ref> While a candidate for parliament, a position for which a 2002 rule requires a college degree, Zardari claimed to have graduated from a college in London called the London School of Economics and Business (LSEB).<ref>{{cite news |title=Zardari education background a mystery |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/03/21/Zardari_education_background_a_mystery/UPI-93891206120117/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Zardari a London graduate: PPP |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\03\12\story_12-3-2008_pg7_17}}</ref> The 2002 rule was overturned by Pakistan's Supreme Court in April 2008.<ref name="WSJ0809"/>

==Early political career==
Zardari married [[Benazir Bhutto]] on 18 December 1987. In the [[Pakistani general election, 1988|1988 elections]], Bhutto led the Pakistan Peoples Party to victory; she became Prime Minister, and Zardari became a member of the [[National Assembly of Pakistan]]. He served as investment and environment minister in Bhutto's governments. It was during this time that Zardari's opponents began using the nickname, "Mr 10%", in reference to the charges of corruption against him.<ref name="tt-sms">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/5878525/Pakistan-president-Asif-Zardari-bans-jokes-ridiculing-him.html|title=Pakistan president Asif Zardari bans jokes ridiculing him |last=Wilkinson|first=Isambard|date=21 Jul 2009|publisher=The Telegraph|accessdate=2009-07-22 | location=London}}</ref><ref name="Wilkinson2008">Isambard Wilkinson (September 4, 2008). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/profiles/2682828/Profile-Asif-Ali-Zardari-Pakistans-probable-next-president-is-living-the-dream.html Profile: Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan's probable next president, is living the dream]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref><ref name="bbcprofileleader">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/country_profiles/1157960.stm#leaders Profile: Pakistan: leaders]. (May 7, 2009). ''BBC''. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref>
This nickname referred to kickbacks he was alleged to have received during his wife's premiership.<ref> Obama's Wars, by Bob Woodward, pg 62, Simon & Schuster, 2010 </ref>

Bhutto's government lost in the 1990 elections. Zardari soon came under investigation in Switzerland over alleged receipts of kickbacks from two Swiss-based companies.<ref name="Newsweek2008">Fasih Ahmed and Ron Moreau (August 20, 2008). [http://www.newsweek.com/id/154383 Zardari on the Hot Seat]. ''Newsweek''. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref> Zardari claimed the charges were political in nature, and in 2008 Switzerland closed the case and released Zardari's frozen assets. The chief prosecutor said he had no evidence to bring Zardari to trial.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSLQ17107020080826|title=Swiss close case against Zardari; $60 mln unfrozen|date=August 26, 2008|accessdate=June 13, 2009 | work=Reuters}}</ref>

When Bhutto returned to office in 1993, Zardari was released from jail and became a government minister. In 1996, after a change of government, Zardari was again arrested. From 1997 to 2004, Zardari was kept in jail on various corruption charges and accusations of murder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2008/02/2008525184051439106.html |title=CENTRAL/S. ASIA - Profile: Asif Ali Zardari |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date= |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> Pakistani investigators accused Zardari and his wife Benazir for embezzling as much as US$1.5 billion from government accounts.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ali |first=Asif |url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/z/asif_ali_zardari/index.html |title=Asif Ali Zardari News - The New York Times |publisher=Topics.nytimes.com |date=2009-12-17 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> He was also accused of allegedly plotting the murder of Murtaza Bhutto, the brother of his wife Benazir Bhutto. He was later cleared.<ref name="bbcprofileleader" /> Another allegation involved an estate in [[Surrey]] which Pakistani press speculated was purchased by Zardari.<ref>Alastair Lawson (December 10, 1999). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/558545.stm 'Surrey Palace' saga for Benazir]. ''BBC''. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref><ref name="HOUSE OF GRAFT">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/09/world/house-graft-tracing-bhutto-millions-special-report-bhutto-clan-leaves-trail.html|title= House of graft: tracing the Bhutto millions|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=2009-10-01 | first=John F. | last=Burns | date=1998-01-09}}</ref> Zardari was similarly accused of purchasing {{convert|307|acre|km2}} of land in [[Islamabad]] at "below the prevailing market price" in 1994 through an intermediary. In March 2009, a company owned by Zardari and his son Bilawal purchased the land for [[Pakistani rupee|Rs]] 62 million. The [[Capital Development Authority]] (CDA) valued adjacent land at Rs 850,000 per [[kanal (unit)|kanal]] (Rs 6.8 million per acre); if the {{convert|307|acre|km2}} of land were valued on a similar rate, it would be valued around Rs 2 billion.<ref>Ansar Abbasi (November 3, 2009). [http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=25353 Zardari and Bilawal buy 300 acres of land in Islamabad]</ref> Zardari's financial history was one case study in a 1999 [[US Senate]] report on various vulnerabilities in banking procedures.<ref>[http://hsgac.senate.gov/110999_report.htm Minority staff report for permanent subcommittee on investigations hearing on private banking and money laundering: a case study of opportunities and vulnerabilities] (November 9, 1999) senate.gov. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref>

A New York psychiatrist found in March 2007 that Zardari's time in jail left him with memory impairments. Zardari claims to have been tortured.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/2622123/Pakistan-presidential-candidate-Asif-Ali-Zardari-suffering-from-severe-mental-problems.html Pakistan presidential candidate Asif Ali Zardari 'suffering from severe mental problems'] (August 26, 2008). ''Telegraph''. Retrieved 2009-02-10.</ref> In response to media reports when Zardari stood for the Pakistani presidency in 2008, the Pakistani Ambassador to the United States, Husain Haqqani, said that Zardari had no current mental condition requiring psychiatric help or medication.<ref>Andrew Buncombe and Omar Waraich (August 26, 2008). [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/questions-raised-over-zardari-mental-health-909373.html Questions raised over Zardari mental health]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved 2009-02-20.</ref><ref>[http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/02-Sep-2008/Haqqani-says-Zardari-has-no-current-mental-condition Haqqani says Zardari has no current mental condition] (September 2, 2008). ''The Nation''. Retrieved 2009-02-20.</ref>

In October 2007, the president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, issued the [[National Reconciliation Ordinance]] which granted amnesty to politicians in office from 1986 to 1999.<ref name="dawn080306">Mudassir Raja (March 6, 2008). [http://www.dawn.com/2008/03/06/top4.htm Asif Ali Zardari cleared in five corruption cases]. dawn.com. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref> That closed corruption cases facing Zardari. In December 2009, the [[Supreme Court of Pakistan]] declared the amnesty unconstitutional and ordered the government to reopen criminal cases closed under the amnesty.<ref>Alex Rodriguez (December 17, 2009). [http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/17/world/la-fg-pakistan-court17-2009dec17 Pakistan declares amnesty law unconstitutional]. ''LA Times''. Accessed 2010-01-03.</ref>

==Co-chairman of the PPP==
[[File:Zardari.jpg|180px|thumb|Asif Ali Zardari|right]]
[[Benazir Bhutto assassination|Benazir Bhutto was assassinated]] on 27 December 2007, shortly after returning to Pakistan from exile. On 30 December 2007, Asif Ali Zardari became the co-chairman of the PPP, along with his son [[Bilawal Bhutto Zardari]], who is currently studying at Oxford. Bilawal is intended to fully assume the post when he completes his education.

After the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Zardari reaffirmed his lack of interest in the [[Prime Minister of Pakistan|prime ministership]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topnews.in/asif-ali-zardari-does-not-desire-prime-minister-office-221193 |title=Asif Ali Zardari does not desire Prime Minister office Top News |publisher=Topnews.in |date= |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/330129/1/.html |title=Channelnewsasia.com |publisher=Channelnewsasia.com |date=2008-02-21 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> Chairman Zardari and [[Mian Nawaz Sharif]], leader of the [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)|PML-N]], along with some smaller political parties, joined forces in an electoral coalition that won a heavy majority in the elections and unseated Musharraf's ruling [[Pakistan Muslim League-Q]] (PML-Q). After the election, he called for a government of national unity, and divided cabinet portfolios among coalition partners on proportionate basis.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bhutto's widower calls for unity |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/20/pakistan/index.html |publisher=CNN |accessdate=2008-02-21 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080418095016/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/20/pakistan/index.html |archivedate = April 18, 2008}}</ref> Asif Ali Zardari and former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on 21 February 2008 that their parties would work together in the national parliament after scoring big wins in the election.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/21/pakistan/index.html "Pakistan leaders agree on coalition"], CNN.com, 21 February 2008.</ref>

On 5 March 2008, Zardari was cleared of five corruption charges as part of a court ruling which "abolished the cases against all public office holders" under the [[National Reconciliation Ordinance]].<ref name="dawn080306" /> He had another trial on the remaining charges on 14 April 2008, when he was cleared under the same NRO.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/2008/03/15/top3.htm |title=Asif emerges as 'Mr Clean' after acquittal in last case |publisher=Dawn.com |date=2008-03-15 |accessdate=2010-08-06}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C08%5C30%5Cstory_30-8-2008_pg7_35 |publisher=Daily Times, Pakistan| title=Zardari plea to end NRO cases adjourned until 16th| date=30 August 2008}}</ref>

On 19 April 2008, Zardari announced in a press conference in London that he and his sister, [[Faryal Talpur]], would participate in the by-elections taking place on 3 June and that, if necessary, he would contest to become the country's next Prime Minister, even though his party voted by a 2/3 majority<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=90269&videoChannel=1&refresh=true |title=Zardari wins presidential election | Video |publisher=Reuters.com |date=2009-02-09 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> to announce that [[Yousaf Raza Gillani]] would be the PM for a five year term.

===Presidential candidacy===
Zardari, in alliance with Nawaz Sharif, was preparing to [[Movement to impeach Pervez Musharraf|impeach President Pervez Musharraf]], and a charge-sheet and draft of impeachment had already been prepared, when Musharraf, in accordance with his advisors, resigned from the presidency on 18 August 2008. Chairman Zardari was confirmed by the [[Central Executive Committee]] of the PPP and was endorsed by the rival ethnic party [[Muttahida Qaumi Movement]] (MQM) as candidate for the post of [[President of Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7575958.stm |title=South Asia | Zardari nominated to be president |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-08-22 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> There was nevertheless strong disagreement among the current coalition partners, and Nawaz Sharif's [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)]] (PML-N) party was threatening to leave the coalition as a result.<ref name="nether">[http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/5930497/Pakistan-to-choose-president-on-6-September radionetherlands.nl, Pakistan to choose president on 6 September]{{dead link|date=August 2010}}</ref> According to the Constitution, elections must be held within 30 days of the previous president stepping down. The electoral college is composed of the Senate, the National Assembly, and the four provincial assemblies.

Pakistan's Election Commission on 22 August announced that a presidential election would be held on 6 September, and the nomination papers could be filed from 26 August.<ref name="nether" /><ref name="toi">
Asif Ali Zardari was elected President, Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 6 September 2008 after receiving 66% votes.
[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pakistan_to_hold_next_presidential_poll_on_September_6/articleshow/3392858.cms timesofindia.indiatimes.com, Pakistan presidential poll on September 6]</ref>

''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that [[Zalmay Khalilzad]], [[United States Ambassador to the United Nations]], had been unofficially advising Asif Ali Zardari.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/washington/26diplo.html?bl&ex=1219896000&en=262a7f83cc5b8c72&ei=5087 U.N. Envoy's Ties to Pakistani Are Questioned]</ref> Khalilzad, an [[Pashtun people|Afghan]] native, had been rumored to be flirting with the possibility of returning home to challenge [[President of Afghanistan|President]] [[Hamid Karzai]] when his first term expired in 2009.

==President of Pakistan==
[[File:Barack Obama, Hamid Karzai & Asif Ali Zardari after trilateral meeting 5-6-09 1.jpg|thumb|250px|Afghan President [[Hamid Karzai]], US Vice President [[Joe Biden]], US President [[Barack Obama]] and Zardari after the [[Afghanistan]]-[[USA]]-Pakistan trilateral meeting in 2009]]
Zardari was elected president of Pakistan, as Chief election commissioner Qazi Mohammad Farooq announced that "Asif Ali Zardari secured 281 votes out of the 426 valid votes polled in the parliament." In Sindh, Zardari had 62 of the 65 electoral votes while his two main opponents got zero votes; in North West Frontier Province Zardari got 56 votes against 5 by Siddiqui and one by Hussain; in Balochistan, 59 votes while Siddiqui and Hussain got 2 each. However, Zardari did not win the majority in the nation's biggest province, Punjab, where the PML-N's Siddiqui got a clear majority.<ref>{{cite web|author=(AFP) – Sep 5, 2008 |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i9dz2ZxX6MRv5ZOKT4cx4-1O_qTQ |title=afp.google.com, Zardari wins Pakistan presidential election: officials |publisher=Afp.google.com |date=2008-09-05 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> [[BBC]] reported that Zardari "won 481 votes, far more than the 352 votes that would have guaranteed him victory."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7600917.stm |title=news.bbc.co.uk, Bhutto's widower wins presidency |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-09-06 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> ''[[New York Times]]'' said that Zardari would be sworn in "as soon as Saturday night or as late as Monday or Tuesday, diplomats and officials said."<ref>{{cite news | coauthors = Jane Perlez and Salman Masood | title = Bhutto’s Widower Wins Pakistani Presidency | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/world/asia/07zardari.html?hp | work = The New York Times | publisher = The New York Times Company | location = New York, NY | pages = | page = | date =2008-09-06 | accessdate = 2008-09-10| quote =}}</ref>

Zardari was challenged by Justice (Retired) [[Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui]], a former judge nominated by Nawaz Sharif's PML-N, and [[Mushahid Hussain Sayed]], who was nominated by the PML-Q, which backed Musharraf. According to the Constitution of 1973 presently in vogue (but declared for major amendments by Zardari) the President of Pakistan, who must be a Muslim, is elected by an electoral college composed of members of the two houses of parliament - the 342 seat lower house National Assembly and the 100 member upper house Senate, as well as members of the four provincial assemblies - Sindh, [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]], [[North West Frontier]] and [[Balochistan (Pakistan)|Balochistan]]. The assemblies have total of 1170 seats, but the number of electoral college votes is 702 since provincial assembly votes are counted on a proportional basis. The new president, who obtains the largest number of votes, will serve for five years as Pakistan's 11th president since 1956, when the country became an Islamic Republic, excluding acting presidents and [[Chief Martial Law Administrator]]s during times of military rule.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pakistans_presidential_poll_today_Zardari_front-runner/articleshow/3451196.cms timesofindia.indiatimes.com, Zardari front-runner]{{dead link|date=August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=(AFP) – Sep 5, 2008 |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jwCcx11NqhunSNBZD7-my_37q0PA |title=afp.google.com, Bhutto's widower set to become Pakistan president |publisher=Afp.google.com |date=2008-09-05 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> Voting was in progress at the Parliament House, while the Senate members finished casting their votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=54367 |title=thenews.com.pk, Presidential election polling completed in Senate, underway in assemblies |publisher=Thenews.com.pk |date=2008-09-06 |accessdate=2010-08-06}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

Zardari was sworn in by Chief Justice [[Abdul Hameed Dogar]] in a ceremony at the presidential palace on September 9, 2008.<ref>Jane Perlez, [http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/09/asia/10pstan.php "Bhutto's widower takes office in Pakistan"], ''International Herald Tribune'', 9 September 2008.</ref> He addressed the parliament for the first time on September 20, 2008, but the event was overshadowed by the suicide bomb blast which destroyed the Marriott Hotel, Islamabad. Although Asif Ali Zardari was elected constitutionally, he was administered the oath of office by Justice [[Abdul Hameed Dogar]] who took oath as Chief Justice of Pakistan under the [[Provisional Constitutional Order]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/04/top3.htm |title=Justice Dogar new CJ; a number of judges opt out -DAWN - Top Stories; November 04, 2007 |publisher=DAWN |date=2007-11-04 |accessdate=2010-08-06}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Earlier, a supreme court ruling by a 7-member bench of the SC had overturned the PCO. The ruling by the 7-member bench stated:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/04/top2.htm |title=Seven judges reject PCO before being sent home -DAWN - Top Stories; November 04, 2007 |publisher=DAWN |date=2007-11-04 |accessdate=2010-08-06}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> "Appointment of the chief justice or judges of the Supreme Court or chief justices of the high courts under the new PCO would be unlawful and without jurisdiction."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=17208 |title=Zardari constitutional president: Aitzaz |publisher=Thenews.com.pk |date= |accessdate=2010-08-06}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

Shafqat Mahmood, a former associate of Ms Bhutto, has said: "Mr Zardari has an image problem, because of a lingering reputation of corruption, despite not having been convicted of any wrongdoing. He will need to change this image.”<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4687053.ece|title=From jail to high office: the strange journey of Asif Ali Zardari|author=Zahid Hussain |date=September 6, 2008|work=[[The Times]]|accessdate=2008-09-15 | location=London}}</ref>

===Constitutional reform===
In 2009, President Zardari told the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that he wished to repeal the [[Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan]] Article 58 2(b) of the [[Eighth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan]] to limit the powers of the President of Pakistan that had been expanded by previous administrations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C07%5C07%5Cstory_7-7-2009_pg1_5|title=Zardari for repeal of 17th Amend, 58(2b)|last=Ghuman|first= Zulfiqar |date=2009-07-07|accessdate=2009-07-27}}</ref> Zardari ceded several of his most important powers, including the chairmanship of the agency that oversees Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, to Prime Minister [[Yousaf Raza Gillani|Gillani]].

==Relationships with world leaders==
[[File:Barack Obama, Hamid Karzai & Asif Ali Zardari in trilateral meeting 5-6-09 3.jpg|thumb|240px|Zardari (right) with president [[Barack Obama]] (center) and president [[Hamid Karzai]] (left) during a US-Afghan-Pakistan Trilateral meeting]]
Zardari picked China for first state visit after being elected in September 2008. Chinese President [[Hu Jintao]] has pledged to work with Zardari to build a stronger political and economic partnership between the two countries.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.geo.tv/2-24-2009/35859.htm|title=Zardari, Hu Jintao discuss bilateral relations|date=February 24, 2009|accessdate=2009-06-09}}</ref>

Zardari attended the [[United Nations General Assembly]] on 25 September 2008 and 25 September 2009 respectively, and gave his trademark speech with a framed picture of his assassinated wife, the late Benazir Bhutto nearby to remind the world that he's her husband.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=70583&sectionid=351020401 |title=Zardari lashes out at US in UN speech |publisher=Presstv.ir |date=2008-09-26 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/sep/26/i-am-following-benazirs-path-says-zardari.htm |title=I am following Benazir's path, says Zardari: Rediff.com India News |publisher=News.rediff.com |date=2009-09-26 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref>

On September 24, 2008 while in the United States, Zardari met the [[Republican Party (United States)|U.S. Republican Party's]] [[Vice President of the United States|Vice Presidential]] candidate, [[Sarah Palin]]. His [[tongue-in-cheek]] comments to Palin, while shaking hands, that "I might hug you", created controversy and was the cause for a (non-violent) '[[fatwa]]' against him because his "praise of a non-Muslim lady wearing a short skirt" was un-Islamic.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/10/02/2008-10-02_pakistan_president_asif_ali_zardari_subj.html|title=Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari |last=Saltonstall|first=David|date=2008-10-02|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|accessdate=2008-10-07}}</ref>

A leaked March 2009 U.S. diplomatic cable described Saudi perceptions of Zardari as "strained
because the Saudis don't trust Zardari and see him and other leading Pakistani politicians as corrupt", noting that his November 2008 trip to Saudi Arabia did not lead to "Saudi assistance or other commitments".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2009/03/09RIYADH496.html|title=Viewing cable 09RIYADH496, SCENESETTER FOR SENATOR BOND'S APRIL 6-8 VISIT TO|author=American Embassy Riyadh ("DEPT FOR H(SHANE) AND H/RGF(LANG)")|date=2009-03-31}}</ref> Another cable reported that "King Abdullah firmly believes that Asif Zardari is the primary obstacle to the government's ability to move unequivocally to end terrorist safe havens there ("when the head is rotten, it affects the whole body")."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2010/02/10RIYADH178.html|title=Viewing cable 10RIYADH178, SCENESETTER FOR SECRETARY CLINTON'S FEB 15-16|author=Ambassador [[James Smith]]|date=2010-02-11}}</ref>

Zardari met with U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] and Afghanistan President [[Hamid Karzai]] at the White House in May 2009 to discuss security issues in the region.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.voanews.com/uspolicy/2009-05-14-voa4.cfm|title=Obama, Karzai, Zardari Meet|date=May 14, 2009|accessdate=2009-06-09}}</ref>

Upon the re-election of Indian Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]], Asif Ali Zardari phoned Dr. Singh and offered his congratulations and an offer to work with the Indian government to address challenges in the region.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/22/content_11420690.htm|title= Pakistani leaders vow to work with new Indian gov't|author=Deng Shasha|date=May 22, 2009|accessdate=2009-06-09}}</ref>

In October 2009, he met with Pope [[Benedict XVI]] in order to discuss the situation of [[Christianity in Pakistan|Pakistani Christians]] in context of blasphemy law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/14-interfaith-harmony-zj-03 |title=Interfaith harmony |publisher=Dawn.com |date= |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commonscat}}
{{Wikinews|Asif Ali Zardari}}
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4032997.stm Profile: Asif Zardari] from ''[[BBC News]]''
* [http://www.un.org/ga/63/generaldebate/pakistan.shtml President Asif Ali Zardari's address to the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly], September 25, 2008
* [http://www.dawn.net/wps/wcm/connect/dawn+content+library/Dawn/News/Specials/President+Election/ Pakistan's presidential election] at ''[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]''

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Benazir Bhutto]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Co-Chairman of the [[Pakistan Peoples Party]]|years=2007–present|alongside=[[Bilawal Zardari Bhutto]]}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Muhammad Mian Soomro]] Acting}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of Pakistan]]|years=2008–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{PakistaniPresidents}}
{{Pakistan topics}}


{{Persondata
|NAME= Zardari, Asif Ali
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=آصف علی زرداری
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=12th [[President of Pakistan]]
|DATE OF BIRTH= 1955-7-26
|PLACE OF BIRTH= [[Karachi]], [[Pakistan]]
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zardari, Asif Ali}}

[[Category:1955 births]]

[[Category:Baloch people]]
[[Category:Bhutto family]]
[[Category:Current national leaders]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Pakistan Peoples Party politicians]]
[[Category:Pakistani billionaires]]
[[Category:Pakistani businesspeople]]
[[Category:Pakistani politicians]]
[[Category:Pakistani Shi'a Muslims]]
[[Category:People from Karachi]]
[[Category:Petarians]]
[[Category:Presidents of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Shi'a politicians]]
[[Category:Sindhi people]]
[[Category:Spouses of national leaders]]
[[Category:Tumandars]]
[[Category:Zardari family]]
[[Category:Pakistani expatriates in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Pakistani exiles]]

[[ar:آصف علي زرداري]]
[[az:Asif Əli Zərdari]]
[[bn:আসিফ আলি জারদারি]]
[[br:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[bg:Асиф Али Зардари]]
[[cs:Asif Alí Zardárí]]
[[da:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[de:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[et:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[el:Ασίφ Αλί Ζαρντάρι]]
[[es:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[eo:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[fa:آصف‌علی زرداری]]
[[fr:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ga:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ko:아시프 알리 자르다리]]
[[hy:Ասիֆ Ալի Զարդարի]]
[[hi:आसिफ अली जरदारी]]
[[id:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[it:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[he:אסיף עלי זרדרי]]
[[kn:ಆಸಿಫ್ ಅಲಿ ಜರ್ದಾರಿ]]
[[kk:Зардари, Әсіф Әлі]]
[[ms:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[nl:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ja:アースィフ・アリー・ザルダーリー]]
[[no:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[nn:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[pnb:آصف علی زرداری]]
[[nds:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[pl:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[pt:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ro:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ru:Зардари, Асиф Али]]
[[sl:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[sr:Асиф Али Зардари]]
[[sh:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[fi:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[sv:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ta:ஆசிஃப் அலி சர்தாரி]]
[[tr:Asıf Ali Serdari]]
[[ur:آصف علی زرداری]]
[[ug:زاردارى]]
[[vi:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[yi:אסיף אלי זארדארי]]
[[yo:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[zh:阿西夫·阿里·扎尔达里]]

Emirates Stadium

2011-01-22T06:05:55Z

SirSadiq: add links

{{infobox stadium
| name = Emirates Stadium
| nickname =
| logo_image = [[File:Emirates Stadium logo.jpg|160px]]
| logo_caption =
| image = [[Image:Emirates Stadium - East side - Composite.jpg|300px]]
| caption = The West face of the stadium
| location = [[Holloway, London|Holloway]], [[London Borough of Islington|Islington]], [[London]] N5 1BU
| coordinates = {{Coord|51|33|18|N|0|6|31|W|type:landmark_scale:3000_region:GB|display=it}}
| opened = 22 July 2006
| owner = [[Arsenal F.C.]]
| surface = [[Desso GrassMaster]]
| dimensions = 105 × 68 metres
| architect = [[Populous (architects)|HOK Sport (now Populous)]]<ref>
{{cite journal
|url= http://portfolio.populous.com/projects/emirates.html
|title= Emirates Stadium
|publisher= Populous
}}</ref>| structural engineer = [[Buro Happold]]
| services engineer = [[Buro Happold]]
| main_contractors = [[Sir Robert McAlpine]]
| construction_cost = [[Pound sterling|£]] 390 million
[[Pound sterling|£]] 470 million (entire project to date)
| former_names = Ashburton Grove| capacity = 60,355 seated<ref name="2007annualreport"/>
| suites = 152
| tenants = [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal Football Club]] (2006–)
}}
The '''Emirates Stadium''' ({{IPA-en|ðiːˈɛmərəts|IPA}}) formerly '''Ashburton Grove''', is a [[Association football|football]] [[stadium]] located in [[London]] and is the current home of [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal FC]]. The stadium opened in July 2006 and has an all seated capacity of 60355,<ref name="2007annualreport">{{Cite web
| url=http://www.arsenal.com/userIncludes/docs/Arsenal_Annual_Report_May_2007_FINAL.pdf
|format=PDF| title=Statement of Accounts and Annual Report 2006/2007
| publisher=Arsenal Holdings plc
| month=May | year=[[2007]]
| accessdate=19 December 2007
|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080216031023/http://www.arsenal.com/userIncludes/docs/Arsenal_Annual_Report_May_2007_FINAL.pdf |archivedate = February 16, 2008}}</ref> making it the second largest football club stadium in [[England]] behind [[Manchester United]]'s [[Old Trafford]], and the third largest stadium of any kind in London, after [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]] and [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]], and overall the fifth largest football stadium in the [[United Kingdom]]. It was initially known as Ashburton Grove after the road it was located on, before a [[naming rights]] deal with the airline [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]] was struck in October 2004. The project cost £390 million, including the cost of the associated infrastructure.<ref name="2007annualreport"/>

==Stadium==
[[File:Emirates aerial.jpg|thumb|left|260px|An aerial view of the Emirates Stadium and surrounding area including Arsenal's former stadium Highbury, which has since been redeveloped into [[Highbury Square]]]]
The stadium is a four-tiered bowl with roofing over the stands but not over the pitch. The design team included architects [[Populous (architects)|HOK Sport]] (now known as Populous), construction consultants [[Arcadis AYH plc|Arcadis AYH]], and engineering firm [[Buro Happold]]. The stadium was constructed by [[Sir Robert McAlpine]]<ref name="firstball"/> on the site of Ashburton Grove [[industrial estate]], several hundred yards from Arsenal's former home at [[Arsenal Stadium|Highbury]].

The upper (26,646) and lower (24,425) parts of Emirates Stadium feature standard seating. For the [[2006-07 in English football|2006–07]] season, ticket prices for an adult ranged between £32 and £66 for most matches, but were as low as £13 for juniors and Cannon Club members, in the family enclosure only (designated "Category B"), with the price rising for "Category A" matches against certain top sides to between £46 and £94, with around £20 for juniors in the family enclosure.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/membership/buy-tickets | title=Ticket Information | work=Arsenal.com | accessdate=8 December 2006 }}</ref> Season ticket prices for 2006–07 ranged between £885 and £1,825.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/userincludes/docs/arsenal_brochure2.pdf |format=PDF| title=Season Ticket Information 2006/07 | work=Arsenal.com | accessdate=8 December 2006 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20061207103939/http://www.arsenal.com/userincludes/docs/arsenal_brochure2.pdf |archivedate = December 7, 2006}}</ref>

[[Image:Emirates Stadium, Nearly empty.jpg|thumb|right|Interior of the stadium.]]
[[Image:Southbridgearsenal.jpg|thumb|right|View of the Clock End Bridge with the ARSENAL statue lettering in the foreground and the Emirates Stadium in the background]]
The main middle tier, known as the "Club Level", is premium priced and also includes the director's box. There are 7,139 seats at this level, which are sold on licences lasting from one to four years. The cost of club tier seats for 2006–07 ranges from £2,500 to £4,750 per season and covers admission to all home league games and any home games Arsenal play in the [[UEFA Champions League]], [[FA Cup]] and [[Football League Cup|Carling Cup]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/emiratesstadium/article.asp?article=235178&Title=Arsenal+launch+Club+Level&lid=the+stadium+-+Latest+News | title=Arsenal launch Club Level | work=Arsenal.com | date=1 November 2004 | accessdate=8 December 2006 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20060427052249/http://www.arsenal.com/emiratesstadium/article.asp?article=235178&Title=Arsenal+launch+Club+Level&lid=the+stadium+-+Latest+News |archivedate = April 27, 2006}}</ref> These were sold out by May 2006.
Immediately above the club tier there is a small tier consisting of 150 boxes of 10, 12 and 15 seats. The total number of spectators at this level is 2,222. Box prices start at £65,000 per annum plus [[Value Added Tax|VAT]], and covers admission to all home league games and any home games Arsenal play in the UEFA Champions League, FA Cup and Carling Cup.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www1.arsenal.com/platinummembership/ | title=Platinum Membership | work=Arsenal.com }}</ref> The most exclusive area in the stadium is known as the "Diamond Club" which is invitation only and costs £25,000 up front plus £25,000 a year.<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.arsenal.com/155/unhoused-import-pages/latest-stadium-news/diamond-club-signs-star-chef
| title = Diamond club signs star chef
| first =
| last =
| work = Arsenal.com
| date = 10 February 2006
| accessdate = 10 January 2011}}</ref>
The high demand for tickets, as well as the relative wealth of their London fans, means revenue from premium seating and corporate boxes is nearly as high as the revenue from the entire stadium at Highbury.<ref>Based on a quote by chief executive [[Keith Edelman]] in ''Management Today'', quoted in: {{cite web | url=http://www.anr.uk.com/articles/i-2004-08-06-20-59-11.html | title=Reasons to be cheerful | work=ANR | date=6 August 2004 | accessdate=8 December 2006 }}</ref>

The pitch is 105 × 68 metres in size,<ref name="*Emirates Stadium">{{cite web

| url=http://www.arsenal.com/assets/_files/documents/oct_09/gun__1255358919_012-015.emirates.pdf
| title=Emirates Stadium Facts
| publisher=Arsenal.com
| accessdate= October 2009 }}</ref> while at Highbury it was 100 x 66.7 meters. "The total grass area at Emirates is 113m x 76m".<ref name="key_facts">{{cite web
| url=http://www.arsenal.com/assets/_files/documents/oct_09/gun__1255358919_012-015.emirates.pdf
| title=Emirates Stadium Facts
| work=Arsenal.com
| accessdate=October 2009

}}</ref> It runs north-south like at Highbury, with the players' tunnel and the dugouts on the west side of the pitch underneath the main TV camera. The away fans are found in the south-east corner of the lower tier. The away supporter configuration can be expanded from 1,500 seats to 4,500 seats behind the south goal in the lower tier, and a further 4,500 seats can be made available also in the upper tier, bringing the total to 9,000 supporters (the regulation 15% required for domestic cup competitions such as the [[FA Cup]] and [[Football League Cup|Carling Cup]]).<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jan/04/facup-arsenal
| title = Arsenal 3–1 Plymouth
| first = Jamie
| last = Jackson
| work = The Guardian
| date = 4 January 2009
| accessdate = 10 January 2011}}</ref>

The upper tier is contoured to leave open space in the corners of the ground, and the roof is significantly canted inwards. Both of these features are meant to provide as much airflow and sunlight to the pitch as possible. Arsenal have a reputation for having one of the best playing surfaces in the world, and the design of the new stadium took this into account. This does have the effect that supporters in the upper tier on one side of the ground are unable to see supporters in the upper tier opposite. In the north-west and south-east corners of the stadium are two giant screens suspended from the roof. The club are currently in the process of examining whether to add a third giant screen in the north-east corner of the stadium.

The new stadium pays tribute to Arsenal's former home, Highbury. The club's offices are officially called Highbury House, located north-east of Emirates Stadium, and house the bust of [[Herbert Chapman]] that used to reside at Highbury. Three other busts that used to reside at Highbury of [[Claude Ferrier]] (architect of Highbury's East stand), [[Denis Hill-Wood]] (Former Arsenal chairman and father of current chairman [[Peter Hill-Wood]]) and [[Arsène Wenger]] (current Arsenal manager) have also been moved to Emirates Stadium and are currently in display in the entrance of the Diamond Club.<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/commenorative-busts-unveiled-pictures
| title = Commemorative busts unveiled – Pictures
| first =
| last =
| work = Arsenal.com
| date = 18 October 2007
| accessdate = 10 January 2011}}</ref>

Additionally, the two bridges over the railway line to the east of the stadium, connecting the stadium to Drayton Park, are called the Clock End and North Bank bridges, after the stands at Highbury; the [[clock]] that gave its name to the old Clock End has been resited on the exterior of Emirates Stadium facing the bridge of the same name.<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.arsenal.com/history/the-arsenal-clock
| title = The Arsenal Clock
| first =
| last =
| work = Arsenal.com
| accessdate = 10 January 2011}}</ref>

The Arsenal club museum, which was formerly held in the North Bank Stand, opened in October 2006 and is located to the north of the stadium, within the Northern Triangle building.<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.arsenal.com/history/the-arsenal-museum
| title = The Arsenal Museum
| first =
| last =
| work = Arsenal.com
| accessdate = 10 January 2011}}</ref>

{{Wide image|Emirates Stadium - East stand Club Level.jpg|1000px|<center>A [[panorama]] of players warming up from the East side</center>}}

==Name==
[[Image:Emirates-stadionin etupuoli.jpg|thumb|right|The Emirates Stadium sign]]
It was announced on 5 October 2004 that [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates Airline]] had signed a 15-year deal for naming right of the stadium, worth £100M. This sum also includes payments for an eight-year shirt sponsorship by Emirates, starting in the [[2006-07 in English football|2006–07]] season.<ref name="emiratesdeal">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3715678.stm | title=Arsenal name new ground | work=BBC Sport | date=5 October 2004 | accessdate=8 December 2006 }}</ref>

The stadium name is often colloquially shortened from "Emirates Stadium" to "The Emirates", although some supporters continue to use the former name "Ashburton Grove" or even "The Grove" for the new stadium, especially those who object to the concept of [[corporation|corporate]] [[sponsor (commercial)|sponsor]]ship of stadium names.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal-world.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=283908 | title=The 'E' Word | author=Brian Dawes | work=Arsenal World | date=26 may 2006 | accessdate=8 December 2006 }}</ref> This discrepancy between official and unofficial names is similar to the manner in which Arsenal's former ground, [[Arsenal Stadium]], was almost universally referred to as "Highbury" by supporters, the media and the club itself.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/arsenal-stadium-highbury | work=Arsenal.com | title=Arsenal Stadium, Highbury | accessdate=8 December 2006 }}</ref>

Due to [[UEFA]] regulations on stadium sponsors, during [[UEFA Champions League]] matches the stadium is not officially referred to as Emirates Stadium, as Emirates are not an official sponsor of the Champions League competition; other stadia, such as the [[Allianz Arena]] in [[Munich]], have fallen foul of this rule before.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.wldcup.com/news/2005Oct/20051006_32335_world_soccer.html | title=UEFA likely to fine Bayern for breaching advertising laws | work=World Soccer News | date=6 October 2005 | accessdate=8 December 2006 }}</ref> UEFA refer to the stadium as Arsenal Stadium,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UCL/FixturesResults/Round=2357/Match=1116342/Report=PR.html | title=New home, old mentality at Arsenal | author=Matthew Spiro | work=UEFA.com | date=26 September 2006 | accessdate=8 December 2006 }}</ref> which was the official name of the stadium at Highbury.

==History==
===The need for a new stadium===
Arsenal started looking to develop a larger stadium during the later part of the 1990s, as their existing ground at [[Arsenal Stadium|Highbury]] had a capacity of 38,419<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=The+Club&article=344883&Title=Highbury#
| archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080111223345/http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=The+Club&article=344883&Title=Highbury
| archivedate=11 January 2008
| title=Highbury
| work=Arsenal.com
| accessdate=28 July 2006
}}

</ref> when it became all-seater in 1993, which was lower than the stadium capacities of almost every other European football club of comparable stature. There was little room for expansion as the East Stand backed directly onto the pavement of a public road and the other three backed onto housing; in addition the East Stand is a Grade II [[listed building]]. Local residents had objected to any expansion of the stadium and the local council was not sympathetic.

Arsenal had a season ticket waiting list which had been closed for some time with over 20,000 members, and were missing out on a great deal of potential revenue. However, finding a site for a new stadium in London was extremely difficult.

The club were willing to consider a location close to the [[M25 motorway]] if necessary, but had a strong preference for a location in the [[London Borough of Islington]] close to Highbury. At one stage they had considered moving to [[Wembley Stadium]] (Arsenal had played [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] games at the old [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] during the [[1998-99 in English football|1998–99]] and [[1999-2000 in English football|1999–2000]] seasons) but in the end pulled out of the plans.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.islington.gov.uk/Environment/Planning/MajorSchemes/ArsenalStadium/default.asp | title=Arsenal Stadium| work=Islington Council }}</ref> When the Wembley revamp was given the go-ahead in 2002, there was speculation that Arsenal and [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham]] would move into the new stadium when it was finished, even though the club was pressing ahead with the Ashburton Grove project by this stage.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3084518.stm | title=Arsenal rule out Wembley move | work=BBC Sport | date=5 September 2003 | accessdate=3 January 2010}}</ref>

===Ashburton Grove chosen===
Eventually the club selected a site, an industrial estate at Ashburton Grove, which was just five hundred yards from Highbury. The plan was announced in November 1999, with a scheduled opening date of August 2003; this later slipped back to summer 2006 due to planning and financial difficulties. <ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2409938/Arsenal-return-to-the-City-with-new-stadium-proposal.html
| title = Arsenal return to the City with new stadium proposal
| first = Mihir
| last = Bose
| work = Daily Telegraph
| date = 21 August 2003
| accessdate = 21 January 2011}}
</ref> The Ashburton Grove site had many occupants, the most significant being [[Islington London Borough Council]]'s recycling plant and the [[Royal Mail]] [[Holloway, London|Holloway]] Delivery Office. In order to develop the site, it was necessary to buy out the existing occupants, and pay for their relocation (Arsenal purchased 10 acres (40,000 m²) of former railway land on Lough Road, off Caledonian Road, to house a new recycling plant, while the Royal Mail moved to Hamilton Park); this proved to be very expensive.

===Local opposition===
Despite Arsenal's presence in [[London Borough of Islington|Islington]] for over 80 years, there were local residents and businesses who opposed the new stadium. Some who were forced to move filed a legal action in July 2002, although they lost the case.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/2164143.stm | title=Arsenal clear final hurdle | work=BBC Sport | date=31 July 2002 | accessdate=3 January 2010}}</ref>
The stadium became a major issue in the local elections in May 2006. The [[Metropolitan Police]] also demanded that supporters' coaches be parked in the nearby Sobel Sports Centre rather than in the underground [[car park]], and restrictions on access to 14 streets be imposed on match days. The [[health and safety]] certificate would not be issued unless the stadium meets such conditions, without which the stadium could not open. The road closures were passed at a council meeting, but kept under review.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/content/islington/gazette/news/story.aspx?brand=ISLGOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsislg&itemid=WeED05%20Jul%202006%2016%3A00%3A13%3A093 | title=Local Opposition to Stadium Defeated | work=Islington Gazette}}</ref>

===Construction===
[[Image:Emirates Stadium 08.jpg|thumb|right|The Emirates Stadium under construction]]
Actual construction of the stadium began in February 2004. And the stadium itself, two [[bridge]]s over the [[Northern City Line|Northern City]] [[railway]] line connecting the stadium with Drayton Park were also built; these were completed in summer 2004. The stadium topped out in August 2005, and was completed ahead of schedule and on budget. The club has announced that all of the hospitality boxes have been taken,<ref name="firstball">{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/155/unhoused-import-pages/latest-stadium-news/first-ball-kicked-at-emirates-stadium | title=First ball kicked at Emirates Stadium | work=Arsenal.com}}</ref> and by February 2006 90% of the club tier seats had been sold, by June 2006 the rest had been sold too. The first seat in the new stadium was ceremonially installed on 13 March 2006 by Arsenal midfielder [[Abou Diaby]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/diaby-grabs-a-seat-for-success | title=Diaby grabs a Seat for Success | work=Arsenal.com }}</ref> The stadium's [[Floodlights (sport)|floodlights]] were successfully tested for the first time on 25 June, and a day later the [[goal (sport)|goal]]posts were erected.

===Official opening===
[[Image:Emirates Stadium Night - East side - Composite.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The East face of the stadium at night]]
[[Image:Arsenal Emirates Stadium roof.jpg|thumb|right|Detail of the roof and supports nearing completion in March 2006]]
The Emirates Stadium was officially opened by [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]] on Thursday 26 October 2006; it had been intended that [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] would officially open the stadium as well, but she suffered a back injury and was unable to attend on the day.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/155/unhoused-import-pages/hrh-duke-of-edinburgh-officially-opens-emirates-stadium | title=Duke of Edinburgh opens Emirates Stadium | work=Arsenal.com | accessdate=26 October 2006 }}</ref> Prince Philip quipped with the crowd: "Well, you may not have my wife, but you've got the ''second'' most experienced plaque unveiler in the world.".<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3344459/Workload-forced-Queen-to-endure-pain-for-two-weeks.html
| title = Workload forced Queen to endure pain for two weeks
| first = Caroline
| last = Davies
| work = Daily Telegraph
| date = 27 October 2006
| accessdate = 21 January 2011}}</ref> The royal visit echoed the attendance of the Queen's uncle, the Prince of Wales (later [[Edward VIII of the United Kingdom|King Edward VIII]]) at the official opening of Highbury's West Stand in 1932.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/155/unhoused-import-pages/latest-stadium-news/queen-to-officially-open-emirates-stadium | title=Queen to officially open Emirates Stadium | work=Arsenal.com}}</ref> As a result of the change of plan, Queen Elizabeth did the club the honour of inviting the chairman, manager and first team to join her at [[Buckingham Palace]] for afternoon tea on 15 February 2007, the first club to be invited to the palace for such an event.<ref>[http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-meet-the-queen-at-buckingham-palace Arsenal meet The Queen at Buckingham Palace]</ref>

===Milestones===
In order to obtain the licences the stadium needed to open, it first hosted three non-full capacity events.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}} The first non full-capacity event was a shareholder open day on July 18, 2006, the second an open training session for 20,000 selected club members held on July 20. The third event on July 22 was the first match, as detailed below.
* The first match to be played at the stadium was a [[testimonial match|testimonial]] for [[Dennis Bergkamp]] against his former club, [[Ajax Amsterdam|Ajax]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?HLID=379263&CPID=8&title=Gunners+set+Dennis+date&lid=2&channel=Football_Home&f=rss | title=Gunners Set Dennis Date | work =Sky Sports Online}}</ref> The match featured four teams; the first half saw the current Arsenal and Ajax sides play each other, while after the break each club fielded "Legends" sides. Arsenal won 2–1; Ajax's [[Klaas-Jan Huntelaar]] became the first player to score a goal at the stadium, while [[Thierry Henry]] scored the first ever Arsenal goal there to equalise.<ref>{{cite news | title= Bergkamp given rousing farewell | publisher=BBC Sport | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/5203954.stm |date=22 July 2006| accessdate=23 August 2007 }}</ref> Arsenal striker [[Nwankwo Kanu|Kanu]] then won the game for Arsenal in the 81st minute with a deflected shot going in from 23 yards out.
* Arsenal's first competitive match at the stadium was an [[FA Premier League]] game against [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] on 19 August 2006, which ended 1–1. Aston Villa player [[Olof Mellberg]] scored the first goal of the game and thus the first Premier League goal at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal had to wait until 23 September 2006 for their first Premier League win at the stadium, defeating [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] 3–0.
* The first European match there was Arsenal's [[UEFA Champions League]] third qualifying round second leg match on 23 August 2006 against [[Dinamo Zagreb]].
* The first international match there was a friendly between [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] and [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]], on 3 September 2006; Brazil won 3–0 with two goals from [[Elano Blumer|Elano]] and one from [[Kaká]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/5310364.stm | title=Brazil 3–0 Argentina | work =BBC Sport | date=3 September 2006 | accessdate=3 January 2010 | first=Chris | last=Bevan}}</ref>
* Arsenal's first defeat at the Emirates Stadium was a 1–0 loss to [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] on 7 April 2007, in Arsenal's 23rd home game at the ground. Coincidentally, West Ham United were also the last team to beat Arsenal at their old home, Highbury, on 1 February 2006.
* The highest ever attendance recorded at the stadium (60,161) is on November 3, 2007, during a league match against rivals [[Manchester United]], ending in a 2–2 draw
* On May 10, 2009, local rivals [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] inflicted Arsenal's biggest ever defeat and highest scoring defeat at the stadium, winning 4–1 (the previous record of an Arsenal defeat at the stadium being a 2–0 loss to [[Aston Villa]])
* Later that year on November 29, 2009, [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] matched the record, recording a 3–0 victory against Arsenal at the stadium, making them the only team to beat Arsenal by 3 goals at the stadium, doing it twice in the space of 6 months
* Before the 2010/2011 season, the historic original "Highbury Clock" from Arsenal's last stadium was installed in the south end at the Emirates, with the sections being renamed to the East Stand, West Stand, North Bank, and Clock End as they were at Highbury. The new names as well as the clock were officially unveiled at Arsenal's first home game of the season on August 21, 2010, in a 6–0 win over [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]].
* On the 8th January 2011, The Emirates got their highest away attendance in an [[FA Cup]] third-round tie against [[Leeds United]].

===Possible expansion===
Current demand for tickets still greatly outweighs the number of seats available, with some 47,000 members on the season-ticket waiting list. Arsenal have not spoken publicly on the topic, but it has been reported that the club is looking into expanding the capacity of the stadium from its current 60,355 capacity.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2007/sep/25/arsenal.premierleague Arsenal may expand Emirates] '''The Guardian, 25 September 2007'''</ref>

==='Arsenalisation'===
In response to criticism from fans that the stadium was too corporate and lacked any nods to the teams rich heritage, the club began a program of 'Arsenalisation' of the Emirates, spearheaded by recently{{when|date=January 2011}} named CEO [[Ivan Gazidis]].<ref>http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/club-begins-arsenalisation-of-the-emirates</ref><ref>http://arsenal-mania.com/articles/3107288/Gazidis-Why-Arsenalisation-is-important.html</ref> Among the changes made since the 2009 close season:
*White seats installed in the pattern of the club's trademark cannon in the lower level stands opposite the entrance tunnel
*"The Spirit of Highbury" shrine depicting every player to have played for Arsenal during its 93 year residence at Highbury <ref>http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenalisation-special-spirit-of-highbury</ref>
*The ongoing installation of eight large murals on the exterior of the stadium, each depicting 4 Arsenal legends linking arms, such that the effect of the completed design will be 32 legends in a huddle embracing the stadium<ref>http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenalisation</ref>
*Murals depicting 12 "Greatest Moments" in Arsenal history around the lower concourse
*The renaming of the coloured seating quadrants to East Stand, West Stand, North Bank, and Clock End, as they were named at Highbury<ref name="arsenal.com">http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/emirates-stadium-stands-to-be-re-named</ref>
*The installation of a clock above the newly renamed Clock End in homage to the clock at Highbury<ref>http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/clock-to-be-placed-in-south-end-of-stadium</ref>

==Pitch==

As with its predecessor, the stadium is well known for its high quality playing surface, with the groundsmen continuing to win awards for their work.<ref>http://www.pitchcare.com/magazine/football-groundsman-of-the-year-awards.html</ref>

==Other uses==
As well as functioning as a football stadium, the Emirates Stadium also operates as a [[conference centre]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/membership/special-offers/hire-emirates-stadium | title=World Class Conference and Banqueting | work=Arsenal.com}}</ref> and [[music venue]]. On 27 March 2008 the stadium played host to a summit between [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|British Prime Minister]] [[Gordon Brown]] and [[President of France|French President]] [[Nicolas Sarkozy]], in part because the stadium was regarded as "a shining example of [[Anglo-French relations|Anglo-French co-operation]]".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30400-1310831,00.html | title=Brown And Sarkozy Tackle Credit Crunch | work=Sky News }}</ref> [[Bruce Springsteen]] and the [[E Street Band]] became the first act to play a concert at Emirates Stadium, on 30 May 2008 and played a second gig on 31 May 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/emirates-stadium-to-host-first-concert|title=Emirates Stadium to host first concert|accessdate=3 December 2007|date=3 December 2007|publisher=Arsenal.com}}</ref> On 7 June 2009, Emirates Stadium held [[95.8 Capital FM|Capital FM]]'s Summertime Ball with artists including [[Lionel Richie]], [[Leona Lewis]] and [[Blue (boy band)|Blue]]. When the [[International Rugby Board|IRB]] announced that England had won the race to host the [[2015 Rugby World Cup]] on 28 July 2009, The Emirates was named as one of the venues to host matches.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8170488.stm|title=England will host 2015 World Cup|accessdate=29 July 2009|date=28 July 2009|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> It is not yet known how many games will be played at the stadium, but it is confirmed that the stadium will be used for pool games and the Bronze (3rd place playoff) final.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8173385.stm England 2015 World Cup host stadia]</ref> Emirates Stadium had also been included in the English [[Football Association]]'s unsuccessful bid to host the [[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018 World Cup]].<ref>[http://www.england2018bid.com/hostcity/london.aspx Host City: London] England 2018 Bid site</ref>

==Attendances==
[[File:Emirates Stadium.jpg|thumb|Interior of the stadium, during an evening match against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in 2006]]
The stadium's capacity is currently 60,355,<ref name="2007annualreport"/> a slight reduction from the original capacity of 60,432 when it opened in 2006.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/155/unhoused-import-pages/latest-stadium-news/the-real-capacity-of-emirates-stadium
| title=The real capacity of Emirates Stadium
| work=Arsenal.com
| date=16 August 2006
| accessdate=24 December 2007

}}</ref> The highest attendance for a match at Emirates Stadium to date is 60,161, for a 2–2 draw with [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] on 3 November 2007.<ref>{{cite news
| url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/man-utd-game-attracts-record-attendance
| title=Man Utd game attracts record attendance
| work=Arsenal.com
| date=5 November 2007
| accessdate=24 December 2007
}}</ref> The average attendance for competitive first-team fixtures in the stadium's first season, [[2006-07 in English football|2006–07]], was 59,837, with a [[Premier League]] average attendance of 60,045.<ref>{{cite web |
url=http://www.arsenal.com/155/unhoused-import-pages/latest-stadium-news/nearly-two-million-through-the-emirates-gates |
title=Nearly two million through the Emirates gates |
work=Arsenal.com |
accessdate=24 May 2007 }}</ref> The capacity is the 2nd highest in English club football behind [[Old Trafford]]. The average league attendance increased slightly to 60,070 in [[2007-08 in English football|2007–08]], Arsenal's second season at the stadium.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tonykempster.co.uk/prematt.htm?comp=1 | title=Attendances 2007/08 | author=Kempster, Tony }}</ref> Arsenal came close to beating the attendance record on December 27, 2010 during a 3–1 home win against Chelsea, in which the attendance was 60,112 leaving it just 50 away from beating the record.<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9309539.stm
| title = Arsenal 3–1 Chelsea
| first = Phil
| last = McNulty
| work = BBC Sport
| date = 27 December 2010
| accessdate = 10 January 2011}}</ref>

==Finance==
The £470 million cost of the project, augmented by the extra costs the club had to meet besides building the stadium itself, was a formidable obstacle, especially as Arsenal were not granted any [[Subsidy|public subsidy]]. Arsenal had difficulty obtaining finance for the project, and work ceased just after it had begun, before restarting when a £260m [[loan]] package was obtained from a consortium of [[bank]]s, led by the [[Royal Bank of Scotland]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3512841.stm | title=Arsenal secure stadium cash | work=BBC Sport website | date=23 February 2004 | accessdate=8 December 2006 }}</ref>

In August 2005 Arsenal announced plans to replace most of the bank debt with [[bond (finance)|bond]]s. The proposed bond issue went ahead on 13 July 2006. The club issued £210 million worth of 13.5 year bonds with a spread of 52 [[basis point]]s over [[Gilt-edged securities|UK government bonds]] and £50 million of 7.1 year bonds with a spread of 22 basis points over [[LIBOR]]. It was the first publicly marketed, asset-backed bond issue by a European football club.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=373845&cc=5739 | title=Arsenal sell £260m bond to help finance stadium | work=Soccernet | date=13 July 2006 | accessdate=8 December 2006 }}</ref> The effective [[interest rate]] on these bonds is 5.14% and 5.97% respectively, and they are due to be paid back over a 25 year period; the move to bonds has reduced the club's annual debt service cost to approximately £20 million a year.<ref name="2007annualreport"/> On 31 May 2007 the club's net debt stood at £262.1 million.<ref name="2007annualreport"/>

However at the same time there are multiple sources of income for the club; the remainder of the Lough Road site is being used for new housing, as are the surplus areas around the stadium at Ashburton Grove. Highbury is currently being converted into apartments, most of which have been sold. In total, more than 2,000 homes will be built at the three sites, and the club is counting on the profit from these developments to make a major contribution towards the costs of the new stadium. Other sources of revenue include the £100m from Emirates for the naming rights, to be paid over the course of the deal<ref name="emiratesdeal"/> and a £15m contribution towards the capital costs of the stadium's catering facilities from catering firm Delaware North, which has a 20-year exclusive contract to run the stadium's catering operation.<ref name="2005annualreport">{{cite web| url=http://www.arsenal.com/userIncludes/docs/accounts2005.pdf | title=Statement of Accounts and Annual Report 2004/05 | publisher=Arsenal Football Club | year=2005 | accessdate=8 December 2006 |format=PDF |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20061023021222/http://www.arsenal.com/userIncludes/docs/accounts2005.pdf |archivedate = October 23, 2006}}</ref>

Finally, there is the increased revenue from the stadium itself. In 2005, Arsenal's then chief executive [[Keith Edelman]] commented that the new stadium is expected to increase Arsenal's turnover from typically £115 million to around £170 million.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1753334,00.html | title=Arsenal's goal with new bond | work=The Sunday Times | author=Dominic O'Connell and Dan Box | date=28 August 2005 | accessdate=8 December 2006 | location=London}}</ref> Final accounts for the year ending May 2007, Arsenal's first season at the Emirates, show that Arsenal's turnover has increased to £200.8m, compared to £137.2m the previous year and that group operating profits increased to £51.2m.<ref name="2007annualreport"/> Even once debt repayments are taken into account, the club's turnover has increased by at least £20m a year,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/arsenal-debt-increases-but-tough-years-have-now-finished-416837.html | title=Arsenal debt increases but 'tough years' have now finished | work=The Independent | date=21 September 2006 | location=London | first=Jason | last=Burt | accessdate=2 May 2010}}</ref> (in 2006–07 the club recorded a surplus of £37 million).<ref name="2007annualreport"/>

==Access==
[[Image:Ashburton Grove.svg|thumb|left|A map of the Emirates Stadium and surrounding connections]]
The Emirates Stadium is served by a number of [[London Underground]] stations and bus routes. [[Arsenal tube station]] is the closest for the northern portion of the stadium, with [[Highbury & Islington tube station]] servicing the southern end. Whilst [[Holloway Road tube station]] is the closest to the southern portion, it is entry-only before matches and exit-only afterwards to prevent overcrowding. [[Drayton Park station]], adjacent to the Clock End Bridge is shut on matchdays as the rail services to this station do not operate at weekends nor after 10 pm.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/dyp/details.html
| title=Drayton Park (DYP) | work=National Rail }}</ref>
£7.6 million had been set aside in the planning permission for upgrading Drayton Park and Holloway Road;<ref name="guardiantube">{{cite news | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2006/may/03/sport.comment1 | title=Shadow of Arsenal's grand design hangs over the little people |work=The Guardian | location=London | date=3 May 2006 | accessdate=26 March 2010 | first=David | last=Conn}}</ref> however [[Transport for London]] decided not to upgrade either station, in favour of improvement works at the interchanges at [[Highbury & Islington station|Highbury & Islington]] and [[Finsbury Park station|Finsbury Park]],<ref name="guardiantube"/> both of which are served by Underground and [[First Capital Connect]] services and are approximately a 10 minute walk away.

[[Image:TheArmoury.jpg|thumb|The Armoury]]
There are also numerous bus routes serving the area.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/emirates-stadium/get-to...-emirates-stadium | title=Get to... Emirates Stadium | work=Arsenal.com }}</ref> Driving to the Emirates Stadium is strongly not recommended; strict matchday parking restrictions are in operation around the stadium. In addition, for one hour before kick off to one hour after the final whistle there is a complete ban on vehicle movement on a number of the surrounding roads, with no exceptions.

Generally, the stadium opens to ticket holders two hours before kick off. For easy stadium access, the stadium was divided in to four colour-coded quadrants – Orange and Blue at the North end of the stadium, and Yellow and Green to the South. These were changed before the 2010–11 season. Orange became North Bank, Blue became East Stand, Yellow became West Stand and Green became Clock End.<ref name="arsenal.com"/>

The main club shop, named "The Armoury", and [[box office|ticket offices]] are located near the West Stand, with other an additional store at the base of the North Bank Bridge, named "All Arsenal" and the "Arsenal Store" next to Finsbury Park station.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/the-arsenal-store-finsbury-park-sale | title=The Arsenal Store Finsbury Park – SALE |work=Arsenal.com | location= | date=4 February 2009 | accessdate=10 January 2011 | first= | last=}}</ref>

The stadium operates an electronic ticketing system where members of "The Arsenal" (the club's fan membership scheme) use their membership cards to enter the stadium, thus removing the need for turnstile operators. Non-members are issued with one-off paper tickets embedded with an [[RFID]] tag allowing them to enter the stadium.

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Emirates Stadium}}
* [http://www.arsenal.com/thestadium Emirates Stadium – Arsenal.com] — Official website for the stadium
* [http://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/ashburton/ Article about design of stadium and surrounding area] on designbuild-network.com
* [http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Emirates+Stadium&s=rec Images of Emirates Stadium] from [[Flickr]]

{{Arsenal F.C.}}
{{Premier League venues}}
{{2015 Rugby World Cup Venues}}
{{2018 FIFA World Cup England bid venues}}

[[Category:Arsenal F.C.]]
[[Category:Football venues in England]]
[[Category:Sport in Islington]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Islington]]
[[Category:Sports venues in London]]
[[Category:Premier League venues]]
[[Category:2006 architecture]]
[[Category:The Emirates Group]]
[[Category:Visitor attractions in Islington]]

[[ar:ملعب الإمارات]]
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[[vi:Sân vận động Emirates]]
[[zh:酋长球场]]

Syed Salim Raza

2011-01-15T17:48:48Z

SirSadiq: /* External links */

'''Syed Salim Raza''' is the former [[Governor of State Bank of Pakistan]].<ref>
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/5975918-governor-state-bank-of-pakistan-resigns</ref> He succeeded Dr [[Shamshad Akhtar]] who completed her three‐year tenure as SBP Governor on January 1, 2009. Prior to his assumption of the office of SBP Governor, he was the [[CEO]] of Pakistan Business Council (PBC) since February 2006.
.<ref>http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=155181</ref> He holds a Masters degree from [[Oxford University]] and was the 15th Governor of the State Bank. Raza brought to the State Bank 36 years of international banking experience. He had been with the Citibank, N.A. in various positions that included Country and Regional Management across the Middle East, Africa and the UK, Central and Eastern Europe, based in [[London]] from 1989 to 2006. His business experience covers credit and corporate finance, real estate and global asset (bonds & equities) management. He was also the Country Head for [[Citibank]] in Pakistan from 1983 to 1987.
He has worked extensively on a variety of associated subjects, both exclusively at PBC, and also in partnership with multilateral organizations and Government bodies. He has been instrumental in preparing innumerable reports, surveys and recommendations covering a variety of subjects including corporate and tax law reforms; infrastructure development, including a dynamic role for public‐private partnerships; broadening and deepening of capital markets, creation of long‐term corporate debt markets;corporate governance; competitiveness capacity building; and a variety of other associated themes
.<ref>http://www.microfinancefocus.com/news/tag/syed-salim-raza/</ref>

==Family==

He is elder son of renowned [[bureaucrat]] and [[diplomat]] Syed Hashim Raza and brother of [[Syed Ali Raza]].He is married with three children and currently lives in Karachi, Pakistan

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sbp.org.pk/ State Bank of Pakistan]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box | before = [[Shamshad Akhtar]]| title = [[:Category:State Bank of Pakistan|Governor of State Bank of Pakistan]]|years=| after = Shahid Hafiz Kardar }}
{{s-end}}

{{Persondata 
| NAME = Salim
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Salim}}
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford]]
[[Category:Pakistani bankers]]
[[Category:Muhajir people]]
[[Category:Pakistani people stubs]]
[[Category:Governors of the State Bank of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sadiq Public School alumni]]

{{Pakistan-politician-stub}}

Ishaq Khan Khakwani

2011-01-15T17:45:07Z

SirSadiq: add correction of references

'''Ishaq Khan Khakwani''' was born in Multan, [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab province]] of Pakistan in April 1949. The former Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunications Division and Railways.

==School and College==
Khakwani went to Sadiq Public School Bahawalpur (a [[Boarding school|boarding School]]) from where he passed his [[Senior Cambridge]] certificate exams in 1965. Later he joined [[Forman Christian College]], Lahore and passed his Secondary Exams in pre-Engineering subjects in 1967. After which he was admitted into Engineering University, Mughalpura, Lahore and obtained his [[Electrical engineering|Electrical Engineering]] Degree with distinction, in 1967. Was School Prefect and declared the Best Athlete of the school in 1964 &1965

==Work==
Khakwani joined the [[Pakistan Railways]] service through Federal [[Pakistan Public Service Commission|Public Service Commission]] in 1973 and served there till he resigned his job in 1990.

==Politics==
Khakwani started his politics with Mir Murtaza Bhutto’s [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] (SB) in 1994 and later joined [[Pakistan Muslim League]] in 2002

==Polo& Sports==
Khakwani started playing polo in 1975 and actively played nationally and internationally till 2002.Is presently serving as FIP(Federation International Polo )Ambassador. Has also managed sports organizations in Pakistan in Honorary positions i.e. Pakistan Hockey, Pakistan Polo, Pakistan Athletics

==Family and Personal Life==
Khakwani is married with three sons, ages 32, 29 and 24.{{When|date=August 2010}}

==Positions Held==
1. Member Parliament, [[National Assembly of Pakistan]]
2. Federal [[Minister of State]] for Pakistan Railways
3. Federal Minister of State for IT & Telecom<ref>http://www.elections.com.pk/candidatedetails.php?id=842 Ishaq Khan Khakwani, elections.pk</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Persondata 
| NAME = Khakwani, Ishaq Khan
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 15 April 1949
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khakwani, Ishaq Khan}}
[[Category:Pakistani politicians]]
[[Category:Sadiq Public School alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Syed Ali Raza

2011-01-15T17:41:44Z

SirSadiq: dpesnt include any reference

{{unsourcedBLP|date=Janauary 2011}}
'''Syed Ali Raza''' is the former President and Chairman of the [[National Bank of Pakistan]].

He has a Bachelor of Science in [[Economics]] from the [[London School of Economics]]. He has a M.Sc. in Administrative Sciences from [[Cass Business School]]. He holds a graduate degree from [[IBA]], [[Karachi]], [[Pakistan]].

Prior to joining the National Bank of Pakistan, Raza worked for [[Bank of America]] for 26 years. His last position at Bank of America was Senior Vice President and Regional Head of [[Bank of America]] Operations for the [[Middle East]], [[North Africa]] and Pakistan region. Raza is a [[cricket]] enthusiast.

==Family==
Younger son of an outstanding bureaucrat Syed Hashimi Ahmed , Ali Raza was married to Nilofer .

==External links==
*[http://www.nbp.com.pk/ National Bank of Pakistan]

{{Persondata 
| NAME = Ali
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali}}
[[Category:Pakistani businesspeople]]
[[Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics]]
[[Category:Pakistani bankers]]
[[Category:Muhajir people]]
[[Category:Pakistani people stubs]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sadiq Public School alumni]]

{{Pakistan-business-bio-stub}}

User:SirSadiq

2011-01-15T10:05:02Z

SirSadiq: correction

{{accountcreator|both}}
{{userpage}}
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{{User:UBX/Twinkle4}}
{{User wikipedia/NP Patrol}}
{{User en}}
{{User:UBX/O positive}}
{{User contrib|150|SirSadiq}}
{{User wikipedia/Administrator maybe}}
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{{User:Prom3th3an/ubxar}}
{{Template:User Alt Acct Master}}
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[[Image:Lion's Head snow.JPG | thumb| 400px | left| A picture I took of the [[cairn|cairns]] along the Lion's Head trail while hiking [[Mount Washington (New Hampshire)|Mt. Washington]] during a snowstorm. This is at approximately {{convert|5000|ft|m}} elevation.]]
 

 
{{pic of the day}}

Syed Ali Raza

2011-01-15T10:03:49Z

SirSadiq: former president as per SCP orders

Syed Ali Raza

2011-01-15T10:01:44Z

SirSadiq: Undid revision 407896950 by Syedjazib77 (talk) revert to last edit

'''Syed Ali Raza''' is the President and Chairman of the [[National Bank of Pakistan]].

He has a Bachelor of Science in [[Economics]] from the [[London School of Economics]]. He has a M.Sc. in Administrative Sciences from [[Cass Business School]]. He holds a graduate degree from [[IBA]], [[Karachi]], [[Pakistan]].

Prior to joining the National Bank of Pakistan, Raza worked for [[Bank of America]] for 26 years. His last position at Bank of America was Senior Vice President and Regional Head of [[Bank of America]] Operations for the [[Middle East]], [[North Africa]] and Pakistan region. Raza is a [[cricket]] enthusiast.

==Family==
Younger son of an outstanding bureaucrat Syed Hashimi Ahmed , Ali Raza was married to Nilofer, they have a son, Mir and daughter, Alizeh. ==External links==
*[http://www.nbp.com.pk/ National Bank of Pakistan]

{{Persondata 
| NAME = Ali
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali}}
[[Category:Pakistani businesspeople]]
[[Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics]]
[[Category:Pakistani bankers]]
[[Category:Muhajir people]]
[[Category:Pakistani people stubs]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sadiq Public School alumni]]

{{Pakistan-business-bio-stub}}

Sadiq Public School

2011-01-14T14:37:58Z

SirSadiq: /* Notable alumni */ correct data of syed ali raza

{{Infobox school
|name = Sadiq Public School
|image = sadiq public school logo.jpg
|image size = 111px
|motto = "Do The Right Fear No Man"
|location = [[Bahawalpur]], Punjab, {{flag|Pakistan}}
|established = January 15, 1954
|principal = Maj. (R) Syed Munir Ahmad
|principal_label = Principal
|homepage = http://www.sps.edu.pk
|Facebook = http://facebook.com/Sadiqians
}}

'''Sadiq Public School''', [[Bahawalpur]], [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] is a [[boarding school|boarding]] [[College-preparatory school]] in [[Pakistan]]. (Though a significant number of Day pupils study here as well). It is spread over {{convert|451|acre|km2}} of land. In respect to area covered it is the largest in the country and in continental Asia.{{citation needed|month=November 2010|date=November 2010}} It has passed its fiftieth anniversary.

The foundation stone of the school was laid by His Highness Ala Hazrat Al Haj Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi V on 4 March 1953 and the school started functioning on 18 January 1954.

==History==
[[File:inaugral speech at sadiq.jpg|thumb|The [[Nawab of Bahawalpur]] delivering the inaugural speech]]

When Pakistan came into being, there were only two public schools in the country namely the Aitchison College, Lahore and the Lawrence College, Ghora Ghali, Murree. The people of Baluchistan, Sind and Southern Punjab had to send their children all the way to these institutions for their schooling.

The Ameer of Bahawalpur Ala Hazrat and Chief Minister of the then Bahawalpur State visualised the need for an institution which would provide the same quality of educational opportunities to the people of the Southern Punjab.

In order to accomplish this ambitious project, the Ameer of Bahawalpur State, Ala Hazrat Nawab Sir [[Sadeq Mohammad Khan V]] allocated a sum of rupees nineteen lacs for the construction of the buildings. In addition, {{convert|2050|acre|km2}} of land was given by the Ala Hazrat at a token price. The project was completed in a record period of nine months. The site was transformed into a spacious campus of lawns and playing fields, in the midst of which rose nine buildings ready for use. The school started functioning on January 18, 1954 when the Ala Hazrat performed its opening ceremony.

Makhdoomzada Syed Hassan Mahmood, the then Chief Minister of Bahawalpur State was the main force behind the completion of this ambitious project which was completed in less than a year. The first batches of 'O' Level, Matriculation and Intermediate classes appeared in 1957, 1958, 1966 respectively.<ref>[http://www.sps.edu.pk/User/pagHistory.asp History and making]</ref>

==Organization and curriculum==
[[File:senior school building of sadiq.jpg|thumb|Senior School]]
[[File:prep school sadiq.jpg|thumb|Prep School]]

Pupils in each school are subdivided into houses. Houses are designed to promote inter-house competitions and [[mentorship]] opportunities.

The Senior school offer four types of diplomas/certifications. One branch is [[School Certificate]]/[[O-level]] (for grades 9-10) and the [[Higher School Certificate]]/[[Advanced Level (UK)|A-level]] (for grades 11-12).

The other two types are Secondary School Certificate or Matriculation (for grades 9-10) and Higher Secondary School Certificate or Intermediate (for grades 11-12).

'''Boarding Houses'''
*Kamal Pasha House-East Wing -- ''Nursery to Grade 2'' - (Junior School)
*Kamal Pasha House-West Wing -- ''Grades 3 to 5'' - (Junior School)
*Alamgir House-North & South Wings -- ''Grades 6 to 8'' - (Preparatory School)
*Salahuddin House -- ''Senior School Girls all grades 0-12'' - (Senior School)
*Mehmood House -- ''Grades 9,10,11 & 12'' - (Senior School)
*Abbas House -- ''Grades 9,10,11 & 12'' - (Senior School)

==Principals==
[[File:Ayub khan at school.jpg|thumb|[[President Ayub Khan]] and [[Nawab of Kalabagh]] with Principal Khan Anwar Sikander Khan]]
At the start the school had 37 children and seven teachers. Mr. Khan Anwar Sikandar Khan was Principal for over 18 years. For his services in the field of education he was decorated with Sitara-i-Khidmat. On his retirement, Mr. Abu Zafar Haneef who was the Vice Principal took over, in March 1972.

The next two principals were Col (Retd) Zahoor ul Haq from 1974 to 1990 and Mr. Agha Khalil Ahmad from 1990 to 2001. The previous principal, Prof. Mohammad Asif Malik took over in September 2002. He is a recipient of the President's Award of Pride of Performance for services in the field of education. Maj. (R) Syed Munir Ahmad, an Old Sadiqian, took the charge as Principal in Nov, 2007, after the departure of Prof. Mohammad Asif Malik to [[Chand Bagh School Muridke]] as a Principal(he's been sacked now). Major (R) Syed Munir Ahmad had served in Shell Pakistan Limited as Country Manager before taking the office of Principal Sadiq Public School. He is the first Principal of Sadiq Public School who is an old Sadiqian. He left the school in 1966. He played instrumental role in the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the school in 2004 and was a Member of the Executive Committee OSA (Old Sadiqians Association) Islamabad Chapter.

==50 Years==
[[File:golden jubilee insigna sadiq.jpg|thumb|]]
On January 18, 2004 the School completed its first 50 years. The School is recognized as a premier residential institution, imparting quality education to boys and girls from KG to 'O' and 'A' levels ([[Cambridge University]]) and local board Matriculation/Intermediate. The school has over 1250 boys and 350 girls supported by a staff of about 110.

As of January 18, 2004 some 30 old-students of the School were sitting in the Senate, National and Provincial Assemblies.

[[File:Musa khan at school.jpg|thumb|Gen. [[Musa Khan]], (chief of Army Staff) with school girls.]]

This congregation of legislators far exceeds the number furnished by any single institution in Pakistan today. In addition, SADIQ can boast of moulding for the main stream sitting Chairman of the Senate, Chief Minister of Sindh, Federal and Provincial ministers, two serving Lieutenant Generals, four serving ambassadors, well-placed bureaucrats, leading industrialists, prominent scientists and also two former national cricket team captains namely [[Rameez Raja]] and [[Waqar Younis]].

In 2003 one of its students won the first prize in the English Essay Writing Competition organized by the [[Royal Commonwealth Society]], [[London]]. Another student got the best result in A Level examination in the whole of Asia. A number of old students have joined the Armed Forces of Pakistan. Old-Sadiqians made contributions during the Indo-Pakistan wars. Four former students embraced shahadat.Capt Rao Hussain And Capt Rao Waleed BOth Awarded nishan-e-ehaider and 2/Lt. Khalid Karak was decorated posthumously with Sitara-i-Jurrat, and 2/Lt. Farooq Afzal with Tamgha-i-Jurrat. (Statistics as of January 2004)
See also: http://www.facebook.com/Sadiqians

==Girls Section==
[[File:GirlsCampus sadiq map.jpg|thumb|Girls' Section]]

The new campus was completed in 2008 and classes commenced in October, same year. Separate boarding houses have also been built for girls. Earlier, since 2006 the Salahuddin House was converted into a hostel for girls.

==Information Technology Center==
[[File:spsit.jpg|thumb|IT Center]]
An I.T. Centre has been established adjacent to the senior school academic block. It serves as an Exam Centre of the Virtual University of Pakistan. Labs are available, equipped with computer workstations.

==Administration==
[[File:sadiq public school almaktoum library.jpg|thumb|Al-Maktoum Library]]
[[File:sadiq public school mosque.jpg|thumb|School Mosque]]

Administratively, the School is governed by a Board of Governors with the Governor of the Punjab as its President. District Co-ordination Officer, Bahawalpur and Principal of the school are also members of the board along with the General Officer Commanding 35 Division. Six to eight Old-Sadiqians sit as members of the Board for a period of three years. The day-to-day administration is entrusted to the Principal, managed by the Executive Committee with the General Officer Commanding 35 Division as its Chairman.

===Board of Governors===
A Board of Governors oversee the administrative, academic and financial activities of the School, they ar:s

'''Ex-officio members:'''

*GOC 35 Div Bahawalpur
*Secretary Education Punjab
*DCO Bahawalpur
*Principal

'''Old – Sadiqians Members'''

*Mr. Rahim Yar Abbasi - ''Class of 1959''
*Lt General Tariq Waseem Ghazi - ''Class of 1966''
*Lt General Javed Hassan - ''Class of 1967''
*Mrs. Shahnaz Hamid Paracha - ''Class of 1967''
*Mr. Jahangir Khan Tareen - ''Class of 1969''
*Dr. Syed Ghazi Gulab Jamal - ''Class of 1970''
*Mr. Muhammad Zaka Ashraf - ''Class of 1970''

==Facilities==
[[File:tent pegging sadiq.jpg|thumb|Equestrian Show: Tent Pegging]]

'''Education'''
*Boarding Houses
*Science Labs
*IT (Information Technology) centre
*Audio Visual Aids
*Libraries
*Dramatics Societies (English/Urdu)
*Debating Societies (English/Urdu)
*Model United Nations Society

'''Sports'''
*Swimming Pools
*Squash Courts
*Tennis Courts
*Badminton Courts
*Basket Ball Courts
*Volleyball Courts
*Gymnasium
*Horse Riding Club
*Cricket Club
*Hockey Club
*Football Club
*Athletics and Gymnastics Club
*Sports Fields
*Coaches and training accessories for all sports

'''General'''
*Guest Houses for Parents/Wards
*Mosque
*Hospital (with ambulance service)
*Canteen, General Store, Tailor Shops, Shoe Store, Barber Shop, Post Office, Ice-Cream/Drinks Parlor, Bakery, Fruit Shop
*Internal Telephone Exchange System (EPABX)
*Auditorium

==Notable alumni==
*[[Haji Muhammmed Aslam Khan Khichi]] (Late) 21 March 1955-6 December 2008 was a former member District Council, Former MPA from PP-193, Former Vice-President PPP Punjab, Former Senior Advisor on Inspection Team to CM Punjab, Chairman Shah Muhammed Group of Industries, Director Silver Star Cotton Industry
*[[Muhammad Mian Soomro]], former [[President of Pakistan|President]], [[Prime Minister of Pakistan|Prime Minister]], and [[Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan|Chairman of Senate]] of Pakistan and [[Governor of Sindh]].
*[[Ahmad Jawad Asghar]], [[CEO]] [http://www.harvesttradings.com/ Harvest Tradings-Pakistan]
*[[Jafar Khalid]], Vice President and Chief Technical Officer at [[Ufone]].
*[[Siddiq Khan Kanju]], former [[Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Pakistan)|Minister of State for Foreign Affairs]].
*[[Jehangir Khan Tareen]], former Federal Minister for Industries and Production.
*[[Ali Muhammad Mahar]], former [[Chief Minister of Sindh]].
*[[Syed Salim Raza]], former Governor [[State Bank of Pakistan]].
*[[Syed Ali Raza]], former President [[National Bank of Pakistan]].
*Dr [[Tariq Hassan]], lawyer, columnist and former Chairman of [[Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan]]
*[[Ishaq Khan Khakwani]], former State Minister for Railways.
*Maj (R) [[Tariq Mahmood Khan Mazari]], Chairman Chief Minister Inspection team and bureaucrat.
*Late [[Lutfullah Khan Mazari]], former director Anti-corruption Establishment Multan region and District Attorney.
*[[Rameez Raja]], former captain [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan Cricket Team]].
*[[Waqar Younis]], former captain [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan Cricket Team]].
*Sardar [[Muhammad Arshad Khan Leghari]], Member [[National Assembly of Pakistan]] (2008) NA 197.
*Sardar [[Rafique Haider Khan Leghari]], former Chairman District Council R.Y Khan (1979–1988), Former Minister of Food and Agriculture of Punjab (1980–85), Deputy Opposition leader in Punjab [[assembly]] (1997), Former Zila Nazim R.Y Khan (2005–2010).
*Muhammad Zaka Ashraf, President and CEO [[Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited]] and Chairman Punjab Sugar Mills Association (PSM)
*Maj (R) [[Munir Ahmed]], Principal Sadiq Public School

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:principal11.jpg|abid khan - Principal, January 1954- March 1972
Image:principal2.jpg|Mr Abu Zaffar Haneef - Principal, March 1972- August 1978
Image:principal3.jpg|Col. (R) Zahoor-ul-Haq - Principal, January 1979 - February1990
Image:principal44.jpg|Sqd Leader (R).Agha Khalil Ahmad (TK) - Principal, March1990 - December 2001
Image:principal5.jpg|Prof. Muhammad Asif Malik (Pride of Performance in Education) - Principal, September 2002 - November 2007
Image:principal6.jpg|Maj. (R) Syed Munir Ahmad (An old son of Sadiq) - Principal Nov 2007 to date.
Image:firstgroupphotosadiq.jpg|First group photo at Sadiq, 1955.
Image:Sadiq_early_days.jpg|Sadiq - Early days.
Image:jamalisadiq.jpg|[[Prime Minister of Pakistan|Prime Minister]] [[Jamali]] at Golden Jubilee Celebrations.
Image:Pervaizsadiq.jpg|[[Chief Minister]] of [[Pakistani Punjab|Punjab]] at Sadiq.
Image:governor_at_sadiq.jpg|The [[Governor]] of [[Pakistani Punjab|Punjab]], Mr. Shahid Hamid at Sadiq
Image:sps-29.jpg|[[Waqar Younis]] posing with students at Golden Jubilee Celebrations
Image:gymnasticsadiq.jpg|Gymnastics Show.
Image:swimming_gala_sadiq.jpg|Swimming Gala show.
Image:galasadiq.jpg|Fancy Dress Show at Annual Swimming Gala.
Image:playsadiq.jpg|Annual stage Play.
Image:alamgir house sadiq.jpg|Alamgir House.
Image:sadiq pavillion.jpg|Cricket Pavilion.
Image:sps-01.jpg|Main Block
Image:jawad.jpg|Key Old Sadiqian [[Ahmad Jawad Asghar]]
[http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=8680289&id=261885245441]

</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Abbottabad Public School]]
*[[Chand Bagh School Muridke]]
*[[Aitchison College]]
*[[Lawrence College Ghora Gali]]

==References==

{{reflist}}
*[http://www.sps.edu.pk/ Official website]
*[http://www.facebook.com/Sadiqians Official Sadiqians' page at Facebook]
*[http://www.oldsadiqians.com/ Alumni portal]
*[http://www.dawn.com/2004/01/29/nat23.htm Article in Dawn]
*[http://www.dawn.com/2004/01/27/nat32.htm Notable alumni]
*[http://www.pakpost.gov.pk/philately/stamps2004/sadiq_public_school.html Sadiq Public School commemorative postage stamp]
* Land Records. Office of the District Registrar, Bahawalpur city.Bahawalpur Division Pakistan
.
{{Boarding schools in Pakistan}}

{{coord missing|Pakistan}}

[[Category:Boarding schools in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Schools in Punjab (Pakistan)]]
[[Category:Academic institutions of Pakistan]]

[[ur:صادق پبلک اسکول]]

Syed Ali Raza

2011-01-14T14:37:08Z

SirSadiq: add proper link of RBS

'''Syed Ali Raza''' is the former President and Chairman of the [[National Bank of Pakistan]].

He has a Bachelor of Science in [[Economics]] from the [[London School of Economics]]. He has a M.Sc. in Administrative Sciences from [[Cass Business School]]. He holds a graduate degree from [[IBA]], [[Karachi]], [[Pakistan]].

Prior to joining the National Bank of Pakistan, Raza worked for [[Bank of America]] for 26 years. His last position at Bank of America was Senior Vice President and Regional Head of [[Bank of America]] Operations for the [[Middle East]], [[North Africa]] and Pakistan region. He, then served as Vice-President in [[Royal Bank of Scotland]] from 2008-2009. But resigned and returned to Pakistan due to shocking death of his only daughter . He is also included in "Asia's Top 25 Leaders" and top 4 financiers by [[Businessweek]] Magazine in 2006, as well as receiving a host of additional international banking awards and accolades.

Raza is a [[cricket]] enthusiast.

==Family==
Younger son of an outstanding bureaucrat Syed Hashim Raza , Ali Raza is married to Nilofer and had a daughter, Alisha Raza. Alisha recently died in a motorway accident in Karachi. It has been alleged that she was drunk when she crashed her car into a pickup van , which also killed the van driver but Ali Raza denied all these allegations and declared the incident an accident and didn't allowed the post-mortem of her daughter Alisha Raza.

==External links==
*[http://www.nbp.com.pk/ National Bank of Pakistan]

{{Persondata 
| NAME = Ali
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali}}
[[Category:Pakistani businesspeople]]
[[Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics]]
[[Category:Pakistani bankers]]
[[Category:Muhajir people]]
[[Category:Pakistani people stubs]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sadiq Public School alumni]]

{{Pakistan-business-bio-stub}}

Syed Ali Raza

2011-01-14T14:35:58Z

SirSadiq: last day in National Bank of Pakistan 14th jan 2011

'''Syed Ali Raza''' is the former President and Chairman of the [[National Bank of Pakistan]].

He has a Bachelor of Science in [[Economics]] from the [[London School of Economics]]. He has a M.Sc. in Administrative Sciences from [[Cass Business School]]. He holds a graduate degree from [[IBA]], [[Karachi]], [[Pakistan]].

Prior to joining the National Bank of Pakistan, Raza worked for [[Bank of America]] for 26 years. His last position at Bank of America was Senior Vice President and Regional Head of [[Bank of America]] Operations for the [[Middle East]], [[North Africa]] and Pakistan region. He, then served as Vice-President in [[Royal Bank Of Scotland]] from 2008-2009. But resigned and returned to Pakistan due to shocking death of his only daughter . He is also included in "Asia's Top 25 Leaders" and top 4 financiers by [[Businessweek]] Magazine in 2006, as well as receiving a host of additional international banking awards and accolades.

Raza is a [[cricket]] enthusiast.

==Family==
Younger son of an outstanding bureaucrat Syed Hashim Raza , Ali Raza is married to Nilofer and had a daughter, Alisha Raza. Alisha recently died in a motorway accident in Karachi. It has been alleged that she was drunk when she crashed her car into a pickup van , which also killed the van driver but Ali Raza denied all these allegations and declared the incident an accident and didn't allowed the post-mortem of her daughter Alisha Raza.

==External links==
*[http://www.nbp.com.pk/ National Bank of Pakistan]

{{Persondata 
| NAME = Ali
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali}}
[[Category:Pakistani businesspeople]]
[[Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics]]
[[Category:Pakistani bankers]]
[[Category:Muhajir people]]
[[Category:Pakistani people stubs]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sadiq Public School alumni]]

{{Pakistan-business-bio-stub}}

National Bank of Pakistan

2011-01-14T14:34:32Z

SirSadiq: removed syed ali raza as chairman & CEO and BOD's name after supreme court orders

{{Advert|date=October 2008}}
{{Infobox Company |
company_name = National Bank of Pakistan |
company_logo = [[Image:nbplogo.jpg|200px|]] |
company_type = [[Government]] [[Karachi Stock Exchange|KSE]]: NBP [[Lahore Stock Exchange|LSE]]:|
company_slogan = Your Premier Bank |
foundation = 1949|
|owner = '''Government of Pakistan''' |
location = Principal Office, [[Karachi]] Pakistan|
key_people = ____________
industry = [[Banking]] [[Capital Markets]]|
products = Loans, [[Credit Card]]s, Savings, Consumer Banking etc.|
revenue = {{profit}}[[Pakistani rupee|PKR 50.569 billion]] ([[US$]] 815.6 million) (2007)<ref name=autogenerated1>http://www.nbp.com.pk/EcomomicBulletin/FS-Complete-31-12-2007.pdf</ref> |
net_income = {{profit}}[[Pakistani rupee|PKR 19.034 billion]] ([[US$]] 307 million) (2007)<ref name=autogenerated1 /> |
num_employees = |
homepage = [http://www.nbp.com.pk/ www.nbp.com.pk]
}}

'''National Bank of Pakistan''' is the largest [[commercial bank]] operating in Pakistan. It has redefined its role and has moved from a public sector organisation into a modern commercial bank. While it continues to act as trustee of public funds and as the agent to the State Bank of Pakistan (in places where SBP does not have a presence) it has diversified its business portfolio and is today a major lead player in the debt equity market, corporate investment banking, retail and consumer banking, agricultural financing, treasury services and is showing growing interest in promoting and developing the country's small and medium enterprises and at the same time fulfilling its social responsibilities, NBP headquarters in [[Karachi]], [[Pakistan]] with over 1,200 branches country wide. The bank provides both commercial and public sector banking services. It has assets worth [[USD]] 12.293 billion in 2007.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> Its subsidiaries include NBP Capital, NBP Modaraba Management Company, NBP Exchange Company, Taurus Securities, NBP Almaty and others.

===International offices===
[[File:Universal North Building.JPG|thumb|National Bank of Pakistan branch in [[Washington, D.C.]]]]
* NBP also has branches /offices in the [[USA]], [[Canada]], [[Germany]], [[France]], [[Bahrain]], [[Egypt]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Japan]], [[South Korea]], [[The People's Republic of China]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Turkmenistan]], [[Kyrgyz Republic]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Uzbekistan]], [[Azerbaijan]] and [[Saudi Arabia]].

==Timeline==

*1949 National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) was established under the National Bank of Pakistan Ordinance of 1949 and was government-owned. NBP acted as an agent of the [[central bank]] wherever the State Bank did not have its own branch. It also undertook government treasury operations. Its first branches were in [[jute]] growing areas in [[East Pakistan]]. Offices in [[Karachi]] and [[Lahore]] followed.
*1950 NBP established a branch in [[Jeddah]], [[Saudi Arabia]].
*1955 By this time NBP had branches in [[London]] and [[Calcutta]].
*1957 NBP established a branch in [[Baghdad]], [[Iraq]].
*1962 NBP established a branch in [[Dar-es-Salaam]], [[Tanganyika]].
*1964 The Iraqi government nationalized NBP's [[Baghdad]] branch.
*1965 The Indian government seized the [[Calcutta]] branch on the outbreak of hostilities between [[India]] and [[Pakistan]].
*1967 The [[Tanzania]]n government nationalized the [[Dar-Es-Salaam]] branch.
*1971 NBP acquired [[Bank of China]]'s two branches, one in [[Karachi]] and one at [[Chittagong]]. At separation of [[East Pakistan]] NBP lost its branches there. NBP merged with [[Eastern Mercantile Bank]] and with [[Eastern Bank Corporation]].
*1974 The government of [[Pakistan]] nationalized NBP. As part of the concomitant consolidation of the banking sector, NBP acquired [[Bank of Bahawalpur]].
*1977 NBP opened an offshore brain [[Cairo]].
*1994 NBP amalgamated [[Mehran Bank]].
*1997 NBP's branch in [[Ashgabat]], [[Turkmenistan]] commenced operations.
*2000 NBP opened a representative office in [[Almaty]], [[Kazakhstan]].
*2001 [[State Bank of Pakistan]] and [[Bank of England]] agree to allow only 2 Pakistani banks to operate in the [[UK]]. NBP and [[United Bank]] agreed to merge their operations to form Pakistan International Bank, of which NBP would own 45% and [[United Bank]] 55%.
*2002 Pakistan International Bank renamed itself United National Bank Limited (UNB). The ownership structure of the UNB remained as before. The only change to the shareholding structure is that UNB had recently been privatized in Pakistan and was now owned 49% by the Government of Pakistan and 51% by a joint foreign consortium of [[Abu Dhabi]].
*2003 NBP received permission to open a branch in [[Afghanistan]].
*2005 NBP closed its offshore branch in [[Cairo]].

==Islamic banking==

* NBP's First Islamic banking branch started operations in Karachi on December 15, 2006.
* Two more branches started operations by the end of 2007 in Peshawar and Lahore.
* At present, eight Islamic banking branches are functional all over Pakistan having Group office at Karachi, Pakistan.
* Mr. Shafiq Khan is newly appointed Group Chief of the Islamic Banking Group.
* Mufti Abdul Sattar Laghari is a Shariah Advisor.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.nbp.com.pk/index.htm National Bank of Pakistan (NBP)]

==See also==
* [[Pakistan]]
* [[State Bank of Pakistan]]
* [[Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd.]]
{{KSE 30}}
{{Economy of Pakistan topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:National Bank Of Pakistan}}
[[Category:Banks of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Companies based in Karachi District]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange]]

[[fr:Banque nationale du Pakistan]]
[[ur:نیشنل بینک آف پاکستان]]

Asif Ali Zardari

2011-01-12T10:44:50Z

SirSadiq: add new

{{pp-semi-blp|expiry=25 January 2011|small=yes}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
|name = Asif Ali Zardari آصف علی زرداری آصف علي زرداري
|image = AsifZardari.jpg
|office = [[President of Pakistan]]
|primeminister = [[Yousaf Raza Gillani]]
|term_start = 9 September 2008
|term_end =
|predecessor = [[Muhammad Mian Soomro]] ([[Acting President|Acting]])
|successor =
|office2 = Co-Chairman of [[Pakistan Peoples Party]]
|alongside2 = [[Bilawal Zardari Bhutto]]
|term_start2 = 30 December 2007
|predecessor2 = [[Benazir Bhutto]]
|successor =
|birth_date = {{bda|1955|7|26|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Karachi]], [[Dominion of Pakistan]]<ref name="Profile: Asif Ali Zardari" />
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = [[Pakistan Peoples Party|Peoples Party]]
|spouse = [[Benazir Bhutto]] (1987–2007)
|children = [[Bilawal Zardari Bhutto|Bilawal]] Bakhtawar Asifa
|residence = [[Islamabad]], [[Pakistan]]
|religion = [[Shia Islam]]<ref name="ZardariShia">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/parvez-sharma/the-martyrdom-of-benazir-_b_79560.html |title=The Martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=2008-01-03 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref><ref name=shi3a>[[Vali Nasr]] ''The Shia Revival: How Conflicts Within Islam Will Shape the Future'' (W. W. Norton, 2006), pp. 88-90 ISBN 0-3933-2968-2</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20023973-503543.html | work=CBS News | first=Farhan | last=Bokhari | title=Pakistan-Saudi Relations Appear Strained in Leaked Cables | date=2010-11-29}}</ref>
}}
'''Asif Ali Zardari''' ([[Urdu]]: '''آصف علی زرداری'''; [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]]: '''آصف علي زرداري'''; born 26 July 1955) is the [[List of Presidents of Pakistan|11th and current]] [[President of Pakistan]] and the Co-Chairman of the [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] (PPP). Zardari is the widower of [[Benazir Bhutto]], who twice served as [[Prime Minister of Pakistan]]. When his wife was [[Assassination of Benazir Bhutto|assassinated]] in December 2007, he became the leader of the PPP. It has been claimed that Zardari is among the five richest men in Pakistan with an estimated net worth of [[USD|US$]]1.8 billion (2005).<ref>{{cite web|last=Malik |first=Salik |url=http://www.daily.pk/president-asif-ali-zardari-2nd-most-richest-man-of-pakistan-6666/ |title=President Asif Ali Zardari 2nd most Richest man of Pakistan | Pakistan Daily |publisher=Daily.pk |date=2008-10-26 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Burns |first=John F. |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/09/world/house-graft-tracing-bhutto-millions-special-report-bhutto-clan-leaves-trail.html |title=HOUSE OF GRAFT - Tracing the Bhutto Millions - A special report. - Bhutto Clan Leaves Trail of Corruption - Special Report |location=Pakistan |publisher=NYTimes.com |date=1998-01-09 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Asif Ali Zardari is a [[Sindhi people|Sindhi]] of [[Baloch people|Baloch]] origin from [[Sindh]].<ref name="thepresident"/><ref name="afcea">{{cite web|url=http://nightwatch.afcea.org/NightWatch_20071230.htm|title=For the Night of 30 December 2007|publisher=AFCEA International|accessdate=23 November 2009}}</ref> He was born in [[Karachi]] and is the son of [[Hakim Ali Zardari]], head of one of the Sindhi tribes,<ref name="Profile: Asif Ali Zardari">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4032997.stm South Asia Profile: Asif Ali Zardari]. 6 September 2008. ''BBC News''. Retrieved 2009-03-02.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://jang.com.pk/thenews/feb2008-weekly/nos-17-02-2008/instep/mainissue.htm |title=INSTEP Magzine |publisher=Jang.com.pk |date=1998-05-28 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> who chose urban life over rustic surroundings. His mother is from the family of Khan Bahadur [[Hassan Ali]], who was among the founders of the first educational institution in Sindh, "Sindh Madarsa-tul-Islam Karachi".

Zardari received his primary education from [[Karachi Grammar School]] and his secondary education from [[Cadet College, Petaro]].<ref name="thepresident">[http://www.president.gov.pk/Pages/ThePresident.ksp President Asif Ali Zardari]. gov.pk. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref> Zardari also attended [[St Patrick's High School, Karachi]].<ref name="WSJ0809">Peter Wonacott (September 5, 2008). [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122058073564902483.html Zardari Set to Assume Pakistan's Presidency]. ''Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved 2009-12-22.</ref> While a candidate for parliament, a position for which a 2002 rule requires a college degree, Zardari claimed to have graduated from a college in London called the London School of Economics and Business (LSEB).<ref>{{cite news |title=Zardari education background a mystery |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/03/21/Zardari_education_background_a_mystery/UPI-93891206120117/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Zardari a London graduate: PPP |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\03\12\story_12-3-2008_pg7_17}}</ref> The 2002 rule was overturned by Pakistan's Supreme Court in April 2008.<ref name="WSJ0809"/>

==Early political career==
Zardari married [[Benazir Bhutto]] on 18 December 1987. In 1988 his wife won the seat of Prime Minister, and Zardari became a member of the [[National Assembly of Pakistan]]. He served as investment and environment minister in Bhutto's governments. It was during this time that Zardari's opponents began using the nickname, "Mr 10%", in reference to the charges of corruption against him.<ref name="tt-sms">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/5878525/Pakistan-president-Asif-Zardari-bans-jokes-ridiculing-him.html|title=Pakistan president Asif Zardari bans jokes ridiculing him |last=Wilkinson|first=Isambard|date=21 Jul 2009|publisher=The Telegraph|accessdate=2009-07-22 | location=London}}</ref><ref name="Wilkinson2008">Isambard Wilkinson (September 4, 2008). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/profiles/2682828/Profile-Asif-Ali-Zardari-Pakistans-probable-next-president-is-living-the-dream.html Profile: Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan's probable next president, is living the dream]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref><ref name="bbcprofileleader">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/country_profiles/1157960.stm#leaders Profile: Pakistan: leaders]. (May 7, 2009). ''BBC''. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref>
This nickname referred to kickbacks he was alleged to have received during the premiership of Ms. Bhutto. <ref> Obama's Wars, by Bob Woodward, pg 62, Simon & Schuster, 2010 </ref>


Bhutto's government lost in the 1990 elections. Zardari soon came under investigation in Switzerland over alleged receipts of kickbacks from two Swiss-based companies.<ref name="Newsweek2008">Fasih Ahmed and Ron Moreau (August 20, 2008). [http://www.newsweek.com/id/154383 Zardari on the Hot Seat]. ''Newsweek''. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref> Zardari claimed the charges were political in nature, and in 2008 Switzerland closed the case and released Zardari's frozen assets. The chief prosecutor said he had no evidence to bring Zardari to trial.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSLQ17107020080826|title=Swiss close case against Zardari; $60 mln unfrozen|date=August 26, 2008|accessdate=June 13, 2009 | work=Reuters}}</ref>

When Bhutto returned to office in 1993, Zardari was released from jail and became a government minister. In 1996, after a change of government, Zardari was again arrested. From 1997 to 2004, Zardari was kept in jail on various corruption charges and accusations of murder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2008/02/2008525184051439106.html |title=CENTRAL/S. ASIA - Profile: Asif Ali Zardari |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date= |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> Pakistani investigators accused Zardari and his wife Benazir for embezzling as much as US$1.5 billion from government accounts.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ali |first=Asif |url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/z/asif_ali_zardari/index.html |title=Asif Ali Zardari News - The New York Times |publisher=Topics.nytimes.com |date=2009-12-17 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> He was also accused of allegedly plotting the murder of Murtaza Bhutto, the brother of his wife Benazir Bhutto. He was later cleared.<ref name="bbcprofileleader" /> Another allegation involved an estate in [[Surrey]] which Pakistani press speculated was purchased by Zardari.<ref>Alastair Lawson (December 10, 1999). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/558545.stm 'Surrey Palace' saga for Benazir]. ''BBC''. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref><ref name="HOUSE OF GRAFT">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/09/world/house-graft-tracing-bhutto-millions-special-report-bhutto-clan-leaves-trail.html|title= House of graft: tracing the Bhutto millions|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=2009-10-01 | first=John F. | last=Burns | date=1998-01-09}}</ref> Zardari was similarly accused of purchasing {{convert|307|acre|km2}} of land in [[Islamabad]] at "below the prevailing market price" in 1994 through an intermediary. In March 2009, a company owned by Zardari and his son Bilawal purchased the land for [[Pakistani rupee|Rs]] 62 million. The [[Capital Development Authority]] (CDA) valued adjacent land at Rs 850,000 per [[kanal (unit)|kanal]] (Rs 6.8 million per acre); if the {{convert|307|acre|km2}} of land were valued on a similar rate, it would be valued around Rs 2 billion.<ref>Ansar Abbasi (November 3, 2009). [http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=25353 Zardari and Bilawal buy 300 acres of land in Islamabad]</ref> Zardari's financial history was one case study in a 1999 [[US Senate]] report on various vulnerabilities in banking procedures.<ref>[http://hsgac.senate.gov/110999_report.htm Minority staff report for permanent subcommittee on investigations hearing on private banking and money laundering: a case study of opportunities and vulnerabilities] (November 9, 1999) senate.gov. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref>

A New York psychiatrist found in March 2007 that Zardari's time in jail left him with memory impairments. Zardari claims to have been tortured.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/2622123/Pakistan-presidential-candidate-Asif-Ali-Zardari-suffering-from-severe-mental-problems.html Pakistan presidential candidate Asif Ali Zardari 'suffering from severe mental problems'] (August 26, 2008). ''Telegraph''. Retrieved 2009-02-10.</ref> In response to media reports when Zardari stood for the Pakistani presidency in 2008, the Pakistani Ambassador to the United States, Husain Haqqani, said that Zardari had no current mental condition requiring psychiatric help or medication.<ref>Andrew Buncombe and Omar Waraich (August 26, 2008). [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/questions-raised-over-zardari-mental-health-909373.html Questions raised over Zardari mental health]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved 2009-02-20.</ref><ref>[http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/02-Sep-2008/Haqqani-says-Zardari-has-no-current-mental-condition Haqqani says Zardari has no current mental condition] (September 2, 2008). ''The Nation''. Retrieved 2009-02-20.</ref>

In October 2007, the president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, issued the [[National Reconciliation Ordinance]] which granted amnesty to politicians in office from 1986 to 1999.<ref name="dawn080306">Mudassir Raja (March 6, 2008). [http://www.dawn.com/2008/03/06/top4.htm Asif Ali Zardari cleared in five corruption cases]. dawn.com. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref> That closed corruption cases facing Zardari. In December 2009, the [[Supreme Court of Pakistan]] declared the amnesty unconstitutional and ordered the government to reopen criminal cases closed under the amnesty.<ref>Alex Rodriguez (December 17, 2009). [http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/17/world/la-fg-pakistan-court17-2009dec17 Pakistan declares amnesty law unconstitutional]. ''LA Times''. Accessed 2010-01-03.</ref>

==Co-chairman of the PPP==
[[File:Zardari.jpg|180px|thumb|Asif Ali Zardari|right]]
[[Benazir Bhutto assassination|Benazir Bhutto was assassinated]] on 27 December 2007, shortly after returning to Pakistan from exile. On 30 December 2007, Asif Ali Zardari became the co-chairman of the PPP, along with his son [[Bilawal Bhutto Zardari]], who is currently studying at Oxford. Bilawal is intended to fully assume the post when he completes his education.

After the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Zardari reaffirmed his lack of interest in the [[Prime Minister of Pakistan|prime ministership]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topnews.in/asif-ali-zardari-does-not-desire-prime-minister-office-221193 |title=Asif Ali Zardari does not desire Prime Minister office Top News |publisher=Topnews.in |date= |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/330129/1/.html |title=Channelnewsasia.com |publisher=Channelnewsasia.com |date=2008-02-21 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> Chairman Zardari and [[Mian Nawaz Sharif]], leader of the [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)|PML-N]], along with some smaller political parties, joined forces in an electoral coalition that won a heavy majority in the elections and unseated Musharraf's ruling [[Pakistan Muslim League-Q]] (PML-Q). After the election, he called for a government of national unity, and divided cabinet portfolios among coalition partners on proportionate basis.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bhutto's widower calls for unity |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/20/pakistan/index.html |publisher=CNN |accessdate=2008-02-21 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080418095016/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/20/pakistan/index.html |archivedate = April 18, 2008}}</ref> Asif Ali Zardari and former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on 21 February 2008 that their parties would work together in the national parliament after scoring big wins in the election.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/21/pakistan/index.html "Pakistan leaders agree on coalition"], CNN.com, 21 February 2008.</ref>

On 5 March 2008, Zardari was cleared of five corruption charges as part of a court ruling which "abolished the cases against all public office holders" under the [[National Reconciliation Ordinance]].<ref name="dawn080306" /> He had another trial on the remaining charges on 14 April 2008, when he was cleared under the same NRO.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/2008/03/15/top3.htm |title=Asif emerges as 'Mr Clean' after acquittal in last case |publisher=Dawn.com |date=2008-03-15 |accessdate=2010-08-06}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C08%5C30%5Cstory_30-8-2008_pg7_35 |publisher=Daily Times, Pakistan| title=Zardari plea to end NRO cases adjourned until 16th| date=30 August 2008}}</ref>

On 19 April 2008, Zardari announced in a press conference in London that he and his sister, [[Faryal Talpur]], would participate in the by-elections taking place on 3 June and that, if necessary, he would contest to become the country's next Prime Minister, even though his party voted by a 2/3 majority<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=90269&videoChannel=1&refresh=true |title=Zardari wins presidential election | Video |publisher=Reuters.com |date=2009-02-09 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> to announce that [[Yousaf Raza Gillani]] would be the PM for a five year term.

===Presidential candidacy===
Zardari, in alliance with Nawaz Sharif, was preparing to [[Movement to impeach Pervez Musharraf|impeach President Pervez Musharraf]], and a charge-sheet and draft of impeachment had already been prepared, when Musharraf, in accordance with his advisors, resigned from the presidency on 18 August 2008. Chairman Zardari was confirmed by the [[Central Executive Committee]] of the PPP and was endorsed by the rival ethnic party [[Muttahida Qaumi Movement]] (MQM) as candidate for the post of [[President of Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7575958.stm |title=South Asia | Zardari nominated to be president |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-08-22 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> There was nevertheless strong disagreement among the current coalition partners, and Nawaz Sharif's [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)]] (PML-N) party was threatening to leave the coalition as a result.<ref name="nether">[http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/5930497/Pakistan-to-choose-president-on-6-September radionetherlands.nl, Pakistan to choose president on 6 September]{{dead link|date=August 2010}}</ref> According to the Constitution, elections must be held within 30 days of the previous president stepping down. The electoral college is composed of the Senate, the National Assembly, and the four provincial assemblies.

Pakistan's Election Commission on 22 August announced that a presidential election would be held on 6 September, and the nomination papers could be filed from 26 August.<ref name="nether" /><ref name="toi">
Asif Ali Zardari was elected President, Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 6 September 2008 after receiving 66% votes.
[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pakistan_to_hold_next_presidential_poll_on_September_6/articleshow/3392858.cms timesofindia.indiatimes.com, Pakistan presidential poll on September 6]</ref>

''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that [[Zalmay Khalilzad]], [[United States Ambassador to the United Nations]], had been unofficially advising Asif Ali Zardari.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/washington/26diplo.html?bl&ex=1219896000&en=262a7f83cc5b8c72&ei=5087 U.N. Envoy's Ties to Pakistani Are Questioned]</ref> Khalilzad, an [[Pashtun people|Afghan]] native, had been rumored to be flirting with the possibility of returning home to challenge [[President of Afghanistan|President]] [[Hamid Karzai]] when his first term expired in 2009.

==President of Pakistan==
[[File:Barack Obama, Hamid Karzai & Asif Ali Zardari after trilateral meeting 5-6-09 1.jpg|thumb|250px|Afghan President [[Hamid Karzai]], US Vice President [[Joe Biden]], US President [[Barack Obama]] and Zardari after the [[Afghanistan]]-[[USA]]-Pakistan trilateral meeting in 2009]]
Zardari was elected president of Pakistan, as Chief election commissioner Qazi Mohammad Farooq announced that "Asif Ali Zardari secured 281 votes out of the 426 valid votes polled in the parliament." In Sindh, Zardari had 62 of the 65 electoral votes while his two main opponents got zero votes; in North West Frontier Province Zardari got 56 votes against 5 by Siddiqui and one by Hussain; in Balochistan, 59 votes while Siddiqui and Hussain got 2 each. However, Zardari did not win the majority in the nation's biggest province, Punjab, where the PML-N's Siddiqui got a clear majority.<ref>{{cite web|author=(AFP) – Sep 5, 2008 |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i9dz2ZxX6MRv5ZOKT4cx4-1O_qTQ |title=afp.google.com, Zardari wins Pakistan presidential election: officials |publisher=Afp.google.com |date=2008-09-05 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> [[BBC]] reported that Zardari "won 481 votes, far more than the 352 votes that would have guaranteed him victory."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7600917.stm |title=news.bbc.co.uk, Bhutto's widower wins presidency |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-09-06 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> ''[[New York Times]]'' said that Zardari would be sworn in "as soon as Saturday night or as late as Monday or Tuesday, diplomats and officials said."<ref>{{cite news | coauthors = Jane Perlez and Salman Masood | title = Bhutto’s Widower Wins Pakistani Presidency | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/world/asia/07zardari.html?hp | work = The New York Times | publisher = The New York Times Company | location = New York, NY | pages = | page = | date =2008-09-06 | accessdate = 2008-09-10| quote =}}</ref>

Zardari was challenged by Justice (Retired) [[Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui]], a former judge nominated by Nawaz Sharif's PML-N, and [[Mushahid Hussain Sayed]], who was nominated by the PML-Q, which backed Musharraf. According to the Constitution of 1973 presently in vogue (but declared for major amendments by Zardari) the President of Pakistan, who must be a Muslim, is elected by an electoral college composed of members of the two houses of parliament - the 342 seat lower house National Assembly and the 100 member upper house Senate, as well as members of the four provincial assemblies - Sindh, [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]], [[North West Frontier]] and [[Balochistan (Pakistan)|Balochistan]]. The assemblies have total of 1170 seats, but the number of electoral college votes is 702 since provincial assembly votes are counted on a proportional basis. The new president, who obtains the largest number of votes, will serve for five years as Pakistan's 11th president since 1956, when the country became an Islamic Republic, excluding acting presidents and [[Chief Martial Law Administrator]]s during times of military rule.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pakistans_presidential_poll_today_Zardari_front-runner/articleshow/3451196.cms timesofindia.indiatimes.com, Zardari front-runner]{{dead link|date=August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=(AFP) – Sep 5, 2008 |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jwCcx11NqhunSNBZD7-my_37q0PA |title=afp.google.com, Bhutto's widower set to become Pakistan president |publisher=Afp.google.com |date=2008-09-05 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> Voting was in progress at the Parliament House, while the Senate members finished casting their votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=54367 |title=thenews.com.pk, Presidential election polling completed in Senate, underway in assemblies |publisher=Thenews.com.pk |date=2008-09-06 |accessdate=2010-08-06}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

Zardari was sworn in by Chief Justice [[Abdul Hameed Dogar]] in a ceremony at the presidential palace on September 9, 2008.<ref>Jane Perlez, [http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/09/asia/10pstan.php "Bhutto's widower takes office in Pakistan"], ''International Herald Tribune'', 9 September 2008.</ref> He addressed the parliament for the first time on September 20, 2008, but the event was overshadowed by the suicide bomb blast which destroyed the Marriott Hotel, Islamabad. Although Asif Ali Zardari was elected constitutionally, he was administered the oath of office by Justice [[Abdul Hameed Dogar]] who took oath as Chief Justice of Pakistan under the [[Provisional Constitutional Order]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/04/top3.htm |title=Justice Dogar new CJ; a number of judges opt out -DAWN - Top Stories; November 04, 2007 |publisher=DAWN |date=2007-11-04 |accessdate=2010-08-06}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Earlier, a supreme court ruling by a 7-member bench of the SC had overturned the PCO. The ruling by the 7-member bench stated:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/04/top2.htm |title=Seven judges reject PCO before being sent home -DAWN - Top Stories; November 04, 2007 |publisher=DAWN |date=2007-11-04 |accessdate=2010-08-06}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> "Appointment of the chief justice or judges of the Supreme Court or chief justices of the high courts under the new PCO would be unlawful and without jurisdiction."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=17208 |title=Zardari constitutional president: Aitzaz |publisher=Thenews.com.pk |date= |accessdate=2010-08-06}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

Shafqat Mahmood, a former associate of Ms Bhutto, has said: "Mr Zardari has an image problem, because of a lingering reputation of corruption, despite not having been convicted of any wrongdoing. He will need to change this image.”<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4687053.ece|title=From jail to high office: the strange journey of Asif Ali Zardari|author=Zahid Hussain |date=September 6, 2008|work=[[The Times]]|accessdate=2008-09-15 | location=London}}</ref>

===Constitutional reform===
In 2009, President Zardari told the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that he wished to repeal the [[Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan]] Article 58 2(b) of the [[Eighth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan]] to limit the powers of the President of Pakistan that had been expanded by previous administrations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C07%5C07%5Cstory_7-7-2009_pg1_5|title=Zardari for repeal of 17th Amend, 58(2b)|last=Ghuman|first= Zulfiqar |date=2009-07-07|accessdate=2009-07-27}}</ref> Zardari ceded several of his most important powers, including the chairmanship of the agency that oversees Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, to Prime Minister [[Yousaf Raza Gillani|Gillani]].

==Relationships with world leaders==
[[File:Barack Obama, Hamid Karzai & Asif Ali Zardari in trilateral meeting 5-6-09 3.jpg|thumb|240px|Zardari (right) with president [[Barack Obama]] (center) and president [[Hamid Karzai]] (left) during a US-Afghan-Pakistan Trilateral meeting]]
Zardari picked China for first state visit after being elected in September 2008. Chinese President [[Hu Jintao]] has pledged to work with Zardari to build a stronger political and economic partnership between the two countries.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.geo.tv/2-24-2009/35859.htm|title=Zardari, Hu Jintao discuss bilateral relations|date=February 24, 2009|accessdate=2009-06-09}}</ref>

Zardari attended the [[United Nations General Assembly]] on 25 September 2008 and 25 September 2009 respectively, and gave his trademark speech with a framed picture of his assassinated wife, the late Benazir Bhutto nearby to remind the world that he's her husband.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=70583&sectionid=351020401 |title=Zardari lashes out at US in UN speech |publisher=Presstv.ir |date=2008-09-26 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/sep/26/i-am-following-benazirs-path-says-zardari.htm |title=I am following Benazir's path, says Zardari: Rediff.com India News |publisher=News.rediff.com |date=2009-09-26 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref>

On September 24, 2008 while in the United States, Zardari met the [[Republican Party (United States)|U.S. Republican Party's]] [[Vice President of the United States|Vice Presidential]] candidate, [[Sarah Palin]]. His [[tongue-in-cheek]] comments to Palin, while shaking hands, that "I might hug you", created controversy and was the cause for a (non-violent) '[[fatwa]]' against him because his "praise of a non-Muslim lady wearing a short skirt" was un-Islamic.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/10/02/2008-10-02_pakistan_president_asif_ali_zardari_subj.html|title=Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari |last=Saltonstall|first=David|date=2008-10-02|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|accessdate=2008-10-07}}</ref>

A leaked March 2009 U.S. diplomatic cable described Saudi perceptions of Zardari as "strained
because the Saudis don't trust Zardari and see him and other leading Pakistani politicians as corrupt", noting that his November 2008 trip to Saudi Arabia did not lead to "Saudi assistance or other commitments".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2009/03/09RIYADH496.html|title=Viewing cable 09RIYADH496, SCENESETTER FOR SENATOR BOND'S APRIL 6-8 VISIT TO|author=American Embassy Riyadh ("DEPT FOR H(SHANE) AND H/RGF(LANG)")|date=2009-03-31}}</ref> Another cable reported that "King Abdullah firmly believes that Asif Zardari is the primary obstacle to the government's ability to move unequivocally to end terrorist safe havens there ("when the head is rotten, it affects the whole body")."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2010/02/10RIYADH178.html|title=Viewing cable 10RIYADH178, SCENESETTER FOR SECRETARY CLINTON'S FEB 15-16|author=Ambassador [[James Smith]]|date=2010-02-11}}</ref>

Zardari met with U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] and Afghanistan President [[Hamid Karzai]] at the White House in May 2009 to discuss security issues in the region.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.voanews.com/uspolicy/2009-05-14-voa4.cfm|title=Obama, Karzai, Zardari Meet|date=May 14, 2009|accessdate=2009-06-09}}</ref>

Upon the re-election of Indian Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]], Asif Ali Zardari phoned Dr. Singh and offered his congratulations and an offer to work with the Indian government to address challenges in the region.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/22/content_11420690.htm|title= Pakistani leaders vow to work with new Indian gov't|author=Deng Shasha|date=May 22, 2009|accessdate=2009-06-09}}</ref>

In October 2009, he met with Pope [[Benedict XVI]] in order to discuss the situation of [[Christianity in Pakistan|Pakistani Christians]] in context of blasphemy law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/14-interfaith-harmony-zj-03 |title=Interfaith harmony |publisher=Dawn.com |date= |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commonscat}}
{{Wikinews|Asif Ali Zardari}}
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4032997.stm Profile: Asif Zardari] from ''[[BBC News]]''
* [http://www.un.org/ga/63/generaldebate/pakistan.shtml President Asif Ali Zardari's address to the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly], September 25, 2008
* [http://www.dawn.net/wps/wcm/connect/dawn+content+library/Dawn/News/Specials/President+Election/ Pakistan's presidential election] at ''[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]''

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Benazir Bhutto]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Co-Chairman of the [[Pakistan Peoples Party]]|years=2007–present|alongside=[[Bilawal Zardari Bhutto]]}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Muhammad Mian Soomro]] Acting}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of Pakistan]]|years=2008–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{PakistaniPresidents}}
{{Pakistan topics}}


{{Persondata
|NAME= Zardari, Asif Ali
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=آصف علی زرداری
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=12th [[President of Pakistan]]
|DATE OF BIRTH= 1955-7-26
|PLACE OF BIRTH= [[Karachi]], [[Pakistan]]
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zardari, Asif Ali}}

[[Category:1955 births]]

[[Category:Baloch people]]
[[Category:Bhutto family]]
[[Category:Current national leaders]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Pakistan Peoples Party politicians]]
[[Category:Pakistani billionaires]]
[[Category:Pakistani businesspeople]]
[[Category:Pakistani politicians]]
[[Category:Pakistani Shi'a Muslims]]
[[Category:People from Karachi District]]
[[Category:Petarians]]
[[Category:Presidents of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Shi'a politicians]]
[[Category:Sindhi people]]
[[Category:Spouses of national leaders]]
[[Category:Tumandars]]
[[Category:Zardari family]]
[[Category:Pakistani expatriates in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Pakistani exiles]]

[[ar:آصف علي زرداري]]
[[az:Asif Əli Zərdari]]
[[bn:আসিফ আলি জারদারি]]
[[br:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[bg:Асиф Али Зардари]]
[[cs:Asif Alí Zardárí]]
[[da:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[de:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[et:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[el:Ασίφ Αλί Ζαρντάρι]]
[[es:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[eo:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[fa:آصف‌علی زرداری]]
[[fr:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ga:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ko:아시프 알리 자르다리]]
[[hy:Ասիֆ Ալի Զարդարի]]
[[hi:आसिफ अली जरदारी]]
[[id:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[it:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[he:אסיף עלי זרדרי]]
[[kn:ಆಸಿಫ್ ಅಲಿ ಜರ್ದಾರಿ]]
[[kk:Зардари, Әсіф Әлі]]
[[ms:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[nl:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ja:アースィフ・アリー・ザルダーリー]]
[[no:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[nn:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[pnb:آصف علی زرداری]]
[[nds:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[pl:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[pt:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ro:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ru:Зардари, Асиф Али]]
[[sl:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[sr:Асиф Али Зардари]]
[[sh:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[fi:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[sv:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ta:ஆசிஃப் அலி சர்தாரி]]
[[tr:Asıf Ali Serdari]]
[[ur:آصف علی زرداری]]
[[ug:زاردارى]]
[[vi:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[yi:אסיף אלי זארדארי]]
[[yo:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[zh:阿西夫·阿里·扎尔达里]]

Muhammad

2011-01-08T10:14:56Z

SirSadiq: add category of Medina

{{About||other persons named Muhammad|Muhammad (name)|other uses|Muhammad (disambiguation)}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Infobox Person
| name = Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullāh
| other_names =
| image = Aziz efendi-muhammad alayhi s-salam.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = The name Muhammad in traditional [[Thuluth]] calligraphy by the hand of [[Hattat Aziz Efendi]]
| birth_name =
| birth_date = ca. 570/571
| birth_place = [[Mecca]], [[Pre-Islamic Arabia|Arabia]] (present day [[Saudi Arabia]])
| death_date = June 8, 632 (age 63)
| death_place = [[Medina]], Arabia
| death_cause = Illness
| known =
| nationality =
| religion = [[Muslim]]
| parents = '''Father:''' [[Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Abd Allah]]
'''Mother:''' [[Aminah bint Wahb]]
| spouse = [[#Wives and children|see below]]
}}
{{Muhammad}}
{{Islam}}
'''Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullāh''' ({{lang-ar-at|a= ﷴ|t=Muḥammad}};<ref group="n">[[Unicode]] has a special "Muhammad" [[ligature (typography)|ligature]] at U+FDF4 {{script|Arab|ﷴ}}</ref> {{IPA-ar|mʊˈħæmmæd|pron|Ar-muhammad.ogg}}; also spelled '''Muhammed''' or '''Mohammed''')<ref group="n">Variant transcriptions of Muhammad's name, besides those used above, include — (English and multiple European languages:) "Mahomet"; ([[:fr:Mahomet|French]]:) "Mahomet, Mohamed, Mouhammed, Mahon, Mahomés, Mahun, Mahum, Mahumet, Mahound (medieval French), Mohand (for [[Berber language|Berber]] speakers), Mouhammadou and Mamadou (in Sub-Saharan Africa)"; ([[:la:Machometus|Latin]]:) "Machometus, Mahumetus, Mahometus, Macometus, Mahometes"; ([[:es:Mahoma|Spanish]]:) "Mahoma"; ([[:it:Maometto|Italian]]:) "Maometto"; ([[:pt:Maomé|Portuguese]]:) "Maomé"; ([[:el:Μωάμεθ|Greek]]:) "Μωάμεθ, Μουχάμμαντ, Μοχάμαντ, Μοχάμεντ, Μουχάμεντ, Μουχάμμαιντ"; ([[:tr:Mehmet|Turkish]]:) "Mehmet"; ([[:ku:Mihemed|Kurdish]]:) "Mihemed". See also ''Encyclopedia of Islam'': ([[German language|German]]:) "Machmet" (pre-20th century).</ref><ref group="n">The sources frequently say that, in his youth, he was called by the nickname "Al-Amin" meaning "Honest, Truthful" cf. Ernst (2004), p. 85.</ref> (ca. 570/571 – June 8, 632),<ref name=Goldman>Elizabeth Goldman (1995), p. 63</ref> (Monday, 12th [[Rabi' al-Awwal]], Year 11 [[Hijri year|A.H.]]) was the founder of the modern [[Major religious groups|religion]] of [[Islam]],<ref>Rodinson (2002)</ref> and is regarded by [[Muslim]]s as a [[Messengers of Islam|messenger]] and [[prophet]] of {{Allah}}, the last law-bearer in a series of [[Prophets in Islam|Islamic prophets]], and, by most Muslims,<ref group="n">Not all Muslims believe Muhammad was the last prophet. For example, the [[Ahmadiyya Muslim Community]] considers [[Mirza Ghulam Ahmad]] to be a prophet as well. ({{cite web|url=http://www.alislam.org/books/truth/finality.html|title=Finality of Prophethood {{!}} Hadhrat Muhammad (PUBH) the Last Prophet|publisher=[[Ahmadiyya Muslim Community]]}})</ref> the last prophet as taught by ''[[sura]]'' (chapter) [[Al-Ahzab]], ''[[ayah]]'' (verse) of the Qur'an.<ref>{{Cite quran|33|40|style=ns}}</ref> Muslims thus consider him the restorer of an uncorrupted original [[monotheism|monotheistic]] [[faith]] (''[[S-L-M#Islam "Piety, Faith"|islām]]'') of [[Islamic view of Adam|Adam]], [[Islamic view of Noah|Noah]], [[Islamic view of Abraham|Abraham]], [[Islamic view of Moses|Moses]], [[Jesus in Islam|Jesus]] and [[Prophets of Islam|other prophets]].<ref>Esposito (1998), p. 12.</ref><ref>Esposito (2002b), pp. 4–5.</ref><ref name = "Peters 2003 9">F. E. Peters (2003), p. 9.</ref> He was also active as a [[Muhammad as a diplomat|diplomat]], [[Islamic economics in the world|merchant]], [[Early Islamic philosophy|philosopher]], [[orator]], [[Sharia|legislator]], [[Early reforms under Islam|reformer]], [[Military career of Muhammad|military general]], and, according to Muslim belief, an agent of divine action.<ref>[[Alphonse de Lamartine]] (1854), ''Historie de la Turquie'', Paris, p. 280: {{quote|"Philosophe, orateur, apôtre, législateur, guerrier, conquérant d'idées, restaurateur de dogmes, d'un culte sans images, fondateur de vingt empires terrestres et d'un empire spirituel, voilà Mahomet!"}}</ref>

Born in 570 in the [[Arabian Peninsula|Arabian]] city of [[Mecca]],<ref name="EncWorldHistory">''Encyclopedia of World History'' (1998), p. 452</ref> he was orphaned at an early age and brought up under the care of his uncle [[Abu Talib ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib|Abu Talib]]. He later worked mostly as a merchant, as well as a shepherd, and was first married by age 25. Discontented with life in Mecca, he retreated to a cave in the surrounding mountains for [[meditation]] and reflection. According to Islamic beliefs it was here, at age 40, in the month of [[Ramadan]], where he received [[Muhammad's first revelation|his first revelation]] from God. Three years after this event Muhammad started [[Dawah|preaching]] these revelations publicly, proclaiming that "[[Tawhid|God is One]]", that complete "surrender" to Him (lit. ''[[Islam#Etymology and meaning|islām]]'') is the only way (''[[Deen (Arabic term)|dīn]]'')<ref group="n">'Islam' is always referred to in the Qur'an as a ''dīn'', a word that means "way" or "path" in Arabic, but is usually translated in English as "religion" for the sake of convenience</ref> acceptable to God, and that he himself was a prophet and messenger of God, in the same vein as [[Prophets of Islam#Prophets and messengers in the Qur'an|other Islamic prophets]].<ref name="Peters 2003 9" /><ref name="EspositoI">Esposito (1998), p. 12; (1999) p. 25; (2002) pp. 4–5</ref><ref name="EoI-Muhammad">Alford Welch, ''Muhammad'', [[Encyclopedia of Islam]]</ref>

Muhammad gained few [[Sahaba|followers]] early on, and was met with [[Persecution of Muslims by the Meccans|hostility from some Meccan tribes]]; he and his followers were treated harshly. To escape persecution, Muhammad sent some of his followers to [[Ethiopian Empire|Abyssinia]] before he and his remaining followers in Mecca migrated to [[Medina]] (then known as Yathrib) in the year 622. This event, the [[Hijra (Islam)|Hijra]], marks the beginning of the [[Islamic calendar]], which is also known as the Hijri Calendar. In Medina, Muhammad united the conflicting tribes, and after eight years of fighting with the Meccan tribes, his followers, who by then had grown to 10,000, [[Conquest of Mecca|conquered Mecca]]. In 632, a few months after returning to Medina from his [[The Farewell Pilgrimage|Farewell pilgrimage]], Muhammad fell ill and died. By the time of his death, most of the [[Arabian Peninsula]] had [[conversion to Islam|converted to Islam]]; and he had united the [[tribes of Arabia]] into a single [[Ummah|Muslim religious polity]].<ref>"Muhmmad," Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim world</ref><ref name="Lapidus 2002 pp 0">See:
* Holt (1977a), p.57
* Lapidus (2002), pp 0.31 and 32
</ref>

The revelations (or ''[[Ayah|Ayat]]'', lit. "Signs of [[God]]") — which Muhammad reported receiving until his death — form the verses of the [[Qur'an]], regarded by Muslims as the “Word of God” and around which the religion is based. Besides the Qur'an, Muhammad’s life (''[[Sirah Rasul Allah|sira]]'') and traditions (''[[sunnah]]'') are also upheld by Muslims. They discuss Muhammad and other prophets of Islam with reverence, adding the phrase ''[[Peace be upon him (Islam)|peace be upon him]]'' whenever their names are mentioned.<ref name="Ann Goldman 2006 p.212">Ann Goldman, Richard Hain, Stephen Liben (2006), p.212</ref> While conceptions of Muhammad in [[medieval]] [[Christendom]] and [[premodern]] times were largely negative, appraisals in [[modern history]] have been far less so.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/><ref>Watt (1974) p. 231</ref> His life and deeds have been [[Criticism of Muhammad|debated and criticized]] by followers and opponents over the centuries.<ref name="Britannica">{{cite web | title=Muhammad; Encyclopædia Britannica | year=2010 |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Online | url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/396226/Muhammad}}</ref> He is revered as a true prophet and [[Manifestation of God]] in the [[Baha'i Faith]].<ref name="PSmith">{{cite encyclopedia |last= Smith |first= Peter |encyclopedia= A concise encyclopedia of the Bahá'í Faith |title= Manifestations of God |year= 2000 |publisher=Oneworld Publications |location= Oxford |id= ISBN 1-85168-184-1 |pages= 231}}</ref>

==Names and appellations in the Qur'an==
The [[Muhammad (name)|name ''Muhammad'']] means "Praiseworthy" and occurs four times in the Qur'an.<ref>Jean-Louis Déclais, ''Names of the Prophet'', [[Encyclopedia of the Qur'an]]</ref> The Qur'an addresses Muhammad in the second person not by his name but by the [[Euphemism|appellations]] [[prophets of Islam|prophet]], [[messengers of Islam|messenger]], servant of God (''[[Abd (Arabic)|'abd]]''), announcer (''bashir''), warner (''nathir''), reminder (''mudhakkir''), witness (''[[Shahid (name)|shahid]]''), bearer of good tidings (''mubashshir''), one who calls [unto God] (''[[dawah|dā‘ī]]'') and the light-giving lamp (''siraj munir''). Muhammad is sometimes addressed by designations deriving from his state at the time of the address: thus he is referred to as the enwrapped (''[[Al-Muzzammil|al-muzzammil]]'') in Qur'an {{cite quran|73|1|s=ns|b=n}} and the shrouded (''[[Al-Muddathir|al-muddaththir]]'') in Qur'an {{cite quran|74|1|s=ns|b=n}}.<ref name="EoQ-Muhammad">Uri Rubin, ''Muhammad'', [[Encyclopedia of the Qur'an]]</ref> In the Qur'an, believers are not to distinguish between the messengers of God and are to believe in all of them (Sura [[Al-Baqara]] {{cite quran|2|285|s=ns|b=n}}). God has caused some messengers to excel above others {{cite quran|2|253|s=ns|b=n}} and in Sura Al-Ahzab {{cite quran|33|40|s=ns|b=n}} He singles out Muhammad as the "[[Seal of the prophets|Seal of the Prophets]]".<ref name="Ernst">Ernst (2004), p. 80</ref> The Qur'an also refers to Muhammad as ''[[Ahmad|Aḥmad]]'' "more praiseworthy" ({{lang-ar|أحمد}}, Sura [[As-Saff]] {{cite quran|61|6|s=ns|b=n}}).

==Sources for Muhammad's life==
[[File:Siyer-i Nebi 151b.jpg|thumb|left|upright|''Muhammad at the Ka'ba'' from [[Siyer-i Nebi]], a 16th-century [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] manuscript. Illustration by [[Nakkaş Osman]].<ref>http://www.ee.bilkent.edu.tr/~history/ottoman33.html</ref>]]
{{Main|Historiography of early Islam|Historicity of Muhammad}}
Being a highly influential historical figure, Muhammad's life, deeds, and thoughts have been debated by followers and opponents over the centuries, which makes a biography of him difficult to write.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/>

===The Qur'an===
{{Expand section|date=November 2010}}
Muslims regard the Qur'an as the primary source of knowledge about the historical Muhammad.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> The Qur'an has a few allusions to Muhammad's life.<ref name="Nigosian6">S. A. Nigosian(2004), p. 6</ref> The ''[[Encyclopaedia of Islam]]'' says that the Qur'an responds "constantly and often candidly to Muhammad's changing historical circumstances and contains a wealth of hidden data."<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/>

===Early biographies===
Next in importance are historical works by writers of the 3rd and 4th centuries of the Muslim era.<ref name="Watt-Mecca-xi">Watt (1953), p.xi</ref> These include the traditional Muslim biographies of Muhammad and quotes attributed to him (the ''sira'' and ''[[hadith]]'' literature), which provide further information on Muhammad's life.<ref name="Reeves">Reeves (2003), pp. 6–7</ref>

The earliest surviving written ''sira'' (biographies of Muhammad and quotes attributed to him) is [[Ibn Ishaq]]'s ''[[Sirah Rasul Allah|Life of God's Messenger]]'' written ca. 767 (150 AH). The work is lost, but was used verbatim at great length by [[Ibn Hisham]] and [[Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari|Al-Tabari]].<ref name="Nigosian6"/><ref>Donner (1998), p. 132</ref>

Another early source is [[Al-maghazi|the history of Muhammad's campaigns]] by [[al-Waqidi]] (death 207 of Muslim era), and [[The Book of the Major Classes|the work]] of his secretary [[Ibn Sa'd al-Baghdadi]] (death 230 of Muslim era).<ref name="Watt-Mecca-xi"/>

Many scholars accept the accuracy of the earliest biographies, though their accuracy is unascertainable.<ref name="Nigosian6"/> Recent studies have led scholars to distinguish between the traditions touching legal matters and the purely historical ones. In the former sphere, traditions could have been subject to invention while in the latter sphere, aside from exceptional cases, the material may have been only subject to "tendential shaping".<ref>Watt (1953), p.xv</ref>

In addition, the [[hadith collection]]s are accounts of the verbal and physical traditions of Muhammad that date from several generations after his death.<ref name="Lewis 1993, pp. 33–34">Lewis (1993), pp. 33–34</ref> Hadith compilations are records of the traditions or sayings of Muhammad. They might be defined as the biography of Muhammad perpetuated by the long memory of his community for their exemplification and obedience.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Cragg |first=Albert Kenneth | authorlink=Albert Kenneth Cragg | title=Hadith | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2008-03-30 |publisher= Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9105855/Hadith}}</ref>

Western academics view the hadith collections with caution as accurate historical sources.<ref name="Lewis 1993, pp. 33–34"/> Scholars such as [[Wilferd Madelung|Madelung]] do not reject the narrations which have been compiled in later periods, but judge them in the context of history and on the basis of their compatibility with the events and figures.<ref>Madelung (1997), pp.xi, 19 and 20</ref>

Finally, there are oral traditions. Although usually discounted by historians, oral tradition plays a major role in the [[Islamic views of Muhammad|Islamic understanding of Muhammad]].<ref name="Britannica"/>

===Non-Arabic sources===
{{Expand section|date=November 2010}}
The earliest Greek source for Muhammad is the 9th-century writer [[Theophanes the Confessor|Theophanes]]. The earliest Syriac source is the 7th-century writer [[John bar Penkaye]].<ref>Philip K. Hitti, ''History of the Arabs'', 10th edition (1970), p.112.</ref>

==Pre-Islamic Arabia==
{{Main|Pre-Islamic Arabia|Jahiliyyah}}
[[File:Map of Arabia 600 AD.svg|thumb|360px|Approximate locations of some of the important tribes and Empire of the Arabian Peninsula at the dawn of Islam (approximately 600 CE / 50 BH).]]
The [[Arabian Peninsula]] was largely arid and volcanic, making agriculture difficult except near oases or springs. The landscape was thus dotted with towns and cities, two prominent ones being [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]]. Medina was a large flourishing agricultural settlement, while Mecca was an important financial center for many surrounding tribes.<ref name="Muhammad-Mecca-12">Watt (1953), pp.1–2</ref> Communal life was essential for survival in the [[desert]] conditions, as people needed support against the harsh environment and lifestyle. Tribal grouping was encouraged by the need to act as a unit, this unity being based on the bond of kinship by blood.<ref>Watt (1953), pp. 16–18</ref> Indigenous Arabs were either [[nomad]]ic or sedentary (or [[bedouins]]), the former constantly travelling from one place to another seeking water and pasture for their flocks, while the latter settled and focused on trade and agriculture. Nomadic survival was also dependent on raiding caravans or oases, the nomads not viewing this as a crime.<ref name="Rue">Loyal Rue, ''Religion Is Not about God: How Spiritual Traditions Nurture Our Biological'',2005, p.224</ref><ref name="Esposito4">John Esposito, ''Islam'', Expanded edition, Oxford University Press, p.4–5</ref>

In pre-Islamic Arabia, gods or goddesses were viewed as protectors of individual tribes, their spirits being associated with sacred trees, [[Baetylus|stones]], springs and wells. As well as being the site of an annual pilgrimage, the [[Kaaba]] shrine in Mecca housed 360 idol statues of tribal patron deities. Aside from these gods, the Arabs shared a common belief in a supreme deity called [[Allah]] (literally "the god"), who was remote from their everyday concerns and thus not the object of cult or ritual. Three goddesses were associated with Allah as his daughters: [[Allāt]], [[Manāt]] and [[al-‘Uzzá]]. Monotheistic communities existed in Arabia, including [[Christians]] and [[Jews]].<ref>See:
*Esposito, ''Islam'', Extended Edition, Oxford University Press, pp.5–7
*Qur'an 3:95</ref> [[Hanif]]s – native pre-Islamic Arab monotheists – are also sometimes listed alongside Jews and Christians in pre-Islamic Arabia, although their [[historicity (philosophy)|historicity]] is disputed amongst scholars.<ref>Kochler (1982), p.29</ref><ref>cf. Uri Rubin, ''Hanif'', Encyclopedia of the Qur'an</ref> According to Muslim tradition, Muhammad himself was a Hanif and one of the descendants of [[Ishmael]], son of [[Abraham]].<ref>See:
*Louis Jacobs(1995), p.272
*Turner (2005), p.16</ref>
{{Muhammad timeline in Mecca}}

==Life==
[[File:Madina Haram at evening .jpg|thumb|400px|[[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi]] (the Mosque of the Prophet) in [[Medina]], Saudi Arabia, is the site of Muhammad's [[tomb]].]]

===Life in Mecca===
{{Main|Muhammad in Mecca}}
Muhammad was born and lived in Mecca for the first 52 years of his life (570–622) which was divided into two phases, that is before and after declaring the [[prophecy]].

====Childhood and early life====
{{See also|Year of the Elephant|Mawlid|Family tree of Muhammad}}
Muhammad was born in the month of [[Rabi' al-awwal]] in 570. He belonged to the [[Banu Hashim]], one of the prominent families of [[Mecca]], although it seems not to have been prosperous during Muhammad's early lifetime.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/><ref>See also {{cite quran|43|31|s=ns}} cited in EoI; Muhammad</ref> Tradition places the year of Muhammad's birth as corresponding with the [[Year of the Elephant]], which is named after the failed destruction of Mecca that year by the [[Aksumite Empire|Aksumite king]] [[Abraha]] who had in his army a number of elephants. Recent scholarship has suggested alternative dates for this event, such as 568 or 569.<ref name="Watt7">Watt (1974), p. 7.</ref>

Muhammad's father, [[Abd Allah ibn Abd al Muttalib|Abdullah]], died almost six months before he was born.<ref>Josef W. Meri (2005), p. 525</ref> According to the tradition, soon after Muhammad's birth he was sent to live with a Bedouin family in the desert, as the desert-life was considered healthier for infants. Muhammad stayed with his foster-mother, [[Halimah bint Abi Dhuayb]], and her husband until he was two years old. Some western scholars of Islam have rejected the historicity of this tradition.<ref>Watt, ''Halimah bint Abi Dhuayb'', [[Encyclopaedia of Islam]]</ref> At the age of six Muhammad lost his mother [[Aminah bint Wahb|Amina]] to illness and he became fully orphaned.<ref>Watt, ''Amina'', [[Encyclopaedia of Islam]]</ref> He was subsequently brought up for two years under the guardianship of his paternal grandfather [[Shaiba ibn Hashim|Abd al-Muttalib]], of the Banu Hashim [[clan]] of the [[Quraysh (tribe)|Quraysh tribe]]. When Muhammad was eight, his grandfather also died. He now came under the care of his uncle [[Abu Talib ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib|Abu Talib]], the new leader of Banu Hashim.<ref name="Watt7"/> According to [[William Montgomery Watt|Watt]], because of the general disregard of the guardians in taking care of weak members of the tribes in Mecca in the 6th century, "Muhammad's guardians saw that he did not starve to death, but it was hard for them to do more for him, especially as the fortunes of the clan of Hashim seem to have been declining at that time."<ref name="Watt8">Watt (1974), p. 8.</ref>

While still in his teens, Muhammad accompanied his uncle on trading journeys to [[Syria]] gaining experience in the commercial trade, the only career open to Muhammad as an orphan.<ref name="Watt8"/> According to tradition, when Muhammad was either nine or twelve while accompanying the Meccans' caravan to Syria, he met a Christian monk or hermit named [[Bahira]] who is said to have foreseen Muhammed's career as a prophet of God.<ref>Armand Abel, ''Bahira'', [[Encyclopaedia of Islam]]</ref>

Little is known of Muhammad during his later youth, and from the fragmentary information that is available, it is hard to separate history from legend.<ref name="Watt8"/> It is known that he became a merchant and "was involved in trade between the [[Indian Ocean|Indian ocean]] and the [[Mediterranean Sea]]."<ref name="BerkWorldHistory">''Berkshire Encyclopedia of World History'' (2005), v.3, p. 1025</ref> Due to his upright character he acquired the nickname "[[Amin (name)|al-Amin]]" (Arabic: الامين), meaning "faithful, trustworthy" and was sought out as an impartial arbitrator.<ref name="EncWorldHistory"/><ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/><ref>Esposito (1998), p. 6</ref> His reputation attracted a proposal from [[Khadijah bint Khuwaylid|Khadijah]], a forty-year-old widow in 595. Muhammad consented to the marriage, which by all accounts was a happy one.<ref name="BerkWorldHistory"/>

===Wives and children===
{{Main|Muhammad's wives|Ahl al-Bayt}}
Muhammad's life is traditionally defined into two periods: [[Muhammad in Mecca|pre-hijra (emigration) in Mecca]] (from 570 to 622), and [[Muhammad in Medina|post-hijra in Medina]] (from 622 until 632). Muhammad is said to have had thirteen wives or concubines (there are differing accounts on the status of some of them as wife or concubine<ref>See for example Marco Schöller, '' Banu Qurayza'', [[Encyclopedia of the Quran]] mentioning the differing accounts of the status of [[Rayhana]]</ref>)<ref name="Barbara Freyer">Barbara Freyer Stowasser, ''Wives of the Prophet'', [[Encyclopedia of the Quran]]</ref> All but two of his marriages were contracted after the [[Hijra (Islam)|migration to Medina]].
{{WivesMuhammad}}
At the age of 25, Muhammad married the wealthy [[Khadijah bint Khuwaylid]] who was 40 years old at that time.<ref>{{cite book | last = Subhani | first = Jafar | title = The Message | url = http://www.al-islam.org/message | publisher = Ansariyan Publications, Qom | chapter = Chapter 9}}</ref> The marriage lasted for 25 years and was a happy one.<ref name="Esp2">Esposito (1998), p. 18</ref> Muhammad relied upon Khadija in many ways and did not enter into marriage with another woman during this marriage.<ref name = "Bullough 1998 119">Bullough (1998), p. 119</ref><ref name="Reeves46">Reeves (2003), p. 46</ref> After the death of Khadija, it was suggested to Muhammad by Khawla bint Hakim that he should marry [[Sawda bint Zama]], a Muslim widow, or [[Aisha]], daughter of [[Um Ruman]] and [[Abu Bakr]] of [[Mecca]]. Muhammad is said to have asked her to arrange for him to marry both.<ref name="Watt-encyc-online">Watt, ''Aisha'', [[Encyclopedia of Islam]]</ref>

Traditional sources dictate that Aisha was six or seven years old when betrothed to Muhammad<ref name="Watt-encyc-online"/><ref name="Spellberg">[[Denise Spellberg|D. A. Spellberg]], ''Politics, Gender, and the Islamic Past: the Legacy of A'isha bint Abi Bakr'', [[Columbia University Press]], 1994, p. 40</ref><ref name="Armstrong">Karen Armstrong, ''Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet'', Harper San Francisco, 1992, p. 145.</ref> but the marriage was not [[consummate]]d until she was nine or ten years old.<ref name="Watt-encyc-online"/><ref name="Spellberg"/><ref>Barlas (2002), p.125-126</ref><ref>{{Hadith-usc|bukhari|5|58|234}}, {{Hadith-usc|bukhari|usc=yes|5|58|236}}, {{Hadith-usc|bukhari|usc=yes|7|62|64}}, {{Hadith-usc|bukhari|usc=yes|7|62|65}}, {{Hadith-usc|bukhari|usc=yes|7|62|88}}, {{Hadith-usc|usc=yes|muslim|8|3309}}, {{Hadith-usc|muslim|8|3310}}, {{Hadith-usc|muslim|8|3311}}, {{Hadith-usc|abudawud|41|4915}}, {{Hadith-usc|abudawud|usc=yes|41|4917}}</ref><ref>Tabari, Volume 9, Page 131; Tabari, Volume 7, Page 7</ref> While the majority of traditional sources indicate Aisha was 9 (and therefore a virgin) at the time of marriage, a small number of more recent writers have variously estimated her age at 15 to 24.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.studying-islam.org/articletext.aspx?id=935 | title = Was Ayesha A Six-Year-Old Bride? The Ancient Myth Exposed | last = T.O. Shanavas}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://alqatrah.net/en/edara/index.php?id=91 | title = A'isha was not a child when the Prophet married her | last = Allama Sheikh Yasser Al-Habib}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.al-islam.org/polygamy-marriages-prophet | title = The Concept of Polygamy and the Prophet’s Marriages (Chapter: The Other Wives)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.valiasr-aj.com/fa/page.php?bank=question&id=699 | title = Ayesha married the Prophet when she was young? (In Persian and Arabic) | last = Ayatollah Qazvini }}</ref>

Later, Muhammad married [[Muhammad's wives|additional wives]], nine of whom survived him.<ref name="Barbara Freyer"/> Aisha, who became known as Muhammad's favourite wife in Sunni tradition, survived him by many decades and was instrumental in helping to bring together the scattered sayings of Muhammad that would form the Hadith literature for the Sunni branch of Islam.<ref name="Watt-encyc-online"/>

After migration to Medina, Muhammad (who was now in his fifties) married several women. These marriages were contracted mostly for political or humanitarian reasons, these wives being either widows of Muslims who had been killed in the battles and had been left without a protector, or belonging to important families or clans whom it was necessary to honor and strengthen alliances.<ref>Momen (1985), p.9</ref>

Muhammad did his own household chores and helped with housework, such as preparing food, sewing clothes and repairing shoes. Muhammad is also said to have had accustomed his wives to dialogue; he listened to their advice, and the wives debated and even argued with him.<ref>[[Tariq Ramadan]] (2007), p. 168–9</ref><ref>Asma Barlas (2002), p. 125</ref><ref>Armstrong (1992), p. 157</ref>

Khadijah is said to have borne Muhammad four daughters ([[Ruqayyah bint Muhammad]], [[Umm Kulthum bint Muhammad]], [[Zainab bint Muhammad]], [[Fatimah|Fatimah Zahra]]) and two sons ([[Abd-Allah ibn Muhammad]] and [[Qasim ibn Muhammad]]) who both died in childhood. All except two of his daughters, Fatimah and Zainab, died before him.<ref name="Nich"/> Shi'a scholars contend that Fatimah was Muhammad's only daughter.<ref>Ordoni (1990) pp. 32, 42–44.</ref> [[Maria al-Qibtiyya]] bore him a son named [[Ibrahim ibn Muhammad]], but the child died when he was two years old.<ref name="Nich">Nicholas Awde (2000), p.10</ref>

Muhammad's descendants through Fatimah are known as ''[[sharif]]s'', ''syeds'' or ''[[sayyid]]s''. These are honorific titles in [[Arabic language|Arabic]], ''sharif'' meaning 'noble' and ''sayed'' or ''sayyid'' meaning 'lord' or 'sir'. As Muhammad's only descendants, they are respected by both Sunni and Shi'a, though the Shi'as place much more emphasis and value on their distinction.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title = Ali | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia Britannica Online | accessdate = 2007-10-12}}</ref>

===Beginnings of the Qur'an===
{{See also|History of the Qur'an|Wahy}}
[[File:Cave Hira.jpg|thumb|upright|The cave [[Hira]] in the mountain [[Jabal al-Nour]] where, according to Muslim belief, Muhammad received his first revelation.]]
At some point Muhammad adopted the practice of meditating alone for several weeks every year in a cave on [[Hira|Mount Hira]] near Mecca.<ref>Emory C. Bogle (1998), p.6</ref><ref>John Henry Haaren, Addison B. Poland (1904), p.83</ref> Islamic tradition holds that during one of his visits to Mount Hira, the angel [[Gabriel]] appeared to him in the year 610 and commanded Muhammad to recite the following verses:<ref>Brown (2003), pp. 72–73</ref>
{{Quote|Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created- Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood: Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,- He Who taught (the use of) the pen,- Taught man that which he knew not.|Qur'an, sura 96 ([[Al-Alaq]]), ayat 1-5<ref>{{cite quran|96|1|e=5|s=ns}}</ref>}}
According to some traditions, upon receiving his first revelations Muhammad was deeply distressed.<ref>Emory C. Bogle (1998), p.7</ref> When returned home, Muhammad was consoled and reassured by his wife, Khadijah and her Christian cousin, [[Waraqah ibn Nawfal]]. Shia tradition maintains that Muhammad was neither surprised nor frightened at the appearance of Gabriel but rather welcomed him as if he had been expecting him.<ref>''See:''
*Emory C. Bogle (1998), p.7
*Razwy (1996), ch. 9
*Rodinson (2002), p. 71.</ref> The initial revelation was followed by a pause of three years during which Muhammad gave himself up further to prayers and [[spiritual practice]]s. When the revelations resumed he was reassured and commanded to begin preaching: "Thy Guardian-Lord hath not forsaken thee, nor is He displeased.".<ref>{{cite quran|93|3|s=ns}}</ref><ref>Brown (2003), pp. 73–74</ref><ref>Uri Rubin, ''Muhammad'', [[Encyclopedia of the Quran]]</ref>

[[File:Mohammed receiving revelation from the angel Gabriel.jpg|thumb|left|A [[depictions of Muhammad|depiction of Muhammad]] receiving his first revelation from the angel Gabriel. From the book ''[[Jami' al-tawarikh]]'' by [[Rashid-al-Din Hamadani]], published in 1307 AD, [[Ilkhanate]] period.]]
According to [[Alford T. Welch|Welch]] these revelations were accompanied by mysterious seizures, and the reports are unlikely to have been forged by later Muslims.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> Muhammad was confident that he could distinguish his own thoughts from these messages.<ref>Watt, ''The Cambridge History of Islam'' (1977), p. 31.</ref> According to the Qur'an, one of the main roles of Muhammad is to warn the unbelievers of their eschatological punishment (Qur'an {{cite quran|38|70|s=ns|b=n}}, Qur'an {{cite quran|6|19|s=ns|b=n}}). Sometimes the Qur'an does not explicitly refer to the Judgment day but provides examples from the history of some extinct communities and warns Muhammad's contemporaries of similar calamities (Qur'an {{cite quran|41|13|e=16|s=ns|b=n}}).<ref name="EoQ-Muhammad"/> Muhammad is not only a warner to those who reject God's revelation, but also a bearer of good news for those who abandon evil, listen to the divine word and serve God.<ref>Daniel C. Peterson, ''Good News'', [[Encyclopedia of the Qur'an]]</ref> Muhammad's mission also involves preaching monotheism: The Qur'an demands Muhammad to proclaim and praise the name of his Lord and instructs him not to worship idols apart from God or associate other deities with God.<ref name="EoQ-Muhammad"/>

The key themes of the early Qur'anic verses included the responsibility of man towards his creator; the resurrection of dead, God's final judgment followed by vivid descriptions of the tortures in hell and pleasures in Paradise; and the signs of God in all aspects of life. Religious duties required of the believers at this time were few: belief in God, asking for forgiveness of sins, offering frequent prayers, assisting others particularly those in need, rejecting cheating and the love of wealth (considered to be significant in the commercial life of Mecca), being chaste and not to kill newborn girls.<ref name = "EoI-Muhammad"/>

===Opposition===
{{Campaignbox Campaigns of Muhammad}}
{{See also|Persecution of Muslims by the Meccans|Migration to Abyssinia}}
[[File:Muhammad destroying icons L Histoire Merveilleuse en Vers de Mahomet BNF.jpg|thumb|left|The [[iconoclasm|destruction of idols]] at the [[Kaaba]] by Muhammad, in ''L'Histoire Merveilleuse en Vers de Mahomet'', anonymous 11th century illustration.]]
According to Muslim tradition, Muhammad's wife Khadija was the first to believe he was a prophet.<ref name="Watt53-86">Watt (1953), p. 86</ref> She was soon followed by Muhammad's ten-year-old cousin [[Ali|Ali ibn Abi Talib]], close friend [[Abu Bakr]], and adopted son [[Zayd ibn Harithah|Zaid]].<ref name="Watt53-86"/> Around 613, Muhammad began his public preaching (Qur'an {{cite quran|26|214|s=ns|b=n}}).<ref>Ramadan (2007), p. 37–9</ref> Most Meccans ignored him and mocked him, while a few others became his followers. There were three main groups of early converts to Islam: younger brothers and sons of great merchants; people who had fallen out of the first rank in their tribe or failed to attain it; and the weak, mostly unprotected foreigners.<ref name = "Cambridge 1977 36">Watt, ''The Cambridge History of Islam'' (1977), p. 36.</ref>

According to Ibn Sad, the opposition in Mecca started when Muhammad delivered verses that condemned idol worship and the Meccan forefathers who engaged in polytheism.<ref>F. E. Peters (1994), p.169</ref> However, the Qur'anic exegesis maintains that it began as soon as Muhammad started public preaching.<ref name="Rubin">Uri Rubin,'' Quraysh'', [[Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an]]</ref> As the number of followers increased, he became a threat to the local tribes and the rulers of the city, whose wealth rested upon the Kaaba, the focal point of Meccan religious life, which Muhammad threatened to overthrow. Muhammad’s denunciation of the Meccan traditional religion was especially offensive to his own tribe, the [[Quraysh (tribe)|Quraysh]], as they were the guardians of the Ka'aba.<ref name = "Cambridge 1977 36" /> The powerful merchants tried to convince Muhammad to abandon his preaching by offering him admission into the inner circle of merchants, and establishing his position therein by an advantageous marriage. However, he refused.<ref name = "Cambridge 1977 36" />

Tradition records at great length the persecution and ill-treatment of Muhammad and his followers.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> [[Sumayyah bint Khabbab]], a slave of [[Abu Jahl]] and a prominent Meccan leader, is famous as the first martyr of Islam, having been killed with a spear by her master when she refused to give up her faith. [[Bilal ibn Ribah|Bilal]], another Muslim slave, was tortured by [[Umayyah ibn Khalaf]] who placed a heavy rock on his chest to force his conversion.<ref>Jonathan E. Brockopp, ''Slaves and Slavery'', [[Encyclopedia of the Qur'an]]</ref><ref>W. Arafat, ''Bilal b. Rabah'', [[Encyclopedia of Islam]]</ref> Apart from insults, Muhammad was protected from physical harm as he belonged to the Banu Hashim clan.<ref>Watt (1964) p. 76.</ref><ref>Peters (1999) p. 172.</ref>

In 615, some of Muhammad's followers [[Migration to Abyssinia|emigrated]] to the [[Ethiopia]]n [[Aksumite Empire]] and founded a small colony there under the protection of the Christian Ethiopian emperor [[Aṣḥama ibn Abjar]].<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/>

An early [[hadith]] known as "The Story of the Cranes" (translation: قصة الغرانيق, transliteration: Qissat al Gharaneeq) was propagated by two Islamic scholars, Ibn Kathir al Dimashqi and Ibn Hijir al Masri, where the former has strengthened it and the latter called it fabricated<ref>Muhammad Nasiruddin Al-Albani, ''Nasb al Majaneeq fil Radd 'Ala Qissat al Gharaneeq'', 1996, pg.1</ref> (see [[Science of hadith]]). The hadith describes Muhammad's involvement at the time of migration in an episode which historian [[William Muir]] called the "[[Satanic Verses]]". The account holds that Muhammad pronounced a verse acknowledging the existence of three Meccan goddesses considered to be the daughters of Allah, praising them, and appealing for their intercession. According to this account, Muhammad later retracted the verses at the behest of Gabriel.<ref group="n">The aforementioned Islamic [[Satanic Verses#Tabarī's account|histories recount]] that as Muhammad was reciting Sūra Al-Najm (Q.53), as revealed to him by the [[Archangel Gabriel]], Satan tempted him to utter the following lines after verses 19 and 20: "Have you thought of Allāt and al-'Uzzā and Manāt the third, the other; These are the exalted Gharaniq, whose intercession is hoped for." (Allāt, al-'Uzzā and Manāt were three goddesses worshiped by the Meccans). cf Ibn Ishaq, A. Guillaume p. 166.</ref> Islamic scholars have weakened the hadith<ref>Al-Albani, pg.1</ref> and have denied the historicity of the incident as early as the tenth century.<ref>Shahab Ahmed, ''Satanic Verses'', [[Encyclopedia of the Qur'an]]</ref> In any event, relations between the Muslims and their pagan fellow-tribesmen were already deteriorated and worsening.

In 617 the leaders of [[Makhzum]] and [[Banu Abd-Shams]], two important Quraysh clans, declared a public [[Meccan boycott of the Hashemites|boycott against Banu Hashim]], their commercial rival, to pressurize it into withdrawing its protection of Muhammad. The boycott lasted three years but eventually collapsed as it failed in its objective.<ref>F. E. Peters (2003b), p. 96</ref><ref name="Momen">Moojan Momen (1985), p. 4</ref>

===Sunnah===
The [[Sunnah]] represents the actions and sayings of Muhammad (preserved in reports known as [[Hadith]]), and covers a broad array of activities and beliefs ranging from religious rituals, personal hygiene, burial of the dead to the mystical questions involving the love between humans and God. The Sunnah is considered a model of emulation for pious Muslims and has to a great degree influenced the Muslim culture. The greeting that Muhammad taught Muslims to offer each other, “may peace be upon you” (Arabic: ''[[As-Salamu Alaykum|as-salamu `alaykum]]'') is used by Muslims throughout the world. Many details of major Islamic rituals such as daily prayers, the fasting and the annual pilgrimage are only found in the Sunnah and not the Qur'an.<ref>''Muhammad'', Encyclopædia Britannica, p.9</ref>

The Sunnah also played a major role in the development of the Islamic sciences. It contributed much to the development of Islamic law, particularly from the end of the first Islamic century.<ref>J. Schacht, ''Fiḳh'', Encyclopedia of Islam</ref> Muslim mystics, known as [[sufi]]s, who were seeking for the inner meaning of the Qur'an and the inner nature of Muhammad, viewed the prophet of Islam not only as a prophet but also as a perfect saint. Sufi orders trace their chain of spiritual descent back to Muhammad.<ref>''Muhammad'', Encyclopædia Britannica, p.11–12</ref>

===Isra and Mi'raj===
{{Main|Isra and Mi'raj}}
[[File:Al-Aqsa Mosque by David Shankbone.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The [[Al-Aqsa Mosque]], adjacent to the [[Dome of the Rock]] (along the southern wall of [[Temple Mount|al-Haram ash-Sharif]]), is the site from which Muhammad is believed to have travelled to [[Jannah|heaven]] and returned.]]
Islamic tradition relates that in 620, Muhammad experienced the ''[[Isra and Mi'raj]]'', a miraculous journey said to have occurred with the angel [[Gabriel]] in one night. In the first part of the journey, the ''Isra'', he is said to have travelled from [[Mecca]] on a [[Buraq|winged horse]] to "the farthest mosque" (in Arabic: ''masjid al-aqsa''), which Muslims usually identify with the [[Al-Aqsa Mosque]] in [[Jerusalem]]. In the second part, the ''Mi'raj'', Muhammad is said to have toured [[Jannah|heaven]] and [[Jahannam|hell]], and spoken with earlier prophets, such as [[Islamic view of Abraham|Abraham]], [[Islamic view of Moses|Moses]], and [[Jesus in Islam|Jesus]].<ref name="EoIMW"/> [[Ibn Ishaq]], author of the first [[Sirah Rasul Allah|biography of Muhammad]], presents this event as a spiritual experience whereas later historians like [[Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari|Al-Tabari]] and [[Ibn Kathir]] present it as a physical journey.<ref name="EoIMW">''Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World'' (2003), p. 482</ref>

When he was transported to Heaven, he reported seeing an angel with "''70,000 heads, each head having 70,000 mouths, each mouth having 70,000 tongues, each tongue speaking 70,000 languages; and every one involved in singing God's (Allah's) praises.''" After calculation this would mean the angel spoke 24 quintillion (2.401 × 1019) languages for the praise of Allah. This description is similar word for word to the description of an angel seen by Moses in "The Revelation of Moses" <ref>http://www.sacred-texts.com/journals/jras/1893-15.htm</ref>

Some western scholars of Islam hold that the oldest Muslim tradition identified the journey as one traveled through the heavens from the sacred enclosure at Mecca to the celestial ''al-Baytu l-Maʿmur'' (heavenly prototype of the Kaaba); but later tradition identified Muhammad's journey from Mecca to Jerusalem.<ref>Sells, Michael. ''Ascension'', [[Encyclopedia of the Quran]].</ref>
{{Muhammad timeline in Medina}}

===Hijra===
{{Main|Hijra (Islam)}}

====Migration to Medina====
{{Main|Muhammad in Medina}}
A delegation consisting of the representatives of the twelve important clans of Medina, invited Muhammad as a neutral outsider to Medina to serve as chief arbitrator for the entire community.<ref name="Cambridge39"/><ref name="Esp">Esposito (1998), p. 17.</ref> There was fighting in Yathrib mainly involving its Arab and Jewish inhabitants for around a hundred years before 620.<ref name="Cambridge39"/> The recurring slaughters and disagreements over the resulting claims, especially after the [[Battle of Bu'ath]] in which all clans were involved, made it obvious to them that the tribal conceptions of blood-feud and [[Eye for an eye|an eye for an eye]] were no longer workable unless there was one man with authority to adjudicate in disputed cases.<ref name="Cambridge39">Watt, ''The Cambridge History of Islam'', p. 39</ref> The delegation from Medina pledged themselves and their fellow-citizens to accept Muhammad into their community and physically protect him as one of themselves.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/>

Muhammad instructed his followers to emigrate to Medina until virtually all his followers left Mecca. Being alarmed at the departure of Muslims, according to the tradition, the Meccans plotted to assassinate Muhammad. With the help of [[Ali]], Muhammad fooled the Meccans who were watching him, and secretly slipped away from the town with Abu Bakr.<ref>Moojan Momen (1985), p. 5</ref> By 622, Muhammad emigrated to [[Medina]], a large agricultural [[oasis]]. Those who migrated from Mecca along with Muhammad became known as ''[[muhajirun]]'' (emigrants).<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/>

====Establishment of a new polity====
{{Main|Constitution of Medina}}
Among the first things Muhammad did in order to settle down the longstanding grievances among the tribes of Medina was drafting a document known as the [[Constitution of Medina]], "establishing a kind of alliance or federation" among the eight Medinan tribes and Muslim emigrants from Mecca, which specified the rights and duties of all citizens and the relationship of the different communities in Medina (including that of the Muslim community to other communities, specifically the [[Jew]]s and other "[[People of the Book|Peoples of the Book]]").<ref name="Cambridge39"/><ref name="Esp"/> The community defined in the Constitution of Medina, ''[[Ummah]]'', had a religious outlook but was also shaped by practical considerations and substantially preserved the legal forms of the old Arab tribes.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> It effectively established the first Islamic state.

The first group of pagan converts to Islam in Medina were the clans who had not produced great leaders for themselves but had suffered from warlike leaders from other clans. This was followed by the general acceptance of Islam by the pagan population of Medina, apart from some exceptions. According to Ibn Ishaq, this was influenced by the conversion of [[Sa'd ibn Mu'adh]] (a prominent Medinan leader) to Islam.<ref>Watt (1956), p. 175, p. 177.</ref> Those Medinans who converted to Islam and helped the Muslim emigrants find shelter became known as the ''[[Ansar (Islam)|ansar]]'' (supporters).<ref name="EoI-Muhammad" /> Then Muhammad instituted [[Brotherhood among the Sahaba|brotherhood between the emigrants and the supporters]] and he chose [[Ali]] as his own brother.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title = Ali ibn Abitalib | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia Iranica | accessdate = 2007-10-25|url=http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v1f8/v1f8a043.html}}</ref>
{{Wikisource|Medina Charter}}

====Beginning of armed conflict====
{{Main|Battle of Badr}}
Following the emigration, the Meccans seized the properties of the Muslim emigrants in Mecca.<ref>[[Fazlur Rahman]] (1979), p. 21</ref> Economically uprooted and with no available profession, the Muslim migrants turned to raiding Meccan caravans as an act of war, deliberately initiating armed conflict between the Muslims and Mecca.<ref name="Lewisw">Lewis (2002), p. 41.</ref><ref>Watt (1961), p. 105.</ref> Muhammad delivered [[Qur'an]]ic verses permitting the Muslims to fight the Meccans (see sura [[Al-Hajj]], Qur'an {{cite quran|22|39|e=40|s=ns|b=n}}).<ref>[[John Kelsay]] (1993), p. 21</ref> These attacks pressured Mecca by interfering with trade, and allowed the Muslims to acquire wealth, power and prestige while working towards their ultimate goal of inducing Mecca's submission to the new faith.<ref>Watt(1961) p. 105, p. 107</ref><ref name="Lewis2">Lewis (1993), p. 41.</ref>
In March of 624, Muhammad led some three hundred warriors in a raid on a Meccan merchant caravan. The Muslims set an ambush for them at Badr.<ref>Rodinson (2002), p. 164.</ref> Aware of the plan, the Meccan caravan eluded the Muslims. Meanwhile, a force from Mecca was sent to protect the caravan, continuing forward to confront the Muslims upon hearing that the caravan was safe. The Battle of Badr began in March of 624.<ref>Watt, ''The Cambridge History of Islam'', p. 45</ref> Though outnumbered more than three to one, the Muslims won the battle, killing at least forty-five Meccans with only fourteen Muslims dead. They also succeeded in killing many Meccan leaders, including [[Amr ibn Hishām|Abu Jahl]].<ref>Glubb (2002), pp. 179–186.</ref> Seventy prisoners had been acquired, many of whom were soon ransomed in return for wealth or freed.<ref name="Lewisw"/><ref name="W123">Watt (1961), p. 123.</ref><ref name = "Rodinson 168-9">Rodinson (2002), pp. 168–9.</ref> Muhammad and his followers saw in the victory a confirmation of their faith.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> The Qur'anic verses of this period, unlike the Meccan ones, dealt with practical problems of government and issues like the distribution of spoils.<ref>Lewis(2002), p. 44</ref>

The victory strengthened Muhammad's position in Medina and dispelled earlier doubts among his followers. As a result the opposition to him became less vocal. Pagans who had not yet converted were very bitter about the advance of Islam. Two persons, [[Asma bint Marwan]] and [[Abu 'Afak]] had composed verses taunting and insulting the Muslims. They were killed by persons belonging to their own or related clans , but nothing was said and no blood-feud followed.<ref>Watt (1956), p. 179.</ref>

Muhammad expelled from Medina the [[Banu Qaynuqa]], one of three main Jewish tribes.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> Following the Battle of Badr, Muhammad also made mutual-aid alliances with a number of Bedouin tribes to protect his community from attacks from the northern part of Hijaz.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/>

====Conflict with Mecca====
{{Main|Battle of Uhud}}
The attack at Badr committed Muhammad to [[total war]] with Meccans, who were now anxious to avenge their defeat. To maintain their economic prosperity, the Meccans needed to restore their prestige, which had been lost at Badr.<ref>Watt (1961), p. 132.</ref> In the ensuing months, Muhammad led expeditions on tribes allied with Mecca and sent out a raid on a Meccan caravan.<ref>Watt (1961), p. 134</ref> [[Abu Sufyan]] subsequently gathered an army of three thousand men and set out for an attack on Medina.<ref name = "Lewis 1960 45">Lewis (1960), p. 45.</ref>

A scout alerted Muhammad of the Meccan army's presence and numbers a day later. The next morning, at the Muslim conference of war, there was dispute over how best to repel the Meccans. Muhammad and many senior figures suggested that it would be safer to fight within Medina and take advantage of its heavily fortified strongholds. Younger Muslims argued that the Meccans were destroying their crops, and that huddling in the strongholds would destroy Muslim prestige. Muhammad eventually conceded to the wishes of the latter, and readied the Muslim force for battle. Thus, Muhammad led his force outside to the mountain of Uhud (where the Meccans had camped) and fought the [[Battle of Uhud]] on March 23.<ref>C.F. Robinson, ''Uhud'', [[Encyclopedia of Islam]]</ref><ref>Watt (1964) p. 137</ref> Although the Muslim army had the best of the early encounters, indiscipline on the part of strategically placed archers led to a Muslim defeat, with 75 Muslims killed including [[Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib|Hamza]], Muhammad's uncle and one of the best known [[Martyrdom in Islam|martyrs in the Muslim tradition]]. The Meccans did not pursue the Muslims further, but marched back to Mecca declaring victory. They were not entirely successful, however, as they had failed to achieve their aim of completely destroying the Muslims.<ref>Watt (1974) p. 137</ref><ref>David Cook(2007), p.24</ref> The Muslims buried the dead, and returned to Medina that evening. Questions accumulated as to the reasons for the loss, and Muhammad subsequently delivered Qur'anic verses {{cite quran|3|152|s=ns|b=n}} which indicated that their defeat was partly a punishment for disobedience and partly a test for steadfastness.<ref>See:
*Watt (1981) p. 432;
*Watt (1964) p. 144.</ref>

Abu Sufyan now directed his efforts towards another attack on Medina. He attracted the support of nomadic tribes to the north and east of Medina, using propaganda about Muhammad's weakness, promises of booty, memories of the prestige of the Quraysh and use of bribes.<ref name = "Watt Medina 30">Watt (1956), p. 30.</ref> Muhammad's policy was now to prevent alliances against him as much as he could. Whenever alliances of tribesmen against Medina were formed, he sent out an expedition to break them up.<ref name = "Watt Medina 30" /> When Muhammad heard of men massing with hostile intentions against Medina, he reacted with severity.<ref>Watt (1956), p. 34</ref> One example is the assassination of [[Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf]], a chieftain of the Jewish tribe of [[Banu Nadir]] who had gone to Mecca and written poems that helped rouse the Meccans' grief, anger and desire for revenge after the Battle of Badr.<ref>Watt (1956), p. 18</ref> Around a year later, Muhammad expelled the Banu Nadir from Medina.<ref>Watt (1956), pp. 220–221</ref> Muhammad's attempts to prevent formation of a confederation against him were unsuccessful, though he was able to increase his own forces and stop many potential tribes from joining his enemies.<ref>Watt (1956), p. 35</ref>

====Siege of Medina====
{{Main|Battle of the Trench}}
With the help of the exiled [[Banu Nadir]], the Quraysh military leader [[Abu Sufyan]] had mustered a force of 10,000 men. Muhammad prepared a force of about 3000 men and adopted a new form of defense unknown in Arabia at that time: the Muslims dug a trench wherever Medina lay open to cavalry attack. The idea is credited to a Persian convert to Islam, [[Salman the Persian]]. The siege of Medina began on March 31 627 and lasted for two weeks.<ref>Watt (1956), p. 36, 37</ref> Abu Sufyan's troops were unprepared for the fortifications they were confronted with, and after an ineffectual siege lasting several weeks, the coalition decided to go home.<ref>See:
*Rodinson (2002), pp. 209–211;
*Watt (1964) p. 169</ref> The Qur'an discusses this battle in sura Al-Ahzab, ayat (verses) 9-27, {{cite quran|33|9|e=27|s=ns|b=n}}.<ref name="Rubin"/>
During the battle, the Jewish tribe of [[Banu Qurayza]], located at the south of Medina, had entered into negotiations with Meccan forces to revolt against Muhammad. Although they were swayed by suggestions that Muhammad was sure to be overwhelmed, they desired reassurance in case the confederacy was unable to destroy him. No agreement was reached after the prolonged negotiations, in part due to sabotage attempts by Muhammad's scouts.<ref>Watt (1964) pp. 170–172</ref> After the coalition's retreat, the Muslims accused the Banu Qurayza of treachery and besieged them in their forts for 25 days. The Banu Qurayza eventually surrendered and all the men, apart from a few who converted to Islam, were beheaded, while the women and children were enslaved.<ref>Peterson(2007), p. 126</ref><ref>Ramadan (2007), p. 141</ref> Walid N. Arafat and [[Barakat Ahmad]] have disputed that the Banu Qurayza were killed on quite such a large scale.<ref name="Meri1">Meri, ''Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia'', p. 754.</ref> Arafat disputes large-scale killings and argued that [[Ibn Ishaq]] gathered information from descendants of the Qurayza Jews, who embellished or manufactured the details of the incident. Arafat relates the testimony of [[Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani|Ibn Hajar]], who denounced this and other accounts as "odd tales" and quoted [[Malik ibn Anas]], a contemporary of Ibn Ishaq, whom he rejected as a "liar", an "impostor" and for seeking out the Jewish descendants for gathering information about Muhammad's campaign with their forefathers.<ref name="Arafat">Arafat, "New Light on the Story of Banu Qurayza and the Jews of Medina", p. 100-107. Arafat relates the testimony of [[Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani|Ibn Hajar]], who denounced this and other accounts as "odd tales" and quoted [[Malik ibn Anas]], a contempory of Ibn Ishaq, whom he rejected as a "liar", an "impostor" and for seeking out the Jewish descendants for gathering information about Muhammad's campaign with their forefathers.</ref>
Ahmad argues that only some of the tribe were killed, while some of the fighters were merely enslaved.<ref name="Ahmad85">Ahmad, p. 85-94.</ref><ref>Nemoy, "Barakat Ahmad's "Muhammad and the Jews"", p. 325. Nemoy is sourcing Ahmad's ''Muhammad and the Jews''.</ref> Watt finds Arafat's arguments "not entirely convincing",<ref name="Kurayza">Kurayza</ref> while Meir J. Kister has contradicted {{Clarify|date=March 2009}} the arguments of Arafat and Ahmad.<ref>Kister, "The Massacre of the Banu Quraiza".</ref>

In the siege of Medina, the Meccans exerted their utmost strength towards the destruction of the Muslim community. Their failure resulted in a significant loss of prestige; their trade with Syria was gone.<ref>Watt (1956), p. 39</ref> Following the Battle of the Trench, Muhammad made two expeditions to the north which ended without any fighting.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> While returning from one of these (or some years earlier according to other early accounts), an [[Aisha#Accusation of adultery|accusation of adultery]] was made against [[Aisha]], Muhammad's wife. Aisha was exonerated from the accusations when Muhammad announced that he had received a revelation confirming Aisha's innocence and directing that charges of adultery be supported by four eyewitnesses.<ref name="Watt-encyc-online"/>

====Truce of Hudaybiyyah====
{{Main|Treaty of Hudaybiyyah}}
Although Muhammad had already delivered Qur'anic verses commanding the [[Hajj]],<ref>{{cite quran|2|196|e=210|s=ns}}</ref> the Muslims had not performed it due to the enmity of the Quraysh. In the month of [[Shawwal]] 628, Muhammad ordered his followers to obtain sacrificial animals and to make preparations for a pilgrimage (''[[umrah]]'') to Mecca, saying that God had promised him the fulfillment of this goal in a vision where he was shaving his head after the completion of the Hajj.<ref>Lings (1987), p. 249</ref> Upon hearing of the approaching 1,400 Muslims, the Quraysh sent out a force of 200 cavalry to halt them. Muhammad evaded them by taking a more difficult route, thereby reaching al-Hudaybiyya, just outside of Mecca.<ref name = "Hudaybiya"/> According to Watt, although Muhammad's decision to make the pilgrimage was based on his dream, he was at the same time demonstrating to the pagan Meccans that Islam does not threaten the prestige of their sanctuary, and that Islam was an Arabian religion.<ref name = "Hudaybiya">Watt, ''al- Hudaybiya or al-Hudaybiyya'' [[Encyclopedia of Islam]]</ref>
[[File:MuhammadSeal.jpg|thumb|upright|Imprint of Muhammad's seal, used in letters sent to other heads of state. (Graphically enhanced.)]]

Negotiations commenced with emissaries going to and from Mecca. While these continued, rumors spread that one of the Muslim negotiators, [[Uthman|Uthman bin al-Affan]], had been killed by the Quraysh. Muhammad responded by calling upon the pilgrims to make a pledge not to flee (or to stick with Muhammad, whatever decision he made) if the situation descended into war with Mecca. This pledge became known as the "Pledge of Acceptance" ({{lang-ar|بيعة الرضوان , ''bay'at al-ridhwān''}}) or the "[[Pledge of the Tree|Pledge under the Tree]]". News of Uthman's safety, however, allowed for negotiations to continue, and a treaty scheduled to last ten years was eventually signed between the Muslims and Quraysh.<ref name = "Hudaybiya" /><ref>Lewis (2002), p. 42.</ref> The main points of the treaty included the cessation of hostilities; the deferral of Muhammad's pilgrimage to the following year; and an agreement to send back any Meccan who had gone to Medina without the permission of their protector.<ref name = "Hudaybiya"/>

Many Muslims were not satisfied with the terms of the treaty. However, the Qur'anic sura "[[Al-Fath]]" (The Victory) (Qur'an {{cite quran|48|1|e=29|s=ns|b=n}}) assured the Muslims that the expedition from which they were now returning must be considered a victorious one.<ref>Lings (1987), p. 255</ref> It was only later that Muhammad's followers would realise the benefit behind this treaty. According to Welch, these benefits included the inducing of the Meccans to recognise Muhammad as an equal; a cessation of military activity posing well for the future; and gaining the admiration of Meccans who were impressed by the incorporation of the pilgrimage rituals.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/>

After signing the truce, Muhammad made an expedition against the Jewish oasis of [[Khaybar]], known as the [[Battle of Khaybar]]. This was possibly due to it housing the Banu Nadir, who were inciting hostilities against Muhammad, or to regain some prestige to deflect from what appeared to some Muslims as the inconclusive result of the truce of Hudaybiyya.<ref name = "Lewis 1960 45" /><ref>Vaglieri, ''Khaybar'', Encyclopedia of Islam</ref> According to Muslim tradition, Muhammad also [[Muhammad as a diplomat#Correspondence with other leaders|sent letters]] to many rulers of the world, asking them to convert to Islam (the exact date is given variously in the sources).<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/><ref name=King_Lings>Lings (1987), p. 260</ref><ref name=Kings_Khan>Khan (1998), pp. 250–251</ref> Hence he sent messengers (with letters) to [[Heraclius]] of the [[Byzantine Empire]] (the eastern Roman Empire), [[Khosrau II|Khosrau]] of [[Sassanid Empire|Persia]], the chief of [[Yemen]] and to some others.<ref name=King_Lings/><ref name=Kings_Khan/> In the years following the truce of Hudaybiyya, Muhammad sent his forces against the Arabs on [[Transjordania]]n Byzantine soil in the [[Battle of Mu'tah]], in which the Muslims were defeated.<ref>F. Buhl, ''Muta'', [[Encyclopedia of Islam]]</ref>

===Final years===
====Conquest of Mecca====
{{Main|Conquest of Mecca|Muhammad after the conquest of Mecca}}

[[File:Siyer-i Nebi 298a.jpg|thumb|upright|A depiction of Muhammad advancing on Mecca from [[Siyer-i Nebi]], a 16th-century [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] manuscript. The angels Gabriel, Michael, Israfil and Azrail, are also shown.]]

[[File:Maome.jpg|thumb|upright| An anonymous artist's illustration of [[Abu Rayhan Biruni|al-Bīrūnī]]'s ''[[The Remaining Signs of Past Centuries]]'', depicting Muhammad [[Islamic calendar#Prohibiting Nasi|prohibits intercalary months]] during [[the Farewell Pilgrimage]], found in a 17th-century Ottoman copy of a 14th-century ([[Ilkhanate]]) manuscript (Edinburgh codex).]]
The [[Treaty of Hudaybiyyah|truce of Hudaybiyyah]] had been enforced for two years.<ref name=khan_274>Khan (1998), p. 274</ref><ref name = "Lings_291">Lings (1987), p. 291</ref> The tribe of [[Banu Khuza'a]] had good relations with Muhammad, whereas their enemies, the [[Banu Bakr ibn Abd Manat|Banu Bakr]], had an alliance with the Meccans.<ref name=khan_274/><ref name = "Lings_291" /> A clan of the Bakr made a night raid against the Khuza'a, killing a few of them.<ref name=khan_274/><ref name=Lings_291/> The Meccans helped the Banu Bakr with weapons and, according to some sources, a few Meccans also took part in the fighting.<ref name=khan_274/> After this event, Muhammad sent a message to Mecca with three conditions, asking them to accept one of them. These were that either the Meccans paid [[Blood money (term)|blood money]] for those slain among the Khuza'ah tribe; or, that they should disavow themselves of the Banu Bakr; or, that they should declare the truce of Hudaybiyyah null.<ref name=khan_274_275>Khan (1998), pp. 274–5.</ref>

The Meccans replied that they would accept only the last condition.<ref name=khan_274_275/> However, soon they realized their mistake and sent [[Abu Sufyan]] to renew the Hudaybiyyah treaty, but now his request was declined by Muhammad.

Muhammad began to prepare for a campaign.<ref>Lings (1987), p. 292</ref> In 630, Muhammad marched on Mecca with an enormous force, said to number more than ten thousand men. With minimal casualties, Muhammad took control of Mecca.<ref>Watt (1956), p. 66.</ref> He declared an amnesty for past offences, except for ten men and women who had mocked and ridiculed him in songs and verses. Some of these were later pardoned.<ref>Rodinson (2002), p. 261.</ref> Most Meccans converted to Islam and Muhammad subsequently destroyed all the statues of Arabian gods in and around the Kaaba.<ref>Harold Wayne Ballard, Donald N. Penny, W. Glenn Jonas (2002), p.163</ref><ref>F. E. Peters (2003), p.240</ref> The Qur'an discusses the conquest of Mecca.<ref name="Rubin"/><ref>{{cite quran|110|1|3|s=ns}}</ref>

====Conquest of Arabia====
{{Main|Battle of Hunayn|Battle of Tabouk}}
Soon after the conquest of Mecca, Muhammad was alarmed by a military threat from the confederate tribes of Hawazin who were collecting an army twice the size of Muhammad's. The [[Hawazin|Banu Hawazin]] were old enemies of the Meccans. They were joined by the [[Banu Thaqif]] (inhabiting the city of Ta'if) who adopted an anti-Meccan policy due to the decline of the prestige of Meccans.<ref>Watt (1974), p.207</ref> Muhammad defeated the Hawazin and Thaqif tribes in the Battle of Hunayn.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/>

In the same year, Muhammad made the expedition of Tabuk against northern Arabia because of their previous defeat at the [[Battle of Mu'tah]] as well as reports of the hostile attitude adopted against Muslims. Although Muhammad did not make contact with hostile forces at Tabuk, he received the submission of some local chiefs of the region.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/><ref>M.A. al-Bakhit, ''Tabuk'', [[Encyclopedia of Islam]]</ref>

A year after the Battle of Tabuk, the Banu Thaqif sent emissaries to [[Medina]] to surrender to Muhammad and adopt Islam. Many bedouins submitted to Muhammad in order to be safe against his attacks and to benefit from the booties of the wars.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> However, the bedouins were alien to the system of Islam and wanted to maintain their independence, their established code of virtue and their ancestral traditions. Muhammad thus required of them a military and political agreement according to which they "acknowledge the suzerainty of Medina, to refrain from attack on the Muslims and their allies, and to pay the [[Zakat]], the Muslim religious levy."<ref>Lewis (1993), pp.43–44</ref>

====Last years in Mecca====
Muhammad's wife Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib both died in 619, the year thus being known as the "[[Year of Sorrow|year of sorrow]]". With the death of Abu Talib, the leadership of the Banu Hashim clan was passed to Abu Lahab, an inveterate enemy of Muhammad. Soon afterwards, [[Abu Lahab]] withdrew the clan's protection from Muhammad. This placed Muhammad in danger of death since the withdrawal of clan protection implied that the blood revenge for his killing would not be exacted. Muhammad then [[Muhammad's visit to Ta'if|visited Ta'if]], another important city in Arabia, and tried to find a protector for himself there, but his effort failed and further brought him into physical danger.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/><ref name="Momen"/> Muhammad was forced to return to Mecca. A Meccan man named Mut'im b. Adi (and the protection of the tribe of [[Banu Nawfal]]) made it possible for him safely to re-enter his native city.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/><ref name="Momen"/>

Many people were visiting Mecca on business or as pilgrims to the [[Kaaba]]. Muhammad took this opportunity to look for a new home for himself and his followers. After several unsuccessful negotiations, he found hope with some men from Yathrib (later called [[Medina]]).<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> The Arab population of Yathrib were familiar with monotheism because a Jewish community existed there.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> Converts to Islam came from nearly all [[Arab]] tribes in Medina, such that by June of the subsequent year there were seventy-five Muslims coming to Mecca for pilgrimage and to meet Muhammad. Meeting him secretly by night, the group made what was known as the "''[[Second pledge at al-Aqabah|Second Pledge of al-`Aqaba]]''", or the "''Pledge of War''"<ref>Watt (1974) p. 83</ref> Following the pledges at Aqabah, Muhammad encouraged his followers to [[Hijra (Islam)|emigrate]] to [[Yathrib]]. As with the [[migration to Abyssinia]], the Quraysh attempted to stop the emigration. However, almost all Muslims managed to leave.<ref name = P87>Peterson (2006), pg. 86-9</ref>

====Farewell pilgrimage and death====
{{Main|The Farewell Pilgrimage}}
At the end of the tenth year after the migration to Medina, Muhammad carried through his first truly Islamic pilgrimage, thereby teaching his followers the rites of the annual Great Pilgrimage (Hajj).<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/>

After completing the pilgrimage, Muhammad delivered a famous speech known as [[The Farewell Sermon]]. In this sermon, Muhammad advised his followers not to follow certain pre-Islamic customs such as [[Lunisolar calendar|adding intercalary months]] to align the [[Islamic calendar|lunar calendar]] with the [[solar calendar]]. Muhammad abolished all old [[blood feud]]s and disputes based on the former [[tribal]] system and asked for all old pledges to be returned as implications of the creation of the new Islamic community. Commenting on the vulnerability of women in his society, Muhammed asked his male followers to “Be good to women; for they are powerless captives (awan) in your households. You took them in God’s trust, and [[Islamic marriage contract|legitimated your sexual relations]] with the Word of God, so come to your senses people, and hear my words ...”. He also told them that they were entitled to discipline their wives but should do so with kindness. Muhammad also addressed the issue of inheritance by forbidding false claims of paternity or of a client relationship to the deceased and also forbidding his followers to leave their wealth to a testamentary heir. He also upheld the sacredness of four lunar months in each year.<ref>Devin J. Stewart, ''Farewell Pilgrimage'', Encyclopedia of the Qur'an</ref><ref>Al-Hibri (2003), p.17</ref> According to [[Sunni]] [[tafsir]], the following Qur'anic verse was delivered in this incident: “Today I have perfected your religion, and completed my favours for you and chosen Islam as a religion for you.”(Qur'an 5:3)<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> According to [[Shia]] tafsir, it refers to appointment of [[Ali|Ali ibn Abi Talib]] at the [[Wadi Rabigh#Ghadir Al-Khumm|pond of Khumm]] as [[Succession to Muhammad|Muhammad's successor]], this occurring a few days later when Muslims were returning from Mecca to Medina.<ref>See:
*[http://www.almizan.org/Tafseer/Volume3/Baqarah50.asp Tabatabae, Tafsir Al-Mizan, volume 9, pages 227–247]
* [http://www.tafseercomparison.org/study2.asp?TitleText=Study%202:%20Verse%205:3 Comparing the Tafsir of various exegetes]</ref>

A few months after the farewell pilgrimage, Muhammad fell ill and suffered for several days with [[Headache|head pain]] and weakness. He died on Monday, June 8, 632, in Medina, at the age of 63.<ref name="USN&WR">[http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/religion/2008/04/07/the-last-prophet.html?PageNr=3 ''The Last Prophet''], page 3. By Lewis Lord of [[U.S. News & World Report]]. April 7, 2008.</ref> With his head resting on Aisha's lap he murmured his final words soon after asking her to dispose of his last worldly goods, which were seven coins:{{Quote|Rather, God on High and paradise.<ref name="USN&WR"/>|Muhammad}}
He is buried where he died, which was in Aisha's house and is now housed within the [[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi|Mosque of the Prophet]] in the city of Medina.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/><ref>Leila Ahmed (1986), 665–91 (686)</ref><ref name="Peters90">F. E. Peters(2003), p.90</ref> Next to Muhammad's tomb, there is another empty tomb that Muslims believe awaits Jesus.<ref name="Peters90"/><ref>"Isa", ''Encyclopedia of Islam''</ref>

===Aftermath===
{{See also|Rashidun|Muslim conquest|Succession to Muhammad}}
[[File:Muslim Conquest.PNG|thumb|right|Conquests of Muhammad and the Rashidun.]]
Muhammad united the [[tribes of Arabia]] into a single Arab Muslim religious polity in the last years of his life. With Muhammad's death, disagreement broke out over who would succeed him as leader of the Muslim community.<ref name="Lapidus 2002 pp 0"/> [[Umar ibn al-Khattab]], a prominent companion of Muhammad, nominated [[Abu Bakr]], Muhammad's friend and collaborator. Others added their support and Abu Bakr was made the first [[caliph]]. This choice was disputed by some of Muhammad's companions, who held that Ali ibn Abi Talib, his cousin and son-in-law, had been designated the successor by Muhammad at [[Ghadir Khumm]]. Abu Bakr's immediate task was to make an expedition against the [[Byzantine]] (or [[Eastern Roman Empire]]) forces because of the previous defeat, although he first had to put down a rebellion by Arab tribes in an episode referred to by later Muslim historians as the [[Ridda wars]], or "Wars of Apostasy".<ref>See:
* Holt (1977a), p.57
* Hourani (2003), p.22
* Lapidus (2002), p.32
* Esposito(1998), p.36
* Madelung (1996), p.43
</ref>

The pre-Islamic [[Middle East]] was dominated by the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] and [[Sassanid Empire|Sassanian]] empires. The [[Roman-Persian Wars]] between the two had devastated the inhabitants, making the empires unpopular amongst local tribes. Furthermore, most Christian Churches in the lands to be conquered by Muslims such as [[Nestorian]]s, [[Monophysite]]s, [[Syriac Orthodox Church|Jacobites]] and [[Copt]]s were under pressure from the [[Orthodox Christianity|Christian Orthodoxy]] who deemed them heretics. Within only a decade, Muslims conquered [[Mesopotamia]] and [[Greater Iran|Persia]], [[Muslim conquest of Syria|Roman Syria]] and [[Muslim conquest of Egypt|Roman Egypt]].<ref>Esposito (1998), p.35–36</ref> and established the [[Rashidun empire]].

==Early reforms under Islam==
{{Main|Early reforms under Islam}}
According to [[William Montgomery Watt]], for Muhammad, religion was not a private and individual matter but rather “the total response of his personality to the total situation in which he found himself. He was responding [not only]… to the religious and intellectual aspects of the situation but also to the economic, social, and political pressures to which contemporary Mecca was subject."<ref>Cambridge History of Islam (1970), p. 30.</ref> [[Bernard Lewis]] says that there are two important political traditions in Islam – one that views Muhammad as a statesman in Medina, and another that views him as a rebel in Mecca. He sees Islam itself as a type of revolution that greatly changed the societies into which the new religion was brought.<ref name="LewisNYRB">Lewis [http://www.nybooks.com/articles/4557 (1998)]</ref>

Historians generally agree that Islamic social reforms in areas such as [[social security]], family structure, slavery and the rights of women and children improved on the [[status quo]] of Arab society.<ref name="LewisNYRB"/><ref>
*Watt (1974), p. 234
*Robinson (2004) p. 21
*Esposito (1998), p. 98
*R. Walzer, ''Ak̲h̲lāḳ'', [[Encyclopaedia of Islam Online]]</ref> For example, according to Lewis, Islam "from the first denounced [[Aristocracy (class)|aristocrat]]ic privilege, rejected hierarchy, and adopted a formula of the career open to the talents".<ref name="LewisNYRB"/> Muhammad's message transformed the society and [[Islamic ethics|moral order]] of life in the Arabian Peninsula through reorientation of society as regards to identity, [[world view]], and the hierarchy of values.<ref>''Islamic ethics'', [[Encyclopedia of Ethics]]</ref>
Economic reforms addressed the plight of the poor, which was becoming an issue in [[Jahiliyyah|pre-Islamic]] Mecca.<ref>Watt, ''The Cambridge History of Islam'', p. 34</ref> The Qur'an requires payment of an alms tax ([[zakat]]) for the benefit of the poor, and as Muhammad's position grew in power he demanded that those tribes who wanted to ally with him implement the zakat in particular.<ref>Esposito (1998), p. 30</ref><ref>Watt, ''The Cambridge History of Islam'', p. 52</ref>

==Slaves==
{{Main|Muhammad and slavery}}
The Qur'an considers emancipation of a slave to be a highly meritorious deed, or as a condition of repentance for many sins. Therefore Muhammad was the owner of slaves, whom he bought usually to free,<ref>'Human Rights in Islam'. Published by The Islamic Foundation (1976) - Leicester, U.K</ref> including concubines (although this claim is disputed),<ref>see e.g. Al Azhar scholar Sheikh Abdul Majid Subh's writings</ref> a [[wet nurse|wetnurse]], and one slave he bought, freed and adopted as his son (Zayd).<ref name=Zad116>Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya recorded the list of some names of Muhammad's female-slaves in [[Zad al-Ma'ad]], Part I, p. 116</ref> However, Muhammad himself did not ban slavery.

==Legacy==
===Muslim views===
{{See also|Islamic views of Muhammad|Naat|Depictions of Muhammad|Islamic music|Qawwali|Islamic view of miracles}}
[[File:Sahadah-Topkapi-Palace.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Topkapı Palace]] gate with Shahadah and his seal. The Muslim [[Profession (religious)|Profession]] of faith, the [[Shahadah]], illustrates the Muslim conception of the role of Muhammad – "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger."]]

[[File:Mohammed kaaba 1315.jpg|upright|thumb|Persian manuscript miniature depicting Muhammad, from [[Rashid-al-Din Hamadani]]'s ''[[Jami al-Tawarikh]]'', approximately 1315, illustrating the episode of the [[Black Stone]].<ref>Ali, Wijdan (1999),[http://www2.let.uu.nl/Solis/anpt/ejos/pdf4/07Ali.pdf p. 3]</ref>]]

Following the attestation to the oneness of God, the belief in Muhammad's prophethood is the main aspect of the [[Aqidah|Islamic faith]]. Every Muslim proclaims in the ''[[Shahadah]]'' that "I testify that there is no God but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is a [[rasul|messenger]] of Allah". The Shahadah is the basic creed or tenet of Islam. Ideally, it is the first words a newborn will hear, and children are taught as soon as they are able to understand it and it will be recited when they die. Muslims must repeat the shahadah in the call to prayer (''[[adhan]]'') and the [[Salah|prayer]] itself. Non-Muslims wishing to [[Conversion to Islam|convert to Islam]] are required to recite the creed.<ref>Farah (1994), p.135</ref>

Muslims have traditionally expressed love and veneration for Muhammad. Stories of Muhammad's life, his intercession and of his miracles (particularly "[[Splitting of the moon]]") have permeated popular Muslim thought and poetry. The Qur'an refers to Muhammad as "a mercy (''rahmat'') to the worlds" (Qur'an {{cite quran|21|107|s=ns|b=n}}).<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> The association of rain with mercy in Oriental countries has led to imagining Muhammad as a rain cloud dispensing blessings and stretching over lands, reviving the dead hearts, just as rain revives the seemingly dead earth (see, for example, the Sindhi poem of Shah ʿAbd al-Latif).<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> [[Muhammad's birthday]] is celebrated as a major feast throughout the [[Muslim world|Islamic world]], excluding [[Wahhabism|Wahhabi]]-dominated Saudi Arabia where these public celebrations are discouraged.<ref name="Nasr-Muhammad">[[Seyyed Hossein Nasr]], Encyclopedia Britannica, ''Muhammad'', p.13</ref> Muslims experience Muhammad as a living reality, believing in his ongoing significance to human beings as well as animals and plants.<ref name="Nasr-Muhammad"/> When Muslims say or write the name of Muhammad or any other prophet in Islam, they usually follow it with ''[[Peace be upon him (Islam)|Peace be upon him]]'' (Arabic: ''sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam'') like "Muhammad (Peace be upon him)".<ref name="Ann Goldman 2006 p.212"/>

According to the Qur'an, Muhammad is only the last of a series of Prophets sent by Allah for the benefit of mankind, and thus commands Muslims to make no distinction between them and to surrender to one God Allah. {{Cite quran|10|37|s=ns}} states that "...it (the Qur'an) is a confirmation of (revelations) that [[Prophets of Islam|went before it]], and a fuller explanation of the Book - wherein there is no doubt - from [[Allah|The Lord of the Worlds]].". Similarly {{Cite quran|46|12|s=ns}} states "...And before this was the book of Moses, as a guide and a mercy. And this Book confirms (it)...", while {{Cite quran|2|136|s=ns|b=n}} commands the believers of Islam to "Say: we believe in God and that which is revealed unto us, and that which was revealed unto [[Abraham]] and [[Ishmael]] and [[Isaac]] and [[Jacob]] and the tribes, and that which [[Moses]] and [[Jesus]] received, and which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered."

Historian Denis Gril believes that the Qur'an does not overtly describe Muhammad performing miracles, and the supreme miracle of Muhammad is finally [[Qur'an and miracles|identified with the Qur’an itself]].<ref name="EoQ-Miracle">Denis Gril, ''Miracles'', [[Encyclopedia of the Qur'an]]</ref> However, Muslim tradition credits Muhammad with several supernatural events.<ref name="EoI-Miracle">A.J. Wensinck, ''Muʿd̲j̲iza'', [[Encyclopaedia of Islam|Encyclopedia of Islam]]</ref> For example, many Muslim commentators and some Western scholars have interpreted the Surah {{cite quran|54|1|e=2|s=ns|b=n}} as referring to Muhammad [[Splitting of the moon|splitting the Moon]] in view of the Quraysh when they began persecuting his followers.<ref name="EoQ-Miracle"/><ref>Daniel Martin Varisco, ''Moon'', [[Encyclopedia of the Qur'an]]</ref>

===Other views===
Non-Muslim views regarding Muhammad have ranged across a large spectrum of responses and beliefs, many of which have changed over time.<ref>Stillman, Norman (1979).</ref><ref name="Oussani">[[s:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Mohammed and Mohammedanism|"Mohammed and Mohammedanism"]], [[Catholic Encyclopedia]], 1913</ref>

====Non-western views====
[[Mahatma Gandhi]] stated:
"I wanted to know the best of the life of one who holds today an undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind.... I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the second volume (of the Prophet's biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of that great life".<ref>Young India, 1924</ref>

====European and Western views====
{{See also|Medieval Christian view of Muhammad}}

A few learned circles of [[Middle Ages]] Europe—primarily Latin-literate scholars—had access to fairly extensive biographical knowledge about the life of Muhammad, but they interpreted that information through a Christian religious filter that viewed Muhammad as a charlatan driven by ambition and eagerness for power, and who seduced the Saracens into his submission under a religious guise.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> Popular European literature of the time portrayed Muhammad as though he were worshipped by Muslims in the manner of an idol or a heathen god.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> Some medieval Christians believed he died in 666, alluding to [[Number of the Beast|the number of the beast]], instead of his actual death date in 632;<ref>Göran Larsson (2003), p. 87</ref> others changed his name from Muhammad to [[Mahound]], the "devil incarnate".<ref>Reeves (2003), p. 3</ref> [[Bernard Lewis]] writes "The development of the concept of [[Mahound]] started with considering Muhammad as a kind of demon or false god worshipped with [[Apollyon]] and [[Termagant]] in an unholy trinity."<ref name = "Lewis 2002 45">Lewis (2002) p. 45.</ref> A later medieval work, ''Livre dou Tresor'' represents Muhammad as a former monk and cardinal.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> [[Dante Alighieri|Dante's]] ''[[Divine Comedy]]'' (Canto [[28 (number)|XXVIII]]), puts Muhammad, together with Ali, in [[Hell]] "among the sowers of discord and the schismatics, being lacerated by devils again and again."<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> [[Cultural critic]] and author [[Edward Said]] wrote in ''[[Orientalism (book)|Orientalism]]'' regarding Dante's depiction of Muhammad:
<blockquote>Empirical data about the Orient...count for very little; ... What ... Dante tried to do in the ''[[Inferno (Dante)|Inferno]]'', is ... to characterize the Orient as alien and to incorporate it schematically on a theatrical stage whose audience, manager, and actors are ... only for Europe. Hence the vacillation between the familiar and the alien; Mohammed is always the imposter (familiar, because he pretends to be like the Jesus we know) and always the Oriental (alien, because although he is in some ways "like" Jesus, he is after all not like him).<ref>{{cite book |author=Said, Edward W |title=Orientalism |publisher=Penguin |year=2003 |isbn=0141187425, 9780141187426 |url=http://books.google.com/?id=zvJ3YwOkZAYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=orientalism&cd=3#v=onepage&q |page=68}}</ref></blockquote>

[[File:Gagarin PropovedMagometGRM.jpg|thumb|right|upright|A 19th century depiction titled ''"Muhammad preaching"'' (1840–1850) by [[Russia]]n artist [[Grigory Gagarin]].]]
After the [[Protestant Reformation|reformation]], Muhammad was no longer viewed by Christians as a god or idol, but as a cunning, ambitious, and self-seeking impostor.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/><ref name = "Lewis 2002 45" /> [[Guillaume Postel]] was among the first to present a more positive view of Muhammad.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> Boulainvilliers described Muhammad as a gifted political leader and a just lawmaker.<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> [[Gottfried Leibniz]] praised Muhammad because "he did not deviate from the natural religion".<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> [[Thomas Carlyle]] defines Muhammed as "A silent great soul, one of that who cannot but be earnest".<ref>On heroes and hero worship by Thomas Carlyle</ref> [[Edward Gibbon]] in his book ''[[The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire]]'' observes that "the good sense of Mohammad despised the pomp of royalty." [[Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt]] (1851) described Muhammad as "an ominous destroyer and a prophet of murder."<ref name="EoI-Muhammad"/> Later Western works, many of which, from the 18th century onward, distanced themselves from the polemical histories of earlier Christian authors. These more historically oriented treatments, which generally reject the prophethood of Muhammad, are coloured by the [[western philosophy|Western philosophical]] and theological framework of their authors. Many of these studies reflect much historical research, and most pay more attention to human, social, economic, and political factors than to religious, theological, and spiritual matters.<ref name="Britannica"/>

It was not until the latter part of the 20th century that Western authors combined rigorous scholarship as understood in the modern West with empathy toward the subject at hand and, especially, awareness of the religious and spiritual realities involved in the study of the life of the founder of a major world religion.<ref name="Britannica"/> According to [[William Montgomery Watt]] and Richard Bell, recent writers have generally dismissed the idea that Muhammad deliberately deceived his followers, arguing that Muhammad "was absolutely sincere and acted in complete good faith"<ref>Watt, Bell (1995) p. 18</ref> and that Muhammad’s readiness to endure hardship for his cause when there seemed to be no rational basis for hope shows his sincerity.<ref>Watt (1974), p. 232</ref> Watt says that sincerity does not directly imply correctness: In contemporary terms, Muhammad might have mistaken his own subconscious for divine revelation.<ref>Watt (1974), p. 17</ref> Watt and [[Bernard Lewis|Lewis]] argue that viewing Muhammad as a self-seeking impostor makes it impossible to understand the development of Islam.<ref>Watt, ''The Cambridge history of Islam'', p. 37</ref><ref>Lewis (1993), p. 45.</ref> [[Alford T. Welch|Welch]] holds that Muhammad was able to be so influential and successful because of his firm belief in his vocation.<ref name = "EoI-Muhammad" />

====Other religious traditions====
* [[Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'ís]] venerate Muhammad as one of a number of prophets or "[[Manifestation of God|Manifestations of God]]", but consider his teachings to have been superseded by those of [[Bahá'u'lláh]], the founder of the Bahai faith.<ref>{{cite book |last = Smith |first = P. |year = 1999 |title = A Concise Encyclopedia of the Bahá'í Faith |publisher = Oneworld Publications |location = Oxford, UK |isbn = 1851681841 |page = 251 }}</ref>
* Muhammad is regarded as one of the [[Saints of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica]].
*[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] does not regard Muhammad as a prophet, nor accept the Qur’an as a book of scripture. However, they do respect Muhammad as one who taught moral truths which can enlighten nations and bring a higher level of understanding to individuals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=bbaba1615ac0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 |title=A Latter-day Saint Perspective on Muhammad |accessdate=2007-11-19 |author=James A. Toronto |month=August | year=2000 |publisher=Ensign}}</ref>
*[[Guru Nanak]], a founder of [[Sikhism]], viewed Muhammad as an agent of the Hindu [[Brahman]].<ref>Peter Teed (1992), p.424</ref>

==Criticism==
{{Main|Criticism of Muhammad}}

Muslims consider Muhammad to be the final prophet, the messenger of the final revelation that he called the Qur’an. However, criticism of Muhammad has existed since the 7th century, for his marriages, military expeditions and the laws he established, such as those concerning slavery.

==See also==
{{Portalbox|Biography|Islam|Middle East}}
*[[Arabian tribes that interacted with Muhammad]]
*[[Glossary of Islamic terms in Arabic]]
*[[Judaism's view of Muhammad]]
*[[List of films about Muhammad]]
*[[List of founders of religious traditions]]
*''[[Mohammad, Messenger of God]]'' (''aka'' The Message)
*''[[Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet]]'' (documentary)
*[[Paraclete]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2|group="n"}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin|colwidth=40em}}
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* {{cite book | last = Lapidus| first = Ira | title = A History of Islamic Societies | publisher = Cambridge University Press | year = 2002 | edition = 2nd | isbn = 978-0521779333}}
*{{cite book | last=Larsson| first=Göran | title= Ibn Garcia's Shu'Ubiyya Letter: Ethnic and Theological Tensions in Medieval Al-Andalus| publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | year=2003 | isbn=9004127402}}
*{{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard | authorlink=Bernard Lewis | year=1993, 2002 | title=[[The Arabs in History]] | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=0-19-280310-7}}
*{{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard | authorlink=Bernard Lewis | title=[[Race and Slavery in the Middle East|Race and Slavery in the Middle East: An Historical Enquiry]] | publisher=Oxford University Press, USA | edition=Reprint | year=1992 | isbn=978-0195053265}}
*{{cite news | last=Lewis | first=Bernard | title=Islamic Revolution |date=January 21, 1998 | publisher=The New York Review of Books | url=http://www.nybooks.com/articles/4557}}
*{{cite book | last=Lings | first=Martin | authorlink=Martin Lings | title=Muhammad: His Life Based on Earliest Sources | publisher=Inner Traditions International, Limited .| year=1987 | isbn=0-89281-170-6}}
* {{cite book | last = Madelung | first = Wilferd | authorlink = Wilferd Madelung | title = [[The Succession to Muhammad|The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate]] | publisher = Cambridge University Press | year = 1997 | isbn = 0521646960}}
*{{cite book | last=Momen| first=Moojan | authorlink=Moojan Momen | title=An Introduction to Shi'i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelver Shiʻism | publisher=Yale University Press| year=1985 | isbn=0300035314}}
*{{cite book | last=Neusner| first=Jacob | title=God's Rule: The Politics of World Religions | publisher=Georgetown University Press| year=2003 | isbn=0-87840-910-6}}
*{{cite book | last=Nigosian | first=S. A. | authorlink=S. A. Nigosian | title= Islam:Its History, Teaching, and Practices | publisher=Indiana University Press | year=2004 | isbn=0253216273}}
* {{cite book | last=Ordoni | first=Abu Muhammad |coauthors=Muhammad Kazim Qazwini | title=[[Fatima the Gracious]] |publisher=Ansariyan Publications |year=1992| id=ISBN B000BWQ7N6}}
*{{cite book | last=Peters | first=Francis Edward | authorlink=F. E. Peters | year=2003 | title=Islam: A Guide for Jews and Christians| publisher=Princeton University Press | isbn=0-691-11553-2}}
*{{cite book | last=Peters | first=Francis Edward | authorlink=F. E. Peters | year=2003b | title=The Monotheists: Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Conflict and Competition| publisher=Princeton University Press | id=ASIN: B0012385Z6 | isbn=0691114617}}
*{{cite book | last=Peters | first=Francis Edward | authorlink=F. E. Peters | year=1994 | title=Muhammad and the Origins of Islam| publisher=SUNY Press | isbn=0791418766}}
*{{cite journal|journal = [[International Journal of Middle East Studies]]|author = Peters, F. E.|title = [[The Quest of the Historical Muhammad (Peters)|The Quest of the Historical Muhammad]]|volume = 23|number = |year = 1991|pages = 291–315|doi = }}
*{{cite book | last=Peterson | first=Daniel | authorlink=Daniel Peterson | year=2007 | title=Muhammad, Prophet of God| publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company | isbn=0802807542}}
*{{cite book | last=Rahman | first=Fazlur | authorlink=Fazlur Rahman | year=1979 | title= Islam | publisher= University Of Chicago Press | isbn=0226702812}}
*{{cite book | last=Ramadan | first=Tariq | authorlink=Tariq Ramadan | year=2007 | title= In the Footsteps of the Prophet: Lessons from the Life of Muhammad | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=0195308808}}
* {{cite book | last = Razwi | first = Ali Asgher | title =A Restatement of the History of Islam and Muslims | publisher = World Federation of K S I Muslim Communities Islamic Centre | year = 1997 | isbn = 0950987913}}
*{{cite book | last=Reeves | first=Minou | authorlink=Minou Reeves | title=Muhammad in Europe: A Thousand Years of Western Myth-Making | year=2003 | publisher=NYU Press | isbn=978-0814775646}}
*{{cite book | last=Robinson | first=David | title=Muslim Societies in African History | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=2004 | isbn=0521826276}}
*{{cite book | author=[[Maxime Rodinson|Rodinson, Maxime]] | title=Muhammad: Prophet of Islam | publisher=Tauris Parke Paperbacks | year=2002 | isbn=1-86064-827-4}}
*{{cite book | last=Rue | first=Loyal | authorlink=Loyal Rue | title=Religion Is Not about God: How Spiritual Traditions Nurture Our Biological | publisher=Rutgers | year=2005 | isbn=0813539552}}
*{{cite book | last=Serin | first=Muhittin | title= Hattat Aziz Efendi | publisher=Istanbul | year=1998 | isbn=9-7576-6303-4, OCLC 51718704}}
*{{cite book | last=Sikand |first=Yoginder |title=Muslims in India since 1947: Islamic perspectives on inter-faith relations |publisher=RoutledgeCurzon |location=London |year=2004 |isbn=0-415-31486-0}}
*{{cite book | last = Tabatabae | first = Sayyid Mohammad Hosayn | authorlink = Allameh Tabatabaei | title = [[Tafsir al-Mizan|AL-MIZAN:AN EXEGESIS OF THE QUR'AN]], translation by S. Saeed Rizvi| publisher = WOFIS| isbn =9646521142}}
*{{cite book | last=Teed | first=Peter | title= A Dictionary of Twentieth Century History | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1992 | isbn=0192116762}}
*{{cite book | last=Turner | first=Colin | title= Islam: The Basics | publisher=Routledge | year=2005 | isbn=041534106X}}
*{{cite book | last=Watt | first=W. Montgomery | authorlink=William Montgomery Watt | title=Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1961 | isbn=0-19-881078-4}} (New edition 1974)
*{{cite book | last=Watt | first=W. Montgomery | authorlink=William Montgomery Watt | title=[[Muhammad at Medina (book)|Muhammad at Medina]] | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1956 | isbn=0-19-577307-1}}
*{{cite book | last=Watt | first=W. Montgomery | authorlink=William Montgomery Watt | title=[[Muhammad at Mecca (book)|Muhammad at Mecca]] | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1953 | id=ASIN: B000IUA52A | isbn=0195772776}}
{{Refend}}

===Encyclopedias===
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite encyclopedia | editor=William H. McNeill, Jerry H. Bentley, David Christian | encyclopedia=Berkshire Encyclopedia of World History | publisher=Berkshire Publishing Group | year=2005 | id=ISBN 978-0-9743091-0-1}}
*{{cite encyclopedia | editor=Richard C. Martin, Said Amir Arjomand, Marcia Hermansen, Abdulkader Tayob, Rochelle Davis, John Obert Voll | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Islam & the Muslim World | publisher=MacMillan Reference Books | year=2003 | id=ISBN 978-0-02-865603-8}}
*{{cite encyclopedia | editor=P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W.P. Heinrichs | encyclopedia=[[Encyclopaedia of Islam]] Online | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | id=ISSN 1573-3912}}
*{{cite encyclopedia | editor=Lindsay Jones | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Religion | publisher=MacMillan Reference Books | edition=2nd edition | year=2005 | id=ISBN 978-0-02-865733-2}}
*{{cite encyclopedia | editor=Jane Dammen McAuliffe | encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia of the Qur'an]] | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | year=2005 | id=ISBN 978-90-04-12356-4}}
*{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of World History | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1998 | id=ISBN 0-19-860223-5}}
*{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia=The New Encyclopedia Britannica | publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica, Incorporated | edition=Rev Ed edition | year=2005 | id=ISBN 978-1-59339-236-9}}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book | author=[[Tor Andrae|Andrae, Tor]] | title=Mohammed: The Man and His Faith | publisher=Dover | year=2000 | isbn=0-486-41136-2}}
*{{cite book | author=Berg, Herbert (ed) |authorlink=Herbert Berg (religion) | title=Method and Theory in the Study of Islamic Origins | publisher=E. J. Brill | year=2003 | isbn=90-04-12602-3}}
*{{cite book | author=[[Michael Cook (historian)|Cook, Michael]] | title=Muhammad | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1983 | isbn=0-19-287605-8 (reissue 1996)}}
*{{cite book | author=[[Muhammad Hamidullah|Hamidullah, Muhammad]] | title=The Life and Work of the Prophet of Islam | publisher=(s.n.)(Islamabad: Islamic Research Institute) | year=1998 | isbn=969-8413-00-6}}
*{{cite book |author=[[Harald Motzki|Motzki, Harald]], ed. | title=The Biography of Muhammad: The Issue of the Sources (Islamic History and Civilization: Studies and Texts, Vol. 32) | publisher=Brill | year=2000 |isbn=90-04-11513-7}}
*Musa, A. Y. ''Hadith as Scripture: Discussions on The Authority Of Prophetic Traditions in Islam'', New York: Palgrave, 2008
*{{cite book | author=[[Uri Rubin|Rubin, Uri]] | title=The Eye of the Beholder: The Life of Muhammad as Viewed by the Early Muslims (A Textual Analysis) | publisher=Darwin Press | year=1995 | isbn=0-87850-110-X}}
*{{cite book | author=[[Annemarie Schimmel|Schimmel, Annemarie]] | title=And Muhammad is His Messenger: The Veneration of the Prophet in Islamic Piety | publisher=The University of North Carolina Press | year=1985 | isbn=0-8078-4128-5}}
*{{cite book | author=[[Norman Stillman|Stillman, Norman]] | year=1975 | title=The Jews of Arab Lands: a History and Source Book | publisher=Jewish Publication Society of America | isbn=0-8276-0198-0}}
*{{cite book |last = Spencer |first = Robert |year = 2006 |title = [[The Truth About Muhammad]] |publisher = Regnery Publishing, USA |isbn = 978-1596980280}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks|Muhammad}}
*{{worldcat id|id=lccn-n79-130881}}

===Non-Muslim biographies===
*[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9105853/Muhammad Muhammad], article on ''Encyclopædia Britannica Online''
*[http://www.pbs.org/muhammad Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet — PBS Site]
*[http://www.upf.tv/upf06/Projects/MuhammadDocumentary/tabid/175/Default.aspx Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet — UPF (Producer's Site)]

===Muslim biographies===
*[[Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum]]
*[http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MH_LM/default.htm The Life of Muhammad] by [[Muhammad Husayn Haykal]]
*[http://msawest.net/islam/11-prophet About the Prophet Muhammad (MSA West)]

{{Normdaten|LCCN=n/79/130881}}

{{Prophets in the Qur'an}}
{{Islam topics}}

{{good article}}

{{Persondata 
|NAME = Muhammad
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES = محمد (Arabic)
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = Prophet of Islam
|DATE OF BIRTH = ca. 570
|PLACE OF BIRTH = Mecca
|DATE OF DEATH = June 8, 632
|PLACE OF DEATH = Madina
}}
[[Category:570s births]]
[[Category:632 deaths]]
[[Category:7th-century rulers]]
[[Category:Arab politicians]]
[[Category:Founders of religions]]
[[Category:Islam]]
[[Category:Muhammad| ]]
[[Category:People from Mecca]]
[[Category:Quraish]]
[[Category:Medina]]
[[Category:Prophets of Islam]]

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Baba Yaga

2011-01-08T10:10:15Z

SirSadiq:

[[Image:Баба Яга.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Baba Jaga, by [[Viktor Vasnetsov]].]]
'''Baba-Yaga''' ({{lang-ru|Ба́ба-Яга́}}, {{IPA-ru|ˈbabə jəˈɡa|IPA}}) is a [[witch]]-like character in [[Slavic folklore]]. She flies around on a giant [[mortar and pestle|pestle]] or broomstick, [[kidnapping|kidnaps]] (and presumably eats) small children, and lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs. In most Slavic folk tales, she is portrayed as an [[antagonist]]; however, some characters in other [[mythological]] folk stories have been known to seek her out for her [[wisdom]], and she has been known on rare occasions to offer guidance to lost souls. According to [[Propp]], she often fulfills the function of [[Donor (fairy tale)|donor]]; that is, her role is in supplying the hero (sometimes unwillingly) with something necessary for the further quest.

==Etymology and origin==
The name of Baba-Yaga is composed of two elements. ''Baba'' means "old woman" or "grandmother" used in most [[Slavic languages]]; it derives from [[babytalk]] and often has come to have pejorative connotations in modern [[Slavic languages]].<ref>Max Vasmer, ''Etimologicheskii slovar' russkogo yazyka'', Vol. I (Moscow: Progress, 1964), p. 99.</ref> The second element, ''yaga'', is from [[Proto-Slavic]] ''(j)ęga'', "Jędza"[Polish], which is probably related to [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] ''ingis'' ("lazybones" or "sluggard"), [[Old Norse]] ''ekki'' ("pain"), and [[Old English]] ''inca'' ("question, scruple, doubt; grievance, quarrel").<ref>Max Vasmer, ''Etimologicheskii slovar' russkogo yazyka'', Vol. IV (Moscow: Progress, 1973), p. 542.</ref> It has also been suggested that Yaga may be a diminutive of the feminine name [[Jadwiga]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}}

An early recorded reference to ''yaga-baba'' is in ''Of the Russe Common Wealth'' by [[Giles Fletcher, the Elder]], in the section "About [[Permyak]]s, [[Samoyed]]s and [[Lopar]]s",<ref>[http://www.gumer.info/bibliotek_Buks/History/flet/02.php A chapter from Fletcher's book] {{ru icon}}</ref> indicating a possible [[Finno-Ugric languages|Finno-Ugric]] influence.<ref>[http://www.booksite.ru/arhiv/region/2004/yaga.htm ""Baba Yaga was a Good Old Northener], by Aleksandr Tutov, ''Energiya'', no.3, 2004</ref>

The name differs within the various [[Slavic languages]]. It is spelled ''Baba Jaga'' in [[Czech language|Czech]], [[Slovak language|Slovak]] and [[Polish language|Polish]] (though Czech and Slovak also use ''Ježibaba''). In [[Slovene language|Slovene]], the words are reversed, producing ''Jaga Baba''. In [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]], [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] and [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]], it is ''Баба Яга'' transliterated as ''Baba Yaga'' (also ''Baba Jaga'', in Ukrainian and ''Baba Yaha'' or ''Baba Jaha'' in Belarusian). In [[South Slavic]] languages and traditions, there is a similar old witch, written ''Baba Roga'' in [[Croatian language|Croatian]] and [[Bosnian language|Bosnian]], and ''Баба Рога'' in [[Serbian language|Serbian]] and [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]]. In [[Romanian language|Romanian]], which is not Slavic but one of the [[Romance languages]], the name is ''Baba Cloanţa'' (roughly translated as "old hag with broken teeth").

==Folklore==
[[Image:Vasilisa.jpg|left|thumb|Vasilisa the Beautiful at the Hut of Baba Yaga, by [[Ivan Bilibin]]]]
In Russian tales, Baba Yaga is portrayed as a [[hag]], who flies through the air in a [[mortar and pestle|mortar]], using the pestle as a rudder and sweeping away the tracks behind her with a broom made of [[Silver Birch|silver birch]]. She lives in a log cabin that either moves around on a pair of dancing [[chicken]] legs, is surrounded by a palisade with a skull on each pole, or both. The keyhole to her front door is a mouth filled with sharp teeth; the fence outside is made with human bones with skulls on top, often with one pole lacking its skull, leaving space for the hero or heroes. In another legend, the hut does not reveal the door until it is told a magical phrase: "Turn your back to the forest, your front to me".

In some [[Vasilissa the Beautiful|tales]], the hut is connected with three riders: one in white, riding a white horse with white harness, who is Day; a red rider, who is the Sun; and one in black, who is Night. Baba Yaga is served by invisible servants inside the hut. She explains the riders if asked, but may kill a visitor who inquires about the servants.

Baba Yaga is sometimes shown as an antagonist, and sometimes as a source of guidance; there are stories in which she helps people with their quests, and stories in which she kidnaps children and threatens to eat them. Seeking out her aid is usually portrayed as a dangerous act. An emphasis is placed on the need for proper preparation and purity of spirit, as well as basic politeness. It is said she ages one year every time she is asked a question, which may explain her reluctance to help. This effect, however, can be reversed with a special blend of tea made with blue roses. [[Image:Bilibin. Baba Yaga.jpg|thumb|right|196px|Baba Yaga by [[Ivan Bilibin]]]]

In the folk tale "[[Vasilissa the Beautiful]]", recorded by [[Alexander Afanasyev]] (''Narodnye russkie skazki'', vol 4, 1862), the young girl of the title is given three impossible tasks that she solves using a magic doll given to her by her mother. In the [[Christianity|Christianised]] version of the story, Vasilissa is sent to visit Baba Yaga on an errand and is enslaved by her, but the hag's servants — a cat, a dog, a gate, and a tree — help Vasilissa to escape because she has been kind to them. In the end, Baba Yaga is turned into a crow. Similarly, Prince Ivan in "[[The Death of Koschei the Deathless]]" is aided against her by animals whom he has spared.

The version [[Poland|Polish]] folklore differs in details. For example, the Polish Baba Jaga's hut has only one chicken leg. Monstrous witches living in [[gingerbread]] huts are also commonly named Baba Jaga. {{Citation needed|date=December 2010}} Baba Jaga, flying on a mop and wearing black and red striped folk cloth of [[Świętokrzyskie Mountains]], is an unofficial symbol of [[Kielce]] region (it is connected with legendary witches' [[Sabbath (witchcraft)|sabbaths]] on [[Łysa Góra]] mountain). In some legends, Baba Yaga is also awarded the title ''Костяная Нога'' ("The Bone Leg") and considered a guardian between the real world and the land of the dead. This title later became an idiom, often used as taunt.{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}}

Baba Yaga is used as a stock character by authors of modern Russian fairy tales, and from the 1990s in Russian fantasy. In particular, Baba Yaga in included in such books as [[Andrey Belyanin]]'s cycle ''Secret service of [[Tsar Pea]]''. The childhood and youth of Baba Yaga were described for the first time in the A. Aliverdiev's tale "Creek" ("''Lukomorie''").

In some fairy tales, such as "[[The Feather of Finist the Falcon]]", the hero meets with [[Rule of three (writing)|three]] Baba Yagas. Such figures are usually benevolent, giving the hero advice, magical presents, or both.<ref>W. R. S. Ralston ''Songs of the Russian People'' [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/srp/srp07.htm Section III.--Storyland Beings].</ref>

Other recorded Russian fairy tales that feature Baba Yaga are "''Teryoshechka''", "The Enchanted Princess", and "The Silver Saucer and the Red Apple".<ref>Bonnie Marshall (2004) "The Snow Maiden and Other Russian Tales",ISBN 1563089998, [http://books.google.com/books?id=aBMoX_FAu9cC&pg=PA75&dq=%22hut+on+chicken+legs%22+-wikipedia&source=gbs_toc_s&cad=1&sig=Jzzxi2UkTjPFB1K9UiG47wpMzgw#PPA19,M1 Preface, p. 19].</ref>



=== Cabin on chicken legs ===
[[Image:Izbasmerti.jpg|thumb|left|[[Nicholas Roerich]], "Izba smerti" ("Hut of Death", sketch, 1905), an artistic expression of burial traditions of the ancient Slavs]]

According to Russian folklore, Baba Yaga dwells, in the words of the preface to [[Alexander Pushkin]]'s fantasy poem ''[[Ruslan and Lyudmila]]'', in a "cabin on chicken legs... with no windows and no doors". Baba Yaga herself usually uses the [[chimney]] to fly in and out on her mortar. The door sometimes appears at the other side of the hut; to see it, a hero should say "Hut, O hut, turn your back to the woods, your front to me" and thus force the cabin to turn around and discover the door.

[[Image:Sami Storehouse.jpg|thumb|right|[[Sami people|Sami]] storehouse, Stockholm, Sweden]]

This may be an interpretation{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}} of an ordinary construction popular among [[hunter]]-[[nomad]]ic peoples of [[Siberia]] of [[Uralic]] ([[Finno-Ugric people|Finno-Ugric]]) and [[Tungus]]ic families, invented to preserve supplies against animals during long periods of absence. A doorless and windowless [[log cabin]] is built upon supports made from the stumps of two or three closely grown trees cut at the height of eight to ten feet. The stumps, with their spreading roots, would give an impression of "chicken legs".

A similar but smaller construction was used by Siberian [[paganism|pagans]] to hold [[figurine]]s of their gods. Recalling the late [[matriarchy]] among Siberian peoples, a common picture of a bone-carved doll in rags in a small cabin on top of a tree stump fits a common description of Baba Yaga, who barely fits her cabin: her legs lie in one corner, her head in another one, and her nose is grown into the ceiling.{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}

There are indications that ancient Slavs had a funeral tradition of cremation in huts of this type. In 1948, Russian archaeologists Yefimenko and Tretyakov discovered similar small huts with traces of corpse cremation and circular fences around them; this may be a connection to the Baba Yaga myth.<ref>[[Boris Rybakov|Рыбаков Б.А.]], Язычество Древней Руси (Moscow: [[Nauka]], 1987).</ref><ref>Ефименко П. П., Третьяков П. Н. Курганный могильник у с. Боршева. МИА, № 8. М.; Л., 1948, рис. 37-42.</ref>

Modern [[fantasy]] writers, such as [[Tad Williams]] and [[Elaine Cunningham]], use the character of the cabin on chicken legs in their works, as do [[Fritz Leiber]] in [[Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser]] and [[Mike Mignola]] in his portrayal of Baba Yaga in his [[Hellboy]] comics. The [[castle]] in [[Hayao Miyazaki]]'s [[Howl's Moving Castle (film)|film version]] of [[Diana Wynne Jones]]' novel ''[[Howl's Moving Castle]]'' also moves on mechanical chicken legs.

==Literature==
Baba Yaga is a major character in [[Isaac Bashevis Singer]]’s children story ''Joseph & Koza'', where she is described as having a face like a pitch, a red turned-up nose with broad nostrils, eyes burning like live coals, thistles instead of hair and a beard. Singer also mentions that the [[Mazovians]] believed in “many lesser ''babas''” and “little imps called ''dziad''s.”<ref>Isaac Bashevis Singer, ''Stories for Children'', Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1991, p. 146-151.</ref> In his novel ''The King of the Fields'', Baba Yaga was a goddess to whom the prehistoric [[Poles]] made sacrifices.<ref>Isaac Bashevis Singer, ''A King of the Fields'', Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003, p. 4, 16, 60.</ref>

== Popular culture ==
Baba Yaga is a major character in [[Orson Scott Card]]'s novel, ''[[Enchantment (novel)|Enchantment]]''. In this novel, Card portrays Baba Yaga as the antagonist and weaves the folklore and possible origins of the folklore into his novel. In Michael Buckley's [[The Sisters Grimm]] series, Baba Yaga is a supporting character in the fictional town of Ferryport Landing. In the ''[[Primeval]]'' novel ''[[Extinction Event]]'', Baba Yaga is interpreted to be a [[Tyrannosaurus]] that travelled to the present through an [[Anomaly (Primeval)|anomaly]]. In the ''[[Fables (comics)|Fables]]'', Baba Yaga is a spy for the Adversary. Baba Yaga's hut is parodied in Dan Abnett's Warhammer 40,000 novel, Ravenor Rogue, as the "Wych House of Utochre". The Wych House takes the form of a 300-meter wide metal construct with clawed feet and short legs that it can use to run. The whole House hangs upside down under a frozen ocean, attached to the pack ice above by its feet. One character remarks that the house reminds him of an ancient legend from his home world, the myth of Baba Yaga. He is corrected and told that this is actually an ancient earth legend. Baba Yaga appears in [[Sarah Zettel]]'s 'A Novel of Isavalta' series as well as an illustrious but powerful political player, who has her own political agenda and tries to achieve her goals by intimidation and manipulation of other characters, often aided by magic weavings.

Baby Yaga appears in the [[Marvel Comics]] book ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' as a nemesis for the good witch [[Magik (comics)|Illyana Rasputin]].<ref>’’Uncanny X-Men’’ #231</ref> Baba Yaga makes an appearance in [[Neil Gaiman]]'s [[The Sandman (Vertigo)|Sandman]] series in issue #38 ("The Convergence"). She also appears in a [[Hellboy]] short story titled ''The Baba Yaga'', which can be found within the graphic novel ''[[Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others]]''. She serves as the main antagonist in ''[[Hellboy: Darkness Calls]]'', in which she tries to take revenge on Hellboy for the events that occurred in ''The Chained Coffin''.

A variation of Baba Yaga appears in British Television Show ''[[Mighty Boosh]]'' as Babu Yaga, [[List of recurring characters from The Mighty Boosh#The Hitcher|The Hitcher]], a recurring character.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/mightyboosh/episodes/series1/s1ep8_episode.shtml]</ref>

===Film and animation===
[[Image:Bartok Baba Yaga.JPG|left|thumb|150px|Baba Yaga from ''[[Bartok the Magnificent]]''.]]
Baba Yaga is a favorite subject of Russian films and cartoons. The film ''[[Vasilissa the Beautiful]]'' by Aleksandr Rou, featuring Baba Yaga, was the first feature with fantasy elements in the Soviet Union.<ref>James Graham, "[http://www.endicott-studio.com/crossroads/crBabaYagaF.html Baba Yaga in Film]"</ref> [[Georgy Milliar]], a male actor, portrayed Baba Yaga in numerous movies from the 1930s to 1960s, including ''Vasilissa the Beautiful'', ''[[Jack Frost (1964 film)|Morozko]]'', ''New Adventures of Puss-in-Boots'', and others.

The animated film ''[[Bartok the Magnificent]]'' features Baba Yaga as a main character, but not as an antagonist.

The [[John Duigan]] film ''[[Lawn Dogs]]'' uses the story of Baba Yaga as a plot device. The character Devon tells the story to herself, and to Trent as he escapes from the town at the end of the film. She gives him a towel and a comb, both of which he uses to evade capture by the townspeople.

Baba Yaga also appears in the film ''[[Shrek Forever After]]'', having been employed by [[Rumpelstiltskin]] to fight against Shrek. She is voiced by the film's director, [[Mike Mitchell (director)|Mike Mitchell]].

===Art===
[[Image:Hartmann - Hut of Baba Yaga.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Victor Hartmann's ''The hut on hen's legs–clock in the Russian Style'']]
[[Modest Mussorgsky]]'s ''[[Pictures at an Exhibition]]'', a suite for piano composed in 1874, features "The Hut on Bird's Legs (Baba Yaga)" as its penultimate movement. This suite was inspired by an exhibition of paintings by the Russian artist [[Viktor Hartmann]] held in his memory, a year after his death. this specific movement, was inspired by the painting ''"The hut on hen's legs–clock in the Russian Style"''. Mussorgsky's suite has since been set in whole or in part for a variety of instruments. The most famous version for orchestra was made in 1922 by [[Maurice Ravel|Ravel]]. The progressive rock group [[Emerson, Lake & Palmer]] adapted Mussorgsky's suite for an album in 1971 that included the original Baba Yaga movement along with an original track entitled "The Curse of Baba Yaga".

''Baba Yaga'' (opus 56), a symphonic poem by [[Anatoly Konstantinovich Lyadov|Anatoly Lyadov]], was composed between 1890 and 1904. The music depicts the witch summoning her mortar, pestle and broomstick, then flying through the forest.

Tchaikovsky wrote a piece called "The Witch - Baba Yaga" (op 39).

===Video games===

Most recently she has been seen in the console video game [[Castlevania: Lords of Shadow]]. Here she tasks the hero Gabriel Belmont with several quests in return for her aiding him, most notably she shrinks Gabriel and sends him into a mechanical music box to collect for her a magical blue rose as in the fables to make her young again.

In the online game ''[[RuneScape]]'', Baba Yaga is featured in quests and as an integral part of the Lunar Isle, where she runs a magic store in her chicken-legged house.<ref>"http://www.runescape.com/kbase/viewarticle.ws?article_id=2758", RuneScape Knowledge Base, By Jagex ltd</ref>

[[File:Baba Yaga's Chicken House in RuneScape.jpg|left|thumb|125px|Baba Yaga's chicken house from the game ''[[RuneScape]]''.]]

Baba Yaga is also a character in the Sierra games, ''[[Quest for Glory: So You Want to Be a Hero|Quest for Glory]]'' and ''[[Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness|Quest for Glory 4]]''. She serves as the primary antagonist in the first game, having cursed the Baron of Spielburg and caused all the troubles that the player must resolve. Her role in the fourth game is smaller, dealing entirely with a subplot relating to a Gnome comedian, who she cursed in revenge for his making fun of her in his act. Baba Yaga's chicken-legged hut appears in both games, though only the first requires the magic phrase "Hut of brown, now sit down";<ref>"http://www.the-spoiler.com/RPG/Sierra/heros.quest.1.1.html", Hero's Quest 1: So You Want to be a Hero walkthrough - solution, By Chris van syl</ref> in the fourth, the player must coax it into sitting with an offer of corn.<ref>"http://www.thecomputershow.com/computershow/walkthroughs/questforglory4walk.htm", Quest for Glory 4: Shadows of Darkness Walkthrough, By Diana Griffiths</ref>

Fantasy Kingdoms, a Facebook game, also added a Baba Yaga house as a special item for their players. It can be "crafted" by collecting special items, including Chicken Legs.<ref>"http://apps.facebook.com/fantasykingdoms/play?src=wikipedia</ref>

In the MMORPG Ragnarok Online, Baba Yaga is a monster in Moscovia Dungeon level 2.

==Name in other languages==
Baba Yaga is an archetypal character in the culture of many eastern European countries, and is known by different names across the region, including "Baba Roga" in [[Slavic language|Slavic]], [[Serbian language|Serbian]], [[Croatian language|Croatian]] and [[Bosnian language|Bosnian]]; "Baba Cloanța" in [[Romanian language|Romanian]]; "Ježibaba" in [[Czech language|Czech]]; "vasorrú (literally "iron-nosed") bába" in [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]; "Баба (literally "Grandma") Яга" in [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]]; and "Bobbe Yakhne" in Yiddish.

==See also==
*[[Muma Pădurii]] ‎

==References==
===Footnotes===
<references/>

===Notations===
*Maria Tatar (2002) "The Annotated Classic Fairy Tales", ISBN 0393051633 [http://books.google.com/books?id=ehzvhjL5_W8C&pg=PA175&dq=%22hut+on+chicken+legs%22&sig=BTLDXFN7WueGaTEEyNub_MuLxko p. 175]

{{commonscat}}

{{Slavmyth}}
{{witchcraft}}

[[Category:Bulgarian folklore]]
[[Category:Cannibalism]]
[[Category:Characters of Russian folklore]]
[[Category:Fairy tale stock characters]]
[[Category:Fictional witches]]
[[Category:Russian mythology]]
[[Category:Slavic legendary creatures]]
[[Category:Witchcraft in folklore and mythology]]

[[af:Baba Jaga]]
[[az:Küpəgirən qarı]]
[[be:Баба-Яга]]
[[bs:Baba Jaga]]
[[bg:Баба Яга]]
[[cs:Ježibaba]]
[[da:Baba Yaga]]
[[de:Baba Jaga]]
[[el:Μπάμπα Γιάγκα]]
[[es:Baba Yaga]]
[[eo:Baba Jaga]]
[[fr:Baba Yaga (mythologie)]]
[[gl:Baba Iagá]]
[[hr:Baba Jaga]]
[[it:Baba Jaga]]
[[he:באבה יאגה]]
[[ka:ბაბა იაგა]]
[[lv:Baba Jaga]]
[[hu:Vasorrú bába]]
[[mk:Баба Рога]]
[[nl:Baba Jaga]]
[[ja:バーバ・ヤーガ]]
[[no:Baba Jaga]]
[[pl:Baba Jaga]]
[[pt:Baba Yaga]]
[[ro:Baba Iaga]]
[[ru:Баба-Яга]]
[[simple:Baba Yaga]]
[[sl:Jaga baba]]
[[sr:Баба Јага]]
[[fi:Baba Jaga]]
[[sv:Baba-Jaga]]
[[uk:Баба-яга]]
[[zh:芭芭雅嘎]]

Aitchison College

2011-01-08T10:03:03Z

SirSadiq: remove the links

{{Infobox school
|name = Aitchison College
|image = Aitchison-new-logo.jpg
|image size = 132px
|motto = "Perseverance commands success"
|location = [[Lahore]], [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]]
|established = 3 November 1886
|principal = Fakir Syed Aijazuddin
|principal_label = Principal
|area = {{convert|200|acre|km2|sing=on}}
|homepage = http://www.aitchison.edu.pk/
}}

'''Aitchison College Lahore''' is a [[ school]] for boys, located in [[Lahore]], [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]].<ref>[http://www.aitchison.edu.pk/ Aitchison College – Official site]</ref>
The school follows a curriculum designed to culminate in International [[General Certificate of Education|GCE]] [[GCE Ordinary Level|O]], [[GCE Advanced Level|AS]] and [[GCE Advanced Level|A]] Level qualifications and is geared towards [[university-preparatory school|preparing]] the students for university education.

Aitchison College is the descendant of the Wards’ School at [[Ambala]] and the Chiefs’ Colleges.<ref>[http://www.aitchison.edu.pk/index.pl/history Aitchison College History]</ref> The college is the only school in Pakistan that is a part of the [[Headmasters Conference|Headmasters' Conference]].

==Introduction==
[[File:Aitchisoncollege.jpeg|thumb|right|Old Building, Aitchison College, [[Lahore]]]]
The foundation stone of the main building was laid by the [[Governor-General of India|Viceroy]], the [[Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava|Earl of Dufferin and Ava]] on November 3, 1886. Aitchison College is the lineal descendant of the Wards School at Ambala and the Chiefs Colleges.

The College is named after the then Lt. Governor of the [[Punjab region|Punjab]], [[Charles Umpherston Aitchison|Sir Charles Umpherston Aitchison]].

Addressing the boys in 1888, Sir Charles Aitchison said:

<blockquote>
...much, very much, is expected of you. I trust you will use well the opportunities here afforded of you both for your education and for the formation of your character ... This is an institution from which you will banish everything in thought and word and act that is mean, dishonorable or impure, and in which you will cultivate everything that is virtuous, true, manly and gentlemanly
</blockquote>

Aitchison College is known for its Alumni and many of its students have gone on to study at well-known universities across the world.

== History ==
===Wards School at Ambala===
The history of Aitchison College goes back to the Ward's School at Ambala which was envisioned in 1864 by Captain Tighe, then D.C. of Ambala. Established in 1868, it was originally intended for the education of young [[Sikh]] Sirdars of the District but on the insistence of Sir Henry Davies, it widened its scope in 1874 to cater for the education of all government wards living in other parts of [[Punjab region|Punjab]]. The present constitution of Aitchison College is still based on the set of rules framed for the Wards' School.

===Chiefs College===
The growing interest in the college prompted efforts by Lt. Gen Sir [[Charles Umpherston Aitchison]], after whom the college is named, to expand the Government Wards School into a Chiefs College. North Mian Meer Road was initially selected as the new site for Chiefs College and collaboration between Bhai Ram Singh, Vice Principal of [[National College of Arts|Mayo School of Arts]] and Col. S. S. Jacob, Executive Engineer at [[Jeypore]] came up with a architectural design for the college. Even at its beginning, the college was designed to have a science laboratory, library and museum besides classrooms and amenities for students. Under the auspices of the new staff, including the first Principal Mr. [[W. A. Robinson]] and the famous Urdu poet [[Maulana Hali|Altaf Hussain Hali]], Chiefs College began educating a modest first batch of 12 boys, who were temporarily accommodated at Abbot Road while construction was underway. The college was formally inaugurated by the [[Governor-General of India|Viceroy]], the [[Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava|Earl of Dufferin and Ava]] on 3 November 1886.

===Aitchison College===
Only a few days after the foundation stone of Chiefs College was laid down, it was renamed on 13 November 1886 as Aitchison College. A boundary wall around the entire campus was finished in 1950. Construction of the main building, now known as Old Building, began in 1887 and was finished in 1890, along with a gymnasium and a hospital. Soon after that, the main building became the center of academic life at Aitchison as previously the classes were being held in the boarding [[House System|houses]] and some rented bungalows. Construction on other buildings continued as the school attracted more wards and visits from various princes. The Prize Distribution Day ceremony, now known as the Founders Day, held annually in May, was started in 1892. The Prize Distribution was later divided into two separate ceremonies: Founders Day Academics and Founders Day Sports.

Several efforts were made to provide facilities for physical education of the students. In 1896, a cricket pavilion was subscriped and work began on a [[polo]] ground. A year later, training in [[cricket]], football, field hockey and tennis was started. Following Aitchison's win in local sports competition, Aitchison Challenge Cup was established to honour the best sportsmen each year. In 1905, ACOBA (Aitchison College Old Boys Association) was established to allow the alumni of the school to compete against the current students in an event that brought together the alumni each year. In 1907, Aitchison College started sending contingents of sports teams to compete with schools outside Lahore, and was allowed to host contingents from other schools. Swimming facilities were developed in 1923 and Rani of Mandi Cup was established to honour the best swimmer of the year. The sports system soon evolved as competitions between the [[House system|houses]] themselves began in 1928. Hockey and tennis courts were established in 1938.

A mosque was constructed for religious education of Muslim students in 1900 and a Dharamsala was created in 1913. A separate Sikh mess was organised in 1907 and a separate kitchen for Halal food in 1938. A mandir was also constructed, which was later redesigned to hold the Principal's office after partition. Religious education was later made compulsory for Hindus and Sikhs. Until its abolishment in 1933, a rule existed that a separate boarding house should exist for Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs. [[Choudhary Rahmat Ali|Ch.Rehmat Ali]], famous for coining the name of Pakistan started teaching at the school in 1918. In the first half of the 20th century, several extra-curricular activities took its roots in the school including and competitions for best essay writer and best debater became one of the most coveted honours. In 1906, one of the most famous medals, Rivaz medal for best all-round performance at Aitchison college was created. Some college publications were established: "Pioneer" in and "Aitchison" in 1936.

A separate building for Preparatory School, which now holds classes for Grades 6–8, was constructed in 1915 and the [[Prefect#Academic|prefects]] system was established two years later. The school was affiliated with Cambridge University in 1933. In 1935, the policy of admission was broadened to include ordinary boys from surrounding areas. Following this policy, a separate house, Jubilee, was established for day boys. Classes for Grade 9–13 were shifted from main building to the new constructed Barry Block (Senior School) in 1948. Following the partition of the Indian Subcontinent, [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]] was appointed Patron in Chief of the College in 1948. A separate building for Junior School, for Grades 1–5, was inaugurated in 1964. War between [[India]] and Pakistan in 1965 disrupted school activities for a while but normal school year resumed soon after cease fire. A number of modern buildings were constructed on the campus near the end of 20th century, including an amphitheater, a large library, computer and science laboratories, housing for staff members, a riding school, squash and basketball courts.

==Organization and curriculum==
===Academic organisation===

Aitchison College is divided into three schools:
*Junior School (Grades 1–5)
*Prep School (Grades 6–8)
*Senior School (Grades 9–13)
**O Level (Grades 9-11)
**AS/A Level (Grades 12–13)

===Curriculum===

The Senior School offers preparation for [[General Certificate of Education]] (GCE) from [[University of Cambridge International Examinations]] (CIE), following the British [[Cambridge Assessment]] (UCLES) system. The grades 9 through 11 are prepared for International GCE [[Ordinary Level]] or O Level (equivalent to national Secondary School Certificate or SSC) and grades 12 and 13 are prepared for International GCE [[Advanced Level|Advanced Subsidiary/Advanced Level]] or AS/A Level (equivalent to national Higher Secondary School Certificate or HSC).

The national 'Matriculation' curriculum was also until 2002 available to students of grades 9 and 10 who did not wish to pursue the international board examinations. It was cancelled by Principal Shamim Khan for unknown reasons.

==Student life==
===House system===

Each school is subdivided into houses that have members from each grade of that school. Houses are designed to promote inter-house competitions and mentor ship opportunities, led by [[Prefect#Academic|prefects]] and house masters. The main boarding houses are the Leslie Jones House, Godley House and Kelly House. Leslie house has now been disbanded but Godley and Kelly are still functional.

{{col-begin}}
{{col-1-of-3}}
'''Junior School'''
*{{Color box|Blue}} Babur House
*{{Color box|Green}} Goldstein House
*{{Color box|Brown}} Iqbal House
*{{Color box|Yellow}} Jinnah House
*{{Color box|Red}} Liaqat House
*{{Color box|Orange}} Niazuddin House
*{{Color box|Purple}} Sikander House
*{{Color box|Gold}} Sir Syed House
{{col-2-of-3}}
'''Prep School'''
*Iqbal House
*Khalid House
*Liaqat House
*Magsi House
*Niazuddin House
*Qasim House
*Saigol House
*Salahuddin House
*Shershah House
*Sir Syed House
*Tariq House
{{col-3-of-3}}
'''Senior School'''
*Alamgir House
*Babur House
*Balochistan House
*Centenary House
*Ghazi House
*Goldstein House
*Godley House
*Hali House
*Jinnah House
*Jubilee House
*Kelly House
*Robinson House
*Sikandar House
*Tajuddin House
{{col-end}}

===School counselling===

The Guidance and Career Counseling Office at the college is subdivided the university applications into three major areas; the US, UK and Canada. Aitchison currently has specialists who offer the senior students advice for the three countries. These include Mr. Hamza Masood (US), Mr. Fazal Qadir (Canada) and Mr. Haider Akram (UK) with Mr. Tariq Yasin heading the office as Director.

===Co-curricular===

{{col-begin}}
{{col-1-of-2}}
'''Junior School'''
*Aerobics (includes Yoga)
*Art
*Board Games (includes Chess)
*Camping
*Chinese
*Cooking
*Dance
*Dramatics
*French
*Handwriting
*Movie Club
*Music (includes Singing)
*Nature Watch
*Poetry
*Pottery
*Reading
*Science Club
*Word Games (includes Scrabble)
{{col-2-of-2}}
'''Prep and Senior School'''
*Art and Photography Club
*Bazm-e-Adab
*Chess Society
*Computer Society
*Debating Society (English)
*Debating Society (Urdu)
*Debating Society
*Dracula Club
*Dramatics Club (English)
*Dramatics Club (Urdu)
*Entrepreneurial Society
*Environment and Nature Club
*French Club
*History Club
*Mathematics Society
*Model United Nations
*Music Society
*Quiz Society
*Science Society
*English Literature Society
{{col-end}}

===Physical education===

Students have to opt for two sports at the beginning of each term, other than swimming which is compulsory. The choices include athletics, basketball, cricket, football, hockey, lawn tennis, water polo, riding, squash, badminton and table tennis.

==Alumni==
{{Main|:Category:Old Aitchisonians}}
{{hidden begin
|title = List of notable alumni of Aitchison College
}}
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">

===Statesmen===
*Mir Rustam Khan Jamali (late)
*[[Sir Nawab Muhammed Akbar Khan of Hoti]] , [[Nawab of Hoti, Mardan]].
*[[Sir Sardar Muhammad Nawaz Khan of Kot Fateh Khan]], [[Nawab Kot]].
*[[Nawab Ghulam Qutabuddin Khan]], [[The Nawab Of Mamdot]].
*[[Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi V]], [[Nawab of Bahawalpur]].
*[[Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan]], [[Nawab of Pataudi]].
* His Highness [[Maharaja Bhupinder Singh]], [[Maharaja of Patiala]].
* Raja [[Bhalindra Singh]] (Prince Peter), of [[Patiala]], [[Cambridge Blue]] in [[cricket]]
* His Highness [[Maharaja]] [[Yadavindra Singh]] of [[Patiala]]
*[[Jam Ghulam Qadir Khan]], Jam of [[Lasbela]].
*[[Kanwar Jasjit Singh]] of [[Kapurthala]]
* Sardar Bahadur General Muhammad Afzal Khan Qazilbash, C.I.E , O.B.E
*[[Mumtaz Hussain Ali Khan]], [[Nawab of Pataudi]]
* Nawab [[Mansoor Ali Khan]], [[Nawab of Pataudi]]
* Wing Commander Chaudhry Zia Ullah Khan
* Major General [[Nawabzada Sher Ali Khan Pataudi]]
* Lieutenant- General [[Ali Kuli Khan]]
* [[Akbar Bugti|Nawab Akbar Bugti]]
*Nawab Raza Ahmad Kazalbash of nawabshah
*Dr Siddique Ahmad Kazalbash of Nawabshah s/o Nawab Raza Kazalbash
* Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Khan Mamdot, younger brother of Nawab of Mamdot
*[[Raizada Faqirullah Khan of Raikot Dist Ludhiana]]
*Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan of [[MalerKotla]].
*Nawab Yusaf Ali Khan of [[MalerKotla]].
*[[Nawab Zulfikar Ali Khan]] of [[MalerKotla]].
*[[Nawab Khair Buksh Khan Marri]], Chief of Marri Tribe
*[[Maharaja]] Sir Harindar Singh Brar Bans Bahadur [[Raja]] of [[Faridkot State]].
*[[Sardar Balwant Singh]]. of Bir, [[Ludhiana]]
* Raja Baldev Inder Singh of Shiekhupura
* Raja Surendra Singh of [[Nalagarh]] [[Princely State]]
* Kanwar Prithvijit Singh, ruler of the [[princely state]] of Kapurthala
* Hon. Raja Sir Daljit Singh, ruler of the princely state of Kapurthala
*Sardar Ram Narain Singh of [[Shahabad]], Ambala.
*Sardar Bachattar Singh of [[Shahabad]], Ambala
*Sardar Shiv Narain Singh of [[Shahabad]], Ambala
*Sardar Jagjindar Singh of Buria, [[Ludhiana]]
*Raja Prit Mohinder Singh Sidhu, IAS of Bhadour ( Patiala State)
*Nawab Ghulam Kasim Khan of Tank,D.I. Khan
*[[Nawab Muhammad Usman Khan]] *[[Faridpur Jagir Montcommory]]
*[[Mawab Sherbaz Kaz Khalfzai]] C.I.E. Kasur
*Sardar Autar Singh of Manauli, Ambala.
* Kanwar Jasjit Singh , ruler of the princely state of Kapurthala
*Shahzada Mirza, of [[Loharu]] <ref name=gen/>
* Major [[Syed]] Mubarak Ali Shah, of [[Shah Jeewna]].
* [[Colonel]] [[Syed]] Abid Hussain Shah, of [[Shah Jeewna]].
* Sahibzada Mirza Aitizazuddin Ahmed Khan, Nazim of [[Loharu]] <ref name=gen/>
* Capt. HH Nawab Mirza [[Amin ud-din Ahmad Khan]], 7th [[Nawab]] of [[Loharu]], Governor [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]] <ref name=gen>[http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/l/loharu.html Genealogy of the Nawabs of Loharu] ''[[Queensland University]]''.</ref>
*[[Major General]] [[Nawab]] [[Malik Umar Hayat Khan|Sir Malik Umar Hayat Khan]]
*[[Nawab Sir Malik Khizar Hayat Tiwana]]
*[[Sultan Raja Rukan Zaman]], Chief of Gakhar tribe.
*[[Sardar Sherbaz Mazari]], a notable of the [[Mazari]] tribe, a veteran Politician.
* Raja Rampartap Singh Sidhu of Bhadour ( Patiala State)

* Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Khan (Rampur State)

===Presidents===
*[[Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari]] Chief of the Baluch [[Leghari]] tribe, [[President of Pakistan]].

===Prime ministers===
*[[Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali]], former [[Prime Minister of Pakistan]]
*[[Balakh Sher Mazari]], Chief of Mazaris, Former [[Prime Minister of Pakistan]].
* Sir [[Malik Feroz Khan Noon]], former [[Prime Minister of Pakistan]].

===Governors===
*[[Sadiq Hussain Qureshi]]
*[[Malik Amir Mohammad Khan]] of [[Kalabagh]], Former [[Governor of West Pakistan]]
*[[Zulfiqar Ali Khosa]],Chief of [[Khosa]],a Baluch tribe in Punjab, [[Governor of Punjab]].
*[[Zulfikar Ali Magsi]], Chief of [[Magsi]], a Baluch tribe and [[:Category:Governors of Balochistan (Pakistan)|Governor of Balochistan]]
* Major General [[Khurshid Ali Khan]], [[Governor of the North-West Frontier Province]].
* Ramesh Bhandari, Ex-Foreign Secretary India Currently, Governor of Uttar Pardesh, [[India]]
* [[Taj Muhammad Jamali]], former [[Governor of Baluchistan]].
* [[Sardar Ataullah Khan Mengal]], former [[Governor of Baluchistan]].
* Shahid Hamid, Former Governor of Punjab.
* Nawab Muhammad Abbas Abbasi, Amir of Bahawalpur, Former [[Governor of Punjab]].
*[[Amin ud-din Ahmad Khan]], Governor of Punjab.
* Muhammad Abbas Abbasi [[Nawab of Bahawalpur]]
* [[Khurshid Ali Khan]] [[Governor of the North-West Frontier Province]].

===Chief Ministers===
* [[Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti]], Chief of Bugtis, Former Governor and [[Chief Minister of Balochistan]]
* [[Jam Ghulam Qadir Khan]] twice Chief Minister of Balochistan
* [[Sadiq Hussain Qureshi]], Governor and [[Chief Minister of Punjab]]
* Sardar Harcharan Singh Brar Governor of [[Orissa]] and [[Chief Minister]]
* [[Mian Muhammad Afzal Hayat]] Chief Minister of Punjab
*[[Dost Muhammad Khosa]], [[Chief Minister of Punjab]]
*[[Ghulam Mustafa Khar]], [[Chief Minister of Punjab]]
*[[Ameer Haider Khan Hoti]], [[Chief Minister of the Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa]]
*[[Jan Muhammad Jamali]], [[Chief Minister of Balochistan]]
*[[Taj Muhammad Jamali]], [[Chief Minister of Balochistan]]

===Speakers===
* [[Syed Fakhar Imam]], [[Former Speaker (politics)|Speaker]] of [[National Assembly of Pakistan]].
* [[Hamid Nasir Chattha]], [[Former Speaker (politics)|Speaker]] of [[National Assembly of Pakistan]].

===Senators===
*[[Syed Zulfiqar Bokhari]], [[Pakistan Senate|Senator]].
*[[Dr Safdar Abbasi]], [[Pakistan Senate|Senator]].
* Hamid Raza Gilani, Senator
* Sardar Muhammad Jamal Khan Leghari, [[Pakistan Senate|Senator]].
* Waqar Ahmed Khan
* Safdar Ali Abbasi

===Ministers===
* Sardar Sikander Hyat Khan, twice cabinet Minister
* Khan Zada Shiraz Khan ruler of Indian congress
* Chaudry Muhammad Aamir Sultan Cheema, [[Minister of Irrigation]]
*[[Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan]] former Federal Minister for Law and Justice, [[Interior Minister of Pakistan]] ,(1988–1990) and Education
*[[Makhdoom]] [[Faisal Saleh Hayat]] Former [[Interior Minister of Pakistan]], [[Minister for Kashmir Affairs]].
*[[Makhdoom]] [[Shah Mehmood Qureshi]], [[Foreign Minister of Pakistan]]
* [[Awais Leghari]], current Federal Minister for IT and Telecom, Pakistan
* [[Ali Asjad Malhi]], former State Minister for IT & Telecom and former State Minister for Railways
* Malik Naseem Ahmad Ahher (Interior Minister of Pakistan ) * [[Omar Ayub Khan]], Minister of state for Finance, Pakistan
* [[Malik Amjad Ali Noon]] of [[Ali Pur Noon]], High commissioner and first Nazim of [[Sargodha]].
* [[Asfandyar Wali Khan]], third and current President of the [[Awami National Party]] in Pakistan.
*[[Muhammed Umar Khalid Randhawa]],Grand son of [[Haji Sharif Randhawa]]
*[[Qasim Zia]], Current Opposition Leader [[Provincial Assembly of the Punjab|Punjab Assembly]]
* Syed Afzaal Ali Shah Gillani Minister for Health and Communication & Works
* [[Syed Raza Ali Gillani]] Minister of Housing [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]]
* Chaudhary [[Hamid Nasir Chattha]],Speaker Punjab Assembly And Several Ministerial Portfolios.
* [[Sardar Hamid Yar Hiraj]],Former Minister of State for Commerce and Trade.
* [[Sardar Amed Yar Hiraj]],District Nazim Khanewal for two consecutive terms.
* [[Sardar Muhammad Yar Hiraj]],Member Provincial Assembly and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Punjab
* Chaudhry [[Nisar Ali Khan]],Former Senior Minister,and Minister for Communication,Petroleum,Water and Natural Resources,Science and Technology,and Agriculture.
* Hamid Raza Gilani, Federal Minister for Industries
*[[jan muhammad jamali]],former minister for sports and services and general administration
*[[rustam jamali]],minister for excise and taxation

===Members National Assembly of Pakistan===
* [[Malik Anwer Ali Noon]] of [[Ali Pur Noon]]
* [[Malik Amjad Ali Noon]] of [[Ali Pur Noon]], High commissioner and first Nazim of [[Sargodha]].
* [[Miangul Adnan Aurangzeb]] Crown Prince of [[Swat (princely state)]] Civil Engineer
* Rai Aziz Ullah Khan of Sahiwal, Punjab (Rais Of Raikot,LUDHIANA)
* [[Imran Khan]] of Mianwali, Punjab
* Hamid Raza Gilani
* Syed Zulfiqar Ali Bokhari
* Noman Islamuddin Shaikh
* Asim Nazir Chaudhry
* Ch Bilal Virk
* Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan
and several others

===Members Provincial Assembly===
* [[Shahjahan Ahmad Bhatti]], [[Nankana Sahib]], Punjab
* Haroon Ahmed Sultan Bukhari, former minister Agriculture and livestock, punjab
* Lt. Col(R) Rafique Ahmad Khan [[Leghari]] , [[D G Khan]], Punjab
* Sardar Muhammad Mohsin Khan [[Leghari]] , [[D G Khan]], Punjab
* Makhdoom Syed Ahmad Mehmood, [[Rahimyarkhan]], Punjab
* Hamid Yar Hiraj

===Ambassadors===
* [[Hamid Raza Gilani]]
* Syed Zulfiqar Ali Bokhari
* Aminullah Raisani
* Sardar [[Mushtaq Leghari]] (U.A.E)

===Religious===
* Baba Madhsudan Singh Bedi (1932–1940), Sikh Spiritual leader.

===Performers===
* Basim Usmani – Lead singer [[The Kominas]], a Punjabi taqwacore punk band from the suburbs of Boston, MA
* [[Taimur A. Bajwa]], Gujranwala, Co-Director of [[Kasamh Se]]
* Sarmad Ali Sultan Khoosat
* [[Adnan Sami]]
*[[Salman Ahmad]] of [[Junoon]]

===Sportsmen===
* [[Majid Khan (cricket player)|Majid Khan]], Captain (1948–1958), [[Cambridge Blue]], [[Pakistan cricket team]]
* [[Rameez Raja]], Captain, [[Pakistan cricket team]]
* [[Javed Burki]],Captain, [[Pakistan cricket team]]
* [[Imran Khan]], Captain, [[Oxford Blue]], [[Pakistan cricket team]]
* [[Sayed Jaffar (field hockey)|Sayed Muhammad Jafar]], Member of the All India Field Hockey Team, Gold Medalist Los Angeles Olympics 1932 and Berlin Olympics 1936. The Jafar Memorial Hockey Pavilion in Aitchison College is named after him.
* [[Hassan Sardar]],Olympian Gold Medalist, Captain, [[Pakistan Hockey Team]]
* [[Nawab]] [[Iftikhar Ali Khan]] [[Pataudi]], Captain, [[Oxford Blue]], [[Indian Cricket]] team & Member, [[England Cricket]] team, one of the few cricketers who has played for two countries.
PRINCIPLES:

MR. F. A. LESLIE JONES
1904 TO 1917 MR. J. KELLY
1917 TO 1933

MR. C.H. BARRY
1933 TO 1946 MR. D.R. KAPILA
1947

MR. J.M. GWYN
1947 TO 1953 SAYYID ZULFIQAR ALI
1953 TO 1962

MR. ABDUL ALI KHAN
1962 TO 1970 DR. GHULAM RASUL CHAUDHRY
1970 TO 1978

COL. N. D. HASAN
1979 TO 1983 MR. A. REHMAN QURAISHI
1984 TO 1994

Mr. Shamim S Khan
1994 TO 2008

===Industrialists===
* [[Shahzada Alam Monnoo]], Founder Monoo Group of Industries

===Science and technology===

* [[Usman mobin|Usman Mobin]], Chief Technology Officer at the Government of Pakistan's [[National Database and Registration Authority]]
* Osman Khalid Waheed, Chief Executive Officer at [[Ferozsons Laboratories]] and BF Biosciences Limited
* Mian Muhammad Zaka ur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer at [http://www.schazoo.com/ Schazoo Laboratories]

===Corporate===
*[[Sahibzada Hussain Raza Khan]] Chemical Engineer and MBA LUMS.
*[[Imran Anwar]], IMRAN.TV/EverTrac
* Mamur Mustapha Awan, Managing Director – Firefly Konsulting (Bangladesh, China, India, Lebanon, Malaysia, Pakistan, Qatar & UAE), CEO & Creative Director – Mediaverx LTD. (Pakistan & UK)
</div>
{{hidden end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* F. S. Aijazuddin, ''Aitchison College Lahore : 1886–1986 : the first hundred years,'' Lahore (1986)

==External links==
*[http://www.aitchison.edu.pk/ Official website]
{{LahoreTopics}}
{{Boarding schools in Pakistan}}
{{Schools in Lahore}}

{{Coord missing|Pakistan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2010}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2010}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aitchison College Lahore}}
[[Category:Boarding schools in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Lahore]]
[[Category:Academic institutions of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Schools in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Old Aitchisonians]]
[[Category:Private schools in Pakistan]]

[[de:Chiefs’ College]]
[[ur:ایچی سن کالج]]

Punjabis

2011-01-07T08:06:23Z

SirSadiq: add the profile of Governor Punjab Salman Taseer who was assinated & Ahmad Jawad who is young punjabi CEO in exports sector but noteable, delete aamir khan (boxer) and Akram who is already projected

{{clean|date=December 2010}}
{{ethnic group|
|group= Punjabis
|image= [[Image:Iqbal 140x190.jpg|75px]][[Image:Bhagat Singh 1929 140x190.jpg|75px]][[Image:Liaquat Ali Khan 140x190.jpg|75px]] [[File:Salmaan Taseer October 29, 2009 Lahore.jpg|75px]][[Image:Aitzaz ahsan.jpg|65px]][[Image:Sant_Jarnail_Singh_Bhindranwale.jpg|70px]] [[File:Ruby dhalla small.jpg|75px]][[Image:Manmohansingh04052007 140x190.jpg|73px]][[Image:jawad.jpg|75px]] [[File:Khali cropped 140x190.jpg|75px]][[Image:Abdus salam.gif|73px]][[Image:Kalpana Chawla, NASA photo portrait in orange suit 140x190.jpg|75px]] '''[[List of Punjabis]]:''' 1st row: [[Muhammad Iqbal]], [[Bhagat Singh]], [[Liaquat Ali Khan]] 2nd row: [[Salmaan Taseer]], [[Aitzaz Ahsan]], [[Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale]] 3rd row: [[Ruby Dhalla]], [[Manmohan Singh]], [[Ahmad Jawad Asghar]] 4th row: [[Great Khali]], [[Abdus Salam]], [[Kalpana Chawla]]. 
|pop= 120 million (estimated)
|region1={{flag|Pakistan}}
|pop1=76,335,300
|ref1= <ref>[http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/pco/statistics/other_tables/pop_by_mother_tongue.pdf Pakistan 1998 census - Population by mother tongue]</ref>
|region2={{flag|India}}
|pop2=29,109,672
|ref2=<ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/ Indian Census]</ref>
|region3={{flag|United Kingdom}}
|pop3=2,300,000
|ref3=<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://books.google.com/?id=74ZVFb37zuIC&pg=PA20 |title=Desh Pardesh |publisher=C. Hurst & Co. Publishers |year=1994 |pages=19–20 |author=Roger Ballard, Marcus Banks |isbn=9781850650911}}</ref>
|region4={{flag|Canada}}
|pop4=800,000
|ref4=<ref>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/topics/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?TPL=RETR&ALEVEL=3&APATH=3&CATNO=&DETAIL=0&DIM=&DS=99&FL=0&FREE=0&GAL=0&GC=99&GK=NA&GRP=1&IPS=&METH=0&ORDER=1&PID=92333&PTYPE=88971,97154&RL=0&S=1&ShowAll=No&StartRow=1&SUB=801&Temporal=2006&Theme=80&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= 2006 Census: Ethnic Origin]</ref>
|region5={{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
|pop5=720,000
|region6={{flag|United States}}
|pop6=640,000
|region7={{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
|pop7=620,000
|region8={{flag|Hong Kong}}
|pop8=260,000
|region9={{flag|Malaysia}}
|pop9=185,000
|region10={{flag|South Africa}}
|pop10=140,000
|region11={{flag|Russia}}
|pop11=120,000
|langs= [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Hindi]], [[Urdu]]
|rels= • [[Image:Allah-green.svg|18px]] [[Islam]] 70% • [[Image:Khanda1.svg|15px]] [[Sikhism]] 18% • [[Image:Om.svg|15px]] [[Hinduism]] 10% • [[Image:Dharma Wheel.svg|18px]] [[Buddhism]] • [[Image:Christian cross.svg|10px]] [[Christianity]] • [[Image:Jain hand.svg|13px]] [[Jainism]]
|related=• [[Indo-Aryans]] • [[Rajput]]s • [[Gujjars|Gujjar]] •[[Jatt]]s •[[Aheer]]s. [[Hindko]]wans • [[Seraikis]] • [[Indo-Scythian]]s
}}
The '''Punjabi people''' ({{lang-pa|{{Nastaliq|پنجابی}}}} ([[Shahmukhi]]), ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ([[Gurmukhi]]), [[Hindi]]: पंजाबी ([[Devanagari]])), also '''Panjabi people''', are an [[Indo-Aryans|Indo-Aryan]] ethnic group from [[South Asia]]. They originate from the [[Punjab region]], which has been host to some of the oldest civilizations in the world including one of the world's first and oldest civilizations, [[Indus Valley Civilization|the Indus Valley Civilization]]. The Punjabi identity was primarily [[cultural]] and [[natural language|linguistic]], with Punjabis being those who considered the [[Punjabi Language]] their [[first language]]. <ref>http://www.krysstal.com/langfams_indoeuro.html</ref> However, in recent times, the definition has been broadened to include emigrants of Punjabi descent who maintain Punjabi cultural traditions, even when they no longer speak the language.

Punjabis are primarily found in the Punjab region of [[India]] and [[Pakistan]], which forms the present Indian state of [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] and Pakistan province of [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]]. In the times that followed after gaining independence from [[British Empire|Britain]], the Punjab region was divided between the two nations. In Pakistan, Punjabis are the largest ethnic group comprising of roughly 60% of the total population of the country. Majority reside predominantly in the province of Punjab and [[Pakistan-administered Kashmir]]. In India, Punjabis represent about 3% of the population. The majority of [[Punjabi Language|Punjabi]]-speaking people in India can be found across the greater Punjab region which comprises of the states of Punjab, [[Haryana]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Delhi]] and the [[Union Territory]] of [[Chandigarh]]. Moreover, large communities of Punjabis are also found in the [[Jammu]] region of [[Jammu and Kashmir]] and the states of [[Rajasthan]], [[Uttarakhand]] and [[Uttar Pradesh]].

Punjabi is the dominant language spoken in Pakistan, and 11th most spoken language in India. According to the [[Ethnologue]] 2005 estimate,<ref name="ReferenceA">Ethnologue. 15th edition (2005).</ref> there are 88 million native speakers of the Punjabi language, which makes it approximately the 11th most widely spoken language in the world. According to the 2008 Census of Pakistan,<ref>According to [http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/pco/statistics/other_tables/pop_by_mother_tongue.pdf statpak.gov.pk] 44.15% of the Pakistani people speak Punjabi natively. This calculates an approximate number of 76,335,300 Punjabi speakers in Pakistan.</ref> there are approximately 76,335,300 native speakers of Punjabi in Pakistan, and according to the [[Demographics of India#Linguistic demographic2001|Census of India]], there are over 29,102,477 Punjabi speakers in India.<ref>[[Census of India]], 2001</ref> Punjabi is also spoken as a [[minority language]] in several other countries where [[Punjabis]] have emigrated in large numbers, such as the [[United Kingdom]] (where it is the second most commonly used language<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199900/cmhansrd/vo000307/halltext/00307h02.htm "Punjabi Community".] The United Kingdom Parliament.</ref>) and [[Canada]], in which Punjabi has now become the fourth most spoken language after English, [[French language|French]] and [[Chinese language|Chinese]], due to the rapid growth of immigrants from Pakistan and India.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Punjabi_is_Canadas_4th_most_top_language/articleshow/2782138.cms Punjabi is 4th most spoken language in Canada - The Times of India]</ref> There are also sizable communities in [[United States]], [[Kenya]], [[Tanzania]], [[Uganda]], [[Persian Gulf]] countries, [[Hong Kong]], [[Malaysia]], [[Singapore]], [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]].

Punjabis are ethno-linguistically and culturally related to the other Indo-Aryan peoples of South Asia. There are an estimated 120 million Punjabis around the world.

==History==
{{Off-topic|date=June 2010}}
{{Main|History of Punjab}}

===Prehistory===
The exact point at which the Punjabis formed a distinct ethnic group remains speculative. The region having been the site of the ancient [[Indus Valley Civilization]] centred at [[Harappa]] became a centre of early civilization from around 3300 BC. Numerous settlers including the [[Indo-Aryan peoples|Indo Aryans]], [[Persian people|Persians]], [[Scythians]], [[Greeks]], various [[Central Asia]]ns, [[Arab]]s, [[Demographics of Afghanistan|Afghans]], and the [[British Empire|British]] have all invaded and ruled the region, giving the Punjab a unique culture as the gateway to [[South Asia]] but this has not had a genetic impact on the region as the host population has always been far larger than the migrating or invading populations.Historically attested events, such as invasions by Huns, Greeks, Kushans, Moghuls, Muslims, and modern Europeans, have had negligible genetic impact. Despite centuries of Greek rule in Northwest India, for example, no trace of either the M170 or the M35 genetic markers associated with Greeks and Macedonians have been found.<ref name="Kivisild et al. 2003"/>

==Ancient History==
[[Image:Map of Vedic India.png|thumb|right|250px|Map of early Iron Age Vedic India after Witzel (1989). Realms or tribes are labelled black, Foreign tribes mentioned in early Vedic texts purple, Vedic [[shakha]]s in green. Rivers are labelled blue. The [[Thar desert]] is marked orange.]]

The original [[Punjab region]] is now divided into several units: [[West Punjab]] (now in Pakistan) including the Gandhara region, the Indian states of [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]], [[Haryana]] and [[Himachal Pradesh]] and the Indian Union territory of [[Chandigarh]]. The regions of [[Azad Kashmir]] and [[Jammu]] have also been historically associated with the Punjab.

The Punjab is the '[[Sapta Sindhu]]' region mentioned in the [[Rig Veda]], the seven rivers are:

# [[Saraswati]] (thought to be the present day [[Ghaggar]]),
# Satadru/Shutadri ([[Sutlej]]),
# Vipasa ([[Beas River|Beas]]),
# Asikani, Chandrabhaga ([[Chenab]]),
# Iravati ([[Ravi River|Ravi]]),
# Vitasta/Vet ([[Jhelum River|Jhelum]]) and
# Sindhu ([[Indus River|Indus]]).

The modern name of the Vipasa,'Beas' is thought to be a corruption of [[Veda Vyasa]], the author of the [[Mahabharata]].

The region came to be known as ''Punjab'' only in the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] period.It was one of the cradles of [[Indian subcontinent|Indian]] civilization and [[Hinduism]].

Among the classic books that wholly or partly composed in this region are the following.
* [[Rigveda]]
* Grammar of [[Sakatayana]]
* [[Ashtadhyayi]] of [[Pāṇini]]
* [[Nirukta]] of Yaska
* [[Charaka Samhita]]
* Mahabharata along with the [[Bhagavad Gita]]
* [[Brihatkatha]] of Gunadya
* The [[Bakhshali Manuscript]]

The world's oldest university [[Takshashila]] flourished here, even before the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]]'s birth.

The descendants of the Rishis, form the [[Brahmins]] of [[Hindu]] society. The Brahmins of this region are called 'Saraswata' after the legendary Saraswati river region, once known for the ashramas of the rishis.

===Classic cities of the Punjab region===
* [[Peshawar]](Purushapur), North West Frontier Province: Capital of [[Kanishka]], the [[Kushan]] ruler and the site of the tallest stupa in Jambudvipa.
* [[Pushkalavati]] (Charsadda), North West Frontier Province: Founded by a son of [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharata]], brother of [[Sri Rama]], according to the [[Ramayana]]
* [[Takshashila]] (Taxila), Punjab(Pakistan): Also founded by a son of Bharata.
* [[Multan]](Mulasthan),Punjab(Pakistan): Founded by first wave of invading Aryans and named Mul-Asthan (Base-Station)in Sanskrit also Pilgrimage site of the legendary Sun temple.
* [[Rawalpindi]], Punjab(Pakistan): A city in Northern Punjab named after the Rawal [[Jogis]]
* [[Sialkot]], Punjab(Pakistan): city founded by Sul ([[Shalya]]), emperor of Madradesa and brother of [[Madri]], second wife of emperor [[Pandu]] and mother to [[Nakul]] and [[Sahadeva]]
* [[Kasur]], Punjab(Pakistan): city founded by [[Kusha]], son of Sri Rama according to the [[Bichitra Natak]] written by [[Guru Gobind Singh]].
* [[Lahore]],Punjab(Pakistan): city founded by [[Lava]]([[Loh]]), son of Sri Rama according to the Bichitra Natak.
* [[Dipalpur]], Punjab(Pakistan): The original name of this city was Siri Puria or Siri Nagar after the elder brother of Raja Salvahan of Sialkot (who was the explorer of Sialkot) Raja Depa Chand renamed Depalpur after his beloved son Raja Depa.
* [[Jhang]], Punjab(Pakistan): city where lovely [[Chenab]] and [[Jhelum]] rivers meet founded in era of [[Sri Rama]] then remodeled by [[Sial]] chief. Famous Punjabi love stories of [[Heer Ranjha]] and [[Mirza Sahiba]] belong to the soil of this particular city. That is why city is also referred to as "Land of Love" and "City of [[Bhangra]]"
* [[Amritsar]], Punjab(India): It is believed that the hermitage of Sage [[Valmiki]], author of the Ramayana was located in the vicinity of the area that forms the modern city of Amritsar today. Valmiki is said to have composed the great epic at this very spot. Also, [[Sita]] gave birth to the twins, Lava and Kusha in this hermitage.
* [[Jalandhar]], Punjab(India): A historic city mentioned in the Puranas.
* [[Kurukshetra]],Haryana: The site of the [[Mahabharata]] war.
* [[Karnal]], Haryana: city founded by [[Karna]].
* [[Katasraj temple]], Punjab(Pakistan): Classic temple complex in the [[Chakwal]] district, site of the 'enchanted pool' episode in the Mahabharata, where [[Yudhishtira]] is tested by his father Lord [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yama]]/[[Dharma]].

The historic [[Vedic religion]] had a great impact on the regions religions followed by modern [[Hinduism]] and [[Buddhism]] which influenced the entire region including modern day Afghanistan,Usbekistan,Tajikistan and the Balochistan region in Iran and Pakistan.Islam reached the region following [[Muhammad bin Qasim|the arrival of Arabs]] in 711 AD and [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] tribes in the 11th century during this period of Islamic invasions some Hindu's clans converted to Islam.

[[Image:Mohenjo-daro Priesterkönig.jpeg|thumb|upright|[[Mature Harappan]] "Priest King" statue, [[Mohenjo-daro]], wearing Sindhi [[Ajrak]], late Mature Harappan period, National Museum, Karachi, Pakistan]]The tribes present in the NWFP of Pakistan and Afghanistan are most probably descended from Huna, Kushans etc. They could be the modern day [[Hazaras]], [[Pashtuns]], [[Tajiks]], [[Uzbeks]] and [[Nuristani]] and many more. The other theory is that, after the Islamic invasion of Sindh, all the tribes there broke off and came down lower into India and established their kingdoms; hence the name ''Rajput'' (son of a king). The Huna were defeated in 528 AD by [[Yasodharman]] and in 532 a coalition of Hindu kings drove the Huna out of Northern India.<ref>http://www.worldhistorymaps.info/History/CentralAsia.html</ref> Genetic analysis of Rajput clans found a close connection with the Punjabi [[Khatri]]/[[Arora]] clans, indicating that the Rajputs are not outsiders as most tend to believe.<ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6242530</ref>

Following the independence of Pakistan and the subsequent [[Partition of India|partition]] of [[British India]], a process of population exchange took place in 1947 as [[Muslim]]s left [[East Punjab]] and headed to the newly created [[Pakistan]], and [[Hindu]]s and [[Sikh]]s left [[West Punjab]]<ref>.[http://www.cet.edu/earthinfo/sasia/SAhis.html South Asia: British India Partitioned]</ref> for the newly created state of India. As a result of these population exchanges, both parts are now relatively homogeneous, where religion is concerned.
[[Image:Taxila Pakistan juillet 2004.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Taxila Pakistan is a [[World Heritage Site]]]]

The main site of the [[Indus Valley Civilization]] in Punjab was the city of [[Harrapa]]. The Indus Valley Civilization spanned much of what is today Pakistan and eventually evolved into [[Indo-Aryans|Indo-Aryan]] civilization. The arrival of the Indo-Aryans led to the flourishing of the [[Vedic Civilization]] along the length of the [[Indus River]]. This civilization shaped subsequent cultures in [[South Asia]] and [[Afghanistan]]. Although the archaeological site at Harappa was partially damaged in 1857 when engineers constructing the Lahore-Multan railroad used stone from the Harappa ruins for track ballast, an abundance of artifacts have nevertheless been found. Punjab was part of the great ancient empires including the [[Gandhara]] [[Mahajanapadas]], [[Mauryas]], [[Kushans]] and [[Hindu Shahi]]. Agriculture flourished and trading cities (such as Multan and Lahore) grew in wealth.

===Genetics in the Region===
{{Main|Genetics and Archaeogenetics of South Asia}}
The studies published in this active field of ongoing research have yet to present a unanimous picture.

On the one hand, certain reports emphasize the finding that tribal and caste populations in South Asia derive largely from a common genetic heritage of Pleistocene southern and western Asians, with only limited gene flow from external regions since the start of the Holocene.<ref name="Kivisild et al. 2003">{{Harvcoltxt|Kivisild et al.|2003}}</ref><ref>"There is general agreement that Indian caste and tribal populations share a common late Pleistocene maternal ancestry in India." {{Harvcoltxt|Sahoo et al.|2006}}</ref><ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Sharma et al.|2005}}</ref> India-specific mtDNA haplogroups, in particular, show coalescence times of 40-60 kya,<ref>{{Harvtxt|Chaubey et al.|2007}}</ref> while J2 from West Asia is identified as the only non-native Y-DNA haplogroup present in significant proportions.<ref>"It is not necessary, based on the current evidence, to look beyond South Asia for the origins of the paternal heritage of the majority of Indians at the time of the onset of settled agriculture. The perennial concept of people, language, and agriculture arriving to India together through the northwest corridor does not hold up to close scrutiny. Recent claims for a linkage of haplogroups J2, L, R1a, and R2 with a contemporaneous origin for the majority of the Indian castes' paternal lineages from outside the subcontinent are rejected, although our findings do support a local origin of haplogroups F* and H. Of the others, only J2 indicates an unambiguous recent external contribution, from West Asia rather than Central Asia." {{Harvcoltxt|Sahoo et al.|2006}}</ref> The Y-DNA Haplogroup R1a1a (M17), which was thought to be a marker of Indo-European speaking peoples,<ref>"The Aryans came from outside India. We actually have genetic evidence for that. Very clear genetic evidence from a marker that arose on the southern steppes of Russia and the Ukraine around 5,000 to 10,000 years ago. And it subsequently spread to the east and south through Central Asia reaching India.... [M17] shows that there was a massive genetic influx into India from the steppes within the past 10,000 years... Taken with the archaeological data, we can say that the old hypothesis of an invasion of people – not merely their language – from the steppe appears to be true." {{Harvcoltxt|Wells|2002}}</ref> has been found quite prevalent in South Asia, including tribal groups, suggesting a native origin with a time depth greater than any supposed Indo-Aryan migration.<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Sengupta et al.|2006}}</ref>

On the other hand, certain reports stratify the population, finding relatively closer affinity to Western Eurasians than to Asians among upper castes compared to lower and in men compared to women.<ref>"For maternally inherited mtDNA, each caste is most similar to Asians. However, 20%-30% of Indian mtDNA haplotypes belong to West Eurasian haplogroups, and the frequency of these haplotypes is proportional to caste rank, the highest frequency of West Eurasian haplotypes being found in the upper castes. In contrast, for paternally inherited Y-chromosome variation each caste is more similar to Europeans than to Asians. Moreover, the affinity to Europeans is proportionate to caste rank, the upper castes being most similar to Europeans, particularly East Europeans. [...] Analysis of these data demonstrated that the upper castes have a higher affinity to Europeans than to Asians, and the upper castes are significantly more similar to Europeans than are the lower castes. Collectively, all five datasets show a trend toward upper castes being more similar to Europeans, whereas lower castes are more similar to Asians." {{Harvcoltxt|Bamshad et al.|2003}}</ref> Evidence has also been found that the deep ancestry of the entire Indian population is a hybrid of two distinct founder groups: the "Ancestral North Indian" (ANI) genetically closer to Middle Easterners, Central Asians, and Europeans; and the "Ancestral South Indian" (ASI) is as distinct from ANI and East Asians as they are from each other; whose relative proportions vary with the former type more prevalent in high-caste and Indo-Aryan speaking groups.<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Reich et al.|2009}}</ref>

Language change resulting from the migration of numerically small superstrate groups would be difficult to trace genetically. Historically attested events, such as invasions by Huns, Greeks, Kushans, Moghuls, Muslims, and modern Europeans, have had negligible genetic impact. Despite centuries of Greek rule in Northwest India, for example, no trace of either the M170 or the M35
genetic markers associated with Greeks and Macedonians have been found.<ref name="Kivisild et al. 2003"/>
[[File:R1a1a distribution.png|thumb|right|300px|Frequency distribution of R1a1a, also known as R-M17 and R-M198, adapted from {{Harvcoltxt|Underhill et al|2009}}.]]
{{See|List of R1a frequency by population}}
{{further|[[Y-DNA haplogroups by ethnic groups]]}}
R1a has been found in high frequency at both the eastern and western ends of its core range, for example in some parts of [[India]] and [[Tajikistan]] on the one hand, and [[Poland]] on the other. Throughout all of these regions, R1a is dominated by the R1a1a (R-M17 or R-M198) sub-clade. In South Asia R1a1a has been observed often with high frequency <ref name="Sengupta et al. 2005">{{Harvcoltxt|Sengupta et al.|2005}}</ref><ref name="Sahoo et al. 2006">{{Harvcoltxt|Sahoo et al.|2006}}</ref> in a number of demographic groups. Hindus in Nepal/India as a whole show it at 69%.<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Fornarino et al.|2009}}</ref>

Among the caste groups of India high percentage of this haplogroup is observed in [[Bengali Brahmins|West Bengal Brahmins]](72%) <ref name="Sengupta et al. 2005"/> to the east, [[Konkanastha| Konkanastha Brahmins]](48%) <ref name="Sengupta et al. 2005"/> to the west, [[Khatri]]s(67%)<ref name="Underhill et al. 2009">{{Harvcoltxt|Underhill et al.|2009}}</ref> in north and Iyenger(31%) Brahmins <ref name="Sengupta et al. 2005"/> of south. It has also been found in several [[South Indian]] [[Dravidian]]-speaking [[Adivasi]]s including the [[Chenchu]](26%),<ref name="Kivisild et al. 2003"/> the [[Valmikis]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]] and the [[Kallar]] of [[Tamil Nadu]] suggesting that M17 is widespread in tribal southern Indians.<ref name="Kivisild et al. 2003"/>

Besides these, studies show high percentages in regionally diverse groups such as [[Manipuri people|Manipuris]] (50%)<ref name="Underhill et al. 2009"/> to the extreme North East and in Punjab (47%)<ref name="Kivisild et al. 2003"/> to the extreme North West.

In [[Pakistan]] it is found at 71% among the Mohanna and 46% among the [[Balti]]s.<ref name="Underhill et al. 2009"/> While 13% of [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] in [[Sri Lanka]] were found to be R1a1a(M17) positive.<ref name="Kivisild et al. 2003"/>
[[Indo-Aryans]] are believed to have arrived in the region between 2000 and 1250 BC and eventually disseminated their languages throughout [[South Asia]]. An early [[Vedic civilization]] is believed to have emerged in the region and helped shape many aspects of the early culture.

===Influence===
Due to its location, the Punjab region came under constant attack and influence from the east and the west.Invaded by the [[Mauryan Empire]], [[Persian Empire|Persians]], [[Greeks]], [[Kushans]], [[Scythians]], [[Turkic peoples|Turks]], and [[Demographics of Afghanistan|Afghans]]. Its legacy is a unique culture that combines [[Hindu]], [[Buddhist]],Greek, [[Iran|Persian]], [[Islamic]], [[Sikhs]] and lastly British elements were also adopted during colonial rule.The city of Taxila was founded by the son of Taksh, who was the son of Bharat and who, in turn, was the brother of Ram. It was reputed to house the oldest university in the world, [[Takshashila University]], one of the teachers was the great [[Vedic period|Vedic]] thinker and politician [[Chanakya]]. Taxila was a great centre of learning and intellectual discussion during the [[Maurya Empire]]. It is a UN [[World Heritage site]], and revered for its archaeological and religious history.A legend based on oral traditions holds that Lahore, known in ancient times as Lavapuri (City of Lava in Sanskrit), was founded by Prince Lava, the son of Rama, while Kasur was founded by his twin brother Prince Kusha. To this day, Lahore Fort has a vacant temple dedicated to Lava (also pronounced Loh, hence Loh-awar or "The Fort of Loh").

[[Image:PazyrikHorseman.JPG|thumb|upright|A Scythian ([[Saka]]) horseman from [[Pazyryk]] in Central Asia, c. 300 BC.]]
Unique to central and western regions of Punjab (which form Pakistan's Punjab province) was that this area was incorporated into various central Asian, Greek and Persian empires, the area witnessed invasions by [[Alexander the Great]], [[Mahmud of Ghazni]] and [[Tamerlane]], to name a few. These were periods of contact between this region of Pakistan, the Persian Empire, and for a time this extended all the way to [[Greece]]. In later centuries, when Persian was the language of the Mughal government by force, Mughal architecture, poetry, art and music was an integral part of the region's culture. The official language of Punjab remained [[Persian language|Persian]] until the arrival of the British in the mid 19th century, where it was finally abolished and the administrative language was changed over to Urdu written in the [[Perso-Arabic script]] which was only adopted by the Muslims as Hindu's retained their [[Devanagari]] script and the Sikhs [[Gurmukhi]] both are members of the [[Brahmi]] script and native to India.<ref>http://www.panthic.org/news/135/ARTICLE/2701/2006-08-30.html</ref><ref>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=cCo2Ray4B7kC&pg=PT1&lpg=PT1&dq=Language+and+literacy+in+social+practice+By+Janet+Maybin,+Open+University&source=bl&ots=93PVqCKhrd&sig=gF0z6avAMBHHQcH2mdfckm_L_a4&hl=en&ei=Gg1_SpPgC4msjAezr-nwAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#v=onepage&q=urdu%2Fperso&f=false Language and literacy in social practice] By Janet Maybin, Open University, page 102</ref>

===Punjabi Hindus===
Punjabi Hindus are a group of people that follow the Hindu religion and have their roots in the erstwhile joint Punjab of greater Panjab (West Punjab/East Punjab).

Today they are distributed in most parts of the northern India and in some parts of western India like Mumbai. In India, most of the Punjabi Hindus are concentrated in Indian states of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. There has also been continuous migration of Punjabi Hindus to western world countries like USA, Canada and UK.

The oldest Hindu texts such as the Vedas, Upanishads and Mahabharata were composed in Punjab or nearby region and therefore indirectly influenced the entire South Asian region through time.In fact, Punjabi Hindus can trace their roots from the time of the Vedas. Many would later convert into Sikhism to fight the Mughals. Hindu Punjabi's used to send their oldest son to become a Sikh this was mostly seen in the [[Khatri]] and [[Arora]] communities and is still practiced today. In fact, Punjabi Hindus can trace their roots from the time of the Vedas. Many modern day cities in Indian Punjab and Pakistan Punjab are still named from that period like Lahore etc.

Punjabi Hindus have their unique culture which resembles in some ways very closely to the culture of Sikhs and also differs in lot of other ways. The Punjabi Hindus usually have a very liberal lifestyle and are famous for their lavish wedding parties. Like other Hindus, they are also divided into castes. The most common castes are Khatri (Kshatriya in Hindi), Brahman, Baniya, Rajput etc. Punjabi Hindus go to Hindu temples for worship.

===Arrival of Islam===
[[Image:BullehShah.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Bulleh Shah]] the Sufi Muslim Scholar, Poet]]
The Punjabis were mainly [[Hindus]] with [[Buddhist]] and [[Zoroastrian]] minorities when the [[Umayyad]] [[Muslim]] [[Arab]] army led by [[Muhammad bin Qasim]] conquered the Punjab and Sindh in 711. Bin Qasim recorded that he so was overwhelmed by the gold in the [[Aditya]] Temple in the thriving trading city of Multan (known as ''Mulasthana'' then), that he recovered the expenses for his entire invasion.

During the reign of [[Mahmud of Ghazni]], non-Muslims were ordered to pay the [[jaziya]] tax under Islamic law.<ref name=Esposito>[[John Esposito|John Louis Esposito]], ''Islam the Straight Path'', Oxford University Press, Jan 15, 1998, p. 34.</ref><ref>Lewis (1984), pp. 10, 20</ref><ref>Ali, Abdullah Yusuf (1991). The Holy Quran. Medina: King Fahd Holy Qur-an Printing Complex, pg. 507</ref> The province became an important centre and Lahore was made into a second capital of the Turk [[Ghaznavid Empire]] based out of [[Ghazni]].

===Mughals===
[[File:Badshahi Mosque July 1 2005 pic32 by Ali Imran (1).jpg|thumb|upright|Badshahi Masjid - The largest mosque of the Mughal Empire built by emperor [[Aurangzeb]].]]
The [[Mughals]] controlled the region from 1524 until 1739 and would also lavish the province with building projects such as the [[Shalimar Gardens (Lahore)|Shalimar Gardens]] and the [[Badshahi Mosque]], both situated in Lahore. Muslim soldiers, traders, architects, theologians and Sufis flocked from the rest of the Muslim world to the Islamic [[Sultanate]] in [[South Asia]] and some may have settled in the Punjab. Following the decline of the Mughals, the [[Afsharid dynasty|Shah of Iran]] and founder of the Afsharid dynasty in [[Persia]], [[Nader Shah]] crossed the [[Indus]] and sacked the province in 1739. Later, the [[Afghanistan|Afghan]] conqueror [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]], incidentally born in Punjab, in the city of [[Multan]] made the Punjab a part of his [[Durrani Empire]] lasting until 1762.

===Afghans===
The founder of Afghanistan, [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]], an ethnic [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]] (''[[Pathan]]''), was born on the outskirts of [[Multan]], southern Punjab where many of his descendants live to this day. After cementing his authority over various [[Pashtun tribes|Afghan tribes]], he went about to establish the first united Afghan Kingdom (''[[Durrani Empire|Greater Afghanistan]]'') that during its greatest extent included modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan and northeastern Iran. The Punjab was a cultural reservoir for the Afghans, and many where attracted to its lush fertile lands, a process that continues to this very day. It has been said that with the loss of the breadbasket regions of the Punjab and Sindh, Afghanistan has never been able to achieve a stable state ever since. Many ethnic Afghan or Pashtun tribes continue to live in Pakistan's Punjab province such as the [[Khugyani]]s known as [[Khakwani]]s, [[Alizai]]s, [[Tareen]]s, [[Durrani]]s, [[Mullazai]]s, [[Niazi]]s, [[Khattak]]s, [[Lodhi]]s, [[Kakar]]s, [[Kakazai]]s, and [[Barakzai]]s to name a few.

===Sikhs===
[[File:Ranjitsingh.gif|right||thumb|upright|Portrait of Maharaja Ranjit Singh]]

At the beginning of the fifteenth century, the religion of [[Sikhism]] was born, and during the Mughal period its [[Misl]]s gradually emerged as a formidable military force until assimilated under the expanding [[Sikh Empire]]. After fighting [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]], the Sikhs wrested control of the Punjab from his descendants and ruled in a [[Confederation|confederacy]], which later became the Sikh Empire of the Punjab under [[Ranjit Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]]. A denizen of the city of [[Gujranwala]], the capital of Ranjit Singh's empire was Lahore.<ref>[http://www.heritage.gov.pk/html_Pages/sikh.htm Sikh Period - Government of Pakistan]</ref> The Sikhs made architectural contributions to the city and the [[Lahore Fort]]. The Sikh empire was the first local power to rule the region since [[Muhammad of Ghor|Muhammed Ghori's]] defeat of [[Prithviraj III|Prithvi Raj Chauhan]] in 1192. According to some accounts, Ranjit Singh was not sympathetic to the Muslim inhabitants of the city, he is said to have turned the [[Badshahi Mosque]], one of the most famous examples of [[Mughal architecture]] and one of the [[List of largest mosques|largest Mosques]] in the world, into a gun powder magazine for military stores.<ref>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=vWLRxJEU49EC&pg=PA524&lpg=PA524&dq=ranjit+singh+badshahi+mosque&source=bl&ots=RE8Bsi6lm-&sig=aKOus6JEP-tnK_2HseFhN9RGkRI&hl=en&ei=OSNsSsLmDqaNjAeKrMi2Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2 International Dictionary of Historic Places: Asia and Oceania] By Trudy Ring, Robert M. Salkin, Paul E Schellinger, Sharon La Boda</ref>

===British===
[[File:Raja Lal Singh, of First Anglo-Sikh War, 1846.jpg|left|thumb|[[Raja Lal Singh]], who led Sikh forces against the British during the First Anglo-Sikh War, 1846]]
The Maharaja's death in the summer of 1839 brought political chaos and the subsequent battles of succession and the bloody infighting between the factions at court weakened the state. Relationships with neighbouring British territories then broke down, starting the [[First Anglo-Sikh War]]; this led to a British official being resident in Lahore and the annexation of territory south of the Satluj to [[British India]].

Some parts of Pakistani [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] also served as the centre of resistance in the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]].

===Independence and its aftermath===
In 1947 the Punjab province of [[British Raj|British India]] was divided along religious lines into [[West Punjab]] and [[East Punjab]]. The western Punjabis voted to join the new country of [[Pakistan]] while the easterners joined India. This led to massive rioting as both sides committed atrocities against fleeing refugees.

The undivided Punjab, of which Punjab (Pakistan) forms a major region today, was home to a large minority population of Punjabi Sikhs and Hindus unto 1947 apart from the Muslim majority.<ref>The Punjab in 1920s – A Case study of Muslims, Zarina Salamat, Royal Book Company, [[Karachi]], 1997. table 45, pp. 136. ISBN 969-407-230-1</ref>

==Geographic distribution==
===Indian Punjabis===
[[File:Punjabi sardar.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Indian Punjabi farmer.]]

The population of [[Punjab (India)|Indian Punjab]] is divided into two major religious groups, the Sikhs and Hindus. It is further sub-divided into various [[tribal|tribal group]]s, [[social groups|social groups (caste)]] and economic groups. Major sub-groups in [[India]] include the [[Arora]]s, Kalals/[[Ahluwalia]]s, [[Punjabi Banias|Bania]], [[Bhatia]]s, [[Punjabi Brahmins|Brahmin]] , [[Chamar]], [[Chhimba]], [[Chura]], [[Jatt Sikh]]s, GUJJAR both Sikh and Hindu, [[Kamboj Sikh]]s, [[Khatri]], [[Labana]]s, [[Lohar]], [[Mahtam]], [[Mazhabi]], [[Nai (caste)|Nai]]s, [[Punjabi Rajput|Rajput]], [[Ramgarhia]], [[Ramdasia]], [[Saini]]s, [[Sood]]s and [[Tarkhan]]s etc. The largest subgroups are Jatts with around 20% of the population, Chamars with around 12% of the population and Churas with around 10% of the population.

Like Punjabi Muslim society, these various [[caste]]s are associated with particular occupations or crafts. Communities such as the Jatt Sikh, Kamboj Sikh and Saini Sikh are essentially farmers, while the Arora, [[Punjabi Bania|Bania]], Bhatia and Khatri are associated to trade. Other groups are associated with particular crafts, include Lohar who were historically ironsmiths, while Tarkhans were carpenters and the Nai were barbers.<ref>The Punjabis : The People, Their History, Culture and Enterprise</ref>

Indian Punjab is also home to small groups of Muslims and Christian. Most of the [[East Punjab]]'s Muslims ''(in today's states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Chandigarh)'' left for West Punjab in 1947. However, a small community still exists today, mainly in [[Malerkotla]] which was spared during partition, the only Muslim princely state among the seven that formed the erstwhile [[Patiala]] and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU). The other six ''(mostly Sikh)'' states were: Patiala, [[Nabha]], [[Jind]], [[Faridkot, India|Faridkot]], [[Kapurthala]] and [[Kalsia]].

Punjabis in India have mainly [[Indo-Aryans|Indo-Aryan]] and [[Indo-Scythian]] origin. The Punjab region within India maintains a strong influence on the perceived culture of India towards the rest of the world. Numerous Bollywood film productions use the Punjabi language within its songs and dialogues as well as traditional dances and instruments such as the [[bhangra]] and the [[tabla]]. Prime Ministers of India including [[Gulzarilal Nanda]] and [[Inder Kumar Gujral]] in the past, and [[Dr. Manmohan Singh]] at present, are Punjabis, as are numerous players in the Indian cricket team (both past and present including [[Bishen Singh Bedi]], [[Kapil Dev]], [[Mohinder Amarnath]], [[Navjot Sidhu]], [[Harbhajan Singh]], [[Yuvraj Singh]], [[Yograj Singh]]).

===Pakistani Punjabis===
Punjabis make up almost 45% of the population of Pakistan. The Punjabis found in Pakistan belong to groups known as biradaris, which descend from a common male ancestor. In addition, Punjabi society is divided into two divisions, the zamindar groups or qoums, traditionally associated with farming and the moeens, who are traditionally artisans. Zamindars are further divided into qoups that claim pre-Islamic ancestry such as the [[Punjabi Rajput|Rajput]],[[Aheer]]s, [[Haral]]s, [[Ghosi (tribe)]], [[Muslim Jat of Punjab|Jat]], [[Punjabi Shaikh|Shaikh]]s or (Muslim [[Khatri]]), [[Kamboh]]s, [[Gujjar]]s, [[Dogar]]s and [[Labana|Rahmani]] (Muslim Labana). Zamindar groups claiming [[Central Asian]] or [[Middle East]]ern ancestry include the [[Gakhar]]s, [[Khattar]], [[Awan Pakistan|Awan]], [[Mughal (tribe)|Mughal]] and [[Arain]], comprising the main tribes in the north of the province, while [[Khagga]], [[Bodla]], [[Jhandir]], [[Daudpota]], [[Gardezi]], [[Syed]] and [[Quraishi]] are found in the south, all of whom claim [[Arab]] ancestry. Immigrants from neighbouring regions, such as the [[Kashmiri Muslims|Kashmiri]], [[Punjabi Pathan|Pashtun]] and [[Punjabi Baloch|Baluch]] ,also form important element in the Punjabi population. Pashtun tribes like the [[Niazi]]s and the [[Khakwani]]s, are integrated into Punjabi village life. Especially the members of the Niazi tribe, who see themselves as Punjabis first. They have big communities in [[Mianwali]], [[Bakkar]], [[Lahore]], [[Faisalabad]], [[Sahiwal]] and [[Toba Tek Singh]]. Major Moeen groups include the [[Lohar]], [[Khateek]], [[Rawal]], [[Chhimba Darzi]], [[Muslim Teli|Teli]], [[Malik (Julaha)|Julaha]], [[Mallaah]], [[Mirasi]] and [[Muslim Shaikh]]s, who are associated with a particular crafts or occupation.<ref>Muslim peoples : a world ethnographic survey / Richard V. Weekes, editor-in-chief Greenwood Press 1978</ref>

Punjabis have traditionally and historically been farmers and soldiers, which has transferred into modern times with their dominance of agriculture and military fields in Pakistan. In addition, Punjabis in Pakistan have been quite prominent politically, having had many elected Members of Parliament. As the most ardent supporters of a Pakistani state, the Punjabis in Pakistan have shown a strong predilection towards the adoption of the [[Urdu]] language but nearly all speak Punjabi, and still identify themselves as ethnic Punjabis for the most part. Religious homogeneity remains elusive as a predominant Islamic [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]]-[[Shi'a Islam|Shia]] population and a [[Christianity|Christian]] minority have not completely wiped out diversity since the partition of [[British India]]. A variety of related sub-groups exist in Pakistan and are often considered by many Pakistani Punjabis to be simply regional Punjabis including the [[Seraikis]] (who overlap and are often considered transitional with the [[Sindhi people|Sindhis]]) and Punjabi Pathans (which publications like ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' consider a transitional group between Punjabis and [[Pashtun people|Pathans]].

{{See also|Languages of Pakistan}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Rank || State || Punjabi speakers || Percentage
|-
| — || '''[[Pakistan]]''' || '''76,335,300''' || '''44.15'''
|-
| 1 || [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] || 70,671,704 || 75.23
|-
| 2 || [[Sindh]] || 3,592,261 || 6.99
|-
| 3 || [[Islamabad]] || 1,343,625 || 71.66
|-
| 4 || [[North-West Frontier Province|NWFP]] || 396,085 || 0.97
|-
| 5 || [[Balochistan (Pakistan)|Balochistan]] || 318,745 || 2.52
|-
| 6 || [[Fata]] || 12,880 || 0.23
|}

==The Punjabi Diaspora==
{{Main|Punjabi diaspora}}
[[File:Punjabi Speaking World.png|thumb|right|380px|Punjabis around the world]]
The Punjabi people have emigrated in large numbers to many parts of the world. The [[United Kingdom]] has a significant number of Punjabis from both Pakistan and India as does [[Canada]] (specifically [[Vancouver]] and [[Toronto]]) and the United States, (specifically California's [[Great Central Valley]]). The [[Middle East]] has a large immigrant community of Punjabis, in places such as the [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]] and [[Kuwait]]. There are large communities in [[East Africa]] including the countries of [[Kenya]], [[Uganda]] and [[Tanzania]]. Punjabis have also emigrated to [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]] and [[Southeast Asia]] including [[Malaysia]], [[Thailand]], [[Singapore]] and [[Hong Kong]].

===Punjabis per country===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Rank !! Country !! First language
|-
|1|| {{flag|Pakistan}} || 76,335,300
|-
|2|| {{flag|India}} || 29,109,672
|-
|3|| {{flag|United Kingdom}} || 2,300,000
|-
|4|| {{flag|Canada}} || 800,000
|-
|5|| {{flag|United Arab Emirates}} || 720,000
|-
|6|| {{flag|United States}} || 640,000
|-
|7|| {{flag|Saudi Arabia}} || 620,000
|-
|8|| {{flag|Hong Kong}} || 260,000
|-
|9|| {{flag|Malaysia}} || 185,000
|-
|10|| {{flag|South Africa}} || 140,000
|-
|11|| {{flag|Burma}} || 120,000
|-
|12|| {{flag|France}} || 90,000
|-
|13|| {{flag|Italy}} || 80,000
|-
|14|| {{flag|Thailand}} || 75,000
|-
|15|| {{flag|Japan}} || 75,000 {{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}
|-
|16|| {{flag|Mauritius}} || 70,000
|-
|17|| {{flag|Singapore}} || 70,000
|-
|18|| {{flag|Oman}} || 68,000
|-
|19|| {{flag|Libya}} || 65,000
|-
|20|| {{flag|Bahrain}} || 60,000
|-
|21|| {{flag|Kenya}} || 55,000
|-
|22|| {{flag|Australia}} || 50,000
|-
|23|| {{flag|Tanzania}} || 45,000
|-
|24|| {{flag|Kuwait}} || 40,000
|-
|25|| {{flag|Germany}} || 35,000
|}

==Diversity==
[[File:Computer Lab at GGI 3.JPG|thumb|Young men and women inside an internet cafe in India.]]
The Punjab region is diverse, due to its location near [[Central Asia]]. It has been prone to numerous [[Human migration|migrations]] and the resulting [[settler]]s have left imprints upon the local Punjabi population that remain present in the numerous sub-groups. The Punjabi people are a [[heterogeneous]] group and can be subdivided into a number of ethnic clan groups in Pakistan called ''[[qaums]]'' while they adhere to ''[[caste]]'' identities in [[India]], each having their own subtle differences.

In terms of ancestry, the majority of Punjabis share many similar genes with other [[northern India]]n populations, but also show a significant relationship with west Eurasian groups. In a 2004 Stanford study conducted with a wide sampling from India, including 112 Punjabis, and selected other countries, displayed the following:

:Results show that Indian tribal and caste populations derive largely from the same genetic heritage of [[Pleistocene]] southern and western Asians and have received limited gene flow from external regions since the [[Holocene]].<ref>[http://hpgl.stanford.edu/publications/AJHG_2003_v72_p313-332.pdf The Genetic Heritage of the Earliest Settlers Persists Both in Indian Tribal and Caste Populations]</ref>

This study also found that roughly 42% of genetic markers in the Punjab were of [[West Asia]]n origin, the highest amongst the sampled group of [[South Asians]].{{Dubious|date=July 2009}}{{cite}} Another study also showed that there has been limited gene flow in and out of [[north India]], but the highest amount of genetic inflow from the west showed up in the Punjab region:

:Broadly, the average proportion of mtDNAs from West Eurasia among Indian caste populations is 17% (Table 2). In the northern States of India their share is greater, reaching over 30% in [[Kashmir]] and [[Gujarat]], nearly 43% in [[Indian Punjab]].<ref>http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=516768</ref><ref>[http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2156/5/26 Most of the extant mtDNA boundaries in South and [[Southwest Asia]] were likely shaped during the initial settlement of Eurasia by anatomically modern humans]</ref>

Some preliminary conclusions from these varying tests support a largely north Indian genetic base for most Punjabis accompanied by some of the highest degrees of west Asian admixture found in north India.

==Culture and society==
{{Main|Punjabi culture}}
[[File:Pakistani Ranger.jpg|thumb|upright|Pakistani Ranger at the [[Wagah]] border crossing, between India and Pakistan.]]
Punjabi Culture is the culture of the [[Punjab region]]. It is one of the oldest and richest cultures in world history, dating from ancient antiquity to the modern era. The Punjabi Culture is the culture of the Punjabi people who are now distributed throughout the world. The scope, history, sophistication and complexity of the culture are vast. Some of the main areas include, Punjabi Philosophy, poetry, spirituality, education, artistry, dance, music, cuisine, science, technology, military warfare, architecture, traditions, values and history.

===Religion===
Science, history and religion has played an important role in shaping Punjabi ethnic identity and it is not uncommon for Punjabis to generally treat their religious identity as synonymous with their ethnic identity or at least a combined identity that differentiates them from others. Punjabis belong largely to three major religions: [[Islam]] (70%), [[Sikhism]] (18%) and [[Hinduism]] (10%){{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} and also small numbers of [[Christianity]], [[Jainism]] and [[Buddhist]].

Muslim Punjabis are the largest group in the Punjab region and are largely concentrated in Pakistan, though a small Muslim Punjabi population exists in India. Sikhism and Hinduism are the major religions followed by Punjabis in India, with Jainism being the largest minority religion that is followed largely by [[Punjabi Banias]] and [[Bhabra]] people.

===Language===
{{Copy edit-section|date=June 2010}}
{{Main|Punjabi language}}

The main language of the Punjabi people is [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] and its associated dialects which differ depending on the region of Punjab the individual speaker belongs to with notable differences in dialect found in Pakistani Punjabi (Lahnda dialect),However in Pakistani Punjab,many people speak Urdu but nearly all speak Punjabi,In Indian Punjab,all/or most people can speak Hindi,English is sometimes used,but not commonly. They may also speak [[Urdu]], [[Hindi]] and [[English language|English]]. There is significant Persian influence found in certain Punjabi dialects, although it is more pronounced in the Pakistani Punjab region, due to that regions proximity to the Iranic plateau. In recent years, the respective Punjabi languages have absorbed a considerable number of loan words from surrounding areas/provinces as well as from English and continue to evolve.

===Cuisine===
{{Main|Punjabi cuisine}}

Punjabi Cuisine has an immense range of dishes and has become world-leader in the field so much so that many entrepreneurs that have invested in the sector have built large personal fortunes due to popularity of Punjabi Cuisine throughout the world.

===Music===
{{Main|Music of Punjab}}
[[Image:Dhol players.jpg|thumb|[[Bhangra]] tournament concert]]
Bhangra is one of the many Punjabi musical art forms that is increasingly being listened to in the west and is becoming a mainstream favourite. Punjabi music is being used by western musicians, in many ways, such as mixing it with other compositions to produce award-winning music. In addition, Punjabi Classical music is increasingly becoming popular in the west due to the popular admiration of sounds of the Punjabi language and its composition.The most common instruments used in both India and Pakistan Punjab are the [[Tabla]] [[Harmonium]] and sometimes [[Sitar]].

===Punjabi Dances===
{{Main|Punjabi Dances}}

Punjabi Dances, due to the long history of the [[Punjabi culture]] and of the Punjabi people there is a large number of dances. These dances are normally performed at times of celebration the most prominent being at Punjabi weddings, where the elation is usually particularly intense. The overall style can range from very high energy to more reserved, however the common elements make it particularly attractive to the viewers whether they be of Punjabi heritage or not, the allure is considered universal. Punjabi dances are designed for either men or women.

===Marriage===
{{Main|Punjabi wedding traditions}}

Punjabi wedding traditions and ceremonies are traditionally conducted in [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] and are a strong reflection of Punjabi culture. While the actual religious marriage ceremony, among Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, and Jains may be conducted in Arabic, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Pali/Prakrit or English by the Kazi, Pandit, Granthi or Priest, there are commonalities in ritual, song, dance, food, and dress. The Punjabi wedding has many rituals and ceremonies that have evolved since traditional times. Punjabi receptions of all sorts are known to be very energetic; filled with loud Bhangra music, people dancing, and a wide variety of Punjabi food.

==Prominent Punjabis==
{{Main|List of Punjabis}}
{{Main|List of Punjabi poets}}
{{Main|List of Punjabi authors}}
{{Main|List of Punjabi singers}}
{{Main|List of Punjabi language poets}}

==See also==
*[[Punjab region]]
*[[Punjabi culture]]
*[[Punjabi language]]
*[[Punjabi cuisine]]
*[[Music of Punjab]]
*[[Punjabi dance]]
*[[Punjabi folklore]]
*[[Punjabi press]]
*[[History of the Punjab]]
*[[Punjabi Mexican American]] - A crosscultural merger of the first Punjabis with Mexican/Hispanic residents in California.

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==References and further reading==
* Gilmartin, David. ''Empire and Islam: Punjab and the Making of Pakistan''. Univ of California Press (1988), ISBN 0-520-06249-3.
* Grewal, J.S. and Gordon Johnson. ''The Sikhs of the Punjab (The New Cambridge History of India)''. Cambridge University Press; Reprint edition (1998), ISBN 0-521-63764-3.
* [[Denzil Ibbetson]], ''Punjab Castes: Race, Castes and Tribes of the People of Punjab''. Cosmo Publications, ISBN 81-7020-458-5.
* Ibbetson, Denzil, (2002). ''Panjab castes''. Low Price Publications. ISBN 81-7536-290-1.
* Latif, Syed. ''History of the Panjab''. Kalyani (1997), ISBN 81-7096-245-5.
* Rose, H.A. Denzil Ibbetson, [[Edward Maclagan]] (reprint 1990). ''Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province''. Asian Educational Services, India, ISBN 81-206-0505-5.
* Sekhon, Iqbal S. ''The Punjabis : The People, Their History, Culture and Enterprise''. Delhi, Cosmo, 2000, 3 Vols., ISBN 81-7755-051-9.
* Singh, Gurharpal. ''Ethnic Conflict in India : A Case-Study of Punjab''. Palgrave Macmillan (2000).
* Singh, Gurharpal (Editor) and Ian Talbot (Editor). ''Punjabi Identity: Continuity and Change''. South Asia Books (1996), ISBN 81-7304-117-2.
* Singh, Khushwant. ''A History of the Sikhs - Volume 1''.Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-562643-5
* Steel, Flora Annie. ''Tales of the Punjab : Told by the People (Oxford in Asia Historical Reprints)''. Oxford University Press, USA; New Ed edition (2002), ISBN 0-19-579789-2.
* Tandon, Prakash and Maurice Zinkin. ''Punjabi Century 1857-1947'', University of California Press (1968), ISBN 0-520-01253-4.
* {{loc}} [http://countrystudies.us/pakistan/32.htm Pakistan], [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/intoc.html India]
* [http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2156/5/26 DNA boundaries in South and Southwest Asia, BMC Genetics 2004, 5:26]
* [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=pan Ethnologue Eastern Panjabi]
* [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=pnb Ethnologue Western Panjabi]
* [http://www.censusindia.gov.in/ Indian Census]
* [http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/pco/statistics/other_tables/pop_by_mother_tongue.pdf Pakistan Census]
* [http://hpgl.stanford.edu/publications/AJHG_2003_v72_p313-332.pdf The Genetic Heritage of the Earliest Settlers Persists Both in Indian Tribal and Caste Populations, Am. J. Hum. Genet. 72:313–332, 2003]
*{{Cite book|last=Talib|first=Gurbachan|authorlink=Gurbachan Singh Talib|title= [[Muslim League Attack on Sikhs and Hindus in the Punjab 1947]]|year=1950|publisher=[[Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee]]|location=India}}[http://www.bharatvani.org/books/mla/ Online 1] [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC03809888&id=9fQLAAAAIAAJ&q=Muslim+League+Attack+on+Sikhs+and+Hindus+in+the+Punjab+1947&dq=Muslim+League+Attack+on+Sikhs+and+Hindus+in+the+Punjab+1947&pgis=1 Online 2] [http://allaboutsikhs.com/books/gst/ Online 3] (A free copy of this book can be read from any 3 of the included "Online Sources" of this free “Online Book”)

==External links==
{{Commons category}}

* [http://www.jattworld.com Jattworld.com - The Punjabi Jatts]
* [http://asnic.utexas.edu/asnic/subject/peoplesandlanguages.html Peoples and Languages in Pre-Islamic Indus Valley]
* [http://asianbookcenter.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=25&products_id=524 Free Punjabi (Gurmukhi) Primer - Especially designed for those who know English]
{{Ethnic Groups of India|hide}}
{{Ethnic groups, Social groups (Caste) and tribes the Punjab}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Punjabi People}}
[[Category:Punjabi people| ]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
[[Category:Punjabi tribes| ]]
[[Category:Punjabi culture]]
[[Category:Muslim communities]]

[[ar:بنجاب (عرق)]]
[[bn:পাঞ্জাবি জাতি]]
[[bg:Пенджабци]]
[[ko:펀자브인]]
[[hi:पंजाबी समुदाय]]
[[hr:Pandžapci]]
[[id:Punjabi]]
[[ka:პენჯაბელები]]
[[ja:パンジャーブ人]]
[[no:Punjabier]]
[[pa:ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਲੋਕ]]
[[pnb:پنجابی لوک]]
[[pl:Pendżabczycy]]
[[ru:Панджабцы]]
[[simple:Punjabi people]]
[[sr:Панџапци]]
[[sh:Pendžapci]]
[[ta:பஞ்சாபி மக்கள்]]
[[zh:旁遮普人]]

Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum

2011-01-05T07:06:53Z

SirSadiq:

{{BLP sources|date=February 2008}}

{{Infobox minister
|honorific-prefix = [[Highness|His Highness]] [[Sheikh]] 
|name = Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
|honorific-suffix =
|image = Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.jpg
|imagesize = 200px
|order = 1st
|office = Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates
|term_start = 9 December 1971
|term_end = 1973
|president = [[Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan]]
|primeminister = [[Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum]]
|successor = [[Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan]]
|order2 = 1st
|office2 = Minister of Finance of the United Arab Emirates
|term_start2 = 9 December 1971
|president2 = [[Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan]] (1971–2004) [[Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan]] (2004–
|primeminister2 = [[Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum]] (1971–1979) [[Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum]] (1979–1990) Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum (1990–2006) [[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum]] (2006–
|order3 = [[Deputy Ruler of Dubai]]
|monarch3 = [[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum]]
|term_start3 = ?
|alongside3 =[[Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum|Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum]]
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1945|12|25|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Bur Dubai]], [[Dubai]], [[Trucial States]]
|cabinet = [[United Arab Emirates Cabinet]]
|nationality = [[United Arab Emirates|Emirati]]
|children = [[Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum|Rashid]] [[Saeed bin Hamdan Al Maktoum|Saeed]] [[Maktoum bin Hamdan Al Maktoum|Maktoum]]
|blank1 = Father
|data1 = [[Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum]]
|}}
'''Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum''' (born December 25, 1945) is the Deputy Ruler of Dubai and the Minister of Finance and Industry of the [[United Arab Emirates]] (UAE). He is the second son of the late ruler, [[Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum]] (1912–1990).

Sheikh Hamdan received his early education in the Emirates then attended [[Cambridge University]]. He and his brother, [[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum|Sheik Mohammed]], control the state-owned [[Dubai Ports World]] along with the [[Dubai Holding|Dubai Holding Co.]] and its many subsidiary companies which have wide ranging investments in hotels, apartment buildings, banking and finance, and healthcare facilities, He is also the Minister of Finance and Industry.

Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum has six children; three boys and three girls.
The boys are Rashid , Saeed and Maktoum

Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been the head of the UAE's delegation at the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[OPEC|OPEC Fund]].

== Early life ==
Sheikh Hamdan was born on December 25, 1945. He was the second of four sons of the late ruler of Dubai, Shaikh [[Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum]].

Sheikh Hamdan's formal schooling began in Dubai. He attended Al Madrasah Al-Ahlia, where he studied mathematics, English, basic sciences, Arabic and Islamic studies. He went on to complete his further studies at the Bell School of Languages in Cambridge between 1967 and 1968. In Britain, Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum developed an interest in thoroughbred racing.

The years saw a great deal of development in the UAE. While Dubai and Abu Dhabi had begun the process of modernisation, it was far from complete; many areas in the remaining five emirates needed electricity, roads, housing, and clean water supplies. As Minister of Finance and Industry, Sheikh Hamdan oversaw such work, while he was also charged with developing the economy and an industrial base. The UAE's rulers understood that the country could not afford to isolate its efforts in the petroleum sector, despite the fact that in 1971 the majority of federal government revenues were derived from this source.

In Dubai, Sheikh Rashid also placed his second son in charge of an array of key governmental industrial enterprises, including the Dubai Aluminium Company, Dubai Gas Company and Dubai Cable Company, among others.

==Thoroughbred horse racing==
{{Main| Shadwell Racing}}
Introduced to [[thoroughbred]] [[flat racing]] while a student in the [[United Kingdom]], Sheikh Hamdan established his first racing stable there in 1981. Over the years he has invested heavily in both racing and breeding and has acquired major operations in [[England]], [[Ireland]] and the [[United States]].

The Dubai Arabian Horse Championship is held through the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan.

Sheikh Hamdan's horse, Eastern Anthem, won the 2009 [[Dubai Sheema Classic]].<ref>[http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/nad-al-sheba-nad-al-sheba-dubai-eastern-anthem-completes-double-for-bin-shafya/174273/related/, Eastern Anthem scores double for Bin Shafya], racingpost.com, 28 March 2009, accessed 29 March 2009.</ref>

== Deputy Ruler of Dubai ==

Sheikh Hamdan invited a delegation from the [[Islamic Research Academy]] ([ISRA]) on April 3, 1999 to discuss the launch of an effort and human investment in preparing an academic team of young scholars as specialists in [[Islamicjerusalem]] Studies. This resulted in the launch of several scholarships to reward distinguished young scholars in [[Islamicjerusalem Studies]], which then lead to the establishment of the Al-Maktoum Institute in [[Dundee]], [[Scotland]] with unique postgraduate programmes with the [[University of Aberdeen]]. Shaikh Hamdan is also the benefactor and the Patron of the "Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Award for Medical Excellence", an award instituted to reward excellence in the field of medical sciences with its comprehensive, dynamic and exciting features to benefit competing researchers, scientists and medical institutions.

Sheikh Hamdan has received numerous honours and awards for his achievements.
He is working on a project to make horse betting easier and faster through a concept desgned by a SouthAfrican business counterpart.the project will be launched in mid 2010

==References==
<references/>
==External links==
* [http://www.sheikhhamdan.ae/english/index.html Official website for His Highness Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum]
* [http://www.almi.abdn.ac.uk website for the Al Maktoum Institute]
* [http://www.isra.org.uk Website for Islamic Research Academy]

{{Clear}}
{{Dubai Princely Family}}

{{Persondata 
| NAME =Almaktoum, Hamdan Bin Rashid
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =25 December 1945
| PLACE OF BIRTH =[[Bur Dubai]], [[Dubai]], [[Trucial States]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Almaktoum, Hamdan Bin Rashid}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:United Arab Emirati politicians]]
[[Category:Government ministers of the United Arab Emirates|Hamdan bin Rashid]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Maktoum family|Hamdan bin Rashid]]
[[Category:Owner of Epsom Derby winners]]
[[Category:Royalty]]
[[Category:United Arab Emirati businesspeople]]
[[Category:United Arab Emirati racehorse owners and breeders]]
[[Category:People from Dubai]]

[[ar:حمدان بن راشد آل مكتوم]]
[[de:Hamdan bin Raschid Al Maktum]]
[[ja:ハムダン・ビン＝ラーシド・アール＝マクトゥーム]]

Salman Taseer

2011-01-05T04:49:43Z

SirSadiq: /* Personal life */ remove link

{{pp-semi-protected|small=yes}}
{{recent death|Taseer, Salman|date=January 2011}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Salmaan Taseer
|honorific-suffix =
|image = Salmaan Taseer October 29, 2009 Lahore.jpg
|caption = Salmaan Taseer in 2009
|order = 26th
|office = Governor of Punjab
|term_start = 15 May 2008
|term_end = 4 January 2011
|lieutenant =
|predecessor = Lt Gen [[Khalid Maqbool]]
|successor =
|birth_date = {{birth date|1946|6|12|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Lahore]], [[Dominion of Pakistan]]{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|2011|01|04|1946|6|12|df=y}}
|death_place = [[Islamabad]], [[Pakistan]]
|spouse = [[Tavleen Singh]] Aamna Taseer
|children = [[Aatish Taseer]] Maryam Shehryar Shahbaz Sara Sanam Shehr Bano
|alma_mater = [[Chartered Accountant]], from London <ref name="app"/>
|religion = [[Islam]]
|residence = [[Governor's House (Lahore)]] (during office)
|party = [[Pakistan Peoples Party]]
|website = [http://www.salmaantaseer.com Personal Website]
}}
'''Salmaan Taseer''' ([[Urdu]], {{lang-pa|{{Nastaliq|سلمان تاثیر}}}}; June 12, 1946<ref>[http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\01\05\story_5-1-2011_pg13_3 Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan]</ref> – January 4, 2011) was a [[Pakistan]]i businessman and politician who served as the [[Governor of Punjab (Pakistan)|governor]] of the province of [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] from 2008 to 2011.

He was a member of the [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] (PPP) and had also served as a minister in the caretaker cabinet of [[Prime Minister]] [[Muhammad Mian Soomro]] under [[Pervez Musharraf]]. Taseer was also the chairman and CEO of the First Capital and [[Worldcall]] Group.

He was appointed to the post of governor on May 15, 2008, in place of outgoing governor, Lt Gen (R) [[Khalid Maqbool]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\05\15\story_15-5-2008_pg1_5|title=Salmaan Taseer to be new Punjab governor|work=Daily Times|date=2008-05-15}}</ref> by then-President Musharraf at the request of the PPP establishment.

On January 4, 2011, Taseer was [[assassinated]] in [[Islamabad]] by his own security guard, who disagreed with his opposition to Pakistan's blasphemy law.<ref name="Reuters">{{Cite news |author= Haider, Zeeshan; Georgy, Michael |title= Pakistan's Punjab province governor shot dead |url= http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70320L20110104 |agency= [[Reuters]] |date= January 4, 2011 |accessdate= January 4, 2011}}</ref>

== Political career ==

Taseer started his political career in his student era, as a member of [[Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto]]'s [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] (PPP) in the late 1960s.<ref name="pro">{{cite web|title=Salman Taseer Profile|url=http://pakistanherald.com/Profile/Salmaan-Taseer-131|work=[[Herald (Pakistan){{!}}Pakistan Herald]]|accessdate=2010-07-28}}</ref> He was a part of the movement for Bhutto's freedom and opposed his arrest and death sentence.<ref name="pro"/> He also wrote a political biography on Bhutto titled ''Bhutto: A political biography'' (1980).<ref name="pro"/>

In the [[Pakistani general election, 1988|1988 general elections]], Taseer became a member of the Punjab Assembly from [[Lahore]].<ref name="pro"/> In the 1990, 1993 and 1997 general elections, he ran as an MNA but lost.<ref name="pro"/>

In 2007, he was appointed the interim Federal Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives.<ref name="pro"/>

On May 15, 2008, Taseer was designated for the office of [[Governor of Punjab (Pakistan)|Governor of Punjab]] by the PPP-led coalition government. On January 4,2011 he was murdered in Islamabad by a guard assigned to him for security by the Punjab Government.

Some veteran politicians have suggested to President Asif Ali Zardari that he appoint Ms. Amna Taseer, the widow of the late Salman Taseer, as Governor of Punjab.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}} If she is appointed, she would become the second female governor in Pakistan and first female governor of Punjab. It is, however, yet to be accepted or acceded to by the ruling parties in Punjab province.

==Business career==

Taseer set up several chartered accountancy and management consultancy firms early in his career.<ref name="pro2">{{cite web|title=Profile of Salman Taseer|url=http://www.pakspectator.com/profile-of-salman-taseer/|accessdate=2010-07-28}}</ref> In 1995, he established the First Capital Securities Corporation (FCSC), a full service brokerage house with equity participation by Smith Barney, Inc., USA, and HG Asia Hong Kong.<ref name="pro2"/>

Taseer founded the [[Worldcall]] group with a payphone network in 1996. The group has grown over the years to become a major private sector telecom operator with a national and regional footprint.<ref name="pro2"/> A majority stake in Worldcall was acquired by [[Omantel]], the Sultanate of Oman's incumbent operator, in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Omantel acquires 65 percent shares of WorldCall|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\04\19\story_19-4-2008_pg5_7|publisher=Daily Times|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref>

Taseer also owned an English news channel in Pakistan, [[Business Plus (TV Channel)|Business Plus]], and the first children's channel, Wikkid Plus,<ref name="pro2"/> and was the publisher of the English language [[Daily Times (Pakistan)|Daily Times]].<ref name="pro2"/>

==Personal life==

Salman Taseer was married to Aamna Taseer; the couple resided in Lahore. They have three children; Shahbaz, Shehryar, and Shehrbano. Salman Taseer also has 3 children from a previous marriage: Sara, Shaan, and Sanam

Taseer also has a son, [[Aatish Taseer]] (born 1980), with Indian journalist, [[Tavleen Singh]]. Married at the time, Taseer met Singh during a book promotion trip to India in the late 70s. Aatish is a freelance journalist in the UK and has recently written a book titled ''Stranger to History: A Son’s Journey through Islamic Lands'' on his estranged relationship with his father.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?240187|title=Present In Our Memory Games|publisher=outlookindia.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newslinemagazine.com/2009/07/clash-of-civilisations/|title= Clash of Civilisations?|publisher=newslinemagazine.com|date=July 2009}}</ref>

Taseer was known to be one of the trusted aides of [[Benazir Bhutto]].<ref name="app">{{cite web|title=Profile of new Punjab Governor|url=http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=74&Itemid=100|publisher=APP|accessdate=2010-07-28}}</ref> He was a classmate of [[Nawaz Sharif]] at Saint Anthony School, Lahore.<ref name="app"/> He had obtained a degree in Chartered Accountancy from [[London]].<ref name="app"/>

==Controversy==

He stood for change in the Constitution declaring [[Ahmadi]] community to be non-Muslims to be revoked. However, he never claimed or commented about himself having the same religious belief.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

In a recent interview with Meher Bukhair, on Samaa TV, Salman Taseer commented his view about the [[Blasphemy_law_in_Pakistan|blasphemy law]] and filing a mercy petition for [[Asia Bibi]] who has been charged death sentence by a court under the Blasphemy Law.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

In December 2010 as Punjab Governor, he left the country without handing over charge to the speaker, this meant that the province was without a constitutional head, and it also rendered the assembly speaker ineligible to preside over the session. Leaving the province without informing his successor was in violation of the constitution and this led to calls for his resignation.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}} Evidence provided by ICAO on the governor's travel abroad, led to a case being filed in court for breach of the constitution.<ref>{{cite web|title=The News|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=2644&Cat=13|publisher=The News|accessdate=2010-12-20}}</ref>

==Death==

On January 4, 2011, one of Taseer's bodyguards shot him 27 times with an [[AK-47]] at Kohsar Market, near his home<ref>{{Cite news |author= Wergeland, Paal; Auestad, Gunn Evy |title= Pakistansk guvernør drept |url= http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/verden/1.7449065 |publisher= [[Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation]] |language= Norwegian |date= January 4, 2011 |accessdate= January 4, 2011}}</ref> in Sector F6, [[Islamabad]] as he was returning to his car after meeting a friend for lunch. Kohsar Market is a popular shopping and cafe spot for the city's elite and [[expatriate]]s.<ref name="Reuters"/><ref name="BBC News">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12111831 |title= Punjab Governor Salman Taseer Assassinated in Islamabad, Pakistan |publisher=[[BBC news]] |date=2011-1-4 |accessdate=2001-1-4}}</ref>

The assailant, [[Malik Mumtaz Hussein Qadr]]i ([[Urdu]], {{lang-pa|{{Nastaliq|ملک ممتاز حسین قادری}}}}) from [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]], was part of the security detail provided to him by the [[Elite Police]]. After the shooting, Qadri turned himself in to authorities. Qadri reportedly said he killed Taseer due to the latter's vocal opposition of the blasphemy law in Pakistan.<ref name="India News">{{cite web|url=http://blog.indiavoice.info/2011/01/governor-assassinated-in-islamabad.html |title=Governor assassinated in Islamabad, Pakistan |publisher=IndiaVoice |date=2011-1-4 |accessdate=2011-1-4}}</ref><ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/christians-step-up-campaign-for-release-of-asia-bibi/729500/ Christians step up campaign for release of Asia Bibi]</ref> Notably, Taseer made headlines when he appealed for the pardon of a Christian Pakistani woman, Asia Bibi,<ref name="Leading Pakistani"> {{cite news
| last= Wright
| first= Tom
| url= http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704723104576061371508098218.html
| title= Leading Pakistani Politician Killed
| publisher= [[Wall Street Journal]]
| date= JANUARY 5, 2011
| accessdate= }} </ref> who had been sentenced to death for blasphemy.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12097687 BBC News - Pakistan on strike against bill to amend blasphemy law]</ref> It was suspected that this was the main reason for his assassination.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12111831 BBC News - Punjab Governor Salman Taseer assassinated in Islamabad]</ref><ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/04/AR2011010400955.html Salman Taseer, outspoken Pakistani governor assassinated; security guard arrested]</ref>

After his assassination, protests erupted in different parts of [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]]. Protestors also burned tyres and blocked traffic in Lahore.<ref>http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/04/protests-erupt-after-taseer-assassination.html</ref>

===Reactions===
A fan page appeared on [[Facebook]] soon after the assassination in support of Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, showing news photos of him smiling. The fan page soon gathered thousands of supporters.<ref name="GRAEME SMITH"> {{cite news
| last= Smith
| first= Graeme
| url= http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/asia-pacific/governors-killing-sets-off-political-powder-keg-in-pakistan/article1857737/
| title= Governor’s killing sets off political powder keg in Pakistan
| publisher= [[The Globe and Mail ]]
| date= Jan. 04, 2011
| accessdate= }} </ref>

===Repercussions===
In the international media, his death was seen as more destabilising for the tenuous situation in the country particularly in the light of resignation of members of the ruling coalition. One local analyst said the death was a "major setback for Pakistan, which is trying to get out of this vicious cycle of violence and worsening economy. [The killing] will certainly weaken the party position in Punjab."<ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-04/pakistan-punjab-s-governor-taseer-killed-in-gunfire-attack-spokesman-says.html Governor's Slaying, Rivals Hurt Pakistan's Zardari]</ref>

Taseer's assassination may dissuade other Pakistani politicians from speaking out against the blasphemy law, according to a former [[U.S. State Department]] intelligence analyst with the [[Middle East Institute]] in [[Washington, DC]].<ref name="Saeed Shah"> {{cite news
| last= Shah
| first= Saeed
| url= http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/04/2000634/top-pakistani-officials-murder.html
| title= Top Pakistani official's murder adds to Obama's Afghan woes
| publisher= McClatchy Newspapers/[[Miami Herald]]
| date= 01.04.2011
| accessdate= }} </ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://salmaantaseer.com/}}
* [http://twitter.com/salmaantaseer Salman Taseer] at [[Twitter]]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=63721960 Salmaan Taseer] at [[Find a Grave]]

{{S-start}}
{{S-off}}
{{Succession box|title=[[Governor of Punjab (Pakistan)|Governor of Punjab]]|
years=2008 – 2011|
before=[[Khalid Maqbool]]|
after= Undetermined}}
{{end}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2010}}
{{Persondata 
| NAME =Taseer, Salmaan
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF DEATH = January 4, 2011
| PLACE OF DEATH = Islamabad
| date of birth= 1964
| place of birth= [[Lahore]], [[Dominion of Pakistan]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taseer, Salmaan}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Governors of Punjab (Pakistan)]]
[[Category:Pakistani politicians]]
[[Category:Assassinated Pakistani politicians]]
[[Category:Pakistan Peoples Party politicians]]
[[Category:People from Lahore]]
[[Category:Punjabi people]]
[[Category:Taseer family]]

[[de:Salman Taseer]]
[[fr:Salman Taseer]]
[[id:Salmaan Taseer]]
[[pnb:سلمان تاثیر]]
[[sk:Salmaan Taseer]]
[[fi:Salmaan Taseer]]
[[ur:سلمان تاثیر]]

Salman Taseer

2011-01-04T13:25:26Z

SirSadiq: add pic

{{recent death|Taseer, Salman}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Salmaan Taseer
|honorific-suffix =
|image =SalmanTaseer.jpg
|order = 26th
|office = Governor of Punjab
|term_start = 15 May 2008
|term_end = 4 January 2011
|lieutenant =
|predecessor = Lt Gen (R) [[Khalid Maqbool]]
|successor =
}}
'''Salmaan Taseer''' ([[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], {{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|سلمان تاثیر}}}}) (June 12, 1946{{ndash}} January 4, 2011) was a [[Pakistan]]i businessman and politician and the former [[Governor of Punjab (Pakistan)|Governor]] of the province of [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]]. He was a member of the [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] (PPP) and had also served as a minister in the caretaker cabinet of [[Prime Minister]] [[Muhammad Mian Soomro]] under Pervez Musharraf. Taseer was also the chairman and CEO of the First Capital and [[Worldcall]] Group. He was appointed to the post of governor on 15 May 2008 in place of outgoing governor, Lt Gen (R) [[Khalid Maqbool]]. <ref>[http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\05\15\story_15-5-2008_pg1_5 ""Salmaan Taseer to be new Punjab governor""]''Daily Times''</ref> by former President, [[Pervez Musharraf]] at the request of the PPP establishment.

He died on January 4, 2011 in [[Islamabad]] when he was shot by his own security guard during an argument regarding Pakistan's [[blasphemy law]].<ref name="Reuters">{{Cite news |author= Haider, Zeeshan; Georgy, Michael |title= Pakistan's Punjab province governor shot dead |url= http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70320L20110104 |agency= [[Reuters]] |date= January 4, 2011 |accessdate= January 4, 2011}}</ref>

== Political career ==
Taseer started his political career in his student era, as a member of [[Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto]]'s [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] (PPP) in the late 1960s.<ref name="pro">{{cite web|title=Salman Taseer Profile|url=http://pakistanherald.com/Profile/Salmaan-Taseer-131|work=[[Herald (Pakistan){{!}}Pakistan Herald]]|accessdate=2010-07-28}}</ref> He was a part of the movement for Bhutto's freedom and opposed his arrest and death sentence.<ref name="pro"/> He also wrote a political biography on Bhutto titled Bhutto: A political biography (1980).<ref name="pro"/>

In the [[Pakistani general election, 1988|1988 general elections]], Taseer became a member of the Punjab Assembly from [[Lahore]].<ref name="pro"/> In the 1990, 1993 and 1997 general elections, he ran as an MNA but lost.<ref name="pro"/>

In 2007, he was appointed the interim Federal Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives.<ref name="pro"/>

On 15 May 2008, Taseer was designated for the office of [[Governor of Punjab (Pakistan)|Governor Punjab]] by the PPP-led coalition government.<ref name="pro"/>

==Business career==
Taseer set up several chartered accountancy and management consultancy firms early in his career.<ref name="pro2">{{cite web|title=Profile of Salman Taseer|url=http://www.pakspectator.com/profile-of-salman-taseer/|accessdate=2010-07-28}}</ref> In 1994 he established the First Capital Securities Corporation (FCSC), a full service brokerage house with equity participation by Smith Barney Inc USA and HG Asia Hong Kong.<ref name="pro2"/>

Taseer founded the [[Worldcall]] group with a payphone network in 1995. The group has grown over the years to become a major private sector telecom operator with national and regional footprint.<ref name="pro2"/> A majority stake in Worldcall was acquired by Omantel, Sultanate of Oman's incumbent operator, in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Omantel acquires 65 percent shares of WorldCall|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\04\19\story_19-4-2008_pg5_7|publisher=Daily Times|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref>

Taseer also owns an English news channel in Pakistan, [[Business Plus (TV Channel)|Business Plus]] and the first kids channel, Wikkid Plus.<ref name="pro2"/> He is also the publisher of the English language [[Daily Times (Pakistan)|Daily Times]].<ref name="pro2"/>

==Personal life==
Taseer was married to Aamna Taseer and the two resided in Lahore. They had six children; Maryam, Shehryar, Shahbaz, Sara, Sanam and Shehr Bano.

Taseer also has a son, [[Aatish Taseer]] (born 1980) with Indian journalist, [[Tavleen Singh]]. Married at the time, Taseer met Singh during a book promotion trip to India in the late 70s. Aatish is a freelance journalist in the UK and has recently written a book titled "Stranger to History: A Son’s Journey through Islamic Lands" on his estranged relationship with his father.<ref>[http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?240187 Present In Our Memory Games]</ref><ref>[http://www.newslinemagazine.com/2009/07/clash-of-civilisations/ Clash of Civilisations?]</ref>

Taseer was known to be one of the trusted aides of [[Benazir Bhutto]].<ref name="app">{{cite web|title=Profile of new Punjab Governor|url=http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=74&Itemid=100|publisher=APP|accessdate=2010-07-28}}</ref> He was a class fellow of [[Nawaz Sharif]] at Saint Anthony School, Lahore.<ref name="app"/> He had obtained a degree in Chartered Accountancy from [[London]].<ref name="app"/>

==Controversy==

In December 2010 as Punjab Governor, he departed the country without handing over charge to the speaker, this meant that the province was without a constitutional head, and it also rendered the assembly speaker ineligible to preside over the session. Leaving the province without informing his successor was in violation of the constitution and this lead to calls for his resignation.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}} Evidence provided by ICAO on the governors' travel abroad, lead to a case being filed in court for breach of the constitution.<ref>{{cite web|title=The News|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=2644&Cat=13|publisher=The News|accessdate=2010-12-20}}</ref>

==Death==
Taseer was shot 9 times in a gun attack on 4 January, 2011 at the Kohsar Market in Islamabad, a popular shopping and cafe spot among the wealthy.<ref name="Reuters"/> His attacker was one of his [[Elite Police]] bodyguards, Malik Mumtaz Qadri, who handed himself in immediately. Qadri said he killed Taseer due to the latter's vocal opposition to the [[Blasphemy_law_in_Pakistan|Blasphemy Law]]. Taseer succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://salmaantaseer.com/}}
*[http://pakbee.com/2011/01/governor-punjab-salman-taseer-islamabad-firing-video-picture/ Salman Taseer killed in Islamabad]

{{S-start}}
{{S-off}}
{{Succession box|title=[[Governor of Punjab (Pakistan)|Governor of Punjab]]|
years=2008 – January, 2011|
before=[[Khalid Maqbool]]|
after=Incumbent}}
{{end}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2010}}

{{Persondata 
| NAME =Taseer, Salmaan
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = January 4, 2011
| PLACE OF DEATH = Islamabad
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taseer, Salmaan}}
[[Category:Governors of Punjab (Pakistan)]]
[[Category:Pakistani politicians]]
[[Category:Assassinated Pakistani politicians]]
[[Category:People from Lahore]]
[[Category:Punjabi people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Taseer family]]
[[Category: 2011 deaths]]
[[Category:1964 births]]

[[de:Salman Taseer]]
[[ur:سلمان تاثیر]]

Salman Taseer

2011-01-04T12:17:11Z

SirSadiq: add category 2011 deaths

{{recent death|Taseer, Salman}}

{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Salmaan Taseer
|honorific-suffix =
|image =
|order = 26th
|office = Governor of Punjab
|term_start = 15 May 2008
|term_end = 4 January 2011
|lieutenant =
|predecessor = Lt Gen (R) [[Khalid Maqbool]]
|successor =
}}

Salman Taseer died in Islamabad on 4th January, 2011 at Kohsar Market in Islamabad. The attacker shot dead by the guards of Salman Taseer. He was shifted to the nearest hospital after the Attack. But he scumbbed to his injuries.

'''Salmaan Taseer''' ([[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], {{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|سلمان تاثیر}}}}) was a [[Pakistan]]i businessman and politician and the former [[Governor of Punjab (Pakistan)|Governor]] of the province of [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]]. He was a member of the [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] (PPP) and had also served as a minister in the caretaker cabinet of [[Prime Minister]] [[Muhammad Mian Soomro]] under Pervez Musharraf. Taseer was also the chairman and CEO of the First Capital and [[Worldcall]] Group. He was appointed to the post of governor on 15 May 2008 in place of outgoing governor, Lt Gen (R) [[Khalid Maqbool]]. <ref>[http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\05\15\story_15-5-2008_pg1_5 ""Salmaan Taseer to be new Punjab governor""]''Daily Times''</ref> by former President, [[Pervez Musharraf]] at the request of the PPP establishment.

He died on January 4, 2011 in Islamabad when he was shot in the chest by his own security guard and succumbed to his wounds..<ref name="Reuters">{{Cite news |author= Haider, Zeeshan; Georgy, Michael |title= Pakistan's Punjab province governor shot dead |url= http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70320L20110104 |agency= [[Reuters]] |date= January 4, 2011 |accessdate= January 4, 2011}}</ref>

== Political career ==
Salman Taseer (Born in June 12 1964 - January 4 2011)

Taseer started his political career in his student era, as a member of [[Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto]]'s [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] (PPP) in the late 1960s.<ref name="pro">{{cite web|title=Salman Taseer Profile|url=http://pakistanherald.com/Profile/Salmaan-Taseer-131|work=[[Herald (Pakistan){{!}}Pakistan Herald]]|accessdate=2010-07-28}}</ref> He was a part of the movement for Bhutto's freedom and opposed his arrest and death sentence.<ref name="pro"/> He also wrote a political biography on Bhutto titled Bhutto: A political biography (1980).<ref name="pro"/>

In the [[Pakistani general election, 1988|1988 general elections]], Taseer became a member of the Punjab Assembly from [[Lahore]].<ref name="pro"/> In the 1990, 1993 and 1997 general elections, he ran as an MNA but lost.<ref name="pro"/>

In 2007, he was appointed the interim Federal Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives.<ref name="pro"/>

On 15 May 2008, Taseer was designated for the office of [[Governor of Punjab (Pakistan)|Governor Punjab]] by the PPP-led coalition government.<ref name="pro"/>

==Business career==
Taseer set up several chartered accountancy and management consultancy firms early in his career.<ref name="pro2">{{cite web|title=Profile of Salman Taseer|url=http://www.pakspectator.com/profile-of-salman-taseer/|accessdate=2010-07-28}}</ref> In 1994 he established the First Capital Securities Corporation (FCSC), a full service brokerage house with equity participation by Smith Barney Inc USA and HG Asia Hong Kong.<ref name="pro2"/>

Taseer founded the [[Worldcall]] group with a payphone network in 1995. The group has grown over the years to become a major private sector telecom operator with national and regional footprint.<ref name="pro2"/> A majority stake in Worldcall was acquired by Omantel, Sultanate of Oman's incumbent operator, in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Omantel acquires 65 percent shares of WorldCall|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\04\19\story_19-4-2008_pg5_7|publisher=Daily Times|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref>

Taseer also owns an English news channel in Pakistan, [[Business Plus (TV Channel)|Business Plus]] and the first kids channel, Wikkid Plus.<ref name="pro2"/> He is also the publisher of the English language [[Daily Times (Pakistan)|Daily Times]].<ref name="pro2"/>

==Personal life==
Taseer was married to Aamna Taseer and the two resided in Lahore. They had six children; Maryam, Shehryar, Shahbaz, Sara, Sanam and Shehr Bano.

Taseer also has a son, [[Aatish Taseer]] (born 1980) with Indian journalist, [[Tavleen Singh]]. Married at the time, Taseer met Singh during a book promotion trip to India in the late 70s. Aatish is a freelance journalist in the UK and has recently written a book titled "Stranger to History: A Son’s Journey through Islamic Lands" on his estranged relationship with his father.<ref>[http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?240187 Present In Our Memory Games]</ref><ref>[http://www.newslinemagazine.com/2009/07/clash-of-civilisations/ Clash of Civilisations?]</ref>

Taseer was known to be one of the trusted aides of [[Benazir Bhutto]].<ref name="app">{{cite web|title=Profile of new Punjab Governor|url=http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=74&Itemid=100|publisher=APP|accessdate=2010-07-28}}</ref> He was a class fellow of [[Nawaz Sharif]] at Saint Anthony School, Lahore.<ref name="app"/> He had obtained a degree in Chartered Accountancy from [[London]].<ref name="app"/>

==Controversy==
Foreign Policy Magazine highlighted statements made by Taseer on [[Twitter]] during [[2010 Pakistan floods]] and labeled his self published statements sarcastically under the title "Great moments in 21st century diplomacy" referring to them as an "ill-conceived joke" and "insensitive".<ref>{{cite web|title=Great moments in 21st century diplomacy|url=http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/09/13/great_moments_in_21st_century_diplomacy|publisher=Foreign Policy Blog|accessdate=2010-10-01}}</ref>

From 2008 onwards, the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority has censored several website that were deemed to be critical of the governors lifestyle. <ref>{{cite web|title=PTA notification|url=http://teeth.com.pk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/pta-notification-to-block-the-websites-550x459.jpg|publisher=Government of Pakistan|accessdate=2010-11-01}}</ref>

In December 2010 as Punjab Governor, he departed the country without handing over charge to the speaker, this meant that the province was without a constitutional head, and it also rendered the assembly speaker ineligible to preside over the session. Leaving the province without informing his successor was in violation of the constitution and this lead to calls for his resignation. He is also very famous for making strong, controversial statements on his twitter account. <ref>{{cite web|title=Express Tribune|url=http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/3438/salman-taseer-the-case-of-the-missing-governor/|publisher=Express Tribune|accessdate=2010-12-20}}</ref> Evidence provided by ICAO on the governors' travel abroad, lead to a case being filed in court for breach of the constitution.<ref>{{cite web|title=The News|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=2644&Cat=13|publisher=The News|accessdate=2010-12-20}}</ref>

==Death==
Salman Taseer died in Islamabad on 4th January, 2011 at Kohsar Market in Islamabad.<ref name="Reuters"/> His attacker (Mumtaz Qadri, an honorable officer of the Elite Force of the Punjab Police) has been captured by the police. He succumbed to his injuries at hospital. Police said earlier Taseer had been shot and wounded near his Islamabad home in the leafy F6 sector and close to Kohsar market, a popular shopping and cafe spot frequented by filthy rich Pakistanis.

==References==
{{Reflist}}
13 . [http://www.onlineusanews.com/salman-taseer-dead-8073.php Salman Taseer Dead]

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://salmaantaseer.com/}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-off}}
{{Succession box|title=[[Governor of Punjab (Pakistan)|Governor of Punjab]]|
years=2008 – January, 2011|
before=[[Khalid Maqbool]]|
after=Incumbent}}
{{end}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2010}}

{{Persondata 
| NAME =Taseer, Salmaan
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = January 4, 2011
| PLACE OF DEATH = Islamabad
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taseer, Salmaan}}
[[Category:Governors of Punjab (Pakistan)]]
[[Category:Pakistani politicians]]
[[Category:People from Lahore]]
[[Category:Punjabi people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Taseer family]]
[[Category: 2011 deaths]]

[[ur:سلمان تاثیر]]

Bilal Khan (judge)

2010-12-22T09:18:19Z

SirSadiq: /* External links */

{{multiple issues|cleanup=August 2010|confusing=August 2010|copyedit=August 2010}}
{{expert|date=August 2010}}
{{Infobox Judge
|image =
|name = Muhammad Bilal Khan محمد بلال خان
|caption =
|birth_date = May 12, 1949
|birth_place =
|dead = Alive
|nationality = {{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Pakistan]]i
|religion = Islam
|office =
|title = Chief Justice [[Islamabad High Court]]
|nominator = [[Asif Ali Zardari]]
|order = 2nd
|term_start = March 7, 2009
|term_end = July 31, 2009
|predecessor = [[Sardar Muhammad Aslam]]
|successor = High court Dissolved
|nominator = [[Asif Ali Zardari]]
|office2 = Justice [[Lahore High Court]]
|title2 =
|term_start2 = September 3, 2003
|term_end2 = Present ( Between March 7, 2009 - July 31, 2009 was at now dissolved IHC)
|predecessor2 =
|successor2 =
|nominator2 = [[Pervez Musharaf]]
}}

'''M. Bilal Khan''' ({{Lang-ur|'''محمد بلال خان'''}}) is the Justice of [[Lahore]] High Court in [[Pakistan]].

==Career==

Mr Khan was a practicing lawyer before the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the High Court. He have also served as an additional Advocate General of Punjab for almost 4 years.

Mr Khan was appointed to Lahore High Court on September 3, 2003 <ref name=LHC>[http://www.iways.net/LHC/judges/index.htm Lahore High Court]</ref>. He remained on bench of Lahore High Court until March 6, 2009.

On March 7, 2008, President of Pakistan [[Asif Ali Zardari]] appointed him as second Chief Justice of [[Islamabad High Court]], where he succeeded [[Sardar Muhammad Aslam]]<ref>http://www.apakistannews.com/supreme-court-judge-chief-justice-ihc-take-oath-108974</ref>.

On July 31, 2009, a 14-person panel of the [[Supreme Court of Pakistan]] declared creation of Islamabad High Court as unconstitutional. Justice Khan returned to be Justice of Lahore High Court. Since he has also take oath on PCO 2007, in contravention of 7 panel Supreme Court decision, Justice Bilal Khan was referred to Supreme Judicial Council.

==Controversies==
===PCO Oath===

On November 3, 2007 Chief of Amry Staff in Pakistan declared [[2007_Pakistani_state_of_emergency|emergency]] and issued a [[Provisional Constitutional Order]]. A seven panel supreme court issued an order that declared the declaration of emergency as illegal and prohibited all judges to take oath on any PCO. Justice Khan was sitting judge in Lahore High Court and choose to take the oath on November 3, 2007<ref>http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\04\story_4-11-2007_pg7_9</ref>. The other judges out of 31 who took oath with him were Syed Zahid Hussain Bokhari, Nasim Sikandar, Khalid Alvi, Sakhi Hussain Bokhari, Muzammal Khan, M Bilal Khan, Fazal-e-Miran Chohan, Syed Shabbar Raza Rizvi, Hamid Ali Shah, Tariq Shamim, Syed Asghar Haider and Hasnaat Ahmad Khan and Lahore High Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry.

On July 31, 2009 a 14 panel of Supreme Court held that declaration of PCO on November 3, 2007 as illegal and referred cases of all judges who were part of higher judiciary on November 2, 2007 to Supreme Judicial Council.

===Land Allotment===

According to a list presented to the National Assembly of Pakistan by the Federal Government Employees Foundation through the then Housing Minister Syed Safwanullah on April 27, 2007, Justice Bilal Khan is one of the 61 high court judges who were allotted plots in Sector G-14 of Islamabad.<ref>http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=166219</ref>

===Disqualification of Nawaz Sharif===

On June 22, 2008, a three member Lahore High Court bench comprising of Justice M. Bilal Khan, Justice Abdul Shakoor Paracha and Justice Syed Shabbar Raza Rizvi, handed down a unanimous decision that disqualified Nawaz Sharif from contesting a by-election. The Court last ruled that Nawaz Sharif was not eligible to run in the upcoming parliamentary byelections because he has been convicted of a crime. Sharif brothers had refused to appear before the court and defend them self by declaring that they do not recognize the justices by labeling them "PCO Judges"<ref>http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/southasia/news/article_1412867.php/Pakistans_Nawaz_Sharif_disqualified_from_by-elections__Roundup_</ref>

===Relations with underground ===

In the judicial system of Pakistan, the Supreme Judicial Council is mandated to check misconduct, moral degradation and corruption in the higher echelon of the judiciary. For the first time in the country’s history, the Supreme Judicial Council has initiated suo moto proceedings against Mr Khan over allegations of involvement in murky activities including connections with the crime underworld<ref name=TheNews20090403>
{{cite news
|title=SJC goes for judge accused of links with criminals
|date= April 3, 2009
|author=Abdul Qayyum Siddiqui
|publisher=[[Jang_Group_of_Newspapers#The_News|The News]]
|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=21302
|accessdate=2009-07-03
}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.lhc.gov.pk/ Lahore High Court]
* [http://ihc.gov.pk Official Site of Islamabad High Court]

{{start box}}
{{s-legal}}
{{Succession box
|before = [[Sardar Muhammad Aslam]]
|years = March 7, 2009 - July 31, 2009
|title = [[Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court]]
|after = Iqbal Hameed -ur-Rehman
}}
{{end box}}

{{Persondata 
| NAME =Khan, Muhammad Bilal
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =May 12, 1949
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Muhammad Bilal}}
[[Category:Lahore High Court]]
[[Category:Islamabad High Court]]
[[Category:Chief Justices of the Islamabad High Court]]
[[Category:Justices of the Islamabad High Court]]
[[Category:Pakistani judges]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Talk:Japan External Trade Organization

2010-12-22T09:10:03Z

SirSadiq: update the correection

Talk:Economic relations of Japan

2010-12-22T09:06:56Z

SirSadiq: update the talk page with facts

{{WikiProject Japan
|class=Start}}
{{WikiProject Economics|class=start|importance=mid}}

It looks like [[Trade of Japan]] and [[Economic relations of Japan]] discuss the same topic. Should these be merged? [[User:Plinkit|Plinkit]] 14:54, 13 November 2007 (UTC)
tyra is a princess shes N head of all the young ladies

Istanbul Chamber of Commerce

2010-12-18T19:40:56Z

SirSadiq: add links

{{Infobox Non-profit
| Non-profit_name = Istanbul Chamber of Commerce
| Non-profit_logo = [[Image:Ito english logo.png|178 px]]
| founded_date = [[1882]]
| location = [[Istanbul]]
| key_people = Murat Yalçıntaş, President
| num_members = 300.000
| homepage = http://www.ito.org.tr
}}

The '''Istanbul Chamber of Commerce''' ({{lang-tr|İstanbul Ticaret Odası}}) is a professional organization having legally defined duties and responsibilities. The ICOC’s major aim is to serve the business community by all means of trade. The ICOC provides its members, the private and public sector, and the government not only with professional consultancy but also with expertise services.

The ICOC performs various other tasks, research and studies on various topics, and collects data in economic, social and cultural fields. It disseminates the information among its members and to the public via publications.

[[Istanbul Commerce University]] is founded by Turkey 's most prominent foundation that focuses on developing business and social life in Turkey . Being founded by Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICC) should not be perceived as mere financial support for students.

== History ==
Meclis-i Ticaret formed the nucleus of ''Dersaadet Ticaret Odası'' (''Dersaadet'' is the Ottoman name for Istanbul), which was established on January 14, 1880, and held its first session on January 14, 1882. The Ottoman Empire was in decline, and the Chamber was established in the hope of saving the economy. The Chamber was renamed as ''İstanbul Ticaret Odası'' (Istanbul Chamber of Commerce) in 1910. With the declaration of the republic in 1923, it quickly changed its function, tasks and responsibilities in the years that followed the İzmir Economy Congress.

Following the publication of Law on Chambers of Commerce and Industry in 1925, regulations were established that underpinned the legal basis for the İstanbul Chamber of Commerce, and rendered it a legal entity. Along with the establishment of recognition of legal person status of the Chambers, Law 655, announced effective as of May 14, 1925, made registration to the Chamber mandatory for all persons engaged in commercial activities.

[[Category:Chambers of commerce]]
[[Category:Economy of Istanbul]]

[[tr:İstanbul Ticaret Odası]]

Talk:Istanbul Chamber of Commerce

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SirSadiq: talk page created

Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry

2010-12-18T19:37:37Z

SirSadiq: correct the spellings

{{Other uses|KCCI}}
{{Infobox Organization
|name = Kuwait Chamber of Commerce & Industry
|image = Kuwait Chamber logo.gif
|size =
|abbreviation = KCCI
|motto =
|established = 1955
|headquarters = [[Kuwait City]]
|region_served = [[Kuwait]]
|leader_title = Chairman
|leader_name = Ali Mohammed Thunayan Al-Ghanim
|website = [http://www.kuwaitchamber.org.kw/ www.kuwaitchamber.org.kw]
}}
'''Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry''' (KCCI) ({{lang-ar| الكويت غرفة التجارة والصناعة}}) is a non-government institution representing business establishments in [[Kuwait]]. The Chamber acts on the behalf of, represents and lobbies for the interests of businesspersons and industrialists in Kuwait.

==History==
The establishment of a Chamber of Commerce was first mooted in [[1952]]. Three years later the Chamber was established and in [[1959]], the election of the Chamber’s first [[Board of Directors]] took place.
KCCI is a truly democratic organisation. The members of the Board of Directors are all elected and its leading figures are known for their contribution to industry and business.During that time, the hearts of the citizens were ready to comprehend every nice and great achievement. The KCCI growth kept in line with the country’s growth and luxury.<ref>http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/149749/reftab/69/Default.aspx</ref>

==About KCCI==

KCCI is a Non-profit, self financed private institution, established by Ameri decree issued in 1959.Currently the registered members exceeds 79000 and represents the general assembly.
The general assembly elects 24 members for the Board of Directors for a period of 4 years, half of whom are elected every two years.
Subscriptions and authentication fees are the main resources of income. The President and the Board Members are considered volunteers for public services. The Chamber is a consultative entity in all economic affairs<ref>http://www.kuwait-info.com/a_economy/industry_KCCI.asp</ref>

==References==
{{ref-list}}

==See Also==

* [[Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry]]
* [[Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry]]
* [[London Chamber of Commerce & Industry]]

{{Kuwait-stub}}
[[Category:Kuwait]]
[[Category:Chambers of commerce]]
[[Category:1955 establishments]]

Talk:Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry

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SirSadiq: Kuwait Chamber talk page established

{{WikiProject Western Asia|class=Stub|importance=Low|Kuwait=yes|Kuwait-importance=Mid}}

Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry

2010-12-18T19:33:57Z

SirSadiq: Kuwait Chamber of Commerence page created, established in 1955

Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry

2010-12-18T18:06:51Z

SirSadiq: add infobox org

Talk:Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry

2010-12-18T17:52:56Z

SirSadiq: QCCI talk page created

Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry

2010-12-18T17:49:32Z

SirSadiq: QCCI page created established in 1963

Sulaiman Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi

2010-12-18T17:23:45Z

SirSadiq: /* See also */ remove dead links

{{Infobox person
| name = Sulaiman Abdulaziz Al Rajhi
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birthdate = 1920
| education = [[King Abdulaziz University]] Bachelor of Arts / Science
| nationality = [[Saudi Arabia]]
| occupation = [[businessman]] [[Chairman]] of [[Al Rajhi Bank]] [[Chairman]] of National Agricultural Development Company (NADEC)
| residence = [[Jeddah]], [[Saudi Arabia]]
| networth = $3.1 billion (2009)
| religion = [[Islam]]
}}
'''Sulaiman Abdulaziz Al Rajhi''' (born in 1920) grew up in the [[Nejd]] desert where he and his brother Saleh began their business by changing money for [[pilgrim]]s taking camel [[caravan]]s across the desert to the cities of [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]].

Sulaiman Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi holds the largest individual stake in his family's [[Al Rajhi Bank]], which has consistently reported the most profitable operations amongst all of [[Saudi Arabia]]'s banking groups. A co-founder of the [[Al Rajhi Bank|bank]], with older brother, [[Saleh Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi|Saleh]], he is currently the chairman of what is nationally recognized as the [[Tadawul]]'s most venerable institution. A CIA report once strongly suggested that the Al Rajhi Bank is being used to finance Islamic extremists.

The Al Rajhi brothers’ business growth and expansion was fed by the flood of migrant workers to Saudi Arabia during the 1970s oil boom. The Al Rajhis helped them send their earnings home to places like Indonesia and Pakistan. In 1983, the brothers won permission to open Saudi Arabia’s first Islamic bank, one that would observe religious tenets such as a ban on interest.

The Al Rajhi family continue to be [[Al Rajhi Bank]]'s majority share holders though Sulaiman and his brothers have diversified family investments into gypsum, agriculture, steel, and other industrial sectors.

He received his Bachelor's degree from [[King Abdulaziz University]]. He lives in [[Saudi Arabia]] and has fathered 31 children.

== Philanthropy ==
The Al Rajhi family is considered, by most in Saudi Arabia, as the country's wealthiest non-royals, and among the world's leading philanthropists. His flagship '''[[SAAR Foundation]]''' (fronting a network of charities, think tanks, and supporting business entities) achieved prominence as the key subject of a March 20, 2002 raid by [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI)]], as a part of [[Operation Green Quest]].

The Operation Green Quest raids led to the convictions of two people, including [[Abdurahman Alamoudi]], who worked for the SAAR Foundation. Alamoudi admitted that he plotted with Libya to assassinate the Saudi ruler and was sentenced to 23 years in jail.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/13/AR2006111301205.html Markon, Jerry, "Witness Is Silent in Terror Probe; Ex-Professor Says Grand Jury Testimony Would Endanger Him," ''[[The Washington Post]]'', November 14, 2006, accessed January 27, 2010]</ref><ref>[http://www.nysun.com/national/judge-dismisses-suit-questioning-federal-tactics/66099/ Gerstein, Josh, "Judge Dismisses Suit Questioning Federal Tactics," ''[[New York Sun]]'', November 8, 2007, accessed January 27, 2010]</ref><ref>[http://www.nysun.com/nationala-prosecutor-is-called-relentless/82727/ Gerstein, Josh, "A Prosecutor Is Called 'Relentless'," ''[[New York Sun]]'', July 28, 2008, accessed January 27, 2010]</ref>
 He has established the Sualiman Alrajhi University in his hometown, a non profit university. the university main focus is health and Islamic banking but has other colleges too.

== See also ==
* [[Saleh Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi]]
* Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi
* Mohammed Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi
* [[SAAR Foundation]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* [http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/10/2004/LIR.jhtml?passListId=10&passYear=2004&passListType=Person&uniqueId=OH45&datatype=Person Forbes.com: Forbes World's Richest People]
* [http://www.ksasky.com/archives/290 Sulaiman Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi]
* [http://www.historycommons.org/entity.jsp?entity=salah_al-rajhi Profile: Sulaiman Abdul Aziz al-Rajhi]

==Related pages==
* [http://sr.edu.sa Sulaiman AlRajhi University].

{{Persondata 
| NAME =Rajhi, Sulaiman Bin Abdul Aziz al
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajhi, Sulaiman Bin Abdul Aziz Al}}
[[Category:1920 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Bankers]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabian billionaires]]

[[ar:سليمان بن عبد العزيز الراجحي]]

Mobilink

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SirSadiq: update as per WP standards

{{Wikify|date=December 2010}}
{{Infobox Company
| company_name = Pakistan Mobile Communications Ltd, ''Mobilink GSM'' (PMCL)
| company_logo = [[Image:Mobilink.jpg|100px]]
| vector_logo =
| company_type = Public Limited Company
| genre = [[Subsidiary]]
| foundation = 1994
| founder = [[Motorola]] [[USA]]
| location_city = Islamabad
| location_country = Pakistan
| location = Mobilink House, 1- A, Kohistan Road, F-8 Markaz, Islamabad
| origins =
| key_people = Rashid Khan, President and CEO 
| area_served = 10000 cities, towns, and villages across Pakistan<ref>http://www.mobilinkgsm.com/coverage/index.php</ref>
| industry = [[Telecommunication]]
| products = postpaid ''Indigo'' , prepaid ''JAZZ'', Mobilink [[Public call office|PCO]], WiMAX
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees = 5000
| parent = [[Orascom Telecom]] {{flagicon|Egypt}} [[Egypt]]
| subsid =
| owner = Naguib Sawiris
| company_slogan = ''reshaping lives''
| homepage = [http://www.mobilinkgsm.com/ www.mobilinkgsm.com]
| dissolved =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited''', better known as '''Mobilink GSM''', is a telecommunication service provider in Pakistan. The company is Pakistan's leading cellular operator with a subscriber base of 31.5m and market share of 31% in October 2010.<ref>[http://propakistani.pk/2010/12/07/celcos-added-0-58-million-subscribers-in-october-2010/</ref>.

Mobilink's Head office is located at Mobilink House, 1-A Kohistan Road, F-8 Markaz Islamabad. Mobilink's corporate postpaid package is sold under the brand name "Indigo" and prepaid by the name of "Jazz".

Mobilink started operations in 1994 as the first [[GSM]] [[Cellular network|cellular]] [[Mobile phone|Mobile]] service in [[Pakistan]] by [[MOTOROLA]] Inc.,{{Fact|date=June 2007}} later it was sold to [[Orascom]], an [[Egypt]]-based multi-national company.

In addition to cellular service, the Orascom group is diversifying its service portfolio by setting up new businesses and also expanding through acquisitions. Recently, they started offering DSL broadband through a wholly owned subsidiary, Link.Net. Additionally, the company has also launched its wireless broadband service through WiMax based technology under the label of 'Mobilink Infinity'. Technology is backed by Alcatel, and company is using a ZYXEL Customer Premises equipment.

In addition to Mobilink, the Orascom group also owns TWA (Trans World Associates) which operates an undersea fiber optic cable from Karachi to Fujairah, UAE.

Till June'10 the company had issued two listed bonds to the tune of Rs. 3.2 billion and Rs. 6 billion.

==See also==

* [[List of mobile phone companies in Pakistan]]

== External links ==
*[http://www.mobilinkgsm.com Mobilink, Pakistan]
*[http://www.mobilinkworld.com Mobilink Value Added Service, Pakistan]
*[http://www.pta.gov.pk Pakistan Telecom Authority]

== Related articles/news ==
*[http://telecompk.net/2007/10/01/mobile-market-2007-mobilink-at-top/ Pakistan Mobile Market Analysis]
*[http://www.dhartipakistan.com/2006/12/22/mobilink-parental-control-phones-in-pakistan/ Mobilink launches parental-control phones in Pakistan]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Mobile phone companies of Pakistan]]

[[fr:Mobilink]]

Asif Ali Zardari

2010-12-17T05:58:46Z

SirSadiq: /* President of Pakistan */ add links in the picture

{{pp-semi-blp|expiry=25 January 2011|small=yes}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
|name = Asif Ali Zardari آصف علی زرداری آصف علي زرداري
|image = Asif Ali Zardari - 2009.jpg
|office = [[President of Pakistan]]
|primeminister = [[Yousaf Raza Gillani]]
|term_start = 9 September 2008
|term_end =
|predecessor = [[Muhammad Mian Soomro]] ([[Acting President|Acting]])
|successor =
|office2 = Co-Chairman of [[Pakistan Peoples Party]]
|alongside2 = [[Bilawal Zardari Bhutto]]
|term_start2 = 30 December 2007
|predecessor2 = [[Benazir Bhutto]]
|successor =
|birth_date = {{bda|1955|7|26|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Karachi]], [[Dominion of Pakistan]]<ref name="Profile: Asif Ali Zardari" />
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = [[Pakistan Peoples Party|Peoples Party]]
|spouse = [[Benazir Bhutto]] (1987–2007)
|children = [[Bilawal Zardari Bhutto|Bilawal]] Bakhtawar Asifa
|residence = [[Islamabad]], [[Pakistan]]
|religion = [[Shia Islam]]<ref name="ZardariShia">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/parvez-sharma/the-martyrdom-of-benazir-_b_79560.html |title=The Martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=2008-01-03 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref><ref name=shi3a>[[Vali Nasr]] ''The Shia Revival: How Conflicts Within Islam Will Shape the Future'' (W. W. Norton, 2006), pp. 88-90 ISBN 0-3933-2968-2</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20023973-503543.html | work=CBS News | first=Farhan | last=Bokhari | title=Pakistan-Saudi Relations Appear Strained in Leaked Cables | date=2010-11-29}}</ref>
}}
'''Asif Ali Zardari''' ([[Urdu]]: '''آصف علی زرداری'''; [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]]: '''آصف علي زرداري'''; born 26 July 1955) is the [[List of Presidents of Pakistan|11th and current]] [[President of Pakistan]] and the Co-Chairman of the [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] (PPP). Zardari is the widower of [[Benazir Bhutto]], who twice served as [[Prime Minister of Pakistan]]. When his wife was [[Assassination of Benazir Bhutto|assassinated]] in December 2007, he became the leader of the PPP. It has been claimed that Zardari is among the five richest men in Pakistan with an estimated net worth of [[USD|US$]]1.8 billion (2005).<ref>{{cite web|last=Malik |first=Salik |url=http://www.daily.pk/president-asif-ali-zardari-2nd-most-richest-man-of-pakistan-6666/ |title=President Asif Ali Zardari 2nd most Richest man of Pakistan | Pakistan Daily |publisher=Daily.pk |date=2008-10-26 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Burns |first=John F. |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/09/world/house-graft-tracing-bhutto-millions-special-report-bhutto-clan-leaves-trail.html |title=HOUSE OF GRAFT - Tracing the Bhutto Millions - A special report. - Bhutto Clan Leaves Trail of Corruption - Special Report |location=Pakistan |publisher=NYTimes.com |date=1998-01-09 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Asif Ali Zardari is a [[Sindhi people|Sindhi]] of [[Baloch people|Baloch]] origin from [[Sindh]].<ref name="thepresident"/><ref name="afcea">{{cite web|url=http://nightwatch.afcea.org/NightWatch_20071230.htm|title=For the Night of 30 December 2007|publisher=AFCEA International|accessdate=23 November 2009}}</ref> He was born in [[Karachi]] and is the son of [[Hakim Ali Zardari]], head of one of the Sindhi tribes,<ref name="Profile: Asif Ali Zardari">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4032997.stm South Asia Profile: Asif Ali Zardari]. 6 September 2008. ''BBC News''. Retrieved 2009-03-02.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://jang.com.pk/thenews/feb2008-weekly/nos-17-02-2008/instep/mainissue.htm |title=INSTEP Magzine |publisher=Jang.com.pk |date=1998-05-28 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> who chose urban life over rustic surroundings. His mother is from the family of Khan Bahadur [[Hassan Ali]], who was among the founders of the first educational institution in Sindh, "Sindh Madarsa-tul-Islam Karachi".

Zardari received his primary education from [[Karachi Grammar School]] and his secondary education from [[Cadet College, Petaro]].<ref name="thepresident">[http://www.president.gov.pk/Pages/ThePresident.ksp President Asif Ali Zardari]. gov.pk. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref> Zardari also attended [[St Patrick's High School, Karachi]].<ref name="WSJ0809">Peter Wonacott (September 5, 2008). [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122058073564902483.html Zardari Set to Assume Pakistan's Presidency]. ''Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved 2009-12-22.</ref> While a candidate for parliament, a position for which a 2002 rule requires a college degree, Zardari claimed to have graduated from a college in London called the London School of Economics and Business (LSEB).<ref>{{cite news |title=Zardari education background a mystery |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/03/21/Zardari_education_background_a_mystery/UPI-93891206120117/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Zardari a London graduate: PPP |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\03\12\story_12-3-2008_pg7_17}}</ref> The 2002 rule was overturned by Pakistan's Supreme Court in April 2008.<ref name="WSJ0809"/>

==Early political career==
Zardari married [[Benazir Bhutto]] on 18 December 1987. In 1988 his wife won the seat of Prime Minister, and Zardari became a member of the [[National Assembly of Pakistan]]. He served as investment and environment minister in Bhutto's governments. It was during this time that Zardari's opponents began using the nickname, "Mr 10%", in reference to the charges of corruption against him.<ref name="tt-sms">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/5878525/Pakistan-president-Asif-Zardari-bans-jokes-ridiculing-him.html|title=Pakistan president Asif Zardari bans jokes ridiculing him |last=Wilkinson|first=Isambard|date=21 Jul 2009|publisher=The Telegraph|accessdate=2009-07-22 | location=London}}</ref><ref name="Wilkinson2008">Isambard Wilkinson (September 4, 2008). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/profiles/2682828/Profile-Asif-Ali-Zardari-Pakistans-probable-next-president-is-living-the-dream.html Profile: Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan's probable next president, is living the dream]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref><ref name="bbcprofileleader">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/country_profiles/1157960.stm#leaders Profile: Pakistan: leaders]. (May 7, 2009). ''BBC''. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref>
This nickname referred to kickbacks he was alleged to have received during the premiership of Ms. Bhutto. <ref> Obama's Wars, by Bob Woodward, pg 62, Simon & Schuster, 2010 </ref>


Bhutto's government lost in the 1990 elections. Zardari soon came under investigation in Switzerland over alleged receipts of kickbacks from two Swiss-based companies.<ref name="Newsweek2008">Fasih Ahmed and Ron Moreau (August 20, 2008). [http://www.newsweek.com/id/154383 Zardari on the Hot Seat]. ''Newsweek''. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref> Zardari claimed the charges were political in nature, and in 2008 Switzerland closed the case and released Zardari's frozen assets. The chief prosecutor said he had no evidence to bring Zardari to trial.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSLQ17107020080826|title=Swiss close case against Zardari; $60 mln unfrozen|date=August 26, 2008|accessdate=June 13, 2009 | work=Reuters}}</ref>

When Bhutto returned to office in 1993, Zardari was released from jail and became a government minister. In 1996, after a change of government, Zardari was again arrested. From 1997 to 2004, Zardari was kept in jail on various corruption charges and accusations of murder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2008/02/2008525184051439106.html |title=CENTRAL/S. ASIA - Profile: Asif Ali Zardari |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date= |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> Pakistani investigators accused Zardari and his wife Benazir for embezzling as much as US$1.5 billion from government accounts.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ali |first=Asif |url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/z/asif_ali_zardari/index.html |title=Asif Ali Zardari News - The New York Times |publisher=Topics.nytimes.com |date=2009-12-17 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> He was also accused of allegedly plotting the murder of Murtaza Bhutto, the brother of his wife Benazir Bhutto. He was later cleared.<ref name="bbcprofileleader" /> Another allegation involved an estate in [[Surrey]] which Pakistani press speculated was purchased by Zardari.<ref>Alastair Lawson (December 10, 1999). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/558545.stm 'Surrey Palace' saga for Benazir]. ''BBC''. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref><ref name="HOUSE OF GRAFT">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/09/world/house-graft-tracing-bhutto-millions-special-report-bhutto-clan-leaves-trail.html|title= House of graft: tracing the Bhutto millions|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=2009-10-01 | first=John F. | last=Burns | date=1998-01-09}}</ref> Zardari was similarly accused of purchasing {{convert|307|acre|km2}} of land in [[Islamabad]] at "below the prevailing market price" in 1994 through an intermediary. In March 2009, a company owned by Zardari and his son Bilawal purchased the land for [[Pakistani rupee|Rs]] 62 million. The [[Capital Development Authority]] (CDA) valued adjacent land at Rs 850,000 per [[kanal (unit)|kanal]] (Rs 6.8 million per acre); if the {{convert|307|acre|km2}} of land were valued on a similar rate, it would be valued around Rs 2 billion.<ref>Ansar Abbasi (November 3, 2009). [http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=25353 Zardari and Bilawal buy 300 acres of land in Islamabad]</ref> Zardari's financial history was one case study in a 1999 [[US Senate]] report on various vulnerabilities in banking procedures.<ref>[http://hsgac.senate.gov/110999_report.htm Minority staff report for permanent subcommittee on investigations hearing on private banking and money laundering: a case study of opportunities and vulnerabilities] (November 9, 1999) senate.gov. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref>

A New York psychiatrist found in March 2007 that Zardari's time in jail left him with memory impairments. Zardari claims to have been tortured.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/2622123/Pakistan-presidential-candidate-Asif-Ali-Zardari-suffering-from-severe-mental-problems.html Pakistan presidential candidate Asif Ali Zardari 'suffering from severe mental problems'] (August 26, 2008). ''Telegraph''. Retrieved 2009-02-10.</ref> In response to media reports when Zardari stood for the Pakistani presidency in 2008, the Pakistani Ambassador to the United States, Husain Haqqani, said that Zardari had no current mental condition requiring psychiatric help or medication.<ref>Andrew Buncombe and Omar Waraich (August 26, 2008). [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/questions-raised-over-zardari-mental-health-909373.html Questions raised over Zardari mental health]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved 2009-02-20.</ref><ref>[http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/02-Sep-2008/Haqqani-says-Zardari-has-no-current-mental-condition Haqqani says Zardari has no current mental condition] (September 2, 2008). ''The Nation''. Retrieved 2009-02-20.</ref>

In October 2007, the president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, issued the [[National Reconciliation Ordinance]] which granted amnesty to politicians in office from 1986 to 1999.<ref name="dawn080306">Mudassir Raja (March 6, 2008). [http://www.dawn.com/2008/03/06/top4.htm Asif Ali Zardari cleared in five corruption cases]. dawn.com. Retrieved 2009-06-06.</ref>

==Co-chairman of the PPP==
[[Benazir Bhutto assassination|Benazir Bhutto was assassinated]] on 27 December 2007, shortly after returning to Pakistan from exile. On 30 December 2007, Asif Ali Zardari became the co-chairman of the PPP, along with his son [[Bilawal Bhutto Zardari]], who is currently studying at Oxford. Bilawal is intended to fully assume the post when he completes his education.

After the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Zardari reaffirmed his lack of interest in the [[Prime Minister of Pakistan|prime ministership]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topnews.in/asif-ali-zardari-does-not-desire-prime-minister-office-221193 |title=Asif Ali Zardari does not desire Prime Minister office Top News |publisher=Topnews.in |date= |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/330129/1/.html |title=Channelnewsasia.com |publisher=Channelnewsasia.com |date=2008-02-21 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> Chairman Zardari and [[Mian Nawaz Sharif]], leader of the [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)|PML-N]], along with some smaller political parties, joined forces in an electoral coalition that won a heavy majority in the elections and unseated Musharraf's ruling [[Pakistan Muslim League-Q]] (PML-Q). After the election, he called for a government of national unity, and divided cabinet portfolios among coalition partners on proportionate basis.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bhutto's widower calls for unity |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/20/pakistan/index.html |publisher=CNN |accessdate=2008-02-21 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080418095016/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/20/pakistan/index.html |archivedate = April 18, 2008}}</ref> Asif Ali Zardari and former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on 21 February 2008 that their parties would work together in the national parliament after scoring big wins in the election.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/21/pakistan/index.html "Pakistan leaders agree on coalition"], CNN.com, 21 February 2008.</ref>

On 5 March 2008, Zardari was cleared of five corruption charges as part of a court ruling which "abolished the cases against all public office holders" under the [[National Reconciliation Ordinance]].<ref name="dawn080306" /> He had another trial on the remaining charges on 14 April 2008, when he was cleared under the same NRO.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/2008/03/15/top3.htm |title=Asif emerges as 'Mr Clean' after acquittal in last case |publisher=Dawn.com |date=2008-03-15 |accessdate=2010-08-06}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C08%5C30%5Cstory_30-8-2008_pg7_35 |publisher=Daily Times, Pakistan| title=Zardari plea to end NRO cases adjourned until 16th| date=30 August 2008}}</ref>

On 19 April 2008, Zardari announced in a press conference in London that he and his sister, [[Faryal Talpur]], would participate in the by-elections taking place on 3 June and that, if necessary, he would contest to become the country's next Prime Minister, even though his party voted by a 2/3 majority<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=90269&videoChannel=1&refresh=true |title=Zardari wins presidential election | Video |publisher=Reuters.com |date=2009-02-09 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> to announce that [[Yousaf Raza Gillani]] would be the PM for a five year term.

===Presidential candidacy===
Zardari, in alliance with Nawaz Sharif, was preparing to [[Movement to impeach Pervez Musharraf|impeach president Pervez Musharraf]], and a charge-sheet and draft of impeachment had already been prepared, when Musharraf, in accordance with his advisors, resigned from the presidency on 18 August 2008. Chairman Zardari was confirmed by the [[Central Executive Committee]] of the PPP as well as endorsed by the rival ethnic party [[MQM]] as candidate for the post of [[President of Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7575958.stm |title=South Asia | Zardari nominated to be president |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-08-22 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> There was nevertheless strong disagreement among the current coalition partners, and Nawaz Sharif's [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)|PML-N]] party was threatening to leave the coalition as a result.<ref name="nether">[http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/5930497/Pakistan-to-choose-president-on-6-September radionetherlands.nl, Pakistan to choose president on 6 September]{{dead link|date=August 2010}}</ref> According to the Constitution, elections must be held within 30 days of the previous president stepping down. The electoral college is composed of the Senate, the National Assembly, and the four provincial assemblies.

Pakistan's Election Commission on 22 August announced that a presidential election would be held on 6 September, and the nomination papers could be filed from 26 August.<ref name="nether" /><ref name="toi">
Asif Ali Zardari was elected President, Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 6 September 2008 after receiving 66% votes.
[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pakistan_to_hold_next_presidential_poll_on_September_6/articleshow/3392858.cms timesofindia.indiatimes.com, Pakistan presidential poll on September 6]</ref>

''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that [[Zalmay Khalilzad]], [[United States Ambassador to the United Nations]], had been unofficially advising Asif Ali Zardari.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/washington/26diplo.html?bl&ex=1219896000&en=262a7f83cc5b8c72&ei=5087 U.N. Envoy's Ties to Pakistani Are Questioned]</ref> Khalilzad, an [[Pashtun people|Afghan]] native, had been rumored to be flirting with the possibility of returning home to challenge [[President of Afghanistan|President]] [[Hamid Karzai]] when his first term expired in 2009.

==President of Pakistan==
[[File:Barack Obama, Hamid Karzai & Asif Ali Zardari after trilateral meeting 5-6-09 1.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Karzai]], [[Biden]], [[Obama]] and Zardari after the [[Afghanistan]]-[[USA]]-[[Pakistan]] trilateral meeting in [[2009]]]]
Zardari was elected president of Pakistan, as Chief election commissioner Qazi Mohammad Farooq announced that "Asif Ali Zardari secured 281 votes out of the 426 valid votes polled in the parliament," In [[Sindh]], Zardari had 62 of the 65 electoral votes while his two main opponents got zero votes; in North West Frontier Province Zardari got 56 votes against 5 by Siddiqui and one by Hussain; in Balochistan, 59 votes while Siddiqui and Hussain got 2 each. However, Zardari did not win the majority in the nation's biggest province, Punjab, where the PML-N's Siddiqui got a clear majority.<ref>{{cite web|author=(AFP) – Sep 5, 2008 |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i9dz2ZxX6MRv5ZOKT4cx4-1O_qTQ |title=afp.google.com, Zardari wins Pakistan presidential election: officials |publisher=Afp.google.com |date=2008-09-05 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> [[BBC]] reported that Zardari "won 481 votes, far more than the 352 votes that would have guaranteed him victory."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7600917.stm |title=news.bbc.co.uk, Bhutto's widower wins presidency |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-09-06 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> ''[[New York Times]]'' said that Zardari would be sworn in "as soon as Saturday night or as late as Monday or Tuesday, diplomats and officials said."<ref>{{cite news | coauthors = Jane Perlez and Salman Masood | title = Bhutto’s Widower Wins Pakistani Presidency | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/world/asia/07zardari.html?hp | work = The New York Times | publisher = The New York Times Company | location = New York, NY | pages = | page = | date =2008-09-06 | accessdate = 2008-09-10| quote =}}</ref>

Zardari was challenged by Justice (Retired) [[Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui]], a former judge nominated by Nawaz Sharif's PML-N, and [[Mushahid Hussain Sayed]], who was nominated by the PML-Q, which backed Musharraf. According to the Constitution of 1973 presently in vogue (but declared for major amendments by Zardari) the President of Pakistan, who must be a Muslim, is elected by an electoral college composed of members of the two houses of parliament - the 342 seat lower house National Assembly and the 100 member upper house Senate, as well as members of the four provincial assemblies - [[Sindh]], [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]], [[North West Frontier]] and [[Balochistan (Pakistan)|Balochistan]]. The assemblies have total of 1170 seats, but the number of electoral college votes is 702 since provincial assembly votes are counted on a proportional basis. The new president, who obtains the largest number of votes, will serve for five years as Pakistan's 11th president since 1956, when the country became an Islamic Republic, excluding acting presidents and [[Chief Martial Law Administrator|CMLAs]] during times of military rule.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pakistans_presidential_poll_today_Zardari_front-runner/articleshow/3451196.cms timesofindia.indiatimes.com, Zardari front-runner]{{dead link|date=August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=(AFP) – Sep 5, 2008 |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jwCcx11NqhunSNBZD7-my_37q0PA |title=afp.google.com, Bhutto's widower set to become Pakistan president |publisher=Afp.google.com |date=2008-09-05 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> Voting was in progress at the Parliament House, while the Senate members finished casting their votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=54367 |title=thenews.com.pk, Presidential election polling completed in Senate, underway in assemblies |publisher=Thenews.com.pk |date=2008-09-06 |accessdate=2010-08-06}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

Zardari was sworn in by Chief Justice [[Abdul Hameed Dogar]] in a ceremony at the presidential palace on September 9, 2008.<ref>Jane Perlez, [http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/09/asia/10pstan.php "Bhutto's widower takes office in Pakistan"], ''International Herald Tribune'', 9 September 2008.</ref> He addressed the parliament for the first time on September 20, 2008, but the event was overshadowed by the suicide bomb blast which destroyed the Marriott Hotel, Islamabad. Although Asif Ali Zardari was elected constitutionally, he was administered the oath of office by Justice [[Abdul Hameed Dogar]] who took oath as Chief Justice of Pakistan under the [[Provisional Constitutional Order]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/04/top3.htm |title=Justice Dogar new CJ; a number of judges opt out -DAWN - Top Stories; November 04, 2007 |publisher=DAWN |date=2007-11-04 |accessdate=2010-08-06}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Earlier, a supreme court ruling by a 7-member bench of the SC had overturned the PCO. The ruling by the 7-member bench stated:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/04/top2.htm |title=Seven judges reject PCO before being sent home -DAWN - Top Stories; November 04, 2007 |publisher=DAWN |date=2007-11-04 |accessdate=2010-08-06}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> "Appointment of the chief justice or judges of the Supreme Court or chief justices of the high courts under the new PCO would be unlawful and without jurisdiction."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=17208 |title=Zardari constitutional president: Aitzaz |publisher=Thenews.com.pk |date= |accessdate=2010-08-06}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

Shafqat Mahmood, a former associate of Ms Bhutto, has said: "Mr Zardari has an image problem, because of a lingering reputation of corruption, despite not having been convicted of any wrongdoing. He will need to change this image.”<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4687053.ece|title=From jail to high office: the strange journey of Asif Ali Zardari|author=Zahid Hussain |date=September 6, 2008|work=[[The Times]]|accessdate=2008-09-15 | location=London}}</ref>

===Constitutional reform===
In 2009, President Zardari told the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) that he wished to repeal the [[Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan]] Article 58 2(b) of the [[Eighth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan]] to limit the powers of the President of Pakistan that had been expanded by previous administrations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C07%5C07%5Cstory_7-7-2009_pg1_5|title=Zardari for repeal of 17th Amend, 58(2b)|last=Ghuman|first= Zulfiqar |date=2009-07-07|accessdate=2009-07-27}}</ref> Zardari ceded several of his most important powers, including the chairmanship of the agency that oversees Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, to Prime Minister [[Yousaf Raza Gillani|Gillani]].

==Relationships with world leaders==
[[File:Barack Obama, Hamid Karzai & Asif Ali Zardari in trilateral meeting 5-6-09 3.jpg|thumb|240px|Zardari (right) with president [[Barack Obama]] (center) and president [[Hamid Karzai]] (left) during a US-Afghan-Pakistan Trilateral meeting]]
Zardari picked China for first state visit after being elected in September 2008. Chinese President [[Hu Jintao]] has pledged to work with Zardari to build a stronger political and economic partnership between the two countries.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.geo.tv/2-24-2009/35859.htm|title=Zardari, Hu Jintao discuss bilateral relations|date=February 24, 2009|accessdate=2009-06-09}}</ref>

Zardari attended the [[U.N. General Assembly]] on 25 September 2008 and 25 September 2009 respectively, and gave his trademark speech with a framed picture of his assassinated wife, the late Benazir Bhutto nearby to remind the world that he's her husband.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=70583&sectionid=351020401 |title=Zardari lashes out at US in UN speech |publisher=Presstv.ir |date=2008-09-26 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/sep/26/i-am-following-benazirs-path-says-zardari.htm |title=I am following Benazir's path, says Zardari: Rediff.com India News |publisher=News.rediff.com |date=2009-09-26 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref>

On September 24, 2008 while in the United States, Zardari met the [[Republican Party (United States)|U.S Republican Party's]] [[Vice President of the United States|Vice Presidential]] candidate, [[Sarah Palin]]. His [[tongue-in-cheek]] comments to Palin, while shaking hands, that "I might hug you", created controversy and was the cause for a (non-violent) '[[fatwa]]' against him because his "praise of a non-Muslim lady wearing a short skirt" was un-Islamic.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/10/02/2008-10-02_pakistan_president_asif_ali_zardari_subj.html|title=Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari |last=Saltonstall|first=David|date=2008-10-02|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|accessdate=2008-10-07}}</ref>

A leaked March 2009 U.S. diplomatic cable described Saudi perceptions of Zardari as "strained
because the Saudis don't trust Zardari and see him and other leading Pakistani politicians as corrupt", noting that his November 2008 trip to Saudi Arabia did not lead to "Saudi assistance or other commitments".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2009/03/09RIYADH496.html|title=Viewing cable 09RIYADH496, SCENESETTER FOR SENATOR BOND'S APRIL 6-8 VISIT TO|author=American Embassy Riyadh ("DEPT FOR H(SHANE) AND H/RGF(LANG)")|date=2009-03-31}}</ref> Another cable reported that "King Abdullah firmly believes that Asif Zardari is the primary obstacle to the government's ability to move unequivocally to end terrorist safe havens there ("when the head is rotten, it affects the whole body")."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2010/02/10RIYADH178.html|title=Viewing cable 10RIYADH178, SCENESETTER FOR SECRETARY CLINTON'S FEB 15-16|author=Ambassador [[James Smith]]|date=2010-02-11}}</ref>

Zardari met with U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] and Afghanistan President [[Hamid Karzai]] at the White House in May 2009 to discuss security issues in the region.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.voanews.com/uspolicy/2009-05-14-voa4.cfm|title=Obama, Karzai, Zardari Meet|date=May 14, 2009|accessdate=2009-06-09}}</ref>

Upon the re-election of Indian Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]], Asif Ali Zardari phoned Dr. Singh and offered his congratulations and an offer to work with the Indian government to address challenges in the region.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/22/content_11420690.htm|title= Pakistani leaders vow to work with new Indian gov't|author=Deng Shasha|date=May 22, 2009|accessdate=2009-06-09}}</ref>

In October 2009, he met with Pope [[Benedict XVI]] in order to discuss the situation of [[Christianity in Pakistan|Pakistani Christians]] in context of blasphemy law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/14-interfaith-harmony-zj-03 |title=Interfaith harmony |publisher=Dawn.com |date= |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commonscat}}
{{Wikinews|Asif Ali Zardari}}
* [http://www.vvip.pk V.V.I.P] - New website lunch for Mr. Asif Ali Zardari
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4032997.stm Profile: Asif Zardari] from ''[[BBC News]]''
* [http://www.un.org/ga/63/generaldebate/pakistan.shtml President Asif Ali Zardari's address to the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly], September 25, 2008
* [http://www.dawn.net/wps/wcm/connect/dawn+content+library/Dawn/News/Specials/President+Election/ Pakistan's presidential election] at ''[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]''
* [http://www.wikimir.com/asif-ali-zardari Profile: Asif Ali Zardari] on [[WikiMir]] (edited/moderated by Pakistanis)

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Benazir Bhutto]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Co-Chairman of the [[Pakistan Peoples Party]]|years=2007–present|alongside=[[Bilawal Zardari Bhutto]]}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Muhammad Mian Soomro]] Acting}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of Pakistan]]|years=2008–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{PakistaniPresidents}}
{{Pakistan topics}}


{{Persondata
|NAME= Zardari, Asif Ali
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=آصف علی زرداری
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=12th [[President of Pakistan]]
|DATE OF BIRTH= 1955-7-26
|PLACE OF BIRTH= [[Karachi]], [[Pakistan]]
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zardari, Asif Ali}}

[[Category:1955 births]]

[[Category:Baloch people]]
[[Category:Bhutto family]]
[[Category:Current national leaders]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Pakistan Peoples Party politicians]]
[[Category:Pakistani billionaires]]
[[Category:Pakistani businesspeople]]
[[Category:Pakistani politicians]]
[[Category:Pakistani Shi'a Muslims]]
[[Category:People from Karachi District]]
[[Category:Petarians]]
[[Category:Presidents of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Shi'a politicians]]
[[Category:Sindhi people]]
[[Category:Spouses of national leaders]]
[[Category:Tumandars]]
[[Category:Zardari family]]
[[Category:Pakistani expatriates in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Pakistani exiles]]

[[ar:آصف علي زرداري]]
[[az:Asif Əli Zərdari]]
[[bn:আসিফ আলি জারদারি]]
[[br:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[bg:Асиф Али Зардари]]
[[cs:Asif Alí Zardárí]]
[[da:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[de:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[et:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[el:Ασίφ Αλί Ζαρντάρι]]
[[es:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[eo:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[fa:آصف‌علی زرداری]]
[[fr:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ga:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ko:아시프 알리 자르다리]]
[[hy:Ասիֆ Ալի Զարդարի]]
[[hi:आसिफ अली जरदारी]]
[[id:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[it:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[he:אסיף עלי זרדרי]]
[[kn:ಆಸಿಫ್ ಅಲಿ ಜರ್ದಾರಿ]]
[[kk:Зардари, Әсіф Әлі]]
[[ms:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[nl:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ja:アースィフ・アリー・ザルダーリー]]
[[no:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[nn:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[pnb:آصف علی زرداری]]
[[nds:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[pl:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[pt:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ro:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ru:Зардари, Асиф Али]]
[[sl:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[sr:Асиф Али Зардари]]
[[sh:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[fi:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[sv:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[ta:ஆசிஃப் அலி சர்தாரி]]
[[tr:Asıf Ali Serdari]]
[[ur:آصف علی زرداری]]
[[ug:زاردارى]]
[[vi:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[yi:אסיף אלי זארדארי]]
[[yo:Asif Ali Zardari]]
[[zh:阿西夫·阿里·扎尔达里]]

User talk:Qoan

2010-12-17T05:44:14Z

SirSadiq: reply to user

== Non-English sources ==

Main article: Wikipedia:Verifiability#Non-English sources

"Because this is the English Wikipedia, English-language sources should be given whenever possible, and should always be used in preference to other language sources of equal caliber. However, do use sources in other languages where appropriate. When directly quoting a source in a different language, please provide both the original-language quotation and an English translation. The original-language quotation aids readers in verification, and the translation makes the information accessible to readers that do not read the original language."

Find English references validating the Second Largest Treasure Found in Europe

[[User:JimBobUSA|Jim]] ([[User talk:JimBobUSA|talk]]) 22:14, 5 December 2009 (UTC)

== Medina-i-Munawwarah ==

yes this is full and registered name as per [[KSA]] goverment''' [[User:SirSadiq|SirSadiq]]''' ([[User talk:SirSadiq|SirSadiq]]) 10:43, 17 December 2010 (UTC)

DHA Valley, Islamabad

2010-12-16T18:00:12Z

SirSadiq: mark for speedy deletion; no authenticity is there of this article

{{db-inc}}
{{Orphan|date=December 2010}}
[[:Category:Places]]
[[:Category:Regions]]
[[:Category:Regions of Pakistan]]
[[:Category:Real estate]]
[[:Category:Places in Punjab]]
[[:Category:Housing in Pakistan]]
{| class="toccolours" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; width: 17em; font-size: 90%;" cellspacing="3"
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: larger;" | '''Defence Housing Authority'''
|-
| colspan="2" style="padding: 1em 0; text-align: center;" | [[File:DHAValley.jpg]]
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | "DHA Community System"
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|'''Ownership'''
|style="padding-right: 1em;" | Private
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|'''Type of Institution'''
|style="padding-right: 1em;" | Real Estate Sector
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|'''Established'''
|style="padding-right: 1em;" | Feb 22, 2005
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|'''President'''
|style="padding-right: 1em;" | Brig (R) Javed Iqbal
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|'''Headquarters'''
|style="padding-right: 1em;" | [[Islamabad]] {{flag|Pakistan}}
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|'''Homepage'''
|style="padding-right: 1em;" | http://www.dhai.com.pk/dhavalley
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|}

== Introduction ==
DHA Valley Islamabad is located in [[Defence Housing Authority]], Islamabad. A 6-lane DHA Expressway links main GT Road to DHA Valley. It is next to DHA Phase II-Ext. It is a joint venture project of [[Defence Housing Authority|DHA Islamabad]], [[Bahria Town]] and Habib Rafiq Private Limited. DHA Valley is planned to be a completely self-sufficient community with parks, utilities, shopping and commercial areas, schools, mosques and hospital inside a single gated wall with 24/7 security <ref>http://dhai.com.pk/dhavalley</ref>.

== Town Planning ==
[[File:DHAValleyPlan3.jpg|right]]
There are nineteen blocks in DHA Valley apart from DHA homes and Commercial Avenue<ref>http://dhai.com.pk/dhavalley/photogallery.php</ref>. These are the blocks:
# Bluebell
# Bogenvelia
# Daffodils
# Daisy
# Eglantine
# Gloxinia
# Iris
# Jasmine
# Lavender
# Lily
# Lotus
# Magnolia
# Marigold
# Oleander
# Rose
# Snowdrop
# Sunflower
# Tulip
# Zinia
The project is designed by California based company OJMR Architects<ref>http://dhai.com.pk/ph2e.htm</ref>. Habib Rafiq Private Limited is building the necessary infrastructure like roads, severage and bridges etc. DHA Homes are being constructed by a Turkish company named AREAA<ref>http://www.areaa.com.tr/main.php?lang=EN</ref>.

== Construction and Development Progress ==
The project was launched in Nov, 2008 and is planned to be completed by the end of 2011 (DHA Valley plots) and by mid of 2012 (DHA Homes)<ref>http://dhai.com.pk/dhavalley/images/DHAValleyad.JPG</ref>. Following videos show the progress on the project:
# [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anARyR5bFKU&feature=related by Sep, 2010]
# [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjVx-6D8zGU&feature=related by Nov, 2010]
== See Also ==
# [[Defence_Housing_Authority|Defence Housing Authority]]
# [[Bahria_Town|Bahria Town]]
# [[Islamabad#Construction_and_development|Islamabad]]
# [[Developments_in_Islamabad#Other_Developments|Development in Islamabad]]

== External links ==
# [http://dhai.com.pk/photogallery.htm DHA Valley Latest Pictures]
# [http://www.dhai.com.pk DHA Islamabad] 
# [http://www.dhai.com.pk/dhavalley DHA Valley Official Website] 
# [http://www.bahriatown.com Bahria Town] 
# [http://www.habibrafiq.com Habib Rafiq Pvt. Ltd.]
# [http://www.ojmrarchitects.net/ OJMR Architects]
# [http://www.areaa.com.tr AREAA Construction]

== References ==
<references>
# http://dhai.com.pk/dhavalley/photogallery.php
</references>

{{uncategorised|date=December 2010}}

Zong (mobile network)

2010-12-16T17:56:15Z

SirSadiq: mark for speedy deletion; no authenticity is there of this article

{{db-inc}}
{{update|date=December 2009}}
{{Infobox company|
| company_name = ZONG |
| company_logo = [[Image:Zong Logo.png|100px]]
| company_type = Mobile Phone Operator|
| company_slogan = Say it all |
| foundation = 2008|
| location = {{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Pakistan]] |
| industry = [[Telecommunication]]s Mobile Communications |
| key_people = |
| num_employees = |
| products = Mobile services, Data services |
| revenue = |
| net_income = |
| parent = [[China Mobile]] |
| homepage = [http://www.zong.com.pk] |
}}

'''ZONG''' is the first International brand of [[China Mobile]] being launched in Pakistan.<ref name="ZONG Homepage">{{Cite web|url=http://www.zong.com.pk|title=About ZONG|work=Zong Homepage}}</ref> The company is often cited as '''China Mobile (Pakistan)'''.

==Network Technology==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Network || Status || Date
|-
| <center>[[Global System for Mobile Communications|GSM900/1800]]</center> || <center>Live/Active</center> || April 2004
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[List of mobile phone companies in Pakistan]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.zong.com.pk/ Zong]

[[Category:China Mobile]]
[[Category:Mobile phone companies of Pakistan]]

Talk:Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry

2010-12-16T17:47:31Z

SirSadiq: DCCI talk page created

{{WikiProject UAE|class=Start|importance=Low|Dubai=yes|Dubai-importance=Low|attention=yes}}

Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates

2010-12-16T17:45:18Z

SirSadiq: expand the article with its importance

{{Expand|date=December 2010}}
{{Infobox Central bank
|bank_name_in_local = مصرف الإمارات العربية المتحدة المركز {{ar icon}}
|headquarters = [[Abu Dhabi]], [[United Arab Emirates]]
|established = 11 December 1980
|bank_of = {{UAE}}
|currency = [[United Arab Emirates dirham]]
|currency_iso = AED
|website = http://www.centralbank.ae
}}
The '''Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates''' ({{lang-ar|مصرف الإمارات العربية المتحدة المركز}}) is the [[central bank]] of the [[United Arab Emirates]].

==See also==
*[[Economy of the United Arab Emirates]]
*[[United Arab Emirates dirham]]
*[[Mohammad Al Gaz]]

==External links==
*[http://www.centralbank.ae/ '''Official site:''' Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates]

{{Central banks}}

[[Category:Economy of the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Central banks|United Arab Emirates]]
{{United Arab Emirates topics}}
{{asia-bank-stub}}
{{uAE-stub}}

[[ar:مصرف الإمارات العربية المتحدة المركزي]]
[[no:De forente arabiske emiraters sentralbank]]
[[tr:Birleşik Arap Emirlikleri Merkez Bankası]]
[[zh:阿聯酋中央銀行]]

Dunya News

2010-12-16T17:40:26Z

SirSadiq: expand the article with detailed description

{{Expand|date=December 2010}}
{{Infobox TV channel
| name = Dunya News
| logofile = Dunya news tv.jpg
| logosize =
| logoalt =
| launch = December 1, 2008
| picture format =
| slogan = ''Khabar Ki Dunya''
| country = [[Pakistan]]
| language = [[Urdu language|Urdu]]
| broadcast area = [[South Asia]]
| headquarters = 8-A, Abbot Road, [[Lahore]]
| sister names =
| web = [http://www.dunyanews.tv www.dunyanews.tv]
| sat serv 1 = Intelsat-10 (PAS -7)
| sat chan 1 = 4150 Mhz.
| cable serv 1 =
| cable chan 1 =
}}
'''Dunya News''' is an [[Urdu]] language news and [[current affairs]] television channel from [[Pakistan]].<ref>[http://www.tvexplore.com/channels/dunya-news/ Dunya News] - TvExplore Retrieved 18-02-10</ref> ''Dunya'' in English means "World". Since its launch in [[2008]], the channel have been giving strong competition to the other news channels in the country. Dunya News is now available throughout Pakistan on local cable operators. The headquarters of the channel are located at Abbot Road, [[Lahore]].

==Popular programs==
The most popular programs on the channel include:

* Policy Matters with [[Nasim Zehra]]
* ''Bolo Sun Rahe Hay Dunya''
* In Session with [[Aasma Choudhry]]
* Dunya Today with Dr. Peerzada
* ''Hasb-e-Haal'' ([[Sohail Ahmed]], [[Junaid Saleem]])
* [[Dunya Meray Aagay]] hosted by [[Nusrat Javed]] and [[Mushtaq Minhas]]
* Tonight With [[Najam Sethi]]

== Competitors ==

*[[AAJ TV]]
*[[ARY News]]
*[[Dawn News]]
*[[Din News]]
*[[Express News (Pakistan)|Express News]]
*[[Geo News]]
*[[Indus News]]
*[[News One]]
*[[PTV News]]
*[[SAMAA TV|Samaa News]]
*[[Waqt News]]

==See also==
* [[List of Television Stations in Pakistan]]

==References==
{{refs}}

==External links==
* [http://www.dunyanews.tv Official website]

{{Television news in Pakistan}}

[[Category:24-hour television news channels in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2009]]
[[Category:Television news in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Television stations in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Television in Pakistan]]

[[ur:دنیا نیوز]]

Qatar Central Bank

2010-12-16T17:38:09Z

SirSadiq: improve the article

{{Expand|date=December 2010}}
The '''Qatar Central Bank''' is the [[central bank]] of [[Qatar]].

The Qatar Central Bank was originally the '''Qatar Monetary Agency''' ''(and was know before that as Qatar Dubai Currency Board)'', founded on May 13th 1973 after [[Dubai]] joined the [[United Arab Emirates]]<ref>[http://www.qcb.gov.qa/English/AboutQCB/Pages/History.aspx Qatar Central Bank - History]</ref> and disengaged itself from British monetary policy which the area had previously followed<ref>[http://www.bis.org/publ/bppdf/bispap17j.pdf Monetary policy in Qatar and Qatar’s attitude towards the proposed single currency for the Gulf Cooperation Council] by Fahad Faisal Al-Thani</ref>. On August 5 of 1993 it became the '''Qatar Central Bank'''<ref>[http://www.pjsymes.com.au/articles/Qatar.htm The Banknotes of Qatar]</ref>.

Over its history the Qatar Central Bank has increasingly worked in association with other, larger central banks to achieve a stable currency for the country, most recently and notably with the [[Monetary Authority of Singapore]]<ref>[http://www.mas.gov.sg/news_room/press_releases/2009/MAS_signs_MoU_with_Qatar_Central_Bank.html MAS signs deal with Qatar Central Bank]</ref>.

==See also==
* [[Qatari riyal]]
* [[Economy of Qatar]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Ar icon}} {{en icon}} [http://www.qcb.gov.qa/english/Pages/default.aspx '''Official site:''' Qatar Central Bank]

{{Central banks}}

[[Category:Banks of Qatar]]
[[Category:Central banks|Qatar]]

{{Asia-bank-stub}}
{{Qatar-stub}}

[[ar:مصرف قطر المركزي]]
[[no:Qatars sentralbank]]

Medina

2010-12-16T17:28:47Z

SirSadiq: correction

{{Infobox settlement
| name=Medina
| official_name = Al Madinah Al Munawwarah
| native_name = {{lang|ar|المدينة المنورة}}
| image_skyline = Masjid Nabawi. Medina, Saudi Arabia.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| image_caption = Panorama of Medina
| pushpin_map = Saudi Arabia
| map_caption = Location in the Kingdom of [[Saudi Arabia]]
| coordinates_region = SA
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Saudi Arabia|Province]]
| subdivision_name = [[Image:Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg|25px]] [[Saudi Arabia]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Al Madinah Province]]
| leader_title = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name =Abdulaziz Bin Majid (عبدالعزيز بن ماجد)
| area_total_sq_mi =
| area_total_km2 = 589
| population_as_of=2006
| population_total = 1300000
| population_density_sq_mi =
| population_density_km2 =
| timezone = Arabia Standard Time
| utc_offset = +3
| latd = 24 | latm = 28 | lats = | latNS = N
| longd = 39 | longm = 36 | longs = | longEW = E | coordinates_display=#
| elevation_ft = 1995
| elevation_m =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Medina''' ({{IPA-en|mɛˈdiːnə}}; {{lang-ar|المدينة المنورة}}, ''{{transl|ar|DIN|al-Madīnah l-Munawwarah}}'', “the radiant city” (officially), or {{lang|ar|المدينة}} ''{{transl|ar|DIN|al-Madīnah}}''; also [[romanization of Arabic|transliterated]] as '''Madinah''') is a city in the [[Hejaz]] region of western [[Saudi Arabia]], and serves as the capital of the [[Al Madinah Province]]. It is the second holiest city in [[Islam]], and the burial place of the [[Prophets of Islam|Islamic Prophet]] [[Muhammad]] and it is historically significant for being his home after the ''[[hijra (Islam)|Hijrah]]''.

The significance of Medina stems from the presence of the historically significant and three oldest mosques in [[Islam]], namely; [[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi]] (''The Prophet's Mosque''), [[Quba Mosque]] (the first mosque in Islam's history)<ref>http://www.hajinformation.com/main/h2022.htm</ref>, and [[Masjid al-Qiblatain]] (the mosque where the [[qibla]] was switched to [[Mecca]]).

The [[Islamic calendar]] is based on the emigration of Muhammad and his followers to the city of Medina, which marks the start of the Hijri year in 622 CE, called [[Hijra]] (هجرة).

Similarly to Mecca, entrance to Medina is restricted to Muslims only; non-muslims are neither permitted to enter nor travel through the city.<ref name=mackeymecca>[[Sandra Mackey]]'s account of her attempt to enter Mecca in {{cite book|last=Mackey|first=Sandra|title=The Saudis: Inside the Desert Kingdom|year=1987|pages=63–64|publisher=W. W. Norton & Company|isbn=0393324176}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=An A To Z Of Places And Things Saudi|last=Cuddihy|first=Kathy|pages=148|year=2001|publisher=Stacey International|isbn=1900988402}}</ref>

==Overview==
Medina currently has a population of more than 1,300,000 people (2006). It was originally known as ''Yathrib'', an oasis city dating as far back as the 6th century BCE.<ref name="livius.org">[http://www.livius.org/ct-cz/cyrus_I/babylon02.html#Chronicle%20of%20Nabonidus Chronicle of Nabonidus]</ref> It was later inhabited by [[Jew]]ish refugees who fled the aftermath of the war with the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] in the 2nd century CE. Later the city's name was changed to Madīnat(u) 'n-Nabiy (مدينة النبيّ "city of the prophet") or ''Al-Madīnat(u) 'l-Munawwarah'' ("the enlightened city" or "the radiant city"), while the short form ''Madīnah'' simply means "city." Medina is celebrated for containing the [[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi|mosque of Muhammad]] and also as the city which gave refuge to him and his followers, and so ranks as the second holiest city of Islam, after [[Mecca]] (Makkah). Muhammad was buried in Medina, under the [[Green Dome]], as were the first two ''[[Rashidun]]'' (Rightly Guided [[Caliph]]s), [[Abu Bakr]] and [[Umar]], who were buried in an adjacent area in the [[mosque]].<ref>However, an article in [http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200606/Saudi Aramco World] by John Anthony states: "To the perhaps parochial [[Muslim]]s of [[North Africa]] in fact the sanctity of [[Kairouan]] is second only to Mecca among all cities of the world." [[Saudi Aramco]]’s bimonthly magazine's goal is to broaden knowledge of the cultures, history and geography of the Arab and Muslim worlds and their connections with the West; pages 30-36 of the January/February 1967 print edition [http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/196701/the.fourth.holy.city.htm The Fourth Holy City]</ref>

Medina is {{convert|210|mi|abbr=on}} north of Mecca and about {{convert|120|mi|abbr=on}} from the [[Red Sea]] coast. It is situated in the most fertile part of all the Hejaz territory, the streams of the vicinity tending to converge in this locality. An immense [[plain]] extends to the south; in every direction the view is bounded by hills and mountains.

The city forms an oval, surrounded by a strong wall, {{convert|30|to|40|ft|abbr=on}} high, that dates from the 12th century C.E., and is flanked with towers, while on a rock, stands a castle. Of its four gates, the ''Bab-al-Salam'', or [[Egypt]]ian gate, is remarkable for its beauty. Beyond the walls of the city, west and south are suburbs consisting of low houses, yards, gardens and plantations. These suburbs have also walls and gates.

''[[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi]]'' (''The mosque of the Prophet'') stands at the east of the city and resembles the mosque at Mecca on a smaller scale. Its [[courtyard]] is almost {{convert|500|ft|abbr=on}} in length, the [[dome]] is high with three picturesque [[minaret]]s. The tomb of Muhammad, who died and was buried here in 632 C.E., is enclosed with a screen of iron filigree, at the south side of which the ''[[hajji]]'' goes through his devotions, with the assurance that one prayer here is equivalent to thousand elsewhere.<ref name="EA">1954 [[Encyclopedia Americana]], vol. 18, pp.587, 588</ref>

The tombs of [[Fatimah]] (Muhammad's daughter), across from the mosque at [[Jannat al-Baqi]], and Abu Bakr (first caliph and the father of Muhammad's wife, [[Aisha]]), and of Umar (Umar ibn Al-Khattab), the second caliph, are also here. The mosque dates back to the time of Muhammad, but has been twice burned and reconstructed.<ref name="EA" />

==Medina's religious significance in Islam==
{{Main|Muhammad in Medina}}
[[Image:The Profit Mosque.jpg|thumb|The Mosque of the prophet in 2007]]
[[File:Mescidi nebevi.JPG|thumb|left|Muhammad's tomb is located under the [[Green Dome]] of [[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi]].]]
Medina's importance as a religious site derives from the presence of ''[[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi]]'' or ''The Mosque of The Prophet''. The tomb of Prophet Muhammad later became part of the mosque when it was expanded by the [[Umayyad Caliphate|Umayyad]] Caliph [[Al-Walid I]], but the tomb itself has no religious relevance to the Mosque being holy.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} [[Mount Uhud]] is a mountain north of [[Medina]] which was the site of the second battle between [[Muslim]] and Meccan forces.

The first mosque built during Muhammad's time is also located in Medina and is known as ''Masjid Qubaʼ'' (the ''[[Quba Mosque]]''). It was destroyed by lightning, probably about 850 C.E., and the graves were almost forgotten. In 892 the place was cleared up, the tombs located and a fine mosque built, which was destroyed by fire in 1257 C.E. and almost immediately rebuilt. It was restored by [[Qaitbay]], the [[List of rulers of Egypt|Egyptian ruler]], in 1487.<ref name="EA" />

[[Masjid al-Qiblatain]] is another mosque also historically important to Muslims. It is where the prophet changed the direction of prayer ([[qibla]]) from [[Jerusalem]] to [[Mecca]] according to [[Sunni]] hadiths.<ref>http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=772</ref>

Like Mecca, the city of Medina only permits Muslims to enter, although the ''[[haram]]'' (area closed to non-Muslims) of Medina is much smaller than that of Mecca, with the result that many facilities on the outskirts of Medina are open to non-Muslims, whereas in Mecca the area closed to non-Muslims extends well beyond the limits of the built-up area. Both cities' numerous mosques are the destination for large numbers of Muslims on their ''[[Hajj]]'' (annual pilgrimage). Hundreds of thousands of Muslims come to Medina annually to visit the ''Tomb of Prophet'' and to worship at mosques in a unified celebration.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} [[Al-Baqi']] is a significant cemetery in Medina where several family members of [[Muhammad]], caliphs and scholars are buried, as well as [[Shia]]s imams. Medina is mentioned several times by name in the Qur'an.<ref>[http://www.harunyahya.com/indexm.php#1 Harun Yahya, An Index to the Qur'an]</ref> There is also a book within the hadith of [[Bukhari]] titled 'virtues of Medina'.<ref>[http://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=30&translator=1 hadith found in 'Virtues of Madinah' of Sahih Bukhari] searchtruth.com</ref> [[Medinan sura]]s are typically longer than their Meccan counterparts.

==History==
===Pre-Jewish times===
The first mention of the city dates to the 6th century BC. It appears in [[Assyria]]n texts (namely, the [[Nabonidus Chronicle]]) as ''Iatribu''.<ref name="livius.org"/> In the time of [[Ptolemy]] the [[oasis]] was known as ''Lathrippa''.<ref name="EA" /> The first people to settle the oasis of Medina were the tribe of Banu Matraweel and Banu Hauf who trace their lineage to [[Shem]] the [[Sons of Noah|son of]] [[Noah]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} They were the first ones to plant trees and crops in the city.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} When the [[Yemen]]ite tribes, [[Banu Aus]] and [[Banu Khazraj]], arrived there were approximately 70 [[Tribes of Arabia|Arab tribes]] and 20 [[Jewish tribes of Arabia|Jewish tribes]] in Medina.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}

===Jewish tribes===
Jews arrived in the city in the 2nd century AD in the wake of the [[Jewish–Roman wars]]. There were three prominent Jewish [[Arabian tribes that interacted with Muhammad|tribes]] that inhabited the city until the 7th century AD: the [[Banu Qaynuqa]], the [[Banu Qurayza]], and [[Banu Nadir]].<ref name= "jewishencyclopedia 1">[[Jewish Encyclopedia]] [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=326&letter=M Medina]</ref> [[Ibn Khordadbeh]] later reported that during the [[Persian Empire]]'s domination in Hejaz, the Banu Qurayza served as [[tax collector]]s for the [[shah]].<ref>Peters 193</ref>

===The Aus and Khazraj===
[[File:Madina old.jpg|thumb|left|An old picture of Medina.]]
The situation changed after the arrival from Yemen of two [[Arab]] tribes named Banu Aus (Banu Aws) and Banu Khazraj. At first, these tribes were clients of the Jews, but later they revolted and became independent.<ref name="Medina">"Al-Medina." ''[[Encyclopaedia of Islam]]''</ref> Toward the end of the 5th century,<ref>for date see "J. Q. R." vii. 175, note</ref> the Jews lost control of the city to Banu Aus and Banu Khazraj. The [[Jewish Encyclopedia]] states that they did so ''"By calling in outside assistance and treacherously massacring at a banquet the principal Jews"'' Banu Aus and Banu Khazraj finally gained the upper hand at Medina.<ref name= "jewishencyclopedia 1"/>

Most modern historians accept the claim of the Muslim sources that after the revolt, the Jewish tribes became clients of the Aus and the Khazraj.<ref>See e.g., Peters 193; "Qurayza", ''[[Encyclopaedia Judaica]]''</ref> According to [[William Montgomery Watt]], the clientship of the Jewish tribes is not borne out by the historical accounts of the period prior to 627, and maintained that the Jews retained a measure of political independence.<ref name="Medina"/>

[[Ibn Ishaq]] tells of a conflict between the last Yemenite king of the [[Himyarite Kingdom]]<ref>Muslim sources usually referred to Himyar kings by the dynastic title of "Tubba".</ref> and the residents of Yathrib. When the king was passing by the oasis, the residents killed his son, and the Yemenite ruler threatened to exterminate the people and cut down the [[Arecaceae|palms]]. According to ibn Ishaq, he was stopped from doing so by two [[rabbi]]s from the Banu Qurayza, who implored the king to spare the oasis because it was the place "to which a prophet of the [[Quraysh (tribe)|Quraysh]] would migrate in time to come, and it would be his home and resting-place". The Yemenite king thus did not destroy the town and converted to [[Judaism]]. He took the rabbis with him, and in Mecca, they reportedly recognized the [[Kaaba]] as a temple built by [[Abraham]] and advised the king "to do what the people of Mecca did: to [[Circumambulation|circumambulate]] the temple, to venerate and honour it, to shave his head and to behave with all humility until he had left its precincts." On approaching Yemen, tells ibn Ishaq, the rabbis demonstrated to the local people a miracle by coming out of a fire unscathed and the Yemenites accepted Judaism.<ref>Guillaume 7–9, Peters 49–50</ref>

===Civic strife===
Eventually the Banu Aus and the Banu Khazraj became hostile to each other and by the time of Muhammad's ''Hijra'' (migration) to Medina, they had been fighting for 120 years and were the sworn enemies of each other.<ref name= "balagh.net">[[The Message (Subhani)]] [http://www.balagh.net/english/ahl_bayt/the_message/27.htm The Events of the First Year of Migration]</ref> The Banu Nadir and the Banu Qurayza were allied with the Aus, while the Banu Qaynuqa sided with the Khazraj.<ref>For alliances, see Guillaume 253</ref> They fought a total of four wars.<ref name="Medina"/>

Their last and bloodiest battle was the [[Battle of Bu'ath]]<ref name="Medina"/> that was fought a few years before the arrival of Muhammad.<ref name= "jewishencyclopedia 1"/> The outcome of the battle was inconclusive, and the feud continued. [[Abd-Allah ibn Ubayy]], one Khazraj chief, had refused to take part in the battle, which earned him a reputation for equity and peacefulness. Until the arrival of Muhammad, he was the most respected inhabitant of Yathrib.

===Muhammad's arrival===
{{Main|Hijra (Islam)}}
{{Main|Constitution of Medina}}
[[Image:Quba Mosque.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Quba Mosque]] is the first mosque in history built by Muhammad upon arrival in Medina]]
In 622, Muhammad and the [[Muhajirun]] left Mecca and arrived at Yathrib, an event that would transform the religious and political landscape completely; the longstanding enmity between the Aus and Khazraj tribes was dampened as many of the two tribes embraced were conquered by Muhammad. Muhammad, linked to the Khazraj through his great grandmother, was soon made the chief and united the Muslim converts of Yathrib under the name ''[[Ansar (Islam)|Ansar]]'' ("the Patrons" or "the Helpers"). After Muhammad's arrival, the city gradually came to be known as ''Medina'' (literally "city" in Arabic). Some consider this name as a derivative from the [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] word ''Medinta'', which the Jewish inhabitants would have used for the city.<ref>[http://www.dangoor.com/71page33.html ''The Jews of Arabia''. By Lucien Gubbay]</ref>

According to Ibn Ishaq, the Muslims and Jews of the area signed an agreement, the [[Constitution of Medina]], which committed Jewish tribes to mutual cooperation with Muslims. The nature of this document as recorded by Ibn Ishaq and transmitted by [[ibn Hisham]] is the subject of dispute among modern historians many of whom maintain that this "treaty" is possibly a collage of agreements, oral rather than written, of different dates, and that it is not clear exactly when they were made.<ref>Firestone 118. For opinions disputing the early date of the Constitution of Medina, see e.g., Peters 116; "Muhammad", "Encyclopaedia of Islam"; "Kurayza, Banu", "Encyclopaedia of Islam".</ref>

====The Battle of Badr====
[[File:Masjid Qiblatain.JPG|thumb|[[Masjid al-Qiblatain]] is significant as the place where the [[qibla]] was switched towards Mecca]]
{{Main|Battle of Badr}}
The Battle of Badr was a key battle in the early days of Islam and a turning point in Muhammad's struggle with his opponents among the Quraysh in Mecca.

In the spring of 624, Muhammad received word from his intelligence sources that a trade caravan, commanded by [[Abu Sufyan ibn Harb]] and guarded by thirty to forty men, was traveling from [[Syria]] back to Mecca. Muhammad gathered an army of 313 men, the largest army the Muslims had put in the field yet. However, many early Muslim sources, including the Qur'an, indicate that no serious fighting was expected,<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/059.sbt.html#005.059.287 Sahih al-Bukhari: Volume 5, Book 59, Number 287]</ref> and the future Caliph [[Uthman ibn Affan]] stayed behind to care for his sick wife.

As the caravan approached Medina, Abu Sufyan began hearing from travelers and riders about Muhammad's planned ambush. He sent a messenger named Damdam to Mecca to warn the Quraysh and get reinforcements. Alarmed, the Quraysh assembled an army of 900–1,000 men to rescue the caravan. Many of the Qurayshi nobles, including [[Amr ibn Hishām]], [[Walid ibn Utba]], Shaiba, and [[Umayyah ibn Khalaf]], joined the army. However, some of the army was to later return to Mecca before the battle.

The battle started with champions from both armies emerging to engage in combat. The Muslims sent out [[Ali]], [[Ubaydah ibn al-Harith]] (Obeida), and [[Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib]]. The Muslims dispatched the Meccan champions in a three-on-three melee, Hamzah killed his victim on very first strike although Ubaydah was mortally wounded.<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/abudawud/014.sat.html#014.2659 Sunan Abu Dawud: Book 14, Number 2659]</ref>

Now both armies began firing arrows at each other. Two Muslims and an unknown number of Quraysh were killed. Before the battle started, Muhammad had given orders for the Muslims to attack with their ranged weapons, and only engage the Quraysh with [[melee]] weapons when they advanced.<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/abudawud/014.sat.html#014.2658 Sunan Abu Dawud: Book 14, Number 2658]</ref> Now he gave the order to charge, throwing a handful of pebbles at the Meccans in what was probably a traditional Arabian gesture while yelling "Defaced be those faces!"<ref name="armstrong176">Armstrong, p. 176.</ref><ref name="lings148">Lings, p. 148.</ref> The Muslim army yelled ''"Yā manṣūr amit!"''<ref>"O thou whom God hath made victorious, slay!"</ref> and rushed the Qurayshi lines. The Meccans, understrength and unenthusiastic about fighting, promptly broke and ran. The battle itself only lasted a few hours and was over by the early afternoon.<ref name="armstrong176"/> The [[Qur'an]] describes the force of the Muslim attack in many verses, which refer to thousands of [[angel]]s descending from [[Heaven]] at Badr to slaughter the Quraysh.<ref name="lings148"/><ref>Quran: [[Al-i-Imran]] {{cite quran|3|123|end=125|t=y|tn=y|style=nosup|expand=no|quote=Allah had helped you at Badr, when ye were a contemptible little force; then fear Allah; thus May ye show your gratitude.'''§''' Remember thou saidst to the Faithful: "Is it not enough for you that Allah should help you with three thousand angels (Specially) sent down?'''§''' "Yea, - if ye remain firm, and act aright, even if the enemy should rush here on you in hot haste, your Lord would help you with five thousand angels Making a terrific onslaught.'''§'''}}</ref> Early Muslim sources take this account literally, and there are several [[hadith]] where Muhammad discusses the Angel [[Gabriel|Jibreel]] and the role he played in the battle.

Ubaydah ibn al-Harith (Obeida) was given the honour of "he who shot the first arrow for Islam" as Abu Sufyan ibn Harb altered course to flee the attack. In retaliation for this attack Abu Sufyan ibn Harb requested an armed force from Mecca.<ref>[http://www.answering-islam.de/Main/Books/Muir/Life2/chap4.htm The Biography of Mahomet, and Rise of Islam. Chapter Fourth.] Extension of Islam and Early Converts, from the assumption by Mahomet of the prophetical office to the date of the first Emigration to Abyssinia by William Muir</ref>

Throughout the winter and spring of 623 other raiding parties were sent by Muhammad from Medina.

====The Battle of Uhud====
{{Main|Battle of Uhud}}
[[Image:Mount Uhud.JPG|thumb|right|[[Mount Uhud]]]]
In 625, Abu Sufyan ibn Harb King of Mecca, who paid tax to Byzantine empire regularly, once again led a Meccan force against Medina. Muhammad marched out to meet the force but before reaching the battle, about one third of the troops under Abd-Allah ibn Ubayy withdrew. Nevertheless the Medinans marched forth into battle and originally were somewhat successful in pushing the Meccans back. However, a strategic hill was lost, which allowed the Meccans to come from behind the Medinans, so they suffered defeat in the Battle of Uhud. However, the Meccans did not capitalize on their victory by invading Medina and so returned to Mecca. A group of archers were commanded to stay on the hill at the ready keeping an eye on the cavalry which was placed behind the opposing army. The battle was first in the Medinans hands, when the enemy started to retreat the archers forgot what they were told in the excitement and the cavalry was then able to ambush the Muslim army from the rear. The Medinans felt heavy losses on that day and had to seek refuge on higher land to take care of their wounded. Muhammad was injured on this day.

====The Battle of the Trench====
{{Main|Battle of the Trench}}
[[Image:Medina ceramic panel Louvre OA3919.jpg|thumb|upright|Panel representing the mosque of Medina (now in Saudi Arabia). Found in [[İznik]] (Turkey), 18th century. Composite body, silicate coat, transparent glaze, underglaze painted.]]

In 627, Abu Sufyan ibn Harb once more led Meccan forces against Medina. Because the people of Medina had dug a trench to further protect the city, this event became known as the Battle of the Trench. After a protracted siege and various skirmishes, the Meccans withdrew again. During the siege, Abu Sufyan ibn Harb had contacted the remaining Jewish tribe of Banu Qurayza and formed an agreement with them, to attack the defenders from behind the lines. It was however discovered by the Muslims and thwarted. This was in breach of the Constitution of Medina and after the Meccan withdrawal, Muhammad immediately marched against the Qurayza and laid siege to their strongholds. The Jews eventually surrendered. Some members of the Banu Aus now interceded on behalf of their old allies and Muhammad agreed to the appointment of one of their chiefs, [[Sa'd ibn Mua'dh]], as judge. Sa'ad judged by Jewish Law that all male members of the tribe should be killed and the women and children taken prisoner as was the law stated in the Old Testament for treason..(Deutoronomy)<ref name="mantran">Robert Mantran, ''L'expansion musulmane'' Presses Universitaires de France 1995, p. 86.</ref> This action was conceived of as a defensive measure to ensure that the Muslim community could be confident of its continued survival in Medina. The historian Robert Mantran argues that from this point of view it was successful - from this point on, the Muslims were no longer primarily concerned with survival but with expansion and conquest.<ref name="mantran"/>

===Capital city===
In the ten years following the ''Hijra'', Medina formed the base from which Muhammad attacked and was attacked, and it was from here that he [[Conquest of Mecca|marched on Mecca]], becoming its ruler without battle. Even when Islamic rule was established, Medina remained for some years the most important city of Islam and the capital of the [[Caliphate]].

===Medina in Caliphate===
Under the first three Caliphs, Medina was the capital of a rapidly increasing Arab Empire. During the period of Usman the third caliph rebel Arabs attacked Medina and killed the third caliph Usman. Ali, the fourth caliph, changed the capital from Medina to Kufa. Medina's importance dwindled and it became more a place of religious importance than of political power. After the fragmentation of the Caliphate the city became subject to various rulers, including the [[Mamluk Sultanate (Cairo)|Mamluk]]s in the 13th century and finally, since 1517, the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Turks]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

In 1256 Medina was threatened by [[lava]] flow from the last eruption of [[Harrat Rahat]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

===[[Siege of Medina]]===
[[Image:Madina Haram at evening .jpg|center|thumb|800px| Masjid Nabawi at sunset]]
In the beginning of 20th century during [[World War I]] Medina witnessed one of the longest sieges in history. Medina was a city of the Ottoman Empire. Local rule was in the hands of the [[Hashemite]] clan as [[Sharif]]s or [[Emir]]s of Mecca. [[Fakhri Pasha]] was the [[Ottoman Dynasty|Ottoman]] governor of Medina. [[Ali of Hejaz|Ali bin Hussein]], the [[Sharif of Mecca]] and leader of the Hashemite clan, revolted against the caliph and sided with [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Great Britain]]. The city of Medina was besieged by his forces and Fakhri Pasha tenaciously held on during the [[Siege of Medina]] from 1916 but on 10 January 1919 he was forced to surrender. After the First World War, the Hashemite [[Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca|Sayyid Hussein bin Ali]] was proclaimed King of an independent Hejaz, but in 1924 he was defeated by [[Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia|Ibn Saud]], who integrated Medina and Hejaz into his kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

==Modern Medina==
[[Image:Medina dates market.JPG|thumb|right|Medina dates market]]
[[Image:Modern Medina.JPG|thumb|left|Modern city of Medina]]

The [[Knowledge Economic City, Medina|Medina Knowledge Economic City]] project, a city focused on knowledge-based industries, has been planned and is expected to boost development and increase the number of jobs in Medina.<ref>[http://www.fdimagazine.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/1830/Economic_cities_a_rise.html Economic cities a rise]</ref>

The city is served by the [[Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport]] which opened in 1974. It handles on average 20–25 flights a day, although this number triples during the Hajj season and school holidays.

==Education==
Universities include:
*[[Islamic University of Madinah]]
*[[Taibah University]]

==See also==
*[[Masjid al-Qiblatain]]
*[[Quba Mosque]]
*[[Destruction of sites associated with early Islam]]
*[[Hejazi Arabic|Hejazi Accent]]
*[[Jeddah]]
*[[Nakhawila]]
*[[Siege of Medina]]
*[[Fakhri Pasha]]
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Medina}}
*{{Wikitravel}}
{{Saudi cities}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2010}}

[[Category:Populated places in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Holy cities]]
[[Category:Islamic holy places]]
[[Category:Medina| ]]
[[Category:Al Madinah Province]]

{{Historic Capitals of the Arab Empire}}
{{Link FA|ar}}

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