Thursday, November 3, 2011

Celebrate: Hundreds Escape Ferry Fire

Eid Mubarak (Arabic: عيد مبارك‎),

Persian/Urdu: عید مُبارک, Malayalam: ഈദ്‌ മുബാറക്‌, Bengali: ঈদ মোবারক)"Bayramınız mübarek olsun" Turky "Bayramınız kutlu olsun", Pashto: Akhtar de nekmregha sha, "may your festival be blessed", "kul 'am wantum bikhair", "[May] you be well every year". Taqabbalallâhu minnâ wa minkum ("[May] God accept from us and you [our fasts and deeds]"

Thursday 3rd November, 2011

Since we often hear such terrible news, we surely need to celebrate the good. In this case, it's fantastic news to hear of so many people and their families with the opportunity to serve humanity a little while longer on this beautiful planet.

Just think of ALL the people who were on that ship and their loved ones/neighbors/communities who will be able to observe with cheer this sacred time of the year! * See more below...

"Pella's passengers were mostly Egyptian expatriate workers returning home for the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, which starts on Sunday.:

Posted from Al Jazeera English 12:30 pm EST (New York Time)

One passenger dies while more than 1,200 reach Egyptian port unharmed on lifeboats after being rescued, officials say.

(So far) almost all of the passengers who were onboard a ferry that caught fire while sailing from the Jordanian port of Aqaba have reached the Egyptian port of Nuweiba unharmed on lifeboats, Egyptian officials say.

One unidentified Jordanian passenger died after jumping into the water in an attempt to escape the fire, while the other more than 1,200 onboard were rescued by authorities, Farid al-Sharaa, Jordanian Civil Defense spokesman, said.

Al-Sharaa said 12 passengers suffered from smoke inhalation and were taken to a Jordanian hospital. The remaining passengers were placed aboard life rafts that subsequently sailed off to Egypt, he said.

Al-Sharaa told the Associated Press news agency that the captain and his three crew members were also rescued and were on their way back to Egypt.

An Egyptian official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media, said Pella's passengers were mostly Egyptian expatriate workers returning home for the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, which starts on Sunday.

Hassan Falah, deputy of director of Red Sea ports authority, told Egyptian state TV that military aircraft and ships were involved in the rescue effort and hadcontinued to try to extinguish the ferry's fire.

The vessel was about 15 nautical miles off Aqaba when the blaze erupted on Thursday, the sources said.Owned by AB maritime, Pella was also carrying five trucks.Passengers were ordered to take to life rafts, and a tug and a second ferry were dispatched from Nuweiba to join the rescue, they added.

Falah said there was extensive damage to the ferry.

Source: http://english.aljazeera.net/MiddleEast or click here

* Id ul-Adha (‘Īd al-’Aḍḥá - various spellings)(Festivity after the Hajj) Arabic: عيد الأضحى‎ ‘Īd al-’Aḍḥá Also called Festival of Sacrifice, Sacrifice Feast = Observed by Muslims around the world. Islamic Commemoration of Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his eldest son Ishmael in obedience to a command from Allah - and Ishmael's acceptance of this command. Marks the end of the Pilgrimage to sundown, and ask God for forgiveness. 2011 date November 6 to November 9 A special time for celebration, cleansing and offering gifts to the poor.

5 comments:

CN said...

I would be grateful for additions, corrections and comments from those who know much more about this sacred time...

Also celebratory comments for both those who are safe and those who observe this commemoration...

CN said...

Such good timing - in terms of sacred calendar to consider Hazrat Ibrahim - to offer the gift of this additional history.

Many of us around the world who are new to these observations also consider Ibrahim the "Father of us all"...When I spent more time with children years ago, we all enjoyed the song "Father Abraham had many sons". Sometimes for the sake of including "the rest of us", I would use alternative such as "Father Abrahim had many young"

Again, Eid Mubarak! for all who are observing during this sacred, blessed time to all at RR!I posted a happy piece of news (hundreds saved from ferry fire!) this my morning, the 3rd November, related to this time of sacred observation here for any willing to add, correct and comment...http://oneheartforpeace.blogspot.com/

Also SEE Abraham as pioneer for world literature/writers...:
http://republicofrumi.blogspot.com/2011/11/abraham-as-pioneer-of-world-literature.html#comments

Plz also comment...

CN said...

Finally, a well-known American news source - world division - is reporting on this incredible happy news. See http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/port-official-fire-breaks-out-on-egyptian-ferry-with-1200-passengers-in-the-red-sea/2011/11/03/gIQA5xXuhM_story.html

Note that in February 2006, a similar ferry fire caused the death of 1,000 with the rescue attempt botched.

Many praises and appreciations go to those who were the rescuers at this time - along with strong prayers of gratitude to Allah - our ONE Creator/Sustainer!

Muhammad Rizwan Jabbar said...

:)

Kindness speaks, and it's not that difficult to hear either... I heard ...[yep, you can hear certain things while reading :)]

Eid Mubarak Connie. We'll be celebrating Eid, most probably on this Monday

p.s. nice to see the magnitude of your happiness.

connie nash said...

shukria, rlZ, i celebrate with you this MONDAY...

and THANX for your kindness in reading, hearing and commenting.

YES, I left for a weekend with my husband SO HAPPY to know all these precious families would be able to celebrate in such a special way despite the seriousness of the the bibical/Quran event to be observed.