Monmouth's Got Talent (aka MGT!) – acts have been selected (well done), audition dates set (13th and 15th Feb in G Rooms and Sports Hall – check notice in Reception for your time/date) and we wish you all good luck. The Final will take place on Wednesday 21st March at The Blake Theatre.
Y9 students are now deciding on their subject choices following Options evening earlier this week.
Lots of Sixth Form students (us!) are busy visiting universities for their interviews – fingers crossed for some good offers in the near future.
Term ends on Thursday 15th February (Friday 16th is an INSET Day) and students will return to school on Monday 26th February. Let's hope the new term brings us some warmer weather with no rain or snow!


We're used to hearing about news and rumours being pushed out from international leaks, but this week, the news is at our footsteps, as a Telstra ad becomes the leak of an upcoming HTC handset.
Overseas, the mobile oriented GSM Arena website had the exclusive, where an anonymous tipster sent the crew a picture of an upcoming Telstra catalogue which doesn't just mention the new HTC One, but shows a picture, too.
The new model, which this catalogue suggests will still be called the HTC One (or even "the all new HTC One") will bringing with a 5 inch Full HD screen, metal body, the two front-facing speakers from HTC's BoomSound, a new version of the HTC Sense overlay (6.0), and two cameras.
Two cameras used on a single phone can't be classed as a totally new thing, mind you. HTC once tried this in the Evo 3D, though in that phone, the two cameras were there to let you capture 3D images and videos to play back on the 3D auto-stereoscopic screen.
Instead, the leaked Telstra catalogue seems to suggest the two cameras will be called "HTC Duo Camera" and let you take shots and focus after the fact, similar to the Lightfield technology employed in the Lytro camera.
A portion of the leaked catalogue. Credit: GSM Arena.
Still, there's always a possibility that this catalogue is a fake, especially since HTC was pretty quiet during Mobile World Congress, outside of the budget and mid-range offerings in the Desire series.
That said, if this is a fake, it's a really good one, especially with a mention of "Telstra New Phone Feeling" in the terms and conditions.
As such, we'd probably say that this leak of the new One is probably close to real, and with a price of $840, it will be interesting to see how it shapes the market when it's released soon.


Managers at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust used staff engagement to find out what mattered to their health visitors. They developed a workforce strategy which helped to improve retention in the service. Find out what they did, download the presentation.


text:
The Superiority of the First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah
11:30 AM Habibi Halaqas No comments
By Shaykh ibn al-Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy on him
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. May peace and blessings be upon the Chief of the Messengers, Muhammad.
Indeed it is a great favour and blessing from Allah that He has made for His righteous servants periods of time within which they can increase in good deeds to attaingreat rewards and one of these opportunistic periods is the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah (the final month of the Islamic Calendar, in which the hajj is performed).
SUPERIORITY OF THE FIRST TEN DAYS OF DHUL-HIJJAH
The excellence of these ten days have been mentioned in the Qur'ân and the Sunnah.
1. Allah says in the Qur'ân:
"By the dawn and by the ten nights … " [Al-Qur'ân 89:1-2]
Ibn Kathîr said that "the ten nights" referred to here are the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, and this opinion was also held by Ibn Abbâs, Ibn az-Zubair, Mujâhid and others.
2. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
"There are no deeds as excellent as those done in these ten days." They (the companions listening) said, "Not even Jihâd?" He, peace be upon him, said, "No, not even Jihâd except a man who goes forth endangering his life and wealth and does not return with anything." [Recorded by al-Imâm al-Bukhârî]
3. Allah says:
" … and remember the name of Allah in the appointed days." [Al-Qur'ân 2:203]
Ibn Abbâs and Ibn Kathîr said this means in the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
4. The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said:
"There are no other days that are as great as these in the sight of Allah, the Most Sublime. Nor are there any deeds more beloved to Allah then those that are done in these ten days. So increase in tahlîl (to say lâ illaha illallah), takbîr (to say allahu akbar) and tahmîd (to say alhumdulillâh)." [Reported by at-Tabarânî in al-Mu'jum al-Kabîr]
5. With regards to the noble companion Saîd bin Jubair, when the days of Dhul-Hijjah began he would strive to increase in good actions with great intensity until he was unable to increase anymore. [Reported by ad-Dârimî]
6. Ibn Hajar says in Fath al-Bârî:
"The most apparent reason for the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah being distinguished in excellence is due to the assembly of the greatest acts of worship in this period, i.e. salawât (prayers), siyâm (fasting), sadaqah (charity) and the hajj (pilgrimage). In no other periods do these great deeds combine."
WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDED ACTS IN THESE DAYS?
1. The Prayer - It is highly recommended to perform the obligatory acts at their prescribed times (as early as possible) and to increase oneself in the superogatory acts, for indeed, this is what brings a person closer to their Lord. The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said:
"Upon you is to increase in your prostration to Allah, for verily you do not prostrate to Allah with even one prostration, except that He raises you in degrees and decreases your sins because of it." [Reported by Muslim]
2. Fasting - This has been mentioned as one of the acts of righteousness where Hanbada ibn Khâlid reports on the authority of his wife who reports that some of the wives of the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
The Prophet, upon whom be peace, would fast on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, the day of Âshûra and three days in every month. [Recorded by Ahmad, Abu Dâwûd, an-Nisâî and others]
Al-Imâm an-Nawawî said that fasting in these ten days is extremely recommended.
3. Saying allahu akbar; lâ illaha illallah and alhamdulillâh - It is found in the aforementioned narration of Ibn 'Umar:
"So increase yourselves in saying lâ illaha illallah, allahu akbar and alhamdulillâh."
Al-Imâm Bukhârî, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
"Ibn 'Umar and Abû Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with them both, used to go out to the markets in the ten days saying the takbîr causing the people to follow them in this action."
"Umar ibn al-Khattâb used to say the takbîr in his minaret in Mina, whereupon the people of the mosque hearing 'Umar, would start to say the takbîr as would the people in the markets until the whole of Mina was locked in glorifying Allah."
Ibn 'Umar used to say the takbîr in Mina during these ten days and after prayers, whilst on his bed, in his tent, in his gathering and whilst walking. What is recommended is to say the takbîr aloud due to the fact that 'Umar ibn al-Khattâb, his son and Abû Hurayrah used to do likewise, may Allah be pleased with them all.
Strive with us O Muslims in reviving this sunnah that has become lost in these times and it was almost forgotten, even amongst the people of righteousness and goodness all of which is unfortunately in opposition to what the best of generations were upon (preserving and maintaining the superogatory acts).
There are a number of ways of making takbîr that have been narrated by the companions and their followers and from these ways is the following:
- Allahu akbar, allahu akbar, allahu akbar kabîrun.
- Allahu akbar, allahu akbar, lâ ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar, wallahu akbar, wa lillahil hamd.
- Allahu akbar, allahu akbar, allahu akbar, lâ ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar, allahu akbar wa lillâhil hamd.
4. Fasting on the day of 'Arafah - Fasting has been affirmed on the day of 'Arafah, where it has been confirmed from the Prophet, peace be upon him, that he said regarding fasting on the day of 'Arafah:
"Be content with the fact that Allah will expiate for you your sins for the year before (the day of 'Arafah) and the year after (the day of 'Arafah)." [Reported by Muslim]
However, whoever is at 'Arafah as a pilgrim then fasting is not expected of him, as the Prophet, peace be upon him, stopped at 'Arafah to eat.
May the peace of Allah be upon his Prophet, the family of the Prophet and all of his companions
Posted in: Islam

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