Fake: Minaret Dome Miraculously Flies in Nepal

“ALLAHU AKBAR! Yes it’s miracle of “ALLAH”. Happend in Nepal. Govt didnt allowed the crane for Mosque minar and said that `go and ask your ALLAH to help you.  Allah helps muslim by putting gunbad on menar without any support, since, non muslims dont allow muslims to use crane to lift gunbad, so the imam of mosque saw our beloved prophet pbuh in dream who told him just cover the gunbad with white bed sheet and then see.”

Those were the words which spread through various social medias, sent with the video implying that the dome of a mosque’s minaret was miraculously lifted to its minaret by itself with the help from Allah.

I received this message through WhatsApp where the message was translated to the Malay language.

Feeling curious and guessing that this is just a hoax, I looked up for articles or any sort of writings regarding this matter to find out what really happened.

I found a blog post saying that this is a hoax, complete with evidences showing that the dome was actually lifted using pulleys, similar to how cable cars function.

Even though the cables were almost invisible because the video was recorded a long time ago using a low quality camera; it can still be seen, but for those who are easily tricked and do not investigate after receiving these kind of messages, tend to just believe the fake message and share it through the internet.

In fact, at the end of the video we can clearly see a few Indonesian flags, thus showing that this happened in Indonesia and not in Nepal as claimed.

The fake story came in at least 6 different versions, ranging from the Imam being told to cover the dome in his dream, to 3000 Imams gathering in the mosque to perform Dhikirullah.

This is a good example of how easy we can be fooled by fake stories, and how ‘perception terrorism’ can easily ‘terrorised’ our mind into believing things that are not true.

‘Perception terrorism’ can cause serious problems including racial riots and can even cause civil wars if we are not careful.

So, always remember to investigate before forwarding or sharing any news, and please restrain from forwarding or sharing any news right after receiving them, especially sensational news.

Aftermath Photos Of Magnitude 7.8 Nepal Earthquake, Almost 2000 Killed

A building stands damaged after an earthquake in Kathmandu, Nepal, Saturday, April 25, 2015. A strong magnitude-7.9 earthquake shook Nepal’s capital and the densely populated Kathmandu Valley before noon Saturday, causing extensive damage with toppled walls and collapsed buildings, officials said. (AP Photo/ Niranjan Shrestha)

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hits Kathmandu, Nepal, on Saturday killing nearly 2000 people.

More than 700 people died in Kathmandu alone.

The Saturday earthquake was the worst earthquake in Nepal since the 1934 earthquake that killed about 8500 people.

The death toll from the earthquake might rise as the situation in the remote area is unclear because those places are either cut off or hard to access.

The earthquake sparked avalanches in the Mount Everest that killed at least seventeen people; which is the mountain’s worst disaster.

A strong aftershock with a magnitude of 6.7, centred 60km (40 miles) east of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu on Sunday sending people running for open ground in the city.

Here are some photos of the aftermath…

The rescue effort began in earnest in Kathmandu on Sunday morning (AP)

Historic buildings were levelled in the quake (AP)

The historic city of Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu valley was also badly damaged (REUTERS)

An avalanche was captured on camera moments before it descended on Everest Base Camp (AFP)

People survey a site damaged by an earthquake, in Kathmandu, Nepal, April 25, 2015. The shallow earthquake measuring 7.9 magnitude struck west of the ancient Nepali capital of Kathmandu on Saturday, killing more than 100 people, injuring hundreds and leaving a pall over the valley, doctors and witnesses said. (REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar)

In this photo released by China’s Xinhua News Agency, people stand near collapsed houses in Nyalam County of Xigaze Prefecture, southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, following a strong earthquake in Nepal, April 25, 2015. A powerful earthquake shook Nepal’s capital and the densely populated Kathmandu Valley before noon Saturday, collapsing houses, leveling centuries-old temples and cutting open roads in the worst temblor in the Himalayan nation in over 80 years. (Zhang Mao/Xinhua via AP) NO SALES

In this photo released by China’s Xinhua News Agency, a collapsed building is seen in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu Saturday, April 25, 2015. A strong earthquake shook Nepal’s capital and the densely populated Kathmandu Valley before noon Saturday, causing extensive damage with toppled walls and collapsed buildings, officials said. (Zhou Shengping/Xinhua via AP) NO SALES

In this photo provided by Guna Raj Luitel, people walk next to ruble after an earthquake in Kathmandu, Nepal, Saturday, April 25, 2015. A powerful earthquake shook Nepal’s capital and the densely populated Kathmandu Valley before noon Saturday, collapsing houses, leveling centuries-old temples and cutting open roads in the worst temblor in the Himalayan nation in over 80 years. (Guna Raj Luitel via AP)

Emergency workers and bystanders clear debris while searching for survivors under a collapsed temple in Basantapur Durbar Square following an earthquake on April 25, 2015 in Kathmandu, Nepal. (Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images)

An army patrol walks in the city center looking at the damage following an earthquake on April 25, 2015 in Kathmandu, Nepal. (Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images)

People stand on top of debris from a collapsed building at Basantapur Durbar Square watching the destruction following an earthquake on April 25, 2015 in Kathmandu, Nepal. (Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images)

A young man speaks on the phone in front of a collapsed building in the city center following an earthquake on April 25, 2015 in Kathmandu, Nepal. (Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images)

Malaysian Everest Climber Killed On The Way To Base Camp

Inset: Mohamad Shahrulnizam Ahmad Nazari. Image credit to NST.

Malaysian climber, Mohamad Shahrulnizam Ahmad Nazari, 25 died from Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) on the way up to the Everest base camp at about 5pm Nepal time, Monday.

He was a part of the Perbadanan Putrajaya Sports, Recreation and Welfare Club’s expedition to Kalapathar and the Everest base camp along with ten men and three women.

It was also reported that another climber also suffers AMS and is critically ill.

The climbers are now camping out in Labuche at the height of 4,100 metres above sea level.

A Malaysian embassy spokesman in Kathmandu, Nepal said that none of the members nor the body of the victim could be flown out of the mountain to the hospital in Kathmandu because of a bad weather.

Perbadanan Putrajaya corporate communications senior deputy director Zaharah Salamat said:

“Around 7.15pm, we were informed of his passing, and until now we cannot ascertain as to when the body can be flown out to Kathmandu. Following the tragic incident, all climbers had canceled their plans to head to the Everest base camp and are currently staying in Labuche.”

Al-Fatihah to Allahyarham Mohamad Shahrulnizam Ahmad Nazari.

Image credit to NST.

Meeting Indiana Jones Again

On October 10, 2012, we fetched our Australian friend, Rupert Mann from the Islamic Arts Museum.

Like Indiana Jones, Rupert is an archaeologist and wears a hat too.

I wore the hat that he gave me during his last trip to Malaysia in February 2012, and I was very happy because he wore the same hat too 🙂

It was really fun talking to him again after 8 months since we last met.

He gave us lots of beautiful stamps from all around the world.

We were looking at the beautiful stamps.

He flew to Kuala Lumpur on his way to Kathmandu, Nepal for a hiking trip.

We went to a frozen yoghurt shop, Tutti Frutti which served very tasty frozen yogurt with all kinds of toppings.

I really enjoyed talking to Rupert and he is really fun to be with.

Everybody in my family really like Rupert because he is a wonderful and nice friend.

Rupert is very polite and very wise too.

I gave him the book that I wrote, titled, ‘The Calovinia’ and I hope that he’ll enjoy the book.

Rupert (R) and I holding ‘The Calovinia’.

I love meeting him and I really hope to meet him again soon.