ISLAM _ Taskirah by Ustazah Isfadiah
by Chris Eilers

Step back and embark on a captivating journey through rare historical photos, unlocking hidden past treasures. Furthermore, these stunning glimpses into bygone eras transcend mere frozen moments. Instead, they act as windows into the stories, struggles, and triumphs of generations long gone. Whether haunting portraits or monumental events, each image conceals a narrative eagerly waiting to be unraveled. Therefore, prepare to unlock a treasure trove of forgotten memories and ignite your curiosity as we delve into the past.
In the tumultuous year of 1969, a period marred by deep racial divisions and injustices, a truly heartwarming and inclusive moment emerged. Mr. Rogers, an iconic and beloved figure known for his kindness and compassion, demonstrated remarkable courage during a time when Black Americans faced unjust segregation, particularly in public spaces like swimming pools. With unwavering determination to break down these barriers of discrimination, Mr. Rogers extended a heartfelt invitation to Officer Clemmons, an African-American police officer, to join him in an act as simple as it was profound: cooling their feet together in a pool. This act, while seemingly small in nature, carried an immense weight. It not only challenged the prevailing norms of racial segregation but also conveyed a resounding and powerful message of acceptance, unity, and the shared humanity that transcended the color of one’s skin.
In a society deeply divided by racial strife, Mr. Rogers’ gesture stood as a beacon of hope and a testament to the potential for positive change through acts of kindness and inclusivity. His actions continue to serve as an inspiration, reminding us of the transformative power of empathy and compassion in the face of prejudice and injustice.
This intriguing photograph, dating back to the 1930s, offers a captivating glimpse into a truly fascinating scene: a police dog, poised and confident, seated in a sidecar while diligently on duty. Beyond its visual appeal, the image evokes a profound sense of partnership and unwavering loyalty as the dog faithfully accompanies its human counterpart on their motorcycle patrol. Such moments, rare and remarkable, symbolize a unique connection between man and canine.
Gaze upon the hauntingly beautiful Old Cincinnati Library, an architectural marvel that has regrettably been consigned to the annals of history. This captivating photograph serves as a poignant tribute to the library’s grandeur and elegance, forever preserved before its unfortunate demolition in 1955. With its intricate facade adorned with towering columns, the library stood as an enduring symbol of knowledge and enlightenment.
Every meticulous detail captured in this photograph transports us to an era when books held a revered and sacred place within society’s heart. Though the library’s physical presence may have been lost to time, the power of these photographs allows us to recapture its fleeting grandeur and appreciate its architectural splendor. It is worth noting that discussions surrounding the fate of this library had commenced three decades prior to its demolition. Challenges such as poor ventilation and limited accessibility to many books had prompted considerations of its reconstruction.
With the assistance of this image, we can step into the vibrant streets of Harlem in 1937 and gain a glimpse into the essence of that era. A proud and determined grocer stands before his store, embodying the spirit of entrepreneurship and community.
This snapshot encapsulates the vitality and rich cultural tapestry of Harlem during a significant era. The resilience and determination of small business owners played a pivotal role in shaping the neighborhood’s identity, a legacy that endures even today. Through this single frame, we catch a fleeting glimpse of life in the Harlem community during the 1930s.
There is something truly special about the innocence of childhood. As children, we often yearn to grow up quickly and emulate our parents, but in doing so, we overlook the preciousness of our youth. These three young boys perfectly exemplify the joys of childhood.
The pure joy radiating from these young boys’ faces is undeniably contagious! Regardless of circumstances, children always find ways to embrace the simple pleasures of being children. Although these children may have lacked material wealth and toys, their abundance of joy is unmistakable.
Journey with me as we return to the quaint streets of Studio City, California, around the early 1910s. In this captivating photograph, we find ourselves in an era where simplicity and resourcefulness thrived in harmony. Picture a dog-drawn cart, a unique and endearing symbol of a bygone era, serving as a reliable milk delivery service—a scene that paints a vivid portrait of days long past…
This image not only encapsulates nostalgia but also reveals a profound sense of community and a symbiotic relationship between humans and their loyal animal companions. At a time when technological conveniences were not as pervasive, this photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the ingenious methods employed in the past to fulfill everyday needs. It highlights the remarkable ingenuity of a generation that, facing challenges, creatively navigated their world.
Let us embark on a journey into the intriguing past through this captivating photograph that unveils a unique practice that thrived during the 1920s-1930s on the bustling streets of London. This practice was a pioneering approach to urban landscaping, involving the introduction of sheep to manage grass growth and curtail the escalating costs associated with traditional mowing methods. Against the backdrop of a metropolitan setting, these woolly grazers roamed freely, creating a charming juxtaposition of pastoral serenity within the heart of the city.
In stark contrast to the modern urban landscape we are accustomed to, this historical practice underscores the practicality and innovative thinking of generations gone by. They ingeniously harnessed the assistance of nature’s helpers to maintain public spaces efficiently and sustainably. This practice serves as a compelling testament to the harmonious coexistence that once existed between the relentless pace of urban development and the nurturing presence of the natural world within the urban fabric.
Behold a photograph that captures a profound moment in history, one that transcends time and space. It portrays the faces of Jewish prisoners who, in 1945, were granted a second chance at life when their death train was derailed. The weight of their harrowing experiences is etched onto their weary yet resilient expressions…
Source : Internet

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and US and EU sanctions, western companies began a steady withdrawal from Russian markets. Microsoft was no exception, and in June, the company blocked Russian users from downloading the latest versions of Windows – impacting the roughly 95% of computers and laptops that currently run on Windows.
This may not seem like a particularly drastic move to the average Windows user in Russia – who at least in the short term, won’t be hugely impacted by a loss of remote support from Microsoft, or official updates for Windows 10 and 11.
Microsoft blocked Russian users from downloading the latest versions of Windows in June 2022.
Yet the move could have far more wide-reaching implications for companies and government agencies. Crucially, these groups are responsible for running a diverse array of everyday commercial and public-facing systems: from elevators and cash registers to medical devices and industrial machinery.
To boost its resilience in the face of this mounting problem, the Russian government has now announced plans for switching from Windows to Linux, a free and open-source operating system.
The announcement: On September 20, the Russian daily newspaper Kommersant reported that the Ministry of Digital Development was preparing new changes to policies on software products.
While these changes won’t be imposed directly, the ministry states that in order to receive preferences in tax benefits, as well as government contracts, companies offering software products will be required to switch to Linux-based operating systems. To make this switch, companies would need to rebuild many of their products virtually from scratch.
Because Linux is free and customizable, it is more flexible and can run far better on older computers.
At this stage, it is far from clear how they will handle such monumental logistics – but already, leading figures in several Russian software companies have weighed in. Talking to Kommersant, Aleksey Smirnov of Basalt SPO, a company specializing in software security, suggested that the requirement should be introduced in stages for different classes of software.
Under Smirnov’s proposal, easier-to-switch software products could be pressured to switch over almost immediately, while more complex systems, such as data protection and office management databases, could be introduced in Linux after around 2 years.
The benefits: The potential advantages of this plan have been highlighted by some in the Russian software industry. First and foremost, Linux is free and customizable. This not only makes it more flexible, it also means that Linux can run far better on older computers, without the need for costly hardware upgrades.
The switch may be a fundamentally important step towards a “full-fledged domestic IT ecosystem” in Russia.
Natalya Selina
Mikhail Lebedev, at the office software developer Almi Partner, argued that the switch wouldn’t require particularly heavy investments or development times. His prediction is that around 10% of software products would require a full rebuild.
For Natalya Selina at the Linux-based Astra operating system, the switch may be a fundamentally important step towards what she calls a “full-fledged domestic IT ecosystem” in Russia.
Yet despite such optimistic predictions, the changes proposed by the Ministry of Digital Development will inevitably face numerous challenges – making their success a far from certain outcome.
The roadblocks: Perhaps the most pressing issue with the plan is that the number of Russian software developers specialized in Linux-based operating systems number just a fraction of those who have only ever worked with Windows. This is a particularly daunting prospect for developers whose products will need to be built entirely from scratch.
Some of the systems that will require complete rebuilds are foundational to Russia’s economy.
Rustam Rustamov
Dmitry Komissarov at New Cloud Technologies, which develops an alternative to Microsoft Office, admitted to Kommersant that the feat of rebuilding his company’s products on Linux-based operating systems would be comparable in time and investment to the efforts of the developers who built Microsoft’s original Office suite.
Rustam Rustamov at the Red Soft operating system added that some of the systems that will require complete rebuilds are foundational to Russia’s economy. These include banking systems, which have now been written for Windows for decades.
This ultimately means that even tighter restrictions may not be enough to encourage software developers to make the switch, and will do little to boost the resilience of Russia’s faltering tech economy.
We’d love to hear from you! If you have a comment about this article or if you have a tip for a future Freethink story, please email us at tips@freethink.com.
A Stanford-led team has developed a new microchip that could let us run advanced AI programs directly on our devices.