Muslim

AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (AJE)
US condemns Israeli expansion

9 Mar 2010 | 6:57 pm

Biden denounces move to build 1,600 illegal homes that could derail talks with Palestinians.
Massacre leaves Nigerians on edge

9 Mar 2010 | 6:34 pm

Gunfire sends villagers running for cover two days after attack leaves 500 dead.
Syria and Israel eye nuclear plants

9 Mar 2010 | 4:40 pm

Middle East rivals announce plans to develop nuclear energy to meet energy need.
Greek PM meets Obama over crisis

9 Mar 2010 | 1:15 pm

Papandreou urges US president to crack down on speculators damaging Greece's economy.
Somali Shabab 'ready to fight' US

9 Mar 2010 | 12:18 pm

Al-Shabab says unafraid of US role in Somali government's offensive against them.

IslamCrunch
Prophetic Characteristics Course – Know Your Prophet

Mikael Pittam

3 Mar 2010 | 8:36 am

The Zaytuna Distance Learning program is having a Know Your Prophet promotion during this blessed month of Rabiu’ Awwal for Sidi Yahya Rhodus’ course: “The Prophetic Characteristics“. Description: A four-part study of the inward and outward characteristics of the Prophet Muhammad from his lineage to his names to his physical stature to his noble attributes, taking from the text of the late scholar Shaykh Yusuf al-Nabahani, Wasa’il al-Wusul ila Shama’il al-Rasul (The Means of Arrival to the Characteristics of the Messenger). Studying the characteristics of…
Twitter Trend Campaign – #MalcolmX – Febuary 21, 1965

Mikael Pittam

21 Feb 2010 | 1:57 am

Today commemorates a universal day of mourning by Muslims, social activists and lovers of peace. On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated in New York. His death was a tremendous loss for many communities. Here are some ideas on how you can honor Malcolm X on his death anniversary, during Black History Month and throughout the year. On Twitter: make #MalcolmX as the trending topic. Encourage all your followers to share a quote of Malcolm or link to some of his resources and include the hashtag #MalcolmX. Here’s an example – http://twitter.com/sueetness/status/9420396588…
Special Salawat during Rabi al-Awwal

Mikael Pittam

19 Feb 2010 | 2:57 pm

Shaykh Abdulkarim Yahya has initiated his own blog – The Interpreter’s Path! He has shared with his readers and students a special gift for the month of Rabi al-Awwal, the Islamic month which has been honored with the birth of the Last Messenger, Prophet Muhammad sal Allahu alayhi wasalam. Shaykh Abdulkarim’s beloved teacher, Habib Umar bin Hafidz, taught him the following salawat: Please visit the original post to read more about Habib Umar’s advice.
The Eminent Morality of the Last Prophet with Shaykh Afeefuddin Al-Jailani – Bay Area lecture series

Mikael Pittam

27 Jan 2010 | 5:17 pm

IslamCrunch presents The Eminent Morality of the Last Prophet with Shaykh Afeefuddin Al-Jailani Bay Area Lecture Series The final messenger of God, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him), had excellent behavior with his congregation, his family, his community and those in his contemporary society. God describes the last Prophet in the Quran: “And indeed, you are of a great moral character” [68:4] Muslims and those of other faiths regard the Prophet with high esteem. His actions, speech, deeds and confirmations were precise and impeccable. Learn more about the…
New Year, New Decade, New You. Making intentions and setting resolutions.

Mikael Pittam

6 Jan 2010 | 5:43 am

With 2010 as well as 1431 upon us, Muslims have twice the motivation needed to set goals, resolutions and most importantly, intentions. Here’s a guideline for making resolutions for the new year, new decade, new you: http://bit.ly/2010_1430

altmuslim
Dr. Muhammed Tahir ul-Qadri: A fatwa that might work

editor@altmuslim.com

8 Mar 2010 | 10:45 am

On March 2nd, 2010 Dr. Muhammed Tahir ul-Qadri, a very prominent religious scholar from Pakistan has issued a Fatwa, which he himself described as historic, against terrorism and terrorists. This is neither the first, and may not be the last Fatwa against terrorism. But it certainly might be the longest and most comprehensive one. There have been several prominent Fatawah (plural) issued by Muslim scholars and institutions against terrorism in the past and Dr. Qadri summarizes many of the medieval and classical ones. The Fatwa of India’s most prominent Islamic madrasah Darul-Ulloom Deoband…
Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim: “The Malaysian people will not easily be fooled”

editor@altmuslim.com

5 Mar 2010 | 9:45 am

Back in 1998, when Anwar Ibrahim was deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, he was charged with sodomy in a case widely intepreted as an attempt by Prime Minister Matahir Mohamed to exploit the Malaysian justice system and prevent Ibrahim from gaining power. After a widely publicized (and criticized) trial, Ibrahim was sentenced to six years in prison - a conviction that was overturned by Malaysia's supreme court in 2004. Upon release, he immediately reentered politics and formed a coalition of parties that became the only effective opposition to the ruling UMNO coalition's hold on the…
Musician Salman Ahmad: Rock and roll jihad for peace

editor@altmuslim.com

3 Mar 2010 | 10:59 am

Salman Ahmad, founder of South Asia’s most successful rock band Junoon, has been on a rock and roll jihad (struggle) ever since his first concert at 18 – a medical school talent show in Lahore, Pakistan. Eyes closed, emotions pumped, he was ripping through Van Halen’s Eruption on his guitar, mesmerized by the crowd’s screams, only to discover that the yelling was coming from a group of bearded students from a religious group outraged by music they considered un-Islamic. One student tore Salman’s guitar from his hands and smashed it on the floor. From that moment, Salman vowed to…
British Muslims: Can madrasahs bridge the education gap?

editor@altmuslim.com

1 Mar 2010 | 11:00 am

Studies show that poor educational attainment and professional underachievement are prevalent amongst young British Muslims. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, an independent development and social research charity, found that British Muslims are less upwardly mobile than their Hindu, Christian and Jewish counterparts. This trend appears consistent across Europe, where Muslims are almost three times more likely to be unemployed than non-Muslims. Because Muslims are one of the most insular and least economically advantaged groups in Europe, there is a real need to raise aspirations, increase…
Social networking: Fatwas against Facebook?

editor@altmuslim.com

26 Feb 2010 | 6:45 am

Like any other social media platform, Facebook hosts a wide range users, some looking for intellectual stimulation, and some others looking to seek companionship. One has to be no less careful with Facebook friends than with next door neighbors, perhaps more so given the 400 million active users that it boasts about. You could waste your time uploading doppelganger pictures onto your profile or fill your status bar with the meaning of your name from urbandictionary.com. For example, my name, Fahad, means: “Someone who is a math genius.” The irony, however, is that I can’t calculate tip…

Mr Moo
There was a young Imam from Leicester…

Mr Moo

22 Feb 2010 | 10:55 pm

There was a young Imam from Leicester Who was known as a charming jester He wore fancy hats And ornate cravats (He made sure they were polyester) One Friday, during Jumah speeching The young Imam was bored of preaching ‘We should leave this fine place To the beach we should race Sun sand and sea will be my teaching!’ The Leicesterwalas were all aghast Surely he couldn’t last Sanity prevailed The musallis exhaled To Skegness they travelled en-masse The Imam was highly commended For the joy he brought unintended ‘Our mosques can be so dull But our day now is full’…
The Muslim origins of Valentine’s Day

Mr Moo

13 Feb 2010 | 10:45 am

There are plenty of naysayers who say Islam forbids celebrating Valentine’s Day, that we should be nice to our loved ones all year round. However, it is all based on the premise that Valentine’s Day is a purely Christian festival. The origins of Valentine’s Day are quite sketchy. Here is the true and definitive reason why Muslims should embrace Valentine’s Day in all its commercial, superficial glory The Muslim origins of Valentine’s Day There once was a village in Muslimistan, where a young boy called Wali Nuteen lived. He was a kind, fun-loving adventurous boy, who was…
Four Lions and the right to offend

Mr Moo

30 Jan 2010 | 9:45 am

[This post first appeared on the Guardian Commentisfree site] Four Lions and the right to offend Some Muslims are gearing up to be offended by Chris Morris’ Four Lions. Others will be having a good old laugh “Muslim Protest at Jihadist Film” – I can see the headlines already. Despite no release date having been fixed, the predictions of a furore around Four Lions have already begun. For those that have not yet seen the clip or heard about the plot, Four Lions is a British farce about four suicide bombers from Sheffield. It isn’t surprising that one expects there to…
Pigs may not fly in heaven

Mr Moo

22 Jan 2010 | 8:04 pm

[This post first appeared on the Guardian Cif Belief section, in answer to the question: Do animals have souls.] Muslims’ complex relationship with animals in this life makes for uncertainty in the next A cursory look at Islamic scriptures would indicate that the souls of animals do not carry on into the afterlife. Islam however, has plenty to say on animals and our relationships with them. Animals are viewed as creatures that are deemed to be in a state of constant worship. In terms of their place in the earthly hierarchy, they are mentioned with humans and jinn. (Jinn being creatures…
Awaiting reply II: UKIP if you want to

Mr Moo

18 Jan 2010 | 1:48 pm

UNIQUE MUSLIMAH
To Love, To Protect & To Cherish

Unique Muslimah

11 Feb 2010 | 2:08 am

It was a beautiful summer’s day when I first saw him. The sky was clear blue; something I knew wouldn’t last since I was living in a country notorious for its schizophrenic weather. I remember sitting in the garden with a book. A cool breeze rustled the pages between my hands every now and then. [...]
Simba’s Photo-Story

Unique Muslimah

3 Feb 2010 | 3:02 pm

My neighbour got kittens last year and a month later let them live in the garden and started neglecting them. That’s when Caramella, the white Calico cat above started to visit my garden. Because of my love for cats, I noticed how hungry she was. I fed her and gave her something to drink and [...]

Islam in China
Chinese New Year – Year of the Tiger

Wang Daiyu

15 Feb 2010 | 5:39 pm

Happy Chinese New Year to all the Chinese brothers and sisters. 恭喜发财 If the readers want to know how to greet Chinese people on this ocassion, here is link which can help you. http://blog.mangolanguages.com/2010/02/15/a-happy-chinese-new-year-at-mango-languages/ (Image Source: http://www.malaysiasite.nl/images/tigerchinese.gif)
Transmission of the flamethrower from Greece to China

Wang Daiyu

7 Feb 2010 | 10:40 am

The flame thrower was invented in the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) who used it against the Arab Muslims. It was later adopted by the Muslims who transmitted it to China. The Chinese author Lin Yu explained in his book in 919 AD that it was acquired by the Chinese from their Arab maritime trade contacts in the Indian Ocean. Wujing Zongyao (武经总要) written by prominent scholars Zeng Gongliang (曾公亮), Ding Du (丁度), and Yang Weide (楊惟德), in 1044 has the oldest description of the flamethrower. It is interesting to not how technology from one part of the world was…
Muslims and Chinese Rocket Technology in the time of Kublai Khan

Wang Daiyu

8 Jan 2010 | 8:37 am

While it is widely known that the Chinese were instrumental in inventing explosives and in advancing early rocket technology, it is less known that during the time of Kublai Khan Turkish Muslims were instrumental in helping the Mongols in conquering China and advancing this technology and building siege weapons. According to Muslim Heritage, between 1271 and 1273 Kublai Khan employed two Turkish Muslim engineers Alaadin and Ismail (I-ssu-ma-yin in Chinese sources). These two were instrumental in building ballistic weapons used in the siege and conquest of Hang-Chow and Hsiang-yang. The…
Chinese pilgrims return home from Mecca

Wang Daiyu

16 Dec 2009 | 2:56 pm

From the Xinhua news agency. Chinese pilgrims return home from Mecca YINCHUAN, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) — A plane carrying 323 Chinese pilgrims landed safely at Hedong Airport of Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Saturday afternoon. They are the first batch of Chinese Muslims to return home after completing their pilgrimage to Mecca this year. Ma Junji, a 75-year-old pilgrim, said the hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia) is the most important religious task in his life. “Thanks to the government’s assistance, the pilgrimage went on quite well. As I…
Rumi’s Masnavi in Chinese

Wang Daiyu

8 Dec 2009 | 9:22 pm

Finally Rumi’s Masnavi has been translated into Chinese. Work on other languages like Korean translation is still ongoing. The link is in Turkish, you can use a translation utility like Google Translation to view the page in English.

Positive Muslim News
Islamic Horizons Magazine wins 2010 DeRose-Hinkhouse awards

Samana Siddiqui

8 Mar 2010 | 6:54 pm

The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) proudly announces that its flagship magazine, Islamic Horizons, is among the winners of the 2010 DeRose-Hinkhouse Awards presented by the Religion Communicators Council – an interfaith association of religion communicators. The Islamic Horizons won the awards in three categories: the “Best of Class” and the “Award of Excellence” categories for its March/April 2009 issue, and the “Certificate of Merit” category for the Nov/Dec 2009 issue.Islamic Horizons is published bimonthly and serves as the largest distribution English language…
Faith inspires Muslim veterinarian's compassion for animals

Samana Siddiqui

25 Feb 2010 | 7:08 pm

Dr. Zia Usman is a rarity within the U.S. veterinary profession.Not only does the Indian-born and -trained veterinarian own a companion animal practice on Chicago's North Side, Dr. Usman is also a Muslim.Such a combination is unusual among first-generation immigrants who are followers of Islam, according to Dr. Usman's colleague, Riaz H. Siddiqi, a professor at Truman College in Chicago and president of the Muslim VMA.The association believes approximately 500 Muslim veterinarians are in the United States. Dr. Siddiqi thinks most of them are employed in academia, research, industry, or…
Montreal Muslim wins Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy award

Samana Siddiqui

19 Feb 2010 | 7:44 am

The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) congratulates MCM director Kwasi Yeboah for receiving the 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy award.The award was presented to Mr. Yeboah on January 18th, by Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay and the Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Committee of Montreal. Mr. Yeboah was recognized for his outstanding work in coordinating the Open Mosques project among local mosques, to help foster bridges of cooperation, understanding and social harmony in the Montreal community.“It is an honour to see a young member of our community awarded for his efforts,” stated Salam…
Muslim Malaysian court defends right of Christians to use the word "Allah"

Samana Siddiqui

7 Feb 2010 | 6:42 am

(Plainfield, IN – January 4, 2010) The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) commends the landmark ruling by a Malaysian Court on December 31, 2009, that affirms the religious freedom of Malaysian Christians. The ruling asserts that Christians have the right to use the word “Allah” to translate “God” into Bahasa Melayu, the Malaysian language. It strikes down a government ban that was placed in 2007 on the use of the term in Christian literature.The opponents of the use of the word Allah in reference to God have argued that the term “God” is usually translated by Malaysians…
Egypt restores world's oldest monastery

Samana Siddiqui

6 Feb 2010 | 6:51 am

Egypt has completed the restoration of reputedly the world's oldest Christian monastery, called Saint Anthony's.The monastery is believed to be 1,600 years old. The government-sponsored restoration project cost over $14m (£8.9m) and took more than eight years.The monastery is a popular site for Coptic Christian pilgrims. Read the whole article at:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8500091.stm

Irshad Manji blog and official website
A different kind of fatwa

irshad

6 Mar 2010 | 8:13 pm

In the world of Islamic reform, the big news this week is that an eminent Pakistani sheikh has issued a 600-page fatwa against Muslim terrorism — with no qualifiers attached. You’d think I’d be celebrating. Not really. The very notion that 21st-century Muslims need a fatwa confirming the immorality of blowing each other up is, well, infantile. Frankly, it’s just another relic of the tribal mentality, in which the higher-ups do all the thinking for the lowly peeps. The sooner Muslims wean ourselves off the fatwa fetish, the faster we’ll tap our potential to…
“The Stoning of Soraya M.” now out on DVD

irshad

27 Feb 2010 | 12:14 pm

Does this man go through with hurling his stone at Soraya? Watch the movie… This week, among the most important movies of my generation, “The Stoning of Soraya M.,” comes out in DVD and Blu-Ray. You can order either version here. “The Stoning,” starring recent Emmy-award winner Shohreh Aghdashloo, dramatizes the true story of an Iranian village wife whose deceitful husband sets her up for execution so that he can marry an unsuspecting girl in the city. Ultimately, though, this isn’t a tale of female victimhood. Instead, it’s about moral…
Tiger the Buddhist

irshad

20 Feb 2010 | 5:51 am

When Tiger Woods apologized for having multiple extra-marital affairs, he confessed another sin: straying from his Buddhist upbringing. Seconds later, Twitter seized up with cynicism: “Did I just hear him say he’s a Buddhist or a boobist?” * “The guy calls himself a Buddhist! Try bootyist!” * “That’s like finding God in prison. Whatever, Tiger.” Not so fast, folks. There could be some serious spirituality behind his decision to delay professional golf and focus on restoring trust with his family. One of Buddhism’s core teachings is that…
Iran & nukes: My analysis on MSNBC

irshad

11 Feb 2010 | 7:20 pm

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Iran & nukes: Irshad’s discussion on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”

irshad

11 Feb 2010 | 7:15 pm

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

An Indian Muslim
Ashram Tragedy: Inefficient administration to be blamed, Media fails to fix responsibility for 63 deaths in UP's Pratapgarh

6 Mar 2010 | 2:24 am

Just when TV channels and media are expressing outrage over the unfortunate murder of a three-year-old Indian child in Australia, the apathy towards fixing responsibility of local administration in the tragic death of 63 persons including 26 children shows how dumb we are as a nation, especially our middle-class that has pretensions of knowing everything. The incident angers me because it reflects absolute failure of media, which not just failed in inform citizens as to who is the real culprit but instead goes ahead passes the buck on others including the hapless devotees. The news…
Hoardings in Harmony: Hindu, Muslim billboards in India

26 Feb 2010 | 12:33 pm

Hoardings catch my eyes just like interesting posters, banners, wall graffiti and nameplates. I just spotted the two hoardings, one of a religious function on the eve of Milad-un-Nabi and the other of a politico-cultural event. The first is organised by Muslim organisations and invites for a Jalsa and subsequent Juloos [procession]. It is in Urdu and Hindi. The other hoarding calls for a massive Hindu gathering. One can identify the man visible in the hoarding. He is Keshav Bali Ram Hedgewar, the founder of RSS or Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh. RSS' core beliefs may not have…
Blame the Bureaucrat, not just Politician: Corruption of IAS officers' ignored in India!

19 Feb 2010 | 12:20 pm

Chhattisgarh cadre civil servant BL Agarwal is just one among thousands of civil servants in India, but his name hit headlines briefly when the Income Tax department found that he had at least 220 bank accounts and had amassed wealth and assets to the tune of billions of rupees, yes billions, not millions. He didn't even have a 'reputation' of being an extremely corrupt officer unlike some other IAS and IPS officers. Still, he had accumulated so much unaccounted wealth in a tribal-dominated state where large section of poverty stricken populace barely gets to eat salt with…
'My Name Is Khan' film review: A Bold and Emotional Movie With A Message

12 Feb 2010 | 12:50 pm

I just watched the Shahrukh Khan-Kajol starrer, My Name Is Khan [MNIK]. Firstly, it is definitely a bold movie and the film-makers must be credited for coming up with a movie that sends a very strong universal message. MNIK is not an ordinary Bollywood flick. More than the innate goodness of the protagonist who suffers from Asperger's syndrome and has an innocent charm with which he wins his lady love and later goes on a journey across America, the film deals with civilisational and cultural faultlines to take a hugely moralistic stand. Yes,…
Maharashtra Mess: Blame Congress' Politics, Not Just Shiv Sena-MNS

3 Feb 2010 | 8:33 pm

While Shiv Sena has been criticised from all quarters for dividing the society on linguistic and regionalistic lines, the role of the supposedly responsible Congress and its strategy hasn't got enough attention. In fact, the party is again back to its old style of dangerous politics: Procrastinate, panic and pander. Congress is at the helm at the Centre and in Maharashtra and no where elections are due in near future. But still, it has chosen to remain inactive. Threats to Hindi speakers, North Indians, letters to cinema hall owners and…

Life Thinking
Famous Bloggers & MyBlogGuest Online Contest

Hesham

4 Mar 2010 | 2:59 pm

Famous Bloggers is running a great gust blogging contest with it’s media partner MyBlogGuest.com through our special Famous bloggers group in a try to award our guest bloggers and have fun blogging together. Our guest blogging contest prizes are awesome, so be sure to check them on our blog, there is a big chance to win because we are awarding 5 winners, so take a look to our contest guidelines and participate now. Our Sponsors FamousBloggers.net – contest organizer MyBlogGuest.com our contest media partner WebmasterFormat.com - Webmaster Resource MMO social network – making…
Top 5 SEO Articles on Famous Bloggers

Hesham

15 Feb 2010 | 10:43 pm

Because SEO became important part of any internet businesses marketing plan, I have decided to pick all the important search engine optimization tips from Famous Bloggers to share it with you to get SEO benefits. Best SEO articles Importance of SEO search engine optimization SEO Theory and Practice Top 10 Marketing and SEO articles at MMO Bookmark site and Network Does Forum Posting Bring Backlinks? 13 Essential On-Page Blog SEO Tips
Bookmark your Best Blogging Tips Articles and Profit from it

Hesham

8 Jan 2010 | 4:53 pm

Is it the time! we finally and after a few months of hard work, we are glad to pronounce the launch of our new Making Money Online Social Network and bookmarks website that supports Google AdSense share revenue, now you can submit your money making and blogging tips articles and videos to our network and start making money and getting backlinks to your blog or website. mmosocialnetwork There is a post on Famous Bloggers blog I wrote earlier today telling more the New Social Network
Making Money Online Social Network

Hesham

5 Jan 2010 | 5:07 pm

MMO social network has a “dream” of making a good network of people who are interested in Making Money Online, and give them the ability to communicate through our website, so we must allow our members to submit contents on related topics to Making Money Online and make friendship with other helpful people.
10 days left for the Big Contest of Famous Bloggers

Hesham

18 Dec 2009 | 5:57 pm

It’s not late to submit your best article to our $1200 worth contest,it’s basically a writing and popularity contest at the same time, means you write an aowsome article and submit it to the contest and then start to promote it to get votes and re-tweets! Who are the Sponsors: IBlogZone, Twitfever , DailyBlogTips, BlogEngage, ElagantThemes, My Life Thinking, Jena Isle’s Random Thoughts, Zebida World, Happy Making, Anne On Life, How to Make Money Online, StudioPress, Press75, Jaypee Online, Free PSP Wallpapers Who can participate? This contest is open for everybody who has the…

Popular islam Bookmarks on Delicious
Weekend Interview with Mosab Hassan Yousef: 'They Need to Be Liberated From Their God' - WSJ.com

Jozog

7 Mar 2010 | 7:44 am
Weekend Interview with Mosab Hassan Yousef: 'They Need to Be Liberated From Their God' - WSJ.com

g6loq

5 Mar 2010 | 4:41 pm
Islam Guide: Life After Death

bcemmedia

14 Oct 2008 | 4:22 pm
Tanzil : Quran Navigator

moveisi

1 Apr 2008 | 4:42 pm

Popular muslim Bookmarks on Delicious
Jews leave Swedish city after sharp rise in anti-Semitic hate crimes - Telegraph

sundvl

21 Feb 2010 | 1:46 am
Boston Review — John R. Bowen: Nothing To Fear

dolan_cummings

30 Jan 2010 | 6:16 am
Muslim inventions that shaped the modern world - CNN.com

bubaker

29 Jan 2010 | 2:30 pm
I'mHalal

lebnights

31 Aug 2009 | 11:52 pm
Islam Guide: Life After Death

bcemmedia

14 Oct 2008 | 4:22 pm

Muslim Torrents
Bolestta na sarceto DvX

Category: Lectures Size: 299.80 MB Status: 1 seeders and no leecher Added: 2010-03-08 22:28:40
Meraj Rabbani - Achchhai Ki Taraf - Urdu Lecture

Category: Lectures Size: 51.14 MB Status: no seeders and no leecher Added: 2010-03-08 19:52:24
Meraj Rabbani - Aao Ramzan Ka Isteqbaal Karein - Urdu Lecture

Category: Lectures Size: 57.67 MB Status: no seeders and no leecher Added: 2010-03-08 19:46:01
Meraj Rabbani - Aqeedah Ehle Sunnah - Urdu Lecture

Category: Lectures Size: 64.83 MB Status: no seeders and no leecher Added: 2010-03-08 19:43:26
Meraj Rabbani - Auliya Allah - Urdu Lecture

Category: Lectures Size: 143.74 MB Status: no seeders and no leecher Added: 2010-03-08 19:38:34

Spirit21
“Love in a Headscarf” – announces Arabic edition

shelina

9 Mar 2010 | 2:37 am

I’m extremely excited to announce that Arabic language rights for Love in a Headscarf were sold this weekend to Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing. They are a great outfit based in Qatar built as a venture between the awesome Qatar Foundation, and the fabulous Bloomsbury Publishing (of Harry Potter fame) in the UK. We’re in the process of working out the details, but it should be available in Arabic later this year, 2010. Now, our big challenge is working out a great Arabic version of the title – any ideas? P.S. I should add that I met the wonderful Nigel Newton, who is…
Taking part in today’s Big Read world record attempt

shelina

4 Mar 2010 | 12:34 am

This morning I’m off to take part in The Big Read, which is a world record attempt to get as many children reading with an adult as possible. It sounds like a lot of fun, and a great way to get children to realise that reading is enjoyable, and can be both a private and a shared experience. Here is the blurb from the press release about trying to get 3000 children involved: Over 35 schools across London and from as far as Reading and Croydon will participate in this unique event, which seeks to highlight the importance of literacy, locally, nationally and internationally. The world…
My name is Mohamed, Janmohamed

shelina

28 Feb 2010 | 4:20 pm

I’ve just been featured on a BBC documentary called ‘My name is Muhammad’. For those of you in the UK, it will be on BBC iplayer for the next seven days. More from me on this tomorrow. Share on Facebook
Spirit21 about to undergo upgrade…

shelina

25 Feb 2010 | 2:50 pm

Dear readers Now that my blog has reached the grand old age of 4, it will be undergoing some upgrades over the next 24 – 48 hours. Come back to visit the new and improved spirit21 very shortly… Share on Facebook
Echoes of a darker age for women – beware a new Jahiliyyah

shelina

23 Feb 2010 | 1:03 am

This article was recently published in The National There are few concepts in the Muslim psyche that paint an image as vivid and forceful as the era of The Jahiliyyah, the Period of Great Ignorance, that preceded the advent of Islam. It is considered by Muslims to be a dark, ungodly, forsaken time when men and women believed in many deities, lived lives of tribal partisanship and warfare, showed immense racism, inflicted oppression on the poor and meted out gruesome treatment to women. Of the horrors of the Jahiliyyah that Islam eradicated, some of the most salient are about women. Women had…

islam « WordPress.com Tag Feed
Nigerian Muslim/Christian Violence Leads to Massacres

Steve Markowitz

9 Mar 2010 | 7:44 pm

The Wall Street Journal has reported on massacres over the weakened in Nigeria, the result of a spreading Muslim/Christian conflict. On Sunday, the Muslim Fulani ethnic group target Christian villages. According to reports the attackers came in the evening shooting guns in the air to scare the villagers. Then, when the villagers ran out of their houses, they were hacked to death by machetes. So far 378 bodies have been recovered, including those of women and children. It was previously reported that some Christians may have targeted Muslims in another Nigerian village. Are the…
Prepare for Ramadan

abdalmutakkabir

9 Mar 2010 | 7:37 pm

Bismillah. Preparation for Ramadan (which is coming in about 6 months) begins now. Too often we put it off to the very end and the result is a mediocre Ramadan year after year. Ramadan contains the 10 best nights of the year – including the biggest and most blessed night of the year (Laytul Qadr), rewards are multiplied many-fold during this blessed month, the gates of paradise are opened and the devils are chained. All of this makes worship easy and tremendously rewarding. So it is critical that we prepare for Ramadan to extract the maximum benefit out of it. The most important aspect…
Picture Perfect : Evils of Fortune-Telling

navedz

9 Mar 2010 | 7:20 pm

Photo Courtesy : http://www.flickr.com/photos/happyindya2020/
An Islamic Way of War --the discussion continues

dimarcola

9 Mar 2010 | 7:07 pm

One of the students in CGSC published an interesting and thought provoking article in the Small War Journal regarding the readings and discussion on an Islamic way of war which we addressed in H307. A snipett and the link to MAJ Khan’s article is below. The article is well worth reading and may be a part of next year’s lesson reading assignment. The discussion that follows on the SMJ blog is equally illuminating and can be found at this link. I encourage all of you to think about the issues Major Khan and the others bring up –your thoughts and views are key to leading…
Etiquettes of Dua-Supplication

KING-slave of ALLAH !

9 Mar 2010 | 6:46 pm

Etiquette’s of Dua-Supplication 1. Allah Loves to Be Asked He encourages that in all things. He is angry with the one who does not ask of Him and He encourages His slaves to ask of Him. Allah says: “And your Lord said: “Invoke Me [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism) and ask Me for anything] I will respond to your (invocation)” [Noble Quran 40:60] “And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator…

walls come tumbling down
Experts and Parliamentarians Together to Discuss Islamophobia

wallscometumblingdown

8 Mar 2010 | 6:23 am

A report from the Muslim Council of Britain’s website about the closed Parliamentary meeting last week to discuss the establishment of an All Party Parliamentary Group on Islamophobia. Read the article below or by clicking here: ‘The formation of an All Party Parliamentary Group on Islamophobia would be a crucial step and one that would inspire [...]
Towards an All Party Parliamentary Group on Islamophobia: expert witness transcript

wallscometumblingdown

5 Mar 2010 | 2:45 am

On Wednesday 3rd March 2010, I was invited to give an ‘expert witness’ statement at a Parliamentary meeting to discuss the creation of an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Islamophobia . APPGs include members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords from across all of the political parties who meet together [...]
Islamaphobia, Islam and Education – BERA SIG Conference 4th March 2010

wallscometumblingdown

15 Feb 2010 | 3:30 am

The British Educational Research Association’s conference, “Islamaphobia, Islam and Education” conference is taking place at the University of East London on the 4th March 2010. The flyer for the event can be downloaded here. As well as my own paper which will be entitled, “Islamophobia in an educational context” other papers will be presented by Arun [...]
Telegraph Online: “The worrying rise of attacks fuelled by hatred”

wallscometumblingdown

12 Feb 2010 | 7:30 am

New comment piece published today on the Telegraph Online’s ‘Comment’ section. To view the article, click here. The text of the piece is also reproduced below: The worrying rise of attacks fuelled by hatred Both anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents have risen recently as British society becomes more sharply divided, says Chris Allen. Published: 12:27PM GMT 12 Feb 2010 Last year [...]
Support the Robin Hood Tax campaign

wallscometumblingdown

12 Feb 2010 | 6:22 am

A good video starring Bill Nighy for an interesting campaign… more about “Robin Hood Tax“, posted with vodpod Tagged: bankers, banking, Bill Nighy, economy, Robin Hood Tax, society

Islamophobia Watch
Le Pen launches anti-Islam campaign poster

Martin Sullivan

8 Mar 2010 | 11:47 pm

French far-right party the Front National (FN) has revealed its latest election poster – a map of France decked in Algerian national colours, covered with minarets and featuring a woman whose face is hidden behind a "niqab" face veil. "No to Islamism," the poster screams in big black letters. The image is central to the FN's campaign in the PACA (Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur) region, where the party's leader, octogenarian firebrand Jean-Marie Le Pen, heads the party list in forthcoming regional elections due to begin March 14. The posters, already widely diffused on the Internet,…
'Charity is linked to Islamic terrorists' claims Torygraph

Martin Sullivan

8 Mar 2010 | 3:13 pm

A charity praised by Gordon Brown has paid hundreds of thousands of pounds supposedly raised for "disaster relief" to two organisations allegedly linked to terrorist groups. Muslim Aid, which has been given at least £830,000 of public money, diverted substantial sums to Islamist organisations, possibly in contravention of its charitable status. It has received grants from the Department for International Development, the EU and London councils. The charity, based at the hardline East London mosque, has close links to the Islamic Forum of Europe, a fundamentalist group accused by a…
More sharia hysteria from mad Maryam Namazie

Martin Sullivan

7 Mar 2010 | 11:39 pm

A Scottish law firm has become the first in the country to offer clients "conventional" legal representation alongside advice on sharia law. Hamilton Burns, based in Glasgow's south side, has teamed up with an eminent Muslim scholar who will counsel clients on the Islamic aspect of civil law cases, while solicitors give advice under Scots law. Clients will be able to see a Muslim lawyer who is fully trained in Scots law at the same time as they consult a sharia scholar who is an expert in Islamic law. It will be the first time such a service has been offered in Scotland. Despite public fears…
EDL leader banned from football grounds for five years

Martin Sullivan

7 Mar 2010 | 2:54 pm

Football hooligan Jeff Marsh has been banned from football grounds for five years after admitting affray. The 44-year-old Cardiff City supporter was found in possession of a knuckleduster when he was arrested for affray outside the Ninian Park pub in Canton, Cardiff, last June. The self-proclaimed hooligan, who has written two books about his exploits with the city’s infamous Soul Crew and is one of the organisers of the Welsh Defence League, was fighting with Celtic fans after the inaugural match between the teams at Cardiff’s new stadium. Marsh, from Barry, admitted affray and…
More anti-IFE witch-hunting from Gilligan

Martin Sullivan

7 Mar 2010 | 7:38 am

This latest piece, in the Sunday Telegraph, is a particularly garbled contribution to Gilligan's ongoing campaign against the Islamic Forum Europe, ranging from an "exposé" of Muslims 4 Ken's support for Ken Livingstone in the 2008 London mayoral election – this is supposed to be news? – to a repetition of insinuations that the IFE was responsible for dodgy signatures in the referendum over an elected mayor for Tower Hamlets. Ken's succinct response to Gilligan gets it exactly right: "You are a liar who is stirring up racism." Update: For responses to Gilligan on the…

Comments for Abdur Rahman's Corner
Comment on Sufi Links by Abdur Rahman

Abdur Rahman

8 Mar 2010 | 6:33 am

Salam Gareth Welcome to my online home. May Allah bless you always. Thank you for your kind thoughts.
Comment on Sufi Links by Gareth Lloyd

Gareth Lloyd

7 Mar 2010 | 9:40 am

Beautiful Sufi links! Salam
Comment on Chaplaincy by Kartenlegen per E-Mail

Kartenlegen per E-Mail

4 Mar 2010 | 12:14 am

Found your site on bookmarkingservice today and really liked it. i bookmarked it too and will be back to check it out some more later .. Thanks!
Comment on The Gardens Beneath Which Rivers Flow by S'aad Bekker

S'aad Bekker

26 Feb 2010 | 5:15 am

Jazak’Allah m uy Brother for your beautiful reply. I was also wondering what influence the Arabs’ memory of the “hanging Gardens of Babylon” could have had on the metaphor used in this regard by Allah? Just a thought: Allah knows best, insha’Allah. Have a nice weekend, insha’Allah. Alhamdulillah! S’aad
Comment on Discussions on Muslim Community by Abdur Rahman

Abdur Rahman

26 Feb 2010 | 4:57 am

Salams Aaminah, I hope you are well, insha Allah. Yes, I seem to have missed that one. To be honest, this is the main reason for my own post – to collect and gather this important discussion in one place, so that we may all access it quickly and easily. I will add this link momentarily insha Allah.

Indian Muslims
Pravin Mahajan And BJP’s Cupboard Of Skeletons

Guest Post

6 Mar 2010 | 8:43 pm

By NM Sampathkumar Iyangar, Pravin Mahajan is no more. The younger brother of late Pramod Mahajan – top leader of Bhartiya Janta Party, known as its Chief Fixer – died on March 3 at Jupiter Hospital in Thane after a prolonged illness. He had been admitted there in mid December 2009 after suffering a stroke while on parole. That was eight months after he came out with a tell-all book titled My Album. Pravin’s book raised several shocking questions about his dead brother’s life and times. Pravin was serving life imprisonment and the book was written from the prison. A sessions court had…
State And Liberal Ideas

Guest Post

5 Mar 2010 | 1:25 am

By Irfan Engineer, Mobs on the streets of Shimoga and Hassan protesting against an article that appeared in Kannda Prabha allegedly written by Taslima Nasreen has once again kicked up a debate on freedom of expression and need to place some reasonable restrictions on that freedom. Taslima Nasreen has described the article Purdah hai Purdah to be distorted. She has in a statement clarified that she did not write any article for any Kannada daily. The article in Kannada Prabha carries statement that Prophet was against burqa and that she has called upon women to burn their burqas. Even if the…
Babur And Sons Of Babur

Kashif

3 Mar 2010 | 6:49 pm

Thanks to the propaganda of the Sangh Parivar, Babur, founder of Mughal Empire has become a controversial figure in Indian history. Babur was an invader but he was also the founder of a dynasty that gave shape to an India that we are rightly proud of. Be it the architecture, arts, literature, music, or dance, it is difficult to imagine present day India without the Mughals. When Babur invaded India, Islam in this region was already about a thousand years old. Muslim rulers were established in many parts of India. In fact most of the battles the Mughal army partook in were against Muslim kings…
Islamophobia: How Muslim Minorities Can Combat It

Guest Post

2 Mar 2010 | 7:21 pm

By Syed Shahabuddin, Phobia means fear, the fear of the other. Any phobia has a psychological basis, which is a combination of historical memories, blended with myths and legends, complicated by social separateness, generated by the consciousness of economic and political rivalry, not to speak of persistent religious hostility and indifference. In the case of Europe, it can be truly said that it has not yet gotten over its memories of the Muslim conquest which took Islam to the heartland of France, on one side, and to the gates of Vienna, on the other. It has been truly said that had the…
Begin Holi with a Bismillah

Kashif

1 Mar 2010 | 1:50 pm

History books are full of kings and their battles and we forget people who were not involved in warfare. Much is yet to be written about Sufis and their contribution to India. Bulleh Shah is a famous Sufi who continues to be popular because of his poetry. Below, I present a poem written by him on festival of colors, Holi. See how he uses Islamic terminologies and Quranic phrases and mixes so well with images of Holi that you have difficulty finding out if he is talking about physical or spiritual Holi. Well that’s the point. ہوری کھیلوں گی کہہ کر بسم اللہ…

Planet Grenada
on joe (joseph) stack

Abdul-Halim V.

21 Feb 2010 | 12:21 pm

The article Terrorism: The Most Meaningless and Manipulated Word by Glenn Greenwald takes a look at the Joseph Stack incident and uses it to underline some of the hypocrisy behind how the term "terrorist" is used today (to delegitimize Muslims).When I first read about Joseph Stack flying a plane into an Austin office building which housed the local IRS office I pretty much saw him as a Tea Party terrorist. After reading the Joseph Stack Manifesto I have to admit that he does have some left-wing elements to his "ideology" but on balance he seems more like an ordinary "Joe" who has had a series…
more on tato laviera

Abdul-Halim V.

17 Feb 2010 | 6:54 pm

It made me terribly sad to hear about Tato's condition and I'm passing this along in hopes that it does some good:Dear Colleagues,I write to you with some urgency. You may have heard about TatoLaviera’s condition. Recently, he had a brain operation to put a shuntin his brain. Since then, he has been asked to leave his currentresidence and is homeless. The attached New York Times articleexplains his condition. Please give whatever you can to help provideTato with an apartment.Send your contributions to:Jesus Lavierac/o Sanchez-Ramos225 E. 93rd St. Apt. 8 HNew York, NY…
tato laviera

Abdul-Halim V.

17 Feb 2010 | 6:43 pm

Poet Spans Two Worlds, but Has a Home in Neitherby DAVID GONZALEZFebruary 12, 2010His poems, in countless anthologies and five of his own collections, are considered part of the Latino literary canon. His plays and lectures have earned him honors etched in flowery superlatives on plaques. But Tato Laviera would rather possess a more prosaic document, written in legalese.A lease.Mr. Laviera has known his share of troubles in recent years, including diabetes, blindness and dialysis. But in December, life became infinitely more complicated when he underwent emergency brain surgery. Too unsteady…
worst. company. ever.

Abdul-Halim V.

15 Feb 2010 | 6:07 am

Just yesterday I thought I'd check out the online journal In These Times and instead got a Page Not Found error message from Comcast (I'm a subscriber). At first I started to wonder if In These Times had suddenly gone out of business but then I eventually realized that Comcast was deliberately blocking In These Times because because of the articles:Comcast Launches ‘TV Everywhere’: Say Goodbye to Free Web TV — In These Timesand also: Comcast: Worst. Company. Ever.It is a small reminder of the dangers of corporations and the limitations (and censorship) of corporate media. It makes me…
even meghan mccain calls out the tea party on its "innate racism" and palin on hypocrisy over "retard"

Abdul-Halim V.

9 Feb 2010 | 1:37 am

Huffington post: Meghan McCain (on The View)

Borges Blogue
Liberals: «A credible option for Québec»

Borges

26 Feb 2010 | 7:18 am

The Liberals have gone on the offensive against the Bloc Québécois after a fire-storm has erupted in Québec over independence, sparked off by its founder's comments on the impossibility of sovereignty for Québec in the short to medium term. The Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has called on the Québécois to take part in the governance of the federation, to make their influence felt in the country, by voting Liberal. These comments have been echoed by the Liberal chief for Québec, Jean-Marc Fournier.According to the Liberals, the Québécois share their views over various issues such as…
Québécois put independence on the back burner

Borges

24 Feb 2010 | 11:03 am

Nearly two thirds of Québécois agree that independence should not be on the order of the day, and is not a pressing concern when compared to economic recovery and other important issues. These sentiments echo former PQ Prime Minister Lucien Bouchard's pronouncements on the subject last week, where in a recent speech, he stated that Québec's priorities do not lie with sovereignty, but rather the state of the economy, social services, education, etc.The Parti Québécois has hit back saying that sovereignty is essential to the improvement of the Québécois society and economy, and that…
Canada's aging population presents problems for future governments

Borges

19 Feb 2010 | 8:29 am

Top economist throughout the Industrialised world have long given grave predictions regarding the future of counties' pension systems as the population ages and the birth-rate drops. Canada has now joined the ranks of those with severely negative predictions, with economists and demographers predicting that our healthy ratio of working people to those in retirement of 5:1, will drop to 2.5:1 over the next 25 years, raising questions as to how the system of pensions and social security for the elderly will be maintained.These questions arise as the Tory and Liberal policy to eliminate the new…
Grits and Tories at parity in the polls

Borges

18 Feb 2010 | 7:31 am

The Tories and Liberals are on parity according to the latest Harris-Decima poll, conducted last week, with Tories polling 32%, and Liberals 30%. If continued, this trend will almost certainly mean another minority government after the election, with the NDP and Bloc Québécois again holding the balance of power.Of course if the Liberals were to form the next minority government, one would think that they would be in quite a less stable position than the current Conservative government, as Tories are known to being less compromising, especially compared to the support that they have received…
Differences of political culture: Why Ignatieff oppossed the coalition

Borges

17 Feb 2010 | 9:59 am

In a new book by NDP campaign manager Brian Topp, titled «How we almost gave the Tories the boot» reveals in detail how the Liberals deliberately scuppered the chance to form an Opposition coalition with the aim of the Ignatieff grouping taking over the Liberal Party and calling elections later on in 2009.It must be noted that the majority of Canadians were opposed to this coalition, and didn't want yet another election, but it still raises the question as to why the Grits supported the federal budget in January 2009, stopping the idea of a coalition dead in its tracks. It clearly wasn't a…

Akram's Razor - Reflections on Islam, Muslims & America
Jimmy Carter on misogyny and religion

Svend

9 Mar 2010 | 12:14 pm

A snippet from a recent speech by Jimmy Carter on the place of women in contemporary religious life to the Parliament of the World's Religions:It is ironic that women are now welcomed into all major professions and other positions of authority, but are branded as inferior and deprived of the equal right to serve God in positions of religious leadership. The plight of abused women is made more acceptable by the mandated subservience of women by religious leaders.The truth is that male religious leaders have had – and still have – an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt…
A moment of silence at the passing of a great leader

Svend

20 Dec 2009 | 3:29 pm

Don't have time to blog these days, but I have to note very sadly that Iran's most powerful voice for religious reform--and it's most illustrious contemporary religious scholar--Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri has returned to his maker. Inna lillahi wa innaa ilaihi rajioon. From Allah we come and to Him we return.In my view, the great man's passing is cause for mourning by Shia and Sunni alike, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, as for the last two decades he was truly a voice crying in the wilderness, speaking out eloquently qua a religious leader with impeccable scholarly and…
Hamza Yusuf on the important work that needs to be done after Fort Hood

Svend

21 Nov 2009 | 6:00 pm

So much to belatedly blog about (and mourn--almost as much that the killer survived as for those he murdered in cold blood--and rail against) and so little time to do so. Sigh...Anyway, here's some thoughtful and pragmatic post-Fort Hood advice to Muslim and non-Muslim alike from Sh. Hamza Yusuf.Muslims, critics have work to do, Islamic scholar says | courier-journal.com | The Courier-JournalShaykh Hamza Yusuf has strong medicine for American Muslims — and their critics.American Muslims “should really stop complaining,” start contributing more to society, get to know your neighbors…
Jungle babble is anything but

Svend

7 Oct 2009 | 1:38 pm

There's a fascinating article in The New York Times detailing the way some animals not only possess an animal-specific vocabulary for sounding the alarm about predators (e.g., one cry for a leopard; another for an eagle), and listen to each other's warnings (across species), but are able to filter out irrelevant alarms (e.g., a bird ignoring a monkey's shriek of "Leopard!", but taking note when it warns "Eagle!"). Olivia Jones/ The Wild Side - "Leopard Behind You!" (The New York Times, Oct 6, 2009) This isn’t a complicated vocabulary, with…
Keep an eye out for armored cars in Jeddah this month

Svend

4 Oct 2009 | 10:38 pm

I've mentioned my theory of Khaleeji Consumption Disorder before. This case takes the cake.There are filthy rich people around the globe who pour money into yachts, custom sports cars, alpine villas, tropical islands, gold plated bathroom fixtures, trips into space, and all manner of self-indulgent and eccentric luxuries, yet not even the kinkiest playboy tycoon ever had an idea so revoltingly wasteful and utterly gauche as this "historical benchmark for the adult novelty industry" dreamed up by some pathetic man in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. I want this freak's name published…

Bin Gregory Productions
Datuk Haji Abdul Kadir Hassan

bingregory

8 Mar 2010 | 5:24 am

By Abu Muhammad of Bahrus Shofah *** English Translation by Bin Gregory Productions *** Datuk Haji Abdul Kadir bin Hassan, may Allah have mercy on him, was born in Kampung Patingan (or Kampung No.... [More Inside...]
Buah Macang Buah Kuini

bingregory

10 Dec 2009 | 8:20 pm

Buah macang buah kuini, Masak sebiji dalam daun; Mengapa begini hatiku ini, Habis bulan berganti tahun. A pair of fruits, Machang and Kwini Each one ripening under its leaves Oh why does this poor... [More Inside...]
Good News for Mixed Kids

bingregory

3 Dec 2009 | 8:18 pm

Malaysia never stops changing. Controversial areas like race, religion, native privilege (bumiputera status), and national language are constantly in a state of flux. Most recently, when I... [More Inside...]
Brass Crescent Awards

bingregory

28 Nov 2009 | 7:04 pm

Eid Mubarak, Selamat Hari Raya Korban! The 6th Annual Brass Crescent Awards have been announced. Congratulations to all the winners. If you haven’t subscribed yet to Islam in China, Muslimah... [More Inside...]
Fashion Week Malaysia

bingregory

22 Nov 2009 | 9:23 pm

Photographs from the yearly Muslim Fashion Festival 2007, brought to you by AltMuslimah’s Photographic Campaign. [More Inside...]

Lantern Torch
Ubuntu Java versions

Tavis J. Hampton

26 Feb 2010 | 8:19 pm

Just a quick note. I discovered that the Ubuntu Jaunty (9.04) version of sun-java6 provided in one of their updates is a higher version than the base version provided in Karmic (9.10). This produces installation errors if you try to add any additional Java packages. The solution is to remove sun-java6 and its associated components and reinstall (You can also downgrade in Synaptic by using "force version" and selecting the Karmic version).
Proper USB Portage

Tavis J. Hampton

6 Jan 2010 | 12:00 pm

When will computer manufacturers finally get it right? For a serious computer user, four or even six USB ports is just not enough. In this day and age, I should not have to attach a HUB just so I can have all of my devices connected at once. Everyone is different, but let me give you an example of everything I need plugged in at once: 1. keyboard 2. mouse 3. graphics tablet 4. external hard drive 5. printer 6. game controller 1 7. game controller 2 Then, I need at least one free port for card readers and/or flash drives that I might attach. Is that really too much to ask? 8 to 10 ports on…
KDE 4.4 and Tabbed Windows

Tavis J. Hampton

19 Dec 2009 | 9:57 pm

KDE 4.4 Beta 1 has been released, and the talk of the town is the new “tabbed windows” feature. They completely slipped this one past me. I didn’t even know anyone was working on it. Anyway, it is exactly what the name implies: the ability to have multiple windows all tabbed in one window. You can even drag one window onto another window’s row of tabs. As a writer, I have long wished for tabbed word processing (outside of Google Docs), and now that will be possible with this KWin feature.
Expressions Magazine Released

Tavis J. Hampton

9 Nov 2009 | 8:07 am

Expressions Magazine, the official literary magazine of the Muslim Writers Society, has been released. Download it now in PDF format.
The Year of the Linux Desktop Mobile Phone

Tavis J. Hampton

17 Sep 2009 | 10:05 am

Since its creation, over fifteen years ago, free software and open source advocates have longed for the day when masses of people around the world would adopt GNU/Linux or Linux (depending on who you ask). There is little doubt that the past five years have seen tremendous strides in Linux desktop adoption. Some hardware vendors, such as Dell, now sell Linux desktop computers, although you have to page through their online catalog to find it, and their promotion of it seems spotty at best. The netbook craze has also seen the rise of several Linux offerings, but even the company that arguably…

From Clay
News Flash, Literally

fromclay

17 Feb 2010 | 9:19 am

I attended a town hall meeting here in Qatar, at Doha's Education City, in which Hillary Clinton took questions from an audience of mainly students and an Al-Jazeera moderator. The event started at 10 am and ended in an hour. After the event, many of us mingled for a bit to share our impressions. In about 20 minutes I was back in my office on the third floor of the same building. At my desk, I checked my email and then surfed to the New York Times, and, behold, it had a front page article about the town hall event I had just attended. The Associated Press around the same time shot around the…
Covering Bombs, Heat, and other articles

fromclay

28 Dec 2009 | 3:30 am

While we wax nostalgic for the good ole days when Nigerians dealt with spam and not bombs, I thought to pass along to you links to important articles that have appeared in the last few days. One of them is by Glenn Greenwald in Salon about the press coverage of airstrikes in (where else?) Afghanistan and Pakistan. He says,Each time the U.S. bombs a new location in the Muslim world, the same pattern emerges. First, officials from the U.S. or allied governments run to their favorite media outlet to claim -- anonymously -- that some big, bad, notorious, "top" Al Qaeda leader "may have…
"Usury" in Discussion

fromclay

14 Dec 2009 | 3:42 am

I normally stop reading a blog post when it begins like, "It's been a while since I last posted." So I won't do it. Now to the point, I've always felt that we need to stop sounding all religious-like when we want to make a point about ethical or moral issues. Any discussion worth its sodium should really stand on the merits of its clear appeal. There's wisdom in the fact that we have to listen to a sermon only one day a week, and surely there's wisdom in having praise attached to a sermon's brevity. Well, if you're wondering, "usury" has been making a come back. I don't mean banks and credit…
Doha Tribeca Film Festival

fromclay

3 Nov 2009 | 5:58 am

The film festival came and went. For many of my friends and colleagues, it was a big deal, which I truly understand and respect. They teach film and film making, so they're happy that something like Tribeca would come here. I thought months ago that I should see a few of the flicks and perhaps run into Bob (that's Robert De Niro to the rest of you). But when it finally came, I couldn't find the enthusiasm to fight the traffic, ignore the pretense that often accompanies these things, and watch premiers of blockbusters and independents alike. In fact, I couldn't even reference the enthusiasm I…
Woodstock, Group Think, and Neil Young

fromclay

21 Oct 2009 | 7:29 am

Within 48 hours, “Woodstock” (the original) came up twice in conversations with two colleagues and friends, one here in Doha and one in Santa Barbara. They both were at Woodstock. I was alive when it happened but too young to do anything about it, and “getting high” still meant to me something that kites and clouds do. I make no secret about it, the music of that era moves me. The lyrics were raw (sometimes raunchy) and honest. They were bold and resistant to group think. Neil Young (of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young) a couple of years ago was on the "Charlie Rose…

Ginny's Thoughts & Things
Yep, More old school…

Ginny

9 Mar 2010 | 6:16 pm

Filed under: Music Tagged: Music, Old School, Videos, YouTube
Huh? or “Islamic Center of Akon” / More Search Term Fun

Ginny

9 Mar 2010 | 5:43 pm

Yep, more search term fun, first because I thought of it, and second because I actually have something that gave me a chuckle. First… before allah drop thee benie sigeal 1 Huh? Sounds like the name of an awful horror movie or something. islamic center of akon Wow, does one even exist? And if so, what kinda masjid is it? A “sufi”, “Salafi”, “progressive”, “Liberal”, etc. one? Hmmm… akon doesn’t drink 1 Still getting the Akon hits it seems. Ugh… I knew I shouldn’t have went on those rants a while back, hmmm, how long…
Making Embedded Video Content on WordPress Blogs Accessible

Ginny

9 Mar 2010 | 5:12 pm

Most of the time when people post video content on their wordpress blogs, it is not accessible to me, i.e., I don’t see the flash player, and I don’t see the buttons to click on play, stop, etc., the way that Jaws will read embedded players from other blog/websites. Basically, what I’ll see is, well, nothing. The post will refer to a video but nothing will be there. And if you use the official WordPress instructions for embedding Youtube videos, that’s exactly what will happen. However, I’ve noticed that if I just post the plain URL to the video link, for the…
Why I Blog / The State of the Muslim Blogosphere

Ginny

9 Mar 2010 | 1:21 pm

Assalamu alaikum, in short, I don’t think the Muslim blogosphere is dead; evolving and changing, perhaps, but definitely not dead! And as far as the Internet supposedly being populated with liberal/progresive/Muslims who aren’t following the Qur’an and Sunnah, well, I can’t speak on that as I don’t know. What I do know is that the Muslim blogs I do read, are, Inshallah, written by Muslims who are striving to do that very thing. And I just don’t read Muslim blogs who aren’t, so perhaps so-called “liberal” Muslims predominate on the Net, and…
One More…

Ginny

8 Mar 2010 | 7:13 pm

Yep, this brings back memories too. Filed under: Music Tagged: Hip Hop, Music, Old School, YouTube

Inspirations and Creative Thoughts
Lalon Song by Farida Parveen | Allah Ke Bojhe Tomar Opar Leele?!

Sadiq Alam

9 Mar 2010 | 12:23 pm

Ke bojhe tomar opar leele? Allah! ke bojhe tomar opar leele?Tumi Aapni Allah, dako 'Allah' bole! Who can comprehend Your endless play!Allah! who can comprehend Your endless play?!From Your Lord-Self You cry out 'Allah' - Your Name Supreme! Nurer kare tumi NuriChile dimbo avatar e. You are 'Light upon Light',Without ceasing inevery incarnation. Shakare srijon korle tri-bhubanEshe akare chomotkar
The Sufi Garden | Place of Many Meanings

Sadiq Alam

8 Mar 2010 | 12:03 pm

1. Come to the garden in spring. There is light and wine And sweethearts In the pomegranate blossoms. If you do not come, These do not matter. If you do come, These do not matter. - Mevlana Rumi, Coleman Barks (Recitation via Youtube) 2. For the Sufi the garden had many meanings. It was a place of repose, a centrally located space which allowed one to enter any number of buildings, a place
Love for Fully Awakened Human Being

Sadiq Alam

5 Mar 2010 | 11:12 am

1. Be a beauteous blossom of love. - Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti For every fully awakened master (human being who have mastered over his or her own selfhood) of every age, those who gathered around that luminous figure, there has been a common denominator. And that commonality being 'single pointed love' for that human being. We observe in every age, even in our time if we looked at the right
The Gaze of Love is Something Else

Sadiq Alam

28 Feb 2010 | 12:16 pm

1. Irshaad Hussain's resourceful website Islam from Inside recently published an inspiring talk by Professor William Chittick, one of the most prominent scholar of Islamic Mysticism of our time, may God accept his beautiful service. Delivered at the Carleton University, this fascinating talk explores the theme of "The Role of Love in the Qur'anic Worldview" and trust me, its one of the best
Salawat and Hadith | Praise of the Messenger and His Inspired Words

Sadiq Alam

27 Feb 2010 | 8:21 am

1. Found in his book, Atom from the Sun of Knowledge, Shaikh Lex Hixon Nur al Jerrahi, may Allah bless his noble soul, compiled a selection from the thousand of authentic Oral Traditions of the Prophet and these Traditons are a meditation in itself, without need for commentary. Each of these pregnant sayings are each preceded by a different salawat, or prayerful invocation of the Messenger of

islamicate
Guide to Travel: Mecca Diaries - CNN.com

islamoyankee

3 Mar 2010 | 1:16 pm

Over a four-day period, Mecca's population is more than doubled, with legions of devout Muslims making their way shoulder to shoulder through the dozen rituals that comprise Hajj. If it weren't for the solemn and religious underpinnings, it would be an unnerving assembly of human beings for such a concentrated spaceVice Guide to Travel: Mecca Diaries - CNN.com.
Constituents Confront GOP Rep. Myrick Over Muslim-Bashing At Tense Town Hall (AUDIO) | TPMMuckraker

islamoyankee

3 Mar 2010 | 4:06 am

Muslim constituents repeatedly challenged Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC) at an emotional town hall meeting in Charlotte Thursday, with Myrick scrambling to distance herself from the Islam-bashing co-author of the book Muslim Mafia, whose foreword was written by the congresswoman herself.Myrick has had a tense relationship with her district's Muslim community for many years, but it's been aggravated recently by her campaign to investigate undercover Muslim intern "spies" on Capitol Hill.That effort arose from purported revelations in Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld that's Conspiring to…
Mr Toledano : America the gift shop

islamoyankee

28 Feb 2010 | 6:03 pm

If American foreign policy had a souvenir shop, what would it sell?AMERICA THE GIFT SHOP is an installation project that reflects the foreign policy of the last eight years through the fun-house mirror of American commerce.Mr Toledano : America the gift shop.
How To Talk To A Jihadist - The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan

islamoyankee

3 Feb 2010 | 9:09 am

How To Talk To A Jihadist - The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan .To see political leaders in the West have such a low view of the American judicial system and such an elevated view of the world-historical significance of these pathetic, twisted, religious nutjobs…well, they look like a bunch of scaredy cats to me.
Star Trek and Moral Judgment

islamoyankee

31 Jan 2010 | 3:15 pm

But surely the proper conclusion to be drawn, then, is that being an ethically upright and generally virtuous person is, however surprising this result may be, consistent with being tolerant, peace-loving, even with upholding due process. And there is no particular difficulty to the trick of being in favor of progress while being skeptical about human perfectibility. I say this is a semi-serious point because I think, for some conservatives, the main objection to a somewhat vaguely conceived set of liberal values really is a strong sense that they are inconsistent with a certain sort of…

Jamerican Muslimah's Veranda
Sad, Happy

Boss Lady

3 Mar 2010 | 5:40 pm

Last month I attended the sentencing for the girl who killed my ex-husband. In my opinion she didn’t get very much time- 4 years and 8 months (on Criminal Vehicular Homicide). Once she serves 1/3 of her sentence she will be eligible for supervised release (parole.) Even if she received a life sentence it wouldn’t change the reality- Moussa is dead, his family is grieving and this woman was negligent. When it was her time to say something she shrugged her shoulders and said “I’m sorry, that’s all.” I couldn’t believe it! You killed someone while…
10 things I didn’t do or think about before I was Muslim

Boss Lady

25 Feb 2010 | 10:31 am

1) Strive to be G-d-conscious. Honestly, before I was Muslim I didn’t really think about God. I just lived life and never looked back. I couldn’t imagine a world where G-d was the central focus of life. Now the thought of living a life that isn’t G-d-centered sounds crazy. 2) Volunteer. Before I became Muslim I didn’t volunteer for any organization or any person. Volunteering sounded strange and unfamiliar to me. In my view, people who volunteered were either old (retired) or wealthy. Furthermore, I didn’t come from a community that valued “working for free” (which is how most…
My Covenant with Allah

Boss Lady

8 Feb 2010 | 2:27 pm

O Prophet! When the believing women come to you to take the oath of allegiance, take their pledge; that they will not commit shirk with Allah, that they will not steal, that they will not commit fornication, that they will not kill their children, that they will not give any cause for scandal which they may invent between either their hands or legs (a woman accusing another woman of an illicit relationship with a man and spreads such stories – or – a woman carrying an illegitimate child and makes her husband believe that it is his), and that they will not disobey you in any just…
Okay ladies, I have changed my mind (again)

Boss Lady

21 Jan 2010 | 6:54 pm

So, that thing about not wanting to have kids…well, it’s gone. I want to have a baby. More specifically a little girl (if Allah so wills). I want a sweet, cute, little [chocolate] dark brown girl. A child prodigy. What has changed? I don’t know. Allah has put it in my heart. Also, the love a good man can change many things. Yes, indeed… Posted in Self-Development
10 Things I learned this past year

Boss Lady

8 Jan 2010 | 7:30 pm

This past year has been a blessing in more ways than one. Allah (s.w.t.) has put in a position where I have not only been able to have certain experiences but I have been able to observe the experiences of others and learn from them. As we enter into a new year, I am excited to see what else Allah has in store for me, insha’allah. Here is a list of 10 things I learned last year (in no particular order): 1) Watch the friends you keep. My grandmother always said this to me. It was drilled in me since I was a child. Yet, I have found myself in a position where I’ve had to question the…

Muslim Thought
Interfaith Dialogue: Religious Pluralism & Conflict Resolution

admin

9 Mar 2010 | 5:47 am

Is there any clear and applied theory of pluralism at all? Studying different perceptions regarding the concept of pluralism in general and reli......click here to continue reading Related posts:Do It My Way Or Not At All - Is That Religious Tolerance?Neo-Muslim Intellectuals in the West and their Contributions to Islamic Thought and the Formation of Western Islam: An Exploratory Investigation of the … Religious Identities in the Western World)What Is The Religious Belief About Having An Abortion Because Of Christian And Muslim Background?
Reasons & Steps to be taken for improving the life quality of Islamic women. Part 2

admin

9 Mar 2010 | 5:21 am

IIWA (Iqra International Women’s Alliance) was launched with a view to give exposure to educated Muslim women to express their views and be a pa......click here to continue reading Related posts:Reasons & Steps to be taken for improving the life quality of Islamic women. Part 1Reasons & Steps to be taken for improving the life quality of Islamic women. Part 1Reasons & Steps to be taken for improving the life quality of Islamic women. Part 1
Giving in the Way of Allah (infaq) is a Defining Characteristic of Muslims

admin

9 Mar 2010 | 1:52 am

There is a most important truth revealed in the verse â??You will not attain true goodness until you give of what you love,â? (Surah Al â??Imra......click here to continue reading Related posts:Muslim Kids Song - God (Allah) is the Creator Nasheed - ?????? ?????Muslim Kids Song - God (Allah) is the Creator Nasheed - ?????? ?????In Zikr of Allah will your Heart find Peace
Analyses Private Relations in Iranian Civil Code

admin

8 Mar 2010 | 12:48 am

Tags: islamic civil law, Private, Civil, Relations, Code, Analyses, Iranian, german civil law Related posts:Islam Brought Revolution in H......click here to continue reading Related posts:Islam Brought Revolution in Human RelationsIslam And Fascism - What Are The Relations Between Fascism And Islam?Faith Freestyle- Muslim Belal- *no Music*
Light of Guidance Trailer - Next AlMaghrib Course in London!

admin

7 Mar 2010 | 6:20 pm

Light of Guidance: Fundamentals of Faith. Join us on a two weekend journey through the basics of the Islamic Belief system. Sheikh Yasir Qadhi will c......click here to continue reading Related posts:Those Who Follow What Pleases Him Come Out of Darkness Into Light2 ”MAA” MOTHERS DAY IN THE LIGHT OF ISLAM, ISLAMIC THOUGHT ABOUT ”MOTHERS RIGHTS MAA KE HAQOOQ” SCHOLAR PROF JAHANARA LUTFI SZIC UNIVERSITY OF KHI & HOST UZMA ZAIDI QTV 10 05 095 ”MAA” MOTHERS DAY IN THE LIGHT OF ISLAM, ISLAMIC THOUGHT ABOUT ”MOTHERS RIGHTS MAA KE HAQOOQ” SCHOLAR PROF…

MR's Blog
Abu Amir – Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilayhi Rajioon

MR

27 Feb 2010 | 10:58 pm

Bismillah Alhamdulillah. All praise is due to Allah. There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is his messenger. My father passed away on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at around 9:10 PM. InshaAllah the janazah will be at Masjid Darul Quran in Bayshore, New York on Monday, March 1 at 10 AM. There will be a gathering with relatives and friends at Masjid Darul Quran Sunday, Ferbruary 28, 2010 after Salat-ul-Maghrib. Address of the masjid: 1514 East 3rd Avenue, Bay Shore, NY‎ Related posts:The Last Ottoman (Could have been a Khalifah) Dies: Ertugrul Osman, grandson of…
Not quite done yet…

MR

25 Jan 2010 | 8:44 am

Click here to view the embedded video. Not here but here. Related posts:The Immigration Debate Syndication Updates and Get MR Posts in your E-Mail! Video Blogging at Pearls of the Quran with Al-Madina Institute
The End – Mujahideen Ryder’s Blog (2000 to 2009) [UPDATED]

MR

31 Dec 2009 | 9:37 am

It’s been a long time with lots of fun, educational, spiritual, controversial and outrageous posts over an entire decade. The blog was bound to come to an end as do everything. I ask Allah to forgive me for anything wrong I have said. I ask anyone who may have been hurt by my blog to forgive me. Anything good that I have written is from Allah. Anything bad is from myself and the whispers of the shaytan. May Allah take away any suffering from any Muslim. May Allah remove the injustice around the world. May Allah bring peace to war infested lands. May Allah forgive all the wrong doers.
My father’s favorite ayat or the ones most often repeated to me

MR

29 Dec 2009 | 10:30 pm

My father loved to repeat the following ayat to me almost every week or month. I’d thought I’d share them. Basically these ayat were his answer to almost anything happening to Islam, Muslims or the world in the news or in the masjid or in the family. Looking at the ayat now I can see how it gives the simple answer to almost any problem. “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah (His covenant and the Qur’an) all together and do not become divided.”Quran 3:103 “And indeed this, your nation, is one nation (in having a unified collective way of life and course of…
FOX News guest forgot about 9/11

MR

29 Dec 2009 | 8:22 am

Click here to view the embedded video. Dana Perino said: ‘We Did Not Have a Terrorist Attack on Our Country During President Bush’s Term’ LOL Of course we didn’t because 9/11 was an inside job organized by the CIA and Mossad to bring America into two unnecessary wars in order to crush the economy so all the wall street executives can get free money from the government to help them “bail out” without repaying it back. Related posts:FOX News is almost as good as Comedy Central FOX News: Al-Qaeda Started The California Wildfires FOX News on Zaytuna College

Sol Power Network
5% Language

C'BS ALife Allah

28 Feb 2010 | 10:29 am
Go Support the God A-Sun!

C'BS ALife Allah

29 Jan 2010 | 11:02 am

The God ASun Truth's business Twiketer has been featured on Killerstartups today. Please go and show the God support by casting your vote.
Two Horizons Press

C'BS ALife Allah

27 Jan 2010 | 10:05 am

This is the other publishing endeavor that I am involved with, Two Horizons Press. Two Horizons Press is an international publishing company focused on providing quality educational literature to groups traditionally neglected by other publishers. Two Horizons publishes children’s literature, handbooks for parents and educators, and reprints of classic works in history, philosophy and educational pedagogy. Our mission is to provide disadvantaged groups with books that are practical, informative, empowering, and sensitive to the specific needs of the communities they address. …
Supreme Design Publishing

C'BS ALife Allah

26 Jan 2010 | 10:47 am

As many of you know one of the businesses that I am involved with is Supreme Design Publishing.To find out more about it just go straight to the site. Don't be shocked at me promoting some of our good books through the blog. Also check out the whole Supreme Design Publishing world also by checking out the Supreme Design Publishing Blog and also the Supreme Design Publishing Podcasts. Also you can follow us on Twitter.
Keeping your cookies down, learning how to walk tightropes....

C'BS ALife Allah

25 Jan 2010 | 10:30 am

This jewel is Equality.Equilibrium is a crazy thing. Sea sickness is all about your equilibrium being off. It makes you dizzy, sick to the stomach, unable to focus. Now if your physical equilibrium can being off can mess you up like that imagine what your emotional, mental, social, etc equilibirium being off will do to you. It will kcuf you up that’s what it’ll do. When you mental equilibrium is off you are likely to get physically sick and depressed. When your physical equilibrium is off you are likely to be sluggish in your thinking and making a lot of wrong choices. Working on the boat…

Margari Aziza
Don’t Sleep

Margari Aziza Hill

1 Mar 2010 | 7:52 pm

Sometimes I hear news that reminds me of the passing of an era and the fragility of our existence. The most recent natural disasters, the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, are obvious examples. But there are also personal reminders. The toddlers I used to carry on my hip are now in college and having their own children. My students pretty much consider the Space Shuttle Columbia, the first Gulf War, Glasnost, Reagan, and the Rwandan genocide ancient history. And stars that I danced and sang to as a little girl are passing away. Today was a chilling reminder for me, Guru is in a coma following a…
Crockpot and Memories

Margari Aziza Hill

28 Feb 2010 | 7:32 pm

My mother was an excellent cook and we almost always had home cooked meals. I grew up in a multi-cultural home ( a very interesting mix and sometimes clash of culture of Black American, West Indian, and White). We were used to sharing food with our neighbors and friends, living in Filipino immigrant and predominantly Mexican neighborhoods. My mother made soul food, West Indian food, and classic American dishes. Even now, she can throw together Vietnamese soup or Pansit (a Filipino noodle dish). As a little girl I remember the wide array of dishes, from fried or baked chicken, chicken…
Lapses and Scourges

Margari Aziza Hill

25 Feb 2010 | 6:22 pm

I’m not able to make a comment on a blog where I offended the blog owner. As a Muslim, I think it is important to apologize to your brothers and sisters if you say something that is harmful. I have offended my both Yursil and Aaminah on her blog post, Response to Some Responses to Yursil’s Series of Posts. Yursil’s original post can be found on his blog with the first in the series titled, Surburban Capitalist Islam-List of Beliefs. I did not comment on Yursil’s blog because I had little problem with his critique of various institutions and practices. But I did discuss…
What do we ever do that’s right?

Margari Aziza Hill

22 Feb 2010 | 4:16 pm

Your striving for what has already been guaranteed to you, and your remissness in what is demanded of you, are signs of the blurring of your intellect. Ibn Ata Allah, Kitab al-Hikam Being the consumate pessimist, I know all about the ways worrying and brooding can bring someone down. My first memories were shrouded in a profound sense of loss with the passing of several close family members months of each other. In the years following, I, like many other sensitive children, had learned to live with sadness and isolation. I was hard on myself and my family always had high expectations for me.
“We Are the World 2010″ Takes on New Meaning…

Margari Aziza Hill

14 Feb 2010 | 7:12 pm

…for me as it provides clear evidence demonstrating the demise of American Music. Video Gaga’s blog entry, “We are the world remake takes on new meaning,” left me quite shaken. The article states: Lionel Richie was rightfully hesitant to rerecord “We Are the World,” the 1985 global anthem he wrote alongside Michael Jackson to fight famine in Africa. More than 40 artists under the umbrella USA for Africa joined to record the tribute that raised more than $60 million. Richie felt the song was iconic and should not be revisited, With the state of music today,…

kameelahwrites
26/2010: march reflection.

kameelah

6 Mar 2010 | 10:29 pm

i have been absent from this space for a while. in the past few months, word have not come very easily. photographs are much easier to produce and seem to better articulate my moods. it is quite difficult to write. i feel like i do not have the words to craft coherent sentences. i am always tired. all i can say at this point is that things are changing. it's a disorienting feeling. i want to be still and present, but it has become increasingly difficult. i am distant these days. i need to make a lot of decisions in the coming weeks and i am not sure what i am doing. inshaAllah, whatever i…
25/2010: air.

kameelah

6 Mar 2010 | 10:20 pm

i love everything about this photo.
24/2010: 35mm.

kameelah

6 Mar 2010 | 10:16 pm

(62) 365/2010: getting tacos.(53) 365/2010: 'do you feel like a remnant/of something that's past/ do you find things are moving/ just a little too fast'*(53a)
23/2010: i am here (with photos).

kameelah

5 Mar 2010 | 5:53 pm

(52) 365/2010: forward.(51) 365/2010: lonely rotations.(50) 365/2010: burnt orange morning.(49) 365/2010:'i've been here before, dreaming myself/backwards, among grappling hooks of light.../hunger quivers on a fleshy string/at the crossroad.so deep in the lore,/ there's only tomorrow today where darkness/ splinters & wounds the bird of paradise...'* (* yusef komunyakaa's poem 'confluence' from his 'thieves of paradise' collection)(49c) 365/2010: POWER [lines](49b) 365/2010.(49a) 365/2010.
22/2010: competition.

kameelah

19 Feb 2010 | 9:43 am

re: competition between artists.i think certain degrees of competition are natural because it pushes you to improve. however, i find competition between artists trite and counterproductive. i think art of any medium is about making your spirit visible and making yourself vulnerable. i am not sure why people think it is possible to compare spirits and create hierarchies of vulnerability. my work is just as much for me as it is for others. and in most cases, when we compare our work to others, we are comparing output (what we see), rather than looking at the input (what cannot always be…

MyAdhan Blog
New Countries: Russia, Norway and Burkina Faso

Blog Sheikh

22 Feb 2010 | 10:32 pm

We’ve had requests from three new countries since December 2009. Russia, Norway and Burkina Faso are now added to our list of 56 countries that have used our services. Thank you for your wonderful support! Here is the most recent Google Map.
Happy New Year 1431/2010 + Google Map Update

Blog Sheikh

22 Dec 2009 | 10:53 am

Happy New Year (1431/2010)! We wish you all the best for the new year and hope that we can continue to provide more innovative services. May Allah bless you and your families. As an update we’ve had requests from 53 countries since Ramadhan 1430/2009. That’s 15 new countries since Ramadhan 1430/2009, which include: Egypt Syria Australia Sweden Sri Lanka Lebanon Turkey Italy New Zealand
Hajj and Eid Mubarak

Blog Sheikh

27 Nov 2009 | 1:34 pm

Hajj Mubarak to all who have completed their Hajj and a big Eid Mubarak for Eid al-Adha to all Muslims. MyAdhan hopes Muslims can gain the wonderful blessings of this day. MyAdhan would also like to thank its partners, subscribers and users for their continued support. Look out for updates to our site in the new year!
Eid Mubarak from MyAdhan.com

Blog Sheikh

20 Sep 2009 | 1:51 am

Eid Mubarak from everyone at MyAdhan.com! This Ramadhan has been extremely important for us in the fact that we’ve moved from being a paid service to being a free service. Not only that we’ve also opened our service up to over 440+ mobile operators worldwide. Exciting stuff. In the next few weeks we are going to start adjusting our services to include a deeper and wider range of content along with other tweaks and and changes. We’ll keep you posted on our progress with regular updates. Have a great Eid and may Allah bless you and your families.
Google Map of countries who have used MyAdhan.com services

Blog Sheikh

12 Sep 2009 | 3:30 am

As promised here is a Google Map of countries that have used our services since the beginning of Ramadhan. In total we’ve had requests from 38 countries!

Laila Lalami
Reading at Book Soup

Laila Lalami

7 Mar 2010 | 3:00 am

I’m back in Los Angeles for a reading at Book Soup. This will be one of only two events that I will be doing in L.A. to promote the paperback launch of Secret Son. Here are the details: Monday, March 8 7:00 PM Reading and Signing Book Soup 8818 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood California If you’re around, stop by and say hello.
Reading in Georgia

Laila Lalami

1 Mar 2010 | 2:00 am

I’ve been to Georgia only once before, for a conference when I was in graduate school. I do remember, however, that I kept getting lost in Atlanta because nearly every street was named “Peach.” Peachtree Road. Peachtree Street. New Peachtree Road. Old Peachtree Street. You get the picture. I never got to see anything outside Atlanta, so I am looking forward to being back in the state this week for readings at North Georgia College and Georgia Southern University. Here are the details: March 1, 2010 8:00 PM Reading and Signing North Georgia College and State University…
On The Road

Laila Lalami

25 Feb 2010 | 6:03 pm

I am back in Los Angeles, but only briefly, as I have to be on the road again next week. You can listen to my appearance on BBC Radio 4 here. And my interview with Mark Coles on BBC’s The Strand has been archived here.
In London

Laila Lalami

18 Feb 2010 | 9:14 am

Greetings from London, where it’s really chucking it down at the moment. (”Chucking it down” is one of those wonderful Britishisms I’ve been picking up since I got here; it means “raining heavily.”) The event at the University of East Anglia on Tuesday night was a smashing success, with great turnout and wonderful questions from the audience. I had a great time. Then yesterday and today, I did a whole bunch of interviews, including one with the BBC’s Mark Coles for The Strand, which should be archived here. I will also be on Radio 4 on Saturday, so…
Reading in the U.K.

Laila Lalami

14 Feb 2010 | 11:00 pm

I’m in London this week for the launch of the U.K. edition of my book, Secret Son. I will be doing some interviews (details to come soon) and I will also be reading at the University of East Anglia, as part of their literary festival. Here are the details for the reading: 7:00 PM Reading and Discussion Lecture Theatre 1 University of East Anglia Norwich, England I don’t know if any readers of the blog are in the area, but it would be lovely to meet you if you are. I will try to post the interviews if/when they go online.

Soliloquies of A Stranger
Poor Man’s Bidet

ummadam

23 Feb 2010 | 10:30 am

I must have lost my mind when I first saw this monstrosity. I’m use to a proper bidet [said with a fake British accent] My kids were afraid at first, because it looks like it could cause some serious damage if you know what I mean. However, turns out this thing works wonders – masha’Allah!
Interesting Clash of Culture Burger King Promo That Gave Me More Food For Thought Than I Bargained For

ummadam

23 Feb 2010 | 9:38 am

Disclaimer: Lying is haram. whether the one who does it is joking or is serious. Lying in jest is haram. just like other kinds of lies. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘I joke, but I speak nothing but the truth.’” (narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Mu’jam al-Kabeer, 12/391) You can thank Sarah Palin for the geographical blooper. As far as living in a tent….I’m even asked this question! This was my favorite! I thought the guys played along great with this and the brunette had me rofl with her…
Saf Thani Al Ibtida’e Dars Qirah (2nd Grade Primary School Reading Lesson)

ummadam

23 Feb 2010 | 7:31 am

This is my daughter doing her reading homework. I love it! It wasn’t even in her religion class, it is in the reading class. I actually had this same book, because I went to night school and completed 1st and 2nd grade…lol As Muslims, our faith is not complete, and our worship is not sufficient, until we have built the strong bonds of brotherhood amongst ourselves. This fact is frequently forgotten by many Muslims, and these bonds are broken over minor disputes and arguments. This 2nd grade lesson in the Saudi school curriculum discusses the importance of brotherhood in Islam,…
Ana Arif! Fahemt! Maloom! ROFL!

ummadam

18 Feb 2010 | 9:37 am

I just received the following message from a Saudi friend, When I first opened the email, I was like, ‘ O no it’s inArabic! ‘. Once I read it I fell out laughing. She simple wrote English in Arabic. I understood everything accept for the last word. Any idea? Here’s what I understood… You are welcome. Insha’Allah we can meet you and your children at Tara House soon (if possible?)
The Prince and The Niqaabi Are Still Going Strong After 11 Years

ummadam

15 Feb 2010 | 3:03 am

Masha’Allah. Last night I we had a ‘Sister Honey Chile’ gathering. You know the ones….full of food, fun, and good talk. I was once again reminded that despite the ups and downs, I got a good thing going on. Oh the horrah stories! Then today, while reading a new comment on an old blog post, I saw an even older blog post that I wrote a year ago with my secret marriage tips. I read it and it made me smile. I am linking to it for those of you who are new to my blog.

The Front Line
We Will Not Go Down - Michael Heart

Muhammad

22 Feb 2010 | 1:36 pm

This song continues to inspire me... Michael Heart's "We Will Not Go Down" www.michaelheart.com ------------------------------ The Front Line. The Thin Line Between Entertainment and War.
How Israeli's are 'Helping' Iran

Muhammad

18 Jun 2009 | 10:38 am

Everyone knows that Israel is most definitely NOT a friend of Iran in any way or form. Given the current circumstances in the country and the media coverage around Iran and Election, in our information age, it goes without say that there would be spin from either side regarding the coverage.Case in point, from a social media perspective, is the website helpiranelection.com On the website it shows the man behind it all to be "Arik Fraimovich, friendly web-geek."and.. here's the guy's personal website...Notice... Israeli Military Consultant... You can't tell me this doesn't tarnish the…
It's Amazing What Israel gets away with

Muhammad

19 Mar 2009 | 3:52 am

Question: Which country alone in the Middle East has nuclear weapons?Answer: Israel. Q: Which country in the Middle-East refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and bars international inspections?Answer: Israel.Q: Which country in the Middle-East seized the sovereign territory of other nations by military force and continues to occupy it in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions?Answer: Israel.Q: Which country in the Middle-East routinely violates the international borders of another sovereign state with warplanes and artillery and naval gunfire?Answer: Israel.Q:…
Bush's Parting Gift to Israel

Muhammad

21 Dec 2008 | 3:05 pm

Almost unnoticed, Israel and the White House signed a deal over the summer to station an early-warning missile radar system, staffed with US military personnel, in Israel’s Negev desert. The media here described the Joint Tactical Ground Station, which brings Israel under the US protective umbrella against missile attack, as a “parting gift” from President Bush as he prepared to leave office. Read the full article at AdBusters------------------------------ The Front Line. The Thin Line Between Entertainment and War.
Just how bad is the Cholera Situation in Zimbabwe

Muhammad

6 Dec 2008 | 5:27 am

A reader, Abdoul, of this blog who works for Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders in Londonh ad left comment on my previous blogpost on Blog Action Day, mentioned the deteriorating situation which they are facing in Zimbabwe with the Cholera situation.The situation is even worse for the lack of sanitation and water. There are also concerns with the start of the rainy season and the shortage of drugs.They are in desperate need of any help they can get, please contact him via their website which covers all their work in the area and the challenges they are facing. I feel this is…

The Manrilla Blog | Exploring Islam In America Through the Social Sciences
Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship – An Example of Questionable Sufi Practices

Marc

7 Mar 2010 | 9:27 am

The following is from a flier posted in South Philadelphia for the Bawa Muyaiyaddeen Fellowship: Sufism: The Path Beyond All Religions An Introduction to the wisdom of a Sufi Saint M.R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Sufis have existed long before the time of the Prophet Muhammad, the Rasul [Sal.]. They have existed even as far back in time as Adam [...]
Return On Investment

Marc

16 Feb 2010 | 1:32 pm

I have been blogging now for several years. It has been an interesting endeavor that has has its high moments of reward as well as its times when it has seemed not only a waste of time, but in complete opposition to the benefit I thought it might once bring. I have experienced the latter [...]
Scourge of Secular Capitalist Islam – A Response

Marc

15 Feb 2010 | 10:39 am

Brother Naeem wrote a passionate post over at his blog. As my comments were too long, I decided to write them here. as-Salaamu ‘alaykum, Naeem. I can see that you are indeed struggling to reconcile some issues that are very near and dear to you. Let me provide a bit of food for thought. I am often [...]
The Trouble With Muslim Pundits Part Two

Marc

13 Feb 2010 | 9:39 pm

Back in May of 2008, I wrote a post for this blog entitled, The TroubleWith Muslim Pundits Today, in which I, using Irshad Manji as an example, attacked and exposed the self-serving and selfish tendencies of many a Muslim pundit who would seek to “reform” Islam without actually contributing anything to it, let alone [...]
If You’re Not Part of the Solution, You’re Part of the Problem

Marc

13 Feb 2010 | 10:28 am

There has been, in my mind, a growing trend in Black America for the last 40-odd years: the rise in secularism amongst Blackamericans. By this I refer to the increasing tendency for Blackamericans to make religion, be it Islam or Christianity, irrelevant to their daily lives, public or private (I say private as [...]

Umar Lee
A Parting Message

Umar Lee aka/ Double H

28 Feb 2010 | 12:56 pm

Beginning of Blogging Before I began blogging in 2005 I had periodically written for a number of Muslim publications. However, after 9-11, when I felt so much personal stress due to the ordeals of good friends of mine like Ismail Royer and my beloved Sheikh Ali al-Timimi I focused more on writing for boxing sites and [...]
Islam and Modernism by Sheikh Bilal Phillips

Umar Lee aka/ Double H

18 Feb 2010 | 5:27 am
Haitian Muslims, Imam Luqman Killing, Super Bowl

Umar Lee aka/ Double H

3 Feb 2010 | 5:35 pm

Masjid al-Tauheed in Haiti Hat Tip to Brother Bilaal in NC for sending me info on Masjid at-Tauhid in Haiti. Could not cut and paste the email but would encourage all Muslim readers to research this issue and help the Muslims of Haiti. For those who do not now there are thousands of Muslims in Haiti and thousands more Haitian-American Muslims [...]
Pray For Haiti, Muslim Brother Robbed After Fajir, and MMK Clarification

Umar Lee aka/ Double H

13 Jan 2010 | 5:20 pm

I would encourage all of my readers to do what they can to help the suffering people of Haiti at this time. As many of you may know a massive earthquake hit Haiti yesterday leaving thousands dead and thousands more missing A guy I work with is from Haiti and he has taken off work [...]
Big Mac Not The Only One Juiced

Umar Lee aka/ Double H

12 Jan 2010 | 8:07 am

Many of my readers will know that I am a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. I listened to Jack Buck and Mike Shannon call games on the radio as a kid ( when it was a rare treat to get a game on TV) and remember the joy of the victory in the [...]

askMuslims.com
Yes. Allah is eternal.

8 Mar 2010 | 2:39 pm

Yes. Allah is eternal.
Robert, I will proof you that inshaAllah, but if I...

8 Mar 2010 | 2:38 pm

Robert, I will proof you that inshaAllah, but if I do will be accept Jesus (PBUH) to be the Prophet of God? (Before you answer YES or NO make sure what you reply because if you accept it then you as a true believe of God should accept it)
salam alaikum abdullah, This fabled "other injil"...

7 Mar 2010 | 3:11 pm

salam alaikum abdullah,This fabled "other injil" you refer to. Can you cite its existence from anywhere using any source within 500 years of Jesus' life?
salam alaikum abdullah, Yes, even though God is a...

7 Mar 2010 | 3:08 pm

salam alaikum abdullah,Yes, even though God is an infinite being, we will keep this straightforward. You asked how I know we worship different gods. Let's compare the attributes of Allah and Jehova. If their attributes are different, than we know they are different gods. So, let's compare. Is Allah immutable?
You said "Now I see the misunderstanding. You didn...

6 Mar 2010 | 2:38 pm

You said "Now I see the misunderstanding. You didn't know that the Injil Muhammad referred to was the Bible"You the one who is misunderstood my friend. Tell me my friend does you bible even once say its bible? The answer is simple NO. The word Bible was not mentioned by Prophet Jesus (PBUH) himself and if he comes to earth today he will not even recognized that book.Secondly Injeel is not Bible and the Injeel the Holy Quran is talking about is the revelation Prophet Jesus (PBUH) received.

City of Brass
Shooting at the pentagon

5 Mar 2010 | 6:46 am

The trend of "white right" violence is definitely increasing - we've had the abortion doctor murder, the austin suicide plane, and now a shooting at the Pentagon in Washington DC: Officials said the man, indentified as John Patrick Bedell, 36, of the US state of California, died on Friday from head wounds recieved in a shoot-out with police near the US Pentagon building outside of Washington, DC. Police said Bedell pulled out a gun at the busy commuter rail subway entrance that serves the Pentagon, shooting and injuring two police officers. Police returned fire, shooting Bedell in the head.
marriage and the clash of civilizations

5 Mar 2010 | 6:27 am

Consider "My accidental jihad" - an award winning essay by Krista Bremer (a non-muslim) about being married to Ismail Suayah (a muslim of Libyan origin) during Ramadan. The essay is a scathing self-critique, of her difficulty in coping with her husband's piety during Ramadan. In the essay she is unflinching about her reaction and expectations and is frank about how petty her complaints are. But she also is able to look at these in context and understand that there is a higher purpose to Ismail's fasting - and it serves as an example she wants to learn from. An excerpt: The purpose of fasting…
A temple in Turkey - the origin of Revelation?

3 Mar 2010 | 8:31 am

This amazing archeaological find has the potential to rewrite our understanding of human history: a literally prehistoric temple complex in Turkey which, at 11,500 years old, is the oldest known human structure in existence: They call it potbelly hill, after the soft, round contour of this final lookout in southeastern Turkey. To the north are forested mountains. East of the hill lies the biblical plain of Harran, and to the south is the Syrian border, visible 20 miles away, pointing toward the ancient lands of Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent, the region that gave rise to human…
Reflection on Milad al Nabi

1 Mar 2010 | 10:09 am

Milad mubarak! Like hundreds of millions of muslims worldwide, I honored the Prophet Mohammed SAW last week, finding the anniversary of his birth (by most authoritative sources, 12 Rabi ul Awwal) a time to reflect on my love for him as the Messenger of Islam. Is it controversial to celebrate the milad (birthday) of the Prophet of Islam SAW? It may surprise non-muslims that the celebration of Milad al Nabi is indeed a matter of dispute; a thread at Talk Islam provides a nice summary. Unfortunately, some muslims take this disagreement to extremes - using it to dabble in anti-semitic and…
Louis Farrakhan pulls a Pat Robertson about Chile's earthquake

1 Mar 2010 | 8:55 am

Recall after the Haiti earthquake, Pat Robertson blamed the Haitians for their misfortunes, invoking the historical libel about Haiti's founders making a "pact with the devil". Now, in the wake of this weekend's earthquake in Chile, Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakhan has struck the same judgemental tone, calling it a warning to America: "It's not an accident that a great earthquake took place in Chile," Farrakhan, 76, said an hour into his three-hour address. "It was a precipitate of what I have to tell you today of what's coming to America. You will not escape." "I will speak to the…

Darvish
Acquire Knowledge!

darvish

3 Mar 2010 | 9:03 pm

Salaam and Greetings of Peace: To acquire knowledge is binding upon all Muslims, whether male or female. He who travels in the search of knowledge, to him God shows the way of Paradise. Acquire knowledge, because he who acquires it in the way of the Lord performs an act of piety; who speaks of it praises the Lord; who seeks it, adores God, who dispenses instruction in it, bestows alms; and who imparts it to its fitting objects performs an act of devotion to God. Knowledge enables its possessor to distinguish what is forbidden from what is not; lights the way to Heaven; it is our friend in the…
Milad Un-Nabi – Birthday of the Prophet (pbuh)

darvish

27 Feb 2010 | 9:15 am

Salaam and Greetings of Peace: “You have indeed in the Messenger of God a beautiful pattern of conduct for anyone whose hope is God and the Final Day.” (Al-Ahzab 33:21). Alhamdulillah! The moon is full, a reminder that this is Rabi a-Awwal, by the Lunar calendar the month of the blessed birthday (Milad Un-Nabi) of the Prophet Muhammad (the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him and his family). According to Sunni scholars, the Prophet’s birthday is observed on 12th Rabi al-Awwal, which falls on February 26, 2010, and 17th Rabi al-Awwal (March 3rd this year) according to Shia scholars.
“Everything is Love!”

darvish

21 Feb 2010 | 6:38 am

Salaam and Greetings of Peace: I read of a Christian woman years ago who went on a forty day meditation retreat in a monastic cell. When she finally came out, all she could say is: “Everything is love!” Surely those who open to faith and do beautiful wholesome works, for them the One Who is the Most Gracious will appoint Love. - Qur’an 19:96 A man once came to the Prophet (puh) and asked him about the hereafter. The Prophet asked him, “And what have you prepared for that time?” The man replied, “Nothing, except that I love Allah and I love you.” The Prophet (puh)…
Islamic Writer Alliance Poetry Contest 2010

darvish

19 Feb 2010 | 4:25 am

Salaam and Greetings of Peace: The Islamic Writers Alliance is sponsoring its Annual Poetry Contest for 2010 in April to coincide with National Poetry Month in the US. The theme of this year’s contest is ibadah, or worship. Submissions will be accepted from April 1st through April 30th 2010. For complete information about the Poetry contest and its guidelines, go to http://www.IslamicWritersAlliance.net and scroll down to the middle of the page. Ya Haqq! Note: The poetry is usually quite good, and inshallah I will enter this year also :) Filed under: Books & writing,…
One Chicago, One Nation – Short Film Contest

darvish

14 Feb 2010 | 6:33 am

Salaam and Greetings of Peace: I received this email from Souheila Al-Jadda, a producer at Link TV, and promised to help get the word out about the “One Chicago, One Nation” short film contest (under 5 minutes). It is a worthy interfaith project, and I am from Chicago, although the contest is not limited to Chicago residents but open to anyone in the US The film just has to be about Chicago. There is No Entry Fee. Here are the details: One Nation is holding a short film contest to share stories in or about Chicago that demonstrates the social benefit of diverse individuals and…

Dunner's
Tron Legacy

JDsg

9 Mar 2010 | 4:48 pm

My reaction: "Oh, man! I've gotta wait till Christmas!!!" :) Below is the first official trailer in "good" quality, but you can watch the HD trailer here. If you're interested, here's Disney's official website for the movie and video game, but it's thin on content at the moment.
"We know where you're going!"

JDsg

9 Mar 2010 | 9:05 am

This is an amusing if unsurprising graph from Chris Blattman's blog, who snarkily writes:Edmonton’s water utility published this graph of water consumption during last Sunday’s gold medal Olympic hockey game. Roughly 80% of Canadians were watching.I believe the beer consumption picture looks exactly the same, but upside down.This reminds me of when I was a teenager; my family loves to watch ice hockey, and we went to many games at the local college. There was one character in particular (a season ticket-holder) who would get up in the middle of the second period during every freakin' game…
Back to Driving School for this Clown!

JDsg

9 Mar 2010 | 7:16 am

This video should be nominated for one of the best (worst) fail videos of the year. The driver is such a menace. And after three run-ins with the ladder, (s)he flips on the rear-window windshield wiper! Weird!
Cool!

JDsg

8 Mar 2010 | 3:55 pm

Can't wait!
Understanding Malaysia (II)

JDsg

7 Mar 2010 | 12:21 am

This is part two (of two) of my post, Understanding Malaysia. The first half can be read here. This essay has also been cross-posted at Street Prophets, parts one and two.The so-called "Allah" case, on the other hand, seems to be tied to the question of exactly who a Malay is and Malay rights. Race is an important issue in Southeast Asia, especially so in Malaysia. In Singapore, the rule as to a child's racial designation is that he or she takes the race of the father. So, for example, my daughter, who was born to a Caucasian father and a Malay mother, is officially classified as a Caucasian…

iMuslim (Wordpress.com)
5 Mar 2010 | 11:10 am

iMuslim

5 Mar 2010 | 11:10 am

P.s., I know AhlulBayt refers to the family of the Prophet, sallalhu ‘alayhi wa salam. I just meant in context of groups who use that term.
5 Mar 2010 | 11:03 am

iMuslim

5 Mar 2010 | 11:03 am

Sat in a Quran recitation event organized by the AhlulBayt ISoc. First AbSoc event I’ve ever attended. I’m assuming AhlulBayt = Shia?
4 Mar 2010 | 11:33 am

iMuslim

4 Mar 2010 | 11:33 am

But I had a complete battery fail. Both my spares were flat – even though I charged them last week! Qadrullah, I guess.
4 Mar 2010 | 11:32 am

iMuslim

4 Mar 2010 | 11:32 am

But there I had a complete battery fail. Both my spares were flat – even though I charged them last week! Qadrullah, I guess.
4 Mar 2010 | 11:28 am

iMuslim

4 Mar 2010 | 11:28 am

I had fun filming today. A sisters’ comedy piece. I didn’t write it – just the camerawoman. General craziness all round.

Indigo Jo Blogs
Why I still blog

Indigo Jo

7 Mar 2010 | 10:45 am

Last week, Umar Lee posted his parting message to the Muslim blogging community, after his blog had been offline for some weeks. His reasoning was twofold: one is that all the best blogs (Sunni Sister, Izzy Mo, Tariq Nelson, Amir of Mujahideen Ryder etc) have been closed down or become inactive and the medium and community are no longer as vibrant as it was, and the other is that all the people who stand for action in the Muslim community are actually out doing things and practising Islam in mosques, while the internet has long been the domain of irreligious and anti-religious modernist…
Tory think tank compared to “madrasa”

Indigo Jo

6 Mar 2010 | 11:01 am

Today the Guardian carried a front-page story about how various Tory MPs and activists are being given training by an offshoot of the party’s youth wing, Conservative Future, named the Young Britons’ Foundation ([1], [2]). The group’s leadership regards the NHS as a waste of money, disbelieves global warming and condones waterboarding on the grounds that it “doesn’t do the prisoner any permanent physical harm although he may be reluctant to shower or use a flannel again in the future when/if he is freed”. A number of senior figures in the party have spoken…
Old wounds opened by Venables re-arrest

Indigo Jo

4 Mar 2010 | 3:51 pm

One of the two men who were convicted of the murder of James Bulger as boys was recalled to prison about a week ago, something the public found out yesterday and was all over the papers today. There is a lot of speculation about why this happened; it could have been down to a breach of his parole conditions, but the Daily Mirror’s “source” tells us that the person formerly known as Jon Venables had a fight with a colleague at work who subsequently reported him to the police, presumably not knowing who he was. The Government will not tell us why he was taken back into…
Ricky Gervais on ME, and other bad comedy

Indigo Jo

4 Mar 2010 | 4:37 am

Yesterday I had a brief exchange of tweets with Organica, who told me of her enthusiasm for the British comedian, Ricky Gervais, best known for writing and starring in The Office, his stand-up shows, and most recently the critically very unacclaimed film titled The Invention of Lying. She was enjoying learning British English from him, including words like bloke, daft, quid and “going about”. There was a time, a few years ago, when the man could do no wrong and looked like the plucky outsider who won over America, but more recently his stand-up shows have given the impression that…
London minicabs and public service ads

Indigo Jo

28 Feb 2010 | 3:38 pm

A few months ago, Transport for London published a set of advertisements aimed at encouraging people, particularly women, not to take the unlicensed “minicabs” which attempt to pick up passengers by the side of the road, because it could lead to them getting attacked. Just this past week, an American blog, Sociological Images, picked up the ad (HT: Womanist Musings) which found fault with it for using violence against women in advertisements like PeTA commonly do, for being potentially upsetting and for ignoring potential risks for men in using unlicensed cabs. (There are a lot of…

Muslim Apple
Stand In at D.C. Islamic Center

Ify Okoye

27 Feb 2010 | 1:27 pm

Police Officer Barry Goodwin squatted next to a woman finishing her prayers inside the Islamic Center of Washington, D.C. He listened to her explain why she had a right to pray in the main hall of the mosque, while a mosque employee countered that she was violating the rules. “I don’t know the rules,” Goodwin, who’d been
Dr. Ingrid Mattson: Words of Wisdom

Ify Okoye

24 Feb 2010 | 8:51 pm

I’ve been re-listening to two lectures by Dr. Mattson today, they’re short but full of wisdom. I really enjoy listening to Dr. Mattson and wish she had a higher profile in the media because she is simply brilliant. Her paper Heaven’s Gate touches on many issues I have been turning over in my mind recently. Ingrid
Gem

Ify Okoye

23 Feb 2010 | 9:34 am

Former Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan from my beloved state of New York: If a person goes to a country and finds their newspapers filled with nothing but good news, there are good men (and women) in jail.
Oursides: A Photoblog for change in sha Allah.

Ify Okoye

16 Feb 2010 | 10:54 am

Introducing: Muslim Women’s Prayer Spaces: A photoblog for change, in sha Allah otherwise known as oursides.wordpress.com. All submissions welcome. Not yet, sure the best way for people to forward their submissions. There’s a contact page on the photoblog and in sha Allah, soon to be an email address.
Outside the Box: A Beautiful Jumu’ah

Ify Okoye

16 Feb 2010 | 9:01 am

Cross-posted on Muslim Matters. Last Friday after my Penalty Box post was published, I went to salatul-jumu’ah at a hotel. The usual space was reduced by a third due to a scheduling conflict with another group’s event. On a normal jumu’ah we have three rooms, two for the brothers and one partitioned off for the sisters.

MasudBlog
Book: The Mantle Adorned

Mas'ud Ahmed Khan

20 Feb 2010 | 10:38 am

The Mantle Adorned is a completely new translation of the Burda (â€˜Mantle Poemâ€™) of Imam Sharaf al-Din al-Busiri (d.1297). Abdal Hakim Murad has consulted the classical commentaries to produce this clear and careful English version. Abdal Hakim Murad has added to each verse a further verse of poetry by another poet, which expresses a similar sentiment of love for the Blessed Prophet. The book therefore serves as the best collection currently available in English of poems in praise of the Seal of the Messengers, may Allah bless him and give him peace. Poets represented include…
The Chickens have Landed!

Mas'ud Ahmed Khan

15 Feb 2010 | 9:19 am

We received our Eglu Go and three chickens which my daughter has named Jamie, Lizabella and Audrey. Jamie and Lizabella are of the same breed – Ginger Nut Rangers – so telling them apart is going to be a challenge. Audrey is a “Miss Pepperpot” and is very shy, seems to run behind the other two when you approach. The van and the man from Omlet turned up at about 3pm and took about 45 mins to set-up everything up. Here is what it looks like on our garden: The Eglu Go Our Chickens We’ll be moving them off the lawn to a side area in the next couple of days. We are…
Chickens! – update

Mas'ud Ahmed Khan

9 Feb 2010 | 3:12 am

We just ordered an Eglu Go with three chickens from Omlet, we’ll receive the order on Monday 15th Feb (insha’Allah): [Image from omlet.co.uk] We’ve been thinking about having some egg laying chickens for a while now and decided to take the plunge. The Omlet Eglu range seems easy to maintain and look after and we’ll get on average 18-20 fresh eggs per week from organic, free range chickens. Chicken droppings will also be a great addition for our composter! The cost was Â£295 for the Eglu and run, Â£11 each for the chickens (Â£33) and a couple of bags of chicken…
Swiss MP converts to Islam amid his party’s anti-Minaret stance

Mas'ud Ahmed Khan

8 Feb 2010 | 3:57 am

Daniel Streich once a devout Christian and who was a member of the The Swiss Peopleâ€™s Party, noted for their anti-Islam and anti-Minaret stance, converted to Islam over two years ago but kept his conversion secret. The story was picked up by Pakistan’s “The Nation” newspaper but weaved fact with fiction, which seems to be typical Pakistani journalism, either they over-embellish the truth or they have a slap-dash and lazy approach to journalism. A generalisation? Perhaps, but as someone from Pakistani extraction, having been exposed to The Daily Jang, Nawa-e-Waqt, the…
Sayyidi Habib Ali Jifri – website

Mas'ud Ahmed Khan

14 Dec 2009 | 1:30 am

From the site: Praise belongs to God, The all Knowing, the Giver, the Generous, may the blessings and peace of God be upon the best of those who gave thanks for God’s gift and gave praise, the one who gave the gifts of God their due, our master Mohammad, who was sent as a mercy to creation and a guide, and upon his family and all his companions. By the success only God gives and by His help, the new website of Habib Ali Aljifri has been launched in its new format, including new parts, and additions. Enjoy! Related posts:Donate a Song Book – daw’ah opportunity Moosighting…

Naeem's Blog
CNN video report on Hajj

7 Mar 2010 | 9:58 pm

Well, this video is not technically a CNN report. It was produced by Suroosh Alvi of VBS.TV, but CNN is hosting Part 1 (Part 2 is here). So it's close enough.Anyways, a friend forwarded me this video report and I must admit my ambivalence towards the overall tone. It's really geared towards the regular man on the street. The narrator takes extreme liberty in describing this most sacred rite in Islam, at one point comparing the crowds performing tawaaf to a mosh pit, but so be it. Such are the times we live in.At the same time, he seemed generally apologetic in presenting the Hajj rites to his…
Sura al-Layl on Feminism

28 Feb 2010 | 2:33 am

I’ve been recently listening to Sh. Imran Hosein and I must say that I find many of his teachings very much resonating with my personal thoughts. And so, as part of my ongoing contribution to the world, I will write up some posts summarizing a few of his lectures. Let me begin with a most beautiful explanation he has given of the first four verses of Sura al-Layl: Consider the night as it veils in darkness, (92:1)and the day as it rises bright! (92:2)Consider the creation of the male and the female! (92:3)Verily, you aim at most divergent ends! (92:4)The night and the day are presented as…
A Response to a Response on Secular Capitalist Islam

20 Feb 2010 | 12:47 am

My friend Marc Manley responded to my recent post on the scourge of Secular Capitalist Islam for which I’m greatly honored. Its always nice to get critical feedback, whether in the form of comments on my blog, emails in my Inbox, or dedicated blog posts.So I will respond to his response in kind – with a post of my own.I will begin with a clarification, one that I feel is a bit unnecessary. I made overarching generalizations in my original post. I realize that. But it should have been clear that everything I stated is applicable to those cases where the ‘shoe fits’. I am completely…
Scourge of Secular Capitalist Islam - Part 1

9 Feb 2010 | 10:40 pm

As I was coming into my personal Islamic awareness many years ago, I was convinced that the light of Islam would reignite itself from within America, similar to how Prophet Musa (as) was raised and reared in the house of Pharoah. Back then, I viewed the Muslim world as backwards and in need of serious guidance – which American Muslims, stripped of cultural baggage and historical hiccups, would readily provide them.But recently, I’ve begun to feel serious disillusionment with this entire “American Islam”* project.Maybe it’s all the desperate talk of Islam being compatible with…
Cutting Off Cartoons

2 Feb 2010 | 9:33 pm

In my constant struggle to raise my children in this very chaotic world, I have found myself consistently battling the fitnah of the television. I simply haven't had the fortitude to throw it away. Pathetic, I know.When we were in the US and my two older kids were younger, we didn't have cable, so they would only watch PBS cartoons and animated movies (I am scarred for life after watching 'Spirit' 10,000 times).Then we moved to our compound here in KSA where Cartoon Network and Disney Channel were freely available. So the kids began watching a variety of cartoon shows (without those dreaded…

Children Make Life Normal
When Your Mr. Man

Nzingha

26 Feb 2010 | 6:19 am

Not only does Mr. Man get to be married to me the forever 17 year old Jersey gal and have five wonderful kids out of the deal he gets this.Call to Mr. Man"I lost my phone yesterday at the movies call and cancel the number" after calling him in a panic"What?" He asks confused as he is out on four wheelers with the kids in the desert.Taking deep breath "Yesterday when I went to the movies I thought something fell out of my purse but when I left I checked for my iphone and it was still there but I didn't check for the other one" Explaining this for you readers, I have two phones for two…
Hey That is Me!!

Nzingha

23 Feb 2010 | 8:12 am

I had an interview by Tara you can see how wonderful I am here
What if Umar didn't have Down Syndrome?

Nzingha

9 Feb 2010 | 10:51 pm

I get this question from the kids a lot, mostly it is Hannah but they are all curious of the answer. And my reply is simple "Then he wouldn't be Umar". Now I'm sure some will object that one isn't their disability, disease, or condition and this is true. Umar is not Down Syndrome Umar is Umar who happens to have Down Syndrome. But there is no denying that ones disability, disease, or condition does impact who a person becomes.The argument of others tends to be that Down Syndrome no more affects a persons personality than say blindness or deafness does and to that I differ. Down Syndrome…
When a Man Decides for a Woman

Nzingha

30 Jan 2010 | 12:12 am

So many times I've said on this blog that women driving is a minor issue to me. That it is in the front lines of women's rights in Saudi Arabia simply ignores a much larger issue regarding the rights and choices of women in this country. It is sort of like trying to put a band aid on a gushing wound and thinking it will heal someone. A much larger issue needs to be tackled before any woman in Saudi can claim independent rights for herself.As an American woman I have enjoyed the freedoms of my own choices since my adulthood. This isn't saying that I've made all the right decisions, but every…
Flying With A Saudi

Nzingha

12 Jan 2010 | 7:30 pm

After watching this clip (thank you Umm Omar) I had to wonder what if more regular folk got to sit next to and talk with total strangers on a plane. How much more understanding might we have about each other? How much better off might the world be in regards to tolerance and sympathy

Organica
Can You Spot the Dog?

Organica

7 Mar 2010 | 6:59 pm

Can You Spot the Dog?, originally uploaded by Organica-.
I Fancy the Independent Genre

Organica

6 Mar 2010 | 9:27 am

One of the coolest features of Netflix is the 'Watch Instantly' feature that comes with my account free. My favorite genre on Instant Play is the Independent genre. The films strike me as real, raw and genuine versus the traditional Hollywood setup (crappy).The following movies are some of my latest likings:1) Peter and Vendy Jason Ritter (son of Late John Ritter) gave a stunning performance in this intriguing film. If you've ever been in a relationship you will relate to this movie. It takes its audience on a journey of the up's and down's of Peter's and Vendy's relationship. It's a real…
Flower Show

Organica

5 Mar 2010 | 6:40 pm

Flower Show 2010, originally uploaded by Organica-.
Office Pranks

Organica

4 Mar 2010 | 7:05 am

I returned to my office after a meeting to find this done to my screen!I had to think for a minute. Who would do this to me? Could it be the tech guy at my job? He had mentioned the day before a prank he pulled on a coworker while she was away from her desk. Something about writing "I am a short plump tea kettle so drink from me" as a reply all email to a mass mailing list--including all our bosses and the mayor of our city! Anyways, she caught the joke and purged the email before it was too late.As a person well versed in office pranks thanks to my favorite characters Jim Halpert and Dwight…
What Do Muslims Use to Wipe their Bums?

Organica

2 Mar 2010 | 5:30 pm

As my good friend Suroor often writes "Muslims have the cleanest bums in the world!" As many of you know, or to some this might be a shocker, Muslims tend to clean themselves after using the toilet with water. The good old TP method isn't enough in this situation. Many Muslims resort to using a water canister to clean themselves which is convenient in a home setting. The toilet paper acts as a 'drying' agent NOT so much as a typical 'cleaning' tool as known to many people. Now, this method presents a problem in the Western world where proper bidets aren't installed in restrooms. So what is a…

Rolled-up Trousers
Tories in Northern Ireland show the power of smaller parties

Osama Saeed

9 Mar 2010 | 3:24 pm

Labour and the Tories are keen to talk down the amount of influence the SNP are likely to have after the general election.David Cameron's manoeuvrings in Northern Ireland give the lie to this though. He has been wooing the Ulster Unionists assiduously and has entered into a pact with them. It's caused him a number of headaches but the hassle can't be for no reason.Analysts say it is because the next Parliament is going to be tight. How many UUP MPs are there? One. And she's not happy with the alliance. Lady Hermon is now standing as an independent meaning it's even…
High Speed Rail – who pays for the Scottish leg?

Osama Saeed

9 Mar 2010 | 1:07 pm

The UK government will shortly comment on its commissioned report into building a High Speed Rail line from London to Birmingham. The £7bn plan will cut journey times from the current 1hour 20min to just under one hour. Meanwhile there are only vague commitments towards the substantial shortening of distance that would be achieved by the line coming to Scotland. It may happen, say the UK government, at some stage but they are not examining the detail on this in the same way as with Birmingham. UK transport minister Lord Adonis has said if HSR is to come north of the border then the Scottish…
Poll: Your Top 5 reasons Labour and the Tories are the same

Osama Saeed

25 Feb 2010 | 12:41 pm

Angus Robertson, SNP leader in Westminster, has come up with "Gordon Brown's Tory Top Ten", a list of reasons that Labour are just like the Tories Inspired by that I now offer you the chance to vote on this. This is not just for the sake of it - the five with the most votes will go on my election leaflets. Online Surveys & Market Research
Stimulation

Osama Saeed

23 Feb 2010 | 3:25 pm

Here's some figures for your consumption: The UK is the only G7 country not to have a stimulus package this year. Out of the G20, the UK's only company is Argentina.The UK bosom that Labour and Tory politicans say that Scotland relies on is being shown more and more to have been made of cheap implants that have now been removed.Meanwhile, over 60 leading economists have come out strongly against cuts in public spending. The media have for some reason portrayed this as backing the Labour position. This is the same Labour government that have imposed an £814m cut on the…
A parliamentary inquiry into Islamophobia is needed

Osama Saeed

19 Feb 2010 | 3:38 am

For the second time in the space of a few short months, a Nazi organisation called the Scottish Defence League will attempt to demonstrate against Muslims. It will be happening tomorrow in our capital city Edinburgh. Last November in Glasgow they were seen off by 3000 ordinary people drawn from trade unions, churches and political parties marching under the umbrella of Scotland United. It was led by the great and good from Scottish society and was an exemplar to the rest of the country in how to deal with the situation. I hope it’s a case of same again tomorrow. Inbetween November and now…

ReflectOnThis
Working on New "Monthly Word" of Habib Umar bin Hafiz

Khalil

22 Feb 2010 | 9:16 am

Bismillah. As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh . . . I am working on the translation of Habib Umar bin Hafiz's "Monthly Word" for the Month of Rabi' al-Awwal and will have it completed in the coming days, inshaAllah. Here is the Arabic for now: http://alhabibomar.com/MonthlyLetter.aspx?SectionID=4&RefID=113 Sincerely your brother, khalil abu asmaa
New A.L.I.America Website and Classes!

Khalil

24 Jan 2010 | 12:32 am

Bismillah. As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh . . . I am very pleased and happy to announce the launching of A.L.I.America's new website! It took many days and very long hours to set up, but alas, here it is! http://www.aliamerica.com/ We humbly ask that you kindly promote this effort, through Twitter, Facebook, your personal blogs, etc. Although this is...
"The Monthly Word" of Habib Umar bin Hafiz for Muharram 1431

Khalil

17 Jan 2010 | 7:55 am

The Monthly Word for Muḥarram 1431: On the Importance and Methodology of Giving By the Erudite Spiritual Master: Ḥabīb ʿUmar bin Ḥafīẓ (may Allah be pleased with him) Translated by: Khalil Abu Asmaa (Christopher J. Moore) In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Praise be to Allāh, Lord of the Worlds, the one who has honored us with...
"The Monthly Word" of Habib Umar bin Hafiz for Dhul-Hijjah 1430

Khalil

30 Nov 2009 | 10:47 am

The Monthly Word for Dhul-Ḥijjah 1430 By the Erudite Spiritual Master: Ḥabīb ʿUmar bin Ḥafīẓ (may Allah be pleased with him) Translated by: Khalil Abu Asmaa (Christopher J. Moore) In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Praise be to Allāh, Lord of the Worlds, and may blessings and peace be upon his Chosen Servant, the Trustworthy (al-Amīn), our...
Amusing Ourselves to Death & The Tyranny of Email

Khalil

25 Nov 2009 | 9:03 pm

Ah, yes, with 140 unfinished email responses in my Drafts folder I figured it was now time to revisit and reread one of my all-time favorite books originally published back in 1985: Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business While stimulating my cerebral cortex and innermost being with that exquisitely profound and deeply reflective piece...

Sister Aishah's Islamic Journey
In Honor of International Womens Day - from The White House

9 Mar 2010 | 6:13 am

The President and the First Lady speak about the achievements of women around the world at a reception marking International Womens Day. March 8, 2010. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
MUSLIMS PRAYING IN PUBLIC 'THREATENING'?

8 Mar 2010 | 7:25 pm

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Muslimah Writers Alliance Director, Aishah Schwartz, addresses post-9/11 Islamophobic climate of misunderstanding and labeling actions of Muslims... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
MWA Supports International Niqab Day, March 8, 2010

8 Mar 2010 | 4:25 am

A NOTE FROM INTERNATIONAL NIQAB DAY ORGANIZER, MARIAN VARGAS: Many many people don't understand yet why we (women) wear hijab, niqab. In many so-called democratic countries we find a persecution... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Gaza marks 1000th day of Israeli siege - Arab News

7 Mar 2010 | 3:05 pm

By HISHAM ABU TAHA | ARAB NEWS Published: Mar 7, 2010 10:51 PM Updated: Mar 7, 2010 10:51 PM ... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
MWA Joins Coalition Urging Appointments To Post 9/11 Privacy And Civil Liberties Oversight Board

2 Mar 2010 | 2:23 pm

Mechanism designed to protect American's from invasive privacy and civil liberties intrusions stagnated by empty Board seats. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PR Log (Press Release) – WASHINGTON, D.C.... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

tabsir.net
If your name is Khan…

tabsir

8 Mar 2010 | 9:22 pm

Kajol Devgan and Shah Rukh Khan On Sunday I finally saw the new Bollywood film with Shah Rukh Khan, “My Name is Khan.” It is well worth seeing, although the minimalist dancing and singing in the film make it more Hollywood (not Fred Astaire’s) than Bollywood. Add to this the fact that many parts of the film were made in San Francisco and California and the Bollywood connection is even more estranged. The plot of the film has gaping holes, but it is not meant as a documentary. I walked away feeling good about two aspects of the film. First, it is a stirring educational lesson…
Pakistaniaat: New Journal

tabsir

8 Mar 2010 | 5:59 am

Current cover illustration by Amar Raza, “A Prayer for Protection” There is a new online journal for anyone interested in Pakistan studies. The first issue of the second volume is now available. Here is the journal description of focus: Pakistaniaat is a refereed, multidisciplinary, open-access academic journal offering a forum for a serious scholarly and creative engagement with various aspects of Pakistani history, culture, literature, and politics. Though several existing journals do pay a fair degree of attention to the issues of South Asia and Postcoloniality, we feel that…
Mocha Musings #2: Egypt

tabsir

6 Mar 2010 | 12:32 am
Islamic Folk Astronomy #4

tabsir

4 Mar 2010 | 5:47 am

Modern photograph of the Pleiades The Pleiades in Arab Folklore The most famous star in Islamic folklore is undoubtedly the Pleiades. Commentators regard the reference in surah al-Najm (#53) of the Quran as the Pleiades; in fact the Arabs often referred to the Pleiades simply as al-najm (the star par excellence), a usage parallel to that in Sumero-Akkadian (Hartner 1965:8). In a well-known tradition, Muhammad links the early summer heliacal rising of the Pleiades with the beginning of the heat, crop pests and illnesses. In another tradition, more political than weather-related, Muhammad is…
My name is Khan

tabsir

2 Mar 2010 | 11:12 pm

Anyone who is interested in issues of Islam in America must certainly go see the new Shahrukh Khan film My Name is Khan. Despite all of its Bollywood silliness and melodrama, the film is surprisingly discerning on the experiences of Muslims in American society. Though it is set almost entirely in the U.S. (beginning in San Francisco and ending in Georgia), this film will go down as one of the most important Bollywood movies Shahrukh Khan has ever done. Most obviously of course, the film reminds audiences all around the world that Bollywood’s biggest star ever is in fact a non-violent…

Twenny-Two
Disney

Miss Two

16 Feb 2010 | 11:41 pm

assalamu alaikum, So, without giving away too many details (even though I suspect a great many people who know me in real life read this blog without telling me so...), we went on a field trip to Disney this long weekend. It was great! The trip began cold and wet- I mean, walking around in 50 degree downpours, cold and wet. But that first day was decent. Or, it would've been, if Delta hadn't
Don't listen, plus, filling the bucket

Miss Two

10 Feb 2010 | 11:10 pm

assalamu alaikum, I understand why people don't listen to music, I really do. I don't want to get into it though. Just sayin' that Chrisette Michelle (perfectly okay lyrics... well. Um.) got me understanding that a bit better. A sound I grew up on, with the synthesized soul. Had my life not gone differently it's how I'd be singing. I'm doing a 'Filling the Bucket' List. Someone over on
When it isn't for you, and when it isn't for you: Building a bridge

Miss Two

7 Feb 2010 | 3:48 pm

assalamu alaikum,So, my Brother from Another Mother (BAM) is getting married. He clearly is happy about it but also would be just as happy not to get married. To be writing this mere months after our conversations online and here in person on marriage is... wow. Life: The Great Unexpected Adventure.I, well, I acted all girly (sue me, it's not my norm) and squeed and such. Now, let me tell you
That's why

Miss Two

1 Jan 2010 | 12:59 pm

assalamu Alaikum, (My friend Isa sent me a card! I was so happy to hear from her mashaAllah. That sparked this conversation. Just a reminder... everyone has someone who loves them.) Sister: Aww! Your friends love you! Me: I dunno why. I can remember some times when I acted very unloveable. Sister: But you're so endearing when you do it! InshaAllah blessings of self-awareness and love
Last I've heard from it...

Miss Two

31 Dec 2009 | 7:43 pm

assalamu alaikum, Alhamdulillah. InshaAllah in about 2 hours, I'll be able to say I made it safely to 1431 AND 2010. WOW. 2010. No more zero in front of that last number. The people who were born in 1990 are about to be 20 years old! I REMEMBER 1990! How'd that happen? Seriously? 2009 has not been my best year. Every day that I"m breathing is a good day, alhamdulillah, and another

All I Have Is Now
As Salaamu Alaikum!!!

tru3woman

16 Feb 2010 | 8:16 pm

Been busy, something major is in the works. I’m excited about it. Oh yeah… Allah has blessed us with a baby! She is 7 months old! Stay tuned…
Returning to Myself

tru3woman

10 Oct 2008 | 8:23 pm

It seems as though I am coming out from a fog that settled over my life for the last twelve years. These last few weeks have been interesting as I have shifted from working mother to a stay-at-home mom and full time housewife…or homemaker, if you will. It is amazing how much clearer your thoughts are when you dont have to rush from one thing to another trying to fit everything into one day. I’m starting to notice and enjoy the little things… like putting lotion on my children. Or brushing my sons hair. Or actually setting the table for dinner. I have so much more time with…
Eid Mubarak

tru3woman

29 Sep 2008 | 8:43 pm

Insha Allah everyone had a blessed Ramadan. Things are settling with me. Will be back soon… I miss writing.
Untitled

tru3woman

30 Aug 2008 | 6:31 am

I lost the baby. I am very confused. Ramadan is coming and insha Allah my most important dua’s will be answered. I wont be around for a while.
Changes

tru3woman

20 Aug 2008 | 5:51 pm

As Salaamu Alaikum ladies… Been a minute I know. I took a pause to concentrate on my family and my marriage which insha Allah will prove to be beneficial. It was a nice summer… I spent it getting to know my new daughters and getting accustomed to having such a large family. Masha Allah, Allah has truly blessed us with a beautiful family. Several things happening… and happening rather quickly. I submitted my two-week resignation to my company Monday. Wow. I have been there for eight long years and have created so many relationships and I cant believe I am finally walking out…

ummSanaa :: a journey
flat hair

ummSanaa

21 Feb 2010 | 7:53 am

so we try to keep birthdays simple to avoid materialism and emphasize family. i asked my february-born child what one thing she wanted for her birthday. she explained that since she already had a tutu and butterfly wings that the only thing she really wanted was flat hair. she means hair that is straight. this she asks of a mama that has worn her hair natural for more than 10 years. a mama whose distant memories include a perm burning her scalp as a teenager – and even farther back – sittin between her mama’s legs while holding down her ear and cringing, without moving, away…
my firstborn is seven

ummSanaa

20 Feb 2010 | 1:26 pm

we’ve been looking forward to this since i came up with the idea that she’d get her ears pierced at 7. it’s at the age of seven that the muslim child is encouraged to pray, citing the hadith that says: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: Command your children to pray when they become seven years old, and beat [i.e. discipline] them for it (prayer) when they become ten years old; and arrange their beds (to sleep) separately. so, i wanted to make the occasion memorable, and have the earrings – usually just a form of adornment – be a reminder to remember…
shuffle along

ummSanaa

13 Dec 2009 | 4:11 pm

a worn, old man shuffles quietly from place to place. within his home, his house-shoes make a more pronounced shush-shush across the carpeted floor than the scuffed worked boots worn out in the street. he’s a worker bee: had his own small business then was forced into retirement by an on-the-job fall. he’s traded his normal walk that used the full length of his long, narrow frame for a stooped shuffle. during his days, in between cowboy movies, he lets the TV watch him, while a blaring radio is both sides of his conversation. he gives himself busy work in the garage with long…
state of the family

ummSanaa

13 Dec 2009 | 3:36 pm

since we’ve returned from abroad in july we’ve been house-hopping between relatives while searching for income and a home of our own. i feel like i’ve been gathering information to create a state-of-the-family address. each house has had its benefits along with its challenges – although we probably brought many of the latter with us. one house was physically detrimental to one member of our family; another was spiritually unhealthy to us all; another home helped us to reconnect with the rhythms of nature and the circle of life; in yet another, we livened up an…
lemon, vinegar, cayenne and honey

ummSanaa

16 Nov 2009 | 7:38 am

in the last four months i’ve been witness to the break down of two marriages. one, an older couple who’d been together around 7 years. the other, a young couple with a child as old as their marriage, less 9 months. it wasn’t the first time around for the older couple. they were both working on their second or third marriage. they were like roommates in a bad situation, most times ignoring each other when in each other’s presence. but when they did have to interact, the tension — let alone the actual altercations — was like steel slashing though steel. even…

Knocking From Inside
Horse Shadow

Tiel Aisha Ansari

8 Mar 2010 | 9:05 am

the grey horse grazed across a hillin shifting cloud-shadows and dappled sunshinehard hooves among stones and grassthe grey horse moved over granitelike slow water over gravelthe lines of its legs were song-shining ripplesthe grey horse on the green hillcast a crippled shadow in the westering sunBeloved, I have been neglectfulbut not unfaithful. The soul rememberswhat the laboring flesh forgets.Under a blossoming magnolia at dawnI call Your name into the echoinghalls of time. Memory is crippledby the weight of a body. It'sa horse-shadow limping out of sight.--for Read Write Poem's "hinge"…
Earth-Shaker, Father of Horses

Tiel Aisha Ansari

6 Mar 2010 | 4:41 pm

It seemed that Poseidontrembled in his sleep and shookhis bed. The walls of the worldquivered; water racedaround the globe in silent hills.No horses came forthfrom the water this time;the straining froth birthed onlyflopping fish. No chariotraced through the shallows.He sleeps again. The Bullstays quiescent at his feet.For now.--for Weekend WordsmithCollection available! Knocking from Inside
Confluence

Tiel Aisha Ansari

6 Mar 2010 | 3:53 pm

Confluence: a place where rivers joinand waters test each other's shade and heft.They partner, but don't mix, like warp and weftor heads and tails on each side of a coin.This strange and color-bifurcated flowmay last for miles, until the waters blendand sweep, a single torrent, round each bendabsorbing tributaries as they go.We met, but shared no language. We were fluentonly in our mother-tongues. For yearswe worked for understanding. Sweat and tearsresulted in relationships that were congruent.Confluence: a point where rivers merge,where streams of language and of thought converge.Confluence…
Random Queen

Tiel Aisha Ansari

4 Mar 2010 | 9:58 am

Rain after drought and the ancient puddlesfind their old boundaries rapidly filling.The pattern they make on the ground looks randomto an eye that's confused by their liquid glitter.The clouds overhead are heavy as the velvetbolts on display down at the town market.The queen is enthroned at the gate to the marketand the heavy robe of her high office puddlesaround her feet. Its sleeves are banded with velvet.A servant stands at her left elbow, fillinginkwells. Cut-glass decanters glitteron the bench, casting off rainbows at random.She's Lady Luck; she's the Queen of the Random.She rules every…
Domino - by Steve Perry

Tiel Aisha Ansari

3 Mar 2010 | 8:04 pm

Well, he said he would, and by God he did... Steve Perry sings "Domino"Having a poem set to music is a whole new experience for me. Thanks, Steve!Collection available! Knocking from Inside

UmmAli's Site
Her husband forces her to tell him everything that she hears from her family and other people!

7 Mar 2010 | 9:28 am

My husband forces me to tell him the whole dialogue I had with my mother or brothers or anyone else. He justifies this by saying that my mother may say something that can spoil our relationship. It causes problems between us if I refuse to tell him. Shall I respond to his request?. Praise be to Allaah. 1- What this husband should do – if what his wife is saying about him is true – is fear his Lord with regard to this demand that he is making of his wife, and he should realize that he is sinning by doing this, and that it is not permissible for his wife to obey him in this…
Why are there so many earthquakes?

7 Mar 2010 | 9:24 am

Praise be to Allaah. Praise be to Allaah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allaah, and upon his family, companions, and those who follow his guidance. Allaah is the All-Wise, All-Knowing in all that He wills and decrees, and He is the All-Wise, All-Knowing in all that He legislates and commands. He creates and decrees whatever signs He wills, to frighten His slaves and remind them of their obligations and duties towards Him, and to warn them against associating anything in worship with Him, going against His commands and doing that which He has forbidden. Allaah says…
WHY DO I WEAR HIJAAB !!

7 Mar 2010 | 9:22 am

I probably do not fit into the preconceived notion of a 'rebel'. I have no visible tattoos and minimal piercings. I do not possess a leather jacket. In fact, when most people look at me, their first thought usually is something along the lines of 'oppressed female'. The brave individuals who have mustered the courage to ask me about the way I dress usually have questions like: 'Do you parents make you wear that?' or, 'Don't you find that really unfair?' A while back, a couple of girls in Montreal were kicked out of school for dressing like I do. It seems strange that a little piece of cloth…
The 500 Most Influential Muslims

7 Mar 2010 | 9:19 am
Danish paper apologises for printing Muhammad cartoon

7 Mar 2010 | 9:08 am

A Danish newspaper has apologised for any offence caused when it reprinted a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad with a bomb-shaped turban in 2008. Politiken said it was apologising as part of a settlement with Muslim groups in the Middle East and Australia. Other Danish newspapers criticised Politiken for its move. Twelve cartoons of Muhammad were initially published in 2006, sparking widespread protests by Muslims in various countries. Politiken - and other papers - republished one in 2008 when police uncovered an alleged plot to kill cartoonist Kurt Westergaard. Editor-in-chief Toeger…

AMEinfo.com Latest News
UAE's Gulf Craft international yacht appeal

9 Mar 2010 | 8:12 am

Nasser Al Shaali, CEO, Gulf Craft is head of the UAE's most prolific manufacturer of yachts and superyachts. He talks to Phil Blizzard about the development over Gulf Craft from its simple beginnings 28 years ago and how they are now supplying boats across the globe.
Abu Dhabi foreign trade rises 9% to Dhs112bn

9 Mar 2010 | 5:00 am

Abu Dhabi's foreign trade rose to Dhs112.071bn in 2009, an increase of 9% as compared to 2008 as per annual statistics of foreign trade operations announced by HE Saeed Ahmed Abdullah Al Muhairi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Customs today.
Barwa launches its offer to acquire shares of Alaqaria

9 Mar 2010 | 4:59 am

Barwa Real Estate Company Q.S.C. (Barwa) and Qatar Real Estate Investment Company Q.S.C. (Alaqaria) today announced that, following the companies' joint announcement on 4 March 2010 of the full terms of their proposed combination (the "Proposed Transaction"), the formal offer document (the "Offer Document") relating to the offer by Barwa to acquire the share capital of Alaqaria in exchange for shares in Barwa (the "Offer") will be made available by tomorrow morning.
Tadawul edges lower

9 Mar 2010 | 4:59 am

Saudi Arabia's Tadawul All Share Index (Tasi) fell 0.36% to 6,530, with 67 stocks falling and 45 rising. Alinma Bank, the day's most active stock by value and by volume, was unchanged at SR12.75, while fellow market leader Kingdom Holding gained 2.11% to SR9.75. Insurance led all sectors, gaining 1.48%.
Initial indicators show that UAE continues to be top tea re-exporter in world

9 Mar 2010 | 4:58 am

Initial indicators have shown that the UAE is still the top tea re-exporter of the world for the year 2009, and is set to retain the top position it reached in 2004.

Jahane Rumi
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Man Kunto Maula

Raza Rumi

9 Mar 2010 | 12:31 pm
Rumi – Guest House

Raza Rumi

8 Mar 2010 | 1:13 pm

This being human is a guest house Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they are a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought, the [...]
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Peter Gabriel- Signal to noise

Raza Rumi

7 Mar 2010 | 12:26 pm

Peter Gabriel feats Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in Signal to Nois
Pak Nobel laureate’s Ahmedi status hurdle for documentary

Raza Rumi

7 Mar 2010 | 3:09 am

I was quoted in this story - a slight spin but an important point nevertheless.. Wednesday, March 03, Islamabad: Two young Pakistanis are battling all odds to make the first-ever documentary on the country's only Nobel laureate Abdus Salam though the going has not been easy so far because he was an Ahmedi. Ahmedis, who are in minority [...]
Old Nusrat recordings dressed up in dub reggae beats

Raza Rumi

5 Mar 2010 | 12:03 pm

Hear old Nusrat recordings dressed up in dub reggae beats by producer Gaudi - courtesy NPR

MuslimMatters.org
Female Wet Dreams: Islamic Perspectives & Regulations

Umm Reem

8 Mar 2010 | 2:00 am

Some time ago, I gave a series of lectures on Taharah (cleanliness) to the sisters in my community. A number of questions were raised from the discussion. It was nice and a very open talk since the one giving the lecture was a female herself. The sisters felt quite comfortable asking questions, in detail, that they normally feel shy about. One of the matters that we discussed was about the exact nature of female wet dreams. I realized that this issue is not only complicated for sisters but also a much neglected subject. This is why, I decided to have a full entry on this topic, for a number…
Sunday Open Thread – 3/7/10 – Upcoming Media Events

Youssef Chouhoud

7 Mar 2010 | 6:10 am

A couple of weeks back, I highlighted an episode of the public radio series Inside Islam that examined the relationship of Islam & Science. The next episode in the program is scheduled to air this week on a topic that’s perhaps less academic, but likely more personally relevant – The Art of Quranic Recitation. A hat tip to the crew over at UW-Madison, where the show broadcasts from, for choosing to discuss a facet of Islam that’s 1) not rooted in political controversy, 2) rarely, if ever, acknowledged through any Western medium, and 3) so rich, both spiritually and intellectually.
Charity – The Best of Both Worlds

Guests

7 Mar 2010 | 2:00 am

By Abu Muslim Kamran Khan In the name of Allah, all praise is due to Allah, we seek his help and we seek his forgiveness. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet [salAllahu alayhi wa salam], the anbiya, the shuhadaa and all those that follow him until the Day of Judgment. One of the greatest benefits of giving charity for the sake of Allah is that not only does it benefit us while we are alive but it is also able to benefit us after we pass away in the form of sadaqah jaariyah. Death will come to us all, when our time has arrived and the angel of death has taken our souls,…
Our Condolences at the Passing of Aminah Assilmi

Ify Okoye

6 Mar 2010 | 3:57 am

From the International Union of Muslim Women: Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’oon. Our beloved sister, Aminah Assilmi passed away this morning in an automobile accident. We pray that Allah (SWT) will shower His mercy on this sister and grant her the highest level of Paradise – Jannat Ul-Firdous – and give her family patience in this difficult time. Ameen. Sister Aminah Assilmi, Director of the International Union of Muslim Women, Author, Advocate of Women’s Rights, and Renowned Speaker died early this morning while returning from a speaking engagement in New York . Sister…
Arabic Dictionaries and Resources for Students

Guests

6 Mar 2010 | 2:00 am

By Aarij A (Cross-posted from the True & Good Words blog) Bismillah. Introduction For students of Arabic, there are a lot of wonderful dictionaries and resources available online and in-print. However, the wrong dictionary at certain stages of learning could lead to a lot of frustration, unnecessary expenditure of time and even ultimately a loss of motivation to study Arabic. Thus, here is a list of dictionaries and resources in English that students of Qur’an and Arabic can use in their studies. For each resource, the following aspects are expanded upon: where is it available from,…

Talk Islam
Rickshaw Run 2009: The Shaw Must Go On…

aziz

9 Mar 2010 | 6:40 pm

Rickshaw Run 2009: The Shaw Must Go On This post: "Rickshaw Run 2009: The Shaw Must Go On…" was originally posted at Talk Islam - a crescent waxing eloquent. The RSS feed may not be used at other sites without permission. You can subscribe to this RSS feed for Talk Islam at http://talkislam.info/feed/
Raphael Shore is a Canadian-Israeli film…

plimfix

9 Mar 2010 | 12:58 am

Raphael Shore is a Canadian-Israeli film writer and Rabbi, a sort of Neocon version of Michael Moore, but driven by uber-Zionist paranoia rather than a liberal Catholic conscience. Raphael bought the American people the “documentary” Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West, but if that wasn’t silly enough, here comes the latest: Crossing the Line: The Intifada Comes to Campus, a film that “…explores the proliferation of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic incidents on North American college campuses…” by demonstrating “…the blurring…
ACLU challenges Obama to deliver on promised change

abunoor

8 Mar 2010 | 7:54 pm

This post: "ACLU challenges Obama to deliver on promised change" was originally posted at Talk Islam - a crescent waxing eloquent. The RSS feed may not be used at other sites without permission. You can subscribe to this RSS feed for Talk Islam at http://talkislam.info/feed/
India’s Muslims and job quotas….

thabet

8 Mar 2010 | 7:40 pm

India’s Muslims and job quotas. This post: "India’s Muslims and job quotas…." was originally posted at Talk Islam - a crescent waxing eloquent. The RSS feed may not be used at other sites without permission. You can subscribe to this RSS feed for Talk Islam at http://talkislam.info/feed/
MF Husain surrenders his Indian passport…

arif

8 Mar 2010 | 2:58 pm

MF Husain surrenders his Indian passport. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Husain-surrenders-passport/588546 I would read this highly intellectual interview (dated). Lots of critical points to ponder. http://www.tehelka.com/story_main37.asp?filename=Ne020208in_hindu_culture.asp This post: "MF Husain surrenders his Indian passport…" was originally posted at Talk Islam - a crescent waxing eloquent. The RSS feed may not be used at other sites without permission. You can subscribe to this RSS feed for Talk Islam at http://talkislam.info/feed/

ArabCrunch
Junaio 2.0 First Indoor Social Augmented Reality App at SXSW With Developers API

Gaith Saqer

9 Mar 2010 | 3:22 pm

0 Call it web 3.0 or Augmented reality (AR), the technology that overlays digital content such as text, graphics, or 3D models on real objects through any video output. A Technology that is changing the face of life because of the way it makes life easier. In the last months of 20009 we saw a spike in startups and companies entering the AR space, however innovation is not near ending in this space as germany based metaio released a new version of its open augmented reality browser junaio 2.0 The version 2.0 is now available in the iPhone App Store offering Indoor usage, web- and user-based…
Juniper: Mobile “Retail” Market to Exceed $12 Billion by 2014

Gaith Saqer

9 Mar 2010 | 6:52 am

0 Mobile devices are being used in many ways and every day they are getting smarter, as a result there are new markets being opened by the abilities of smart phones. Today, Juniper Research published a report that estimate a “mobile retail market” to exceed $12 billion by 2014. The mobile marketing and retail strategies report found that the mobile retail sector – defined by Juniper as comprising mobile coupon redemption values, smart poster fees and advertising expenditure – would initially be dominated by coupons. The report found that mobile advertising expenditure…
Google to Push for a Larger Expansion in the Arab Region

Gaith Saqer

8 Mar 2010 | 4:05 am

0 Until recently Google presence in the region was with a small office in Dubai, Cairo and Saudi Arabia, with a small team whose focus was in Google Ad words, marketing, PR and Arabizing some of its products, excluding the fully Arabic Google’s Ejabat. While all the development work for Google has been carried out from its center in Switzerland. However, we see now a major change in that direction as we see bigger regional push from Google, as its now seeking to employ more people in the region. This comes few months after Yahoo!’s acquisition of the largest Arab portal : Maktoob.
Online Photo Printing and Delivery Service PhotoJONET Re-Emerge as Snap2Shop, Get 10 Free Prints

Gaith Saqer

7 Mar 2010 | 2:44 pm

0We wrote last August 2009 about a 3 different e-commerce approaches in Jordan mentioning PhotoJONET, A photo storage and printing website service. But PhotoJONET did not live long due to disagreement between its founders. Today PhotoJonet cofounder Issam Hijaz is brining his startup again but under a new name: Snap2Shop and a new partner with a new plans including regional expansion. Like PhotoJONET Snap2Shop enables users to upload photos, order prints and pay cash on devilry making life a bet easier for printing quality photos. And it does not only cover Amman, but this time all jordan,…
Get Bargain Deals With BunndleBuy’s Patent Pending Group/Social Buying Approach

Gaith Saqer

5 Mar 2010 | 3:36 pm

0With US recessions not yet over and jobs market still tight, every penny you have can adds up to your bottom-line. With bunndlebuy you can save hard-earned currency in buying music, outdoor, Sunglasses and DVD items by leveraging your social circle or similar buyers to get bargain deals. The way bundlebuy works according to Amad Almasodi cofounder and CIO of Bunndelbuy is as the following: 1-Say you have a seller who sells an item for 100 USD and you ask him how much would it cost to buy 50 items of your product? and he offer each one at 70 or 80 USD. 2-Bunndlebuy do not buy them now, rather…

Inside Islam
Islam and Fashion: Style Islam

Reem

9 Mar 2010 | 1:43 pm

Muslims have used fiction, poetry, and music to relay to the world the message that Islam is about peace and does not condone violence. Fashion is also a medium on that list. Melih Kesmen began Style Islam, an Islamic-themed clothing line, in Germany three years ago and now it is in high demand in Europe and the Middle [...]
Caning in Malaysia

Reem

5 Mar 2010 | 12:51 pm

Last month, three women were caned in Malaysia for extramarital sex. The Malaysian government said that these canings were carried out under sharia, Islamic law. These women were the first to receive this kind of punishment. Many in Malaysia and in human rights groups have condemned these canings and have called for Malaysia to stop [...]
Painting the Qur’an

admin

4 Mar 2010 | 12:00 pm

This is a guest post by Scott LeDanse, a visual artist in Madison. I made this painting in Konya and Uchisar in 1982 from a Qur’anic text I saw and loved in Konya. The verses in the painting are from Chapter 12, The Chapter of Joseph, verses 83-91. In 1978 I lived in and traveled across Turkey, [...]
Should the Khutbah be in English?

Reem

2 Mar 2010 | 8:07 pm

Growing up in the United States, I assumed that the language of the khutbah, the Muslim Friday sermon, was not an issue of serious contention. Since my community is very diverse, the common language is English. Arabic is used when the Qur’an is cited, hadith related, and supplications recited. However, the English translations are usually provided. [...]
There are more to fatwas than Rushdie

Reem

1 Mar 2010 | 2:04 pm

How come we don’t hear moderate Muslim scholars condemning terrorism? This question arises repeatedly with regard to Islam’s stance on violence and terrorism. Of course Muslims as individuals and communities have spoken out against terrorism repeatedly and many scholars have come out against this kind of violence, but their voices do not seem to be [...]