International demands on government "violate national sovereignty", foreign ministry says.
Muslim
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AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (AJE)
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Kabul rejects 'foreign criticism'
7 Nov 2009 | 3:33 am -
Youth lured to fight in Somalia
7 Nov 2009 | 3:24 amKenya accused of secretly training young men of Somali origin to battle al-Shabaab. -
FBI investigates US army shootings
7 Nov 2009 | 2:24 amObama cautions against jumping to conclusions after death of 13 people at Texas army base. -
Ocampo to request Kenya trials
7 Nov 2009 | 2:12 amICC prosecutor cites "strong evidence" to charge individuals over post-poll unrest. -
Troops 'injured in Afghan air raid'
7 Nov 2009 | 1:47 amAir support mistakenly hit soldiers during search and rescue operation, local police say.
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altmuslim
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Fort Hood killings: Fort Hood has enough victims already
6 Nov 2009 | 9:45 amAfter an American soldier's tragic outburst of violence at Fort Hood, Texas – the army's largest US post, with some 40,000 troops – dominates the headlines, a fear-mongering hysteria concerning his supposed religious motivations is taking priority over questions regarding his mental health. Although the facts, and clues about motive, are still being uncovered, we know that the alleged shooter, 39-year-old Major Nidal Malik Hasan, is an American-born medical doctor and licensed psychiatrist, who also happens to be a Muslim born to Palestinian immigrant parents. When Hasan's Arabic name was… -
Islam and scholarship: Religion and the crisis of authority
4 Nov 2009 | 9:08 amIn the post-enlightenment era, the term religion refers to beliefs outside the realm of reason, science and politics. It is a form of ethics without foundations in philosophy or political theory. Religion, like tribal and national identity, is a resource for political legitimacy. Just as the idea of national interest legitimizes war and discriminatory policies between citizens and non-citizens; religion too is deployed in the interest of partisan politics in many societies in developed as well as developing nations. Therefore as in the past, religion is still a source of identity, boundaries,… -
Kashmir: Faith after the quake
2 Nov 2009 | 9:00 amFour years ago last month, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake devastated Kashmir. More than 80,000 people died. 3.5 million were displaced. 9,000 schools were destroyed. I recently went near the epicenter of the earthquake, to a small town called Patika, northeast of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. I was visiting several of the schools rebuilt by Greg Mortenson's Central Asia Institute. (Mortenson is author of the best-selling book "Three Cups of Tea"). My guide was Shaukat Ali, a 29-year-old math and science teacher at the Gundi Piran girl's school in Patika. He described… -
Imam Luqman Abdullah killing: Condemn that which is condemnable
30 Oct 2009 | 6:59 amWe must condemn that which is condemnable. In the Qu'ran, Allah commands Muslims to speak the truth, even if it is against themselves. On October 28, Imam Luqman Ameen Abdullah was fatally shot and killed during an FBI raid in Dearborn, Michigan. Along with 10 other men, he was suspected of charges that included conspiracy to sell stolen goods, illegal possession and sale of firearms and altering numbers on license plates. They are suspected of these acts and, in both American law and Islamic law, suspicion is not enough to convict a person. Unfortunately, none will be privy to the… -
Hizb-ut-Tahrir and the media: Gotcha Islamism
28 Oct 2009 | 12:37 amFor an organization that lacks any institutional support in the Muslim world, the pro-Caliphate group Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HT) still manages to get its point across. Shunned from mosques and banned in several countries – usually for alleged anti-Semitism or annoying autocratic rulers - the group has relied in the past on relative secrecy (a counterintuitive strategy for a group seeking mass acceptance), the Internet and new media, or infiltrating existing media and civic groups to find a wider voice. As an example, when pollster Dalia Mogahed recently appeared on the show Muslimah Dilemma, a…
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Mr Moo
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[26/32] A Spoonful of Sugar Makes the Medicine Go Down
2 Nov 2009 | 9:49 amThis post is about medicine folk. As I child I was a short and skinny, and my parents thought there was something indeterminably wrong with me. Various experts were consulted. A Hakeem was visiting Loughborough Road Mosque, and we dutifully went to see him. The Hakeem diagnosed a generic liver ailment, and gave some kind of sweet fig-based paste. On comparing my medicine with that of my cousin, we concluded the Hakeem dispensed this same medicine regardless of the ailment before him. (These childhood visits to medical experts continued until a gentle paediatrician, with the aid of… -
Muslim lolcats VIII: A Design For Life
15 Oct 2009 | 8:53 pm* * * * * Just heard the a certain leader has made his son in charge of everything. Such a shock, I may have to lie down. * * * * * Brethren, and sistren, but mainly brethren: Mona Eltahawy calls Palestine ‘“the opium of the Arabs”: an intoxicating way for them to forget their own failings, or at least blame them on someone else.’ I liked this article by Abdul Hakim Murad: A warning we should heed * * * * * I saw this article on Cif, on how the ritual slaughter of animals without stunning is cruel. A reasonable and well written position is put here. The obsession with HMC is… -
The reinvented eco-fridge
14 Oct 2009 | 6:53 amThe BBC have featured the following article: Prize for electricity-free fridge A 22-year-old Leeds student has been named one of the Women of the Year after inventing a “sustainable” fridge. However, I have seen similair inventions before. Shaykh Google revels: A fridge that needs no electricity – The Times of India A Low-cost Clay Fridge Inventor of no-electricity refrigerator wins Rolex award – Boing Boing Pot-in-pot refrigerator – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Treehugger has the best article describing this ‘reinvention’ Solar Fridge Invented… -
Legal and official
13 Oct 2009 | 3:56 pmThe only advantage to having my name misspelled on my passport was I never got stopped at immigration. Like most things, I blame my parents. Unlike most things, it really was down to them. Actually, it was down to them, and the Tabligh Jamaat.* See, when I was born, and they were deciding names, my dad asked a chap from the Tabligh what should I be called? “Musab is a good name, after a companion of the Prophet” Yes, agreed my Father, except the fathead at the agency where they registered my birth misspelled it. Today, it has been rectified, and a nice lawyer has made me… -
[25/32] ‘The dress of that man is inappropriate’
9 Oct 2009 | 9:12 pmAmongst his many jobs, my father used to work as an interpreter for south yorkshire police. He used to tell us stories about how he was dragged out of bed in the middle of the night because some kid had been arrested, and refused to speak English. My dad, fluent in Arabic, Swahili, English, Urdu, Punjabi and Gujarati(1), could usually manage to communicate with the ‘generic non-white ruffian’ bought before the police. I think Bengali was the only major subcontinental language he didn’t have an ear for, but that was due to accident rather than design. He was the…
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Unique Muslimah
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30 Days of Gratitude: Day 5
6 Nov 2009 | 4:44 pm30 Days of Gratitude: Day 5, originally uploaded by Unique-Muslimah. I am grateful that I do not live in a war-torn country, with the sounds of gun-fire a daily frightening nightmare. I’m grateful that I’m living a relatively peaceful life; I wake up without fear of a threat or of hunger. Fireworks always remind me that I [...] -
30 Days of Gratitude: Day 4
4 Nov 2009 | 3:58 am30 Days of Gratitude: Day 4, originally uploaded by Unique-Muslimah. I am grateful that these roses unexpectedly bloomed in my garden yesterday, although it’s a bitterly cold November. They have never bloomed during winter before. Nature can surprise you like that. It leaves you feeling all warm and colourful inside as you marvel at its beauty [...]
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Islam in China
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The Chinese Islamic Root Islamic in Arabic!
24 Oct 2009 | 9:23 pmTianfang Xingli is considered to be a classic islamic text in the Chinese language. It is divided into three parts and one of the parts is known as the Root classic. Recently I was surprised to find out that the Root Classic was translated into Arabic in 1898 by a Chinese Muslim scholar Ma Lianyuan also known as Abd al Hakim al Hajj al-Sayyid Muhammad Nur al-Haqq ibn al-Sayyid Luqman al-Sini. It was published in the Yunnan province as Al’Lataif (The subtleties). What is even more fascinating is that an Arabic commentary on the Root classic by the same author was published in Kanpur in… -
Brass Cresent Awards 2009
21 Oct 2009 | 10:47 pmAlright folks, its that time of the year. Brass Crescent awards are upon us. You have until this Friday to cast your vote for your faviorite Muslim blogs. Here is the URL: http://www.brasscrescent.org/ -
Change in Beijing’s Muslim Population Over Time (1959-2000)
20 Oct 2009 | 11:07 amAs I mentioned in one of my previous posts that I would be posting quantiative data about Muslims in Beijing. (This of it as a Razib style post.) The table below shows changes in Hui Muslim population over time. The source of information is the same as before (Beijing’s Hui Muslim Community). One can definitely see some general trends e.g., while the Muslim population has increased by 75,000 in terms of absolute numbers but its percentage of the overall population has declined. Many districts show a decline in Muslim population, Chaoyang, Haidian and Fengtai are exceptions though. -
Arabization in Xi’an
10 Oct 2009 | 12:11 pmI was reading an article about Fashion amongst Chinese Muslims when I came across the following paragraph which I found particularly striking. It talks about the phenomenon of Arabization amongst some Hui in China. It is basically the confusion amongst some people of equating being a better Muslim with adopting Arab cultural norms. When Lanlan had her hijab made in 1999, Xi’an Muslims no longer called this kind of veil “gaitou.” Their new name was shajin or “Saudi kerchief.” Over the next five years, the number of women wearing Arab style headscarves increased slowly but steadily. -
Wang Daiyu in Emel!
1 Oct 2009 | 8:21 amEmel, the Muslim lifestyle magazine has a feature on Muslim bloggers in their current issue. I am also featured in that feature. Be sure to check it out if you have access to the print edition. The URL of the magazine is as follows: http://www.emel.com
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Positive Muslim News
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Muslim social worker & philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi wins top UN prize for tolerance and non-violence
23 Oct 2009 | 10:53 amUNITED NATIONS: Abdul Sattar Edhi of Pakistan and a Belgian human rights defender were Tuesday awarded a prestigious United Nations prize for their work in promoting tolerance and non-violence.Edhi, the philanthropist, and Franois Houtart of Belgium were awarded the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-Madanjeet Singh Prize on the unanimous recommendation of an international jury to UNESCO Director-General Koochiro Matsuura, according to an announcement in Paris.[...]Dedicated to advancing tolerance in the arts, education, culture, science and communications, the… -
Bangladesh's Madrassas bring empowerment, education to girls
17 Oct 2009 | 8:12 amAl Jazeera's Nicolas Haque reports from Dhaka, the capital, where over the past few years the government has been implementing a series of reforms to include more secular subjects in the curriculum and increase the numbers of female students.The authorities have been offering incentives - providing cash to cover 80 per cent of scholastic costs - to see their reforms through.This is proving to be hugely successful, bringing most madrassas under state supervision; religious schools that are largely funded by the government now follow both the state and religious curricula.Zainul Abedine, the… -
Muslim students give back by serving the homeless monthly
14 Sep 2009 | 8:21 amEvery other Friday during the school year for the past four years, a group of Muslim students have gathered in a small mosque gymnasium to give back to the community.The goal is to uphold the teachings of Islam, but its most recent meeting held even more significance.Project Downtown, hosted by the MSU Muslim Students’ Association, or MSA, is a biweekly gathering where participants make lunches for the homeless in Lansing shelters, complete with bologna sandwiches, grapes and cookies for desert.The group chose Sept. 11 — the 8th anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks — to begin… -
Muslim effort helps homeless on Humanitarian Day
5 Sep 2009 | 8:40 amONTARIO - The increased homeless population in the past couple of years has prompted organizers of Humanitarian Day to bring their event to the Inland Empire for the first time.Today's event will be hosted by the 2009 Coalition to Preserve Human Dignity, a social network of people, organizations and sponsors.Humanitarian Day is from 11 to 1 p.m. at Mercy House, 905 E. Holt Blvd. in Ontario"We chose Ontario because of the growing population of homeless in the area. The location of our event, Mercy House, is but a couple of blocks from the 'Tent City' where so many homeless live," said Fuad M. -
Muslim and Christian women participate in peace seminar
1 Sep 2009 | 7:18 amMONROVIA – As part of ongoing efforts to sustain peace and stability in the country, more than 150 Christian and Muslim women have participated in a three-day reconciliation and peace-building seminar in Monrovia.Held at the Sinkor headquarters of the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA), the seminar was also aimed at promoting good governance, justice and the rule of law in the country.The weekend program was part of a series of similar peace-building and reconciliation programs being held nationwide.Participants discussed a wide range of issues, including the need for networking and…
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Irshad Manji blog and official website
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The Fort Hood shooting
5 Nov 2009 | 4:43 pmI’ve just posted this note to my Facebook group… All: You’ve probably heard about the shooting at Fort Hood, Texas - America’s biggest military base. The main suspect has a Muslim name. Does this matter? If he did it in the name of Islam, then religion is a motivation. In that case, his Muslim identity is relevant. But if he did it out of other motives - say, mental illness - then his Muslim ID means nothing. That’s my take. Yours? Join the discussion on my Facebook page. -
A Catholic and his conscience
29 Oct 2009 | 11:52 amJon O’Brien of Catholics for Choice Friends and foes: What do you do when you’re knee-deep in book-writing deadlines, you want to keep your blog fresh and dynamic, and you believe that new voices deserve to be heard on the very themes for which your audience turns to you in the first place? Hell, you share your platform with guest boggers! With that in mind, let me intro you to Janice Formichella. An activist for Afghan women, among others, Janice stood out the moment I came to know of her. Propelled by struggles with her own religion, she read of my book, The Trouble with Islam… -
“Hear my plea or deliver my death”
23 Oct 2009 | 1:20 pmJila Baniyaghoob (Courtesy: IWMF) Every year, the International Women’s Media Foundation selects four journalists from around the world who exemplify moral courage — speaking truth to power in their own societies for a greater good. And every year, the foundation organizes a gala to celebrate these death-defying reporters. Most of them are able to attend, and some of the biggest names in American media serve as the award presenters. So it came as something of a shock, and a distinctly high honor, to have been asked to present a Courage in Journalism Award at this year’s gathering. -
CNN interviews Irshad about banning burqas
18 Oct 2009 | 12:38 pmEmbedded video from <a href=”http://www.cnn.com/video”>CNN Video</a> -
Islam’s reformers are such punks
17 Oct 2009 | 11:22 pmNow in theaters… This weekend, an intriguing documentary opened on the big screen in Toronto — and it takes the movement for Muslim reform another step forward. “Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam” is based on the book by Michael Muhammad Knight and directed by the award-winning Omar Majeed, who happens serve on the board of my charitable foundation, Project Ijtihad. Rock on, I say. Because, at rock bottom, Islamic punk is about more than smashing guitars and stereotypes; it’s about internal spiritual reform. Reading a recent New York Times story about the…
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An Indian Muslim
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Remembering 'Daar ji' and the Anti-Sikh riots of 1984: Twenty five years after Operation Blue Star
3 Nov 2009 | 9:06 pmA quarter century has elapsed since the horrific anti-Sikh riots had engulfed parts of North India including Delhi. Though it seems ages ago, but to my mind, it's still fresh. I was eight when the anti-Sikh pogrom shook the nation due to the Congress' disastrous policies and its mishandling of the Punjab issue. [A couple of months later I was witness to the biggest industrial disaster of the world--the gas tragedy in Bhopal.] Circa 1984: The All India Radio blared news about skirmishes between militants and police in Punjab on a regular basis. Just two years ago the grand Asiad had excited… -
Indian Shias: Poor political representation despite substantial population
28 Oct 2009 | 10:09 amThe recent conclave of the All India Shia Personal Law Board [AISPLB] has brought to fore several issues, which are often overlooked. The fact that Shias comprise anything between 10-17% of Indian Muslim population, which is around 2-3 crore and are numerically equal to the size of Sikh and Christian minority, can't be ignored. However, they don't have any political representation and there is probably no Shia Member of Parliament (MP). This was the main issue, which came up for discussion. The participants said that while the voice of mainstream Sunni Muslim is heard in the echelons of… -
Congress-NCP win Maharashtra Assembly election, Shiv Sena-BJP lose
21 Oct 2009 | 8:56 pmThe Congress-NCP are all set to form the next government once again in Maharashtra. In the important yet tasteless election that hardly offered any other choice to the voters, the Congress-led coalition was heading for a third straight victory. The trends from the morning were clear. Not just Raj Thackeray's MNS had made an impact and divided the Shiv Sena-BJP's vote, the Congress-NCP had also managed to hold its traditional base of Marathas, Muslims, Dalits and Tribals apart from the North Indian voter. Despite its less than impressive record, the Congress-NCP combine have managed to retain… -
Terror Trail: From Maharashtra to Goa
18 Oct 2009 | 11:54 amThe recent blast in Goa's Margao and the recovery of more explosive devices (IEDs) in Sancaole has once again brought spotlight on the fringe organisations that are involved in terror attacks in the country. The name of Sanatan Sanstha that has come up in the course of investigations, has been linked to blasts man times in the past also. This includes blast at a theatre in Thane and explosions Vashi and Panvel. Besides, the group is linked to another hardliner group--Abhinav Bharat that was responsible for the Malegaon blasts. Any fundamentalist group belonging to any religion can have some… -
Diwali celebrations: Crackers, Fireworks and Nostalgia
16 Oct 2009 | 1:06 pmAfter many years I went to crackers market on this Diwali. Some friends hadn't bought the crackers till the eve of festival and we went to a market of whole-sale traders, on the outskirts of the City.The visit also reminded me of my childhood and the memories of Diwali. In those days the children would buy 'kid pistols' much ahead of the festival. There was a strip of 'tiklis' that was placed like magazine inside the gun. But they aren't in vogue now.The 'snake tablet' was my favourite. The moment you burn the black little tablet it starts growing in the shape of a long snake. Apart from the…
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Life Thinking
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FamousBloggers.net is Online!
23 Oct 2009 | 10:38 pmFamous Bloggers logo I have just started to promote FamousBloggers.net through my social network and twitter, Famous Bloggers is a corporation blog and Social Network for Making Money Online Tips built on the contributions of its authors. We are serious about creating a fun, safe, rewarding, and effective Social Network platform for SEO, Marketing, Traffic, Design, Social Networking and Making Money Online Tips! Plz help us to make it a better place for everyone. -
Congratulations to Winners of Famous Bloggers Club First Contest
16 Oct 2009 | 3:38 pmCongratulations to all Famous Bloggers contest winners, and special thanks for all participants of the contest and members of Famous Bloggers Club with wishes to achieve better result and good luck on our next contest, they really did a great job on promoting the contest, so I am giving to the winners a love link on life thinking blog! Congratulations for Famous Bloggers Contest Winners Check out Famous Bloggers Sponsors Page. ElegantThemes.com, IBlogZone.com, BetterBloggingForBloggers.com, Zebida.com FBC100 $365 of worth prizes winners are: (1) Nice Blogger (25%, 222 Votes) $170 worth… -
Are you a Member of Famous Bloggers Club?
26 Aug 2009 | 10:17 amFamous Bloggers Club first $345 contest Famous Bloggers Club first contest is going to be a lot of fun, think I don’t have to force anyone of you to do something that he don’t want to do it, it’s all up to your welling to promote the Famous Bloggers Club contest and invite your friends to VOTE for your best blog to win one of the cool prizes of the contest. Sponsoring this contest is open for everybody from inside the FBC club or other people who like FBC idea, it’s a good idea to accept sponsors as this will make the contest more exciting when prizes goes higher! Contact me if you… -
Famous BLoggers CLub
18 Jul 2009 | 5:20 amHello everybody. In this post l’m going to tell you about Famous Bloggers Club that maybe you would like to be part of it by joining the 100 bloggers members. I am going to make this post short as lam posting from my Nokia 5200 mobile, so.. If you want to know more about Famous Bloggers Club then visit my blog . -
New Media Bloggers – Make Money from your Social Network
23 May 2009 | 1:23 pmNew Media Bloggers is a Social Network for Making Money Online built on the contributions of its users. We are serious about creating a fun, safe, rewarding, and effective Social Network Bookmarks for Making Money Online, help us to make it a better place for everyone.try to play around NMBloggers to discover the website and get some friends. Members of New Media Bloggers submit making money online bookmarks and interesting videos from other blogs and websites to provide you with some useful tips for how to make money online, enjoy them! Sign up now and advertise for free on New Media…
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Popular islam Bookmarks on Delicious
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Islam’s Darwin problem
25 Oct 2009 | 12:06 am -
Column: Just say no to blasphemy laws - Opinion - USATODAY.com
19 Oct 2009 | 4:40 am -
Hamas patrols beaches in Gaza to enforce conservative dress code
18 Oct 2009 | 1:29 pm
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Inquisitive Muslimah
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The charter for compassion
29 Oct 2009 | 12:15 pmAssalam alaikum & Peace to allI like Karen Armstrong's books and just found this video...it is long but quite worth it to watch! -
The Omnivore's Hundred
27 Oct 2009 | 7:58 amAssalam alaikum & Peace to allI wanted to post something fun for a blog...been to emotional lately (all I'll say is that Alhamduillah things are getting better and I pray they will continue that way!)I saw this food game on Simplicity by the Sea blog and thought I would post mine answers as well! Feel free to join in!** Note any pork or alcohol on the list, I've tried 'before' I was Muslim - just in case someone was wondering** Here’s a chance for a little interactivity for all the bloggers out there. Below is a list of 100 things that I think every good omnivore should… -
Things getting worse before they are better?
19 Oct 2009 | 10:24 amAssalam alaikum & Peace to all Thank you to everyone who commented on my previous post - all of your words really helped. Unfortunately things have gotten worse ...not better, yes I did blow up a bit but it was for something different, I admit I reacted a bit quick and abrupt but it just happened and I have been 'paying' for that ever since. Not to seem like I'm back-biting (maybe I have already - may God forgive me if I have) but I over-heard my Mother talking badly about me and my husband to a friend of her's. After that I have not been the same, it's just too many… -
Am I being insensitive?
16 Oct 2009 | 7:44 amAssalam alaikum & Peace to allFor a few days now I've been irritated with my mom and I can't figure out if I am being rational about it or just emotional? So why not ask all of you out there? Here is the story.My mom is living with us now for a few months, we are going to be moving into our new home in about a month (inshallah) and we have so many things to do in the apartment before it can be put on sale - massive cleaning and some structural work too (ie. finishing the flooring off and painting) So for these few months it has been a real struggle with my mom in terms that I find… -
Some fashion fun
8 Oct 2009 | 7:51 amAssalam alaikum & Peace to allI had way too much fun with this new Fashion designer programI saw the link on Hegab-rehabHave some fun and try out some new things!
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Muslim Torrents
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Audio Quran_Saheeh Intl English Translation_ Abdul Basit Abdul Samad with Ibrahim Walk
Category: Quran Size: 758.75 MB Status: no seeders and no leecher Added: 2009-10-31 17:10:13 -
The Divine Book
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Inside the Koran
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Economic System of Islam
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Best
Category: Lectures Size: 4.66 MB Status: no seeders and 1 leechers Added: 2009-10-18 08:04:38
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UNIVERSAL REALIZATION
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Quality is the Criterion
5 Nov 2009 | 8:40 amOne of the most remarkable events of Islamic history where the peak ofsincerity is revealed is the incident of Bibi Shutayta, a spiritually effulgent woman, who lived during the time of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (‘a) and Imam al-Kazim (‘A) in the Nishapur area of Iran. A group of people led by Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Ibrahim al-Naishapuri left Naishapur for Medina to deliver people’s money to Imam Al-Sadiq (‘a). He was entrusted with 30,000 dinars, 50,000 dirhams, and 3,000 pieces of clothes to take to the Imam of the time. An old woman called Shutayta gives a dirham and a piece of raw… -
THE SACRED EFFUSION
16 Oct 2009 | 10:31 amThe Sacred Effusion is a commentary on Ziyarat ‘Ashura, one of the well-known ziyaaraat (recitals of salutation) that many of us frequently recite with great zeal and devotion. Most of the Shi’a Muslims express their veneration and sorrow when they recite this sublime ziyara on the day of Ashura. The Infallible Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), however, have taught us to recite it very often. Besides its ample merits, it is a program of revolution for the sleeping masses. The crux of the ziyarais al-tabarri and al-tawalli, which can correctly be translated as ‘fleeing from… -
COVERER OF DEFECTS
30 Aug 2009 | 10:15 amOne of the beautiful Names of Allah is Sattar al-‘Uyub (One who frequently covers defects). This Name is revealed so brilliantly when our actions are hidden even from the two angels who record our deeds. In the supplication of Kumayl we speak of sins which Almighty Allah hides even from the Kiraaman Kaatibin (the Noble Writers). The exalted saint, Mawla Faydh al-Kashani in his ethical masterpiece al-Mahajjat al-Baydhaa' narrates the following thought provoking sacred tradition: The Holy Prophet (s) is reported to have asked his Lord about the sins of his nation saying: O Lord, place the… -
Sinners are Most Welcome
27 Aug 2009 | 4:58 pmSix days of the Holy Month of Ramadhan have elapsed like a flash of light. Have we begun our self-purification or has the habit of procrastination overwhelmed us? Twelve days are left to embrace or be embraced by the mercy of the nights of Qadr. Have we thought of transformation, change, and emancipation? Or has despair overcome us, and we have no hope to turn to the All-Forgiving? Some traditions serve as sparks that penetrate into the heart so deep, that they shake the human being and transform him completely. Perhaps the following sacred tradition (hadith qudsi) can serve as such a spark… -
THE SPLENDOR OF THE GNOSTICS DEPARTS
22 May 2009 | 7:04 pmHe was known as Bahjat al-‘Aarifin (the splendor of the Gnostics) and profusely emanated the light of devotion, such that lovers throughout the world were fascinated by his noble spirit. He was well-known for his absorption in prayer, where the true munajat (mutual whispering) between the lover and the Beloved is clearly revealed. In most cases, the awe and veneration of the Infinite would apparently overcome him and he would weep from the depths of his heart in prayer. Although the world came to know him after a long period of his life of splendor, this elevated spirit was known to enjoy…
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Spirit21
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Muslim men, this one's for you...
5 Nov 2009 | 6:42 amThis article has just been published in EMEL MagazineMuslim women are changing the world. Fed up with voices on all sides telling us how we should dress, what is 'right' for Muslim women, and how we should be defending Islam or in other cases dismantling it, Muslim women are getting themselves together and initiating change. But what does this mean if you are a Muslim man?I should make two statements here: first, that I am an advocate for Muslim women and the changes that they want to make to traditional structures within Muslim communities, from within the faith. I believe Islam has a… -
From Gaza with Love
4 Nov 2009 | 11:40 amIn December last year, I travelled to Darfur as part of a multi-disciplinary group to visit the war-torn region and the camps that are home to hundreds and thousands of displaced people. The group I was part of visited the camp that is run by Islamic Relief, a British Muslim charity which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. Their longevity and influence as one of the world’s leading Muslim charities was recognised by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office who hosted the quarter century celebrations. The UK Director of Islamic Relief was part of the group, and along with the… -
Submissions open for Muslim Writers Awards 2010
30 Oct 2009 | 11:25 amFor the fourth year running the Muslim Writers Awards is calling out for creative, interesting and exciting submissions from writers across the country. So get your entries in before May 14th 2010.The Muslim Writers Awards was set up to encourage more writers, and readers, from British Muslims. There is an untapped reservoir of talent waiting to be encouraged and nurtured to write, not to mention readers who are to be encouraged to spend their pennies (and they have plenty of them!) on books.Read more about the Muslim Writers Awards here: www.muslimwritersawards.co.ukAnd the submission… -
BBC Radio 4 this Friday, discussing "Questioning the veil" by Marnia Lazreg
7 Oct 2009 | 2:18 pmI've been invited onto Radio 4's Woman's Hour this friday to discuss Marnia Lazreg's recent publication "Questioning the Veil."The book's description says:Across much of the world today, Muslim women of all ages are increasingly turning to wearing the veil. Is this trend a sign of rising piety or a way of asserting Muslim pride? And does the veil really provide women freedom from sexual harassment? Written in the form of letters addressing all those interested in this issue, Questioning the Veil examines the inconsistent and inadequate reasons given for the veil, and points to the dangers and… -
21st century spiritual literacy
5 Oct 2009 | 4:36 amThis article was recently published in EMEL Magazine"Bring up your children differently to how you were brought up, because they live in different times to you."This is a famous saying of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad. I grew up as part of a British-born Asian Muslim generation where trying to make sense of these competing identities was our primary concern. One of our main goals was to 'fit in' with mainstream society around us. Observing Asian customs and abiding by religious rules was something to be downplayed and hidden. Today's young Muslims see their priorities…
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islam « WordPress.com Tag Feed
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the growing divide between Islam and the West, and the rise of the right-wing
7 Nov 2009 | 3:42 amThe latest story of the killing of 13 people by Nidal Malik Hasan once again brings Islam into the headlines in a negative light. A reading of the comments sent in response to news articles reporting on the story highlights the growing divide between non-Muslim Western citizens and Muslim Western citizens. People are beginning to voice feelings towards Islam that are not sympathetic, whilst Muslims continue to try to convince their fellow citizens that Islam is a religion of peace and does not condone acts of violence. Leaving aside the question of whether or not Islam is a religion of peace,… -
ISLAM
7 Nov 2009 | 3:23 amArtikel ini adalah bagian dari seri → Islam Rukun Islam Syahadat • Shalat • Puasa Zakat • Haji Rukun Iman Allah • Al-Qur’an • Malaikat Nabi • Hari Akhir Qada & Qadar Tokoh Islam Muhammad SAW Nabi & Rasul • Sahabat Ahlul Bait Kota Suci Mekkah •Madinah • Yerusalem Najaf • Karbala • Kufah Kazimain • Mashhad •Istanbul Hari Raya Hijrah • Idul Fitri • Idul Adha • Asyura • Ghadir Khum Arsitektur Masjid •Menara •Mihrab Ka’bah • Arsitektur Islam Jabatan Fungsional Khalifah •Ulama •Muadzin Imam•Mullah•Ayatullah • Mufti Teks &… -
Gossip Geschichten: November 2009
7 Nov 2009 | 3:23 amDie neue Kategorie auf stonesand heißt: Gossip Geschichten. Dort gibt es Texte die nur eine Aufgabe haben: Den Leser zu amüsieren; hochwertigen Inhalt hierbei zu finden ist in dieser Kategorie fraglich. Die circa 1500 Wörter große Reportage wurde im November 2009 in einem ICE verfasst und ist spielt im Bordrestaurant. Figuren, Fakten und Handlung sind frei erfunden. Dennoch war stonesand vor Ort, und somit hat die Geschichte vielleicht doch etwas Wahrheit in sich. Ich nippe an meinem zweiten Bier. Mein Mp3 Player dudelt irgendeine komische SWR3 Musik. Die Landschaf zieht an mir vorbei,… -
Uusin M-failid lehti-ilmestynyt
7 Nov 2009 | 3:22 amViron ev.lut. kirkon lehti Misjonifailid on taas ilmestynyt. Sitä voi lukea myös internetistä. Kirjoitin pääkirjoituksen aiheella “Uskon todistaminen tänään – elämän ja kuoleman kysymys”. Meidän tulee todistaa Jumalan Raamatussa ja Jeesuksessa ilmoittamaa uskoa (uskon sisältö) sekä sitä, että itse uskomme siihen mitä puhumme. Kaikki kristillinen saarna ja puhe on olemukseltaan henkilökohtaista todistamista: mitä me kristityt uskomme ja mitä tämä merkitsee minulle ja meille. Uskon tunnustamista tarvitaan kirkossamme jatkuvasti. Sitä tarvitaan kun… -
KHADIJAH, THE FIRST WIFE OF PROPHET MOHAMMED
7 Nov 2009 | 3:21 amKHADIJAH BINT KHUWAYLID The Wives of The Prophet Muhammad by: Ibn Kathir Narrated Abu Hurayrah: Jibril came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah! This is Khadijah coming to you with a dish having meat soup (or food or drink). When she reaches you, greet her on behalf of her Lord (i.e. Allah) and on my behalf, and give her the glad tidings of having a Qasab (palace in Paradise) wherein there will be neither any noise nor any fatigue (trouble).” [Bukhari] Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, came from a noble family. Her father Khuwaylid had been…
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walls come tumbling down
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Meet the Grewals: a great British family
4 Nov 2009 | 4:16 pmChannel 4 tonight aired the first episode of ‘The Family’, introducing the British public to the Grewals. It is the first time that a British Indian family has undergone the rigours – and scrutiny – of reality tv. The first episode introduced us to the three generations of Grewals who all live in their five-bedroom pebble-dashed [...] -
Landscape of neglect is fertile breeding ground for far right extremism
4 Nov 2009 | 3:42 pmFollowing an approach from the freelance journalist Chris Arnot last week, I underwent a telephone interview with him about Muslim communities in the Black Country to support his research into writing an article about Anthony Cartwright’s novel, ‘Heartland’. The article has now been written and published and is reproduced below. The original article can be [...] -
Poppy or Not…???
2 Nov 2009 | 4:03 pmEvery year many people struggle with the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Day campaign: should they or shouldn’t they wear a poppy? The problem isn’t about remembering the selfless sacrifice made by so many British servicemen and their families in the Second World War, it’s about an unease with what British servicemen and women are being asked [...] -
Islamophobia and Religious Discrimination: new perspectives, policies and practices
31 Oct 2009 | 7:58 amAll readers of this blog are invited to the event, “Islamophobia & Religious Discrimination: new perspectives, policies and practices”. Details as follows. If you are intending coming along to the event, please ensure that you register beforehand – scroll down for details: Wednesday, 09 December 2009 14:00 – 17:00 Location: G15 (Main Lecture Theatre), Muirhead Tower, Main Campus, University [...] -
“I detest the niqab and the BNP: what does that make me?”
22 Oct 2009 | 5:34 amFor anyone who has read the post by Gary Younge on Comment is Free entitled, ‘When you watch the BNP on TV, just remember: Jack Straw started all this’, many I’m sure will conclude that he makes some good points. Not least when he notes that: …there is little doubt that once the BNP is on [...]
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Islamophobia Watch
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The intersections between homophobia and Islamophobia
6 Nov 2009 | 1:00 amInteresting post from Barry Kade at Socialist Unity. -
Met Pc faces internal inquiry after being cleared of race assault
4 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pmA Met police officer who was cleared of racially assaulting two teenagers could face the sack if he is found guilty in internal misconduct proceedings. Pc Mark Jones, 42, is facing an internal inquiry as it emerged that he was linked to a "serious, gratuitous and prolonged attack" on a Muslim that cost the force £60,000 in damages. Today it can be revealed that Pc Jones was part of a team in the Met's Territorial Support Group involved in the arrest of Babar Ahmad, a British Muslim terror suspect. Only now can the officer be linked to the 2003 raid on Mr Ahmad's home which left him in… -
Muslim men plan complaint after being 'treated like terrorists' by airport police
4 Nov 2009 | 12:54 pmA party of Muslim men who claim they were singled out and treated like terrorists by airport police vowed last night to push for an independent investigation. The seven-strong group say they plan to approach the Independent Police Complaints Commission over the incident at Cardiff Airport. The men, who are from Pakistani families but were born and brought up in Cardiff, said they were questioned and had their details and passports checked by police officers. Two of the group also said they were singled out for hour-long interrogations, during which they claimed they were asked if they had… -
EDL threatens journalists
2 Nov 2009 | 11:37 pmTough and urgent action is needed in response to violence, intimidation and death threats targeting journalists covering far right demonstrations. The call by NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear comes in the wake of specific email threats against photojournalist and investigative reporter Marc Vallée, and video journalist Jason N. Parkinson. The emails follow verbal threats and intimidation aimed at photographers covering a march by the English Defence League in Leeds at the weekend and other EDL protests this year. Professional journalists covering the events have filed reports with the… -
The demo that wasn't
2 Nov 2009 | 11:19 pmLast weekend's non-event was a clear victory for all those who are fed up with al-Muhajiroun's inflammatory antics, Inayat Bunglawala writes. Comment is Free, 2 November 2009
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Comments for Abdur Rahman's Corner
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Comment on Chapter Three: The Overthrow of Commodus and Septimius’ Rise to Power by Time Capsule: Ancient Rome and Gladiators « Lighthouse Patriot Journal
3 Nov 2009 | 2:50 pm[...] details about Commodus relationship with certain women and conspiracies against him, as well as people he had murdered, are written by Dios, and were used [...] -
Comment on al-Dawr al-A`la by Abdur Rahman
3 Nov 2009 | 4:03 amWa alaikum salam Yusuf Welcome to my online home. May Allah bless you always. Unfortunately, I don’t have any, or indeed know of any. I too would love to hear some. Insha Allah, this will come to pass. -
Comment on al-Dawr al-A`la by Yusuf Adams
2 Nov 2009 | 8:33 amAsalaamualikum Sidi – Please let me know if you have any recordings of it being recited – I would love know the jalals/ melody in which it is recited, especially in Damascus. Jazak Allah khair Yusuf Abdalwadud -
Comment on Devotion and Conceit by Abdur Rahman
2 Nov 2009 | 4:51 amPeace Tess, Yes…I think you’re right. How often my own unworthy actions spring from such things!! Ya Allah! -
Comment on Devotion and Conceit by Tess
2 Nov 2009 | 2:14 amPeace, Abdur. That is profound. I think perhaps every sin begins in fear, no matter whether that fear is dressed up as greed, hatred, selfishness or even laziness.
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Indian Muslims
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Namaz at India Islamic Cultural Centre
29 Oct 2009 | 11:21 amPhoto & text by Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net The building of the India Islamic Cultural Center (IICC) takes your breath away. The beautiful dome, intricate calligraphy and delicate design in beautiful Persian tiles make you spellbound. The administration of IICC can be forgiven for taking 22 years to complete its construction. Between Indira Gandhi laying the foundation stone of the Centre on August 24, 1984 and her daughter-in-law inaugurating it on June 12, 2006, it took many people and much money to see to its completion. It is a beautiful example of Muslim’s and the Indian… -
Guzishta Lucknow
8 Oct 2009 | 4:17 amTHE first name that comes up whenever a book reference is needed on the city of Lucknow is “Guzishta Lucknow.” The book is a detailed historical account of the Lucknow society during the Nawabi rule by Maulana Abdul Halim Sharar. Maulana Sharar took out several magazines during his lifetime, his most famous being ‘Dilgudaaz Lucknow’ [ENG: Beloved Lucknow.] In that magazine Sharar wrote a series on Lucknow by the name of “Hindostan me mashriqi tamaddun ka akhri namoona” [Lucknow : The Last Phase Of An Oriental Culture.] It ran for years and was warmly… -
Basera-e-Tabassum (Kashmir)
23 Sep 2009 | 2:44 amThe love affair started tenderly: a warm hug, a lightless night, a dim lantern, the resonating trickle of streams and whispers of footfalls. I had reached Peth-Bugh tired, after two long and extremely hot journeys. The cool still air was a respite. As I stepped out of the car, a strange good feeling set in. Someone hugged me. My bags were taken. Four or five hands gently caught my wrist- some strongly holding me, responsibly; others, shyly, just touching. Some more hands slowly joined in. Someone ahead held the lantern, so I could see my feet and some more feet. There wasn’t any electricity… -
Destiny’s Night
19 Sep 2009 | 4:20 amWhile the entire period of Ramzan is a time of fasting and praying, there is one night that is special for Muslims. For, it is believed that there is one night when Allah first revealed the first verses of the Quran to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel. Muhammad was then 40 years old and unlettered. This most blessed of all nights falls on a night that no one can pinpoint with any certainty. Yet the faithful who have prayed through the night say that the heart always knows when communion has been reached. Shab-e-Qadr or Lailat ul-Qadr, understood variously to mean the Night of Honour and… -
Indo-Pak Dosti
13 Sep 2009 | 11:42 am1947 was not just about India’s Independence, it was an initiator of identities imposed from ‘above’. The new postcolonial states ventured to redefine their status through a mix of jingoism, the rewriting of history and the whipping up of the nation-state mantra – essentially Western in concept and practice. The journey of South Asian people therefore, has been fraught with wars, hysteria and state diktat articulating itself through prejudiced educational curricula and state-sponsored historical half-truths. The shadows of hostility and war have refused to leave South Asia. For sixty…
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Planet Grenada
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amir sulaiman: like a thief in the night
20 Oct 2009 | 9:49 pm -
let's do the time warp again or "oh my god what century is this, I keep forgetting"
16 Oct 2009 | 11:08 amInterracial couple denied marriage license in LouisianaBy MARY FOSTER, Associated Press Writer Mary Foster, Associated Press Writer – Thu Oct 15, 7:56 pm ETNEW ORLEANS – A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have. Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long."I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday. "I have piles… -
where i'm from / the county of kings
1 Oct 2009 | 6:54 pmThe above is a clip of Nuyorican spoken word artist Lemon doing a piece called "Where I'm From" on Def Poetry Jam. These days he is performing in a one-man show called The County of Kings at the Public Theater in NY, NY.Featured last year as part of The Public Theater's Under The Radar Festival, Lemon Andersen's County of Kings gives a tough, yet poignant biographical account of a good kid growing up in an unforgiving environment in this one man journey. Weaving hard-edged drama with urban poetry, the Brooklyn hip-hop artist spins his own coming-of-age memoir in this jarring and poignant solo… -
(re)writing osun
1 Oct 2009 | 5:25 pmThese days, I'm in the middle of (Re)writing Osun by Jessica M. Alarcon. Actually the full title is: (Re)writing Osun: Osun in the Politics of Gender, Race and Sexuality - From Colonization to Creolization. The book is an interesting read. As a spiritual initiate herself and a scholar, Alarcon easily invokes Obatala and Shango in the same breath as bell hooks and Audre Lourde. And she combines an insider's familiarity with Yoruba-derived spiritual practices with modern feminist concerns about the role of women. In the back of my mind I'm also asking myself if there are ways to integrate the… -
10 ways the us military has shoved christianity down muslims' throats
25 Sep 2009 | 12:57 amFrom Alternet:The original article is fleshed out in much more detail but the basic "top ten" list is as follows:10. Have top U.S. military officers, Defense Department officials and politicians say we're in a religious war.9. Have top U.S. military officers appear in a video showing just how Christian the Pentagon is.8. Plant crosses in Muslim lands and make sure they're big enough to be visible from really far away.7. Paint crosses and Christian messages on military vehicles and drive them through Iraq.6. Make sure that our Christian soldiers and chaplains see the war as a way to fulfill…
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a wayfarer's journey...
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about last night
1 Nov 2009 | 7:04 amThat was not fun. My poor baby was so miserable and just begging me to feed her. To turn her away like that..... ugh. All night long she asked for milk. I would offer her a bottle in various forms but she won't take it. Nor this morning. While i pump and dump milk. And now this morning she's mad at me. Ignoring me, won't look at me, going to my husband instead. I feel like crying. I'm miserable. Bad headache, arthritic bones and nauseas. My poor baby. Please say some duas/prayers for us. -
2 needle mittens
31 Oct 2009 | 9:09 amI love this pattern. Mostly because i don't like double pointed needles. I just lose track of where i am etc with two kids and a husband that need me all the time. I can knit for about 3 minutes before i have to put it down to do something else. I really wanted to knit mittens though so i was very happy when i found Bev's two needle mitten pattern and have used it twice now with good results.The first time i was a new knitter so i just did one mitten at a time but this time i did both (until the last part) and really loved it because i find you get a little bored after that first one. I'm… -
Happy happy joy joy
30 Oct 2009 | 12:35 pmNOT. I went to the doctor a week ago because i felt funky. Old. Like my knees were aching. Feet too. I chalked it up to one of three things 1) colder weather 2) getting older 3) residual from meningitus i got from West Nile Virus years ago in Colorado. I hadn't been to the doctor forever. Funny once you have kids, you only go for them and forget about yourself. But i figured after years of this knee pain increasing I better go. They drew my blood and i just got the results. I have Lyme's Disease. Not a surprise living in NJ, deer outnumber people here it seems BUT what is really really… -
sleep
28 Oct 2009 | 5:31 amWill i ever sleep again? My God I'm tired. I'm a person that can go without sleep for a long time. I normally sleep from 12-6 and that's considered good sleep. I'm sleeping an hour here, an hour there these days. I pray to God her teeth finish coming in soon and this goes away. I feel like a zombie. -
Stick bug!
23 Oct 2009 | 9:18 amWe've seen stick bugs in our bug books and in nature centers but never on one of nature walks and yesterday we were lucky enough to find one. Really cool to watch and really hard to see. I just happened to see a twig walking and thought it was strange. It was about 4 inches long. So cool!Image is from funkman.org/animal/insect/stickinsect.html and you can read more about them here. They really are hard to find because they blend in so well.
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Afrocentric Muslimah
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writing...
28 Oct 2009 | 12:09 pmIn honour of Nanowrimo Month, I'm posting this here excerpt of a work I've dug out from the archives. It's been posted in bits and pieces, sporadically over the last few years.I've started work on it again. And have set a goal of December for completion. I approach the 20 000 word mark.Here goes:A week later my mother gave me an address. It was for a house in Fordsburg. I set out early that Saturday morning.The drive there had passed with me replaying images of my father’s face in my mind. And having imagined conversations with the both of them. Conversations that ended with them getting… -
Celebrities and celebrations
21 Oct 2009 | 5:58 amI'm sure you can tell that I'be been invited to a good few parties lately:P I attended all dressed as a cake.The Mad Hatter was thrilled with this one. I did it especially for his party. We finished it with a tea-set precariously perched on it's lopsided topmost tier.Yes, I've been hobnobbing too. Just some of the celebrities I've met lately -
dead??
19 Oct 2009 | 1:37 pmNah, contrary to what the absence of posts may hint at, it's not true. I'm not dead. But I have been run over by words. I was in the ICU after reading Barbara KIngsolver'sThe Poisonwood Bible, since I had never even imagined writing as stunning as all that.Pity none of the words that floored me were my own.I've also just read three of the Twilight books in a space of three days. I plan on buying the fourth. Not because the writing dazzles or anything though, but simply because I'm chachie to know what happens next.I read J.M. Coetzee's Disgrace. Food for thought there. Maybe, contrary to the… -
Lazeeza Days...
1 Oct 2009 | 2:56 amLazeeza days are moody. Sometimes they’re cheerful inspiring, buoyant. And on other days they are limp, weighted by negativity and negative beings. A morning that starts with ‘is it fresh’ is often a forgone conclusion. And is the kind of day I’d rather hide from.But then I meet the man. The young man with the deformed arm, who goes about life doing, doing and doing some more and I am cheered. I know that he faces challenges day after day. That the half length arm with a single malformed finger must be the cause thereof, but still he presses on. Drives, works, lives. And… -
Musings
25 Sep 2009 | 10:53 pmOn Love…Loving someone means giving them the license to make you miserable. Of course, that isn’t quite how it is in the beginning. Then, it’s all laughter, shared secrets, dreams of forever…Then one day you wake up. And realize with a start that forever could also be a life sentence….On Faith…Being born into a faith is a strange thing. It’s like being born with curly hair. Not something that you have any control over. Some see their faith as an asset and do everything they can to enhance and nurture it. Curl defining mousse, hot oil treatments for faith. You name it. Nothing is…
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أندلس
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The benefit of ‘Kalam’ in the instant age
29 Oct 2009 | 7:52 amI’ve recently come across a few Muslim blogs discussing both the situation of Muslims who renounce their faith and the difficulty of calling Westerners to Islam. Among the apostates I’ve known and also the members of my family who’ve been unresponsive to Islam, I’ve seen a common thread: Religion (not Islam specifically) fails to “prove” itself to them (even if they believed in religion at one point). In reading the aforementioned blogs, I was reminded of something Sheikh Nuh Ha Mim Keller said: “At the practical level, most people who believe in…
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From Clay
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Doha Tribeca Film Festival
3 Nov 2009 | 5:58 amThe 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
21 Oct 2009 | 7:29 amWithin 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… -
Snowball Prize and Changing Subjects
11 Oct 2009 | 9:24 amWhat does a person have to "do" to win a Nobel Prize? I didn't realize how many people knew the answer to that question, especially news blog authors and radio sycophants, left and right. The reactions ranged crazy: some with apoplexy and others with those oversize foam hands with the index finger raised on high, waving, "We're number one." A new media obsession begins. Can we live on earth for a couple of weeks without a loss of news composure? Folks I work with are very happy about Norway's decision. Maybe I should be too. I mean, the Pres. is from Chicago. So am I. He taught at University… -
Violence in Chicago: What Does It Mean?
8 Oct 2009 | 10:33 amViolent deaths are a scourge in Chicago among school-age children, especially on the South Side, where I had once lived in my childhood (Walcott Avenue to be exact). It’s become a statistic to keep track of: the number of school-age children who are murdered, sometimes on school grounds, during a school year, which means the academic year is properly hyphenated. The punctuation gives bone to the unholy facts, but it also creates another set of suburban record-keeping to conjure with. In other words, it makes the reality more abstract, a bit easier to study as citizens.This is an excerpt of… -
Expanded Comment about Polanski and Burqa
7 Oct 2009 | 7:53 amI don't know if it's new and improved or simply longer, but I have a fuller comment about the Polanski flap and the burqa. It's an indictment of a widening culture of duplicity that knows no borders. If you're interested, you may go here to the Altmuslim site. Otherwise, thanks for dropping by just the same.
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Ginny's Thoughts & Things
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Pambazuka – Counterterrorisms blindness: Mali and the US
6 Nov 2009 | 3:48 amPambazuka – Counterterrorisms blindness: Mali and the US. Posted in Uncategorized -
Today’s Track
4 Nov 2009 | 6:16 pm… is Maxwell “A Fistful of Tears”. And it’s Wednesday already, Mashallah. Posted in Music Tagged: maxwell, Music, Today's Track -
V
2 Nov 2009 | 5:49 pmAssalamu alaikum, all, I spent most of yesterday watching the “V” miniseries, from the original movie through to the Final Battle. SciFi ( and no it doesn’t feel right spelling it the way they now spell it) was showing it, in anticipation of the remake that is going to be showing tomorrow 11/03/2009. I’m really excited about this is it seems that the pilot episode has gotten good reviews. And perhaps I’ll have more “positive” things to blog about than some of my more “negative” blogging recently. And if anyone else’s going to be… -
Dealing with Things Islamicly, What Does That Mean Exactly?
2 Nov 2009 | 5:19 pmAssalamu alaikum, I’ve been thinking about the whole topic/response of “handling things Islamicly” and I’m wondering, what does that mean exactly? For example, if we’re talking about “giving dawa”, as I did in a previous post, and we’re discussing how converts are either put on pedestals or made to feel like perpetually new Muslims, who are still being asked many, many years after saying Shahada if they know how to pray, or can make wudu, or being asked/made to recite all of the Qur’an they know, yet at the same time being scolded for… -
Blacks still drawn to Islam despite FBI raids : NPR
31 Oct 2009 | 3:56 pmBlacks still drawn to Islam despite FBI raids : NPR. Posted in Uncategorized
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Inspirations and Creative Thoughts
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Quest in the Province of Ecstatic Exchange | Sohbet with Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore
7 Nov 2009 | 2:05 am. In Quest of My Oasis, The SeriesWelcome to 2nd Episode of In Quest of My Oasis at Inspirations and Creative Thoughts, a series where we aspire to share short dialogues with seekers & lovers of Sufi path. The Mystic Master Prophet Muhammad, may holy benedictions rise to his noble station, said, "at-turuqu ila 'Llahi ka-nufusi bani Adam", 'the ways to God are as numerous as the human souls'. The -
Lama'at (Divine Flashes) | Fakhruddin 'Iraqi
5 Nov 2009 | 9:02 amBismi'Llahi al WadoodIn the Name of The Beloved1.Holy, holy!Veils hide His Reality,so none but Godknows who He is.Take what you wantfor God is there;Say what you will about Himfor He embraces all.He Himself spoke the TruthHe Himself listened.He Himself showed HimselfHe Himself saw.His loveliness ownsa hundred thousand faces;gaze upon a different fair onein every atom;for He needs must showto -
Now I blush
4 Nov 2009 | 6:04 amBeloved, I sought Youhere and there,asked for news of Youfrom all I met;Then saw Youthroughmyselfand found we were one.Now I blush to think I eversearched for signs of You.- Fakhruddin Iraqi, may God be well pleased with himfrom his marvelous work, Lama'at, Divine Flashes (credit)Translation by William C. Chittick and Peter Lamborn Wilson -
Imam Ali's Letter to his Sons | from Nahj al Balagha
2 Nov 2009 | 7:03 amRealize this truth, my son, that the Lord who owns and holds the treasures of Paradise and the earth has given you permission to ask and beg for them and He has promised to grant your prayers. He has told you to pray for His Favors that they may be granted to you and to ask for His Blessings that they may be bestowed upon you. He has not appointed guards to prevent your prayers reaching Him. Nor -
adab of giving counsel, dispensing advice
1 Nov 2009 | 1:21 am1.Religion is good counselGiving good and true advice and counseling are part of wholesome actions ('amal salih). By the saying of the Prophet, "To give counseling is part of Deen (religious ways)" - is a God given duty, specially for the saints and friends of God to offer beautiful advice and counseling to all. The Quran describe true counseling as one of the most wholesome action that is not
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islamicate
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Links for 2009-10-28 [del.icio.us]
29 Oct 2009 | 12:00 amCareer Advice: Views of the Classroom - Inside Higher Ed What is a teaching philosophy and how to write about it. -
Penis Slicing and Cheney is more Taliban than the Taliban - #torture
19 Oct 2009 | 9:31 amAndrew Sullivan brings us two torture related stories today. One pulls on reporting by Glenn Greenwald, in which we find out Binyam Mohamed had his genitals sliced open as torture. If, for some reason, that image doesn't nauseate you, imagine his name was Benjamin Moses (it is the Hebrew equivalent) and he was in Taliban custody. We surely would be up in arms. Speaking of the Taliban, Andrew also tells us that the Taliban treat their prisoners better than Vice-President Cheney did. -
Shine a Light: Happy Baby
16 Oct 2009 | 1:08 pmAmerican Express and NBC-Universal are running a contest to award a grant to a small business. They have narrowed the list down to three. I have decided to plug one of them because it was founded by a friend of mine, Shazi Visram. HappyBaby is: committed to making baby food as healthy and delicious as homemade with the essential nutrients needed for optimal growth and development. Their products came to market after it was too late for my kids to try them, but they are supposedly very good, and definitely the type of thing I would have bought, whether Shazi was involved or not. Just as… -
Bismillah Raven
13 Oct 2009 | 6:00 amI am always looking for interesting artwork, especially as it relates to Islam. Below is the Arabic phrase "bismillah," "in the name of God," done in a Native American style. Details from the artist are here, and an article about the piece can be found here (another take here). taken from here. -
The Dove is Dead
13 Oct 2009 | 5:54 amLeila Abu-Saba of Dove's Eye View has returned to her Maker. inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. We come from God and we return to God. Leila was true friend of islamicate. She was one of our earliest commenters, was always available for a good email chat, and was deeply committed to seeing peace become a reality. I pray for her and her family. (first heard from Marc Lynch of Abu Aardvark)
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Jamerican Muslimah's Veranda
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Epiphany #…
29 Oct 2009 | 9:31 amEverything I have: my skills, my abilities, my intelligence, my strength, my beauty, my love, my knowledge, my relationships, and my material possessions are from Allah. If a person despises me, is jealous of me or works to undermine any of that then they should know they are fighting Allah (s.w.t.) and not me. I can only be successful by Allah’s leave. I can only fail because of some inadequacy on my part or because it is part of Allah’s divine decree. When facing adversity (especially in regards to other human beings) or even striving for something better, I remind myself:… -
Moving Forward
17 Sep 2009 | 7:29 pmAlhamdulillah, I am doing better. Things have been CRAZY but Allah is always merciful. If I told you what I have been experiencing your jaws might drop. One of the things that happened to me is when I contacted various people in the community about my ex’s death they came in and completely took over, thereby excluding me. Their actions were hurtful to me on so many levels. One person actually tried to exclude me from viewing my ex’s body on the grounds that he is not Islamically “lawful” to me. WTH? I snapped on him telling him that I have seen more of my ex’s… -
Two Lessons I’m Learning
4 Sep 2009 | 3:54 pmAfter my crazy week- crying, stressing, phoning, writing, and ripping and running I have finally settled down enough to think. I am have been reflecting on the lesson(s) my ex’s sudden death has taught me. Allah knows best but maybe I will learn more as I sort through my grief and make sense of this whole thing in my head. The first lesson I’ve learned, which probably will sound cliche to most people, is you never know which day will be your last day. In fact, you never know which day will be someone else’s last day. I need to be mindful of how interact with people; how I… -
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un
26 Aug 2009 | 2:14 pmAs saalam alaikum everyone, These last few days have been unreal. My ex-husband was recently killed in a car accident while on his way home from Taraweeh. (May Allah grant him the highest place in Jannah. Ameen.) Though he was my ex-husband we were still very good friends. His death has reminded me that none of us are promised tomorrow. To be honest with you, I carry some guilt which I know is irrational. Just a couple weeks ago we had spoken and he was telling me he thought we should remarry. I told him it wasn’t a good idea. I keep thinking about how lonely he was living in his… -
Ramadan Mubarak
22 Aug 2009 | 12:21 pmAnother Ramadan is upon us! It seems like it came in so quick this year. For me, it came so suddenly that I haven’t had time to think about my goals for the month. Insha’allah, I need to get on the ball quick. One thing that I am grateful to Allah (s.w.t.) for is my personal growth and development. I’ve experienced so many epiphanies this year, mashallah. I’ve also had wonderful support. I hope you all have a successful and inspirational Ramadan. (Ameen). What are your goals? Posted in Miscellaneous
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Muslim Thought
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Islamic Belief in Harari - الأØباش
6 Nov 2009 | 5:22 pmRelated posts:Is Shafa’a An Islamic Belief?What The Islamic Belief Of Jesus In Islam?What Is The Significance Of Islamic Belief Of Khatm-e-nabuwwat, Why Do Quran And Hadith Emphasise On It? -
Dr. Gayr Miller - Basis for Muslim Beliefs (Part 3/6)
6 Nov 2009 | 1:18 amRelated posts:Dr. Gary Miller - Basis For Muslim’s Belief (part 1/6)Gary Miller (abdul-ahad Omar) - The Basis Of Muslim BeliefUnveiling Islam: An Insider’s Look at Muslim Life and Beliefs -
3 ”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 09
5 Nov 2009 | 11:49 pmRelated posts:”MAA” MOTHERS DAY IN THE LIGHT OF ISLAM, ISLAMIC THOUGHT ABOUT ”MOTHERS RIGHTS MAA KE HAQOOQ ULAD KI ZIMEDARIYAN” SCHOLAR PROF JAHANARA LUTFI SZIC UNIVERSITY OF KARACHI & HOST UZMACan Anyone Explain Islam And The Thought Of It Being The Supreme Religion & What Islamic Law Really Means?Reason and Inspiration in Islam: Theology, Philosophy and Mysticism in Muslim Thought -
The Crucifixion and the Qur’an: A Study in the History of Muslim Thought
5 Nov 2009 | 9:21 pmRelated posts:The Crucifixion and the Qur’an: A Study in the History of Muslim ThoughtThe Crucifixion and the Qur’an: A Study in the History of Muslim ThoughtResisting History: Historicism and Its Discontents in German-Jewish Thought -
Muslims Love and Respect Jesus and the Virgin Mary
5 Nov 2009 | 6:19 amRelated posts:According to Jesus, All Muslims Have an Outstanding FaithAccording to Jesus, the Muslims Have an Exceptional FaithMuslim Jesus!
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Between Hope & Fear
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Jibril
29 Oct 2009 | 10:34 pmMy son Jibril was born on October 12, 2009, 7:34 PST. The delivery was quite difficult, and according to my doctor, one of the most complicated she’s dealt with. After about 12 hours of labor, I had an emergency c-section and the baby was in the NICU for a few days. But, all’s well that ends well. We’re both doing fine now with the grace of God. And he’s one of the most objectively cute babies I’ve seen, if I do say so myself. Its been about three weeks at this point and I’m perpetually tired. No surprise there. What is surprising is how much I still feel… -
The Waiting Game
7 Oct 2009 | 1:24 pmToday’s my due date. Baby’s still not here yet. Not sure how much longer I have to wait. Come on baby. -
The Still Undanced Cadence
20 Jul 2009 | 10:56 pmI saw this poem written on a wall, and I stopped dead in my tracks to jot it down. I think it hits home with me because in the middle of content moments, I can’t help but think about how fleeing they are. This poem reminds me to be still, to remember that the moment I am in is real, and that moment comprises the world. If one day it happens you find yourself with someone you love in a café at one end of the Pont Mirabeau, at the zinc bar where white wine stands in upward opening glasses, and if you commit then, as we did, the error of thinking, one day all this will only be memory,… -
Don’t call it a comeback
10 Jul 2009 | 11:55 pmIt is a strange thing, I think, that I should fall silent when I’m undergoing one of the most radical changes in my life so far – my first pregnancy. Its something I’ve dreamed about, worried over, and even dreaded at times, and now that its here I’m afraid to talk about it. Not really afraid, but maybe just unable to put in words the changes I’m undergoing physically, spiritually, emotionally. By putting it all into words, I’m afraid to find out what I already know – that my feelings are maudlin and pedestrian, because most women who become mothers… -
So
12 Jun 2009 | 9:48 pmI haven’t been blogging lately. I think I’ve stopped seeing the point. Nobody wants to read my emo musings on how I feel, least of all me. I’m done with navel-gazing, at least for now. I’ve noticed how I have no patience for it in others, and I hold myself to the same standard. Other than that, what’s there to talk about? Politics – things I have no control over, therefore I let the bad news (and oh boy, isn’t there always a lot of that?) affect me for a certain time, and move on with my life. No point in dwelling. Religion – I got nothing.
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MR's Blog
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Baltimore Islamic School Fundraiser with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf – 11/7/09 – 1:30 PM
6 Nov 2009 | 3:03 pmRegister here. Related posts:Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Shaykh Suhaib Webb on MBC (Arabic w/ English Subtitles)Shaykh Hamza Yusuf in NYC – Sunday April 27, 2008Who are the Disbelievers? by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf -
America’s own experts say we should get out of Afghanistan
5 Nov 2009 | 8:22 pmClick here to view the embedded video. Excellent interview. Related posts:Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) – The War in Afghanistan is Un-AmericanThe Korean Missionaries In Afghanistan & The Possible Reasons Why The Taliban Did What They DidObama: Please get new advisors and experts on Islam and Muslims -
Pearls of the Quran Retreat Limited Live Webcast this Weekend
5 Nov 2009 | 5:05 pmSalamu Alaikum From Madina Institute. We are excited to announce a limited (live) webcast from our upcoming Pearls of the Quran Retreat. We will webcast sessions from : Shaykh Hamza, Shaykh Ninowy & Shaykh Mokhtar on Nov 7th along with a special message from Zaytuna College. To reserve your online spot – Sign up here: http://almadina.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/pearls-webcast/ Related posts:Pearls of the Quran – 3-day Spiritual Retreat – AlMadina Institute – Yusuf, Shakir, Ninowy, Magid, MaghraouiPearls of the Quran – Nov. 6-8, ‘09 – H. Yusuf, Z. -
Makkah safe from 2012 Apocalypse Movie
4 Nov 2009 | 10:45 pmBut Emmerich was thinking of something even more explosive: the Kaaba, the cube-shaped building at the heart of Mecca, the focus of prayers and the Islamic pilgrimage called the Hajj; it is one of Islam’s holiest sites. Really? “Well, I wanted to do that, I have to admit,” Emmerich says. “But my co-writer Harald said I will not have a fatwa on my head because of a movie. And he was right. … We have to all … in the Western world … think about this. You can actually … let … Christian symbols fall apart, but if you would do this with [an]… -
Italy: 23 Americans convicted of kidnapping in the 2003 abduction of a Muslim cleric
4 Nov 2009 | 2:14 pmThank you Judge Oscar Magi. Unfortunately the 23 Americans are now fugitives so they are still yet to be in prison. MILAN — In a landmark ruling, an Italian judge on Wednesday convicted a base chief for the Central Intelligence Agency and 22 other American C.I.A. operatives of kidnapping a Muslim cleric from the streets of Milan in 2003. The case was a huge symbolic victory for Italian prosecutors, the first convictions involving the American practice of rendition, in which terrorism suspects are captured in one country and taken for questioning in another, often one more open to coercive…
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Sol Power Network
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Heaven and Earth (Virtual Mxtp I)
6 Nov 2009 | 4:03 pmHeaven and Earth -
Paradise Garden
6 Nov 2009 | 9:15 amParadise Garden -
Feast vs Famine
3 Nov 2009 | 8:03 am -
Every Square Inch Social Media Consultation
29 Oct 2009 | 8:28 amMy other grind -
Free WyKing Allah
27 Oct 2009 | 8:19 am
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Margari Aziza
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NPR article: Blacks still drawn to Islam despite FBI raids
31 Oct 2009 | 1:29 pmJessie Washington of the Associated Press recently wrote an article addressing the challenges that Black American Muslims face despite negative stereotypes. Despite the prejudice we experience in a predominantly white Christian society, many of us are still drawn to Islam. By now, Sekou Jackson is used to the questions: Why does he need to leave a work meeting to pray? Don’t black Muslims convert to Islam in jail? Why would you even want to be Muslim? “It’s kind of a double whammy to be African-American and Muslim,” said Jackson, who studies the Navy at the National… -
Not qualified to teach?
24 Oct 2009 | 1:28 pmMy husband Marc informed me that on a Salafi forum a local Philly Muslim warned people about attending any of lectures at the Islamic Literacy Series. The brother basically said that we were a bunch of latte drinking*, homosexual loving, elitist, Obama loving Muslims. In another email, someone criticized us by saying that we were not scholars of Islam, have never lived in Saudi Arabia (although I have lived in Kuwait and Egypt), there was no such thing as tasawwuf, and were going to commit shirk in these lectures. These are some major accusations meant to discredit each one of us with a… -
The Islamic Literacy Series – Fall 2009
12 Oct 2009 | 11:21 amHere’s some info on a lecture series I’m participating in: The Islamic Literacy Series is a new program at the University of Pennsylvania aimed at increasing the level of understanding among Muslims about their own faith. Each week, a 50 minute class will be held on a different topic pertaining to Islam. A faculty of 5 instructors will introduce, explore and examine the richness and diversity of the Muslim past and present. The goal is that over the course of this series, students find answers, discover new questions, challenge conventions, appreciate tradition and gain a better… -
Sapphires and the Enervation of Black American Women (Updated!)
9 Oct 2009 | 2:02 pmIn a recent interview a researcher asked me if the blogosphere provided a safe space where I could find my voice as a Black Muslim woman. My answer was ambivalent, although there have been supportive comments, I have often felt attacked and alienated on my own blog. I have resorted to heavily policing the comment section in order to foster healthy and thoughtful discussions on sensitive issues. Still, the internet, and the blogosphere in particular has allowed for a widening discourse on gender, race, and Islam. Some discussions are productive, while others are counterproductive if not… -
6th Annual Brass Crescent Awards
6 Oct 2009 | 7:10 pmHat Tip to Baraka over at Rickshaw Diaries. With a number of popular blogs shutting down completely and prolific bloggers no longer posting, blogistan has experienced some major shake-ups. Yet there are some blogs that been around but have gone long overlooked and some new blogs that have dazzled me. Now is the time to nominate your favorite Muslim blogs for the 2009 Brass Crescent Awards here.
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Kelly Izdihar's Blog
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Adieu, Goodbye, Ma’salaama :-)
1 Nov 2009 | 1:24 amSome of you have probably noticed that my old posts are gone. That’s because I’m cleaning house and moving on. I’m retiring from blogging. It’s time and I realized it after months of avoiding it. I saved then removed my old posts in the hopes of finding some gem in the muck. Maybe there’s some good book idea or article buried in there. Plus, I’m working on redirecting my time and energy in some religious and business matters. (Tajweed classes are rockin’ as usual. It really adds sweetness to the prayer and I recommend everyone to take them.) …
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kameelahwrites
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314/2009: a poem in three parts--richmond gang rape.
3 Nov 2009 | 11:24 pmin response to the richmond, ca gang rape, i wrote this on october 31, 2009:part Iwhenrape is sportunending spectaclea uniform of purple sparkled dress, painted lips, silver shoestheir dark pantspre-game brandy, hopeful for eternally spotless minds, flexible limbs,and quiet forgivenesstickets sold at the doorpromises of discounts, special seating, prizes, and replays"they said she was naked, and if you want to get fucked, go back there"jeering audiencesinsatiable and audiblein the bleachersbeneath bloodied heavenly skiespainted faces catch the light of the pink moonin time forthe… -
313/2009: south africans 'fought in gaza war.'
1 Nov 2009 | 9:34 amdisturbing but not unexpected.Efforts to prosecute those who may have committed war crimes in Israel's war on Gaza have spread beyond the Middle East.A lawyer in South Africa has identified 75 South African nationals who he says were fighting with the Israeli army in the war earlier this year.Feroze Boda, based in Johannesburg and working on behalf of two local pro-Palestinian organisations, says the soldiers should face court action for their involvement.Imran Garda reports from Johannesburg. -
312/2009: palestinians denied water. & All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was
31 Oct 2009 | 8:25 amIsrael is denying Palestinians access to even the basic minimum of clean, safe water, Amnesty International says.In a report, the human rights group says Israeli water restrictions discriminate against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.It says that in Gaza, Israel's blockade has pushed the already ailing water and sewage system to "crisis point".Israel says the report is flawed and the Palestinians get more water than was agreed under the 1990s peace deal. (>>more)israel and obama said the goldstone report is flawed as well. i guess the unspecific 'flaw' label is an efficient defense… -
311/2009: I Felt a Funeral in My Brain.
31 Oct 2009 | 8:04 amyesterday, a friend told me that only strange and obscure girls like emily dickinson. i earnestly believe that this is an appropriate assessment of the situation. we also like mcsweeny's lists, sufjan stevens, and specific colors like gamboge. yesterday, i bought two more emily dickinson books: my emily dickinson by susan howe and the pocket emily dickinson. i would like to do a photo series that interprets one of her poems. i kind of love this poem for many reasons. I felt a Funeral, in my Brain (280) by Emily DickinsonI felt a Funeral, in my Brain,And Mourners to and froKept treading –… -
310/2009: finding home.
24 Oct 2009 | 8:24 amSatisfaction--is the AgentOf Satiety--Want--a quiet CommissaryFor InfinityTo possess, is past the instantWe achieve the Joy--Immorality contentedWere Anomaly.[1036, emily dickinson]finding home: after much indecisiveness, occasional nostalgia fueled rants, and a few spells of anger concerning the outrageous costs of flights to any place in africa, i have decided not to go back to south africa this december. and i do not know when i will go back. there is a particular geography of happiness and sanity. in certain spaces, there is an ambience--smells, the way the twilight settles, the way air…
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Laila Lalami
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Quotable: Philip Roth
5 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pmWhen I went to see Chris Rock’s documentary, Good Hair, the other day it got me thinking about how curly hair is written about. In Philip Roth’s novel The Human Stain, Coleman Silk describes Iris Gittelman, the woman he’s going to marry, mostly in terms of her hair: Her head of hair was something, a labyrinthine, billowing wreath of spirals and ringlets, fuzzy as twine and large enough for use as a Christmas ornamentation. All the disquiet of her childhood seemed to have passed into the convolutions of her sinuous thicket of hair. Her irreversible hair. You could polish pots… -
Dinarzad’s Children
3 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pmI’m thrilled to let you all know that I have a short story in Dinarzad’s Children, an anthology of Arab American writing edited by Pauline Kaldas and Khaled Mattawa. The story is called “How I Became My Mother’s Daughter,” and almost everyone who has read it has mistaken it for an essay. It isn’t; it’s fiction. But this is what I get for writing in the first-person point of view. At any rate, I hope you’ll look for this anthology in your neighborhood bookstore or library because it’s got some great writing by Rabih Alameddine, Rawi Hage,… -
Report From The Trenches
2 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pmI was talking to a friend of mine the other day, a writer, and we found ourselves doing that thing that writers often do: sharing horror stories about the book world. Here is one (among many) I told her. Several years ago, at a summer writers’ conference, I met a magazine editor who happened to be from the same city I lived in at the time. The editor said she was looking for slush pile readers, and I naively expressed some interest in helping out, on a volunteer basis. She sized me up, then asked, “How old are you?” I didn’t quite understand why she asked me my age,… -
On Blogging
1 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pmThis month marks the eighth anniversary of my blog. The site has gone from an anonymous, sporadically updated, somewhat personal diary to an eponymous record of my literary, cultural, and political interests. But lately you may have noticed, dear reader, that I remain silent for several days on end and that my posts have become shorter. I think the reason for this is that I’ve changed my writing routine quite drastically. I used to write in the afternoon, after I’d read the day’s news, answered my emails, attended to any deadlines, and updated my blog. I figured I had to get… -
Cairo in A Public Space
29 Oct 2009 | 8:16 amAs some of you may know, A Public Space, the magazine founded in 2005 by Brigid Hughes, occasionally publishes ‘Focus Portfolios,’ which introduce the reader to the literature of a particular country. Issue 9, edited by the scholar Brian Edwards, is about Cairo. You can read Edwards’ introduction, Cairo 2010: After Kefaya, online. Contributors to the special issue include Mansoura Ez Eldin, Ahmed Alaidy, Magdy El Shafee, Muhammad Aladdin, Mohamed Al-Fakhrany, Ibrahim El Batout, Omar Taher and Khalid Kassab.
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PIEDAD - American/Latina muslims
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Homeless in America....
12 Oct 2009 | 8:48 pmOn August 28th the students of Project Downtown-Tampa (www.PDTampa.org) had a great idea. Why not cook a delicious meal and break their Ramadhan fest with our homeless friends? Every Friday ,come rain or shine the Muslim students of our fair city bring their smiles and friendship along with sandwiches to feed the homeless, but this time PIEDAD our dawah group of American/ Latina sisters cooked Arroz con Pollo (Rice and Chicken). Over 12 trays of that fabulous dish arrived as the students and sisterhood spread out among them. Although, this was truly a night full of blessings we still left… -
Convention: Latino Renaissance workshop
18 Jun 2009 | 6:33 pm"Islam at a Crossroads to America"-International Museum of Islamic culturesFriday, July 10, 2009 at 9:00am End Time: Saturday, July 11, 2009 at 10:00pm Location: Jackson Convention Center , Mississippi Street: 105 E. Pascagoula St. City/Town: Jackson, MississippiPhone: 6019600440 Email: inmuseum@bellsouth.net “Latino Renaissance workshop” The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth";was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more… -
Historical trip to Puerto Rico unites islanders to the mainland.
3 Jun 2009 | 10:45 pmFor Imam Yusef making history seems to follow him everywhere. Although he converted to al Islam at the tender age of 16 he has constantly been among the movers and shakers of Dawah to Latinos. Historical trip to Puerto Rico unites islanders to the mainland. By Imam Yusef Maisonet and Sr Khadijah RiveraA man may plan but ALLAH is still the best of planners. Everything comes at the time that it was meant to be. For over 25 years I had dreamed of returning to Puerto Rico. But my work as a Merchant seaman took me to ports in Central and South America with work turned into Dawah . All that time… -
Immokalee Documentary.. in Tampa
19 May 2009 | 2:29 amBy Nora Zaki... High School student in TampaWhen you eat a piece of fruit or some type of vegetable, do you think twice about where this sweet, scrumptious and healthful treat came from? Yes, it did come from God. But, what about the workers who grew and cultivated them? Perhaps one should think every time they choose to eat fruits or vegetables because they may very well be consuming products in which forced agricultural labor was employed so people such as ourselves could conveniently go to grocery stores and purchase them. This forced agricultural labor isn’t in another far away country… -
Those dirty hands........ by Sr K
4 Apr 2009 | 9:40 pmToday I saw your filthy hands.I grimaced at the earth beneath your nails,Your fingers were swollen,Your knuckles bruised.Hands shaped more like a shovel than a limb.I saw you crawl on the dirt as you pushed your bucketYou picked the fruit and I looked awayas you winced in pain to lift it up.You looked at me and with an ounce of strength and rose the bucket over our shoulder .. 'Just once for your children you whispered to your self'Just once for my wife and the baby soon to come.' I turned away from those dirty hands, its Taco Bells problem or someone else.So what if I make a salad for my…
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The Manrilla Blog | Exploring Islam In America Through the Social Sciences
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House Keeping
5 Nov 2009 | 10:30 amI have decided to update the style of the site here to match my other site. In doing so, comments have temporarily been turned off – I will be fixing this shortly. Update! – Commenting has resumed. Behave yourselves. -
NPR Asks How & Why Blackamericans Are Drawn To Islam
31 Oct 2009 | 3:01 pmNational Public Radio recently did an interview of Imam Anwar Muhaimin of Masjid Quba here in Philadelphia [ma sha'Allah, nice picture Imam Anwar!], my wife, as well as yours truly, asking how and why Blackamericans, despite the phenomenons of 9/11 and more recently, the FBI raid in Detroit, are drawn to Islam. I spoke at [...] -
Don’t Mind the Trolls
27 Oct 2009 | 3:00 pmSister Heather wrote a very thoughtful article entitled, Don’t Mind the Trolls for Examiner.com . It is an account and analysis on the practice of certain pseudo-ananymous people who leave asinine and offensive comments on blogs and web sites. Read the article here. -
Finding Our Moral Compass
25 Oct 2009 | 11:50 amFinding Our Moral Compass is a two-part lecture regarding the fundamental principles of Islamic spirituality (tasawwuf) and a discussion of the stations of certitude (maqamat al-yaqin) based on the work of ‘Abd al-Wahid b. ‘Ashir, Al-Murshid Al-Mu’in, with additional insights taken from Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazzali’s, Garden of the Seekers and Reliance of the Travelers [...] -
Life From the Minbar
16 Oct 2009 | 9:53 pmIt is slowly closing in on a year since I’ve taken to the minbar. The experience has been a humbling one in many ways. Frustrating in others. For those who have never done so, it is hard to know the pressure and responsibility one ensues when stepping up in front of your fellow brothers and [...]
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askMuslims.com
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zac, As to which Bible you should use, the "Catho...
6 Nov 2009 | 5:36 amzac,As to which Bible you should use, the "Catholic" bible or the "Protestant" bible, your question has already been answered. Do you want to read the deutercanonical books also? If you do, grab a Catholic Bible. If not, grab a Protestant Bible. They are identical in message.Also, let me state a second time that my use of the word "grammar" was not the best choice of words. Of course the statement "I am God" is a legal English construct. However, to be more clear, Jesus' character was not one who went around parading Himself saying, "Hey… -
zack, there is only one true denomination in chris...
6 Nov 2009 | 2:14 amzack, there is only one true denomination in christianity - catholicism. The JW are as deluded as the Protestants and will go to hell.the JW don't consider Bible to be 100% word of God, a very shameful belief. We catholics consider Bible to be 100% god's word.protestants believe that salvation is a free gift and has nothing to do with human achievement or struggle. we catholics on the other hand, emphasize the human role in salvation apart from belief in crucifixion. Now you decide what makes sense and what is nonsense, zack.protestants also believe that humans became totally depraved… -
Dear Anonymous, I'll think about accepting the Bi...
5 Nov 2009 | 11:19 pmDear Anonymous,I'll think about accepting the Bible only if you tell me which Bible I should accept. The Catholic one or the Protestant one?You thought am rude? How about the following verses Jesus is reported to have said in Bible.Ye fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? [Matthew 23:17] Ye fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?[Matthew 23:19] Ye blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! [Matthew 23:24] Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and… -
zack, that was rather discourteous and rude attitu...
5 Nov 2009 | 1:13 amzack, that was rather discourteous and rude attitude. OK, I know you accept Jesus, but why don't you accept the Bible? Let me knwo. -
Ok, you can help me out since I am so dumb. Is Al...
4 Nov 2009 | 4:41 pmOk, you can help me out since I am so dumb. Is Allah the general name for God, or is it the specific name for God?
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Bradford Muslim
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Four Stages of Prevent
1 Nov 2009 | 3:24 amThe Guardian's recent reporting of examples of bad practice in the implementation of prevent are currently being investigated by the Home Office. Before I write about what I consider to be the core problems at present, I'd like to provide some context. There are four stages in the development of the prevent strategy as it is currently in place. The first stage was pre-prevent, if you like. If we take 9/11 as the beginning (this could be disputed, because there was some activity in this area in the 90s), then there was a period which I find most astonishing upto July 7 2005 in which there was… -
J'Accuse le BBC
20 Oct 2009 | 1:26 amNick Griffin, if you haven't noticed already, is due to appear on this week's BBC's flagship political programme 'Question Time'. There is much concern and commentary across the media about this as a key moment in the growing acceptability of the BNP. It is their moment of arrival. The first point that I'd make is that the narrative of the steady upward climb of the far-right is (like the fear of the Muslim take-over) exaggerated and complicated. Many places have seen the rise and fall of the BNP vote already. Other places are still experiencing a rise, but for different reasons - mostly to… -
Regenerating the Heart of Bradford
14 Oct 2009 | 4:38 pmVisitors from outside of town when driving through Bradford may have noticed a huge hole in the centre of the city. This is because several buildings were knocked down a few years ago to make way for a new shopping centre which is to be built by Westfield - a leading construction company in this area. Bradford is basically looking to develop a mini-shopping centre like Meadowhall just outside Sheffield or Trafford Centre just outside Manchester, only smaller. There have been difficulties getting enough tenants for the centre and the recession managed to slow things down before they had got… -
Farewell to the Bush years - Part 8
11 Jul 2009 | 3:01 amWhat did you find shocking and unbelievable? Like I have hinted at earlier, the Bush years were one long surreal moment in which it seemed that anything could happen. This moment began with a terrorist attack that could have never been imagined and ended with the election of a young African-American President which was also previously unbelievable. The attacks in Madrid were unbelievable. The anti-war March in London on 15th February 2003 in which 1 million people marched was unbelievable. The invasion of Iraq was unbelievable. It was as if we were in some world or realm in which the… -
Farewell to the Bush Years - Part 7
4 Jul 2009 | 12:43 pmWho did badly in the Bush years within a British context?When one begins to think about who did badly in the Bush years and who did well, then it is clear that of those on the national scene it was those who were able to provide some kind of persistent leadership through example which represented good judgment and political nous that came out as winners in the Bush years. Lord Nazir Ahmad was for example the de facto Minister for Muslim affairs in the first Blair administration but his influence declined in the second administration. This was because he was perhaps a bit too vociferous…
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City of Brass
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Fort Hood shooting on Guy Fawkes Day
5 Nov 2009 | 4:11 pmMAJOR UPDATE: news outlets are reporting that the shooter is not dead as previously reported, but alive and in custody. This means we may indeed get some answers... and justice. Who is Major Malik Nadal Hasan? A few hours... -
"collateral shahadat" - too good, yaar
5 Nov 2009 | 5:05 amThis is absolutely brilliant - As we already know, only Muslims are human beings. This is also an indisputable fact. So, when good Muslims meet non-Muslims, it is their duty to convert the latter. This way they are actually... -
Did the GOP win or lose in NY-23?
4 Nov 2009 | 6:33 amIN yesterday's election in New York's 23rd district, the Republican Party lost a seat it has owned for 120 years. This was because the GOP candidate, Dede Scozzafava, was excommunicated by the Tea Party conservatives and forced out of... -
Abdullah runs off; Karzai certified
2 Nov 2009 | 6:37 amAfghanistan residential challenger Abdullah Abdullah decided (correctly) over the weekend that the planned run-off election between him and incumbent President Karzai would be subject to the same abuses and lack of transparency as the original election, and thus withdrew...
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Darvish
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Loving Quietly
26 Oct 2009 | 10:14 pmSalaam and Greetings of Peace: How do you love quietly? A dear sister wrote me recently and asked that question. Since she has a spiritual inclination, I answered her this way: To love quietly is to do the work that is meant for you in this life, and to serve all whom you come in contact with, even in small ways. That is quiet love – for others and for God, who is in all His creation. To love a particular person quietly, is to pray for him, to help him when you can, and to listen. Her question also reminded me of this post about the old woman washing the steps of a Buddhist temple, which… -
Five Year Anniversary of Master of the Jinn!
19 Oct 2009 | 10:51 amSalaam and Greetings of Peace: Master of the Jinn is celebrating its Five Year Anniversary this month :) And in commemoration of that, for anyone that buys a copy of the book, in either the paperback edition or as an ebook (from Mobipocket, or the Amazon Kindle book reader), I will send them a jpg of the original beautiful cover art of Master of the Jinn. It makes lovely wallpaper or a great screensaver for your computer :) Just go to this link, all the info is there: http://masterofthejinn.com/order.html Then email me and I will email you back the cover art. Irvingk1945@gmail.com Just put… -
The Sufi Master and the Madman!
12 Oct 2009 | 2:47 pmSalaam and Greetings of Peace: It is related that the Sufi Master, Shaykh Junayd Abul Qasim Baghdadi, once went for a walk outside of Baghdad, his disciples following him. The Shaykh then asked them how Bahlul was. They answered, “He is a crazy person, what do you need from him?” “Bring me to him because I have a need for him,” he said. The students searched for Bahlul, whose reputation was that of a mad mystic, and found him in the desert. They took Shaykh Junayd to him. When Shaykh Junayd went near Bahlul, he saw Bahlul lying in a state of agitation, with a brick… -
In Memory of Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh
9 Oct 2009 | 8:09 pmSalaam and Greetings of Peace: October 10th is the one year anniversary of the death of Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh for over 50 years, the Master of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order, and for 17 years, my Master (may God bless his soul and raise him to the highest rank of His beloveds). To commemorate the occasion, this of his poem is a fitting tribute to his life and station: My heart holds Your home, my head desiring You; Night and day have all passed, while I am pledged to You. I have suffered at the hand of the people of the time; In the world I’ve only seen fidelity from You. I’ve been drunk with… -
Two Favorites for Poetry Monday
5 Oct 2009 | 9:12 amSalaam and Greetings of Peace: For the occasional Poetry Monday, here are two old favorites. Atlas i am used to the heft of it sitting against my rib, used to the ridges of forest, used to the way my thumb slips into the sea as i pull it tight; something is sweet in the thick odor of flesh burning and sweating and bearing young. i have learned to carry it the way a poor man learns to carry everything. - Lucille Clifton I have always known that at last I would take this road, but yesterday I did not know that it would be today. - Narihira (9th century Japan), translated by Kenneth Rexroth Ya…
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Dunner's
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Mapping the Muslim Mind
31 Oct 2009 | 5:04 pmMike thinks in Martian -- and this gives him a different 'map.' You follow me""I grok it," agreed Jubal. "Language itself shapes a man's basic ideas.""Yes, but -- Doctor, you speak Arabic?""Eh? Badly," admitted Jubal. "Put in a while as an army surgeon in North Africa. I still read it because I prefer the words of the Prophet in the original.""Proper. The Koran cannot be translated -- the 'map' changes no matter how one tries. You understand, then, how difficult I found English. It was not alone that my native language has simpler inflections; the 'map' changed. English is the largest human… -
New Links for my Web Pages
28 Oct 2009 | 4:11 pmDue to the recent cancellation of Yahoo's Geocities free web hosting service, I've had to transfer a number of my webpages to a new site. The webpages that have been moved include a long-neglected index page and a color chart for webpages and blogs. The two big websites that have also been transferred are my Titanic website and the website for my high school class. (Both of these sites normally get a lot of traffic; the Titanic site usually provided about 1/3 of my daily total of hits.) The individual pages for these two sites are listed below:Titanic:Titanic Web PagesJames Cameron's Titanic… -
Experimental Rocket Ares I-X Lifts Off
28 Oct 2009 | 1:35 pm -
JKCS041: Galaxy Cluster Smashes Distance Record
27 Oct 2009 | 11:50 pmVisible Light (Very Large Telescope (VLT)):XRays (Chandra):Composite:Photo Credits: X-ray: NASA/CXC/INAF/S.Andreon et al; Optical: DSS; ESO/VLTThis image contains X-rays from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, optical data from the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and optical and infrared data from the Digitized Sky Survey. This record-breaking object, known as JKCS041, is observed as it was when the Universe was just one quarter of its current age. X-rays from Chandra are displayed here as the diffuse blue region, while the individual galaxies in the cluster are seen in white in the VLT's optical… -
Rep 4 That
17 Oct 2009 | 8:00 amObviously, this video was made before the incredibly stupid and Islamophobic accusation by Reps. Trent Franks and John Shadegg (AZ), Sue Myrick (NC) and Paul Broun (GA) that the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) was "planting spies" among members of Congress through the use of Muslim interns. Otherwise I think you'd have seen the latter three Congressmen in the video. Franks, whom I'm familiar with from Arizona politics in the 80s (and was a wingnut Republican before "wingnut" came into vogue), is already in the video for other BS.Republicans in Congress: Everything your…
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The Egyptian's Wife
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I am sooooo EXCITED!!!
28 Oct 2009 | 3:43 pmHow psyched am I to know that for a week I will get to go to a Waldorf childcare seminar with the author of the above book, which I read when Layla was a baby! It's part of a program called Lifeways... And if you are interested in Waldorf for young children you should check them out. http://www.lifewaysnorthamerica.org/ I got the curriculum for the Lifeways course I am enrolling in and I am just so excited to learn more and hear ideas from people doing what I hope to do with my program! I can't wait! The big debate right now is how staying in Boulder during the program is going to look. I… -
Writing and other stuff...
26 Oct 2009 | 1:08 pmIf you follow me on Twitter or friend me on facebook you already know that my current obsession is Nanowrimo. I have started outlining my plot and am chomping at the bit to get writing. The daycare is coming along and in prep for going back to work I am trying to get the house under control. I said trying, not succeeding. One of my brainstorms was to have the kids each have only one dish (a big shallow bowl) and they are to was it and eat out of it all day. I got the dishes and wrote names on the sides and showed the kids to wash them. Only to find my sink clogged with cereal since the 6yo… -
I still love my blog...
12 Oct 2009 | 3:11 pmI have been neglecting the whole blogging scene due to lack of time. I try to read the blogs I love and comment... But sometimes I just don't have time! WAHHH! So I am neglecting my poor little blog it seems. What's going on with me and mine lately... All 6 of us apparently have Type A influenza, which means most likely the dreaded H1N1 virus. It hasn't been that bad really, masha'Allah. It does mean that the kids are taking a week off school and we are all under voluntary house arrest. I did some online shopping, we made chicken soup and beef broth and ate it with rice and boiled potatoes… -
Internet Narcs, here's something new for you...
16 Sep 2009 | 8:44 pmAnyone who is a veteran internet user has been found by some relative, acquaintance, co-worker, whatever that feels they now have the "dirt" on you. Of course this type of person is not usually motivated by good. They are looking for the things to say about you to your spouse, the community, your employer... And they will stretch and fabricate to suit their purpose. To me they are like a real life internet troll. They have the same goal, to stat a conflict and get attention.I imagine that it is partly because of this that blogs go private, stay general, and basically avoid inflammatory… -
Ramadan blessings...
25 Aug 2009 | 5:33 pmRamadan is full of mixed feelings for me, and I have been trying to write a post about that for a few days now. It just doesn't seem to be coming together. Maybe I'm just clouded by low blood sugar or something. If you are wondering about the picture... That is what I am focusing on this Ramadan. Trusting Allah. Trusting that all the things I am experiencing are part of my fate, Trusting that I have to do what is right and everything else will come, trusting that if He handed me a challenge I can meet it. Anyway, Ramadan and me...The good part, is pretty simple. I feel closer to the religion,…
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iMuslim (Wordpress.com)
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6 Nov 2009 | 11:14 am
6 Nov 2009 | 11:14 amI finally gots paid! Allahu akbar! {does the ‘I gots paid’ dance} -
6 Nov 2009 | 10:54 am
6 Nov 2009 | 10:54 amNo fireworks tonight… Maybe tomorrow iA. -
6 Nov 2009 | 10:19 am
6 Nov 2009 | 10:19 amI /may/ be attending a fireworks display later this evening iA. But the rain means the odds are low. :/ -
6 Nov 2009 | 3:18 am
6 Nov 2009 | 3:18 amWhy do I keep getting stuck on the train carriage with all the crazed kids out on a school trip to the museums? They drive me nuts! -
5 Nov 2009 | 1:34 pm
5 Nov 2009 | 1:34 pmWatching ‘A History of Christianity’ on BBC4. Amused by the fact that they keep showing shots of the blue mosque.
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Indigo Jo Blogs
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Learning disability bullying claims victim’s mother
6 Nov 2009 | 9:53 amA mother has died in a fire while trying to save her son, after bullies set fire to their house by posting a lit firework through their door last night (5th Nov, Guy Fawkes night). The thugs had been bullying Raum Fox, aged 17, because he has learning disabilities: Friend and care worker Kerry Ollerenshaw revealed that Raum was targetted by youths because he had learning difficulties. Kerry, 36, said: ‘Her son had learning difficulties and the kids on this estate can be very harsh. ‘They hang around in groups, harassing and intimidating. Raum was a victim of that. I can’t… -
Henry Porter: from war to police state
4 Nov 2009 | 1:11 pmOut of Afghanistan, into a police state | Henry Porter | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk Kim Howells had an article published in the Guardian today, in which he recommends that British forces are pulled out of Afghanistan and that the money saved by that should be ploughed into the police, border controls and security forces: If we accept that al-Qaida continues to pose a deadly threat to the UK, and if we know that it is capable of changing the locations of its bases and modifying its attack plans, we must accept that we have a duty to question the wisdom of prioritising, in terms of… -
No point debating racists
3 Nov 2009 | 8:42 amNew Statesman - There’s nothing to debate about racism Mehdi Hasan, the NS’s senior politics editor, on why racism should be condemned and fought, not indulged and appeased: I recently sat in a radio studio debating with a caller who turned out to be a BNP supporter. “Michael” claimed that I could never be “true British”, though I was born here, because I was of “Asian origin” and Britain belonged only to its “indigenous” population. “Where are you from?” I asked Michael. “I’m Norse,” he replied. How do… -
Fight over life support for disabled boy
2 Nov 2009 | 8:12 amFather fights to stop hospital withdrawing life support for baby son I read a disturbing story in the Guardian this morning, which was reported across various other newspapers and in the BBC, that the parents of a young boy were fighting each other in court over whether to turn off his life support. The boy has a rare neuro-muscular condition, Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome or CMS, which inhibits muscle control and causes visual impairment. His father says that he has videos showing the boy playing with toys and that he is not mentally impaired, can see, feel and hear, recognise his parents… -
Scarier than Halloween
2 Nov 2009 | 6:58 amHat tip to iMuslim: ten things Muslims find scarier than Halloween. Number 3 is a perfect opportunity for a sister to pull a Towanda, don’t you think?
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The Laughing Muslim
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28 Oct 2009 | 6:06 am
28 Oct 2009 | 6:06 amhttp://www.linktv.org/onenation/winnersArab In America is Hilarious. -
EID MUBARAK
19 Sep 2009 | 6:07 pmEID MUBARAK -
9 Aug 2009 | 7:02 pm
9 Aug 2009 | 7:02 pm -
4 Jul 2009 | 7:44 am
4 Jul 2009 | 7:44 am -
3 Jul 2009 | 7:49 pm
3 Jul 2009 | 7:49 pm
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The Muslimah
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The girl who silenced the world for 5 minutes
28 Oct 2009 | 8:48 pmBismillah It’s been passed around but it’s worth posting again and again. We can can see the world for what it is if we allow ourselves… whatever age we may be. We are greedy. We are rich. I live in an apartment, don’t own a fancy 20,000 dollar car, we don’t even make 50,000 dollars a year and I know we are rich. What about those who have more? If we all shared a meal with someone else, who would be left to starve? Our beloved Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) told us that what is enough for one is enough for two. I’m ashamed that I… -
How Do I Expect … ?
24 Oct 2009 | 11:49 pmBismillah How can I expect acceptance When I myself don’t accept How can I call people to change and hope When my heart is debilitatingly weak How do I expect to be forgiven When I’m so good at bringing up people’s pasts How do I expect to be healed When I help break people down How am I a part of the solution When I am a part of the problem How do I expect to help others When I don’t even help myself For each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah. Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people… -
5 (Random) Things I Love
22 Oct 2009 | 9:25 amBismillah 5 Things I Love 1. Books. We’re getting another 3 shelf bookcase today because we are officially out of space and books are all over the place now. I love books. I love used books in particular. Used books have their own history. Whenever I pick up a book and see notes on the pages I wonder who put the notes in it, what they were using the book for (to better their life, for school, etc.), where the book has traveled and so on. I love carrying books in my purse so some of my books have seen plenty of states. : ) 2. Green Smoothies. We added green smoothies to our diet almost… -
Demystifying Sufism Lecture by Shaykh Muhammad Afifi Al-Akiti in the UK
20 Oct 2009 | 9:14 pmBismillah! I wish I could go to this! If you’re able to go you should go. This lecture would be awesome. Demystifying Sufism On: Saturday the 24th of October 2009 With: Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti (Oxford) Time: After Maghrib, 6:30pm to 7:40pm All Welcome Jubilee Road Central Mosque 34 Jubilee Road, High Wycombe Bucks HP11 2PJ -
Karen Armstrong: Let’s Revive The Golden Rule
17 Oct 2009 | 10:34 pmBismillah “Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want others to do to you.” “We don’t have to fall in love but we can become friends. I am convinced that when people of all different persuasions come together, working side by side, for a common goal, differences melt away.” A good reminder for every human being on the face of this earth.
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Naeem's Blog
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The State of True Believers
6 Nov 2009 | 11:30 pmA beautiful exchange between two special lovers of Allah (swt):Imam Jafar as-Sadiq asked the famous saint Shaqiq al-Balkhi about the affairs of his people. Shaqiq al-Balkhi replied, 'They are well. When they receive from the blessings of Allah (swt), they are thankful. And when they are tested with difficulty, they bear patiently.'Imam Jafar frowned, replying 'Such is the state of dogs.'And he continued, 'The state of true believers is that when they are showered with Allah's blessings, they give. And when they are tested, they are thankful.' -
Criminalize War?
3 Nov 2009 | 12:13 amI scoff at the mere suggestion, reminding myself of the various injunctions of Allah (swt) and His messenger (saw) that not only make certain forms of combat necessary, but commendable. How can any sane Muslim ever consider all forms of war to be criminal, especially when our Creator has stated, "Fighting is prescribed upon you and you dislike it. However, it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you..."(2:216)?The Prophet took part in many battles and he surely was no criminal! So who are we to suggest that war become a criminal act, worthy of universal condemnation?Of course,… -
When the two Prophets met
27 Oct 2009 | 12:42 amMost of us know about Prophet Musa’s (upon him be peace) attempt to see Allah (swt). After having spoken directly with Allah several times, Prophet Musa’s burning love for his Lord was such that he asked to see Him. Knowing full well man’s limitations, Allah (swt) warned him of the dire consequences of such an appeal. So instead of manifesting Himself directly to Musa, Allah (swt) revealed His countenance to a mountain, which instantly crumbled at the divine Majesty of our Lord. As to Musa, the sight of the mountain crumbling caused him to pass out unconscious , proving that not only… -
Hello World!
24 Oct 2009 | 1:47 amNice to meet you.Again. -
Going Primitive
2 Jun 2009 | 10:22 pmCold Turkey: The act of giving up a habit all at once.I've learned that one of the best ways to deal with nafsi desires has been to go cold turkey. Whether its watching TV, going to the movie theater or indulging in the viewing of sports, I have found an abrupt cessation to work the best.Going cold turkey shows your nafs that YOU are in control and that it is but a tool at your disposal, to be subjugated and refined.All these silly distractions have muddled my path to spiritual ecstasy. It doesn't take a genius to realize that the path which requires one to minimize food, sleep, and speech…
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Children Make Life Normal
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Helping Sinan
6 Nov 2009 | 7:17 amI was actually going to make a long post detailing some of the costs that parents of children with specific needs tend to have. How things work in Saudi in regards to finding the help, than having the help that is there available to you when you a. aren't covered by insurance and b. can't afford private care.But I'm tired and unmotivated to really do such a writing at this point. And each day I put it off is one more day I put off telling you about how you can help Sinan get the care he needs in the US. So stop by Abu Sinan's blog and check out his post and plea for assistance to get his son… -
Umar Update
2 Nov 2009 | 9:43 pmSo I know that some of you read just because of Umar. Forget about me and what I blog about it is all about the boy. Don't worry my feelings aren't hurt he is my favorite too. So without further delay I'll give you an update on how my boy is doing.Yup that is right my boy is walking and doing it very well I might add. He tends to keep his legs spread wide apart to keep his balance and at times reminds me of a little robot walking about. But the fact is he is walking everywhere at 19 months. He has been working hard on this for the past month and he has a ways to go, he isn't running yet, but… -
Where Am I?
2 Nov 2009 | 7:14 amWell in the car most of the time from three to four hours a day as a matter of fact. Yes I'm now the family driver and I'm annoyed with it. Mariam started school this week which means my driving schedule has become totally insane6:30-6:45 am we leave the house usually on the latter end of that because I have to remind kiddos to brush their teeth, their hair, and tuck in shirts. Did you know that a boy tucking in his shirt means he is a nerd in their school? So what looking like a slob is the new cool look? Brat kids I tell ya.Back at the house around 7:45-8:00 depending on traffic and I can't… -
And This Is Why!
19 Oct 2009 | 11:17 pmI just posted on children not running errands alone and that in Saudi it is not uncommon to see young children running around a neighborhood unsupervised. And just so I am clear on how dangerous this is.Man who raped 9 children arrested Arab News JEDDAH: Jeddah police arrested an African national who allegedly kidnapped and raped nine Asian children in two Jeddah districts, a local daily reported. The rapist threatened his victims with harm if they reported the rape. Police received a large number of reports from families complaining their children had been raped. The rapist targeted children… -
Prove Innocence?
17 Oct 2009 | 11:55 pmBeing an American I'm familiar with the quote "innocent until proven guilty". Now the American legal system surely isn't without fault and at times some are assumed guilty but instructions given to the jury are quite clear that a prosecutor has to prove the persons guilt. I'm sure one can argue how reliable the American justice system is, jury by ones peers, prejudice and racism, and economic disadvantage may all and do play into innocent people being found guilty of crimes they didn't commit.What is interesting to me, not only as an American but as a Muslim who firmly holds to the believe…
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Organica
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My Suggestions to all Mosques
4 Nov 2009 | 11:38 amHire a person to answer phone calls from 9-5.Pay Imams hourly so they can stay put in their offices and answer important calls and visits from the community.24 hour return calls/messages policy.Hire Imams with good English skills who can communicate and are aware of our needs as Muslim Americans.Clean bathrooms hourly with a schedule kept behind the door.It won't hurt to visit a Church or Synagogue every once and a while to learn a few tips.Keep the kids contained. Enuff said!That's all. -
Boys Allowed Hookah While Girls Do Dishes
26 Oct 2009 | 9:39 am"It's not fair" I shouted on a bustling Brooklyn street.My response was produced after a small discussion with 6 brilliant young Egyptian American girls about gender roles and equality. One of the girls, let's call her Hanna, mentioned that her extremely religious parents allowed her brother to visit a famous Hookah cafe with friends. Their rationale was simple: exposure to such instances will make him a better man, ill-deprived of experiences of the outside, unsheltered world.(of course the parents assume the best of their son where he will stay smoke-free and never get hooked on hookahs,… -
The Arab Man Dictatorship
17 Oct 2009 | 5:15 amI worked for a weekend school program for over 3 years. I enjoyed learning new teaching skills, learning Quran with my students and delving into topics traditionally not discussed in this setting.The administration of the school is composed of ONE person. He is an Arab man with absolute authority. A big chunk of the staff are his family members, too. So when it is time to vote on anything, he had an advantage! Of course, like all good Arab men, he flaunted his title which was "doctor."I was appalled by the treatment of this man towards his staff which were mostly women. He would conduct… -
Pizza Mia
15 Oct 2009 | 6:43 amPizza Mia, originally uploaded by Organica59. -
The Secret Prayer Space
2 Oct 2009 | 12:12 pmThe campus I attend employs a quiet interfaith room for students to use for prayers. Turns out that mostly Muslims take advantage of the space. The only problem with the quiet room is it's located on the edge of campus and barely holds 4 people at a time. It's inconvenient when you are rushing to your next class or don't feel like taking a hike across campus.When the weather is nice I venture by praying outdoors on the grass. I find a bush or large tree to hide behind, face East and make my salat in silence. But with cooler weather coming upon us, students at my school have devised a new…
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Outlines
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Calling Moon and Moon
31 Oct 2009 | 9:46 pmIs anyone still there? Anyway, after an unintended break , I shall be taking another one.Alhamdulilah for planes, as insha Allah, I’ll be in Syria later today. So no internetry until I get back. *shakes*. A summary of things I could have written about before, but didn’t: Nick Griffin on Question Time: Tosser. And No Platform for Fascists. People voting for the BNP despite not being racist. If you vote for a party that believes that one race, namely the white race is superior and seeks to discriminate on those ground, then you are racist and Jerry Dammers would be… -
A Summary of Recent Stoniness
28 Sep 2009 | 5:16 pmA belated Ramadan and Eid Mubarak to you all. I have recently moved and had no internet, hence my delay in moderating and blogging. Two recent posts here have discussed spiritual abuse within Islam, particularly the abuse meted out to women. The most recent post provoked a detailed discussion. Here is a summary of my thoughts as a conclusion. 1)Despite it being the blessed month of Ramadan, several people that I linked to have been receiving death threats and other harassment both on and offline. Yes, really. So when people wonder why more people have not spoken out, please bear this in… -
Stone Hearts Don’t Bleed
6 Aug 2009 | 2:43 amSo Salafi Burnout’s website has been taken down. While the comments were full of trollery, there were a lot of people able to finally talk about the abuse they had suffered at the hands of so called ’scholars’. Naively, I had hoped that from revelations there and elsewhere, there would be a movement towards eliminating such cults. But no, because power protects power and when most of the people hurt are women and children, who cares? It’s the truly pious MEN and the knowledgeable MEN who are far more important. Seriously, don’t pretend to be all pious and… -
Scribbles Not Outlines 7: Better out than in
3 Aug 2009 | 3:29 amSalaam Alaikum to anyone left reading this. It has indeed been far too long. Oreo is now six months old. The title refers to her, as I’m enjoying being a mother about a million times more then I enjoyed being pregnant. People say about mothers loving their babies, but I don’t love Oreo, I’m in love with her. It’s a real tangible joy, I get stomach flips and butterflies looking at her. Just looking with wonder at this little person, that by Allah’s will, I managed to bring into the world. Our favourite game is ‘A Hundred Kisses’, where I cover her… -
How Do You Soak Yours: Burka Apparently Soaked in Blood
8 Jul 2009 | 6:49 pmA lot of the discourse of Muslim women both here and elsewhere concerns the battle to speak for ourselves. To define our religion, our beliefs on our terms, without the headpatting and correcting of outsiders. Fatemeh’s post at Altmuslimah gives a thorough outline of the usual mistakes made by those who seek to defend Muslim women, without actually listening to them. How disappointing to view an article on the Guardian website, Rahila Gupta headed, ‘The Burka is a cloth soaked in blood’. I have to admit, that my initial response to such a statement was to think, “Only…
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Peace Through Understanding
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Dwight D. Eisenhower
12 Oct 2009 | 5:38 amAfter searching and trying to find the source of my own personal motto, one I learned at the 1964 World's Fair in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York, and after going learning that the motto of the Fair was adopted in meetings with various lawyers and Robert Moses, I have finally come across what might have been the direct inspiration, the motto of Dwight D. Eisenhower. President Eisenhower needed a coat of arms due to his being awarded the Order of the Elephant from the Danish royalty after the war, 1945. The coat of arms was not finished until after 1954 as indicated in the following… -
Yusef Lateef
12 Oct 2009 | 12:19 amA SYLOGISMBy Yusef LateefFlowers, beautiful flowers, children, humanity, lovely, love, life, embrace all – please! Don’t let evil subdue us. Take from our minds the thornlike thoughts that torture us like bloodsucking leeches and demons of disenchantment. Free us of withering, despairing thoughts that inhabit our minds like the dull buzzing of dragonflies. Take from our hearts the veils of ignorance that we may walk in peace. Come soon – please!Love opens the gates of truth and justice and the lips of flowers – yes, love while there is time, while the heart still struggles within, to… -
Lester B. Pearson
11 Oct 2009 | 10:52 pmThere is a college prep high school in Canada with the motto, "Peace through Understanding": Lester B. ("Mike") Pearson was a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957. Here is the Nobel Foundation's bio: Lester Bowles Pearson The Nobel Peace Prize 1957 Biography For four decades Lester Bowles Pearson (April 23, 1897-1972) has been noted for his diplomatic sensitivity, his political acumen, and his personal popularity. He is affectionately called «Mike», a nickname given to him by his flying instructor in World War I, who discarded «Lester» as being insufficiently bellicose. Born in Toronto… -
11 Oct 2009 | 5:29 am
11 Oct 2009 | 5:29 am -
Late Autumn Walk
11 Oct 2009 | 5:28 am
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Rolled-up Trousers
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BNP - taking us back to the ice age
25 Oct 2009 | 10:43 amNick Griffin has provided us all a villain to unite against. On Question Time his racism was exposed, but this will find resonance in parts of the country, aided by weak opposition from other political parties. Griffin compared ‘indigenous Brits’ to Aborigines. A people under threat from ‘genocide’ caused by the immigration policies of successive governments. London, he says, is no longer a British city. Seems to be doing all right all the same. You would think then in mentioning the Native Australians and Native Americans that he would have sympathy with their cause. It was truly… -
SNP conference dispatch - the economy
21 Oct 2009 | 5:16 amThe economy naturally was discussed at SNP conference through a number of motions. One speaker criticised Jim Murphy’s ‘Arc of Insolvency’ line, pointing to an 'Arc of Recovery' where Iceland is now faring better arguably than the UK is on growth and unemployment. Norway has hardly been touched at all. Gordon Wilson, SNP leader from 1979 to 1990, delivered the Donaldson lecture this year, and suggested the SNP should adopt negative campaigning, pointing out that it has worked for Labour over the years. His concrete suggestion was to highlight ‘Bankrupt Britain’, and in the… -
SNP Conference 2009 twittering
21 Oct 2009 | 4:15 am"When Labour fight poverty, poverty usually wins" - David Kerr, SNP's Glasgow NE candidate. Line of the conference for me #snpconf "Gordon Brown: What a sorry excuse for a Scotsman" barnstorming fraternal address from Plaid Cymru #snpconf Salmond - taking Scotland's voice and Scotland's values to the heart of Westminster #snpconf Salmond - on Brown's signalling of reduction of nuke subs from 4 to 3. "Correct number on the Clyde is zero" #snpconf Compassion signified by Megrahi's release could be that #snpconf Salmond - Gandhi's… -
Novo Scotia
16 Oct 2009 | 4:24 amThe nationality debate started last year by the possibility of Spanish-born Nacho Novo playing football for Scotland reared its head again this week with discussion this time centred on English-born but Scottish-educated Andrew Driver. I’ve been alarmed and uncomfortable at the tenor of the discussion in football circles on this issue, and has once again demonstrated how the sport sometimes thinks itself above normal life. Some of the talk has ruled these men out of because of their “bloodline”, and radio phone-ins even questioned whether the players would be “loyal” to Scotland. -
Prosecuting genocide and war crimes in the UK
5 Oct 2009 | 3:54 pmMore attempts have been made in recent weeks to arrest and prosecute Israelis for war crimes due to their roles in the military. First it was Ehud Barak who came for the Labour Party conference in Brighton and now it is Moshe Yaalon. Both attempts were unsuccessful.It's reignited an issue that had seemingly gone off the radar. In 2005 there was a warrant issued for the arrest of General Doron Almog, only for him to be somehow warned by the Israeli embassy that police were waiting before he disembarked his flight at Heathrow. He flew directly back to Israel as a consequence. It was later…
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ReflectOnThis
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Letters of a Sufi Master
3 Nov 2009 | 9:56 pmLetters of a Sufi Master, from the words of Shaykh al-'Arabi al-Darqawi (may Allah have mercy on him)... Ah yes, this is one of those great little books that you always come back to from time to time for inspiration and reflection. It is chock-full-of-wisdom, and sometimes you just want to burst with joy in that you have found the... -
Two Khutbahs on September 18th, 2009 (Ramadan 1430)
3 Oct 2009 | 1:45 pmBismillah. As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh . . . Al-hamdu lillah, our visit to Cincinnati, Ohio, during the last few days of Ramadan 1430/2009 was a truly enriching experienced. We benefited greatly from the presence of the wonderful brothers and sisters that make up the great communities there and we pray that they will continue to flourish and grow... -
Fasting and the Month of Ramadan
29 Aug 2009 | 1:24 pmThe following is a piece that I wrote about the month of Ramadan (especially useful for non-Muslims who are eager to learn more about this blessed and sacred month): Fasting and the Month of Ramadan Prepared by: Khalil Abu Asmaa (Christopher J. Moore) Fasting is a tradition known to many of the world’s religions. In its essence it is to... -
Khutbah: The Fast
29 Aug 2009 | 12:43 amKhutbah on August 28, 2009: This week's khutbah is entitled: The Fast Stream it online here: Or download the MP3 file here: Download MP3 of Khutbah (Approximately 26MB) Here is a copy of the words from the poem that was recited during the khutbah: Fasting © 1994 Aaron "Haroon" Sellers My head is spinnin’, how long will I last Feelin’... -
Khutbah: The Seminal Advice Revisited
31 Jul 2009 | 7:37 pmKhutbah on July 24, 2009: This week's khutbah revisited the ever-important topic of the Seminal Advice of Habib Umar bin Hafiz. Stream it online here: Or download the MP3 file here: Download MP3 of Khutbah (Approximately 29MB)
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Saifuddin
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The Difference Between Worship and Respect
14 Oct 2009 | 8:24 amBismillaharRahmanirRahim Selam alaykum. I wanted to post a very special sohbet from our Grand Shaykh, Maulana Nazim. (Mawlana Shaykh standing) O our Lord! Forgive us and we are saying also a`udhu billahi min ash Shaytani ‘r rajeem, running away from bad sounds, from Satan and its tricks and traps. Keep ourselves. I am ashaming to ask this from Your Heavenly Presence. I may ask from master of this world. O our master, Qutb az-Zaman, who looking after everything on this Earth, on this planet, to be much more honored by the intercession of the Seal of Prophets (s). (Mawlana sits) And I am… -
Loving the Prophet, Blogging and Music
17 Apr 2009 | 8:49 amBlogging! As some of you know, I am a musician of sorts, coming from a long line of musicians in my family. So I’ve started to make records again and will eventually write, arrange, produce and record a number of songs and some specifically for the readers of this blog. I’ve been blogging for some time now and its taken shape over a long period of time. There have been a number of life experiences that I’ve shared blogging but there was always a veil of mystery that I intentionally plugged into my blog posts. And after meeting so many people just being around my Shaykh… -
Shaykh Abdul Kerim Leads Prayer At Washington Monument
28 Mar 2009 | 3:01 pmView more scenes from this momentous occasion at yursil.com Posted in Events, Prayer, Religion, Video Tagged: Islam, Naqshbandi, Shaykh Abdul-Kerim, Washington D.C., Washington Monument -
Shaykh Abdul Kerim al-Kibrisi Sohbet – Mawlid 2009
23 Mar 2009 | 10:35 pmPosted in Religion Tagged: 2009, Islam, Mawlid, Muhammad, Prophet, Shaykh Abdul-Kerim, Sohbet, Sufism -
Remembering Çanakkale (Dardanelles)
19 Mar 2009 | 12:30 pmToday we should remember those Muslims who fought hard to save and protect the Ottoman Sultan in March 1915. Just a few months before my very own grandfather was born, thousands of miles away there was a battle on famous straight separating Europe and Asia in an area known as Çanakkale. We are going to spend this time remembering them. Asking that Allah Almighty accept their noble efforts to defend the Khalifa of Islam and reward them accordingly. I have an account of our grandshaykh Maulana Shaykh Nazim mentioning the time of fighting in Çanakkale saying, “Our grandshaykh once…
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Southern Muslimah
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Getting Wready to Wrumble
29 Oct 2009 | 11:41 pmI'm not sure how much posting I will do during the coming month. November is National Novel Writing Month, and I've decided to sign on. Hop aboard the word train. Take the wrist-aching plunge.I may pop in now again just to let you know how I'm doing.Thanks for your support. -
Jigs
26 Oct 2009 | 6:32 amI'm stealing from my own comments and making them a post on their own. That's allowed, isn't it?My good pal and neighbor asked me, "Which dance, of which people?" to which I replied:Ay, there's the rub! It would take too long to name all of "my people," but I think I can name some dances I've been known to do on occasion, representing them.1. Funky Chicken2. Pee-Wee Herman a la "Tequila"3. The Hustle (for my big sis)4. Ed Grimley--perhaps my best5. Cherokee Stomp Dance6. Break Dancing, but no floor stuff, too old7. Mexican Hat Dance8. Homewood High School JV Cheerleaders' "You Spin Me" Summer… -
A Bit o' Newness
25 Oct 2009 | 4:57 amToday is a new day. Crisp breezes are blowing through my windows. I'm feeling Fall-ish. I thought I might liven up the place a bit with some new colors.Won't you join me in celebrating this change of season? -
Blanca, de lejos
24 Oct 2009 | 2:36 amBlanca,Durmiendo en mi cama, yo te vien mis sueñosRicardo y tú llegaron a mi vecinidadmuy felices por haber viajadode una distancia larga.Estaba cocinando polloy arrozy verduras, un almuerzotremendopara mis visitantesqueridos.Que nos veamos. -
My Mind as a Five-Star, Five-Subject Notebook
23 Oct 2009 | 2:36 amDo any of you go back and read the things you've written, not understanding how you accomplished such writing, how you could have pulled it off when you had so much going on, or why your mind cannot work like that all the time? Do you ever have those moments of self-questioning that go something like, "Why am I wasting so much time linking YouTube videos from the 70s when I should be seriously working at my craft?" Then again, what exactly is my craft?Are we losing our language? Could our wrists and fingers today endure the note taking of yesteryear, when we used to fill up one of those…
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tabsir.net
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Saliba on Islamic Science and the Renaissance
7 Nov 2009 | 3:07 am[Note: The cover interview of Rorotoko has an essay by historian of Islamic science George Saliba on his fascinating study entitlted Islamic Science and the Making of the European Renaissance. Here is the start of the essay, the whole of which can be read at Rorotoko.] This book started almost ten years ago. Initially, I wanted to know what were the conditions under which a civilization could produce science afresh. I was trained in ancient Semitics, and mathematics, but I was always interested in these rumors that the general reader knows about, that the great invention of science was a… -
Burqas and High Heels
4 Nov 2009 | 8:06 pmWhat is a Muslim woman to do when it comes to fashion? If she lives in Germany, she might consider Liaison Dangereuse, a German online lingerie store. She won’t find any burqas or chadors there, but there is a wide selection right out of Victoria’s Secret, or shall I say “Leila’s Secret.” Their latest ad (on their website and also, of course, on Youtube) advocates “Sexiness ist überall.” The ad is pure, old-fashioned commercial sex, with no cheap shots at Islamic icons, unless you think the black-blanket burqa fashion is described in the Quran. So is… -
Islam, Sufism and the Heart of Compassion
3 Nov 2009 | 1:20 amleft to right: Michael Sells, John Henry Barrows Professor of Islamic History and Literature in the Divinity School at the University of Chicago; Taoufiq Ben Amor,a Tunisian vocalist, percussionist, oud player and Professor of Arabic at Columbia University; William C. Chittick, Professor of Religious Studies in the Asian and Asian American Studies Dept. at Stony Brook Islam, Sufism and the Heart of Compassion: Living the Teachings of Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi The New York Open Center and the Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi Society will co-present a conference titled “Islam, Sufism and the… -
Ignorance is no Excuse
1 Nov 2009 | 10:32 amSelling qât in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital. Photo: Bryan Denton These days if you run across an article on Yemen, it will no doubt feature a scenario of gun-toting tribesmen swearing allegiance to Al-Qaeda, the latest German tourist hijackings or feigned shock at the terrible, terrible addictive drug called qât. At least this was the case in Sunday’s New York Times in another piece of mixed journalistic pablum by roving reporter Robert Worth. Entitling the article “Thirsty Plant Dries Out Yemen,”, the author seems unaware that the site of his posting (Jahiliya) is in fact… -
With Van-Lennep in Bible Lands: 3
30 Oct 2009 | 8:41 amVan-Lennep’s album cover In 1862 Henry J. Van-Lennep published twenty original chromolithographs of life in Ottoman Turkey. These include two scenes of Jewish life in the Ottoman Empire, “A Turkish Effendi,” “Armenian Lady (at home),” “Turkish and Armenian Ladies (abroad),” “Turkish Scribe,” “Turkish Lady of Rank (at home),” “Turkish Cavass (police officer),” “Turkish Lady (unveiled),” “Armenian Piper,” “Armenian Ladies (at home),” “Armenian Marriage Procession,”…
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Twenny-Two
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5 Things I love
27 Oct 2009 | 8:57 amassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah bismillah Who can't take time to think about just five things they love? Well, I got the flu, so now I really WANT to. Priorities...! So, in no order at all... 1. Sunshine. This year I feel as if I'm almost caught up on my sunshine quota. Just sitting in sunlight makes me happy, and I have always been so. These days the light right after Asr time (late -
Halal, Organic, Pasture-fed TURKEY for Eid
18 Oct 2009 | 12:15 pmAssalamu Alaikum, Long time no see, I know. Believe it or not, I posted several times in September... and took them down. Who needs to show their not-so-hot side all the time? I do it enough here. I did want to pass on a link, in time for the Eid holidays: Halal Zabiha Organic Turkey. I know I've got plenty of friends who only eat zabiha, or are trying to increase their animal-friendly -
Then
1 Oct 2009 | 8:03 pmAssalamu Alaikum It's hard to imagine having a non-disastrous but still hellish day that'd be tougher than today. Eid Mubarak, btw. I did it to myself, though. Today was the day that caused me to look at all my failures and just... just... Not even face them. More like look at them, examine the tiny crazes and flaws of the useless facades I use in my life, and then see the giant gaps -
Ramadhan 1430/2009
22 Aug 2009 | 4:24 pmAlhamdulillah! We made it! A generous, blessed Ramadhan to you and yours, amin! Make dua'a for me; make requests of me. You know I'll be praying for you. peace -
Oh man
10 Aug 2009 | 3:35 amassalamu alaikum I have a meeting at 10 for the first time in a month and a half. I have a curriculum to write and a 40 minute commute in that time. Hold me. Good news is, it's the last time I'll be looking at curriculum for that grade, iA. Then I'm off to the big bad world of the older students. And, hey, at least I have a job. Alhamdulillah alhamdulillah alhamdulillah. ... make
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ummSanaa :: a journey
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lazy shopper? eShakti
3 Nov 2009 | 6:54 ameShakti is one of my favorite places to shop online. as a muslim woman – and a lazy one, at that, when it comes to clothes and shopping – i don’t like to work to make a style “muslimah-compliant”. eShakti makes it SO easy and affordable for me. they have fashionable clothing in colorful, beautiful, easy-to-maintain fabrics that can be tailor-made to my size and requirements. when the style is HOT, but the sleeves and hemline are too short, i can lengthen them. if the fit is too body-hugging, i can increase tweak the measurements. a man once told me… -
a new dementia
25 Oct 2009 | 5:37 pmi have always loved my grandmother. when my mom went though basic training in search of a better life for us, i stayed with her. she was strict and even harsh at times, but i saw it all through a lens of love. my sentiment deemed her spicy. with a switch and a scathing, quick-whipped tongue, she demanded obedience. she was probably also lighter on me because of the duration of my stay whereas the other children of her children – my cousins – lived with her for years. she was my favorite grandmother. still is. i think. but she is changing for the worse. now she is nice to me… -
rain, rain, go away, let me get in the house first
29 Sep 2009 | 3:04 amwe had taken the girls to lowe’s build and grow workshop that morning and then went downtown to centennial olympic park for family fun day. all six of us got caught in a downpour on the way home from the train station. i reminded sanaa how she always says she wanted to get wet in the rain. well, there you go, girl. rahmah cried the whole way and after because of the coldness the rain brought as well as in grief over her painted princess crown that got washed off her forehead. duaa didn’t make a peep in the sling, even though the rain soaked through that and the scarf i covered her… -
sweet land of liberty
29 Sep 2009 | 3:02 amwhat a blessing it is to be a muslim in america where we are not bound or prevented from the true expression of islam by the blurring lens of culture so that he light of the example of the prophet (saws) has the ability to shine clear and bright. -
autonomous birth: baby come quickly
11 Jun 2009 | 2:29 amit was friday, another jumuah, and regular homeschool day. i’d been feeling contractions throughout the day, but nothing i couldn’t do circle-time through. i’d started researching how to naturally induce labor so i wouldn’t have to make that 7:30 AM appointment with a syringe filled with pitocin…oxytocin…whatever, or find an excuse to miss it. because He is alQaadir (The Able) i used the power of prayer; during the day i stimulated two acupressure points mentioned in the midwifery book and here: […
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With Passion...
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Le Vin De La Vie, Syrie.
5 Nov 2009 | 6:14 amThe wine of Life, Syria.Like fine wine; the more she ages, the more elegant and spiritual she becomes. That wine that puts me out of my misery. The single moment of forgetfulness surrounded in endless memories. That silent and meaningful love deep in my heart.I time-travel in the old streets of Damascus. I live the moment as part of many others. Ones I've missed on and ones I'm living momentarily.In the most ancient city, where one detects it's special meaning, colour, and distinguished voice, I sat on the veranda sipping unsweetened thick coffee. Pondering about a country with culture… -
Happiness is....
22 Sep 2009 | 8:27 pmThe secret of happiness is to make others believe they are the cause of it.Define your happiness. -
The Drunk Hobos in the ER
17 Sep 2009 | 7:18 amThe hospital is a public facility so that said ANYONE of the public is welcome to enter it. Therefore, the homeless find the Emergency Room a nice cozy place to sleep. They all have the same characteristics of being dirty, stupid, drunk and perhaps high.I rarely am exposed to the emergency waiting room. My patients are usually transported to me. But I use the ER room exit when I work night shift because walking around the hospital (bad area) at such an ungodly hour, I could be risking myself being ERd into the hospital myself.Although drunk people are obnoxious and sometimes dangerous… -
The terminally ill and end-of-life
12 Sep 2009 | 9:03 pmOnly until I began to work at a hospital that I have realized how many fighters there are. I don't particularly like to call my patients unfortunate anymore. Because with every case, you see the patient before was doing a bit better. Was getting by a little luckier!They're all fighters and believe me when I say it is the biggest war of all when you're fighting to keep a soul.This June I fought with my grand mother for her life. I was determined to help her make it. I lived my days with her in the hospital being the medical literate of the family. Nothing was left unquestioned. I knew every… -
Taraweeh Trends 2009
10 Sep 2009 | 6:35 pmAll the sudden I look tall, extra slender, and extremely white in a black Abaya. I enter the mosque with little supplication whispers upon my entrance. Its weekend and I'm excited I actually have the time to go to Taraweeh! As I walk up the stairs I begin to hear whispers growing louder. They weren't supplications this time. They were ones of rumors coming out a large group of teenage girls accompanied with ridiculous giggles and faces highlighted in thick blue eyeliners and pink lipstick.Not that it hasn't happened in 2008 but it keeps getting worse! Taraweeh is the new hangout. Girls like…
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Knocking From Inside
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The Wind Stole My Shadow
5 Nov 2009 | 6:58 pmToday the wind was so strongthat it tore away my shadow. Come back, thief!My heels are still bleedingwhile she dances with the leavesthat she will follow into the dark earth.I won't see her again until spring.Who would have thought my shadowwould be so unfaithful? Rapacious wind,I will hold you responsibleif my husband should fail to recognize meif mirrors take my image and refuse to return itif the sidewalk rejects my footprintsfor want of my shadow!Collection available! Knocking from Inside -
Karmic Sunflower
4 Nov 2009 | 10:05 amThree Word Wednesday: Karma. Obey. Wither.karmic sunflowerwithers in obedienceto season's dharmasunflower by Aleksandra P.; tie-dye pattern by Erin Calaway-MackayCollection available! Knocking from Inside -
Crow Head
4 Nov 2009 | 9:58 amThey're comin' to get you, Dale.(bird eye provided by Sias van Schalkwyk; fractal by Apophysis)Collection available! Knocking from Inside -
fall like an arrow
4 Nov 2009 | 9:25 amthe sound of the beat ofthe city-wide heartthe rustle and murmurthe stop and the startthey've slaughtered the horse andthey're burning the cartthey're hanging togetherthey're falling apartlet's beat a retreat throughthe pathways of artwe'll fall like an arrowand fly like a dartCollection available! Knocking from Inside -
Full Moon and Fog
3 Nov 2009 | 9:37 amThe sun sets behind a bridge,black railings against the scarlet skyadorned with silhouettes of crows.There is a sound of water.Streetlights fade into visibilityamong bare and unpruned branchesover buckling sidewalks. Grass growsin the middle of the street.Downtown, broken glass facadesstreaked with rust and pigeon droppingsblink away the last gleams of sundown.Full moon and fog fill the empty city.--for Miss Rumphius' poetry stretch: what isn't there.Collection available! Knocking from Inside
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My Inner Side
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2 Nov 2009 | 7:54 am
2 Nov 2009 | 7:54 amHi everyone. Here's 2 samples of something new i've learned...doing kaleidescopes digitally. Fun. enlightening.If u like it, go to this link to learn more.http://www.krazydad.com/fungames.phpHave fun...and hope u enjoy my results as well.The first one I call "Entrance way for the Masjid" and the second one I call "Paracheuters in fall formation".The original picture was...guess what...some dead trees. Fantastic, eh?balqees. -
Islamic Blog Directory: If you'd like to join us...
20 Apr 2008 | 9:17 pmIslamic Blog Directory: If you'd like to join us... -
FROM VIETNAM TO ARABIA
7 Apr 2008 | 9:19 pmFROM VIETNAM TO ARABIAIt was the time of my youthYet I was becoming awareOf what was going on about meHere, there-everywhere.Oh, I've never been a wizardAt global civil issuesBut the Vietnam war awoke in meA sense-on which I used many tissues.But like to many teenagersOf my day and ageI was more concerned about myselfAnd those around me in such a rage.And like so many I was affectedBy our own country's propagandaSo that I believed what they presented usOf the Red Indians, the rag-heads, even of Uganda!So, then, why shouldn't I be taken inBy the stories they professedOf how those dirty evil… -
Dad's Eyes
7 Apr 2008 | 9:09 pmDAD'S EYESAuthor's note: We were each literally dragging our feet on our writing assignment from the minister. He had given us the opportunity to talk at Dad's funeral or write our thoughts to have him incorporate into his speech, if we couldn't talk. We all opted for the second. But even then, we were dragging our feet collectively on this assignment. It seemed like to put down our memories in writing made the whole thing so much more real. Seemed to put a seal on his death. Dead is dead. No denying that. But to put our thoughts down in writing seemed to make it ever so much more real, and… -
DAD AND HIS CAT
7 Apr 2008 | 9:03 pm**In 2005, I and all three of my adult children and my 2 grandsons (had only 2 at that time) traveled to the US to visit my family. It was the last time that I saw my father. Strange intuition-when we parted at the airport as I was preparing to board the plane back to Saudi Arabia, could hardly look my father in his eyes. And he had similar reaction. Seemed to be that we were on the same brain wavelength-had this terribly strong intuition that I would never see him again. And it turned out to be true.During our visit, I was terribly struck with my father's newly adopted pet...or the cat that…
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ooohshiny
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what’s there to smile about…
20 Oct 2009 | 9:59 amNo matter how low you feel, no matter how much your thoughts and feelings are leading you further into the deepest wells of depression, you know deep down inside that this won’t last and you smile…because you see the breathtaking shapes of fleeting white clouds in the blue blue sky, because you see the deep calming hues of green all around you, because you see the happy shades of pink scattered among the green, because you hear the bubbly laughter of a small child, because you sense the ephemeral scent of something you can’t place but you know you have smelled it before and… -
My Intention?
18 Oct 2009 | 8:01 amAt the end of the 10th juz [Surah Tawbah: 92], Allah talks about the Sahabas who wanted to go for the battle of Tabuk but didn’t have rides…they turned away with tears streaming down their faces because they were so desperate to go for the pleasure of Allah. Allah said they get the same reward as the ones who actually went. We can apply this to ourselves today, in any situation. Everything depends on our intention…if we are willing and eager to do something for Allah but for some reason that thing is not in our control and we are not able to, we will inshaAllah still get the… -
please watch this…
13 Sep 2009 | 12:06 amThe Night of Powerby Abu Eesa Niamatullah http://ilmcast.com/night-of-power-39.htm it is beautiful…and not too long (40 minutes) so take some time out and watch it! Posted in Awesome! Tagged: Abu Eesa Niamatullah, Allah, almaghrib, ilmcast, Islam, last ten days, laylatul qadr, lecture, night of power, Ramadan, speech -
Story of Yusuf part 2
11 Sep 2009 | 12:46 amI think Arabic characters are not appearing in my posts as I have to send through email and the Arabic doesn’t show up for some reason :( So I hope I can continue with the tafseer of Surah Yusuf without needing the Arabic verses. I could I guess but it won’t be as effective. Anyway here goes. Continuation of Story of Yusuf… Some background about Yusuf (alayis salaam) and his family: He lived in Canaan with his father Yaqub (alayhis salaam) who was also a Prophet, his mother Raheel, and 11 brothers. Yaqub (alayhis salaam) had four wives, (I think this is taken from… -
the nights are almost upon us…
9 Sep 2009 | 11:11 amI feel really bad for not updating with the next tafseer notes :( May Allah put barakah in my time ameen. It’s raining like crazy here just now. The du’a for rain is: Allahumma Sayyiban Nafi’an. (Oh Allah make it plentiful and beneficial) [Bukhari] And the last ten nights are almost here so I would just like to share this little piece of advice from Shaykh Muhammad Alshareef and inshaAllah it will be beneficial. I found it pretty awesome! Step 1: Go somewhere really beautiful, where no one can disturb you Step 2: Imagine Allah says to you, "Ask whatever you wish and I…
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boxafella.com/blog
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#102
20 Oct 2009 | 10:59 pmI didn’t even notice this until now, but I’ve got 101 posts, not counting this one! That’s a bit surprising, and I don’t know why.. But it’s nice. My life has never been an easy one to live. I have seen and done many things in what years I’ve been alive.. Through all the challenges I’ve faced, I can only wish that I’d have come on top every time. I’ve never allowed failure to discourage me completely. I’d be lying if I said that it didn’t discourage me at all, but then it’s only natural to be disappointed. Instead of… -
To: You.
19 Oct 2009 | 10:48 pm-double k -
Dragging On
13 Oct 2009 | 1:23 pmAs would only be expected living a life like mine, the damage to the engine of my vehicle is at an irreparable point. The only option I have is to swap the motor. After much thinking, I’ve decided that essentially, it isn’t worth the time or money that will be spent to make it drivable again. As most of you are aware, I’ve been heavily playing with the thought of moving back to Texas… for more, click ‘continue reading’… After more thinking than I’d care to have done, I’ve decided that moving South would probably benefit me the most. My… -
Tough Luck
7 Oct 2009 | 10:31 pmAs fate would have it, my car has broken down. Oh, how the world turns. More things for me to take into consideration. Different decisions to be made. I suppose I can handle the additional load. More planning is in order. I suspect I’m to spend a bit more time in Ottawa. It doesn’t matter. I’m still pretty happy. -
Nomadic Living
5 Oct 2009 | 9:21 amTo live the life of a nomad, you know no home. You have no base, and you constantly move around. These days, being a nomad is as it was years ago. Except now we’ve got cars, planes, and trains to help us move around the land in much faster paces. We can haul our things with us, almost effortlessly. for more, click ‘continue reading’… I, myself, am somewhat of a nomad. Nomads have no permanent home, and generally move around according to the season. Though, thinking back on the time of year I had decided to move up to Canada, I’m not a very wise nomad. It’s…
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UmmAli's Site
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Resco Packer-Viking Week
28 Oct 2009 | 8:21 pmAsalam Alaikum, Hello All I am not really a Viking fan, in fact not much of a football fan, I only watch it with hubby does. But I saw this on the news and it cracked me up. This is a spoof and no one was really fighting, but still pretty funny. The news said it was made to help the company boost business and to have a little fun with the Packer-Viking rivalry -
Baby Survives As Stroller Falls Off Train Platform
21 Oct 2009 | 7:10 pmSubhanAllah can you imagine this?! Truly shows Allah is in -
Haram Police
21 Oct 2009 | 2:42 pmAsalam Alaikum, Hello All Ok I will try and be nice in this post as I don't want to be rude or offensive, but I am just a little sick of the haram police. For those who don't know what the haram police are, it is those who go around telling everyone of all the things they are doing that is "haram"(notice the " "), forgetting about all the good things the person is doing. You can't do this, that is haram, you can't do that that is haram, etc.... Now don't get me wrong, there are times when we need to correct each other, actually that is a duty upon all Muslims. But there is a time, place and a… -
The snow has arrived, like yippy(NOT)!!!
10 Oct 2009 | 1:34 am -
50 All-Time New Uses for Old Things
5 Oct 2009 | 5:09 pmSome of our smartest ways to rethink common
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The Indian Muslims
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12-year old Sarfaraz breaks record, makes 439
5 Nov 2009 | 12:22 amTWELVE-year-old Sarfaraz Khan was batting on 235 when stumps were drawn in his Harris Shield match on Monday evening. He spent a sleepless night, wondering if he could go past the 346 runs Sachin Tendulkar had scored in Mumbai's inter-school cricket competition 21 years ago. Sarfaraz's father, Naushad Khan, is a local coach who has trained players like Iqbal Abdulla and Rahil Shaikh -- both members of the Mumbai Ranji team -as well as left-arm fast bowler Kamran Khan, who came into spotlight in the IPL's second season for the Rajasthan Royals. Many of them, at some point or the other, have… -
Baba Ramdev to address Moulvis
1 Nov 2009 | 1:13 amRamdev From L.K. Advani and N.D. Tiwari to Lalu Prasad and Mulayam Singh Yadav, they all swear by him. Now yoga guru Baba Ramdev, whose influence stretches across virtually the whole spectrum of Indian politics, will add another feather to his cap. Come November 3, he will address half a million moulvis together at Darul Uloom Deoband along with Shri Shri Ravi Shankar, the duo becoming the first non-Muslim religious leaders ever to speak at perhaps India’s most influential Islamic seminary. The occasion is the annual conclave of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, the parent body of the seminary and… -
Namaaz & Namoh Namah
1 Nov 2009 | 1:09 amWhile Muslims consult him with queries on fatwas, Hindus seek him out to deliver discourses on the Vedas. He is Pandit Mufti Mohammed Sarwar affiliate program (http://www.bidvertiser.com) -
About theIndianMuslims.com
4 Oct 2009 | 3:30 amWelcome to theIndianMuslims.com. The site aims to be a credible one-stop reference on Muslims of India, Muslim Achievers and eminent Indian Muslims from the historical times to the present. You can see updated news of interest for Indian Muslims, including features, articles and editorials. A complete data-bank on Muslim achievers, Muslim organisations and institutions would also be available on the site. TheIndianMuslims.Com would also illustrate the contribution of Indian Muslims towards India's Freedom Struggle, besides in various other fields like Art Culture, Architecture, Cinema,… -
Haj :: A Journey of a Life-time
24 Dec 2007 | 3:08 pmThis Article is by courtesy of Culturopedia.com (http://islam.culturopedia.com/) Nearly 3 million Muslims from more than 120 countries journey to the holy city of Makkah each year to make the spiritual pilgrimage known as the Haj. The pilgrimage is one of five Pillars of Islam that form the framework of Islamic life. All Muslims who are physically and financially able are expected to perform the Haj at least once. Haj is a pre-Islamic ritual. Islamic Haj was first performed in 9th Hijri. Muslims trace the origin of the Haj to Prophet Ibrahim, who rebuilt the first House of Allah, the Kaaba,…
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AMEinfo.com Latest News
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Germinal Garcia joins Salalah Marriott Resort in Oman
7 Nov 2009 | 3:34 amGerminal Garcia has been appointed as General Manager for the pre-opening of the Salalah Marriott Resort in Oman. -
Petro Avec wins world finance oil and gas industry award For Best Innovation in Refining Technology
7 Nov 2009 | 3:24 amAxial Vector Energy Corporation ("AVEC") announced its Petro Avec joint venture has been awarded the '2009 Best Innovation in Refining Technology' category by World Finance Magazine. This prestigious award recognizes the important breakthrough of using 'Sono Chemistry' to remove sulphur to near zero from both refined product streams and heavy crude oil. -
RoyalCine and Sony Professional celebrate a first for digital cinema in the Middle East
7 Nov 2009 | 3:12 amSony Professional and RoyalCine, a company under Royal Group and the leading providers of cinemas in Abu Dhabi, announced an agreement for the deployment of four CineAlta 4K digital cinema projectors in collaboration with Pal Group, a technology consultant which is also part of Royal Group. -
Renault provides guarantee against uncertain car resale values
7 Nov 2009 | 3:10 amRenault has announced a new vehicle buy-back solution that offers customers a guaranteed return at resale aiming to remove the uncertainty involved around car values after purchase. -
Nasdaq Dubai's equity derivatives win FOW Award for 'Innovation in Middle East'
7 Nov 2009 | 3:04 amNasdaq Dubai's equity derivatives market has won the Futures and Options World (FOW) 2009 Award for "Best Innovation by an Exchange in Product Design, Middle East."
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Jahane Rumi
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Crimson Gharara – tragedy in Rawalpindi
3 Nov 2009 | 10:01 amI am posting a lovely poem by Foqia composed after the horrible tragedy in Rawalpindi. I queuing at the Bank, for my monthly salary. Image of crimson gharara, its goata lace, dancing before my eyes. My four year old Sara in my arms, I saw it in the market a week ago. Am waiting for new bank notes, their smell of freshness, [...] -
The Message of The Quran : By Leopold Weiss [Muhammad Asad]
28 Oct 2009 | 12:30 pm‘The Message of The Qur’an’, has been acclaimed as one of the best, if not the best, translations of the Quran into English. It is a translation and brief commentary by ‘Leopold Weiss’ [Muhammad Asad] on the Muslim holy book based on his own knowledge of classical Arabic and on the authoritative classical commentaries. ,although it has been criticised by [...] -
Media misogyny
26 Oct 2009 | 11:49 amPakistan’s electronic media is not accountable to anyone except to the barons and the market. And let us not forget that the barons, the mafia and the market are great bedfellows -
Love God for something other than Him
24 Oct 2009 | 12:27 pmLove God for something other than Him, in order to be at all time part of His bounty; O love God for Himself, for nothing else than Himself, for fear of being estranged from Him. Both quests and searches come from that same Source where His heart ravishes hearts. – Mathnawi III, 4598-4600 Translated by Muriel Maufroy Breathing Truth – Quotations from Jalaluddin [...] -
Dehumanized: When math and science rule the school.
23 Oct 2009 | 1:05 pmMark Slouka, Harper’s, September, 2009 Many years ago, my fiancée attempted to lend me a bit of respectability by introducing me to my would-be mother-in-law as a future Ph.D. in literature. From Columbia, I added, polishing the apple of my prospects. She wasn’t buying it. “A doctor of philosophy,” she said. “What’re you going to do, [...]
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MuslimMatters.org
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They Are Not Alone: A Worldwide Webinar and Fundraiser
6 Nov 2009 | 12:00 amAll last week, we have been discussing cases of the highest kind of injustice against Muslim individuals. While Dr. Maher Arar is out and fighting for justice, several other prisoners are depending on the Muslim community to obtain justice for them. The question was brought up quite a few times as to what we can do for these individuals. Well, here is an opportunity. One of these excellent initiatives is the Muslim Justice Initiative. Time to put our money where our mouth is and support these initiatives that seek to bring justice about. And as we saw with the Canadian government's apology… -
Outsourcing Torture: U.S. Court Blocks Maher Arar’s Lawsuit
3 Nov 2009 | 9:51 pmMaher Arar by J.Hashmi In 2002, Maher Arar was detained without charge by the INS and denied the right to counsel. Even though he was a Canadian citizen, the United States government--based on Canadian intel--deported him to Syria to be tortured for information. For ten months, Mr. Arar was thrown in a three-foot by six-foot "grave" and was brutally beaten with shredded electrical cables. His beatings were so severe that he became suicidal, claiming that death would be better than what he was made to endure. Mr. Arar noted that the Syrian interrogators asked the exact same questions… -
Mr. Mom Returns to the Kitchen
2 Nov 2009 | 11:29 pmBackground Last Saturday, Allah subhaanahu wa ta'aala blessed our family with our latest addition to the family, our daughter Taymiyyah. I'm home this week to help my wife with her chores while she adapts and recovers and among the duties I've shouldered is cooking. Flipping through my healthy eating books, I found this amazing recipe for chili. I made it yesterday, and it came out really well, so for anyone that wants to make 10 servings of chili and not cook again for 3 - 4 days, try the recipe below. Required Tools Extremely huge pot, or two large pots. Knife for chopping veggies… -
Aafia Siddiqui’s story… Farfetched? Not according to a declassified DoD Inspector General’s report
2 Nov 2009 | 12:23 amShareLink to Full Coverage of Dr. Aafia’s Ordeal “Why do they hate us?” This simple, yet loaded five word question has literally outperformed the thousands of answers that have been put forth. This is because comprehensive responses are rarely as powerful as a simple question. Aafia Siddiqui’s case suffers from the very same dynamic; it is complex, it is detailed and it raises disturbing issues that reach far and wide. Consider the following claims against the U.S. and allied/contracted forces: 1) Abduction of a mother and her three children with the children used for… -
Sunday Open Thread 11-1-2009 | And now for something completely different…
31 Oct 2009 | 10:10 pmBismillah-irRahman-irRaheem. As salamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allahi wa Barakatuhu. posted by abu abdAllah Tariq Ahmed Inspired by a response to last week's open thread, I've spent some time checking out the world as reported by Al Jazeera English. So this week, less of the New York Times, and more about events in the Muslim world. What do you think of that? From Gawking: Click here to view the embedded video. ...To a revealing look at a Hawk: Click here to view the embedded video. ...To a better look at events at Al Aqsa than any US news source provided: Click here to view the embedded video.
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Talk Islam
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Saudiwoman blogs about the issue of runa…
6 Nov 2009 | 9:07 pmSaudiwoman blogs about the issue of runaway girls and women in Saudi Arabia, but she starts with this description of life in ultra-conservative Saudi families. Ultra-conservative Saudi families, and they are a majority, have a general dynamic that few Saudis could deny. Like old-fashioned western family ideologies, the father is the breadwinner, the mother takes care of the home-front, the sons are served and tolerated and the daughters are the bit of fluff that flutters around the house. But unlike most other cultures, daughters also have to contend with constant supervision of their every… -
‘Black ribbon campaign: Saudi women lau…
6 Nov 2009 | 8:23 pm‘Black ribbon’ campaign: Saudi women launch domestic and international campaign to end the kingdom’s male guardianship laws. A group of Saudi women have launched an international campaign against the kingdom’s male guardianship law, on the anniversary of a prominent protest, in which dozens of Saudi women publicly drove their cars through the country’s capital. The campaign calls on supporters all over the world to tie a black ribbon around their wrist signifying a call for Saudi women to be given equal rights to men and an end to the male guardianship system, in… -
Media Matters has put together a concent…
6 Nov 2009 | 5:20 pmMedia Matters has put together a concentrated mass of garbage in the form of a roundup article of right-wing media efforts to demonize Muslims over the last 24 hours. It appears that ‘political correctness’, ie, the effort on the part of well-intentioned Americans to be fair and just and not ascribe collective guilt, is as much a target as Muslims. a -
Fox pundits muse about ‘special screenin…
6 Nov 2009 | 5:14 pmFox pundits muse about ‘special screenings’ and ‘special debriefings’ for Muslims in the military. On Fox and Friends, host Geraldo Rivera, after offering an homage to Muslims who have served honorably in the military, suggested that “special debriefings” and “special screenings” of Muslim soldiers should be considered. “If I’m going to be sticking in an outpost, I got to know the guy next to me is not going to want to kill me,” said Brian Kilmeade. Gretchen Carlson pondered whether the military had been “exercising political correctness in not approaching” Hasan… -
Who asked what role religion played?
6 Nov 2009 | 4:59 pmSerial Killer - Christian Did anyone ask what role religion played in this man’s murder spree? Dennis Rader bound, tortured and killed his victims while pleasuring himself sexually. He worked closely with police forces, wore a badge, cited citizens for compliance issues with pets, etc., he was a scout master with the boy scouts and was president of his Church congregation where he attended weekly. He was actually captured on evidence found on his church’s computer. Did anyone ask how his Christian beliefs played into his crimes? None that I can remember. Muslims owe the same…
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Inside Islam
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Updating Mosques?
4 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pmAmong the most prominent symbols of Islam is the mosque. The dome and the minaret instantly come to mind when someone thinks of the Muslim place of worship. The designs that dominate the Islamic world tend to stem from Arabesque styles from the early periods of Islam. However, there have been calls to modernize mosque [...] -
Interview with Francis Bradley
3 Nov 2009 | 11:24 amThe first understanding of Islam beyond stereotypes for many non-Muslims starts with a Muslim friend. That’s the case with Francis Bradley, a PhD candidate in the Department of History at UW-Madison. The personal connection with a friend from Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population in the world, not only introduced him to Muslim culture, [...] -
Islam: A Message of Tolerance
2 Nov 2009 | 9:44 amWith all the recent news of bombings and violence in parts of the Muslim world — Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Pakistan — I felt compelled to write a response to the violence. Like anyone else, when I hear that someone has been killed, especially in a context of war and terrorism, I am deeply saddened [...] -
Banning the Face Veil
27 Oct 2009 | 5:00 amThis past month, Sheikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, shocked many by issuing a ban on students and teachers wearing the niqab, or face veil, in Al-Azhar University or its adjoining schools, specifically in all female settings. Tantawi’s decision to issue this ban stemmed from an interaction that he had with a [...] -
Interview with Arabic Students
26 Oct 2009 | 5:07 amDespite the fact that the vast majority of Muslims do not live in Arabic-speaking countries, Arabic is still the language of Islam. As images of the prophet Muhammad are forbidden, Islam relies heavily on language to pass down ideas and stories from generation to generation. Language is, of course, open to multiple interpretations, mistranslations, [...]
