Muslim

Government failure to restore sacked judges prompts lawyers to plan new agitation.

Thousands flee amid reports that lake in Sichuan province could burst its banks.

Opposition leader Tsvangirai delays planned return to country over threat to life.

Clashes occur as US officials disclose plan to build "big new prison" in the country.

Feuding political leaders agree to examine electoral law as part of wider dialogue.

For Bloggers Unite for Human Rights Day, we decided to give a little spin on the event. Here is our perspective on what we can do to be aware about Human Rights. There is no doubt that we need to be concerned about others who are suffering and who are less fortunate than us. We should [...]

We recently distributed the latest Barakah Life newsletter and announced that Barakah Life has a Twitter account: http://www.twitter.com/barakahlife We wanted to give Barakah Life a new Web 2.0 presence. As the administrators of the account, we will be posting updates, links and info surrounding the goodness of Barakah Life. Here is a screen capture of the latest [...]

I have been invited to speak on Falah TV tonight. The channel executive producer asked me to discuss my conversion to Islam and my path since then. The program starts at 7pm PST. Here is some info about Falah TV: Falah TV’s English program is dedicated to preserving and disseminating traditional Islam to the worldwide [...]

Confirmed speakers: Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Imam Zaid Shakir and Imam Tahir Anwar, Sister Rabia Khedr Sunday, May 11, 2008 (Mother’s Day) in Fremont, California. Special tribute to Sidi Abdul Sattar Rydhan. Organizers: Zaytuna Institute & Rumi Bookstore & SBIA Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=17092165855&ref=mf The organizers are looking for donations. Sponsorship packages are also available ($1000 - full reserved [...]

After scanning the list of who’s who at the recent Web 2.0 2008 Expo, we noticed a couple of intriguing names. After a short Facebook research blitz and some Googling, we contacted Ahmed at over at Octopz to ask for an interview. He graciously agreed, check it out!   IslamCrunch: What is your web application/service about? Octopz: Octopz [...]

More than 200 million children worldwide under age 5 do not get basic health care, leading to nearly 10...

The principle of Tawhid (Monotheism) reserves the authority to determine and dictate in matters pertaining to the world or...

Because the capitalistic system was filled with the spirit of materialism, morality was removed from the picture. It was...

While Israel celebrates 60 years since its establishment, Palestinians everywhere commemorate the "Nakba"("Catastrophe" in Arabic) that befell them after...

The city of Parachinar in the FATA province of Pakistan has witnessed continuous rounds of violence as pro-Taliban groups...

There's no way these poor Muslims can represent themselves, so others must speak up for them - and there are a lot who want to

Just as Benazir Bhutto's son is stepping into her role as party leader, I am following the path my father once took: to Sheffield

There is a general assumption that Muslims are reluctant to laugh at themselves. This is sad, but all is not lost.

It's dangerous to try to adapt the Qur'an to one ideology or another. When that happens, its message gets distorted, as in the case of apostasy

Place the most pacific and decent holy text in the hands of a depressed and angry person, and he will find justification in it to commit the most criminal and bloody outrages. The Christian right has as many examples of...

This passage deals with the power of the creator and with life after death. With such complex issues at stake, it's bound to be puzzling

The Qur'an can seem, at times, frighteningly opaque. Does the ability to appreciate some verses' power depend on the context in which they are read and heard?

Calligraphy by Nassar Mansour, "Kun" (Be and you will be). Jordan/UK, 2006. Supplied by the British Museum...

Wearing Bhutto as a last name in Pakistan is analogous to carrying a flamboyant, rare, elitist Prada bag: an accessory that assures you will never be common nor anonymous. The Bhutto merchandise captivates the political landscape as a dynamic, privileged, legendary and plagued real estate that encapsulates all that is wildly schizophrenic, volatile but ultimately endearing about Pakistan. It’s precisely this mythology borne from a feudal dynasty that burdens Fatima Bhutto, the charismatic and outspoken niece of recently assassinated Benazir Bhutto, and daughter of Murtaza Bhutto, himself…

On Monday, the 14th of April, I moderated a dialogue at the University of Delaware, with an Imam and Rabbi. The speakers at the event were Rabbi David Kalender, a senior Rabbi from the congregation Olam Tikvah in Fairfax, Virginia and Imam Muhammad Magid, the Imam of ADAMS Center in Northern Virginia and the Vice President of the Islamic Society of North America. It was enriching and frighteningly frank at the same time. The principal participants later confided to me that this was one of the more enlightening and candid dialogues they had engaged ever participated in.

Last week, I participated in the Doha Debates, on the motion "The Sunni-Shia conflict is damaging Islam’s reputation as a religion of peace." It was a timely topic; and a very time-sensitive topic, because it is a question that can only be asked now. Not because the Sunni-Shia divide is a new phenomenon: it is an old, historical schism that emerged as a political division, which then became religious. But it is now that the political has really caused it to be so monumental. I admit that, but I spoke against the motion in Doha, because the damage to Islam’s reputation is more about the…

Since September 11, 2001, the war against terrorism has been waged on two fronts - a military one in Iraq and Afghanistan (look, more terrorists!), and a semantic one between governments, extremists, mainstream Muslims, and the media. The use of language on all sides simultaneously confuses, enlightens, and motivates foot soldiers in the battle. Control of the use of language - particularly the definitions that stick - can either be the key to influencing scores of people or an inconsequential exercise in vanity. In this "war on terror," it seems that people are as fixated with the…

Eighteen teenagers jot down on colorful Post-It notes their one-word impressions of the eight religions listed on the poster boards in front of them. Some show no reservations as they work their way quickly down the list, while others hesitate to put down their thoughts for fear of appearing intolerant or ignorant. Is this a Bible study class? No, it's just another monthly meeting of the Arizona Interfaith Youth Movement - a safe, inclusive gathering to which youths of all faiths are encouraged to come together in dialogue, games, and of course, food. "What if I've never heard of this…

So, what in the world is Salman Rushdie doing in Scarlett Johansson's video Falling Down?I don't mean what is he actually doing.It's obvious that he's nuzzling her neck and whispering sweet nothings in her ear, but why is he in the video in the first place?Probably because Scarlett wants to show us that she's an intellectual.Falling Down is actually a cover of a song by Tom Waits.Covering Tom Waits! Now that is just so Hip!Okay, I believe you Scarlett, you are smart and hip!I love Tom Waits!My all time favourite Tom Waits song is I Don't Want to Grow Up.In the video, we get to see Scarlett in…

[This review contains spoilers. Read at your own risk]The Road to Guantanamo + Superbad= Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo BayBut I should explain....I have been waiting for the sequel to "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" (also known as "Harold and Kumar get the Munchies") since I saw the first film back in 2004. The film's working title was simply "Harold and Kumar go to Amsterdam". The creators, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossenburg, wanted the Guantanamo element to be a suprise for everyone.It sure was.Synopsis: "Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay" follows the…

I am recommending the following book for anyone who is interested in Bangladesh, ethno-linguistic nationalism, and Islamic nationalism in post-partition South Asia and the broader Muslim world.Reading the book I was struck by how many links I could make between the Bengali Muslim experience and the identity conflicts currently facing other Muslim communities with a strong sense of ethnic heritage and identity from Kurds to African American Muslims. Must the Ummah be the Borg ? "We are the Ummah. Resistence in Futile!" Sorry for the Star Trek reference but I was raised a Trekkie.This book is…

For Muslim girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enoughBy The Funky Ghetto HijabiThe title of this post is a tribute to the play/poem by African-American feminist writer Ntozake Shange entitled “For colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enough.”The following are a series of reflections on the subjects of depression, suicide, and despair.I was moved to write these reflections because of today’s news that the body of Nadia Kajouji has been found in the Rideau River here in Ottawa. Since March 9th when she disappeared from the campus of Carleton…

Last year, I had a chance to see the film The Imam and the Pastor about Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye, two Nigerians, one Muslim, one Christian, who have been able to put aside their differences and come together to fight communal violence in Northern Nigeria. This film really gives me hope. It is also a great example of what real interreligious dialogue, with a vision towards reconciliation, can achieve. It was also just great seeing a documentary about Nigeria, this place I long to see, where my father lives, but which I have yet to journey to.According to Imam…

My (earnest, irate) thoughts. Very enjoyable, has been added to blogroll (well… I’m about to go do it now inshallah). AcademcHack. I’ve known about this for a while, but now am really starting to get into it. Abu Yasmin and I have offloaded the offspring (heh) to Grandma this weekend, and we’re enjoying a lazy day doing [...]

My very first vidcast. This week I talk about approaching the holy Qur’an for new Muslims or people generally interested in gaining a better understanding of Islam through reading a translation of the Islamic scripture.Re-publishing this RSS feed in full is not allowed. Published by Umm Yasmin at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/dervish

Years ago I stumbled across Darren Rowse’s Living Room blog, about his experiences as pastor of an Emerging Church in Melbourne. A couple of years previously I had experimented with being an online diarist (we turned up our noses at weblogs, which were merely collections of links and web flotsam and jetsam). When I saw [...]

Episode 2 of Salam Cafe is online. I am a bit cross at Naz’s Uncle Sam. I got an asthma attack from laughing so hard. This week’s guest Rhys Muldoon was really good too, although it is a bit strange seeing Play School people being normal adults. Anyway, well done to all involved - the show [...]

Jack Fairweather from Islam’s Advance (Washington Post) has a post up on the use of internet technology (in this case Facebook) to encourage grass-roots activism in Egypt. Like Iran, Saudi and elsewhere, Egyptian authorities appear to be alarmed at the masses’ ability to use the internet and go ‘off message’. For those of us who [...]

Sssh! It’s the silent majority There’s no way these poor Muslims can represent themselves, so others must speak up for them - and there are a lot who want to My latest post is up on the Guardian commentisfree page.

I write about silly things.It is easier.It is less painful.It is because I am a middle class man with a huge dose of luck and the duas of good people.I could and have done a lot of things, but I choose on the whole to write about silly things. I could have sharpened up my ideas, my vocabulary and references and become a serious academic.I could have researched and dugg and investigated and queried, and become a full journalist.I could have delved deep into my soul and become a poet or a prose writer whose imagination touched on the eternal human condition.But I have done none of these, and in…

MinaretMuse has a post on someone called ‘Hussain Builder’ in Birmingham offering ‘Felshing for Information’ as a service. http://minaretmuse.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/the-art-of-felshing-and-scating/

The recent spot of sunny weather has brought out the barbecues.  The sight of unclejis wielding sacks of charcoal and lighting fluid will be spotted across the suburbs. Please folk, be safe, a cousin was injured severely in a barbecue accident. Anyway, Mrs Moo (and some other people) sent this to me via email. —————————- We are finally coming to BBQ season. Therefore, it is important to refresh your memory on the etiquette of this outdoor cooking ritual, as it’s the only type of cooking a real man will do, probably because there is…

One of the benefits of growing up in central Leicester was the local park. Luckily, the mosque overlooked the park, though not enough for us parkdwelling children to be visible to the folk in the mosque. The fact that both were in the same direction from home meant that most children would end up in the park after mosque, or even during the times when they should have been in the mosque. One Saturday afternoon, we were playing seven stones with our characteristic viciousness, when we heard the adhan. It was a surprise. You see, the chap who regularly recited the adhan had a very very…

I’ve been promoted. It has proved to the outside world that Muslim women can be successful in the business world. That a man will be impressed with a women’s work who wears the hijab- that piece of cloth does not hinder her from using her brains. I can be a role model at home and outside. Those who think [...]

One particular April evening had witnessed the heavens surrender its tear drops which rained on my lazy town all evening. I was in the warm, cosy kitchen, listening to the rain fall hard against the windows when suddenly I heard the door bell ring. A family member answered it and I was soon occupied with [...]

Do I really look like an ATM machine? I always wonder to myself when these certain, specific situations come out of the blue. When out and about, the strangest men will approach me and ask for money, “Assalamu Alaykum” they will start, trying to come close, which is the point where I turn right around [...]

Ninjabi seems to be a peculiarly American Muslim term which means a hijabi who looks like a ninja. Here is picture of a Chinese Muslim sister who looks like a ninjabi from Flickr that someone set me.

Paper money was first invented in China in the 13th century and soon made its way to Islamic world. In both of these places it did not survive for long. Paper money was first introduced in the Islamic world by the Mongol ruler Gaykhatu of the Il-Khan dynasty who ruled the present day Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. However the experiment did not succeed. In China paper money was used for much longer but its used died out until it was reintroduced by the Western world. Interestingly the paper money issued in the Islamic lands had both Arabic and Chinese text. Here is a relevant excerpt from…

Brandonzin, a blogger from Hong Kong has a post about ethnic minorities in China and he also discusses Muslims in China, here is a relevant excerpt. Muslims can be seen almost everywhere in Dongguan and Shenzhen, the southern part of Guangdong province, which are the cities I mostly frequented. Most of them operate restaurants, noodle shops or stalls. They appear to get along with the rest of the Han people very well. They do not seem to feel alienated as most of the residents there are from other provinces or other cities of Guangdong. The Chinese Muslims in the area speak Mandarin or…

Anak Alam, a Muslim blogger has a small but fascinating description and pictures of a predominantly Chinese Muslim village in the Yunnan province. Check it out here.

Here is translation from an inscription at Ashab Mosque also known as the Huaisheng (devoted to the Prophet”, or else “devoted to the sage” ) Mosque.  (Source: China Heritage Quaterly). This was the first mosque of the people of this land. This auspicious mosque is named the Mosque of The Ancient and The Old, is called the Mosque of the Congregation and the Street, and is titled the Mosque of the Companions. It was built in the year 400 AH (Song dynasty; 1009CE). Three centuries later, Ahmad bin Muhammad Quds, the renowned Hajji, the “Foundation”, of Shiraz,…

Salam/Peace:ISLAMABAD (AFP) — Pakistan decided to send two plane loads of emergency aid to Myanmar for survivors of last week's cyclone, the foreign office said.The relief includes tents, mosquito nets and medicines, it said in a statement."The aircraft are expected to leave on Sunday," the statement said, without giving further details.Read the whole article at:http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hKxAPSbgh6WFsHwO3WQlkMzgoufQ

Salam/Peace:BANTUL, Indonesia: Sitting cross-legged in the dirt beneath a canopy of jungle vegetation, Nasruddin Anshory, with his Koran open in front of him, was telling a group of visitors about their ordained responsibility to protect the environment."As a Muslim," he said, "you have to do something."His visitors were a mix of people from universities and mosques all over the island of Java, seeking to broaden their understanding of Islam. Off to the side were several students from Gajah Mada University nearby, eagerly taking notes in preparation for their dissertations, all of which will…

Salam/Peace:Becoming a college professor is a difficult feat, one that can take a long time to reach, often many years after the candidate begins serving as an adjunct or associate professor.For Alia Sabur, her quest has been reached at a tender young age, 19, giving her the distinction as being the youngest person to ever be awarded a full professorship. Hailing from Long Island, NY, Professor Sabur was hired by Konkuk University in Seoul, South Korea this past February, just three days before her 19th birthday.No, Sabur wasn’t your average student and she certainly will not be your…

Salam/Peace:VIENNA, April 18: The Austrian capital has named one of its squares as Muhammad Asad Platz as part of its two-day programme on European Year of Intercultural Dialogue focussing on Islam and its relationship with Europe.The programme commemorated the life and work of Mr Asad, described as a great Austrian visionary, who earned international recognition by building bridges between the religions.Mr Asad, born Leopold Weiss, was a Jew who converted to Islam and translated the Holy Quran into English, says a media release of the organisers.Read the whole article…

Salam/Peace:Vatican City, Mar 5, 2008 / 02:01 am (CNA).- A delegation of Muslim leaders met with Vatican officials on Thursday to organize a summit for interfaith dialogue later this year, ANSA reports.Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran, head of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, is hosting the two-day organizing conference with a delegation of Muslims from the UK, Jordan, Italy, and Turkey representing a larger group of high-profile Sunni and Shiite leaders from around the globe.The meeting is the result of an open letter 138 Islamic leaders sent last October to Pope Benedict XVI…

Please go to The Muslimah to read Umm Layth’s impassioned request for submissions and readers for the next Muslimahs Speak Up! Blog Carnival. We would like to make this a regularly scheduled Carnival, dedicated to highlighting the voices of practicing Muslim women, writing about the things that matter to practicing Muslim women. If you have never read a Muslimahs Speak Up! Blog Carnival, this is a great opportunity for you to broaden your horizons and challenge your perceptions! Please pass this on!

Thanks alot Rahma… 1. Last movie you saw in a theater? Seriously… I don’t know. It might have been The Chronicles of Narnia… or maybe it was Kung Fu Hustle. I can’t remember which came out last. And yeah, it’s been that long.  ETA: Oh, wait, was Charlie & The Chocolate Factory after those? 2. What book are you reading? See here 3. Favorite board game? Scrabble 4. Favorite magazine? Shambala Sun 5. Favorite smells? Sigh… my husband when he comes home from working in the mechanic shop… oh, wait, that doesn’t happen anymore. Um, I guess…

Hadith Qudsi #30

I’m going to start out just by posting a few of the touching posts from yesterday’s Blog About Palestine Day. I know there were probably many many wonderful posts from bloggers all around the world but obviously I haven’t been able to read the vast majority, so I’m just going to post links to a few in particular that made me cry and reflect. Via SunniSister - Existence Via The Muslimah, Via Abul Layth @ Seeking Ilm - Dementia… Stops Her Not From Dhikr Via Southern Muslimah - Diaspora Climbing Walls by alajnabiya - Just go read the last several posts NEW - Mr Moo…

In every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decision on the next 7 generations. Great Law of the Han de Mo San Nee (Iroquois Nation)

Engaging students at the Research Center for Leadership in Action, Wagner School of Public Service, New York University This week, I’ll be giving the convocation address to the graduating class at NYU’s School of Public Service. The speech is almost written. Almost. I’ve got room for a few more lines — and I’m inviting you to provide them. What do you think is vital for young human rights activists, aid workers, eco-warriors and other social entrepreneurs to know? If you could grab them by the shoulders, stare into their blood-shot eyes and mess with their heads,…

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/weekinreview/27gewen.html?_r=2&em&ex=1209355200&en=1ba36b9c80b909f7&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&uStory_id=d574fd8c-a263-47cd-90e0-7b2195cf078e

Click to listen: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Mum in the middle, flanked by my sister and me Everywhere I go these days, one of the first questions people ask is, “How’s your mother?” Already, on this Mother’s Day, I’ve received a number of emails from perfect strangers wanting me to convey their “salaams,” “greetings,” and “duas” (prayers) to my mum. Why do they care? Because my mum is the undisputed star of Faith Without Fear. The film is being widely watched, and a lot of viewers have fallen in love with her. I can’t blame them. In the movie, mum is dynamic,…

I don’t know about you, but I find cultural ignorance very funny. That’s because I think the best way to stamp out racism is to laugh at it, in order to make ignorant people feel highly embarrassed about their total stupidity. Ok, so it’s doubtful that in most places in England, you’ll find the KKK overt brand of racism, (unless it’s in the local BNP clubhouse, not that I’ve ever been of course), but the foul stench of accidental racism still lingers in various corners of the UK. True, everyone can always serve to learn a little more about other cultures,…

Ok, so when I heard that Boris Johnson (”Bojo” as he’s fondly known by his Tory chums) was elected London mayor, let’s just say I was less than pleased. Of course, not officially being a London resident, it’s not like I had a vote anyway, so there really wasn’t much I could do about it. What this local election does succinctly demonstrate, however, is what can happen when voters are faced with a lack of choice. Frustrated with Brown’s lack of leadership and the abolition of the 10p tax rate, traditional Labourites revolted en masse, leading to the…

Yes, it’s true, Muslim.Alltop.com is the latest category to be added to Guy Kawasaki’s Alltop. Featuring approximately 150-160 Islamic news sites and general bloggery written by Muslims, the site aptly demonstrates that Muslims are a diverse bunch, with a wide spectrum of of views and opinions. In the same vein as the Gallup world polls, it’s the ideal place to go if you find out for yourself what Muslims really think. Incidentally, Alltop also has a new feature where blogs can be removed according to personal preference, adding an extra layer of customisation. It now has…

I started this blog for a multitude of reasons, but mostly as a means to express some of my thoughts and opinions on current affairs. It has been an enjoyable (albeit time-consuming!) process, and sharing opinions in public means that you’re forced to analyse why you believe certain things. This is something I’ve been thinking a lot about recently. I just finished reading Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, a deeply engaging and thought-provoking book, which is a powerful and openly challenging criticism of socialism. I think that regardless of one’s beliefs about…

The blogosphere is rife with discussion of the release of Geert Wilder’s (boring) new film ‘Fitna.’ The less said about this film, the better, but luckily, on the evolution blog, I like to offer an alternative point of view, and cover issues that don’t always receive the press attention that they should do. So excuse me, whilst I skip right past the tedious topic of yet another deliberately offensive propaganda piece and move onto a topic that is rather more factual and statistical in nature. I briefly mentioned the Gallup World Polls in a previous post, but I think it would be…

Salaam ‘Alaikum These people just can’t get Debbie Almontaster out of their system, can they? Ex-principal accused of defamation Sort of ironic, isn’t it? But God Knows. God Knows.

Salaam ‘Alaikum Ask yourself, right now, “What am I doing to make the world a better place? What am I doing to improve the Muslim community?” Ask yourself right now. Can you list five things you’re doing? Three? One? Quantity is not as important as quality. What is something that you can do to make the world, and our Muslim community a better place? Without knocking the important part that upper / middle class first and second generation professionals play in our community — the people that all those studies about American Muslims tout — what are you doing…

Salaam ‘Alaikum The Catastrophe (\kə-ˈtas-trə-(ˌ)fē\ ) Function: Noun used to define a disastrous moment in the history of a people Etymology: Greek katastrophē, from katastrephein, kata + strephein, to turn downwards. Date: 1948 1: the final event of a drama, especially a tragedy 2: a momentous tragic event ranging from extreme misfortune to utter overthrow or ruin (In 1948…) (… and again 55 years later… this could be her granddaughter…) 3: a violent and sudden change in a feature of the earth In 1948, the triumph of one group became the catastrophe of a…

Salaam ‘Alaikum News… some of it tragic, some of it stupid. ‘No Hope’ For Children Buried in Rubble As you know, an estimated 10,000 people died in yesterday’s 7.9 earthquake in central China. Among them are children who were in school at the time. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. The area, much of which is already underdeveloped, is a disaster zone, with rescuers unable to reach people by vehicle… in some places, they have been walking in to villages and towns one man at a time, single file, on foot. This on the heels of the Myanmar…

Salaam ‘Alaikum The link above that says “Archyves” is supposed to take you to a monthly listing of my posts (whee!). However, the page is empty. Does anyone know what I need to put there? Do I put it on the page itself, or do I do something with the “archives” php? Thanks.

Urdu is considered more suitable for expressing love. After all, the Urdu poets for centuries have been writing about 'ishq' and 'mohabbat'. The Urdu newspapers have a slightly different character and the reports about elopements are published quite prominently.Headlines like 'Ishq mein giraftaar, aashnaa ke saath faraar' (Girl in love, runs away with youth). Though such news items are read with great interest by readers in Hindi and other regional languages also, the Urdu vocabulary makes it a bit more eye-catching and often humrous.Recently, I read a comprehensive report of a love affair…

The Chinese Turkestan is a region that has a predominant Muslim population for centuries, but not much was known about Muslims in this region and other parts of China till recently.With the Communist country, at last, opening its doors to outsiders and journalists rushing to Tibet and Xinjiang, new facets of Chinese life are emerging.The photographs of the streets of the Western region of Xinjiang surprised me. Like the picture on the left (above) that shows Arabic alphabets.The signboards were readable and the script was Arabic and similar to Urdu. Such signboards are common in this region…

Not many high-profile offenders have to pay for their misdeeds in this country, as they mostly manage to get away due to their connections and money. Else, the victim doesn't have the resources to fight the case court after court, hiring the best lawyers.But there are exceptions. Remember DIG DG Vanzara, an accused in the Sohrabuddin-Kausar Bi-Tulsiram Prajapati fake encounter case. The 'killer cop' who came from a poor background, was helped in his education by Muslims of his native village and had later became a pointsman for the rioters during the Gujarat carnage, is certainly paying for…

Once again Lucknow witnessed a Shia-Sunni clash on Tuesday. Though over a dozen persons were injured, the violence didn't spread and was effectively controlled.It was the same area of Walled City: Husainabad, that again witnessed the groups of Shia and Sunni youths indulging in stone pelting and rioting.The trouble started over a petty argument over rickshaw fare and as those quarrelling belonged to different sects, it led to tension and soon supporters of both the sides came to streets.Though Lucknow has a long history of such sectarian conflict, it was felt that old days of Shia-Sunni…

You just need to read the following instances to get an idea how an entire community is maligned by the State and its machinery through smart media manipulation:1. Madhya Pradesh police claimed that terrorist camps were organised near Choral in Malwa region. All national papers and electronic channels, as usual, accepted the claims. Local Hindi newspaper 'Prabhat Kiran' (and later other papers too) in Indore exposed the claims and told the real story that there was no camp ever held.The policemen had organised a 'live raid' and arms had been hidden by policemen themselves earlier, in order to…

Koffler at Jewcy: Dr. Ron Paul earned the nickname “Dr. No” by voting against any and all federal appropriations that came before the House of Representatives, but it seems that Paul is equally adamantly opposed to purely symbolic governmental interventions. Nick Curran of Radar reports that Paul was the only member of the House to vote against a resolution sending condolences to the Burmese victims of Cyclone Nargis. Which is literally the least the US government could possibly do, but too much for Paul. Ha, the Radar headline is hilarious: Ron Paul Against Unconditional Myanamar…

Obviously murder is prohibited in the Quran, however, in thinking whether honor killings are more explicitly condemned, I thought verse 6:140 was interesting. Asad translation: (140) Lost, indeed, are they who, in their weak-minded ignorance, slay their children and declare as forbidden that which God has provided for them as sustenance, falsely ascribing [such prohibitions] to God: they have gone astray and have not found the right path. This verse doesn’t specify an explicit punishment though. I imagine that’s because the prohibition for slaying children is subsumed into the…

Back in January, 2008, the PPP’s spokeswoman in Pakistan had said that a Qazi court system, an extreme form of tribal Sharia, in parts of NWFP, was “completely unacceptable.” Breaking their promises, the PPP backed ANP Party of Pakistan’s North Western Frontier Province, aiming to appease the militants, have allowed for the Qazi court system to come into force in the Malakand part of NWFP. PESHAWAR: The NWFP government and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Swat agreed on Tuesday to the implementation of Shari Nizam-e-Adl Regulations 1999 in Malakand division within one month. The…

I just received this via email. Greetings from a self-hating-Jewish, right-wing, Nazi, socialist, greenie, Zionist, Ashkenazi, Bolshevik, pro-Palestinian, Islamo-phobic, misogynistic old curmudgeon. Can’t you Muslims get anything right on your own? You stole the concept of “Muslamism” from us Jews. Actually almost every great man was either secretly Jewish, had Jewish advisers or stole his ideas from a Jew. Even Al Capone relied on a Jewish adviser, Jack Guzik. Furthermore, as everyone with even half a brain knows, Napoleon was a Jew Quote (out of context) from the New York…

Give up! 2:57 p.m., Yeager Airport, Charleston, W.Va.: A steep descent brings Clinton’s plane to Charleston’s hilltop airport. After an appropriate wait, she steps from the plane and pretends to wave to a crowd of supporters; in fact, she is waving to 10 photographers underneath the airplane’s wing. She pretends to spot an old friend in the crowd, points and gives another wave; in fact, she is waving at an aide she had been talking with on the plane minutes earlier.

Now you can Arabize your iphone.

The activist and founder of strike 6th of April group on Facebook has been abducted yesterday and forced to leave the car when he was going to work at “New Cairo”.

I just moved to My Life Thinking, Yes .. I moved from here! You will find all information you want to read about on the new address. Click to read “IPhone in Egypt officially via Vodafone” article on my new website

I just moved to My Life Thinking, Yes .. I moved from here! You will find all information you want to read about on the new address.

I just moved to My Life Thinking, Yes .. I moved from here! You will find all information you want to read about on the new address.

Well I have been feeing sick for the last week... I even missed work for 3 days but thank God I am feeling better today. So usually when I am at home, either sick or borded, I end up watching too many things on youtube. I did however enjoy the few videos I saw. Here is a summary (and links) of what I watchedConverted by a four year old child - Mashallah such a wonderful story of how a 4 yr old child started to question her nanny and how she came to realize about Islam75 Yr. old American revert Part 2Great interview with an american woman who came to Islam late in lifeAs you can see, I like to…

I’ll start with how I got roped into this situation, rather my dear husband and I.My husband’s friend mentioned to him that he was going to listen to a ‘concert’ consisting of some religious songs, words,poetry, etc.Hubby dear asked if I was interested, I said ok why not?I had totally assumed that it was going to be some kind of nasheed or recitations or at the very least Islamic poetry. (Must say that hubby’s friend is not religious, he’s more ‘spiritual’ but still within the general realm of Islam (kind of – anyway will make sense later on) So, we go inside and take our…

Muslim call to adopt Mecca time Interesting article - anyone have any thoughts on it?**Edited to include my thoughts **When I first glanced at the title I was intrigued by it....thinking hmm maybe this is about achieving some unity in the Muslim community( trying to unify Eid's so that we all start them at the same time,or at least not have such heated debates about it ) but as I opened the article and started to read it, I found sadly that that was not what it was about. Nope, it is about GMT or should it be MMT (Mecca Mean Time - sorry couldn't help it)I mean really, is this the only…

Once again I was inspired by the HijabStyle bloghope you don't mind me posting some fashions as well !! I got all excited by the new dresses and shirts they had at Old Navy - check them out and create your own fashions too ...lolI think I may really go out and get the first outfit!! (who am I kidding I would probably go out and get them all!! )

It has been way too long since I have written anything of substance, meaning poetry or short stories. Before I started working, I used to stay up late at night and just write and write until my hands hurt. I remember putting together my own poetry booklet and felt a great sense of accomplishment that I had been able to write that many. I thank God that he has given me a way to express my feelings and thoughts, if not for anyone else but myself... but perhaps I will share a few of them. This one was written 2 years ago, I really think it was my 'last' poem - yes I have not written for that…

While the Abu Mu’attaq family in the northern town of Beit Hanoun was having breakfast, Israeli tanks shelled their house. The mother, Khadra Abu Mu’attaq, and her children, 8 year -old Ahmed, three-year-old Hana, four-year-old Salih, six-year-old Rudayna, in addition to 17-year-old Ayyoub Atalla, who was on his way to school, died on the spot.   This [...]

Alert: Denmark Lost With your Efforts Great news   Hope you all know about the Denmark newspaper who made fun upon our beloved Prophet and till now they never regret… let us make them  regret for all time…   The Denmark ambassador, prime minister and Denmark channel they all  try to do something just to stop the boycott made by Muslims last  month, [...]

In His name, the Most High Requesting Articles regarding saving the Iraqi Nation   Iraq, which is one of the most important Islamic countries in the Middle East is going through important political and military changes. The most effective role in these changes is played by the American occupying forces. America wants to steal Iraq’s natural resources, create safety [...]

  Words wreak havoc when they find a name for what had up to then been lived namelessly” – Jean Paul Sartre Over the past several months of 2008, Israel advocacy organizations have entered a period of ongoing mobilization in an effort to decisively counter what they see as the growing influence and impact of the [...]

  The martyrdom of Imam Husayn ibn ‘Ali (’a) and his companions in Karbala’ proved to be the beginning of the downfall of the Banu Umayyah dynasty which had usurped the Islamic khilafah by deceit, repression, and corruption of the Muslim community. Though the Imam (’a) was martyred with his family and companions, and apparently his [...]

Category: Quran Size: 70.45 MB Status: 1 seeders and no leecher Added: 2008-05-16 00:29:35

Category: Lectures Size: 169.01 MB Status: 2 seeders and 1 leechers Added: 2008-05-11 19:37:18

Category: Lectures Size: 116.15 MB Status: 1 seeders and no leecher Added: 2008-05-09 20:25:53

Category: e-Books / Docs Size: 309.83 MB Status: 1 seeders and 11 leechers Added: 2008-05-09 20:19:32

Category: e-Books / Docs Size: 1.35 MB Status: 5 seeders and 2 leechers Added: 2008-05-09 20:18:27

There is a lot of talk about willpower and determination in personal development literature, but what we need in order to change our lives is usually much simpler than what willpower seems to demand. Before we aim to strengthen our willpower, there is an important issue that we need to address. If we take a look at our lives, we will notice that we have developed a routine that we live by. We sleep, wake up, go to work, have lunch, go out, etc. at roughly the same time every day, or week. We are not happy with everything in our routine, and often complain that we do not have enough…

In my previous post on the Islamization of the law, I explained why the argument for Islamization is both misleading and meaningless. In this article, I would like to explain why Islamization is unIslamic. The Process Before I discuss the issue of Islamization thoroughly, we need to remember that Islamization is the process of installing Islamic law as the source of legislation. This means that Islamic law was not the law, and the case is made for its adoption by the country, not in 5 or 10 year’s time, but now. For the Islamists, it is not part of their vision to see Islamic law being…

One of the most meaningless and misleading agendas ever to make an appearance on the political stage is the call for the Islamization of the law. In this post, I wish to explain why this is the case, as well as explain the popularity of such a call in many Muslim countries. What is Islamization? In essence, Islamization is changing the source of a country’s civil law from a secular source to Islamic law (Sharia). Many Muslim countries regard Islamic law as one of the sources of legislation, whereas Islamization demands that it becomes the sole source of legislation. Islamization is the…

We are constantly exposed to new ideas that can expand our thinking and shed new light on the knowledge we possess. However, rather than understand these ideas for what they are, we often associate them with what we already know, and assume that they are identical. This limits our ability to acquire new knowledge and distorts the new information we come across. Natural Learning Although this is an obstacle we must overcome, it occurs very naturally that we are not even aware of it. In order for us to respond effectively to our experiences, we register the experience, as well as any views on…

In my article, The Axis of Politics, I explained how politics is often viewed from the axis of power, but that four other axes are implicitly taken into consideration when dealing with any political issue: authority, identity, rights and freedom. In this article I would like to look at how these axes come into play in politics. The Primary Axis Political outlooks usually demonstrate what axis one considers to be the most important of these axes. There is usually one or two axes that a political view focuses on, and the role of the other axes is either undermined or completely ignored.

Alert: Denmark Lost With your Efforts Great news Hope you all know about the Denmark newspaper who made fun upon our beloved Prophet and till now they never regret… let us make them regret for all time… The Denmark ambassador, prime minister and Denmark channel they all try to do something just to stop the boycott made by Muslims last month, by which their losses has reached to 2

Image source I want you to be one of the first people in the world to see a new film. It's called Stuff of Life (cert 15). It was specially commissioned by Amnesty and it launched online today. Watch it now Get angry Like our first film, Waiting for the Guards, it's short, sharp and sure to be controversial. But what's really shocking is the truth that it reveals: that the US administration

"In December of 1937, the Japanese Imperial Army marched into China's capital city of Nanking and proceeded to murder 300,000 out of 600,000 civilians and soldiers in the city. The six weeks of carnage would become known as the Rape of Nanking and represented the single worst atrocity during

Arms and the man Tony Blair caved in to the Saudis' demand to halt the BAE inquiry. Today's court ruling shows just how groundless his excuse was. Richard Norton-Taylor, The Guardian. The British government was desperate to sell a batch of Eurofighter/Typhoon warplanes to bolster its special relationship with Saudi Arabia - a relationship built on fantastically lucrative arms deals. To justify

Previously, we discussed Politics in the world before Islam - the dominance of the Roman and Persian Empires, and the lands of Arabia lost between them. This article focuses on the religious influences dominant in the world before the advent of the Last Prophet (saw) and the final revealed religion to mankind. By far the largest detriment to society in Rome, Iran and Arabia was the effect of

Munajat is a conversation between the lover and the Beloved. It is therefore no ordinary kind of conversation. It is a mutual conversation that entails secrecy and intimacy. Only those who are close to each other secretly whisper to one another. Our holy traditions introduce the canonical prayer as munajat. The Holy Prophet (s) is reported to have said: “O mankind surely when the worshipper (musalli) prays, he whispers (yunaaji) unto his Blessed and Almighty Lord; therefore he must know that with which he whispers.” Whispering to Allah is a phenomenon both encouraged as well as…

In different Muslim societies when the day of 'Ashura (10th Muharram) is commemorated, a substantial number of people are clad in black clothes, and as advised by the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt ('a), are overcome by sorrow. We are also told by Imam al-Sadiq ('a) to meet our people with the expression "May Allah magnify our reward due to our calamity because of what happened to Imam al-Husayn ('a)…" This however does in no way absolve us to greet or respond to the greeting of those who sincerely say "Salamun 'Alaikum". According to the strict Islamic Shari'a, whosoever among the Muslims greets…

One of the beautiful dictums narrated from Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), is "Irham turham" (have mercy and you shall get mercy). This informs us that if we are merciful to people, a time would come that people would be merciful to us. Other traditions also have similar demonstrations about this reality. However, most of us, due to our limited consciousness that is habituated to vision the action ('amal) and retribution (jazaa') as separate entities, always anticipate to see two different phenomena to understand this reality. For example, when we are told "have mercy, and you shall get mercy" we…

Have we ever wondered why we praise Allah for the calamities that befell the warriors of Karbala as we conclude the sacred ziyaara of ‘Ashura? We say: Allahumma laka al-hamdu hamda al-shaakirini laka ‘ala musaabihim; alhamdu lilLahi ‘ala ‘azeemi raziyyati… (O Allah, praise be to You, the praise of those who thank You, for the calamities that befell them (the martyrs). Praise be to Allah, for my great loss…” One of the possible interpretations of these brilliant verses is that we praise and thank Allah for having conferred Imam al-Husayn (‘a) and his companions the succor of…

One very important dimension of the Institution of Karbala overlooked by so many of us is its spiritual dimension. Scholars of gnosis (‘irfaan) however have contemplated over this dimension and narrated so much for us to learn and benefit. In order to make us closer to tangibly perceive the inner dimension of the Karbala event, perhaps the most eloquent revelation is that of Hadhrat Zaynab (‘a), the daughter of Imam ‘Ali (‘a) when asked by Ibn Ziyad how Allah dealt with her brother (Husayn ('a)) and family. It is narrated that when this was asked, she said: Maa ra’aytu illa jameela…

Faith: To believe in (a) Allah; (b) His(Allah’s) Angels; (c) His Messengers (d) His Books like Tohrah, Gospel and Quran etc (e) The Day of Resurrection and (f) Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments) .Faith has more than sixty subdivisions or parts, the highest one is ‘La ilaha illala (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah), [...]

Looking out of my window today; a cloudy day made me sad. Its always the gloomy days which spoils my mood. When it isnt sunny, I refuse to wake up early (as i always do) and want to cover myself with a blanket and go back to sleep. Gloomy days arent my days ,I guess. [...]

Have we ever imagined that a story can ever be told only through letters and Journals ? Have we come across such a book where a beautiful tale of two friends is woven through the letters they share and their journals ? Well! I have. I read this book long back and forgot its name. [...]

I've just got back from BBC Asian Network discussing the issues around revealing clothing and being a person of faith. Can you wear a short skirt and low cut top and call yourself religious? Can you show off your assets in tight jeans and a teeny tight white t-shirt (I'm talking about the men here!)It's a topic of passionate discussion, and that's because it is much more complex than it appears. First (and let's be honest about this), the conversation is almost always sparked off about complaining about women not being properly covered up. Rarely is the question asked in relation to men.

If you want to meet the MagicMuslims, you can find out more here: http://www.spirit21.co.uk/magicmuslims/

The elections on the 1st of May will determine not only the Mayor of London, but also the members of the London Assembly. The London Assembly is an elected body of 25 members, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the Mayor's annual budget. So along with making an informed decision about who you want to vote in as Mayor, it's just as important to pick the right candidate for the London Assembly from your particular constituency, as they will also have a direct influence on…

The Muslim world is made up of more than just people from the Middle East and the Subcontinent, and drawing on our wider heritage and perspectives could help us address the pressing questions of Islam and modernityIt would probably come as a surprise to most people to know that the largest ethnic group within the world's billion or so Muslims, are not in fact, Arab. Nor are they Pakistani, or even Bangladeshi for that matter. Even the entire Muslim populations of Europe and America do not feature at the top of this list, and neither does China.In Britain, our perceptions of Muslims - and thus…

Imagine my surprise when I came across a listing for a lecture being held this evening by the East London Three Faiths Forum: "FAITH IN A PLURAL COMMUNITY with Bishop Nazir Ali (Bishop of Rochester)". Surely an interfaith group should be worried about some of the comments he has made?The Telegraph wrote: 'In an outspoken attack on the custom of Muslim women to cover their faces, the Pakistani-born bishop said that the Islamic community needed to make greater efforts to integrate into British society. "It is fine if they want to wear the veil in private, but there are occasions in public life…

Pada beberapa hari ini kita melihat berita-berita di media bagaimana sesama muslim di negara-negara timur tengah saling bertempur, baik antara muslim yang berbeda secara mazhab seperti di Libanon, maupun adanya perbedaan pandangan politik atau perjuangan seperti di Irak dan Palestina. Bahkan contoh yang dapat kita lihat dengan langsung di negara yang kita cintai ini adalah bagaimana kadang antara sesama organisasi Islam yang memiliki pandangan yang berbeda dalam mensejahterakan umat Islam harus diakhiri dengan adanya konflik secara fisik (walau biasanya konflik itu terjadi di tingkatan akar…

15 மே, 2008 வேறு மூன்று அமைச்சர்களும் இந்த வைபவத்தில் பதவிப் பிரமாணம் செய்துகொண்டுள்ளனர். கொழும்பு தற்கொலைத் தாக்குதலில் 9 பேர் பலி இலங்கையின் தலைநகர் கொழும்பில் இன்று நடந்த தற்கொலைக் குண்டுத்தாக்குதல் ஒன்றில், குறைந்தது 8…

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is every wasted." - Aesop "The official death toll from Burma's killer cyclone has nearly doubled to 78,000 as aid workers hampered by the country's un-cooperative military regime struggled to get basic data about the needs of up to 2.5 million desperate survivors. Burma state television said the official death count from the May 3 cyclone was 77,738, with another 55,917 missing. The Red Cross warned that the lack of clean water may increase the number of deaths." - Press Association Let's put Humanity First! Let's not buy that nice dress or shoes…

Although hypocrisy with its special meaning is a characteristic of faithless people who are apparently in the lines of Muslims but are disbelievers at heart, there is a more general meaning which would include any type of incongruence between the appearance of someone and his heart; between his words and his actions even if he be a believer. We call this the veins of hypocrisy. The following tradition is an example of this: “There are three characteristics, whoever has them is a hypocrite no matter how much he fasts; no matter how much he prays; no matter if he considers himself a Muslim: A…

Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi Wabarakath, There was a recent article in New York Times in a 'series of articles examining the lives of youth across the Muslim world at a time of religious revival' called 'Love on Girls' Side of the Saudi Divide'. The article gives an inside into the lives of Saudi Women and girls, their way of life, the gender segregation, the face-veil and the hopes and dreams of these girls. Here is an excerpt: The separation between the sexes in Saudi Arabia is so extreme that it is difficult to overstate. Saudi women may not drive, and they must wear black abayas…

My other|matters post today: A paean to voluptuous women everywhere - myself included.

Monday's poetic reminder comes right as I'm feeling a deep sense of frustration with my body.

My crazy cousin from Lahore and her destruction of my Facebook Wall.

Spring is in the air.

What do you and your loved ones taste like?

Are you a Muslim Women looking to make a change? Join Muslimah in Action a community based organisation, for an interactive evening and dinner and contribute to positive action! Wednesday 14th May 2008 The Muath Centre, Sparkbrook. Registration - 5.30pm Programme - 6.00 - 8.00pm A ladies only event. Free admission Prayer and crèche facilities available Free car parking 3 course Meal. Spaces are limited. For more information or to register Email: muslimahia@hotmail.co.uk Text / Phone: 07961787511 / 07956169159 “Uniting Muslim women’s voices to build a stronger community.” leaflet

The Radical Middle Way project have now put highlights of the dangerous ideas tour on their website.  Click on the picture above/ The event also featured on the BBC website, including a photo gallery from local photographer Shaista Chishty

…from BBC Birmingham Full list of winners NON FICTION AWARD Shelina Zahra Janmohamed (Age: 33) London SHORT STORY AWARD Kashif Choudry (Age: 2 Solihull, West Midlands NOVEL AWARD Fatima Martin (Age: 49) Woking, Surrey POETRY AWARD Shameam Akhtar (Age 3 Bradford UNDER 16’s AWARD Humaira Rashid (Age: 16) D