Helping Muslims With HIV is Not a Chore
Posted by Zaufishan Current-Affairs, Health, muslim diaries, organisations, social taboo, sport Thursday, November 24, 2011Helping Muslims With HIV is Not a Chore 
Guest writer for MUSLIMNESS, Mohammad Shakir works at International HIV Fund and shares his thoughts on why taboo diseases should not prevent Muslims from visiting the ill. Contact Mohammad on info@internationalhivfund.org.
In Islam, Muslims are encouraged to help people who are ill. Supporting them at a vulnerable time is a rewarding act. I would like to remind readers that HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a disease much like a cold, flu or cancer. A previous Friday Nasiha post on MUSLIMNESS left an important message about illness from Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him,
"God did not send down an illness for which He did not send a cure." (Bukhari)
When a person sneezes a Muslim is obliged to show mercy on them by replying, Yarhamukullah, may God have mercy on you. Similarly, when a person is chronically ill, Muslims are told to show them mercy by visiting them and praying for them.There are illnesses in this world which divide us. The world has been aware of HIV for 30 years, according to the BBC. It is a virus which can affect anyone. Muslim or non-Muslim, male or female, the virus does not discriminate who it infects and so we should not discriminate against someone living with HIV.
HIV as an illness
A person living with HIV in the simplest term is ill. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the body’s immune systems and increases the risk of developing serious infections and diseases such as cancer (NHS).
The Qur’an and Sunnah (prophetic tradition) explain how Muslims should behave and treat a person who is unwell or infirm. The rewards for simply visiting with a smiling face and asking about their health are immense. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said,
"[If a] Muslim visits a (sick) Muslim in the morning seventy thousand angels will bless (and pray for) him until the evening, and if he visits him in the evening, seventy thousand angels will bless (and pray for) him until the morning, and fruits from Paradise will be his." (Tirmidhi 3:292)Visiting the sick builds the bonds of unity, respect and understanding. This understanding then helps to breakdown those barriers and reduces discrimination and stigma towards an otherwise taboo illness.
Muslims believe in a day of Judgement, and so we have to remember that one day we will all be judged in front of Allah, and we will be asked about how we treated others during our time on earth.
In the Hadith Qudsi (prophetic statement derived from God), Allah subhanahu wa ta`la will say on the Day of Judgment: “O son of Adam I was sick and you did not visit Me. He will say: O Lord how can I visit You. You are the Lord of the worlds? He says: Did you not know that My servant so and so was sick yet you did not visit him? Did you not know that if you had visited him you would have found Me with him?” (Muslim).
We have to remember that people living with HIV humans just like us and are ill and need our help, support and understanding.
Different ways of supporting a person with HIV
The International HIV Fund is organising a skydive which will raise money for their project, Mothers of Sudan. North Sudan is currently witnessing a looming HIV epidemic. The total number of adults and children living with HIV is estimated to be over 122,216. Children are also affected with over 27,000 children orphaned due to HIV.
We want to help them by helping the Mothers of Sudan through HIV awareness and skills that will enable them to afford the important HIV drugs that will keep their families together and alive.
A Skydive? Tell me more!
International HIV Fund are organising two skydive challenges – one in November 2011 and another in January 2012 – where you can raise funds for the project and take part in a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
To participate, all the organisation asks is for a £50 deposit to sign up and to get really creative with fundraising ideas. Each skydiver has a challenge to raise an easy £500 for Sudan by getting sponsors and supporters. Think you can do it?
Your contribution will go a very long way in changing not just one life, but a whole community.
For more information visit the International HIV Fund website.
e | fatima@internationalhivfund.org
About International HIV Fund
The International HIV Fund (IHIVF) is a global initiative aimed at enhancing collaboration between Muslim and non-Muslim organisations in combating HIV and AIDS. They work in partnership with different organisations and within communities around the world to ensure the next generation lives HIV-free.
More on health:
Get 'Fit4Ramadan', The Fitness Program For Muslims
Plans For Cleaner Zam Zam Distribution In Madinah
Human Appeal's Gaza Water Purification Project
Arabic Calligraphy Is Middle East's Modern Beauty
Posted by Zaufishan Arabic, Art-Features, european muslims, events, islamic arts, Islamic-Art, Middle-East, muslim designers, pop culture, shows Thursday, November 24, 2011
Wonder world in the heart of London is Lahd's Gallery of Middle Eastern and Islamic art. As a world renowned and royally funded organisation, their brand new exhibition 'Arabic Calligraphy: The Art Of the Written Word' showcases a range of unique and modern perspectives on the ancient Arabic script.
Artists have brought their personal styles in a unique display of heritage from around the world. The art of the written word will see artwork from France, Pakistan, Malaysia, India and Oman. Artists have combined elements of graphic design, fashion and light calligraphy in a fusion of Arabic expression.
Artists At The Exhibit
Drawn to visual art and heavily influenced from meeting Iraqi calligrapher Ghani Alani, Abdallah has a career in script. Having spent a decade in decorating textiles, canvases, wood and glass with Islamic poetry, he now teaches calligraphy at Institute du Monde Arabe.
A contemporary Arabic Calligrapher, Madny Al Bakry lives and works in Muscat, Oman.
It is said that Islamic influences found in Picasso can be traced to his native Spain. Before him the famous artist Paul Cezanne, known as the father of modern art, had been subtly innoculated with the abstract guidelines of Islamic and Arabic calligraphy.
A designer from Oman, Madny's Arabic is 3-dimension stimulation
Arabic lights, Julien Breton fuses traditional script with motion photography
An unorthodox exhibitor, Julien Breton (featured in emel magazine) is completely self-taught and unable to speak Arabic. The French artist has developed his own unique form of virtual calligraphy, based on a Latin-style alphabet and inspired by an Arabic and Eastern aesthetic. With a multi-cultural take on calligraphy, Julien's work incorporates the cultural identity and style of East and West, fusing his ideas with inspiration from western philosophy, hip hop and street art.
If that wasn't enough to make your heart beat faster, an ethical and delicious fashion house, Fashion Compassion, which supports and empowers marginalised and underprivileged women from Asia and the Middle East, will also be showcasing a range of limited edition bags and jewellery inspired by the art of calligraphy at the exhibition. {www.fashioncompassion.co.uk}
About Lahd Gallery
Founded in 2005 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to create a focal point for women artists from the Gulf, Lahd Gallery soon became a well-known exhibition space on the contemporary art scene in the Middle East and has exhibited extensively throughout the Gulf and North African countries. The gallery has already exhibited controversial and provocative pieces from leading Arabic artists to great success. In 2010, Lahd Gallery moved to its present location in London and has since become the foremost gallery promoting contemporary Middle Eastern art.
The gallery is located on 92 Heath Street, London, NW3 1DP and admission to the exhibition is free. Open from Tuesday to Friday (10am–6pm) and Saturday (10–4pm), take a trip to the gallery and indulge in fusion calligraphy for yourself.
For more information visit {Lahd Gallery}.
Meet Eco-Muslim Dawud Wharnsby in Allah's Green Garden (Event)
Posted by Zaufishan Eco-Islam, events, Green-Muslims, Islam-Environment, muslim poetry, muslim shopping and sales, uk Thursday, November 17, 2011
We have the greatest pleasure in sharing Dawud Wharnsby's official tour in England of his latest creation, A Picnic of Poems, in Allah's Green Garden.
Egyptian Kickboxer Shapes Muslim Lifestyle in Muslim Quarterly Magazine
Posted by Zaufishan American-Muslims, editor, Health, magazines, martial arts, muslim fashion, muslim lifestyle, muslim masculinity, reviews, sex in islam Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Hot new stuff, Muslim Quarterly is the first magazine exclusively for Muslim men.
In the aims of addressing challenges faced today, Muslim Quarterly is a male-orientated publication for the American Muslim man. We saw an absence of the magazine for a while, which Editor-in-Chief Omar Haq explained was because the team worked towards defining its unique identity.
Muslim Quarterly is back, with a culturally sleek and broader depth. It arrived on my desk in October, shrink-wrapped in opaque plastic and ready for a woman's critique.
The magazine is published four times a year, giving rise to its name, and explores areas that are typically a man's arena. Sexual appetite, budget spending on the other half, and easy cooking for the laid back bachelor.
A great shot of American Muslim comedian Ali Ardekani made the front cover of the latest issue, accompanied by fellow Alis - finalist of HBO's Lucky 21 Comedy Festival, Asif Ali, and one half of the 30Mosques duo, Aman Ali. The three Alis give an candid interview of how they got into performing. It's one of the better parts of the magazine.
Designed by Nazia Sharif, MQ is based in Chicago and backed by an experienced team of writers. The first issue of MQ launched in 2009, dedicated to Ramadan with nutritional guides, lessons on control and an interview with Muslim 'celebrity' Omar Regan.
A weaker area is in the multiple full page spreads of men modelling contemporary Muslim fashion. I understand and appreciate advertising spaces but ten pages, six of which make up the first section, dominate the entire magazine. On that note, a power-fist-in-air gesture to Lomar Thobe for their clothing line.
The magazine itself covers an increasingly interesting range of topics, not that dissimilar to a popular science or health publication. Algerian Chef Muhammad Benabdelmalek writes about aphrodisiac food groups, categorising them by their uses and nutritional value and referencing Islamic texts.
Following fruity concoctions and Arab inspired recipes, we see a spectacular feature of Egyptian Kickboxing Champion, Khaled Fahim. Sharing his training routine and athletic family background, I go on to flip a page where Khaled Fahim is shown with his leg in mid-air in an almost horizontal split. As a Muslim woman I think two thoughts: A and E. Awra exposure.
Women writers have the marital columns with great gift-giving tips for husbands and signs that a guy is having an 'emotional affair': sharing more personal information with female co-workers, hiding new friendships, "innocent" online and text flirting, and relaying fantasies about another woman. It's valuable information and a slap in the face for Muslims everywhere.
Here's the winning quality of MQ, it actually provides solutions to such pitfalls and instead of side-stepping the issues, seems to say, Muslims can make mistakes, they are human, but this is how to stop it recurring. Excellent.
Our favourite Muslim dude blogger, Halim Naeem has an informative advisory piece for single Muslim men on successfully finding a wife, and eating your wedding cake too. His personal marriage experience is clearly translated into his 'internet or intersex?' chapter. He says,
"How you find a wife is just as important and where you find her. Brothers, we have to make sure we are approaching potential woman with as much respect for them as we would have for ourselves".
I hear myself chiming, ame(e)n. Halim Naeem is engaging, he's being 'real' when analysing the process behind online matrimonial sites and he seems to know what he's talking about.
A surprisingly good read is an article on sickle cell disease around the world and its implications for a marriage. More on love, marriage fashion and wedding traditions can be found in MQ, which I suspect will be a focal point for all future publications, for who doesn't love a good dig at the Muslim marriage scene?
In light of current magazines for Muslim audiences, Muslim Quarterly is heavily reliant on Quranic verses and traditions narrated from Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. With the technological driven lifestyles of American Muslims, and indeed Muslims from around the world, MQ shares a concern to bring Muslims back to the roots of understanding faith, mental health and who they are - not who they're supposed to be.
Subscribe to {Muslim Quarterly}.
MyPeace Launches Australia's First Islamic TV Ad
Posted by Zaufishan Abdullah-Osman, australia, good muslim news, Muslim-Media, Muslim-News, television shows, videos Thursday, November 03, 2011
There's been growing emphasis in Australia on the separation of religion from schools, government and other public sectors. Educational ministers proposed an overhaul of the regulation surrounding religious celebrations in public schools including banning Easter and Christmas celebrations, reports The Age.
Australia now has a Prime Minister - Julia Gillard - who doesn't believe in God, and it seems religion has taken a back seat in the public eye, only creeping up on Current Affair shows. So, until only a few weeks ago, the thought of propagating a particular religious thought through mainstream media was a pipe dream.
Major Religions Air Television Ads
The first Mormon ads aired on local Australian television recently and I my wife asked me if I thought we'd ever witness Islamic TV advertisements in the future. My response was pessimistic with a slight hint of hope.
With the questionable media coverage Islam currently gets, a whole advertisement set to promote the faith seemed far-fetched.
The Mormon ads (video) were marketed well, linking faith in science to faith in God, simple and effective. A few years back, I probably wouldn't have reflected on the ads as I didn't have any knowledge of the Mormon faith. Having worked with people of the Mormon faith for over a year now, the ads appeal to me because I can relate to both, the people and the faith. I thought to myself,
If there ever were Islamic television ads in Australia, they should be shown the modern Mormon way – steering away for traditional preaching and text book Da’wah.
To my amazement, a few weeks later the first Islamic TV ad aired on local television.
Successful Islamic TV Ad
The advertisement itself is a MyPeace campaign based in Sydney. Famously known for the 'Jesus Is A Prophet Of Islam' billboards, MyPeace's Facebook page has raked over 10k members for launching similar posters, and illustrating over forty buses with Islam's principles.
Now, the first Australian Islamic television promo takes advantage of thirty seconds, sharing three key points based on Islam's holy scripture, the Qur'an and the collected teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him - the sunnah.
The final message is one of community peace and understanding, promoting aspects of Islam that the average person wouldn't even consider.
An awareness of Islam is promoted through human rights and eliminating poverty. Emphasis is given to show the similarities between "Australian" and "Islamic" values; they are not mutually exclusive.
As a television advertisement, good use of a voice-over creates the perfect dramatic overlay to a subtle yet concise message. A message of religious tolerance and care.
Australian Islam Works
As an Australian Muslim, I don't believe the advertisement could have been done any better in design and content.
I was impressed when I read about it online and was amazed when it aired on network television a few weeks later. It will take more than a thirty-second television ad to address the misconceptions of Islam but this is a great start, it's the right start.
The campaign makes me proud to be an Australian Muslim.
Link to Australia's first Islamic ad video {http://youtu.be/MYWrQ8dTidM}
Find more about Islam in Australia {MyPeace}
More Muslims in Media:
Filmmakers Depict Women In The Muslim World
Media To Blame For Islamophobia, Says Survey
Al-Isharah Create First Adhan In British Sign Language
Book: 'Muslims In The Modern World' Shows Dr Hany's Humanness
Posted by Zaufishan books, British-Muslims, iconic muslims, muslim authors, organisations, reviews Tuesday, November 01, 2011
In the literary world of books on Islam, the average reader will fall short after the idiot's guide to Islam, or a more comprehensive and heavy-weight theological book, now used as a table support. We previously shared I Speak For Myself, American Muslims' reply to questions stemming from Islamophobic media reports, and ecological welfare inspired Dawud Wharnsby's A Picnic of Poems for children.
Another inspirational book from Kube Publishing is geared toward younger audiences: Muslims In The Modern World, by British author Suma Din.
Muslims In The Modern World, A Series
Muslims In The Modern world is a unique biographical series covering the lives and works of iconic figures from today's educational and humanitarian fields.
The first part of the series features Islam's own father-figure Dr Hany El Banna. Founder of the respected charity Islamic Relief Worldwide, and a loved activist, Dr Hany was recently found in Mogadishu, Somalia, where he sang rain prayers and entertained the orphans of famine struck Africa.
Suma Din's book is thoroughly researched and captures the humanness of Dr Hany. Her book takes readers on a chronological journey from the doctor's early days as a traveller and later presidency of Islamic Relief.
"Dr Hany El Banna, the founder of Islamic Relief Worldwide, is a tireless humanitarian activist working for the world’s poorest people. Follow his footsteps as he moves to the UK as a young doctor, only to become the president of a global humanitarian relief organisation.
From underground tunnels in war-torn Bosnia to the cyclone ravished villages of Bangladesh, find out what drove Dr El Banna to people in need. The story of his efforts to establish Islamic Relief around the world is at once a warm, inspiring and occasionally eccentric tale of humanity."
- Kube Publishing blog
Captivating and short, the series will brings together the lives and personalities of a range of influential and fascinating Muslim figures. They are filled with rare images, illustrated maps and personal anecdotes giving readers a unique viewpoint into their lives.
Do Muslim Books Have A Place In Education?
The series aims to especially inspire young readers outside of the Muslim faith and introduce them to a set of under-the-radar people from the modern world. I dare use the 'celebrity' status since renowned Muslim figures are respected and praised, not idolised, but this is a collection of books you cannot do without.
British educational institutions have delved into the Muslim cultural sphere more so over the past decade, one instance being the world class 1001 Muslim Inventions exhibition and book which was was funded for schools throughout the country.
Future names for the Muslim book series include,
- Dr Hayat Sindi, the Muslim female scientist awarded this year as one of National Geographic’s Emerging Explorers and visiting scholar at Harvard; and
- Malcolm X, the legendary human rights activist and Muslim convert from the USA.
Responses from the educational sector and mainstream Islamic courses confirm the need for more positive role models in schools, like Canadian children's book Khadijah Goes To School. This series addresses Muslim heritage and educates a wide age group with a sophisticated structure.
As another valuable resource for citizenship, history, humanities and religious education, Suma Din encourages British teachers to use Muslims In The Modern World for discussions on war, poverty, charity, marriage and struggle within the context of the exceptional Dr Hany.
"Pupils will find it inspirational, surprising and readable", says Suma Din's official site. Many other chapters of the book also have a link to the educational curriculum, covering topics as high as GCSE level, for students aged 16+.
One secondary school teacher from Buckhinghamshire said Muslims In The Modern World "is a positive and modern example of Islamic faith in action and as such fills a much felt void."
What Your Bookshelf Is Missing
Each biography is equipped with first-person quotes and anecdotes, exclusive full colour photographs of each featured figure. Taking on encyclopedic layouts, the books are separated with a time-line, glossary and bulleted lists, succinctly explaining Muslim practices and highlighting notable places in history. This will make a wonderful gift for Eid and ideal donation to your local school.
Part one and the books to follow, looks at the early life of the iconic faces, their family and upbringing, analysing the factors that led them to be leaders in their field. Faith plays an integral part for both the author and the figures she interviews in her books, part of the reason why Muslims In The Modern World is being pushed for academic involvement.
We like the book. A lot. We think you will too.
Order {Muslims In The Modern World} from Kube Publishing and from the author's site, {Suma Din}.
More awesome books:
Love in a Headscarf book launches in USA
Guantanamo guard exclusive book extract
Book Launch: Palestine In Pieces
RSS Sign up
Follow Muslimness
