MUSLIMNESS.COM

British Nasheed Artists Labbayk Deserve Praise

2011-11-30T02:03:00.003Z

Islamic singing group Labbayk stay true to the nasheed genre of performing without music. Heba Saeed reviews their latest album, Oh My Lord.

Labbayk, Arabic for 'here I am', is the beautiful name adopted for one of the world's few music-free nasheed groups. But there is many a good thing to praise in the beautiful company of Labbayk, apart from their name.

The nasheed group is based in London, although its members are far from your average Briton. Nearly always clad in white, the members of Labbayk, Masum, Ehsaan and Imran bring unique accents and melodies which make a remembrance (dhikr) in their own right.

Labbayk officially formed their group in 2004 and have been performing at world class Islamic events and conferences. The group has tightly followed the traditional route of nasheeds, excluding all musical instruments and depending entirely on vocal harmonies.

You could say they feed 'two birds with one scone' (to be more animal friendlier); after their first charity album, Labbayk produced the multilingual O' My Lord, sung by a variety of artists and in four different languages. This brought to my mind the great investment of deeds found in our deen, Islam.

Their latest album appears to be built on the simple concept of "niyyah", Arabic for intention, saying that a tiny deed begun in God's name (the tasmiyah) can intertwine with another and populate other deeds as well.

The tracks on Rhymes of Praise are also very peaceful. The Wedding nasheed, my favorite, is very jovial, reflecting the merriness of newly weds in Islam who are completing half of their deen. SubhanAllah, meaning glory be to God, is the third out of all eight tracks and a delightful dhikr, using Muslim phrases to remind listeners of God.

Labbayk's young singers try to teach people through these light hearted reminders. They are delighting, if put in the Sydney-ian way.

One substantial tool that I noticed from Labbayk, they do not forget to publish their lyrics on their web page. It saves you the time spent Googling a song just because your ear is hearing homonyms all the time!

May Allah endow them and the listeners with barakaat (blessings) in time and health.

Official site {Labbayk Nasheeds}

More Islamic talent:
Arabic Calligraphy Is Middle East's Modern Beauty (Free exhibition)
Art Feature: Rachid Lamrabat's 'Evolution Prayer'
♫ "Hamdulillah" Official Music Video - The Narcicyst ft. Shadia Mansour

Helping Muslims With HIV is Not a Chore

2011-11-24T11:48:00.003Z

Helping 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

2011-11-24T06:31:00.001Z

The Art of the Written Word: Arabic calligraphy and Islamic art exhibition is announced at Lahd Gallery, England.

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

The exhibition will see newcomers and established creative names, including Abdallah Akar, one of the Middle East's finest contemporary artists. Born in Tunisia, Abdallah Akar is a well known artist across Europe.

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.

Said Adrus is an internationally acclaimed African artist with multiple identities. Born in Kampala, East Africa, to Indian Muslim parents who migrated to Kenya before the Indian Partition, Said was 'displaced' to Switzerland in the 1970s, where his family still live. Said later moved to Britain to study Fine Art at university and this is the beauty that's shown in his pieces for the Lahd Gallery exhibit. For the past 20 years Said has worked on numerous projects on Europe, New York, Havana and more recently Mumbai. In London he has exhibited the Tate Modern.

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

In his stunning and unique use of calligraphy, Madny has awakened the senses of his viewers. For the audience, Madny’s works present a new visual stimulation. Unlike the traditional two dimensional Arabic calligraphy in limited colours, his work is unusual in its colour palette. His distinctive style and exquisite use of colours and themes have an ethereal quality while his presentation is contemporary and elegant. Providing depth and perspective, his eye-catching works lure the senses of the connoisseurs. [Lahd Gallery]

Other artists exhibiting are Malaysian artist, Shukor Yahya, who revolutionised the art of the Kufi square – the oldest calligraphic form, first used in ancient religious Islamic scripts – in to a modern art. With more than 30 years of experience in graphic design, Shukor's work mixes the traditional art of the spiritual world with that of a new modern aesthetic for all to enjoy.

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.

Fashion Compassion at Lahd

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)

2011-11-17T00:08:00.001Z

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.

Last month we interviewed Dawud about living the eco-Muslim lifestyle in Pakistan and got to read snippets of poetry from Allah's Green Garden. His collection of 30 poems is published by Kube Publishing and the grand UK tour is in co-operation with The Islamic Foundation. Speakers from both organisations are expected to attend. The highlight of course, will be Dawud's singing. Hurray!

Dawud Wharnsby will be visiting British shores in November and performing every single one of his thirty poems in Manchester, Birmingham and London. A Picnic of Poems is a beautifully illustrated book accompanied by a musical CD of performed poetry and will be available to purchase on the day.

For an exciting afternoon filled with family-fun and thought-provoking performances, get yourself and your little ones to any one of these days. See Dawud Wharnsby live, ask him the questions you really want answering and grab an awesome gift of life-altering proportions!

Event details:
• Manchester, Sunday 20th Nov. Doors open 4.30pm. The chosen venue is Thistle hotel.
• Birmingham, Monday 21st Nov. Doors open 5.30pm and the event will be held at The Bordesley Centre.
• Ending on an environmental note, London will greet Dawud at The Ecological Pavilion on 23rd Nov at a later opening of 6.00pm.

Family tickets for the event are available as well as individual tickets.
Book now from Kube Publishing or at the door.

See you there, insha-Allah!

Egyptian Kickboxer Shapes Muslim Lifestyle in Muslim Quarterly Magazine

2011-11-15T01:27:00.003Z

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

2011-11-03T02:49:00.004Z

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

2011-11-01T05:55:00.002Z

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

Interviewing Half Our Deen Founder Baba Ali, Why A Muslim Marriage Site?

2011-10-28T05:01:00.001+01:00

As-salaam `alaykum, MUSLIMNESS writer Zahra here, The Immigrant, speaking from Canada! That is for anyone who may have even noticed I was gone. Well I'm back, and with an awesome interview that's bound to make you re-assess the Muslim marriage scene.

Let’s just call my absence maternity leave, which of course is a nice way of saying I was so strung out from lack of sleep, stressing about car seats, safety, mountains of poopy nappies and all the other fun things that go hand in hand with the first year of new life. I'm officially a Mom.

It feels like just yesterday I met my husband, and now we are certified parents. I wonder how I ever lived without my daughter. I couldn’t imagine life without her, unmarried life even. It seems like being single and childless is all a distant memory. And to think, it all started with a few key strokes, not how I ever imagined meeting my future husband.

Most people don’t actually know that me and my husband met online. Now that I think of it, a large portion of my friends met their partners online, and started families of their own. Is this the newest trend, or the beginning of what will become the norm?

So I asked an expert of sorts, Ali Ardekani, founder of Halfourdeen.com, the online Muslim marriage site. When Muslims cannot go through their parents, reliable friends or mosque services to seek a partner, there are many marriage sites that claim exclusive catering to Muslims. But it is very easy to get lost among the mess of scary sites scattering the World Wide Web.

Like I, Ali Ardekani, better known to millions as filmography sensation Baba Ali, met his partner online. Ali later felt a need to create a friendlier marriage service that helped single Muslims find their match. But why an internet site? How safe are internet courtships and is that what single Muslims are doing through Half Our Deen, "dating"? Ali was more than happy to answer our questions.

MUSLIMNESS: Firstly dear Ali, your matrimonial site Half Our Deen is known for its unorthodox approach to marriage and nearly 170 people have claimed to have found their other half on the site. Do you think finding a spouse online is becoming a norm?

Baba Ali: With Half Our Deen, we wanted to recreate the way people meet in person leading up to marriage. Since the typical conversations when two people meet face to face doesn't start with "how much do you weigh?" or "what is your income?", we ask questions on the site that we think are more realistic for determining qualities for marriage.

Thus, our unique questionnaire provides members with many questions on finding out more about the potential partner's personality or character. That way you can learn real things and get to know the "real" person, insha'Allah, God willing.

When I was looking for someone ten years ago, the idea of finding your future spouse online was taboo but I really didn't have much choice since I didn't find my match locally. Today, 1 out of every 4 relationships starts online, which shows you how much times have changed, even for Muslims.

MUSLIMNESS: What are the advantages to meeting a future spouse online as opposed to traditional Muslim routes - being introduced to family friends, seeking help through local mosques?

Baba Ali: I still think the best way to meet someone is through your parents. Unfortunately, many people like myself, don't like the choices that our parents have setup for us because their decisions have been influenced by culture rather than attachment to the Deen, path, of Islam.

So we set out on our own, stumbling and learning, trying to find someone compatible and we all aspire to look for their Deen first.

As far as finding people locally, most communities do not have marriage programs and it is really hard to find any "Muslim" system that actually works, in comparison to the very few that do.

For Muslims, finding your other half is far more difficult that most people think it is. We don't date, we can't get emotionally attached, so it's difficult to work out who's "the one". Just ask any single Muslim who is searching now!

MUSLIMNESS: What major disadvantage is there to finding a spouse online?

Baba Ali: Half Our Deen is open to all, our members register from across the globe. One of the biggest obstacles for new relationships is that one person, which could be either the man or the woman, will need to relocate to live with their new husband or wife. And that means starting a new life, in a new place. That can be challenging for some people who haven't left home before or prepared for the move.

MUSLIMNESS: How safe is Half Our Deen?

Baba Ali: I think there's a common misconception that the whole world will know you're "looking" online to get married when you sign up to Half Our Deen. People don't usually want everyone and their mama to know they're seeking a spouse.

I can't blame people for having second thoughts for looking online because I did as well.

When I was trying to communicate and search, there were no "private" sites so anyone with Internet access could see my profile and that was a bit embarrassing.

See {how to sign up to HOD step by step}.

One of the things that sets Half Our Deen apart from the other sites is that we're completely private. That means only other registered members can see your profile and even then, only members of the opposite gender can see who is looking to get married. That means two sisters can be on the site and neither would ever know that the other was on Half Our Deen."

While everyone can comment on the public HOD blog posts and share questions, safety and security are the main reason that the majority of our members stay exclusively with us.

MUSLIMNESS: What do you feel is the biggest challenge in finding someone online?

Baba Ali: The biggest hurdle is trying to make sure that this person is "the one". I really dislike how some of these other Muslim matrimonials or marriage sites in general limit the questions asked to "eye color" and "hair color", because although that stuff may be important, the deep questions are never asked.

The reality is that you can't marry someone because you guys share the same "favorite color". It's more important that you ask deeper questions to see how compatible you are with each other.

This is how we made Half Our Deen unique, by making it question based. Not only does each person have the ability to take compatibility tests categorised by Deen, Family, Personality, etc, but we're the only site that allows you to post your own questions on your profile. This allows members to quickly filter out the people that don't match with you so neither side wastes any time getting connected with people they don't share interests or values with."

MUSLIMNESS: How do you think families have reacted to young single Muslims turning to marriage sites?

Baba Ali: I think each family is different. Most parents do take time in adjusting to new things and being that the Internet is still the unknown for many of our elders, parents and relatives are often worried about things they don't understand or don't have any knowledge of.

MUSLIMNESS: Many newly wedded Muslims relocate to live with the other partner and their family. Should people have to be open to moving after marriage?

Baba Ali: That's a great question. I've found that Muslim women seem to be more accepting of relocating than Muslim men. These type of questions are key during the communication precess and great to add to our poll section of Half Our Deen!

Another feature that makes Half Our Deen unique is our anonymous polls. Basically, we ask each members' group (the men and women) specific questions which they answer anonymously. The opposite gender is then able to see the answers in percentile to learn what that gender really thinks. Most of the time, the results are surprising and contrary to popular perception. We try to ask important and thought-provoking questions that people may be too shy to ask.

For those who join the site today, they can even go back to the previous polls to see how each gender answered.

I think education is key when it comes to learning about the opposite gender and the more we know, the better it is to help understand each other Insha'Allah, God willing.

MUSLIMNESS: And finally, what do you feel has made Half Our Deen popular amongst Muslims?

Baba Ali: The only reason that Half Our Deen is successful is because of Allah (Arabic, God). Our site is packed with features but yet it's purpose is very simple.

We hit an outstanding 6 million page views on HOD this year but yet we don't advertise or spam any of our members. No text ads, banner ads, nothing. On top of that we do not charge even half of what the other sites charge. We pay our staff who help us because we want to try to stay away from expecting Muslim to work for free (no "FREEsabeel'illah" discount at HOD).

We are trying to do things differently by keeping the site private, affordable, and by putting more money into site developments to make the experiences better for members than just collecting ads. The results? Since we launched last year, over 170 people have told us they found their other half through HOD and are happily married.

I have been invited to their wedding, met many of them in person, and have heard one success story after another. I wish I could post them to share the good news but the main reason people join HOD is because of privacy so I respect their wish to keep it that way. Alhamdulillah, (all praise belongs to Allah), Allah has made Half Our Deen successful and the entire staff, including myself, are really fortunate to be part of such an amazing project.

MUSLIMNESS: Shukran, thanks to Ali and everyone at halfourdeen.com for sharing your work and thoughts. Best of success God willing.

So for those young Muslim women and men out there looking for love -disapproving parental-like face-, I mean, halal love, don’t rule out searching online because it can be another opportunity to find what you’re looking for, regardless of your means.

Muslims have the power of dua (supplication). If your intention is pure, just remember to be open and honest and ask Allah to guide you in your search for your better half - and although for some it can feel like a long process to find the right person, Allahu `alim (Allah knows best) it will all happen in its own time.

Check it out {Half Our Deen}

Did you or anyone you know meet their spouse online? Would you recommend it for others? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

More on Muslim marriage:
Movie: Change Of Heart, Exposing Muslim Marriage
Muslim Marriage Tips: The Holy Criteria
Manufacturing A Match Made In Heaven
Can I Marry Your Daughter? {comic}

Invitation To Eid Dinner For Orphans

2011-10-27T00:23:00.000+01:00

Working in partnership with Anwar Welfare Trust, the good folks from Birmingham, England, have organised a great charitable afternoon just in time for Eid!

An Eid dinner at Bay Leaf restaurant is taking place this Saturday and we are inviting YOU to follow the Prophetic sunnah (action) and help support the orphans of Bangladesh. Proceeds from tickets will go directly towards building wells for orphans and providing educational resources.

A team from Anwar Welfare Trust will be at the Eid dinner to answer all your questions about the orphan fundraising and their work in Bangladesh. So come join us at the Eid Dinner!

Remember to bring along your family and friends and do a good deed whilst celebrating Eid!

The Prophet peace be upon him, said, "I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in Paradise like this," putting his index and middle fingers together. (Bukhari)

Remember to bring along your family and friends and do a good deed whilst celebrating Eid!

Date: Saturday 29th October 2011
Time: 12- 3pm
Location: Bay Leaf Restaurant, Unit 16/17, 2 Gibb St, Digbeth, Birmingham, B9 4AA
Tickets: £20 per person

To book tickets, donate or for more info please call: (UK) 07854436434.

Twins Of Faith At Excel Is Britain's Biggest Business And Creative Conference

2011-10-18T01:03:00.009+01:00

The Twins of Faith world class exhibition will showcase British Islamic businesses and provide unique family services

Have you heard about the BIGGEST Islamic event happening in the United Kingdom this year? We introduce you to the mega conference in the capital: Twins of Faith.

Canadian Muslim organisation Mercy Mission, are the grand organisers behind 'Twins of Faith', the largest Muslim event of 2011. A spectacular host of renowned Muslim scholars and performers will keep attendees alert in the aims of spiritual motivation; while in the background a whole host of educational programs, children's arenas and creative workshops are taking place. It sounds epic and we hope to see you there!

What's goin' on?

Conferences

Seminars stemming from a religious ethic will target more mature audiences. Released seminar titles include 'For The Love of God' where a series of interactive workshops will address how Muslim believers can strengthen their relationship with God and other people.

Social issues are to be covered as life in the United Kingdom was regrettably altered by the recent London riots. Coaching and personal advice is being prepared for members in order to return home with build-bridging skills and loving one's community. Just as the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, added value to his community, the Twins of Faith conference sessions hope to regenerate trust and reliability in our daily lives.

World business and Islamic exhibition and bazaar

A packed exhibition of diverse interests from product companies to free services is predicting over 5,000 delegates. Expect to see halal brands and ethical products to really add value to your time. Iconic Muslim speakers will be situated somewhere within the bazaar (shopping) area - keep a look out!

Life coaching, Islamic finance and business advice and halal companies will all be open to meet a variety of people's needs at an array of workshops dotted around the bazaar area.

In addition, a buzz is surrounding the Islamic Exhibitions that will feature world Islamic art and historic artifacts. More Islamic museums are opening around the world, so what better way than to experience Islamic history as it happened.

Artistic workshops

This Ramadan season, Ramadan TV broadcasted the world's first adhan (call to Muslim prayer) in British Sign Language. With the ever popular 'question and answer' program with presenters from Ramadan TV, shaykhs will available for one-to-one advisory meetings, allowing attendees to get their questions answered. A great opportunity to ask for validation of a personal struggle.

A Muslim women's creative writing class will launch to spark budding authors and journalists. Despite previous experience, the Twins of Faith workshop for 'sisters' will guide participants through a series of exploratory exercises. Personal style will no doubt be called for flair as Muslim women with talent will use their imagination and language styles to begin a path of professional writing.

In addition, a productive muslim workshop will cram some time management tips for making a bang-on life-to-do-list for family, work and acts of worship, and sticking to it! This will be an especially important workshop if you're an environmental or political Muslim activist.

Little Explorer Land (also for grown-ups)

The Twins of Faith is a family event and will provide entertainment for children of all ages. So what better way for children to enjoy themselves than to enter into the land of Little Explorers Magazine where "Uncle Jawad" will be keep little ones engaged in a world full of rides, bouncy castles and other activities to suit toddlers (and teenagers and adults who can get away with it too!)

The grown ups won't be disappointed as several obstacle courses have been arranged for an intensive health and fitness work out. A Mega Challenge Assault Course combines inflatables with games for a fun competition for the entire family. Rubber slides, sumo wrestling and a giant human football table are also in the mix - a halal and legitimate reason to revert to childhood, no doubt.

Marriage & Family Workshop

Renowned Islamic scholar Shaykh Alaa El-Sayed will offer an exclusive workshop on how Muslims can create and build a happy family, from the art of open communication to dealing with in-laws. If you're single and Muslim, you'll want to participate in the marriage talks.

Children’s Nasheed Competition:

To round of the entire shebang, a nasheed competition of Islamic music and hymns will see schools competing to win the award for the best recital. Highlights of the day's entertainment include poetry and songs from Abdullah Rolle, American poet Boona Mohammed and Pakistani singer Junaid Jamshed.

Get Involved At Twins Of Faith
For anyone wanting to get involved either through organisational efforts or volunteering, the event managers are recruiting active members of the public. Read the Mercy Mission volunteer newsletter for details and contact volunteers.uk@twinsoffaith.com.

Date: Saturday, 19th November 2011
Venue: Excel, London. {Interactive tube map}

Book tickets for the Twins of Faith

Official website {Twins of Faith, Inspiring Positive Change}

Khadijah Goes To School, Community Survival Book

2011-10-17T23:01:00.002+01:00

Khadijah Goes To School, Community Survival Book

"It's a concept, a tool, a bridge, it isn't just a book for me." Ontario resident and published author Asim Hussain shares his new book 'Khadijah goes to School' with MUSLIMNESS readers in the United Kingdom.

A Story About You
Beginning as a self-funded project just under a year ago, Khadijah goes to School is a 28 page interactive book published in June 2011 for a universal audience. With a tag-line 'A story about You', the book's central theme is empowerment through contribution. It teaches readers about personal contributions to the local and global society as a means to build bridges between communities and to break down stereotypes.

Opening the book I found it breaks a 'bedtime' convention, flipping instead from left-to-right as is found in Arabic literature. Page numbers are accompanied by their Arabic counterparts and the main character Khadijah wears a hijab, all adding to the dual identity of the book.

Asim Hussain took a year out to create and self-publish Khadijah goes to School; feedback from family, work colleagues, strangers and the homeless were all essential before finalising the story. The effort has definitely paid off.

Author Asim Hussain reads from his new book, Khadijah goes to School, surrounded by his children, from left, Zayd, Sayf and Yusra Hussain, who did most of the illustrations. (Photo: Mississauga.com)

Ditty illustrations drawn by Asim's own children accompany the deeply cultured story line. We see images of mosques, 'Baba', the Arabic/Urdu title for father, and frequent use of the Islamic concept 'Read', historically revealed as the first word of the Qur'an. A book of ideas, Khadijah seems to reach out and talk to readers - an endearing personality for younger children.

Why Khadijah Goes To School

The first few sentences set a mantra of ethics from which the book flows. Human potential is explored and the importance of schooling for children is explained from a child's perspective. Khadijah is a young student, encountering time away from home at a new school, surrounded by new faces who in turn teach Khadijah how to cope - with life.

Khadijah learns about the lessons of life through a relatable struggle during her first week at school. An innocent child narrative makes an otherwise "grown-up" wisdom more translatable to all age groups.

MUSLIMNESS Reads Khadijah To Children (And Adults)
We took the book out to see what reactions it receives and found a genuine perked interest as we handed Khadijah goes to School to a group of young children aged 3-12.

Children from as young as 3 find the book's main text and hand drawn pictures easy to grasp; new phrases like 'pink monkey' creates giggles and smiles. Adults too have flipped through the pages with intrigue - questions and ideas inevitably followed. Toward the end of the book, a multi-lingual spread is dedicated to translations of the word 'Read', over 200 translations take over 5 minutes to digest and ponder which is an educational language lesson in itself.

The book creates a great discussion which is what we love the most about it. Every reader takes something unique for themselves, whether it's a new word added to their vocabulary or an lesson in ethics which they aspire to implement. Author Asim Hussain, wanted to ensure this book had value,

"This book is my ambassador to Canada, the United States, and wherever else this book may go. This book shares experiences and tells stories. It's a bridge builder, a device for communication, and discussion, and is for all people. It's something friends and neighbours can share across this nation," says Asim Hussain, author of Khadijah goes to School.

One and the only critical response was based on the type/font used on the front cover and back page. Sophisticated children found it difficult to read in one sitting as the calligraphy inspired text is for sharper eyes and faster readers.

There are no paragraphs (hurray!) and conventional story-telling is thrown out of the window since reading the book right-to-left we see a deliberate change in text size, pace and dialogue. Like a child's mind, the story speaks with an accent and a questioning tone. It's clear the book is the result of creativity that only children have the ability to create.

Bring Khadijah To Schools
To date, Khadijah goes to School has been launched in cities across Canada and Chicago, USA. I strongly think the book could be introduced to British schools, in particular for the new curriculum encouraging diversity and tolerance.

The book would make an excellent resource for younger minds and hopefully achieve a "classic" status. Thought-provoking questions end the book allowing to continue a discussion on the self, on education, on personal identity and stereotypes of other people. As the story of growing up and learning does not quite finish, we are left with a motivator; "This is not the end, this is just the beginning."

Stay updated on Facebook.com/KhadijahGoesToSchool

Official site {Khadija Goes To School}

More books and mags:
Why This Muslim Novel Is Relevant To Everyone
New Book 'I Speak For Myself' Explores Lives of American-Born Muslims
"Hablamos Islam", Children Speak Spanish Islam
Behind '40 Sufi Comics': India's Muslim Blogging Brothers

Inside Mogadishu, Somalia - A World Apart

2011-10-17T02:26:00.001+01:00

As a humanitarian and trustee at Muslim Youth Helpline, Furqan Naeem recently completed his summer internship with Human Appeal International (HAI). He took the opportunity to travel to Somalia to witness the devastation first-hand and implement some projects to benefit the people of the famine. Furqan shares his personal experiences with us from Somalia.

Inside Mogadishu, Worlds Apart
I returned last week from a humanitarian trip with Human Appeal International to the famine struck area of Mogadishu in Somalia. It was certainly an experience I’ll never forget. I spent a week witnessing things from a different perspective, a week reflecting on how fortunate we are in Britain to have those simple things we take for granted. It was a week of learning to always give more than you receive.

My first impression of Somalia was one of a broken world, one without order where chaos prevails above all other things. I spent the first day in Nairobi before visiting orphanages. I thought I’d use my time in Nairobi to gain an understanding of what life in East Africa was actually like. I hoped this would help me cope with seeing the devastation that I expected Somalia.

Arriving in Mogadishu the next day, I felt like I had entered a different world. It was surreal. The airport looked like a shelter home and the tight security all round made me feel very nervous. Even as we were at the entry office one of the questions on the standard visa form read, “what weapons have you brought with you?” Reading that made me realise that this was not a place not for the faint hearted.

As we headed to our secure residence for the week, I saw that there wasn’t a single built-structure that was not crumbling. I couldn't call any of these buildings 'homes'. It felt like we were in a war-zone and this was before we even went to visit any of the famine victims.

Meeting Refugees And Orphans
The next few days were spent visiting refugee camps and a local hospital so we could identify which areas on the ground aid was still not reaching. I got to see first-hand how the famine had devastated so many families.

Praying for rain - Furqan pumps clean water from one of Human Appeal International's water installation projects in Somalia

As we went visiting from tent to tent with our local team there from Human Appeal International, we were able to communicate with some of the families. Real families, real people who all had a common story.

These families had all walked for weeks to get to the refugee camp in the hope that aid would be there but found nothing more than other desperate people.

I heard how incredibly difficult life could be and was for people. I remember meeting a young mother who gave birth to a boy only three weeks ago but was barely able to look after herself because of her weakness. The young baby was in a critical state. It could easily be the case that these two human beings are no more but this was the case right across refugee camps in Mogadishu, just to give a glimpse of the scale of disaster.

After visiting three refugee camps around Mogadishu and seeing and feeling what it was like for the poor and needy, we had a chance to visit one of the local hospitals to see what sort of assistance doctors were trying to provide.

Unfortunately the scenes were not much different at the hospital. As soon as we arrived we saw a young boy getting treated outside the hospital for lack of clean water as there was insufficient space inside. There were so many victims all in distress with their families but the sad thing was to see so few doctors on hand, all of whom were being stretched to their limits in the first place. Most of the hospital was filled with crying young babies suffering from waterborne diseases, which have little or no cure.

Savings Lives, One At A Time
After identifying the areas where aid was not being reached, I and the team set about initiating food distribution points, mobile medical clinics and water distribution to the camps. This was perhaps the most satisfying part of the trip – to help all those that you saw on the ground by providing them with food packages that would help their families for a month at a time.

But the sad reality was that we were only just scratching the surface. There is a vast amount of people that are suffering and still need help.

Women and families travel miles for the only medical aid available

I witnessed the bittersweet reactions in the faces of families who were relieved to see help coming in the form of food and water but then realising that this might be the only help they’ll receive in months.

Even with the mobile medical clinic I saw how families valued getting the correct treatment and medicine to help with all the illnesses. They queued for miles just to see a doctor in the hope that they might be cured.

In a country where there is so much despair and misery we managed to visit the University of Mogadishu, which surely is a beacon of hope in times of uncertainty for the Somalian people. There are two opposing regions in Somalia which is the reason why it is in so much ruin. One side is a desert from the recent famine that has affected most of Somalia, but the other side has a total lack of infrastructure and poor leadership from those in control of the country.

These two destructive forced have combined in a devastating way and now a time of misery has fallen upon the people of smiles. But for the country to prosper in years to come and for the people to live a better a life, Somalia has to produce effective citizenry. I believe education is the key in building the country’s next generation of leaders.

The University of Mogadishu has a massive role to play in shaping the country by producing well-grounded students who will go on to help provide that infrastructure, and help build a country where peace can be achieved sooner rather than later.

A Future Of Hope For Somalia
Whilst out on the trip with Human Appeal International I managed to spend some time with renowned Muslim speaker and educator Dr Hany El-Banna, the founder of Islamic Relief. Dr Hany was busy organising a conference, bringing together Muslim charities and local NGOs to help improve the situation in Somalia through his role as chairman of Muslim Charities Forum.

Dr Hany has always been an inspiration to me, so getting the opportunity to work with him was a real honour, not to mention a huge learning curve. Watch Dr Hany's video message from Mogadishu.

The best part was seeing him in his element when he was with the children. When we finished Friday prayers I remember he started to make animal noises to communicate with the children and they all smiled and replied back with the same animal noises.

In a matter of seconds there were hundreds of young children gathering around this great man, Dr Hany El-Banna, as he built that special connection with the forgotten children of Somalia.

Prayers And Rain
All in all, visiting Somalia was truly an experience of a lifetime. Having reflected for a week since I’ve been back, the memories of the faces of desperation I saw still live within me. Much more can be done. It should be done.

One thing I have learnt is to be grateful for what I have in life and to never complain if something doesn’t quite go my way. There are people living in so much more difficulty than me – how do I have a right to complain?

I will never forget the stories; the mother who lost her children walking to the refugee camps, the father who had to sacrifice some of his children in order to provide for the other few.

And there took place a rain prayer where I was blessed to be part of a 10,000 gathering who all prayed for rain. The next morning through God’s mercy, rain descended upon the people of Mogadishu. Alhamdulillah, all praise be to God.

These memories shall stay with me for as long as I shall live and will continue to inspire me for years to come. As I reflect back I still wonder about Somalia's plight and the constant hardship its people experience. I do have hope though. Yes, the task is enormous, yes we still have a lot of work to do here in the UK but I firmly believe that if we all play our part, make enough effort through our donations to Human Appeal International, and with our prayers, then prosperity and peace will eventually come to the people of Somalia. Insha'Allah, God willing.

Do your part, donate to feed a family in Africa for a month. Please.

Read more at the {Human Appeal International blog}

By Furqan Naeem, British Muslim student activist and humanitarian.

More inspiring activists:
Asda Customers Help Muslim Aid Raise £11k For Africa
Eleven Lessons From Nelson Mandela
Another Letter From The Muslimness Orphan In Mozambique
Chicago Muslims Help Somalia During Ramadan

Manufacturing A Match Made In Heaven

2011-10-06T13:32:00.001+01:00

So here's a random thought.

I think a lot of Muslim marriages are slapped together on this metaphorical production line. As they whizz down the line the different parts are primed and trimmed, they get their coat of spray paint and eventually they're stuck together. They mostly work, but maybe for a long time people are not sure if the end product will stand the test of time. Sometimes they only work because they have to. After a while the cheap coat of shiny spray paint peels off revealing the true colours of the constituent parts; they're not always the prettiest underneath.

Poor build quality is not uncommon, various cracks exist beneath the surface. Parts are prone to break easily and people generally lack the competency and patience to piece things back together. Few understand how to use the trouble-shooting manual that comes free with each product; it is after all in a different language.

The novelty wears out quickly and people envy the latest designs on the market. With the slightest scuff or scratch people are quick to rush to the manufacturer and too often they find their way back to the factory to find a replacement. Sometimes broken parts will be recycled but sadly, more often than not, broken pieces are quickly forgotten about.

I guess you used to find a lot of little family run production lines, each offering unique customisations, service with a smile. Increasingly there are fewer and fewer of these, instead we are seeing the dominance of more and more mass production lines.

(Still with me?)

So the picture you can see here is probably the most random image I have pulled off Google. The punch bowl on the right came off a production line, the one on the left is hand made.

I guess they both fulfil the function they're designed for, but there is a value to the handmade one that you cannot really put a price to. Painstakingly, with so much care to detail, that bowl was put together. Only the people who made the bowl (and the little cups) know its true value. There's nothing else like it. It is the imperfections that make it perfect, as opposed to the machine made bowl whose pseudo-perfection renders it worthless in comparison to the handmade.

British Muslims in their twenties are met by a plethora of challenges as they face the prospect of getting married. There are various obstacles to manoeuvre around, each compounding and intertwining with the other. The fusion of our tangled British identity with our parents Asian/Arab/African culture presents one such challenge, and this is clouded by the general confusion that surrounds the whole marriage process, and how best to approach things.

Further complicating matters is our inability to separate the (not always bad, but often skewed) Hollywood, Bollywood and Disney images and expectations of love and marriage that have been imprinted on us. We also have to be honest about the streaks of emotional immaturity and lack of wisdom and foresight that taint our relationships (men tend to be plagued by this moreso), as well as our mental fragility and deficit in our psycho-social prowess to deal with life changes in general (women lead this ever so slightly more).

Most importantly for single British Muslims, however, is the weakness of our Islamic grounding and our relative distrust with what we know to be the loftiest principles to which we should choose our partners.

I apologise for focusing on the bleaker side of things. In any case, the resolution?

With ever increasing divorce rates, prevalence of hostile domestic environments, unidentified masses of empty-shell marriages, as well as a scary rise in the number of unmarried Muslims in their late twenties and thirties, we are yet to find model solutions to the marital conundrums that afflict generations of Muslims in Britain. The issues are real and aren’t going away, and it can only be enriching to reflect upon how we each stand in relation to them.

At least on an individual level, before going about finding a partner we need to appreciate that each and every one of us are misshaped, quirky pieces with our own unique history. The conventional assembly line "marriage machines" may give the illusion of a shiny flawlessness counterpart, but know that no two pieces fit together exactly, in fact there is a third piece in this jigsaw.

The Master Craftsman in His Wisdom created us with our bumps and flaws.

But know that regardless of how misshapen you are, you can ‘fit’ into His Divine jigsaw piece; the way of the best of creation (peace and blessings upon him,) the way of al-Islam.

I read once, that “your heart should be so close to God, that one must seek Him in order to find you.” The issues and challenges that surround getting married are plentiful and complex, but what we are charged with is to work on ourselves:

“...Truly, God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” (Qur'an, 13:11)

One of the surest ways of securing a fruitful and happy married life is to develop a deep and wholesome understanding and grounding in Islam, this coupled with a constant beautifying of your character.

A believer loves and is loved easily. Early 21st century psychologists explored how young men look for wives that resemble the endearing qualities of their mothers. Taking a step further we can look to the beautiful nature of the Mothers of the Believers, the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon them.) Often you will see brothers gazing into the distance, saying “I want to find my ‘Khadijah’... my `Ayesha’...” But what they fail to realise that they first must become as ‘Muhammadi’ as they can, embodying the best of men (peace and blessings be upon him,) before hoping to find such a gem of a woman. Expect your partner to be nothing but a reflection of you and your state, after all “A believer is a mirror to another believer”.

Prophetic tradition recognises the important role that beauty, attraction, wealth and family background play when choosing a life partner. But what is stressed beyond everything else is "Deen – (piety)" and "Akhlaq – (character)". We read in numerous hadith that one of the most desirable character traits in a partner is that of taqwah, God consciousness; that a pious partner is the most valuable treasure on this earth. What is interesting, however, is the mentioning of character; that decorating a secure Islamic foundation is the subtleties of one’s personality. We cannot underestimate this issue of compatibility, and this is where seeking the counsel from family and friends plays an integral role in giving an objective, detached perspective.

Rumi once wrote “if you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?” Just like the time and effort put into the handmade punch bowls, the sincere tears, the nights in prayer and the days fasting adds a unique and deep value to your persona. It’s easy in the confusion of it all to feel disconnected from Allah, but remember it is in these moments when He's inviting you to Him.

Ibn Ata'illah wrote:

"If you make intense supplication, and the timing of the answer is delayed, do not despair of it. His reply to you is guaranteed; but in the way He chooses, not the way you choose, and at the moment He desires, not the moment you desire."

Remember this path we find ourselves on is a well-trodden one. After striving to better yourself, put your trust in your Creator for truly “...Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him)” (Qur'an, 3:159)

By Bilal Hassam, British Muslim doctor and activist.
Bilal recently appeared on 4Thought.tv to share his Muslim views about putting the elderly in care homes.

Co-founder of The Leaf Network, Bilal chairs the Planting Seeds Forum, an innovative and ambitious initiative connecting together the best of emerging Muslim voices with the highest levels of scholarship.

More on Muslim marriage:
Muslim Marriage: Husbands, Know Your Rights
Sabr In A Marriage, EXTRA Sabr With The In-Laws
What's Love Got To Do With It?

Design Molvi Makes Radical Islamic Clothing

2011-10-02T10:06:00.001+01:00

MUSLIMNESS wears Design Molvi's latest Dawah t-shirt, 'Muslim Fun-damentalist'

'Design Molvi' are a British based design store that sells casual wear inspired by Islamic humour. Their colourful and provocative t-shirts carry ethical messages which according to the site, aims to "put the cool back into t-shirt wearing".

'Molvi' is the South-East Asian word for a religious leader, usually associated with the stern mosque teachers who are stereotypically imported from India and Pakistan to teach young European and American Muslims about their Islamic faith. A 'design' molvi however, which I imagine would resemble a salwar-kameez wearing bearded man on a skateboard, is a great comical addition to Islamic Dawah.

To see how their designs work in the field of Dawah, promoting the Islamic message, we tried out their hottest new t-shirt with the ironic slogan: Muslim Fun-damentalist.

Design Molvi pokes fun at this term like Riz MC's controversial 9/11 Blues song from 2006. In an in-your-face-I'm-here-to-stay attitude, it's silly. But that's what makes it work.

The term 'fundamentalist' is not a negative word. In any dictionary you'll read that fundamentalism is a form of Protestant Christianity which believes in the strict and literal interpretation of the Bible. This can also be applied to Islam as Muslims are supposed to follow the fundamental doctrine of the Qur'an - from which Islamic law is founded (Shariah).

Fast forward to the 21st century though, and all you hear on television, the internet and newspapers is "watch out for those radical Muslims, they'll eat your children!"

I tested the tee out for a day. Walking in public, into shops and the post-office where the slogan was visible, the majority of people turned to look at me for just a few seconds longer. I smiled at them, most smiled back. The message was made obvious by those who got the joke but some may have found it distasteful as I could tell by their frowns.

The good news is that the Muslim Fun-damentalist messageworks. It gets attention, it's ludicrously bright coloured and it has the potential to start dialogue. The only minute criticism would lie in the weave of the 100% cotton which tends to attract dust fluff and a note to the ladies: buy a medium and large sized t-shirt to layer over a full sleeved top.

Finding faith in fashion - Muslims love Jesus too

Amongst Design Molvi's portfolio are their flagship tee "Smile, It's Sunnah", spreading the infectious prophetic positivity, and "Salah, Just Pray It", a spin on Nike's cult-like following. In current financial stresses their "Islam: 0% Interest" reflects the surge in Islamic banking.

With a huge Facebook membership and international customers, design Molvi is quickly becoming a popular brand in the Muslim market. We wish them the best of success, insha'Allah, God willing.

{Design Molvi}

More urban fashion:
StyleIslam - Street Style T-shirts And Multimedia
Profound Aesthetic T-shirts Show Urban Wisdom
Silk Route's Style In Jilbaab Competition
Ala Dergi Is Turkey's Vogue Magazine

♫ Fathi Otmani's 'The Most High' Is Yoga For The Soul

2011-09-29T00:32:00.000+01:00

Fathi Otmani's The Most High is simply yoga for the soul.

The Amsterdam born nasheed (Islamic music) artist recently created 'The Most High', an eclectic music video praising God, with support from Islamic Relief.

'The Most High' carries a message of taubah, repentance for listeners. It questions a Muslim's heart, which is meant to be in a cognizant state of "absent from thee, I languish still". The song recognises that sometimes you do not have the strength to read the Qur'an as ethereally as you used too, and performing aeronautics while praying has clearly become a thing of the past.

Then this dainty by Otmani comes meandering its way to your ears, and attempts to heal your grieving heart. I believe it does. Listening to the track and watching the video's overly-repeated waves crashing into the coastline - it can and does undo some of the niggling troubles that were captive in your mind. If only for a few moments.

Fathi's aim for singing these hymns was to show mainstream audiences the softer, musical side to Islam and that the religion does not have room for antagonism.

He says on his site,

"I hope that my efforts in making my music can bring at least a small amount of change in people’s perception of this beautiful Deen."

Fathi's swallow-like singing style echoes the dua (supplication) Muslims make when they turn to God to ask for help. The song is a prayer, sung to higher-pitched string instruments and a pop-like beat.

'Wa bashir as-sabireen - and good tidings for the patient', a sublime verse to take refuge in

Amongst Fathi Otmani's work is the internationally known 'Ya Rabbi', an Arabic translation for 'Oh my Lord'. Ya Rabbi is a great contrast from his latest, although both are in essence prayers to God asking for help.

The young Dutch switches from English to Arabic in both tunes, but The Most high is enlivened with a distinctive hip hop-ish beat. It is the song that could be played in the car and sung to with friends. On the other hand, Ya Rabbi is one you could listen to in a Robert Frost-ic journey of the soul, glistening harps, in the early morning, on repeat, and... you get the visual.

Listen to {The Most High by Fathi Otmani}

More musika:
NEW Outlandish Track ♫ After Every Rainfall
Review: Rahim Music
Dasham Brookin's Spoken Soul

Dawud Wharnsby On Frugal Living From Canada To Pakistan

2011-09-26T03:01:00.002+01:00

Eco-Muslim: Dawud Wharnsy promotes a simpler lifestyle with his wife and children at his seasonal home in Pakistan

As the latest musical creation by Canadian singer-song writer Dawud Wharnsby is released - A Picnic of Poems: In Allah's Green Garden, MUSLIMNESS Editor Zaufishan Iqbal talks to the talent behind the poetry to find out why we all need a dose of simpler living.

I'm a Muslim environmentalist at heart and absolutely love meeting activists who share that excitement for protecting the planet. Dawud Wharnsby is in our list of heroes for his decades of songs that unite people from all walks of life. This year, Dawud began writing his environment blog "Follow A Poet, Following Goats" from Abbottabad, Pakistan, where he and his young family recycle and eat mangoes. My respect for the artist has just escalated.

As-salam`alaykum Dawud. I'm interested in what lead to the creation of Picnic of Poems? Is it a natural progression from your artistic performance work?

Dawud Wharnsby: Indeed, it was very much a natural progression in my work. As a writer and artist, it has always been my objective to work on projects that feel natural and honest to me. Many artists, particularly recording artists under contract to music companies or financial bakers, must often produce music to meet public or commercial demands. For a man such as myself, that can be very stifling and restrictive to the creative process.

As an independent writer, I am free to use my expression more as a means of personal exploration. My work is a created from and is a path of reflection and assessment, while I am also releasing material I feel is lacking commercially in global music, literary or even education arenas.

I work very much like a potter or painter - just me in my home studio, uninterrupted and without pressure. I read, research, reflect, stew and ponder a long time on things long before the ideas start flowing while I am in my garden or hanging laundry.

A CD accompanies the book of 30 poems

And Picnic Of Poems? What inspired you to take us outside with you and back to our roots?

Dawud Wharnsby:As a father who is passionate about holistic learning and living, I was inspired a few years ago to create a series of poems and songs for children which reflect a very rudimentary approach to learning and the understandings of life and faith.

Edging toward middle age myself, these past few years of my life have been an exciting time of re-evaluating my own purpose, faith and understanding of myself in relation to my creator.

How did you yourself become an eco-warrior?

Dawud Wharnsby: As I mentioned in my first Blog post "I will arise and go now": my life's objective has always been to try and live simply, in balance with community and nature. But I got "off track" for a good decade or more - writing songs and inadvertently falling into the unnatural pigeon hole of a "nasheedsinger", singing more about Allah's creation than actually cultivating it and learning from it. 'Out Seeing The Fields' was my way of politely saying "I'm leaving folks... you'll find me under open sky." Now, a Picnic Of Poems is where I am at: on a picnic, rediscovering Allah's creation and my own faith.

At MUSLIMNESS, we introduced Picnic of Poems to appreciative school children. I wonder if the older generation will "get" your quaint poetry and scenic book. So, for whom is Picnic of Poems, In Allah's Green Garden?

Dawud Wharnsby:In many ways, "A Picnic of Poems In Allah's Green Garden" is as much about my own ongoing spiritual journey as it is about the growth and development of my children's religious identities.

The collection, though marketed as a children's book of poem and accompanying CD, still really picks up conceptually on the heels of my last adult focused album "Out Seeing The Fields". The songs on that collection revolved around honesty of self, the quests for a more organic lifestyle and more organic approach to faith. It conjured up images of "leaving to find something better", dealing with discontentment of self, career and dogma. And in fact the last song "Eight Years Old" explores the idea of seeking to regain faith and purpose by tapping into the childhood innocence within us.

"A Picnic of Poems" is the next step for us all - taking our children by the hand and getting out-doors together to experience creation - the ultimate Sign of Allah's existence.

Now that you're living what some might call an enviable greener deen, masha'Allah, how does life in Pakistan compare to Canada?

Dawud Wharnsby:My personal opinion is that, residing in semi-rural Pakistan lends itself to Simple Living far more than residing on my home turf of Canada, simply because Pakistan is so much less industrialized.

The Mennonite communities near my hometown of Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, embrace a form of Simple Living. Yet, they will be the first to tell you that the challenges are many when your family and community are surrounded by - or split up by - rapid urban growth and the socially-expected adoption of commercialism to one's life.

In places like North America, while independent farmers and truck drivers struggle to make ends meet, the wealthy elite buy up hobby-farm land, build 100% eco friendly mansions, purchase 100% organic fertilizers (and groceries if their crops fail) and even buy bulk at Costco because they know the excessive packaging can just be tossed in a recycle bin at week's end.

To me, that is not "Simple Living", it is decadence in the highest degree and a mockery of the true philosophical essence of Simple Living, which is more about working towards one's happiness - not just "buying" it ready-made. - Dawud Wharnsby

For me, trying to balance frugality, an ecologically friendly lifestyle and a socially responsible attitude toward my fellow humans who struggle financially is more easily accomplished in an environment where there is far less corporate presence and weaker social pressures to keep up with The Jones'.

Yes, my homeland of Canada, and my grandfather's homeland of Britain, respect cultural and religious diversity, and yes their political systems are delightfully democratic (with greater social concern than other countries boasting "democracy") -

But at the end of the day, the philosophy governing their lifestyle is still rooted in capitalism. And so is the assumption that your security and happiness are determined by the capital you have - either through business profits or paid wages.- Dawud Wharnsby

Mennonites communities back home in Canada opt out of governmental financial aid as well as military service, in an effort to maintain a deeper degree of self-substance. However, the ridged social structure of many Mennonite communities also means that they are "set apart" from others socially in many ways.

In Pakistan, corporate presence (and thus, commercialism) is growing - creating incredible chasms between the minority of wealthy elite and the majority of the country's citizens who live on less than $2.00 US dollars per day. Though the humble majority might dream of more money and a better life, they are far more concerned with "living" than with keeping up to fashion trends.

Dawud sports a kameez for
harvesting wheat

From a personal perspective, I am able to live in Pakistan with very low expenses, meaning that more of the income to my international businesses can go to local charitable efforts here. It's a win, win, win scenario.

Life, and the infrastructure where I live in Pakistan, are akin to life in rural America almost 80 years ago. Many common people keep chickens for their eggs, goats or cows for milk, and grow vegetables on whatever small spot of land they may have. Rain harvesting is a common practice and almost everything is recycled or reused - out of necessity and not because it is fashionable, trendy or municipally demanded to do so.

Socks are mended by needle and thread, cobblers still fix shoes with nails using recycled leather parts, plumbers still thread pipes with actual thread, school exercise books are still fashioned from recycled paper and many school children (including my own daughter) still use a slate on their lap to practice penmanship - as was done in the US over 100 years ago.

Life moves more slowly and though modern technology helps with communication (my family and I stay connected to the world by laptop and even local shepherds sit by their flocks and text message friends) generally speaking, people have not become slaves to it.

As you're encouraging a lifestyle of 'less', less consumption, less waste, how isPicnic of Poemsrelevant to contemporary working Muslims?

Dawud Wharnsby:During the mid to late 1990's and into the early 2000's I was greatly inspired to write and record spiritually-centred songs for families, dealing with subject matter that was of direct relevance to English speaking muslims around the world. My work initially dealt with basic dogmatic aspects of faith (such as prayer and tradition) but as my audiences grew both in number and in age, and as my approach to faith continued to grow and mature, I began to write about heavier issues such as religious pluralism, child abuse, depression, hypocrisy and other issues affecting youth in this 21st century.

As the trend of "Islamic Nasheed" became more and more commercial, and as I felt I had less to say to the mosque-going minority of muslims around the world. A Picnic Of Poems ventures into different forms of music expression which are still spiritually rooted, but more socially conscious and lyrically introspective.

So, Canada or Pakistan - which country is it easier to live as an eco-Muslim?

Dawud Wharnsby:I Love Canada with all my heart, and wish deeply that I could secure land there in beautiful Southern Ontario near my parents, have a small farm and live as my own mental and physical stamina would allow. But sadly, land there is just too expensive to buy on cash and the rapid urban growth (leading to constantly changing by-laws surrounding zoning etc) as well as the social pressures of "fitting in" would simply be too much for me to handle.

I'd end up being a hermit, living in a bubble, and as my approach to Simple Living also recognizes the rich importance of community inter-dependency, I'd not be fulfilled either socially or ideologically.

Living among very simple and hard working people here in Pakistan seems to be the best option for my family and I at this stage in our lives - until perhaps, we are able to possibly purchase affordable land out on Canada's East Coast in the future...?

Zaufishan: Insha'Allah! God willing, we'll start a fund!

Your songs and poems have always promoted social equity and independent thinking. What messages should we, the avid social and eco-activists take from Picnic of Poems?

Dawud Wharnsby:As a man who writes primarily to sort out his own feelings, ideas and passions, I cannot claim to be an "educational writer" that I am trying to "teach". Releasing my work to the public is, and has always been, primarily rooted in a simple hope that others who may have asked the same questions about life as I have asked, felt the same joys or gone through the similar degrees of hardships I have gone through, may hear my work and realize that they are not alone.

The underlying message of all my songs - for eco-activits, parents, children, teachers and anyone else who lends an ear, can perhaps be summed up best by the lyrics to one of my new songs from "A Picnic of Poems",

♫ "You and I, wonder at the sky,
Call God a different name.
As we try - learn and long to fly,
You and I are so differently the same
On this earth, we're all of equal worth."

Sneak peak... Do you have any other projects growing in the field of Wharnsby?

Dawud Wharnsby:I have actually started work on my next adult CD, due out in 2012. It will be called The Simplicitea Recipe. The journey continues.

God willing, you will enjoy "A Picnic of Poems" when it finds its way to you. It really is the most meaningful project I have ever done and I pray that it may have a warm home with many families for many, many years to come.

Your support means a great deal to me and I am very honoured that you are helping get my poems out to the world.

Zaufishan: Shukran, shukria, thank you Dawud for sharing your poems and activism with us. We look forward to your poetry and make dua Allah blesses your work and family.

Images:: © Wharnsby.com

A Picnic of Poems: In Allah's Green Garden is available from Kube Publishing

Read Dawud Wharnsby's eco-poet blog {Follow A Poet, Following Goats} and stay updated on the artist's site {Enter Into Peace}.

More musical talents:
The British Muslim Song Book
I Found Dawud Wharnsby In Pakistan Drinking milk
Khalil Ismail, Muslim American 'Good' Rap Artist
Nasheed Group 'Native Deen' Introduce Mobile App
The Prophets of Islam - Kh'Amazing poem

Ala Dergi Is Turkey's Vogue Magazine

2011-09-25T03:26:00.002+01:00

Âlâ Dergi is Turkey's answer to the UK’s Vogue magazine

The fashion forward magazine, Âlâ Dergi, is becoming one of the most recognised Turkish publications despite its relatively recent debut in June 2011. Prevailing as a prospective market leader for Turkish women, the magazine specialises in modest Muslim style and trends.

Âlâ, (pronounced ‘Aa Laa’) is an Arabic derivative term meaning "superb, excellent" and is certainly a fitting name for an emerging frontrunner. The buzz surrounding the anticipated release of the modest style magazine saw a growth to over 70k on Âlâ’s Facebook fan page, notable Turkish press coverage and being stocked in elite Turkish bookshops. Not a bad feat considering the otherwise young age and new status of the magazine.

Magazine covers are sleek-chic

The success of Âlâ’s launch is much to do with the market need of Turkish women requiring relevant fashion guides akin to Western publications, such as Elle and Vogue but with strong Islamic benchmarks. That is, Muslim women who present the niche market of necessitating the continual ‘style with coverage’ trend.

This niche market, particularly with Turkey’s lack of a similar mag, is what ignited founders Volkan Atay and Burak Bier to form the concept of Âlâ Dergi.

Ironically, neither Atay or Bier are in fashion design. Hailing from a background in advertising, a photo interest for British Muslim magazine emel by its editor Sarah Joseph, lead to the interest in a similar Turkish flavoured lifestyle mag for Muslims.

The objective to become the go-to lifestyle source for Turkish Women was also one of the motivations for the founders. in fact, the magazine's Facebook description loosely states. “Âlâ is a world first for showing a passion for indispensable fashion, while offering the perspective of real Muslim women.”

"Hijab fashion" has been a debatable phrase in Muslim culture. Hijab is an Islamic ruling of modest coverage applicable to both women and men, calling for smart presentability without overt attention. The world of fashion however, is a "bare-all" industry. "What we call fashion tells us what we buy one season should be trashed the next season. This is incompatible with the Islamic code of faith," says Volkan.

Volkan also refutes using skin as a selling point:

"Fashion has variable rules such as revealing the arms and shortening skirt lengths. In a sense, Hijab also interferes in the form of standard covering. This is why it is wrong to call it 'hijab fashion'. Of course we are going to utilise fashionable details, but this does not mean the same thing as hijab fashion."

Âlâ Dergi's coverage clearly stands out amongst competitive 'zines

Given the fresh look-books and high couture, the alternate modest presentations in the glossy monthly would most likely attract women of other faith groups and fashion houses beyond Turkey. The crisp layout and sharp editorial photography is one of many assets that links the mag's regular topics - interior decor, women's health, child development, fashion focused interviews and cultural articles.

The editorial process: Âlâ is batch printed for stockists

Perhaps most importantly, Âlâ Dergi serves as the first ever dedicated dialogue portal between manufacturer’s and the hijabi consumers. Designer brands and companies tend to tell consumers what to wear, with market research focusing only on sizing and runway results controlling the designs.

Volkan states he hopes to change this, "[By] establishing a magazine that explores, deals with fashion and modest attire. In fact, bloggers have successfully built a bridge between the manufacturer and consumer. However, they only target an 'internet oriented' audience, whereas a magazine can reach the entire targeted hijabi audience."

A fresh new face and anticipating its potentially explosive future, Âlâ Dergi is the creative magazine, focusing on making modesty a market leader in its competitive turf. It seems the "Eurovision" identity is no longer defining Turkey's developing platform.

For subscription details visit {Âlâ Dergi}

More awesome 'zines:
'Muslim Quarterly' Revives Halal Sexuality
EMEL On Cycling To Hajj
Hijab Makes A Return To Tunisia - Yvonne Ridley

Who Am I And How Did I Get Here? Reflections From An American Muslim

2011-09-23T20:32:00.000+01:00

Award-winning Californian based film maker and photographer, Mustafa Davis shares his personal identity crises when faced with trying to explain the phenomenon of the 'American Muslim'.

Mustafa Davis is founder of Cinemotion Media, and co-founder of the Ta'leef Collective. This post was originally published on MustafaDavis.com:

Recently, my Facebook posts about my American Muslim identity have caused a slight uproar from certain people who have taken it upon themselves to inform me who I am and who I am allowed to be. To inform me that it is either impossible for me to be an American Muslim or worse, that my loyalty to my religion is now somehow in question because of it. I've been referred to as an "Uncle Tom" that doesn't care about oppressed people and likened to the Right Wing bigots that push policies to harm the disenfranchised. And all of this was decided about me by the mere fact that I said I was an "American Muslim." I've decided to write this note so that there is no ambiguity about who I am and how I got here.

I'm a decendant of Black Africans who came to this country as slaves (enslaved Africans). Who were stripped of everything they knew and everything they were (including names, identity, culture, and religion). They left them without a single trace of dignity or honor. Not only did they take everything away from my ancestors, they erased our entire history. For years I have tried to get people to understand what this means, how this feels and how it is a permanent part of who we are (whether we are conscious of it or not). If one doesn't know who they were, its nearly impossible to know who you are. I write this with tears in my eyes and with disbelief that the people who I have supposedly united with in GOD can be so crass and insensitive.

I was born in the Bay Area, California. My parents divorced when I was two years old and I moved with my mother to Sacramento and we lived in an impoverished neighborhood called Lincoln Village. I have no memories of my two parents together. I've tried many times over the years to try and conjure up at least one memory of my family living happily together, but unfortunately no such memory exists. My mother is German with blond hair and blue eyes. I am the only child she had with my black father and she remarried a white man which means all of my siblings are full white, making me the only black child in my family. I remember being teased by my black friends because I lived with a white family. I was called "Webster" and "Arnold" growing up (in reference to television sitcoms which depicted black children being raised by white families). My mother used to bring my birth certificate with her to sign me up for school and sports because they didn't believe I was really her son.

I grew up poor as a latchkey child in a broken home. My mother worked as a waitress and my step-father worked for the local phone company. Arguments were the norm. Fists punching through walls, dishes breaking, yelling, and cursing were routine. My parents thought I was psychologically affected by being the only black child in a white family and so I saw my first psychiatrist at age 5. By the time I was 16 years old, I was on drugs, failing all my classes, and I was eventually kicked out of high school. My mother could no longer deal with me and sent me away to live with my biological father.

My white friends used to talk about how the "niggers" acted and make fun of my hair. The trauma of identity struggle is something I've always known.

My father was an educated man but had recently lost his job. We spent the next two years living in different apartments and staying on couches at some of his friends houses. We were staying in a cockroach/rat infested halfway house and one day my father asked me to take a walk with him. We walked for about 4 hours (we didn't have a car) to the Greyhound bus depot in downtown San Jose. He bought me a one way ticket to Sacramento and said very clearly to me: "I've been poor all my life and I can handle it. But I can't watch as you go through it too. I'm sending you back to your mom until I can get on my feet again." And he put me on the bus back to Sacramento. My mother told me that I could not stay with her (as it wasn't possible for my step-father and I to be under the same roof). I had gotten so jacked up on drugs and other "less than favorable" activities that none of my friends wanted anything to do with me. I had nowhere to go. I was exhausted.

Tired of my lifestyle, tired of my family, but mostly I was tired of myself. I decided that I was done with the world and that it was time to check out. I took a bottle of muscle relaxants and a bottle of Tylenol, sat down on the kitchen floor and swallowed almost every single pill.

My sister came home from work early that day and and found me lying face down on the kitchen floor in a pool of saliva with a few pills scattered around me. She knew instantly what I had done and called my mother for help. My memories from this point on are blurred. Time was no longer linear. I remember my mother and sister dragging me to the bathroom and putting me in the bathtub filled with cold water and ice cubes to try and prevent me from falling asleep. My mother kept shoving her fingers down my throat to get me to vomit. It wasn't working and I was fading very quickly. My next memory is arriving at the hospital. I was put on a gurney and rushed into the emergency room. I remember pushing the nurses off of me because I didn't want them to help me. They eventually brought some nurses in to hold my arms and legs down as the doctor put a 1/2" tube up my nose and down into my throat. They pumped charcoal into my stomach to counter the effect of the drugs. (The doctors later told me I was about 3 to 5 minutes away from complete cardiac arrest.)

My next memory is waking up in excruciating pain laying on a bed in the ICU (the tube was still in my nose and down in my throat). My mother was in the corner of the room crying and my first thought was "Damn... it didn't work" (I was upset that I was still alive). By California law I was required to serve 3 months in Sutter Memorial Mental Institution and I hopped the fence and escaped on my first night. I was picked up about 3 hours later by the police, brought back and put in the maximum security unit. It was in this place that I saw people who were truly mentally disturbed. A girl who used to bang her head against the wall until she bled, a boy who would scratch the skin off of his cheeks, another who would pull off her own finger nails and sit with bloody hands. Others who walked around screaming at imaginary friends.

Within a couple weeks I decided that if I got out of that place that I would dedicate my life to helping people. It was the very first time in my life that I called on God for assistance. There were many things that led up to me wanting to end my life. But now as an adult looking back, I can admit that identity struggle played a major role.

Fast forward to age 24 when I converted to Islam. I thought that converting to Islam would help me with my search for identity but instead it execerbated the problem. I was told that I couldn't be American because America was the land of disbelievers and Muslims could not emulate disbelievers. In fact, I was told that if I emulated them, I would be one of them and that the place for a "disbeliever" was in the hell-fire. So, I left America and made Hijra (migration) to Mauritania. I spent the next 11 years traveling the Muslim world in search of a culture that I could relate to and make my own so I could leave my "Americanness" behind and have a chance at getting to Paradise. It didn't work.

It took me a long to realize that the very people who were telling (and continue to tell me) that I cannot be American, hail from Muslim majority countries that have very beautiful, rich cultures. They know who they are (regardless if they want to be it). They know who their ancestors were, what they did, how they lived. I've never had that luxury. I don't know who my ancestors are. I don't know if they were kings and queens or criminals. My history was erased. Other Muslims get to say "I am Afghani, Pakistani, Malaysian, Sudanese, Egyptian, Nigerian, Palestinian, Bosnian, Moroccan, Indian, Algerian, etc." I will never be able to say that. "American" is not an ethnicity. It is a cultural identity. Black Americans have no cultural ties to our homeland. We cannot go back to Africa. We have no idea where in Africa to go? Are we from Nigeria? Senegal? Niger? Chad? Ivory Coast? Etc. We have no idea.

Black Americans don't have any home other than America. We have no other place to go. America is the ONLY home we know. We were stripped of everything else. I most certainly do not praise American politics or its treatment of minorities and/or impoverished, disenfranchised communities. That would mean I agree with the enslavement of my own people. But when Muslims tell us that we cannot be American because that means we support ALL things America, it means they are telling us we cannot exist. I will say that again: it means they are telling us that WE CANNOT EXIST. They can always fall back on their rich cultural heritages (that are often mistakenly called Islamic cultures. They are not, they are merely cultures where the majority of the inhabitants are Muslims). But I don't have that luxury or ability. America is the only culture I have to identify with. Telling me it's not possible is pushing me into nonexistence. I don't think people with such rich cultures and heritages fully understand what its like to not have that to fall back on.

My only recourse is either to reject American culture altogether and adopt some other culture (which all have nationalistic nuances just like America) or accept the elements of this society that do speak to my people while rejecting those that don't. Now put Islam in the picture and the very real cultural imperialism that exists within the Muslim community, and you have a lost people.

You have a people who are already down and doing all they can to pick themselves up - yet continually getting kicked back down by people who claim to be their brothers and sisters.

It's easier for people who have such rich cultures to shun American culture entirely. In fact, I do not blame them. If I had some other culture that I could adhere to, I most probably would. I travelled the world for 12 years looking for that culture but instead what I found were different manifestations of the same problems (obviously not as grand) as I found in America. So I was then left with a choice. If all cultures have both positives and negatives then it would make sense to accept the fact that I am American now by design from God and take the good aspects of it and leave the bad.

I'm not an "Uncle Tom". I'm a man that believes in fighting for my people. And a major issue plaguing my people is that of having no real cultural identity and the self hate that comes along with that. I tried to commit suicide when I was 18 years old because of identity issues.

We of all people understand the systematic oppression that certain aspects of the government impose on all people (at home and abroad). But all we can do is take what's good and then work hard to fix the ills that we are also victims of. I want social justice just as much as everyone else. I just don't want to have to not exist to get it. I don't want America to disappear, I want to make it a better place. I don't want my children to go through the same identity issues that I went through. I don't want them to feel the pain I feel. I want them to be strong, confident, Muslims that fight for social change.

I am an American Muslim and no amount of arguing how that is an impossible dichotomy will change that. I don't have a choice. I am who I am, regardless if people would prefer that I was something else. My story is not over and it is certainly not unique. There are many people from many different backgrounds who are struggling in one way or another. They don't need to be told who they are or who they can't be, especially by people who haven't cared enough to take the time to find out the slightest thing about them first before passing judgement. My father once told me: "You influence every person you come in contact with. It is up to you whether or not that will be a positive influence or a negative one." May we all be of benefit to ourselves and others and may we all realize the potential for greatness that lies within each one of us.

For more photography and art work visit
{Mustafa Davis}

More art activism:
American Muslim Youth And The Tar Sands
Art Feature: Rachid Lamrabat's 'Evolution Prayer'
Muslims In The West, Cool Photo Journal
British Photographer: The Art Of Integration by Peter Sanders
UK's First Ever Kuwaiti Pop Art Exhibition

Movie: Change Of Heart, Exposing Muslim Marriage

2011-09-23T03:08:00.000+01:00

Change of Heart, a short movie about convert Muslim marriages, exposes the fragility of human ideals

*Warning, contains spoilers

West Dawn Media, established in 2010 by Jonathan Abdilla, has created a nugget of movie gold for Muslim audiences. Focusing on typical problems that arise within Muslim marriage, the film opens up questions surrounding what happens when two convert Muslims with not-as-Islamic backgrounds, enter into a Muslim marriage. Change of Heart was officially publicised over the summer and made viral through the West Dawn Media YouTube channel where the movie is available to watch in full.

The Plot
Change Of Heart opens with a walking conversation between a Muslim couple, Maryam and Nour. They have the kindness in their speech of a newly wed and have bonded enough to show some time has passed. They're comfortable with each other, they exude 'muslimness' in their appearance. However, there's a glitch. A glitch that turns into a nightmarish regret, particularly for the husband.

Bumping into an old friend from before he converted to Islam, Nour is told some unsavoury news by Kevin about his wife. What was a typical and acceptable dating lifestyle for the non-Muslim woman, has become a tainted background for the convert wife Maryam. "It's cool, she's changed now", says Kevin, nonchalantly. But Nour only hears "she used to get around, if you know what I mean."

At one of two confrontations, Maryam pleads, "but you knew I wasn't practising (Islam) when I was younger, why are you doing this?" And therein lies the dilemma.

The Ugly Truth
As the movie unfolds, we hear two sides to the convert argument. When a person chooses to accept Islam and become Muslim, essentially his or her background is swiped clean like a formatted hard-drive. Muslims believe past sins are forgiven by the permission of God, and a future of potential and growth awaits. But as Maryam in the movie beautifully notes to her young sister, and is the key that binds the past and present of our lives,

"You know how I say Allah is the most merciful and can forgive all sins?. Well, sometimes, even if Allah forgives a person of their sins - that sin can still affect them in this life."

The ugly truth is in trying to understand a convert's background. How much should he or she share with new founded relationships? Is it fair for a husband or wife to want to know every gritty detail about their partners' past?

Who's loving you? Maryam is left feeling like a 'ho' for her dating background

And this is what Nour, the "betrayed" husband argues with his tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee friends. One friend jokes with the popular quick-fix, "look, you're having problems with one wife, so what you do is, get another wife and just try to solve it from there, right?"

As a representative of Muslim men, Nour defends his non-Muslim background against his wife. His justification? "It's not the same, it's different for guys". Different. Different how? Different where? This is the area I wanted Change Of Heart to explore deeper. What are his reasons as a Muslim to leave his wife for "her reputation"? Is it hurt, betrayal, dishonesty or all of the above?

We're given two extremes of marital expectations that exist in contemporary Muslim marriages. One is of extreme hope, the other of intense regret. After the revelation of her past the husband instantaneously leaves his wife, and yet he entered the marriage with ideals: "She's like the perfect wife, she even helps me with my deen."

Where's My Apology?
Just over 19 minutes long, there is only so much dialogue a short film can contain. I find myself mentally asking for more script during the stretched-out pauses. I'm asking for an argument between the couple, for more movement, more emotion. More.

A tipping point arrives when during the second confrontation, Maryam demands for her husband to speak about his issues. We see the heartbreak of a man who idolised his wife to the point of denying she could make a mistake. Ex-boyfriends, alcohol and a non-Muslim lifestyle is incomprehensible to this devout Muslim man who, like any other man, loves his wife for her good qualities, not her one-night stands. "It kills me to even think about it." I can sympathise.

But when faced again with his own non-Muslim past, he refutes with gender disparities. He does not even apologise, which was the climactic scene I expected in order for his redemption. I'm relieved that Maryam's character finally says what's in my head:

"How is it different for a guy? Is it different in the sight of Allah?"

A message, truly, for all Muslims. Watch Change Of Heart in full here:

Link to video {http://youtu.be/-7UJVVsIS8A}

Images:: Intellectual property of West Dawn Media ©

See more behind the scenes

{West Dawn Media - Change Of Heart}

More for movie buffs:
Veto Films: 'Just The Face' Documentary on French Burqah Ban
Paradise Now, A Palestinian Mission
'Journey To Mecca' Documentary Of Ibn Battuta
'West Is West' - Film Review

Shaykh Hamza Yusuf's 2011 Eid Sermon: "Get Up. Remove Darkness With Light"

2011-09-21T14:17:00.004+01:00

From California on the day of `Eid-ul-fitr, renowned Muslim figure shaykh Hamza Yusuf gave the `Eid sermon (khutba) on Wednesday, 31st August, after completing 30 days of fasting in the Islamic month Ramadan. We have provided a transcript of the speech and encourage all viewers to learn, implement and share the beautiful wisdom of Allah and his Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Shaykh Hamza Yusuf begins with a du`a (supplication).

"`Eid mubarak. Alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah, all praise belongs to Allah. Allah in the Qur'an says,

'They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the new moons. Say, "They are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj"...' (Qur'an, 2: 189)

The sighting of the new moon with the human eye has historically been the way of determining the new month, despite the fact they were quite capable of doing calculations for centuries.

We're living in a time where we have incredible technology, to monitor the the galaxy, to monitor planets. At one time we thought there were only five planets. Now we're discovering there could be up to 4 billion planets just in our own galaxy.

Th Prophet, peace be upon him, determined that the 29th day of Ramadan day is where we go out to search for the 30th moon, he called it, "The day of doubt". This is because there's no certainty whether you can sight the moon or not. According to the Naval Observatory website, it says it's not possible to sight a moon with certainty with the naked eye in the first 24 hrs of the new month. This is exactly what the Prophet's calling it. To eliminate it means there's absolutely no doubt and this still is not true. There is an uncertainty.

To those Muslims who hold onto tradition, "Sumu ri ru' ya tihi, fast when you see the moon." Here, "Ru' ya tihi" is a sight, it has to be seen with the eyes. "Wa afturili ri ru' ya tihi", the fuqaha determined that a group should see it, but not everybody has to see it. And Muslims end the month with what is called "jam`uh ghafeer", which is a majority, a large number of people confirming the new moon.

Two days ago we went out but we did not see the moon. There was one report in South America of a moon sighting; I personally did not feel comfortable, and I want to commend the SPIA for taking that same position just because if you hasten an act of worship (`ibadat) before its time, it's unacceptable. But if you delay an `ibadah for gaining certainty, you get a reward. So, by waiting an extra day to have certainty, all you can do is benefit!

Even yesterday when we went out to see the moon, it was a tiny sliver, a new moon. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "The end of time will not come until people who see a first day moon say, 'this is two days old!'"

Having said that, the people who broke their fast yesterday, insha'Allah that's valid because they were following their leadership and those who give fatwah, the accountability is on them - not everyone is responsible. I'm not saying in anyway it was invalid, I'm just saying that I certainly feel more comfortable having completed 30 days. Praise Allah.

Now at the end we learn Ramadan is a madrasah, a school to learn certain behavioral patterns to take for the rest of the year. So let us remind ourselves: The Lord of Ramdan is also the Lord of every month of the year - The Lord of Shawwal and Dhul Hijjah and Dhul Qa`da. Ramadan has ended, our behaviour needs to continue.

In Ramadan, people get closer to Allah because of the nature of Ramadan. They don't backbite (although this is prohibited outside of Ramadan). We're extra vigilant in order to train ourselves.

Imam Ghazali says, if you can control yourself with food and sexuality, then you can control all other things easier. These are two primary drives in the human being. The Eros drive, and the need for satiation, for food.

In learning to discipline the soul, we get closer to Allah. Prophet Muhammad said in a hadith placed in An-Nawawi's collection, which indicates it primacy as one of the central ahadith in Islam:

1) "At-Tahoor, shatrul 'imaan - Purification is half of faith". (Hadith number 23, on Kalamullah)

An-Nawawi mentions in his commentary that Imam Ghazali said "at-tahoor" here means purification of the heart. Purifiying your heart is half of faith. One half is to enter into faith and the other half is tazkiya. Allah says about the soul, "He has succeeded who purifies it, And he has failed who instills it [with corruption]." - who stunts it. (Qur'an, 91:9-10). Tazkiyah is central to Islamic tradition and Ramadan is the month for tazkiyah, the purification of the heart and disciplining the soul.

Allah says, "O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous." (Qur'an, 2:183)

Ramadan is so that you can learn spiritual discipline, getting closer to God, being more obedient.

Then the Prophet said, saying alhamdulillah will fill the mizaan, the scales, which according to tradition is bigger than heavens and earth. And saying Subhan'Allahi aalhamdulllahi is filling what is between the heavens and earth.

He further said, "was-salatu noorun - prayer, the salah is a light". How is it a light? In a factual (muttawatir) hadith, he said, "Give good tidings to those who go in the darkness (at night prayer, 'isha and fajr) of complete light on the day of Judgement."

On Judgement Day, when you're moving forward there are stages where it becomes completely dark. And those who did not have prayer in this world, they don't have any light to see. So prayer is a light, it will guide you.

"Inna salata tanha anan fa` sha'i wal munkar - Prayer will prevent you from doing foul and disobedient things". It increases your light. The more spiritual light you have, the more you can contribute to the elimination of darkness in the world. Darkness cannot succees because it is not a positive quality, it is a negative quality.

If you enter darkness into a room filled with light, it can't dispel the light. But if you have a room filled with darkness, one bit of light that enters the room will illuminate all the darkeness. Light is positive! And that is what we are accruing with our spiritual practice, LIGHT, in order to dispel the negativities that exist in this world.

THIS Is the role of those who believe in God. Of those who believe there's a Day of Judgement and that you're going to be taken into account.

The Prophet went on to say, "Wa-sadaqah tu burhaan - And charity is a proof."

Charity is a proof of your belief, in how you give to others. Allah says "Inna al-insana khuliqa halu`a - Indeed, mankind was created in a state of anxiety" (Qur'an, 70:19). We come into the world screaming, in a state of 'hala'. Allah says in the same verse, "When evil touches him, he's impatient," he becomes completely destablised. And "when good touches him, he withholds," he's greedy, he's covetous, he wants to keep it for himself, he doesn't want to share -"Ill'al musalleen - EXCEPT those who pray."

This is a different state of mind, these believers are connected to Allah. They are constant in their prayer, some say it's "sujud al-qalb", the prostration of the heart that is in constant prayer. The heart has a prostration like the head. These are the believers who give in their wealth - for those who ask, those who don't ask and you can still see they have a need.

At the end of Ramadan we pay zakat-ul-fitr. Zakat-ul-fitr is a dedicated "sa'a" from each person, a portion that's given to those who need. It used to be a portion of grain but now, in the Hanafi madhab (school of thought) we pay money and distribute because it faciliates it for places that need it more than we do. We give zakat at the end of Ramadan because we have just spent learning about hunger, that there are many people who are hungry.

It's inexcusalbe that we have famine today! We have a globalised system and the means to take food anywhere on the planet, and yet we have people starving in East Afrca. Completely unacceptable. And then we have people vomiting from over-eating. You can go to the store and see rows and rows of dyspeptic medicines for indigestion, for people who eat too much, who don't need that food. Really, it's a billion dollar industry in the United States, from people over-eating. We have become an obese society. People taking more calories than they need.

`Umar radhi Allah `anhu (may Allah be pleased with him) once saw a large bellied man making tawaf (circumambulation of Kabah) and put his stick next to his stomach and said, "this would be better on someone else who needed it." Right?!

One of the Muritanian poets said, "I'm amazed at a religion that calls for the fraternity of mankind, and yet we see some dying from hunger and some from over-eating, from satiety." He's amazed at this, asking well, how can a religion who takes care of the needy allow this?

The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said, "Nobody is a believer who goes to bed full and his neighbour is hungry". It negates your faith! And now in a globalised society, your neighbour can be a thousand miles away. Because we know about all the people now, before they had exuses of distance, today we know!

Brothers and sisters, this religion calls us to reflect on death. The Prophet peace be upon him meditated on death, not in a morbid way, but to teach us the fragility of life. We're moving through life, and we'll be confronted with a momentous ovent.

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said to hold onto the rope of Allah, this Book. Everything you need is in the Qur'an as explained by Prophet Muhammad.

In conclusion, the central theme of the book of Allah is to believe in Allah and live righteously. What does this mean? When the Prophet, peace be upon him, was asked by a man for advice, he "Qul aman tu billah thum-mustaqim - say, I believe in Allah and then BE upright." And what is uprightness? All of the Qur'anic ethics can be summarised in one verse where Allah calls for us to come! Elevate yourself. When you ask someone "ta aala" it means to stand, to get up. Elevate yourselves!

And I will tell you what God says you should and should not do in the Qur'an, chapter 17, verses 22-35:

Don't associate partners with God
Show goodness to parents - filial piety. We're living in a time where parents are denegraded but you need to show filial piety.
Don't kill your children - no abortions or a fear of poverty. Allah says He will provide for you and for them! So the usool (above the head) and the fur'ooa` (below), the roots and the branches, are like the parents and the children.

Each one of us is a trunk and these are the roots to our trunk; our roots are our parents and our branches are our children. You need the whole tree to be holistic. You have to have a healthy whole tree, if you cut off the roots, you kill the trunk, and if you cut off the branches, there's no fruit. This is the tree of life. And this is why we're here - because of our parents, and this is why we continue - through our children. This tree of life needs to be nurtured and that is what Allah is calling us to do, to nurture this tree.

Don't go near fornication, do not go to theft and these other forbidden (haram) things that cause destruction to your societies. These are diseases of the heart, and diseases of society.
Do not kill any soul that Allah has sanctified - Muslim, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, it doesn't matter, it is a sanctifed soul. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, stood up for the funeral of a Jew, it's recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari, and it was at a time when there was friction between the Jews and Muslims. The Prophet stood up and the Sahaba said, "this is a Jewish man," and the Prophet said, "wa laysat nafsa? - isn't this a human soul?" He respected the soul, he stood out of respect for that soul going back to its Lord, irrespective of its creed or its colour or cast. It doesn't matter! It's a soul and we cannot judge that soul. Alalh will judge that soul. Don't kill any soul! Allah is telling you to do this in order ot behave rationally, to believe.

We've got madness in our community, just recently an idiot went into a masjid and killed 50 people thinking it was a good idea. We've got madness in these cycles of violence. The only thing tht will break this cycle is intelligent people refusing to be part of this madness and demanding that there will be a different way. Allah says, do not kill a sanctified soul. That is your religion.

Don't go near the orphans' wealth, don't touch it.
And be just in your economics. That's the basis of healthy society, is just economics. Look at the economic systems of other countries and look at ours. People were robbed, their houses were robbed. These banks that committed daylight, bank robbery. It used to be where you went in and robbed a bank but now the banks are robbing the people! This is how distorted it's gotten. The banks were bailed out with billions but Mr and Mrs B weren't bailed out, their house was taken. Allah says, don't consume one another's wealth with lies, with vanities. Don't do it. Allah says a balanced economy is for commercial transactions where both sides are pleased with it. Don't kill one another because when you have unjust economies you have wars. These are economic transgressions.

You wanna know about Afghanistan? Look at lithium. The trillion dollars of lithium that's in Afghanistand land - you wanna know why people are in Afghanistan? Because Afghanistan has the most important minerals for high tech industry in the world. This is the world we're living in, a world of greed. A world where politicians feed us lies, telling us it's going to better society. Zbigniew Brzezinski said there is a political awakening, making it very difficult for politiians to do what they used to do. People now see the inequities, the exploitation, they read it in the newspapers. It's not like the old days where they could hide.

Politicians need to step aside to let human beings live with dignity and justice. Really, just let them live. Because it's wrong what they're doing, it's evil. People deserve better than this. Human beings are trying to raise their children without having a fear that secret police will take their children away, or ending up in an orange suit somewhere off Cuba. A place with blindfolds and earphones to block out hearing - sensory deprivation, which a New York Times articles asked "Is torture justified?" What happened?! In my world, I grew up in an America where we had civil society, things like torture weren't even questions to be asked.

We were founded on principles of human dignity. They used to hide these things, like the syphilis studies. Yes - the very Nazis who did things to the Jews, had done on them. People are passing on these forward because some aren't seen as 'human' in South America as they are. Those things are hidden, they are nefarious deeds that were done in the past, in the dark, we can't do anything about that, but when they become OPEN: What responsibility do we have then when? When we can see what's being done in broad daylight?

Shame on us, shame on all of us. What's done in the dark is God's business, but what do we do when it's done in broad daylight (?)

Allah says, "We do not charge any soul except [with that within] its capacity. And when you testify, be just, even if it's against near relative." (Qur'an, 6:152) - Even if it's your community, your own Ummah. It doesn't matter what it is, if it's wrong we condemn that wrong. This is a high religion, a religion of ethics and community.

The Prophet peace be upon him said, a time will come when you will see darkness followed by darkenss. `Ali (ra) asked, what is the way out, and the Prophet replied,"Kitab Allah, book of God". The Qur'an has news of what went before us and what will come after, it is a judge and an arbitrator between you. Whoever leaves the Qur'an, does it out of arrogance, Allah will break his back. And if you seek guidance in other books, you will be lead astray.

The Prophet said to hold onto the strong rope of Allah, His Book. To make dhikr, the remembrance and learning the wisdoms of Allah, and this takes you to a straight path. Tongues will not be confusing if they quote the Qur'an, and he said you will not have diverse opinions if you follow the Qur'an, the ulema will never tire of it, and the pious will never grow bored or weary reciting it.

This is the book of God that even when the jinn heard it they said we've heard a wondrous book that must have a guidance.

If you judge by the Qur'an, you will be just, if you speak by the Qur'an, you will be truthful. If you act according to it, you will gain a reward, and if you call to it, you will be taken to a straight path. The Qur'an is a protection, a safety for whoever follows it."

Eid al-Fitr 2011 sermon delivered by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf at the Santa Clara Fairgrounds in San Jose, California, on August 31, 2011.

{Sandala Productions}

More:
Imam Fights Street Crime With Mosque Fight Club
Eid 2010 Sermon by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf
Message Of The Week: Ugly Pursuits
Shaykh Hamza Yusuf's First Blog Raises Social Issues
It's Tough With Cultural Parents

Loving Madinah is Easy 'Cause It's Beautiful

2011-09-21T05:39:00.001+01:00

The battle of Uhud in Madinah. One of the sites I visited during my awesome Umrah

Now had I known then what I know now I would have gone right back to bed after fajr (morning prayer) in Madinah on day 2. We woke up about 3 hours later for fajr and I was alert and ready. I was downstairs and bright eyed, bushy tailed, ready for the day. Morning prayer in the Prophet’s masjid was just as tranquil as ‘isha, I loved it!

My friends knew that it was a wise idea to go back to bed, I however was still on Arizona time, and was wide-awake. So instead of sleeping like a normal person, I decided to explore the city. Bad idea. I had so much to do that day that by the end I was so in auto-pilot it is not even funny. I walked and talked to the street merchants, went into the local shops and saw all the items they had for sale. It was surreal in some way but freer.

I like to go to stores that are not a corporate owned Walmart, something that is original and real. Honestly, I was amazed that I could buy two thobes and two kufis, as well as two pairs of pants for about $20 U.S. dollars. I looked into all the small shops and restaurants, smelled all the foods and investigated whatever I wanted to, wherever curiosity took me. I felt a comfort that I hadn't felt in a long time, as if no matter where I went no harm would come to me. It was a very homely feeling to have. For those of you who have not yet gone on Umrah or Hajj, plan on spending a few days getting lost and falling in love with Madinah.

I probably walked around, had breakfast, wondered back around the city and what-have-you for a good 5 hours, and the next thing I knew it was 11am. I woke up my comrades and we got ready for our day. We had a busy day ahead of us, and so now I was starting to get tired, how wonderful right?

Our first stop was to have a VIP tour of the Prophet’s Masjid. It was like the night before, but we were taken underneath the Masjid, at an exhibit that I guess is not open to everyone. This was a shame because it was very informative and interesting.

A marble slab recording the deeds of the Ottoman Sultan Muhamamd IV Bin Ibrahim I dating back to 1073 H

We watched a twenty-minute video about the construction and reconstruction of the Prophet’s Masjid, as well as the various rulers who have influenced its design. This was probably the only time that I have watched a historic video I was genuinely impressed with it. I could understand why the exhibit was not open to everyone; it would be packed all day and night.

Original and hand scripted texts from the exhibit

Afterwards we met up with an Imam of the masjid, one of many Imams, and I discussed Guantanamo Bay prison with him as well as my reversion to Islam. It was a pleasant talk, my first in the Middle East about GTMO, and he was very aware, smart, and articulate to the matter, which was refreshing. Perhaps he even knew more than most of the Westerners and people in the U.S. do, sadly. We had a language barrier, but my friends were there by my side to take care of the matter, and all came through very well.

Next was the site of the Battle of Uhud. A very chilling feeling came upon me. I could recall feelings in my life of panic, of terror, of loss and that "oh no" moment, and that is all I felt while we were standing there. I walked to the area where the Companions (Sahabah) were buried, and asked Allah that they be granted paradise (soon). I was sad to see that there were people peddling their merchandise right there on the battle site, but I suppose in this world, you aim to survive wherever you are.

It was also a little discerning to me to see all the trash that had just been thrown around in Madinah, as if people had no reverence for the environment or for the significance of the Uhud site and what had taken place here.

I am a very critical and cynical person, this is well known, maybe I need to work on changing that in me insha’Allah. We walked up the mountain of Uhud that the archers were told to have stood on (but didn’t). I tried in my head to envision what had taken place here, and to see the forces as they came into the valley.

The entire valley at Uhud is secured by towering mountains and rocks - rocks that would be hard on the feet of a camel or horse. This was truly a strategic way to go about the historic battle, being that it was not a welcomed battle, and still it occurred. Too bad the Muslims did gain an outright win, although in the long run we did, for Allah is the best of planners!

We then hurried back to the Prophet’s Masjid for dhuhr (midday) prayer, and just as quickly as we hurried there, we hurried off to another location that I did not know was on our travel stops. We visited the Masjid Qublatain, where the qibla direction changed in mid-prayer from Jerusalem to Makkah. This was really an interesting stop, I was just happy to have the opportunity to see something so interesting and historic.

I was wrapped up in the idea of thinking that the Prophet ﷺ and his companions had once been here. And further in my mind I thought of its distance from other locations we had been to already, and having used a car, it must have taken so much longer on horseback. I think this is when I finally started to look around me and begin to feel thankful for all the blessings that I have in my life, and the blessings that I have overlooked. This is probably when it set in, "We will never have it as hard as the sahabah had it". How many times a day we hear this but how many of us understand this, I mean really understand this? It isn't just a matter of being grateful for what we have, but we also have to realize what the earlier and the new Muslims went through, and I have found that Ibn Ishaq's "The Life of Mohammed" is probably one of the best ways to learn about our beloved Prophet ﷺ and his Companions.

I was absorbing all of this as we arrived at the mosques and the site of the Battle of the Trenches. Lucky for me one of my escorts who was a student at Al-Madinah, was also a history buff and gave me a quick refresher on what had occurred here. For those of you who are not aware of the history behind this battle, do not Google it, do not Wikipedia it, go to get a researched book. Get An Islamic history book and read up on the Battles of the Trenches. Please.

I prayed in the Masjid Al-Fath, and again that feeling of having been somewhere that the Prophet ﷺ had been came to me, and it is an amazing feeling to have. I looked over the valley from where we were, and tried to envision it without all the commerce and buildings, just the desert.

And what it must have felt like to be this humble man who was being messaged by Allah Himself, and setting the world aright. What a significant burden to have on one's shoulders, and what a blessed man he, our Prophet, was!

Why did we have Asain food? I didn't eat, I came to Saudi to see giant spiders and ride a Camel and eat lizard and such, not have Chinese food, if I wanted Chinese food I would go to California.

Next on our stop of the-day-that-never-ended, and believe me we are only half way through it as of now, was an Asian restaurant - because everyone knows that you go to Saudi for the Chinese food, not for religious pilgrimage, right…? I have a hard enough time eating once a day usually so I passed on lunch, which freed me up more time to talk with one of our guests. We discussed my book ‘Traitor’ that I have been trying to get published for years, and it seems as if it will never see the light of day, but I continue to have faith.

We spoke of my life and his life, rapped for a while about future ideas and what sounded to be good and bad projects. All in all, I think I made a great friend with this visitor at lunch. I should probably mention at this point, not everyone who was a part of my trip or involved wishes to be mentioned, so I am avoiding using names. This is not to discredit anyone or their efforts, as this whole document stands to be one great big "thank you" note for them all. It is just better to leave with anonymity. Nonetheless, it was a great lunch, and it lead to a friendship that I look forward to continuing for many years to come, insha’Allah. (By the way, the Chinese food did smell and look quite good, I just didn't want to slow myself down since this was only about 2pm in the afternoon and we were still looking to keep going until nearly 11pm that evening, I was really beginning to regret having explored all morning.)

Hanging out with my homie hajji hookup buddie and he is showing me that the Prophet, peace be upon him could make wudhu with this can

Then it was back to the Prophet's Masjid for ‘asr (afternoon) prayer, and as quickly as we arrived, before I had finished the fourth rakat, boom, we were back in the car and off for another visit. We went to visit a doctor who specialized in the Prophet’s ﷺ life, and had quite an amazing library. We exchanged greetings of pleasantry and got down to actual discussion afterward. Again we spoke quickly of GTMO, and on to various matters; a good conversation. He was a very warm and welcoming man, and shared with me some great du`a (supplications), and facts I had not heard before, so it was nice to have some new knowledge in the ol' grey matter upstairs.

We toured his extensive library, literally an entire floor of an apartment building. I began to drool when I arrived upstairs, and wished I could read and write Arabic so badly, so as to spend months of my life up here with a 6 pack of Coke and these books. All of the wonderful knowledge contained therein that I would not be able to read, any time soon, that is.

This was a private library of a Hadith scholar I visited.

I began to think more heavily about how dearly I wanted to go to school here, and how I wanted to live in Madinah for the rest of my life, but I was also beginning to see a repeating pattern occur. In every conversation someone would tell me how important it was that I stay in the states. I do not want to stay in the states, especially with how the U.S. harasses me when I travel, they must not want me there either. They might be willing to come to a plea bargain, where they send me to some other country to live, give me a yearly allowance, and I just never come back. Sounds plausible.

When we got back into the car that day at about 4:30pm, I was too tired to bother talking to my travel companions, so I just stared out the window as we drove around the city and tried to take in all that we visited that day. I am still trying to recall what happened from mental notes during the process. Having been sleep deprived, I will have to expand on these thoughts and the following events a little further.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Images: Holdbrooks ©

More by Brother Mustafa:
'Islam Is A Prison', Discuss
Islam At Guantanamo, Guardian Interview
Terry Holdbrooks: Detained By FBI

Men's Magazine 'Muslim Quarterly' Revives Halal Sexuality

2011-09-19T05:13:00.000+01:00

We brought you the launch of Muslim children's magazine, Little Explorers. Based in the United Kingdom, SISTERS Magazine is exclusively for fabulous women.

Again, we bring one of the world's first Muslim men's magazines: Muslim Quarterly.

In the latest publication, Muslim Quarterly pierces into the truth of real manhood, men's health and the hottest topic in Muslim circles: marriage.

The Chicago based magazine claims to be the first to address social, physical and spiritual challenges faced by American Muslim men.

Published quarterly, the magazine is currently shipped to most international borders and is available for a ridiculously low price ($15.00).

Taking an Islamic and human angle to Muslim issues, Muslim Quarterly is unique in its niche. It aims to collaborate wisdoms from the Qur'an - Islam's holy scripture - in a print that is approachable for young Muslim adults. While in previous issues some never-before seen topics of make-up on men hit the surface, the summer 2011 neutral cover is just a delicious byte of the juicy and "Islamic" articles underneath.

Muslim Quarterly covers E-affairs, 'messing on the internet', four must haves in a spouse and foods to boost sexual appetite. If the featured titles are anything to go buy, I have only one thing to say: phoar.

And yes, that is Ummah Film's producer Baba Ali on the front cover.

Check it out for yourself and subscribe. We have.

{Muslim Quarterly Magazine}

More on men:
Husbands, Know Your Rights
Muslim Women And Gender Issues In Mosques
Welcome To The Muslim Bedroom: 'Like A Garment' Free Ebook
How Muslim men hit their wives, "lightly"
Muslim Gear: Believe in What You Wear

Spend A Day With Orphans In Need

2011-09-18T06:29:00.001+01:00

Hey, you! What are you doing on the 24th September? Nothing? - Then spend a day with Orphans In Need!

Supported by the socially active Rochdale Dawah Centre in north England, next Saturday is all about the women and children. And it's for women and children!

Spend a day learning about the world's people who don't make the evening news. Show your little ones how children their age don't have providing parents and feel very alone. Bring your families and bring your pocket change as everything you spend goes towards sponsorships at Orphans In Need.

Come! Enjoy a variety of fun activities and stalls including a bouncy castle, halal food, freshly baked cakes and loads more!

Date: Saturday 24th Sept 2011
Time: 1pm - 4:30pm
Venue: Wardleworth Community Centre, South St, Rochdale, OL16 2EP.  

Supported by: Rochdale Dawah Centre, Relish, Delhi sweets, Lancs & co.

For more info: {Orphans In Need}

More events coming your way:
Reclaiming London's Voice, Muslim Youth Helpline Host Poetry Slam
Study The Unseen - Jinn, Angels And Qadr - With AlKauthar's 'Out Of Sight'
Peace For Humanity Conference At Wembley Shows Islam's Mercy

Asda Customers Help Muslim Aid Raise £11k For Africa

2011-09-18T04:43:00.000+01:00

Muslim Aid volunteers fundraise for Africa at British Asda stores

What can't you get at a British supermarket? Service with a smile? Life-time guarantees? How about the goodwill to support a noble cause?

That is what shoppers at Asda superstores across the UK have been doing for the British charity Muslim Aid. During Ramadan, the 30 day Muslim month of fasting, Muslim Aid's Ramadan Campaign raised over £11,000 from customer donations, which will go towards tackling global poverty this Ramadan.

Community shopping
Muslim Aid volunteers visited Asda stores in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester and Nottingham in August during the month of fasting with community service on their to-do lists. The volunteers helped Asda customers pack their shopping and collected donations for the charity’s Ramadan campaign.

In the 15 Asda stores that took part in the programme, Muslim Aid volunteers spent one or two days at each store raising awareness about the work Muslim Aid does around the world, especially on-going emergencies such as the drought in the Horn of Africa.

Eid at Asda
To mark the end of the Ramadan campaign and celebrate Eid with customers, five Asda superstores in London and Birmingham also held special Eid parties on Saturday, 3rd September. Activities at the Asda Eid celebrations included face painting, henna artistes and special Eid gift boxes were given to all visiting children. Customers were also treated to special recitals by internationally renowned Islamic Nasheed singers group, Labbayk.

Sultan Ahmed from Muslim Aid said:

"We’re thankful to Asda customers and Asda colleagues for their support during Ramadan to raise money for disadvantaged communities around the world. Here in the UK we take for granted access to clean water, food and housing, whereas in many countries the basic necessities of life are simply not available or too costly to procure. Muslim Aid is committed to providing long-term sustainable solutions which help to alleviate poverty and Asda customers can be proud to have helped make a difference."

Where does the money go?
The £11,000 donated from customers will go towards providing life saving tools and food to alleviating the suffering of thousands of men, women and children affected by the droughts in East Africa. But now that the Ramadan campaign has ended, the poverty hasn't. Muslim Aid is continuing its fundraising efforts through developing sustainable solutions and national projects to help tackle the deepening crisis and restore stability.

For more info: {Muslim Aid’s Ramadan 2011 Campaign}

More awesome social action:
Human Appeal's Gaza Water Purification Project
MUSLIMNESS Orphan Update: Vina From Mozambique Writes Back
The Enlightenment Diet: Can Fasting Save the World?
Our Favourite Muslim Charities

Our Favourite Muslim Charity Organisations

2011-09-18T03:37:00.002+01:00

"The people ask you (Muhammad) what they should spend in charity. Say: Whatever you spend that is good, is charity for your parents and families and orphans and those in need and for travellers. And whatever you do that is good, Allah is aware of it." - (Quran, 2:215)

MUSLIMNESS writers are passionate fundraisers and charity supporters. We work with and for some of the world's most noble causes, striving to eliminate poverty, love orphans and improve the quality of life of the needy.

Here are the organisations we currently support and report on. MUSLIMNESS will keep you updated about their projects. Insha'Allah, God willing.

Action Aid - "Ending poverty, together." Read aboutVina, our sponsored orphan.
Families Relief - "Empowering and strengthening the global family."
HHUGS - Supporting the families of Muslim detainees.
Human Appeal International - Relieving suffering of social injustice and disasters
InterPal - "Helping Palestinians in need."
I INSPIRE Inc. - "We read bedtime stories to sick kids".
Islamic Relief - Alleviating the world's poorest suffering.
Mercy Mankind - Working for the poor, in mercy..
Mercy USA - Supporting communities to become self-sufficient.
Muslim Charities Forum - MCF Provided humanitarian aid to needy regions.
Muslim Hands - British charity, helping those affected by disasters.
UK Islamic Mission - African and Asian disaster relief.
Ummah Welfare Trust - Working for international relief and development.

Get in touch:: contact@muslimness.com

Zaufishan

Editor

facebook.com/MuslimnessMedia | twitter.com/Muslimness

Friday Nasiha: 10 Reminders On Drugs And Alcohol

2011-09-17T05:10:00.002+01:00

This week's Friday Nasiha gives advice on losing opportunities, the art of making dua and why drugs and alcohol are oh, so not cool.

{Find more Friday Nasiha under the Islam menu tab}

Living the Quran

Lost Opportunity

Al Muminun, The Believers (Qur'an, 23:99-100)

"When death comes to one of them, he says, 'My Lord! Let me return, let me return to life, so that I may act righteously in whatever I have left behind.' No, it is but a meaningless word he utters; for behind them now is the barrier of death until the Day they shall be raised up." (Qur'an, 23:99-100)

Allah has created everything with a fixed life span. Indeed there is no certainty of life except death. Not only is death itself inescapable, but the place and the very day and hour of death have been forever fixed.

In death we are compelled to return to God. In life, however, we can choose to draw closer to God voluntarily by living our lives according to His will. In this way, we have the opportunity to meet Allah and gain His pleasure even before we leave this world.

Those who fail to use the bounties of Allah to earn His pleasure during this life will forever regret their mistakes, for the cessation of life brings the cessation of opportunities for redemption and salvation.

Compiled From:
"In the Early Hours" - Khurram Murad, pp. 136, 137

Understanding the Prophet's Life

The Art of Asking

Remembrance has greater merit than supplication. This is because remembrance is adulation of God Almighty by the beauty of His attributes, His gifts and His names; while supplication consists in the servant asking God for something he needs. And what is this compared to that? Thus, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace be upon him) stated: 'To someone too busy with My remembrance to supplicate Me, I give what is more excellent than what I give to those who ask.' (Muslim)

This is also why the preferred form of supplication begins with praise and adulation for God, then gives blessings upon His Prophet (peace be upon him) and, finally, asks for what one needs. This follows a hadith from Fudala Ibn Ubayd. When the Messenger of God heard a man in worship supplicating God without praising Him and without invoking blessings upon His Prophet, he remarked, 'This one has rushed things.' Then he called the man over and said to him or someone else [who was with them],

'When one of you offers the prayer, let him begin with adulation for his Lord Almighty, then let him ask for blessings upon the Prophet. After that, let him ask for what he wants.' [Ahmad, Tirmidhi]

Compiled From:
"The Invocation of God" - Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, p. 120

Blindspot!

Drugs and Alcohol: 10 Reminders

Know the law. All kinds of narcotic drugs and alcohol are forbidden by Islam. They are also illegal in most part of the world. Apart from the fact that you are accountable to Allah for what you do and could very well be punished in this life and the next for using drugs and alcohol, you could also face legal penalties according to the law: depending on where you are caught, you could face high fines and jail time.
Be aware of the risks. Drinking or using drugs increases the risk of injury. Car crashes, falls, burns, drowning, and suicide are all linked to drug use.
Keep your edge. Drug use can ruin your looks, make you depressed, and contribute to slipping grades.
Play it safe. One incident of drug use could make you do something that you will regret for a lifetime.
Do the smart thing. Using drugs puts your health, education, family ties, and social life at risk.
Get with the program. Doing drugs isn't "in".
Think twice about what you're advertising when you buy and wear T-shirts, hats, pins, or jewellery with a pot leaf, joint, blunt, beer can, or other drug paraphernalia on them. Do you want to promote something that can cause cancer? make you forget things? or make it difficult to drive a car?
Face your problems. Using drugs won't help you escape your problems, it will only create more.
Be a real friend. If you know someone with a drug problem, be part of the solution. Urge your friend to get help.
Remember, you DON'T NEED drugs or alcohol. If you think "everybody's doing it," you're wrong! Over 86% of 12-17 year-olds have never tried marijuana; over 98% have never used cocaine; only about half a percent of them have ever used crack. Doing drugs won't make you happy or popular or help you to learn the skills you need as you grow up. In fact, doing drugs can cause you to fail at all of these things.

Compiled From:
"Tips for Teens on Drugs, alcohol, and your friends" - SoundVision.com

Source: {Friday Nasiha, issue 651} | Find {Friday Nasiha On Facebook}

More Friday Nasiha:
Why Do We Need Anger?
5 Deeds To Heaven
Qur'an Tools Of Hope
Bond Of Love And Sadness

Al-Isharah Create First Adhan In British Sign Language For Ramadan TV

2011-09-16T00:30:00.004+01:00

In Ramadan this year, the first ever Muslim call to prayer (adhan) was communicated in British Sign Language (BSL) on British television.

The prayer call was broadcasted on the digital television channel Ramadan TV, a project of Canadian organisation Mercy Mission. The signing in the video was communicated by Al-Isharah, one of Britain's first centres for the Muslim deaf community. Al-Isharah provide professional resources to cultivate a holistic celebration of Muslim diversity in the United Kingdom.

Al-Isharah (الإشارة), Arabic for 'the sign' or 'signal', has built a reputation on firsts. It was the first organisation to introduce British sign language mosque sermons (khutbahs) for the East London mosque in 2009, extending across England; it helped create the first information signing video on forced marriages by Scottish organisation Isharah; Al-Isharah is the first to provide Umrah pilgrimage trips catered to deaf Muslims.

The Muslim call to prayer (adhan) is an Islamic tradition beginning from when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) chose the African Bilal ibn Rabah al-Habashi, a freed slave, to invite the community to pray. Traditionally called in Arabic, the invitation reads,

"God is Great, God is Greater.
I testify that there is no god except the One God (Allah).
I testify that Muhammad is God's Messenger,
Come to prayer, come to worship.
Come to success."

Another first in the sign language adhan shows the need for resources and inclusivity for deaf Muslims.

Link to video {http://youtu.be/YjKiN34u7YE}

For more info {Al-Ishirah}

More:
Deaf Muslims Set Sights on ASL Qur'an
Video: Muslim Signers Answer 'What Is Islam?'
"I'm Blind, But I'm A Qur'an Hafidh"

Veto Films Creates 'Just The Face' Documentary On France Burqah Ban

2011-09-15T20:07:00.011+01:00

Battling the ban - Muslim women share their experiences in Veto Film's production, Just The Face

Nelly Moussaid, world karate champion, is a young woman from Marseilles who has chosen to wear the full face veil, the niqab.

Since the September 2010 ban of face-coverings in France however, Nelly and many other woman have found themselves caught between the law and their religious beliefs.

'Just the Face' (Veto Films) is an incisive documentary following five French woman as they struggle with the ban, exploring the issue through contribution from journalists and international academics.

The film is directed by French-Algerian Yacine Helali with over 15 years of international experience in television, and produced by Stephen Lee (Veto Films) and award-winning Andy Jones (BBC2, Channel 4).

Just The Face not only delivers a compelling insight into the lives of the French Muslim women who are directly affected, but also presents exclusive inner thoughts and controversial arguments of politicians, police officers, activists and academics from both sides of the ban.

The film looks into the complex issue of what the ban means for France's image, its people and for the rest of the world as other countries including the United Kingdom may implement the ban.

‘Star of the Niqab’ Kenza Drider is a high profile activist and media critic of the passed law. "This whole law makes France look ridiculous," she says.

"I never thought I'd see the day when France, my France, the country I was born in and I love, the country of liberté, égalité, fraternité, would do something that so obviously violates people's freedom." {The Guardian}

The film follows karate world champion Nelly Moussaid (shown in trailer); housewife and mother Fatima; fashion designer Karima; and ex-hippie Laurence.

The film will show first hand how these women are coping with this law, and what happens when they can't. Will they fight or subvert the law, will they withdraw into their homes or simply find ways to adapt?

As ordinary women are caught between the law and their religious beliefs, Just The Face presents the extraordinary passion and sacrifice that is involved.

Link to video {http://youtu.be/fFq-RD9EX-4}

Just The Face is being launched later this year and still require public attention and funds. "We are asking friends and family like you to kindly help us keep this project alive by making a donation. Large or small, any contribution will truly help and is always highly appreciated." - Yacine Helali, Veto Films.

Make it Happen: {Indiegogo - Just The Face}

You can also help by forwarding this appeal and sharing with friends.

Reclaiming London's Voice, Muslim Youth Helpline Host Poetry Slam

2011-09-15T06:42:00.001+01:00

Slam dunk! Londoners will perform poetry, comedy and sing for the youth. Represent!

British organisation Muslim Youth Helpline are to host a poetry slam Eid festival at D'Gaf in Stratford.

The Muslim Youth Helpline is a volunteer ran support group, providing resources through e-mailing and personalised counselling for young people.

This 23rd September 2011, Muslim Youth Helpline will be hosting a unique 'Live Eid Slam', an evening of live music and entertainment that is open to all. The celebratory event is a fantastic boost to enjoy post-Eid with friends and help the socially active cause.

A poetry culture is growing in London and the Live Eid Slam is another momentous occasion to hear new young talent reclaiming their streets in whichever style they can. Entertainment will include creative expression through poetry, comedy, spoken word and singing.

How to get involved
The Live Eid Slam is being hosted at D'Gaf community hub, a new and exciting live performing arts venue in Stratford.

If you are a comedian, spoken-word artist, singer or poet, join the crew to perform at the Live Eid Smal. Email Samiya at:: samiya.rashid@myh.org.uk or call (UK) 0207 435 8171.

This event is supported by HalalGems and D’Gaf.

Book tickets
Tickets can be purchased online at {Muslim Youth Helpline} or by calling 0207 435 8171.

Date: Friday 23rd September 2011 
Venue: D’Gaf, 11 Leytonstone Road, Stratford, E15 1JA
Doors Open: 6.30pm  Tickets: £20 (£25 on the door)

For more info: e | events@myh.org.uk

Film Review: 'Paradise Now', A Palestinian Mission

2011-09-13T00:03:00.017+01:00

Our newest writer for MUSLIMNESS Heba Saeed reviews the movie Paradise Now, directed by Hany Abu-Assad, about two young Palestinian men recruited to carry out a suicide bombing.
*Film spoilers.

Paradise Now leaves the viewer in a state of limbo, ironically. We're left with Said, one of the film's central characters, staring with his olive green eyes on the bus which he was once reluctant to board.

My brother didn't relish the film, "لم يستيسغه". He felt it was too surrealistic so as to arouse zeal and excitement, and too vague for the average viewer to understand the depth and history of a country like Palestine.

It did, however, draw my attention to one point. When one goes to Palestinian cinema, he or she usually has a transcendental expectation; one that diminishes the personal side of the story, if not utterly abjure it.

Many viewers, to the result of marketing, anticipate a Palestinian film to be full of rising and falling tones of patriotic soundtracks. The film must have a conspicuous chain of events and a plot that usually ends with the hero or heroine dead or injured; it isn't necessary to expose the daily habits of the characters. The roles in Paradise Now are appointed for one mission, so the film is expected to be a namby-mamby, strict and limited depiction of Palestinians as natives - not as real persons per se.

But the iconoclastic Paradise Now has visibly demolished all the laid-out, and long set-up traditions of Palestinian filmmaking. Not only that, but it belched out many a monotonous fable that may have pleased the ordinary audience with action scenes and dialogue, but would have made the production "just another film".

In Paradise Now we have serious scenes handled with shtick. Most pertinent of which is the scene of combatants recording their will before committing to a recruitment.

One combatant holds a gun, with a backdrop carrying the name of his affiliation and he's supposed to be delivering his last speech to his parents, to his enemies and all. In any other film, that scene would be very solemn, horrific, at least tear-spurring. But not in this one.

After the combatant gives his pre-death statement, they find the camera hasn't recorded anything so he has to reiterate his message and all the while his comrades are devouring sandwiches. The director obviously tried to cast different spots on the scene, to imbue the speech and view of someone who's going to perish by his own will with a nonchalant paltry of everyday life. It shouldn't be outright bodacious. It can be silly, too, blasé, regular and irregular alike. The combatants do not have to wear panoplies or masks; they can don tuxedos too, and shave their heads and appear good-looking and be mistaken as wedding attendants although in they film they're headed for a funeral.

The conscious part of Paradise Now cannot be overshot, too. The fighter Khaled is not an impregnable, impervious body of no appetite for life and no humane second-thoughts of death. He does think and rethink, and doubt the originality and the feasibility of what he's undertaking - a suicide mission.

Khaled's composed belief and his equanimity is shaken when he talks to his love interest, Suha. His enthusiasm is abated, and he starts to question his mission.

The notion ensconced under Suha's most meaningful speech attaches a terroristic substance to the fruit of Said and Khaled's mission. She thinks of resistance (a suicide attack) as another form of submission, acceding to the other by responding exactly the same way. Suha's Morrocan accent is sweet and musical; she is nonchalant and it fits her role as the questioning ego of the heroes.

Said, on the other hand, is still not convinced. So, we the viewers start to question his contumacy; is it inbred? Or is it, as Freud may postulate, a reflex reaction as to what his executed father did for working with the Israelis? He is definitely an affected man.

The father figure is held high by Said's mother who assures him that his role as an ameel, a collaborator, was only for their protection. A theme of treachery still lingers.

Khaled succeedes in presenting the typical zealot passions with the childish demeanour. He behaves in a kind of amiable spontaneity known only of madcaps like him. Said, on the other hand, hold more clarity within himself. He is discreet with others, low-pitched, and shows a little introvertness, unlike his friend.

Paradise Now is a movie to watch, but it ends with many unanswered questions. Said boards the same bus he planned to detonate with a bomb but didn't because of a boarded child. How has he changed? Where is the country heading? We do not know and we do not learn if resistance is merely a brutish process of bartering with violence for no significant outcome, or if it can bring about greater change.

Hany Abu-Assad did a good job making this film. He's worthy of his Golden Globe even if he doesn't believe it. And I believe Paradise Now is for now, not later.

Watch the trailer on YouTube {Paradise Now}.

By Heba Saeed, Palestinian Muslim living in Egypt

More movie love:
"To Catch A Dollar": Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus Banks On America
Movie: The Green Wave (Iran) 'Green is the color of hope, green is the color of Islam'
Seeing Islam In Avatar
Thread - The Women Of Afghanistan

Friday Nasiha: Why Do We Need Anger?

2011-09-10T04:10:00.001+01:00

This week's Friday Nasiha gives advice on how to earn God's support, the ingredients of being successful, and how anger can be a positive emotion.

{Find more Friday Nasiha under the Islam menu tab}

Living the Quran

God's Help

Al Baqara, The Cow (Qur'an, 2:214)

'Do you reckon that you will enter Paradise while you have not endured an experience similar to that endured by other communities who came before you? Affliction and adversity befell them and so terribly shaken where they that the Messenger and those who believed with him would exclaim, "When will God's help come?" Surely, God's help is close at hand.'
(Qur'an, 2:214)

This verse points to way marks in the history of those following the Straight Path. This path is no easy route. It passes through privations, persecutions, and even sufferings of war to the point where the believers all but cry out, "When will God's help come?" This point when the followers of the Straight Path are convinced that it is only God who gives success, is also the point when God's help is at hand, and which leads on to the final triumph or prosperity in both worlds.

God's support (nasr) is reserved for those who earn it: those who persevere and stand firm to the end in the face of all adversity and misfortune, never wavering but always certain that God's help is on its way. No matter how severe the ordeal may become, true believers will always look to God, and to God alone, for salvation and support.

The dynamic of social and religious struggle reinforces the human spirit and encourages man to rise above his own ego and so emerge purer and stronger, ready to uphold the faith with greater energy and vigour. Thus, believers become a shining role model even for their most ardent adversaries, some of whom are liable to be impressed and join ranks with the believers, as witnessed throughout human history.

But even if this were not the case, something else much greater and much more admirable happens: advocates of God's order are liberated from subordination to any worldly power or temptation. Life and its comforts become of no real consequence, and man assumes control of his world, which can only mean a triumph for humanity and the human spirit as a whole.

The ingredients of success are faith, hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance. With those, victory is guaranteed and the road to greater, everlasting rewards, to eternal bliss, is direct and clear.

Compiled From:
"In the Shade of the Quran" - Syed Qutb, Vol. 1, pp. 250, 251
"The Quran: Annotated Interpretation in Modern English" - Ali Unal, p. 95

Understanding the Prophet's Life

Reprieve

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace be upon him) said,

"Surely God grants wrongdoers, the oppressor, a reprieve. But once He seizes him, He utterly destroys him." (Bukhari, Muslim)

God gives the wrongdoers some time to repent and amend their behaviour. If they do not take advantage of this opportunity, He punishes them severely.

God sometimes uses wrongdoers to punish the sinful. This happens when God wills to punish them before the Day of Judgment. For example, after the Muslims split into many competing factions nine centuries ago and deviated from Islam, they were exposed to the Mongol invasion and massacre.

Compiled From:
"The Messenger of God: Muhammad" - Fethullah Gulen, p. 117

Blindspot!

Why We Need Anger

Although anger clearly has some connection with hostility and aggression, they are not the same. Hostility is an attitude of ill will, aggression refers to behaviour that is always meant to hurt, whereas anger is an emotion - plain and simple. Anger is neither a positive or negative emotion; it is the way we handle our anger - what we do with it - that makes it negative or positive. For example, when we use our anger to motivate us to make life changes or to make changes to dysfunctional systems, anger becomes a very positive emotion.

When we express anger through aggressive or passive-aggressive ways (such as getting even or gossiping), it becomes a negative emotion. So why do we need anger at all? Why not simply work toward eliminating it from our lives entirely? The reason is that there are many positive functions of anger:

It energizes and motivates us to make changes in our lives.
It serves as a catalyst for resolving interpersonal conflict.
It promotes self-esteem - when we stand up for ourselves, we feel better about ourselves.
It fosters a sense of personal control during times of peak stress.
Expression of anger can actually promote health. Women with cancer who express their anger are found to live longer than those who express no anger.
As uncomfortable as anger is for many of us, it can be preferable to anxiety, as it lays the blame outside ourselves.
If we find constructive ways of releasing anger and safe places to let it out, it can become a positive force in our lives, creating energy, motivation, assertiveness, empowerment, and creativity.

Compiled From:
"The Nice Girl Syndrome" - Beverly Engel, pp. 165-167

Source: {Friday Nasiha, issue 650} | Find {Friday Nasiha On Facebook}

Study The Unseen - Jinn, Angels And Qadr - With AlKauthar's 'Out Of Sight'

2011-09-09T02:21:00.000+01:00

AlKauthar's Out of Sight

After the success of AlKauthar's Islamic course on the ghaib, the unseen aspects of life, with Shaykh Waleed Basyouni, the course is being hosted in London by popular demand. Ustadh Yahya Ibrahim will be teaching.

Prepare to strengthen your faith, soften your heart and learn how to deal with the matters of the unseen. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The Angels were created from light, the Jinn from smokeless fire...." (Muslim)

"This is The Book, wherein there is no doubt, a guidance for the God-fearing who believe in the unseen." (Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:2-3)

How does Islam view these creations of Allah? What are their characteristics? Learn about their fascinating world to understand the details about this amazing aspect of Islamic creed.

"Verily, We have created all things with Qadr (divine preordainment)". (Qur'an, Al-Qamar 54:49)

Discover the relationship between free will and predestination, empower yourself with the correct arguments to answer the puzzling questions around this subject. Western philosophy largely denies the unseen - this class will help you to respond to the arguments and help you to understand the true nature of these pillars of faith.

Date: Sat 1st - Sun 2nd October 2011
Taught by: Ustadh Yahya Ibrahim
Location: London

At Out Of Sight, you will learn about:

What are the Angels & the Jinn and how do other faiths view them
The effect of belief in Angels and Jinn
The life and capabilities of Angels and Jinn
Jinn possession and protection
What is Qadr and free will?
The amazing benefits of understanding Qadr
How early sects went astray in the aspect of Qadr
Can Qadr be changed
What is true Tawakkul and how can we practice it
Can Jinn help us and much much more!

Who is this course for?

- Every Muslim striving to practise Islam correctly and looking to increase his/her 'imaan.
- Teachers of Islamic Studies who teach and pass on this knowledge.
- Muslims who are seeking the Pleasure of Allaah ‘azza wajal in the hereafter.
- Research students who require deep analysis of Muslims belief in the unseen & divine decree.
- University students or High school seniors involved in calling to this religion.
- New Muslims who want to understand their Deen.

What will you come out with at the end of the course?

A binder complete with notes detailing the world of the Angels, Jinn & Qadr
References from the Qur’an and Sunnah regarding Angels, Jinn & Qadr
Understanding of how belief in this subject should be reflected in our lives
Appreciation of the justice of Allah upon His slaves
Motivation to strive for Paradise and rely upon Allah

For more details and to enrol: www.alkauthar.org

Got an event to promote? contact@muslimness.com

Shah Rukh Khan Celebrates Eid With Fans

2011-09-07T19:29:00.000+01:00

Born to a Muslim family but raised as a Hindu, 'My Name Is Khan' actor Shahrukh Khan shares his childhood memories of Eid with family.

The video, in Hindi, has a brief transcript below.

Link to video {http://youtu.be/0CHmkxyg6s8}

"You can all come to mine, at 6 we'll pray! And we'll make a du`a for everyone's well being and freedom.

When I was younger we used to attend the Eid namaz (prayer, Farsi/Hindi). It's unfortunate that I haven't been able to attend the prayers here in Bombay, so I pray at home or with friends.

I have two strong memories for Eid; once after filming, we were in the Egyptian desert (singing a song!) and it was the Eid celebrations. Absolutely nobody was in the desert, for 100km it was deserted. There were just 50 of us and we gathered to pray Eid salah there.

I also remember when my father and uncle took me on a 2 wheeler, and our sandals would get stolen or lost. We used to go for the Eid festival in south Delhi, my father would take me, and that is really important because as I get older I hope to take my son."

Image {flickr}

More:
My Name Is Khan Movie Review
Imam Zaid Shakir's Eid Message
Is Eid the Muslim Christmas?

Reflecting On Our Ramadans Gone

2011-09-07T15:08:00.001+01:00

With Eid celebrations well under way and the month of Shawaal now upon us, each day that passes by takes with it a small part of the legacy of Ramadan. As time separates us from the blessed month, we are presented with another opportunity to test our faith and enhance our spirituality.

Many of us experienced a spiritual high during Ramadan, no matter how much or how little we were able to achieve, we all experienced a sense of peace and spiritual enlightenment at one moment or another. No words can describe that feeling of satisfaction and contentment that Ramadan brings with it.

During the past few weeks we were able to sacrifice food and drink all day; we controlled our needs, our wants and were still able to stand in prayer at night. We woke up a little earlier, slept later, at times we didn't sleep at all but I know most of us learned something about ourselves during it.

It's important to look back and reflect on what we were able to achieve during Ramadan. If we push ourselves to our limits during Ramadan, what is stopping us from continuing that lifestyle outside of Ramadan? Ask yourself. I believe it's a lack of motivation.

Reflecting on Ramadan shows us our real potential to excel in prayers, charity, kindness and above all, patience. Patience with ourselves, patience with others, patience in God. It may have been down to Allah's mercy and blessings that descended and boosted our faith but the real change came from within ourselves. We all made an effort, we all experienced the change and Insha'Allah, God willing, we will all be rewarded for that.

The month may be gone but our efforts and achievements shouldn't end with it. Waking up for fajr may not be as easy any more, and I'm speaking from experience here - it's all good and rewarding to do it for 30 days with a community and festive spirit but the true test comes the day after Eid. The first day when we're all recovering from the celebrations and feasting. I believe it's our actions during the first few days after Ramadan that determine whether we are able to maintain our spirituality and carry on the legacy of Ramadan throughout the year.

After a month of hard work and dedication, take a little break to adjust your routine. Perhaps make up for some lost sleep and enjoy the festivities of Eid. As we celebrate our achievements and return to our normal daily life, remember the month of Ramadan, remember what we achieved, remember the effort we made and remember the peace and contentment we experienced. And reflect on how we got there.

May Allah accept our efforts, allow us to maintain our faith through the year and may we witness many more blessed months Insha'Allah.

And remember: “The deeds most loved by Allah are those done consistently, even if they are small.”

Image {flickr}

Read more by Abdullah Osman

More:
Top Ten Ramadan Blogs
Ramadan Reminders: Iftar Parties
Muslims In The West, Cool Photo Journal

Peace For Humanity Conference At Wembley Shows Islam's Mercy

2011-09-07T12:02:00.002+01:00

September 11th 2001 brought devastation and a decade of misconceptions and discrimination towards various communities. An askew perception of Islam's law was thrust into the limelight with people questioning the teachings of its Prophet and followers.

While many Americans and global audiences only had contact with Muslims through media portrayals, others asked real questions.

Who was the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)? What was his message? Is Islam a religion of terrorism and suicide bombings?

The Peace for Humanity conference, organised by Minhaj-ul-Quran International, will present the approachable, merciful and peaceful personality of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to the wider western Muslim youth, as well as non-Muslims, and how His life and behaviour is relevant to our tense situation today.

This conference will also bring together a selection of world renowned speakers to discuss the various aspects of the life and personality of the beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Interfaith sessions are planned and a collective prayer will be held from representatives of major faith groups.

Speakers at the conference include the Shaykhs Dr Ahmad Omar Hashim, Dr `Abd al-Fadeel Al-Qawsi, Hassan Mohiuddin Qadri, Abdal Hakim Murad, Muhammad Al-Ninowy, and words from performer Mesut Kurtis and Dr. Joel Hayward.

"Let us stand together in the name of peace and reclaim Islam for its true teachings".

Date: Saturday 24th September 2011
Time: From 11am
Venue: Wembley arena
Price: £10 (Standard Ticket) £35 (VIP ticket)
Call box office: 0844 815 0815

Join us {Peace For Humanity}

Shukran, thanks to Somia Zaman of Muslim Youth League Sisters UK for this post.

Website 'Unheard Voices Of 9/11' Calls Victims To Share Discrimination Experiences

2011-09-07T05:25:00.002+01:00

Featuring alleged attacks, physical threats and identity clashes, a diverse group of American communities has brought attention to discrimination against Muslims, Sikhs, Arabs and others almost ten years after the attacks on September 11th, 2011.

The website, titled "Unheard Voices of 9/11", officially launched online in September with a call for people to share their experiences about being targeted because of their spiritual and cultural beliefs and appearance.

Viewers are invited to upload a video of their personal stories or post an image of victims with words of support.

"We were all affected by 9/11, but the mainstream media has not always covered our stories... This website is our chance to tell our stories, so that our voices are no longer unheard," said Sapreet Kaur, executive director of The Sikh Coalition.

How did 9/11 affect you?

Shawn Sing, a NY student, recalled on a video posted on the "Unheard Voiced" how his childhood was affected by the attacks, and Banjot Sing shares how a police officer questioned him and a friend aboard a train out of Manhattan because a fellow passenger "thought we were dangerous."

"We didn't face the problem, but we were running away from it by trying to change our identity and who we are," Sajid said at an August hearing in New York City, portions of which are now on the "Unheard Voices" website. "We don't know how to face the problem ... I don't know what we can do."

Several high-profile cases of alleged hate crimes have been reported and cases in which Muslims and Sikhs faced opposition to projects due to their religion and heritage.

One that received significant international attention was Park 51, an Islamic community center proposed for two blocks from ground zero in Lower Manhattan. Many city residents opposed the effort, characterising the location of the center - which would mostly house cultural, social and recreational programs, as well as a prayer space - as inappropriate and insensitive.

"These 10 years have been pure fear, being scared of the next step, being scared of the next place we're going to go ... what my brother might face, what my dad might face, what I might face," said Manpreet Kaur, 21, from Oak Brook, Illinois. "It's that fear that, everywhere we go, something might happen because we are Sikh - because our men wear turbans, because we look different, because our names are different."

Anoop Prasad, a northern California resident who works for the Asian Law Caucus, said he's known many people who have been visited in recent years by FBI agents, claiming that such treatment sows widespread distrust against authorities among Muslims and others.

"In my community, people are very afraid - that's the reality," he said.

Link to video {http://youtu.be/s68KJxyW2tc}

Share your story {http://unheardvoicesof911.org}

Image {flickr}

More:
Muslims Mourn On 9/11 Alongside Fellow Americans
Video: President Barack Obama On Death Of Osama Bin Laden
Inside The Mosque At Ground Zero, On Channel 4

American Muslim Youth And The Tar Sands – "We Want A Bright, Not A Blackened Future"

2011-09-01T23:48:00.002+01:00

Matthew Naim Abdullah, an environmental activist from California writes during Ramadan about why the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline is a bad idea.

It is nearing the onset of sunset in San Diego, California – an idyllic suburb in many respects, although mere kilometers away from a Mexican border that is wracked with blood, sweat, and tears. The Islamic maghrib prayer will occur soon, and dutiful Muslims arrive hungry and tired for one of the final nights of Ramadan, a time for spiritual contemplation and self-purification.

Some will spend the time sleeping and praying for redemption in their preferred mosque. Some will gorge on high-cholesterol Middle Eastern food, and consequently endure abdominal pain and insomnia most of the night. Others will simply spend quality time with their families.

My path is a little different, however, as I will most likely spend the last day or two of Ramadan in jail.

Over the next few days, I will travel to Washington DC to participate in the Tar Sands Action {tarsandaction.org}, a nonviolent civil disobedience gathering in front of the White House to protest the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline, repping individuals from all 50 states and all walks of life.

Muslims from around the world are aware of the insidious effects of oil and other fossil fuels on our daily lives. Gulf states regularly exploit workers from South Asia in their pursuit of hyper-industrial development, air pollution ravages nations such as Egypt and Iran, and African resources such as the Niger delta have been systematically raped and pillaged by post-colonial powers and multinational corporations.

These woes are precisely why many wince when they hear about this pipeline, which will purportedly run from Alberta, Canada all the way to refineries on the Gulf Coast of Texas, criss-crossing through multiple Midwest regions on the way there. If you take a look at the map on the aforementioned link, it rivals the transcontinental railroad in all its megalomaniacal glory.

Sadly, the Obama administration shows no sign of withstanding the onslaught of energy lobbyists salivating over this pipeline. According to the New York Times, the State Department just released a report concluding that the pipeline would exert only minimal environmental effects.

Never mind that the report minimizes - that is, completely ignores, the effects of the pipeline on carbon emissions, which will be so nasty that they will ‘essentially [spell] game over for the climate,” according to the world’s top climatologist James Hansen. Never mind that the pipeline runs straight through the Ogallala Aquifer - one of the largest freshwater reserves in the world - as well as the Yellowstone River and fragile ecosystems such as the Nebraska Sandhills. Never mind that yet another oil pipeline will further obstruct our ability to move towards a clean-energy economy. Not like we were moving in the first place. We didn’t even get a climate bill.

As Muslims, we are required to stand up to injustice wherever we see it - with our hearts, our bodies, and our minds.

This remains true whether we are struggling against oppressors in Egypt or Libya, or whether we are fighting for policy reforms in the United States that will have transnational effects on poor and marginalized populations. The Qur’an reminds us that we need to ‘strive hard’ against the actions of ungrateful and two-faced entities that value private gain over public welfare (9:73). In addition, the sacred book states that our civil struggles are a necessary sociological phenomenon if we wish to avoid the physical or moral corruption of all people. As the brilliant Qur'an translator Muhammad Asad noted,

“….if God had not enabled people to defend themselves against one another, corruption would surely overwhelm the earth.“ (Qur'an, 2:251).

As young people, we will all suffer from the hazards of climate change, no matter what we adhere to in terms of religion, ethnoracial identity, or socioeconomic standing. If we as Muslims wish to provide a vital contribution to global movements such as climate justice, we need to reduce the fragmentation, insularity, and often-cynical identity politics seen in many of our communities and civil society organizations. Yes, we encounter struggles against discrimination and alienation, many of us almost daily. But let’s not let issues such as Islamophobia divert us entirely from our participation in movements such as climate change, which require the attention of our entire world.

And we do have reason to participate in efforts such as the Tar Sands Action, as our communities around the world will be affected. Not all Muslim groups around the world respond to climate collapse in a civil or peaceful way, as we have seen from the genocidal massacre related to resource conflicts in the Darfur region. In fact, they might respond in a much more violent and reactionary manner. And in an era where resource-related conflicts will be exploited by wealthy special interests, war profiteers and corporate media outlets might realize that they have much to gain by creating a caricature of ‘eco-terrorist Muslims’ as evil villains. This could potentially cause scapegoat-like rage against the Muslim world, with elite land grabs and Great Game-like wargames expressed as euphemisms such as international ‘interventions’ and local ‘security incidents.’

However, there is reason for hope. Our Arab Spring brothers and sisters overseas have singlehandedly taken down decades-long dictators such as Ben Ali, Mubarak, and Gaddafi, mostly through civil and non-aggressive means on their part. Therefore, this vibrant revolutionary environment in the Arab Spring nations serves as the perfect opportunity for us to affirm the civil and peaceful principles that will guide future climate justice efforts in Muslim-majority societies. Hopefully, we can then begin to push the tide towards peaceful protests and international solidarity, rather than towards reactionary violence and balkanization.

Ramadan arrived, and it has left us. Many words have been spoken about the value of putting faith into action, but it is now time for action itself - which is why I will be joining over 2000 individuals at the White House this week to make a stance.

{Tar Sands Action}

By Matthew Naim Abdullah, an environmental and political activist from California.

Image:: flickr

Raising Children In The Modern World

2011-09-01T22:18:00.002+01:00

Every Muslim will no doubt have been brought up on or at least heard the Quranic verses linking love for parents as close to worship of God. But what if one has had a difficult childhood? What if one's main educators were television, materialism and consumption?

Sue Palmer is the renowned author author of the revolutionary book "Toxic Childhood - how modern life is damaging our children and what we can do about it". Join Sue and Muslim scholars on the 10th September for a post-Eid seminar where the theme of discussion will be toxic parenting.

The seminar is organised by the Cambridge based educational charity and voluntary organisation Muslim Education & Outreach Cambridge (MEOC) to cater for both Muslims and Non-Muslims audiences. In addition to the seminar by Sue Palmer the event features short bonus appearances by:

Shaykh Ahmed Babikir (Imam of Islamia School London and Chairman of Ulfa Aid),
Shaykh Dr Mohammed Akram Nadwi (Islamic Scholar and Research Fellow at Oxford University) - video,
Sister Suma Din (Author of Children's and Adult's Books) and
Representative of SISTERS Magazine (The Magazine for Fabulous Muslim Woman)

Whether you're a parent or not, a grandparent or a young adult, we recommend registering for this underrated topic to learn real valuable life lessons.

Date: Saturday 10th September 2011
Time: 10AM - 6PM
Venue: Lady Mitchell Hall, Cambridge University Advance/Online
Tickets: From £18 Onwards

For info and to register {www.21stcenturychildren.org.uk}

Places are filling up so please register without delay.

{http://courses.meoc.org.uk}
Image:: flickr

Inside The Mosque At Ground Zero, On Channel 4

2011-09-01T17:19:00.004+01:00

"I just wanted to make a place for my community to pray. Nothing more. Nothing less."

Sharif El-Gamal, the charismatic property developer from Brooklyn behind 'Park 51', gives his account for the first time in a film by Bafta award-winning director Dan Reed (Dispatches: Terror in Mumbai).

Reed's film untangles the hysteria, fury and politics surrounding the 'Mosque at Ground Zero'. His film explores how this proposed mosque and Islamic community centre, two blocks away from the site of the 9/11 attack in lower Manhattan, has thrown into sharp focus the tensions at the core of American democracy regarding the country's Muslim population.

With unique access to the major players in the project and the unfolding events, Inside The Mosque At Ground Zero recounts the press frenzy surrounding the plans. The vitriolic attacks on its high-profile spiritual leader Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf affect his vision for the centre. The film shares heartrending stories of some of the 9/11 families who oppose the building and reveals the driving force behind the mosque. In demand for the centre to be prevented or relocated, Evangelical Pastor Terry Jones gathered media attention to host a Quran burning day.

"I'm not a community activist," said Sharif El-Gamal, "I'm not a community leader... I'm not an Islam academic. I'm a New Yorker who is a real estate junkie. That's who I am." El-Gamal was brought up as a church-going Christian named Alexander, the son of a Polish Catholic and an Egyptian Muslim. After rediscovering Islam in his 30s, he purchased the Burlington Coat Factory in 2009, a disused building that was struck by the undercarriage of the second plane that hit Tower Two. His place was twofold - to make money from building condominiums on the site but also to provide a place of worship for the local Muslim population.

American community leader Imam Feisal propsed the entire site be transformed into a community centre that would act to counter extremism and give a platform to the American Muslim voice. When El-Gamal agreed, little did he know of the outrage he would ignite.

Sharif El-Gamal in suit and tie at Friday prayers at Park 51

"What has my community done? We have done nothing. We have to get our identities back through our actions." - Sharif El-Gamal.

The opposition to the so-called 'mega mosque' caught the attention of Fox News which was at the vanguard of the US media storm. The controversy gathered political mementum and even President Obama felt compelled to take sides and endorse the mosque.

A crucial missing link between both sides of the voices for and against the centre is dialogue. Opposition in the blogosphere escalated after Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer founded 'Stop The Islamization of America', who were both cited as inspiration for the Oslo bomber Anders Breivik in his manifesto. They rallied opposition to the mosque, incorporating the voices of some of those who lost loved ones on 9/11 and coined a concept that would become a decisive weapon in the controversy: 'the victory mosque'.

Reed follows El-Gamal as he battles to garner support and funds for the project he has dubbed 'Park 51'. Run from a back room in his property, the two staff members are students who feel underprepared to delivery El-Gamal's vision.

Of all his challenges, the most sensitive is the hostility towards the project from some of the 9/11 families. Reed films the highly-fraught and emotional meeting between El-Gamal and Lee Hanson who lost his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter on the second plane.

But not all families oppose the mosque; Charlie Wolf lost his wife on the plane that hit the first tower. He says,

"You can't say that we can't have anybody, any Muslims near Ground Zero - that is a bunch of bull. Because as soon as you say they can't be two blocks, then where can they be? Three blocks, five blocks, ten blocks, half a mile, a mile, sixteen miles?"

Ten years on from the events that shaped a nation, this is the story of a derelict building that has become a lightening rod for America's struggles to reconcile its own psyche.

Transmission date: Monday 5th September at 8.00pm on Channel 4.

{http://park51.org}

Image:: Muslimness

Eid Mubarak From MUSLIMNESS

2011-08-29T23:24:00.001+01:00

Whichever day you celebrate Eid, I and the MUSLIMNESS team make du`a yours is full of blessings. May God shower your celebration with happiness and generosity. Please remember to make du`a for others and continue supporting any fundraising for the current crises in Africa.

3 things to do this Eid,

Share Eid with your neighbors

Make an extra dessert (something simple like chocolate cake) or cookies and write up a small decorative definition of Eid day. Share this with your neighbors to include the community in your celebrations.

Encourage little ones to make du`a

Eid day is a day of immense prayer and shukr, gratitude for what we have. Hymn along with children to make du`a a fun event while driving together or before eating:

"Ya Allah, thank you for our food and new clothing.
Open our hearts towards our neighbors and help us be kind.
Ya Allah, open the hearts of our neighbors towards us.
Ya Allah, unite the Muslims in the world to serve Allah's creation to please Him.
Ya Allah, give Sabr (patience) and freedom to the innocent prisoners and guide those who are at fault.
Ya Allah, forgive us for our mistakes and have mercy on us."

Follow the Prophetic sunnan for Eid day

1. To wake up early in the morning.
2. Clean your teeth with a Miswaak (or toothbrush).
3. Take a bath and wear alcohol-free perfume.
4. Wear your best clothing.
5. Eat a sweet food, preferably dates, before the Eid prayer.
6. Recite the following Takbir in the low voice while going to the Eid prayer:

“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaaha ill'Allahu Wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Wa lillahil Hamd."

Meaning: Allah is the greatest, He is the greatest. There is no god except Allah. He is the greatest. All praises and thanks are for Him.

Eid Mubarak everyone. Alhamdulillah.

Celebrate A Creative Eid With Drums In Canary Wharf

2011-08-28T19:17:00.001+01:00

The Canary Wharf Muslim Association and SoulCity Arts has organised a creative Eid celebration for a starlit London evening.

Iconic speakers for the evening begin with Mohammed Ali, graffiti artist behind 'Aerosol Arabic' and comedy by 30Mosques blogger Aman Ali (USA). Nasheeds will be performed by Canadian group Sound of Reason and a poetry session by David J (UK) will be followed by World renowned Hang Drum percussionist, Daniel Waples.

If that didn't get your taste buds tingling, the celebration will dedicate a session to fundraising, in Muslim tradition and be a great opportunity for networking with savvy artists. Oh, and hot halal canapés will be served.

Date: Friday 16th September 2011 
Time: 6.15pm - 9.30pm 
Venue: Clifford Chance Headquarters, 10 Upper Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5JJ  
Price:  £25 online until deadline after which prices increase £30
Deadline for booking: Friday 9th September *Limited spaces, book early

For more information and to book seats: {www.wharfma.com}
t | 07980 556 772 / 07837 645 758  e | eid@wharfma.com  

See more events this autumn.

More:
Link Love: The Art Of Integration by Peter Sanders
UK's First Ever Kuwaiti Pop Art Exhibition
Qur'an Calligraphy Show Opens In Madinah
Video: "SACRED" :: Mustafa Davis and Amir Sulaiman, Poetical Artists Praising Women

Keeping Your Eyes On The Prize

2011-08-28T18:10:00.000+01:00

Throughout our lives most of what we do is driven by the thought of consequence. More specifically, the benefits that doing something good might bring good for us, or the troubles it might repel us from. We do whatever we do, seeking some form of goodness in it.

And yet, no matter how much good one has in this world, it cannot come close to the rewards that the life after death holds for the believers of Allah. What is of this dunya after all, stays of this world and will deteriorate and wither away. It is not designed to last. But whatever is with Allah will always stay. Whomever loves Allah, will stay in Allah's love.

Whilst reading Surah Ya-sin from the Qur'an, I would often pause upon the verses,

"Indeed the companions of Paradise, that Day, will be amused in [joyful] occupation - They and their spouses - in shade, reclining on adorned couches." (Qur'an, 36:55-56)

I would read, and re-read these verses thinking about what a beautiful reward it was. The eternal bliss of paradise, the company of one's beloved wife, all without the fear of death, sorrow or despair.

That's something most of us would sell our souls to get, I would think. It was the promise of lasting comfort, tranquility, happiness and love, all expressed beautifully in a single verse. What more could one possibly want?

It was only last night, as I was reading the chapter again, that the answer dawned upon me. The very next verses stated,

"For them therein is fruit, and for them is whatever they request [or wish]." (Qur'an, 36:57)

Subhan'Allah (glory be to God). While most of those deserving of paradise would be perfectly content with receiving their eternal reward, there are others who will have requests, a desire for something else. And to them, Allah has promised that they would find in Jannah all that they wanted, provided they led righteous lives.

Surely there could be no reward greater than this, I thought. There couldn't possibly be anything more that someone could want, could there?

Then as I read on, I came across something that shook me. The next verse in Surah Ya-sin read, 

"[And] 'Peace, a word from a Merciful Lord." (Qur'an, 36:58)

My heart skipped a few beats. All this while, I had been excited about the prospect of an everlasting paradise, companionship that would last forever and the fulfillment of my every wish. But I had ignored the fact that beyond the 'material' rewards Allah mentions, lays a higher degree of reward for those who sought it. The reward of getting to meet Allah, our Lord. Knowing He was pleased with you, seeing Him and having the honor of Him saying 'Salam' to you.

Imagine that.

The Lord of the heavens and the Earth, extending His greetings to you and personally congratulating you for your success. How could there ever be a more perfect reward?

The recompense described earlier in comparison to earning Allah's pleasure seems so 'little' once this reward comes into sight.

Yet, most of the time, when we worship Him and perform good deeds it is because we don't want to be left behind, because we want to enter paradise with those who enter it. Similarly, we abstain from many harmful things because we are afraid we will end up in hell, and there's inherently nothing wrong with that mindset.

But perhaps we need to realign our intentions and aim for something even higher, to set our eyes on the Salam, peace, from our Lord, most High.

To Allah belongs Paradise and His is the Hellfire; He punishes whom He wills and He rewards whom He wills (Quran, 5:118). If He decided to forbid us from Paradise, it would not change our role to worship Him and Him alone, and to serve only Him.

Allah, being the Lord, Creator and Sustainer of all that exists, has the only right to be worshipped. We say this when we testify our faith, "Laa ilaha, il'Allah", there is nothing worthy of worship, except Allah. It is His right that we, His servants, strive to please Him in the life that He has ordained for us.

And perhaps, the most interesting part is that when your purpose becomes to please Allah, and you're longing only for His Love and meeting Him, you automatically qualify for all the other heavenly rewards.

It all comes down to 'why' you're doing what you're doing as a Muslim. Paradise or pleasing the One who provides it all? Just some food for thought.

May Allah make us among those whose eyes thirst to see Him, Whose hearts long to meet Him and whose only purpose is to please Him.

Ameen.

Peace, love and respect.

More:
Month Of Qur'an, 5 Deeds To Heaven, Your Understanding
25 Prayers To Learn From The Qur'an
The Two Wings

Image:: flickr

Read more by The Shepherd

Ramadan Reminders: Iftar Parties

2011-08-19T07:06:00.002+01:00

Ramadan Reminders: Dinner Parties And Iftar

I've noticed some people use the following prophetic statement (hadith) to justify and encourage large iftar (breaking the fast) parties during the month of Ramadan:

"Whoever gives food to a fasting person with which to break his fast, will have a reward equal to his, without it detracting in the slightest from the reward of the fasting person" (Tirmidhi)

I think it's important to see the wisdom behind such inspiration and not to abuse it. There is a blessing in holding a family iftar meal and a attending a congregational ceremony at the mosque. Sometimes larger celebratory iftar parties can often distract people from the real virtues of Ramadan such as patience and moderation. It may even facilitate and encourage back-biting and gossip because after the fast a Muslim feels freer to relax.

The key is to avoid any situation that would distract you from attaining the pleasure of Allah. Just because you've stopped fasting doesn't mean you stop being Muslim.

Charity is very closely associated with the month of Ramadan and some scholars are of the opinion that the above hadith relates to the iftar provided to the poor and needy. I'm not in any way implying that providing iftar to people who can afford it won't earn you the reward but what I am saying is make sure the food "party" is done for the right reasons and in the right environment.

Invite a different person or smaller group over for the fast everyday instead of hosting for a huge group of people in one sitting. Prepare less food, a small portion to one person. Never throw away leftover food - freeze in tubs and distribute amongst friends. Always make du`a for those less unfortunate as you open your fast.

May Allah allow us to benefit from this auspicious month.

Follow Abdullah Osman on twitter.com/abdullah_osman

Image: flickr

Art Feature: Rachid Lamrabat's 'Evolution Prayer'

2011-08-19T02:44:00.003+01:00

Rachid Lamrabat, Muslim photographer from Belgium, created this image for Ramadan to show the spiritual evolution Muslims undergo.

"You are not the music you listen to", "Fast from duniya", "Evolve".

What caption can you come up with?

Image: Rachid Lamrabat ©

See more photography by Rachid Lamrabat:

{www.lamrabat.be}

More:
Art Feature: Hadith Typography
Qur'an Calligraphy Show Opens In Madinah
El Seed, Arabic Inspired Street Painting
Link Love: Shain Typography

Aafia Siddiqui's Ramadan In A Texas Prison

2011-08-18T05:51:00.001+01:00

While Muslims around the globe enjoy the freedom of Ramadan's ceremonies in the security of their homes, Pakistani neuroscientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui will spend her 9th year in total isolation in a Texas prison facility.

The Justice for Aafia Coalition (JFAC), a major organisation behind attempting to bring justice, has diligently raised awareness of the torturous treatments used on Dr. Aafia. Just who is Aafia? What is her story, and why was she sentenced to an unprecedented 86 years in September 2010 for a crime she never committed? These are the questions that JFAC want answering.

This year JFAC are hosting an iftar evening in Peterborough, UK, to fundraise for the doctor's case. In an emotional presentation about a Muslim mother's broken life, Ilyas Townsend and Dr. Uthman Lateef will shed light on why after 7 years of detention and abuse, Aafia will complete another Ramadhan alone, and spend her `Eid alone.

Qur'an recitation will be prominent at the fundraising iftar event with a chance for attendees to write directly to Aafia with JFAC's new exclusive Ramadhan and `Eid postcards.

"Be her voice. Stand with Aafia today."

Date: Saturday 20th August 2011 | Time: 6pm until Maghrib

Venue: Gladstone Park Community Centre, Bourges Boulevard, Peterborough, PE1 2AN

Speakers: Ilyas Townsend (JFAC) | Ustadh Dr. Uthman Lateef (Hittin Institute)

For further information:

{Justice for Aafia Coalition}

Ramadan Reminders: Take A Chill Pill

2011-08-17T06:05:00.000+01:00

Ramadan Reminders: Take a chill pill... (it won't break your fast)

Ramadan is not about depriving yourself of food and drink. Remember to cool down, mind your language and your temper. It's very easy to get emotional and worked up on an empty stomach but resisting crankiness is part of the test.

There are 'levels' to fasting so don't sacrifice your fast to prove a point and lose a higher level of righteousness.

Overlook the faults of others and insha'Allah your faults will be overlooked too.

Remember: “The deeds most loved by Allah are those done regularly, even if they are small.” (Bukhari, Muslim).

Follow Abdullah Osman on twitter.com/abdullah_osman

Submit Your Islamic Fashion Designs For Silk Route's "StyleIn" Competition

2011-08-17T05:43:00.004+01:00

This summer, Silk Route Clothing are running an open-to-all competition for jilbab designs that they will make and sell worldwide. A jilbab is a long tunic-style garment catered to women, also referred to as a kaftan or thobe, depending on which part of the Muslim world you're in.

Silk Route is a London based fashion enterprise specialising in providing creative avant-garde abayas for chic Muslim women. Their success is down to solid materials and functionality that only a professional knows. In the Silk Route StyleIn annual competition, three amateur designers will be chosen to have their creation produced and sold worldwide.

"We are looking for elegant, urban, sporty and simple yet sophisticated designs. The competition is open to everyone of all ages and faiths and you don't have to be a professional designer either." - Silk Route representative.

The jilbabs by Silk Route are diligently categorised to suit the various needs of Muslim women today; from smart work, to an ‘urban studio’ range as well as a sporty selection for the trendy youth. When asking Silk Route is there was a change in Muslim women's style trends they said, "Yes, the younger generation are being inspired by global fashion brands and are bringing those styles to their designs."

With personal style being a major component to Islamic attire, more women look to practicality. "There is also an aspiration to make the jilbabs more functional, for example jilbabs that become 2 pieces and jilbabs for sports."

Launched only 5 years ago, Silk Route has grown to become an immensely popular global brand synonymous for providing stylish modest apparel. Today, Silk Route are keeping their objective fresh with the launch of a new website and pioneering design competition.

Three lucky winners will get the magnificent opportunity to have their own jilbab design produced and featured within Silk Route’s Spring 2012 range, as well as being published by seven International Magazines.

The triumphant sole winner will also receive a £500 cash prize, exclusive chat with fashion designer Rabia Z and a chance to harness their talent by working with the Silk Route design team on a paid 6 month internship.

How Can You Win?
All you have to do is submit a jilbab design that caters to Silk Route customer needs of coverage and style.

Every entry will be published at the dedicated competition website, where the designs can be viewed worldwide and voted for. If you’re not a designer and need inspiration, check out the entries submitted so far and vote for the one you would like to see made.

If you know of any aspiring designers, budding stylists make sure to let them know and support the talent!

Deadline: 31st August 2011.

For details on how to register for this competition log onto::

{www.silkroutestylein.com}

"Hablamos Islam", Children Speak Spanish Islam

2011-08-17T01:50:00.002+01:00

We speak Islam, young Muslims enjoy reading “The hadiz of Yibril” in Spanish.

A new Muslim identity has sprung from the darknesses of Europe. From a continent where women are banned from wearing the burqah, Islam has moulded a brave personality for Muslim children who speak Spanish across the ocean.

Meet Ahmed. Ahmed is Muslim, a puppet with its (or his) own video series and the key representative for young Muslims in New Jersey saying "hablamos Islam" - We speak Islam.

The video series is just one department of bilingual products for young American Muslims. Hablamosislamninos.com has published a line of Islamic books in Spanish that are perfect for bedtime reading. The site also launched activity books and Ramadan songs in time for the festive fasting spirit.

Here Ahmed the adorable puppet encourages little Muslims to read. *Spanish with translation below. We welcome corrections!

Link to video {http://youtu.be/HAbuWfpm_0o}

Transcript:
"Hablamos Islam con Ahmed!
Aprendiendo todo lo que debemos saber
Porque buenos musulmanes queremos ser
Hablamos Islam con Ahmed...

As-salamu `alaykum…
Hola niños.
Estaba leyendo, ustedes saben, a mí me encanta leer
Y también me gusta cuando mis papás me leen
Porque así aprendo mucho
¿Pero ustedes saben cuál es la manera de aprender aún más?
Es diciendo un du’a muy especial que Allah le enseñó a nuestro profeta Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Este du’a se encuentra en el surah Taha, esta es la sura número 20, en el verso número 114.

Allah dice, le dice al profeta Muhammad (peace be upon him) que diga “Rabbi zidni `ilma”, eso significa “Oh mi señor, auméntame en conocimiento”.

Es un du’a muy bonito, porque nos enseña a pedirle a Allah que nos aumente en nuestro conocimiento, para poder aprender más y más.

¿Pueden repetirlo conmigo? ¿Listos?
Rabbi zidni ilma - Mi señor, auméntamen en conocimiento.

Ah, Masha'Allah, ese du’a es muy, muy bonito.
Nos enseña no sólo a buscar el conocimiento del Islam, sino también de otras cosas.
Insha’Allah, deberíamos memorizar este du’a y decirlo durante todas nuestras oraciones, para que Allah nos haga muy, muy, muy inteligentes Insha’Allah.

Bueno niños, voy a seguir leyendo.
Les hago un du`a por venirme a visitar nuevamente.
As-salamu `alaykum…"

Translation:
"Let’s talk about Islam with Ahmed!
Learning everything we need to know
Because good muslims we want to be
Let’s talk about Islam with Ahmed.

As-salamu `alaykum…
Hello kids.
I was reading, you know, I love to read

And I like it too when my parents read to me.
Because that way I learn a lot.
But do you know how to learn even more?

It’s by saying a very special du`a that Allah taught our prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

This du`a is found in the surah Taha, this is the surah number 20, in the verse number 114.

Allah asks prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to say “Rabbi zidni `ilma”, which means “Oh My Lord, increase me in knowledge”.

This is a very beautiful du`a, because it teaches us to ask Allah to increase us in knowledge, so we can learn more and more.

Can you please repeat it with me? Ready?
Rabbi zidni `ilma - My Lord, increase me in knowledge.

Ah, Masha'Allah, this du`a is very, very beautiful.
It teaches us not only to seek for knowledge of Islam, but also of other things.
Insha’Allah, we should memorize this du`a and say it in all our prayers, so Allah makes us very, very, very intelligent Insha'Allah.

Okay kids, I’m going to continue reading.
I’ll make a du`a for you for coming and visit me again.
As-salamu `alaykum…"

Hablamos Islam is a welcome and entertaining range of videos even when you're a tad lost in translation, which is why it's high time you taught your children Spanish!

Find more at::

{www.hablamosislamninos.com}

Stay updated on the official page:: Facebook.com/hablamosislam

Images: Hablamos Islam ©

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Read more by The Mexican

Muslims In The West, Cool Photo Journal

2011-08-16T19:57:00.001+01:00

Muslim photographer, Yasemin Kanar (Photo: Sana Ullah)

When you want to know about real Muslim lifestyles, the blogosphere is one of the best sources for personal stories. Since news only talks about depressing happenings, we need to show the majority of passionate and creative Muslims through art and photography.

I got in touch with Adam Sahib, founder of Muslims In The West, to ask why his photo blog is representin' a new image of Muslim generations.

As-salam`alaykum Adam. Firstly, why did you create Muslims In The West and what are your aims for it?

"I created the site last August with the aim to shine a positive light on Muslims, as opposed to all the negativity received in the media. I did not publicly release it until essentially the New Year (2011). Ideally, we plan on reaching thousands of Muslims and non-Muslims worldwide. We believe it is incumbent that Muslims work hard to remove the existing fear that some may be feeling by showing who they really are.

Furthermore, we are hoping to inspire both Muslims and non-Muslims through photography. This project is definitely open as we are seeking people to submit pictures. I don't want this to be MY project; rather, a project we can all enjoy and work on together insha'Allah (God willing)."

What inspired you to create Muslims In The West and whom have you featured?
"I was inspired to create this photo journal from two different angles. Firstly, I love taking pictures but I felt that there wasn't a higher level purpose to my pictures. Once I thought of the idea I could just visualize how wonderful it could be with contributions and unique images. We’re only beginning and would love for it to grow some more. We have featured people from all backgrounds and ages to show the beautiful diversity within our community. We get inspired daily by the great submissions that come in."

The blog includes some of the world's most iconic and under-the-radar Muslims from organic produce man Fahim Alwan, photographer-in-residence Yasin Dusoruth, fashion designer Gareth Bryant (Khaleeji Clothing) and professional basketball hopeful Mouctar Diaby.

You mentioned working with your wife earlier - who else is on the team and is this a full time job?
"My wife, Wafiyyah Ali, is a main component on the team alongside me as we work back and forth depending on who has more time. I would also like to mention my cousin Amir who has helped tremendously with the website layout and design. Furthermore, all team photographers and people featured should be mentioned, in particular Yasin Dusoruth who has been our main photographic contributor.

Outside of the photo journal, I teach high school math. Wafiyyah has just finished teacher's college which gives us the opportunity to have all our holidays together insha'Allah!"

On your site you're taking photo submissions. What are you looking for and how can viewers contribute?
"The photo journal is pretty simple. We attempt to post a new picture at least every two days.

Anyone can submit a picture as long as the quality is good and the photo is unique. We have a policy of not refusing any submissions unless the photos are offensive or not in line with the aims and objectives of the site."

Bebe Sahib, 52 years old, is mother to Adam Sahib and grandmother to 5. Bebe works as a Business Solution Specialist at CIBC in Hamilton, Ontario and immigrated from Guyana to Canada in 1975. Bebe is also the first female president of the Canadian Indo Caribbean Association.

What has the reaction been so far from both Muslims and other faiths/communities?
"Everyone who has seen the site has loved it. Two reactions have really made me happy so far. One is to see the Muslim youth so excited and proud to see the pictures of peers and getting involved as well by shareing the site. The second is to see non-Muslims' (as well as some Muslims) beginning to realize how truly diverse the Muslim community is here in North America as well as in Europe."

We recently featured the diverse blogs My Best Friend Is Muslim’ and ‘Muslims Wearing Things’ for their innovative stories. Is Muslims In The West only a 'western' representation?
"Both of those sites are wonderful, may Allah reward those involved tremendously. MITW is quite different in that we only focus on Muslims located specifically in what is historically considered the “West”, as the narrative here is unique for Muslims as opposed to in other traditionally Muslim countries.

Additionally, we do not repost or take photos from other websites. All of our pictures are copyrighted and published with the specific permission of those individuals who shot them. Our website also shows a range of Muslims in every possible avenue not restricted to age or profession. It's not limited to a certain theme or story. We aim to spread our vision through a series of intimate portraits of Muslims throughout the Western lands."

That's an amazing vision. MUSLIMNESS viewers are global and interested in taking a more active role for implementing a similar vision. What top 3 pieces of advice (nasiha) would you give to budding photographers and bloggers?
   1) Keep on reminding yourself to do it for Allah and absolutely no other purpose.
   2) Love what you're doing.
   3) Observe what other Muslims or non-Muslims are doing in your area of interest.

Shukran, thank you Adam and team, great to see your work and we wish it greater success insha'Allah.

Images: Muslims In The West ©

Got a project to share? contact@muslimness.com

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Top Ten Ramadan Blogs

2011-08-14T19:42:00.002+01:00

With a plethora of bloggers sharing their Ramadan experiences this year, we've shortlisted our favourite fasting blogs that we think provide excellent resources and ideas. Our list is in no particular order and while we wanted to include many more, we leave it open to share your own.

Which Ramadan blogs make your top ten?

1. Ramadan.co.uk, Community blog
Ramadan.co.za, based in South Africa, is a community website that invites readers to share their Ramadan experience and provides spiritual advice for new Muslims, with a 'bootcamp' and 'tafseer' category. The blog pulls information from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, providing prayer timetables, halal recipes, and stacks a good collection of social and du`a related articles.

Follow the blog updates on::
Facebook.com/Ramadanblog and http://twitter.com/#!/ramadancoza

2. 30 Mosques In 30 Days

Now in its third year, the 30 Mosques duo Aman Ali and Bassam Tariq have hit the road again to meet America's Muslim community in 30 different states. They share stories of unique Muslims with a human angle that is touching and humorous. All that can be really added to an already wonderful project and media coverage is that we need the 30 Mosques road-trip in every country.

Follow the blog updates on::

http://30mosques.com and Facebook.com/30mosques

3. The Ramadan Blog
A celebratory website in part, the Ramadan blog has been around since 2008 and made itself a comfortable name amongst Ramadan bloggers. Amongst the recent Islamic articles, including 25 Prayers From The Qur'an, the Ramadan blog has a section on healthy eating habits, tips for fasting during the long summer days and guest videos of Qur'an recitations.

Read the blog::
http://theramadanblog.blogspot.com

4. SeekersGuidance - on Ramadan
An admirable educational institution, SeekersGuidance is an online haven for Muslim students with a diverse course range, videos, daily podcasts and a growing Ramadan reminders department. Search 'Ramadan' for all blog posts providing motivational counsel, videos from respected scholars, detailed guides to prayer and your fiqh questions answered.

Follow the blog updates on::
Facebook.com/seekersguidance and http://twitter.com/#!/seekersguidance

5. Tariq Ramadan Chronicles

In annual tradition, renowned professor Tariq Ramadan talks on a variety of topical issues on his audio Ramadan Chronicles. Speaking on spirituality, human conditions, the essence of fasting and traits (siffat) of Allah, learning from Ramadan's chronicles are a must this season.

Follow the blog updates on::

www.tariqramadan.com/-Ramadan-Chronicles-.html

6. Wajahat Ali's Ramadan on Patheos

Wajahat Ali, Muslim American playwright, blogger and Attorney at Law, is writing his Ramadan experiences with refreshing wit and a practical rhetoric under the tagline 'Spiritual Appetite'. As published around the blogosphere, Ali's first article 'Ramadan State of Mind' can be read on HuffingtonPost. We think Wajahat Ali will appreciate your input too therefore do share your thoughts.

Follow the blog updates on::

www.patheos.com/blogs/ramadan/author/wajahatali/

7. Ramadan.co.uk
A true dedication to British spirit, Ramadan.co.uk supports local Ramadan radio channels, hosts a nifty online zakat calculator, a growing collection of downloadable resources, mp3s and continental recipes that truly reflect the multicultural hotpot that is Great Britain.

Follow the blog updates on::

http://www.ramadan.co.uk/

8. Productive Ramadan

A creation of Productive Muslim, the Productive Ramadan blog focuses on a Muslim's active action, whether this is using their 'taskinator' for personalised checklists or their exciting Ramadan battle-plan articles.

Follow the blog updates::
www.productiveramadan.com

9. Ramadan Awareness Campaign
The Ramadan Awareness Campaign is an annual event supported by community volunteers and a budding supply of downloadable Ramadan plans. With a Kids corner, a Ramadan wall chart and onsite Qur'an recitation tools, Ramadan.com.au is a colourful community service to use this month.

Follow the blog updates on::
www.ramadan.com.au/

10. Read With Meaning, Teaching Qur'an with Lego
As an introduction to Islam's holy scripture, teaching children Qur'an through Lego is a bang-on fantastic idea. Mezba Mahtab, the blogger extraordinaire behind Read With Meaning, has illustrated each Quranic verse using innovative photography of Lego. It definitely captures the spirit of Quran with a child-friendly approach.

Follow the blog updates on::
http://readwithmeaning.wordpress.com and http://twitter.com/#!/Quran4Kids

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VOTE NOW: Nominate your favourite Muslim blogs and social networking gurus on The 8th Brass Crescent Awards {http://brasscrescent.org}

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Ramadan Reminders: Imam Zaid Shakir's "Out of this World"

2011-08-14T18:39:00.000+01:00

This exclusive message for Ramadan by Imam Zaid Shakir is packed with energy, which is exactly what is needed in these long summer days of fasting as we seek a reward from "Out of this World".

Video courtesy of Radical Middle Way.

Link to video {http://youtu.be/qHnK9lawmV0}

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{INSTANT MUSLIMNESS} This Week's Top News

2011-08-14T11:51:00.001+01:00

Your weekly injection of top stories and news from MUSLIMNESS.

MUSLIMNESS Exclusive
→ Khalil Ismail, Interview With Muslim American Rap Artist

Ramadan Messages 2011
→ Imam Zaid Shakir's Ramadan Motivator Speech At Living Islam

Top Tips
→ 25 Prayers To Learn From The Qur'an
→ This Is Your Brain On Ramadan

Edutainment
→ Get Fantastic Eco-Ramadan Gifts From Etsy (Zaufishan.co.uk)
→ Art Feature: Hadith Typography

Link Love
→ Jews And Muslims Put Faith In A Joint Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
→ Fasting For Ramadan As A Non-Muslim

Awesome Event
→ Baba Ali Marriage Webinar: Finding Halal Love (20th August)

Friday Nasiha
"The Arabic word translated for "fear of God" is taqwah. Derived from wiqaya (protection), taqwah means to be in the safekeeping or protection of God. This has two aspects. The first is that believers fear God and obey Him by observing His commands and prohibitions. The second aspect is that, by studying nature and life and discovering the laws of God that control them, people acquire scientific knowledge and order their lives. Science cannot be established if people do not discover these laws."
→ Read more Friday Nasiha on the nafs and God's protection

Eco-Muslimness News
→ 'Trees4Life' Invite You To Plant A Tree In Indonesia

World News
→ Rioting? Show Your Community What Muslims Are Really About
→ Muslim Youth And The London Riots: What Can YOU Do?
→ Jewish And Muslim Entrepreneurs Address Social Problems

Follow MUSLIMNESS

{Facebook.com/MuslimnessMedia}

{Twitter.com/Muslimness}

'Trees4Life' Invite You To Plant A Tree In Indonesia

2011-08-13T11:38:00.119+01:00

Trees4Life Campaign, an environmental initiative ran by British Muslim activists, has launched ‘Poetry in Motion - The Green Poetry Challenge 2011’. The project has added eco-value by fundraising to plant trees in Indonesia where Trees4Life has already established Earth saving plans.

The poetry competition is open to all creative writers and invites you to write a poem about the environment. This is in support of the "Green Burqettes", three Muslim women from Manchester who recently took part in the Fusion Rally {http://thefusionrally.com} epic 5-day drive from London to Andalusia to help raise money to plant trees in Indonesia.  

There are 3 categories of entrants; adults, secondary age pupils and primary age pupils, who are being invited to take part in the poetry challenge to write a poem about the environment.

MUSLIMNESS invites you to participate in this poetry challenge and make a donation towards their drive in the chance to win a fantastic trip and plant a beautiful sapling tree - a good deed and sunnah in itself.

Just £5 enters you into the challenge and buys you a tree. All submissions will receive an e-Certificate of Plantation acknowledging the planting of the tree in Indonesia.  

Prizes include a trip to Kew Gardens, donated by Shining Ummah Awards (part of the Creative Muslim Network).   

CLOSING DATE: Friday 21st October 2011  

For full terms and conditions, details of the prizes and how to register visit:

{www.trees4lifecampaign.com}

Support environmental action by donating on the Green Burqettes fundraising page, www.charitygiving.co.uk/greenburqettes. Join the Trees4Life poetry challenge Facebook events page.

Judges:
Abrar Hussain - Fusion Rally, Ayman Raze - "Tawheed is Unity", Naeem Darr - MDUK Media, Shemiza Rashid - Creative Muslim Network. More to be confirmed. 

Sponsored by:
Islamic Travels and supported by "Tawheed Is Unity", the Creative Muslim Network, Shining Ummah Academy, YMWA, MWA, MDUK Media.

"Thanks for supporting the preservation of the Earth", Trees4Life Campaign Team.

{www.trees4lifecampaign.com}

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This Is Your Brain On Ramadan

2011-08-13T05:33:00.001+01:00

So here’s an interesting fact about the brain: During a period of fasting, a hormone is released that upsets how your body changes food into energy. When that happens, it increases the number of mitochondria in neurons that tell you when you’re hungry.

Neurobiologists at Yale University School of Medicine found that this caused mice to overeat. The study suggests there’s a connection between “breaking fast” and eating more that you need to replenish yourself.

“Typically we have noticed a trend in increased obesity and many incidence of diabetes during the Holy month because of irregular and inappropriate eating after breaking the fast,” said Dr. Wedad Al Maidor, family physician, and member of the Dubai Ministry of Health.

(From WAM’s article ‘Ahlan Ramadan’ encourages Healthy Ramadan.)

An article published by the American Diabetes Association doctors recommend distributing calories over 2-3 smaller meals during non-fasting hours help prevent type 2 diabetes.

So be careful not to binge during this month of Ramadan!

Why Are Dates So Common During Ramadan?

Your brain is like a spoiled little princess; she always wants the crème de la crème.

Borrowing a metaphor from a Medical News Today article, the body gets energy in two ways: high-octane glucose (sugar) or cheap, low-octane fat. Most of our body can take energy from either glucose or fat, but the brain is pickier – it’s glucose or nothing.

So when there is no glucose to be burned, the liver takes protein from the muscles, where it is transformed into glucose then shot up to the brain.

Just one date has about 15g of sugar – that’s a lot. So it makes sense that this would be a traditional way to break one’s fast before Iftar (the evening meal). What better way to raise everyone’s spirits than a small, quick shot of glucose to the brain?

But you only need a handful of dates. Don’t forget about those greedy little mice!

Fasting And Alzheimer’s

There seem to be some mysterious benefits for the brain in Ramadan-style fasting. A study conducted at the National Institute on Aging showed that intermittent deprivation of food can protect the brain from diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

[Mark] Mattson and his colleagues also shared data from research on humans, which shows that populations with higher caloric intakes—such as the United States and Europe—have a greater prevalence of Alzheimer’s than do populations that eat less—such as China and Japan. (From Andrea Useen’s article Why Religious Fasting Could Be Good for Your Brain.)

So how can it stave off degenerative brain diseases? Mattson claims fasting can actually creative new neurons. From his article published by the National Institutes of Health, it reads:

"[Dietary restriction] can stimulate the production of new neurons from stem cells (neurogenesis) and can enhance synaptic plasticity, which may increase the ability of the brain to resist aging and restore function following injury."

Now there was one part that seemed to conflict with what doctors recommend to prevent obesity and diabetes. Mattson suggest that we eat more in one sitting.

"…increasing the time interval between meals is beneficial, even when the size of the meals are increased to a level that results in no overall decrease in caloric intake."

Perhaps both the neuroscientists and diabetes specialists would be content if we slowly graze from sunset to bedtime.

Fasting May Even Affect Sleep

According to Dr. Ebrahim Kazim, a low blood-sugar level can lock the brain into stages of deep sleep. He writes:

"Fasting improves the quality and intensifies the depth of sleep, a matter of particular importance to the aged who have much less stage three and four sleep (deep sleep). The processes of repair of the body and of the brain take place during sleep. Two hours of sleep during the month of Ramadan are more satisfying and refreshing than more hours of sleep otherwise!"

While this may be true if one goes to sleep before eating, we must wonder if this particular phenomenon belongs to Ramadan fasting. Breaking fast at sundown would increase the blood-sugar level. The question is if the evening meal would raise the blood-sugar level enough to improve the depth of sleep.

Ramadan Kareem!

Image:: flickr
Source {Muslim Voices} | Megan Meyer

Jews And Muslims Put Faith In A Joint Pilgrimage

2011-08-13T04:49:00.001+01:00

An organisation is promoting friendship between Jews and Muslims – with a joint pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

The Jewish-Muslim Forum of Greater Manchester is now looking for more people of both faiths to sign up for the trip to the Holy Land next year.

Formed seven years ago, the group works to reduce hostility between Muslims and Jews with social activities and foreign trips. The tour of Jerusalem is the biggest trip the group has organised.

Muslim Qaisra Shiraz, 53, said: “There’s a lot of animosity between Jews and Muslims because of Palestine, but we don’t want that to filter into our country. People might think we shouldn’t travel there as a group but we want to get rid of those perceptions. The foundation means we can learn from and respect each other. Everyone should befriend someone of another faith or religion or we’re just locked in our own little worlds.” Jewish member Heather Fletcher, 51, said: “Our two religions have more in common than differences and we can be common allies in fighting far right groups like the BNP.”

Interested? Check out {www.muslimjewish.org.uk}

Image:: flickr

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