Britian: We like Muslims. Honestly, We Do

Britain is a good place to be Muslim

Here is an article that I came across, that extols the benefits of being a Muslim in Britain. Although, I am not nor have been a Muslim in Britian, I have made my own list based solely on the impression that I have received from the media (everyone knows that you can trust the media).

1. You get to meet and interact with your fellow non-Muslim country men (although they are usually law enforcement and you are being interrogated)
2. You are more likely than the average non-Muslim Britain to star in your own reality show (although the footage mainly consists of wiretaps of your local mosque, home phone line, and cellphone).
3. You are all but assured plenty of personal space when traveling (especially on subways and buses...sometimes even in taxicabs )
4. You have a greater chance of being the smartest person in your class and graduating head of your class( a way to increase your odds of being the smartest person in your class, is to come to America and enroll in the public school system).

German Teachers: No Hijab for you!

A German court has said that female Muslim teachers cannot wear a hijab while working. The judge must not have read the article about Muslims becoming the majority by 2046. I think that this law will be repealed sooner or later. Or at least by 2046/

Introducing the Burkini

With the start of the new year, summer is just around the corner (unless you're in the lower hemispere), and that means that it is burkini season. What is the Burkini you ask? Part burka, part bikini. For when you absolutely, positively need to be fashionable and halal on your local mixed beach.

....I couldn't make this up if I tried...Well, maybe I could, but I didn't.

The Muslim Nation of Germany ?

There are organizations that predict that by 2046 Germany will be predominantly Muslim. After reading this, other nations are probably buying an extra roll of duct tape to seal off the borders, but the increase in Germany is not from immigrants. It is from native Germans who are converting to Islam. This will likely but a wrinkle in the duct tape plan.

Informing the Masses

Seyyed Nasr

Here is an interesting article. Fredericksburg, Virginia is taking the initiative to inform it's residents about Islam via a series of lectures and performing arts shows. I like that non-Muslims are seeking knowledge, and based on some of the responses to this article, this is long overdue.

Fear of Days Gone By

Villagers dressed up as moors perform during a traditional festival in Crevillente, in the Valencia region, October 8, 2006. Villages all over Spain hold annual festivals to commemorate the “Reconquista”, the reconquest of Spain by Christians from the Moors, which was completed in 1492 after more than 700 years of Muslim rule in much of the country. Spanish villages are toning down traditional fiestas in response to Muslim backlashes against other caricatures of Islam.

The Muslim presence in Spain is well known, although perspectives tint the experience to a degree. Because our country is relatively young compared to other nations, we lack the many of the deep seeded fears rooted in history that other nations have (unless you are a African American). The reemergence of the Muslim population in Spain has many Christian Spaniards worried.

Muslims in Politics

With all of the attention given to Congressmen Keith Ellison being the first Muslim on the national stage, Maryland Representative Saqib Ali, also set precedence as the first Muslim lawmaker.

Worker Rights & Harassment

East Africans and Muslims have filed a complaint against their employer for harassment and discriminatory practices. I am rather proud of them, because often immigrants are hesitant to file such claims. When the problem is not addressed in a meaningful manner, the problem becomes systemic. As Muslims, we are suppose to speak against wrong doings where ever we find them.

Muslim Voice on the National Stage

Many Muslims who were not born here (and some that were) don't always see the benefit in voting (though they love talking politics). Well, when you vote you increase the chances of having a person like Keith Ellison that can provide a voice for your opinions on the national arena. He his calling for the U.S. "End the Occupation" of Iraq.

Black Muslims vs. Muslim African Americans

When many non-Muslims meet an African American that is Muslim, many of them assume that they are members of the Nation of Islam (which by the way are not Muslims). Many of the Muslims who come here from other countries don't understand the Nation of Islam and dismiss them as kafirs. With the notable exceptions of Malcom X and Muhammad Ali (both of whom did eventually accept the deen; although the focus us given to their period of ignorance). Personally, I could never reconcile the obvious contradictions between what NOI believes and the truth of Al-Islam. The failure to reconcile the differences does not mean that I can not appreciate the numerous achievements of the members. The same achievements that seem to have thus far eluded the larger Sunni Muslim community.

One of the reason that the early generations were able to advance with innovations (along with the will of Allah (SWT)) is that they studied other societies and adopted what worked (as long as it was halal). The NOI, opened hospitals, farms, stores, and educational institutions which they supported and operated themselves. This is one of the thing that are absent from the Sunni community. We need people to serve the community(and not be leaders of their personal fiefdom). Our masjids need to have a plan for the future that is listed out in 100, 75, 50, 25, 10, 5, and 1 year increments. Our communities need visions for the future. If we don't we will continue to have no infrastructure like universities or hospitals although we have thousands of professors, doctors, and engineers. For a community that is highly educated, we are equally as unorganized.

Now is the time for each one of us to take initiative and begin building a lasting infrastructure in our communities.

Here is the second episode of LMOTP...commercials and all (of course)

Muslims At Work

If you don't think that this is funny, then you are probably the Muslim that he is talking about.

FNC

Pigs race at a farm in Katy, Texas, in protest of plans to build a mosque next door.

This is one of the stupidest things that I have heard of, so it should come from Texas (no offense to the good people of Texas, but definitely to the ignorant ones of Texas). A man is protest the building of a mosque next to his property by holding a pig race. I don't know what he is thinking? Muslims don't eat pigs, it doesn't mean that they are our kryptonite and we break into convulsion once we have come in proximity to them. Nevertheless, this dose of inane ignorance was reported by no less than FOX NEWS...surprise!surprise!

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Muslim cabbies at airports refuse service to some people....but for how long?

Happy days: Gakie Husein at the Minstrel Carnival Association's contest at Green Point Stadium. Photo: Henk Kruger, Cape Argus

In the adapted words of Forest Gump "Racist is as Racist does". What kind of mess is this where Arabs or any other people for that matter are holding and promoting minstrel shows. Not only do they still hold them, they form a Minstrel Carnival Association and hold annual contest. It's bad enough that there are Japanese people in blackface. I am curious if they know the origins of the minstrel show, and that it is nothing more than a public display of stereotypes that where associated with Black Americans. I wonder if other races would endorse such divisive relics if there were counterparts that portrayed stereotypes associated with them. To think that some Muslims participate in such events is disheartening, and a disgrace. They arrest their own since of morality, and poison those of future generations.

Arrogant People

Enjoy the show...commercials and all.

Did you know that there is a Museum of Muslim Culture in the U.S.? Neither did I. Guess where it is located. Deerborn Michigan? Nope. New York? Nope. Jackson, Mississippi? Yup! In the heart of the bible belt. The idea was to place the museum in a place where non-Muslims can learn about Muslim culture. Sounds good. If I didn't have such a deep seeded fear of the deep south and all of it's nefarious goings ons, I might have actually considered visiting the museum. Although, I am interested if it is indeed a Museum of Muslim Culture or a Museum of Arab/Pakistani/Whoever funded the Museum Culture.

Little Mosque on the Prairie

A new Canadian comedy show call "Little Mosque on the Prairie" is getting a lot of good press. It is even being compared to shows like "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons", for it's introduction of socially relevant content into public discourse. I think that the bridge to non-Muslims and Muslims gaining a better understanding of each other is built upon finding effective methods of sharing viewpoints, especially since the media can be a propagator of misconceptions in western society. This show may just be one of those methods.

As a countermeasure to predatory check cashing loan sharks, some Muslim governments are creating "Islamic" pawn shops. Sounds interesting, I hope that it works. It is hard to find shopping centers nowadays that don't have check cashing/legalized loan sharks in them.

Beautiful Recitation with English Translation

Muslim Men: Listen to Your Wives

The U.S. military is making another strong effort to recruit more Muslims into the military. It is understandable. With efforts to increase the total number of the armed forces and the recently declared troop increase in Iraq. The military will take anyone that they can get, but the effort to recruit more Muslims is about more than just filling the ranks. It is about showing that the "War on Terror" is not a "War on Islam". The overt effort to recruit more Muslims seems similar to the person who says that that they aren't racist because they have had black people in their homes and they tell you the number of Hispanic/Black people that they consider friends (just a fyi...if you count the number of minorities have been in your home or that are your friends...then you're probably a racist...just saying).

Regardless, of the number of the number of prayer centers and imams that are introduced to the military, it is still the military. The military comes before everything, especially your religion if you are not Christian. I don't say this, as a tool of devisivness, but as statement of reality. All practicing Muslims in the military face a trial . The reality of the military is that you don't have the rights that are fighting to protect (this includes the freedom of religion). Don't be surprised if the non-Muslims who are your leaders overtly or covertly undermind your attempts to actively practice Islam. You will be paraded during Ramadan, and inter-faith functions as the representative for all Muslims. You will face the ignorance of co-workers and leaders daily. I have met Muslims that have a patience that I lack, that see joining the military as a form of dawah. It may very well be that, but it is not an easy road to travel because the system is stacked against you. This is in conjunction with the possibility of killing an innocent person (Muslim or non-Muslim). There is no such thing as collateral damage in Islam. We also have prescribed reasons for undertaking a war.

Inshallah, we all will be guided to the truth.

I think that modern politics in general is shady business, but voting is essential to protect ourselves socially. I think that once many Muslim Americans shed some of the baggage from their former countries, the power of this article can be realized (Inshallah).

Another Flying While Muslim Story

It may not seem like it, but I am really tired of writing about the whole "Flying While Muslim" scenario. The reality is that it is reality, so to be foretold is to be forewarned. Here is the latest wrinkle.....Just don't fly!. Take a train, bus, car, or even walk. Actually, scratch the last one. We have had problems with that one also.

Drinking While Muslim

If for some reason, the banning of intoxicants by Allah (SWT) was not enough of a reason to stop drinking. Here is another. The first reason should have been more than enough.

Allah is the Provider!!!

Dangers of the Nafs (Lower Desires)

Things to do list

With little over a year left in his presidency, he is going over his things to do list.

1. Kill Saddam (He tried to kill my daddy.....I said, HE TRIED TO KILL MY DADDY!!!)
2. Make my wealthy buddies richer (Enron, Ken Lay, Dick Cheney, fake tax cuts,...etc)
3. Attack Somalia (see BlackHawk Down)
4. Pillage the surplus of money left over from the Clinton administration.
   

We're Back!!!

This is a beautiful mosque. It is the Mosque of Granada, Spain. Muslims are growing in numbers there once again.

...in other news

An increasing number of non-Muslims are taking advantage of Islamic Banking.

Time

A Friendly Reminder

The Devil is in the Details

Something that I don't gets enough attention is the difference between Muslims and Islam. Islam is perfected and Muslims seek to follow Islam, but as humans we make many mistakes. That is why it is important to understand that actions of some Muslims does not define Islam, but Islam should define all Muslims. Sometimes this is easier said than done.

This article is a little dated, but I like the message. Just because Muslims don't celebrate Christmas that doesn't mean that Christians shouldn't celebrate it. I like to see that Muslims are defending the rights of others to follow their religion. During the time of the Prophet (PBUH), and in many nations were Muslims are the majority, non-Muslims still practice their religious traditions.

Riding a Bus While Muslim?

I don't seek these stories out or create them, I just report them. It appears that the "flying while Muslim" syndrome has now infected other modes of transportation. A Muslim woman was not allowed to ride a bus because she wore niqaab. Xenophobia is on it's way to becoming an epidemic.

Eid Mubarak!!!

Eid Al Adha 2006

Eid Adha

The Sacrifice

Eid Song

The Guide to Flying While Muslim

It's sad, but this article/guide about flying while Muslim is probably a necessity for those that must fly.

"They will not be happy until you believe as they believe"

Duygu Guvenc/MCT

A man dressed as Father Christmas speaks with customers in a shopping mall in Ankara, Turkey. Althought Turkey is, officially, a secular country - meaning religion plays no role in the government - the population is 99 percent Muslim. Many Turks celebrate Christmas on December 31, not as a religious holiday but as a family holiday.

I actually became angry reading this article. Muslims celebrating Christmas is like Christians celebrating Eid with alcohol and a ham. I know that Turkey wants to become a member of the EU, but don't mortgage Islam to fit in. They say that it is not religious, and it is all about the presents and family. Adopting the religious holidays of non-believers, becoming an enabler for materialism, and the encouragement of scantly clad women gyrating before men is a recipe for problems. No matter how many articles are written or slight adjustments are made in the practices, I think that I can easily exhaust more than 72 excuses on this topic. Things like this is what makes American Muslims look at some Muslims from "Muslim" countries as a little suspect (although many of them consider us the same). What they claim doesn't match what is being openly practiced. We should all individually, try to reconcile the two.