Friday, March 30, 2007

30 Days as a Muslim

Here is a very interesting documentary/show that follows a practicing American Christian as he spends 30 days living the life of a Muslim American.












Thursday, March 29, 2007

Backbiting

Here is commercial on backbiting from the middle east. Even if you don't know arabic the visuals are enough to get the point across, and as always, I tell this to myself before I tell it to others.



Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Uniting Islam in America

Dr. Faroque Khan, left, and Imam Al-Hajj Talib ‘Abdur-Rashid serve very different mosques, one on Long Island and one in Harlem


"The divide between black and immigrant Muslims reflects a unique struggle facing Islam in America. Perhaps nowhere else in the world are Muslims from so many racial, cultural and theological backgrounds trying their hands at coexistence. Only in Mecca, during the obligatory hajj, or pilgrimage, does such diversity in the faith come to life, between black and white, rich and poor, Sunni and Shiite."

This is true and we need to address this as a community.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

The Muslim Vote

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Muslims in the U.S. have begone to embrace a truth that many social minority groups had to embrace before them. One way to avoid social marginalization is to force politicians to respect your voice. The way to do this is through the vote and involvement in the political process/system. In areas with large Muslim populations like Deerborn, Michigan, this is easier to do than in areas where Muslims are dispersed over a large geographical area. Muslims are beginning to organize and pool their political resources to insure that our voice is not drowned out or ignored because we offer no political capital.

We are Family...A Really Big Family!

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As Muslims, there appears to be at least one thing that we are doing better than any other Ummah...have children. Our ability to propagate our numbers through procreation is catching the attention of those that aren't keeping pace. From Palestine/Israel to the Europe and the U.S., we are the fasting growing Ummah in converts and births. Allahuakbar! Now all we have to do is ask Allah(SWT) for the strength to raise good & righteous Muslims until the day of judgement.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Getting to Know your Neighbors

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There is a call for people of all religions to learn other religions. I repeat learn other religions and not convert to other religions. I had to throw that in there because many Muslims that I have come across equate learning about another religion to converting to another religion. I think that this is one area that those that have recently accepted this have an advantage. They have a working understanding of other religions which in turn allows them provide more leeway to people of other religions because they may be able to understand them better than Muslims who were born into the deen. Muslims raised in the deen, in my experience, often do not have a solid understanding of other religions, and sometimes not even of Islam. Oftentimes, there understanding is slanted by cultural divides were they only learn disconnected and incoherent fragmented facts about another religion that may or may be true. I believe that the Quran should be the validating source on related information about other religions, but I also think that Muslims should make an effort to learn about other religions. As far as Muslims converting to other religions, well Allah (SWT) makes Muslims not men/women. Whoever all guides can not be led astray and whoever Allah leads astray can not be guided straight.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

The Vice Squad

http://rumler.com/miami/vice/img/miami-vice-dj-pmt.jpg

When I think of the vice squad, I have two very different and distinct images in my mind. The first is of the troubled soul, no sock wearing, undercover cops that seek to make the streets a little safer for Mr. & Mrs. John Q. Public. The other image is of bearded mean grimacing as they beat women on the legs with sticks because a breeze lifted the hem of their garment. This last image is what troubles me when there are reports that the "vice squad" in Gaza may be responsible for bombings. I understand the rationale behind the vice squad, although I don't agree with the need for them. As Muslims, we are suppose to command the good and forbid the evil, but there is nowhere that I can recall that the Sahabahs (may Allah be pleased with them) patrolled the streets waiting for a breeze to meet a hem, and then dish out some old-fashion beat downs. It is my understanding that we are suppose to encourage the good and forbid the bad, but we are also suppose to conceal the faults of our brothers/sisters (see 72 excuses) in most cases. Vice squads seem like method to instill fear in people while they are being oppressed. I find it ironic that in many places that have vice squads, they also are ruled by regimes that are rooted with vice, yet the vice squad never seems to knock on the palace door. Instead they knock on the door of those that espouse Islam in all of it's taqwa, truth, and justice. I would finish this post, but I hear a knock at the door......

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Women, Servants of Allah....Not Men!

Here is a quick video to reminds us not to take our women for granted. They are not servants, a lower class, and they collect a lot of baraka from our laziness.


Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Muslims in Jewish Schools....Cool!!!

The Jewish school where half the pupils are Muslim

In many communities around the country Muslim parents are placing their children not in Islamic schools, but in Jewish schools. The reason for this are many. Among them, are the level of secular education. Jewish schools excel in one area that Muslim schools don't, the three R's. There are some Islamic schools that provide high quality secular and religious educations, but most do not. They focus on Islamic studies (which is good), but math, science, and english are lacking. Jewish schools are seen as an alternative to sending their children to public schools, where the food is not halal/kosher, and where holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Halloween are celebrated. If anything, this should serve as a notice to Islamic schools to step their game up, and provide a quality, and balanced education. We are suppose to learn from the cradle to the grave...I assume that means all areas.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Secularism and Islam

This video has a choppy picture, it is a little over an hour long,but the subject and content is worth it. Hamza Yusef talks about Secularism in Islam.


Friday, March 16, 2007

JJ in his own words

I decided to post this interview of Jermaine Jackson talking about Islam because he seemed a little shaky to me before. I am not trying to judge him (only Allah can judge), I was curious if he was NOI (nation of Islam) or a Muslim.




Thursday, March 15, 2007

Muslims Against Terrorism......Again

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There are a fresh round of clamours of why Muslim Americans don't speak out against terrorism? The answer is two-part, but simple. The first part is that we do denounce it, but the non-Muslim population seems to only hear what it wants to hear. I mean seriously, how many times must Muslims denounce terrorism ? The second answer is that Muslims don't agree with terrorism, but they also don't agree with circumstances that were the breeder of terrorist actions. These circumstances are rarely recognized as being a root source for terrorist actions. Denouncing wrong in the result and not the cause is hypocritical at best. Also, Muslims don't want their denouncing (constant denouncing) of terrorism to be politicized and used part of or as an endorsement of equally oppressing actions.
The bottom line is that Muslims have come to the realization, as African Americans have years before them, that no matter how much you apologize or try to fit in, you will always be looked at as suspect.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

FIFA hates hijabs!!!

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/03/05/scarfgirl250x350.jpg

FIFA refuses to let a sister play in a soccer tournament because she is wears hijab. This is blatantly wrong. How can wearing a hijab be a problem when playing soccer?

The Anti-CAIR...with a German Accent



Leave it to Germany to start an organization by and for apostates. I'm not entirely sure what their agenda is (nor do I care), but I guess that they are suppose to be the anti-CAIR.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Cabbies Unite!...Muslim Ones Anyway

http://www.jazztours.org/images/2004_ny/Taxi%20Cabs.jpg

Minnesota Muslim cabbies are holding their ground in refusing to carry passengers that have alcohol with them. They face a suspension of their license, but they realize that their risq (sustenance) is from Allah and not their cabbie license. I may not necessarily agree with their stance, I am not learned enough to have a truly informed opinion, but I respect their taqwa (fear of Allah (SWT)).

Monday, March 12, 2007

Islam -Empire of Faith

Here is the special "Islam-Empire of Faith". Pop some popcorn and enjoy!








Friday, March 09, 2007

WTF Files

Murree's whisky, Pakistan brewery produces Muslim world's first 20-year whisky

I am starting a new specialty post called the "WTF Files". WTF stands for What The F@#%. This post will exam the obvious oxymoronical (not sure if that is a word) in the Muslim world. The inaugural post will look at the Whiskey/Liquor brewery in Pakistan. I really don't need to say much more. A Muslim nation that is producing intoxicants....WTF

Take Them To Court

gavel

Muslims are suing their employers more now, when they are discriminated against. Suing is a good way to keep employers honest when they don't want to be. Just make sure that you are sure of what you are accusing them of. The burden of proof is higher for a Muslim than a non-Muslim,

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Muslim Business

This true on many levels.


Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Little Mosque 7

Here is the last episode of little mosque. I stopped posting them because after their initial episodes, I felt that the writers where getting a little loose with some things. I felt that the point of humor had stopped being the Muslim experience in the Americas (Canada is on North America), and it started to belittle some aspects of the religion. In one episode, the wife who rarely prays, resolves to pray and uses a shower mat to pray on. This is where I think that the writers were making fun of the religion. First of all, there are Muslims who do not pray as they should, but none of them would use a rubber shower mat to pray on. Furthermore, other Muslims in her family or the community would not allow that. I understand that the show is trying to show the spectrum of the community to non-Muslims, but that is no license to be reckless. Some Muslims are upset because the show doesn't present Muslims in the we are better than you image that they would prefer. The reality is that most communities probably have several members could be loosely associated with a few characters. The reality is that Islam is perfect, but Muslims are not.

With that said, here is the last episode. I wasn't to thrilled with it, but you decide for yourself.







Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Farrakhan Farewell Speech

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Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam, not to confused with the Ummah of Rasoullah Mohammed bin Abdullah (PBUH), has given his last major public speech about "One Nation Under God". It is the typical can't we all get along theme. I don't knock the theme, in fact I agree with it. Islam has been espousing it for over 1400 years. Many Sunni Muslims today came to Islam via the NOI so I appreciate it from that perspective, but ultimately Allah alone makes a person Muslim. Inshallah, with Farrakhan being resigned to the domain of historians, the remaining members of the NOI will accept Islam as so many before them. I also give Farrakhan credit for redressing many of the ill will that he seed many years ago, Inshallah we all will be able to do the same before we meet Allah(SWT).

Micheal the Muslim?



There is more chatter that Micheal Jackson may take the Shahadah. This would a good thing for him. If he truly embraces it (Allahualim), he will truly be a winner. With that said, I still wouldn't let him babysit for me or leave him in charge of the jumping castle at the Eid picnic.....I'm just saying!

Friday, March 02, 2007

Northern Exposure



I like hearing stories of the growth of Islam, even in places where you wouldn't expect it to grow. Here is an article about the Muslim graveyard in Anchorage, Alaska. I have hear good things about the community up there, but I know that fasting has got to be a challenge when Ramadan comes during the summer months (the 20 plus hours of day light). This post was a way for me to remind all of us (starting with myself) about the grave and the day of judgment. May Allah (SWT) have mercy on us all.

Thursday, March 01, 2007

And He Scores!!!

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This article asks a good question. Where are the Muslim athletes? There are Muslim athletes, but none of them seem to want to step up the way that Muhammad Ali and Kareem Abdul Jabbar did. It may be that they feel it will hurt their marketability or maybe they just want to fly below the radar, but fact remains it's easier for our neighbors to have a more favorable view of Muslims and even be more receptive to Islam when they are cheering on a Muslim athlete.

Let's Talk



Finally, the media is going directly to Muslims who don't look as though they are future guests of the government at their Caribbean accommodations. I hope that other markets across the nation follows suit, and just talk directly to everyday Muslims, and broadcast it unedited.