!ncredible !ndia One

Peace be upon you,

Guess what guys... I made it the India which I will now call !ncredible !ndia. We left Thursday Dec 18Th and got here on Saturday Dec 20th early in the morning. We spent 18hours traveling! It was excruciating, but the trip was amazing though.

I LOVE BRITISH AIRWAYS!!!

First of all, they had great food. They stared catering for minorities as well. They have three or four different types of meals. One for Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Vegans. Its amazing!

When I got to !ndia it reminded me soo much of Egypt. Almost everything is the same. My cousins are all great. They are a lot like zeeshan, loud... ridiculous jokes which don't make any sense, and constantly punching, pinching, and harassing each other.

So far i visited Abids, Charminar, Laad Bazar, and the surrounding areas of Hyderabad.

Abids... a big shopping area...


A really bad pic of the Charminar Tower thingy...


Recently my entire family took a road trip to Bangalore, Mysore, and Ooty. It was one of the best times of my life. The entire way there we had to sit desi style... 13 people packed into a van which is only supposed to sit 8 people. We couldn't find any decent food, washroom, hotels, place to sit, and on top of that it was cold in Ooty because its high in the mountains.But honestly it was one of the best times of my life.

MG Road in Bangalore ...

This is basically a big street with international stores and brand names.

Here is me holding a Cobra... and making out with it...



Tamil Nadu...


Well that's all for now...Ill try to update more frequently... my next post will be about strange and dangerous adventures in !ncredible !ndia.

~ Peace till next time...MoCo

Where the caravan camels roam Where they cut off your ear If they don't like your face

Peace be upon you,

I just started reading One Thousand and one nights. Iv got to say i expected magic and mystery and a sense of nostalgia but but this is beyond anything I ever expected. The sheer mystical aura of the stories just sucks you in. For the past three nights iv been reading this book nonstop. Some nights Iv been reading well past midnight unable to put the book down. Finally on the forth night I decided to take a break sick, not of the stories, but of the headaches i get in to more from the lack of sleep. This is a must read, not because of the magical mysterious medieval Arab world because the stories are from many different places not just the Arabian peninsula. But because the stories really do represent ... Ummm i dunno how exactly to describe it, but... i feel like they are a window into humanity... I honestly believe they are an essential piece of world culture... A story of human existence.

The translation Im reading is by Husain Haddawy. I think that a Native Arab translator can pick up on the nuances of the meaning much better then a translator who learned Arabic as a second language.

Also a throw back to one of the greatest films of all times...

=)

Oh I come from a land, from a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam
Where they cut off your ear
If they don't like your face
It's barbaric, but hey, it's home

When the wind's from the east
And the sun's from the west
And the sand in the glass is right
Come on down
Stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly
To another Arabian night

Arabian nights
Like Arabian days
More often than not
Are hotter than hot
In a lot of good ways

Arabian nights
'Neath Arabian moons
A fool off his guard
Could fall and fall hard
Out there on the dunes

~ Peace till next time...MoCo

From the pen of... Ibn Zaydun

Peace be upon you,

From the pen of Ibn Zaydun...

God has sent showers upon the abandoned dwelling places of those we loved. He has woven upon them a striped, many colored garment of flowers, and raised among them a flower like a star. How many girls like images trailed their garments among such flowers, when life was fresh and time was at our service... How happy they were, those days that have passed, days of pleasure, when we lived with those who had black, flowing hair and white shoulders... Now say to Destiny whose favors have vanished - favors i have lamented as the nights have passed - how faintly its breeze has touched me in my evening. but for him who walks in the night the stars still shine: greetings to you, Cordoba, with love and longing.

Ahmed ibn Abd Allah ibn Zaydun, Diwan, ed. K. al - Bustani (Beirut, 1951).

Ibn Zaydun was born in 1003 in Cordoba, Andalus. His poems about his childhood, birthplace, and Wallada, a Umayyad princess, were very popular because of his personal and unique style.

~ Peace till next time...MoCo

Introducing... Obama Watch

Peace be upon you,

Recently there has been a huge amounts of coverage on the election and now the the transition to power. i dont think there has ever been coverage of White house politics like this. Obama for good or bad will indeed be a figure of immense importance for a long time to come.

For Muslims in particular this is a strange and trying time. Many will look to Obama as a savior figure. Many others will look to Obama as a anti Christ figure. A few will patiently and wisely wait to form their opinions. Only God knows best what is in store for the future. In the mean time i think i will keep a much closer and discuss the events as the come to pass and join in on all this ruckus. Expect old news because like i said before we need to patiently and wisely wait to form our opinions. So I would like to take this opportunity to introduce another segment in my blog... Obama Watch.

~ Peace till next time...MoCo

Where in the world is ...Osama bin Laden

Peace be upon you,

Well i dont have a quote this week but I do have a suggestion.

Did anyone check Colombia? Apparently Osama is doing some policing and bring law and order to the streets of Bogot, Colombia. That's more then we can say for US troops in Afghanistan.

Links to the articles:
Osama look alike in Colombia

Afgans want Taliban Style Justice

Funny how one man's idea of justice can inspire two opposite reactions on opposite sides of the world. I'm telling you... bin Laden is the next Che. I think in a few years everyone is gonna be sporting his face on shirts and sodapop drinks.



This is one crazy world... things, ideas, and alliances change so quickly. Well...

~ Peace till next time… MoCo

QUOTE OF THE WEEK & Muslim Heritage

Peace be upon you,

It is time for (Da Dum Da Dum )...QUOTE OF THE WEEK... and a update on Muslim Heritage in America.

"I have faith in the American intellect, in the American intelligence, and in the American love of fair play, and will defy any intelligent man to understand Islam and not love it."

~~~ Mohammed Alexander Russell Webb

Webb was dubbed the "Yankee Mohammedan" by newspapers for his conversion to Islam and his open practice. He was born in 1846 and started one of the first Islamic Movements in America.

~ Peace till next time… MoCo

...neither the Mahdi nor the Dajjal.

Peace be upon you,

I saw this letter around the blogosphere quite a few times but I wasn't totally sure it was legitimate, but since it is circulating so much I think its safe to assume Ralph Nader really did author it. I think that this highlights some very interesting points which Muslims overlook in all this election commotion.

November 3, 2008

Open letter to Senator Barack Obama

Dear Senator Obama:

In your nearly two-year presidential campaign, the words “hope and change,” “change and hope” have been your trademark declarations. Yet there is an asymmetry between those objectives and your political character that succumbs to contrary centers of power that want not “hope and change” but the continuation of the power-entrenched status quo.

Far more than Senator McCain, you have received enormous, unprecedented contributions from corporate interests, Wall Street interests and, most interestingly, big corporate law firm attorneys. Never before has a Democratic nominee for President achieved this supremacy over his Republican counterpart. Why, apart from your unconditional vote for the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, are these large corporate interests investing so much in Senator Obama? Could it be that in your state Senate record, your U.S. Senate record and your presidential campaign record (favoring nuclear power, coal plants, offshore oil drilling, corporate subsidies including the 1872 Mining Act and avoiding any comprehensive program to crack down on the corporate crime wave and the bloated, wasteful military budget, for example) you have shown that you are their man?

To advance change and hope, the presidential persona requires character, courage, integrity— not expediency, accommodation and short-range opportunism. Take, for example, your transformation from an articulate defender of Palestinian rights in Chicago before your run for the U.S. Senate to an acolyte, a dittoman for the hard-line AIPAC lobby, which bolsters the militaristic oppression, occupation, blockage, colonization and land-water seizures over the years of the Palestinian peoples and their shrunken territories in the West Bank and Gaza. Eric Alterman summarized numerous polls in a December 2007 issue of The Nation magazine showing that AIPAC policies are opposed by a majority of Jewish-Americans.

You know quite well that only when the U.S. Government supports the Israeli and Palestinian peace movements, that years ago worked out a detailed two-state solution (which is supported by a majority of Israelis and Palestinians), will there be a chance for a peaceful resolution of this 60-year plus conflict. Yet you align yourself with the hard-liners, so much so that in your infamous, demeaning speech to the AIPAC convention right after you gained the nomination of the Democratic Party, you supported an “undivided Jerusalem,” and opposed negotiations with Hamas— the elected government in Gaza. Once again, you ignored the will of the Israeli people who, in a March 1, 2008 poll by the respected newspaper Haaretz, showed that 64% of Israelis favored “direct negotiations with Hamas.” Siding with the AIPAC hard-liners is what one of the many leading Palestinians advocating dialogue and peace with the Israeli people was describing when he wrote “Anti-semitism today is the persecution of Palestinian society by the Israeli state.”

During your visit to Israel this summer, you scheduled a mere 45 minutes of your time for Palestinians with no news conference, and no visit to Palestinian refugee camps that would have focused the media on the brutalization of the Palestinians. Your trip supported the illegal, cruel blockade of Gaza in defiance of international law and the United Nations charter. You focused on southern Israeli casualties which during the past year have totaled one civilian casualty to every 400 Palestinian casualties on the Gaza side. Instead of a statesmanship that decried all violence and its replacement with acceptance of the Arab League’s 2002 proposal to permit a viable Palestinian state within the 1967 borders in return for full economic and diplomatic relations between Arab countries and Israel, you played the role of a cheap politician, leaving the area and Palestinians with the feeling of much shock and little awe.

David Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator, described your trip succinctly: “There was almost a willful display of indifference to the fact that there are two narratives here. This could serve him well as a candidate, but not as a President.”

Palestinian American commentator, Ali Abunimah, noted that Obama did not utter a single criticism of Israel, “of its relentless settlement and wall construction, of the closures that make life unlivable for millions of Palestinians. …Even the Bush administration recently criticized Israeli’s use of cluster bombs against Lebanese civilians [see www.atfl.org for elaboration]. But Obama defended Israeli’s assault on Lebanon as an exercise of its ‘legitimate right to defend itself.’”

In numerous columns Gideon Levy, writing in Haaretz, strongly criticized the Israeli government’s assault on civilians in Gaza, including attacks on “the heart of a crowded refugee camp… with horrible bloodshed” in early 2008.

Israeli writer and peace advocate— Uri Avnery— described Obama’s appearance before AIPAC as one that “broke all records for obsequiousness and fawning, adding that Obama “is prepared to sacrifice the most basic American interests. After all, the US has a vital interest in achieving an Israeli-Palestinian peace that will allow it to find ways to the hearts of the Arab masses from Iraq to Morocco. Obama has harmed his image in the Muslim world and mortgaged his future— if and when he is elected president.,” he said, adding, “Of one thing I am certain: Obama’s declarations at the AIPAC conference are very, very bad for peace. And what is bad for peace is bad for Israel, bad for the world and bad for the Palestinian people.”

A further illustration of your deficiency of character is the way you turned your back on the Muslim-Americans in this country. You refused to send surrogates to speak to voters at their events. Having visited numerous churches and synagogues, you refused to visit a single Mosque in America. Even George W. Bush visited the Grand Mosque in Washington D.C. after 9/11 to express proper sentiments of tolerance before a frightened major religious group of innocents.

Although the New York Times published a major article on June 24, 2008 titled “Muslim Voters Detect a Snub from Obama” (by Andrea Elliott), citing examples of your aversion to these Americans who come from all walks of life, who serve in the armed forces and who work to live the American dream. Three days earlier the International Herald Tribune published an article by Roger Cohen titled “Why Obama Should Visit a Mosque.” None of these comments and reports change your political bigotry against Muslim-Americans— even though your father was a Muslim from Kenya.

Perhaps nothing illustrated your utter lack of political courage or even the mildest version of this trait than your surrendering to demands of the hard-liners to prohibit former president Jimmy Carter from speaking at the Democratic National Convention. This is a tradition for former presidents and one accorded in prime time to Bill Clinton this year.

Here was a President who negotiated peace between Israel and Egypt, but his recent book pressing the dominant Israeli superpower to avoid Apartheid of the Palestinians and make peace was all that it took to sideline him. Instead of an important address to the nation by Jimmy Carter on this critical international problem, he was relegated to a stroll across the stage to “tumultuous applause,” following a showing of a film about the Carter Center’s post-Katrina work. Shame on you, Barack Obama!

But then your shameful behavior has extended to many other areas of American life. (See the factual analysis by my running mate, Matt Gonzalez, on www.votenader.org). You have turned your back on the 100-million poor Americans composed of poor whites, African-Americans, and Latinos. You always mention helping the “middle class” but you omit, repeatedly, mention of the “poor” in America.

Should you be elected President, it must be more than an unprecedented upward career move following a brilliantly unprincipled campaign that spoke “change” yet demonstrated actual obeisance to the concentration power of the “corporate supremacists.” It must be about shifting the power from the few to the many. It must be a White House presided over by a black man who does not turn his back on the downtrodden here and abroad but challenges the forces of greed, dictatorial control of labor, consumers and taxpayers, and the militarization of foreign policy. It must be a White House that is transforming of American politics— opening it up to the public funding of elections (through voluntary approaches)— and allowing smaller candidates to have a chance to be heard on debates and in the fullness of their now restricted civil liberties. Call it a competitive democracy.

Your presidential campaign again and again has demonstrated cowardly stands. “Hope” some say springs eternal.” But not when “reality” consumes it daily.

Sincerely,
Ralph Nader

Before the election I had the blessed opportunity to spend sometime with Imam Suhaib Webb and when I asked him his thoughts he summed up this situation in a very concise way. He said "Barack Obama is neither the Mahdi nor the Dajjal." I think Muslims should consider that very carefully before condemning him or pinning all our hopes on him.

One thing i think i am certain of is that Obama isn't going to do anything for Muslims until his second term...that is if he get elected for a second term.

~ Peace till next time… MoCo

Exciting new possibilities...

Peace be upon you,

Many people know of Christopher Columbus and his accidental discovery of the New World and there had been some small theories of other explorers who had pre-dated him but for the most part these were seen as weak theories or small trips which really did not affect exploration or travel.

Several years ago there was a big commotion in the academic world. Leif Ericson was a common name and he was recognized as having been a explorer who might have reached present day Canada but the unearthing of Leif Ericson’s voyages and other archeological evidence has firmly established the face that Ecricson did in fact reach, explore, and even settle the New World before Columbus.

This has raised exciting new possibilities. If the Norse were able to explore as far west as present day Canada, then other societies, such as the Muslims might have been able to reach the New World as well. Islam would then be one of the first Old World religions to arrive in the New World and share a place alongside Christianity.



~ Peace till next time… MoCo

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Peace be upon you,

It is time for (Da Dum Da Dum )...QUOTE OF THE WEEK!!!

It is important for the one who memorizes the Quran that he should recognize his nights when poeople are asleep; his days when people are not fasting; his grief when people are content, his weeping when people laugh (in indifference); his silence when they talk and his humbleness when they are proud.

~~~ Abdullah Ibn-Masud


~ Peace till next time… MoCo

I Vote ...Green

Peace be upon you,

Hey guess what I have become a productive, contributing, edumacated citizen of these here United States of America. I voted today for the first time in my life thanks to my mother who drove with me to the polling station.

As the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, truly said, heaven does lie under the feet of you mother.

Also, I would have to give it up to Stephen Colbert and John Stewart. Their unbelievably hilarious coverage called Indecision 2008 really kept me alive through all of this mind numbing campaigning and mud slinging. Last but not least I would like to thank our bumbling commander in chief, George Bush. It was his utter stupidity and his unbelievable knack for messing up the simplest of issues which really spurred me to vote today.

I did vote for Obama for the Presidential election but for the rest of ballot I just checked off the green party candidate...except for one I think.

~ Peace till next time… MoCo

Quote of the Week

Peace be upon you,

Sorry, I have been so busy so I kinda sorta in a tintsy tintsy little bitty way... well I want to start a new thing...QUOTE OF THE WEEK!!! I know this stuff is really played out but I thought it would be fun.


"Do not ponder upon whether the sin is big or small. Rather reflect upon the greatness of the one whom you are disobeying."
~~~ Ibn Qayyim


~ Peace till next time… MoCo

American style Terrorism: Gas Muslim Children during Ramadan

Peace be upon you,

On Friday, Sept. 26, around 10 pm the Islamic Society of Greater Dayton was attacked. Muslim children and women who were attending Ramadan Night Prayers were the victims of a gas attack. According to police two men sprayed something through a open window. The children and a woman in the room felt affects from the chemical and the mosque was evacuated. HAZMAT crews were called and they started testing for chemicals but all of the tests came back negative.

Tarek Sabagh a board member of the Mosque said many members of the mosque think the attack was provoked by a DVD called "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" which is being mailed out to homes through newspapers by the John McCain campaign.

source: Dayton Daily News

MY THOUGHTS:

Aside from the obvious shock, anger, and disgust I feel I think that is this incident was completely ignored by the major media. I didn't see any news segment, radio or tv, about it. This type of stuff needs to be brought up, people need to be questioned, and authorities should be help accountable!

I am shocked that something like this could happen, but it is expected to a certain degree. Ignorant people will act out in violence. But I am more disgusted by the complete contempt and disregard for the American Muslims. The distant, facts only report is really typical of the media when it comes to Muslim victims. If you read the Dayton Daily News' coverage of the incident you can actually feel the coldness. For example there were no statements from the victims. There was one, ONLY ONE, statement from a board member and coincidently it happened to be a quote deemphasizing the incident.

Where is the fair unbiased reporting?

Why wasn't there a quote from a victim explaining how she felt? Or a quote from a member explaining why they feel that this is a provoked attack, or a hate crime. Or a quote from a local non Muslim resident explaining their thoughts on the incident.

IF this were a attack from a Muslim the media would be splashing this thing all across the radios and tvs. There would be coverage of the victims, the victim's family, the residents, some random "expert", how the incident relates to the overall "War on Terror", and of course any and all links to international terrorist organizations, regardless of any evidence. Yet, here we see the police and media taking such great efforts to limit speculation and deemphasize any leads.

Here is a personal account from a blogger who had connections to the victims.

"She told me that the gas was sprayed into the room where the babies and children were being kept while their mothers prayed together their Ramadan prayers. Panicked mothers ran for their babies, crying for their children so they could flee from the gas that was burning their eyes and throats and lungs. She grabbed her youngest in her arms and grabbed the hand of her other daughter, moving with the others to exit the building and the irritating substance there.

"The paramedic said the young one was in shock, and gave her oxygen to help her breathe. The child couldn't stop sobbing.

"This didn't happen in some far away place -- but right here in Dayton, and to my friends. Many of the Iraqi refugees were praying together at the Mosque Friday evening. People that I know and love.

"I am hurt and angry. I tell her this is NOT America. She tells me this is not Heaven or Hell -- there are good and bad people everywhere.

"She tells me that her daughters slept with her last night, the little one in her arms and sobbing throughout the night. She tells me she is afraid, and will never return to the mosque, and I wonder what kind of country is this where people have to fear attending their place of worship?

"The children come into the room, and tell me they want to leave America and return to Syria, where they had fled to from Iraq. They say they like me, ... , and other American friends -- but they are too afraid and want to leave. Should a 6 and 7 year old even have to contemplate the safety of their living situation?

"Did the anti-Muslim video circulating in the area have something to do with this incident, or is that just a bizarre coincidence? Who attacks women and children?

"What am I supposed to say to them? My words can't keep them safe from what is nothing less than terrorism, American style. Isn't losing loved ones, their homes, jobs, possessions and homeland enough? Is there no place where they can be safe?

"She didn't want me to leave her tonight, but it was after midnight, and I needed to get home and write this to my friends. Tell me -- tell me -- what am I supposed to say to them?"

Sources: Daily KOS

I would like to thank Chris Rodda for having the courage and decency to dig a little deeper and shed light on other views.

Also, I think that American Muslims should stand up.

1) Muslims should write to the Dayton Muslim Community and send their condolences.

2) Muslims should contact CAIR, or other local leadership and ask their advice on what to do about this event.

3) Muslims should write to major networks and ask why they felt that this issue wasn't important enough to be covered.

4) Muslims should help the Dayton Muslim community hold their local authorities accountable. (Making sure the police follow through with their job and not just sweep this incident under the rug.)

May God protect us all.

~ Peace till next time… MoCo

Eid Mubarak!

Peace be upon you,



Looks like Eid is on Wendnesday 1.10.2008! Its so cool to have everyone doing Eid on the same day, but i dont think its anything amazing like Muslims are "Finally" starting to "unite" and come together just because we are having Eid on the same day. Personally i think its better that we have Eid on diffrent days because it highlights the diversity within the Ummah and the flexibility provided by Islamic Shariah. Unfortunately, i think some Muslims have lost sight of the greater goal of uniting upon the PRINCIPLES set by the Prophet, peace be upon him, about Ramadan, moon sighting, and Eid. Instead in our short sightedness we focus on the superficial things and demand that everyone follow one way. Then on top of that we cloak it in this idea that this will unite us or is an example of our unity!

Hmmm perhaps im wrong and just ranting for no reason...well...those are my thoughts.

~ Peace till next time… MoCo

Ramadan Advice

Peace be upon you,

I found this great email that was being circulated. its from Abdul Malik Mujahid the Chairperson of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago. I hope i can benifit from his advice.

---x---

Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) is described in the Quran as, "better than a thousand months" (97:3). Any action done on this night such as reciting the Quran, remembering Allah, etc. is better than acting for one thousand months which do not contain the night of Qadr.

Allah's Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time." (Muslim). Allah's peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet.

Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, related that the Prophet said: Look for Laylatul Qadr on an odd-numbered night during the last ten nights of Ramadan (Bukhari).

The Prophet said: "Whoever prays during the night of Qadr with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven." (Bukhari and Muslim recorded from Abu Huraira).

Here are some tips of things we can do on the Night of Power and the time before and after it.

1. Take a vacation for Allah.

We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshiping and thanking our Creator.

If this is not possible at least take a few days off if you can. This can make it easier to stay awake at night to do extra Ibadah, not having to worry about getting to work the next day. It will also facilitate doing Itikaf.

2. Do I'tikaf.

It was a practice of the Prophet to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the masjid for I'tikaf.

Those in I'tikaf stay in the masjid all this time, performing various forms of zikr (the remembrance of Allah), like doing extra Salat, recitation and study of the Quran. They do not go outside the masjid except in case of emergencies, therefore, they sleep in the masjid. Their families or the masjid administration takes care of their food needs. I'tikaf of a shorter period of time, like one night, a day or a couple of days is encouraged as well.

3. Make this special Dua.

Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.' "(Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).

The transliteration of this Dua is "Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee"

4. Recite the Quran.

Perhaps you can choose Surahs or passages from the Quran, which you have heard in Tarawih this past Ramadan to recite.

If you attend a class where the recitation of the Quran is taught, this is a great time to put your knowledge into practice.

5. Reflect on the meaning of the Quran.

Choose the latest Surah or Surahs you've heard in Tarawih and read their translation and Tafseer. Then think deeply about their meaning and how it affects you on a personal level.

6. Get your sins wiped out.

Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger said: Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven. [Bukhari and Muslim).

Don't just pray using the shorter Surahs that you know. Try to make your prayers longer, deeper and meaningful. If you are familiar with longer Surahs, read the translation and explanation and then pray reciting these Surahs, carefully reflecting on the meaning while you pray.

Even if you are only familiar with the shorter Surahs, read the translation and explanation beforehand, and then pray reflecting on the message of the Surahs.

This is a good way to develop the habit of concentration, even in regular prayers, where many of us tend to be fidgety and/or easily distracted.

7. Make a personal Dua list.

Ask yourself what you really want from Allah. Make a list of each and everything, no matter how small or how big it is, whether it deals with this world or not. Allah loves to hear from us. Once this list is ready, you can do three things:
Ask Allah to give you those things
Think about what actions you have taken to get those things
Develop a work plan to get those things in future.

8. Evaluate yourself.

Ask yourself those questions that need to be asked. Do an evaluation of where you are and where you are going. Let this evaluation lead you to feel happiness for the good you have done and remorse for the bad you have done. This latter feeling should make it easier to seek Allah's sincere forgiveness when making the Dua mentioned in tip number one above.

9. Make long, sincere and deep Duas

One of the best times to do this is during the last part of the night.

Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, related that the Prophet said: When the last one-third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One descends towards the heaven of the earth and proclaims: Who is that who supplicates for Me, and I grant his supplication? Who is that who begs Me for anything and I grant it to him? And who is that who seeks My forgiveness, and I forgive him? (Bukhari, Muslim).

That means for instance, waking up one hour before Suhoor time to ask Allah for anything and everything you want that is Halal. This can be done using the Duas of the Sunnah, but also Dua in your own language, with sincerity and conviction.

10. Memorize a different Dua every night

They don't have to be long. They can be just one line. And be sure to know what they mean generally at least, even if you don't know the exact translation in English.

You can put them on index cards (or and keep them with you during the day, glancing at them during work, while driving, waiting in line, etc.) Then practice them at night in prayer.

11. Have Iftar with the family

If you've spent Iftar time on weekdays in your cubicle at work alone with a couple of dates, now is the last few days you'll have this Ramadan to spend with your family. Use it wisely.

12. Take the family to Tarawih

Have your spouse and kids missed Tarawih most of Ramadan because you weren't there to drive them to the Masjid, which is too far away to walk to? If so, do all of yourselves a favour and bring everyone for Tarawih in these last ten nights.

13. Attend the Dua after the completion of Quran recitation

Almost all Masjids where the Imam aims to finish an entire reading of the Quran in Tarawih prayers in Ramadan will be completing their recitation in these last ten nights. They may try to end on one of the odd nights and read the Dua at the end of a reading of the Quran. Attend this particular night's Tarawih prayer with your family. See if you can attend different Masjids' Tarawih prayers the night they finish reading the Quran.

14. Finish reading a book on the Prophet

Read about the Prophet's life, which can increase your love for him and Islam by seeing how much he struggled for Allah's sake. It may inspire you to push yourself even harder during these last ten nights. This community is built on sacrifice.

15. Plan for the next year

Once you've done a self-evaluation, you can plan on where you want to go, at least in the next 12 months. Laylatul Qadr is a great night to be thinking about this (without taking away from your worship), since you'll Insha Allah, be in a more contemplative state. You may choose to dedicate one night of power for evaluation and one night for planning for the next year.

16. To do list for the Night of Power

Make a to do checklist for each Night of Power. This should define how you would like your night, the one better than a thousand months, to be used. Pick things from this list and define the sequence you would like to do things in. This will help you avoid wasting your time in unproductive chats which common in the festive atmosphere of Masjids at the Night of Power.

Abdul Malik Mujahid, is the President and Director of Sound Vision Foundation Inc. He is an Imam in the Chicago area and the Chairperson of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC).

---x---

~ Peace till next time… MoCo

O Blessed Month...Parting is such sweet sorrow

Peace be upon you,

Welcome O Blessed Month of Ramadan

*sigh* if only...

The 21 first of Ramadan was just completed and now we begin the 22 night of Ramadan. *Sigh* only 8 more nights left till Light of the Blessed Month fades from our lives. So many sins so few night to repent,...

and the saddest thing is that we might not see another Ramadan again...

When someone beloved to us leaves for a trip we see them off at the airport, wish them luck. We feel a sadness in our hearts, and a burden in our minds because We will miss them dearly and worry if they will reach their destination safely.

And the saddest thing is that we might not see another Ramadan again...


This is the end of Ramadan. We ought to see it off in the masjid. We should thank Allah for sending it to us. We should shed some tears as the blessings fade away into the shadows of darkness, and we should worry about the good deeds we will be forgetting to do. Lastly we should pray that we will have the opportunity to be reunited with this blessed month again.

And the saddest thing is that we might not see another Ramadan again...

~ Peace till next time… MoCo

My blah sunday

Peace be upon you,

Hmmmm for some reason it seems like i dont have anything to write about, even though this week was quite hectic.

Ramadan started on Monday night /Tuesday... well at least for me, and Tuesday was also the first day of teaching for me... but for some reason i cant think of what to write. Even though it was only a couple days it seems like such a long time ago.

I'v already fallen into a routine with teaching and Ramadan and now I feel like i'v been teaching and fasting forever. Don't you hate that feeling? now it doesn't feel fun and new and exciting anymore. Blah!

~ Peace till next time… MoCo

Interesting...American Muslim Demographics

Peace be upon you,

This is a very interesting report which gives people a real idea about where we are as a community,and what direction we need to head in.

http://www.allied-media.com/AM/

Some quick points from the report which caught my eye.

( 1) 7 million Muslims in America !!!
African American 24%
Arab Americans 26%
South Asian 26%
All Other 24%

(2) Under-Represented Occupations for Muslims
Occupation Percent
Journalist/Editor 1.1%
Attorney/Lawyer 0.8%
Director/Producer/Actor 0.6%

* American Muslims are under-represented in occupations that make public policy and influence public opinion
* Few American Muslims pursue Print/TV/Film media
* American Muslims are unlikely to be in state legislatures and courts where laws are made and practiced.
Source: Cornell University April 2002

(3) California has 227 mosques.
New York 140
New Jersey 86
Texas 67
Ohio 66
IL and FL 57

Total Mosques in the United States: 1,209
American Muslims associated with a mosque: 2 million

The information above was drawn from the "Mosque in America: A National Portrait," a survey released in April 2001.

(4) Top Five Cars Owned by American Muslims
1. ToYoTa!!!
2. Honda
3. Mercedes
4. Nissan
5. Acura

(5) American Muslims prefer Palmolive for Dishes !
Approximately 38 % of Muslim homes use Palmolive. Ma'shallah !
Source: Cornell University April 2002

x---x---x

And to my skeptical ustadh if he is reading this... HUMANIST GLOBAL ETHICS... ha! see i didn't forget! in fact I'm posting the answer for the whole world to see.

~ Peace till next time… MoCo

Tired as a cat...

Peace be upon you,

So this was the first week of school for me and Tuesday will be the first day of teaching 5th grade. I'm already tired and drained from my own classes and preparing lesson plans and trying to figure out how to teach 30 some kids. :( anybody have any advice or ideas for fun engaging lesson plans?

Argh!!! Rawr!!!

but i am excited though... and i anytime i hear of great scholars , or listen to lectures of my teachers I always get encouraged by the tremendous sacrifices they made for this deen. Truly it is because of their sweat and sacrifice that we are Muslims today.

One thing in particularly that encourages me up is Silent Sunlight the one with Dawood Wharnsby from The Prophets Hands. It never fails to inspire me to get up and do somethings, i dont know, it kind of reminds me of my purpose as a slave of God.

But the lyrics are by Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens.) Man i love that guy. He is one for the best nasheed artist around. I just found out that one of his songs ( Dont be shy) was a soundtrack for Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. Thats crazy.

May Allah (swt) reward everyone who has contribute to this deen and encouraged others to contribute.

~ Peace till next time… MoCo

sKooL is KoOl

Peace be upon you,

So this week is the beginning of my school. As soon as i finished my TEFL course i had to being school. blah! But Allhumduliah i also started school! i mean teaching school! Yup, yours truly MoCo is a teacher! I teach 5th grade islamic studies!!!

whooohooo me so excited, me is a educmacator! hOked on foniks halped me reed, and me not fail engamalish, that unposibale!


haha... i love ralph wiggum. He was my role model through out college and Allhumdulah what a great model he was...

well now i have 25 some kids to look after and teach Islam to! Ya Allah! have mercy on those kids if someone like me ends up as their teacher! On top of that i have to make lesson plans and think outside the box to become a innovative educator. Shoot... what am i going to do now?

Argh... Rawr! i gotta get my act together fast and start coming up with interesting and engaging lesson plans and i gotta become a Super Muslim ASAP!

Look its a bird, no its a plane, no its ...Do Dooo Do doooo .... Super Muslim!

~ Peace till next time… MoCo

Finally done...here we go again....

Peace be upon you,

So i was doing this Teaching Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) training course. Basically it a crash course on how to teach English to foreign students. Hopefully I'll be able to use it abroad at an international school, that way I can go study Islam in Egypt or somewhere and support myself at the same time.

It took me the whole summer to do but I finally got done! Praise be to God!!! But tomorrow I have to start school again. @(#$%&. So... i guess ... here we go again...














< ~~~ i feel like this guy :(

~ Peace till next time… MoCo

Khwaja Mere Khwaja from Jodhaa Akbar (2008)

Peace be upon you,

Ok, my last post was about the movie Jodhaa Akbar, so i guess this is kind of a continuation of it. Like I said before the movie was absolutely amazing. Great scenes, storyline, history, blah, blah, blah. One of the best parts of the movie though was after Akbar's wedding to Jodhaa the sufis wanted to present him with a gift. so they wrote and performed this song for Jalaludeen Akbar...
———————————————————————

Khwaja Mere Khwaja

Lyrics written by Javeed Akhtar

Music by AR Rahman

Jodhaa Akbar 2008

Khwajaji, khwaja…………………………………………. O saint khwaja, khwaja

Khwajaji, khwaja, khwaja ji …………………………..O saint khwaja, khwaja O saint khwaja

Ya gharib nawaz ………………………………………….O patron the poor

Ya moinuddin, ya khwaja ji …………………………..O moinuddin (chisti), O Saint khwaja

Khwaja mere khwaja ……………………………………..O khwaja my khwaja

Dil mein sama ja ………………………………………….Reside in my heart

Shaho ka shah tu …………………………………………..You are the king of kings

Ali ka dulara ………………………………………………….Beloved of Ali

Khwaja mere khwaja dil mein sama ja ……………….. O khwaja my khwaja, Reside in my heart

Beqaso ki taqdeer, tune hai sawari……………………… The destiny of the ones in despair, you have changed for the better

Khwaja mere khwaja…………………………………………… O khwaja my khwaja

Tere darbar mein khwaja ………………………………………At your door, o khwaja

Noor toh hai dekha ………………………………………………Divine light i have seen

Tere darbar mein khwaja………………………………………. At your door, o khwaja

Sar jhuka te hai auliya ………………………………………….. Saints bow their heads

Tu hai Hindalwali khwaja………………………………………….. You are the hindalwali Khwaja

Rutba hai pyara………………………………………………………. Your status is Beautiful

Chahne se tujhko khwaja ji mustafa ko paya………………….By loving you Saint Khwaja, I have found The chosen One ( Prophet Muhammed)

Khwaja mere khwaja………………………………………………………. O khwaja my khwaja

Dil mein sama ja …………………………………………………………… Reside in my heart

Shaho ka shah tu…………………………………………………………….. You are the king of kings

Ali ka dulara ……………………………………………………………………Beloved of Ali

Mere peer ka sadka ……………………………………………………….The alms of my old age

Hai mere peer ka sadka………………………………………………………. You are the charity of my old age

Tera daaman hai thama………………………………………………………. That I have come in your refuge

Khawajaji …………………………………………………………………………….. O saint khwaja

Tali har bala hamari ………………………………………………………. (You) averted All my problems

Chaya hai khumar tera ………………………………………………….. (I) want your cloak

Jitna bhi rashk kare beshak ………………………………………………No matter how much one may envy

———————————————————————————–

This is a really rough translation of the song. if anyone has a better translation lemme know.

And i know many of you are going to have a big fit of a issue with the whole sufi thing... but seriously can we but the whole sufi vs wahabi issue off to the side for one minute and appreciate Muslim history and culture?

The fact of the matter is that scenes like this did happen. Great kings and important court officials did sponsor poets and artist, which led to a highly developed and sophisticated court culture. The Ummayids, Abbasids, and Ottomans, alogn with the Mughals had rich cultures which developed over time and produced some of the world's most beautiful poems, books, and artistic works.

This scene in Jodhaa Akbar is just a small nostalgic hint of that great legacy which still lives on today.

("The Concourse of the Birds" painted by Habib Allah. The hoopoe, center right, instructs the other birds on the Sufi path.)

~ Peace till next time… MoCo

Peace be upon you,

Jodhaa Akbar ( 2008 )

I am not, I repeat NOT, a bollywood fan. im the guy who sits in corner making stupid jokes about how stupid the indian bollywood movie is. I HATE everything about bollywood pop culture. Frankly i think is been saturated by American pop culture. For all practical purposes Indians have sold out. All bollywood does is remake old American movies! on top of that they have such a limited genre. Why does every frickin dumbass bollywood movie has to have a love theme? Why is bollywood such a god damn ass kisser? Seriously!

People think about it, The Indo-Pak subcontinent has such a long and rich history, yet they never ever take an interest in the honors that Allah swt has blessed them with.

In recent years though they have gotten better and every once in a while though i stumble across a decent movie. Jodhaa Akbar for example was a great movie. im not sure how accurate its was historically but it was an amazing break from the regurgitated vomit bollywood normally spits out. I hope that they continue with quality material like this.

I loved the movie because the 1st, the sets were vibrant and alive. They took you back in time and created a nostalgia of a long lost paradise on earth. The director clearly put a lot of time and effort into the sets. 2nd the song and dance scenes, which Indians apparently cant live with out, were tasteful, practical, and well incorporated into the storyline. At least they weren’t dancing around the world and changing clothes every two seconds. What the song and dance scenes lacked in ridiculous and flashy it made up in well planned choreography.

Lastly and probably the best thing about this movies would be the story itself. It actually had substance! the characters were so well developed and felt real so wou actually felt drawn in to the story. Jodahh, Akbar and the Mughliya Empire had a huge impact on the subcontinent’s history and politics. Learning something about the subcontinent’s history could help one to understand the diffrent groups, politics, and everything that is going on in the Subcontinent and the world today.

All in all…

* * * * * * * *

8/10

~ Peace till next time… MoCo

Contrary to common belief…

Peace be upon you,

As I was blog surfing I came across an amazing post by Mujahideen Ryder

It brought back many memories of debates with Muslim and non Muslim friends, and it reminded me of great work that still needs to be done.

First and foremost of which is , at least i think, educating the people of America. There is so so so much misinformation and bias in the media against Islam its unbelievable! I remember when this rally was going on the media spend like 10 min reporting on it, and half of it was interviewing the Pro-Israeli side of it, even though there were like 1500 anti-Israeli protesters and only like a handful of Pro-Israeli protesters!!!

handful of pro israeli protestors ...

more handful of counter protesters ... oh wait no its the same 20 guys.

On top of that the media conveniently forgot about the Neturei Karta (Jews Against Zionism)

















Many Americans claim to stand for justice, due process, and we claim to love the freedom of speech. Yet we allow things like this to happen! Even though its been a couple months I am defiantly not going to forget the bias, and if people don’t raise these issues then we will be doing a great harm to ourselves and the world.

~ Peace till next time… MoCo

Ramadan is around the Corner

Peace Be Upon You!

I received this email from my MSA, and thought it would be very beneficial. I edited it a bit though.

Is everyone ready??

Ramadan is the month in which approximately 1.6 billion Muslims around the world are told to
not only refrain from eating, drinking, and sex from dawn to dusk, but also to attempt to stay
away from evil actions in general such as lying, stealing, cheating, backbiting, slandering, etc.
We also try to drop some bad habits that we may have acquired throughout the
years (i.e. cursing/swearing, arrogance, greed/miserliness, envy, etc) through as many acts of
worship and charity as we can manage.

There is a little less then a month left before the sacred month of Ramadan begins!

Researchers say it takes about 40 days to change a bad habit into a good one.
Our actions BEFORE the month of Ramadan are crucial. It is in this
month, Shaban, that we have to try to get into the habit of fasting as well
as restraining our body parts and senses from wrongdoing.

The Prophet (Peace & Blessings Be Upon Him) would fast most of the days of
Sha'baan (the month preceeding Ramadan) besides the last few days. We would
like to encourage all our brothers and sisters to try to fast some days of
this month so the first day of Ramadan doesn't throw us all off :)

Ramadan is also considered the "Month of the Quran". We believe it was in
this month that Allah began revealing the Quran to the Prophet
(PBUH). Quranic recitation during this month is highly recommended! Let's
try to begin implementing some techniques into our lifestyle *now,* so when
Ramadan starts we will have already started devoting more of our time to
reciting (and reading the translation) of the Quran.

Ramadan is also considered the "Month of the Quran". We believe it was in
this month that Allah began revealing the Quran to the Prophet
(PBUH). Quranic recitation during this month is highly recommended! Let's
try to begin implementing some techniques into our lifestyle now, so when
Ramadan starts we will have already started devoting more of our time to
reciting (and reading the translation) of the Quran.

Here are some great additional sources for Ramadan:

9 ways to plan for Ramadan: http://www.soundvision.com/info/ramadan/r.plan.asp

Preparation for Ramadan: http://www.sacredlearning.org/classrooms/ramadan/index.htm

Verses and Hadith (sayings of the Prophet) on Ramadan: http://www.soundvision.com/info/ramadan/qhfast.asp

Basic information about Ramadan: http://www.jannah.org/ramadan/intro.html

~ Peace till next time... MoCo

Azeem Khan of I.C.N.A. Defends Freedom of Speech

So a little while ago I was at work on break. While casually channel surfing i find this on CNN.

At first i was like what the hell is going on. Then i recognized Azeem Khan! For those of you who don't know him, he was a member of Young Muslims, a youth division of the Islamic Circle of North America. I guess he's all grown up now and moved on to becoming a representative and secretary for I.C.N.A.

Personally I don't see what all the commotion is about. I think the ads are respectful and are not being "preachy" in anyway. Congressman King's complaints are really illogical. His two main complaints are that 1) the main person behind these ads is Imam Wahaj 2) these ads are offensive.

Congressman King contradicts himself, though. At 0:36 he states that "There is nothing wrong with these ads, theres is nothing wrong with educating people about Islam, the overwhelming majority of Muslims in this country are outstanding citizens." Later though Congressman King states these ads are offensive because they are occurring on Sept. 11th.

First, Congressman King was mistaken since these ads are starting Sept. 15. Second, even if they were overlapping they are still protected by the First Amendment. Third, neither the MTA nor the Homeland Security CMTE have a right to regulate offensive material and media. That falls under FCC regulation. So Congressman King is way out of bounds.

Also, this whole issue is very very very hypocritical because just a couple years ago when the Dutch published pictures of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, they offended Muslims around the world. When organizations and governments petitioned the paper to retract the pictures every political pundit, shock jock, and politician were firmly opposed to any retaction or apology. Why? because the paper had a right to free speech. Now, when these ads go up, even though they are in no way offensive or crude, a congressman, someone who has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution, is trying to suppress the Freedom of Speech and the Freedom of Religion of 7 million American Citizens.

Although the ads are roughly coincide with the 7th anniversary they are not geared towards the commemoration and even if they were Muslims have a right to commemorate the event as they see fit along with the rest of America. When Congressman King states that these ads are "offensive to the families, and its offensive to the memory of those killed that day" he is alienating and denying American Muslims their place in America. American Muslims witnessed the events that took place that day as well as non Muslim Americans and there were many Muslim victims in those attacks. If American Muslims want to take this opportunity to educate Americans or clear bigotry then they have a right to do so. There could be no better way of honoring the memory Sept 11th victims of then to educate people and stop hatred.

The second complaint Congressman King has is in regards to Imam Siraj Wahaj.

In the beginning of his interview Congressman King states that the problem isn't with these ads but that the main person behind these ads is Wahaj, and this is a problem because 1) he was a character witness 2) he made several comments about democracy, America, the FBI, and the CIA.

Congressmen King's complaints are ridiculous. First, these ads are organized by I.C.N.A. no Imam Wahaj, so this argument has no basis what so ever. Second, even if Imam Wahaj was single handedly organizing these ads they are not promoting terror, they are merely education people about Islam, and he stated at the beginning of the clip that "There is nothing wrong with these ads, theres is nothing wrong with educating people about Islam, the overwhelming majority of Muslims in this country are outstanding citizens."

Imam Wahaj has nothing to do with this whole "terror train" situation and it seems as if Congressman King is trying to pull a character assassination against Imam Wahaj. He states that "These ads attempt to give credibiltiy and respectibilty to people such as Wahaj..." but no where in the ads is Imam Siraj Wahaj praised, and yet Congressman King brings this up and denounces Imam Wahaj.

I am not a lawyer but even if Imam Wahaj did testify for the blind Shaykh who was indicted in the 1st trade center bombings that does not mean he is automatically a terrorist. Citizens have a right to a fair trial by jury and Imam Wahaj was merely taking part in a judicial process! For example if somebody testified for O.J. Simpson's character does that mean they are guilty of murder along with O.J. Simpson?

Also, Imam Wahaj was clearly not indicted in the 1st trade center bombings meaning that the government did not find him of any wrong doing. Meaning he was INNOCENT! Congressman King is bring up past statements of Imam Wahaj and trying to use them to paint Imam Wahaj as a guilty or violent man. This is quite unfair and hypocritical of Congressman King. Citizen Wahaj has every right to the freedom of speech just like Bill O'Rielly, or Howard Stern, or Don Imus. He has a right to criticize a political theory such as democracy, he has a right to criticize a government such as America. Citizen Wahaj also has a right to criticize government agencies such as the FBI and CIA. Coincidently independent organization such asthe red cross and Amnesty international have found that the CIA, and the armed forces have been using torture techniques such as stress positions and water boarding. So Imam Wahaj's claims, although exaggerated, were based upon the truth.

So the question i leave you all with is...

Why then, is Imam Wahaj the victim of a character assassination? Why then, is this educational ad campaign being repressed?

~ Peace till next time... MoCo

Assalamu alaykum world.

So this is Blogger huh? i wonder if i will every use this thing. well we shall see. for now good bye and good night good people of Blogspot.

Salam,

MoCo