The MoCo

Amir Sulaiman- Dead Man Walking

2011-11-24T14:03:00.005-06:00

Amir Sulaiman's Dead Man Walking. One of the best spoken word performances I'v heard in a long time.

Peace till next time ~ MoCo

The tribulations of teaching and technology 1

2011-08-07T17:52:00.007-05:00

A comic about teaching and administering technology in a Islamic School...

*based on real and imaginary events

6 months and no justice...

2011-08-02T00:53:00.002-05:00

Peace,

So its been almost six months since the Egyptian revolution and Hosni Mubarak has yet to be tried. Also the Supreme Council for the Armed Forces has yet to establish a civilian government. On the bright side the people haven't given up the struggle for their home yet. Winter snow hasn't fallen on the Arab Spring yet.

Many protesters were camping in Independence Square to ensure that Hosni Mubarak is brought to trial but they were planing on ending their sit-in for Ramadan. The army though cracked down on them and deployed tanks into the square to chase out the protesters.

You can read the whole story from Al Jazeera here.

Peace till next time ~ MoCo

Zambia I'tikaf Experience

2011-04-30T12:48:00.005-05:00

Peace,
Im stealing this from Sunni Forum. It was originally posted by Originally a brother named rahmaniyyah in the "I'tikaf Experience" thread. Click here to see the original.

---x---
I promised to have something written for today so i've left it till the end! I pray it benefits me and others, but the reality of anything can only be understood when personally experiencing it. Someone can talk all day about how awesome the sight of the ka'bah is, but nothing compares to the sight of the ka'bah itself.

My i'tikaf was spent in zambia, in the company of the kamil shaykh, the mahboob of the ulama, hadhrat zulfiqar sahib (db) and many of his khulafa. A lot of people ask why zambia is chosen - and the most common response is "you'll only really understand when you go to zambia". The khidmah jamat in zambia is so unique and so special one can't imagine where to begin. Their reward is surely with allah.

We arrived on the day of 20th and entered the masjid with niyyah for i'tikaf from asr. Hadhrat (db) arrived in between asr and maghrib. That was the first time i saw hadhrat (db) and what a sight!! When you see him, you will know that this is actually him. And the effect of his presence was immediate on my sinful heart - one can only imagine what the other pure souls experienced. He was dressed in sunnah from top to bottom, and a beaming smile. He also carried a staff and was tall. His beard was long and straight. Everybody stood up and masha allah hadhrat individually greeted and hugged everyone. I can think about that scene all day and derive benefit. The deepest and final thought i arrive at is just what effect rasulullah Must have had on the sahabah and what connection the sahabah had with the perfect creation . May allah grants us the company of rasulullah In jannah, ameen.

Daily we would sit in hadhrat (db)'s talk after taraweeh. Then people would go and sit in hadhrat's company, take lessons and consultation. Then we would pray nafl qiyamul layl. After this, hadhrat would again probably be meeting people, or take rest, or be busy with writing reading etc. Most people would sleep till suhoor, others stayed up mostly in muraqabah through the night. After suhoor, there would be over an hour for tahajjud. There was a short english reminder everyday after fajr by a khalifah shaykh andalib from zimbabwe (these were phenomenal and it was normal for people to be moved to tears). A lot of people would stay up till ishraq. At this time, hadhrat's khulafa from south africa would arrange an english talk. This was conducted by mawlana musa - what can i say about him? The way he carried himself was enough to bring tears to the eyes. He would speak so lovingly of hadhrat too - this is a person we should meet if the opportunity is available. Then we would sit in muraqabah until ishraq. Other khulafa were present and also gave the english talk, like shaykh mawlana khoka, shaykh tauqeer, mawlana junaid moola, mawlana ebrahim. Each khalifah is so unique subhan allah - and one wonders hadhrat has so many khulafa to capture the light he carries, then what of the heart of rasulullah Which required over 100 000 sahabah to carry the message!

After ishraq pretty much everyone would rest until hadhrat's bayan in the morning which was particularly for the women - but all would sit. We then had taleem, reading from majalisul faqeer which was read by shaykh professor muhammad aslam sahib (db) and then zubdatus sulook which was taught by mawlana salahuddin saifi sahib (db) in urdu and mufti kamaluddin (db) in english. These sessions were gems and the advices from majalisul faqeer were so simple but powerful. Then it was zuhr, after which mawlana ebrahim sahib would read from fadhail e amaal and sublime conduct. After this we had khatmul khwajgan and muraqabah. Professor aslam sahib would lead the most amazing khatmul khawjgan - i just wish i recorded it. He lead the first two. Again i can write a lot on professor aslam sahib but i fear this is already getting too long. Other days, hafiz sohail (db), shaykh abdul qayyum (who also lead a very unique muraqabah!) and other khulafa lead the khatam.

Most people went to sleep at this point until asr, but the english guys stayed up with mufti kamal, mawlana musa, mawlana junaid, shaykh abdul qadir (hadhrat's nigerian khalifa) and others. Mufti kamal would continue to teach from zubdatus sulook. After asr, one of hadhrat's khulafa would give a bayan. These were in urdu and the duas at this time were so special subhan allah. Most people would be engrossed in dua until adhan for maghrib. Hadhrat (db) lead dua on the 27th with asmaul husna, as well as on the 29th day.

Ok i think i wrote a bit too much on the daily schedule so i should stop now. There's so much more to write though, including meeting with the russian and nigerian jamats! As well as some deep insights from mawlana khalilur rahman sajjad nomani sahib (db) on the last day (i definitely have intention to write on this talk at some point), and also the amount of barakah in our time. Honestly we felt we had entered a whole new time-dimension. We had time to complete so much in a short 9 days. I felt like i was able to evaluate my life, strive to clear my past record and make firm new intentions in plenty of time. At times when i used to think "what am i, of all people, doing here?" (which was quite often), i couldn't help do shukr for allah's blessing. Other times, i felt way out of my depth surrounded by so many elevated souls. This was really a unique factor - almost every other few people was a khalifah of hadhrat and having the opportunity to simply observe how they worship allah is a unique blessing in itself. To add to this effect, almost everybody was dressed in white (except locals for taraweeh time) which i thought was quite symbolic!

Being utterly undeserving, i can't thank allah enough for the opportunity. I pray allah gives further opportunities like this in the future to all of us. I must stress the necessity of itikaf (even though i've done it only this once). I may write some of what i learnt on that too at a later date. I pray the above is of some benefit, particularly for myself. Ameen

i pray allah grant us the suhbah of the kamil shuyukh, that allah be well-pleased with hadhrat (db), his khulafa, and all those connected to him and the entire ummah. Ameen

---x---

Peace till next time ~ MoCo

ICE 2011 !!!

2011-02-22T14:27:00.007-06:00

Peace be upon you,

Alrighty guys! ICE 2011 is here!!! What? What's ICE you ask? Well, its only the biggest Instructional Technology conference in Illinois. Ok, what does that mean?

Basically all the teachers and technology coordinators from all over Illinois get together to discuss new developments in education, specifically technological developments. New educational programs, new school management systems, new theories about instruction and how technology can help. New technology products for the classroom...etc. etc.

So that where I'm at for the next 2 days. Allah willing it will be very beneficial and I'll be able to bring back many new tips, tricks, and freebies for my school.

Peace till next time ~ MoCo

The New Egypt

2011-02-13T12:41:00.005-06:00

Peace be upon you all,

All praise be to Allah, The Merciful, The Wise. After nearly 30 years of oppression, subjugation, and tyranny Hosni Mubarak, the dog was removed by The People of Egypt on Friday Feb. 11th 2011. There was massive celebrations almost immediately which continued into Saturday.

The work is not done though. Mubarak has left to the Sinai resort town of Sharm Al-Sheikh, and the Egyptian Military has taken over. It has pretty much assumed the Office of the President and the Ministers are taking direct orders from the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF).

Al Jazeera English reports that the SCAF wants to have elections for a civilian government in 6 months and until then it will be running a transition government. One thing which has particularly alarmed me is that the Supreme Council of Armed Forces still hasn't repealed the 30 year old Emergency Law which gave Hosni Mubarak absolute control. Why on earth haven't they repealed that? What could they be waiting for?

Wael Ghonim, one of the protest organizers, announced that he trusted the Egyptian Amry in a twitter post on Friday Feb. 11th 2011.

The military statement is great. I trust our Egyptian Army #Jan25 Friday, February 11, 2011 12:31:02 PM via Twitter for BlackBerry®

and later on Sunday Feb 13 he announced via twitter that he was...

In a meeting with two generals from the higher council of the armed forces. Really great insights that I will share later. #Jan25 about 2 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®

Now I dont particularly trust the Egyptian Army but major players in the protests seem to trust them. So, I guess I'll just have to wait and see what God decrees. Also, pray for Egypt 2.0

Peace till next time ~ MoCo

Walk Like a Egyptian

2011-02-05T20:59:00.005-06:00

Peace,

After days of protest the Tyrant of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, still hasn't stepped down. Many news agencies from around the world are claiming that members of the leading party have resigned including the Tyrant's son, Gamal Mubarak. The People of Egypt though believe that this is nothing more then a superficial change and still demand the resignation of the Tyrant.

Meanwhile, closer to home there were rallies around the US to show solidarity with the Egyptian people.

NYC

LA

Chicago

Detroit

So when are we going to start walking like a Egyptian?

Peace till next time ~ MoCo

Happy Geek Pride Day!!!

2010-05-25T21:28:00.002-05:00

Peace,

And Happy International Geek Pride Day! Thats right, Geeks need a day to call their own so May 25th has been set aside. Why May 25th you ask? Well...

1) Its also Towel Day! Beginning May 25, 2001, Douglas Adams fans started the Towel Day tradition as a way of commemorating the infamous author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

2) May 25, as it is The Glorious 25th of May from Pratchett’s novel, Discworld.

3) May 25 is also the anniversary of the first Star Wars movie.

4) This is the day geeks will one day take over the world

Peace till next time ~ MoCo

Cook County Superintendent on Trial

2010-05-10T00:33:00.002-05:00

The Chicago Tribune reported that Superintendent Charles Flowers, from Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education, is on trial for official misconduct, theft and misapplication of funds. The superintendent has been accused of pocketing over $300,000 from the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education.

On top of that, the State of IL is debating whether to close down the R.O.E. and shift its responsibilities to Intermediate Service Centers throughout Suburban Cook County. Usually the ROEs provide services such as, teacher certifications and bus driver training.

Read more... Tribune Article

~Peace Till Next Time ~ MoCo

Did You Know?

2010-03-23T18:14:00.005-05:00

Peace,

Now that technology is evolving at an exponential rate it is really upon all of us to discuss and consider the ethical impact of all the new abilities available to us. Did you know...

~ Peace till next time

MoCo

Ahmadinejad attacks the attacks of Sept. 11

2010-03-07T12:42:00.003-06:00

This is a great article from Mike Green of the Huffington post...

Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, accused the United States of fabricating the facts regarding the attacks of Sept. 11, according to a March 6 report by The Associated Press. He claimed the U.S. government's official version is merely a "big lie" upon which the invasion of Afghanistan and the so-called war on terror was based.

"September 11 was a big lie and a pretext for the war on terror and a prelude to invading Afghanistan," Ahmadinejad said. He suggested the tragic events that unfolded at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania and New York were the result of a "complicated intelligence scenario and act."

The AP report failed to ask the obvious question: Is Ahmadinejad correct?

LINK ---> Mike Green's Huffington Post

By any means necessary- Malik al-Shabazz- Malcolm X

2010-02-17T01:01:00.003-06:00

Peace be upon you,

Many of the principals al-Hajj Malik al-Shabazz states here are still applicable today. If Muslims considered these while forming the visions for their organization we could benefit so much.

~ Peace till next time...MoCo

Quote of the Week

2010-02-14T21:31:00.002-06:00

Peace be upon you,

Quote:

“ ... And we will know him then for what he was and is- a Prince- our own black shining Prince!- who didn't hesitate to die, because he loved us so.”

~ Ossie Davis, Eulogy of Malcolm X

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~ Peace till next time...MoCo

The 99

2009-08-30T12:40:00.005-05:00

Peace be upon you,

Recently I have been hearing about a Muslim superhero comic book series called The 99. Its about a group of people who receive or stumble across gems which give them superhuman powers that also coincide with the 99 attributes of Allah (swt).

I haven't read the copy yet but I'm quite excited about the idea of a comic book influenced by Arab-Islamic culture. Although, the idea of humans with attributes of Allah (swt) strikes me as border-line shirkh. Yes, it is true there are some attributes of Allah which humans can encompass to a degree, but the personification as superpowers does not still well with me.

Any way they have a free copy available for download on their website The 99.

~ Peace till next time...MoCo

Quote of the Week

2009-08-05T19:28:00.005-05:00

Peace be upon you,

Quotes:

“Struggles of masses and ideas. An epic that will be carried forward by our peoples, mistreated and scorned by imperialism; our people, unreckoned with until today, who are now beginning to shake off their slumber. Imperialism considered us a weak and submissive flock; and now it begins to be terrified of that flock...”

~ Che Guevara

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~ Peace till next time...MoCo

What can I do...?

2009-08-03T17:51:00.003-05:00

Peace be upon you,

Last time I published a post about the IDF and their terrorism upon Palestinians. These stories are often so harsh and sad that we loose hope and begin to doubt our ability to contribute towards a solution.

Yet Allah (swt) tells us that ...

So indeed with hardship is ease.
Indeed with hardship is ease.
[Inshirah 94:5]

Indeed there are many people around the world who are working hard to ease the oppression being wagged against our brothers in Palestine. Here is a little bit about a organization that I really love...

Islamic Relief
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Gaza Humanitarian Crisis: FAQ
1. Does Islamic Relief have an office in Gaza?

Islamic Relief has been working in Palestine since 1994, and opened its Gaza office in 1998. Since then, Islamic Relief has been working to help the Palestinians with food aid, medical relief, small business loans, and orphan sponsorships.

Islamic Relief has established offices and staff in both the Gaza Strip and West Bank. Islamic Relief has also established educational enhancement centers, care programs for psychologically traumatized children and a school for the deaf.

2. Is Islamic Relief allowed to work in Gaza amid the crisis?

Islamic Relief responded to the Gaza crisis as soon as six hours after the current crisis began by providing essential medical aid to the hospitals and ever since has been actively involved with easing the suffering by providing medical, food and other aid.

There has been no restrictions or curfews placed on the humanitarian activities of Islamic Relief in Gaza.

3. How is Islamic Relief able to distribute aid within Gaza when it’s reported to be too dangerous to provide aid?

The situation in Gaza is extremely volatile and dangerous but Islamic Relief’s staff members are risking their lives to ensure aid reaches the victims and especially to the hospitals. Whenever a safe time and window of opportunity is available for distribution, Islamic Relief staff try to take advantage of it and provide aid.

The Israeli government has accepted a “humanitarian corridor” idea proposed by the United Nations Security Council mandating that Israel suspend all attacks for three hours daily to allow humanitarian aid supplies to be distributed to people in Gaza. This, of course, will help Islamic Relief staff reach beneficiaries.

In times when even going out of the office is not possible, Islamic Relief’s staff members spend that time planning future distributions and coordinating supply purchasing and logistics.

4. If the borders are sealed, how does Islamic Relief get aid into Gaza?

With a strong presence on the ground in Gaza, Islamic Relief has been able to distribute aid since the start of the crisis and continues to do so today. A multi-million dollar emergency campaign has been launched by Islamic Relief for immediate assistance to the civilians in Gaza.

Islamic Relief works to bring aid into Gaza and help the people through the following means:

1. The United Nation’s World Health Organization (WHO) has been designated by the Israeli government to coordinate aid shipments into Gaza on behalf of all aid agencies. Working closely with WHO, Islamic Relief is able to purchase aid commodities and have it brought into Gaza;
2. Islamic Relief has a fully operational office in the West Bank as well. That office is used for funds transfer and purchase of supplies which in coordination with the UN are then brought into Gaza whenever the convoys are allowed into the area.
3. Bring aid though the Rafah border crossing with Egypt whenever available. (3 ambulances were brought in through this crossing on Wednesday, Jan. 7th, with 10 trucks of additional aid waiting to be let in);
4. Distributing aid and supplies from our warehouse in Gaza that was previously stored;
5. Purchase supplies in the local Gaza markets whenever available.

Though these means are not sufficient and sometimes all the options not available, Islamic Relief tries its best to look for any proper channel available to continue the important aid distributions.

5. Is Islamic Relief working with other aid agencies to provide aid to those in need in Gaza?

Yes, Islamic Relief works in close coordination with other well respected agencies such as the United Nations to ensure that aid and services reach the affected people. An example of this coordination with the UN is the renovation of the main al-Shifa hospital in Gaza before the current crisis.

6. Does Islamic Relief work with any armed groups to perform its humanitarian work?

NO. Islamic Relief is an apolitical, nonprofit, humanitarian organization with no affiliations to any political parties or other groups. The goal of Islamic Relief is to alleviate poverty and suffering of the world’s poorest people. Keeping that pledge in mind, Islamic Relief is committed to helping those in need through its objective of humanitarian assistance.

7. What kind of aid and services is Islamic Relief providing?

Islamic Relief, because of its presence on the ground in Gaza, responded as soon as 6 hours after the crisis began by providing essential medical aid to the local hospitals (worth $126,000). In the days that followed, five truckloads of medical supplies and four trucks of food for patients and their families were provided to the hospitals.

The Islamic Relief team in Gaza has made preparations to distribute additional food parcels to 30,000 individuals, 1,000 hygiene kits and medical equipment and disposables worth over $400,000.

In response to the humanitarian crisis of one year ago, Islamic Relief launched an emergency appeal to help provide food, health care, and shelter in the worst effected areas. In 2008, vital aid has been provided to relieve the immediate suffering of more than 500,000 people in Palestine including children, hospital patients, farmers, needy families and those affected by conflict.

8. How does Islamic Relief ensure my money will only help those suffering in Gaza?

Islamic Relief is legally bound to honor the wishes and requests of its donors. If the donor wishes for his/her donation to be spent for a certain appeal, Islamic Relief will make sure that his/her wish is upheld.

Also, Islamic Relief’s reputation as a trustworthy and efficient organization is known to governments, other organizations, and the public that have worked with us over the years. The Chicago Tribune has said: “Islamic Relief also benefits from a reputation of trustworthiness, said mainstream aid workers, as well as other Muslim ones. Islamic

Relief has helped victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Asian tsunami in addition to people in the Middle East.” (Chicago Tribune, Aug. 29, 2006)

Furthermore, Islamic Relief has been awarded a 4-star rating by Charity Navigator, a US charity evaluator, for the fifth consecutive year, ranking us amongst the top 3% of charities nationwide.

9. How can I donate to Islamic Relief to help the people of Gaza?
Donating to Islamic Relief can easily be done in three different ways:

1. Website: www.irw.org
2. Telephone: (888) 479-4968; (714) 676-1300
3. Mail: P.O Box: 5640, Buena Park, CA 90622

10. How can I learn more about Islamic Relief’s efforts in Gaza?
To learn more about Islamic Relief’s work in Gaza, please visit our website for updated information at www.irw.org or call us at (888) 479-4968 and we would be glad to assist in any way possible.

Thank you for your generous support in bringing relief to those in desperate need in Gaza.

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~ Peace till next time...MoCo

What the IDF doesnt want you to see

2009-07-28T22:59:00.006-05:00

Peace be upon you,

Very interesting stories which are often squashed before they reach the people.

~ Peace till next time...MoCo

2009 Total Solar Eclipse China

2009-07-21T00:24:00.004-05:00

Peace be upon you,

This is take from the NASA Website ~~>

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On Wednesday, 2009 July 22, a total eclipse of the Sun is visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses half of Earth. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow begins in India and crosses through Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. After leaving mainland Asia, the path crosses Japan's Ryukyu Islands and curves southeast through the Pacific Ocean where the maximum duration of totality reaches 6 min 39 s. A partial eclipse is seen within the much broader path of the Moon's penumbral shadow, which includes most of eastern Asia, Indonesia, and the Pacific Ocean.

NOTICE: Due to the time difference between China and the US, the on-line viewing time for the eclipse over Shanghai will be Tuesday, July 21 from 9:35pm to 9:41pm Eastern Daylight Time.
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This is so cool! Supposedly the viewing will be live so that we can all watch. Whats even more interesting is that there are special prayer of 2 rakat nafil for an eclipse. During the time of the Prophet, peace be upon him, an eclipse occurred on the same day the Prophet's, peace be upon him, son passed away. People gathered them together and informed them that the sun and moon are signs of Allah (swt) and do not eclipse because of someones birth or death. He, peace be upon him, then exhorted the people to offer prayers and charities during an eclipse.

I took this from Encyclopaedia of Islam
By Mufti M. Mukarram Ahmed, Muzaffar Husain Syed

~ Peace till next time...MoCo

Unite for Change!

2009-07-06T23:07:00.002-05:00

Peace be upon you,

Who said Muslims don't have unity?

Vision:

United For Change has assumed an historic role as the lead body for eight prominent Muslim organizations. The uniqueness of United For Change is that it was created to respond to the suffering and utter despair of the Muslim family; and through a distinct strategic alliance United For Change is inspired to engage all national American Muslim organizations to work together under a united front to take on major issues no one group can handle effectively. Through this partnership and with compassion and empathy United For Change will prove capable of addressing issues that are well known, but rarely effectively engaged.

Mission:

United For Change is dedicated to increasing the awareness of and sympathy for issues requiring the attention and action of the Muslim community. United For Change will raise the level of consciousness within the Muslim community while simultaneously developing resolutions and creating an action oriented partnership between the public and United For Change.

The organization will methodically tackle the broadest and most consuming issues that require the motivation, dedication and resources of the united Muslim community.

Saturday Sept. 5th, 2009 10 AM - 6PM

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~ Peace till next time...MoCo

Sacred Learning Notes May 22 2009: Scheduling Through the Sunnah

2009-05-26T19:48:00.015-05:00

Peace be upon you,

Here are some personal notes I took from a Sacred Learning class on May 22, 2009. I'v written some of my own thoughts in as well. You can find the original speeches at the Sacred Learning Website.
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In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful.
May the Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon the Seal of Prophets, Muhammad.
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Every family, company, or organization has some assets which they manage their assets carefully.

One of the biggest assets a Muslim has is TIME. If we waste our this great asset which Allah has entrusted us with we essentially waste ourselves. We need to realize how important this gift is. When we waste our time we basically let Satan win.

Spending 4 hours online just "surfing" is letting Satan win.
Spending 4 hours just talking on the phone is letting Satan win.

We need to develop schedules to manage our time properly. If you look at any CEO of any major corporation they have very full schedules. They squeeze every minute out of the day. This is one of the reasons why they are successful in the material sense.

But as Muslims we should develop schedules according to the Sunnah (Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.) In the Prophet Muhammad's, peace be upon him, life the key component of his day was the Fard (obligatory)prayers. These should be the foundation or the skeleton of our schedule. Everything is scheduled or built around this.

For example...

(1) We should start our day with Fajr (the prayer before sunrise)in the masjid (mosque. And we should end our day with Isha (the night prayer) in the mosque. Our days should revolve around our devotion to Allah. Also, we should take care to note that Fajr and Isha should be in the masjid without exception. We have no other obligations during this time such as work or school. There should be no excuse why we can not pray these prayers in the masjid. For men the most reward is to pray these prayers in the masjid and for women the most reward is to pray in their homes.

(2) After Fajr we should try to do some dhikr in the masjid until Ishraaq (a voluntary prayer after sunrise.) This is the ideal goal we should strive for. If that is not possible we move on to the next item in our schedule. But it is important to note that sleeping after fajr is not an option. There is NO barakah (blessings) in sleeping after fajr whatsoever.

(3) After Ishraaq we should continue with our routine. For some this means going to work for others going to school. This is a time for work and one will notice that there is little worship or remembrance prescribed during this time. This lasts until zawwal (the zenith of the sun, or high noon.)

(4)During zawaal we have 3 options. First, we could prepare for Salatul Dhur (the noon prayer). Second, we could have lunch, or third, we could reset. Taking a 15 to 30 minuet nap will go a long way in refreshing out bodies.

(5) Next we pray our Dhur salat.

(6) After Salatul Dhur we work again up to Salatul Asr. Again, this is blessed time for work.

(7) After Salatul Asr we break again for a meal. This is the time for rest or relaxation. One could spend time with their family, friends, play, etc. This is also a good time for dhkir (remembrance of Allah).

(8) After taking a rest we move onto Salatul Maghrib (the dusk prayer).

(9) After Salatul Maghrib there is a very special time. A lot blessings descend and there is a lot of energy. This is the perfect time to study, review,and recite. Be extremely careful not to waste this blessed time, and use every second up to Salatul Isha.

(10) After studying or reviewing we ought to pray Salatul Isha and men should take the extra effort of offering their prayers in the Masjid.
(11) After Salatul Isha we should rest, spend time with the family. This is a time for solitude, not for going out. Ideally you should sleep early and wake up in the middle of the night for Salatul Tahajjud (mid-night prayer). If this is not possible we should wake up before Salatul Fajr and offer Salatul Tahajjud.

An important thing we should realize is that the schedule is a goal. This is a rough outline. One will not be able to have a perfect schedule every single day. But when we wake up we should ask Allah to bless us with the ability to follow the schedule of our blessed Prophet, peace be upon him. And when we go to sleep we should ask Allah for forgiveness for any short comings in our day.

The youth should be particularly careful. They should take extra caution about wasting away their youth. The college years are very unique. We have so much freedom during those years and we will not be able to see them again. We will not have opportunities like those again because of all the extra responsibilities we will have to carry.

When you are young in college you think you are busy with test but then...

you get married and you think you are busy with commitments but then...

you get children and you think you are busy providing for them but then...

you get old and you face diseases and health problems. You will wake up one day and realize that your youth has faded away.

Your youth, from 20 years to 35 years is a golden time. This is your prime where you achieve something. After this period people rarely achieve something new, unique, or groundbreaking. Afterwards they often expand or build upon their achievements but rarely do we see something new.

So take heed, repent to Allah for the time we have wasted, and set upon the path the blessed Prophet, peace be upon him, has set for us.

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~ Peace till next time...MoCo

Help Imam Siraj Wahhaj

2009-04-29T23:47:00.002-05:00

Peace be upon you,

I read this on Imam Suahib's blog...

From Imam Suhaib Webb:

Asalamu alaykum,

Last week the Muslim youth in America pulled off an amazing fundraiser for Imam Siraj Wahhaj. While 26 K. was donated we are still well short of our goal of $125,000.

The Idea:

Muslim organizations could call for “America’s Imam Day” designating a Friday where funds could be raised for the Imam across the country! It would be awesome if others such as our brothers in the U.K got on board as well. Let us all write, call and encourage our organizations like ISNA, ICNA, MAS, MSA,MAP, RIC, MYNA, AlMaghrib, Seekers Guidance and Zaytuna to make this call together.

I’m willing to fly to the states for one day, give the khutbah for the Imam and fly back for my exams in Egypt. I say this brothers and sisters because of my love for the Imam. By Allah I love him and hope and pray that we can moblize for the sake of Allah to help him.

The ball’s in your court….

SDW

---x---
check out the website at Help Imam Siraj
~ Peace till next time...MoCo

7 Ideas to keep $ in your bank! part 2

2009-04-04T16:58:00.002-05:00

Peace be upon you,

Ok so here is part two of that article that I had read.

Idea #2: Buy those curvy cool new bulbs (CFLs). well actually they aren't that new. They've been out for a while now, but people still haven't switched over! Now they are kinda expensive but in the long run it really does save. On average they use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last up to ten times longer. On Good Morning America I remember that they tested these bulbs and you could light up an entire house with CFL's with the energy that one regular bulbs uses up. According to the Yahoo! Finance article you could save up to $166.00 by changing 20 bulbs.

~ Peace till next time...MoCo

Notes from Sacred Learning General Talk. Wisdom in Wealth. Delivered on the 20th of January 2008

2009-03-22T19:18:00.003-05:00

Peace be upon you,

Here are some notes from a lecture I went to by Shaykh Hussain Sattar. Please note any errors in the notes are from my own shortcomings. Please listen to the actual audio lecture for a better understanding. You can find it at www.sacredlearning.org , under the General Talks tab.

--- x ---
Notes from Sacred Learning General Talk.
Wisdom in Wealth
Delivered on the 20th of January 2008

As Muslims we are thought to spend moderately. We should be neither excessive nor miserly.
An example of excessive spending would be constantly feeding your nafs (Base, animalistic desires).
An example of miserly spending would be when nothing is getting done.

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said …
"Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a traveler/wayfarer."
(On the authority of Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrated by Al- Bukhari).

This statement instructs us to meet our needs but do not indulge in desires. We need to remember that we checked into this world and soon we will check out of this world.

When we are fulfill our needs such as food, shelter, and clothing we need to always stay within our limits. Never overstretch our means. An example of this would be that when buying a home we should…
First- find a sharia compliant bank
Second- We research and are told we can afford a house which will cost
$3,000/month.
Third- We should buy a house which will cost us $2,000 / month.
Lastly- We should donate the extra money to a charity.

We should realize that Allah, the Mighty, is a protector and a guardian over us and our family. In reality we do not take care of our children. It is Allah who takes care of our children. He is fact the true care taker.

Two other points to carefully consider are consistency and diversity. Any financial advisor will tell you that you should invest consistently even if it is a small amount. Also, they will tell you that you should diversify your investment portfolio.

Also, there are many different types of virtuous acts, which will be rewarded in so many ways. We should try to do a little bit of everything because we never know which small deed will tip our balance into Jannah. This way we get all sorts of returns on the Day of Judgement.

All of this is summarized by the concise and precise words of the Noble Messenger, peace be upon him, who said “Moderation in spending is half of livelihood…”

(On the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated by Al Bukhari.)

--- x ---

~ Peace till next time...MoCo

7 Ideas to keep $ in your bank!

2009-03-11T20:48:00.005-05:00

Peace be upon you,

I just read a amazing article on Yahoo! Finance about saving money in these though times. I thought it was very simple and effective so I thought I would share some of the ideas with you all. If you would like to read the whole thing read it here.

Idea # 1: Use an automatic debit program to make credit card payments. These can easily be set up online or by calling up your bank. Hopefully you'll never be late again and this will reduce your late fees, which can sometimes be as high $40 each month.

So... if your late 6 times a year that's $240 your throwing away. Just imagine having an extra $240 every year, which is the equivalent of a $0.12 raise. Good job! you just got a raise for paying your bills on time!!!

~ Peace till next time...MoCo

!ncredible !ndia Two

2009-02-16T00:05:00.010-06:00

Peace be upon you,

Hey i just saw the Hottest new actor in Tollywood...

.....................eh tu ka dayekra?....

Hollywood? Bollywood? Thu thu! salman khan mere samne khuchbe nahi!!

~ Peace till next time...MoCo

The Wisdom of Imam Abu Hanifa

2009-02-07T23:10:00.003-06:00

Peace be upon you,

An interesting story I read on http://www.darulqasim.org/

A man came to Imam Abu Hanifa and explained that he had burried some wealth in a place but he had forgotten where it was. Imam Abu Hanifa said to him : "This is not a question of fiqh (jurisprudence) that I can give you guidance on. However, go home and perform Salaah the entire night. Insha-Allah you will soon remember. The man did as he was told. Not even a quarter of the night had passed when the man remembered where he had burried his wealth. He came back to Imam Abu Hanifa and told him what had happened. The Imam explained : "I knew that Shaitaan would not allow you to perform Salaah the entire night and he would make you remember the place. Why did you not spend the remainder of the night in Salaah in gratitude to Allah?"

(Al-Azkiya)

Pure genius...that's why these scholars are remembered even today.

~ Peace till next time...MoCo

!ncredible !ndia One

2008-12-23T03:30:00.016-06:00

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

2008-12-14T20:12:00.003-06:00

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

2008-12-09T19:58:00.003-06:00

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

2008-11-20T03:41:00.003-06:00

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

2008-11-19T22:36:00.004-06:00

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

2008-11-14T17:23:00.004-06:00

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.

2008-11-13T23:36:00.007-06:00

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...

2008-11-08T14:15:00.006-06:00

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

2008-11-05T18:13:00.002-06:00

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

2008-11-04T20:55:00.012-06:00

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

2008-10-29T19:32:00.003-05:00

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

2008-10-03T01:34:00.006-05:00

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!

2008-10-01T00:32:00.005-05:00

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

2008-09-23T12:41:00.003-05:00

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

2008-09-22T19:51:00.004-05:00

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

2008-09-07T15:55:00.004-05:00

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

2008-09-03T23:40:00.005-05:00

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...

2008-08-31T15:10:00.004-05:00

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

2008-08-28T17:31:00.005-05:00

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....

2008-08-24T15:07:00.005-05:00

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)

2008-08-19T18:29:00.007-05:00

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

Jodhaa Akbar ( 2008 )

2008-08-18T16:55:00.000-05:00

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…

2008-08-17T18:07:00.003-05:00

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

2008-08-12T09:42:00.001-05:00

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

2008-08-10T14:53:00.004-05:00

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

2008-08-10T11:09:00.000-05:00

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