Dunya Dekho

How A Pearl Develops: A Khutbah for Muslim Women

2009-03-16T15:56:00.000-07:00

by Muhammad Alshareef When news of the Christian army that had prepared on the horizons to wipe out Islam reached Abu Qudaamah Ash-Shaamee, he moved quickly to the mimbar of the masjid. In a powerful and emotional speech, Abu Qudaamah ignited the desire of the community to defend their land – jihaad for the sake of Allah. As he left the masjid, walking down a dark and secluded alley, a woman

Inside the Head that wears the Crown

2009-03-12T17:24:00.000-07:00

By Rabea Chaudhry, March 8, 2009 Let us be the ones who decide what is beautiful, what is free, what is oppressed, and what is spiritual. If you feel liberated in a scarf, keep it on. If you think your religiosity is impeded by an insistence on a wardrobe choice, move beyond the exterior of it all.Depending on how you want to calculate it – legally, culturally, or religiously - my husband and

Inaugural Address of Barack Obama

2009-01-20T19:15:00.000-08:00

In the early morning hours of November 5, 2008, a political earthquake struck the United States of America, with powerful aftershocks being felt in other parts of the world. A black man, bearing the middle name of one of the beloved grandsons of the Prophet Mohammed (you can’t beat this for symbolism), has won the nation’s most coveted political office in what pundits have termed “an electoral

A Description of Jannah (Ibn an Qayyim)

2009-01-13T13:19:00.000-08:00

A beautiful except from Ibn al-Qayyim's book describing Jannah - It's a long read but definitely worth it. You have to read the last part, especially the last couple paragraphs when we'll all be blessed to see the face of Allah (swt) in Jannah inshallah.Ibn al-Qayyim said, in regards to the description of the Paradise and the delights that it contains:"And if you ask about its ground and its soil

In the US, Gaza is a different war

2009-01-08T21:15:00.000-08:00

FOCUS: OPINIONBy Habib BattahThe images of two women on the front page of an edition of The Washington Post last week illustrates how mainstream US media has been reporting Israel's war on Gaza.On the left was a Palestinian mother who had lost five children. On the right was a nearly equally sized picture of an Israeli woman who was distressed by the fighting, according to the caption.As the

Pilobolus

2008-12-20T00:58:00.001-08:00

This is so cool!

The Man With No Heart

2008-11-16T23:42:00.000-08:00

A letter between Imam Hasan al-Banna and one of his students:My sir and teacher,Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatuAllah wa barakatuh,Has the news of the man with no heart reached you? As for the heart which is that red muscle that pumps blood, then he has it with no doubt as the man is alive. However as for the heart which flows with emotions, vivid sensations, and living consciousness, then regrettably

Another Perspective on Prop 8

2008-10-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

Proponents of Prop 8 continue to lie in their television ads.Vote as you please, but don't be deceived. Here’s what’s fiction and what’s fact:Fiction: Teaching children about same-sex marriage will happen here unless we pass Prop 8.Fact: Not one word in Prop 8 mentions education, and no child can be forced, against the will of their parents, to be taught anything about health and family issues at

Hijabi Monologues

2008-10-20T23:33:00.000-07:00

Greetings of Peace,Please keep the evening of November 19th open, myself and May AlHassen will be performing Hijabi Monologues and would love for you all to be there.On Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 at 9PM in Chino Hills, CaliforniaLionLike MindStateHosted by award-winning spoken word poet Judah 1MOSAIC Inland5540 Schaefer AveChino, CA 91710The Hijabi Monologues is about the power of

SNL: Palin Rap

2008-10-20T23:26:00.000-07:00

Vote Smarter 2008

2008-10-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

Check out these short political ads from an aspiring Muslimah Film Maker!Technology:Palin:Straight Talk:Check out more of these great ads at Vote Smarter 2008.

FiveThirtyEight

2008-10-07T00:21:00.000-07:00

This is a really good site to keep up with if you're following the elections. The site keeps tabs on polls conducted on a daily basis and does analysis and projections. *538 is in reference to the size of the Electoral College.

New Prime Number

2008-09-28T03:03:00.000-07:00

Now here is some news that you don't see everyday:UCLA group discovers humongous prime numberLOS ANGELES (AP) — Mathematicians at UCLA have discovered a 13 million-digit prime number, a long-sought milestone that makes them eligible for a $100,000 prize.The group found the 46th known Mersenne prime last month on a network of 75 computers running Windows XP. The number was verified by a different

Social Justice Quiz, 2008

2008-09-21T23:57:00.000-07:00

Twenty QuestionsSocial Justice Quiz, 2008By BILL QUIGLEY1. How many deaths are there world-wide each year due to acts of terrorism? 2. How many deaths are there world-wide each day due to poverty and malnutrition? 3. 1n 1965, CEOs in major companies made 24 times more than the average worker. In 1980, CEOs made 40 times more than the average worker. In 2007, CEOs earned how many times more

Observing Ramadan-The Big Picture

2008-09-21T16:44:00.000-07:00

Muslim faithful throughout the world are currently observing the holy month of Ramadan. Observant Muslims participate in fasting (sawm), one of the five pillars of their faith, this entire Lunar month (this year it extends from September 1st to the 30th). Eating, drinking, smoking and sexual activity is prohibited from dawn until sunset, when the fast is broken with the evening meal called Iftar.

An Apology

2008-09-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

An Apology Heartfelt reflections on the passing of a legendary Blackamerican Muslim leader On September 11th, 2008, while countless American flags whipped in the wind and the television and radio waves were dominated by remembrances, recordings, and stories about the terror attacks of seven years ago, I attended the funeral of Imam W.D. Mohammed (may God be pleased with him). For me, it was

Vogue’s Fashion Photos Spark Debate in India

2008-09-02T12:39:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI — An old woman missing her upper front teeth holds a child in rumpled clothes — who is wearing a Fendi bib (retail price, about $100).A family of three squeezes onto a motorbike for their daily commute, the mother riding without a helmet and sidesaddle in the traditional Indian way — except that she has a Hermès Birkin bag (usually more than $10,000, if you can find one) prominently

The Olympic Story We Never Heard...

2008-08-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

Samia Yusuf Omar is an athlete from Somalia who took part in the recently concluded Olympics in China. She was the slowest female runner in the 200 meter race, and although her Olympic experience might have only lasted 32 seconds, her story of her home, family, lifestyle conditions and experiences will have a lasting impression.———————————Samia Yusuf Omar headed back to Somalia Sunday, returning

The Darkest Hour and the Coming of the Dawn

2008-08-27T11:48:00.000-07:00

The darkest hour and the coming of the dawnBy: Yasmin MogahedAccording to a well-stated proverb, the darkest hour is just before the dawn. And although astronomically the darkest point is much earlier, the truth of this proverb is metaphoric—but in no way less real.So often we find that the darkest times in our lives are followed by the most precious. Often, it is at that moment when everything

What Secrets Are.

2008-08-24T21:42:00.000-07:00

---Email Message-----Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2008 5:37 PMSubject: What secrets are.I think that when we read other people's secrets in your books, on your blog, or at your events, we read a secret we didn't know we had or a new look on things and a greater understanding that we already have and it just takes someone else's story to have it awakened.We can look at people in the streets and see

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (Trailer 1)

2008-07-30T00:21:00.000-07:00

New Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince trailer is up!

The Girl Effect

2008-07-15T01:09:00.000-07:00

An Ideal Husband

2008-07-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

By MAUREEN DOWD Published: July 6, 2008 This weekend, we celebrate our great American pastime: messy celebrity divorces. There’s the Christie Brinkley/Peter Cook fireworks on Long Island and the Madonna/Guy Ritchie/A-Rod Roman candle in New York. So how do you avoid a relationship where you end up saying, “The man who I was living with, I just

Stolen Days in Israel

2008-06-24T13:42:00.000-07:00

Received this from a friend about her trip to Israel...May Allah give us all the strength to keep on persevering...Ameen!This is a long and mostly detailed rendition of what happened to me after my arrival in Tel Aviv. I would like to submit this information to the media and any NGOs or organizations that can use the information. By not doing anything I feel I will have more stolen from me. I

Muslim-American Women Speak Out About the Hymenoplasty Panic

2008-06-23T01:24:00.000-07:00

By Diana JouThere have been a lot of morally panicked responses to the New York Times article about those crazy rich Muslim women getting revirginified. I agree with those (Feministing, Jezebel, Slate) who have argued that the importance of virginity in society and especially in religion is not only misguided but dangerous, in that it has prompted violence against women. But I am also concerned

Pearls of Wisdom

2008-06-12T11:29:00.000-07:00

1. Our knowledge is wasted by not acting upon it.2. Our actions are wasted by committing them without sincerity.3. Our wealth is wasted for being spent on that which will not bring us any reward.4. Our hearts are wasted for being empty of the love of Allah Most High, and empty of longing to go to Him, and empty of peace and contentment.5. Our bodies are wasted for not being used mainly for Ibadah

Mabrook to my lovely Erum!

2008-05-27T00:35:00.001-07:00

"O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted." (49;13)Mabrook to my lovely Erum and Mohsin!

Reflection From a UC Berkeley Islamo-Jihadist

2008-05-21T09:55:00.000-07:00

Muslim Student Association Responds To Accusations of David HorowitzBy Bilaal AhmedMy name is Bilaal Ahmed, and I'm the former leader of your local jihadist organization, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) at UC Berkeley. I don't know if you noticed, but two weeks ago my cover was blown by a paid political advertisement in the Daily Cal from David Horowitz's Freedom Center, which revealed that

In the News Today...

2008-05-19T22:59:00.000-07:00

Today has been quite the newsworthy day, here are some of the headlines:-Supreme Court Upholds Child Pornography LawThe Supreme Court gave prosecutors a powerful tool Monday to attack the spread of child pornography online, ruling that people who send messages over the computer offering or seeking sexual images of children can be sent to prison, even when no such pornography exists.The 7-2 ruling

Peace. Love. Palestine.

2008-05-19T00:09:00.000-07:00

Last week's events were simply amazing. Alhamdulillah!For those of you who missed out on the lectures, video's have been posted as followed:feel free to check them out :)Palestine is the IssueBlood on Our Hands, American Involvement in the Israeli Palestinian ConflictGaza: Life in a CageRachael Corrie: The Spirit of SacrificeLife in Occupied Palestine OutdoorLife in Occupied Palestine IndoorThe

UCI Divestment Petition

2008-05-11T20:56:00.000-07:00

To: UCI Administration We, the undersigned, are appalled by the human rights abuses against Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli government, the continual military occupation and colonization of Palestinian territory by Israeli armed forces and settlers, the forcible eviction of Palestinians from their homes, and the demolition of Palestinian dwellings, neighborhoods and towns.We

Never Again? The Palestinian Holocaust

2008-05-11T13:46:00.001-07:00

May 14th, 2008 marks 60 years since the beginning of the Palestinian tragedy, commonly referred to by Palestinians as the Nakba (Catastrophe). 60 years of dispossession, statelessness, and ethnic cleansing have created the largest group of refugees in the world; has left thousands of innocent men, women and children dead; and has shattered the livelihood of millions of people facing the scourge

Young Video Makers Try to Alter Islam’s Face- The New York Times

2008-05-08T11:35:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES — When Ali Ardekani started fishing around on the Internet a couple of years ago for video blogs about Muslims, he did not like what he found: either the world’s 1.3 billion Muslims were depicted as bloodthirsty zealots, or they were offering defensive explanations as to why they were not.“Arabic sounds foreign and scary — you don’t know what is going on,” Mr. Ardekani said in an

Greetings from Guantanamo Bay ... and the sickest souvenir shop in the world

2008-05-07T14:25:00.000-07:00

The sands are white, the sea laps gently and crowds of bronzed Americans laze in the Caribbean sunshine.They have a cinema, a golf course and, naturally, a gift shop stocked with mugs, jaunty T-shirts and racks of postcards showing perfect sunsets and bright green iguanas.Only the barbed wire decoration, a recurring motif, hints at anything wrong.Welcome to "Taliban Towers" at Guantanamo Bay, the

Airtel: Express Yourself

2008-05-06T00:52:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love these two AirTel Commercials. AirTel, for those of you who don't know, is the largest cellular service provider in India. The tune is composed by AR Rahman. The second commercial, with the two boys literally played every 10 minutes on the television while I was in India over Winter.

Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?

2008-05-05T18:33:00.001-07:00

lol...Only Allah knows best!

Call My Lawyer ... in India

2008-05-02T02:06:00.000-07:00

Mark Alexander, a Dallas attorney, says he's ethically obligated to do what's best for his clients, "and that includes saving them money." So when one of them asks him to research a securities-fraud topic, for example, or breach of contract, he doesn't even think about applying his $395 hourly rate. Instead, he calls Atlas Legal Research, an outsourcing company based in Irving, Texas, that uses

Hungry. Why Wait? Waiting for Change!

2008-04-29T00:51:00.000-07:00

The Forgotten Hijab Ban

2008-04-27T12:28:00.000-07:00

By Guest Blogger Muslema PurmulI had the opportunity to meet some French sisters who are now here with me in Cairo, and we got to talking about the issue of Islam in Europe.It was actually really sad, hard to hold the tears as one sister (from Holland, convert to Islam) told her own story of how she would remove her scarf everyday when she entered work, so she would be left to wear only an

How I Feel...

2008-04-25T01:34:00.000-07:00

The Road Not Taken~Robert FrostTwo roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair,And having perhaps the better claim,Because it was grassy and wanted wear;Though as for that the passing thereHad worn them really about the same, And

Parable of Death

2008-04-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

A wise and saintly rich man, sensing his approaching death, called hisson to his side and gave him these instructions: "My son, I shall beleaving you very shortly. On the day when I die, and they have washedmy body and come to wrap it in the shroud, I want you to put one of mysocks on my foot. This is my final request of you."Soon after this, the old man did indeed die, leaving behind his

ABC Primetime: How Muslims are Treated in the US

2008-04-02T15:20:00.000-07:00

Where are we placed? Utopia. Dystopia.

2008-03-21T00:35:00.000-07:00

This is a really cool project on Utopias and Dystopias that one of my roommate's created for her Writing Class. I highly encourage all of you to take a look. "It is one thing to believe in a cause and learn about it, and it is another thing to take action for or against what one believes to be right or wrong. In our world today, we are torn between the ultimate utopia we dream to attain and the

Good Luck on Finals People...

2008-03-19T00:03:00.000-07:00

It's that lovely time of the quarter again... :) Du’aa for Studies اللَّهُمَّ اَلطُف ِبي تيسِير ِ كُلِّ عَسِير ٍ فَاِنَّ تيسِيرَ كُلِّ عَسِيرٍ عَلَيكَ يَسِير Allahumma altuf bi tayseeri kulli ‘asseerin Fa ‘inna tayseeri kulli ‘aseerin ‘alayka yaseer O Allah! Through Your special favor of kindness I ask that you ease for me any matter of difficulty; For indeed it is easy for You to make

The Beginning

2008-03-14T11:34:00.000-07:00

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the name of Allah , the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ [All] praise is [due] to Allah , Lord of the worlds - الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ It is You we