Father: What do you think of Abu-G (Dad) travelling so much?
Umar (aged six): It’s okay… you are teaching about Islam…. [Umar starts thinking about something]
Father: Umar-g, what are you thinking?
Umar: Well, I’m thinking that you should also teach non-Muslims… If you teach Muslims about Islam, they’ll become better Muslims… but if you teach non-Muslims, they may become Muslim…
The things kids teach us…
A desire to rescue secular America from fallen grace has driven conservative evangelicals at least since the 1970s, when Jerry Falwell formed the Moral Majority as a vehicle for conservative Christians to muscle their way into national politics. In “God’s Harvard,” Hanna Rosin finds Patrick Henry College an ideal case study for what happens when fundamentalist faith and political action are combined. It’s a pool of ambitious and religiously ardent college students expressly groomed to take their beliefs into the public arena. The book is revealing and often insightful but ultimately stands as a journalistic survey rather than a gripping story that might deepen our understanding of its central characters, their motivations and the life conflicts they attempt to navigate.
Guardian Unlimited: Arts blog - books: The unjust prejudice against Conrad
The idea that the author of Heart of Darkness was a racist is as simplistic as he was subtle
Islamica Magazine - Rami Nashashibi — The Activist
It’s 6 a.m. and a chartered bus waits outside the office of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN). A troupe of sleepy-eyed Chicagoans spanning all ages and ethnicities file onto the bus and are welcomed by an energetic voice. The journey is to Springfield, Illinois. The reason: alternative sentencing for low-level, nonviolent drug offenders. It is part of a greater effort led by IMAN to make activism and the plight of America’s poor a natural concern of American Muslims. And the voice belongs to IMAN’s intrepid executive director, Rami Nashashibi. Nashashibi exudes charisma, which is rooted in his vibrant and visible passion for his faith. Nashashibi came to Chicago for college, receiving his undergraduate degree from DePaul University. There, he saw parallels in unlikely places: between the African American civil rights movement and the Palestinian struggle for freedom, between Islamic imperatives and activism, and between the priorities of the immigrant and indigenous Muslim communities of America. Nashashibi and a dedicated team founded IMAN in 1995. He helped shape IMAN’s vision through his study of the life of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. In particular he reflected on how the Prophet’s service to the poor could be emulated in downtown Chicago.
I had the joy of meeting Sidi Rami Nashashibi in London (England), in some events we spoke in together as part of the Radical Middle Way project. Amazing guy…
Women Traveling to Seeking Sacred Knowledge - YouTube
Answered by Faraz Rabbani & Noura Shamma
Part One: Faraz Rabbani
Part Two: Noura Shamma
ReflectOnThis: “The Monthly Word” Series of Habib Umar
I have created a new category on this blog called “The Monthly Word of Habib Umar”
in which I will be translating the noble words of a beloved descendant
of the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him and his family), Habib Umar bin Muhammad bin Salim bin Hafiz, Director of Dar al-Mustafa for the Islamic Sciences (in Tarim, Yemen).The source from which I will be translating can be found here: http://www.alhabibomar.com/browse.php?cats=6
Tonight I will be offering the first translation: The Monthly Word of Habib Umar for the month of Dhul-Qa’dah 1428.
Download monthly_word_dhulqadah.pdf
Sincerely your brother and servant,
khalil abu asmaa
How to Save Mother Earth Without Breaking the Bank
By acting quickly, the US could cap greenhouse gas emissions with little sacrifice. Businesses and consumers must shift to using energy-efficient and pollution-reducing measures, suggests Marc Gunther for Fortune magazine, while alternative energy sources and innovation would also contribute to reductions. The strategy will work only if the society puts in a collective effort, according to the consulting firm McKinsey & Co. The report does not endorse specific legislative changes, but stresses the need for immediate, aggressive and coordinated action from government and firms. Reductions could actually end up saving money by conserving energy. The report urged consumers and businesses to focus on energy savings when purchasing any goods. Energy savings often more than make up for any extra cost that accompanies high quality, fuel-efficient items. Dawdling on climate change, focusing on short-term bargains, only increases costs over the long term. – YaleGlobal
TheStar.com | Books | Who is the `other Shakespeare’?
A contemporary who excelled at bawdy comedies and gory tragedies alike, Thomas Middleton is about to be `inserted into modern culture’
“Every now and then, something incredible happens and here it is” ubernutritionist and What to Eat
author Marion Nestle wrote recently. Nestle was referring to the altogether surprising news that the George W. Bush Administration had appointed
Brian Wansink, a professor of marketing at Cornell University, to head
the US Department of Agriculture’s Center for Nutrition Policy and
Promotion, the branch of the USDA that’s responsible for dispensing
dietary advice to the American public.Wansink is the author of the book Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think
— a groundbreaking work on the psychology of eating. Both in his book and on his excellent web site,
Wansink takes a tough look at the psychological reasons people,
particularly Americans, overeat. His work has linked social factors
that influence how we eat, and how much, to the epidemic of obesity in
the US and around the world. His work has been credited with prompting
the advent of 100-calorie snack packs, which food manufacturers
initially opposed because they believed consumers wouldn’t buy them.Among Wansink’s fascinating conclusions about the macro-food environment:
- The larger the serving dish and the greater the variety of
foods on the table, the more food people serve themselves. With snacks,
for example, people took 50 percent more food if it was served from a
large bowl instead of a small one. In one of the most fascinating
examples of this principle, researchers served a free soup lunch to 54
adults. Half were given soup in normal 18-ounce bowls; the other half
received bowls that, unbeknownst to them, were attached by tubing to a
vat of soup that constantly replenished the soup in the bowl. Those who
had the refilling bowls at 73 percent more soup and reported feeling no
more full than those whose soup came in regular bowls.- In virtually every case studied, people who bought bulk
packages of food from discount clubs like Sam’s or Costco had eaten
half of what they bought within a week after buying it. That was true
whether the item in question was a five-pound tub of pretzels or a
32-pack of Fritos corn chips.- In another experiment cited in the book, Wansink and his
grad students handed out stale, five-day-old popcorn to moviegoers,
using medium- and large-size buckets. Despite some complaints about the
quality of the stale corn, those who received larger buckets ate more
popcorn than those who were given smaller containers.- In what he has dubbed the “McSubway study,” Wansink found
that people were more likely to overconsume at restaurants they
perceived as “healthy” (a Subway, for example, as opposed to a
McDonalds) — and less likely to be aware they were doing so. In fact,
people tended to underestimate the number of calories in food at
“healthy” fast-food restaurants by an average of 35 percent.In addition to his book, Wansink has issued the National Mindless Eating Challenge,
encouraging and supporting people in making small changes that lead to
eating more mindfully, as well as monitoring the results.The food industry, as Ethicurean points out,
is a force to be reckoned with. In the US, food companies spend tens of
billions of dollars on advertising and marketing every year; the USDA’s
budget for nutrition policy and promotion, in contrast, is a mere $300
million. Wansink’s duties at the Center for Nutrition Policy and
Promotion will include revamping the national 2010 Dietary Guidelines
and the Food Pyramid,
a contested guide that is supposed to help Americans make good dietary
choices. But if anybody’s up to this task, it’s Wansink, a dietary
crusader who has dedicated his career to promoting better nutrition and
healthier attitudes toward food.Food industry, take heed: There’s a new sheriff in town.
On The States And Trials On The Way To Deliverance - Sayyidi Ahmad Ibn Ajiba
Know - may God have me, and you, understand what the pathway of His friends is, and may He have me, and you, take the path of the pure! -that the way must necessarily entail a break from one’s habits (harq al-’awâ`id), the acquisition of valuable traits (iktisâb al-fawâ`id), and struggle against individualist tendencies (ijtihâd al-nufûs), so that you might enter into the Holy Presence.
“How is a break with habits going to take place for you if you can not manage to break the habits of your soul?” “If there were no domains of souls (mayâdîn al-nufûs), no traveler would make the voyage.”
The men of the elite are only distingulshed from normal men by the battle they wage against their individual soul. The most tenacious of the habits that must be torn away from the soul are [love of] glory and [of] wealth, such that glory is changed into humility and wealth into poverty. Humility and poverty are two monumental doors for gaining access to God and attaining His Presence.
Abû Yazîd, via an interior voice, was addressed by God in the following words: “O Abû Yazîd! Our stores are filled with acts of obedience (khidma); come to Me through the small door of humility and dependence (iftiqâr)!” …
quoted from: The Autobiography of a Moroccan Soufi: Ahmad Ibn `Ajiba;
ed. Jean-Louis Michon; Fons Vitae; usa;
Sesame Street: not suitable for children | Experts | Life and Health
Thrillingly, the early episodes of Sesame Street have just been released on DVD, but be warned - those shows are dangerous! Slapped across the front of the case is the message, “These early Sesame Street episodes are intended for grown-ups, and may not suit the needs of today’s preschool child.” And looking at the wobbly sets and be-stringed puppets, they probably are better suited to sentimental adults than kids raised on Pixar. But this sticker is an expression of concern.
Comment is free: The happiest day of your life
Our culture is addicted to an adolescent belief that marriage is a bad thing, but quite the opposite is true - it can set you free.
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Olmert warns of ‘end of Israel’
Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said failure to negotiate a two-state solution with the Palestinians would spell the end of the State of Israel.He warned of a “South African-style struggle” which Israel would lose if a Palestinian state was not established.
Islamic Center at NYU - Chaplain
The following short film by Sarah Nasr sheds insight into the rising role of Muslim Chaplains within American institutions.
Faraz Rabbani - The Most Beautiful Ninety-Nine: Appreciating Allah’s Attributes | Halal Tube
Faraz Rabbani - The Most Beautiful Ninety-Nine: Appreciating Allah’s Attributes from Mujahideen Ryder (recorded with only indirect, implicit permission and much cheek) on Vimeo.
Mere Islam: Yet Another Gem by Sherman Jackson
Professor Sherman A. Jackson (Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Visiting Professor of Law, The University of Michigan. Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania; M.A. University of Pennsylvania; B.A., University of Pennsylvania) has produced yet another piece of intellectual fruit to be savored:
Literalism, Empiricism, And Induction:
Apprehending And Concretizing Islamic Law’s
Maqâsid Al-Sharî’ah In The Modern World
by Sherman A. Jackson
Just like the introduction to his translation of Imam al-Ghazali’s Faysal al Tafriqa, entitled On the Boundaries of Theological Tolerance in Islam in English, and his rebuttal to Khaled Abou El Fadl in his essay entitled Islam(s) East and West: Pluralism between No-Frills and Designer Fundamentalism (published in September 11 in History: A Watershed Moment?), this short paper is also chock-full of wisdom. As usual, the synthesis is amazing, as is the light that he sheds, from an Islamic perspective, on oft-overlooked points.
For those who haven’t read On the Boundaries of Theological Tolerance in Islam, well please know that the world would be a much better place if every Muslim read and reflected upon this small tome. Likewise, if you’re looking for a vision on where Islam in America should be going and how to fix some of the major problems that Muslims face in this country, look no further than Dr. Jackson’s Islam and the Blackamerican: Looking toward the Third Resurrection…but don’t forget to read the article. Although the latter book discusses the history and dynamics of “Blackamerican” religion, the advice Professor Jackson gives very much applies to Muslims of all backgrounds.
To Muslim Girls, Scouts Offer a Chance to Fit In - New York Times
Scattered Muslim communities across the United States are forming Girl Scout troops as a sort of assimilation tool to help girls who often feel alienated from the mainstream culture, and to give Muslims a neighborly aura. Boy Scout troops are organized with the same inspiration, but often the leap for girls is greater because many come from conservative cultures that frown upon their participating in public physical activity.
MotherJones Blog: Romney Digs Himself Deeper on “No Muslims” Statement
Mitt Romney recently said that he would not have any Muslims in his
cabinet because their population in the United States isn’t large
enough. His exact words were: “…based on the numbers of American
Muslims [as a percentage] in our population, I cannot see that a
cabinet position would be justified. But of course, I would imagine
that Muslims could serve at lower levels of my administration.” The
various idiocies of that statement were previously discussed on
MoJoBlog here.
FT.com / Home UK / UK - Deloitte ‘first’ with Shariah scholar post
Deloitte has appointed Mufti Hassan Kaleem, a pupil of Sheikh Mohammed Taqi Usmani…. Mr Kaleem will work in a consultative capacity for Deloitte. He also works for Al Baraka Bank in Pakistan, a big Islamic bank. “I was looking for different work with different exposure,” said Mr Kaleem. “Here, I will be having experience of work from tax problems, there will be structured finance problems, maybe government and institutional issues too.”
Mufti Hassan Kaleem is a brilliant young scholar and a remarkable person. May Allah grant him every success.
Howstuffworks “How Google Earth Works”
Most of us have been using one online mapping program or another for years now. They’re a godsend for those of us who get lost within a 3-mile radius of our homes, and they’re just plain fun for people who enjoy figuring out where stuff is. With this in mind, imagine how amazing Google Earth must be for it to elicit awe from the online community and cause South Korea to demand changes to the program.
NPR : Author: ‘The Best Sex of My Life’
Dr. Lindsay Marsh says it’s worth waiting until marriage to engage in sexual activity. A virgin, Marsh urges abstinence for the sake of both health and spirit and advises men and women to avoid masturbation. She runs the program “Worth The Wait,” which promotes abstinence.Dr. Marsh discusses her book, The Best Sex of My Life: A guide to Purity.
Global warming will have ‘most severe’ effect on world’s poor: UN report
Wealthy countries must provide at least $86 billion US to the world’s poor by 2015 to help them cope with the floods, droughts, disease and other negative effects from global warming, a new UN report says.“Ultimately, climate change is a threat to humanity as a whole, but it is the poor … who face the immediate and most severe human costs,” Kemal Dervis of the UN Development Programme said in a press release.
Shaykh Abdalla Idris Ali’s mother passed away in Sudan - Please make du’a and share the sad news with others
From an email sent out by Sidi Altaf Husain:
As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wabarakatuhPlease remember Shaikh Abdalla Idris ‘Ali and his family in your du’a as we have just learned that Shaikh Abdalla’s mother has passed away in Sudan. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raj’iun.
I would like to provide some context as to how profound this loss is for our beloved Shaikh.
Shaikh Abdalla has sacrificed his time, energy, wealth and talents to serve the Muslim community in North America and around the world. In part due to his public and sustained involvement in Muslim affairs, there was greater scrutiny into his application for residency when he moved from Canada to the United States. As the immigration paperwork was delayed unnecessarily for an unbearable length of time, Shaikh Abdalla was kept from traveling outside the United States. Subhanallah, in one of my interactions with him during a conference recently, he lamented at not being able to travel to see his mother. Indeed, his own daughter’s wedding was also delayed due to the delay in processing the paperwork. Alhamdulillah, earlier this year, the paperwork was processed and Shaikh Abdalla immediately made plans to travel to Sudan during the summer to see his mother. Despite being like a grandfather to so many of us and a father to many of us, he was unable to contain his boyish excitement at the chance to be in the company of his mother after such a long time. Little did he or anyone else know that indeed that long awaited reunion with his mother would indeed be his last meeting with her.
He has reminded all of us to love our parents, and for parents to love their children. He has given countless lectures on the importance of the family in Islam. Today, please take a minute to make du’a to Allah to grant solace and comfort to Shaikh Abdalla, his wife, and their children. Make du’a to Allah to enter his mother into paradise and to make any suffering she experienced prior to her death, an expiation for her sins. Ameen ya rabbil alameen.
Was-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wabarakatuh
Your brother in Islam,
Altaf Husain
BBC NEWS | Programmes | From Our Own Correspondent | How to take a holiday in Pakistan
Suicide bombs, battles in tribal areas, and states of emergency tend to put off casual tourists. But the impression such events convey can often be misleading and unrepresentative of a country as a whole.
