Bismillah, alhamdulillah : In the name of God, with hope and submission
I came across a well written article in the Guardian (Israel's onslaught on Gaza is a crime that cannot succeed) the following line highlights the perverse maths of Palestine:
"During the last seven years, 14 Israelis have been killed by mostly homemade rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, while more than 5,000 Palestinians were killed by Israel with some of the most advanced US-supplied armaments in the world."
I pray that God extinguishes the flames of war and reins in the dogs of war. The following verse of the Quran comes to mind and deserves reflection:
5:64 And the Jews say, "God's hand is shackled!" It is their own hands that are shackled; and rejected [by God] are they because of this their assertion. Nay, but wide are His hands stretched out: He dispenses [bounty] as He wills. But all that has been bestowed from on high upon thee [O Prophet] by thy Sustainer is bound to make many of them yet more stubborn in their overweening arrogance and in their denial of the truth. And so We have cast enmity and hatred among the followers of the Bible , [to last] until Resurrection Day; every time they light the fires of war, God extinguishes them ; and they labour hard to spread corruption on earth: and God does not -love the spreaders of corruption.
Tuesday 30 December 2008
Friday 26 December 2008
What is a WASP?
Bismillah, alhamdulillah : In the name of God, with gratitude and praise for Him
The Prophet Muhammad (S) made jokes with his Companions, but was careful never to tell lies when doing so and did not make this his natural disposition. In emulation of this Sunnah or practice and hopefully without falling into extremism in this arena I thought I would compile the various moments of mirth I have observed from time to time.
Listening to a programme on the BBC exploring cities that encourage immigration it was looking at one of the most successful cities in the world which happen to be in Canada. One of the experts on the programme illustrated the multi-ethnicity of the city by saying that the percentage of the WASPs was relatively low compared to the USA. I noted with mirth what the acronym stood for: White Anglo Saxon Protestants.
del.icio.us Tags: WASP - White Anglo Saxon Protestants,Canada v USA
Islamic studies in Jeddah
Bismillah, alhamdulillah : In the name of God, with gratitude and praise for Him
There are opportunities to listen to study Islam in Jeddah, but these are not as abundant as in other cities in the country and few well advertised opportunities exist in English. I have tried to list what I am aware of sources and places to learn in English and Arabic primarily. I have briefly touched upon Urdu. Where possible I have tried to clarify the location of places.
Minimising cost in dawah - Asterix opensource IVR
Bismillah, alhamdulillah : In the name of God, with gratitude and praise for Him
Many dawah organisations work on very tight budgets, perhaps even the money that comes from cookie and cake sales! Listening to the BBC I came across this very useful piece of opensource software for organisations who would like to set up an IVR (interactive Voice Response) system on the cheap. The software is being used by humanitarian organisations in Southern Africa. It is called Asterix and is available here.
What makes a good curriculum?
Bismillah, alhamdulillah : In the name of God, with gratitude and praise for Him
With the increasing use of the internet in education, what concerns me a lot are teachers who ask students to 'research' a particular topic on the internet. Initially it sounds quite impressive. But a few moments of thought and a few days of experience reveal two fundamental problems: time & security - this post dwells on the former.
With the increasing use of the internet in education, what concerns me a lot are teachers who ask students to 'research' a particular topic on the internet. Initially it sounds quite impressive. But a few moments of thought and a few days of experience reveal two fundamental problems: time & security - this post dwells on the former.
Friday 19 December 2008
Learning Arabic in Jeddah
Bismillah, alhamdulillah.
Learning the host language of a land you have come to helps your integration into that community. Learning Arabic can be quite a challenge to people coming to the Middle East, especially the Gulf. There are various challenges and this article describes my Jeddah experience with this:
Learning the host language of a land you have come to helps your integration into that community. Learning Arabic can be quite a challenge to people coming to the Middle East, especially the Gulf. There are various challenges and this article describes my Jeddah experience with this:
Decline of the Islamic calendar
Bismillah, alhamdulillah.
The two Islamic Eids usually witness a great deal of controversy over their precise dates. Proponents mainly in the West argue for the use astronomical calculations to determine the probability of visibility of the new crescent, which marks the beginning of the new month. The method chosen by the Saudi authorities is more simple and relies on the presence of witnesses whose testimony is accepted on oath by a judge. The process by which the Saudi authorities decide which sightings to accept or not is obscure. The lack of public scrutiny of this process only fuels the general suspicion that the process is subject to other factors.
Sunday 14 December 2008
The future of Muslims in the West
Bismillah, alhamdulillah
Where the future of Muslims in the West lies is a difficult question to answer but an important one to consider and plan for. I was rustling through my notes when I came across this conversation. I had made a note of it while sitting in a hospital waiting room a few seats away from an elderly white couple in the United Kingdom.
Man: "I went to see a young doctor, he was more like a plumber."
Where the future of Muslims in the West lies is a difficult question to answer but an important one to consider and plan for. I was rustling through my notes when I came across this conversation. I had made a note of it while sitting in a hospital waiting room a few seats away from an elderly white couple in the United Kingdom.
Man: "I went to see a young doctor, he was more like a plumber."
Friday 12 December 2008
The Hajj Trade Fair?
Bismillah alhamdulillah.
Driving back on the long road from the shores of the Arabian Gulf to the Red Sea I looked in amazement at the snaking convoy of cars that was stretching over 800 km. Cars laden with overhead luggage and coaches were passing one a second all the way from the outskirts of Riyadh to Makkah. Assuming an average of 5 passengers per vehicle in a period of 12 hours a million pilgrims had driven themselves away from Makkah. The press figures state that the total number of pilgrims this year were 3 million - a staggering figure. Somewhere between 30-60% of this 3 million are pilgrims from outside the Gulf area. This amazing gathering provides an opportunity for furthering links between the various parts of the Muslim world. One such link is trade.
Driving back on the long road from the shores of the Arabian Gulf to the Red Sea I looked in amazement at the snaking convoy of cars that was stretching over 800 km. Cars laden with overhead luggage and coaches were passing one a second all the way from the outskirts of Riyadh to Makkah. Assuming an average of 5 passengers per vehicle in a period of 12 hours a million pilgrims had driven themselves away from Makkah. The press figures state that the total number of pilgrims this year were 3 million - a staggering figure. Somewhere between 30-60% of this 3 million are pilgrims from outside the Gulf area. This amazing gathering provides an opportunity for furthering links between the various parts of the Muslim world. One such link is trade.
Saturday 6 December 2008
Hijrah - yes or no?
Bismillah, alhamdulillah
A verse in the Quran talks about emigrating or hijrah. Hijrah or emigration from non-Muslim lands to Muslim lands. This had been a topic of much conversation in Muslim circles around a decade ago especially in the West. The enthusiasm and zeal for this idea seems to have died down over the last few years as the reality of emigrating and its hardships has set in bolstered by counter arguments over the overall benefit of hijrah.
Hijrah is not as easy, palatable and in some circles not strictly relevant or a priority in the current climate. At times like this when the pendulum of discussion swings between 'yes' and 'no' the casual observer is lost in the complex mesh of argument and counter-argument. Is hijrah or emigrating an obligation, an obligation that cannot be met hence hence excused, or the opposite as hijrah can lead to worse consequences. The debate naturally occurs at a variety of levels from the scholastic to the common. At times like this contemplation of God's book is a vital source of strength:
A verse in the Quran talks about emigrating or hijrah. Hijrah or emigration from non-Muslim lands to Muslim lands. This had been a topic of much conversation in Muslim circles around a decade ago especially in the West. The enthusiasm and zeal for this idea seems to have died down over the last few years as the reality of emigrating and its hardships has set in bolstered by counter arguments over the overall benefit of hijrah.
Hijrah is not as easy, palatable and in some circles not strictly relevant or a priority in the current climate. At times like this when the pendulum of discussion swings between 'yes' and 'no' the casual observer is lost in the complex mesh of argument and counter-argument. Is hijrah or emigrating an obligation, an obligation that cannot be met hence hence excused, or the opposite as hijrah can lead to worse consequences. The debate naturally occurs at a variety of levels from the scholastic to the common. At times like this contemplation of God's book is a vital source of strength:
Lady Evelyn Cobbold - Muslim convert
Bismillah, alhamdulillah
I found this interesting story in the Saudi Gazette about an artistocratic Scottish lady convert in the late 1800's. She died as a Muslim at the age of 95 in 1963 having performed Hajj at the age of 65. She wrote a book called 'Pilgrimage to Makkah' which has been republished with the more attractive title "From Mayfair to Makkah" . She was buried at her Scottish Highlands estate in Wester Ross with an inscription of the Quran on her gravestone. The following quote describes her process of conversion:
I found this interesting story in the Saudi Gazette about an artistocratic Scottish lady convert in the late 1800's. She died as a Muslim at the age of 95 in 1963 having performed Hajj at the age of 65. She wrote a book called 'Pilgrimage to Makkah' which has been republished with the more attractive title "From Mayfair to Makkah" . She was buried at her Scottish Highlands estate in Wester Ross with an inscription of the Quran on her gravestone. The following quote describes her process of conversion:
Evelyn wrote in “Pilgrimage to Makkah” that she was often asked when and why she became a Muslim, but “I do not know the precise moment when the truth of Islam dawned on me. It seems that I have always been a Muslim.”
A perfect wife
Bismillah, alhamdulillah.
A perfect wife
A life without strife
Height compatible though a bit less
Allowing me to impress
Not fat, not thin
Just trim
Beautiful without compare
A harness for my wandering stare
Faith like the Everest
Shrouded by hijabs black and thickest
A wit and education
Coupled with frequent prayers and supplication
A mother of many
A defender of my house and every penny
As for me
I am as you see
Judge me not by my height
And in weight I am not very light
Homework my bane
Washing, hoovering all a pain
Kids are bawling
Mother, mother they are calling
Content to ask for all
Aah, as for me, what I offer is very small
Prayers and supplication wanting
Manners and etiquette awaiting
Bent ribs are my despair
Bent beyond repair
To the distance I turn my gaze
Only to find a misty haze
To the face on my wall I stare
As I realise the cause of my despair.
Found this on a withered old paper. The spidery writing on the page reminded me of a poem I had written in 1994 called `Perfect Wife`, inspired by conversations of those in search of her.
A perfect wife
A life without strife
Height compatible though a bit less
Allowing me to impress
Not fat, not thin
Just trim
Beautiful without compare
A harness for my wandering stare
Faith like the Everest
Shrouded by hijabs black and thickest
A wit and education
Coupled with frequent prayers and supplication
A mother of many
A defender of my house and every penny
As for me
I am as you see
Judge me not by my height
And in weight I am not very light
Homework my bane
Washing, hoovering all a pain
Kids are bawling
Mother, mother they are calling
Content to ask for all
Aah, as for me, what I offer is very small
Prayers and supplication wanting
Manners and etiquette awaiting
Bent ribs are my despair
Bent beyond repair
To the distance I turn my gaze
Only to find a misty haze
To the face on my wall I stare
As I realise the cause of my despair.
Found this on a withered old paper. The spidery writing on the page reminded me of a poem I had written in 1994 called `Perfect Wife`, inspired by conversations of those in search of her.
Call to prayer
Bismillah, alhamdulillah
Down I go in full flow, not fast not slow
Through the doors, into the outdoors
The call has come, for everyone
Past the puddle, I trundle
Date tree on my left, of dates bereft
Concrete street, under my feet
Passed Snow White, the clothes so bright
Cars hooting, as they pass driving
Bells ringing, cyclists whizzing
Right at the bins, full of tins
Guarded by cats, in this city of flats
Passed the meat shop, sad chickens awaiting the chop
Left at the chemist, passed the footballers I twist.
The green gates appear, as the world beings to disappear
The second call, reaches me at the wall
Through the simple door, onto the masjid floor
Hands rising, behind me the world is falling
I join my line, at the behest of the Sublime.
Inspired by my daily journey from my flat to the local masjid or mosque in a suburb of Cairo (2004)
Down I go in full flow, not fast not slow
Through the doors, into the outdoors
The call has come, for everyone
Past the puddle, I trundle
Date tree on my left, of dates bereft
Concrete street, under my feet
Passed Snow White, the clothes so bright
Cars hooting, as they pass driving
Bells ringing, cyclists whizzing
Right at the bins, full of tins
Guarded by cats, in this city of flats
Passed the meat shop, sad chickens awaiting the chop
Left at the chemist, passed the footballers I twist.
The green gates appear, as the world beings to disappear
The second call, reaches me at the wall
Through the simple door, onto the masjid floor
Hands rising, behind me the world is falling
I join my line, at the behest of the Sublime.
Inspired by my daily journey from my flat to the local masjid or mosque in a suburb of Cairo (2004)
Arabic dreams
Bismillah, alhamdulillah
Glittering world
Promises you hurl
False and broken
But covered and well spun
Like insects in dizzying pace
We rush to your embrace
To the source of your light
Its fiery embers lost to our sight
To a barren desert I run
To citadels of chaos and mayhem
Wonder you why?
What attracts my eye?
A drop of belief
Propels me to a reef
In this stormy ocean
Questing the eternal potion
There I know
Lies the elixir so
Covered in runes and reams
Of Arabic dreams
Keys to the hearts delight
If only you knew then you might
Join me in my journey
To The Subtle and His company
A poetic response to 'Why learn Arabic?' (2004)
Glittering world
Promises you hurl
False and broken
But covered and well spun
Like insects in dizzying pace
We rush to your embrace
To the source of your light
Its fiery embers lost to our sight
To a barren desert I run
To citadels of chaos and mayhem
Wonder you why?
What attracts my eye?
A drop of belief
Propels me to a reef
In this stormy ocean
Questing the eternal potion
There I know
Lies the elixir so
Covered in runes and reams
Of Arabic dreams
Keys to the hearts delight
If only you knew then you might
Join me in my journey
To The Subtle and His company
A poetic response to 'Why learn Arabic?' (2004)
Can you hear the sound?
Bismillah, alhamdulillah.
Metal birds soaring in the sky,
Featureless and droning on high,
As an afterthought they discharge their burden,
To the earth with death laden,
Can you hear the sound as they fall?
Past the buildings rising tall,
Onto brother and sister they hurtle,
Gifts wrapped in shiny metal,
Can you hear the sound as they fall?
Was it a scream or a cry in a blackened mall?
Their blood paints road and rail,
As bodies turn ghastly pale,
Can you hear the sound as they fall?
Drowned out by jaguars screaming their call,
Collateral is the name,
Warriors charging or children chanting, it`s all the same,
Can you hear the sound as they fall?
Perhaps a few words hidden and small,
In a maze of media, reports scatter,
Ten or a hundred does it matter?
Can you hear the sound as they fall?
Silence! They command in every hall,
Tears and cries are solely theirs,
Multiplied into a world of nightmares,
Can you hear the sound as they fall?
Is there only silence as we reach the wall?
Voices drowned and downed,
Among scattered ashes on the ground.
Can you hear the sound as they fall?
Is there any that will call?
Or lift a hand,
And make a stand?
On behalf of the silent ones (2005).
Metal birds soaring in the sky,
Featureless and droning on high,
As an afterthought they discharge their burden,
To the earth with death laden,
Can you hear the sound as they fall?
Past the buildings rising tall,
Onto brother and sister they hurtle,
Gifts wrapped in shiny metal,
Can you hear the sound as they fall?
Was it a scream or a cry in a blackened mall?
Their blood paints road and rail,
As bodies turn ghastly pale,
Can you hear the sound as they fall?
Drowned out by jaguars screaming their call,
Collateral is the name,
Warriors charging or children chanting, it`s all the same,
Can you hear the sound as they fall?
Perhaps a few words hidden and small,
In a maze of media, reports scatter,
Ten or a hundred does it matter?
Can you hear the sound as they fall?
Silence! They command in every hall,
Tears and cries are solely theirs,
Multiplied into a world of nightmares,
Can you hear the sound as they fall?
Is there only silence as we reach the wall?
Voices drowned and downed,
Among scattered ashes on the ground.
Can you hear the sound as they fall?
Is there any that will call?
Or lift a hand,
And make a stand?
On behalf of the silent ones (2005).
Tuesday 2 December 2008
Poem - Clocks on Walls
Bismillah, alhamdulillah
Clocks tick quietly on walls,
Waiting as His decree falls,
Eyes shed tears,
Hearts beat between hopes and fears.
Minds running through a maze,
Seeking light through the haze,
Reflections we begin to see,
As we learn what is empathy.
To Our Lord Most High and Merciful,
Supplications rise hopeful,
For our blessed Prophet we first pray,
Now understanding comes like the first break of day.
In every face of life,
He stands a guide for a world with tests rife,
Was it not his son Ibrahim?
A source of tears on a face so pristine.
O Allah on your blessed Prophet`s face,
We ask Your blessings and peace to grace,
Yesterday patience was knowledge,
Today in the practical world for it we forage.
To our Lord, Most High,
We turn, never questioning `Why?`
Gratitude we learn through His design,
Through it the fortuitous see the divine.
To beautiful hearts praying to the Knower of the Unseen,
May the angels bless your efforts with their aameen,
From destiny to destiny we flee,
Our hearts tipped with hope of our Lord`s Mercy.
Inspired by by the struggle of a small one (2005).
Clocks tick quietly on walls,
Waiting as His decree falls,
Eyes shed tears,
Hearts beat between hopes and fears.
Minds running through a maze,
Seeking light through the haze,
Reflections we begin to see,
As we learn what is empathy.
To Our Lord Most High and Merciful,
Supplications rise hopeful,
For our blessed Prophet we first pray,
Now understanding comes like the first break of day.
In every face of life,
He stands a guide for a world with tests rife,
Was it not his son Ibrahim?
A source of tears on a face so pristine.
O Allah on your blessed Prophet`s face,
We ask Your blessings and peace to grace,
Yesterday patience was knowledge,
Today in the practical world for it we forage.
To our Lord, Most High,
We turn, never questioning `Why?`
Gratitude we learn through His design,
Through it the fortuitous see the divine.
To beautiful hearts praying to the Knower of the Unseen,
May the angels bless your efforts with their aameen,
From destiny to destiny we flee,
Our hearts tipped with hope of our Lord`s Mercy.
Inspired by by the struggle of a small one (2005).
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