Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Saturday, September 05, 2009
My Review of Boppy Cotton Slipcover - Flutterby
This soft cotton slipcover for the Boppy® pillow is calming against baby's skin. (Boppy pillow sold separately.) Don't forget to dress up your Boppy® pillow with a couple of great Boppy® Slipcovers since multiple slipcovers make washing easy. And, all Boppy&...
Love the material and color!
Inaya Mississippi 9/5/2009
Pros: Durable, So cute, Colorful and Fun
Best Uses: Infants, Newborn
Describe Yourself: First Time Parent
We are expecting our first child literally any day now (as I type this, it is actually my due date!), and although we don't know the baby's gender (wanted it to be a surprise!), my husband thought that this cover was too cute to pass up! I love that it's made of soft jersey material, so it feels like a cozy, comfy t-shirt. It went on the Boppy very easily, so I don't think that there will be issues with difficulty when changing the cover. Stitching is very nice as well, and appears to be very well made.
I cannot wait to use this! I hope the baby likes it as much as we do! :)
Sunday, August 16, 2009
My Review of Chicco Lullaby Playard - Discovery
Chicco Lullaby Playard Discovery designed in Italy, the Lullaby is a fully-featured playard that is convenient for travel. The thickly padded, quilted mattress is perfect for naptime or playtime. The mattress covering is removable for easy machine washing. An elevated changing table is included,...
The Mobile is "mobile!" :)
Inaya Shujaat USA 8/16/2009
Pros: Sturdy Construction, Easy to Assemble, Visually Stimulating
Describe Yourself: First Time Parent
I would just like to say one thing: Most of the negative reviews here are in regards to the mobile. This was something that made me a bit leery before purchasing this playard. When my husband and I set it up (which by the way, is very easy to do!), we noticed that there are snaps on the side, in the middle of the bassinet section, not only in the four corners. We wondered why this was, and my husband guessed that perhaps you could snap the mobile this way as well.
Guess what? You can! And guess what else? If you do, then the mobile is NOT IN THE WAY. You can use the changing table without any problem, and you have amble room to place or remove your baby from the bassinet. We like it better this way, because it makes the mobile taller.
So, for those who are unhappy with the mobile, please try this. The mobile is "mobile." (meaning, that you can MOVE it).
By the way, we got the Fuego color scheme (from another retailer, since Babies-R-Us does not carry it). Babies-R-Us should really carry the Fuego line, because it is VERY NICE LOOKING!
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Palestine is NOT the only place where Muslims have suffered atrocities...
Asalaamu Alaikam,
It seems these days that it's quite "fashionable" to be an activist for Palestine. Plenty of people know of the sufferings going on there. Even some in the media do not sugar coat their reports, and show clearing what the Palestinian people are going through. But I would like to ask that people remember for a moment that Palestine is NOT the only place where Muslims have suffered atrocities. It is especially important that Muslims know that Muslims in other regions are suffering as well.
In the 1990s, there was a war in Bosnia, and thousands of Muslims were killed by their Christian Serb "neighbors." Mass graves were found, where the bodies of men and boys executed by the Serb Army had been dumped and covered over. Women and girls were raped and murdered by the Serbs. No respect was give to them in life or death. This was a mass genocide against a people simply because of the religion that the practiced.
And now let's talk about how much "practice" those Bosnian Muslims had been able to do. Under Soviet restrictions, Muslims were not allowed to practice their religion much at all. A whole generation grew up not knowing what being Muslim was all about. They didn't know how to pray, how to dress, how to behave. Emblems of their faith: prayer rugs, copies of Qurans, etc, were either destroyed by the Soviets or hidden away in trunks and left to time. Masjids were closed, and children received no Islamic training. Any outward display of their faith was cause for target by the Soviet enforcers. Over time, basically all they knew was that they were "Muslim," but apart from that, everything else was a mystery to them. All of this happened years before the Bosnian war.
So why were they targeted, if they were no longer practicing Islam? It was an ethnic war, drawn along "religious" lines. The Serbs (and Bosnian-Serbs) were Christians, and they resented that these "Muslims" were inhabiting what they considered their "homeland." Under the fanatical Slobodan Milosovic, the "ethnic cleansing" began. And the world, for the most part, looked away.
I was in high school at the time, and although I was not yet Muslim, I understood clearly why the "policemen of the world," aka, The United States of America, was not doing anything. The victims were a people who called themselves "Muslims," and the aggressors called themselves "Christians" (I say that they called themselves Muslim and Christian because the "Muslims" had no knowledge of their religion, and the "Christians" were obviously equally as ignorant, otherwise they would not have thought that killing their neighbors was a good and right thing to do). This was not a case of "Muslim terrorists" killing Westerners; had it been, the USA would have gotten in right away with their guns and tanks (didn't they just do that in the first Gulf War a year earlier??). Our "wonderful" President, Bill Clinton, was off in Africa, riding elephants and meeting leaders, while men, women, and children were being brutally slaughtered in Bosnia.
As I was not Muslim at the time (I reverted about a decade later), I do not know if there was much outcry from the Muslims. I do know that in looking back at articles and videos and the such that were made at the time, that it does appear that Muslims were alarmingly silent. People like Yusuf Islam took it upon themselves to try to spread the word and educate the world as to what was going on (Such actions resulted in him being investigated years later). Today, I can tell you that many Muslims seem to be quite ignorant to the sufferings of the Bosnian people. The refugees that fled to places like the UK and America, found themselves being criticized heavily by other Muslims for their ignorance of the religion. No one seemed to care much that there was a REASON that they didn't know hardly a thing at all about being Muslim, other than the fact that they were called "Muslim." They struggled to find their Muslim "identity" and Muslims were not much help.
Some years later, and after I had reverted, I was working as a cashier in a grocery store. One of the semi-regular customers was a woman who told me after some time that she was a Muslim from Bosnia. She had come to America before the war, with her husband, and had raised her children here. There was no way that I could tell by looking at her that she was Muslim; she wore shorts and tank tops, and I even saw her purchasing some pork once (many Muslims in Bosnia did not know a thing at all about the dietary restrictions of Islam, and often ate pork and drank alcohol). One day she brought an old man with her to the store, and although my line was very long, they got into it. When I finally got to them, the old man looked at me with a huge smile and said, "Asalaamu Alaikam." The woman explained to me that her father was visiting from Bosnia, and when she had told him about me (a Muslim woman in hijab), he insisted on going with her to to grocery store. He told her that he wanted to see a Muslim woman in a headscarf, because he had not seen one since he was a little boy. He didn't know English, and all he could say to me was salaamz. Through his daughter, he told me how very happy he was to see a Muslim woman in hijab. He literally had tears in his eyes while talking about how happy he was to see me! He also said how sorry he was that he could not talk to me, but was so glad that he could at least give me the salaamz.
I don't know how old he was, but I know that he had to be quite advanced in his years. His daughter was already somewhere in her 50s. I tried to imagine what this old man had been through, but could not begin to understand. His whole world had changed, and although he had grown up with a bit of Islam in his childhood, he had been forced to raise his children without any Islamic training, under Soviet rule. He stood there before me, frail and feeble, with a daughter who knew nothing of Islam, but at least could appreciate what it meant to her father to see a Muslim woman covering her hair. The woman told me later of how she really knew nothing of Islam.
It is easy for people to judge the Bosnians, and say things like, "well, they could have taught their children in secret," or, "you know, once they came to America (like this woman had), they should have started to seek out knowledge of Islam." It's not that easy, especially when you see people being persecuted for their beliefs. The Bosnian Muslims became isolated, and over time, forgotten. When they re-emerged, the damage had been done, and it had only taken one generation. Bosnian Muslims are now trying to reclaim their religion, and credit should be given to them. They should be supported, as well. Their story should serve as a reminder of the importance to fight for Islam, and to help Muslims in any way that we can.
Christians suffered persecution under Soviet rule just the same as Muslims did. The Soviets did not just have a problem with Islam, but with ALL religions. They saw religion as some sort of "competition" with Communism, and did all that they could to remove religion from the peoples' daily lives. But Christians got support from the global Christian community. Christian priests, pastors, and lay people were willing to go into Russia and help the Christians there hold onto their religion. They took great risks to ensure that the Bible was not forgotten, and that Christians did not become ignorant to their faith. Why did Muslims not do the same??
We should be ashamed that we allowed this to happen to our Bosnian brothers and sisters (and all of those other former-Soviet counties like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikstan, etc). While we were busy focusing on the Palestinian crisis, and acting as though that was the only crisis that Muslims were facing, Islam was being robbed from these people!
I am not discounting the suffering of the Palestinian people; I know and understand that they are going through some amazing atrocities, and have ever since Israel was created in 1948. What I am saying here is that we should not forget that there are other places in the world where Muslims have suffered. Palestine is but one place, and one group of people. There are others who need our attention and support as well. We must also remember that after the strife appears to be "over," these people still need our help. Bosnian Muslims are still struggling today, and need the support and understanding of their fellow Muslims.
If you know a Bosnian Muslim, and you see that he or she is not doing things exactly according to Islam, please don't judge them. If simply knowing that you do not have the right to judge, and that only Allah does (despite what those pesky Wahabbis may say!), then don't judge them out of an understanding of what hells they have been through. Islam was taken from them, and they are doing what they can to get it back. You should help them. If even you only know some tiny bit of information, pass it along to them. Teach them what you know. Make it up to them as much as you can that they were forgotten by the Ummah.
Don't just support Palestine. Support ALL MUSLIMS.
Asalaamu Alaikam,
It seems these days that it's quite "fashionable" to be an activist for Palestine. Plenty of people know of the sufferings going on there. Even some in the media do not sugar coat their reports, and show clearing what the Palestinian people are going through. But I would like to ask that people remember for a moment that Palestine is NOT the only place where Muslims have suffered atrocities. It is especially important that Muslims know that Muslims in other regions are suffering as well.
In the 1990s, there was a war in Bosnia, and thousands of Muslims were killed by their Christian Serb "neighbors." Mass graves were found, where the bodies of men and boys executed by the Serb Army had been dumped and covered over. Women and girls were raped and murdered by the Serbs. No respect was give to them in life or death. This was a mass genocide against a people simply because of the religion that the practiced.
And now let's talk about how much "practice" those Bosnian Muslims had been able to do. Under Soviet restrictions, Muslims were not allowed to practice their religion much at all. A whole generation grew up not knowing what being Muslim was all about. They didn't know how to pray, how to dress, how to behave. Emblems of their faith: prayer rugs, copies of Qurans, etc, were either destroyed by the Soviets or hidden away in trunks and left to time. Masjids were closed, and children received no Islamic training. Any outward display of their faith was cause for target by the Soviet enforcers. Over time, basically all they knew was that they were "Muslim," but apart from that, everything else was a mystery to them. All of this happened years before the Bosnian war.
So why were they targeted, if they were no longer practicing Islam? It was an ethnic war, drawn along "religious" lines. The Serbs (and Bosnian-Serbs) were Christians, and they resented that these "Muslims" were inhabiting what they considered their "homeland." Under the fanatical Slobodan Milosovic, the "ethnic cleansing" began. And the world, for the most part, looked away.
I was in high school at the time, and although I was not yet Muslim, I understood clearly why the "policemen of the world," aka, The United States of America, was not doing anything. The victims were a people who called themselves "Muslims," and the aggressors called themselves "Christians" (I say that they called themselves Muslim and Christian because the "Muslims" had no knowledge of their religion, and the "Christians" were obviously equally as ignorant, otherwise they would not have thought that killing their neighbors was a good and right thing to do). This was not a case of "Muslim terrorists" killing Westerners; had it been, the USA would have gotten in right away with their guns and tanks (didn't they just do that in the first Gulf War a year earlier??). Our "wonderful" President, Bill Clinton, was off in Africa, riding elephants and meeting leaders, while men, women, and children were being brutally slaughtered in Bosnia.
As I was not Muslim at the time (I reverted about a decade later), I do not know if there was much outcry from the Muslims. I do know that in looking back at articles and videos and the such that were made at the time, that it does appear that Muslims were alarmingly silent. People like Yusuf Islam took it upon themselves to try to spread the word and educate the world as to what was going on (Such actions resulted in him being investigated years later). Today, I can tell you that many Muslims seem to be quite ignorant to the sufferings of the Bosnian people. The refugees that fled to places like the UK and America, found themselves being criticized heavily by other Muslims for their ignorance of the religion. No one seemed to care much that there was a REASON that they didn't know hardly a thing at all about being Muslim, other than the fact that they were called "Muslim." They struggled to find their Muslim "identity" and Muslims were not much help.
Some years later, and after I had reverted, I was working as a cashier in a grocery store. One of the semi-regular customers was a woman who told me after some time that she was a Muslim from Bosnia. She had come to America before the war, with her husband, and had raised her children here. There was no way that I could tell by looking at her that she was Muslim; she wore shorts and tank tops, and I even saw her purchasing some pork once (many Muslims in Bosnia did not know a thing at all about the dietary restrictions of Islam, and often ate pork and drank alcohol). One day she brought an old man with her to the store, and although my line was very long, they got into it. When I finally got to them, the old man looked at me with a huge smile and said, "Asalaamu Alaikam." The woman explained to me that her father was visiting from Bosnia, and when she had told him about me (a Muslim woman in hijab), he insisted on going with her to to grocery store. He told her that he wanted to see a Muslim woman in a headscarf, because he had not seen one since he was a little boy. He didn't know English, and all he could say to me was salaamz. Through his daughter, he told me how very happy he was to see a Muslim woman in hijab. He literally had tears in his eyes while talking about how happy he was to see me! He also said how sorry he was that he could not talk to me, but was so glad that he could at least give me the salaamz.
I don't know how old he was, but I know that he had to be quite advanced in his years. His daughter was already somewhere in her 50s. I tried to imagine what this old man had been through, but could not begin to understand. His whole world had changed, and although he had grown up with a bit of Islam in his childhood, he had been forced to raise his children without any Islamic training, under Soviet rule. He stood there before me, frail and feeble, with a daughter who knew nothing of Islam, but at least could appreciate what it meant to her father to see a Muslim woman covering her hair. The woman told me later of how she really knew nothing of Islam.
It is easy for people to judge the Bosnians, and say things like, "well, they could have taught their children in secret," or, "you know, once they came to America (like this woman had), they should have started to seek out knowledge of Islam." It's not that easy, especially when you see people being persecuted for their beliefs. The Bosnian Muslims became isolated, and over time, forgotten. When they re-emerged, the damage had been done, and it had only taken one generation. Bosnian Muslims are now trying to reclaim their religion, and credit should be given to them. They should be supported, as well. Their story should serve as a reminder of the importance to fight for Islam, and to help Muslims in any way that we can.
Christians suffered persecution under Soviet rule just the same as Muslims did. The Soviets did not just have a problem with Islam, but with ALL religions. They saw religion as some sort of "competition" with Communism, and did all that they could to remove religion from the peoples' daily lives. But Christians got support from the global Christian community. Christian priests, pastors, and lay people were willing to go into Russia and help the Christians there hold onto their religion. They took great risks to ensure that the Bible was not forgotten, and that Christians did not become ignorant to their faith. Why did Muslims not do the same??
We should be ashamed that we allowed this to happen to our Bosnian brothers and sisters (and all of those other former-Soviet counties like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikstan, etc). While we were busy focusing on the Palestinian crisis, and acting as though that was the only crisis that Muslims were facing, Islam was being robbed from these people!
I am not discounting the suffering of the Palestinian people; I know and understand that they are going through some amazing atrocities, and have ever since Israel was created in 1948. What I am saying here is that we should not forget that there are other places in the world where Muslims have suffered. Palestine is but one place, and one group of people. There are others who need our attention and support as well. We must also remember that after the strife appears to be "over," these people still need our help. Bosnian Muslims are still struggling today, and need the support and understanding of their fellow Muslims.
If you know a Bosnian Muslim, and you see that he or she is not doing things exactly according to Islam, please don't judge them. If simply knowing that you do not have the right to judge, and that only Allah does (despite what those pesky Wahabbis may say!), then don't judge them out of an understanding of what hells they have been through. Islam was taken from them, and they are doing what they can to get it back. You should help them. If even you only know some tiny bit of information, pass it along to them. Teach them what you know. Make it up to them as much as you can that they were forgotten by the Ummah.
Don't just support Palestine. Support ALL MUSLIMS.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Some good words on hijabis!
Asalaamu Alaikam,
I found the following on SunniPath.com, and thought that I would share them.
This is an excerpt from a discussion on hijab, which can be found here.
Asalaamu Alaikam,
I found the following on SunniPath.com, and thought that I would share them.
Though it is fard for women to cover themselves, show me one practicing Muslim woman who is not only fighting her ego, but [also] practicing all 5 of the jihads mentioned above, by wearing her hijab in public. That is because everyone hates that, including shaitan, nafs, the fasiqeen, the kuffar and the munafiqeen. She is like the mujahid waving the flag of Islam high in the land of non-believers, in the land of shaitans and evil-doers. And though the shari'ah is not so strict asking men to wear Islamic clothes, nonetheless, in doing so, the women are doing a big and difficult jihad, better than men who have never fought, though the women have not fired one bullet! May Allah bless them and strengthen their himmah." Amin.
This is an excerpt from a discussion on hijab, which can be found here.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Just a reminder for us all.
Asalaamu Alaikam,
It seems that lying and backbiting goes unchecked, especially on the Internet, where people seem to have this illusion that what happens on here is not to ever be equated with "real life." It is very important for us all to remember that the Internet is "real life," and there should be no distinction between how we act on here as opposed to how we act when we are actually face to face with someone. Although you may not be looking at me right now, you should never doubt for a moment that I am a real live human being, typing these words on my computer. I do not doubt that you, too, are a real live human being as you sit there and read these same words, although I may never actually see you reading them. We are still obligated to treat each other with respect and dignity. We are also not permitted to lie or backbite about one another.
I have recently been the victim of a lie. Someone accused me wrongly of something, and I am disturbed by this. What disturbs me the most is that I am pretty sure that the person who lied about me was a person who acted as though they were a "friend." Although I do not know their motives behind the lying (and to be honest, it really doesn't matter; a lie is a lie, and a sin, no matter what the "motive" may be. There's no way around it.), I am wondering how they now feel about their actions. Do they feel as though they accomplished whatever goal they had in mind? Do they feel fulfilled in any way? Or, do they now feel guilty, and empty inside?
I cannot imagine that one could ever feel fulfilled after telling a lie against someone else. Deep inside, they must understand and recognize that they have committed a sin, and that has got to eat at them, if even a little. If one is not bothered by their false action, then I wonder what sort of person they are.....
Anyways, here's some reminders for us, taken from the Quran and Sunnah, about lying and backbiting:
And here's some reminders of why we must do all that we can when we see someone being victimized:
It is our duty, as Muslims, to ensure that people are not wrongly accused or attacked. When we do not do what we can to help someone being attacked, it is as though we have attacked them ourself.
Above all, we should always remember that nothing is ever hidden from Allah, and everything we do is recorded:
Asalaamu Alaikam,
It seems that lying and backbiting goes unchecked, especially on the Internet, where people seem to have this illusion that what happens on here is not to ever be equated with "real life." It is very important for us all to remember that the Internet is "real life," and there should be no distinction between how we act on here as opposed to how we act when we are actually face to face with someone. Although you may not be looking at me right now, you should never doubt for a moment that I am a real live human being, typing these words on my computer. I do not doubt that you, too, are a real live human being as you sit there and read these same words, although I may never actually see you reading them. We are still obligated to treat each other with respect and dignity. We are also not permitted to lie or backbite about one another.
I have recently been the victim of a lie. Someone accused me wrongly of something, and I am disturbed by this. What disturbs me the most is that I am pretty sure that the person who lied about me was a person who acted as though they were a "friend." Although I do not know their motives behind the lying (and to be honest, it really doesn't matter; a lie is a lie, and a sin, no matter what the "motive" may be. There's no way around it.), I am wondering how they now feel about their actions. Do they feel as though they accomplished whatever goal they had in mind? Do they feel fulfilled in any way? Or, do they now feel guilty, and empty inside?
I cannot imagine that one could ever feel fulfilled after telling a lie against someone else. Deep inside, they must understand and recognize that they have committed a sin, and that has got to eat at them, if even a little. If one is not bothered by their false action, then I wonder what sort of person they are.....
Anyways, here's some reminders for us, taken from the Quran and Sunnah, about lying and backbiting:
"O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, for some suspicions are a sin. Do not spy on one another, nor backbite one another. Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, you would abhor it, [so similarly, avoid backbiting]. And fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful." Qur'an, [49:12]
"Indeed, truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Heaven. And, a man [continues to] tell the truth, until he is recorded before Allah as a truthful one. And, indeed, lying leads to evil, and evil leads to Hell. And, a man [continues to] lie until he is recorded before Allah as a liar. [Bukhari, Muslim]
And here's some reminders of why we must do all that we can when we see someone being victimized:
"Whoever is present while a Muslim is humiliated before him, and is able to assist him [and yet does not], Allah will humiliate him before [all of] creation." [Ahmad in al-Musnad, 3/487; Suyuti in Al-Jami` As-Saghir, 2/510, #8375]
"Whoever protects a believer from a hypocrite, Allah will send to him an angel to protect him from the Fire of Hell on the Day of Arising. [Abu Dawud in al-Adab, 4/272, #4883]
"Whoever averts [an attack] from the honor of his brother, Allah will avert the fire from his face on the Day of Arising." [Tirmidhi (hasan)]
"Insulting a Muslim is impiety, and killing him is [a form of] unbelief." [Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi, Tabarani, Daraqutni.]
It is our duty, as Muslims, to ensure that people are not wrongly accused or attacked. When we do not do what we can to help someone being attacked, it is as though we have attacked them ourself.
Above all, we should always remember that nothing is ever hidden from Allah, and everything we do is recorded:
"He does not utter a [single] word, except that there is, with him, [an angel] ready and waiting [to record it]." Qur'an, [50:18]
Thursday, June 11, 2009
New Muslim Cool!
Asalaamu Alaikam,
On June 23rd, 2009, PBS will air the documentary New Muslim Cool. This is the story of a Puerto Rican revert by the name of Hamza Perez (he's also a rap artist, doing rap style nasheed). MashAllah, the film seems to be very well put together (based on the clips that I have seen), and I am very excited to see it, inshAllah!
I think films like this are crucial to the American Muslim identity. American Muslims do have a totally different identity from their immigrant counterparts, and it is important that this identity be embraced and celebrated. When a film like this comes out, it can really help to show the world (both Muslim and non-Muslim) that American Muslims are just like anyone else. We are normal people who live, work, love, dream, and die. We have ups and downs in our lives just like anyone else. We worship Allah, and we have figured out a way to integrate our upbringing into this deen in a way that works for us. We do not compromise our faith for our culture, but at the same time, we also do not turn our backs on our culture. We are who we are because of who we were.
Many times people from both sides (meaning non-Muslim Americans, and immigrant Muslims) criticize American Muslims. They say that we are not "American" and not "Muslim." To many, it seems to be an oxymoron; how can you be both American and Muslim at the same time?? It's not as hard as you think, folks.
So, I encourage that you check your local PBS listings for this documentary, and also take a look at the official website: www.newmuslimcool.com.
For your enjoyment, here's the trailer to the film:
Oh, and be sure to visit the section Get Involved. This is an awesome project, and we should all support it in any way possible.
MashAllah! New Muslim Cool!
Asalaamu Alaikam,
On June 23rd, 2009, PBS will air the documentary New Muslim Cool. This is the story of a Puerto Rican revert by the name of Hamza Perez (he's also a rap artist, doing rap style nasheed). MashAllah, the film seems to be very well put together (based on the clips that I have seen), and I am very excited to see it, inshAllah!
I think films like this are crucial to the American Muslim identity. American Muslims do have a totally different identity from their immigrant counterparts, and it is important that this identity be embraced and celebrated. When a film like this comes out, it can really help to show the world (both Muslim and non-Muslim) that American Muslims are just like anyone else. We are normal people who live, work, love, dream, and die. We have ups and downs in our lives just like anyone else. We worship Allah, and we have figured out a way to integrate our upbringing into this deen in a way that works for us. We do not compromise our faith for our culture, but at the same time, we also do not turn our backs on our culture. We are who we are because of who we were.
Many times people from both sides (meaning non-Muslim Americans, and immigrant Muslims) criticize American Muslims. They say that we are not "American" and not "Muslim." To many, it seems to be an oxymoron; how can you be both American and Muslim at the same time?? It's not as hard as you think, folks.
So, I encourage that you check your local PBS listings for this documentary, and also take a look at the official website: www.newmuslimcool.com.
For your enjoyment, here's the trailer to the film:
Oh, and be sure to visit the section Get Involved. This is an awesome project, and we should all support it in any way possible.
MashAllah! New Muslim Cool!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
So why did I suddenly decide to "save my cool signatures?" Well, let me tell you.....
Asalaamu Alaikam,
Muslim Mom's Cafe (MMC) has been up to its usual bag of tricks again, with yours truly as the target. Someone decide that it would be a nice thing if they contacted the "Admin" and tell her that I was sending them harassing private messages. This is simply preposterous as I don't private message people, let alone harass them! Whoever told the lie knows who they are. They will have to face up to what they have done, and that's all I will say about that.
The MMC decided to add a "rule" to their list of dubious rules (which she decides to enforce and ignore randomly) which prohibits anyone from "defaming MMC." Um, excuse me, but I think MMC does a pretty good job of its own defaming MMC. The fact that the place is running rampant with extremists who want to shove their doctrines down everyone's throat does a pretty good job of defaming the place. It doesn't take long to see that the forum lacks any real creditability.
When MMC confronted me about my blog posts that were revealing the truth about MMC (and warning innocent mainstream moderately minded Muslims why they should stay away), I refused to be censored, and boldly stated that I will not be censored. I believe in the freedom of speech for all (yeah, even those whack-job Wahabbis deserve to have their say, but they should respect that in having their right, they should in turn give the same right to others, which is why I have an issue with them. Wahabbis believe in censoring everyone but themselves). I do not live in a repressive regime, or a country where only one "brand" of Islam will be tolerated. I live in America, and I love the fact that by living here, I have certain rights. My internet is not censored, with websites that do not go in line with the government being blocked. I can look at anything I want, and say anything that I want.
I will not be silenced by MMC or anyone else. I was a victim of that forum, and I have the right to tell people about my experience. I also have the right to let them know that the same experience on MMC can be felt in any Wahabbi masjid across the world. Just dare to stand up and tell them that you do not agree with their extreme views of Islam. Dare to give "another" perspective on the issue. Dare to challenge their so-called "scholars" (some of which were never educated in Islamic jurisprudence and history).
There are a few very good moderate sisters on MMC who are trying to stick with it and change the tide. Unfortunately, I don't think that will happen any time soon, and eventually they may find that they are also banned. My advice to them: never give up on what you believe to be the truth. If you believe that Islam is a religion of peace and beauty, and that Allah is truly merciful and gracious, then stand up for what you believe. Don't ever let the oppressive bullies make you doubt your beliefs. You are on the right path, sisters, and they are not. Sure they will cause you emotional harm, and call you names, and try to belittle you in front of your friends. But think about the alternative. If you follow them, or you fail to stand up against them and allow them to mislead others, the pain will be much worse. Theirs is the way of misguidance and confusion.
They are lashing out at me because they are afraid that I will turn people away from them. They only have power if they hold people's attention, and get people to do the things that they do. They will lie to you about all aspects of being a Muslim. They will tell you "this is bidah," or "that is bidah," when they themselves are practicing wholesale bidah (the fact that they have introduced certain things to salat is a bidah, but they present it as a "sunnah").
I will talk more about this later, inshAllah. I will give links to sites from mainstream accepted scholars and students of Islam which dispel the Wahabbi bidah. I will also start listing those "scholars" and authors that Wahabbis like to use and quote, so to serve as a warning to all. They will tell you to buy this book by that author, in an attempt to get you to learn their views on a given subject. They will only quote from that book or that author, and you should be aware of this. An alarm should go off in your head any time you hear these names of "scholars."
May Allah protect us from the innovators, and keep us on the right path of Islam, the path of reason, and the path of love and compassion for our fellow Muslims and mankind. Ameen.
Asalaamu Alaikam,
Muslim Mom's Cafe (MMC) has been up to its usual bag of tricks again, with yours truly as the target. Someone decide that it would be a nice thing if they contacted the "Admin" and tell her that I was sending them harassing private messages. This is simply preposterous as I don't private message people, let alone harass them! Whoever told the lie knows who they are. They will have to face up to what they have done, and that's all I will say about that.
The MMC decided to add a "rule" to their list of dubious rules (which she decides to enforce and ignore randomly) which prohibits anyone from "defaming MMC." Um, excuse me, but I think MMC does a pretty good job of its own defaming MMC. The fact that the place is running rampant with extremists who want to shove their doctrines down everyone's throat does a pretty good job of defaming the place. It doesn't take long to see that the forum lacks any real creditability.
When MMC confronted me about my blog posts that were revealing the truth about MMC (and warning innocent mainstream moderately minded Muslims why they should stay away), I refused to be censored, and boldly stated that I will not be censored. I believe in the freedom of speech for all (yeah, even those whack-job Wahabbis deserve to have their say, but they should respect that in having their right, they should in turn give the same right to others, which is why I have an issue with them. Wahabbis believe in censoring everyone but themselves). I do not live in a repressive regime, or a country where only one "brand" of Islam will be tolerated. I live in America, and I love the fact that by living here, I have certain rights. My internet is not censored, with websites that do not go in line with the government being blocked. I can look at anything I want, and say anything that I want.
I will not be silenced by MMC or anyone else. I was a victim of that forum, and I have the right to tell people about my experience. I also have the right to let them know that the same experience on MMC can be felt in any Wahabbi masjid across the world. Just dare to stand up and tell them that you do not agree with their extreme views of Islam. Dare to give "another" perspective on the issue. Dare to challenge their so-called "scholars" (some of which were never educated in Islamic jurisprudence and history).
There are a few very good moderate sisters on MMC who are trying to stick with it and change the tide. Unfortunately, I don't think that will happen any time soon, and eventually they may find that they are also banned. My advice to them: never give up on what you believe to be the truth. If you believe that Islam is a religion of peace and beauty, and that Allah is truly merciful and gracious, then stand up for what you believe. Don't ever let the oppressive bullies make you doubt your beliefs. You are on the right path, sisters, and they are not. Sure they will cause you emotional harm, and call you names, and try to belittle you in front of your friends. But think about the alternative. If you follow them, or you fail to stand up against them and allow them to mislead others, the pain will be much worse. Theirs is the way of misguidance and confusion.
They are lashing out at me because they are afraid that I will turn people away from them. They only have power if they hold people's attention, and get people to do the things that they do. They will lie to you about all aspects of being a Muslim. They will tell you "this is bidah," or "that is bidah," when they themselves are practicing wholesale bidah (the fact that they have introduced certain things to salat is a bidah, but they present it as a "sunnah").
I will talk more about this later, inshAllah. I will give links to sites from mainstream accepted scholars and students of Islam which dispel the Wahabbi bidah. I will also start listing those "scholars" and authors that Wahabbis like to use and quote, so to serve as a warning to all. They will tell you to buy this book by that author, in an attempt to get you to learn their views on a given subject. They will only quote from that book or that author, and you should be aware of this. An alarm should go off in your head any time you hear these names of "scholars."
May Allah protect us from the innovators, and keep us on the right path of Islam, the path of reason, and the path of love and compassion for our fellow Muslims and mankind. Ameen.
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