Happy Eid

From super devoika to all the Muslims around the globe... with love... Enjoy your sweets... =)

Dear Muslims!

Dear Muslims... STOP defending yourselves...

You don't have to eat in McDonald's...
You don't have to wear Gucci sunglasses with your hijab...
You don't have to keep telling others that Islam comes from the word Salam meaning peace...
You don't have to brag about reading the whole Harry Potter collection... In English!!
You don't have to makes jokes about the wahabiees, the talibanees, the salfiees or whateverees...

You don't have to pretend being moderate to anyone's taste...

STOP trying so hard to impress... And please stop trying so hard to show that Islam and Modern lifestyle can come together...

You owe no one any explanations!!! If people are ignorant it's their problem not yours!!

Happy Eid...

Tomorrow Most Muslims around the world will be celebrating their Eid... and for all of those who managed to live Ramadan truly... I say Happy Eid... and May you be showered with more of God's grace, love, peace and blessings...




And yeah... Enjoy the ma3mool season... =)

Ramadan 2010

More of these stunning photos here at the Boston Globe

hat tip to Shabana...

Mohammad Walks!

	Lupe Fiasco .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Mohammad Walks, Lupe Fiasco

You have your religion and I have mine...

There is a person I come to know at work that I've been told that refuses to hire girls if they wear the veil. For this person wearing the veil is equal to close mindedness or maybe a sign of oppression or backwardness. On the other hand there is another person who was a potential employer of me... but when he told me that I fit in his company because I'm wearing the veil... I immediately declined the job offer.

In the society you'll find people with and people against...
Now some people who are fasting the month of Ramadan condemn those who don't [referring only to Muslims]... And the other way around...

I'm reading in the-now-popular-book [A New Earth]... - which I don't fully agree with the author's views- and the author says that for a human to feel right he/she has to make someone else wrong. And he says that this is the act of the Ego which we should get rid of. He says that we should accept that there is the Ultimate Truth but we shouldn't claim it as our own... or as our own only... that all religions are equally right and equally wrong...

Putting these ideas next to my earlier observations... I wondered what is the stand to be taken by myself as an individual who believe in what she thinks, does and acts upon...

Then I remembered one of the early Chapters of Quran that we learnt in primary school... it is Chapter 109. This Chapter includes an order from God to Prophet Mohammed as to how he should address those who disbelieve-in God, His Oneness, His Messengers, His Angles, His Books and the Day of Judgment-. God told Mohammed PBUH that he should tell them that he doesn't worship what they worship nor do they worship what he worships... and the bottom line is that [You have your religion and I have mine]...

In this statement you don't condemn the other... you identify them as being different than you and maybe against your own beliefs... but still you grant them their way and grant yourself your way...

This is such a great concept -when used properly-... because you don't decline yourself or I dare say your ego the belief of being right and still you don't hate/discriminate others for being "according to you" on the wrong... You just want each party to be and choose whatever way they want.

I think that any person who chooses to believe or disbelieve in anything does that on a strong conviction. And for that reason their whole being, way of life and ideologies become based on that core belief. And if you think that what you believe is right... then by logic what goes completely against it is wrong.
Having said that I don't think that for everything in life there is only one way of doing things or of thinking about thaem... and for those types of things there can be many rights and many wrongs...
Also the criteria to deal with people on a day to day basis should'nt be in refernece to what they believe in... - or in some cases only in reference to that... -

To sum it up... I think that my stand will be simply to let other people have their own way... and expect from them to let me have mine...
What I believe in, think about, and act upon is Mine...
What you believe in, think about and act upon is Yours...

There is plenty of room on this Earth to all of us...

I know your face...

From among the crowds I can still spot you...
They can mask you... they can put jingles and bells on you... dress you like a clown...
They can hide you behind all the phony make-up and put you up for sale...
But.... I know you...
Your scent is in the air... filling my lungs with dreams and hopes...

You shine through... And I'm happy that I can still see you for who you are...

I know your face...

Ramadan Kareem... to all...

[My Name is Red]

I just finished reading a novel titled "My Name is Red" by Orhan Pamuk.
Whenever I read a novel I think about three things; the plot, the philosophy or hidden meanings and the literary style.
In this novel the plot is OK... it has its twists and turns but at the end it hits you as another plot that you must've read somewhere else.
As for the philosophy and meanings... the novel tackles a lot of the issues related to art and Islam... especially at the time where the Islamic civilization was being challenged with other strong nearby civilizations.
I didn't like many things of how they portrayed the Muslims... but I'm not in a position to judge the credibility of such stories.
I felt that the author was more inclined toward the figurative representation in the "Frankish" Art as apposed to the abstraction in the Islamic Art.
I know that at that time the Islamic Art was containing drawings and paintings of human figures. I'm not going to enter a discussion regarding whether it is permissible or not... for me honestly I can't see a problem in figurative art. However, as it is right now, abstraction give more meaning to any piece of art since it gives the viewer the empty space to complete the meaning behind the piece.

As for the literary style of the novel... here where the novel caught my attention. And for this reason I do recommend you to read the novel. You'll get exposed to a new way of writing.
The novel is comprised of chapters. Each chapter starts with [I...]... and in each chapter, a character from the story becomes the narrator of that chapter.
The characters were as weird as Satan, a dog, a tree, a murderer, a woman, and the color red.
As described on the back of the novel... it is a kaleidoscopic experience.
It allows you to live the story not from one single point of view but from different ones. In a way you are inside each of these characters and yet you know what others think... giving you a sort of an upper eye... sort of a god view... if you know what I mean...
This point has been discussed in the novel since a debate between artists arise as how they should represent life... through the eyes of God or through the eyes of humans... and it is an interesting insight to Islamic Art....

All in all... it was a good read... and it is worth saying that the author Orhan Pamuk is a Nobel Prize winner in Literature.

I would say that this novel is a must read for Art students ...

And here is an excerpt from the chapter titled [I am red]...
[[Color is the touch of the eye, music to the deaf, a word out of the darkness. Because I’ve listened to souls whispering – like the susurrus of the wind- from book to book and object to object for tens of thousands of years, allow me to say that my touch resembles the touch of angles. Part of me, the serious half, calls out to your vision while the mirthful half soars through the air with your glances.
I’m so fortunate to be red! I’m fiery. I’m strong. I know men take notice of me and that I cannot be resisted.
I do not conceal myself: for me, delicacy manifests itself neither in weakness nor in subtlety, but through determination and will.]]

equal... freedom

Speaking of Equal opportunities and freedom of choice...

Happy Eid

Happy Eid everyone... may God accept from you all your good deeds... and may He continue to shower us with His love, mercy, peace and blessings...

Ramadan prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque

Today I found this interesting though a bit sad narrative of how a Palestinian man living in West Bank plan to go to prayer at al-Aqsa Mosque...

the link on BBC....

Ramadan Kareem*

Ramadan Kareem to all of you who follow it...
May during this month we all become better human beings...
May God bless us all with His infinite love, mercy, light, peace and blessings..

رمضان مبارك للجميع اللهم أهله علينا بالأمن و الإيمان و السلامة و الإسلام
تقبل الله طاعتكم جميعا



* Tomorrow is the first day of the holy month of Ramadan in Jordan... it may vary from one country to another...

رمضان يجمعنا !

ها قد بدأت الحملات المتنوعة لشهر رمضان, سواء كانت دعايات ترويجية لمحلات المأكولات أو المطاعم أو منتجات غذائية و غيرها. و بدأت حرب بين المسلسات "الرمضانية" من اجتماعية الى تاريخية الى هزلية. و البارحة تم اعلان رسمي عن تقصير ساعات الدوام في المؤسسات الحكومية خلال شهر رمضان.

كل هذا استفزني للتفكير في حقيقة الشهر و غيابها عن العقل المسلم الحالي. رغم انني لا أجد مشكلة عندما تتحول عادة او طقس ديني الى جزء من الموروث الثقافي لاي شعب من الشعوب لا انني اجد صعوبة في تقبل فكرة تحويل بل و قلب المفهوم الاساسي لذلك الطقس.

من خلال فهمي لصوم شهر رمضان أجد معان متضاربة بين المقصود و بين المعمول. فمثلا هذا الشهر يدعو الى رفع الهمم و زيادة النشاط و لكن ما نجده هو مزيد من الكسل.

و كثيرا ما تسمع عبارة " أنا تعبان! الدنيا رمضان" و هذا ليس بمبرر. لست افهم الغرض من تقصير الدوام لهذا الحد خاصة ان هذا الرمضان سيكون آذان المغرب بعد الساعة السابعة مثلا في عمان.

مرة أخرى أرى ان شهر رمضان هو الشهر الذي يعمل العقل فيه بشكل كبير. فيصبح العقل هو المسيطر على سائر الجسد. فلا تستجيب لرغبات الجسد من حاجة الى طعام أو شرب أو شهوة. و لا تستجيب لحاجات نفسية بل عقلك يقرر أنه لن يفعل كذا و كذا بل سيستجيب لما يمليه العقل. و انا أجد في هذا تمرين يروض النفس و الجسد و يرقي العقل و الروح.

رمضان من شانه ان يجمعنا و لكن ليس امام التلفزيون و تحت أسقف الخيم الرمضانية و لكن يجمعنا بالمجتمع الذي نعيش فيه. يجمعنا مع العالم و مشاكله.فلماذا لا نطور عقولنا؟ لماذا لا نطرح اسئلة تهم واقعنا كبشر على أرض تتداعى بفعلنا؟

رمضان يجمعنا مع ذاتنا الافضل , مع حقيقتنا البشرية , مع نفخة الروح التي جعلت من جسدنا انسان. رمضان فرصة لتجديد مفهوم اجتماعنا مع نافخ الروح و خالق الارض و معلم الانسان.

اتمنى لو أن كل واحد منا جلس و فكر فيما سيعنيه له رمضان. عن ماذا سيكون صومه هذه السنة! و بمن سيجمعه رمضان....

و عسى ان يجمعنا رمضان!

Offensive pro- Hijab ad

translation " You can't stop them... but you can protect yourself... He who has created you... know what's best for you"

I find this ad offensive in so many ways... some are too obvious to be mentioned...

I don't approve of the the way people who claim to be pro-hijab set their propaganda... it implies that women are inferior to men... that women are too precious and should be kept safe and away...
I do wear the hijab and I'm very convinced of it... I appreciate those who have the courage to put it... but the way I understand hijab is a way to enhance interaction between men and women rather than prevent it...
If women are supposed to stay at home... away from all the men... then why do they need the hijab? But if they go out... work... study... live a normal life... then there is no way but to deal with men.... after all at the early beginning one man and one woman inhabited the earth...

I don't like to think of myself as a lollipop nor men who are around me as flies... and I don't wear the veil to please the man and help him not sin... I do it for myself... for the way I perceive myself as a true woman...

I wish if all the preachers who do it so poorly would spare me and all the people out there any more of their ignorance....

هو... قدير

"وهو على كل شيء قدير"
تتسارع الهموم من حولنا... تضيق الدروب و يذهب النور عنا... تخرج الأمور من نطاق سيطرتنا... و يغدو الانسان وحيدا و ضعيفا... و لكن يبقى "هو" وحده القدير على تغيير الموازيين... على بعث النور و على ايقاظ الحب في قلوبنا... "هو " وحده اللطيف في كل امر يقضيه... وحده "هو" عندما لا يبقى و لا يجدي غيره "هو"...

[and it is He Who hath power over all things.]
A sentence so often repeated in the Holy Quran and the known supplications...
a beautiful meaning... that can give hope to the troubled heart...
No matter what comes your way... no matter how hard things get...
No matter what you try so strongly to get... or to avoid... it is He... who has the power... and He only can make it for you... when all else abandon you...
it is He... the Most Loving... the Most Powerful... the Most Gracious...
it is He... and He I choose to believe in...

on the religion of Love...

My place is placeless, my trace is traceless,

no body, no soul, I am from the soul of souls.

I have chased out duality, lived the two worlds as one.

One I seek, one I know, one I see, one I call.

He is the first, he is the last, he is the outer, he is the inner.

Beyond "He" and "He is" I know no other.

I am drunk from the cup of love, the two worlds have escaped me.

I have no concern but carouse and rapture.

If one day in my life I spend a moment without you

from that hour and that time I would repent my life.

If one day I am given a moment in solitude with you

I will trample the two worlds underfoot and dance forever

Jalaluddin Rumi


* For you who seek the religion of Love... I thank you for reminding me once again!

Mohammed محمد....

محمد ســـــــــــــــيد الكونين والثقليـ	ن والفريقين من عرب ومن عجـــــمِ
هو الحبيب الذي ترجى شــــــــفاعته	لكل هولٍ من الأهوال مقتحـــــــــــــــم
دعا إلى الله فالمستسكون بــــــــــــه	مستمسكون بحبلٍ غير منفصـــــــــــم
فهو الذي تـ ــــــم معناه وصورتـــــــه	ثم اصطفاه حبيباً بارئُ النســــــــــــم
أعيا الورى فهم معناه فليس يـــــرى	في القرب والبعد فيه غير منفحـــــم
كالشمس تظهر للعينين من بعُـــــــدٍ	صغيرةً وتكل الطرف من أمـــــــــــم
وكيف يدرك في الدنيا حقيقتــــــــــه	قومٌ نيامٌ تسلوا عنه بالحلــــــــــــــمِ
فمبلغ العلم فيه أنه بشـــــــــــــــــــرٌ	وأنه خير خلق الله كلهــــــــــــــــــمِ
وكل آيٍ أتى الرسل الكرام بهـــــــــا	فإنما اتصلت من نوره بهـــــــــــــم
فإنه شمس فضلٍ هم كواكبهـــــــــــا	يظهرن أنوارها للناس في الظلـــــم
أكرم بخلق نبيّ زانه خلــــــــــــــــقٌ	بالحسن مشتمل بالبشر متســـــــــم
كالزهر في ترفٍ والبدر في شــــرفٍ	والبحر في كرمٍ والدهر في همــــــم
كانه وهو فردٌ من جلالتـــــــــــــــــه	في عسكر حين تلقاه وفي حشــــــم
كأنما اللؤلؤ المكنون فى صـــــــدفٍ	من معدني منطق منه ومبتســــــــم
لا طيب يعدل تُرباً ضم أعظمــــــــــهُ	طوبى لمنتشقٍ منه وملتثــــــــــــــمِ
مولاي صلــــي وسلــــم دائمـــاً أبــــدا	علـــى حبيبــــك خيــر الخلق كلهـم

من قصيدة البردة للإمام حسن البوصيري

Silence your tongue

from "A Thief in The Night" By Jalaluddin Rumi

And He is with you*
       with you
in your search
       when you seek Him
look for Him
       in your looking
closer to you
       than yourself
              to yourself:
Why run outside?
       Melt like snow.
wash yourself
       with yourself:
urged by Love
       tongues sprout
from the soul
       like stamens
              from the lily...

But learn
       this custom
from the flower:
       silence
              your tongue.

*Qur'an 4:57
Diwan-e Shams, v.V.ED. FURUZANFAR, P., 2172
(translated by Peter Lamborn Wilson)
The Rumi Collection, edited by Kabir Helminski

Hai

I can't remember the first time I've heard the story of Hai bi Yaqazan... it was for me like the fairytale of Cinderella... we all know the story but never read it...
The clearest version of the story of Hai came upon me when I saw an animation of it on TV... and I fell in love with the idea of this kid stranded on an island... discovering it and trying to figure out a meaning to his life...
Recently I advised a friend to read it when I realized that I never did... so I found the book, started reading it... and I finished it yesterday....
The translated version I read was titled "The Journey of The Soul, The Story of Hai bin Yaqzan", written originally by Ibn Tufail or as known in the West Abubacer.
The story of Hai is narrated through his mind and inner thoughts.... how he from his early age started thinking about everything around him... he was the only human being in an island, brought up by a doe... which he witnessed her death... and that triggered him to search and discover the world...
The story takes you through a journey of how a human can acquire knowledge through using his senses, his body, his mind and then his soul....
Hai started with the physical world and ended with the 'other' world.
The story shows you how Hai believed that there must be a Truth, a Creator... a Supreme being... and how Hai embarked to find that Truth... and then find a way to communicate and 'worship' this Divine being...
The story at some point gets very heavy on the mind and the author suggests that we try and do like Hai did and maybe then we can start to experience what he did when his soul soared in the 'other' world.
It is an interesting book to read and would recommend anyone to read it...

Moon, Sun and Islam...

Lately I've been reflecting upon how the crescent is used to visually symbolize Islam... And how a lot of people think of Muslims as lunar-oriented...
Maybe the moon is used to indicate months in the Islamic Calendar... and thus indicating the timing of rituals and holy days like Ramadan and the Pilgrimage to Mecca. But at the same time... Muslims depend much more on the sun for indicating the timing of the 5 daily prayers... and the length of the fasting in one day... So I was thinking how come sun is not associated with the visual symbols of Islam?
Who was the first to introduce the Crescent as a symbol for Islam?! Does it have underlying meanings or associations?
And I was thinking more of the months in the lunar year and then it hit me that these months with their names are pre-Islamic and were used by Arabs before... since the date of the Birth of the Prophet was mentioned in a calendar which is not the Islamic Calendar... But had the same months names...
The Islamic calendar started almost 53 years after the Prophet's birth... starting on the day he fled Mecca to Madina or what is known as "al-Hijra al-Sharifa"...
So I dug up to find out this information that never was brought to my attention before... the lunar calendar that Arabs used before Islam was called lunisolar calendar which is a combination of both the moon phases and the sun movements... but since the moon to change phases for 12 times it needs 354 days leaving it shorter by 11 days from the solar year... every 3 years... a lunisolar year would contain 13 months!! Interesting...

Nowadays in most Islamic countries they follow the solar Gregorian calendar still they keep track of the lunar Islamic one...

Yesterday was the first day in a new Islamic year [1429 H]... so for those who celebrate it... Happy New Hijri Year...

:: on my mooniac mood, more, more, and even more...