Saturday, October 29, 2011

"The merchant was silent for a few moments.

Then he said, "The Prophet gave us the Koran, and left us just five obligations to satisfy during our lives. The most important is to believe only in the one true God. The others are to pray five times a day, fast during Ramadan, and be charitable to the poor."
He stopped there. His eyes filled with tears as he spoke of the Prophet. He was a devout man, and, even with all his impatience, he wanted to live his life in accordance with Muslim law.
"What's the fifth obligation?" the boy asked.
"Two days ago, you said that I had never dreamed of travel," the merchant answered. "The fifth obligation of every Muslim is a pilgrimage. We are obliged, at least one in our lives, to visit the holy city of Mecca.
Mecca is a lot father away than the Pyramids. When I was young, all I wanted to do was put together enough money to start this shop. I thought that someday I'd be rich, and could go to Mecca. I began to make some money, but I could never bring myself to leave someone in charge of the shop; the crystals are delicate things. At the same time, people were passing my shop all the time, heading for Mecca. Some of them were rich pilgrims, travelling in caravans with servants and camels, but most of the people making the pilgrimage were poorer than I.
[...]
"Well why don't you go to Mecca now?" asked the boy.
"Because it's the thought of Mecca that keeps me alive. That's what helps me face these days that are all the same, these mute crystals on the shelves, and lunch and dinner at that same horrible cafe. I'm afraid that if my dream is realized, I'll have no reason to go on living.
"You dream about your sheep and the Pyramids, but you're different from me, because you want to realize your dreams. I just want to dream about Mecca. I've already imagined a thousand times crossing the desert, arriving at the Plaza of the Sacred Stone, the seven times I walk around it before allowing myself to touch it. I've already imagined the people who would be at my side, and those in front of me, and the conversations and prayers we would share. But I'm afraid that it would all be a disappointment, so I prefer just to dream about it."

-pg. 54-55 of Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Devotional Practices in the Month of Dhu al-Hijjah by Imam Zaid Shakir

http://www.newislamicdirections.com/nid/print/devotional_practice_month_dhu_al_hijjah/

Occupy Wall Street: Muslim Solidarity

The bridge builder [profile on Dr. Ingrid Mattson]

http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/10/26/18881596.html

via Kahiye :)

A Pilgrim's (Very Little) Progress by R. David Coolidge

http://www.globalconversation.org/2011/10/27/pilgrims-very-little-progress-0

Web stream live from Makkah

http://youtu.be/9Qb84UAK-tY

The Many Blessings of the Ten Days of Dhul Hijja

http://www.nursacredsciences.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Ten-Days-of-Dhul-Hijja.pdf

The Ten Days of Dhu’l Hijja: Merits & Striving in Spiritual Works

http://seekersguidance.org/ans-blog/2009/11/16/the-ten-days-of-dhul-hijja-merits-striving-in-spiritual-works/

CrescentWatch: Dhu al-Hijjah moon sighted Thurs. evening (Eid al-Adha on Nov. 6)

Crescentwatch has confirmed reliable reports of the new crescent moon (hilal) being sighted on Thursday evening (October 27th) by reliable moonsighters in several locations around the world including Iquique, Chile, Puebla, Mexico, and San Jose, California. There are also reliable reports from Florida, South Africa, and throughout the Caribbean.
This marks the end of the month of Dhu al-Qi'dah and the beginning of the sacred month of Dhu al-Hijjah, with its first day commencing on Friday, Oct. 28th. The day of Eid al-Adha will therefore be on Sunday, November 6th, 2011, insha'Allah
May Allah make this blessed month a source of benefit, enrichment, and closeness to Allah, Most High.
Crescentwatch.org adheres to the traditional principle that Islamic lunar months begin and end based on the confirmed, verifiable sighting of the new crescent moon. 



Last Updated: October 27, 2011  20:06 MDT
Posted: October 27, 2011  20:05 MDT
http://www.crescentwatch.org/cgi-bin/cw.cgi

Yasmin Mogahed: A Woman’s Reflection on Leading Prayer

http://www.yasminmogahed.com/2010/12/19/a-woman%E2%80%99s-reflection-on-leading-prayer/ (12/19/2010) via Iram

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Chris Hedges and Amy Goodman Talk OWS on ‘Charlie Rose’

charlierose.com
Finally, some smart discussion about Occupy Wall Street on a high-profile talk show. Here we have Truthdig columnist Chris Hedges and “Democracy Now!” anchor Amy Goodman going beyond sound bites and bullet points to give Charlie Rose their takes on OWS—what it means, why it’s happening and who’s taking part.
In their joint interview, Goodman doesn’t hesitate to accept Rose’s proposition that OWS could be called a new American revolution, telling the PBS host, “I think it’s happening as we speak” and noting the response from abroad, while Hedges calls the movement “a return to sanity” and a “confrontation with dead ideas.” Hedges cuts through the noise quickly in this clip, summing up the argument he’s been making for years in his column by stating, “I think these people are very very clear that we cannot sustain ourselves … not only as a society but even as a species, if we don’t confront the corporate state.” —KA
Follow this link to watch the full clip from Monday’s broadcast of “Charlie Rose.”
http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/11961

via Truthdig

Haroon Moghul: The Shari’ah Spring: Media Gets It Backwards

http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/politics/5317/the_shari

Op-Ed: Can Islamism and Feminism Mix?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/opinion/can-islamism-and-feminism-mix.html?_r=1&hp

October 27: Arab, Muslim and South Asian Communities Ten Years after 9/11

http://roosevelthouse.hunter.cuny.edu/index.php/october-27-2011-arab-muslim-and-south-asian-communities-ten-years-after-911 via Adib

2012 Critical Language Scholarship: Deadline November 15, 2011

http://www.clscholarship.org/

AP IMPACT: NYPD shadows Muslims who change names

http://news.yahoo.com/ap-impact-nypd-shadows-muslims-change-names-070530735.html

Muslim Advocates: Ten Years After Patriot Act, Time to Restore America's Freedoms

http://www.muslimadvocates.org/latest/ten_years_after_patriot_act_ti.html

Democracy Now: Police Fire Tear Gas, Flash Grenades as Protesters Try to Retake Occupy Oakland After Predawn Raid

Police Fire Tear Gas, Flash Grenades as Protesters Try to Retake Occupy Oakland After Predawn Raid

"How Islamic finance missed heavenly chance"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8388644.stm (Dec. 1, 2009)

via Iram

Occupy Oakland Protest: Police Fire Tear Gas And Beanbag Rounds, Clear Out Encampment

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/25/occupy-oakland-protest-police-protesters-clash_n_1031879.html?

Also see: http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_19188591 via Dustin and 'Ala

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Glenn Greenwald: Book release: With Liberty and Justice for Some

http://www.salon.com/2011/10/25/book_release_with_liberty_and_justice_for_some/

The State, University and Democratic Life: The Political and Social Dimensions of Surveilling Muslim Students after 911 with Arshad Ali, Ph.D.

http://www.tc.columbia.edu/calendar/?EventID=9852&m=10&y=2011

RESCHEDULED:


THE STATE, UNIVERSITY AND DEMOCRATIC LIFE:
The Political and Social Dimensions of Surveilling Muslim Students


Dr. Arshad I. Ali will discuss his research

RESCHEDULED PLEASE NOTE NEW DATE::

NOVEMBER 10, 2011
6:00pm
MILBANK CHAPEL 
Reception to follow

Arshad I. Ali, PhD is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Teachers College, Columbia University.  His research explores how youth identities are mediates by macro economic, political and social realities.  His current work examines the intersections of race and religion in the lives of US Muslim youth, specifically exploring issues of democracy, secularity and political engagement. 


To request disability-related accommodations contact OASID at oasid@tc.edu (210) 678-3689(212) 678-3853 TTY,(866) 624-3281 video phone, as early as possible. 
---

Video: Keith Olbermann on Islamophobic Smears of Occupy Wall Street (CAIR)

Introduction: Going to Hajj (Video by David Coolidge)

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-687622

Rescuers battle to find Turkish quake survivors

http://news.yahoo.com/turkish-quake-survivors-camp-plead-tents-000727342.html

ARRANGED - TRAILER



http://youtu.be/wPnYPtbjUVo

Monday, October 24, 2011

New York Muslims recall 9/11 backlash [feat. one of my local mosques - Madina Masjid on 11th St. & 1st Ave]

http://www.euronews.net/2011/09/05/new-york-muslims-recall-911-backlash/#.TnujMogyMaA.facebook

via Hafiz Abusufian

ISPU Report: "Global Battleground or School Playground: The Bullying of America's Muslim Children"

http://ispu.org/pdfs/ISPU_Policy%20Brief_Britto_WEB.pdf

Islamophobic Bullying in Our Schools

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/engy-abdelkader/islamophobia-in-schools_b_1002293.html via Wajahat

Critics say graphic novel is Islamophobic; author calls it 'virtuous' - The National

http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/critics-say-novel-is-islamophobic-author-calls-it-virtuous
Via Debbie

100,000 Converts: Dawah of Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad



http://youtu.be/MmvDkeG_zAw

Uploaded by DawudIsrael1 on Oct 22, 2011
The Dawah methodology of Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad. Taken from: http://vimeo.com/20585527

Ten Good Manners for Hajj by Imam al-Ghazali trans. Abdal Hakim Murad

http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/ahm/AHM-Ghazali_on_haj.htm

Chris Hedges: Occupiers Have to Convince the Other 99 Percent

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/occupiers_have_to_convince_the_other_99_percent_20111024/

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani: The Ten Days of Dhu’l Hijja: Merits & Striving in Spiritual Works

http://seekersguidance.org/ans-blog/2009/11/16/the-ten-days-of-dhul-hijja-merits-striving-in-spiritual-works/