British Blogger, Desi Dreamer, Mad Muslimah
// January 5th, 2009 // No Comments » // Blog
MuslimMatters.org has posted an excellent action guide for those who want to help the people of Gaza. Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments section at the end of the post.
// January 3rd, 2009 // 4 Comments » // Photos
Taken outside the Egyptian embassy in London, at the end of a demonstration calling for the opening of the Gazan border.
// December 30th, 2008 // 2 Comments » // Photos
Photos taken at a public demonstration against the bombing of Gaza, held outside the Israeli embassy in London.
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// November 15th, 2008 // No Comments » // Blog
The banking group, Lloyds TSB are forcing the Islamic Bank of Britain to close Interpal's account – a UK-based charity dedicated to helping poor Palestinians (which these days, constitutes most of the population of Palestine, thanks to Israel preventing fuel and food aid from entering Gaza).
The timing could not be worse: the notice comes into effect on December 8th 2008, i.e., around ‘Īd al-Aḍḥa; a time when Muslims are encouraged to give in charity, so that the less fortunate can also partake in the festival of ‘Īd. How will Interpal process Qurbani donations, if their bank account is closed? Was the date deliberately timed to be as heartless as possible, or is it just plain coincidence?
// November 13th, 2008 // 3 Comments » // Blog
I've been reading about the Rwandan Genocide for the past hour… I can't describe how I feel right now. My guts… feel liquid.
To think that anyone in power could sit back and allow anything close to that to happen again… words fail me.
Maybe this time, it's not about ethnic genocide.
Maybe it's just about diamonds and coal.
But right now, dark-skinned women are having to make a choice:
Stay in squalid camps and let their babies starve.
Or return to rebel-controlled lands and face gang rape.
Some have already faced both.
Subhanallah… how?
How do they sleep?
How do they sip their morning coffee?
Kiss their wives on the cheek, and pat their children goodbye.
Sit in leather-clad offices.
And do absolutely nothing to stop this madness.
I… just don't know what to say.
Sign the Avaaz Petition: STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF CONGO
Make dua. Now. Please.
// October 31st, 2008 // 10 Comments » // Blog
The comment exchange on my very short MM post regarding the Global Peace & Unity event 2008 is a clear illustration of the exact reason why the organizers need to stop using music.
Sadly, not because of its impermissibility… or even because I may have lost a good percentage of my hearing over the weekend… seriously, what were the sound engineers thinking by putting the volume so loud?
No, because the issue of music – and how ridiculous is it that it has this ability? – divides the Ummah clean in two. In fact, if I am subjected to one more “Is music permissible in Islam?” debate, I may hurt someone.
Dear GPU people: if you are really all about the unity, you need to stop using music… so we can have some flippin' peace!
Else, you may want to seriously think about a name change.
May Allāh help me; that this of all things should be placed on my priority to-do list. Sigh…
// October 30th, 2008 // 2 Comments » // Blog
May Allāh bless Imam Webb, and make him better, and better, and better, and have a long life! Āmīn. And may He give us many more of his kind. In fact, may He make *us* the Imam Webbs of our own communities. Āmīn thumma āmīn!
So, what's your idea(s) for making your Islam more socially relevant? Write them in the comments. Be anonymous if you wish; let's get those brains working! No point being inspired, if we don't use the inspiration, right?
Then let us help each other to translate those ideas into action, inshā’Allāh.
// October 28th, 2008 // 21 Comments » // Blog
After a disastrous first day at the GPU 2008, I have to say, Sunday was a only, oh… a million times better! Alhamdulillah.
If you were at the GPU yesterday, and spotted a mad sister interviewing some “strange” people on camera – that was me! I can't say too much, mainly because I want to save the juicy details for the article I plan to write, inshā’Allāh.
I took photos, and also met some interesting folks, including a couple of the MM shuyukh (link to my MM article to be inserted here within 24 hours, inshā’Allāh now LIVE).
I have to say, although the Islam Expo 2008 was so much more fun, in so many more ways, I did learn just as many lessons from my GPU experience, both from a professional and personal perspective.
Professional lessons
// September 10th, 2008 // 10 Comments » // Blog
I was shocked to learn that Israel is a major producer and exporter of dates to the European market!
They are grown in the Jordan Valley, West Bank, and are the most profitable crop of the illegal Israeli settlers, who exploit the desperate poverty of their Palestinian workers – including children – with appalling working conditions. One company, Carmel Agrexco, even boasted about producing an early crop in time for Ramadan!
Imagine: to be proud that Muslims are breaking their fast with such blood-soaked dates. A product of illegal, oppressive apartheid!
How very, very, very sad… and sick.
Watch the videos below to learn more:
Information from the Inminds Campaign Website:
What else can we do?
*** BUY PALESTINIAN DATES ***
http://zaytoun.org
- Post this information onto your websites, blogs and forward onto your contacts.
- If you spot these brands in your local shops, complain to the owner (download sample letter of complaint, produced by Inminds) – ESPECIALLY IF THE SHOP IS MUSLIM-OWNED!
- If you spot these brands in someone's house, POLITELY point out their origin. Most Muslims don't know about this (I didn't), and would not have bought these dates if they had known. So please be polite.
- Remember our Palestinian brothers and sisters in your dua, when placing a date in your mouth this Ramadan.
Hat-tip to bro Tariq for making me aware of this.
—
P.S., I know this may seem like just another average Muslim-lead boycott – and oh how we Muslims do love our boycotts – but in this case, it is clear that this is the most direct means of action we can take. It targets the offending companies that are mistreating their workers, as well as the illegal Israeli settlers. Plus, do you really want to be buying dates that were grown on stolen land? Stolen at gun point. It's just not right, is it?
// August 25th, 2008 // No Comments » // Blog
Allahu akbar! Read Sr Yvonne Ridley's account of this momentous event:
Well, you would have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to know that I am writing to you today from Gaza.
I really was too overwhelmed yesterday to put pen to paper after the magnificent welcome I and my fellow peace activists from SS Liberty and SS Free Gaza received as we entered the port of Gaza … the first ships to sail in since 1967.
! Announcement !
