iMuslim.tv

Do Not Push

// January 22nd, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Blog, Photos

I snapped this while changing the tapes on my HV20 camcorder. I thought it was a good message.

Anyhoo, I have been discussing the possibility of setting up a film club within my ISoc. I am tempted towards making it a sisters-only gig – mainly cuz I’ve been wanting to recruit a talented woman to help me edit all the footage I have sat on my external hard drive for a while now. Insha’Allah, a fruitful legacy will be born out of my selfish needs.

The good news is that everyone I have spoken to thus far seems keen. The challenges include: a lack of equipment (I seem to be the only one with a camera, and decent editing software), and most of the people with the necessary skills and experience have a Y-chromosome.

The answers to both problems shouldn’t be too difficult to solve, insha’Allah. I think the university TV station is still going; we may be able to tap their resources. And we can always hold training sessions for sisters to pick up basic film-making skills. You mainly learn through doing, anyway; the only formal training I’ve had thus far is a crash course on Final Cut at the Apple Store.

The women-only suggestion is more about pragmatism than anything else. I want it to be a safe-space to learn, and channel creative energy; like a women-only book club, or an art class. I do not believe that men are the ‘enemy’ (though I admit to going through phases in that regard).

I won’t be restricting membership to Imperial students; it’s just easier to establish this kind of thing within the framework of an existing community, such as an ISoc. So if you’re based in London, and are interested in joining in, then stay tuned to this blog. I’ll let you guys know if/when we have our first meeting, insha’Allah.

Your suggestions are welcome.

A Musical Interlude

// January 10th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Blog

# I heard there was a secret chord, that David played, and it pleased the Lord.
But you don’t really care for music, do you? #
The first lines from the song “Hallelujah”

One of the arguments used by those in favour of the permissibility of music is that Prophet Dawood, ‘alayhis salam, is reported to have used instruments – Allah knows best.

That is why I thought the above lyrics would be quite fitting for my début stage production, based on one of the most fiercely contested fatwas in Islam…

“Music is Haram!”… The Musical

Of course, the score would have to be either voice-only, duff, maybe some b-box… just to ensure neutrality/ respect/ bums on seats. And, cuz, y’know, I also kinda follow the ‘music is not good’ ruling myself. Shh.

You can book your advanced tickets to the hottest show in town (most likely as the theatre will be fire-bombed in protest) by placing a comment in the box below.

Eid = Mendhi Time

// September 26th, 2009 // 4 Comments » // Photos

Mendhi is the Hindi word for ‘henna’. I am quite bad at applying it to myself, but I still have a go anyway, usually around Eid time, like tonight. Here is an example of what is known in the industry as, “the squiggly finger”. Okay, maybe not…

The dried henna has now been removed; we’ll see how dark it turns out, insha’Allah. I don’t usually do anything special, like apply henna oil. Mainly because my design is so childish, that I’d like it to wear out as quickly as possible!

Is the Eid-Mendhi association an S.E.Asian thing, or do Arab/ African/ etc sisters apply it at this time of year too?

The Lake District

// July 16th, 2009 // 3 Comments » // Photos

Here are some photos from my recent trip to the Lake District.

The following is my personal favourite; click to enlarge.

Jazakallah khair to brother Mohammed for inviting me to Cumbria, and granting my father and I a personalised tour of the area.

The Tree of Bling

// May 23rd, 2009 // 4 Comments » // Photos

I was testing some new AA batteries out on my camera. Their half-life was terrible (a matter of seconds), but I managed to capture this before the camera died.

Saturday Shopping on Green Street

// April 5th, 2009 // 3 Comments » // Photos

I decided to be a typical Asian female, and take a walk down Green Street – an East End, ethnic shopping district – on a Saturday afternoon. But unlike most Asian females, I didn’t spend any money whilst I was there. Instead, I took pictures, and enjoyed the the beautiful weather, in the company of my current house guest (who happened to be one of the few, non-Asians on Green Street that day).

New Theme – Already?

// February 25th, 2009 // 5 Comments » // Blog

Update (26/02/2009): My new theme has been temporarily retracted considering that it is PNG-heavy, and some people are still using Internet Explorer versions 6 and below, which have no-PNG support. I am looking for a quick fix that doesn’t involve me designing a special IE<6 site!

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It’s been approximately two days since I launched the all new iMuslim.tv site – and already an updated template?

The few readers who knew me back when I started blogging on Blogger over two years ago, will remember how much (and how frequently) I loved to redesign my blog. Moving to Wordpress.com denied me that luxury (though it did mean I had more time to spend on useful activities).

Now I have upgraded to a self-hosted blog, the opportunity for my behind to form a near-symbiotic relationship with the computer chair, as I spend countless hours wading through a maze of CSS stylesheets and incomprehensible PHP files, has finally been returned to me. Good thing I finished my PhD already, huh?

In this latest case of design fever, inspiration came from a doodle I drew on my iPod Touch:

Expect more drastic changes, whenever I feel bored and/or inspired!

Freedom Shoes

// 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.

iDoodles: Could I Be More Girly?

// August 25th, 2008 // 6 Comments » // Blog

Finger-powered graphics drawn with the iDoodle Lite app on the iPod Touch.

The Helix Nebula

// August 22nd, 2008 // 3 Comments » // Blog

Click to enlarge

The Helix Nebula, also known as The helix or NGC 7293, is a large planetary nebula (PN) in the sky and is placed the zodiac constellation of Aquarius. Discovered by Karl Ludwig Harding, probably before 1824, this notably object is one of the closest of all the bright planetary nebulae to the Earth. The estimated distance is about 215 parsec[s] or 700 light-years from us… The Helix has often been referred to as the Eye of God on the Internet, since about 2003. [Source: Wikipedia]

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وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

To Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth; and Allah hath power over all things.

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ

Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day,- there are indeed Signs for men of understanding,-

الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَـٰذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (With the thought): “Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire.”

Holy Qur’an [3:189-191], Translation of meaning by Yusuf Ali