I was really dumb, and contacted the admins about a technical problem I was facing, and I guess when they looked at my profile, they happened to notice that iMuslim UK doesn't sound like a real name. Whoops.

So they wrote back, and slapped my wrists by terminating my account. They also told me (it was a generic e-mail, I'm sure), that if I wanted to represent an personality or organisation, I should create a page, and they would then transfer all my friends over to it.

At first, I was like: “Umm, I am not creating a fan page for myself! How immodest?!”.

But after mulling it over, I decided that it was probably the best way to keep all my contacts (considering how, y'know, I don't know 90% of them to attempt a reunion).

So here it is: iMuslim – the Facebook Fan Page.

Woo.

I also had to create a new account that contains a real name. Curious? Then add me.

I asked the Facebook powers-that-be whether I could just go back to my old profile and change the name. Surely that's less hassle than all this? Anyway, we'll see what they say.

So… yeah. I broke the rules. Bad me. {shame}

To celebrate this incident, together with the addition of a new feature on WordPress.com, answer the first ever user poll on this here blog:

Background & Aims: During the week beginning 26th May, a paper published by Malkin, et al [Fox News, 2008] stated that the adornment of a well-known culinary technician with a scarf resembling one commonly observed in the Arab world, was sufficient stimulus to directly promote violent behaviour (recommended review). In response to this peculiar hypothesis, the author aimed to conduct an investigation into the effects of wearing, what would in theory be, the most potent isoform of the scarf family of Arab clothing accessories: the kaffiyeh.

Methods & Results: The test group, which consisted of over 4,500 subjects derived from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities, was subjected to several hours of kaffiyeh exposure; yet none of the volunteers developed any of the expected symptoms of terroritis, such as the repetitive waving of the right index finger at nearby video cameras, or the random exclamation of “Die America!”, whilst simultaneously firing an AK-47 into the air (Figure 1).

Figure 1: An illustrative example of one test subject wearing the kaffiyeh, displaying no adverse side effects. Her face has been obscured in respect of patient confidentiality.

Conclusion: The results of this study strongly suggest that the kaffiyeh does not possess the ability to negatively influence the wearer into performing any type of criminal activity. It is important to note that the original paper published on this subject did not contain sufficient evidence to support the proposed hypothesis of an alleged association between the aforementioned apparel with acts of extreme violence.

The author hopes that her exhaustive research into this field will finally prove that the claims of her respected colleagues were indeed baseless, and in light of the presented findings, recommends that they should shut the heck up retract any previous remarks made in the public sphere.

Furthermore, she urges those institutions that have formulated business plans based on the flawed research of Malkin, et al, to immediately cease such activities, lest they suffer long-term financial damage.

Supplementary Information: The full report containing official statistics, along with photographic evidence can be found on the ‘Īd=20090243695">Online Journal of Social Networking. In addition, a detailed account of the methods used in this study has been listed on the author's home page.

I feel somewhat overwhelmed… I didn't realise this Kaffiyeh Day thing was going to be noticed by this many people! All good and success comes from God. But even with all the positive comments, I still wonder whether I did the right thing? Is this just a huge waste of time? Are things really going to change after Friday? Will the press even give two hoots about a bunch of Facebookers wearing kaffiyeh?

—
INTERNATIONAL “WEAR YOUR KAFFIYEH WITH PRIDE” DAY – Friday, June 6th – A response to the removal of the Dunkin' Donuts Ad & the derogatory stereotyping of Arabs and their culture.
Written on June 4th 2008

Last week, the US chain Dunkin' Donuts pulled an advert following complaints that the scarf worn by a celebrity chef offered symbolic support for Islamic extremism, as it resembled a kaffiyeh. Although this item of clothing is Arab in origin, it is worn by people from all walks of life, including several American models and celebrities, who have no affiliation with, or sympathy for, terrorists of any kind.

Response to this incident has been largely negative, with many consumers going so far as to even consider boycotting the popular food chain. However, a more positive approach to combating the false stereotype, initially propagated by a small group of right-wing bloggers, headed by Michelle Malkin, is the launch of International “Wear Your Kaffiyeh with Pride” Day, where participants are asked to wear a kaffiyeh on Friday 6th June. This peaceful form of visual protest aims to remind the World that this cultural icon – much like hats, coats, gloves and shoes – is simply a popular clothing accessory that should not be discriminated against, solely on the basis that it is included in the wardrobes of a particular brand of criminal.

The event was launched on the popular social networking site, Facebook, in the early hours of Sunday, June 1st – yet already, over seventeen thousand people have been invited to the protest, with the numbers growing every hour. This does not include those who have pledged their support via blogs and websites.

The protest has resonated with people from across both the religious and racial spectra, with one recent recruit stating: “from a Catholic Canadian Living in America… Bravo! I'm now frantically looking for a Kaffiyeh!“. In fact, the organiser of the event, a blogger who goes by the handle “iMuslim”, is herself a non-Arab PhD student, based in the United Kingdom. The famous British activist and journalist, Yvonne Ridley, has also lent her support to the campaign, urging her contacts to “wear the kaffiyeh with pride”.

A similar newsworthy, clothing-based protest took place last year in several Canadian schools, as part of an anti-bullying movement. A large number of students attended school donning various pink items of clothing, to display their solidarity with a fellow male pupil who had previously been harassed by school bullies for wearing a pink polo shirt.

At the end of the day, the significance of Kaffiyeh Day extends past the misrepresentation of an article of clothing, and the misguided actions of one of America's many fast-food chains. It is about self-empowerment, justice, and a call to the end of derogatory stereotyping of all peoples, irrespective of race or religion. And though the inspiration for these types of protest varies, at their heart lies the same message: please, whatever you do, don't judge a book by its cover – or even its kaffiyeh.

More information about International “Wear Your Kaffiyeh with Pride” Day can be found via the following links:

Facebook event page:
‘Īd=20090243695">http://www.facebook.com/event.php?‘Īd=20090243695

Blog post of event organiser:
http://imuslim.wordpress.com/2008/06/01/wear-your-kaffiyeh-with-pride-day/

Contact details for the organiser can be found on her blog:
http://imuslim.wordpress.com

UPDATE 1: Please change your Facebook profile pic on the 6th to either of the following – especially suitable for those who cannot get their hands on a kaffiyeh on time, but want to show their support. They also make great blog buttons! Click on the links below to be taken to the image, and right-click, save, to download it to your computer:

Click here to download one of five comic book hero designs by Shaikr.com:

Click here to download this design by PalestineOnlineStore.com:

UPDATE 2: I've also created a Flickr group, along the same lines as the event page: http://www.flickr.com/groups/kaffiyehday/

UPDATE 3: Someone contacted me suggesting that participants of the event should also make sure to contact DD and demand that they offer an apology. Contact details have been added at the bottom of this post.

UPDATE 4: I wrote an article explaining Kaffiyeh Day from a personal perspective for MuslimMatters.org – read it here.

UPDATE 5: I wrote a “scientific” paper based on the preliminary results of the Kaffiyeh Day study. :)

—

I've just created an event on Facebook, in response to the ridiculousness of the Rachel Ray ad being pulled by Dunkin' Donuts. Only problem is, I'm not a “trend setter”. Never have been! So those people who have that gift, please help me to plug this very simple event, so it can actually be newsworthy, God-willing. Thanks in advance!

‘Īd=20090243695" target="_blank">International Wear Your Kaffiyeh With Pride Day – Friday June 6th

A peaceful, visual protest against the clear racism displayed by a certain right-wing blogger, and her pals, after their ridiculous demand that Dunkin' Donuts pull an online ad featuring Rachael Ray wearing a distinctive black/white scarf, which apparently looked too much like the Palestinian kaffiyeh. According to said blogger, the kaffiyeh is the “traditional scarf of Arab men that has come to symbolize murderous Palestinian jihad.”

Our response: what a load of xenophobic tosh!

More details about the incident here:
http://muslimmatters.org/2008/05/31/rachael-ray-30-minute-meals-for-terrorists/

Instructions for the protest…
Simple: on Friday June 6th:

1) Wear a kaffiyeh! Preferably whilst standing outside your local Dunkin' Donuts. ;) PLEASE DO NOT HARASS ANY DD EMPLOYEES OR CUSTOMERS, OR BE ANY KIND OF NUISANCE TO ANYONE. This is a peaceful protest, and besides, DD serving staff are not responsible for their employer's marketing blunders! If you are asked to leave then do so, without causing a scene. We don't want this hitting the press for the WRONG reasons, God-forbid.
2) Change your profile pic to one of the images listed at the top of this post.
3) If applicable, change your Facebook status message to: is wearing their kaffiyeh with pride! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?‘Īd=20090243695
4) Take a photo/video of yourself wearing your kaffiyeh (with pride) and post it on the event page, or link to it on this post.
5) Contact Dunkin' Donuts – tell them about this event & demand for an apology – contact details at the bottom of this page.
6) If you own a blog or website, please write about the event & either link to this page or to the following: http://imuslim.wordpress.com/2008/06/01/wear-your-kaffiyeh-with-pride-day/

Invite everyone to join in: Arab, and non-Arab. The more the merrier! A variety of participants will serve to highlight that the kaffiyeh is simply a piece of cloth, and not a symbol of murder and oppression, God forbid.

Heck, I'm not Arab… and I live in the UK… and I don't even own a kaffiyeh… but I'm gonna wear one on June 6th, God-willing. :)

—

*Online Suppliers of Kaffiyeh*
I found these via a Google search, so I cannot officially endorse their quality of service. However, unless you order next day delivery, there is a chance the scarf will not arrive on time… so try offline stores as well!

US/Canada/International
http://www.palestineonlinestore.com/kuffiyeh.html
Message from store owner: “If you don't have a kuffiyeh, or enough kuffiyehs, and you order by noon Tues, we'll get it to you on time for the 6th! (in the States)”

UK
http://www.freedom-clothing.co.uk/shop/accessories

Update: I ordered mine from freedom clothing on Sunday – I asked the owner, Joe Turner, to dispatch it asap, and he kindly complied. I received it Tues morn (click for pics). Thanks Joe!

http://simplyislam.com/iteminfo.asp?Item=50643#

—
*Contacting Dunkin' Donuts*

Thanks to Samar Dahmash Jarrah for the following:

Hold Dunkin' Donuts to ethical standards higher than the quality of their iced coffee.

How can we do it?

If you haven't already done so, tell Dunkin' Donuts to reinstate the online ad, and ask that the company issue an apology. Make your voice heard.

The head of marketing at Dunkin' Donuts is Frances Allen; her e-mail address is frances.allen@dunkinbrands.com. Please copy aaimedia@aaiusa.org on any email you send to the company.

The Dunkin' Donuts Customer Care service line: (800) 859-5339. Be patient calling this number, it takes some time to get through. You can e-mail your concerns to customerservice@dunkinbrands.com or send a letter to:

Dunkin' Donuts Public Relations Department 130 Royall Street Canton, MA 02021
Tel: (781) 737-5200

If you live in Massachusetts (where Dunkin' Donuts is headquartered), contact your state representative, your state senator, and the office of the governor.

Bring your concerns to you local elected officials, and ask them to put pressure on Dunkin' Donuts to reinstate the ad and issue an apology. In addition to all of the Dunkin' Donuts stores frequented by Arab Americans in this country, the company has franchises throughout the Middle East.

My PhD is the tip of the iceberg. I am stuck in limbo with that, because though the thesis is submitted, there is still the viva, which can actually be a greater decider on the outcome, depending on how good/bad your thesis is. If your thesis is good, the viva is basically a formality. If the thesis is average/poor, then the viva is make or break. I have a bad feeling my thesis was at best average, just because of the lack of data… but let's not dwell on that for too long!

My blog/online life. Blogging was meant to be a past-time; a way to vent the silly-box that is my brain. I didn't even intend to make friends, or have any kind of social network online – that is, i didn't expect anyone to actually read my blog! Now i have a few loyal readers who put up with my random musings, and many kind passers-by who leave the odd heart-warming message. Alhamdulillah for all of God's blessings. However, i am feeling a little shell-shocked after returning to normal blogging from my pseudo-hiatus. I have always loved receiving comments and commenting more than blogging itself; or should i say, i feel that the best part of blogging is the discussion that follows it. But i am having to re-learn how to interact with other bloggers again – keeping up with the limited activity on my own blog is hard enough, without the added “stress” of following discussion threads on the other 20-odd blogs i regularly check. Plus my recent Facebook addiction has introduced a wonderful, yet time-consuming, dimension of interaction with my fellow bloggers. Blogging is meant to be fun! Why am i finding it so stressful? How did i manage it all before?!

And that's just the “fun” aspect of blogging. I haven't even mentioned the “serious” aspect: ventures such as Ijtema.net. I say “ventures” because, God-willing, i will soon be joining two other online collaborations – that is, if i survive Ijtema's overhaul. During my thesis write-up, Allāh blessed me with several ideas, that together with suggestions from the other editors could make Ijtema.net the next big thing – not just on the Muslim blogosphere, but the entire internet. Yes, i sound ambitious, but really, i have good reason to be! However, we haven't even begun work on this massive project, which just adds to my internal panic… i really want to set the wheels in motion, so i can attain some relief. If my fellow Ijtema.net editors are reading now: PLEASE CAN WE START ALREADY? Thank you. {sweet grin}

Then there is my personal life… ha ha ha hmm… the less said about that the better. The term “rollercoaster ride” is an UNDERSTATEMENT. Alhamdulillah, it looks to be settling down a wee bit lately, but in reality, this is the part of the ride where i am click, click, clicking my way to the top of the steepest peak, and a quick glance over the edge of the carriage reveals the true nature of the huge drop that is about to follow… however, the good news is that i LOVE rollercoasters, so bring on the Big Dipper! {wink}

Trust me, there is more, but i think that's enough explanation for now – i am starting to feel dizzy!

In short, my life feels like it is about to start all over again. The feeling in my gut is akin to the adrenaline rush one experiences just prior to the 100m dash: heart pumping, eyes fixated on the finish line, ears pricked up straining to hear the gun-shot; one second lasts a day. You can only survive in this state for so long – it's meant to be temporary, and i am sure it will be, God-willing. But i have to agree with my dear friend Organic on this one: waiting sucks.

I recently joined a new group on Facebook, titled: “A Muslim dummies guide to British political parties and what their policies actually mean for Muslims“. The aim is – and i quote:

“A confused.com sort of comparison site for each of the parties in terms of where exactly they stand on specific issues compared to the others. If rumours of a snap autumn election are to be believed then we need to be paying much more attention to all the new policies appearing each week. It is getting quite tough to compare on many issues, so please help fill in the missing info so we can fairly show what each party is doing in specific areas of concern to us.”

I welcomed the creation of such a group. Even though i am not in a position to contribute much to the discussions, at present, i am all for learning new things, especially that which concern me as a British citizen. However, i do have one niggling worry in the back of my mind. Whenever Muslims start discussing politics, and especially party politics, it is almost guaranteed that the same old, fiery debate will kick in: to vote or not to vote? That is the question (apparently).

The purpose of this entry is not to state my opinion on the whether i believe voting to be permissible or impermissible, in Islam. For one, my opinion in this issue doesn't matter, and for two, i don't have one. I really am one of those incredibly annoying people who can't make it black and white. I am the grey pebble in the shoe of the firmly opinionated. I sit on the fence, watching both sides slog it out, wondering when they're going to realise, “Hellooooo? We're on the same team, people!”.

I think debate is necessary, but we, the common people, lack the manners to debate politely, and on the whole, lack the self-control and intelligence to debate rationally. This is applicable to all spheres of Islam, and is something that i am only beginning to realise wrt my own behaviour. This is an extremely important issue – is it something that the Islamic scholars of the West are prioritising? If so, why is it that every time election season comes round, the exact, same discourse is regurgitated again, and again? Sometimes, i feel like this Ummah is running on a treadmill, expending lots of energy on going nowhere, fast.

One thing i would like to do in this entry, is try to explain both sides, and why it is that i am so undecided on this matter, lest it seem that i don't care.

Firstly, it is important to clarify the problem at hand. The issue is not with voting, and not even with Democracy. So all those people who claim that Islam is pro- or anti- democracy, really need to stop wasting their breath. DEMOCRACY IS NOT THE ISSUE. The issue is: is voting for a non-Islamic government, that is, a government that does not rule according to Law that is based upon principles and rulings found within the Qur'an, and the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, tantamount to an act of kufr (disbelief)?

Some claim the answer to be “yes”, and i have seen this Qur'anic verse quoted as supporting evidence [5:44; translation of the meaning by Yusuf Ali; emphasis mine]:

It was We who revealed the law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allāh's will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allāh's book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allāh hath revealed, they are (no better than) Unbelievers.

I am not sure if there are other relevant verses, or Prophetic narrations (hadith) that deal with the subject. But the basic reality is, there is good reason for any God-fearing Muslim to be concerned about voting for a government that does not rule by the Qur'an and Sunnah. None of us can ignore the very disturbing possibility that such an act may nullify our faith, no matter what our intentions for voting are.

Now, to the other side of the argument. There is another principle in Islam that states that in extreme cases, the impermissible may become permissible, when dealing with a matter of two “evils”. That is, when the believer is faced with a situation where he is damned if he does, and he is damned if he doesn't, he should choose the lesser of the two evils, and he will not be blamed for doing so, God-willing. Some scholars (and many lay people) have claimed that voting in this day and age is a “necessary evil”, for those living in the UK, because of the dangers the Muslim community are facing, wrt our civil liberties, and more importantly, our ability to worship freely, and also, wrt foreign policies that are destroying the lives of our brothers and sisters in Muslim countries. If we don't take political action, we face the possibility of bigots, such as the BNP, coming into power, and making our lives, and the lives of those others who are not-whiter-than-white, quite hellish. Can we stand by and let this happen, when we have a weapon, in the form of the “free” vote, available to us? Won't we be accountable in front of Allāh for not reducing the harm in the society that we live in?

So, hopefully, you can now see the dilemma that i, and many other Muslims, face, on a regular basis. We urgently need the scholars to get their act together, in this regard. And we urgently need experts in the fields of Political Science, to advise them.

In the mean time, while we wait, i have one request, and one suggestion:

First, i ask the Muslims who have already made up their minds on this issue, to be patient with one another. To the pro-voters: understand the fear that the anti-voters have for the sanctity of their own faith, and in turn, for the sanctity of yours. Inshā’Allāh, their hearts are in the right place, even if their tongues are not. And to the anti-voters: understand the fear that pro-voters have, for their accountability in front of Allāh, for not taking action against those who wish our community harm. God-willing, their hearts too, are in the right place, even if their tongues are not. To both sides: do not think that you are more God-fearing than the other, or more concerned for the welfare of the Muslims, than the other; recognise that, at the end of the day, you both want to please Allāh and avoid harm.

Secondly, my suggestion is for us to seek the middle ground between the two camps, which IMHO, is the political process known as lobbying. Now, don't ask me for exact details on how this is done; it is something i am eager to investigate myself. How is it that there are these powerful groups that exert such great influence on so-called “democratic” governments, without the need for elections? This is definitely something we, as a community, have little idea about, which is really sad, because i do believe that it is a permissible means of achieving change, as long as it does not involve bribery and corruption (though one has to wonder if that is even possible?). In theory, it should fall under the banner of enjoining the good, and forbidding the evil, without going so far as to officially validate the governing body, in the manner that voting has been accused of doing. However, I could be wrong, and Allāh knows best.

So, going back to the group that inspired this entry. I do think it is a good idea to have such a discussion, because we need to know what our future leaders have in store for us, even if we don't want to play a direct part in bringing them to power. I also think we need to think more locally. Imams, and citizens from each constituency have to study their own candidates, and decide what is best for themselves. Maybe a one-size-fits-all fatwa just won't cut it. For example, if you have an area where there is a real danger of the BNP gaining a seat, it might be a duty of the Muslims OF THAT AREA, to organise their vote to help keep them out. But in another area, where the candidates are pretty similar in their overall level of good/bad, and thus, where voting may not bring any benefit, it is best for the Muslims OF THAT AREA, to not engage in voting.

Yes, i'm sure that it is way more complicated than that – and that is why i'm going to leave it to the professionals (i.e., scholars & political scientists) to argue it out. I just pray that the other members of the group are willing to do the same.

You know you've worked too long in a lab when…

3. You can't watch CSI without cursing at least one scientific inaccuracy

4. You use acronyms for everything and never stop to elaborate

5. Liquid nitrogen is only about a 1/3 as dangerous as you thought

6. You always seem to use the microscope after the person with the impossible close together eyes

8. You've wondered why you can't drink distilled water in the lab – It should be clean?

9. You give the lab equipment motivational pep talks “Work for me today or i'll reprogram you with a fire axe” is my favorite

10. You've worked out that a trained chimp could probably do 90% of your job
[THIS MADE ME GASP - I SAY IT ALL THE TIME!]

11. When a non-scientist asks you what you do for a living you roll your eyes and talk science at them until they've loss the will to live (mainly for fun)

12. You have to check the web to find out what the weather is outside

14. People wearing shorts under a lab coat disturb you slightly as they look as though they might be naked underneath

15. Although all cooking is a glorified chemistry experiment you just still can't seem to get it right

16. Safety equipment is optional unless it makes you look cool

17. Warning labels invoke curiosity rather than caution

20. You decide the courses and conference you want to go on by the quality of the food served

23. No matter what the timings in the experiment protocol there is always time for lunch in the middle

24. As has been pointed out to me on several occasions – You can no longer spell normal words but have no trouble with spelling things like immunohistochemistry or deoxyribonucleic acid.

25. Burning eyes, nose and throat indicate that you haven't actually turned on the fumehood/downdraft bench

30. you have made some kind of puppet out of a nitrile glove and kept it as a pet (Putting dry ice in makes for a rapidly expanding if short lived pet)

34. Blinking real fast has saved your eyesight on more than one occasion.
[Unfortunately/fortunately, this is true for me!]

37. You rejoice when grabbing a handfull of eppendorfs/bijous/anything and it turns outs to be the exact number you needed

39. You hate having to change your lab coat to a new one because 'it just won't fit right' and because the wrist bits are way too tight

41. Your nose invariably itches when you're doing mucky stuff with your hands so you develop the habit of scratching it on your upper arm. Unfortunately you sometimes carry this habit over to real life, where it looks like you're sniffing your armpits.

44. You start making patterns in your pipette tip box as you take the tips out. I made a beautiful spiral today.

47. The fire alarm ceases to bug you. You only evacuate when you see the fire

My (unfunny) contribution: You start using lab words in everyday conversation, so you end up making smoothies in a “homogenizer”.

I'm kind of addicted to the Graffiti app on Facebook. For the non-FBers, it's an application that allows you to draw Graffiti-esque art on your friend's wall. As graphics programs go, it's as sophisticated as MS Paint, but has the bonus feature of opacity options. OooOOooh. The above is something i drew on my own secret wall. It's the closest thing to creativity i can achieve these days!

If you want to see some real works of art created by talented Muslims, then check out my latest entry on Ijtema, titled: Discover Islamic Art

I'm sure i'm not the only one who is in receipt of regular inspiration, so i created a Facebook group titled: Muslims: A Place For Your Crazy Ideas, to allow people to get feedback on their – well – crazy ideas!

I was inspired to create the group, because of a particularly crazy idea i had a while back. If i hadn't shared it with someone, i would never have been brave enough to act upon it, especially as it has nothing to do with Science. And thanks to this someone's own contacts, this idea may become a reality very soon, inshā’Allāh. Jazakallah to that someone: you know who you are! :D

Facebook groups are really weird. Very few of them seem to be a place of discussion, and networking, which drives me a little crazy. I think it's because FB does not allow users to subscribe to a group “feed” which would allow members to keep an eye on the latest activity. I actually wrote to the admin to suggest they implement this, but we'll see if they accept my crazy idea. Also, most Facebookers are lazy show-offs, IMO (not the people that i know, obviously – just a general observation!).

Anyway… join already!