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A Tentative “Eid Mubarak”!

// September 29th, 2008 // 24 Comments » // Blog

Tentative, because I haven't received the usual flurry of text messages and phone calls that normally arrives at this time (i.e., approximately one hour after Maghrib, the night before ‘Īd). I do know they have pronounced the end of Ramadan in Saudi (my uncle called and informed us, from whichever one of the two Holy Cities he happens to be in, alhamdulillah).

Anyway, while I wait for the moon dust to settle, I'll leave you with this fantastic text message my friend sent me about ten minutes ago (edited restoring 'txt spk' to 'real speak'):

Mubarak. It has been formally and unanimously agreed upon by all the religious bodies, jamiat, Imam, radio stations, Dewsbury [a town in England], Saudi, Morocco, Madina, along with all the biggest governing bodies – and not to mention Islam and 'S' Channel – that tomorrow, inshā’Allāh, will definitely be….

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‘Īd-mubarak/#more-811" class="more-link">(more…)

Boycott Israeli Dates

// 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.

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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?

NISAA Podcast: Ramadan Special 2008

// September 3rd, 2008 // No Comments » // Blog

The relaunch of the beautifully made-over Nisaa website, and the arrival of the sacred month, inspired Organica and I to reflect over our best and worst Ramadan moments for a new episode of the NISAA podcast.

You Know It’s Ramadan When…

// August 29th, 2008 // 5 Comments » // Blog

…you come across the first moon sighting debate of the year.

Photo credit: Radiant Guy

I am not even going to waste my time, or your time, discussing it.

I will do this year, what I have done pretty much every year, and follow the majority. If the majority follow Saudi, then so be it. Alhamdulillah.

The same with ‘Īd, inshā’Allāh. Following the majority… Simple. Easy. Sunnah. Yey!

Other “You Know It's Ramadan When…” moments:

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SS Free Gaza: They Made 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.

Continue reading…

Poetic Smackdown

// August 19th, 2008 // 7 Comments » // Blog

Thank Allāh for the video camera, seeing as I would not have been there to witness this even if I had somehow attended last week's IlmSummit. Girls, this is what our brothers get up to behind closed doors!

Yes, Another Marriage Topic… Sosueme!

// August 15th, 2008 // 22 Comments » // Blog

I was just reminded of the issue whilst chatting to a good friend (wink wink). I learnt of it a while ago, but completely forgot to blog about it. Anyway…

For those of you who have had to endure the annoyance that is your typical rishta, this custom may make your life a little easier, inshā’Allāh.

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How I Plan on Meeting My Future Husband

// August 14th, 2008 // 19 Comments » // Blog

Keeping with the marriage theme, this article made me chuckle (hopefully not at the expense of the sister who was brave enough to write it [anonymously... not so brave then {says the woman who blogs behind a pseudonym (though a lot of people do actually know my true identity)}]):

I want to meet my future husband through the Western Muslim Website … phew, there I finally said it! Although I don't think it's the worst idea, I won't meet him through some future based WM marriage ads – this is a quality publication people, I don't think they'll resort to a “Shaadi.com” style ad page, that is, unless they get really desperate for money!

I have something else in mind…

You Don’t Need Eyes to Hear

// August 12th, 2008 // No Comments » // Blog

A young man has recently joined the SignLabs/Al-Qasas transcription team. But so have several others… So what makes him so special? Well dear readers… this brother is blind.

Yes, blind!

His story is reproduced here with his permission – his name has been removed to respect his privacy:

Read the rest of this entry »

SignLabs.org – It’s Finally Here

// August 8th, 2008 // No Comments » // Blog

Bismillah

Finally, I have the immense honour and pleasure to announce the launch of the long-awaited (well, long-ish, kinda awaited) website, that has recently got the blogosphere in a buzz… (more…)