tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206310692024-03-07T13:49:11.266-05:00Ibnat al-Hidayah: Daughter of GuidanceReflections and Rantings of a Convert to IslamAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.comBlogger605125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-55063798868873205122018-04-30T15:07:00.000-04:002018-04-30T15:07:08.337-04:00Why I Say Scarf Instead of Hijab<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's not uncommon, as a Muslim woman who covers her hair, to get asked about that headcovering. Years ago, the standard answer to those questions was always to talk about the "hijab." For example, "It's called a hijab and it's a sign of my faith," or "Hijab is how Muslim women veil themselves," or "Hijab means for women to cover their bodies except for their faces and hands in loose non-transparent clothes."<br />
<br />
Hijab is of course an Arabic word, and most muslimahs (Muslim women) I've met do use the word hijab, at least amongst themselves, to refer to their headcovers, even though that's not the literal or original meaning of the word. Khimar is another common Arabic word for this purpose, which has the benefit of being the word used in the Qur'an to talk about headcovers.<br />
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And I have no problem with any Muslim's or non-Muslim's use of either of these words.<br />
<br />
However, I've found myself increasingly using the word "scarf" to talk about my own headcover, especially when talking to non-Muslims. Why?<br />
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First, it's an English word that is more natural and easy for English speakers to use. If necessary, I may say "head scarf" to distinguish from "neck scarf." Overall it makes the entire concept less intimidating, by not using a word that might be foreign to the listener. Using a word they already know, its easier for them to talk about it. I've found that some people, in trying to avoid incorrectly saying a foreign word like "hijab," they resort to other words (like "headgear") with connotations that aren't quite appropriate, or which might be confused with another concept, (like "veil," or "burka.")<br />
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Second, by using a neutral word like "scarf," in addition to being easier to talk about, the otherness of the concept can also be reduced. Of course I wear my scarf for religious reasons, and many Americans might view it as being strange because religious headcoverings are rare in our culture nowadays. Calling it "hijab" gives the impression that it's just for women "over there." It might even heighten the perception that it is a means of oppression. By using a common word to describe mine, I'm introducing it as a common and simple part of an American wardrobe. After all, isn't it likely that most Americans have at some point worn a scarf around their necks?<br />
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So instead of the hijab feared as foreign or repressive, it can more easily become a beautiful thing, not because it's exotic but because of its purpose and practicality. </div>
Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-82053452374593689332012-12-16T02:33:00.001-05:002012-12-16T02:33:57.576-05:00The Gun Rights Fantasy I really don't understand why, after such tragic events, in this case shooting at a Connecticut elementary school, people are still more concerned about their right to have a gun than their right to live. But the strangest remark that I have heard is that if every teacher were carrying a gun then no children would've been killed. Seriously?<br/><br/>This is what I call a fantasy. It's a fantasy that if everybody were carrying a gun nobody would have to use it. Gun ownership correlates with gun violence. And also accidental discharge. It seems to me that gun rights activists, proponents of lighter restrictions on gun ownership, are deluded if they think that everyone carrying a gun is safer than only law-enforcement carrying a gun. The more guns that are around, the easier it is for folks who shouldn't have them to get them.<br/><br/>Sure, if someone is determined enough they might be able to get a gun anyway. But it would be a lot harder to keep them out of the hands of crazies who shoot up school and movie theaters. The reality is that the more people have guns, the more people use guns, and the more people can get guns, the more people will die because of guns.<br/><br/>Guns do kill people, and they're very good at it.<br/><br/>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-32846858039926155702012-12-13T02:31:00.000-05:002012-12-13T02:41:15.005-05:00What War on Christmas?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HgsO77b5pWxtLB8C2GDVXkkHqWZMkUhxgH2uvuh-w7eJ7wOiWO7e2OOFy8yNloEwWobRIIWWTbAxLdpyljXVRqLg7xktqc0CCk-FQrYVtyTEa93xf8Hx6hZF29c6TxTluZ6u/s2048/Photo%252520Dec%25252013%25252C%2525202012%25252C%2525202%25253A24%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HgsO77b5pWxtLB8C2GDVXkkHqWZMkUhxgH2uvuh-w7eJ7wOiWO7e2OOFy8yNloEwWobRIIWWTbAxLdpyljXVRqLg7xktqc0CCk-FQrYVtyTEa93xf8Hx6hZF29c6TxTluZ6u/s500/Photo%252520Dec%25252013%25252C%2525202012%25252C%2525202%25253A24%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1355384131523.735" class="alignleft" alt="" width="249" height="185"></a></div>
One of silliest headlines in the news these days is about some alleged <a href="http://nation.foxnews.com/topics/war-on-christmas/" target="_self" title="">war on Christmas</a>. As if there is some concerted effort on the part of the media or maybe non-Christians to eliminate Christmas from American culture. Or perhaps just to eliminate the religious part of Christmas. <br/><br/>And you know that by saying there's a religious part of Christmas means there's part of Christmas that's actually not religious, right?<br/><br/>But if there is any sort of war on Christmas, then I think Christians lost it a long time ago. Maybe they lost it when they decided to hold the celebration around the time of the winter solstice in the first place. Or maybe they lost it when they started making Santa and home decorations more important than any religious symbol. Even when you find a nativity scene in the home of a religious family, when is it not dwarfed by the scope of other decorations? We see wreaths, lights, garland, lawn decorations and of course the huge Christmas tree (or trees, some homes now erecting more than one) boasting its own lights and shiny ornaments.<br/><br/>To me, most of the myths surrounding Santa Claus seem to violate religious principles. For instance, telling children that it is Santa who knows whether they're being behaving correctly or not ascribes to him a power which should belong only to God. Doesn't it compromise a child's moral compass when he's told that he needs to be good because Santa will know rather than because God will know?<br/><br/>And let's not forget that because Santa does not exist, just telling children that he does is already a lie. And I'm sure it's a practice in many households that some if not all of the gifts parents buy for their children are assumed to have been delivered from the NorthPole. Consequently children don't learn to express gratitude as they are instructed to believe that a mythical figure is bringing their gifts rather than their parents or other family members.<br/><br/>And I really wonder when it became so offensive for somebody to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." Personally, I don't mind somebody telling me "Merry Christmas" even though I don't celebrate it as a holiday. But what I don't understand is the logic that says the person who celebrates Christmas should only say "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays." I don't go out of my way to tell people "Happy Eid" when I know that they're non-Muslim.<br/><br/>But I have a theory. It seems that a quick and reliable way to turn people's opinion against someone or something is to start by telling them that they are already enemies. ("Why do they hate us?") Telling them that the other side already hates them. And then they are led to believe that the best response to the hatred that supposedly already exists is more hatred in response. I think that is how FOXNews is poisoning its audience against Muslims (for starters) and also others who don't share their same worldview.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-58950931020444744142012-07-01T02:20:00.000-04:002012-07-01T02:20:56.933-04:00On Loving the Prophet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kkHA98W7AdfbssdiQbO9l923NbnY30B6f0GQYwAcMgkyjKnUKP-a9OBGcGSDCYZi1vrD30lu_eatpoXpDkQQfJsI8KNopcCgZMChpJrmsm5TWeO_TSEzUln0kE7uCywnHY7x/s1600/iPhone-April12+600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kkHA98W7AdfbssdiQbO9l923NbnY30B6f0GQYwAcMgkyjKnUKP-a9OBGcGSDCYZi1vrD30lu_eatpoXpDkQQfJsI8KNopcCgZMChpJrmsm5TWeO_TSEzUln0kE7uCywnHY7x/s320/iPhone-April12+600.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
When I came to Islam, I found the following ayah especially meaningful:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allah aught but the truth. The Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah and His Word, ("Be!" - and he was) which He bestowed on Mary and a spirit created by Him; so believe in Allah and His Messengers. Say not: "Three!" Cease! (it is) better for you. For Allah is One God, Glory be to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs. (4:171)</blockquote>
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By telling the reader (me, in that case) that it's better to just not say three, I understood that the very concept of the Trinity in Christianity was distorting my perception of God. Consequently, just throwing it out simplified things immensely. I felt like I couldn't call myself a Christian after reading this ayah, and it was one of my first big steps in coming to Islam.<br />
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But with my background in a religion that has gone to an extreme in elevating its Messenger, I have had a cautious view of the role of the Messenger I learned about in the Qur'an--the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), peace be upon him. I mean that I have struggled in learning to love Muhammad (pbuh) the way so many other Muslims seem to do so naturally.<br />
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I didn't swap one Messenger for the next, and shift my love accordingly. Instead, I came to understand the proper role of Jesus as a Messenger of God, and additionally, to accept Muhammad (pbuh) as a Messenger of God as well. And I became very fearful of the excessive and profuse love which I believed, when directed towards Jesus, led to the misunderstanding of his role and unjust elevation of his status by Christians.<br />
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When I started to learn about Islam, and even when I decided to convert, it was with very little knowledge about Muhammad (pbuh). For me, the power of the Qur'an was the means in which I found guidance, and by accepting it as the truth, I accepted Muhammad (pbuh) as a Messenger even though I knew almost nothing about him.<br />
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Since then, I've had to learn to find balance between the following. First, an ayah declaring Muhammad (pbuh) is only a Messenger, and second, a hadith which demands also a love of the Messenger.<br />
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Muhammad (SAW) is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah, and Allah will give reward to those who are grateful. 3:144<br />
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Anas radi Allahu ‘anhu (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said, <span style="background-color: white;">“None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father, his children and all mankind.” (Bukhari)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Of course, there is no conflict between these two. And it is easy to grasp the need to obey the Messenger, given the specific exhortations to do so in the Qur'an. Loving the Messenger, however--acquiring that love--that's what was new for me.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">When I would hear Muslims talk about the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), what struck me was that they did so with more respect, more reverence, and more love than even Christians had when talking about Jesus. Perhaps that's why I was so cautious--because from my perspective, it seemed that Muslims loved Muhammad (pbuh) even more than Christians loved Jesus, and Christians thought Jesus was divine! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">And over time, I learned more about the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) through interacting with Muslims, taking classes on the Seerah and learning more about his life. But I continued to feel my love for him inadequate, compared to that of other Muslims. You could say I just didn't get it. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">But last weekend I had an interesting realization, due in part to another class I took about the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh.) It was an AlMaghrib class that came to Seattle called The Prophet's Smile. And while the subject was primarily the characteristics of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), I was able to reflect on how his life has affected me personally. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Though I have heard many times, occasionally in gruesome detail, about the struggles he went through in his life, and what he suffered, I was never able to personally relate to it. I understood it in a purely abstract sense, and without having grown up loving this man, it wasn't immediate or natural for me to sympathize. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">But then it occurred to me that if not for his persistence in delivering the message, and his prayers for his ummah, I might not be a Muslim today. And because I really believe that being guided to Islam is a very special gift from God, it strikes me now the critical importance of the Messenger to establishing Islam as a way of life on Earth, as extensively as is currently is. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">When I hear about how he was stoned in at-Ta'if, for example, instead of just feeling bad about what he went through, I think--he endured that so <i>I</i> could find Islam, so many centuries later. That he suffered abuse from his own family members so <i>I</i> could be a Muslim. And that he worshiped and prayed at night for the Muslims until his legs were swollen so that guidance would reach even <i>me</i>. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">And that thought brings a flood of tears to my eyes and an overwhelming emotion. Realizing that no other human being has had such a tremendous impact on my ability to receive God's message of guidance as he, I finally start to truly love him. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">May Allah's peace and blessings and mercy be upon him and his family and his companions. </span><br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-26482762668886205942011-10-08T05:34:00.000-04:002011-10-08T05:34:09.943-04:00Why Learn to Read Arabic?Even though many Muslims are taught how to read the Qur'an from an early age, for various reasons many still don't know how to read the Qur'an in Arabic as adults. Some were never taught, some converted to Islam as adults and never got the chance to learn.<br />
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But now it's become easier than ever to start learning Arabic, even for adults who never learned the Arabic alphabet. Many masajid offer classes for beginners, and so do various online institutes, all to help Muslims attain their Qur'an goals. So why would a Muslim who can't read Arabic start learning?<br />
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First, to gain the blessings of reading the Qur'an in Arabic. How could you read the Qur'an in Arabic--the language of its revelation--without knowing how to read Arabic at all? And every letter of the Qur'an that we read is a blessing. In fact, Allah rewards us just for reading the letters of the Qur'an--<br />
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<blockquote>
Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah, he will have a reward. And that reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not saying that “Alif, Laam, Meem” is a letter, rather I am saying that “Alif” is a letter, “laam” is a letter and “meem” is a letter. (At-Tirmidhi)</blockquote>
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A second reason to start learning Arabic is to learn how to properly recite the Qur'an. Proper recitation is a science in itself, but something that even a beginning student of Arabic can start to learn. After learning the basics of reading, it's natural to learn the rules of recitation in order to beautify the recitation of the Qur'an.<br />
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A third reason is to start memorizing more Qur'an for salah, and even to memorize the entire Qur'an. It's very difficult to memorize Qur'an without being able to read Arabic, and memorization also requires the ability to recite Qur'an properly. But after learning how to read and recite, we can start memorizing. And the amount of Qur'an we have memorized will determine our rank in Paradise--<br />
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<blockquote>
It will be said to the companion of the Qur’an: Read and elevate (through the levels of the Paradise) and beautify your voice as you used to do when you were in the dunyaa! For verily, your position in the Paradise will be at the last verse you recite! (Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi)</blockquote>
And lastly, we should learn to read Arabic so that we can begin studying the Arabic language, and then we can understand the meaning of the Qur'an while reading and reciting it.<br />
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The world of the Qur'an opens up once we begin to read and recite it--this is the very first right that the Qur'an has on us, and it is our responsibility as Muslims to read the Qur'an. Reading Arabic is the first step--if we can't do that yet, then it's time to learn!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-36982046571547957912011-09-14T18:17:00.003-04:002011-09-14T18:18:25.835-04:00He said that Arabic is too hardSeveral years ago, I was just starting to learn Arabic. And while taking a class at the mosque to learn the Arabic script, I went to a bookstore and found a few books on learning Arabic. I was a big fan of bookstores in those days, and would spend hours in there reading parts of different books that I couldn't afford to buy. But on the day that I happened to pick up these books on Arabic, an Arab man found me and asked me about studying Arabic. Then he went on to tell me how difficult the Arabic language is and how nobody can learn it unless they learn it from birth.<br />
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But I believe he was wrong.<br />
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I had a lot of opportunities for learning the Qur'anic Arabic in my first few years as a Muslim--not something that everyone can boast--and alhamdulillah now I can understand the vast majority of the Qur'an when I read or hear it, and hope to gain 100% comprehension within the next year. I'm certainly not going to be composing any Arabic poetry, or writing books in the language, but I'm pretty close to completing my goal of being able to understand the entire Qur'an in Arabic, without requiring a translation.<br />
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And I think that many Muslims have that same goal--to be able to read the Qur'an in Arabic and understand it. And honestly, it's a reasonable and realistic goal. Allah made it easy for us. Even though we might hear teachers say that the Qur'an is the most eloquent of Arabic language, and hear random Arabs say that Arabic is the most difficult language ever, we shouldn't buy into a myth of an unreachable Qur'an. No, we might not all be scholars of Arabic language, producing awe-inspiring poetry or even conversing in the language fluently. All we need is to be able to understand the Qur'an--not every last detail, not writing a tafseer, but to comprehend the text even at a basic level. And that is an amazing gift.<br />
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Don't be turned off by the naysayers, skeptics who think that Arabic is too hard. If your goal is the Qur'an, then inshaaAllaah you'll find it well within reach.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-80478295333844786022011-08-16T12:03:00.000-04:002011-08-16T12:03:05.379-04:00Transformed By the Qur'an<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kfxMCBP7RtCCboOOWRSOnMs0MXgraki68KNPURLy7ghr4iC5E89aFVoWY6WYO8DArRh99OJRdsBzueNbO_gf5h8WTNQnqqWFygTMlSU5njOJRgNk4yU7lxcCmVRaFUt8TbJS/s1600/pages.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kfxMCBP7RtCCboOOWRSOnMs0MXgraki68KNPURLy7ghr4iC5E89aFVoWY6WYO8DArRh99OJRdsBzueNbO_gf5h8WTNQnqqWFygTMlSU5njOJRgNk4yU7lxcCmVRaFUt8TbJS/s200/pages.JPG" width="200" /></a>I usually insist, when people ask me why I embraced Islam, on the importance for me of reading the Qur'an myself. While there are less relevant details I try to omit--why I felt compelled to read it in the first place, for instance--I focus on this point because it is truly what changed my heart.<br />
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Obviously, I read a translation. And even then, there's much I read which I still didn't understand. But from the first page, I read voraciously, daily, whenever I had the time. I didn't read a passage here or there, or hear random quotations fired like bullets by a preacher, but I had a personal, intimate dialogue with the Qur'an myself.<br />
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I don't think it's possible to have a similar dialogue with any other book--the miraculous nature of the Qur'an and its compelling inimitable rhetoric capture the mind and the heart of the reader. And so it's not surprising that those who hear the revelation and disbelieve in it are so scorned. At the same time, can I ever be grateful enough to have been guided by means of the Qur'an? That my heart was opened to its call?Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-44019736285078920392011-07-25T22:00:00.002-04:002011-07-26T10:14:13.158-04:00Preparing for Your First Ramadan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgBN91ETw94JyxxZ1M5FIy7BMgNT5cQwhyphenhyphenGdQgtVSthjJz9i2X_9SHvlq_10PqtTnl7hZmRQLlTdZuY_a_DP0d4Hgoy3MT10evT4YtH0VXm3HwUYsJBZriNXYNm6rv8nGc3Gz/s1600/mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgBN91ETw94JyxxZ1M5FIy7BMgNT5cQwhyphenhyphenGdQgtVSthjJz9i2X_9SHvlq_10PqtTnl7hZmRQLlTdZuY_a_DP0d4Hgoy3MT10evT4YtH0VXm3HwUYsJBZriNXYNm6rv8nGc3Gz/s200/mountains.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>If you have embraced Islam sometime in the last year, then you're probably preparing right now for your first Ramadan. If you've not grown up with exposure to Muslim cultures, then you might discover many new customs, habits, clothes, and foods these days. Hopefully you'll make many new friends in addition to all the spiritual benefits and blessings that come with the month of fasting.<br />
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But while many Muslims look forward to Ramadan months in advance, if this is your first you might be feeling anxious--so I'd like to offer a few tips to help ease any worries ahead of time.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Intention</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
Much can be said about the importance of intention (<i>niyyah</i>) in Islam. We're told that we need to "make intention" before beginning any act of worship, like wudhu or prayer, and this goes for fasting too. But when it comes to Ramadan, and fasting in particular, you might find that with the correct intention, you are able to focus on and commit to an act more than if you were just doing it for yourself. So remind yourself that you are fasting for the sake of Allah, to follow His commands, and to seek His mercy and forgiveness.<br />
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<b>Tips</b><br />
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<ul><li>Make your intention at the beginning of Ramadan to fast for the month for the sake of Allah, seeking His forgiveness. </li>
<li>Renew your intention daily before <i>fajr </i>to remind yourself why you're fasting. </li>
<li>While you make intention, take an opportunity to review the start and end times of the fast for the day on your timetable. </li>
</ul><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Days of Ramadan</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
As soon as you can, get your hands on a prayer timetable. You're going to want to keep track of a few things during Ramadan (and all year round, so if you can get a yearly table for your area, you should.) For Ramadan, you'll want to know when it starts, the dates of certain days and nights, like which are even and which are odd, and when the 27th is, for example, when it ends, the time to start fasting and the time to stop fasting, and all prayer times throughout the day.<br />
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<b>The First Day</b><br />
It's not always possible to know ahead of time when exactly Ramadan is going to start because Muslims follow a lunar calendar for determining religious holidays. But you can have a pretty good idea. Each one of the 12 months is 29 or 30 days long, and the month before Ramadan is called Sha'ban. You'll want to find out from your local mosque when they expect Ramadan to be.<br />
<blockquote>A note on moonsighting--it's unlikely that all mosques in your area will have the same start and end dates of Ramadan, because some use different criteria for sighting (or not sighting) the moon. You should pick one that you trust and stick with it. </blockquote>They might have a date confirmed already based on astronomical calculations, so you'll know when to start fasting. Or, they might tell you when the 29th of Sha'ban will be, after which they will wait to see if the moon has been spotted. If it is spotted, then Ramadan officially starts that night. You'll want to check their website or call someone who might know in order to find out, if you're not able to attend maghrib and isha prayers at the masjid yourself.<br />
<blockquote>In a Muslim calendar, the night precedes the day, so the first of Ramadan will start at maghrib prayer, and taraweeh prayers will begin on that night after Isha prayer. </blockquote>If it is not spotted, then it means Sha'ban is lasting 30 days instead of 29. So do not fast on the 30th, but Ramadan will begin at maghrib the next day without any question of moon-sighting.<br />
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And don't forget to make your intention to fast for the month of Ramadan!<br />
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<b>Tips</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Find out when Ramadan starts by contacting a local mosque. </li>
<li>Get a hold of their prayer timetable as soon as you can--they might publish one before Ramadan, but should definitely have one afterwards. </li>
<li>Make plans for finding out if Ramadan has started--know which website to check, or number to call, if the date isn't already set. </li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>The Night of Power</b></div>The Night of Power, <i>Laylat al-Qadr, </i>is a special night in the last 10 nights of Ramadan when your du'aa are most likely to be answered, so you definitely want to catch this night in prayer. It will be on the last odd nights of Ramadan, so you should keep an eye on your calendar/timetable. Many people believe it is on the 27th so you might find even bigger crowds at the mosque on those nights. Be prepared, and arrive early!<br />
<br />
<b>Tips</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Make a small list of things you would like to make du'aa for, either before Ramadan or when it starts. </li>
<li>Use it to remember what you want to ask for throughout Ramadan and especially on the Night of Power (and all the nights it might be.)</li>
<li>Try to arrive early at the mosque in the last days of Ramadan--consider breaking your fast there!</li>
</ul><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>The Last Day and Eid</b><br />
The end of Ramadan comes with similar confusion, unless your mosque has already determined the dates. If the moon is sighted after the 29th, then Ramadan is only 29 days, and the following day will be the holiday Eid al-Fitr. If not, then you'll fast one more day and Eid will be after that. There's no fasting on Eid but lots of takbeer--saying <i>Allaahu Akbar</i>.<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When You're Fasting</span></b><br />
<br />
<b>Starting the Fast</b><br />
Another reason you'll want a timetable is to know what time in the morning the fast officially starts. It begins at the start time of the fajr prayer, so on your timetable that might be labeled as <i>Fajr</i> or possibly as <i>Imsaak</i>. This is probably going to be pretty early in the morning (especially during these longer summer days) but you still should get up to have a small snack or meal (called <i>suhoor</i>) before beginning the fast. Be sure that you're done by the time the fast begins.<br />
<blockquote>A note on prayer times--they are based on the location of the sun in the sky and they will change daily and vary geographically. If you are travelling during Ramadan, you'll need to know the prayer times for all locations you'll be. You can find this online if you don't know of a mosque in the area. Many smartphones also have apps with prayer times, which you can adjust by changing your location. I use Guidance for my iPhone. </blockquote>It's a good idea to renew your intention to fast at this time as well! The food you eat at <i>suhoor</i> is going to last you through the morning. Drink plenty of water and avoid having too much sugar early on. If you have a habit of drinking caffeine, you might want to drink some coffee with your suhoor to avoid getting headaches during the day.<br />
<br />
<b>Tips</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Drink plenty of water at suhoor time to stay hydrated throughout the day. </li>
<li>Avoid sweets for suhoor which will make you hungry later on. </li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<b>During the Fast</b><br />
While fasting you need to abstain from all food (even gum) and water, as well as marital relations. You can resume all of this at night while you're not fasting.<br />
<blockquote>A note on medical conditions--if you need to take regular medications, or have an illness which might prevent you from fasting, you should see a doctor to make sure it is safe, and see if you need to adjust your medication schedule. If you are still not able to fast, then you might be able to make up the days later if it's temporary, or feed a hungry person for each day if it's permanent. </blockquote><b>Tips</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Be extra-conscious of your behavior, and avoid lying, backbiting, gossip, and useless talk while fasting. </li>
<li>Use the fast as a chance to tell people about Islam. </li>
</ul><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Ending the Fast</b><br />
As soon as the adhan is called for maghrib prayer, at sunset, you can break your fast. This is called <i>iftaar</i>. There is a du'a that you should make, and it's recommended to break your fast with dates and water. Then pray maghrib and enjoy your meal, and don't forget to thank and praise Allah and ask Him for forgiveness.<br />
<br />
It's likely that you will have many opportunities to share an <i>iftaar</i> with other Muslims, and I would advise you to take advantage of these opportunities as much as possible. Many mosques host <i>iftaars</i>, sometimes donated and sometimes for a small charge. Look out for community <i>iftaars</i>, or if anyone invites you to a dinner at their home. This is a great way to learn more about Islam and Muslims through interaction, time to spend with Muslim friends you know, and to make new friends, while you share in the blessings of Ramadan.<br />
<br />
<b>Tips</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Learn the du'aa to say when breaking the fast. </li>
<li>First break your fast with dates and water, and then pray maghrib before eating your meal. </li>
<li>Eat light and small quantities of food so you still feel fresh when you go pray taraweeh!</li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Taraweeh</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
Every night of Ramadan (starting with the 1st night, which will be before you've started fasting) there will be <i>Taraweeh</i> prayers during which the Qur'an will be recited, basically cover to cover over the 29-30 days. This starts after <i>ishaa</i> prayers at night, and will be either 8 <i>rak'ahs </i>or 21, recited in units of 2. There will probably be a short break after the first 4, and some people might leave after 8, or after 11, if the congregation is performing the <i>witr</i> prayer at that time. You can leave then, if you want, and pray <i>witr </i>in the <i>masjid </i>with the group or at home before <i>suhoor</i>. Or you can wait for the completion of 20 <i>rak'ahs</i>, followed by the 21st which will be the <i>witr</i>.<br />
<blockquote>A note about <i>witr</i>--the word means "odd" and is basically a single unit of prayer, usually following 2 or more units, often separately but sometimes attached. (I.e., 2+1, or 2+2+1, etc, or sometimes 3.) This is a highly recommended prayer, in addition to the mandatory 5, which is prayed at night. It can be prayed anytime after <i>ishaa</i> prayer before <i>fajr </i>comes in, but it's recommended to pray it later, after sleeping. </blockquote>Praying <i>Taraweeh</i> can be really rewarding, even if this is your first Ramadan and you don't understand a word of Arabic. Try to attend as much as you can to listen to the Qur'an being recited. To help understand what is being recited, read the translation before you come. And it's a much more rewarding experience than, say, watching TV. If you have some regular shows you watch, plan ahead to record them or stream them after Ramadan, so you can spend as much time as possible during Ramadan in worship.<br />
<br />
<b>Tips</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Read a translation of the passage before coming to the prayer so you'll understand more of what's being recited.</li>
<li>Bring a bottle of water to help you hydrate between the prayers. </li>
<li>Come early so parking won't be a problem. </li>
<li>You can pray witr at home when you get up for suhoor if you didn't pray it at the mosque. </li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Days of Not Fasting</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
It's a reality that most women will not be fasting for a few days in Ramadan, and it's nothing to be embarrassed about. You can still attend <i>iftaars</i>--the other ladies will understand why you won't be fasting. For days of menstruation, you'll need to make up the fasts later in the year, before next Ramadan, so keep track of how many days of fasting you missed.<br />
<blockquote>A note about menstruation--as soon as you notice it, you should break your fast. Do not pray <i>salaah</i> or fast during this time. You can resume fasting on a day when your period has completely finished <b>before</b> the time of fajr, but you can resume praying as soon as you make <i>ghusl</i>. </blockquote>If you are pregnant or nursing, it might be best to check with a scholar for the ruling on making up fasts missed due to pregnancy or nursing. There is agreement that it is permissible to break the fasts, but different opinions regarding whether to make them up or feed a person for a missed day.<br />
<br />
If you are travelling or too sick to fast for a few days during Ramadan, then you should make up the days later in the year.<br />
<br />
<b>Tips</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>If you're not fasting and need to make up days, mark the days on your calendar or timetable so you know how many to make up. (Don't throw it away until you've made them all up!)</li>
<li>If you're attending an iftar and haven't been fasting, let others go first in getting food as they have been fasting. </li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Eid al-Fitr</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
The holiday at the end of Ramadan is called Eid al-Fitr. The festivities begin after maghrib once Ramadan is officially over, by praising and glorifying Allah. It is good to repeat lots of <i>takbeers</i> at this time, until the Eid prayer in the morning. You should find out ahead of time where and what time the Eid prayer will be--and expect to arrive early. Whether at a mosque, convention center, hotel, or fairgrounds, traffic will probably be a problem. Planning to arrive early (at least 30 minutes before prayer time) is a good way to ensure you have enough time to wait in the traffic, park, and walk to the designated area.<br />
<br />
<b>The Takbeer</b><br />
What you'll hear people repeating from <i>maghrib </i>the night before, up until the gathering and time of prayer, is the following:<br />
<i>Allaahu Akbar </i><i>Allaahu Akbar </i><i>Allaahu Akbar </i>(Allaah is greater x3)<br />
<i>Laa Ilaaha Ill-Allaah </i>(There is no god except Allaah)<br />
<i>Allaahu Akbar Allaahu Akbar</i><br />
<i>Wa Li-llaahi-lHamd </i>(And to Allaah is all praise)<br />
<br />
Feel free to join in!<br />
<br />
<b>The Prayer</b><br />
The Eid prayer is much like a regular two-<i>rak'ah</i> prayer like <i>fajr</i>, prayed in congregation, though the takbeer phrase "<i>Allaahu Akbar</i>" will be repeated in the prayer more times than usual. The imam will usually explain this before it starts--just follow what he and the congregation do. After the prayer will be a short sermon, which you should sit and listen through before greeting everyone around you.<br />
<br />
<b>The Festivities</b><br />
Try to find out about Eid activities in your area--there might be Six Flags visits, fairs for children, parties, and other activities to celebrate on Eid and the following days. Have fun!<br />
<br />
Ramadan Mubarak!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I appreciate your feedback as comments and by email. If you have additional tips or recommendations, can correct any mistakes, or would like to re-post the article, please do let me know! Anything good is from Allah. </span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-27942309164559846482011-07-21T06:50:00.000-04:002011-07-21T06:50:58.622-04:00How to Keep Women Out of Your Da'wah ProjectI feel connected to <a href="http://muslimmatters.org/2011/04/19/muslim-american-or-american-muslims-here-is-why-it-matters/">American Muslim</a> Da'wah Projects, having found Islam and grown as a Muslim with the help of volunteers working for Islam here in the US. Through networks of da'ees spanning the country, and even the globe, I've seen countless people find and embrace Islam. And the diversity of people seeking information about Islam requires a diverse pool of volunteers who can connect with them.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, now and again a da'wah project, or a voice within one, might seek to promote homogeneity among volunteers. But a da'ee in the USA is likely to face both men and women from different races, countries, and cultural backgrounds, and I think that an organization that doesn't include diversity in its volunteers is going to have trouble reaching an American audience. Specifically, a volunteer base that doesn't include women won't be effective in reaching women.<br />
<br />
A majority of converts to Islam are women, so it seems strange to me that anyone giving da'wah would try to impede the participation of women in the da'wah effort. And it seems outright hypocritical to suggest that it's not appropriate for a Muslim woman to engage in dialogue about Islam--if it's wrong for a Muslim woman to talk to men to give da'wah, then how is it okay for a Muslim man to talk to women for the same purpose? Clearly the best approach is for women to be available to speak to women, and for men to be available to speak to men. And given that Islam is frequently under attack regarding its treatment of women, isn't it much more powerful for women themselves to dispel the common myths fueling those attacks, rather than men whose attitudes may inadvertently confirm them?<br />
<br />
With women embracing Islam at three times the rate of men or more, we need more women giving da'wah, not less, who can answer the questions and provide follow-up to women learning about Islam. But I've still seen women prevented from being effective in da'wah by policies and more frequently by other volunteers who oppose their participation. Here's some signs it might be happening in an organization you're working with.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>1. Women are not invited to participate. </b><br />
This could happen a number of ways--is the organization really only open to a select "boys' club" of friends and colleagues, without inviting the community to participate generally? Is advertising restricted among a male-only circle via email, or in a masjid? If only men are being contacted to participate as volunteers, or serve on the board, then the crucial input of the community's sisters is being neglected.<br />
<br />
<b>2. If women come to your meetings, they must sit in another room. With the door closed. </b><br />
Segregation can go too far. Picture a board meeting taking place in one of two adjoining rooms, where all the male board members sit except for one sister who is expected to sit in the other room with the door closed--she can neither see the other board members nor hear them well, and cannot be seen or heard herself. I'm sure that in a professional setting, these men wouldn't dare suggest that their female coworkers sit in another room, so why ask it of female board members? Separation prevents a few flow of ideas and places a barrier not just to seeing the opposite sex but from their contributions. Literally locking women out does not encourage them to participate or to voice their ideas; it devalues their opinions. And even if they try to participate, physical barriers prevent them from being heard and taken seriously by other members. This is not professional, and it's not the way an organization should conduct itself. Meetings should be open for fluid communication where everyone's voice can be heard equally.<br />
<br />
<b>3. The email list is used to express disapproval with women's participation in the organization.</b><br />
Politics do not belong on mailing lists--it's unprofessional and immature--and the mailing list of an organization or a da'wah project should be treated with utmost professionalism. Are the members not representing Islam, after all? Using the mailing list as a means to voice one's opinion cheapens the discourse and turns people off. Using it to protest the contributions of women is not only offensive but can sabotage the productivity of the organization. Sending articles to promote segregation and marginalization of women in other countries, for example, only serves to isolate and attack women volunteers. The way men and women are separated in Saudi Arabia, for instance, might work fine for the Saudis but as a model won't translate well in the USA. Arguing about how the Saudis do it is neither relevant to the work of da'wah nor beneficial to an American da'wah project.<br />
<br />
There are many da'wah projects tailored to American audiences, taking into account the different culture and attitude volunteers might face here in the USA rather than in Muslim countries they might have come from. Participation of women is one factor that American da'wah workers need to consider--if they want to keep women out, I'm sure they can. A bad attitude and behavior like I mentioned will keep many away--myself included. But what kind of da'wah is that, really?Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-47487729044774916552011-06-10T03:26:00.001-04:002011-06-10T08:05:35.736-04:00Road Trip Number 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBLCxZ2Z6iySV6rHiDK3SA5jNrhPbAigcQetsqc1i8Pn2BYFpCVv3krBmoDrWKHgF3cuk2cdNKolDKOiQYf0V4d_8RwSyqmBFYCBBHaGGp7TlSClon82FCh8j0wF1gKXLU6tq/s1600/IMG_2493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBLCxZ2Z6iySV6rHiDK3SA5jNrhPbAigcQetsqc1i8Pn2BYFpCVv3krBmoDrWKHgF3cuk2cdNKolDKOiQYf0V4d_8RwSyqmBFYCBBHaGGp7TlSClon82FCh8j0wF1gKXLU6tq/s320/IMG_2493.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>In just two short weeks my husband and I will begin our third road trip together. The first was our honeymoon, from Raleigh to Seattle in December 2009. Our second was last summer (2010), driving from Seattle to Dallas so I could attend an Arabic program, and our third will be the return trip from Dallas back to Seattle.<br />
<br />
Our first cross-country road trip took over two weeks even though a direct, all interstate route might have taken a third of the time, but we had so much fun that we've enjoyed seeing other parts of the country as well. Our first trip took us through <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=great+smoky+mountains&hl=en&biw=1063&bih=731&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=n73xTaHQN5OUtwfD1rTpAg&sqi=2&ved=0CEoQsAQ">Great Smoky Mountains</a> National Park, to the <a href="http://www.ussrc.com/">US Space and Rocket Center</a> in Alabama, through <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1063&bih=731&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=petrified+forest+national+park&oq=petrified+forest&aq=1&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=56257l58750l0l16l13l0l2l2l0l222l1535l2.7.2">Petrified Forest National Park</a> in Arizona and up to the <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1063&bih=731&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=grand+canyon&oq=grand+canyon&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=15201l16478l0l12l9l0l2l2l0l197l937l2.5">Grand Canyon</a> after a snowfall. We stayed a few days in beautiful <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1063&bih=731&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=sedona%2C+az&oq=sedona%2C+az&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=46697l48850l0l10l8l0l0l0l0l209l833l4.2.1">Sedona</a> before breezing through <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1063&bih=731&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=death+valley&oq=death+valley&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=89533l90668l0l12l9l0l4l4l0l196l829l1.4">Death Valley</a>, and driving up the Oregon coast along <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1063&bih=731&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=us+101+oregon&oq=us+101+oregon&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=16416l18428l0l13l12l0l7l7l0l151l486l3.2">US-101</a>.<br />
<br />
For our second trip, we wanted to visit a few more national parks, and stopped at <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1063&bih=731&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=yellowstone&oq=yellowstone&aq=f&aqi=g7g-s1g2&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=56812l58034l0l11l7l0l3l3l0l170l408l2.2">Yellowstone</a>, <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1063&bih=731&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=grand+teton&oq=grand+teton&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=9550l10628l0l11l7l0l0l0l0l123l614l2.4">Grand Teton</a>, and the <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1063&bih=731&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=rocky+mountains+national+park&oq=rocky+mountains+national+park&aq=f&aqi=g4g-m1&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=2448l3517l0l14l7l0l0l0l0l117l606l6.1">Rocky Mountains</a>. So between these two trips, we managed to drive through all the Western states except for one--Utah. And when planning this particular trip, we made sure to include at least one of Utah's many national parks on our route. Unfortunately, we won't be able to make too many times since we're pressed for time, but I think we will still have plenty of nice sights to see.<br />
<br />
<b>The Route (tentative)</b><br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Irving,+TX&daddr=Carlsbad+Caverns,+National+Park,+Carlsbad,+NM+to:Zion+National+Park+to:Bellevue,+WA&hl=en&geocode=FcKz9AEdYq04-imP9QkdXIJOhjEJ84eGVm8wPA%3BFR9E6gEdbqLE-SG9sju99z3Ubg%3BFT6PNwIdeMhD-SH1VjaqFToufA%3BFQl61gIdmV23-ClBYKajz2uQVDFlB9DqglTPug&mra=ls&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=41.682395,59.941406&ie=UTF8&ll=39.859605,-109.5752&spn=15.50107,25.2526&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Irving,+TX&daddr=Carlsbad+Caverns,+National+Park,+Carlsbad,+NM+to:Zion+National+Park+to:Bellevue,+WA&hl=en&geocode=FcKz9AEdYq04-imP9QkdXIJOhjEJ84eGVm8wPA%3BFR9E6gEdbqLE-SG9sju99z3Ubg%3BFT6PNwIdeMhD-SH1VjaqFToufA%3BFQl61gIdmV23-ClBYKajz2uQVDFlB9DqglTPug&mra=ls&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=41.682395,59.941406&ie=UTF8&ll=39.859605,-109.5752&spn=15.50107,25.2526" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
So in shaa Allaah this year's road trip (June 2011) will start with us leaving Dallas, TX on June 24th, heading westward towards Carlsbad, NM where we'll visit <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1063&bih=731&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=carlsbad+caverns&oq=carlsbad+caverns&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=347312l349952l0l16l15l0l3l3l0l263l2023l1.6.4">Carlsbad Caverns</a> National Park.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
From there we'll go north through Roswell (maybe stop and look around if there's anything fun there) and then towards Albuquerque, west across New Mexico and then across the NE corner of Arizona, crossing the Colorado River in Page and heading up into Utah. The only park we'll be visiting is <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1063&bih=731&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=zion+national+park&oq=zion+natio&aq=0&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=454842l456708l0l10l8l0l3l3l0l209l740l1.3.1">Zion National Park</a>, in the SW corner of the state.<br />
<br />
After visiting Zion National Park we'll be taking the fastest route back to Seattle, through Salt Lake City then cutting across Idaho and Oregon before reaching Washington state.<br />
<br />
Of course the last time we were in the American Southwest, it was December--not very hot. In fact, pretty chilly at some altitudes, with several feet of snow falling at the Grand Canyon. While we traveled last summer, the parks we visited were further north (temperatures dropped below freezing the night we spent in Montana) and at high altitudes so we mostly had comfortable temperatures, except in the Rockies, where it was a bit cold at the top. But this time we'll be facing a lot of arid heat--the National Park Service says that summer days in Zion NP are usually 95-110 degrees F but hopefully being in the early part of the summer it won't be quite that hot.<br />
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Any recommendations for summer travel? Additional sights to see along our route? Let me know in the comments!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-91674721256825357022011-06-04T00:02:00.001-04:002011-10-01T23:07:17.475-04:00Punctuality<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJE5qg6dHEpyeKZG6zMe1hTjCuwU3QmuqDHbqtDJXX-k7mjHw1byfFjYxPyX5gCwORlFF1YB0HjeWqGMmQaP1w23iOPr9H5hu2oPhei2o8Pen-6j2ifgyEjmwlcYwZhuNZWK6f/s1600/clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJE5qg6dHEpyeKZG6zMe1hTjCuwU3QmuqDHbqtDJXX-k7mjHw1byfFjYxPyX5gCwORlFF1YB0HjeWqGMmQaP1w23iOPr9H5hu2oPhei2o8Pen-6j2ifgyEjmwlcYwZhuNZWK6f/s200/clock.jpg" width="164" /></a>You might think that because the day of a Muslim is built around prayers which need to be performed at specific times, that Muslims would be fairly punctual people as a rule. But this seems not to be the case, even though I've heard several scholars remind listeners of the importance of being on time. I remember Shaykh Yaser Birjas indicating to students at a seminar that they should arrive for class like a mu'adhdhin arrives for prayer. (He has to arrive early enough to be ready to call as soon as the time for prayer comes in.) This suggests that Muslims should be acutely aware of time as part of their preparation for prayer, or class, or anything else.<br />
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After becoming Muslim, though, I started hearing plenty of jokes about a tendency of Muslims towards tardiness. Although, the observation relates mostly to religious and social functions because late arrivals to work or school often result in disciplinary action. I find American society generally to be less tolerant of tardiness than Muslims (so kudos to the Muslims for being so forgiving) but this can result in some confusion for the <a href="http://muslimmatters.org/2011/04/19/muslim-american-or-american-muslims-here-is-why-it-matters/">American Muslim</a> community.<br />
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I heard the story of a convert who made the observation, on his first visit to jumu'ah prayer, that when he arrived--at the indicated time--only a few people were present, but during the sermon people continued arriving until the hall was filled by the time of the prayer. Yet I don't think this experience is rare.<br />
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Similarly, I've noticed that when attending Islamic lectures and classes, most respected teachers endeavor to begin and end on time. While helping to organize a 4-week da'wah training program a few years ago, I learned an important lesson regarding punctuality. The class was supposed to begin early on a Saturday morning, and though a few people showed up early, there were crowds coming through the door even after the "start" time. I wanted to wait for the students to settle in--and that was a mistake. The imam of the masjid told me that even if some people were still arriving, I should still start on time, and end on time.<br />
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To start with, punctuality is respectful of people's time--if they showed up on time, they shouldn't have to wait for the program to begin. Moreover, ending on time allows people to leave for other engagements they may have planned, instead of detaining them longer than they expected. And also, if an event fails to start on time, what incentive is there to arrive on time?<br />
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Since my own lesson on punctuality, I've made a point of observing when speakers (scholars, imams, community leaders, teachers, etc.) deliberately start on time--or as best they are able, when faced with logistical delays--and end on time. I understand it to be a part of the etiquette of being a speaker--of being a teacher, or an imam, and have found that the more knowledgeable, respected, and elder teachers usually strive for punctuality, even when students are late. For that reason, I don't accept that tardiness is religiously appropriate behavior--since it's not from the etiquette which I have witnessed from religious scholars.<br />
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I've even seen some scholars who seem to be as strict about punctuality as my high school band director--for us, it was an enforced rule. Students late to rehearsal would have to perform push-ups or run laps. Arriving late for a trip would mean getting left behind--nobody would wait. And if our rehearsals ran over schedule, even by as little as five minutes, the director would shorten the next day's rehearsal by the same amount. Breaks came regularly--and if they were delayed, then they were extended also. (Noting that breaks were usually barely 3-5 minutes, enough time to sit and drink water.)<br />
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When I'm in a class or a lecture where the speaker goes on--beyond an hour, sometimes beyond two, I find myself becoming irritated and even resentful towards the speaker, while my concentration plummets. Especially when scheduled breaks have been neglected by the speaker.<br />
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How is a student supposed to feel after arriving on time and waiting over an hour or more for an instructor, who then proceeds to lecture for an hour or two without giving students a break? I think the only way a student can feel, in that situation, is that the instructor lacks respect for his time, leading the student to not respect the instructor.<br />
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So I'll emphasize again why tardiness is not something seen in the most erudite of scholars, and why I don't believe that it is religiously appropriate. And I maintain that view despite the prevalent disregard for time in some Muslim cultures.<br />
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Unfortunately, punctuality can even be an inconvenience in a culture with more lenient and flexible schedule. My husband stresses the importance of arriving promptly to dinner parties--that is, he wants to arrive at the time indicated on the invitation. However, I find myself stalling our departure in order to avoid inconveniencing the hostess. Since most guests tend to arrive 30 minutes or more late, she might not be fully prepared for guests if we arrive "on time." And she might struggle trying to make conversation with me while still cooking and cleaning, leaving me in an awkward position while he goes off to another room with the host.<br />
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On the other hand, an American crowd might be expected to arrive 5-10 minutes <i>before</i> the scheduled time. That's why there can be some confusion. Of course, punctuality should be the norm for all events, but I'm not sure what it would take for people to accept that on a wide scale. It's not easy to enforce it with other people, but the least we can do is enforce it on ourselves and make punctuality a fixed attribute for which we are known.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-39626281409662381232011-04-29T03:16:00.000-04:002011-04-29T03:16:34.286-04:00Finding Dignity in HijabI wear a hijab now. Hijabs are cool.<br />
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That's a line that should ring familiar to Doctor Who fans--the Eleventh Doctor (played by Matt Smith) likes to justify his odd clothing choices in this fashion. For instance:<br />
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Yeah, it's cool, bow ties are cool. (The Eleventh Hour)<br />
It's a fez. I wear a Fez now, Fezes are cool. (The Big Bang)<br />
I wear a Stetson now. Stetsons are cool. (The Impossible Astronaut.)<br />
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And the hijab line? It's been making its way around Twitter recently, apparently showing that even hijabis think Doctor Who is cool. But with recent headlines about the hijab, maybe it's time to give the iconic Muslim headscarf a PR makeover, of sorts.<br />
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We've heard France banning face veils, thinking to save women from male oppression. We've read NPR's <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/04/21/135523680/lifting-the-veil-muslim-women-explain-their-choice">story </a>about some women's choice to remove the hijab, patting them on the back for fighting against what is still seen as male oppression. An <a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/04/25/veil_of_ignorance">article </a>by Leila Ahmed appeared this week at foreignpolicy.com challenging the idea that hijab represents patriarchy. And last week I had to monitor a chatroom discussion about hijab, and listen to women from a variety of backgrounds parrot the same idea they've been fed--that hijab is about male domination, a symbol of suppression.<br />
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And I recall the quirky wisdom of a local sister who once remarked that if men were really setting the dress code, women wouldn't be veiled, they'd be wearing bikinis. Some men feel possessive about their female relatives and might want them to be dressed modestly, sure, but the rest of womankind? Ever hear of a place called Hooter's?<br />
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Now if a woman understands this about men, that they are generally attracted to women and given the option would like to see whatever bits they can, then she has two options, as I see it. First, she can give men the responsibility and control over her body when she decides to freely display her flesh. She can say that they're responsible for what they see, what they think of her because of what they see. Some might be responsible, then--they might do as the Qur'an says, and avert their gaze. Or they might hoot, holler, and harass her when she walks by.<br />
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Some might say it's the man's responsibility anyway--he's responsible for looking, or not. And I won't argue with that. But frankly, if the woman doesn't want to be looked at, then she has a responsibility too. And the second option is to take that responsibility, to take charge of her dignity and cover whatever she doesn't want any passerby to see.<br />
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One of the first feelings I had when wearing full hijab for the first time was dignity. Covering didn't make me feel cowardly, or weak, but strong and dignified. And I think this word--the one I've used three times in the past three sentences--should be the new word to associate with hijab: dignity.<br />
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If we see a picture of an impoverished young woman in a war-torn country wearing dirty clothes and fraying fabric to just cover the top of her head as well, does she symbolize the oppression of patriarchy? Or a symbol of preserving the last vestiges of dignity, <i>despite oppression</i>?<br />
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Many of the arguments I have heard from hijabis in defense of covering relate to dignity. Have you heard the sisters with advanced degrees tell how covering forces coworkers and peers to treat them based on their competence instead of their appearance? Dignity. Or have you heard some college students frame it as their form of feminism, representing the strength of their character against social pressures to conform? Dignity. Or ladies who insist on reserving their beauty exclusively for their beloved? Dignity. And what does it take to choose to dress differently than everyone on the street, to explicitly identify with a maligned minority (in non-Muslim countries), to be prepared to take a stand on faith, while anyone else is free to keep quiet? Dignity.<br />
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That's what hijab is. Dignity.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-59837101895270902532011-04-14T22:40:00.000-04:002011-04-14T22:40:56.375-04:00Qur'an GoalsLast Ramadan I listened to a webinar (or maybe two) about making personal goals in regards to studying the Qur'an. And despite seeming to have been studying it for the last seven months, I haven't done a good job of setting clear goals and consequently, haven't accomplished them.<br />
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Last Ramadan, for instance, I wanted to finish reading the Qur'an in Arabic, for the first time. Turns out that I bit off more than I could chew with that one. Which is fine, I think--so what if it took longer, as long as I did eventually finish it, right? Well the problem was that after Ramadan I came to Texas and as I started learning Arabic, I found a whole new set of goals--daily, and weekly, but not long-term precisely. And I found myself with trouble deciding which path I wanted to take--for instance, should I work on memorizing, or maybe trying to get a tajweed ijazah. For me, there was just too much going on, and I think I was behind other students in just general familiarity with the Qur'an.<br />
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So, after seven months, I'm starting fresh with my Qur'an goals, and renewing my intentions. I'll be concentrating on just one for now, and that is finishing it in Arabic. I have the benefit of understanding quite a lot of it right now, so it's more beneficial reading than before, but I'm not reading for depth right now, but to accomplish two things. First, I want to get into the habit of reading new material (what I haven't memorized or gotten used to reciting) daily, out loud. I've been weak about this before, spending personal time with the Qur'an, but I think it's important for me before I move back to memorizing. And I want to finish going through the Qur'an entirely, and get into the habit of completing its reading on a regular basis.<br />
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And once I do finish, after focusing for a while on just the one goal, then I'll shift to another specific goal, and I can focus on it. And then, hopefully and inshaaAllaah, achieve it.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-30385351083528265642011-04-08T11:19:00.001-04:002011-04-08T21:34:42.635-04:00Summer 2011 Programs for MuslimsJust a list, in case anyone is looking for something to do this summer. These are all pretty much based in the USA or open to Americans, even if they take place in another country. I don't have any information about programs from other countries. (Edited to Add: Global Section added at the bottom in case anyone wants to add more on in comments)<br />
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<b>Intensives</b><br />
<a href="http://qibla.com/intensive/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=110220-QiblaIntensive-Apply">SunniPath Qibla Summer Intensive</a> in Amman, Jordan<br />
Term 1: June 18-July16, 2011<br />
Term 2: July 20-August 20, 2011<br />
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<a href="http://www.zaytunacollege.org/academic_programs/summer_arabic_intensive">Zaytuna Summer Arabic Intensive</a> in Berkely, California<br />
June 20-August 12, 2011<br />
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<a href="http://bayyinah.com/summer/">Bayyinah Qur'an Intensive</a> in Dallas, Texas<br />
June 3-July 1, 2011<br />
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<a href="http://www.deen-intensive.com/rihla-20111432.html">Rihla 2011 Deen Intensive</a> in Bursa, Turkey<br />
June 30-July 21, 2011<br />
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<a href="http://almaghrib.org/blog/2011/04/06/closing-soon-ilmsummit-2011-applications/">Ilm Summit</a> in Houston, Texas<br />
July 8-17, 2011<br />
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<b>Conferences/Conventions</b><br />
<a href="http://www.revivingtheislamicspirit.com/index.php">Reviving the Islamic Spirit-USA</a> in Long Beach, California<br />
May 28-30, 2011<br />
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<a href="http://icnaconvention.org/">ICNA-MAS Convention</a> in Hartford, Connecticut<br />
May 28-30, 2011<br />
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<a href="http://www.isna.net/Conferences/pages/Annual-Convention.aspx">ISNA Convention</a> in Chicago, Illinois<br />
July 1-4, 2011<br />
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<b>Global</b><br />
<a href="http://www.worldribaconference.org/">World Conference on Riba</a> in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia<br />
July 26-27, 2011<br />
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Anything missing? Leave a note in the comments and I'll try to add it to the list.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-20537842404928497542011-04-04T07:00:00.000-04:002011-04-04T07:00:01.004-04:00Memorizing TranslationI once knew a boy who has made to memorize some surahs from the Qur'an from listening to Yusuf Ali's translation on audio tape. And he was made to recite what he had memorized in a tajweed class (of all places, right?) to an imam who was shocked and tried to explain to the boy's parent why this was not a good idea.<br />
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Presumably, the intention was that the boy would learn the text in meaning this way, rather than "just" a text which he wouldn't be able to fully understand. But a translation is not equivalent to the Qur'an. Having spent the last few weeks reading the Qur'an in Arabic and trying to discern the meaning from it without relying on an English translation has taught me to appreciate the difference, and what is lost through translation. <br />
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But think of a community that doesn't have the ability to understand to Arabic. Without it, they might lose even the appreciation of the Arabic and place more value on the translation, even to the point that they would memorize it as though it were the words of Allah.<br />
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We're supposed to have a relationship with the Qur'an but how can we if we can't even understand it? We shouldn't let children grow up without at least a basic understanding of Arabic. Because without Arabic, as a community we lose the Qur'an.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-25675887889907008282011-04-01T12:28:00.000-04:002011-04-01T12:28:16.720-04:00Wrong to Call Out Bigotry?One of my favorite books is Dale Carnegie's <b>How to Win Friends and Influence People</b>. I'm surprised I didn't bring it with me to Texas, but a <a href="http://www.westegg.com/unmaintained/carnegie/win-friends.html">summary</a> is available online if I ever want a quick review. (http://www.westegg.com/unmaintained/carnegie/win-friends.html)<br />
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Because my <a href="http://ibnatalhidayah.blogspot.com/2011/03/absence-of-political-correctness.html">recent post</a> about political correctness and bigotry got a little popular, I've been giving more thought to the idea. I do think that "political incorrectness" serves as a mask for all kinds of bigotry--racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and more. But I doubt that the purveyors of it think of themselves as bigots. With the exception of some elites who might be deliberately "stirring the pot" I think most people probably believe their grievances are valid. Their irrational hatred, fear, or disdain seems to them to be sensible and obvious, though unpopular.<br />
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It is very easy for a person to insulate himself among similar ideas and points of view, perpetuating his belief system. For instance, I can choose to read only articles and blogs that I already agree with, and only discuss these issues with people who share my perspective. But if I do that, then I'm just stunting my own growth in understanding. <br />
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Although, this doesn't mean that by conversing with people of opposing opinions I necessarily enhance my understanding--a lot of people can talk and argue without listening or absorbing the arguments of their opponent. The key, I think, is to deliberately keep an open mind.<br />
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And that's where the Carnegie book comes in. A few of his points are especially relevant here. When "handling people," we shouldn't criticize. If you're trying to explain, for instance, that calling Islam a cult is stupid, saying that the majority of Muslims sympathize with terrorism is a lie, if you get straight to the point and call your opponent a stupid liar, you've pretty much closed the door to his understanding your point of view. <br />
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Another key strategy to "win people to your way of thinking" is to "show respect for the other person's opinions." Yep. Even if they are stupid lies. (Bad Amy!) <br />
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Granted, these techniques are for one-on-one interaction. Personal interaction can be extremely powerful, so it's important for Muslims to articulate their beliefs to their neighbors and communities. But in the public sphere, the impersonal world of media and blogs and punditry, perhaps other strategies are more appropriate.<br />
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I would be interested in learning the Real reasons that an individual has to oppose building a mosque, for instance, especially if it's not anywhere near him. I wonder if most people would maintain such acerbic criticism if someone sat down with them and listened to their concerns with an open mind, and let them offer solutions to ameliorate those concerns.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-10402657585697051622011-04-01T00:50:00.004-04:002011-04-01T11:16:35.835-04:00The Good, the Bad, and the FacebookSeeing some tweets recently about canceling and renewing Facebook accounts, I thought I finally wanted to make a post about it.<br />
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I am at the particular age which enables me to have seen Facebook from its much earlier days. I first heard of it my junior year in college from a girl who was "pledging" my sorority with me. Then, it was only for college students--you had to have a .edu email address--and mostly relevant for just your own university. And I thought it's greatest usefulness was being able to select my class schedule and find other students in the class. That function, of course, no longer exists.<br />
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In fact, Facebook is completely different. Things started getting strange, I thought, when it became open to other than college students--high schoolers, even middle schoolers. Then their parents. I started getting "friend requests" from all sorts of people and Facebook in general only became less interesting to me, and seldom useful.<br />
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So I guess I don't really understand how people find it burdensome and time-wasting, that they feel the need to completely cut it off, since it isn't really a part of my life. See, I only log in about twice a week on average, and almost never for more than 5 minutes. <br />
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So when I hear people discussing the evils or the benefits of Facebook, I just wonder why it's so important in the first place. I know some people are able to use it successfully for marketing, for announcements about events in the community, or to keep in touch with friends. But personally I hate having to rely on Facebook to hear about programs. (Whereas I really love subscribing to RSS feeds, which I can easily filter.) In fact, I actually hardly ever hear about activities through Facebook--usually through email or occasionally through Twitter. <br />
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Then I wonder--if I feel this way, why is it such a big deal for everyone else? Or is it?Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-43996446760188393962011-03-24T07:00:00.001-04:002011-03-24T07:00:21.830-04:00In What Order?I recently heard a convert say that he was an "American Muslim, in that order." I took issue with the point because it seems to force a collision between two ideas that needn't collide. It seems to say that if he had to choose only one, either American or Muslim, that he'd choose to be American. I don't even think most Americans would put their country above God. Don't they say "God, family, country," in that order?<br />
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Personally, I don't think the sequence of the words should extend their meaning. One might call himself an American Muslim to distinguish himself among Muslims from other countries, while one might call himself a Muslim American to distinguish himself among other Americans. The two terms describe different spheres by which a person can identify himself, and affect different parts of his life. You could say, for example, that a woman is a teacher and a mother, describing first her career path, and also her role in the home, while both make up parts of her identity.<br />
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Similarly, we can describe a person's identity without having to prioritize either nationality or religion. But forcing one to supersede the other undermines at least one of these components. In this case, Islam is undermined, as if the speaker were saying that he was only Muslim insofar as it was compatible with whatever he valued as being "American." <br />
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I consider myself to be an American Muslim (or Muslim American--whatever) without conflict. But I know that when I die, only one of these will matter, and that's my priority. In fact, I think that's what makes me a Muslim in the first place.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-26076603721925407152011-03-21T07:00:00.001-04:002011-03-21T07:00:08.562-04:00No More Answer KeysBecause I studied engineering in college, I developed a certain kind of study habits which served me well in technical courses. For the most part, my "studying" was built on acquiring a skill--the skill to solve the problems on which I would be tested. It meant becoming familiar with a procedure--how to find an answer to a problem with a particular set of given information. However, the tools necessary to answer the problem would usually be available--that is, the equations and constants--and I just needed to know how to use them.<br />
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So most of my study time was spent <i>practicing</i> rather than actually <i>memorizing </i>anything. If I would use something often enough, I might memorize it naturally but I didn't spend much effort towards memorizing.<br />
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And it was common to find, in my engineering (and math and science) textbooks, that the answers would be available in the back of the book. Because the point of the problem was never to find an answer, but rather to learn how to solve it. So having the answer available was really important--even if it was just a number. Because it could indicate whether or not I was solving the problem correctly. It never mattered what the answer actually was, but whether or not I could solve the problem. Instructors often let us bring in our own formula sheets--a page or more of formulas, diagrams, constants, whatever we thought we might need--for an exam, knowing that no amount of data we could fit on a sheet of paper would serve us any good if we hadn't learned how to use it.<br />
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So I have developed this approach to studying that I've found is not actually serving me very well right now. Learning a new language, quite obviously, requires a lot of memorization. And it seems that theory (never stated, just my observation) is that with memorization, the skills will come.<br />
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Suppose you want to write a sentence in a language you're studying. You'll need to know the meanings of the words to use--the equivalent vocabulary in both languages. You'll need to understand something about grammar, how to actually construct the sentences and use the words. And you might need to know something about conjugation and morphology in order to use the words correctly in the proper places.<br />
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So the way I have been accustomed to studying would familiarize me with grammar, and how to construct the sentence, and the conjugation and morphology would get me the right word forms. When I was working on writing, answer keys would have been really helpful, to make sure that I was getting the sentences right. Being able to check the solution while still solving a problem is incredibly useful--you can note the mistake right away, rather than continuing to make the mistakes for days or weeks before seeing the answer or taking an exam to find out that you were wrong. Never underestimate the power of immediate feedback.<br />
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Now this much aside, where I struggle is with knowing the words to use in the first place! And in this, an answer key won't help so much as a dictionary. How long does it take to grow a dictionary in your brain? I have a habit of just looking things up that I don't know, rather than memorizing them to use later. I'm used to being able to look them up. But that's not going to gain me fluency in a new language.<br />
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So right now I'm trying to train myself to squeeze all these words into my brain with flashcards and repetition, and I'm finding it very hard to retain it all. Now, I'm told that there is a solution to this problem--to <i>speak</i> (or even write) in the language as frequently as possible. I believe it's true, because I know that every time a word is recalled in the mind, it is reinforced, more likely to "stick," if you will, and recalling the word in different ways (through listening, reading, writing, and speaking) will reinforce stronger than using it in just one of these ways.<br />
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On the other hand, I don't actually know enough vocabulary in the first place to be able to use it regularly. I can't actually express my thoughts in the language--though I know a few words, there are so many more which I don't know, but need in order to express my thoughts. When reading or listening, I hear far more words that I <i>don't</i> know than ones which I do. (This goes for regular speech, not for Qur'an, where the situation is reversed.) Which means I'm constantly having to look things up, and missing the meaning altogether--extremely frustrating.<br />
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And I'm hoping that the more I learn, I'll get out of this really uncomfortable phase of being <i>almost</i> able to use the language to using it in earnest. Any tips to move on, and get over this hump?Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-76468973522521391692011-03-17T07:00:00.000-04:002011-03-17T07:00:03.066-04:00The Absence of Political CorrectnessHas anyone else noticed that in the last few years, attacks on minorities--which should be rebuked as bigoted and racist--try to claim legitimacy by saying they are only speaking out against "political incorrectness." As if to say that being polite and avoiding racist comments is just political correctness, and somehow obfuscating the truth?<br />
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I guess that we have this term--political correctness--to describe language which avoids offense. I guess the sense is that politicians should speak a certain way to avoid offending their voters, but any kind of official language nowadays usually aims to avoid offense. Or does it?<br />
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If it is politically correct to avoid offense, then what do we call language which is offensive (bigoted, even racist)? Apparently, the purveyors of such inflammatory rhetoric defend their bigotry by claiming that they merely lack political correctness, or by even attacking political correctness. Doing so suggests that they--by means of aggressive language smearing whatever target group--are actually speaking the truth in the face of a propaganda machine which is trying to hide it.<br />
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In other words, they're trying to say that they are not in fact racist (or Islamophobic or anti-Semitic or any other kind of bigot) but they're just speaking the truth.<br />
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But I think that is the sinister face of intolerance--it believes in its own validity. And it thinks that it's okay to smear an entire group of people based on the actions of a few--or even based on their own imagined superiority.<br />
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So when a politician gets up and says that he is speaking out against political correctness by suggesting that all Muslims are terrorists, he is in fact trying to defend statements that he knows a civilized society ought to reject. When someone writes a book filled with lies about Islam, what should he call it but "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam." (And having read it, I feel comfortable saying that it is filled with lies.) And then the opposition to their Islamophobic propaganda is accused of just being politically correct by speaking out in defense of Muslims.<br />
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Now, verbal attacks on Muslims have become commonplace in today's political discourse, but the effect of bigotry disguised as truth has spread. Take, for example, the video posted by UCLA student Alexandra Wallace in which she criticizes the "manners" of her peers (specifically, Asian students in the library.) She starts her rant by saying "So we know that I’m not the most politically correct person so don’t take this offensively." In other words, she admits that she's about to be very offensive but defends herself by saying she's just not politically correct. As if that's a legitimate excuse. And shouldn't it be? After all, that's what so many politicians are doing when they attack Muslims, blacks, or poor people.<br />
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And she begins to describe her response by saying "So being the polite, nice American girl that my momma raised me to be..." Really? In a video to be posted on youtube, saying offensive things about "Asians" generally, she considers herself to be polite and nice?<br />
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What is it going to take for people to see offensive speech for the offense that it is?Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-1718086505883382112011-03-16T08:00:00.000-04:002011-03-16T08:00:19.953-04:00A Funny Thing Happened When I Learned to Type in Arabic<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Pfb-3XkBi4WPYpBVORqZJqx1bIbLZJ87YC7o36d70It8DVL_Fu73a02q3RuSeCH7w2RPbL-OuNk9M0LJMbstQZ53On4D3tfJss7x56qG8SUfR2uYPTFBOJAkZPXDWzwZ4I1o/s1600/keyboard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Pfb-3XkBi4WPYpBVORqZJqx1bIbLZJ87YC7o36d70It8DVL_Fu73a02q3RuSeCH7w2RPbL-OuNk9M0LJMbstQZ53On4D3tfJss7x56qG8SUfR2uYPTFBOJAkZPXDWzwZ4I1o/s200/keyboard.JPG" width="200" /></a>When I started studying Arabic, I made a point early on of typing in Arabic. Then, most of the lessons were in English, but frequently used some Arabic vocabulary. And so at first I only learned to type those words in Arabic, and it was slow going, having to shift back and forth between keyboards, frequently having to check the keyboard location of some letters. But I was persistent.<br />
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I labeled the keys on my keyboard with a permanent marker (black keys, silver marker) and kept a "key" of their locations on my screen whenever I would be typing in Arabic--basically a list showing which English character corresponded with an Arabic character, laid out like a keyboard. I used it for a couple weeks before not really needing it beyond the addition of harakaat, and now I don't need it at all.<br />
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And the characters I drew on my keyboard have long since rubbed off. Because I started early, I was already typing away in Arabic while many of my peers were just ordering stickers to put on their keyboards to help.<br />
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But the more frequently I would type in Arabic, the more I began to notice a peculiar problem. On the occasions when I would like to type an Arabic word in flowing English and with Roman characters, I would find myself automatically striking the keys corresponding to the Arabic spelling. For instance, in trying to type out the word استعانة by spelling it as "isti'aanah" I would actually reflexively type "hsjuhkm" and keep going. In fact, it takes me at least two or three times longer to type the transliterated word than to type it in Arabic, because I have to stop and sometimes even (gasp!) look at the keyboard to check the <i>English</i> letters! And without surprise, I have a similar problem transliterating into Arabic, (eg, New York becomes نيو يورك,) albeit the difference is less pronounced since my Arabic typing is still slower than my English typing.<br />
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So I can type in English fine and in Arabic well but when I try to mix the two my brain has a really hard time coping with the transformation, and transliterating becomes a real difficulty, trying to make what are letters in one language correspond to sounds in another. It gets easier if I am able to see or look at a word already transliterated--then I can easily find the correct characters to represent it. But the first time writing it, I frequently end up with a weird jumble of letters that don't make sense either way, and have to slow down and think it through before I can type it. Has anyone else had a similar problem?Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-41600398634186670552011-03-15T08:00:00.011-04:002011-03-15T08:00:08.586-04:00Upcoming Book on American Muslim Women (press release)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_nBvVEDs93lGm0D-JxVBrfi7_fq0-UFsR2j3ymnEubPCOKk2MuIwF5vks00YVB1128LXfIQaZ5hZhXNP4CqbRM9-7iWSEkCbEUSdm-WWbGM-KG0UB5x7K7_t9J1MhuB0uFR4/s1600/ISFM+Book+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_nBvVEDs93lGm0D-JxVBrfi7_fq0-UFsR2j3ymnEubPCOKk2MuIwF5vks00YVB1128LXfIQaZ5hZhXNP4CqbRM9-7iWSEkCbEUSdm-WWbGM-KG0UB5x7K7_t9J1MhuB0uFR4/s320/ISFM+Book+Cover.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">New Book Explores Lives of American-Born Muslim Women</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">WASHINGTON D.C. USA – March 14, 2011</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> – Islam has become one of the hottest of hot button topics in America. <i>Time Magazine </i>featured the rise of Islamophobia on its cover (August 30, 2010) and attacks on Muslims and mosques are taking place regularly across the United States. Pundits and politicians raise the stakes by questioning whether it is possible for an American to be both a good Muslim and a good citizen. Muslim American women are the subject of endless discussions regarding their role in society, their veils as symbols of oppression or of freedom, their identity and their patriotism.<b></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In this polarized climate, a new book challenges stereotypes about being Muslim in America through the stories of forty women<b><i>. I Speak for Myself: American Women on Being Muslim</i></b>(May 2, 2011, White Cloud Press) brings together a diverse group of women, all born and raised in the United States, telling their stories of faith, family, and country.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The book editors are Maria Ebrahimji, executive editorial producer at CNN in Atlanta, and Zahra Suratwala, a writer and editor who owns Zahra Ink, a writing firm in Chicago. The editors want to fill a gap in current literature on American Islam by bringing out the stories of American-born Muslim women between the ages of 20 and 40. Ebrahimji notes that “As a member of the mainstream media, I am frequently exposed to the stereotyping of my faith, and this book was created to present the public with more candid, realistic portraits of a diverse group of women who are proud of their faith and their country.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Readers of <b><i>I Speak for Myself </i></b>are presented with a kaleidoscope of deeply personal stories. A common theme linking these intimate self-portraits is the way each woman uniquely defies labeling, simply by defining for herself what it means to be American and Muslim and female. Each story is a contribution to the larger narrative of life stories and life work of a new generation of Muslim women.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Though the book’s official release date is May 2, it is currently available now for pre-order on </span></b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Speak-Myself-American-Women-Muslim/dp/1935952005/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295626003&sr=8-1" style="color: #114170;" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Amazon.com</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">, </span></b><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/I-Speak-for-Myself/Maria-M-Ebrahimji/e/9781935952008/?itm=2&USRI=i+speak+for+myself" style="color: #114170;" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Barnes & Noble</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> and </span></b><a href="http://www.whitecloudpress.com/islam/i-speak-for-myself/flypage.pbv.tabs.tpl.html" style="color: #114170;" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">White Cloud Press</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">. The suggested retail price is $16.95.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The book has already caught the attention of thought leaders who are calling the book an important addition to the literature on religious pluralism </span></span>in America.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Jim Wallis</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">, founder of the <b>Sojourners </b>magazine and faith community calls <b>I Speak for Myself </b>“a very important contribution to the growing interfaith dialogue in this country.”</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Her Majesty Queen Noor </span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">notes that “By telling their stories they offer us new perspectives that are vital to the peace building process, and through their honesty and courage they are making a lasting contribution to the search for cross-cultural understanding.”</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Zainab Salbi</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">, founder of <b>Women for Women International </b>says that this is “a must read for anyone curious to understand Islam from a woman’s and an American-Muslim perspective. <b>I Speak for Myself </b>is the story of every woman embodied in voices of today’s American Muslim woman.”</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Bestselling author and school builder <b>Greg Mortenson (Three Cups of Tea) </b>feels that “this collection of essays . . . is empowering and inspiring, and a vital part of any education.”</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">For more information and dialogue on the book and American Muslim women, please check out </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ispeakformyself" style="color: #114170;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>ispeakformyself</span></a></b><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">, </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/ispeakformyself" style="color: #114170;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">www.twitter.com/<wbr></wbr>ispeakformyself</span></a></b><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> and the website, </span><a href="http://www.ispeakformyself.com/" style="color: #114170;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">www.ispeakformyself.com</span></a></b><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">.</span></b></span></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-48481199369749757092011-03-14T08:00:00.000-04:002011-03-14T08:00:01.281-04:00Reflecting on OutliersMy husband recommended that I read <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Outliers-Story-Success-Malcolm-Gladwell/dp/0316017922">Outliers: The Story of Success</a></i> by Malcolm Gladwell, and I'll admit that it was definitely a good read. It was interesting to see that what made people "outliers" wasn't just their hard work or dedication, but a series of opportunities at just the right time. And even our heritage, going back generations, has an impact on who we are in even the most subtle ways<br />
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For me, it was an excellent reminder about the Qadr of Allah, and His favors to us. We might tend to think that the education we received and the wealth we earn are products of our own effort. But someone with more education might earn less, and someone with less education might earn more. Someone might be scraping by at the poverty level despite hard work, and someone else might be born into wealth despite laziness.<br />
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We still have choices to make, and we'll be accountable for our deeds, that's what we really earn in this life. But we shouldn't be deluded about what we are provided, that we earned it or even deserve it--we can't take it with us, anyway.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-36684396232171120592011-03-13T08:00:00.002-04:002011-03-13T08:00:08.476-04:00New TechFriday, March 11, was the release date for the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_d6_gbb90I">iPad 2</a>. When Apple announced, on March 3, its new tablet device, I found myself eagerly reading all the news about it I could find. For the last few months, I've started to want an iPad--especially for reading books and documents, some of which has become awkward on my PC while I'm trying to do other things simultaneously (e.g., take notes.) And since my husband has had one for a while, I already know of several Apps for the iPad which I'll be quick to download inshaaAllah.<br />
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To save myself some of the hassle of waiting in line, only to risk the store having sold out of the model I wanted already, I ordered online. I almost wished I'd waited in line myself after hearing that some of my friends opted to wait in line, and after listening to their excitement as they started to play with their new toys. But then again, I am glad I avoided the hassle, even though it means a little wait. And I was awake late (thanks to a particularly bizarre sleep schedule these days) so my order was placed 16 minutes after the Apple Store opened online ordering. (And the reason it took me 16 minutes to order was how long I took deciding on a <a href="http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC942?mco=MjEzNTMwMzk">Smart Cover</a> color--I went for red, in the end.) I was hoping it would be one of the first shipped, and it seems that's the case, as it's already on its way. (The cover, however, seems like it might take longer.)<br />
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I can't wait!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20631069.post-73433109850186510712011-03-12T08:00:00.006-05:002011-03-12T08:00:00.214-05:00What's Said About IslamophobiaIt's been a rough week for American Muslims. With the ICNA Relief fundraiser protest making big news (though it happened a couple weeks ago) and Peter King's congressional hearings, attempting to legitimize prevalent marginalizing stereotypes about Muslims, I've been confused myself about even what to say. The attacks on Muslims seem bizarre and senseless to me, and I haven't even found words to reply.<br />
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But not everyone has been rendered speechless. In these days when Shari'ah is being widely misunderstood, the voices below demonstrate wisdom, reason, and calm in response to seemingly frantic anger directed at Muslims, and are worth hearing.<br />
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The first, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf on Riz Khan: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkzDUJHEw8Q&feature=player_embedded">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkzDUJHEw8Q&feature=player_embedded</a><br />
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The second, Shaykh Yasir Qadhi in a Tennessee newspaper, posted at MuslimMatters: <a href="http://muslimmatters.org/2011/03/11/yasir-qadhi-a-proud-patriotic-shariah-practicing-american/">http://muslimmatters.org/2011/03/11/yasir-qadhi-a-proud-patriotic-shariah-practicing-american/</a>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15177578450022894894noreply@blogger.com1