Worth Noting

That at this same time of the years spanning 2005 - 2008 inclusive, there were moments of deep sadness in my life. Each year, there was a particular thing, for lack of a better word, which I had granted entry into my life (be it an individual or a situation), the consequences of which always ended in some sort of emotional blueness.

This year, nothing. No sadness and no drama, and most definitely no emotional upheavels.

It's the fkng holidays and I am happy and satiated beyond expression.

Yay.

Also, I hope you are as well - and if I am any measure, trust that it will get better. It really, really, really and truly does...even if it takes a few years.

Comments closed.

Belated Eid Mubarak (& a screw you, Muslims, Swiss style)

Welcome to Switzerland circa 1532, where racism and ignorance reign supreme.
I am so happy that we have come so far in our understanding and intelligence.

Degenerate fkn a**holes each and every one of you who voted in favour of this ban.

Read for a further excellent breakdown here.

I hope this decision will be challenged in a court of law.

Comments closed.

Hate sentiments

Awesome.

Above is a portion of a greater screen cap someone sent to me.

It is from a German message board which is currently discussing my opinion about Twilight rape & abuse.

I've cut out the name and photo of the woman who wrote the above sentence.
In a nutshell, she was hating on the opinions expressed in the piece. This isn't a problem - obviously, when one posits an opinion, you expect a counter.

But there are rules of engagement to the counter, no?
And the rules dictate that you don't respond to an argument about the validity of red vs blue as a favourite colour by saying "Well. Your mum's black, so you're wrong".
Or do you?
Was there a news bulletin sent out indicating Exceptionally Racist Asshattery = Gold Star?

This particular woman? rather than engaging the opinions, instead attacks Islam. Loosely translated, the not-too-bright female ends her rant (not counter) about her distaste for the opinions expressed here by saying "She's a Muslim...that says everything."(1)

Amazing, no? Amazing the complete and total asshattery of this individual. Amazing that she is too stupid to focus on the arguments and counter them one by one, and instead chooses to turn around and focus her hate at me and my faith.

As previously established, I am a cheating slut rather than a racist idiot. Lucky because had I been a racist asshat, I would have responded to the mired-in-filth comment of hers with possibly an equally offensive comment about the German history of peace and love.

But. I am neither asshat, nor racist. I am, though, laughing at the collective stupidity which she represents. (Note: I was also sent one woman's response who called her out on her racist asshattery - saying that [me as] a Muslimah, was allowed to have an opinion. Thank you intelligent not-asshat.)

The end.

**********
(1) I dare you to tell me that by me labelling her personal (ergo rendering it a personal attack on her...person) racism as an expression of complete ignorance, I am therefore as guilty as she of the claim I make against her above. (Go ahead. I'd love it. And I really need more dumbtastic emails - I get way too much love as is.)

P.S. Twilight is SHIT.

Mama, The Eccentric Weirdo

The good news is that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

The bad news is that I discovered mama hides her large squash-like homegrown vegetables in the basement. This is not sexual innuendo, but rather is a fact I discovered moments ago when mama went downstairs empty-handed and came back upstairs carrying what is called a spaghetti squash, grown by her, the size of her bum.

As I type, she is showing off her back garden (again, not sexy innuendo) via web-cam to our family in Gaza. She is also wearing pistachio green sweater to "matching" lime green socks (yes, with pants; no, not any shade of green). She is as happy as a squirrel with nuts amongst her squirrel friends who have less nuts on which to feast and so is gladly sharing said nuts.

Everywhere I have looked recently, I have felt defeated, usually beginning all thought with 'I hate people; why are they so useless?; why do they care so much that some pop singer's small pet died / was carried away / is lost?; why aren't they reading about Palestine?; paying attention to Darfur?; seeking out more info on the women in the Congo?; Why so mean?; Why such bullies?; Find balance outside of pill-aw-tees, you entitled useless twat, SHUT UP!' Then I look at the eccentric weirdo with whom I live and I am made better.

And I recently realized that when she is gone, she will take 95% of the love I feel in this often-times grotesque and hurtful world, and that turns me into a sad sobby creature with mascara around her nose. But in the interim, I get to appreciate her weirdness and her bizarreness and love every bit of it and for that I am grateful.

So, most especially for those of you who have had a tough Ramadan and who were trusting enough to share their experiences with me, I thank you and hope that you too have at least one person whom you are able to turn to and who is capable of swallowing you up in their innocence and kindness. If it is your mama, then get up and hug her, high five her, kiss her, tell her you love her before you wish her Eid Mubarak.

Peace and love to you all, including you asshats.

One argument: Hijab as not compulsory

Note: this is an objective entry and that means this may or may not be my perspective (a perspective that is none of your business). By posting this particular perspective, I am not extending your way the right to speak about either my state of iman or my personal perspective.

This is meant as merely food for thought and contemplation, and to help us all become aware of the different sides of the argument, so that we may then accept the conclusions most rational to us. It was sent to me by an Al-Azhar University graduate who frequents this blog and who read the ass-hatery re hijab in the comments of the post titled Tell me about Ramadan.

It is in Arabic and so only accessible to those of you who can read and understand Arabic (sorry!).

To you non Muslims who live here - Although you can not read the Arabic, I would like for you to take the following away from this entry: As Muslims, we are required to read / investigate / consider / and then choose (that which is most logical to us) of the varying scholarly opionions presented on issues such as this one. We are never to follow blindly - and the choices we make to bring things in to / expel them from our lives is in fact one based on the idea of open discussion and questioning and dissent. It is a thought process epitomizing the idea of democratic free thinking.

Additional info, sent to me by the same Al-Azhar University graduate: This was published in Rosa El Yousef - one of the most credible periodicals in Egypt - by Dr. Mostafa Mohammad Rashed about the Hijab. One of the attached files is a copy of the PhD certificate that Dr. Rashed had obtained from Al-Azhar University with an "Excellent" grade. (Read: Dr. Rashed's credentials.)

[...]it is identical to my understanding of the subject from my studies at Al-Azhar University, and from my own private readings. The writer's approach is logical, rational, and is rooted in Quranic and historic evidence. Dr. Rashed states his conclusion very clearly that the Hijab is not an Islamic "Fareeddah;" i.e. it is not a requirement from any Muslim woman.

You may wish to read it and get the benefit from this scholar's research on one of the most controversial subjects of our time. Feel free to circulate to others, if you believe that they would benefit.

Comments closed.

Dear Phil Hartling (at Rogers Cable Inc.):

Hi!

How are you?

My father and uncle received the letter (photographed here) from Rogers Cable Inc., detailing your special offers specific to the Muslim celebration of Eid.

I don't have cable and I currently use bell for both my mobile as well as internet services. But guess what, Phil? Because your company is amongst the first to respectfully acknowledge that there is a demographic of creatures called Muslims - who celebrate rather than explode - you have just gained a new customer (that's me, Phil).

Also, it is exceptionally cool of your communications team for having properly included both "Eid Mubarak" as well as the crescent moon (which is - to those who do not know - the symbol of Islam).

With thanks, and looking forward to eventually buying a rogers product,
Maha
P.S. To those of you interested, please find Rogers' official press release here.
P.S. to the P.S. Here is the Rogers site.

I was asked: 'Tell me about Ramadan'

And I just fired this off, and thought to share with you, spelling and grammar mistakes well intact. Enjoy:

As per Ramadan - I would LOVE to!
- 'Ramadan' is the name of the month (like October or November) and the Muslim calendar is a lunar one and so the beginning of Ramadan preceeds its last year's beginning day by 11 days.

- In Islam, there are 5 pillars of faith: (1) Declaration that there are no gods but God and that his final prophet is Muhammad (which, intrinsically also means that as a Mulsim, you must believe in all prior Prophets beginning with Abraham, and believe that there are over 250,000 Prophets who came down to mankind and whose names have been lost. This to me is God's way of asking Muslims to respect all faith traditions, no matter what or who they come from since we can never be certain whether that individual (i.e., Buddha) was a Prophet whose message was lost / skewed by mankind over time); (2) Paying an annual tax to either the needy or the needy (they do not have to be Muslim and it most definitely does not have to be to a Mosque). Specifically, one must pay 2.5% of the value of their *unused* assets; (3) Fasting during the month of Ramadan; (4) Prayer five times a day; and, (5) Performing Hajj once in your lifetime if you are able and have the money. Where one has neither, then the *intent* to perform Hajj is considered enough before God.

(Re the other 5 articles in which we must believe as Muslims, they are: (1) Belief in God (obviously); (2) Belief in Judgement Day; (3) Belief in the books of revelation (Torah, Bible & Qur'an); (4) Belief in God's archangels (Gabriel, Azrael, Michael); and (5) Belief in the messengers (Prophets).)

- Specifics of Ramadan >> We are not allowed to ingest anything from dawn until sunset (nothing that can enter into our bloodstream, so not even water or cigs if you're a smoker). You're also not allowed to have sex during these same hours - but this isn't really generally what people mention, but it's a part of the deal.

Women who are pregnant, menstruating or anyone who is ill or travelling may not fast.

This is the only one item of the 5 pillars for which God did not give Muslims a clear "why" to. The others were all explained; fasting is said to be done for Him. Full stop. To the inquisitive and curious that may not be enough of a reason - for me, specifically, I understand it as a means to
- hone my self discipline (fasting is no easy matter - but at the end of the 29 or 30 days, you wake up and think: I can do *anything*) and self-control; and
- understand that it is a *luxury* to walk to the sink and grab a glass of water when we're thirsty. That it is a blessing to feel hungry and run out and grab a burger or a pizza or a fruit, etc.
When we consider the levels of poverty and death from starvation that occur at a sick rate on an hourly basis - this understanding is untouchable.

And yes - people can tell me that they 'understand' hunger while they're shoving a piece of chocolate cake in their mouths and not fasting...but the reality is, we don't really understand until we walk in someone else's shoes.

Fasting grants us this amazing opportunity to put our money where our mouth is. Literally.

And that, sir, is your very first blip of info on Islam.
Questions?
(p.s. I LOVE talking faith matters - love love love it!) :)

Spiritual Fatigue

Usually, Ramadan is a more-heightened-than-normal-life experience. Last year was the first year I had an exceptional Ramadan. I woke up every morning before sunrise and had a small bite to eat, prayed subuh (the 1st of 5 daily prayers) and then fell back asleep before waking up to begin my day.

Last year was also the first ever year I was completely entrenched within Ramadan. I was focused on, living and breathing the character that - failing to carry it throughout the year - was supposed to be representative of Islam. When I stood to pray, I imagined myself inside of and protected by a teardrop that was being looked after by God. It was a wonderful, amazing and - admittedly - exhausting experience; focused and clear and simple.

This year, I can't seem to find my way to any of the above.

I was, and remain humbled that I am experiencing another Ramadan with a near 1.5 billion sisters and brothers in this, my faith tradition of Islam. I am grateful for every blessing I find in every nook and cranny of my everyday life (& everything is indeed the cherry on the cake that is an already blessed life; I am not complaining and I am not taking for granted anything). I am equal parts excited and scared that this is the month during which I get to reflect on the good, the bad and the ugly of last year, in order to focus on all that I hope to change, accomplish, dismiss, refine and deepen this coming year.

With that still, this is not my month - not this year, anyway.

This, I do not mean physically, as even though the fasting day is at nearly 14 hours per day, I am not at all hungry. In fact, I feel healthy and energized all day long.

It is, unfortunately, a spiritual malaise and fatigue that has overwhelmed me. I am going through the motions without a sense of connection to anything horizontal or vertical, and this saddens me in a way I can not express as I don't fully understand it. This year, and with all of the laughter and excitement that rises with the pretty sun, I am feeling a little bit out at sea without focus during the one month where I should be firmly anchored.

There are 19 days left; I don't believe we live in the age of miracles - or perhaps we no longer recognize them - and so I don't expect much to change over the coming three weeks. All I can hope is that next year, inshallah, I will be capable of experiencing Ramadan at center, once more.

Ramadan Kareem

May this month bring you much peace into your hearts and much self reflection, and may all of your prayers be accepted.

(And during this month of humility, please take the time to listen to this exceptional khutbah by Hamza Yusuf; arrogance (at the centre of ignorance) and God consciousness. It is for each of us to remember these words when we believe we are better than others. It is as much a reminder to you, as it is to myself.

Note: he begins with a little Muslim prayer, in Arabic, but the khutbah itself is in English, starting about a minute into the mp3.)

Comments closed.

The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine

If you never read another political book in your life, then please and for the love of all things righteous and humane, please please please read Ilan Pappe's The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine.

Pappe is a (Jewish) professor at Haifa University inside of Israel and remains among the towering authorities on the subject matter of Palestine and Israel. He is a fierce advocate of human rights and equality for all, refusing to fall victim to the Zionist spin of "Jewishness". Pappe is in the same class as Chomsky, Klein, Hass, Reinhart and Falk and is a man to which you should pay great attention.

Find his personal site here.

Comments closed.

UN's Richard Falk: IDF seizure of Gaza-bound ship 'criminal'

Please take a moment to read this.

From the article: "Richard Falk [who is an expert on international law], an American Jew and the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, said the move was part of Israel's "cruel blockade of the entire Palestinian population of Gaza" in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention prohibiting any form of collective punishment against "an occupied people"."

Comments closed.

Please meet

Israeli journalist / writer Amira Hass.

If you read French, read her here, otherwise, find her works here.

Comments closed.

Hate Mail on Iran

What we usually call "liberals" have been extremely quick to jump on this bandwagon > to the point where Twitter has set up a page asking people to point out 'suspect' pages. Most of the posts / recommendations being made by the general population is either from people pointing out spam Twitter accounts or Twitter accounts that say they are people who voted for and continue to support Ahmadinejad. Which, of course - after watching the news about EYE-fkn-ran for 5 minutes - must mean that you're informed and so are fully aware of the fact that everyone voted Mousavi. Of course. You're so smart. You're so politically en vogue.

From some of these people, I have received hate mail calling me a fascist.
Do you think they'll remember their brotherly and siterly love of the EYE-ranians when it comes time to bomb the shit out of them and steal their natural resources so that 'we' can drive around in our SUVs for cheaper still? Maybe they'll see it as a means to free and liberate the Shee-height Mozlims from a dictator.

Yay.

(Of course, here I must say that from many of these individuals, I have also received more links and information calling for caution, as well as thanks for a mini head's up about possible misinformation. Also that individuals who don't have any sort of label have been asking for more information and are interested in digging deeper. I don't need to post any of these emails.)

But - my favourite form of hate mail has come from the inidviduals who are so narrow minded that they see any argument - any argument posing even the slightest challenge to their own perspective, in fact - as one which supports Ahmadinejad. The following two are my favourites thus far:

"Shame on you! No wonder you support Ahmadinejad, you have already got enough money from him! You are selling younge Iranians blood killed by his regim to this idiot who most Iranians know him better and hate him. Shame on you. You support a criminal."

&

"Shame on promotors of facism.

Dear "leftist" :
The enemy of your enemy . is not your friend.

Join the fight against facism, rather than promoting it. Talibanism, Tehran or Kabul style, is at odds with humanity.

Do not presribe that at the expense of my people , and for the sake of your agenda."

I believe Ahmadinejad is a stain on Islam (& I wouldn't vote for either him or Mousavi; more to the point, I would never live under any theocracy), and yet, any call for caution and a more nuanced approach solicits this sort of a reaction. Absolutely amazing and fascinating and I love it. People's ignorance is both prolific and deeply profound.

Recommend that you please visit this link at Middle East Report Online and take the time to read and reflect. My article is extremely light on all subject matters and is intended to point out that reform is not 'revolution', that it is not a simple matter of black vs. white & that the destabilization of Iran serves greater ends (food for thought); if you wish to learn more and dig deeper on the internal political situation, then this is an excellent place to burrow.

"It all comes down to this:

Whose flesh are you touching and why? Whose flesh are you recoiling from and why? Whose flesh are you burning and why?"
- Daniel Berrigan

So crisp and clear with challenge.

(I am in love with this man, and I don't mind that he's over 90 years of age.)

'Moral Army'

I am not of the belief that there can ever be such a thing as a 'moral army'. I feel nothing but sorrow for the State of Israel - because although the death toll they amass against the Palestinians continues to rise, they're going to need national therapy to get over the idea that's pushed by their political and religious perverts: that they are forever victims, threatened by all, only safe in the State of Israel.

Forget that grouping all individuals following the Jewish faith in to one small area of the world is really nothing short of drawing a bull's-eye on them.

Many of my dearest friends, Jewish, are fighting this on a personal level, refusing to be victims, refusing to inherit this legacy, refusing to make the State of Israel the only place they can feel safe and protected. It is a daily struggle for them, a personal battle against their families and their community and one I watch with only the greatest admiration and respect.

(Yes: I lump fundamentalist Muslims and fundamentalist Christians into the same category. Also any fundamentalist who tries to force the idea of reincarnation on me, anarchy on me, communism on me, confusing the lines of politics and theology, discourse and ideology, fear and power.)

"The soldiers' testimonies also reportedly told of an unusually high intervention by military and non-military rabbis, who circulated pamphlets describing the war in religious terminology.

"All the articles had one clear message," one soldier said. "We are the people of Israel, we arrived in the country almost by miracle, now we need to fight to uproot the gentiles who interfere with re-conquering the Holy Land."

"Many soldiers' feelings were that this was a war of religion," he added."

Read the complete article here.

Comments here are closed.

Disarm

Please take a moment to read about this Campaign and support them in any way you can.

If the following appeals to you, then I encourage you to share this information, please:

"October 16, 2008 saw two coordinated actions against leading weapons factories in two different cities located in central Sweden. Equipped with hammers and bolt cutters, activists gained access to the manufacturing halls where they found and disarmed weapons used in the American-led war on Iraq and warfare material destined for India."

Comments here are closed.

Poor judge-ment on display in scholarship discrimination

Please find my latest piece here at rabble.

And a little announcement, that I am very excited to make, as rabble is Canada's no.1 progressive voice: rabble asked me to become a regular contributor, and I've accepted...hurrah! When you click on my name, you'll now see that side photo and blurb.

Comments here are closed.

'Modern' malaise, dread & boredom

Spiritual discussion contextualized within the aesthetic modern, specific to...read and find out to what.

If you are of the variety who believes they are not held to a higher moral ethic (specifically, of the Abrahamic traditions), then you should skip over this entry as it is not for you. I further extend this sentiment to those of you who believe that women fking like men renders the sexes equal.

For all others; click here to download another excellent piece by S. Hamza Yusuf titled Climbing Mount Purgatorio: Reflections from the Seventh Cornice. It speaks to the excesses of today (specifically pornography) and the spiritual and moral malaise / boredom which makes for fertile ground.

More importantly it speaks to the differences between men and women and how men could use to learn from women. This piece will not sit well with those of you who believe they have either a 'modern' or 'Western' perspective on life. Nor for those who wish to behave 'freely' in either the 'modern' or 'Western' definition specific to this part of the world.

It is a heavy theological read, but will make your mind expand. Even if you disagree. Thanks to Aamin for forwarding my way; he is a convert to Islam and a once 'playboy'.

(For those unable to dl the above, please find the article here.)
Comments here are closed.

Ramadan Mubarak

May this month bring its blessings; may our fast be accepted and our prayers heard, Inshallah.

Aside from merely undertaking the physical act of fasting this year, try cutting something else out - something as (simple) as refusing to take part in gossip / back biting. It is, in Islam, one of the majour sins; let's avoid it for this month alone if we can't for the other 11. We will be better people for it...

Remember:

O you who have attained to faith! No men shall deride (other) men: it may be that those (whom they deride) are better than themselves; and no woman (shall deride other) women: it may be that those (whom they deride) are better than themselves. And neither shall you defame one another, nor insult one another by (opprobrious) epithets: evil is all imputation of iniquity after (one has attained to) faith (...)

O you who have attained to faith! Avoid most guesswork (about one another and which may lead to unfounded suspicion of another person's motives) - for, behold, some of (such) guesswork is (in itself) a sin; and do not spy upon one another, and neither allow yourselves to speak ill of one another behind your backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, you would loathe it! (49: parts of 11 & 12)


Anyone interested in joining me, Muslim or not?

War Made Easy

...only if interested in my political ramblings.

Comments here are closed.

2007: On Regret

For those of you who have lived here on a regular basis, you know that 2007 was a definitive year for me. In fact, I can now say that 2007 may have been the most definitive of my wee little life thus far.

Every single day brings us face to face with a dozen mini choices; on some days, the choices made define the essence of our character. For nearly six months in 2007, I was facing choices that lent a hand to shaping who I was and what I stood for. Not one of those choices was simple or easy. Most definitely, not one choice made was made with a light heart. But, each one of the choices I made in 2007, I would make again in a heartbeat. Every euphoria and every trauma and every deception and every single point of me, I would relive and relive with an open and trusting heart.

Although many of the people who I met in 2007 are no longer a part of my life (nor will they ever be a part of my life), I will always cherish the time in which they were a presence in my days. Thankful and grateful, too. People don't necessarily come into our lives to stay, but rather to help us and themselves reach another stage in our lives. They must leave because the lessons learned are ones that can only be learned once their presence is no longer felt.

That reality is only a sad and difficult thing to accept if you are not willing to see the good in every single situation.
If you choose to focus on merely the ugly and the painful, then you will not understand that at the essence of everything is goodness because you will be much too busy trying to make sense of a painting while standing with your nose pressed against it. Likely, you are more comfortable wallowing in how you have been wronged and how you are owed, rather than learning and breathing and living through the most difficult experience in order to improve who you are.

Likely, you live and then you regret.

But that's not the way I have ever functioned and it is most definitely not the way I will ever function.
For this, I must thank and cherish Islam, because the foundation I stand upon is one of Faith and Belief, and that foundation demands that I be thankful for every single thing that comes in to and potentially leaves my life. As a Muslimah, I must believe that I am blessed - in fact, that we are all blessed by virtue of being alive - and not merely pay it lip service. That alone is enough. That alone is enough to teach me that 2007 is a blessing.

More importantly than that particular concept in Islam, though, is the other, and that is: we should fear nothing in this world but Allah.

I have one too many times seen regret lead to fear, trepidation and bitterness. I've actually watched as someone wallowed in their past and actively denied their present. Fear of committing the same mistakes over which they currently wallow. Fear of being hurt.

But here's a little secret for you: you will always be at risk of getting hurt, so buck up and deal with it, already. Denying it won't stop it, but it will stop you from evolving. Worse still is that it is a terrible way to waste a short and wondrous life, this living in fear.

Remember that in order to regret, you must emotionally pull yourself out of today; you press the pause button on right now and you instead turn your mind's eye to yesterdays. (It's like 'nostalgia', which is more often than not, merely another way of communicating your displeasure with right now.)

And quite frankly, you shouldn't have time to do this because you need to concentrate on today. How and who you will help today. How you will improve today. How you are going to work today to make a better tomorrow. There is enough pain in this world for you to focus on, none of it having to do with your sad state.

Ultimately, "regret" is a means to self indulge and self spoil and many personalities are comfortable in that state. It is an irresponsibility that you level against your own potential and future. And just as you wouldn't harm your body physically, so too should you never stand in the way of your own potential and motion forward.

Here's the kicker, kitties (let's get ready to shed our egos): We must believe that everything in this life happens for a reason and that reason doesn't necessarily have to do with our life. Sometimes (and this you must accept if you perceive yourself as a functioning part of and contributor to the overall unity of society), we have to understand that we will go through traumatic situations for the benefit not of our self, but of others.

Crazier still is that we may never know how our pain helped someone else. And yet, we must accept it with open arms. (Odd this concept of altruism, n'est pas?)

But that takes strength.
And the question becomes: Are you strong enough?

The Secret Lives of Churches: Muslims Gone Wild

Proof that a Muslimah can be inside of a Church without catching Hell fire.



Someone tell McBush, STAT.

War, Inc

I don't have a clue how to work myspace, but hopefully you do and you will be able to do something with this link.

John Cusack's latest and greatest is War, Inc. and it is, from its attempted (& failed) murder by Those Who Would Have You Never Know to the brilliant and shiny reviews of Those Who You Should Be Getting In Bed With...sounding rather spectacular.



Please support it any way you can; it's these sorts of challenges to the status quo that require our attention.

And if anyone does know how to work myspace, please let me know what the hell I'm supposed to do in order to become an official myspace supporter of War, Inc.

(I like to go here in order to find out in which manner Iraq and it's folks are being screwed on any given day.

And remember:

Vote McBush, y'all!
Keepin' Whities strong and darkies screwed.
Your natural resources Whitie's Mine All Mine.
Praise his Jesus!
Vote McBush!
*Insert pompoms and back flips and fists in the air and up your bum, Darkie! and short skirts over blonde McBush*
YAY!
HURRAH!
GO RICH WHITIE GETTIN' RICHER & HILLBILLIER!

And finally, honestly and with deep sincerity:

May Allah indeed bless America by giving it back to those who would uphold the values that should be cherished, the freedoms that should be protected and the rights that are owed to all and not merely a few.

Support War, Inc.
Tell your friends.)

Oh

"Children as young as 6 have been forced to have sex with aid workers and peacekeepers in return for food and money..."

I started crying when I read the above article, and it didn't get much better as I was reading the report itself. Please read it if you can as it's just a quick 37 pages. Then do something about it, either by donating money or sending an email or writing a letter or volunteering at a local shelter for abused children.

I've been reading a lot lately about child sexual abuse and exploitation and I can not actually coherently articulate what I think should happen to adult men** who so much as touch anyone below the age of 18. My 'articulation' can't form a linear coherent and logical train of thought; it does, though, give rise to images of crowbars, bats, chains and rusty saws. Without exaggeration, the Saw films would look like a Disney undertaking compared to my imagination.

Sad aside: Did you know that most of the time the (vile, repugnant, unworthy of life) Molester is a trusted family member or someone that would be characterized as a family member, such as an 'uncle' figure?

Even sader aside: Most of the time, the parent(s) is aware that something is going on.

What would you have done to both the parent and that 'uncle'? What would you do? Because there is nothing that you could tell me you would do that I've not already imagined I too would do. And then some. Or maybe: And then too much to merely call "some".

Parents have a duty to protect their children with their life. As I type this, I choke on the mere thought that my parents would shirk this responsibility where I was concerned, as a child, or where I am concerned still, as an adult. This duty, I believe, is among the most important - if not the most important in our lives. I can't possibly imagine what kind of weak, pathetic, disparate character one would possess if they suspected that their child was being molested and DID NOTHING. I actually can't imagine it. I can't wrap my mind around it. I can't think straight if I try to understand it and I loose all cool even writing about it.

When those duties are not taken seriously or with the ferociousness as the protection offered in the animal kingdom when a mama or baba has to protect their cubs, then that "parent" deserves to have every bone in their body broken. And I don't give a rat's ass about the cycle of violence; I don't care if that parent was previously abused or neglected because there is NO EXCUSE. There is NO EXCUSE. You want to cry me a f*cking river about your past; I'll tell you to f*ck off, still.

As with the situation referenced above, there is - and I don't use this term lightly - an 'evil' to the character of those who would commit such a crime against children. A parent's silence is an equally - if not more so - wretched complicity in the act.

There is no recourse, there is no apology, and there is no forgiveness of these individuals. There should only be death.

I've just donated to Save the Children (Canada); I recommend you consider doing the same. For those of you in the USA, you may donate here, while those of you in the UK, can make contact with the organization here.

--------------------
** Save for very rare situations, the impulse to sexually molest children does not seem to be part of the psychological composite of females, but is, rather, a compulsion that seems to lie deep within the male psyche.

Apologies for my going off topic, but the subject of child molestation is one of a handful of subjects that throw me into a tailspin...as you've just witnessed.

Quote Unquote

"Faith is the daring of the soul to go farther than it can see."
- William Newton Clarke

"Obliterate" Iran?

Thanks for this, Hillary: "Clinton told ABC News: "I want the Iranians to know that if I'm the president, we will attack Iran.

'In the next 10 years, during which they might foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them.'"

I love that! "Obliterate". She will "obliterate" an entire country.

Less Muslims in the world. Hurrah!

100 acres of land

Is one of the properties my (father's) family owns in Gaza. On this land were thousands of orange, grapefruit, lemon, olive & valencia trees. We've owned this land for generations and it has fed and housed generations.

There are pictures of me as an infant playing and sleeping among the trees, covered head to toe in dirt.

It was where we welcomed guests; it was where my cousins and I ate fresh cactus fruit and hid from the adults.

It was there pictured my mother and my father and a newborn infant, still a happy couple.

It will always be there that my favourite picture of my paternal grandfather and I was taken; it's a black and white photo of him seated shelling peanuts and handing them to a four year old me in bloomers and a sleeveless dress covered in flowers. I was looking at the camera squinting, smiling and waving with a fat hand because my grandfather was spoiling me.

My paternal grandfather commanded respect, not love. As an infant, the barriers paid attention to by adults meant nothing to me, though I would later grow into a teenager who was scared of this man, who held her tongue in his presence and who often wondered why he'd bothered having children.

I have become a woman who understands that the choices we make in this life define who we are, and even though his choices made him a difficult man to love, I hold on to that photo, on that land, in that summer house, and let it guide my heart when I think of this Seedo.

This past weekend, the Israeli Defence Forces went on to our property and uprooted each one of those trees.
They demolished our home.
They have left: Nothing on 100 acres of land.

There is no justification, but there is an explanation: Apart from the psychological warfare in which Israel is engaging against the Palestinians, so too does it every day engage in economic warfare. This instance is one of them. The land was viable. The land was productive and healthy and offered fruit and vegetables to Palestinians. That is reason enough for the State of Israel.

Our property is not unique, we are not to be pitied for this loss as there is nothing 'special' about it (only that we've managed to escape the bulldozers for so long); our land is one of thousands that has been raised. It will not be mentioned in history aside from a default into the land that was destroyed by the State of Israel.

Only, it is unique to us, my family; it is a part of our history and no matter the size of that tank or the size of that bulldozer, that is one thing that - try as they might - the State of Israel will never occupy or demolish.

"Stop, O people, that I may give you ten rules for your guidance in the battlefield. Do not commit treachery or deviate from the right path. You must not mutilate dead bodies. Neither kill a child, nor a woman, nor an aged man. Bring no harm to the trees, nor burn them with fire, especially those which are fruitful. Slay not any of the enemy's flock, save for your food. You are likely to pass by people who have devoted their lives to monastic services; leave them alone.”
-Islamic rules for engaging in warfare. (If only...)

Comments here are closed.

I am looking forward to the day when

The sighting of "Jesus" is the sighting not of the European white male version of him (which, I believe is version 2.7), but of, perhaps, a man who looks a little more Semitic. A little more like Adam Sandler, Steven Spielberg, Tony Shalhoub or even Omar Sherif but with longer hair and a little wee beard, too.

But then will anyone recognize poor Hay-zeus (blessings be upon him)?

'Caramel'

Except for the occasional political one, I rarely recommend films on this blog. But if you are free tonight, this Thursday evening, tomorrow or Saturday and live in Ottawa, then please find the hour and a half needed to head over to the Bytowne Cinema where you can catch Caramel. (Tonight it's on at 5pm, Friday at 4.30pm & Saturday at 2.15pm.)

Later, I will insert here why I loved this movie as much as I did...check back.

Gone Green: My New Friends

Unlike mama, I've never been one for foliage. I've tried having plants in the past, but like my goldfish, I've killed them all.

Last year, I took an interest in a situation that had an interest in plants and gardens, which led me to a thorough enjoyment of Green and all of the chemistry involved within. It also made me ask some questions about Islam and nature / environment and I was quite satiated to find that there are over 700 verses in the Quran that discuss the environment, our link to it, and our duty to protect it. Furthermore, there are many hadiths that discuss Muhammad's (pbuh) many references to nature, my favourite being: "Whoever plants a tree and looks after it with care, until it matures and becomes productive, will be rewarded in the Hereafter" because I need all the help I can get in my effort to make it to Heaven and so if there's anything I can do to give me a better grade, I'm all over it. (I'm so excited to share with you my recent discovery that I'm almost hyperventilating; Please click here.)

Since arriving in my new place of work, I've been looking at my office space and noticing that it's missing Green.

I made My New Friends over three weeks ago and I'm still scared because I don't want to kill Them. Luckily, it appears that it's only Penelope who seems to be going to sleep - quite likely never to wake up again. In my defence, I believe I was over-reaching when I decided to purchase a phalaenopsis amabilis. (Two words that I can't pronounce but provide me the aura of a Hogwarts student and who doesn't want that?)

I have looked up and studied care instructions because not only do I not want to kill My New Friends, but I don't want to hurt Them, either.

A couple of tricks I've learned from television, such as: chatting with My New Friends in the mornings. I come in relatively early and so there's no one around to hear me as I tell My New Friends about my evenings. I even purchased a spritzer / schwooscher that mists out water, because that's what They enjoy. Isn't that great? The woman who introduced me to Them for an arm and a leg said "mist their leaves. The leaves like that". After paying very close attention to the sounds made by the leaves, I can now confirm that They are a composite of really small beings that laugh and giggle when it mists all over them exactly the opposite of me, because mist makes my hair fizzy. In case you're wondering, I mist Them each morning as we have our chat.

Please wave to:

Penelope, my Orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis)


Hussy, my Calla Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica)


Kuan-Yin, my Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema pseudobracteatum)


If you stand next to the sunshine, they'll wave back at you (except perhaps Kuan-Yin who prefers his quiet and usually in the dark 'alone' time).

'Sin' means 'tooth' in the Arabic language

This is something new; I've received quite a few emails quite recently asking what Muslims believe about Hell. Specifically, people are interested in knowing if - like Christians - Muslims believe that everyone but them goes to Hell. (Perhaps this question is due to the latest and greatest list of sins that will send you to Hell, as just published by The Church.)

The answer to the Question is: No, Muslims do not believe that everyone but them goes to Hell.
Muslims also don't believe that by virtue of you being a Muslim, you are guaranteed a place in Heaven immediately.

Where you end up is based on your behaviour in this world. It's a simple equation: If you believe in the unity of God in all things ('there is no god but God', which is not, by any stretch, exclusive to Muslims) + if your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds, you're going to Heaven. We don't believe in purgatory (it's either Heaven or Hell) and so if your bad deeds outweigh your good, then you pay your dues in Hell and then when you've served your time, you go to Heaven.

When one thinks about it, it's actually pretty difficult to land your ass in Hell, according to Islam. (No doubt, when one reads the Quran and compares it to either the Torah or the Bible, the God presented within the Quran is a much kinder, gentler, friendlier, forgiving and merciful One than the one presented in the other Books. (Don't just take my word for it; read the Books and compare for yourself in an effort to form your own opinions.) For a Muslim, the answer as to 'why' this is the case is simple: It's because the other books once did have this same representation of God - until the actual texts themselves were edited to meet political, social, cultural, and gender-specific agendas driven by men. More importantly, as a Muslim, you believe that the Quran is the literal word of God and it's this text that we trust in more than others (literal word of God, yes, though it's our duty to recognise that much of the text is written in metaphor - something stated within the Quran itself)).

Of note is that Muslims believe that everyone eventually ends up in Heaven except for the non-Believers. (If you tell someone you don't love them, would you expect them to take you to their bed? If you don't love God, why would you expect Him to take you to his most precious place? Ultimately, in Islam, when one turns from God, one turns from Love - 'L' as Plato would express. But if you're an atheist, this doesn't matter because you don't believe in Heaven or Hell and so I don't even know why you're still reading. And I a have here just created a terrible analogy between Heaven and someone's bed, God forgive me.)

And even then, most all Muslims accept the fact that God's mercy is complete and unbound and so the statement of "...except for non-Believers" has to end with "W'Allahu a'llam".

Aside no1: For those of you currently reading the Quran in English - remember that you're reading an interpretation and not a translation. To truly understand the Quran, it must be read in Arabic. Sorry - it's just the way it goes, since translation is tainted by time and subject. The interpreted translation written today will differ from that which will be written in ten years from now whereas the Quran is as it was 1400 years ago, is as it will be 1400 years from today. This is why those who convert are usually interested in learning Arabic eventually (because, honestly, why would you ever rely on secondary sources when the primary source is available, if only you did the work?).

Before you say it, let me write a pre-emptive note to your thought: Les Miserables reads better in French, and Habermas actually makes more sense in German (or so I'm told), so chill out with the rhetoric about 'why Arabic? Arabs are trying to maintain a monopoly on and thus create a hierarchy in Islam' because Arabs only make up 21% of the world's Muslim population and (1) you don't need to learn Arabic in order to become a Muslim, and (2) no one expects you to learn Arabic after you become a Muslim, unless you're engaged enough and interested enough to do learn of your own desire to do so. Not to mention the fact that the two other Books were not sent to us in Arabic, but rather Hebrew and Aramaic. So seriously: chill.

Aside no2: 'Islam' is the name of the tradition. 'Muslim' is the title of the individual practicing the tradition: The Muslim Ummah (all Muslims the world over as one nation (never to be confused with the movement of supremacy known as The Nation of Islam) barring citizenship, and thus erasing the concept of nation State) is spoken of in the masculine, because Arabic - as with French - talks of a group in the masculine if 99 of them are women and only one of them is a man. 'Muslimah' is the female of the word 'Muslim', hence why I am a Muslimah.

Thanks for your questions! They're really interesting and thought provoking.

**********

Sin = One single tooth
Sini = My tooth
Sinak = Your tooth (if you are a boy and you are present)
Sinoh = His tooth (if he is absent)
Sinik = Your tooth (if you are a girl and you are present)
Sinha = Her tooth (if she is absent)

Snaan = All teeth
Snaani = My teeth
Snaanak = Your teeth (if you are a boy and you are present)
Snaanoh = His teeth (if he is absent)
Snaanik = Your teeth (if you are a girl and you are present)
Snaanha = Her teeth (if she is absent)

etc. ad infinitum to the tip of the Arabic grammatical iceberg (& you thought French was complicated?).

Unity, as taught by Islam

"It became clear to him that every [species], although apparently a multiplicity - if one considered all its separate organs, senses and movements - was really a unity if seen in terms of that spirit which emanated from [the heart] and spread from there to all other organs.

He concluded that the spirit indwelling [all] species is a unity but divided among many hearts.

Considered in this way, [all] species [is] a single entity and its many members were as the many organs in one individual: thus, not a multiplicity but a unity."
- Ibn Tufail, "The Journey of the Soul" (a short 62 page story that may be one of the most important I've yet to read. A strong recommendation for you to order, read and reflect upon.)

********************
Philosopher Ibn Tufail is better known in the West as Abubacer, teacher of Averros, teacher of Avicenna. For those of you interested in philosophy, you already know that these are among the Greats. This short story is worth your time as it is considered a part of the foundation on which stood many of the later philosophers.

The Gaza Bombshell

You must please read Vanity Fair's The Gaza Bombshell.

It is a lengthy article and so I recommend you print it up and then read it when you are in the proper state of mind.

Oh, Dear God!

Did you hear? The Catholic Church has issued a new list of sins.

WOW. No offense to each and every one of you beautiful and wonderful Catholics (with whom I would get down before any other denomination), but seriously? This sort of thing makes me understand the rate of 'apostasy' (I learned that word last year!) and it's heartbreaking.

Imagine walking around and constantly waiting for some random dude (learned or otherwise) playing God and ADDING sins on behalf of God? That would kill me, and my humble opinion is that the Catholic Church (God love them) has to chill out.

Don't misunderstand me here; I think some of the new 'sins' make sense.(1) BUT NOT AS SINS. They should be recommendations put forth by the Catholic church, period. Not "SINS" because a sin is - by definition - decreed by no one but God. Naturally, as a Muslimah, I believe that all of the sins have been pointed out and now we just go on our merry way being retarded sinners who can't get it and keep it together for the entirety of this short life. But we try - or so we aim...

(I know you're wondering: Isn't a Fatwah the same thing? The answer is 'no' because a Fatwah is almost always a response to an answer...such as 'Should we kill Salman because of his craptastic writing?' that was met with the phenominally stupid "YES! Because it's not bad enough that he is really, and I mean REALLY a CRAPTASTIC writer and maybe 17 people will read this terrible book - let's make things worse by collectively doing something that will bring attention to the man and make him sell a billion copies. Does anyone have anything better to worry about, anyway? It doesn't matter that Muslims are being occupied and slaughtered, LET'S FOCUS ON THE CRAPTASTIC WRITER, PLEASE! Yalla.'

This is why one may find competing Fatwah's; something which happens quite often and speaks to the idea within Islam that at the end of the day, each individual must read, question, research, look to the learned, and finally decide / choose the 'response' (Fatwah) which is most logical to them.

It is also why each Fatwah must end with 'W'Allahu A'llam', which means "...and God knows best", referencing the reality that no matter the amount of information and knowledge we hold as human beings, it is only He who does indeed know best. )

Anyway. Poor Catholics. I'm sending you a very big hug.
(Remember: I Heart Jesus.)

Thoughts?

********************
(1) I get the no pollution one, but the one about genetic engineering? The Church needs to stop fearing Science; my personal opinion here is that The Church fears Science because they (unnecessarily & contrary to Faith) perceive it as a competing factor...but I'm just one little Muslimah so what do I know, eh? What with being oppressed and all. Insert here a creepy little winking emoticon.

Anti-War

A friend has just sent me this hilarious anti-war sign. Likely, the author wanted to end it with "YOU IDIOT!" but ran out of room.



Which brings me to the hat I purchased and forgot in Dubai, because it never ceases to amaze me just how misunderstood Islam's perspective on Christianity and Jesus is. (Read: Because it's nice to f*ck with people's ignorance as often as time permits...)

Yaznotjaz Hauls It to Ottawa

You all know her as the crazy wonderful woman who lives here and peppers our conversations with ROCKSTARs and HIGHFIVEs: Yasmine, Yasmina, Yaznotjaz.



(The table in this photo is a mere three inches from the ground, but I'll get to that in a moment.)

My favourite story of Yaz's is that of the gentleman who told her he liked her "costume" (aka hijab).

In early December, Yaz hauled it to Ottawa for a friend's wedding and I took her to my favourite restaurant where she, for the first time ever, ate Vietnamese. I understand your initial reaction here is "¿Qué?", but that she'd never before had Vietnamese is la verdad, my coco loco amigos that live in the Barrio. (How exciting! I've just used every Spanish word I know. Olé!)

The few things about Yaz that I wish to share are:
(1) When you look at her big brown eyes, you think you're looking into the face of a baby. I considered reaching over and burping her after lunch, but Alhamdulilah, I didn't. (Even though I would have done it gladly.) On several occasions and moments before she would speak, I half expected her to gurgle instead. That's how pure and innocent her eyes are.

(2) You know how she comments and writes "HIGHFIVE"? She actually HIGHFIVEs you in public. It took me a few seconds to figure it out, but I catch on relatively quickly and started HIGHFIVE-ing her as demanded during the course of our time together. This, though most of you know my complete distaste for the HIGHFIVE-ing industry which sucks us dry of other potential exclamation scenarios.

(3) She wrote the Encyclopedia Britannica.

(4) She has a laugh that puts the loudness of mine to shame. It is infectuous and catchy and made me laugh harder and louder. Honestly, I'd not laughed that hard in a long time and so it was with pleasure that I let her virus infect me...

(5) She is an excellent keeper of secrets.

(6) From the bottom of her heart, she says things like: "Dude, that's hell-a not cool. That's just about basic human character and respect. Hell-a. Not. Cool. God'll take care of that shit. HIGHFIVE."

(7) She is a Kung Fu Master.

(8) She is the tiniest creature I have encountered and she wears three socks which she tucks into a size 2 running shoe. Propelled by her petiteness, I was forced to pick her up and attempt hanging her on the Christmas tree. (Recall the height of the table in above photo.)

She fought really hard and won, then told me she thought I was "Hell-a weird. HIGHFIVE."

(9) She is a text message fiend, who writes novels that fly through the mobile airwaves at least 23 hours a day.

(10) I kept wanting to hug her, but contained myself until the very end when we said our goodbyes and hugged twice - once for Anjum, and once for her. I was satiated, but did notice that Ottawa dimmed a wee little bit after that goodbye, as she seems to be followed around this little earth by warm sunshine...

(Safe and Happy New Gregorian Year, folks.)

Happy Holidays!

Because I can't kiss each of you while this far away, I offer instead a little bow-sah from a friendly Middle Eastern Fishie. (You may kiss her back, if it pleases you...)

Happy Holidays from Dubai!

Eid Mubarak

I've finished my trip to Oman where I saw for the first time ever wild dolphins. They move in the most beautiful symmetry...and I will post videos soon enough, Inshallah.

A special note on the man in the pictures; he's been keeping me cozy by giving me at least 20 hugs a day (each one of which I've needed almost desperately). My baby cousin Ahmed. He's 7 years old and likes food. Whenever seated on the couch, he comes over and cuddles in close, and before bed, he kisses me goodnight and tells me I'm his favourite girl and would I promise to not tell that to either of his sisters. (We have a secret handshake that consists of feigned spitting and a Point Break wave of the hands and scream. Because it's 'secret', you mustn't tell anyone.)





I find that lately I've been more comfortable around children as their innocence and trust is filling me up with calm that's placing kind, soft and protective hands around and beneath my heart.

On the occasion of this first day of Eid, I hope this coming year is good to each and every one of you and your families. (& May each of your hearts find the innocence of a child should it require it.)

P.S. Any photo showing up as a broken link will be fixed and back to normal as soon as I'm back in Canada.

On Kuffaar

Don't send me anything in which you call anyone a kaffir.

That word has no home in my heart.
That word has no place in the way I live my faith.

If it is a word you are quick to use, then I strongly recommend you get back to basics re our deen and busy yourself with your own problems, rather than playing Allah and choosing to judge the hearts of others. Last I checked, my sisters and brothers, it's only those who are too weak of spirit and accomplishment that feel a need to point out the so-called 'faults' of others in a wanting attempt to make themselves better people.

If you wish to start a dialogue on this issue, then do it here and publicly, because there is nothing I would enjoy more.

I Recommend

that during this coming holiday season, and among the varied books you read, you take some time to walk carefully through Reza Aslan's No god but God; The Origins, Evolution and Future of Islam.

It's in this month that millions of Muslims will make their way to Mecca for the pilgrimage. Take a moment to think about them and the world they are entering. Try and understand why they are about to take such a difficult journey, where they stand as Muslims and where the future generations of Muslims may stand.

You may be misunderstanding your environment, believing that this has nothing to do with you, when the reality is the pilgrimage - in exactly the same way Christmas and Hanukah affect and touch us all - is a part of you in some way or another. Look at it, see how that is, peek over the slightly high walls and learn a little more about that side of you that you've never before examined. You may be surprised by what you find...

Your mind has a natural inclination for turning toward knowledge; consider feeding it something new this month.

Don't ever confuse

This disgusting, vile, repugnant backwards form of thinking with who I am, what I represent, what my Faith means to me, how it is executed within my family and my community, how it will be taught to my children, how I choose to live it, how I choose to interpret it and the love I carry for it in my heart.

There is no learned Muslim - male of female - who would tell you that this court decision is defensible in any other Islamic court of law. It is defensible ONLY in a country that calls itself 'Muslim' and uses that very lie to justify a continued and abhorrent oppression of its women; a country that attempts to render women completely impotent at every turn of life.

Disgusting is this court decision and Saudi's despicable interpretation of a beautiful, kind, forgiving and gentle religion that was the first to give women equal rights and equal power and equal status. They have made a mockery of it and all who it has served to protect for 1400 years.

And here's my punishment to impart: Each one of the 'Judges' is raped 28 times and then their genitals sliced off so as to ensure they never lure another rape. How dare they commit a woman to such punishment in the name of MY religion.

To anyone who has half a brain, please DO NOT misunderstand this court decision as a representation of Islam, for the only thing it represents is that country's fear of an equal and empowered woman. I am really much too enraged to post anything articulate on this subject and so I recommend you instead read this particular response to the ruling.

Aside: This is NOT a religious issue. This is an issue that is, at its core, one about gender politics but manipulating the faith of Islam to its benefit. If you are male or female, Muslim or otherwise, this issue is about you. There is a duty here to speak loud and clear against this sort of injustice because today's embodiment is the young woman in Saudi Arabia, tomorrow it may be our own daughters in any other part of the world. Do not wait until it comes knocking at your front door.

Aside no 2: Ask yourself where the British and American condemnation (it is not enough for the Americans to say they were 'astonished' by the ruling as that is like saying the sky is blue) of this ruling is - it will not come, and should it come, it will be as quiet as a lamb because Saudi Arabia is allied with the USA and Britain. Petrol / Money are here key issues. Had this decision been taken in Iran, both the American and the British administrations would have used the opportunity to point to the 'barbarianism' and lack of freedom, using it as further leverage to attack. Petrol / Money are here also key issues. Open your eyes if you've not done so already.

Aside no 3: Wahhabi - NOT Sunni - is the ruling 'Islamic' ideology in Saudi, and it is currently being called 'conservative', which it is anything but. Wahhabism is a strictly literal - and therefore psychopathic - interpretation of Islam. It would be the equivalent of how a Jewish settler would read the Torah, and how a Christian would be an Evangelist (or Mel Gibson).

In response to the notion

that believing in God is the first step to becoming a killer, en masse.

I would add: on many levels, this particular line of thinking seems the natural route for those who possess neither the strength of character nor the bravery to look inside and ask themselves what it is that makes us behave the way we do, because whether we like it or not, how we interpret is an extension of how we behave. The way we view the world is the way we interact with it and how we position ourselves within it with respect to ourselves as well as others. More precisely, it is this interpretation which denotes what we expect to receive from 'this world' - and this reality one can see most clearly in those whose trump card is the martyr card.(1)

It's easier to say 'I blame you' rather than facing, understanding and ultimately changing 'my culpability'. What better way to eschew responsibility than to pin it on belief in the Almighty? Funny that, because pinning the blame on even the idea of His existence renders it necessary that others believe in Him; because for the likes of those who would carry the above belief, they would be lost if they had nothing to rage against. A fine line if ever there was one.

**********
(1) If the above seems severely judgemental, that's because it is. It is a response to any a**hole who would look at me and tell me that I'm on my way to becoming a killer, en masse. That sort of poison deserves to be met with an equal amount of offensiveness.

So: If you don't believe in God and if you also don't believe that I am en route to becoming a murderer, then chill out 'cus the above post ain't about you.

Unsolicited Call

(Originally posted on 7/23/07 and then pulled and now it's back. I am closing the comments because some of you are still Crazy.)

I received an unsolicited call from a someone who I've not spoken with in a while. The call left me thinking about how quickly time passes and how fast our lives turn corners and choose to walk down different avenues and that sometimes no matter which avenues are chosen, we still manage to return to the same street corners.

When this individual and I met, they were struggling with many issues, most notably their faith and the moments of darkness they'd lived which had led them to question their space in this world and what it (life) all meant. By most standards, this person's life was and remains exceptionally blessed, but pain is relative and so what appears as 'perfect' on the outside has just as many fragments and cracks as the lives of others.

Raised Catholic and having grown into uncertainty, we had confused conversations along the lines of: "God damn the church. Not really. I don't know. That's sacrilegious. Right?", even though through it all, this individual believed in Him. What it boiled down to was a disbelief in the representation of Him as had been provided to this individual, and so they were unknowingly searching for a representation they could hold on to and in which they could believe - or at least, as with the rest of us, embrace and struggle with always, as the human condition demands of Faith.

For this individual, these issues seem to be slowly disappearing - they're not completely resolved, nor will they ever be, I don't think - but they're being faced and challenged with honesty. The person also understood that Faith can not be understood within the context of itself, but it must be understood within the context of the Self - past experiences, relationships, familial situations all shape what we look at and how we look at whatever it is that has to do with Faith. For this reason, and interestingly enough, they did not start with Faith, but all other 'baggage' - and now, some years later, they're able to look at the core, which is in this case: Faith.

It was also nice to hear that a catalyst for these changes was me, especially when I had no idea I'd done anything other than express my own beliefs when asked about them. Our conversation was centered around our individual understanding of 'when bad things happen to good people'. I hope I helped, if only a little. I was flattered to no end that I was asked and that what was said some time ago still resonated today.

While chatting, I had my radio on and was listening to a man on CBC argue vehemently against religion and express - among many other intelligent thoughts - that Muslim women are brainwashed and it was the duty of men such as him to enlighten and educate Muslim women on matters such as hijab. I put my phone up to the radio so that my friend could hear what was being said and they found it as amusing and as inconsequential as I did. They asked me to turn it off and said: "I wasn't sure what I believed about God, until I realised that I didn't need to believe in God for Him to exist...but He needs to believe in me, for me to be whole. And of all the people around me, I'm trusting the brain of a Muslim woman so I don't fu*king think of you as someone who needs to be enlightened. Just turn that off and tell me about your weekend. Also, when's Ramadan? I think I may try a day or two."

Life is weird and the people we meet even more so. That reality may very well be the pleasure of it all...

Update On Maher Arar

"...our Government (USA) did not admit it was a mistake, but it is worse than a mistake because our Government seems to continue to claim the authority to snatch someone off the street, hide behind the fiction of 'expedited removal'. This wasn't an expedited removal in this case. An expedited removal would've gotten him out of the country and sent to him off to Canada[...]This was a kidnapping[...]This was a kidnapping utilizing the fact that he was here in this country, or at least technically not in this country, but at Kennedy Airport, in order to get him into custody so that he could be sent to someone who does not have our scruples and our laws about torture.[...]

On behalf of my fellow citizens I want to apologize to you, Mr. Arar, for the reprehensible conduct of our Government for kidnapping you, for turning you over to Syria, a Nation that our own State Department recognizes as routinely practicing torture. I also want to apologize for the continued, and from everything I've seen, some of which I'm not at liberty to discuss, baseless decision to maintain the fiction that you are a danger to this country.[...]

This conduct does not reflect the values of the American people. The great secrecy employed by the Administration is, I believe, less an attempt to protect our security, than it is an attempt to protect this Administration from the consequences of its actions, and from the consequences of being held accountable at law for what it's clearly done in breaking the law. There's no excuse for that.[...]

The Administration was outsourcing torture.[...]

They (The Administration) got assurances from the Syrians that he wouldn't be tortured. Assurances from a Government that our Government says lies all the time.

Assurances from a Government that our Government says tortures as a matter of routine.

Assurances from a Government that our Government says practices State terrorism?

Who in the Bush Administration was foolish enough to believe in those assurances?

We have to decide whether the Bush Administration is cynical in lying to us and to itself that they believed those assurances, which I believe to be the case, or was foolish in believing assurances from a Government that it says can not be believed.[...]

I was privy, I saw all the classified information yesterday. And I'm not at liberty to reveal all the classified information, but I am at liberty to say that I fully concur with Justice O'Connor in saying that there is nothing there. There is nothing there that justifies the campaign of vilification against your (Arar) name Sir, or that justifies, in my mind, denying you entry into this country, or characterizing you as a terrorist in any way."
- NYC Democrat Jerrold Nadler, October 18, 2007, at The Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight: Rendition to Torture: The Case of Maher Arar. (United States House of Representatives, House Committee on Foreign Affairs.)

Maher Arar is still barred from entering the USA and remains on their 'Watch List'. (Because, really, why would they let him get near a US Court where he could legally tear The Administration a new a**hole?)

Feel free to watch the entire 3 hour session as I did for there's much to be learned.

You're a smart enough bunch to reach your own conclusions...

Eid Mubarak!

To my sisters and brothers: Congratulations! Mabrook! !عید مبارک We did it! WE CAN HAVE MORNING COFFEE AND LUNCH AGAIN!

To everyone - defaulted to 'The World, Including My Sworn Mortal Enemies' - may God guide us and may his peace, mercy and blessings always be with us. (Please stop killing each other in His name; He didn't make us so we could be retarded about it all.)

This little bit of art (from Sakkal Design)has at it's centre 'Eid Mubarak' in Arabic text.


SALAAAAAAAAM!

And for those of you interested in a little giggle.

Al-Sahar

'Al-Sahar' = Dawn
'Tasahur' / 'yitsa7ar' = Eating at dawn

Another tradition most of you would enjoy immensely during Ramadan is 'tasahur', which is the Arabic word describing the meal taken right before dawn (when fasting begins). During Ramadan, different customs take over in different parts of the Muslim world. For example, in most of the Middle East, you'll find the streets overflowing with families and friends heading out to eat at restaurants between 3.30 and 4 am. In Gaza, and due only to circumstance, families will eat together at home and listen to the radio (when they have electricity).

This specific time of day - when dawn breaks - Muslims believe to be unique. I'm uncertain as to whether this is lore or religion, but I do believe in the spirit world and so understand that there are things entirely beyond my comprehension; I believe that the significance of this time, is one of those things.

It's said that dawn is when the spirit world is most palpable to us in this world. (1) Prayers at this time are encouraged and it's only at this time that visions (the Arabic 'ru'ya' = the English 'vision', which is not to be confused with the Arabic 'hilm' = the English 'dream') are received. (2)

The last time I was in Gaza for Ramadan, this was also the time that Israel would drop the most bombs. Against my family's wishes, I would go to the rooftop with my sweet mint tea and watch the light show courtesy of Israel. I felt I owed it to those being murdered...it was all I could do...I would sit there, usually with tears in my eyes thinking of how blessed we were to be given another day of fasting while others who'd prepared their 'tasahur' never had a chance to enjoy the triumph of one more day making a reality this particular gift to God. (3)

Seedo was the only one who would be able to pull me back inside, and so everyone knew this, respected it and left us alone. Without saying anything to me, he'd come to the rooftop, open the door and I would go downstairs with him. He'd kiss me before I went back to bed, always taking my tea cup to the kitchen for me...

The next time you wake up anywhere between 4am and 5.30am, know that you're waking up with thousands of Muslims in North America eating and having their morning coffee and tea in preparation for their daily fast. Also: Be thankful that you're alive.

*****************************************************
(1) So then the spirit world has EST and Mountain Time? No...I think this means that wherever you are located geographically and in this dimension you can sense the spiritual world most when you are within the time frame of dawn. Anyway, the initial question is perhaps moot as it presupposes that the spiritual world runs on the same schedule of 'time' as we do, and this is a question we'll never be able to answer.

Seriously, yo, even Hawkings won't deny the possiblity of something beyond us, so open your mind a little bit...

(2) I'll eventually discuss the deep tradition of 'vision' interpretation in Islam which dates back to the Prophet.

(3) Because for all of the logic and reason behind fasting, the true reason for it remains unknown - it is the one pillar within Islam that God asks us to do for Him and Him alone. The 'reasons' given are all interpretations, possibilities, potential; a reflection of the human mind's endless need to answer the question: 'Why?'

Interfaith Fast to End the Occupation of Iraq

Someone's just posted this to my comments section. I'm pulling it up to the front because I think it's an excellent initiative and I don't want it to go unnoticed.

Wherever you may find yourself on the 7th of October, consider supporting this, most especially if you're in the United States. Unfortunately, if you're looking for an event outside of the US, their system won't allow you to enter anything but a US zip code, so it's best that you contact them at skoshy@ncccusa.org to ask for information pertaining to events outside of the US.

Pass this information on to your own friends / blogs / facebook listings / list serves / communities / families etc...

Thank you very much to the individual who posted this - make yourself known...names here are welcome!

Breaking fast in the Ottawa area – a taste of the experience

I’ve received several emails asking me where / how one could experience this with Muslims if they’re not currently living in a Muslim country, or if they don’t have any Muslim friends. The simplest thing to do is to call your local Mosque and find out if there are any programs / initiatives that would allow you to do precisely this.

In Ottawa, the Turkish community has opened their doors to anyone interested in breaking fast with a Muslim family. An absolutely brilliant idea in my opinion because it gives people an opportunity to learn about Islam and see that – contrary to popular opinion – we’re just ordinary people who eat really well and spend a lot of family and community time during this one particular month.

If you are too shy to do this but are still interested in seeing the hubbub that surrounds breaking fast, then I encourage you to take a walk over to Shawarma Palace at 464 Rideau Street on any given night at around 6.30pm. Breaking fast is at around 7pm and so the line up is already firmly established at this point.

Once you reach the counter, the owners (Muslims themselves and only serving hallal food) will be mitwasyeen feekum, which is an Arabic expression meaning that someone has told them to look out for ‘you’ and they’re taking extra special care to do so, in the spirit of Ramadan.

In this instance and because it’s Ramadan, they have placed on their counter top fresh dates and the plates they give you are, quite literally, overflowing with food. It is customary tradition that Muslims break fast with a date and a glass of milk, as I believe this was the habit of our Prophet.

You’ll be surrounded by Muslims of each variety breaking fast together beneath pictures of Lebanon and listening to Arabic music. Although a small place, they have the best Shawarma in Ottawa and the experience itself is golden.

I recommend a chicken shawerma plate - make certain to take your appetite because you’ll surely need it.

To Colleen: Today you’ve decided to fast with the rest of the Muslim world, even though you’re not a Muslimah. You’re in my prayers and your hunger is shared, my friend.

Belief vs. Proof

I’ve recently learned not to confuse the two when thinking about God. In so far as the way we define “proof”, there is none for His existence. Perhaps more importantly is that there will never be such proof in this life.

No one today can tell you for certain whether God exists. Most of us believe he exists, but none of us have proof. Equally so, no one has proof to the contrary.

Philosophically speaking, to have proof would render the choice to Believe useless because then we would have no choice but to Believe. (It’s like staring at the sun – you can’t deny it exists and so your ‘belief’ in it is nothing more than an acknowledgement of what you actually witness on a daily basis.) If we had proof that He didn’t exist, then we would be fools to Believe.

I don’t mind saying that the day someone proves to me that God does not exist is the day I’ll stop Believing. (Dawkins tried but he offered neither new insights nor new arguments.)

Science
I used to think that there was maybe proof in The Quran.(1) Recently, I am realizing, at a very rapid pace, that there really is none. There are interesting allusions to greater knowledge (considering the Quran made it’s appearance 1400 years ago) discovered only this century, but there is no clear evidence or proof as defined here:

sci•en•tif•ic: [sahy-uh n-tif-ik]
.1. of or pertaining to science or the sciences
.2. occupied or concerned with science
.3. regulated by or conforming to the principles of exact science
.4. systematic or accurate in the manner of an exact science

…which has absolutely nothing to do with Belief or Faith, a common mistake made by many on both sides of the question.

I hear Muslims repeat over and over that within Islam is ‘proof’ that God exists. With all due respect – and this is something I have recently been forced to say to myself: This is complete nonsense. I say that I look around me and see order and so believe in God. I look around me and think about the concept of ‘creation’ and I believe in God. I am incapable of ‘creating’ and so rationally link that back to my belief that something greater than me exists and from which I came. Further to this point is my personal belief that I can not possibly comprehend what I can never execute: creation. We can clone and we can split atoms, but we can not create an atom from scratch, nor can we create anything without possessing the composite of it as it already exists elsewhere.

But…within none of these thoughts is there proof of His existence. What there is, is one individual’s rational and very personal process to answer the Question most (if not all) of us struggle with at some point in our lives.

This rational process is time and again reinforced in the Quran when readers are challenged to “reflect” on their surroundings and “see” the signs as the pointers to God’s existence. When read clearly, it’s actually a dare more than anything. The point here is that the reader is nowhere asked to devise scientific evidence to prove His existence. Not surprising, this too is the same process that would make one a non-Believer.

It’s precisely the choice and the freedom inherent within making that choice that renders Belief much more poignant and worthy to the Believer.

Another situation one may confuse is experience with knowledge. Speaking for myself, I can say that I have experienced profoundly moving circumstance that have furthered my Belief in Him. To others, such experiences could be perceived as nothing more than a Believer’s over active imagination simply because they want it so much. Either way, no one has proof.

To make certain of this, the above distinction also speaks to three key points that can be found in most traditions and which I’ll briefly touch on from the Islamic perspective: (1) egalitarianism, (2) free will, and (3) humility.

First: egalitarianism. None of us knows for certain and so we are all starting from the same point; no one holding an advantage (proof) over the other. I don’t know anymore than you do, and vice versa. If one of us held ‘proof’, that would indicate an advantage in the make up of humans, rendering the concept of egalitarianism here null and void.

Second: free will. If I am forced or am programmed to do something…if I have no choice in the matter, then the act itself is – arguably – meaningless.

Muslims believe that this life is quite simply a gateway to the next world. It is in this world that one’s character is formed and tested. If you were to consider the finish line of a marathon, then the months – and sometimes years – of training are working to condition your body and mind in an effort to reach your goal. For Muslims, this life is where we condition the spirit and resolve of who we are. Our ‘grades’ in the next life depend on how we do in this life.(2)

Third: humility. Were Believers to actually possess proof that God existed, I believe that the main component of ‘Faith’ would no longer be a part of our make-up: Humility. Humility that comes from acknowledging that we simply can not truly know, but even within that uncertainty (a place that can sometimes be terrifying) we still choose to believe. If we’re wrong, then so be it – nothing lost and nothing gained, because a true Believer’s behaviour should be rooted in conviction rather than coercion.

If right, then we got lucky…and we’ll see y’all in the afterlife.

Also. I’m hungry.

******************************************
(1) Over the last while, there has been a surge in “scientific evidence” within the Quran. Some of these items may speak to some while not to others, and even though they don’t offer ‘proof’, they are nonetheless deserving of attention and further reflection and investigation.

(2) And what of divine intervention? I don’t know the answer to that, but I do know that I pray for it on a regular basis, and as certain as I am of death, I too am certain that God has stepped in when I needed Him most.

Community & Faith: Breaking Fast

On the first evening of Ramadan, I broke fast with approximately 14 others. Last night, nine of us broke fast together, and tonight there will be anywhere between eight to ten of us breaking fast in the same home. I’d never reflected on this before until I thought of sharing this event. There is something deeply moving about the experience and I’m only just starting to make the greater connections. Please consider this entry a tentative start on the matter.

Within the Quran rests utter indivisibility between faith and good works. (This is a critical point in Islam, and it differentiates religion from secular humanism.) To grow within Islam, one must nurture and develop both of these aspects within the self. It is perhaps during this most important month for Muslims that one can see the reality of this. Were you to walk through the streets of any Muslim country, you would be met with the following…

Homes have in their front yards placed tables and tables of food, doors opened for anyone who wishes to step in and break fast at that location. There are no questions asked and no fees imposed; no one cares if you are fasting, no one knows how much money you have in your pocket, or what your name is and no one asks if you’re Muslim.

At all mosques the world over, local Muslim families donate food and drink (or money to this end) to feed those who choose to break fast in the mosque. Although this takes place in all mosques across the globe, it is perhaps in Saudi Arabia felt most profoundly because of the sheer numbers involved. At 'Masjid Al-Haram' - where the Kabaa is located – nightly, at least one million Muslims break fast together in the Masjid over dates and milk, then pray maghrib (the 4th prayer of the day) together before they sit together to chat, ending their time together praying isha (the 5th and final prayer of the day).

This serves as only one example of the message of unity in community repeated and so deeply rooted within the message of Islam.

Precisely because we’re not here discussing secular humanism, this then must go hand in hand with faith. For Muslims, this ‘unity’ is the reflection of God Himself. From Him everything comes and to Him everything returns. Every. Single. Thing.(1)

This unity may be better expressed as the 'Oneness' of God, within which rests a deeper message for those interested in hearing and reflecting: the Oneness of humankind. Malcolm X’s penetrating gaze saw and articulated it best: ”During the past eleven days here in the Muslim world, I have eaten from the same plate, drunk from the same glass and slept on the same rug -- while praying to the same God -- with fellow Muslims, whose eyes were the bluest of blue, whose hair was the blondest of blond, and whose skin was the whitest of white. And in the words and in the actions and in the deeds of the white Muslims, I felt the same sincerity that I felt among the black African Muslims of Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana."

"We were truly all the same (brothers) -- because their belief in one God had removed the white from their minds, the white from their behavior, and the white from their attitude."

"I could see from this that perhaps if white Americans could accept the Oneness of God, then perhaps too, they could accept in reality the Oneness of Man -- and cease to measure, and hinder, and harm others in terms of their differences in color."

As already mentioned, within the Quran rests the utter indivisibility between faith and good works. Further to this, and important to Muslims (of no consequence to those who are not) is that ”faith should inspire righteous deeds, which, in turn, should nurture a more profound experience of faith, which should incline one to greater acts of goodness, and so on, with each a function of the other, rising in a continuous increase.” (Even Angels Ask, Jeffrey Lang, 35-37.)

As Lang goes on to describe, following are some examples of universally recognized virtuous acts:
Showing compassion. (2:83; 2:215; 69:34)
Being merciful. (90:17)
Forgiving others. (42:37; 45:14; 64:14)
Being just. (4:58; 6:152; 16:90)
Protecting the weak. (4:127; 6:152)
Defending the oppressed. (4:75)
Acknowledging wisdom. (20:114; 22:54)
Being generous. (2:177; 23:60; 30:39)
Being truthful. (3:17; 33:24; 33:35; 49:15)
Being kind. (4:36)
Being peaceful. (8:61; 25:63; 47:35)
Loving others. (19:86)

The one glaringly obvious link between all of them is that in order for us to commit them and grow in virtue, we must bind ourselves - via these acts - to others. Our own sense of self is directly linked to humankind. For a Muslim, humankind is further linked to God. (As stated earlier: Within the Oneness of Him is the Oneness of humanity.)

To understand this more deeply, extend this example to the famed Sufi perspective on love: one does not truly love until they call to their other by calling to themselves. Essentially, one does not experience the fullness of love until one can see through the eyes of their lover and vice versa. Taken further, that means bringing into one’s own heart the pain and happiness and struggles of their partner. Experiencing love as the Oneness of the two, may be the fullest and deepest way to experience the love shared. No doubt challenging, but the rewards one-thousand fold gratifying.

For those who believe, raise your stakes this month and keep the above list with you – remind yourself to be patient and to make your heart bigger. Do it for yourself, for your faith, and for your community. The bigger your heart, the warmer your community, the better you will be. Always remember that your relationship to God is empowered and strengthened by your relationship with humanity, and vice versa.

To those who don’t believe, do the same, only for the sake of your brothers and sisters in humanity. Whether or not you believe that God exists, you can not deny that community remains…and community is a reflection of you. Render it healthy and find relief within the space you’ve nurtured.

Aside: In the next few entries, I’ll do my best to discuss the five pillars of Islam and the way each is both inward looking (intended to improve the individual) and outward looking (intended to improve the community). Naturally, to improve oneself offers a direct impact on the improvement of community.

*****************************************
(1) So then the obvious question becomes: Why not cut out the middle-man (God)? As with everything, this is an option, obviously. But, for Muslims, the ‘middle-man’ is an inherent part of the equation. I’ll try my best to articulate how Muslims view this particular circumstance:

(a) One has the choice to either
Believe in the existence of God, thereby entering into a relationship with Him

Or

Not believe in His existence, thereby not engaging in that relationship.

(b) As a Muslim, you believe that God exists.

(c) This very belief naturally turns you towards God and makes you party to a relationship with God.

(d) The relationship with God is strengthened by your relationship with humankind, and vice versa.

Whereas a secular humanist would erase God from the above equation, a Muslim chooses to engage in that relationship instead.

The following example will make sense more to a Believer than a non-Believer because it presupposes the existence of God, but I’ll throw it out there anyway: An analogy to the relationship between wo/man and God is the relationship between child and parent.

That both child and parent are, doesn’t necessitate an engaged (if any) relationship. For the relationship to be it’s most successful, both parent and child need to face one another, embrace one another and live out the fullness and potential of the love shared and found within that relationship.

Muslims – at least my understanding of Islam and how I try to live my life – perceive the relationship between themselves and God as precisely this sort of a relationship. Furthermore, Muslims believe that God is always facing each individual, but the choice to reciprocate that rests solely with the individual in question. And as the Quran clearly states, there is no coercion in religion and so the movement to face God and enter into that relationship is one that must be done entirely by the freedom of choice possessed by the individuals themselves (and in fact, interestingly enough: the Quran indicates that most of humankind will turn away from this very relationship).