Monthly Archive

I think what I’ll miss most when I finally give up television (inshaAllah) is the PBS cooking academy. Saturday morning, I plop down for a good 2 to 3 hours, and watch show after show, attempting to gleen recipes and techniques. Almost every weekend, I come away with something new to cook.

Yesterday, I found it on Sara’s Weeknight Meals – Quick Asparagus Lasagna. As always, I futzed with the recipe. I made the dish twice as big as called for – 12 square wantons rather than 6 per layer, doubled the veggies, but didn’t double the cheese. This was mainly a result of the fact that the only pan I had available would fit 12, and that I had frozen broccoli in the freezer to add for the unplanned expansion. The first layer I laid down the broccoli, and the second was the asparagus and the onions. Tasty tasty tasty. Definitely in the “will make again” pile. Next time, I think I may add a light tomato sauce to give it a little more flavor.

If anyone is looking for a quick and easy iftar recipe, this is definitely one for the books.

On a related note, went to the Saint Paul Farmer’s market on Saturday to get veggies for the iftars I’ll be making this week.

You really can’t get a good sense of size from this picture. Everything but the tomatoes and eggplants are massive. The cauliflower is seriously bigger than my head. The tomatoes, peppers and green peppers are for the Huevos Rancheros (another cooking academy find) I’m going to make for the first suhoor Monday inshaAllah, if Ramadan really is Monday that is. If it’s Tuesday, I doubt we really want a bunch of beans before we go to work.

Finally, my dear beloved dates. I went to Holy Land last weekend to stock up on grape leaves and other ME cooking essentials. The date section was well stocked, but what was this?? No majdool dates???? Oh, I nearly had a heart attack. It just isn’t ramadan without these dates. Nothing else tastes good to me. Luckily, I tracked down an employee and pleaded with her, where are the majdool dates? Apparently, they weren’t done boxing them up yet, but she went in the back and got me some. Alhamdulilah, now ramadan can start!

I’ve got my sign (peace and love dove) prepped, and my outfit all picked out (my fav FUNdamentalist shirt + my hot green scarf).  Now I’ve just got to steel my nerves.  The RNC is coming to town, and along with it, a massive bunch of protesters  and major trouble.

The police have been conducting raids, arresting potential rabble rousers.   My bus goes by the jail, which is starting to look more like the US Embassy in Cairo than anything one should find in US cities.  I write that because I wanted to post a picture of the fortifications, but couldn’t find any of the jail here.  I thought I could find some of the embassy, but alas, sheikh google has let me down.  Think giant concrete blocks, 10 foot high fences and a corral system, guarded by guys with very large guns.

My grandma asked me last week if I was going to volunteer.  I had to stiffle a snicker.  Sure Grandma, I’m going to be part of the welcoming committee.  I’ll throw on my black abaya, maybe a niqab for good measure and drive out to the airport with a big ol Welcome to Minnesota sign, in hopes that the delegates will take one look at me and turn right back around.

No, my grandma isn’t a republican, she’s just civic minded.  Her boss was the chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin back in the 50s, so she got dragged into it too.  One of my favorite stories that she tells is of a dinner she went to, where Joseph McCarthy was the guest of honor.  While everyone stood and applauded when he entered, she stayed seated and shot him an evil eye.  Go Grandma!

Monday is D day, potentially the first day of Ramadan, and the march on the RNC.  inshaAllah I’ll get pictures.  The husband will not be joining me.  He’s still a permanent resident, and doesn’t want to risk getting in trouble with the law.  I’m not planning on doing any civil disobedience, and as such, hope not to get arrested, but please make dua that I don’t.   If you see a girl in a neon green hijab being dragged away kicking and screaming, that’s yours truly.

Ah, what I’m dreaming of wearing for eid.  I’ve done “american” clothes the last few eids, but there is just something about putting on a long, flowing swooshy abaya that makes everything fall into place for eid.

Ooo, it’s almost here!  Ramadan will start either the 1st or the 2nd, inshaAllah.  For working women, Ramadan can be a nightmare.  You work hard all day long, and then come home and try to whip up something for the family to enjoy.  Even if they’re not expecting anything fancy (alhamdulilah the husband isn’t one who demands a 5 course meal, which is good, cuz he’d never get one), it can still drain away the little energy and time you have, and there’s not much left to dedicate to ibadah.

This year, it’s going to be different.  inshaAllah I’m going to do the bulk of the cooking/baking on the weekends. Then, during the week the husband and I can take a walk after work, spend some time with the Qur’an and just heat up the iftar. 

So now I’m planning what I’ll be making this weekend.  It’s Farmer’s Market day here in downtown Minneapolis, so I’m hoping do a lot of with fresh veggies.

Cauliflower with Tomato (Arnabet Ba AL-Tamatem)

There should be some cauliflower at the FM.  I always make this with much less butter than is actually called for , 1 or 2 tablespoons as opposed to half a freakin stick.

Mulukhiya

I’m so not a fan, but the husband is, so he can “enjoy” all of this green, snot-like dish.  bleck.  I use a variation first recipe with frozen mulukhiya.  I don’t actually use a chicken.  Instead, I use chicken stock.

Huevos Rancheros and Refried Beans

This is actually what I’m planning to make for suhoor of the first day.  I saw this episode of America’s Test Kitchen last weekend and have been dying to try it.  You have to register to see the recipe, but it’s well worth it.  It’s done with homemade salsa and refried beans.  It calls for pork fat, but I’ll just substitute butter. 

The husband loves foul (mashed fava beans), so I thought he would love refried beans.  I was shocked to find out that he didn’t.  Then I saw this episode last week, and they tasted premade canned beans and hate them all.  Ah, perhaps it is the fact that I’ve only served premade beans, and he’s used to homemade foul.  So, perhaps he’ll like the refried beans that I’ll be making from scratch, inshaAllah.

Chicken

No recipe here, just the same ol same ol.  I have to prep it the *egyptian* way, otherwise it apparently smells too much like chicken.  Um yeah, too much like chicken.  So, I rub it down with flour, let it sit awhile, rinse it off, and then rub it with grated onions, pepper and lemon juice.    Then I’ll pick a spice from my collection (oh, it’s lovely, I’ll be blogging about that eventually), rub it in, and bake in the oven until it’s done, at 350. 

Vegetable Lasagna

Haven’t tried this one yet, but I can get zucchini, eggplan, squash and possibly mushrooms at the FM.

Quick Moussaka

My great aunt gave me some old Everyday Food magazines, and this is one of my favorite recipes.

Curried Shrimp

I don’t leave the tails on.  bleck!

Yup, I think that looks good.  More than enough food for a week.  Add to that a bag of salad and a bowl of watermelon, and we’ll be good to go inshaAllah.

Muslim Rep. Ellison preaches peace, democracy, here and abroad

Minnesota is home to a fair number of African immigrants, so Ellison’s work on Africa is local as well as international. This year, he hosted a forum in Minnesota on the Horn of Africa, with the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa subcommittee, New Jersey Democrat Donald Payne.

“We had these immigrant communities from Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Kenya voice how they felt about U.S. policy toward the Horn of Africa,” Ellison said. “It was a tough meeting, because everybody wanted to be heard. You had people with long-standing grievances, really just wanting to be heard by people who represent them.”

At one point, someone said he supported the Ethiopian presence in Somalia — “a minority view,” Ellison noted.

“And people began to shout him down. I then stood up and said, ‘Everyone gets to say what they think here, and we’ll listen.”‘

I was at the forum. He handled it very well.

Ellison accompanied local Muslims for Islamic prayers in Mauritania and Kenya, and in Saudi Arabia, the king invited him to go on the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

That’s one trip that Ellison plans to do as a private citizen — not as a guest of the king, but “on my own nickel.”

Ellison said he gets plenty of invitations to go on congressional trips, but as for the rest of this year, “The only place I really hope to go is Mecca.”

May Allah (swt) make the trip easy and accept his hajj, ameen.

Oh no wait, it’s Ingrid Mattson.  It’s all I can do just to shake my head at the foolishness of the right wing blogosphere.  Seriously, really, she’s a radical islamist?  If she’s radical, who’s not?

Faith is what we live for

Another [standing ovation] was reserved for Mattson, who said she tells Islamic leaders abroad that Muslims in the United States still face discrimination constantly.

Despite the difficulties, Mattson said she remains convinced that the United States “is still the best place in the world to practice our faith.”

Democrats kick off convention with interfaith gathering

Among the most compelling remarks, however, were those from Ingrid Mattson, the president of the Islamic Society of North America. She said she had been asked in whispers by Muslims abroad about how Muslims have been treated in the United States since the 2001 terrorist attacks.

While there is prejudice, Mattson said, there is also tolerance. She recognized other religious leaders who have stood up for Muslims.

“This is still the best place in the world to practice our faith,” she said.

You can view the entire event here on the CSPAN website.  I haven’t looked through it yet, so I’m not sure where she speaks.

There is almost nothing quite as satisfying as a great find at a used book store.  Ok, perhaps that betrays what a boring and uneventful life I lead, but if that’s how it is, so be it.

Usually the Islam section at used bookstores are skewed heavily towards the “omg islam is evil11!!1!” genre and books that are written about Islam from an outsiders perspective.  Qur’ans are usually NJ Dawood, with the occasional AJ Arberry thrown in.

Imagine my suprise then, when I found the following books during my weekend book browse.  It was all I could do to stop myself from doing a happy dance and making sajda shukr right there in the store.  Book reviews will be forthcoming, after I finish reading inshaAllah.

My grandfather usually painted from pictures.  His art room was full of newspaper clippings, pages from magazines and photos from family vacations. 

I’m not sure where he got the picture for this painting from.  The papyrus came from my aunt and uncle when they took a trip to egypt.

I chose this picture because of the arabic, although everyone else likes it for the guy on the donkey.

I think this is karnak.  The husband thinks it’s the Elephantine Islands.

The step pyramid in Egypt.  Little did these women know that they would be immortalized in some painting in Wisconsin.  Lots of strangers ended up in my grandfather’s paintings.

My favorite painting.  I think it’s somewhere in Switzerland.  It hangs above the couch in my living room.

bwahaha, I must have this abaya, in green. I can’t snag a picture to post here, but select green. Must…have…Green Bay Packers colored abaya! Top it off with a white scarf and a cheesehead, and I’d be set…well almost set. Just need to get to the head of the 20 year waiting list for season tickets.  Oh, and convince the husband that american football is exciting.

*goes off in search of a red and white abaya to wear to wisconsin games cuz they’re easier to get into*

…Sr. Ruqaya isn’t advancing to the finals.  She placed 6th in her heat, while only the first 4 advanced.

But, keep on the lookout for this talented sister.  She is steadily improving.  Who knows, maybe we’ll see her in the 2009 World Championship.

Mabrook to Sr. Ruqaya. 

In Round 1 of the 200m, she ran 22.81.  3 women ran faster than her.

 In Round 2, she ran 22.76.  5 women ran faster than her.

The semi finals are scheduled for Wednesday.

I can’t seem to find anything solid.  about her best time in the 200.  According to her website it’s 23.19.  According to this french website, she ran 22.65 in Rome in July.  inshaAllah she can continue to push it, since the fastest time in Round 2 was 22.60.  She was the fastest in both her heats, so maybe if she’s running against faster women, it will push her faster.

Just a few bones I’ve got to pick with the caption people here.

 Hello?  Um, no she’s makin sajdah. 

Roqaya Al-Gassra of Bahrain kisses the track as she celebrates winning her women’s 200m heat of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 19, 2008.REUTERS/Gary Hershorn (CHINA)

And this?  This is called dua.

Roqaya Al-gassra of Bahrain celebrates winning her women’s 200m heat of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 19, 2008.REUTERS/Gary Hershorn (CHINA)

Her hijab looks different this time around.  I believe it’s ahiida’s hijood, which is confirmed via good ol Sheikh Google – Bahrain athlete to run in Aussie-designed hijab.  I hope this is a sign that ahiida is going to launch their athletic line soon.  It’s been on the website for years, but I think with the success of the burqini, it’s been pushed to the back burner.  I emailed the sister about it a few years ago, and she sent me a really spiffy little marketing picture with the sports clothes, but I haven’t heard anything since.
 

Homa Hosseini of Iran

Najmeh Abtin of Iran

Eman El Gammal of Egypt

Heba Ahmed of Egypt

And my favorite hijab-ed athlete:

OMG, I love her outfit *faints*

Ruqiya al Ghasra of Bahrain

Several new books coming out that look absolutely fabulous.  On the wishlist they go, and hints are being dropped to the husband re: birthday and eid presents.  *poke poke poke*

Treatise For The Seekers Of Guidance

The translation, notes, and commentary of Imam al-Harith al-Muhasibi’s Risala al-Mustarshidin (Treatise For The Seekers Of Guidance) by Zaid Shakir is intended to serve as a layman’s guide to Islamic spirituality. Al – Muhasibi presents most of the major ideas that would both serve as the basis for a full program of spiritual development and comprise an insightful overview of a system of Islamic moral psychology. He examines in great depth and penetrating insight the psychological motivations and justifications for moral thought and action and correspondingly the associated bases of immorality. In so doing, he has provided a road map that any person can follow to overcome the guiles of his fundamental enemies: the world, the ego, the whims of the soul, and Satan

New Book Aims to Correct Distortions about Islam

Today’s heightened—and often antagonistic—focus on Islam has underscored the need for credible and scholarly publications that explain the religion to those genuinely searching for a narrative about Islam other than the master narrative created by much of the Western media and many of the West’s leaders. This summer, Zaytuna Institute plans to release a much-anticipated introductory work about Islam that is just such a publication. Entitled Submission, Faith, and Beauty and written by the Muslim scholar, Dr. Joseph Lumbard of  Brandeis University, this thoughtful and well-written work beautifully and succinctly summarizes the core beliefs of the Muslim faith. “The Western view of Islam is rooted in centuries of mistrust, ignorance, and stereotypical attitudes,” says Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, who, along with Imam Zaid Shakir, edited the book. “These attitudes are no longer viable given the immense interdependence shared between the West and the Muslims. It is to forward mutual understanding that Zaytuna commissioned this book.” Much of Submission, Faith, and Beauty is based on the holistic view of Islam that results from the famous Hadith of Gabriel. The hadith, transmitted by the second caliph of Islam, Umar b. al-Khattab, came toward the end of the Prophet’s life and explained the three dimensions of Islam—submission (islam), belief (iman), and beautification (ihsan)—as well as the End of Time, to the Prophet’s companions. “From one perspective,” writes Dr. Lumbard in the book’s Introduction, “submission, faith, and beautification are the three fundamental dimensions of the submitting way; they complement and complete each other. They are envisioned as three partially overlapping circles, and the place where all three circles overlap is the ideal that all Muslims strive to attain. One who embodies all three in their fullest depth and breadth is closer to living as a true human being in what the Qur’an refers to as the true nature (fitrah).” The release of this newest Zaytuna publication would not have been possible without the generous donations and prayers of the San Francisco Bay Area Muslim community, which believed in the potential of the project several years ago and waited patiently for its fruition. “It’s thrilling that Western Muslim communities are recognizing the importance of funding projects such as this,” says Aftab Malik, who guided the publication of the book to its conclusion. “It will only be with generosity such as that displayed by the Bay Area Muslim community that Muslims will finally be able to tell their own stories in the West.” One of the results of Muslims being able to tell their own stories is the creation of a narrative of Islam that appeals to fair-minded people of other faiths and perspectives. With the publication of books such as Submission, Faith, and Beauty, Zaytuna hopes to usher in a new era of discourse about Islam in the West. “This small book can do much to edify those concerned citizens in the West about the beauty and truth of Islam,” says Shaykh Hamza. “And, by doing so, help guide the Western understanding of the religion from one based upon distortions, to one rooted in authentic knowledge.”

Yaay!  From CAIR:

Minn. Muslim’s Workplace Bias Complaint Resolved

CAIR-MN welcomes company’s ‘prompt and professional’ response to incident

(ST. PAUL, MN, 8/14/08) – The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today said a Muslim teenager who was initially denied a job at an Old Country Buffet restaurant in that state will be offered a second interview.

CAIR-MN welcomed what it called the “prompt and professional” response to the bias complaint by Buffets Inc, the company that operates the restaurant. Buffets Inc also communicated that it has a long-standing commitment to diversity and it has a number of team members both locally and nationally that wear Islamic head scarves, or hijabs.

The Muslim job applicant told CAIR-MN she was denied employment at the Fridley, Minn., restaurant because of her religious head scarf. She said a restaurant manager told her that her religiously-mandated scarf violated the company’s uniform regulations. The manager allegedly told her to reschedule the interview if she decided to take off the scarf.

SEE: Old Country Buffet’s Hiring Under Fire (Pioneer Press)

http://www.twincities.com/ci_10144154

SEE ALSO: Old Country Buffet Accused of Discrimination (KSTP-TV)

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S537400.shtml

CAIR-MN called on Buffets Inc to investigate the incident. After completion of the investigation, the company has agreed to do the following:

1. Offer the teen an apology and invite her to finish her interview with the company while wearing her scarf.

2. Ensure that employees are complying with the law by allowing for religious accommodation to the company’s uniform policy.

3. Offer CAIR’s workplace sensitivity and diversity training.

“We thank Buffets Inc for its prompt and professional handling of this incident,” said

CAIR-MN Civil Rights Coordinator Taneeza Islam. “Our goal is to educate employers to ensure that such incidents can be avoided in the future.”

She said CAIR encourages employers who have questions about how to accommodate Muslim employees to contact the Washington-based civil rights and advocacy organization.

CAIR offers a booklet called “An Employer’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices” to help corporate managers gain a better understanding of Islam and Muslims in the workplace.

SEE: An Employer’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices

http://www.cair.com/Portals/0/pdf/employment_guide.pdf

CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

- END –

Boo! to some in the local community who were getting their undies in a bundle about the fact that Sr. Taneeza doesn’t wear hijab.  Heaven forbid someone offer a muslim FREE legal help without wearing a hijab.  Further boo! to the insinuations that those who disagree with the undy bundlers do not understand islam. 

Fasting During Sha’ban by Imam Zaid

 Usama b. Zayd relates:  “The Prophet, peace and mercy of God upon him, used to fast so many days in succession that we said, ‘He will never break his fast.’ At other times he would go without fasting for so long until we said, ‘He will never again fast;’ except for two days, which he would fast even if they occurred during the times he was not fasting consecutive days. Furthermore, he would not fast in any month as many days as he fasted during Sha’ban. I said: ‘O Messenger of God! Sometimes you fast so much it is as if you will never break your fast, at other times you leave fasting for such a long stint it is as if you will never again fast [voluntarily]; except for two days that you always fast.’ He asked: ‘Which two days are those?’ I replied: ‘Monday and Thursday.’ The Prophet, peace upon him, said: ‘Those are two days in which the deeds are presented to the Lord of the Worlds. I love that my deeds are presented while I am fasting.’ I said: ‘I do not see you fasting in any month like you fast during Sha’ban.’ The Prophet, peace and mercy of God upon him, said: “That is a month occurring between Rajab and Ramadan that many people neglect. It is a month in which the deeds ascend to the Lord of the Worlds, be He Mighty and Majesty, and I love for my deeds to ascend while I am fasting.” Related by Imam Ahmad and Imam Al-Nasa’i

The Night of the 15th of Sha’ban

It is reported from Sayyiduna `Ali (Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “Let all of you spend the night of mid-Sha`ban in worship (i.e. partly) and its day in fasting. Allah descends to the nearest heaven during this night, beginning with sunset, and says: Is there no one asking forgiveness that I may forgive them? Is there no one asking sustenance that I may grant them sustenance? Is there no one under trial that I may relieve them? Is there not such-and-such, is there not such-and-such, and so forth until until dawn rises. [Narrated by Ibn Majah with a weak chain.]

There are many other narrations from the Companions and early Muslims confirming this matter, as mentioned by Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali in his Lataif al-Ma`arif, and others.

There is general consensus that weak hadiths may be acted upon for virtuous acts, such as voluntary fasting and prayer, as long as the hadith is not excessively weak, returns to a general basis in the Shariah, and one is not convinced that the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) specifically prescribed it.

Imam Shafi’i (ra) was asked, “Who is a fool?”

He replied, “He is the person who does not pray.”

by Deen-ul-HaQ

Mehboba Ahdyar was to be the poster-child for the Olympics but the 19-year-old Afghan runner ran away from an Italian training camp last week. She has since told her parents she is too scared of reprisals and plans to seek asylum in Europe.

Mehboba Ahdyar was shouldering the heavy burden of overwhelming expectations. And in the end, it proved more than she could bear. The 19-year-old from Kabul was to be the only female athlete representing Afghanistan in this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing. Now the young woman has run away, leaving a training camp in Italy and telling her family she is applying for political asylum in Europe.

…

But being in the international spotlight had attracted the wrong kind of attention. Although Ahdyar always ran in a headscarf and wore long tracksuit bottoms she still received death threats from extremists who objected to a Muslim woman taking part in sports at all.

When she received visits from Western media earlier this year, her neighbors called the police telling them she was obviously a prostitute working for foreign clients. Her father, a carpenter, even spent time in jail until the issue was cleared up.

May Allah (swt) protect her and her family, and give her success.

…what can I say? While we’re known for Minnesota Nice, the husband has commented how people are often nice and hospitable to one’s face, but they’ll stab you in the back as soon as you can turn around.

Old Country Buffet’s Hiring Practices Under Fire

A civil liberties group for Muslims on Friday called upon the Eagan-based company that owns Old Country Buffet to investigate an incident involving a girl who says she was denied a summer restaurant job because of her religious headscarf.

The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is asking Buffets Inc. to investigate the incident, offer a written apology and participate in the group’s workplace sensitivity and diversity training.

H. Thomas Mitchell, an executive vice president for privately held Buffets, which owns and operates more than 550 restaurants across the country, said he couldn’t comment on the specific allegations. “We are diligently investigating it,” he said.

“We are an equal opportunity employer and frankly view ourselves as a strong anchor in the diverse communities we are frequently in,” he added.

An even scarier thing – the 344 346 353 comments at the time of this posting. *shudders* It’s so nice to know how some people really feel when they see a woman in hijab. Very few of the commenters seem to be aware of the actual law on the matter:

• Employers must reasonably accommodate employees’ sincerely held religious practices unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the employer. A reasonable religious accommodation is any adjustment to the work environment that will allow the employee to practice his religion. An employer might accommodate an employee’s religious beliefs or practices by allowing: flexible scheduling, voluntary substitutions or swaps, job reassignments and lateral transfers, modification of grooming requirements and other workplace practices, policies and/or procedures.
• An employer is not required to accommodate an employee’s religious beliefs and practices if doing so would impose an undue hardship on the employers’ legitimate business interests. An employer can show undue hardship if accommodating an employee’s religious practices requires more than ordinary administrative costs, diminishes efficiency in other jobs, infringes on other employees’ job rights or benefits, impairs workplace safety, causes co-workers to carry the accommodated employee’s share of potentially hazardous or burdensome work, or if the proposed accommodation conflicts with another law or regulation.
• Employers must permit employees to engage in religious expression, unless the religious expression would impose an undue hardship on the employer. Generally, an employer may not place more restrictions on religious expression than on other forms of expression that have a comparable effect on workplace efficiency.

Please tell me, Mr. Old Country Buffet manager, how is a cashier wearing a headscarf creating an undue hardship on your business? Unless you’re saying your clientele are bigots, in which case, I could see how they’d be offended at the mere sight of a woman covering her hair working and earning a living…

I should note that we ate at Old Country Buffet once prior to our going zabiha, and there was a woman who wore hijab who refilled the food on the buffet. This leads me to believe that this is an isolated incident. The bigotry in the comments section, sadly, is not.

I’m an online kinda muslim.  I learned about Islam online.  I nearly converted online.  I met my husband online.  And for the most part, my interactions with the ummah are on the interwebz.  I’m quite shy in the real world, but when I log on and start typing, all that shyness evaporates.  

It’s not that I don’t enjoy the real world masjid scene.  Ok, no wait, I don’t really enjoy the real world masjid scene.  I could go on and on about the issues I have, but inshaAllah I’m going to focus on the positive.   I enjoy the wonderful food the aunties cook for iftar.  My first fond memories of the masjid were the weekly iftars during college, where the community cooked copious amounts of delicious backhomelandia food for the hungry students.  And jummah prayer during Ramadan is awesome.   The hall is usually stuffed, and the energy is at its peak. 

However, when it comes to pumping myself up for Ramadan, I turn to Sheikh Google to see what the online ummah has to offer.   A few years back, I started a thread on one of the message boards I frequented to share the treasures I stumbled upon in my online wanderings.  I would post these so prolifically that other posters called me the Queen of the Links.  Gradually, that thread morphed into this blog.

With Ramadan fast approaching, the urge to muck around in online material is increasing.  And in honor of my humble beginnings as that crazy poster who could find a link for every occasion, I give you the best of the best (or at least what I could find in the past week from my old ramblings and new searching), my favorite Ramadan related interwebz content that I will be reading and listening to as the blessed month approaches and arrives.

~*~ rahma’s Ramadan register ~*~

Soundvision’s Ramadan Page - everything here is worth reading, although these are my favorites:

• 10 Great Goals to Set for Ramadan

• Inner Dimensions of Fasting - comes Imam Al Ghazali’s Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship, which is a great book all round.

Zaytuna- a veritable treasure trove of iman boosting mp3s and articles

• Ramadan Reflections One One, Two Two and Three Three, Ramadan Preparations, Ramadan Mubarak!,  Approaching Ramadan, Towards Resolving the Recurring Moon-sighting Controversy, Farewell to a Blessed Ramadan and Ramadan Farewell Ramadan Farewell by Imam Zaid 

• Moon Sighting Moon Sighting, Ramadan Khutbah, Cesarean Moon Births and Ramadan Advice Ramadan Adviceby Sheikh Hamza

• Maliki Ramadan Fiqh One One, Two Two and Three Threeby Muhammad Rami Nsour 

• Hanafi Ramadan Fiqh One One and Two Twoby Imam Tahir Anwar

• Virtues of Ramadan One One and Two Twoby Shaykh Salek bin Siddina 

• Holy Verses of Ramadan Holy Verses of Ramadanby Qari Amar 

• Statement Concerning the Beginning of Ramadan, Zaytuna’s Policy Prescription For Determining the Start of Islamic Months

• The Night of the Fifteenth of Sha’baan (Nisf Sha’baan)by Mona Elzankaly

Sunnipath - search Ramadan and Fasting for more

• Ramadan and You – although it’s too late to sign up for this year, put it on your to do list for next Ramadan.  Awesome class.

• An Excellent Article on Ramadan

• Fasting in Ramadan – a Muslim Pharmacist’s Perspective

• Chapter on Fasting from the Book of Assistance

• The Book of Fasting, Its Secrets, Its Tasks and What’s Associated with It

• Prophetic Guidance on Fasting from Riyad al Saliheen

• The Basics of Fasting according to the Shafi’i School

TJ Ramadan Resources - oodles of Ramadan activities for the youngins and not so youngins.  I’m plumbing this resource for the post iftar activities that our masjid will (inshaAllah inshaAllah inshaAllah) be having this year.

In the Shade of Ramadan- a series of videos that went up last year.  There’s one for each day, and make an excellent little listen after iftar.

Yahoo News Photos- I can almost hear the puzzlement at this one.  Ah, but get this – if you search “ramadan,” Ramadan related photos pop up.  There are usually a goodly amount of new ones each day.  When I was an internet only muslim, this was my only link to the ummah.  I lived vivaciously through the joyous celebrations of others that I saw in the pictures.

I Profess – goodies for newbies including Getting Ready for Ramadan.

Ramadan FAQs – Health and Safety of Islamic Fasting

Crescent Life Ramadan Section – in particular Diet During Ramadan

Saudi Aramco World- check the archives under Ramadan for past articles.  Don’t forget to subscribe (for free!) while you’re there.  My favorite article isn’t in the archives, but there is a pdf scan of it (lots of patience required, it’s huge and takes awhile to download) – Ramadan USA.

Path to Peace Ramadan Section

Mutmainaa Ramadan Section

Sunnah Online – in particular Ramadan: Have you got what it takes?

Deviantart- search “ramadan” and “eid” for spiffy art

Islam Online’s Ramadan Section- it’s from last year, but inshaAllah the new one will be up soon.

Ramadan: It’s not just a food fast

Lord of Ramadan Music Video

Teen Imams- PBS piece on teens leading taraweeh

Amr Khaled’s In Thy Name we Live series- done a few Ramadans ago.   Discusses a different name of Allah (swt) every night.  Great to watch before/after iftar.  Viewable with english subtitles at google video.

Ramadan Commercial – good for an LOL.

Ramadan/Eid Cards:

• Your True Greetings

• Sakkal Greetings

• Silver Envelope

MDs urged to quit prostate screens in elderly men

Screening for Prostate Cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

Harms of Detection and Early Treatment

The USPSTF found convincing evidence that treatment for prostate cancer detected by screening causes moderate-to-substantial harms, such as erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, bowel dysfunction, and death. These harms are especially important because some men with prostate cancer who are treated would never have developed symptoms related to cancer during their lifetime. There is also adequate evidence that the screening process produces at least small harms, including pain and discomfort associated with prostate biopsy and psychological effects of false-positive test results.

My grandfather went into the hospital in June due to complications related to prostate cancer screening and treatment.  He never left.  His brother has had prostate cancer for years, hasn’t been treated, and is still alive.

*sigh*

…and thank them.  At a plant in Tennessee, Tyson Foods has agreed to the union’s request that Eid be considered a holiday and a paid day off.   Between 250 (Tyson’s number) and 700  (the unions number) muslims, mainly somalis, work at the plant.  Is that a majority of union members?  A majority of the workers?  If the 700 number is correct, then they are, according to this source.  If this is the case, why not give them eid off?  After all, many employers give their workers Christmas off (which is also a holiday at this Tyson plant).  There’s obviously nothing wrong with giving the majority their religious holiday as a paid day off, according to that precedent.

As always, stories like these have taken on a life of their own.  Those of us here in Minnesota are used to a local story involving muslims blowing up into something huge and out of proportion.  People huff and puff without asking questions to get the full story.  I wonder if that’s what is happening here as well?  I’ve gone to the websites of local papers and fallen down the rabbit hole of linkage, trying to get a local view on the story.  This blog piece in particular is quite informative in the sifting and winnowing of all the information out on the interwebz.  And speaking of rabbit holes, if you have time, read through the series the local paper in Shelbyville did about the Somali Community in December. 

 In any case, the usual calls for boycotts have sprung up in the right wing blogosphere.  If you have a minute, please write or call Tyson to thank them for accommodating their workers.

Check it out – DuaPower.com – major spiffiness.

 I’ve already printed out 10 copies of the Muslim Prayers of Happiness to give to friends.  Looks quite spiffy and professional.  Ok, it would look professional if only I could fold straight.  Dur.

to the tune of whiste while you work from Snow White:

Just dhikr while you work (la il-la-ha il Al-Lah*)
Put on that grin and start right in
to dhikr loud and long
Just move your tongue and lips (la il-la-ha il Al-Lah)
Just do your best and take a rest
and praise Allah right now.

*the whistle that went here in the original has 7 consonants.  La ilaha il Allah has 7 consonants.  Kapeesh?

Ah yes, corny, corny, I hear the groans.  But here me out.  My La TV campaign has lost it’s umph.  I try to focus on doing something else, but I get bored easily, and inevitably end up plopped on the couch in front of the tube.

So I need new things to occupy myself with:

1. Taking courses at Sunnipath.  Just got off the phone with the husband, and he’s actually encouraging me to take Ramadan and You course that starts this weekend.  Alhamdulilah.  Usually, I’ll mention I want to take a course, he looks at it and says it costs too much.  Alhamdulilah, this time he actually realizes how good it will be for me and that it’s worth the $$.  inshaAllah I’ll sign up when I get home tonight

2. Ok, this actually explains the post title and corny song, dhikr while you work.  The goal is constant dhikr in all (ok most) actions. 

Salman Farsee (ra) said, “If a person remembers Allah in times of peace, pleasure and prosperity, then whenever he is in trouble and difficulty, the angels, being familiar with his voice, recognize him in his helplessness and intercede before Almighty Allah (for his forgiveness); but, if one who does not remember Allah in his time of pleasure and happens to pray for help at the time of difficulty, the angels find his voice to be quite unfamiliar and therefore do not intercede for him.” (source)

To further that goal, I’ve taken up cross stitching.  Um, yeah, and that relates to dhikr how?  See, when one is stitching, each stitch is the perfect opportunity for a praise of Allah (swt).  If you’re doing a project that uses 2000 stitches, there are 2000 opportunities to praise Allah (swt).  Instead of counting your dhikr on beads, you’re counting them in your stitches.  And, when you’re done with the project, it will be full of barakah. 

Since I haven’t stitched since I was a child, I’m currently working on an uber easy Allah pattern in kufic.  I’m about a third of the way done, and when I finish, I’ll post a picture inshaAllah.

I figure that during Ramadan, I can lay out a schedule.  Come home, read Qur’an for x minutes, listen to a lecture for x minutes, then stitch and make dhikr until iftar.  After dinner, read an islamic book with the husband, then force him to read to me to practice his english.  Chock full of time for Allah (swt).  No time for tv.   inshaAllah.