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And they’re not at the same time, so you can go to both

On the authority of Abdullah bin Abbas, who said : One day I was behind the prophet and he said to me:

“Young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice]: Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, ask of Allah; if you seek help, seek help of Allah. Know that if the Nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, it would benefit you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you, and that if they gather together to harm you with anything, they would harm you only with something Allah had already prescribed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.”
SunniPath is excited to announce a free live event on the 5th October, 2pm GMT with Ustadha Zaynab Ansari.
The event will be an explanation of this hadith focusing on the Prophet’s (Allah bless him and give him peace):
Great concern for young people
His ability to offer encouragement for proper action
How to be successful as a Muslim
The importance of total reliance on Allah Ta’ala and
How the hadith is a balm for hearts in troubled times
Seats are limited.
Register Now

Mr. Moo is a genius:

farewell Ramadan

another year come and gone

another year wasted

goals set, advances anticipated

but for naught

heart aches for lost opportunities

khalas

farewell Ramadan

next year inshaAllah

*disclaimer*  I am not a poet.  I have never claimed to be a poet.  Please excuse this pitiful attempt at poetry as a desperate attempt to get my feelings out.

What do you give to someone who is interested in Islam?  A Quran without a doubt, and a biography of the Prophet (saws) sure.  But when it comes to a general intro to Islam book, I’ve never found one that I’ve been 100% comfortable with.  Most are too salafi in orientation for my liking, or are too focused on the halal and haram and the rules, and not enough on the heart.  Up until now, I’ve made my own intro binder that I give to newbies and those interested in the religion.

Alhamdulilah, those days are now behind me, because someone has finally put out a book that I love.  Submission, Faith & Beauty, written by Dr. Joseph Lumbardand put out by the good folks at Zaytuna conveys the message of Islam with beauty, grace and balance.  Based on the hadith Jibril, the author writes about Faith (iman), Submission (islam) and Beauty (ihsan) using the Qur’an and traditions of the Prophet (saws).  Hot button, oft misunderstood issues like gender, sharia, fatwas and jihad are sprinkled throughout the book, but in a way that naturally connects it to the main theme of the book, and not in an overly apologetic manner. 

It’s not a large book.  The pages are glossy and colorful photos are spread throughout.  It should be approachable for just about anyone.  The language is simple and quite eloquent.  Any arabic jargon is succinctly defined in english.  It clearly captures not only “to do” aspects, but also the very heart and spirit of the faith. 

If you’re looking for an introduction to Islam, this is it.  Order from Zaytuna before October 5th, and it’s 20% off.

Heads up!

The month of Ramadan is often used as a means of correcting our slackened efforts in this deen. It is a month when extra effort is made towards spiritual goals, with the du’a that we will receive blessings for our good works, and the hope that we will come out of Ramadan ready to incorporate more into our daily spiritual practice the rest of the year.

Many Muslims keep journals throughout Ramadan to track their progress on goals and save for future benefit the feelings, sights, and lessons learned throughout the holy month.

Gratitude is one of the character-improvements that we should see as a fruit of Ramadan. “Depriving” ourselves for the month should make it that much clearer to us how much we take for granted, how much we sometimes normally overeat, overspend, oversocialize, over-talk, etc.

So, this year, the Grateful to Allah blog will host a blog carnival designed to celebrate our gratitude to Allah. This is an opportunity to take the lessons learned, the insights discovered, and the goals intended during Ramadan and express our gratitude for them. It is also an opportunity to share and learn from what each other have experienced throughout the month.

• This carnival is open to ALL Muslims.
• After winding down from Ramadan and the Eid festivities, please look over your journals, blog entries, and memories of the month and write a blog post expressing what you are grateful to Allah for.
• Email the link to your post, along with your name, email address, and the name of your blog to niqaabisister@yahoo.com. Or you can submit through the Muslimas Speak Up! Blog Carnival Submission form (technically this is not an MSU carnival, LOL, but to keep the Blog Carnival site appeased I have to list something anyway, and many of you find it easier to submit through that form, so please feel free.)  
• Submission deadline will be Wednesday October 8.
• The carnival will be posted at the Grateful to Allah blog on Saturday October 11, inshaAllah.
• Please feel free to be creative; express yourself in your own way. Artwork and photographs with explanation of how they relate are welcome. Poetry, journal entries, essays, etc. are all fine.
• If you do not have your own blog but would like to participate, email your post and it can be hosted at the blog.
• Older blog posts related to gratitude are also welcome! Do not feel that you must write about Ramadan-related matters, or only what you felt grateful for during Ramadan. Ramadan is just a nice jumping-off point, but we should express this gratitude to Allah all year long.
• No limitations (as long as it’s halal, LOL): Poetry, essays, articles, lists, meandering random thoughts, quotes, photos, whatever: However you would like to express appropriate gratitude to Allah – please share.

Explore posts in the same categories: Announcements, Blog Carnivals I Support, Blogs I Contribute To, Introspection, Islam, Muslim Group Blogs, Ummah Issues, Writing/Arts

Where is the accountability within our own community to speak out against criminals?

Somalis divide their anger between police, community

“We have to have witnesses,” Dolan replied. “Police cannot solve this by themselves. Police didn’t do this, but we need your help. Bring that rage home and have somebody come forward to police or to community leaders who can help them come forward.”

…

Jalil Hussein, another U student, said security at the center is too lax and people hang around out front and in the adjacent park, some selling drugs. Noting he had seen young children playing in the park unattended, he told community parents: “You need to control your kids. You need to know when they eat, when they sleep and when they come home. … Our kids are out of control.”

…

He said later that Somalis are conflicted between their Muslim beliefs, social clan rules that say they should protect clan members whether they do good or ill and threats of harm if they talk to police. He said the Qur’an mandates that anyone seeing a murder must inform authorities. “People have called me to ask if it is a sin not to inform authorities if we they are facing [death] threats,” he said. “I tell them it is a major sin if you don’t inform.”

There’s no such thing as “don’t snitch” in islam.

Via Seekers Digest:

cambridge khutabs etc featured khutbas and other talks by Sh. Abdul Hakim Murad, among others.  Coolness.

And, playing follow the linkage, I stumbled upon this – Muslim Songs of the British Isles.   You can download/print out sheet music for a variety of english songs with muslim themes.  Coolness times 2.  I’m all over this.  Despite the husband coming from a musical family, I don’t think he knows how to read sheet music.  I think it’s time to change that.

Allah Akbar

I picked up spaghetti and butter squash at the farmer’s market yesterday, and I’m itching to play with them.  I would have bought more, but I was riding the bus home and didn’t feel like holding 20 pounds worth of squash on my lap.

I’m thinking this with the spaghetti variety:

I have everything but fresh basil on hand.  We have plenty of tomatoes from our little balconey garden, the egyptian variety of feta cheese and kalameta olives.  I may actually splurge and buy greek feta from the ME market tonight after iftar.

With the butternut, I’m definately making more of the soup from last weekend.  I think I may try to make this pizza too.  I’ll use Jay’s Pizza Crust instead of a pre-made kind.

Halal Chinese Food.  In my area.  *sniff sniff* Be still my beating heart.

Fear, questions after Augsburg student ambushed

Ali was the third Somali man from Minneapolis killed since April. Nobody has been arrested in any of the cases, and Huffman said it’s too early to determine if the killings are related.

Ali’s death stunned the Augsburg campus, where more than 700 students, friends and faculty joined for a gathering at Foss Chapel on Tuesday morning. Ali, who was studying political science and international relations, had played on the college’s soccer team and helped start the campus’ Muslim student association.

To come so far, fleeing war and violence, only to meet that end on your doorstep.  inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’oon.  To God we belong and to Him is our return.

Apparently there is a growing gang problem among the somali youth here in the twin cities.  And it looks like they’re targeting those who are trying to make something of themselves.  Ya Allah!

Beignets and Squash Soup.  Very very tasty.  I halved the beignets and would double the soup next time.  I got this soup recipe from a north african cookbook my sister gave me when I got married.  She figured that since Egypt was in North Africa, it would have egyptian food.  Yeah, no.  I hadn’t looked through it much, but was desperate for a butternut squash recipe since the computer was down for the count with a virus.   Alhamdulilah, I found this really tasty soup.

I used fresh squash, not frozen.  It was a little time consuming to peel, but not bad.  I cut it in half first and then into 1-2 inch strips.  From there, it was easy to cut off the rind.  I didn’t make the mint puree, despite the fact we have mint up the wazoo growing on our balcony.  I need to get a morter and pestle and a food processer inshaAllah.  It’s hard to do that stuff in a blender.

This summer, I went on a zucchini binge.  Now I’m going to go on a winter squash binge.  I’m looking to cut processed foods out of my diet.  From here on out, I’m only buying whole foods or boxed foods that have ingredients that I recongize (ie no chemically sounding things or artificial flavors).  I figure if I pick a vegetable, I should be able to google a recipe and find a whole new world of foods outside the box.  I’d love to go vegetarian, but that didn’t work so well last time we tried it.  The husband went a little crazy without his meat.  This time, I’m going to approach it a different way – prepare a hearty vegetable dish as the main course, and serve meat as the side dish.

Recipes to try inshaAllah:

• Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Yellow Curry
• Butternut Squash Gnocchi with sage butter
• Spinach Pumpkin Swirl Quiche
• Curried Squash Soup
• Roasted Vegetables
• Garlicky Baked Butternut Squash
• Butternut Squash Fries
• Spicy Pan-Fried Squash
• Fruity Acorn Squash
• Winter Vegetable Hash
• Baked Stuffed Pumpkin – minus the rum of course
• Beef and Pumpkin Stew
• Mombasa Pumpkin Dessert
• Acorn Squash Lasagna
• Spaghetti Squash with Garlic
• Twice Baked Butternut Squash
• Curried Butternut Squash and Apple Soup – minus the brandy
• Squash and White Bean Soup
• Macaroni and Cheese with Butternut Squash
• Squash Potstickers

 Ok, that’s enough!  I think that should exhaust my squash enthusiasm.

So it is perpetually beholding the divine, with a heart that is out of it’s mind with Love for Allah (swt).

I have this song stuck in my head.  Sing along with me!  Allahu Allahu Allahu!

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/v12eKtbT-eg" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

Alhamdulilah, I signed up for Introduction to Islamic Belief for the fall semester at Sunnipath.  It’s a birthday present from the husband   He’s so sweet.  He said sign up for anything you want, but not a sufi class.  Ah honey, I need to take those sufi classes to earn the degree inshaAllah.  Oh well, you’ll have to pay for those on your own.  Thus continues the joys of living in a zahari/shafi’i sufi marriage.

However, I must give him credit where credit is due.  Even though he is not a fan of tasawwuf (ok, that’s an understatement), he hasn’t stopped me from exploring that path.  Alhamdulilah.

If anyone is taking this course, let me know.  We could be study buddies.

Why? Can you honestly imagine the Prophet (saws) doing this? Bwahah, look at all those people sitting there, eating dinner, breaking their fast. Let’s go blow them into a millions pieces!

Make dua for the sickness in our ummah.

Alhamdulilah, the husband found a masjid that has women’s itikaf.

‘A’isha reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to do i’tikaf for the last ten days of Ramadan until Allah Almighty caused him to die. Then his wives did i’tikaf after him. [Agreed upon]

Itikaf is a spiritual retreat.  It was traditionally done by the Prophet (saws) in the masjid during the last 10 days of Ramadan.  However, it can be done for a shorter period of time, and women can do it at home.

inshaAllaha ta’la I’ll be making one day of itikaf this year.  I haven’t done anything like it since college, so I’m uber excited.   I’ll be making it for 24-25 hours, from the evening on Friday until after magrhib on Saturday, my b-day, inshaAllah.  I’m going to bring a bunch of stuff to keep me occupied, since I have the attention span of a flee.

•  Quran – Muhammad Asad and Bewley translations
• Keys of the Garden by Habib Ahmad Mashur al-Haddad
• A biography of the Prophet (saws)
• Blissful Marriage: A Practical Islamic Guide
• My ipod containing only Qur’an, nasheed and lectures.  No NPR.
• Pillow and sleeping bag

Here’s the schedule I’ve worked out in my mind:

• Stay up until fajr
• Pray fajr
• Sleep until mid morning
• Stay up until itikaf is done

And here are my goals:

• Read entire Qur’an in english
• Read at least a juz in arabic
• Make up at least one day’s worth of prayers every hour I’m awake, if not more (soo many missed prayers to make up)
• Make 10 minutes of dhikr each hour
• Read through the first half of Muhammad by Yahiya Emerick and come up with discussion questions for my book group
• Fill the rest of the time either listening to Qur’an or listening to lectures

Yaaay, sooo excited!

Oh goodness, a girl after my own heart!

Muslim Women Remove Barriers to Exercise

love to run. Albeit, I run much slower than I used to, but I still find a morning run the quickest, most effective way for me to burn calories. I often run after Fajr before my husband leaves for work and can watch our children. It seems so trivial now, but one of the reasons that I delayed covering after converting was my concern that I would have to give up running.

The problem was not with finding modest shirts and pants. A few companies offer Islamic sportswear, but I prefer to wear loose pants and extra-large, long-sleeved shirts for men, both specifically designed for running and made out of fabrics such as Coolmax or Nike Dri-FIT. This material wicks perspiration away from the skin, keeping you cool and dry. It is far superior to cotton, which absorbs water and can become heavy when wet.

My problem was that I could not find a comfortable hijab. The Hijood is not yet available to non-Olympians (although the website states that it is coming soon!) And whereas the two-piece, tighter fitting, Al-Amira-style hijab seemed to be the best design option, they are made of cotton, polyester, or a blend — materials that make you hot and wet when you sweat.

In my search for the perfect hijab to run in, I discovered that necessity is truly the mother of all invention. When I could not find something suitable, I decided to make my own, even though I do not know how to sew.

My favorite “SportsJab” is the pink one in the picture. I bought a baseball cap made of this perspiration-wicking fabric and added extra cloth. I could not purchase small quantities of this fabric so I bought running shirts and cut them to a very simple pattern that I designed.

I then sewed the cut fabric to the hat rim. Although my hijab is not as aerodynamic as the one Al-Gassra wears, it is comfortable and cool and I dare say attractive. Many Muslim women I know have complimented it and want to know where they can buy one.

The point here is that clothing need not stop you from exercising whether you are an Olympian or just interested in shedding a few pounds and keeping healthy.

SubhanAllah, a sister after my own heart.  I attempted to make something similar, but apparently I am less talented than here.  I tried to cut up one of my old sports shirts to sew to a hat I bought at Target, but alas, halfway through hacking around with a pair of scissors, I gave up.

*sobs and throws her arms around her beloved television*

Despite my best intentions, my fast from television has not been going so well.  Sure, when I get home I turn on the computer, pull up a lecture and putter around the kitchen for awhile.  But come 7:00, it calls me.  *jen…jennnnnn…*   House, Bones, Ugly Betty, the Closer, even re-runs of my beloved Law and Order, the pull is too strong!

My name is Jen and I’m a television addict.

This morning, the husband pulled an intervention.  He announced, no ifs ands or buts, that there will be no television during the last 10 days of Ramadan.  But but but, the Heroes Premiere is the 22 *sobs*

Get ahold of yourself girl!  You’ve been trying to kick the habit for a year.  Vowing to watch less isn’t helping!  You’ve got to go cold turkey.  What good is it to fast all day, only to break your fast while watching the boob tube?  You have an addictive personality.  You’re apparently not capable of moderation, so the only solution is to cut it out entirely.

Ya Rabb!  Help me make You my only true Beloved!

As much as it pains me to write something positive about the Buckeyes (On Wisconsin!), the Columbus Dispatch did an interview with Nader Abdallah, their defensive tackle, to which I tip my cheesehead, er scarf.

Via Get Religion:

Q As the team’s only Muslim, do you enjoy educating your teammates about your faith?

A Over the offseason, coach (Jim) Tressel asked me to bring Muslim Hadiths (written traditions of the prophet Muhammad) and quotes from the Quran to put in his Winners Manual (book). He wanted me to enlighten the team about my spirituality, and it was great, because a lot of guys got to learn different things. I had guys coming up to me all the time asking me, “Hey, can you bring more stuff in? I would love to learn about this.” I’m happy I was able to open the horizons of some of these guys.

From GR’s commentary:

What is also interesting about Abdallah is that he was known as a “good character” recruit for the school’s football program in the sense that he wasn’t going to be the party-all-night, [3] type of players that sports fans hear more and more about these days.

MashaAllah. 

Thought provoking post by Umm Zaid.

 I’ve sported the American Muslims Against Terrorism banner on the web probably since    Shaikr first made it.  But, what does that really mean?  I certainly don’t agree   with the actions of those who intentionally target the lives of non combatants.    Is it enough to talk the talk if you don’t walk the walk?

  I’ve had my brush with terrorism.  The husband worked at a hospital in   Sharm el Sheikh in 2004 and 2005.  He considered applying for an accounting   position at the Ghazala Gardens hotel, but instead left Sharm in May 2005.    Two months later, two bombs ripped through Sharm- one at the Old Market, and one at the Ghazala Gardens hotel.  Depending on who’s account you believe, 64 or 88 people lost their lives.

After seeing the the devastation, I flip through the photo album my husband had sent me.  There was a picture of him in front of the gates of the Old Market.  Now it lay in ruins, covered in the blood of innocents.  Egyptian, foreigner, worker, tourist, bombs are indiscriminate.

I can talk the talk, but can I walk the walk?  I don’t want to have to be a puppet, popping up to with the same old script, condemning the actions of yet another parade of idiots.  I won’t apologize for something I haven’t done.  But this is my community, perpetrating these awful crimes.  I won’t stand behind their actions, and my words clearly show that.  But what about my actions?  Doing nothing can’t help.

What is there to do?  I feel helpless.

Via Dawud Walid:

 Watch the janazah of Imam Mohammed at 1:30 pm central time today at the Muslim Journal website.

I’ve heard that he passed away today.  There isn’t much to confirm this, aside from word of mouth and wikipedia.

*update at 4:00 pm*  The AP is confirming that he has passed away.  Inaa lillahi wa inna ilayhi rai’oon.

If this is true, inaa lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’oon.  To God we belong and to Him is our return.  Alhamdulilah this is a blessed month, when the shaytan are chained and Allah’s (swt) blessings and mercy are flowing.  May Allah (swt) make the grave comfortable for this towering figure of American Islam.

If you have not heard of this man, please take the time to read about his life and work today.  Keep him in your dua as your break your fast this evening.

• New Africa Radio
• Anointed Son
• This Far by Faith
• The Most Important Muslim You’ve Never Heard of
• Profile at Religion & Ethics

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said; Three supplications will not be rejected: the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveler. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih]

The prophet (saws) declared, ‘Three men whose dua is never rejected (by Allah) are: when a fasting person breaks fast (in another narration, the fasting person until he breaks his fast), the just ruler and the one who is oppressed.’[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi - Hasan]

Are you taking advantage of this month in your dua?  Are you supplicating your little hearts out?  Please include these people in your dua:

Cairo Rockslide Deathtoll Climbs

At least 47 people are known to have died in a rockslide at a shanty town in Cairo, the Egyptian capital.

Some reports say hundreds more people may be buried beneath the rubble. Hopes of finding more survivors are fading though rescue efforts continue.

The authorities have been criticised for a delay in sending heavy machinery.

Ramadan Curbs Imposed on Muslims in Western China

The rules include prohibiting women from wearing veils and men from growing beards, as well as barring government officials from observing Ramadan. One town, Yingmaili, requires that local officials check up on mosques at least twice a week during Ramadan.

…

They include barring teachers and students from observing Ramadan, prohibiting retired government officials from entering mosques and requiring men to shave off beards and women to doff veils. Mosques cannot let people from outside of town stay overnight and restaurants must maintain normal hours of business. Many restaurants close in daytime hours during Ramadan because of the sunrise-to-sunset fasting.

Alhamdulilah, the RNC is done, and the republicans and inshaAllah rioters have gone home.  Thursday was another eventful evening.  The city of Saint Paul made a huge mistake – they granted limited permits to march and gather.  The permit for Thursday’s gathering ended at 5.  The protesters wanted to march after 5, so they marched.  Thus, the streets of downtown Saint Paul were all jammed.

So the bus let us off up north of the capital.  No one knew anything.  No communication.  Were the buses running downtown?  Should I walk the 3/4 of a mile down there only to find out there were no buses, and have to hike out the mile and a half I hiked on Monday?  I decided to just walk straight to that point at University and Lafayette that I did on Monday, in my dress shoes.  Alhamdulilah I don’t wear heels.  Alhamdulilah it wasn’t 90 degrees.  Still, it took me 2 hours to get home, when it normally takes me just one.

I have several regrets about this week:

1.  I didn’t get tickets to the daily show.  Dur.  This is a regret for 2 reasons.  One, I *heart* Jon Stewart, and the shows this week were awesome.  Two, I shouldn’t be so upset about missing this during Ramadan.  I should be spending this time focusing on Allah (swt), but no, my heart is tied to the dunya and to Jon Stewart.
2. I was too attached to the dunya all around.  I fell behind miserably on my ibadah goals.  Usually I don’t lose momentum until midway through the second week.  This time, I had no momentum from the get go.

Ok, I guess it’s just a few regrets, not several, but still.  Some things did go well however:

1. Prayed fajr at the masjid on Saturday.  There were only 2 other people there besides my husband and I, and no kids, so it was very quiet.  This gave me uninterrupted ibadah time.  Unfortunately, this messed up the husband’s sleep pattern, which in turn made him sick, so he’s not too keen to go and spend the dawn hours out again *sigh*
2. Iftar at the masjid.  I’m usually quite shy, and as such, I haven’t interacted too much with people at the masjid iftars.  This year I’m doing it different.  I’m saying salaams to everyone and striking up conversations.  Imagine that, it’s working
3. The Egyptian iftar.  I’ve been trying to get in with the women who make the egyptian masjid iftar for years.  This year, I was actually invited to help cook.  Huzzah!  2 saturdays from now, inshaAllah I’ll be elbow deep in egyptian food.   I make a pretty mean grape leaf mahshy (stuffed grape leaves), and inshaAllah I can learn other dishes as well.

Next week, here are the goals inshaAllah:

1.  Read a juz every day
2. Learn one new surah
3. Go to taraweeh prayer at least once

Poking myself out of my antipathetic slumber:

Fasting: the Book of Assistance by Imam Haddad

You should work only for the hereafter in this noble month, and embark on something worldly only when absolutely necessary. Arrange your life before Ramadan in a manner which will render you free for worship when it arrives. Be intent on devotions and approach God more surely, especially during the last ten days. If you are able not to leave the mosque, except when strictly necessary, during those last ten days then do so. Be careful to perform the Tarawih prayers during every Ramadan night. In some places it is nowadays the custom to make them so short that sometimes some of the obligatory elements of the prayer are omitted, let alone the sunnas. It is well known that our predecessors read the whole Qur’an during this prayer, reciting a part each night so as to complete it on one of the last nights of the month. If you are able to follow suit then this is a great gain; if you are not, then the least that you can do is to observe the obligatory elements of the prayer and its proprieties.

Muslim devotees offer “Tarawi” prayers on the eve of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at the Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta on August 31. Families across Indonesia are having to cut back during Ramadan as rising food and fuel prices limit spending power for the nightly festivities. (AFP/File/Jewel Samad)

A Lebanese Muslim man prays during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan at a mosque in Sidon, southern Lebanon September 3, 2008. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/ Sharif Karim (LEBANON)

An Egyptian boy looks up as his father prays on a street during the first day of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan in Tukh, about 60 km (38 miles) north of Cairo September 1, 2008. Muslims around the world congregate for special evening prayers called “Tarawih” during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, when they abstain from eating, drinking and conducting sexual relations from sunrise to sunset. REUTERS/Amr Dalsh (EGYPT)

Blind Muslim women read the Braille Koran during Ramadan in Jakarta September 3, 2008. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Dadang Tri (INDONESIA)

I have like, 0 ramadan spirit right now.

This is my home people are rioting in and tear gasing up.  Following the convention chaos is sucking up all of my time.  I want to look away, to turn off the computer, step back, breath, but I can’t.

I was planning a suhor at Mickey’s sometime soon.  Looks like it will have to be later rather than sooner.  The weekend cook is so nice.  I ordered hashbrowns, and he asked if I was muslim.  Um, yeah.  He told me he made them with lard, but he could do it with butter instead.  How nice is that?

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/9/2/rep_keith_ellison_d_minn_condemns

Haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet. 

I’m not looking forward to the commute home.  Word from the anarchists is that they’re going to do more disruptions today.  The march is scheduled for 4.  I normally roll into downtown St. Paul around 5:15.  That should be plenty of time for these rioters to get their party started and disrupt bus service again.  I am definately not a happy camper.

Now I can say been there, done that. I’ve seen riots up close and personal, and I have no wish to repeat that experience.

Ah, but let’s start from the beginning, shall we?

A friend and I decided we’d March on the RNC. So far, so good. I was decked out in my FUNdamentalist tshirt and neon green scarf, while my friend chose a more conservative red, black and white hijab ensamble.

Because we were some of the very few hijabis there, we got a lot of notice. Quite a few people snapped our pictures and complimented our signs. We also got a number of garbled assalamu alaikums. I’ve finally found my people and they love me

We rallied at the State Capital first. It was nice and calm. We wandered around, snapping pictures and thinking, wow, this is really nice and calm. Yeah, or so we thought…

Around 1, people began to assemble on the streets to March to the Xcel Energy Center. Ah, they’re starting on time, how nice? Oh, what do the Middle East and the Peace Movement have in common? They’re both late for everything! After milling around on the street for 20 minutes, we finally got moving.

Alas, the route the city gave us kept us far from any actual RNC delegates or peeps. Seriously, I probably saw a dozen people in suits who looked republican-ish the entire time.

Can you see the republicans? Where you say? Oh, no, this is as close as we got. They hurded us through a steel cage when we got close to the Xcel.

There was, however, quite a bit of media. Yes, dear readers, this life long NPR fan was interviewed by NPR. When the guy came up and introduced himself as being from public radio, I seriously did a fan girl squeal. OMG NPR!!!##!@! I did manage to compose myself. inshaAllah I sounded intelligent enough to make it on the radio.

So we marched…and marched…and marched…Yeah, there was a lot of marching. We tried to break out early to catch our bus, since we didn’t want to march all the way back up to the capital, only to have to hike back down to catch the bus. Apparently though, the right to walk on the streets of my very own city were suspended. See, protesters can only walk on the route. No deviations. I even offered to chuck my sign, since it was 90 degrees and we were getting faint. No sympathy. Dur.

So we marched on up, finally found a road not guarded by cops, and hiked back downtown to pick up the bus. Yeah. No bus. I called Metro Transit, who said that bus service had been suspended because of rioting. Rioting? Uh oh…

So we try to hike up to another bus stop, hoping the buses will be there. Oh, what’s all that noise? Those gun shots? That gas? The riots! Run!!!

We tried to get out of dodge. Unfortunately, we were heading east towards my apartment, and the rioters were heading east. Scary stuff yo. We eventually did catch a bus, after hiking 2 miles out of downtown. Dur.

These are the pictures I managed to get of the riots. Granted, I was trying to run away, so I didn’t get anything very good.

Luckily, some reporters risked their hides to get some for you all.

minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/09/01/rnc_day1/

A protester is arrested by police in St. Paul, Minn., on the first day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul on Monday, Sept. 1, 2008.(AP Photo/Amy Forliti)

St. Paul police officers get surrounded by a group of protesters using a sign during an anti-war protest at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Monday, Sept. 1, 2008.

(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Apparently they had to call out the National Guard to quell the rioters.  More coverage and pictures from the Strib.

So now all of Saint Paul is mad at the “protesters” for doing dumb stuff like smashing up our city. Dur.

inshaAllah I’ll write more. Right now I’m sun addled. Going to take a nice, long, cold bath.