… for all the world to see. To do:
*Blog about muslimiversary and reflections on another year as a muslim
*Continue Sunnah of the Week series
*Blog about awesomeness of women only gyms and gripe about my sore knees
I’ve sported the “American Muslims against Terrorism” Banner in message board signatures for quite some time. I first put it in there when I was accused of not condemning terrorism in each and every post I made on that board. Stick it in and wa’la, there’s instant condemnation, so we can move on and get to the point.
But it’s really more than that. It’s a graphic reminder of the hadith of our beloved Prophet (saws) recorded in Sahih Muslim:
“Whoever sees an evil deed (committed), let him change it by his hand. If he is unable, let him change it by his tongue. If he is unable, let him change it by heart, and this is the weakest of faith.”
Putting a modern spin on it, let him change it with little pixels on the internet. Sure, it’s not the most effective means of combating terrorism, but it’s definately a statement against an evil deed.
Which now brings me to the original point of this post. Check out the awesomeness that the graphic designer behind the “Muslims against Terrorism” banners has come up with now:
*huggles new graphics*
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
What punishments of hell awaits those who attempt to scam in the name of the beloved Prophet (saws)?
FROM YOUR ISLAMIC SISTER,
MADAM MAKARIM KHALID.
“Salaam alaikum”I AM MADAM MAKARIM KHALID, 65 YEARS OLD FROM UNITED ARAB EMIRATE (UAE). I BECAME A CITIZEN OF COTE D’IVOIRE (WEST AFRICA) DUE TO MARRIAGE WITH DR.MOHAMED NASIR KHALID FROM COTE D’IVOIRE WHICH WILL PROBABLY BE MY FINAL RESTING PLACE. I WAS BORN AN ORPHAN IN 1942 IN MY HOME TOWN IN UAE,THEREAFTER WAS BLESSED TO HAVE MARRIED A HUMBLE AND KIND MAN DR.MOHAMED NASIR KHALID. WE BOTH STRUGGLED AND WORKED HARD AND THE ALMIGHTY ALLAH BLESSED US ABUNDANTLY WITH RICHES. HE WAS A DEALER IN GOLD, DIAMONDS AND TANTALITE.
I AM NOW OLD AND SICK WITHOUT A HUSBAND AND CHILDREN. THIS HAS MADE ME UNHAPPY. I HAVE NOT RE-MARRIED DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WANT TO CHERISH MY HUSBAND’S MEMORIES. FOR 2MONTHS NOW I HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY SICK. I AM PRESENTLY IN HOSPITAL SUFFERING FROM CANCER AND I HAD A STROKE WHICH HAS AFFECTED MY SPEECH. THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BODY IS PARALYSED. THE DOCTORS SAY I HAVE A FEW MONTHS LEFT TO LIVE. I COULD BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE YOU WITH A HELP OF SISTER NURSE DUE TO URGENCY SO THAT I WILL HAND OVER THE INFORMATIONS OF THIS FUNDS TO YOU NOW THAT I AM STILL ALIFE.
I DONT KNOW YOU, I WAS ABLE TO GET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS THROUGH A SPECIALISED SOURCE AND BY THE LEADING OF OUR GREAT PROPHET MUHAMMED.
BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY HUSBAND HE DEPOSITED US$3.5 MILLION IN A METALIC TRUNK BOX WITH AN INSURANCE COMPANY HERE IN COTED’IVOIRE.
THE DOCUMENTS AND PAPERWORKS ARE WITH WITH MY ATTORNEY.I WANT YOU TO BENEFIT THIS FUNDS FOR ORPHANAGE WORK IN YOUR COUNTRY IN REMEMBERING OF MY LATE HUSBAND”S NAME IN YOUR COUNTRY AND OTHER ISLAMIC COUNTRIES AS WELL.
INSHALLAH,GIVING TO THE POOR AND LESS PRIVILEDGED ONCES IS WHAT BEING A MUSLIM,THANKS BE TO ALMIGHTY ALLAH THAT I AM BURN AS A MUSLEM.
ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS YOUR ASSURANCE THAT YOU WILL USE THIS FUNDS JUDICIOUSLY AS STATED IN THIS MESSAGE BY SENDING ME YOUR DETAIL CONTACTS AND PHOTOS WITH GOOD SUGGESTION TOWARDS THE SAFE TRANSFER OF THE BOX TO YOU IN YOUR COUNTRY. I HOPE IN YOU AS DIRECTED BY OUR ALMIGHTY ALLAH TAALA
YOU ARE BLESSED.
ALLAH HAFFIZ,
MRS MAKARIM KHALID.
*pukes*
I nearly had a heart attack when I came online last week and found hadithuna down. One would think that I could have spent all that downtime writing something really profound. Alas, I’m a slacker. inshaAllah once my brain is up and running, this blog will be back in the swing of things.
Question: if you could pick 2 books from my wishlist, which two would they be? The husband is getting me books for my impending convertsary. My number one pick is Agenda to Change our Condition. From there, I really don’t know. So many books, so little income, ha. I’m debating a magazine subscription, the gift that keeps on giving, but even there, which to choose?
Here are others up for consideration:
I stumbled upon an artist’s website a few days ago that I hadn’t seen before. ‘Ah, better save it so I can blog about it later,’ I thought to myself. ‘Nah, I’ll remember it.’ Dur. Never ever ever rely on my memory. I did remember that the site sold greeting cards, so in an attempt to find the site, I googled “islam greeting cards.” Well, I haven’t found the site (yet), but I am reminded that there are several beautiful options available for those who want to send cards with islamic themes:
Your True Greetings - Cards for eid and assorted occasions, as well as quite a few blank cards with gorgeous designs on the front.  Also, must see beautiful tile renderings of the names of Allah (swt).
Crescent Cards - from the other side of the pond. If only the exchange rate wasn’t a killer, I’d stock up.
Sakkal Greetings - I’ve adored the “Love and Peace” design for years now.
Islamic Expressions - another from the UK. Handcrafted, quasi 3-d, quotes fro mthe Qur’an inside.
Longing for the Divine cards - because the calendar just isn’t enough, one needs to get these cards. Still waiting for their website launch, though.
Ah, yes, the insideousness of music, that I still have Clash lyrics running through my head, despite not being a huge fan? But I digress…
Should I stay on message boards where the scholars I follow and the way I study Islam is banned? I’m speaking specifically IslamicBoard.com and Islamway Sisters. I’m shafi’i in my madhab, and potentially shadhili in my tariq, but the scholars I admire (like Sh. Hamza Yusuf and Sh. Nuh Keller) and the websites I rely on (like Sunnipath) are considered sectarian, and therefore are not allowed.
The whole problem with that scheme is that these two forums are in and of themselves sectarian - they promote salafism, but they bury their heads in the sand and refuse to acknowledge this fact. Sure, they practice Islam, but they approach it in a salafi manner, just as I approach Islam from a shafi’i perspective.
I’m increadibly frustrated at the moment. On one hand, there’s a lot of dawah opportunities on these sites. On the other, can I really effectively do dawah if I have one hand tied behind my back?
I just want someplace to hang out online where I can be myself, sigh.
Ya Latif!
  Via Deenport:
 When I was little, my sister was the queen of sticker collecting. She had thousands of stickers that she and her friends would spend hours arranging in little books and trading. I had a sticker collection as well, although I wasn’t as hardcore. I didn’t really like to trade, so they just sat in their special little sticker books. I still have all those sticker books, and even now, I’m reluctant to use them.
So the sticker hording child in my delighted when I came across this new Muslim Sticker website this morning. It’s aimed at parents and teachers, to encourage and teach Islamic behavior, but I’m seriously considering getting some things. Check out this salat chart. I already made a chart to track my 40 grand (which is not going so hot, although I think I’m on a roll now inshaAllah), but maybe the little stickers could motivate me more, lol. Heck, while I’m at it, maybe I should get the Juz al Amma tree to motivate myself to get going on my memorization.Â
Alas, I think that in the end, my nafs, my lazy, procrastinating nature will win over my good intentions and I’ll fall into a slump again. ya Allah, give me the strength and motivation to do what it is that I have to do.
I’ve been brainstorming names for my future fish (still haven’t gotten him yet, dur), no thanks to my blog readers (if I have any, lol). My goal is to come up with a name that encourages remembrance of Allah (swt). Here’s what I got so far
Notice a pattern? It’s so hard to choose, so I guess I’ll just get a fish and 4 cats :)
The husband and I will be getting a betta fish tomorrow (inshaAllah), and I’m in the market for some naming suggestions.  Muhammad is out. Seriously, the ummah has problems if some parents complaining about what kids named a teddy bear will lead to a woman getting jail time and lashes. Is it really insulting the Prophet (saws) if kids love the name and vote for it as their favorite? What about all those people out there named Muhammad who do much more shameful things each day? Where are the lashes and jail time for them?
Ok, anyways, back to the soon to be newest member of our little family. Would it be insulting to name the fish something deen-y? I wasn’t really going to name the fish Muhammad, but I think it would be kinda cool to name it something islam related, so that everytime I saw the fish, I’d remember Allah (swt). Pet dhikr, ya know. I actually contemplated naming the fish dhikr, but that doesn’t really sound right. Maybe Hamd, praise?
inshaAllah pictures will be forthcoming, once we actually purchase the fish. We got a little tank all set for him. Weee, I’m so excited! Â
There are 81 ayat in the Qur’an that speak to signs in creation. Night and day, sleep, our spouses, mountains - all are signs for those who reflect. But how about a sign from Allah (swt) in a candy bar?
As it is halloween, the firm has a big bowl of candy on every floor. Tastey yes, but disasterous for those of us who are trying to eat healthy.* Because I have no self control, I dug around and found 2 butterfingers, one baby ruth and one snickers. The first butterfinger was very very tastey, but for some reason, the baby ruth and snickers just didn’t hit the spot, so I didn’t finish them.  I proceeded on to the second butterfinger, only to find it shattered into a million little messy pieces. I went back to the candy bowl, looking for another butterfinger. Alas, none to be found.
Is it a sign from God, telling me to stick to my healthy eating? I know, I know, it seems silly and trivial, but since I’ve been working on my taqwa, I notice God where I hadn’t seen Him before. Like in a bowl of candy. Why couldn’t God use something as simple as a shattered butterfinger as a sign that I need to watch what I eat and take care of my body? Am I just being silly?
 36:33 And [yet,] they have a sign [of Our power to create and to resurrect] in the lifeless earth which We make alive, and out of which We bring forth grain, whereof they may eatÂ
*I lost a good 10 pounds earlier this year, but quit exercising around the beginning of September, and slowly started eating more and more junk food. In the past 2 months, I gained back those 10 pounds *sobs*
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