tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24478417085169519192024-03-13T12:10:09.690-07:00Our Journey TogetherI believe that immigrantion bring fresh ideas and enliven the life of people. I believe that now more than ever cooperation and working for peace and understanding between people all over the world are essential and urgently needed.
I represent one of the sea of interests and voices of moderate Muslims in this world. My blogroll is a snippet of those voices, people sharing their lives, knowledge and interests.Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-78169445266795253132010-01-26T06:25:00.000-08:002010-01-26T06:34:51.252-08:00Scourge of 'Islam Experts'I came across <a href="http://www.iviews.com/Articles/articles.asp?ref=IV1001-4059">this</a> today, someone who tried to balance the work of the so called "Islamic Experts". I have stop looking at most articles about Islam and Muslim that are bias and negative in tones. It adds nothing to my day but headaches and heartaches. With all the technological and scientific advances, and as well as advances in the field of social sciences, such as psychology and education, some human beings still and will not want to live in peace. They prefer to be confrontational. Despite all they have learned in grade school. If these people prefer to villify one fifth of the earth's population and a civilization that is 1500 years old rather than understanding them and work peacefully to resolve differences, then I do not have much time for them either.Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-29042821578118164402010-01-20T07:22:00.001-08:002010-01-20T07:28:37.987-08:00Debate between Reza Aslan and Sam HarrisI was so glad that this debate took place. Honest intellectual discourse such as this help carry on conversation which I hope help people understand. When we talked out our problems in a civilized way it is a major step towards solving our problems. We might need to talk for years but until we have talked out heart out we have not even begin to solve our problem. I truly believe that the world is a much better place already by us talking to each other rather than dropping bombs on each other.<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JAN6IFNPkbI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JAN6IFNPkbI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-45963088108413793832009-12-31T09:06:00.000-08:002009-12-31T09:11:42.423-08:00The Promise to St. Catherine:Prophet Muhammad’s Promise to Christians<br /><br />The Promise to St. Catherine:<br />"This is a message from Muha<iframe id="google_ads_frame1" style="LEFT: 0px; WIDTH: 5px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 0px; HEIGHT: 5px" name="google_ads_frame" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-8566254639019283&output=html&h=250&slotname=7881975137&w=250&lmt=1262279083&flash=10.0.42.34&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.islamicity.com%2Farticles%2FArticles.asp%3Fref%3DIC0912-4019&dt=1262279083041&correlator=1262279083045&frm=0&ga_vid=563759359.1262279083&ga_sid=1262279083&ga_hid=142219278&ga_fc=0&u_tz=-300&u_his=7&u_java=1&u_h=800&u_w=1280&u_ah=800&u_aw=1280&u_cd=32&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&biw=1259&bih=650&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.islamicity.com%2F&fu=0&ifi=1&dtd=66&xpc=qz8Aqb5BO5&p=http%3A//www.islamicity.com" frameborder="0" width="250" scrolling="no" height="250"></iframe>mmad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims' houses.Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God's covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants.<br />No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world)."<br />Read the rest <a href="http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC0912-4019">here</a>.Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-38609208815560936412009-12-30T18:12:00.000-08:002009-12-30T18:13:25.839-08:00Tribalism<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznQr7rb13ISSuKh7bZ2S61NIskxhyH2BODDazz6xWA8UlfPcN0aoOpvG27awmRJgnMvPX-HSzLiBzrkIPGtegmc8IspwvdRQewZx8bnLmxZXPZdGD-TxmeCjdWaRGkNRYnzKEhHz5-qY/s1600-h/Untitled.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421217479572323330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 345px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 236px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznQr7rb13ISSuKh7bZ2S61NIskxhyH2BODDazz6xWA8UlfPcN0aoOpvG27awmRJgnMvPX-HSzLiBzrkIPGtegmc8IspwvdRQewZx8bnLmxZXPZdGD-TxmeCjdWaRGkNRYnzKEhHz5-qY/s320/Untitled.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-44358551965297837252009-12-22T09:31:00.001-08:002009-12-22T09:41:32.112-08:00Story of Mary according to the QuranThis is just beautiful. The series really make the story of Mary according to Islam come to life. Some excerpts of the series are available on You Tube but the whole series (in Arabic) is available on <a href="http://www.sham24.in/">Sham24</a>, a Syrian TV channel. You have to watch with an Arabic speaking person so they can translate for you. Some excerpts on YouTube are dubbed to English although the quality is not as good as in Arabic. Iran also produced another movie which was mainly about Jesus (peace be upon him) a few years ago. The faces of the Prophets were not shown when the series were shown in the middle east in order to abide to the Islamic rulings.<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/f0SlfIrVwUM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/f0SlfIrVwUM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-61663806684727241412009-11-19T10:16:00.000-08:002009-11-19T10:33:58.533-08:00Globalization Unchecked by Ramzy BaroudI found <a href="http://www.counterpunch.org/baroud11182009.html">Globalization Unchecked</a> by Ramzy Baroud at Islamicity.com but it was originally published on counterpunch.com. It does presents the dilemma of some segment of the muslim world. Caught in the delicious and tantalizing desire of the globalized 'western' culture while negotiating and finding the relevence of Islam in their lives. To develop a strong sense of self-identity is very important for anyone who want to preserve his or her own uniqueness and/or group identity.Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-25317752965933184012009-11-19T09:49:00.000-08:002009-11-19T10:10:47.017-08:00The concept of moderation in Islam<div>I finally found a <a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4503184121151323197&ei=nG8FS7_tFITGrAL85bDrCQ&q=asma+afsaruddin&hl=en#">video</a> of Dr. Asma Afsaruddin online, a professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies from Indiana University, Bloomington. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-oJEcZKwxgwTRE70loxvVQVY4pzjSkc1nF4o-zpEXSA6cdrOelS47DCa0mNr7SC1KxA7H2R4oTLPDxAch0h1HFnL4zy1RW4yHUm52VD-pp_anSaYR72OEArylx9nWVYNytIzOehEgNk/s1600/images.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405876222756171234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 114px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 114px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-oJEcZKwxgwTRE70loxvVQVY4pzjSkc1nF4o-zpEXSA6cdrOelS47DCa0mNr7SC1KxA7H2R4oTLPDxAch0h1HFnL4zy1RW4yHUm52VD-pp_anSaYR72OEArylx9nWVYNytIzOehEgNk/s320/images.jpg" border="0" /></a>For conventional Muslim, Dr. Asma Afsaruddin image does not support the image of a typical pious muslim women given her field of studies and the academic quality and soundness of her work Islamically. Although she chooses not to wear the hijab, it does not mean that her love of Islam is less than someone who chooses to wear the hijab. I truly value her work and contibution to the Muslim world.<br /><br />Book by Dr. Asma Afsaruddin, The First Muslims - History and Memory is an interesting read although a little dense to digest through. I have not read it though just scanning through. She also edited a book called the Hermeneutics and Honor - Negotiating Female "Public" Space in Islamic/ate Societies. Some of the chapters that I have read is really eye opening. Obviously some Muslims culture is as foreign to me as to everyone else.Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-33166880156490453672009-11-19T08:25:00.000-08:002009-11-19T10:58:47.305-08:00The 500 most influential MuslimsA new book published this year by John Esposito and Ibrahim Kalin. The whole book can be accessed from below. The list is very diverse, consisting of Muslims from all backgrounds. Not all are revered by their subjects by the way although some are respected and love dearly. <br /><br /><a title="View The 500 most influential Muslims in the world on Scribd" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 12px auto 6px; FONT: 14px Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/22652672/The-500-most-influential-Muslims-in-the-world">The 500 most influential Muslims in the world</a><object id="doc_768947665150209" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=" height="500" width="100%" align="middle" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" name="doc_768947665150209"><param name="_cx" value="17965"><param name="_cy" value="13229"><param name="FlashVars" value=""><param name="Movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=22652672&access_key=key-p94ywi9hda78wvctlne&page=1&version=1&viewMode=list"><param name="Src" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=22652672&access_key=key-p94ywi9hda78wvctlne&page=1&version=1&viewMode=list"><param name="WMode" value="Opaque"><param name="Play" value="-1"><param name="Loop" value="-1"><param name="Quality" value="High"><param name="SAlign" value="LT"><param name="Menu" value="-1"><param name="Base" value=""><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="Scale" value="NoScale"><param name="DeviceFont" value="0"><param name="EmbedMovie" value="0"><param name="BGColor" value="FFFFFF"><param name="SWRemote" value=""><param name="MovieData" value=""><param name="SeamlessTabbing" value="1"><param name="Profile" value="0"><param name="ProfileAddress" value=""><param name="ProfilePort" value="0"><param name="AllowNetworking" value="all"><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="true"><br /> <embed src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=22652672&access_key=key-p94ywi9hda78wvctlne&page=1&version=1&viewMode=list" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" play="true" loop="true" scale="showall" wmode="opaque" devicefont="false" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="doc_768947665150209_object" menu="true" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" salign="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" mode="list" height="500" width="100%"></embed> </object>Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-60895120387129122692009-11-13T06:45:00.000-08:002009-11-19T11:01:43.050-08:00Where Are We Heading?I am numbed by the recent event at Fort Hood. Below is a more balance, positive and productive article.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=6868&blz=1">http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=6868&blz=1</a>Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-37009327031146378682009-11-01T08:47:00.001-08:002009-11-19T11:31:29.240-08:00Ummah Films by Baba AliBaba Ali is an internet phenomena, a one man show that has attracted quiet a following. He made a lot of sense and presented Islam in a way easy for people to understand. I hope there are more people like him who choose to understand and to make sense out of the chaotic world.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MTwh6p1kyRQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MTwh6p1kyRQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b4Q1vHQxsss&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b4Q1vHQxsss&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6nAbUzaYFHA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6nAbUzaYFHA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-42427852568142716052009-11-01T08:05:00.000-08:002009-11-01T08:19:27.169-08:00OutlandishOutlandish is a relatively new band out of Denmark. The interesting thing about this band is that all the members are originally from different parts of the world and of different religions. Check out the other video clip of the same song on You Tube which feature The Little Red Riding Hood on a school play setting.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yfKyZkt4SNs&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yfKyZkt4SNs&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Check out their other songs and their songs with Sami Yusuf too.Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-36971045233873731262009-10-28T07:50:00.001-07:002009-11-01T08:19:50.894-08:00Kareem SalamaKareem Salama is a talented Muslim country music singer if you've heard such thing. Originally from Oklahoma, his parents were from Egypt. Kareem Salama is quiet well known in the Muslim communities. I am hoping he will receive more exposure so the general public can enjoy his music. Enjoy some of our family favorites below.<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1YXIPl6rm8c&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1YXIPl6rm8c&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yspJDc5YfHY&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yspJDc5YfHY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y4P5Mvt0fmc&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y4P5Mvt0fmc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-6280246716495185732009-10-28T05:19:00.001-07:002009-11-01T08:20:55.799-08:00Who Speaks for IslamDalia Mogahed and Reza Aslan interview on link TV were excellent. Check it out. The interview was based on the book that Dalia co-authored with John Esposito, "What One Billion Muslims Really Think". I think the voices of moderate Muslims are starting to get heard a little louder. Despite major networks doing the same old thing. Here is the link to the full interview <a href="http://www.linktv.org/wsfi">http://www.linktv.org/wsfi</a>. Both were very articulate and balance in presenting their views and the views of many other Muslims.<br /><br />Here is a part of the interview.<br /><br /><object height="370" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.linktv.org/embed/who-speaks-for-islam-what-a-billion-muslims-really-think/who-speaks-for-islam-what-a-billion-muslims-really-think20091018"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /><embed src="http://www.linktv.org/embed/who-speaks-for-islam-what-a-billion-muslims-really-think/who-speaks-for-islam-what-a-billion-muslims-really-think20091018" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="400" height="370"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />The full interview.<br /><br /><object height="370" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.linktv.org/embed/who-speaks-for-islam-what-a-billion-muslims-really-think/who-speaks-for-islam-what-a-billion-muslims-really-think20091023"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /><embed src="http://www.linktv.org/embed/who-speaks-for-islam-what-a-billion-muslims-really-think/who-speaks-for-islam-what-a-billion-muslims-really-think20091023" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="400" height="370"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Here is an interview with Reza Aslan on Islamic Identity in the US . He is excellent at putting things in perspective, making sense of complex issues that are otherwise difficult to understand and offering a different take on things.<br /><br /><br /><object codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=" height="264" width="400" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="_cx" value="10583"><param name="_cy" value="6985"><param name="FlashVars" value=""><param name="Movie" value="http://fora.tv/embedded_player"><param name="Src" value="http://fora.tv/embedded_player"><param name="WMode" value="Window"><param name="Play" value="-1"><param name="Loop" value="-1"><param name="Quality" value="High"><param name="SAlign" value=""><param name="Menu" value="-1"><param name="Base" value=""><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="Scale" value="ShowAll"><param name="DeviceFont" value="0"><param name="EmbedMovie" value="0"><param name="BGColor" value=""><param name="SWRemote" value=""><param name="MovieData" value=""><param name="SeamlessTabbing" value="1"><param name="Profile" value="0"><param name="ProfileAddress" value=""><param name="ProfilePort" value="0"><param name="AllowNetworking" value="all"><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="true"><br /><embed flashvars="webhost=fora.tv&clipid=9929&cliptype=full" src="http://fora.tv/embedded_player" width="400" height="264" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br /><br />Asma Afsaruddin is less well known but nevertheless has done a large amount of work that Muslims in the US should be proud of. She is currently a professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. A transcript of an interview link below.<br /><a href="http://www.thatreligiousstudieswebsite.com/Religious_Studies/World_Faith/Islam/asma_afsaruddin_part1.php">http://www.thatreligiousstudieswebsite.com/Religious_Studies/World_Faith/Islam/asma_afsaruddin_part1.php</a><br /><br />There are of course other excellent scholars and activists who also speak for the moderate voice of Islam. I'll try to feature them as well in the near future.Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-1318180277053847702009-10-23T06:15:00.000-07:002009-11-01T08:20:28.394-08:00Koran Verses Appear Mysteriously on Infant's BodyThis is giving me goose bumps. And the ABCnews network pick up the news. Some thinks it is a hoax. But with this much publicity is it still possible to pull something like this? Pictures in the video show very clearly the verses which were written beautifully.<br /><br /><strong>From ABCnews:</strong><br />Thousands of Muslim pilgrims are flocking to the home of a <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Parenting/gma-babytalk-magazine-cover-contest-winner-rowan-spracklen/story?id=8792951" target="external">9-month-old boy</a> in Russia's southern republic of Dagestan to see the verses from the Koran that seem to appear and fade on his body every few days.<br /><br />A pilgrim shows off the leg of baby Ali Yakubov at his house in Kizlyar in Russia's Dagestan Region,... <a onclick="setCaption('open');return false;" href="http://abcnews.go.com/WN/miracle-baby-koran-verses-infants-body/Story?id=8889257#" s_oidt="0" s_oid="http://abcnews.go.com/WN/miracle-baby-koran-verses-infants-body/Story?id=8889257#"></a><br />A pilgrim shows off the leg of baby Ali Yakubov at his house in Kizlyar in Russia's Dagestan Region, October 19, 2009. A "miracle" baby has brought a kind of mystical hope to people in Russia's mostly Muslim southern fringe who are increasingly desperate in the face of Islamist violence. From hunchbacked grandmas to schoolboys, hundreds of pilgrims lined up this week in blazing sunshine to get a glimpse of 9-month-old baby Ali Yakubov, on whose body they say verses from the Koran appear and fade every few days. Picture taken October 19, 2009. <a onclick="setCaption('close');return false;" href="http://abcnews.go.com/WN/miracle-baby-koran-verses-infants-body/Story?id=8889257#"></a>(Amir Amirov/Reuters)<br />Religious leaders in Dagestan say the verse "<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=8186901&page=1" target="external">Be thankful or grateful to God</a>" appeared on Ali Yakubov's right leg in Arabic script earlier this week, according to Reuters. By the time foreign journalists had arrived, the verse had faded to a single letter.<br />In photos, the words look like <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=4506547&page=1" target="external">pink birthmarks</a> a few inches high. Ali's parents told reporters at first they thought it was in fact a birthmark or a skin irritation but doctors couldn't explain it. The lettering appears on different parts of his body and shortly before a new set is about to appear, his parents say, the boy's temperature spikes to about 105 degrees.<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZU7jMCZx-bU&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=nl&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZU7jMCZx-bU&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=nl&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />This <a href="http://www.weirdasianews.com/2008/10/03/womans-paper-skin-walking-notepad/">http://www.weirdasianews.com/2008/10/03/womans-paper-skin-walking-notepad/</a> talked about a medical condition called Artificial Urticaria where you can literally write on the skin and it'll appears like welts and disappears after a while.<br /><br />And this blog has more pictures <a href="http://strawberryanarchy.blogspot.com/2009/09/artificial-urticaria-notepad-skin.html">http://strawberryanarchy.blogspot.com/2009/09/artificial-urticaria-notepad-skin.html</a>. So could it be possible that the baby has the same medical condition?Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-72499307224259825972009-10-21T07:28:00.000-07:002009-10-21T07:43:37.838-07:00Howard Gardner, multiple intelligences and education"I want my children to understand the world, but not just because the world is fascinating and the human mind is curious. I want them to understand it so that they will be positioned to make it a better place. Knowledge is not the same as morality, but we need to understand if we are to avoid past mistakes and move in productive directions. An important part of that understanding is knowing who we are and what we can do... Ultimately, we must synthesize our understandings for ourselves. The performance of understanding that try matters are the ones we carry out as human beings in an imperfect world which we can affect for good or for ill." (Howard Gardner 1999: 180-181)<br /><br />To me morality is very important although in the world today morality is a subjective and a relative thing more so than before. And just as religion means different thing to different people, morality is important to understand in order for us to have a more harmonious world. Separate isolationists and elitists world does not work anymore. We are a living in a village where everyone is in close proximity wheather we like it or not. Although far separated geographically our individual impact is far reaching. Therefore the need to understand each other and what each other is thinking is essential for better relations and cooperations.Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-71635503239877590452009-10-20T07:58:00.000-07:002009-10-20T08:33:05.272-07:00Cherien Dabis<p>Cherien Dabis was invited to speak at the annual ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) convention this year. She shared some of her life experiences growing up in the midwest and on the making of the movies itself.</p><p><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/A3XOoqQYdz8&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/A3XOoqQYdz8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></p><p></p><p></p>I find this interview very interesting besides her being obviously intelligent, graceful and charming. Many good questions and some very interesting points were raised about the movie as well. and I like/agree with many of the answers she gave. By the way please ignore the noisy ships in the background.<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0pO5p5luyvk&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0pO5p5luyvk&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-32698657439207113442009-10-20T07:30:00.001-07:002009-10-20T07:55:02.403-07:00AmreekaInteresting movie by an Arab American director/producer, Cherien Dabis, a christian Arab American with (Jordanian/Palestinian) parents who imigrated to the US right before she was born. The name is pronouned Shereen but spelled Cherien in French. The movie chronicles the live of a Palestinian women of non religious Christian background immigrating to the US from the occupied territory of the West Bank; I am mentioning her religion so some Muslims will not be confused. Many Muslims also still think that all Arabs are muslims not just the nonMuslims thinking this way by the way.<br /><br />A part of an interview with Cherien;<br /><br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1PnYeNAiQvc&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1PnYeNAiQvc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />And here is the trailer;<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0luS4IWZJrQ&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0luS4IWZJrQ&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />It is just too funny (if you familiar with the culture), warm and tender. I love it just through watching the trailer. It has successfully portray Palestinian Arab families and the culture very well. As well as capturing the hardship of new immigrant adjusting to a new life in an unfamiliar environment. By the way the actress who play the mother and the boy who play the son are both Palestinian who have lived in the West Bank. Job well done to the producer. There are many reviews on this movie if you search the internet. Many have lots of good things to say, out of fifteen reviews I would say maybe two will have nothing much to say about it. I personally can't wait to see it. The movie is rated PG13 due to language and some drug use.Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-58434586170084508502009-10-19T09:19:00.000-07:002009-10-19T09:26:48.483-07:00My birthdayIt was my birthday a few days ago. Got wonderful gifts from kids and hubby. A nice lunch at The Journey, flowers, chocolate and two beautiful cards. Thank you guys...... Lunch was really really nice (who wouldn't enjoy a chocolate fountain?), pink and white roses were beautiful, feraro roche (sp?) were yummy as usual, cards were special. Could not ask for a better day and gifts. I am truly blessed. Alhamdulillah.<br /><br />Ok now ..... who is next?Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-69582145670207701172009-10-19T08:51:00.000-07:002009-10-19T09:18:26.586-07:00Bola sepakSemalam ada dua game. Satu game utk tentukan tempat kedua dan ketiga. Satu lagi utk yg ketiga dan keempat. Kemenangan game pertama itulah yg sangat 2diharapkan. Anakku yg sorang ni nak menang sangat. Dah empat tahun main bola dengan kelab disini. Dah tenguk seaneka game kat TV. Dah berlatih macam2 trick. Dah besungguh2 berlatih kat belakang rumah. Bercita-cita tinggi bila dah besar nak main dgn kelab kat europe. Aduhai anakku..... Semuga cita2 mu tercapai.<br /><br />Dah la temperature sejuk. Dekat nak paras beku. Yg dia.... tak sejuk mama. Panas lagi berpeluh katanya. Pakaikan baju panas dibawah jersey, ditolak lengan baju kesiku.... lengan baju ganggu konsentrasi. Muka serius je. Game bermula. Badan budak2 team yg satu lagi, kus semangat, besar ya amat. Team anak aku badan chekeding semuanya. Kena langgar dgn budak2 badan besar melayang.<br /><br />Lepas dua gol baru team anak aku dapat gol pertama. Masih tak give up bersungguh depa main. Kesian pulak aku tengok. Dah la sejuk nak mati, nak bergerak pun susah. Tapi masih main bersungguh-sungguh sebab nak menang sangat2. Lepas tu other team dapat gol lagi satu. Aku dah tak larat nak tengok. Parents lain masih bagi kata perangsang dari sideline. Yg bagus nye parents dari team yg dah nak menang ni pun bagi kata2 perangsang kat team anak aku. Anak aku masa coach ganti dgn pemain lain, duduk kat bench menangis, tapi tak obvious sangat la, dah tak boleh tahan air mata dia meleleh, sian aku tengok. Dua2 coach dtg pujuk.<br /><br />Team anak aku dapat satu lagi gol. Bila dah nak habis team satu lagi dpt satu lagi gol. Penat aku yg tengok itu belum main lagi. Adui..... lepas habis game, kami pegi makan, sepanjang perjalanan dalam kerete pot pet pot pet pujuk anak supaya belajar menghadapi kekalahan. Setiap permainan mesti ada yg kalah dan yg menang. Problem nye team dia sepanjang season ni tak pernah kalah. Coach pulak sangat percaya dgn kebolehan dia. Itu yg dia rasa keciwa sangat.<br /><br />Anakku sayang, masa depan dan hidup ini akan menjanjikan cubaan, kekalahan dan kemenangan yg lebih hebat. Harapan ibu kau akan tabah mengharungi segalanya. Aku tanya dia, dengar tak mama terjerit-jerit kat sideline tadi. Dia kata dia fokus pada bola je, I thought it was all silent, katanya. He was in 'the zone'.Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-51543138818399357012009-10-16T06:38:00.000-07:002009-10-16T06:44:12.693-07:00The Muslims Are Coming 2I guess this is what Dean Obeidallah article refered to yesterday. See below.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/10/15/investigation/">http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/10/15/investigation/</a><br /><br />Don't miss the 400 some comments at the end of the article. Ahhhh the beauty of freedom of speech. Muslim dominant countries should certainly learn from this.Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-48151184990240160052009-10-16T06:13:00.000-07:002009-10-16T06:36:51.115-07:00Friday PrayerThe mosque in town has decided to hold a second sembahyang Jumaat at 3:30 for high school students in the area that attend public schools. Public schools generally end at 2:50 and the usual Friday prayer is held at 1:15. Often times these students hold their own Friday prayer at school in their own small congregation or had to miss some classes in order to go to the masjid. Either way they have to deal with explaining things to their teachers and the school administrators. So this is a good move from the masjid administration. The khutbah/sermon will be all in English. Regular Friday prayer sermon starts with Arabic and then translated to English and depending on who is available that week the quality of the translation varies. In all the prayer ended at about 2:15. Prayer with English only sermon will certainly be shorter. My kids are excited. Anything that can take them out of their seat at school however short the period is, is generously welcome! Although this arrangement is intended for high schoolers I would imagine many parents with younger children in junior high, middle and elementary schools will take advantage of this.Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-63853573884768736532009-10-15T08:28:00.000-07:002009-10-15T08:31:50.319-07:00Mo AmerThis guy is really good too. My kids fell of the chair laughing at many of his jokes in Allah Made Me Funny video. They can totally relate.<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/R8NkZRxiK8o&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/R8NkZRxiK8o&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-4788278842328490372009-10-15T07:23:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:35:49.955-07:00Swine Flu on the rampageSo far the public schools in our district have high absentee rate, up to 20% in extreme cases. CDC Center of Disease Control advice schools to inform parents when absentee rates get this high. Also possibly close the school when it gets higher. Hospitals restrict patients visit to adults 18 and above only. No children except to certain parts of the hospitals.Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-25406875367197287442009-10-15T06:29:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:36:38.000-07:00The Muslims Are Coming!This is hilarious!!!!! And don't miss the movie clip at the bottom..... very American.<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dean-obeidallah/the-muslims-are-coming_b_321764.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dean-obeidallah/the-muslims-are-coming_b_321764.html</a><br /><br />Dean Obeidallah is a comedian that a whole family can enjoy, clean yet funny. There are a few of his clips on You Tube doing stand up comic.<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/n6t1s8MMvFE&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/n6t1s8MMvFE&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br />He was also a guest on The View.<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uzRqEzhy4So&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uzRqEzhy4So&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447841708516951919.post-17276274198174994432009-10-10T14:00:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:37:05.614-07:00Al_Aqsa BesiegedDoes anyone knows about this <a href="http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1254573453665&pagename=Zone-English-Muslim_Affairs/MAELayout">http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1254573453665&pagename=Zone-English-Muslim_Affairs/MAELayout</a> ? Sounding pretty urgent don't you think?Aydahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161569242955777918noreply@blogger.com