Book Highlight: The Muslim Next Door

I have been reading and enjoying the book by Sumbul Ali-Karamali "The Muslim Next Door"- Ali-Karamali is an American Muslimah who holds an Islamic law degree and J.D. The book covers various topics from Islamic law to Islamic history and modern events

One issue that really angered me was the information on how the biased media focuses on Islamic extremists while ignoring Christian extremists. A chapter on Jihad and Fundamentalism highlights the need to have a fair and balanced reporting of the terrorist acts of religious extremists. Western media focuses on those who terrorize in the name is Islam, pointedly mentioning that the criminals called themselves Muslim. However, when a crime is committed by a Christian criminal, the religion is not the highlight or even mentioned.

The Christian terrorists who were responsible for the religious genocide in Bosnia were never called such- the Serbians who "...with the blessing and support of Christian Church leaders...massacred village upon village of Bosnian Muslims, destroyed 1,400 mosques, mutilated children, and burned them alive, reaped women and children in organized 'rape centers,' and incarcerated civilians in 'death camps'..." (page 186, The Muslim Next Door) Christian terrorists did similar acts of violence in Russia to the Muslims in Chechnya. The Oklahoma City bombing by McVeigh was done in the name of the Christian Identity movement.

However, the media never labels these acts by the religion of the criminals. Islam is targeted and wrongly vilified. The Holocaust is highlighted as the worst religious terrorist offence while modern day 'holocaust's' are occurring today in Darfur and have occurred in Bosnia. The crimes in Bosnia touch me personally because I am married to a Bosnian refugee of that war- my in-laws suffered at the hands of terrorists only because they were Muslim.

I by no means want to target only Christian terrorism but want to stress that the media and the readers of the media need to provide and seek fair and balanced information, so the prejudice of one particular group will inshallah be lessened

News Reaction: Veiled Muslim Woman appointed advisor for President Obama

This artilce highlights the appointment of Dalia Mogahed, a veiled Egyptian American, who will advise President Obama on prejudices and problems faced by Muslims. Many Arabs hope it's a step toward reversing stereotyping.

-I think it's a great opportunity to have the world view a hijabi as a woman capable of leadership and great accomplishments. The article notes that some are upset she stated she was loyal to America first, instead of mentioning Islam and Eygpt. I feel that is a minor concern

From the article:

Dalia Mogahed is the best example of a successful Muslim woman. She proves that the Muslim should be successful in all fields, at least in [her] area of specialization," a commentator wrote on the website of the independent daily Al Masry al Youm.

My work focuses on studying Muslims, the way they think and their views," Mogahed was quoted as saying on the website of the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya satellite news channel. "Then I should tell the president about their problems and needs, especially that lately Muslims have been perceived as a source of problems and as incapable of taking part in solving international problems and that they should work on themselves. Now we want to say that Muslims are capable of providing solutions."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-obama-advisor22-2009apr22,0,1997286.story

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-esposito2apr02%2C0%2C6118014.story

News Reaction- Angry Afgan Women Protest Law

I have been reading and learning a lot about Afgan history and this story about a marriage law only for Shite Muslim woman that allows their husbands to demand sex is horrible. It is good so hear of women protesting for their rights and I hope this is the image that is prevalent in the Western media as I'm sure many will only focus on the sexist law and not the women protesting it. Inshallah changes will be made for these women to have their God-given rights

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090415/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan_50

News story reaction- The Dilemma of the 'Good' Muslim

The dilemma of the "good" Muslim
Deepak Chopra

Monday, April 13, 2009
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2009/04/13/chopra041309.DTL

This article contains a great message- Muslims need to be more involved in their local communities [and not just amongst themselves] so diverse groups can be exposed to the thousands of wonderfully positive Muslims that are outnumber the extremists.

I am proud to be Muslim and openly talk to anyone who may have misconceptions about Islam due to biased media. I choose to be easily identified as a Muslim woman [with more traditional hijab/head scarf and modest clothes] and one reason is to be a good representative of Islam.

Others also need to do their part and be open-minded enough to see past sterotypes and illogical information- a billion Muslims are not all terrorists just as the billon Christians are not all close-minded extremists who kill abortion docters.

NewsStory Reaction: A glance at Muslim Americans

"With nearly 5 million adherents, Islam is fast becoming America's second religious faith. According to a recent Gallup poll, Muslim Americans are already the most racially diverse group in the nation. African-Americans comprise 35 percent of the total Islamic community in the United States, followed by whites (28 percent), Hispanics (18 percent) Asians (18 percent) and others (18 percent)."


-it is so encouraging to hear of the amount of converts to Islam: Alhamdulillah! I really like that the faith is so diverse as well. All faiths shouldn't have racial barriers


"Muslim American women are among the most highly educated female religious groups in the United States, second only to Jewish American women. At both ends of the economic spectrum there is greater parity of income between Muslim men and women than exists in the general American population.

These revelations contradict the popular impression that Islam everywhere oppresses women. Muslims in America defy stereotyping. In predominantly Muslim countries it is the men who are likeliest to attend mosque every week. But in America, Muslim women are equally religiously observant as men."

-Its so wonderful to hear the realilty [and positive reality] of women in Islam and that we are just as devout as men. It is important to realize that despite the view of Islam being oppressive, many smart and educated women are making the sound decision to choose Islam because of the truth within the belief.


http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/42377

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwessrsEqfA
great lecture about reality of muslim women's lives

Islamic Expressions to Learn

RAHIMAHULLAH-
The formula, 'May Allah have mercy on him'

MA SALAMA-'With peace', a formula for ending letters

ISTIGHFAR-
To ask the forgiveness of Allah, especially by saying, Astagfuralah, 'I seek the forgiveness of Allah'

BARAKALLAH FIK-
An expression which means 'May the blessings of Allah be upon you.' When a muslims wants to thank another person, he uses different statements to express his thanks, appreciation and gratitude. One of them is BarakAllah

Newstory reaction: Episcopal minister defrocked after becoming a Muslim

Story Highlights
Ann Holmes Redding says she saw no contradiction in Muslim being a minister

Christian parishioners, family saw Redding as having abandoned her faith

Diocese rules that priest "cannot be both a Christian and a Muslim"


This is such a fansinating story to me- a women who is a Christian priest but became Muslim but insists she can be both. I admire her strength to define her relationship with God on her own terms- the two faiths are very similar and have positive aspects. But the main difference of the faiths is what makes her view so puzzeling: how can you be Muslim if you see Jesus as more than a prophet?
I can relate because I enjoyed many aspects of being a Chrisitan and also admired the structure in the Muslim faith- I became Muslim because I was bothered by the Christian trinity. I pray she continues to talk to God and stay strong


http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/02/muslim.minister.defrocked/#cnnSTCVideo

Islamic Months and Calendar information

The Islamic Months
The names of the twelve Islamic months are as follows:

1-Muharram مُحَرَّم
Muharram - The Sacred Month

2- Safar صَفَر
Safar - The void Month

3- Rabiul-Awwal رَبِيع الأوَّل
Rabi al-Awwal - The First Spring

4- Rabi-uthani رَبِيع الثَّاني
Rabi ath-Thani - The Second Spring

5- Jumadi-ul-Awwal
جَمَاد الأوَّل
Jumad al-Ula - The First Dry Month

6- Jumadi-uthani جَمَاد الثَّاني
Jumad ath-Thani - The Second Dry Month

7- Rajab رَجَب
Rajab - The Revered Month

8- Sha'ban شَعْبَان
Sha'ban - The Dividing Month

9- Ramadan رَمَضَان
Ramadan - The Month of Great Heat

10- Shawwal شَوَّال
Shawwal - The Hunting Month

11- Dhil-Q'ada ذُو الْقِعْدَة
Dhul Qa'dah - The Resting Month

12- Dhil-Hijja ذُو الْحِجَّة
Dhul Hijjah - The Month of Pilgrimage



Here are some websites on Islamic Calendar that are very helpful

http://festivals.iloveindia.com/islamic-festivals.html

http://islamicwidget.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/printable-islamic-calendar-2009-revisited/

http://islamicwidget.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/islamic-calendar-ummulqura-2009.pdf

http://www.islamicacademy.org/html/General/Calenders.htm

http://www.inter-islam.org/Miscellaneous/months.htm

http://www.geocities.com/mutmainaa/kids/islam/months.html

Dua for the struggles

These past few weeks have been difficult- I often found myself hungrey for a way to increase my deen, spend time improving myself. I did read some great novels about Mulsimahs [girl in the tangerine scarf and confessions of a gambler] and am now reading 'the faith club' I faltered at times and it was/is hard to remain strong when I so clearly see my faults. But I do know that I will falter here and there and to fall is to be human.
So this is my dua- Allah, please help me to remain devout, strong, and determined to improve myself with every day you bless me with. Please help me to remain positive-minded and to focus on the good and not the bad. Please help me to catch myself when I am not acting islamically and to not beat myself up about it but to learn from my mistake.

Alhamdulillah