Article on American Muslim Dating

Muslims need "dating dialogues" to open communication

This is an interesting article concerning American Muslims and dating.

The Little Things

This is something difficult for me because I feel selfish & petty when I ask for small things. I feel that I'm so blessed & have so much that... Why would I even have the audacity to all for really anything?

Imam Ali (as) (@Imam_Ali) tweeted:
Do not avoid asking for small matters from Allah, for the provider of the small is also the provider of the big. - Imam Ja'far al-Sadeq (as)
(https://twitter.com/Imam_Ali/status/308908698955296768)

Tragedy in Conneticut

May Allah be with those connected to the tragedy and murders in the elementary school shooting that happened today in Conneticut.

Please make prayer for those who lost their children, their family, and for those that were lost, as well.

All American Muslims

I never watched the show All American Muslim when it actually was on TV, about which I'm very regretful. I finally watched the entire show (first and only season) on YouTube about a month or two ago, as they have every full episode posted. The reason I didn't watch it when it was out on TV was because I was skeptical that it would be a show that I could relate to. A show depicting American Muslims, really? Like, how accurate is this show going to be in depicting Muslims like me? Usually, when interviews of Muslims are done on the news or documentaries, it's usually an orthodoxy hijabi they put on there to represent Islam and Muslims. That was NOT what I was interested in watching and didn't want to promote the single view of Muslims.

I was so wrong. This show is an incredible depiction of AMERICAN MUSLIMS who are EQUALLY yoked in Islam and American culture. Each and every person in this show is a perfect example of the variety in Islam. Nina is the club-owner with long, blonde hair, never seen out of heels and a cute mini-dress, full-make-up and nails. Suehaila is incredibly progressive and ambitious, very driven in her career. I could go on with a small description of each one, but to be honest, it's only best if you get to know them from the show. I was so beyond impressed with this show and about how it essentially depicted ME as an All American Muslim and I am PROUD to have that show represent our community.

Unfortunately, the show did not last past a season due to jerks complaining that "the show depicts Muslims in too good of a light" and doesn't show their terrorist activities. . . . REALLY?!?! Really, that's it. That's sickening, isn't it?

This show was the most important shows to American Muslims and how the country could view us: as we REALLY are. It really is heart-breaking that it was cancelled because America wasn't done hating Muslims just yet. We can't be likeable, not just yet! It was terrifying for Americans to be able to relate to Nawal's emotional roller coaster after having her baby. It was frightening to see how the Muslim high school kids played football like normal human beings. It was mind-boggling how a couple of Muslims were getting some American/Muslims tattoo'd on their body. Their minds couldn't handle it! How could they possible HATE and FEAR a people they were so SIMILAR to?!

They rejected it and because of that, the knowledge that the show could have passed into the minds of the largley-ignorant-of-Muslims people, we will never ever know how it would positively effect how Muslims are viewed in their very own country by their fellow countrymen.  

Depiction of Prophet Mohammed

Why do Muslims prohibit the depiction of the prophet Mohammed?

Is it stated in the Qur'an to do so? No? . . . Hmm. . . okay. So just to clarify, there is absolutely nowhere in the Qur'an that prohibits the prophet's depiction at all.

What about hadiths? Do any hadiths prohibit's the prophet's depiction? There are hadiths that strongly and greatly discourage pictures of anything, but don't directly state a ban on pictures of the prophet specifically. 

The idea behind it is that depicting the prophet would encourage idolatry while there is only one god to worship. Muslims don't get upset when they see a picture of someone and scream "sacrilege," so why would there be such a ban on pictures of the prophet? Now, the killings and general insanity sprees that extremist Muslims go on when someone writes something derogatory, draws a cartoon of the prophet in an offensive way, or makes an offensive video are because of the negative light the prophet is portrayed in. NOT at ALL an excuse to go crazy, but that's the reason, nonetheless.  

Let's put the facts together.

1. Depictions of the prophet (and people in general, if we're following hadiths) are prohibited to avoid idol worshiping of the people.

2. Extremist Muslims MURDER innocent people because the prophet is depicted in a negative light. 

If killing someone because they portrayed the prophet in a way you don't like makes you kind of a WORSHIPER OF MOHAMMED. People are dying - real live people are losing their lives because of a DEPICTION of the prophet. That sounds like crossing the line of admiration for a prophet and into the realm of obssession and worship of that person. And in Islam, idol worship is the worst! 

So what is more sinful to these lunatics? The worship of the prophet (as they obviously do) or depicting the prophet in a bad way? Are you following me, here?

Reaction to Controversial Movie "Innocence of Muslims"

Innocence of Muslims

 

Here is the link to the movie that sparked the attack on U.S. diplomatic posts in Egypt & Libya. There are 2 reasons why there were attacks by the Islamist extremists because of this:

1. Hadith Muslims do not believe in the depiction of the prophet Mohammed in any way, to avoid causing him to be a symbol of worship. (This is strange to me, as there is no depiction of Allah anywhere, but we worship Allah - without a physical representation of Him.)
2. This was a very derogatory depiction of the prophet. Very offensive to people who honor him and respect him.

As Muslims, we venerate each prophet equally (or at least we should). This means that respect should be shown equally across all prophets, which include Moses and Jesus. This obviously doesn't happen across the Muslim community, as mostly Mohammed is the only one ever referred to.

 

As we all know, Jesus is super-defiled all over Western TV shows, cartoons, etc, etc. Why then, aren't these zealots killing people over that? If we're being consistant, shouldn't the offensive jokes and images about Jesus be equally as infuriating? To be a good Muslim, you should be respecting all prophets. And I'm assuming that those attackers think they're good Muslims. So as a good Muslim, naturally you should react in extreme violence to protect the honor of the prophet, no? . . . You see how this makes no sense, right?

 

Yes, the video is insulting to people who follow Mohammed or Islam. Am I going to go rampaging through the streets of Dallas, breaking store windows and setting cars aflame? Absolutely not. Muslims love to remind the world that Islam means peace. . . So why would you go and attack the U.S. diplomats - to prove peace? Does that help the world see the true peaceful Islam, or does it back up all the bigotry and offensive statements the video made?

 

Let's get it together, Egypt & Libya. You're embarrassing the rest of us.

 

Illumination Prayer Mat!

Illuminating Prayer Mat!!!