My Creative Side

For anyone you may be interested at all, here is some other stuff I spend my time doing…

http://rosebud-boutique.blogspot.com/

http://rosebudboutique.webs.com/

Hope you like it…

Oh, and you can find me on Facebook too…

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rosebud-Boutique/267481419959579?sk=info

It’s all about being useful. I tend to only make things I myself am pleased with, or would use myself. Quality is the key to a successful business – me thinks! I do hope you like the stuff you see, I will and do add lots of stuff.

Open to suggests, comments, questions, orders and anything else you wanna throw my way – besides profanity

That’s all for now…

Canned soup – not so healthy after all…

BPA levels soar after eating canned soup: Study

Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57330301-10391704/bpa-levels-soar-after-eating-canned-soup-study/

(CBS) Talk about stirring up controversy. A new study shows that the urine of people who consume canned soup can contain surprisingly high levels of bisphenol A (BPA), a hormone-disrupting compound linked to health problems including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

PICTURES – BPA: 7 secret sources

People who consumed one serving of canned soup a day for five days had a more than 1,000 percent increase in urinary BPA over people who consumed fresh soup for five days, the study showed.

“We’ve known for a while that drinking beverages that have been stored in certain hard plastics can increase the amount of BPA in your body,” study author Jenny Carwile, a doctoral student at Harvard School of Public Health, said in a written statement. “This study suggests that canned foods may be an even greater concern, especially given their wide use.”

BPA is used in the linings of metal food and beverage cans as well as in certain plastic bottles and dental sealants.

Seventy-five volunteers were recruited for the study. Every day for five days, one group consumed 12 ounces of canned vegetarian soup and another consumed 12 ounces of fresh vegetarian soup. After a two-day “washout period,” the groups switched soups and spent another five days slurping away.

(Credit: istockphoto)

The researchers found that urine samples collected from the canned soup group spiked 1,221 percent over BPA levels over samples collected from the fresh soup group.

The study used Progresso brand canned soup, but the researchers told WebMD that “it’s not about the brand of soup or canned soup, it is about the cans.”

The researchers noted that the high levels of BPA might be transient and called for more research – but said that the time may have come to get BPA out of cans. As study author Karin Michels, associate professor in the school’s department of epidemiology, put it in the statement, “It may be advisable for manufacturers to consider eliminating BPA from can linings.”

A spokesman for General Mills, the company that makes Progresso soups, wasn’t buying it.

“Scientific and governmental bodies worldwide have examined the science and concluded that the weight of evidence support the safety of BPA, including comprehensive risk assessments in Japan and in the European Union,” Kirstie Foster, told Bloomberg Businessweek in an email.

A member of a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C. echoed those sentiments. Jeff Stier, a senior fellow at the National Center for Public Policy Research, told WebMD that the study “does nothing to substantiate claims that trace levels of BPA – even from daily canned soup consumption – have any effect on health.”

The study was published online Nov. 21 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Digital DNA

Digital forensicsDigital DNA the new DNA

Source: http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/dr20111129-digital-dna-the-new-dna

Published 29 November 2011

With the increasing ubiquity of computers, smart phones, and other electronic devices comes a torrent of “digital DNA,” which can be used to record an individual’s every move and even convict them of a crime

With the increasing ubiquity of computers, smart phones, and other electronic devices comes a torrent of “digital DNA,” which can be used to record an individual’s every move and even convict them of a crime.

Digital DNA is everywhere. From frequent shopper cards to digital photos, EZPass toll booth technology to emails, and smartphones to Word documents, every time an individual uses technology a digital stream of evidence is left behind that law enforcement agencies can use to trace their actions.

“Digital evidence is the new DNA,” said Ira Victor, a forensic analyst with Data Clone Labs and a member of The High Tech Crime Investigator’s Association (HTCIA).

As digital DNA becomes more prevalent, privacy advocates fear that it could lead to abuse.

Last week before the Supreme Court, which is currently hearing a case on the limits of GPS tracking when deployed by law enforcement officials, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) argued that information from GPS devices can easily be misused.

“The proliferation of GPS tracking technology creates … detailed travel profiles of American citizens,” the group said. “Law enforcement access to such information raises the specter of mass, pervasive surveillance.”

In addition, digital DNA can also be easily misrepresented in court.

“Attorneys are very good at taking digital evidence out of context and then convincing a jury of the guilt of someone based on it,” Victor said.

In one case from 2002, an individual was sent to jail after police found pornographic images on his computer, but security experts later said law enforcement officials had mishandled the digital evidence.

The experts explained that a “browser hijacker” could have been used to remotely plant the pornographic images on the suspect’s computer without their knowledge.

Additionally it is difficult for prosecutors and law enforcement officials to establish intent with digital DNA.

Sergeant Kevin Stenger, a computer crimes supervisor with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, said, “Exactly how did a criminal use a smartphone in the commission of a robbery, if at all? Was he using it to look up an address, to take pictures of the potential robbery site? Was he using it to text message other members of his crew? Did he use it when the robbery was in progress?”

“Like DNA, the devil’s in the details,” Victor said.

According to Victor, if the information is not properly stored and an exact process is not developed to handle the information, the data can easily become corrupted or falsified.

As laws governing digital evidence struggle to keep pace with changes in technology, Andrew Hildebrand, the associate dean of DeVry University’s College of Business and Management, said, “Yes, we should be worried, but not to the point of paralysis.”

“But this is a national dialog that needs to take place,” he said.

Women & Islam: The rise and rise of the convert

An interesting article from the Independent

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Record numbers of young, white British women are converting to Islam, yet many are reporting a lack of help as they get used to their new religion, according to several surveys.

As Muslims celebrate the start of the religious holiday of Eid today and hundreds of thousands from around the world converge on Mecca for the haj, it emerged that of the 5,200 Britons who converted to Islam last year, more than half are white and 75 per cent of them women.

In the past 10 years some 100,000 British people have converted to Islam, of whom some three-quarters are women, according to the latest statistics. This is a significant increase on the 60,000 Britons in the previous decade, according to researchers based at Swansea University.

While the number of UK converts accelerates, many of the British women who adopt Islam say they have a daily struggle to assimilate their new beliefs within a wider culture that both implicitly and explicitly positions them as outsiders, regardless of their Western upbringing.

More than three-quarters told researchers they had experienced high levels of confusion after conversion, due to the conflicting ways Islam was presented to them. While other major religions have established programmes for guiding new believers through the rigours of their faith, Islam still lacks any such network, especially outside the Muslim hubs of major cities.

Many mosques still bar women from worship or provide scant resources for their needs, forcing them to rely on competing cultural and ideological interpretations within books or the internet for religious support.

A recent study of converts in Leicester, for example, found that 93 per cent of mosques in the region recognised they lacked services for new Muslims, yet only 7 per cent said they were making efforts to address the shortfall.

Many of the young women – the average age of conversion is 27 – are also coming to terms with experiences of discrimination for the first time, despite the only visible difference being a headscarf. Yet few find easy sanctuary within the established Muslim population, with the majority forming their closest bonds with fellow converts rather than born Muslims.

Kevin Brice, author of the Swansea study A Minority Within a Minority, said to be the most comprehensive study of British Muslim converts, added: “White Muslim converts are caught between two increasingly distant camps. Their best relationships remain with other converts, because of their shared experiences, while there is very little difference between the quality of their relationship with other Muslims or non-Muslims.

“My research also found converts came in two types: some are converts of convenience, who adopt the religion because of a life situation such as meeting a Muslim man, although the religion has little discernible impact on their day-to-day lives. For others it is a conversion of conviction where they feel a calling and embrace the religion robustly.

“That’s not to say the two are mutually exclusive – sometimes converts start out on their religious path through convenience and become converts of conviction later on.”

Another finding revealed by the Leicester study was that despite Western portraits of Islam casting it as oppressive to women, a quarter of female converts were attracted to the religion precisely because of thestatus it affords them.

Some analysts have argued that dizzying social and cultural upheavals in Britain over the past decades have meant that far from adopting an alien way of life, some female Muslim converts are re-embracing certain aspects of mid-20th-century Britain, such as rigid gender demarcation, rather than feeling expected to juggle career and family.

The first established Muslim communities started in Britain in the 1860s, when Yemani sailors and Somali labourers settled around the ports of London, Cardiff, Liverpool and Hull. Many married local women who converted to Islam, often suffering widespread discrimination as a result.

They also acted as a bridge between the two cultures, encouraging understanding among indigenous dwellers and helping to integrate the Muslim community they had joined. Today, there is growing recognition among community leaders that the latest generation of female converts has an equally vital role to play in fostering dialogue between an increasingly secular British majority and a minority religion, as misunderstood as it is vilified.

Kristiane Backer, 45

Television presenter and author, London

I converted to Islam in 1995 after Imran Khan introduced me to the faith. At the time I was a presenter for MTV. I used to have all the trappings of success, yet I felt an inner emptiness and somewhat dissatisfied in my life.

The entertainment industry is very much about “if you’ve got it, flaunt it”, which is the exact opposite to the more inward-oriented spiritual attitude of my new faith. My value system changed and God became the centre point of my life and what I was striving towards.

I recognise some new converts feel isolated but, despite there being even fewer resources when I converted than there are now, it isn’t so much an issue I’ve faced. I’ve always felt welcomed and embraced by the Muslims I met and developed a circle of friends and teachers. It helps living in London, because there is so much to engage in as part of the Muslim community. Yet, even in the capital you can be stared at on the Tube for wearing a headscarf. I usually don’t wear one in the West except when praying. I wear the scarf in front of my heart though!

I always try to explain to people that I’ve converted to Islam, not to any culture. Suppression of women, honour killings or forced marriages are all cultural aberrations, not Islamic ones. Islam is also about dignity and respect for yourself and your femininity. Even in the dating game, Muslim men are very respectful. Women are cherished as mothers, too – as a Muslim woman you are not expected to do it all.”

Amy Sall, 28

Retail assistant, Middlesbrough

I’d say I’m still a bit of a party animal – but I’m also a Muslim. I do go out on the town with the girls and I don’t normally wear my headscarf – I know I should do, but I like to do my hair and look nice! I know there are certain clothes I shouldn’t wear either, even things that just show off your arms, but I still do. My husband would like me to be a better Muslim – he thinks drinking is evil – so it does cause rows.

I haven’t worshipped in a mosque since I got married, I find it intimidating. I worry about doing something wrong; people whispering because they see my blonde hair and blue eyes. Middlesbrough is a difficult place to be a Muslim who isn’t Asian – you tend to be treated like an outsider. Once, I was out wearing my headscarf and a local man shouted abuse. It was weird because I’m white and he was white, but all he saw was the scarf, I suppose. It did make me angry. My family were surprisingly fine with me converting, probably because they thought it would rein me in from being a bit wild.

Nicola Penty-Alvarez, 26

Full-time mother, Uxbridge

I was always interested in philosophy and the meaning of life and when I came across Islam it all just clicked. In the space of four or five months I went from going to raves to wearing a headscarf, praying five times a day and generally being quite pious – I did occasionally smoke though.

I felt very welcomed into the Muslim community, but it was a mainly white convert community. My impression of the Asian community in west London was that women felt sidelined and were encouraged to stay at home and look after the men rather than attend mosque. I think this was more a cultural than religious thing, though.

Non-Muslims certainly treat you differently when you’re wearing a headscarf – they’re less friendly and as a smiley person I found that hard. After a year-and-a-half of being a Muslim I stopped. I remember the moment perfectly. I was in a beautiful mosque in Morocco praying beside an old lady and something just came over me. I thought: ‘What the hell am I doing? How have I got into this?’ It just suddenly didn’t feel right. Needless to say my husband, who was a fellow convert, wasn’t impressed. He remained devout and it put a lot of strain on our relationship. We split up, but are on amicable terms now. I’m not really in contact with the Muslim friends I made – we drifted apart.

I don’t regret the experience. There is so much that I learnt spiritually that I’ve kept and I haven’t gone back to my hard partying ways.

Donna Tunkara

Warehouse operative, Middlesbrough

I was a bit of a tearaway growing up – drinking, smoking, running away from home and being disrespectful to my parents. I converted 10 years ago because I met a Muslim man but I’ve probably become more devout than him.

Sometimes, I miss going shopping for clothes to hit the town and then going home and getting ready with my mates, having a laugh. The thing is no one is forcing me not to – it’s my choice.

It did come as a shock to my family, who are Christian. They’ve not rejected me, but they find it difficult to understand. I feel bad because I don’t now attend weddings, funerals or christenings because they’re often at pubs and clubs and I won’t step inside.

There needs to be more resources for women who convert. I know some mosques that won’t allow women in. But in the Koran there is an emphasis on women being educated. I’ve learnt about the religion through my husband’s family and books – if you want support you have to look for it. It’s taken time to regain an identity I’m comfortable with. Because I’m mixed race and a Muslim ,people don’t see me as British – but what’s important is that I know who I am.

How a Pearl Developes

I read this article by Muhammad alShareef and I just had to share it with you.

I love this message and I have read it many times over the last couple of years.

Enjoy…

by Muhammad Alshareef

When news of the Christian army that had prepared on the horizons to wipe out Islam reached him, Abu Qudaamah Ash-Shaamee moved quickly to the Mimbar of the Masjid.  In a powerful and emotional speech, Abu Qudaamah ignited the desire of the community to defend their land, Jihad for the sake of Allah.  As he left the Masjid, walking down a dark and secluded alley, a women stopped him and said, “As salamu alaykum wa Rahmatullaah!”  Abu Qudaamah stopped and did not answer. She repeated her salam again, adding “this is not how pious people should act.” She stepped forward from the shadows.  “I heard you in the Masjid encouraging the believers to go for Jihad and all I have is this…” She handed him two long braids. “It can be used for a horse rein.  Perhaps Allah may write me as one of those who went for Jihaad.”

The next day as that Muslim village set out to confront the crusader army, a young boy ran through the gathering and stood at the hooves of Abu Qudaamah’s horse.  “I ask you by Allah to allow me to join the army.” Some of the elder fighters laughed at the boy.  “The horses will trample you,” they said.  But Abu Qudaamah looked down into his eyes as he asked again, “I ask you by Allah, let me join.”  Abu Qudaamah then said, “On one condition, if you are killed you will take me with you to Jannah amongst those you will be allowed to intercede for.”  That young boy smiled.  “It’s a promise.”

When the two armies met and the fighting intensified, the young boy on the back of Abu Qudaamah’s horse asked, “I ask you by Allah to give me 3 arrows.”  “You’ll lose them!”  The boy repeated, “I ask you by Allah to give me them.”  Abu Qudaamah gave him the arrows and the boy took aim. “Bismillaah!” The arrow flew and killed a Roman. “Bismillaah!” The second arrow flew, killing a second Roman. “Bismillaah!” The third arrow flew, killing a third Roman. An arrow then struck the boy in the chest – knocking him off the horse.  Abu Qudaamah jumped down to his side, reminding the boy in his final breaths, “Don’t forget the promise!” The boy reached into his pocket, extracted a pouch and said, “Please return this to my mother.”  “Who’s your mother?” asked Abu Qudaamah. “The women that gave you the braids yesterday.”

Think about this Muslimah.  How did she reach this level of Taqwa where she would sacrifice her hair when today other women do the same to imitate Kafir icons, and her son when other women would die so long as their son stayed home.  Indeed, she spent her life in the obedience of Allah, and when exam time came, she passed. Not only did she pass herself, but her children shone with that same beauty of Iman, children that she herself raised.

Very often – and perhaps in our times when we have forgotten much of the Sunnah – the lectures, khutbahs, and talks are all directed to the Muslim men.  We forget that from the Hady – guidance and way – of Rasul Allah – sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam – was that he would allocate a specific day of the week to teach the women. Women would come up to him in Hajj, in the street, even in his home and ask him questions about the Deen.  At the Eid Salah, after addressing the men, he would take Bilal and go to the women section and address the women.  Allah revealed an entire Surah by the name of Surah An-Nisa – the Women.  And another by the name of – Maryam.  And a third by the name of al Mujaadalah – the women who pleads.  It is in enlivening this Sunnah that today this speech shall be addressed to the believing women, al-Mu’minaat.

Dear Sister, Dear Mother, Dear Daughter.  Everyone is looking for happiness and fun, and I am sure you are not excluded.  Where is that happiness and fun though?  And where and when do you want that happiness?  Do you want happiness, do you want to have `fun’ in this life at the expense of the hereafter?  Or is it in the hereafter, when you meet Allah that you want to be happy?

Every where you go you shall find a swarm of people and media and culture swearing to you that happiness is the happiness of the Dunya. Is it really happiness though?  On the day of Repayment, Allah shall take the most `happiest’ kafir of the Dunya and dip him in Jahannam – Hellfire.  Then he shall ask him, “Have you ever seen any happiness?” The Kafir will say, “Never!”

Nay, the happiness is only the happiness of the hereafter no matter what happens in this Dunya.  Allah shall bring on the Day of Repayment the most tested human and dip him in Jannah – Paradise.  He shall then ask him, “Have you ever seen sadness?”  And that person shall say, “Never!”

And don’t think that this happiness and fun is exclusive to the hereafter.  It is very much tied to this life as well.  Listen and understand the words of Allah:

Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer verily to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter). – Surah AnNahl (16/97)

Dear Sister, you have to understand that you or anyone may enter Hellfire!  By Allah, we are not better than Fatimah, the daughter of Rasul Allah – sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam.  And he said to her, “O Fatimah the daughter of Muhammad, Ask me whatever you wish from my wealth, for I shall avail you nothing to Allah.”  Meaning that it doesn’t matter if you’re my daughter, if you don’t work for Jannah, saying to Allah that my father is so and so will not help you in anyway.

Islam is filled with many Mu’minahs that completed their Taqwa of Allah.  When the other girls put up posters of kafir singers and kafir athletes and kafir actresses, you should put up posters in your heart of Fatimah and many other Mu’minahs.

Aasiyah, the wife of Fir’own. Her Eeman in Allah thrived under the shadow of someone that said, “I am your Lord, Most High!” When news reached Fir’own of his wife’s Eeman he beat her and commanded his guards to beat her. They took her out in the scalding noon heat, tied her hands and feet and beat her perpetually. Who did she turn to? She turned to Allah! She prayed, “My lord, build for me a home with you in Paradise and save me from Fir’own and his deeds and save me from the transgressive people.”

It was narrated that when she said this, the sky opened for her and she saw her home in Paradise. She smiled. The guards watched astonished – she’s being tortured and she smiles? Frustrated, Fir’own commanded a boulder to be brought and dropped on Aasiyah, to crush her to death. But Allah took her soul before the boulder was brought and she became an example for all the believing men and women till the end of time:

[And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Fir’own (Pharaoh) – when she said, “My Lord, Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir’own and his deeds, and save me from the transgressive-disbelieving people.] -Tahreem 66/11

When we talk about Jihad and Shuhadaa’ – martyrs, do you know who the first Muslim in Islam to be killed in the path of Allah was?  It was Summayah, the mother of Ammar.  When Abu Jahl heard of her Islam and her husband Yaasir and her son Ammar, he whipped them all and beat them. So much so, that Rasul Allah would pass by them as they went through this test of their Iman and would say to them, “Be patient O family of Yaasir, for you have a date set (when you shall enter) Jannah!”

As Abu Jahl beat Sumayyah one day, she refused to recant her Deen, something that enraged Abu Jahl. He took a spear as she lay on the burning sand, looking up to the sky, and he speared her through her midsection.  She was the first of her family and the entire Ummah to meet Allah as a Martyr.

Dear Sister, our role models come from the Quran.  You may have heard the story of the boy and the  king. When the entire village became Muslim by the death of that young boy, the king ordered that an enormous fire be kindled and that all those who would not recant their religion be burnt alive.  A Mu’minah, stood with her baby over the fire. She looked at her baby, and seeking her child’s weakness and innocence, she considered turning her back.  The baby said to her, “What are you waiting for mother.  Go forward for you are on the truth!”  She nodded.  Then with her baby in hand she was pushed to her death.

[And they ill-treated them for no other reason than that they believed in Allah, Exalted in Power, Worthy of all Praise!- * Him to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth! And Allah is Witness to all things.]. – Surah AlBuruj, 8,9

And dear sister, your role models come to you from today.  As her son tells us, a senior women in a Muslim land decided that all the vanity that normally happens in the gatherings of women was not for her.  She turned to Salah and praying at night, and in her old age, she found herself calling to her so  one night from her prayer room.  He son says, “I came in and she was in Sajda saying that she was paralysed!” Her son took her to the doctors and she began a cycle of rehabilitation, but there was little hope. She then commanded her son to take her back home, take her back to her prayer room, take her back to that Sajdah.  As she prayed to Allah in her sajdah, the night came when she called to her son.  “Astawdi’ukallaah alladhee laa yadee’u wa daa’i’uh – I leave you in the trust of Allah, and whenever something is left in Allah’s trust it is never lost.”  She passed away in her sajdah.  Her muscles froze in that position and so they had to wash her body as she was in Sajdah. The prayed Janazah for her as her body was in sajdah. The carried her to the grave yard as her body was in Sajdah.

The buried her as she was in Sajdah.  And the Prophet said that we shall all be resurrected on what we died on, she shall be resurrected on the day of judgement in Sajdah to Allah – Jalla Jalaaluhu wa taqaddasat asmaa’uhu – because that it how she lived and died.

Part II

There are many other stories that we know about of powerful believing mothers, wives and sisters and many, many that Allah only knows about. Whenever a halaqah is going on, the Muslim women outnumber the men. At the American Open University, (www.open-university.edu) the overwhelming majority of students are Muslim women.  Go to an Islamic teachers/schools conference, attend a lecture and you shall see the mismatch of sisters to brothers.  Sometimes it is sad to see all these brothers lacking the motivation that many Muslimahs have.  But if there is a beautiful sign in all this, it is that – in sha’ Allah ta’ala – those sisters are going to raise an army of believing men and women in the coming generation. WAllahu akbar!

When Imam Ahmad was still young, his father died.  He would tell his students of the work his mother went through in raising him, and he would pray for her.  In the cold Baghdad nights, she would wake long before him to warm the water so that her son Ahmad could make wudu for Fajr.  Then she would wrap him in blankets, herself cloaked in her Jilbaab, and guide him through the dark, cold alleys to reach the main Masjid, long before Fajr so that her son could get a good seat in class.  Her son Ahmad – at that age in grade 2 or 3 – would sit all day long studying Quran and Sunnah, and she would wait for him to finish so that she could drop him home safely.  At the age of 16, she prepared money and food for him and told him, “Travel for your search of knowledge.”  He left for Makkah and Madinah and many other places and et many great scholars.  She raised Ahmad to become one of the four greatest Imams in Islam.

Dear sister, after all this, ask a non-Muslim what it is that he wants from you?  Does he want you to be liberated?  Liberated from what? From Allah and his Messenger?  From the Quran and the Sunnah?  From Jannah?  From this deen that Allah chose for you?

And what is he going to give you in return?  Happinness?  By Allah, he does not own any happiness to give.  Is he going to give you love and protection from punishment in the grave and from the gateke pers of hellfire and from death?  Why is it that they want to liberate young beautiful women?  Why don’t they liberate the seniors?  Why don’t they liberate the indigenous?  Why don’t they liberate the inmates?  Why is their target audience a young and skinny and tall women (their definition of beauty) between the age of 13 – 28?  And why is their first call for you to take off your Hijab?

Remember that friend – if you consider him so – carefully, for – without any doubt, by Allah – he shall be your bitterest enemy on the day of Repayment:

[Friends on that day will be foes, one to another – except the Righteous] – Surah Zukhruf (43/67)

One Kafirah summed up exactly what they think of women, “It’s not who you are, it’s what you wear and what you look like!”  And listen to Fabian, a french `model’ (of what?), as she spit on the fashion industry. “Fashion houses made me into a mannequin, a wooden idol.  The mission: to manipulate hearts and alter minds.  I learnt how to be worthless, nothing on the inside, cold.  We lived in a world of filth in all that filth means.”

When the Prophet – sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam – stood on the plain of Arafah and gave his farewell speech he said to the Ummah, “Treat the women kindly!”  History records that in Europe in the same year, at the same time that Islam was saying this, the Christian clergy were arguing hether a women was a human or an animal!  Those clergymen are the ancestors of the Kuffar that now want to `liberate’ you.

There is much more than can be said.  I shall conclude with the advice of Rasul Allah – sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam – to every Muslim mother, daughter, and wife: “If the women prays her five (Salah), fasts her month (of Ramadan), protects herself (from committing Zina), and listens to her husband, it will be said to her, `from any door you wish, enter Paradise!”  Sister, that is where you want to be.

[O ye who believe! give your response to Allah and His Messenger, when He calls you to that which shall give you life; and know that Allah cometh between a man and his heart, and that it is He to Whom ye shall (all) be gathered.] – Surah Anfal 8/24

Allah and His Messenger are calling you to life.  Dear sister, reply!

O American… this is Osama

O American… this is Osama

written by Sheikh Husain Bin Mahmoud

This is a letter that was delivered to me by some brothers, and they said that an American wrote it in one of the chat forums, and the brothers transferred it until it reached me. They wanted me to answer this American on his inquiry, I was hesitating in the beginning, but the brothers said it seems that he is a man who seeks truth, and we as Muslims have no objection in making others listen to the truth, so let this American lend us his eyes and read these few humble words in the identification of Osama…

This is the letter as it had reached me:

I’m an American, and I really don’t believe everything my government says. I was moved by the way the media dealt with the death of Osama bin Ladin. I thought he was hated by the Muslims because of his ways; at least, that’s what the officials told us in our country. I realized after his death that he was loved by most of you! I want to know exactly what Osama meant to you as Muslims. I want to know the truth from you, and not from the media, because I simply do not trust the media. Please be straightforward and honest. I really want to know the truth.

And this is the answer:

O American… I will tell you today about a man whose story is like a legend… and he is a legend indeed… a legend that was witnessed by the whole world…

His name is Osama, his father’s is Muhammad, and his grandfather’s is Awadh. So, his name is: Osama bin Muhammad bin Awadh bin Laden… His father Muhammad came from Yemen. Yemen – if you do not know – is one of the oldest lands on earth and from the best of civilizations; and it is the origin of Arabs. The young Muhammad traveled from Yemen to Jeddah, in the west of the Arabian Peninsula, working as a porter this self-made fellow promptly became the biggest construction contractor in the Arabian Peninsula, he was known by his straightforwardness, honesty, and persistence… He also made a strong relationship with the ruling family there.

I do not know – O American – how much you know about Islam, but I am telling you that Muslims have three holy mosques, which are: the Holy Mosque of Mecca, the Holy Mosque of the Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Medina, and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Palestine, Jerusalem. There is no other holy place for Muslims other than these; I arranged them according to their importance and greatness for Muslims… You may know the Ka’ba, that cubic building which has a black cover in Mecca, if you looked around this simple building which was built by Prophet Ibrahim and his first son Ismail, the surrounding construction was built by Osama’s father “Muhammad”. If you looked for pictures of the holy mosque of Messenger Muhammad (may all praise by Allah be on him) in Medina and you see that beautiful superior building, Osama’s father “Muhammad” was honored with working on this building, and when Al-Aqsa mosque in Palestine was burned by the Jews – some decades ago – there was a contraction between the Arabs to rebuild the mosque, Osama’s father “Muhammad” gained the honor to rebuild this mosque also.

I told you Osama’s father is from Yemen, but I did not tell you that his mother is from Sham. So, he is son of Yemen and Sham; these two regions are from the best civilizations in the world. So, Osama is the son of civilization and history, but he was born in Hejaz. Hejaz, is the oracle of Muhammad (peace be upon him), so here the mixture of civilization, history, and creed wove into a mixture that is Osama’s soul.

Osama’s father’s weight and business became larger and larger to the point that he gave the king of the Arabian Peninsula six months salaries of all the government employees; this was after a financial crisis there. After that, he gained a high status and great caliber between the kings and princes of the Arabian Peninsula. From this house, from this family, from this honor and dignity, and from this civilization and history: There was Osama.

Osama was raised in a good and rigid setting, his father – regardless of his wealth and caliber – was very careful to raise his children on seriousness, hard work, and persistence. So, Osama grew (up) as a religious, serious, and hard working man unlike other rich people’s children who grew immoral due to excess of wealth, status and caliber.

In his early youth there came about a great change in his life for the Red Soviet army entered the Muslim land of Afghanistan. The news began to reach the land of the two holy mosques – west of Arabian Peninsula – and Osama because of his serious religious nature was following up this news as other youth there; but he was not like them. Because Osama is a positive man and he could not be satisfied by just following up the news. He went many times to Pakistan the neighbor of Afghanistan. Finally, he decided to go to Afghanistan in ’82, that means before (29) years of age, he was (25) at this time. He waged Jihad with the Afghani Mujahideen against the Soviet (Union) until they beat them and kicked out the Soviets from Afghanistan. As a result of this historic rout of the Soviets; their country became Russia and a lot of countries disintegrated from it.

This was the first station in this young man’s life… then, a palatial dangerous event happened that changed the face of the world. That was the entrance of the American army into the land of the Arabian Peninsula in ’91 in which is the holiest places of Muslims. This was after Saddam Hussain entered Kuwait in ’90. Osama was warning the rulers of the Arabian Peninsula from Saddam’s intentions before this year, but they were not listening to him. Then, after Saddam entered Kuwait, Osama – with his Mujahideen – offered the princes of the Arabian Peninsula to kick Saddam out of Kuwait, but they preferred the Americans and its ally’s armies to enter the Arabian Peninsula, oracle of Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him). And Osama’s hunch was right when he stated to the people that these armies have come to stay.

This event was truly the historic moment which lead to the change of events on earth… this was the first time in history that a non-Muslim army entered the land of the Two Holy Mosques, this army is enumerated by half a million fully armed men, and this is the first time that the Arabian peninsula’s princes allowed a non-Muslim army to enter the land of oracle and Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) Peninsula… You were right – O American – when you said that you do not believe your government, they said to the world that the 9/11 event is the historic moment of change; but the truth is the 9/11 event is simply a reaction of this big event which made the Arabian Peninsula under the occupation of a non-Muslim army.

After the Soviets left Afghanistan in ’89, there were some clashes between the Afghanis themselves. Osama preferred to not participate in this local war so he went to Sudan, and he started some charity and political programs. But the American government did not like the presence of Osama in Sudan, so it put the Sudanese government under pressure to make Osama leave Sudan. When Osama felt that he was undesirable there he returned back to Afghanistan, and the old Mujahideen gathered around him again, then they waited until the Taliban ruled the Afghan cities.

When Osama saw the honesty of these students (Taliban) and their determination to make a real change in Afghanistan, then they made the historical alliance with each other, he fought with the Taliban against other Afghani groups till they succeeded in uniting most of Afghanistan, and Osama became one of the best and nearest friends of the Taliban leaders and their Commander “Mullah Omar”.

The whole Islamic world was angry because of the entrance of America into the Arab lands, because this land is very special to them than any other land. The interference of America in Iraq and killing more than a million and a half Iraqis – a half million (of whom) were children – and also the American assistance to the Jews in Palestine with money and arms had the most effect on Osama and his friends who went out to liberate Afghanistan from the Soviets and then they realized that America is fighting them in the dark.

Then they declared war on it, also they realized that America is behind all the calamities of the Muslims. So, Osama announced that America should leave the Arab lands.

America worked on chasing the Mujahideen everywhere, it was also ordering Arab countries’ to catch anyone who returned from Afghanistan and place them in prisons and excruciate them badly.

A lot of wars started between Muslims against others in Bosnia, Chechnya, Kosovo, Sudan, Somalia, Philippine, China, and Kashmir; the Muslims there were oppressed and Osama was helping all these Muslims (by) sending them men and money so they can be delivered from injustice and despotism. What he did made him famous and well known amongst all Muslims.

Osama and his group realized that America was the main reason for most of the trouble of Muslims because it supports the dictator regimes in Muslim countries’. Also, because it corrupts the people in charge in the Muslim world, and preventing these countries from development and advancement. America’s biggest crime is the adapting of the Jewish bands in Palestine: They provided them money and advanced arms to kill Muslims there, and Palestine – like the Arabian Peninsula – is very special to Muslims.

Arabs lived in Palestine before Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was born, you may know – from your holy book – that Ibrahim emigrated from Iraq to Palestine and the Arabs were already there, then he begot Ismail and Isaac, and Isaac begot Jacob, this Jacob is “Israel” (peace be upon all the Prophets of Allah). Jacob immigrated to Egypt and he stayed with his descendants there for four hundred years, then they left it under the leadership of Moses (peace be upon him) to the land of Labyrinth in Siena and they stayed there for forty years. Then the children of Israel entered the land of Palestine and they expelled the Arabs. As Muslims, we believe that at that time the children of Israel deserved the blessed land of Palestine because the Arabs were heathens and the children of Israel believed in Allah, the Creator.

The children of Israel stayed in Palestine for centuries, and then Allah sent Jesus, the son of Mary (peace be upon him) and the Jews disbelieved in him and oppressed his followers. Then Allah decreed that the followers of Jesus loot the land of Palestine from the Jews because they renounced the religion of Moses and did not believe in Jesus (peace be upon them). Palestine stayed under the rule of the followers of Jesus – who quickly changed the constitution of Allah – until the Arabs who followed Muhammad (peace be upon him) took back Palestine from the Romans. Then it remained under the rule of Muslims for thirteen centuries. And when Muslims strayed away from their religion and the instructions of the Prophet, Allah imposed the British-French occupation upon them, and Britain took Palestine, but the Muslims did not revise themselves and return back to their religion. So Allah punished them by dominating the blessed land with the most hateful and antagonizing people towards them: the Jews.

The land of Palestine was not taken from the Muslims except because they strayed away from the instructions of their religion, and this was realized by the prudent Muslims, and they started calling the people to return back to their religion so that they could free Palestine. A lot of Muslim scholars scarified themselves in this cause, Osama bin Laden was one of these who called the Muslims to return back to the original instructions of the Islamic religion, so that Palestine returns back to the Muslims anew.

This historical introduction is important (in order) to know the beliefs of Osama and his thoughts and ideology. I do not know – O American – if you are following the news of Osama; but I will remind you of his historical promise after the event of 9/11 when he said: “I swear by Almighty Allah who raised the heavens without any pillars, that America will not dream of living in security before we experience security in Palestine and not before all the infidel armies have left the land of Muhammad, peace be upon him”. And the one who knows Osama’s history, he will realize that Osama lived to abide (by) his promise.

They are telling you that Osama is a terrorist, and we do not deny this, what we deny is the meaning of terrorism that they have not define yet!! America conducted war on: Japan, Germany, and the Soviet (Union). Imagine that Japan occupied California, Washington, Seattle, and Arizona. What will you do!! If Germany occupied Washington D.C and Florida or if the Soviets occupied Georgia, New York, and Virginia; are you going to stay at home and wait until they go out whenever they want!! What if some Americans resisted the Japanese occupation or Germans’ Hitlerism occupation or Soviet occupation!! Are the ones fighting them from (among) the Americans, terrorists?! What if some Americans performed bomb blasts inside Japan or Germany or Soviet (Union) after these occupations!! Will this be considered terrorism?!

We do not deny that Osama is a terrorist, he terrorized his enemies indeed; but the question is: Why did Osama become a terrorist!!

Let me tell you a little about Osama’s personality… he was a quiet natured man, he talked little, he laughed little, very shy, very generous, limitlessly modest. Although he was a rich man but he lived like the poor people, he ate like them, slept like them, when you would talk to him, he would listen to you until you would feel that you are his only friend, tender hearted; he liked poetry, literature, and reading, he loved riding horses, anybody who sat with him liked him even if they were his enemy due to his politeness and respect for others. And on top of all of this, he was smart having inherited it from his uncles, he was brave having inherited it from his civilization origin, and he was faithful having inherited it from his motherland.

These are some of the qualities of Osama, and they are not even an inch bit exaggerated, and those who saw him and stayed with him and met him are witness to these qualities… So, stay with me now to understand: How is it possible for someone with these qualities to become a terrorist!!

As I told you: Osama was born in the Arabian Peninsula, and the people of this land are from the greatest lovers of freedom. There is no nation on the face of this earth who loves freedom like this nation, and that is why the people of the Arabian Peninsula preferred to live in its deserts for tens of centuries rather than migrating to the nearby developed cities. That’s because they do not like to act under the rule of a king or an emperor. They lived free for long centuries in a land with scarce water, vegetation and animals, and due to this rugged and harsh environment: these people have developed a sort of pride and defiance and self respect, such that they cannot accept to be enslaved or ruled over or politicized. Throughout history they were never ruled by a king or commander, except after the inspiration of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and he ruled them with the religion, and had it not been for religion no one would have succeeded in ruling over them for the people of this land have not given in to the rule of anyone except the rule of Allah the Almighty.

This background is necessary to understand the level of hatred of the people of the Arabian Peninsula generally – and Osama especially – towards the American army that has soiled their land and occupied their country, and perhaps you (may) know the name of the Arabian Peninsula by “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” attributed to the family of “Al-Saud”, that was unified by the father of the current King – named Abd al-Aziz – this Peninsula, under his rule by the power of the sword after he declared his intention of ruling it with Islam. So the people of the Peninsula fought with him to unify it under the banner of religion. But then they discovered that he was supported by the British, and then the Americans, and then his sons allowed the American armies to enter the Arabian Peninsula under the pre**** of freeing Kuwait. Thus, his betrayal to the banner of the religion and that of his sons became apparent.

Osama – O American – declared war upon your country for the following major reasons:

First: Its sponsorship of the criminal Jewish state in Palestine.

Second: Occupation of the Arabian Peninsula and the land of the Islamic revelation.

Third: Fighting Muslims in several Muslim lands.

Fourth: Supporting the dictator governments in the Islamic lands.

Fifth: Fighting against Islam itself and trying to spread opposing methodologies in the Islamic lands and trying to corrupt the manners and values of Muslims.

Sixth: The succeeding American governments were the reason for the death of millions of Muslims for the past thirty years.

These are the major reason that made this delicate, calm, humble, modest man turn into a dangerous and prominent terrorist, and into a man of war and resistance of a unique level… and any single reason from these reasons is enough to change the life of a man who possesses even a tiny bit of honor, then how about all these reason together?

The matter is not as it has been told to you through your media, for
the truth is that most of the Muslims on earth hate the American government, and hate its policies and curse it day and night, and what you see on the television of support of the American government in the Arab countries is either fabricated, or is through agents who are deceiving their nations, for they do not represent the Muslims, and most of them are not Muslims. There are some atheists, opportunists and careerists in the Islamic countries as there are in America – maybe on a greater scale – and these have the media, and money and control, and they have not come to possess it except through the aid of the American government.

You ask about the reality of what Osama means to us, then I shall tell you on behalf of most of the Muslims on earth:

Osama represents the ancient Islamic culture blended with the greatness of Islam… Osama is the living conscience of Muslims and the soul of freedom inspiring the Islamic Ummah anew…

Osama – O American – is the model of truth that fought oppression through the passage of history… Osama – O American – is a man who gathered the political benefits and presented it for the service of the just Muslim causes, for he is like George Washington who unified America and led the fight against Britain, and he is like Lincoln who freed the slaves in America and united the north and south, and he is like Martin Luther who fought for the freedom of the negroes in America…

But Osama is different from these because he is a Muslim who fights and plans for his methodology and religion, and is different from them in that he fights for a global freedom and not for a nationality or local race or region, and is different from them in that his enemies are: All the tyrant governments that oppress their nation or other nations in the world, and if you see who fought Osama, then you would see how the governments famous for oppressing their people and stealing the riches of the nations allied against him, for Osama revealed all of these tyrants and wanted the people to stand up and demand their true rights, and this is what made most of the governments of the earth chase him and try to silence his voice so that people remain in their slumber and they (would) be at liberty for their oppression and tyranny and steal the riches of the nations.

Osama – O American – spent his life in order to unify the Muslims, and in order to free them from the rope of slavery placed upon their necks by the governments, those governments that are allied to the successive governments of America… Osama fought for the honor of the Muslims and their religion… Osama – O American – is the example of truthfulness and purity and the right jealousy for the human values, that truth which you know and other Americans know is practically nonexistent with the policy of the White House, and with the governments of the east and west on this earth…

Osama – O American – was the last beautiful thing that passed away from the face of the earth… I say beautiful because the governments of earth have changed the truth, and decorated the lies, and has made politics into cunning, deceit and personal gains, whereas Osama returned politics to its true, real meaning with the knowledgeable ones and those with understanding, for politics to him was: returning the rights to the deserving, and truth and trustworthiness, and honor, and giving and disassociation from the money of people and sacrificing in the way of fulfilling their interests… perhaps – O American – you might not know the meaning of most of these words, and we do not blame you, because you live in an environment drowned in self-centeredness and self-love and phony and concealed oppression in the form of capitalism, and silent transgression in the name of democracy…

I do not know how cultured you are, and I do not know if you understand most of what I wrote, but I cannot write about Osama except with these lofty meanings, because he was a lofty man who lived in a time in which lofty virtues had fallen, for he is from the era of the noble knights, and from the era of honorable fighters and from the era of loyal commanders

Osama – O American – is all those virtues that your government is fighting on earth… he is all what your wretched government claims and is not… Osama is the manners that your country’s leaders claim and would not tolerate to be associated with out in public… Osama is the nobility that you read about in the books of history…
What does Osama mean for the Muslims!!

Osama – O American – is the group of thousands of people who died in order to enable a better life for others, and sacrificed their most precious things so that those after them get the best of what they deserve… Osama – O American – is the soul of this Ummah and its living pulse that took form in a tall and lean figure!

Osama – O American – is the voice of truth at a time of corruption, and the voice of honor at a time of vanity and the voice of loftiness at a time of mediocrity… Osama is the memory of man at a time of forgetfulness…. Osama is the beating heart on the deathbed of the sons of man.

Every name has a meaning in its own cultural history, and Osama in our Arabic culture means: Lion, and this historic oath that was reflected in the corners of earth was nothing but a groan of this lion, after which he returned to his lair in the caves of Tora Bora and mountains of Suleiman and Hindu Kush, waiting to attack his prey, and perhaps you know that the lion does not roar a lot and does not produce sounds except a little, before pouncing on its prey and just like that Osama, his words were less and his speeches few…

Osama – O American – is the lion of Islam, who would not let the rats climb over his body, and who if roared, they would run without looking behind… The name of Osama was enough to terrorize every wolf or fox who wanted to dive at the flesh of the sons of man.

O American, tell those behind you from the people of your nation that Osama is alive in the heart of every free Muslim, and that his historic oath is engraved into the hearts of the Muslims and that peace is the farthest from Americans now, and that their coming days will be decisive in the history of their nations, for the sons of Osama and his brothers have decided to end the history of America forever…

Perhaps – O American – you are astonished by this statement and you have asked only to know, while you are aware that your country has of material ability such power that makes it awed in earth, but – O American – you do not know the reality of creed if it blends with the heart of the believer, for fighting is not weapons, and it is not ammunition, instead what directs the drum of victory is: the heart of men.

Osama – O American – represents the power of Islam that ruled the earth for more than 1200 years, and there was no America known to the old world, and America was not found by Columbus except after he got the maps that were drawn but the Muslim scholars of Andalusia and Italy, so your presence in America is due to some of the old Muslim scholars that resulted in the renaissance in Europe and America, that renaissance that has started blurring the fact that it was taken from the Islamic culture…

Osama – O American – came to remind the Muslims of their culture, and remind them of their glory, and remind them of their history, and to say to them, return to your religion to gain back your real status amongst the nations of the world, for the Ummah of Islam was not created except to lead humanity, and was not brought into existence except to become dominant upon all the nations, and Allah the Almighty decided in His book which He revealed to Muhammad (peace be upon him) this truth, in the most profound and clear way when He said: “It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion.” He said it in these clear words in three places in the Quran assuring this eternal reality.

Osama – O American – is a new turning point in the history of earth, for Osama has awakened the conscience of Islam in the hearts of the Muslims after a long slumber, and he painted with his blood a frame of glory that was about to be wiped off from the life of the Muslims… Do you know – O American – that the Muslims did not accept condolence in Osama!! Perhaps – O American – you will be shocked to know if I tell you that many Muslims in several lands congratulated each other on the martyrdom of Osama, and that some of them distributed sweets amongst the people!! Do you understand the meaning of distributing sweets on the death of the most beloved people to their heart!

If it was in my hand, I would have sacrificed my life and all my sons so that Osama would live amongst us, but I, until now, have not shed a single tear on Osama, and if I cry, I cry on myself for not having achieved what Osama achieved… many people talk about their cause and rights, but only a very few of these people are ready to die for those rights, and Osama – O American – was not only prepared to die for them, he was wishing for it every moment, for death in the way of creed is from the greatest of what a true believer wants in his belief…

Perhaps I have prolonged upon you this talk, but I have not mentioned except the little of little about Osama and what Osama means for the Muslims, and if I knew that you would not get bored I would have made you read for several continuous days about Osama and what Osama meant and the reality of Osama… and perhaps I may summarize in these few expressive words and call you to reflect upon them excessively…

The culture of truth and human loftiness means – Osama…

Written by

Sheikh Husain Bin Mahmoud

You said it – not me!

Check out the link for a little reminder of the facts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWUQ_N_vHc0

Superman vs Khalid bin alWaleed

Before I get into the topic at hand, let me tell you what I saw when I was in the masjid (mosque) one evening. The congregational prayer had just finished and I was sitting quietly in the women’s prayer room when a young boy around the age of 6 or 7 poked his head around the door. We exchanged smiles and I said ‘salaam’ to him. He then came in and began dashing about, fighting off invisible enemies, throwing punches, flying kicks and roaring like a lion at his victories. The disruption in the masjid isn’t what caught my attention nor is it the topic of discussion, more the T-shirt he was wearing…

You see, he was wearing the unmistakable ‘Superman’ T-shirt. ‘So what?’ you must be asking, ‘it’s just a T-Shirt’, well I want to bring your attention to an example of the idols and heroes of the youth of today.
Superman, the well known fictional super hero who possesses incredible strength and speed and is able to burn through steel with the ridiculous laser beams that come from his eyes,
David Beckham, one of the richest and most famous footballers in the world and perfect ‘good looks’,
Jennifer Lopez, the pretty, rich, superstar singer and actress known for her curves and,
Barbie, the world famous and most impossibly proportioned children’s doll known to man.

This is just a teeny weeny example of what they are introduced to from the youngest age, not to mention the magazine covers, the films and cartoons they watch,  admire and eventually yearn to be like. This is no exaggeration. Ask any young boy what he would like to be when he grows up and 9 times out of 10 his response will be a footballer and before that his favorite possession in the world is his Power Ranger figure. Most little girls will be seen dancing around and pretending to sing like a superstar and soon trying to dress like them.

Back to the masjid scene, I left the prayer room and headed to grab my shoes, on my way the little boy caught up with me, I turned to see him standing in front of a young man who exclaimed, ‘Superman huh?! What about Khalid Ibn al Waleed?’
I smiled and said silently to myself, ‘you said it!’. The young man then began talking with what seemed like the boys father as I headed down the stairs.

Why is it we allow our children to become fans of imaginary comic book characters? Why do we buy them the merchandise representing these false figures? Why do we wear hijab and let our daughters wear short skirts and vests? Why do we let not reprimand them when they start dressing, speaking and behaving like the misguided celebrities they see on TV?

Why do we as parents not instill in them the knowledge and love for the real heroes of the world? The ones who held true courage and chivalry in their hearts, the real heroes who made history without laser beams shooting from their eyes or spiderwebs squirting from their wrists. The ones that Allah and his messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) love and reciprocated that love and devotion.

How can we tell them pointless, degrading fairy-tales before they sleep of Prince Charming and his princess and not stories of the Prophets (عليهم السلام) and their companions (رضي الله عنهم)?

Is the story of Yusuf (عليه السلام) and his patience and trust in Allah’s glorious plan and justice not worthy of mention? The story of Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and his conviction in the existence of his Lord, the lessons to be learned from the lives and actions of Habeel and Qabee, Khalid bin alWaleed, Abu Bakr, Abu Zubayr or Salah aDeen, (عليهم السلام), are these not the most exhilarating and soul strengthening stories ever to be told or heard?

These are real stories of real heroes who lived their lives for their Lord – as real muslims.

Yearning to be like these righteous champions could bring about a revolution in the way the children of today lead the Ummah of tomorrow.

Mother gives 8 year old Botox – seriously?

As many of us may have read in the recent news headlines, a mother has been giving her 8 year old daughter Botox injections and waxing her body hair for beauty pageants.
I guess we can all assume, like any mother she loves her child and wants the best for her. It seems, like most parents she has seen that her child possesses a talent/strength (her beauty in this case) and wants her to prevail in this field. So some may say she is only encouraging and directing her daughter toward a brighter, more successful career by ‘enhancing’ her beauty, and therefore enhancing her chances of being successful… I however thought this was outrageous when I first read the headlines.
I cannot comprehend how a mother can desire to insert a needle into her child’s face in order to ‘enhance’ her beauty. The claim that ‘wrinkles don’t look nice on children’ is insane. I didn’t know children even had noticeable wrinkles on their faces! A child is beautiful, pristine and pure as they are without any modifications and interferences. It seems almost inhumane to me that someone could do this to an innocent and perfectly formed little girl. Not to mention the future health problems it could pose for such a young, fragile and still forming body.

What is more scary though, is when we look a little further into this. The reason for this incredible behavior is in the name of beauty pageants. I for one was never for adult beauty pageants, let alone beauty pageants for little girls under the age of 10! In my view beauty pageants reduce females to little more than the makeup they wear and the physique they possess. How can we pretend to value a woman for who she is and not WHAT she is when they display themselves on a stage like dolls, exploiting all of their femininity in order to be crowned ‘beauty queen’. The whole concept is beyond me.

We live in a world forcing children to grow and behave older than their years, with barbie dolls impossibly proportioned, shops selling bras for girls as young as 8, and with clothes baring words like ‘little miss naughty’ and other suggestive words.
There are more teen pregnancies than ever before, more STD’s and certainly more rapes taking place every day in the UK and the States. Is this not to be expected considering how even the parents are now bringing up their children, not to mention the fashion trends and the types of love affairs and inappropriate characters we see in even children’s films (Bratz to name one example).

Are we losing all sense of human value or is it just me?

Where are you from?

‘Where are you from?’ is a common question that is often posed to a person who meets someone they can’t quite figure out yet.
Why is it that we are always so curious about where someone is from? Is it so we can therefore define who they are, as the place they were born clearly summarizes who a person is right? Well yes and no.
You see, this question is totally ambiguous. Is it referring to a persons nationality? The place they were born? The ancestry of their parents? We all have our own way of answering this question. The place a person currently lives or has spent most of their lives or the kind of life they lead and the culture they have adapted to may be how a person chooses where they will say they are from.

I think it is a matter of identity, and I think we are all entitled to chose our identities and that depends entirely on what we think defines us the most accurately, in the most wholesome way.

When somebody asks me where I am from,  I typically say I am from Britain/England as this is the place I was born and the passport I carry. My parents are both British citizens, though my father was born in another country – other than that of his own parents and techinically he is Indian by blood… so it all gets a bit complicated you see.

Most importantly, I wouldn’t say that I identified myself as being British or English. I am mixed race, British parents; English mother, Indian father (by blood), I have a British passport, I have lived in the USA, and Egypt and I speak English and Arabic and I eat every cuisine under the sun. So where does that leave me? When I answer ‘Britain/England’ I am answering an ambiguous question with an ambiguous answer, but also to make a point. You see, I am Muslim, that is who and what I am, and a Muslim can be from any nation, any culture and any religion. It is not for a specific race, colour or social class and this is what defines me, and it is my choice to let this be the deciding factor of my identity even though this has only been a part of me for a portion of my life  – but I am a Muslim more than anything else, this is what will stay with me regardless of the country I am in, the passports I obtain, or the country I am born in. It will be with me for the rest of my days إن شاء الله and no embassy can take that away from me. This is what defines me, it shapes my life and influences the choices I make in my life. This is what I will stand by, more than any country or nation, my Ummah is what I stand for.
إن لله و إن إليه راجعون
(Inna lillahi wa in ilaihi raji’oon)
To Allah we belong, and unto Him we shall return

So where am I from? In reality I am from my Lord Allah, and unto Him I shall return. That is my true origin and that is my destination.