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zeze EID MUBARAK كل عام و انتم بخير !!! Sep 19, 2009 9:10 PM May all of you and your loved ones have a happy and blessed Eid....enjoy breakfast tomorrow...you earned it!
zeze Ramadan Mubarak! Aug 21, 2009 1:14 AM To all those celebrating the holy month, have a happy and rewarding Ramadan. (to those who are not, snag an invite to a Ramadan dinner, it is a feast!)
pharm_chick 5 Pillars of Islam and Application of Faith Jun 11, 2009 5:40 PM I wanted to do a little post on the basics that Islam is based on. Islam comes from the arabic word salam, which means peace. [it is similar to the hebrew word shalom, which also means peace.] Islam is built on five pillars. These acts are obligatory on every Muslim adult. Some are done daily, monthly, annually, while one is only required once in a lifetime. 1. The Shahadah, or witness of faith To do this one must simply state publicly "Ashadu alla ilaha illa Allah, wa ashadu anna Muhammed ar-rasool Allah". This means, "I bear witness that there is no God other than Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammed is His messanger." It should be a genuine belief from one's heart. The witnessing of the Oneness of Allah is the rejection of any form of deity other than Allah, and the witnessing that Muhammad is His Messenger is the acceptance of him being chosen by Allah to convey His message of Islam to all humanity and to deliver it from the darkness of ignorance into the light of belief in, and knowledge of, the Creator. 2. Salat- Prayer In prayer, every muscle and bone of the body joins the soul and the mind in the worship and glory of Allah(swt). Offering of prayers is obligatory upon every Muslim who is sane, mature and in the case of women free from menstruation and confinement due to child birth. some requirements must be met in order for the prayer to be valid. These include but are not limited to: * Performing wudu, which is a ritual cleaning to purify yourself for prayer. * Clothing - one must be covered in the manner according to his or her gender. * Facing the Ka'ba in Mecca (referred to as the Qibla) * Intention - merely saying in your mind that you are attempting to pray and gain the benefits from it. Prayers are required at least five times a day. Other obligatory prayer include the Friday congregational prayer, Eid prayers and the funeral prayer. Times of the five daily obligatory prayers: 1.Fajr- Before sunrise. 2.Zuhr- After the sun begins to decline from its zenith. 3.Asr- Mid-afternoon. 4.Magrib-Just after sunset. 5.Isha- Night. Prayer should be offered in its due time, unless there is a reasonable excuse. Delayed obligatory prayers must be made up. In addition to the prescribed prayer, a Muslim expresses gratitude to God and appreciation of His favours and asks for His mercy all the time. 3. Zakah- Charity Obligatory charity giving is an act of worship and spiritual investment. Zakah does not only purify the property of the contributor but also purifies his heart from selfishness and greed. It also purifies the heart of the recipient from envy and jealousy, from hatred and uneasiness and it fosters instead good-will and warm wishes for the contributors. It also frees society from welfare, distrust and coruption. Zakah is paid on the net balance after paying personal expenses, family expenses, due credits, taxes, etc. Taxes paid to government do not substitute for this religious duty. The contributor should not seek pride or fame but if disclosing his name and his contribution is likely to encourage others, it is acceptable to do so. it is roughly 2.5% of your entire savings in the past year. The recipients of Zakah are: - the poor, the needy, - the new Muslim converts, - the Muslim prisoners of war (to liberate them), - Muslims in debt, - employees appointed to collect Zakah, - Muslims in service of research or study or propagation of Islam, - wayfarers who are foreigners in need of help. Note that Zakah is obligatory. Muslims can also go above and beyond what they pay as Zakah, in which case the offering is strictly voluntary (blessing will come to those who wish for his brother what he wishes for himself). 3. Sawm- Fasting Fasting is abstaining completely from eating, drinking, and intimate sexual contacts from the break of dawn till sunset. It is to teach one about the principle of sincere love to God, creative sense of hope, devotion,patience, unselfishness, discipline, etc. Obligatory fasting is done once a year for the period of the month of Ramadan. Fasting during this time is obligatory on every muslim adult if they is mentally and physically fit and not on a journey. Women are allowed to skip a fasting day due to menstruation, and while nursing a baby. 5. Hajj- Pilgrimage It is obligatory to make the pilgrimage to Mecca if one is able to, at least once in a lifetime. Muslims from all walks of life, from every corner of the globe assemble in Mecca in response to the call of Allah. It is to commemorate the Divine rituals observed by the Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael, who were the first pilgrims to the house of Allah on earth: the Ka'bah. It is also to remember the great assembly of the Day of Judgement when people will stand equal before Allah. Muslims go to Mecca to glorify Allah, not to worship a man. The purpose of this little article was to inform, not preach. If you have any questions, please let us know!
Grandpa Keith Olbermann goes after Obama Apr 8, 2009 2:11 PM I love this: http://nalert.blogspot.com/2009/04/keith-olbermanns-scathing-criticism-of.html
pharm_chick Some basic Q&As about Hijab Mar 11, 2009 5:12 PM Disclaimer: this is from the following site: http://www.islam101.com/women/hijabfaq.html. i have chosen this site because it explains some basics about the head cover also known as hijab or khimar in Arabic. In no way do i condemn/condone anyone that wears or doesnt wear hijab. its meant to give a brief idea of the requirements set forth in Islam. Based on personal experience, I started hijab around the age of 11, and i personally (thank God) have had absolutely no problems anywhere because of it. Im a full time student, a part time employee etc and of course just doing errand etc, and in my experience noone has given be problems about it. For me, its an accessory! Since I dont show my hair, i make up by wearing pretty scarves and long necklaces, belts etc which still looks nice. and as far as clothing is concerned, my clothes are all fitted properly yet loose. I never want to leave the house giving a bad impression of myself, yet i want to remain in clothing that is proper as well. it takes years of practice, but Im glad I did. If anyone has any questions, feel free to post them here! Hijab is the Arabic word for "curtain / cover" (noun), based on the root 'hajab' meaning "to cover, to veil, to shelter". In popular use, hijab means "head cover and modest dress for women" among Muslims, which most Islamic legal systems define as covering everything except the face, feet and hands in public.According to Islamic scholarship, hijab is given the wider meaning of modesty, privacy, and morality. Q. What are the requirements for Muslim women's dress? A: Rules regarding Muslim women's (and men's) attire are derived from the Quran, Islam's revealed text, and the traditions (hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In the Quran, God states: "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty...And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and adornments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers...(a list of exceptions)" [Chapter 24, verses 30-31] Also, "O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons...that they should be known and not molested." [Chapter 33, verse 59] In one tradition, the Prophet Muhammad is quoted as saying: "...If the woman reaches the age of puberty, no part of her body should be seen but this --- and he pointed to his face and hands." From these and other references, the vast majority of Muslim scholars and jurists, past and present, have determined the minimum requirements for Muslim women's dress: 1) Clothing must cover the entire body, with the exception of the face and the hands. 2) The attire should not be form fitting, sheer or so eye-catching as to attract undue attention or reveal the shape of the body. There are similar, yet less obvious requirements for a Muslim male's attire. 1) A Muslim man must always be covered from the navel to the knees. 2) A Muslim man should similarly not wear tight, sheer, revealing, or eye-catching clothing. In addition, a Muslim man is prohibited from wearing silk clothing (except for medical reasons) or gold jewelry. A Muslim woman may wear silk or gold. (References: "The Muslim Woman's Dress," Dr. Jamal Badawi, Ta-Ha Publishers; "Hijab in Islam," Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, Al-Risala Books; "The Islamic Ruling Regarding Women's Dress," Abu Bilal Mustafa Al-Kanadi, Abul-Qasim Publishing; "Islamic Dress," Muslim Women of Minnesota; "Your Hijab and U.S. Law," North American Council for Muslim Women) Q. Is Islamic dress appropriate for modern times? A: Islamic dress is modern and practical. Muslim women wearing Islamic dress work and study without any problems or constraints. Q. Does Islamic dress imply that women are submissive or inferior to men? A: Islamic dress is one of many rights granted to Islamic women. Modest clothing is worn in obedience to God and has nothing to do with submissiveness to men. Muslim men and women have similar rights and obligations and both submit to God. Q. But aren't there Muslim women who do not wear Islamic Dress, or hijab? A: Some Muslim women choose not to wear hijab. Some may want to wear it but believe they cannot get a job wearing a head scarf. Others may not be aware of the requirement or are under the mistaken impression that wearing hijab is an indication of inferior status. Q. Why is Islamic dress becoming an issue for personnel managers and supervisors? A: The Muslim community in American is growing rapidly. Growth factors include conversions to Islam, immigration from Muslim countries and high birth rates for Muslim families. As the community grows, more Muslim women will enter the work force. In many cases, these women wish both to work and to maintain their religious convictions. It should be possible to fulfill both goals. Q. What issues do Muslim women face in the workplace? A: Muslim women report that the issue of attire comes up most often in the initial interview for a job. Some interviewers will ask if the prospective employee plans to wear the scarf to work. Others may inappropriately inquire about religious practices or beliefs. Sometimes the prospective employee, feeling pressure to earn a living, will take off the scarf for the interview and then put it on when hired for the job. Modest dress should not be equated with incompetence. Other issues include unwanted touching or pulling on scarves by other employees, verbal harassment or subtle ostracism and denial of promotion. Many Muslims also object to being pressured to attend celebrations of other religious traditions or to attend employer-sponsored celebrations at which alcohol is served. Q. What can an employer reasonably require of a woman wearing hijab? A: An employer can ask that an employee's attire not pose a danger to that employee or to others. For example, a Muslim woman who wears her head scarf so that loose ends are exposed should not be operating a drill press or similar machinery. That employee could be asked to arrange her hijab so that the loose ends are tucked in. An employer can ask that the hijab be neat and clean and in a color that does not clash with a company uniform.

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EID MUBARAK كل عام و انتم بخير !!! EID MUBARAK كل عام و انتم بخير !!!
Ramadan Mubarak! Ramadan Mubarak!
5 Pillars of Islam and Application of Faith
Keith Olbermann goes after Obama

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