Updates;
Most importantly; Bench Press Record 110kg 8 reps
still at 106kg but less fat (dont forget the MashaAllah)
Working at a Media organization; I cover mostly Afghanistan and Pakistan; stressful interesting stuff, learning a lot alhamdullelah. I think I want to learn Urdu or Pashtun. I have been promised a high posibility for a job in Pakistan with the U.N after am done with masters.. hmmm,, which also makes my mom think am crazy.
still got my thesis to finish; soon inshaAllah
alhamdullelah deen is still steady, may Allah keep us firm and raise our eman.
and last but not least; much more
Monday, December 7, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
"Wahhabis" of Pre-Modern Arabia
Al Jabarti- A scholar of Al-Azhar during the times of Muhammad Ali in Egypt- wrote on the Wahhabis when the Egyptian Army was sent to defeat the ikhwan movement (armed tribal forces of "wahhabi zeal" that fought the jihad to unite Arabia);
Some commanders, who were considered pious and devout told me, " How can we win when most of our soldiers belong to different confessions and some of them do not believe in anything and profess no religion? We are carrying boxes containing alcoholic drink, the azan [Muslim call to prayer] is never heard in our camp, the [Islamic] prescriptions are not fulfilled or even remembered, our people have no idea of religious rites. As for our enemies, as soon as the muezzin's call sounds, they perform ablutions and line up behind their single imam humbly and obediently. When the time for prayer comes during battle, they timidly perform the "fear prayer" [a shorter prayer] - one detachment goes forward and wages the battle while the others pray behind it. Our soldiers are astonished; they have never heard of it, not to mention seeing it. The Wahhabis shout from their camp, "Come and fight us, you pagans, you beard-shavers, who glorify libertinism and sodomy, you drunkards who have forgotten prayers, you usurers and murderers who permit yourself to forbidden deeds!"[1]
The Wahhabis were demonized by all great powers at the time, they were anti-elite in their core and did not approve the way the Hijaz (Makka Madina and Jeddah) were rueled, certinly the purfication of the Holy Cities not only from polytheism but from major sins was a motive for their conquest. Hijaz was ruled by the Sharifs (/Ashraf) whom later were to collaborate with the British and for a while rule Syria and Iraq as well asJordan whom's royal family is still in authority.
"The strict morals introduced in Mecca ran counter to its people's customs and habits. The status of the holy city made its inhabitants feel superior to all other Muslims and led them to excuse a certian lewdness of behaviour. Whole blocks of Mecca belonged to prostitutes, who even paid a tax on their occupation. Homosexuality was widespread. Alcohol was sold almost at the gate of the kaaba and drunkness was not uncommon" [2]
what is Known as Saudi Arabia today was the result of King Abdul Aziz's conquest of the Hijaz, the Wahhabis in fact have conquered it before but were also expelled by Muhammad Ali's troops that committed horrible atrocities against tribes and villages that had their allegiance to the movement and resisted. Women and children were slain and their ears were sent to Istanbul ( I read this somewhere cant remember where but it was an academic book (the ears part)).
The first conquest was repelled by a modern and more advanced army; that of Muhammad Ali of Egypt, and went far into central Arabia in al-Dariya the capitol at the time which fell.
in Cairo october 1818 a festival was held in celebration of the fall of Dariya, fireworks and public merry-making took place. The Sultan (of the Ottoman Empire) professed his "profund satisfaction".
The Emir Abdullah of Dariya, his imam and the minister were taken prisoners, sent to Cairo and then to Istanbul. I was personally told by a historian professor, that Abdullah was hung by his feet till his death and that music was played to him! (they believe Music is Haram/forbidden)
But The russian embassy reported otherwise. that the three were brought infront of the Sultan, and his ministers and heads of the empire in heavy chains. surrounded by a crowd of idlers. The Sultan orderd they be executed. Abdullah beheaded infront of the main gate of St. Sophia, Imam at the entrance of the palace and the minister at the entrance of the market. Their bodies were displayed with their heads under their arms for three days then thrown into the sea.
All insolvent debtors were released from jail, the government took the expense of their debts at
"His Majesty's" expense and money was distributed to mosques and madrasas, to "thank heaven for its mercy" [3]
all from the book;
Vassiliev, Alexei (1997). The History of Saudi Arabia. Saqi Books: London.
[1] page-144
[2]page 138- from the travel notes of J.L. Burckhardt
[3] page 155
Some commanders, who were considered pious and devout told me, " How can we win when most of our soldiers belong to different confessions and some of them do not believe in anything and profess no religion? We are carrying boxes containing alcoholic drink, the azan [Muslim call to prayer] is never heard in our camp, the [Islamic] prescriptions are not fulfilled or even remembered, our people have no idea of religious rites. As for our enemies, as soon as the muezzin's call sounds, they perform ablutions and line up behind their single imam humbly and obediently. When the time for prayer comes during battle, they timidly perform the "fear prayer" [a shorter prayer] - one detachment goes forward and wages the battle while the others pray behind it. Our soldiers are astonished; they have never heard of it, not to mention seeing it. The Wahhabis shout from their camp, "Come and fight us, you pagans, you beard-shavers, who glorify libertinism and sodomy, you drunkards who have forgotten prayers, you usurers and murderers who permit yourself to forbidden deeds!"[1]
The Wahhabis were demonized by all great powers at the time, they were anti-elite in their core and did not approve the way the Hijaz (Makka Madina and Jeddah) were rueled, certinly the purfication of the Holy Cities not only from polytheism but from major sins was a motive for their conquest. Hijaz was ruled by the Sharifs (/Ashraf) whom later were to collaborate with the British and for a while rule Syria and Iraq as well asJordan whom's royal family is still in authority.
"The strict morals introduced in Mecca ran counter to its people's customs and habits. The status of the holy city made its inhabitants feel superior to all other Muslims and led them to excuse a certian lewdness of behaviour. Whole blocks of Mecca belonged to prostitutes, who even paid a tax on their occupation. Homosexuality was widespread. Alcohol was sold almost at the gate of the kaaba and drunkness was not uncommon" [2]
what is Known as Saudi Arabia today was the result of King Abdul Aziz's conquest of the Hijaz, the Wahhabis in fact have conquered it before but were also expelled by Muhammad Ali's troops that committed horrible atrocities against tribes and villages that had their allegiance to the movement and resisted. Women and children were slain and their ears were sent to Istanbul ( I read this somewhere cant remember where but it was an academic book (the ears part)).
The first conquest was repelled by a modern and more advanced army; that of Muhammad Ali of Egypt, and went far into central Arabia in al-Dariya the capitol at the time which fell.
in Cairo october 1818 a festival was held in celebration of the fall of Dariya, fireworks and public merry-making took place. The Sultan (of the Ottoman Empire) professed his "profund satisfaction".
The Emir Abdullah of Dariya, his imam and the minister were taken prisoners, sent to Cairo and then to Istanbul. I was personally told by a historian professor, that Abdullah was hung by his feet till his death and that music was played to him! (they believe Music is Haram/forbidden)
But The russian embassy reported otherwise. that the three were brought infront of the Sultan, and his ministers and heads of the empire in heavy chains. surrounded by a crowd of idlers. The Sultan orderd they be executed. Abdullah beheaded infront of the main gate of St. Sophia, Imam at the entrance of the palace and the minister at the entrance of the market. Their bodies were displayed with their heads under their arms for three days then thrown into the sea.
All insolvent debtors were released from jail, the government took the expense of their debts at
"His Majesty's" expense and money was distributed to mosques and madrasas, to "thank heaven for its mercy" [3]
all from the book;
Vassiliev, Alexei (1997). The History of Saudi Arabia. Saqi Books: London.
[1] page-144
[2]page 138- from the travel notes of J.L. Burckhardt
[3] page 155
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Special Moments..With..
I remember... the first time I had let a few tears, being touched by something that made mereminded of Allah.. it was special.. I had very little knowledge and I didnt know what to make of it..
Yet a few months later.. I remember the first time I had let my tears down.. listning to Quran.. the first time I had ever heard those verses... I had never before then had read all the Quran nor hear it recited before me.. it was like I never heard this book in truth.
yet again... I remember the first time I had really wept being reminded of Allah, not from prayer beacuse I had wept in prayer before that. I wept being reminded of Allah and the hearafter and the duty we ought to keep to Allah.. and the pathetic things in this dunya we often prefer over Allah, and his reward and the everlasting life.
I remember we had gathered at one of the brothers house for the sake of Allah.. to listen to something that may soften our hearts and remind us of the hearafter and raise the ranks of our thurst for deen.. it was said by a brother from our university, mashaAllah spoke english well was "cool" and yet he was so pious and knowledgable, he had memorised the Quran and hadeeth and was just a recent graduate.
I dont remember anything he said now.. but we later ate and had a nice time...
on the way home, though I took a ride with 4 or 5 brothers, I was at the back seat next to the left window if my memory doesnt decive me.. and the bro driving had turned on a audio lecture.. they later started talking shortly after it was turned on ignoring whats being said, and at one point a bro was even mocking the way the sheikh said a sentance.. I had nothing to say I was deeply touched quiet and weeping as they were unaware of my doing,, I kept listning.. and the same real story that touched me is what is bellow.......
Yet a few months later.. I remember the first time I had let my tears down.. listning to Quran.. the first time I had ever heard those verses... I had never before then had read all the Quran nor hear it recited before me.. it was like I never heard this book in truth.
yet again... I remember the first time I had really wept being reminded of Allah, not from prayer beacuse I had wept in prayer before that. I wept being reminded of Allah and the hearafter and the duty we ought to keep to Allah.. and the pathetic things in this dunya we often prefer over Allah, and his reward and the everlasting life.
I remember we had gathered at one of the brothers house for the sake of Allah.. to listen to something that may soften our hearts and remind us of the hearafter and raise the ranks of our thurst for deen.. it was said by a brother from our university, mashaAllah spoke english well was "cool" and yet he was so pious and knowledgable, he had memorised the Quran and hadeeth and was just a recent graduate.
I dont remember anything he said now.. but we later ate and had a nice time...
on the way home, though I took a ride with 4 or 5 brothers, I was at the back seat next to the left window if my memory doesnt decive me.. and the bro driving had turned on a audio lecture.. they later started talking shortly after it was turned on ignoring whats being said, and at one point a bro was even mocking the way the sheikh said a sentance.. I had nothing to say I was deeply touched quiet and weeping as they were unaware of my doing,, I kept listning.. and the same real story that touched me is what is bellow.......
Thursday, May 14, 2009
So Much Vork!
Yeys!
I got so much to write, I know what I should be writing its just blaah,
I need to start following politics again after semster is over! havent been doing that at all..
Gym is going great am sore at the pecs and back.. inshaAllah tommorrow some biceps and light leg work..
Im having so many intellectual ideas and what not but lately with this blog it isnt as rewarding to express them here.. this seems like its turning into my bodybuilding journal or something
yeah am 106.5 kg since quite a long time.. but my lifts have gone pretty good.. my youngest bro says I have less fat so I can see that!
I have stopped wondering what lies ahead of me.. I use to think about that a lot.. I defintaly though need a break from academia! perhaps give my muscles more space to grow lol..
and just on the whim of a thought am thinking I need to do something new with some adrinaline in it.. perhaps something with speed ?
I use to talk a lot about getting a motorbike!.. if I ever get one.. or before then inshaAllah i ll read about the mechanics and stuff.. and perhaps know how to fix some stuff up before getting anything.. i ll probably get a second hand one too.. waaay cheaper.
I still need to get certified in personal training inshaAllah!
--------------
coming across this hadeeth... in Arabic its soo much better! though
"Strange is the affair of the Mu'min (the believer). Verily, all his affairs are good for him. If something pleasing befalls him he thanks (Allah) and it becomes better for him. And if something harmful befalls him he is patient (saabir) and it becomes better for him. And this is only for the Mu'min."
Look Up!!(click it!)
I got so much to write, I know what I should be writing its just blaah,
I need to start following politics again after semster is over! havent been doing that at all..
Gym is going great am sore at the pecs and back.. inshaAllah tommorrow some biceps and light leg work..
Im having so many intellectual ideas and what not but lately with this blog it isnt as rewarding to express them here.. this seems like its turning into my bodybuilding journal or something
yeah am 106.5 kg since quite a long time.. but my lifts have gone pretty good.. my youngest bro says I have less fat so I can see that!
I have stopped wondering what lies ahead of me.. I use to think about that a lot.. I defintaly though need a break from academia! perhaps give my muscles more space to grow lol..
and just on the whim of a thought am thinking I need to do something new with some adrinaline in it.. perhaps something with speed ?
I use to talk a lot about getting a motorbike!.. if I ever get one.. or before then inshaAllah i ll read about the mechanics and stuff.. and perhaps know how to fix some stuff up before getting anything.. i ll probably get a second hand one too.. waaay cheaper.
I still need to get certified in personal training inshaAllah!
--------------
coming across this hadeeth... in Arabic its soo much better! though
"Strange is the affair of the Mu'min (the believer). Verily, all his affairs are good for him. If something pleasing befalls him he thanks (Allah) and it becomes better for him. And if something harmful befalls him he is patient (saabir) and it becomes better for him. And this is only for the Mu'min."
Look Up!!(click it!)
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Baade Beeildin
Yup Yup Yup aint nuthin butta peanutt
alhamdullelah just had 3eggs 7 egg whites about a 150 grams of Arabic sausage! and brown lebanse bread, I got all greecy about it, I poured the fat from the sausage over the eggs lol!
my training routine been messed up should adjust again inshaAllah the coming week!, did biceps and triceps. worked on a paper now I know what i ll write duh.
still have an awful amount of writing to do.. wa Allah al musta3an.
inshaAllah should be getting Nitro Tech protein in a few days!
might be going to North Coast (sa7el) in a few weeks, or should I train more?!
its a good time to catch the place before it gets all nasty with haram! push ups on the beach sounds like fun :P now that I think about it I would need to pack some megga Tunas! which am sick of already.
other than that its all good alhamdullelah
and I need to get my writing Chi flowing and pump my thoughts out to make the papers happen be3awn Ellah!
alhamdullelah just had 3eggs 7 egg whites about a 150 grams of Arabic sausage! and brown lebanse bread, I got all greecy about it, I poured the fat from the sausage over the eggs lol!
my training routine been messed up should adjust again inshaAllah the coming week!, did biceps and triceps. worked on a paper now I know what i ll write duh.
still have an awful amount of writing to do.. wa Allah al musta3an.
inshaAllah should be getting Nitro Tech protein in a few days!
might be going to North Coast (sa7el) in a few weeks, or should I train more?!
its a good time to catch the place before it gets all nasty with haram! push ups on the beach sounds like fun :P now that I think about it I would need to pack some megga Tunas! which am sick of already.
other than that its all good alhamdullelah
and I need to get my writing Chi flowing and pump my thoughts out to make the papers happen be3awn Ellah!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Ya Allah, to You I complain a sorrow in my heart
a weakness in my limbs
a pain in my insides
Oh Allah forgive me at a time of forget
Oh Allah forgive my weakness and from You i seek strength
Oh Allah You are The Most merciful, have mercy on your weak slave
Oh Allah You are more merciful on us than our own mothers, please forgive my sins
Oh Allah there is no lord but You, There is non all Able but You, and there is no One to turn to but You. all the doors have been closed but Your door is open, Oh Allah dont push me aside, for i can not bear being away from You. Oh Allah to you I complain my pain, Oh Allah to you I cry, Oh Allah to you I submitt and to Your will.
There is no god buy You, creator of the heavans and the earth, All Able, The Most Merciful, The Most Generous, there is nothing but good and wholesome that is from you, and all the evil is from me and shaytan. Oh Allah do not deprive me from the goof You provide with the evil i commit.
Oh Allah guide me and my loved ones to the best of actions and deeds
and make not the Hell our final abode,
Oh Allah give us the sweetness of faith, and the sweetness of being close to You.
Oh Allah shower us with faith and open our hearts to this faith
There is no god but You, exalted You are, I have been of those whom transgressed.
Glory to You, Exalted You are from all what they ascribe
peace be on the Messengers
and all Praise is to You Lord of all worlds
a weakness in my limbs
a pain in my insides
Oh Allah forgive me at a time of forget
Oh Allah forgive my weakness and from You i seek strength
Oh Allah You are The Most merciful, have mercy on your weak slave
Oh Allah You are more merciful on us than our own mothers, please forgive my sins
Oh Allah there is no lord but You, There is non all Able but You, and there is no One to turn to but You. all the doors have been closed but Your door is open, Oh Allah dont push me aside, for i can not bear being away from You. Oh Allah to you I complain my pain, Oh Allah to you I cry, Oh Allah to you I submitt and to Your will.
There is no god buy You, creator of the heavans and the earth, All Able, The Most Merciful, The Most Generous, there is nothing but good and wholesome that is from you, and all the evil is from me and shaytan. Oh Allah do not deprive me from the goof You provide with the evil i commit.
Oh Allah guide me and my loved ones to the best of actions and deeds
and make not the Hell our final abode,
Oh Allah give us the sweetness of faith, and the sweetness of being close to You.
Oh Allah shower us with faith and open our hearts to this faith
There is no god but You, exalted You are, I have been of those whom transgressed.
Glory to You, Exalted You are from all what they ascribe
peace be on the Messengers
and all Praise is to You Lord of all worlds
Thursday, April 30, 2009
So am getting bigger Alhamdullelah
Salaaam aleykum
alhamdullelah things are going awsome for me!
papers are tough and what not but am used to it I guess
aaaand alhamdullelah I feel am getting more muscular but also more fatty or at least more blaoted, I think I should reduce my caloire restriction which I have been doing and go all out, I need to take my protein intake all out haha!
I was planning to grow my hair but am already getting sick of it even though its barely over 1 cm
alhamdullelah wa mashaAllah my back is getting wider, I feel like am waking with two cushions underneath my arms my legs are getting thicker, but I need to work out my neglected calfs that I never had the time to stimulate properly!
I started doing wide grip pull ups which I havent done for ages I use to do 15 ! I did 8
I just got out my closet some jeans that I had stopped wearing coz they were too big for me, well not they are kinda tight lol!
I cant find my meter but I think my arms are a bit abover 16.5 inchs possibily 17 inshaAllah!
----
on a different note
about a hadeeth I heard
That I REALLY LOVE
(roughly translating)
Musa (Moses) peace and blessings be upon him asked Allah. Oh Allah teach me a supplication/prayer which by I can call upon you with. Allah says; ya Musa say Laa Ilaha Illa Allah. Musa; all of Your slaves say that (aka he wants something special to himself). Allah; ya Musa if the seven heavens and whats in them and the seven earths were on one side (of a balance) and Laa Illaha Illa Allah was one one side, then it would lean with Laa Illaha Illa Allah.
alhamdullelah things are going awsome for me!
papers are tough and what not but am used to it I guess
aaaand alhamdullelah I feel am getting more muscular but also more fatty or at least more blaoted, I think I should reduce my caloire restriction which I have been doing and go all out, I need to take my protein intake all out haha!
I was planning to grow my hair but am already getting sick of it even though its barely over 1 cm
alhamdullelah wa mashaAllah my back is getting wider, I feel like am waking with two cushions underneath my arms my legs are getting thicker, but I need to work out my neglected calfs that I never had the time to stimulate properly!
I started doing wide grip pull ups which I havent done for ages I use to do 15 ! I did 8
I just got out my closet some jeans that I had stopped wearing coz they were too big for me, well not they are kinda tight lol!
I cant find my meter but I think my arms are a bit abover 16.5 inchs possibily 17 inshaAllah!
----
on a different note
about a hadeeth I heard
That I REALLY LOVE
(roughly translating)
Musa (Moses) peace and blessings be upon him asked Allah. Oh Allah teach me a supplication/prayer which by I can call upon you with. Allah says; ya Musa say Laa Ilaha Illa Allah. Musa; all of Your slaves say that (aka he wants something special to himself). Allah; ya Musa if the seven heavens and whats in them and the seven earths were on one side (of a balance) and Laa Illaha Illa Allah was one one side, then it would lean with Laa Illaha Illa Allah.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Rusty on the Poems
Thanx to Abs aka Travelling Stranger aka Man of Letters (did I miss anything out :P?)
I think I should try to write up some poems again, my old blog had a lot of em about many stuff, Islam, remembering the after life, love, politics, globalization, identity and what not.
ehmm
so here are some thoughts.
we keep running from reality
we'll do anything to push off the pain, often provoking our vanity
we plump our ears with objects to veil our hearts from clarity
we constantly shift our moods with screens that alter our mentality
we take long walks, eat our fill, anything to avoid those thoughts, trapped in duality
dont bother me with why am here !.. to my mind it's brutality!
go on and live your life you wont face fatality!
and live your life in full !? in all its totality !?
but know one thing for sure ! with it behold your peace!
you can't run away...
run away reality...
I think I should try to write up some poems again, my old blog had a lot of em about many stuff, Islam, remembering the after life, love, politics, globalization, identity and what not.
ehmm
so here are some thoughts.
we keep running from reality
we'll do anything to push off the pain, often provoking our vanity
we plump our ears with objects to veil our hearts from clarity
we constantly shift our moods with screens that alter our mentality
we take long walks, eat our fill, anything to avoid those thoughts, trapped in duality
dont bother me with why am here !.. to my mind it's brutality!
go on and live your life you wont face fatality!
and live your life in full !? in all its totality !?
but know one thing for sure ! with it behold your peace!
you can't run away...
run away reality...
Monday, April 20, 2009
My Poor Blog and more thoughts
Yup Ive been neglecting this thing and all blogs in general.
dieting went ok, I upped my weights, last time I benchpressed 95kg for 8 reps, I need to up it to my weight, am 106 still. So I upped the weight but downed the fat. I did 95kg 6 reps a few years ago before my shoulder injury.
Im begining to learn about steroids much more, I think I might be able to do my first cycle before the end of the year, I should expect gains inshaAllah of up to 10kg in 6 weeks.
Of course i ll pray istikhara before I buy anything. insane that this stuff is so readily available in Cairo and they sell it in pharmacies and you can get it without prescription.
subhan Allah looking at pics of myself in 2007 I though I was gettin big, but now I look I was tiny! my tshirts are getting tight! and I still feel I can pack on more muscles, my biceps suck! I need more biceps.
now I have a cold and am resting on saturday I put the AC on 17c with very little clothing. woke my throat clogged and nose blah..
--
am almost 24 dayyum time is flying subhah Allah, I wonder if you can blog in jannah !
subhan Allah, all I can think of just having those thoughts is death, death and more death which eventually I like you and all of us will face.
been talking to some non-muslims lately about life an what not, subhan Allah at how lost they are dont know what to do, living their lives weekend by weekend, trying to milk this world for everything that its worth to them.
One of my friends (embraced Islam) his mom is a nurse in America, and in the hospital she works are very sick people some of them close to death, she would initially ask them if they would like a religious councelor/priets to come and talk to them, but many would refuse as they "dont believe in God" subhan Allah.... when they are close to death and start moaning their pain they start saying "Oh God, Oh God" and ask Him for help.
I ask Allah to make my final days close to Him, that I die and He is pleased with my actions, that I die thinking well of Allah, saying laa ilaha illa Allah.
dieting went ok, I upped my weights, last time I benchpressed 95kg for 8 reps, I need to up it to my weight, am 106 still. So I upped the weight but downed the fat. I did 95kg 6 reps a few years ago before my shoulder injury.
Im begining to learn about steroids much more, I think I might be able to do my first cycle before the end of the year, I should expect gains inshaAllah of up to 10kg in 6 weeks.
Of course i ll pray istikhara before I buy anything. insane that this stuff is so readily available in Cairo and they sell it in pharmacies and you can get it without prescription.
subhan Allah looking at pics of myself in 2007 I though I was gettin big, but now I look I was tiny! my tshirts are getting tight! and I still feel I can pack on more muscles, my biceps suck! I need more biceps.
now I have a cold and am resting on saturday I put the AC on 17c with very little clothing. woke my throat clogged and nose blah..
--
am almost 24 dayyum time is flying subhah Allah, I wonder if you can blog in jannah !
subhan Allah, all I can think of just having those thoughts is death, death and more death which eventually I like you and all of us will face.
been talking to some non-muslims lately about life an what not, subhan Allah at how lost they are dont know what to do, living their lives weekend by weekend, trying to milk this world for everything that its worth to them.
One of my friends (embraced Islam) his mom is a nurse in America, and in the hospital she works are very sick people some of them close to death, she would initially ask them if they would like a religious councelor/priets to come and talk to them, but many would refuse as they "dont believe in God" subhan Allah.... when they are close to death and start moaning their pain they start saying "Oh God, Oh God" and ask Him for help.
I ask Allah to make my final days close to Him, that I die and He is pleased with my actions, that I die thinking well of Allah, saying laa ilaha illa Allah.
Nay, when (the soul) reaches to the collar bone (i.e. up to the throat in its exit),
And it will be said: "Who can cure him and save him from death?"
And he (the dying person) will conclude that it was (the time) of departing (death);
And it will be said: "Who can cure him and save him from death?"
And he (the dying person) will conclude that it was (the time) of departing (death);
And leg will be joined with another leg (shrouded)[]
The drive will be, on that Day, to your Lord (Allâh)!
So he (the disbeliever) neither believed (in this Qur'ân, in the Message of Muhammad SAW) nor prayed!
But on the contrary, he belied (this Qur'ân and the Message of Muhammad SAW) and turned away!
Then he walked in full pride to his family admiring himself!
Woe to you [O man (disbeliever)]! And then (again) woe to you!
Again, woe to you [O man (disbeliever)]! And then (again) woe to you!
Does man think that he will be left Suda [neglected without being punished or rewarded for the obligatory duties enjoined by his Lord (Allâh) on him]?
The drive will be, on that Day, to your Lord (Allâh)!
So he (the disbeliever) neither believed (in this Qur'ân, in the Message of Muhammad SAW) nor prayed!
But on the contrary, he belied (this Qur'ân and the Message of Muhammad SAW) and turned away!
Then he walked in full pride to his family admiring himself!
Woe to you [O man (disbeliever)]! And then (again) woe to you!
Again, woe to you [O man (disbeliever)]! And then (again) woe to you!
Does man think that he will be left Suda [neglected without being punished or rewarded for the obligatory duties enjoined by his Lord (Allâh) on him]?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Blog World
So Im Still dieting didnt go quite as planned but am still doing it alhamdullelah
I have actually gained weight ! and lost fat and am lifting heavier. Im 107kg ! on the balance so perhaps without the cloths and shoes 106kg
I havent been checking out any blogs appart from UmmBlog. yup aka Mother of Blog.
seems am going off the radar among the previous folks who use to come here.
I still havent started any of the papers am suppose to start, I didnt do cardio today am so tierd!
am doing the maximum weight the cable rows machine has. I was quite surprised maashaAllah wa alhamdullelah that even when I was carb depleted I was lifting heavier!
I havent had any sweets for a while, doesnt seem like am going to stick exactly to it for as much as I wanted to although inshaAllah ill still try to eat clean and healthy.
am sleepy but I still need to eat aaahhhh
I have actually gained weight ! and lost fat and am lifting heavier. Im 107kg ! on the balance so perhaps without the cloths and shoes 106kg
I havent been checking out any blogs appart from UmmBlog. yup aka Mother of Blog.
seems am going off the radar among the previous folks who use to come here.
I still havent started any of the papers am suppose to start, I didnt do cardio today am so tierd!
am doing the maximum weight the cable rows machine has. I was quite surprised maashaAllah wa alhamdullelah that even when I was carb depleted I was lifting heavier!
I havent had any sweets for a while, doesnt seem like am going to stick exactly to it for as much as I wanted to although inshaAllah ill still try to eat clean and healthy.
am sleepy but I still need to eat aaahhhh
Monday, April 13, 2009
When you think about Marriage.
Sitting in front of the laptop trying to log on thinking of how beautiful marriage is wishing Allah may grant it to me and thinking that to myself that you even continue the life with your partner in Paradise and it was so clear to me the feeling of its presence like it was right before me, the Jannah Allah has promised to those of us whom are patient and striving for His sake, it was so clear to me … that for a glimpses of thought I was in denial this is impossible …Jannah! ? In no time I was telling myself how could I deny all these signs! I immediately followed that by saying to myself laaa illaha illa Allah (there is no god but Allah) the presence of the afterlife was right there again before myself it literally made me shiver sending a chill down my spine…
We tend to forget our final abode.
Yet its only a few steps away from us or a few breaths or a few minutes.
We are going to face it NO MATTER WHAT no matter when.
Ya Allah grant us the entrance of Jannah and forbid our skins from coming near the Hell Fire,
You are The Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
So The Mass is Dieting
salaam aleykum
yup spring kicked in and am dieting
although I feel like my muscles are actually fuller and am generally pumped but thats after eating
today I did a highintensity shoulder/trap triceps work out I wasnt taking many rests I even went heaier than last time on traps sporting a 110kg (which I initially thought was 120) on traps 12 reps or was it 8 i forget. I couldnt press as last time but i guess I didnt warm out propely.
I then hopped on the ecliptic cardio machine and did 45 minutes, then some ab work which i almost never do.
I am on a 1.5 gram per pound diet and I initially decided 1gram of carbs for each pound but it seemed like a hell lot given that am carb sensitive and I feel full already at 0.65 I think I might keep it like that am suppose to be doing around 30% of my calories from healthy fats but I dunno how to measure that give that what I eat has some fat already, the fat is essential for hormones and other stuff I suppose.
so im eating 8 meals a day (or I am suppose to) I should be eating two more but I didnt get my sleep right so I am going to skip some protein today unfortunatly I have no whey powder.
my plan was to hit the weights 4 days a week do cardio everyday including after the weights and do 3 times a night 30 minutes cardio.. i think i might do cardio at night everyday. or at least more than 3 if i feel like it
am resting on fridays.
eating like that is waaay time consuming. thats why am doing it in the break I guess inshaAllah am going to start working my butt off seriously with my papers som maybe I can extend my diet beyond the two weeks.. if thats so am going to HAVE TO eat during my classes.. I wonder how my professors will take that.
yes I should also add that my only source of carbs so far is oats,, am not eating any suger or sweets if I loose 4 kg in that week i ll be happy but am expecting at least inshaAllah 2!
am thinking I ll break my diet with a double cheese burger from spectra and a tripple stuffing cheese cake from Benos!
yup spring kicked in and am dieting
although I feel like my muscles are actually fuller and am generally pumped but thats after eating
today I did a highintensity shoulder/trap triceps work out I wasnt taking many rests I even went heaier than last time on traps sporting a 110kg (which I initially thought was 120) on traps 12 reps or was it 8 i forget. I couldnt press as last time but i guess I didnt warm out propely.
I then hopped on the ecliptic cardio machine and did 45 minutes, then some ab work which i almost never do.
I am on a 1.5 gram per pound diet and I initially decided 1gram of carbs for each pound but it seemed like a hell lot given that am carb sensitive and I feel full already at 0.65 I think I might keep it like that am suppose to be doing around 30% of my calories from healthy fats but I dunno how to measure that give that what I eat has some fat already, the fat is essential for hormones and other stuff I suppose.
so im eating 8 meals a day (or I am suppose to) I should be eating two more but I didnt get my sleep right so I am going to skip some protein today unfortunatly I have no whey powder.
my plan was to hit the weights 4 days a week do cardio everyday including after the weights and do 3 times a night 30 minutes cardio.. i think i might do cardio at night everyday. or at least more than 3 if i feel like it
am resting on fridays.
eating like that is waaay time consuming. thats why am doing it in the break I guess inshaAllah am going to start working my butt off seriously with my papers som maybe I can extend my diet beyond the two weeks.. if thats so am going to HAVE TO eat during my classes.. I wonder how my professors will take that.
yes I should also add that my only source of carbs so far is oats,, am not eating any suger or sweets if I loose 4 kg in that week i ll be happy but am expecting at least inshaAllah 2!
am thinking I ll break my diet with a double cheese burger from spectra and a tripple stuffing cheese cake from Benos!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
What is the Dealio?
Salaaam aleykumm
Finally I should say something. Alhamdullelah semster going well, seems like there will be a slight change in plans summer school and my thesis proposal is going to be delayed a bit.
ive been working out pretty good I have reached new weights on my lifts praise be to Allah!
mostly my shoulders have improved alhamdullelah am getting wide!
a day I was going out with the bros, and bad me didnt do the laundry so I wore one of em tight white Hanes(just covers shoulders) shirt which i havent put on in public since summer 07 I mean talk about people staring :P alhamdullelah wa mashaAllah i think i grew pretty well :P
one of the bros insisted that i was on juice, aka roids aka gym candy that is in common language steroids.. no am not :P
So I went and got some supplements for a 2 week diet inshaAllah since we getting spring break soon! on my way there was this dude a cab driver who's car stopped in the middle of a slope upwards! and this dude was trying to push it. so I was like Alhamdullelah! finally a Chance to use Allah's blessings on me (muscles) for something good so enthusiastically I got behind the car and started pushing it against the slope!
yeah so I think i ll diet inshaAllah for 2 weeks see how that goes got to ask the sheik of Muscles bro Don for some tips, will do that soon inshaAllah.
سبحانك رب العزة عن ما يصفون
و سلام على المرسلين
و الحمد لله رب العالمين
Finally I should say something. Alhamdullelah semster going well, seems like there will be a slight change in plans summer school and my thesis proposal is going to be delayed a bit.
ive been working out pretty good I have reached new weights on my lifts praise be to Allah!
mostly my shoulders have improved alhamdullelah am getting wide!
a day I was going out with the bros, and bad me didnt do the laundry so I wore one of em tight white Hanes(just covers shoulders) shirt which i havent put on in public since summer 07 I mean talk about people staring :P alhamdullelah wa mashaAllah i think i grew pretty well :P
one of the bros insisted that i was on juice, aka roids aka gym candy that is in common language steroids.. no am not :P
So I went and got some supplements for a 2 week diet inshaAllah since we getting spring break soon! on my way there was this dude a cab driver who's car stopped in the middle of a slope upwards! and this dude was trying to push it. so I was like Alhamdullelah! finally a Chance to use Allah's blessings on me (muscles) for something good so enthusiastically I got behind the car and started pushing it against the slope!
yeah so I think i ll diet inshaAllah for 2 weeks see how that goes got to ask the sheik of Muscles bro Don for some tips, will do that soon inshaAllah.
سبحانك رب العزة عن ما يصفون
و سلام على المرسلين
و الحمد لله رب العالمين
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Call upon Him
Or, Who listens to the (soul) distressed when it calls on Him, and Who relieves its suffering, and makes you (mankind) inheritors of the earth? (Can there be another) god besides God? Little it is that ye heed!
(Quran; 27-62)
Surah 82 - Al Infitar THE CLEAVING ASUNDER
When the Sky is cleft asunder;
When the Stars are scattered;
When the Oceans are suffered to burst forth;
And when the Graves are turned upside down;-
(Then) shall each soul know what it hath sent forward and (what it hath) kept back.
O man! What has seduced thee from thy Lord Most Beneficent?-
Him Who created thee. Fashioned thee in due proportion, and gave thee a just bias;
In whatever Form He wills, does He put thee together.
Nay! but ye do reject Right and Judgment!
But verily over you (are appointed angels) to protect you,-
Kind and honourable,- Writing down (your deeds):
They know (and understand) all that ye do.
And the Wicked - they will be in the Fire,
Which they will enter on the Day of Judgment,
And they will not be able to keep away therefrom.
And what will explain to thee what the Day of Judgment is?
Again, what will explain to thee what the Day of Judgment is?
(It will be) the Day when no soul shall have power (to do) aught for another: For the command, that Day, will be (wholly) with God.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Ibn Abbaas may Allah be pleased with him said.
إن للحسنة ضياء في الوجه، ونور في القلب، وسعة في الرزق، وقوة في البدن، ومحبة في قلوب الخلق، وإن للسيئة سوءا في الوجه، وظلمة في القلب، ونقصا في الرزق، ووهنا في البدن، وبغضه في قلوب الخلق
verily to the good deed is a glow on the face, and light in the heart, and an increase in blessings (wealth), and strength in the body, and love in the hearts of people, and verily to the sin is badness in the face, and darkness in the heart and reduction in blessings (wealth) and weakness in the body and hate in the hearts of people.
(excuse my poor translation skills!)
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Makkah
A momment some of us eagerly await, the duaa after finishing recitation of the Quran in taraweeh prayers.
I always love watching the one in Makkah and cant help my tears from flowing
enjoy...
I always love watching the one in Makkah and cant help my tears from flowing
enjoy...
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Islam
On the authority of Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
One day while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) there appeared before us a man whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black; no signs of journey were to be seen on him and none of us knew him. He walked up and sat down in front of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), with his knees touching against the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and placing the palms of his hands on his thighs he said,
“O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.”
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Islam is to testify that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to perform prayers, to give zakat, to fast in Ramadhan, and to make the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to do so.” He said, “You have spoken rightly”; and we were amazed at him asking him and saying that he had spoken rightly.
He [the man] then said, “Tell me about iman.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “It is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in divine destiny (qadr), both the good and the evil of it.” He said, “You have spoken rightly.”
He [the man] said, “Then tell me about ihsan.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “It is to worship Allah as though you see Him, and if you do not see Him, then (knowing that) truly He sees you.”
He said, “Then tell me about the Hour.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The one questioned about it knows no better than the questioner.”
He said, “Then tell me about its signs.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, and that you will see barefooted, naked destitute shepherds
competing in constructing lofty buildings.”
Then he [the man] left, and I stayed for a time. Then he [the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)] said, “O Umar, do you know who the questioner was?” I said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “It was Jibreel, who came to teach you your religion.”
One day while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) there appeared before us a man whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black; no signs of journey were to be seen on him and none of us knew him. He walked up and sat down in front of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), with his knees touching against the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and placing the palms of his hands on his thighs he said,
“O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.”
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Islam is to testify that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to perform prayers, to give zakat, to fast in Ramadhan, and to make the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to do so.” He said, “You have spoken rightly”; and we were amazed at him asking him and saying that he had spoken rightly.
He [the man] then said, “Tell me about iman.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “It is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in divine destiny (qadr), both the good and the evil of it.” He said, “You have spoken rightly.”
He [the man] said, “Then tell me about ihsan.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “It is to worship Allah as though you see Him, and if you do not see Him, then (knowing that) truly He sees you.”
He said, “Then tell me about the Hour.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The one questioned about it knows no better than the questioner.”
He said, “Then tell me about its signs.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, and that you will see barefooted, naked destitute shepherds
competing in constructing lofty buildings.”
Then he [the man] left, and I stayed for a time. Then he [the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)] said, “O Umar, do you know who the questioner was?” I said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “It was Jibreel, who came to teach you your religion.”
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Praise be to Allah Lord of all beings.
Often we do take many things for granted, that we have just gotten used to being around us or of our belongings. We only appreciate something when it is lost or when we see others whom don’t have it, got stripped away from or struggling to attain it or something of its nature.
Yet there are those whom Allah bestows his mercy upon and opens their chests to the great deen of Islam. And with the renewal of their lives they renew our worn out faiths and raise our eman in ranks.
أَوَمَنْ كَانَ مَيْتًا فَأَحْيَيْنَاهُ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُ نُورًا يَمْشِي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ كَمَنْ مَثَلُهُ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ لَيْسَ بِخَارِجٍ مِنْهَا كَذَلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
[Quran; 6: 122]
Yet there are those whom Allah bestows his mercy upon and opens their chests to the great deen of Islam. And with the renewal of their lives they renew our worn out faiths and raise our eman in ranks.
أَوَمَنْ كَانَ مَيْتًا فَأَحْيَيْنَاهُ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُ نُورًا يَمْشِي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ كَمَنْ مَثَلُهُ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ لَيْسَ بِخَارِجٍ مِنْهَا كَذَلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
Is he who was dead, to whom We gave life, and a Light whereby he can walk amongst men, be like him who is in the depths of darkness, from which he can never come out? Thus it is made fair-seeming to the disbelivers that which they used to do.
[Quran; 6: 122]
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Is There a "Middle East" ?
We are starting to hear of things like a “Middle Eastern” cuisine, people from the “Middle East” a “Middle Easterner” “Middle Eastern Societies” Middle East this Middle East That.
So what is the Middle East ?
Apparently there is not a consensus among social scientists on what does constitute the Middle East Some include Afghanistan in it other don’t. and we also have heard of “the Greater Middle East” initiative by George Bush which is a big farce just as its name.
Obviously The “Middle East” is supposed to be chunk of land and all what’s in it. Yet this is not a term coined by the inhabitants of those lands nor was it out of the academic and intellectual traditions of its people. It is an occidental term imposed on the region with its contexts and implicit interests.
Regardless of how conscious or unconscious the term is used it serves several functions
1- to imply that Israel is a natural member of this geographical location
2- to imply similarities between all these states that are not shared elsewhere.
3- it strips the region from its identity, Namely Islamic. And thus the term intrinsically fragments the Islamic world.
4- it Dissolves differences between Arab and non Arab states thus inherently down playing the distinction.
It Is Ironic that when we say the West we also imply Australia and New Zealand but also not Mexico (which is technically in the west). so the West is actually an identity not just a relative geographic location but when we say the Middle East?….. Nothing is implied but a geographical location (Arab states Plus Turkey Israel and Iran). This is at least the proposition in social sciences and namely Political Science with all of its branches.
The Term finds itself in the inherit difference in power relations. The West is in dominance and so it chooses the way in which it wants to coin the world around it and address peoples the way it wants to address them the way it wants to view them, in the way it wants them to view themselves. The term finds its way through academic imperialism which then finds its way in westernized and conforming academic institutions in the region. And that is why before the Gulf War ( Final Blow to Arab Nationalism) we never heard of Arabs saying the “Middle East” (ash-Sharq al Awsat). Similarly you don’t hear the term being used on Alajazeera ( more Arabist/Islam sympathetic) or perhaps rarely, unlike Alarabiyah (secular fundamentalists/ “liberalists”/westernized) which uses it frequently.
In other words
THERE IS NO MIDDLE EAST !
So what is the Middle East ?
Apparently there is not a consensus among social scientists on what does constitute the Middle East Some include Afghanistan in it other don’t. and we also have heard of “the Greater Middle East” initiative by George Bush which is a big farce just as its name.
Obviously The “Middle East” is supposed to be chunk of land and all what’s in it. Yet this is not a term coined by the inhabitants of those lands nor was it out of the academic and intellectual traditions of its people. It is an occidental term imposed on the region with its contexts and implicit interests.
Regardless of how conscious or unconscious the term is used it serves several functions
1- to imply that Israel is a natural member of this geographical location
2- to imply similarities between all these states that are not shared elsewhere.
3- it strips the region from its identity, Namely Islamic. And thus the term intrinsically fragments the Islamic world.
4- it Dissolves differences between Arab and non Arab states thus inherently down playing the distinction.
It Is Ironic that when we say the West we also imply Australia and New Zealand but also not Mexico (which is technically in the west). so the West is actually an identity not just a relative geographic location but when we say the Middle East?….. Nothing is implied but a geographical location (Arab states Plus Turkey Israel and Iran). This is at least the proposition in social sciences and namely Political Science with all of its branches.
The Term finds itself in the inherit difference in power relations. The West is in dominance and so it chooses the way in which it wants to coin the world around it and address peoples the way it wants to address them the way it wants to view them, in the way it wants them to view themselves. The term finds its way through academic imperialism which then finds its way in westernized and conforming academic institutions in the region. And that is why before the Gulf War ( Final Blow to Arab Nationalism) we never heard of Arabs saying the “Middle East” (ash-Sharq al Awsat). Similarly you don’t hear the term being used on Alajazeera ( more Arabist/Islam sympathetic) or perhaps rarely, unlike Alarabiyah (secular fundamentalists/ “liberalists”/westernized) which uses it frequently.
In other words
THERE IS NO MIDDLE EAST !
Friday, February 20, 2009
Islam Methodology
As I get into debates regarding politics and issues that branch off Islamic realms on what is or what isn’t part of Islam and regarding ways of governance in Islam I tend to cross lines with a some folks in classes or social gatherings ( or sometimes blogs) that are highly opinionated about Islam and politics and how an Islamic state should be yet their basic understanding of what is Islam and how to derive belief is a complete mess. Yet they don’t even take a step back and evaluate how they come to these conclusions.
When is confronted by Muslim “Liberalists” who are conscious of that its easy tends to be easy to obliterate their arguments so long as they stick to the debate. How should we understand Islam as Muslimeen regardless of politics, its simple.
Quran and Sunnah as it was taught by the prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him to his companions. Some people out there come and tell us that maybe we should reinterpret the Quran or that the way one understands it is a personal thing between them and God. No Quran was revealed the Prophet (PBUH) with an intended message, that has implications on beliefs and actions. The best people who understood this are the companions of the prophet PBUH they were there with him in all his actions ( including his wives may Allah be pleased with them) and thus Allah in the Quran in numerous verses praises the companions and their understanding of Islam. And the prophet Muhammad PBUH commands us to follow his way and the ways of his companions. They are the ones that not only transmitted the Quran to us and the Prophetic traditions but also their understandings, objectives and intentions.
فَإِنْ آمَنُوا بِمِثْلِ مَا آمَنْتُمْ بِهِ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَوْا وَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّمَا هُمْ فِي شِقَاقٍ فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
So if they believe as ye believe, they are indeed on the right path; but if they turn back, it is they who are in schism; but Allah will suffice thee as against them, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. [137:2]
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُمْ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ
قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ
O mankind! there hath come to you a direction from your Lord and a healing for the (diseases) in your hearts, and for those who believe, a Guidance and a Mercy.
Say: "In the Bounty of Allah. And in His Mercy, in that let them rejoice": that is better than the (wealth) they hoard. [57-58:10]
Say: "In the Bounty of Allah. And in His Mercy, in that let them rejoice": that is better than the (wealth) they hoard. [57-58:10]
Monday, February 16, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
They See us Rollin they oughta be hatin
Alhamdullelah things going well on my side,
I think i ll either stick to a one week post/ commenting on blogs day or either just cut myself off like i did last semster, its still the begining and things arent as tight, YET.
as I was roaming around as I do every once in a while I found some interesting blogs. I found a BrO! mashaAllah reverted in June and is a bodybuilder himself and has competed, He s My Muscle Sheikh now :P He knows many of the Big Pros and chilled with them, some of his closest friends are HUUGE and he promised he ll give me a VIP tour with the pros inshaAllah if I get accepted for a PhD in the U.S. He s the only Muslim I met so far who knows more than me about bodybuilding :P well he knows a lot about the "forbidden Zone" that I know nothing about so which I have been trying to know about as you may know from previous posts.
Alas, behold For Thy Mass Shall Grow to New Weights :P
I also found another interesting blog with quite an academic indulgence, A venue I can get all potmodern in bust my anti-orientalism style arguments. Among "mainstream" Middle Eastern studies academics and those whom approach it as a case study you gotta luv Edward Said.
I like to get into debates in such issues, mashaAllah wal hamdullelah no bragging I think I can stand well to my ideas and can strongly support them. Im very outspoken in seminars and classes. But I ve been keeping a low profile for the most part, its not a free country after all and several bloggers have been arrested and detained for speaking their minds.
I lost weight!
1 kg actually am 106kg now.
I think i lost more fat and gained more muscle, even though i havent been lifting heavier. my legs are more defined and so as my arms and back
am 16.5 inchs in arms. am hoping i ll be 17 the least by the end of summer.
I always tell the bros to work out alhamdullelah, so far I got less than a hand full to seriously start and have made descent gains. I hate it and it stabs me in the heart when I see a skinny bearded bro walking slightly tilting forward and lowering his gaze.. Bros need to push ther chests out straighten their backs and lower their gaze. Have Pride in your deen and forget about this self pitying portrayal of the self of being a stranger in the dunya and implicitly implied weakness.
This Stranger in the Dunya mentality that some sheioukh have been propagating for a while a few years back along with some of the anasheed have been very socialy destructive to the those who practice and make bros and sisters socially isolated and inactive, and if I want talk about politcs here then forget it its beyond our relam.
I use to work out in this gym we had a bro mashaAllah at least 6' 3 with 22 inch arms the least, massive cannon ball delts, huge low lat back and pecs with a Big Beard. mashaAllah looks awsome and strong! yet he was so humble as most of the other big dudes i know.
so to all the bros who read this, start getting strong and Big and look the haters in the eye.
I think i ll either stick to a one week post/ commenting on blogs day or either just cut myself off like i did last semster, its still the begining and things arent as tight, YET.
as I was roaming around as I do every once in a while I found some interesting blogs. I found a BrO! mashaAllah reverted in June and is a bodybuilder himself and has competed, He s My Muscle Sheikh now :P He knows many of the Big Pros and chilled with them, some of his closest friends are HUUGE and he promised he ll give me a VIP tour with the pros inshaAllah if I get accepted for a PhD in the U.S. He s the only Muslim I met so far who knows more than me about bodybuilding :P well he knows a lot about the "forbidden Zone" that I know nothing about so which I have been trying to know about as you may know from previous posts.
Alas, behold For Thy Mass Shall Grow to New Weights :P
I also found another interesting blog with quite an academic indulgence, A venue I can get all potmodern in bust my anti-orientalism style arguments. Among "mainstream" Middle Eastern studies academics and those whom approach it as a case study you gotta luv Edward Said.
I like to get into debates in such issues, mashaAllah wal hamdullelah no bragging I think I can stand well to my ideas and can strongly support them. Im very outspoken in seminars and classes. But I ve been keeping a low profile for the most part, its not a free country after all and several bloggers have been arrested and detained for speaking their minds.
I lost weight!
1 kg actually am 106kg now.
I think i lost more fat and gained more muscle, even though i havent been lifting heavier. my legs are more defined and so as my arms and back
am 16.5 inchs in arms. am hoping i ll be 17 the least by the end of summer.
I always tell the bros to work out alhamdullelah, so far I got less than a hand full to seriously start and have made descent gains. I hate it and it stabs me in the heart when I see a skinny bearded bro walking slightly tilting forward and lowering his gaze.. Bros need to push ther chests out straighten their backs and lower their gaze. Have Pride in your deen and forget about this self pitying portrayal of the self of being a stranger in the dunya and implicitly implied weakness.
This Stranger in the Dunya mentality that some sheioukh have been propagating for a while a few years back along with some of the anasheed have been very socialy destructive to the those who practice and make bros and sisters socially isolated and inactive, and if I want talk about politcs here then forget it its beyond our relam.
I use to work out in this gym we had a bro mashaAllah at least 6' 3 with 22 inch arms the least, massive cannon ball delts, huge low lat back and pecs with a Big Beard. mashaAllah looks awsome and strong! yet he was so humble as most of the other big dudes i know.
so to all the bros who read this, start getting strong and Big and look the haters in the eye.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Arabian Gulf, Home or no Home ? Globalization Par Excellence
So you’ve been born in an Arab gulf country but yr not a “local” or “citizen” Yr Arab or say from the Indian Sub Continent you are basically confused about your identity about your belonging you can either pin point home as where you were born and raised or you can point it out to where your parents were born and you occasionally go every summer to visit relatives among other things.
Yup You may have been to Arab schools in the countries of the Arab Gulf or lets say Indian or Pakistani schools chances are you are much easier to re-integrate back into your “original” society and you have a much easir time saying am fully Egyptian, Indian or Pakistani and people don’t find you that much different or odd or guess yr not really a local of your parents origin.
It gets more complicated if you have been studying in what so called is “international schools” which are actually most likely either American or British schools with the same curriculum Americans and Brits study in their countries. You use to listen to American or British music or both watch their movies not only speak their language but also with the same accent that’s if you were to walk in a grocery store in there the cashier wont think twice you were born in there or least brought up from childhood there. Those folks tend to be the ones more open to other cultures and more likely to have been hanging out in school with a more culturally diverse group with in school.
Other teenagers who tend to relate more with where their parents come from and perhaps don’t have that perfect westen accent and tend to have hung out n groups with people of their nationality say the Egyptian group or the Indian folks or the Pakistani lot, then they are more likely to have it easier when they get back “home”.
Its tough since you were born in the Arabian Gulf it becomes even tougher if you can speak the dialect perfectly well and on the street people would think yr a “local” or “citizen” at least that’s from my experience which partly because my khaleeji (Gulfi) like complexion. Its way tougher when you say Home is in that khaleej country but you have no rights there once yr pops retires you can never go back unless on a contract or perhaps as a tourist but unlikely since the passport owners of the countries I have mentioned have different arrangements.
Im not saying that countries of the Arab Gulf should just give citizenship to folks like us that’s would mess things up, the social political and economic characteristics of these countries. Am Just trying to show this emotional and if you may humanitarian dilemma that am partly caught in and am sure many others are caught in it like myself. Sad reality is our parents in the eyes of these governments (as a whole or as a system or in a purely technocratic vision) are only here to serve a function for material return and once yr contract is done or time to retire your function no longer exists and so you too ought to seize exiting on their lands.
And even worse the those who grew up there their entire lives who are also looked at differently in their “home countries” whom could be pretty much culturally confused or least if they are conscious of it. Then you are torn apart where am I from ? Where is Home? Ironic its probably easy for those who lived in such contexts to settle some where in the English speaking west.
And on a side note Even much more pathetic when say to Egypt your parents have been paying “Taxes” or remittances to the government ( one of Egypt’s top sources of income along with tourism and the Suez Canal) and then when you come back yr expected to sever in the military .. As “paying back your country.” when I havent been using any of their crappy pathetic worthless government provided services and my parents paying their corrupt behinds.
Perhaps this is Just my own experience and am trying to be all generalizing about it, at least am pretty sure it is absolutely the case with Arab folks as much more is culturally common with folks of the khaleej. Alhamdullelah my parrents still work Home or if you want to critically call it my “home”
I think this could open up major issues of research for specialists and students of the social sciences but this is mostly my thoughts with a twist of ranting.
peace
Yup You may have been to Arab schools in the countries of the Arab Gulf or lets say Indian or Pakistani schools chances are you are much easier to re-integrate back into your “original” society and you have a much easir time saying am fully Egyptian, Indian or Pakistani and people don’t find you that much different or odd or guess yr not really a local of your parents origin.
It gets more complicated if you have been studying in what so called is “international schools” which are actually most likely either American or British schools with the same curriculum Americans and Brits study in their countries. You use to listen to American or British music or both watch their movies not only speak their language but also with the same accent that’s if you were to walk in a grocery store in there the cashier wont think twice you were born in there or least brought up from childhood there. Those folks tend to be the ones more open to other cultures and more likely to have been hanging out in school with a more culturally diverse group with in school.
Other teenagers who tend to relate more with where their parents come from and perhaps don’t have that perfect westen accent and tend to have hung out n groups with people of their nationality say the Egyptian group or the Indian folks or the Pakistani lot, then they are more likely to have it easier when they get back “home”.
Its tough since you were born in the Arabian Gulf it becomes even tougher if you can speak the dialect perfectly well and on the street people would think yr a “local” or “citizen” at least that’s from my experience which partly because my khaleeji (Gulfi) like complexion. Its way tougher when you say Home is in that khaleej country but you have no rights there once yr pops retires you can never go back unless on a contract or perhaps as a tourist but unlikely since the passport owners of the countries I have mentioned have different arrangements.
Im not saying that countries of the Arab Gulf should just give citizenship to folks like us that’s would mess things up, the social political and economic characteristics of these countries. Am Just trying to show this emotional and if you may humanitarian dilemma that am partly caught in and am sure many others are caught in it like myself. Sad reality is our parents in the eyes of these governments (as a whole or as a system or in a purely technocratic vision) are only here to serve a function for material return and once yr contract is done or time to retire your function no longer exists and so you too ought to seize exiting on their lands.
And even worse the those who grew up there their entire lives who are also looked at differently in their “home countries” whom could be pretty much culturally confused or least if they are conscious of it. Then you are torn apart where am I from ? Where is Home? Ironic its probably easy for those who lived in such contexts to settle some where in the English speaking west.
And on a side note Even much more pathetic when say to Egypt your parents have been paying “Taxes” or remittances to the government ( one of Egypt’s top sources of income along with tourism and the Suez Canal) and then when you come back yr expected to sever in the military .. As “paying back your country.” when I havent been using any of their crappy pathetic worthless government provided services and my parents paying their corrupt behinds.
Perhaps this is Just my own experience and am trying to be all generalizing about it, at least am pretty sure it is absolutely the case with Arab folks as much more is culturally common with folks of the khaleej. Alhamdullelah my parrents still work Home or if you want to critically call it my “home”
I think this could open up major issues of research for specialists and students of the social sciences but this is mostly my thoughts with a twist of ranting.
peace
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Tag Time
ee na3am ehm..
Thine Hath been tagged by Sara whom inshaAllah one day very soon will start, not insane but moderate pumping of iron.
Favorite Colour; Blue it use to be purple but not anymore
Favorite Perfume (guys); isnt it called cologne ?I like dehn 3ood from the sheikhly stuff and Dark Blue by Hugo boss
Favorite Perfume (girls); Got no clue I dont know
favorite pj brand; ??
favorite Clothing wear brand; dont have a favorite one too. and I hate shopping! been buying a lot of reebok for casual stuff since its not American and I stopped buying american stuff for the most part
favorite Person in the entire world!; untill I find a wife its going to be me.
Favorite Country; Kuwait!!!!!!
favorite car; dont like cars but the Honda CBR is toight
Sport; Bodybuilding!!!!
Sports man; I hate naming one persom. perhaps Phil Heath
Favorite spot in America; where is deh best Hawt Dawgs?
Animal; mumkin Tigers is what pops in my head
Movie; naruto the movie 1
singer; Ahmad Bukhatir
Day in the week; Friday!
time in the day; no specific time maybe a few minutes before sun rise.
Holiday season; Winter break, long enough but not too long and chilly.
number: huh ?
food; huge double cheese burgers
cartoon: NARUTO!
ice cream flavor; cookies and cream or mixed berries
favorite chocolate; twirl
favorite blogger; too tough to answer
favorite name; there are a bunch I like
favorite hobby; Pumping Iron
fruit: Mango or figs ??
room in the house: my room!
Book: Orientalism by Edward Said.
momment: when am in Luv and when am having an extreeem skin stretching muscle blowing pump. cant decide which.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Update
Emma and Ninnevah You have been tagged!
and I add
whats your favorite dessert ?
Thine Hath been tagged by Sara whom inshaAllah one day very soon will start, not insane but moderate pumping of iron.
Favorite Colour; Blue it use to be purple but not anymore
Favorite Perfume (guys); isnt it called cologne ?I like dehn 3ood from the sheikhly stuff and Dark Blue by Hugo boss
Favorite Perfume (girls); Got no clue I dont know
favorite pj brand; ??
favorite Clothing wear brand; dont have a favorite one too. and I hate shopping! been buying a lot of reebok for casual stuff since its not American and I stopped buying american stuff for the most part
favorite Person in the entire world!; untill I find a wife its going to be me.
Favorite Country; Kuwait!!!!!!
favorite car; dont like cars but the Honda CBR is toight
Sport; Bodybuilding!!!!
Sports man; I hate naming one persom. perhaps Phil Heath
Favorite spot in America; where is deh best Hawt Dawgs?
Animal; mumkin Tigers is what pops in my head
Movie; naruto the movie 1
singer; Ahmad Bukhatir
Day in the week; Friday!
time in the day; no specific time maybe a few minutes before sun rise.
Holiday season; Winter break, long enough but not too long and chilly.
number: huh ?
food; huge double cheese burgers
cartoon: NARUTO!
ice cream flavor; cookies and cream or mixed berries
favorite chocolate; twirl
favorite blogger; too tough to answer
favorite name; there are a bunch I like
favorite hobby; Pumping Iron
fruit: Mango or figs ??
room in the house: my room!
Book: Orientalism by Edward Said.
momment: when am in Luv and when am having an extreeem skin stretching muscle blowing pump. cant decide which.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Update
Emma and Ninnevah You have been tagged!
and I add
whats your favorite dessert ?
Philly Cheese Steak
Yup Yup Yup
been meeting a lot of important people who know very important people whom basically run the world. the things you hear about "them" folks "up there" is that "they" have very personalized lives, like duh dont we all?
they hold like grudges on each other and shift from a postion to its anti radical just for their personal careers. e,g hilary clinton after 1998 from being pro palestine to being a hardcore zionist. Politics can really suck when you need funding and you play elections to win and you cant do whats right.. yes it can be reaallllly dirty.
what if like queen so and so I meet her and she attempts to shake my hand and I refuse.. there goes my funding ? or there goes my head off? hate to think about it in any other, but what if she asks for more ? am not exactly Yusuf alayhi as-salaam but alhamdullelah :P. subhan Allah he said that prison is more beloved to him than obeying the First lady of Egypt at the time. buuuuut alahmdulellah am no slave and am for political gains so maybe I should do it for the ummah :P ok ok am kidding and its disgusting but thats just a thought. a scary one.
Now am thinking whether the paragraph above is appropritate to keep or to remove I just wanted to backspace it but i ll keep it anyway. err I ll delete it in a few days inshaAllah.
Oh well its still great to go to the gym and forget all that and keep admirin your gains in the mirror lol, alhamdullelah I ve been blessed so much I feel there is nothing I can do that would "repay" Allah (cant think of another word) for just one blessing.what even sucks more is I sin and Allah doesnt take away much from me, but reminds me here and there to get back on track. truely Allah is merciful.
am eating from a mini bowl full of cottage cheese
but Id rather have a philly cheese steak right now!, been losing fat and seems to look way better. guess I ll have to give that up for a while errrrr.
been meeting a lot of important people who know very important people whom basically run the world. the things you hear about "them" folks "up there" is that "they" have very personalized lives, like duh dont we all?
they hold like grudges on each other and shift from a postion to its anti radical just for their personal careers. e,g hilary clinton after 1998 from being pro palestine to being a hardcore zionist. Politics can really suck when you need funding and you play elections to win and you cant do whats right.. yes it can be reaallllly dirty.
what if like queen so and so I meet her and she attempts to shake my hand and I refuse.. there goes my funding ? or there goes my head off? hate to think about it in any other, but what if she asks for more ? am not exactly Yusuf alayhi as-salaam but alhamdullelah :P. subhan Allah he said that prison is more beloved to him than obeying the First lady of Egypt at the time. buuuuut alahmdulellah am no slave and am for political gains so maybe I should do it for the ummah :P ok ok am kidding and its disgusting but thats just a thought. a scary one.
Now am thinking whether the paragraph above is appropritate to keep or to remove I just wanted to backspace it but i ll keep it anyway. err I ll delete it in a few days inshaAllah.
Oh well its still great to go to the gym and forget all that and keep admirin your gains in the mirror lol, alhamdullelah I ve been blessed so much I feel there is nothing I can do that would "repay" Allah (cant think of another word) for just one blessing.what even sucks more is I sin and Allah doesnt take away much from me, but reminds me here and there to get back on track. truely Allah is merciful.
am eating from a mini bowl full of cottage cheese
but Id rather have a philly cheese steak right now!, been losing fat and seems to look way better. guess I ll have to give that up for a while errrrr.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Random
Salaam aleykum
Yup, this post probably will be the last in a while but also perhaps not.
Masters is coming close to an end alhamdullelah thesis is also coming up closer.
Alhamullelah am all enthusiastic about it. readings are ridiculously a lot. Shoulnt be a problem inshaAllah.
Gym is ok, busted my back oing heavy squats after a lay off, but alhamdullelah even after resting it seems i have kept the muscle and lost some fat.
been rejecting a lot of hand shakes from women lately. its somewhat becoming annoying that I have to do that. I have also been rejecting invitations to many parties and what not. I guess if yr a Muslim who doesnt drink but also doesnt hang around such places it looks weird as other muslim students go to these places.
In the masters program I am basically a minority no one shares my ideas, very few have common religious convictions and very few practice in fact I can only think of two sisters. alhamdullelah am still sticking to my guns. sometimes I would feel like blah whatever I should "relax" ( or shaytan whispers) more but its simply not who I am, My political ideas are based on morals and so as my way of life inshaAllah. If i quit one am quitting the other which inshaAllah will never do and cant do.
increasingly more than before there have been more reverts to Islam coming, bunch of sisters in hijab one bro in a beard, I also heard two bros took shahada last semster.
Today I had an argument with a work mate of a friend of mine, works in some NGO. it was about Islam, he himself liked Islam and seemed to know a little. He was so arrogant and talked trash with a loud voice as I patiently listened to him and logically attempted to debate him. He couldnt define anything he talked about and his convictions were no more based on mere impressions and sterotypes. In the end I told him whatever man I dont care what you think. I am not going to clinge on every debate I get into it, If you dont wanna see it then dont. He got more pissed off. I stood up and he was like, what ? I didnt realise you were so tall ( and Im telling myself and Big :P) so some girl sitting in the group was like so be quiet and behave LOL :P we later shooke hands as that girl suggested.
oh well at least as masters approaches an end so as a new era of wife search comes close:P ( and perhaps fresh muscle growth)
Oh Wife, where art thou ?
Yup, this post probably will be the last in a while but also perhaps not.
Masters is coming close to an end alhamdullelah thesis is also coming up closer.
Alhamullelah am all enthusiastic about it. readings are ridiculously a lot. Shoulnt be a problem inshaAllah.
Gym is ok, busted my back oing heavy squats after a lay off, but alhamdullelah even after resting it seems i have kept the muscle and lost some fat.
been rejecting a lot of hand shakes from women lately. its somewhat becoming annoying that I have to do that. I have also been rejecting invitations to many parties and what not. I guess if yr a Muslim who doesnt drink but also doesnt hang around such places it looks weird as other muslim students go to these places.
In the masters program I am basically a minority no one shares my ideas, very few have common religious convictions and very few practice in fact I can only think of two sisters. alhamdullelah am still sticking to my guns. sometimes I would feel like blah whatever I should "relax" ( or shaytan whispers) more but its simply not who I am, My political ideas are based on morals and so as my way of life inshaAllah. If i quit one am quitting the other which inshaAllah will never do and cant do.
increasingly more than before there have been more reverts to Islam coming, bunch of sisters in hijab one bro in a beard, I also heard two bros took shahada last semster.
Today I had an argument with a work mate of a friend of mine, works in some NGO. it was about Islam, he himself liked Islam and seemed to know a little. He was so arrogant and talked trash with a loud voice as I patiently listened to him and logically attempted to debate him. He couldnt define anything he talked about and his convictions were no more based on mere impressions and sterotypes. In the end I told him whatever man I dont care what you think. I am not going to clinge on every debate I get into it, If you dont wanna see it then dont. He got more pissed off. I stood up and he was like, what ? I didnt realise you were so tall ( and Im telling myself and Big :P) so some girl sitting in the group was like so be quiet and behave LOL :P we later shooke hands as that girl suggested.
oh well at least as masters approaches an end so as a new era of wife search comes close:P ( and perhaps fresh muscle growth)
Oh Wife, where art thou ?
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Cheap political shnooge
Salaaam 3alla man 2itaba3a al hudda
yeaah I am suppose to write political stuff, but i mostly write cheap political observations here, I d rather invest the time and effort into something genuine like an online newspaper or for studies. Oh well.. its good and sometimes gives me ideas
my prediction since like a few months ago have been yeilding well.
I think am starting to have a capacity to predict the way political trends are heading alhamdullelah
------
I weighed myself today 107kg :S. I look thinner but am actually heavier, i guess i have shed more fat and put on more muscle. my pants are still generally tight, I have started running feels awsome, it compromises my pump, thickness and bulky built look but I guess its more healthy to run than keep on the anaerobic routine.
yup I am going to check out a Judo class on friday, just met the coatch I will be the heaviest dude in the game, surely not the strongest though.
Shoold be hearing from my Japanese classes tommorrow inshaAllah. to set the time.
Japanese and Judo ! now I need a Japanese niqabi/ninja wife and i ll be set for life.
I have become more consiously aware that i am smart. I easily learn things. alhamdullelah I think if I ever go well with Japanese my next hit will be Spanish.
as far fetches already. if i learn those well then i ll hit Urdu then i ll stop anyway.
other than that I is doing well alhamdullelah
Now I need to go eat like a Mad Beast, Eat Meat. MEAAATTTT
CARNIVOR
yeaah I am suppose to write political stuff, but i mostly write cheap political observations here, I d rather invest the time and effort into something genuine like an online newspaper or for studies. Oh well.. its good and sometimes gives me ideas
my prediction since like a few months ago have been yeilding well.
I think am starting to have a capacity to predict the way political trends are heading alhamdullelah
------
I weighed myself today 107kg :S. I look thinner but am actually heavier, i guess i have shed more fat and put on more muscle. my pants are still generally tight, I have started running feels awsome, it compromises my pump, thickness and bulky built look but I guess its more healthy to run than keep on the anaerobic routine.
yup I am going to check out a Judo class on friday, just met the coatch I will be the heaviest dude in the game, surely not the strongest though.
Shoold be hearing from my Japanese classes tommorrow inshaAllah. to set the time.
Japanese and Judo ! now I need a Japanese niqabi/ninja wife and i ll be set for life.
I have become more consiously aware that i am smart. I easily learn things. alhamdullelah I think if I ever go well with Japanese my next hit will be Spanish.
as far fetches already. if i learn those well then i ll hit Urdu then i ll stop anyway.
other than that I is doing well alhamdullelah
Now I need to go eat like a Mad Beast, Eat Meat. MEAAATTTT
CARNIVOR
Monday, January 12, 2009
Gaza, Sacrifice for Mobilization
There are no words sufficient to describe the situation in Gaza and there are no words sufficient to describe the ? Organized gang of “Israel” that has broken all human norms. Those neo-Fascists is what is wrong with the world. There can never be peace with such people, they simply leach on their “religion” (or a several specific interpretations of it) for their own existence.
Yet from such trauma bleeding the Ummah there are several positive signs that are wholistic but could be indicated.
Some people say that the protests were useless but without them I assure you Arab governments already minimal and cowardly response would have been very dim.
I am also quite surprised at the way the Saudi religious establishment “The Ulema” have responded to this. The Least the could have done was issue a fatwa for Jihad. Over the years their role has become so self undermined that they have become beyond pathetic when it comes to political roles. Saudi Ulema can still play a major role in the advancement of the Ummah but unfortunately this is not the case.
Arab peoples have become so politically tamed that even our demands have become so weak. Humanitarian aid is vital but this is not what Gaza Needs. Palestine needs troops to force Israel back to the 1967 boarders and to force it to accept “peace”. Even at times of peace settlements have expanded this year alone at 5% in “West Bank” they literally kick people out of their homes and live in them.
1- The situation in Gaza has moved the Arab and Islamic world as well as the wider globe.
We need to have a stronger presence in places where they sympathize with us, Venezuela, Norway and South Korea.
2- Islamic TV channels are no longer only involved exclusively in social issues but have dramatically shifted to an explicit political discourse, be reminded that a few years ago they did not even exist.
3- The Arab governments can longer rely on the west to act, as they do not fulfill the expectations of the angry streets forcing governments to act. They are undergoing a test now. So far are failing which gives them a lesser chance of survival. Social (namely Egypt) forces are stronger than ever.
4-Egypt is currently being marginalized by its traditional partners which is obviously why it is position is artificially being boosted by the U.S. in the security council. Turkey is somewhat getting involved which is good and if its governments remains with the same tendencies. I suspect they will have a bigger role in the future Turkey is already doing a good job penetrating the Arab world economically.
Yet from such trauma bleeding the Ummah there are several positive signs that are wholistic but could be indicated.
Some people say that the protests were useless but without them I assure you Arab governments already minimal and cowardly response would have been very dim.
I am also quite surprised at the way the Saudi religious establishment “The Ulema” have responded to this. The Least the could have done was issue a fatwa for Jihad. Over the years their role has become so self undermined that they have become beyond pathetic when it comes to political roles. Saudi Ulema can still play a major role in the advancement of the Ummah but unfortunately this is not the case.
Arab peoples have become so politically tamed that even our demands have become so weak. Humanitarian aid is vital but this is not what Gaza Needs. Palestine needs troops to force Israel back to the 1967 boarders and to force it to accept “peace”. Even at times of peace settlements have expanded this year alone at 5% in “West Bank” they literally kick people out of their homes and live in them.
1- The situation in Gaza has moved the Arab and Islamic world as well as the wider globe.
We need to have a stronger presence in places where they sympathize with us, Venezuela, Norway and South Korea.
2- Islamic TV channels are no longer only involved exclusively in social issues but have dramatically shifted to an explicit political discourse, be reminded that a few years ago they did not even exist.
3- The Arab governments can longer rely on the west to act, as they do not fulfill the expectations of the angry streets forcing governments to act. They are undergoing a test now. So far are failing which gives them a lesser chance of survival. Social (namely Egypt) forces are stronger than ever.
4-Egypt is currently being marginalized by its traditional partners which is obviously why it is position is artificially being boosted by the U.S. in the security council. Turkey is somewhat getting involved which is good and if its governments remains with the same tendencies. I suspect they will have a bigger role in the future Turkey is already doing a good job penetrating the Arab world economically.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
I'm Back
Oh Boy.
Yes finally, although I thought I might not come back at all, my friend AA urged me to write something "even if once a month"( he promised to open up his own soon inshaAllah. Am grateful to all the folks who stayed in touch here and there by email.
The semester I just finished was the toughest one I ever had. Insane, but may have been the most useful I ever had too, I have slightly modified my world view curbing down a bit on my postmodern tendencies. Masters is a big jump from undergrad, am glad i just cut off the blogging, there was hardly any time. If I wasn’t reading, I was writing something, and if I wasn’t writing nor reading I was doing research, in a 14 week semester I had 11 papers to write. If i wasn’t doing any of those i was in the gym, although the last month and a half was hardly in the gym and I lost a lot of weight, only to pack it on it 2 weeks, still working on it.
For me Eid was at home, writing papers. I didn't leave the house nor visit my relatives amid all the assignments I had to do.
I have a lot of new developed ideas, I no longer think small, I think grand, perhaps I ll share some of it with you folks.
there are also plenty of major developments in world politics, that will change how "things" are run.
peace for now.
Yes finally, although I thought I might not come back at all, my friend AA urged me to write something "even if once a month"( he promised to open up his own soon inshaAllah. Am grateful to all the folks who stayed in touch here and there by email.
The semester I just finished was the toughest one I ever had. Insane, but may have been the most useful I ever had too, I have slightly modified my world view curbing down a bit on my postmodern tendencies. Masters is a big jump from undergrad, am glad i just cut off the blogging, there was hardly any time. If I wasn’t reading, I was writing something, and if I wasn’t writing nor reading I was doing research, in a 14 week semester I had 11 papers to write. If i wasn’t doing any of those i was in the gym, although the last month and a half was hardly in the gym and I lost a lot of weight, only to pack it on it 2 weeks, still working on it.
For me Eid was at home, writing papers. I didn't leave the house nor visit my relatives amid all the assignments I had to do.
I have a lot of new developed ideas, I no longer think small, I think grand, perhaps I ll share some of it with you folks.
there are also plenty of major developments in world politics, that will change how "things" are run.
peace for now.
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