Naeem's Blog

It's time we inject some much-needed perspective into our discussions of groups like the Taliban and Somalia's Al-Shabab. Too many Muslims living in the West have gotten sucked into the efforts to demonize these groups. While I'm not here to defend them, I must clearly state that I don't believe they are evil, as some fellow bloggers have declared them to be.

Sure, these groups are peddling a version of Islam that is foreign to our sensibilities (as reported by Western media) - enforcing the hudood, restricting women's rights, oppressing minorities, etc.

However, it just seems that so many of us are bending over backwards in denouncing these "deviant" groups to appease our compatriots. In either trying to prove our allegiance to liberal, democratic ideals or establishing our credentials in the ongoing war on terror, we're ok with the collateral damage caused by throwing these groups under the bus. All the while conveniently overlooking the societal context in which they came to existence - extreme warlordism, civil war, foreign occupation, rampant crime and rape, and so on.

For all the negative hoopla surrounding these groups, people forget one most essential consideration: they have succeeded where countless others have failed - establishing peace and stability. Western media is quick to focus on the undoubtedly extremist views they impart, but overlooks a more critical benefit that is welcomed by the local population - peace of mind.

My father traveled to Afghanistan back in the 90's as part of a medical support team and the overwhelming sentiment shared by the population was their collective sigh of relief with the safety situation established by the Taliban. After years of war with Russia and the ensuing warlord-based government, the Afghan on the street was finally able to feel some sense of safety and security. Sure, many didn't take kindly to the harsh interpretation of Islamic law, but they found that a small price to pay for a relatively crime-free, stable society.

Exactly the same feelings were expressed by Marian Zeila, chairperson of the Somali Media Women's Association, in this BBC report:

"Sharia law is a part of Islam, it's in the Koran. But it's their interpretation of the law that I disagree with. They are turning Islam into a harsh religion, which I don't believe it actually is...While the transitional government was in charge there was insecurity in Baidoa, they were unable to protect civilians. At least the al-Shabab have restored stability - for the time being."

So before we decide to get on our high horses and offer up our knee-jerk condemnations of these groups for misrepresenting or distorting Islam, let us try and understand the socio-political context of their rise. Or at the very least, as some have suggested, let's simply leave them alone.

I hesitate to write too much about Zionism as too many Muslims use it as a vehicle to transport their anti-Semitic sentiments (which is a very real problem in the Muslim world). However, in this case, I feel the stench from the Zionist propaganda efforts have become too strong to ignore.

Most of you may have heard about the BBC's refusal to air an appeal for humanitarian aid for the Gaza relief effort. And then Sky News (I see them as UK's version of Fox News) needed to get in on the action and decided to follow suit.

This is par for the course as we have seen for many years the old media (print and TV) step to the tune of the Israeli lobby. However, what has really upset me is the way this pressure has migrated to the new media, the Internet.

DIGG is a popular social networking site that allows users to positively 'digg' (or negatively 'bury') a web page, image, or video. There are others like it, such as Reddit and StumbleUpon. All of these sites make use of the internet community to popularize content on the web. So by way of an open vote, links of value are promoted to the front page garnering tens of thousands of views.

So this effort was adopted by a small group of pro-Palestinian supporters who felt that the Israeli propaganda machine could be countered by recruiting fellow supporters to flood these sites with articles and videos promoting their point of view.

MuslimMatters.org, a prominent group blog, spearheaded the effort by sending out regular action-alerts with articles to support. A group in Facebook was created with over 700 members. And so the seed was planted to create a voice for Muslims on the Internet. After all, Israeli supporters have a similar effort with nearly 40,000 members.

(On a side note: Normally, I'm not a strong fan of mimicking the seemingly successful efforts of the Israelis - too many Muslims say 'Look at what the Jews have accomplished' as an argument to replicate their ways. This is an extremely defeatist attitude and Muslims need to create their own identity.

While I do believe that Muslims have serious housecleaning to perform, the battle for hearts and minds in the public sphere must be engaged and the Internet is a new battleground where we can succeed.)

However, no sooner had this effort gained some momentum did the good folks at Digg pull the plug. They banned all diggs for the MuslimMatters blog due to violations of their policies. And they have been extremely rude and blunt in their communications, expressing no desire to discuss or explain their decision. While monstrous efforts such as Giyus.org continue unabated, the newcomer gets the shaft.

Oh well. Such are the ways of bullies.

But all is not lost. 60 Minutes aired an amazing piece sympathetic to the Palestinian perspective. Check it out:

It irks me to no end how Israel carries out its genocidal policies in the shadow of great American political events, using them as smokescreen for their insidious acts.

For example, it's become an indisputable fact that Israel broke the 4-month long truce on November 4, 2008 (US Election Day) when they went into Gaza and killed 6 Palestinians.

And now we have Israel coincidentally halting their 3-week bombing of Gaza on the eve of the great Obama inauguration, like a group of bumbling teenagers cleaning up after their raucous house party before the parents return home. The level of chutzpah that Israel displays in trying to outsmart their American sponsors never ceases to amaze me. And the saddest part is that most Americans fall for it - lock, stock, and barrel.

Of course to anyone who has intimately followed the countless criminal acts of Israel, this is not news. Nonetheless, I felt the need to get it off my chest.

Anyways, let us not forget that despite the ceasefire, the siege on Gaza continues.

Juan Cole presents Top 10 stories of 2008 from the Muslim World.

I really like this new service at MuslimCo.com - they provide streaming access to a host of Muslim TV channels from around the world. (h/t to Mujahideen Ryder)

Amazing Plants. I'm particularly amused by the Orchid flowers that use sexual deception to allure male insects. Amazing how sex is such a powerful tool even in the plant and insect kingdoms!

Not sure why, but I watched this video several times and each time I cracked up even more. I guess I'm very easily amused:

So the latest news coming out of Somalia is that as Ethopian troops are moving out, in-fighting has begun between the moderate Ahlus Sunna wal Jamaat and the more extreme Al-Shabab. Al-Shabab is accusing the Ahlus Sunna group of being warlords, while the Ahlus Sunna accuses Al-Shabab of being foreign fighters sympathizing with Al-Qaeda.

And then there are unsubstantiated reports that the UIC (Islamic Courts) are in battle with the Shabab.

Eerily similar to what happened in Afghanistan after Russia pulled out.

Here we go again. Sigh.

It's quite confusing trying to sort out fact from fiction, truth from propaganda, but my understanding is that most Somalis are moderates with links to Sufism, so they aren't very welcoming of the firebrand version of Islam enforced by Al-Shabab. I recently saw a lengthy interview on Al-Jazeera with one of their leaders and while he seemed sincere, humble, and committed to Islam, he was parroting the Al-Qaeda sales pitch which definitely won't go over well with many Somalis.

But let us look at the bigger picture and agree that such militant movements are really incapable in achieving the real goal of Shariah. The level of adherence to the laws of Allah (swt) in the societal level are merely a reflection of the adherence to those laws on a personal level. The Shariah can never be implemented through the barrel of a gun or the casting of a ballot - it must come via the transformation of the hearts.

I wrote about this before:

And therefore, as a blessing to us (as well as the rest of world), Allah (swt) has placed a political straitjacket on the Ummah – preventing it from tasting any political power so as to prevent it from causing any harm unto others or to itself.

As a blessing to us (and the rest of world), we will continue to see failed political/military efforts for establishing Muslim states or electing Muslim leaders (Algeria, Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Hamas, Anwar Ibrahim).

Allah (swt) will either send the Americans or a military junta or the Ethiopians or the Israelis or even a 23-year-old political aide, but the results will be the same – no power for the Muslims.

We simply are not ready for the immensely grave responsibility of being representatives of the Most High (khalifat-Allah).

As I see it, I refuse to place a gun in my child's hands. Similarly, Allah (swt) has refused to place power in the Ummah's hands.

That's why Islamic political parties (as found in Turkey, Malaysia, Palestine) will never succeed. Nor will militant groups (as found in Somalia and Afghanistan). Sure they may bring about short-term relief in repelling occupying forces, but they will never succeed in the long-term.

Not until the hearts of the masses begin to respect the words of Allah (swt) and the practice of His beloved Prophet (saw).

Some idiot recently wrote about needing to choose action over emotion in these trying times. What he so conveniently forgot was the more fundamental role played by faith.

Action is all good and well, especially when it replaces vacuous emotion. However, neither can carry a stick to the ever-essential faith. Our concrete faith in our Creator must be established before any action is carried out or emotion is expressed.

This faith comes from silencing the all-too-pervasive Logic that has taken control. Logic dictates that actionable steps are the sole means to achieving change. Logic dictates that power is needed to gain respect. Logic dictates that literacy rates, GDP, Internet access, and other silly statistics are measurements of healthy, successful societies. Logic dictates and we submit.

We've become enslaved to our logic. Everything must fall into neatly laid out cause-and-effect.

Where was the logic in Musa (AS) striking the raging sea with his measly staff with the army of Pharaoh in hot pursuit?

Where was the logic in Maryam (AS), suffering the pangs of delivering Isa (AS), shaking the stout palm tree in hopes of dates falling?

Where was the logic in 313 poorly armed foot soldiers facing a heavily armed cavalry of 1000 in the valley of Badr?

Those historic actions were carried out with an unshakable trust and belief in the power of the One who creates and controls cause-and-effect.

So now our new-found god of Logic is dictating that we need a strategy to pull ourselves out of our centuries-long stagnation. This includes education, political activism, social work, economic empowerment, and so on.

All important and invaluable steps, no doubt. However, the foundation of certain faith (Yaqin) must come first. Slaying the idols of logic and cause-and-effect must come first.

We must have that undying faith that adherence to the Sunnah is more critical to success than any college degree or any lobby group. We must exude certainty that our Creator is the sole source of victory, not military force or political acumen.

Until we do, the pain and suffering will continue.

I just listened to an amazing lecture by Imam Zaid Shakir on the appropriate response to the current crisis in Gaza.

I've incorporated much from his talk with some thoughts of mine:

Many are getting very emotional over this deservedly charged issue. Emotion is a commodity not very scarce in the Muslim peoples.

We responded with emotion when Lebanon was invaded by Israel in 1978 and 1982. And we went back to our lives.

We responded with emotion and anger when Palestinians were slaughtered in the first Intifada of the late 80's. And we went back to our lives.

We responded with anger when Sharon marched into the sanctified grounds of Al-Aqsa, leading to the second Intifada in 2000. And we went back to our lives.

What we failed to do in each instance, was to direct that emotion and energy towards constructive change. Social change. Political change. Spiritual Change. Economic Change.

Imam Zaid pointed to the massive protests and rallies that take place in the wake of such tragedies and asked if we've ever seen the pro-Zionist camp at our rallies. They may number 20-30 at most. Reason being that their core supporters are busy in ensuring that the current dynamics remain in their favor.

I'm sick and tired of these stupid rallies that serve more to appease the guilt of the protesters than to aid the cause of the oppressed.

Our response must not be extra prayer for a few nights or weeks, but to institute that into our daily lives. It must not be a check of $500 in support of Gaza, but rather sponsoring an orphanage or a school (like Zaytuna College for which Imam Zaid was raising funds) or organizations like CAIR.

Our response must not be passive crying and wailing, but an active commitment to becoming better human beings - with our relatives, with our friends, with our neighbors, with total strangers.

And until that happens, the One who has beset us with these trials and tribulations will continue to do so.

I think it's time we come to that harsh realization that WE are the cause for the suffering in Gaza, in Iraq, in Somalia, in Congo, and so on. It is due to OUR failings that so many are in pain.

So let us for once put aside the short-lived emotions and work on long-term actionable steps that we can take as individuals, families, and communities.

This has got to be a joke. There is no way Israel would be so sinister and conniving as to sign a crooked natural gas deal worth $4 billion while bombing away at Gaza. There is just no way this story can be true. Please tell me Israel and BG are just not that stupid.

read more | digg story

Global Research has a more in-depth article on this topic here. Very interesting read.

In the midst of this all-out media and web blitz on the Gaza crisis, I'm feeling a bit confused. While my outrage at the tragic events is self-explanatory, I have an additional nagging feeling - a feeling that I'm being manipulated emotionally. And not just me, but the whole lot of us.

I'm incapable of putting into words the horror of what's going on in Gaza. It's truly maddening. But then again, how is the suffering there any more worthier of our attention than the horrors in Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Congo, Darfur, and so on?

How come Al-Jazeera English is broadcasting non-stop from Israel, Palestine, and Egypt with what seems like their entire crew of reporters, while nary a whisper is coming from the other hot spots around the world? Even when the humanitarian crisis in DR Congo was the main news story, they only had one or two reporters assigned to it.

The same goes for CNN International and BBC News.

If it's a pro-Israel bias (which CNN and BBC may be accused of), then one would assume that less coverage of the one-sided affair would be better for the Israeli cause. Not really sure what their agenda is...

I'm actually more upset with the likes of Al-Jazeera. Are they giving it such serious airtime because it's the Holy Land? Or maybe because it's Jews massacring Muslims?

Don't get me wrong. I love Al-Jazeera English for the amazing coverage of stories that never get the light of day in the rest of the media world, especially their unparalleled reporting from South America and Africa.

I'm just not comfortable with the extreme media coverage being given to this issue. Something just doesn't feel natural. I feel like I'm being agitated and poked and prodded to become angry, hopeless, enraged, frustrated, heartbroken, helpless, maddened.

And my other beef is with us, for the gluttony in coverage has brought about a gluttony in reaction. Again, don't get me wrong - it's very heartening to see all these efforts taking place in support of Palestine - fundraising, protests, boycotts, etc. But doesn't it seem like we're simply pandering to the media and its high level of coverage? I feel we've become a Pavlovian people who upon hearing the ringing of the media's bell immediately begin salivating with cries of rage and calls to action.

Am I the only one thinking this?

Celebrating the REAL best of the Muslim blogworldosphere!

Yeah, yeah, so the 'Hey look at us, we're the Brass Crescent poo poo Awards' folks finally gave out their annual awards to the best Muslim bloggers. Or at least that's what someone told me. You see, I just wasn't paying attention this year and it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact I wasn't nominated.

Last year the great minds at BCppA considered my blog worthy of one of their poo poo awards. I, on the other hand, felt one was not enough. I made what I felt to be a convincing case that my blog ought to have been considered for every category. Oddly enough, they didn't see things my way.

No problem. I figured they'd see the error of their ways and eventually come around. So 12 months and hundreds of posts later, you can guess my sheer surprise when I not only failed to get nominated for every single category, but didn't even garner one measly nomination.

No worries (that's Australian for no problem, don't hate me cause I'm multilingual), I was prepared for this most unfortunate turn of events.

This past weekend, I convened the greatest minds of the Muslim blogging world for the sole purpose of nominating blogs for the first annual Gold Star Awards - the way I see it, Gold is better than Brass and a Star is bigger and brighter than a puny little Crescent (bitter? who me? pshawwwright).

Since we're on the topic of that other award whose name we shall no more mention (rhymes with Bass Present), I have it on high authority (my 10-yr old daughter is taking French) that Crescent is in fact English for a French delicacy called the Croissant (the T is silent - so she tells me). So I'm not sure who the marketing people the good folks at that other Muslim blog award (rhymes with Crass Peasant) hired, but they may want to look for a new title. I mean c'mon people, what kind of an award is a croissant?? Do you need MY brain to realize that croissants don't make for good awards?!

Did I mention that I'm not bitter or anything? 'Cuz you know, I'm not. Really.

Anyways, our crack team studied and evaluated over 10,000,000 Muslim blogs with a standard unmatched in the entire blogging world. We'd like to thank all the participants for taking part - in our eyes, you are ALL winners (some less than others).

We chose to present the awards without opening it up for voting - basically, you people simply aren't smart enough. That's why we hired a group of recently laid-off Yahoo! engineers who devised a fool-proof algorithm. We're confident you all will be pleased with the results.

So every winner of the Gold Star Award will receive an original Gold Star made of 24-carrots. We simply ask the proud winners to send us a self-addressed stamped envelope to winners@gsa.com and we'll take care of the rest. No need to thank us. The looks on your face will be enough reward for us. And of course, the winners will have the special rights to proudly display this award logo on their blogs for all of 2009*:

Be proud, you winners are part of a select few.

Without any further delay, here are your winners for the 2008 Gold Star Awards:

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Best Actor Award - Dedicated to the blogger best acting like a real blogger.

Winner: MrEspy - Bro, you haven't posted regularly since August. What does a sick dog, a crying baby, and your blog have in common? They all need to be put to sleep! (Uhm, well, the sick dog might just need to see a vet and the crying baby may have gas, but regardless...your Espyisms blog needs to be put down)

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Most Eco-friendly Blog - Celebrating the bloggers who have consciously chosen a black background for the sole purpose of saving energy.

Winner: Umar Lee - who woulda guessed that the tough talking, uber-manly, gun-reaching Umar was actually a closet treehugger?! (Update: It seems that Umar has changed his background to white. Somehow he must have gotten a leaked copy of the Gold Star awards and made this change to embarrass and spite us. We will not be intimidated. Truth be told, the results of the annual Gold Star awards are the third most coveted item on the web, trailing only pics of Bristol Palin's baby and Windows 7)

Updated Winner: MrEspy - hey, eventhough his blog is garbage, at least it's environmentally friendly garbage.

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Freddie Kruger Award - To the blogger best able to conjure up the most frightening images.

Winner: Achelois - Lice-filled eyebrows and ungroomed armpits?! One year on and I still get chills when I see a desi Auntie walk into a room. Bonus points for her freaky self-portrait on the blog header - she looks like some statue. Suroor, I've got some cream that'll really soften up that rough skin!

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The George W Bush Blogging award - To the blogger with the most confusing blog posts.

Winner: Dunner - For this series of mind-numbing posts relating to Drum Corps ranking. Are they like the folks from the Peace Corps, but with drums? And they have rankings?!

And what's with all those Bedtime Music posts? Why are you constantly trying to put me to sleep? Listen bro, if I wanted to fall asleep, I'd go over to MuslimMatters and read Amad's exposition on the Miller-Modigliani Theorem as it relates to Islamic Finance.

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The Pakistani Stud award - For the most oxymoronic blog. Like a wise man once told me, 'If you wish to be a moron, better to be of the Oxy variety than the Balti'. (Natives of Baltimore are often lovingly referred to as Baltimorons, at least that's what my friends told me when I walked in on their conversation talking about me.)

Winner: aThinkingMuslim - what does a unicorn, a US president that will bring real change, and a thinking Muslim have in common? They're all figments of our imagination. (Hey yeah folks, I'll be here all week!)

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Best Muslim blog dedicated to an extinct Empire - For the blog that immediately comes to mind when you hear Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye (Lofty Ottoman State)

Winner: Yursil - for every other post dedicated to the Ottoman Empire. I mean, for God's sake, he's even got a post about some computer software that generates Ottoman music. Hey, I got an idea, how about a computer program that makes you stop pretending to be a Turk and start acting like the ABCD you really are?!

Fun Fact #1: Did you know that if you google Ottoman and Yursil, our good friend's blog comes up #1? Fun Fact #2: They actually have an entry at Wikipedia dedicated to explaining the term ABCD. Reason #3,622 why I love Wikipedia!

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The Petticoat Junction Award - In memory of this classic black and white TV show that I actually enjoyed when I was a kid, this award goes to the blogger who painfully reminds me of my old age.

Winner: MuslimKid - Anyone who writes on the stresses of Sunday School and pressures of puppy love makes me feel very old. Really very old.

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The Wilford Brimley Award - For the blogger who thankfully reminds me 'at least I'm not as old as THAT dude'. You'll note that no women bloggers were included in this category. There are some sacred grounds that one simply cannot venture into.

Winner: Darvish - Ya Haqq!
Runner-up: Dunner - Anyone who...Wait a sec, the dude just had his first child. My oldest (of three) is 10. Maybe he should be in the previous category?!

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The 2008 Detroit Lions Award (for the international audience who have no clue who the Lions are, this award is called the Saudi Arabia-in-every-FIFA-World-Cup Award) - In celebration of teams that can never win, this award goes to the blogger who always loses.

Winner: Captain Chaos - For his various posts detailing the innovative ways he finds to lose an argument to his wife. For the love of God, win an argument man! You'd think with a WWF name like Captain Chaos, the brother would pull some superfly-Snuka move and win just once.

Runner-up: Achelois - For getting nominated three times in the past two years for that other blogging award (rhymes with Fast Pheasant) and having nothing to show for it. Let's setup a cage match with Achelois and Captain Chaos...I'd pay top dollar to find out who the biggest loser is. We could sell exclusive broadcast rights to HalalTube. Tell me I'm not the only one thinking this...

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Best Blog by a Sister from New Orleans living in Dubai - Because we noticed a blatant gender bias in the awards, we added this token category to appease our female constituency. Please send all notes of appreciation to my personal email femlib4ever@gmail.com.

Winner: Izzy Mo - Good job sister. Keep up the good work being the best New Orleansian blogging sister living in Dubai. I haven't tried it, but I bet if you google New Orleans, Dubai, Izzy, and Blog, you'll be #1. Correct that, I just tried and you've got the top 5 results!! No small feat I tell ya. Bask in your sunlight. Muslimah+New Orleans+Dubai+Blogging=EPIC WIN of the Gold Star variety.

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The Miss Spelling Award - Dedicated to the blogger who forgot to spellcheck the title of his blog.

Winner: Mujahideen Ryder - I’ll admit I’m no spelling bee champ, but I'm guessing it's spelled Rider. Either that or you must have some sort of endorsement deal with the moving truck company. We'll cut you some slack since I hear you're a half Baltimoron.

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Ted Haggard Award - To the blogger who constantly denounces an oppressed minority while secretly harboring traits of said minority.

Winner: Sophister - for all his FOB jokes, me thinks our good friend is trying to cover up for some FOB-related deficiency. Anyone ever hear the dude speak?? Yeah, me neither. Sophister, clear your name by sending me an audio clip of you saying 'I love my wife's volkswagon, Yaar'.

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Favorite Blogging Stage Name - To the blogger who came up with the most imaginative blogging name.

For the first time ever in the long history of the Gold Star Awards, we have an unprecedented tie in this category.

Winner: Aziz Poonawalla. Very cool name you got there bro, but if I had to make one up, I woulda gone with Bloggerwalla. Just makes more sense. Kinda like a dentist renaming himself Dr. Dekay or Les Plack or a comedian named Joe Kerr.

Winner: Marc Manley. Perfect screen name for nikaah.com, but I can see its utility in the blogging world as well. After all, you just got married, no? To a blogging sister no less!

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Get-a-Real-Job award - Celebrating the blogger with the most free time on his hand.

Is there any doubt who the undisputed champion is? :-)

Have a great 1430/2009 everyone!

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*Please refrain from displaying our trademarked logo beyond 2009. Do not force us to pursue legal means. We will prosecute to the furthest extent of the law.

So the Arab League has convened an "emergency meeting" to address the Israeli strikes on Gaza while the UN Security Council is debating a draft resolution demanding a cease-fire.

Nothing new there. These pompous, self-appointed organizations have to go through the motions to feign interest and maybe even outrage at the suffering in Gaza.

The new twist comes from the protesting masses who have traditionally targeted Israel and America but are now directing some of their anger towards their own leaders. I saw in Al-Jazeera some Egyptian lady yelling at the top of her lungs, with her face turning red, "Where are our Arab Leaders???"

And that is truly unfortunate.

Why are we so good at deflecting blame and looking for a scapegoat to our problems?

I previously wrote about this terribly ugly trait we have embodied as a defeated Ummah:

"And then we have the audacity to claim that the problem lies with our leaders, as if the mere act of replacing them will remove the infestation within us. It will not. We claim that if we cut off the head of the snake it will die. It will not.

Because our leaders are not like the head of the snake. They are more like the tail of the lizard. Cut off the tail and another will grow. More importantly, the lizard will always remain. We the masses are the lizard.

We blame them for controlling us with their iron fists. We blame the West for supporting them with their political backing. We blame the IMF and the World Bank for financing them. We blame and we blame.

But we never blame ourselves for failing to hold them accountable. And we never blame ourselves for failing to hold *ourselves* accountable.

We have become lizards."

Fellow blogger Izzy Mo said it well in her recent post:

"“Verily, God does not change the condition of a people until they change themselves.”

Until we get our act together, we will continue to be in this pathetic state."

How to address our pathetic state? Let's start with these time-tested suggestions.

With everyone focusing on the death and suffering of the Palestinians, we have unfairly forgotten the plight of the Israeli citizens. But thankfully, God has blessed us with journalistic flag bearers such as the Washington Post, who have chosen to highlight the suffering of the 'other side'.

Why are we being inundated with horrific body counts and gruesome images of Palestinians while the innocent citizens, such as the dear Mrs. Schwartz who was forced to cancel her Hanukkah party due to the threat of rocket attacks, are being ignored??

"She had planned a Hanukkah party on Saturday for the children in the kibbutz. But the Israeli military issued an order for all residents to stay inside their homes. So she had to cancel the party. "I feel bad. You have to explain to the kids why you can't live a normal life," she said. "Every day I walk five kilometers around the kibbutz," she added. "Today, I didn't. I was scared.""

God bless the Washington Post for having the guts to publish her grueling side of the story. Where is the humanity when a 48-yr old mother of four is forced to cancel her daily 5-km walk????

And that's not it folks. Mrs. Schwartz pointed to proof that the Palestinians are heathens who care nothing for peace:

"Schwartz pointed at a crater from a rocket that landed near the kibbutz's office and tore a hole in the sidewalk."

How can the citizens of Israel be expected to walk on the streets with holes riddling their sidewalks?? How inhumane!

And let's not forget poor Mr. Langere, who is suffering the trauma of his community garden gone to waste:

"Langere lamented as he sat outside his white house looking at the weeds and mud patches in the communal area. "It used to be very nice. Now, it is a catastrophe. Now, you see no grass, no birds.""

No grass? No birds? Such a "catastrophe" must not go unpunished!

"From here, we send a blessing to the Israeli government and the soldiers to strengthen themselves and continue what they are doing to bring peace in the area so that we can go back to our lives," the city's mayor, Yehiel Zohar,"

Preach Mayor! May God give them the strength to ensure that the grass and the birds returns and Mrs. Schwartz can resume her daily walks.

No matter what the cost.

While our collective disgust with the cowardly air attacks on Gaza is warranted (can you say shooting fish in a barrel?), let's not forget that our brethren in Gaza had been suffering for long before these terrorist attacks. Ali Abunimah says it well:

"But today's horrific attacks mark only a change in Israel's method of killing Palestinians recently. In recent months they died mostly silent deaths, the elderly and sick especially, deprived of food and necessary medicine by the two year-old Israeli blockade calculated and intended to cause suffering and deprivation to 1.5 million Palestinians, the vast majority refugees and children, caged into the Gaza Strip. In Gaza, Palestinians died silently, for want of basic medications: insulin, cancer treatment, products for dialysis prohibited from reaching them by Israel."

Read the entire article and get a better understanding of the Israeli understanding of a truce:

"Under an Israeli-style truce, Palestinians have the right to remain silent while Israel starves them, kills them and continues to violently colonize their land."

In reality, Israel has never wanted real peace. Their existence is based on a perpetual state of conflict. That's why whenever a ceasefire or a lull in the tension lasts too long, they'll agitate the Palestinians by carrying out an assassination of a local leader or some other unprovoked act of stupidity. The political entity of Israel needs to justify its settlement expansions, oppressive policies, tight control of borders, and so on all in the name of security - and that can only be accomplished with a backdrop of violence and mayhem.

Frustration is abound all over. Let us all focus our energies back to our Creator and pray for His Mercy to descend on those who wish for nothing but a peaceful life in which they can worship Him properly.

I've written on this before (here and here), but its worth repeating over and over again: American-style consumerism is a dangerous virus that is dragging the entire world down with them. The current financial crisis is merely the latest manifestation of the sickness. This article sums up the dilemma quite well - the pursuit of happiness has been replaced with the pursuit of comfort, the comfort supplied by gadgets and goods.

It's very interesting how he compares the Hajj stampedes to the recent stampede at Wal-Mart that killed one and injured several others. The religion of consumerism is no different than other religions, even celebrating its very own holidays (Black Friday).

One noteworthy difference is that extremism is much more rampant in the religion of the free market than other traditional religions.

However, the more crucial difference between the two, religion and consumerism, is that the latter simply can never provide true happiness. Goods need to constantly be replenished with newer goods:

"A consumer economy only works if consumption of goods provides only temporary pleasure. That is, if happiness is infinitely deferred, so that buyers continue to buy more and more goods and services. By definition, the consumer can never be satisfied, at rest or happy. Which means she will always feel lacking. The pursuit of this sort of happiness creates a vicious circle of growing anxiety and dissatisfaction."

He concludes by hitting the nail on the head when he describes the sheer shallowness propagated by the preachers of consumerism with the Seinfeld analogy:

"We are like the 30-something characters in Seinfeld, who know they are immature, who know they are avoiding the responsibility of building meaningful relationships and of leading meaningful lives - and who don't really care."

On a related not, I was a bit perturbed by the always entertaining Haleem who recently made a comment on the sad life suffered by villagers back in his home country of Bangladesh:

"Anything happens in the village the whole village will gather to watch. Seriously. They have no life, poor people"

That overly simple life that some may look down upon is no worse than the exciting, happening life we are mired in.

This is truly genius. How come no one has ever pointed this out to me before?

In fact, from now on I'm travelling with a matchbox as a kind courtesy to my lovely hosts. And yes, I *am* a very thoughtful guy, thank you very much.

So how about everyone jump on board this train before it passes them by and begin placing matchboxes in their bathrooms?

As for you desis who insist on cooking with lots of ghee and curry spices, how about placing TWO boxes under your ceramic thrones, mmkay? Or better yet, how about those emergency flare thingies...some of you brothaz could definitely benefit from those bad boys. Or maybe a flare gun. OK, I'm getting carried away, I'll end now.

1. Right when you thought it wasn't humanly possible for Bush to provide more fodder for his campaign to become the single most clueless person in the history of mankind, he gives this interview:

"I am the very last President not to really have to worry about YouTube" while campaigning for the White House, President Bush told RealClearPolitics in an exclusive Oval Office interview last week,..."The 'gotcha' moments in my campaign in the past were few and far between," the President recalled, noting that with the advent of YouTube candidates have to be "really careful" what they say or "you're liable to see yourself on the Internet, along with 20 million other people."

Thank God there aren't any YouTube vids featuring any of your 'gotcha' moments. Yeah, you really lucked out there buddy!

2. John Kerry was recently visiting Pakistan and when talking about the group allegedly behind the Mumbai attacks, made this telling declaration:

"The country stands before a "moment of change in people's attitudes and thinking" toward militants, Sen. John Kerry said Tuesday in Islamabad.

Pakistan must see that Lashkar-e-Taiba has "morphed into a more al-Qaida-esque and radicalized entity" that is damaging the country's interests, said Kerry, incoming chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee."

He went on to denounce Pakistan for its role in creating the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, calling on the nation to cease using militant groups as foreign policy tools.

Pot meet Kettle.

And to think, he was able to say it with a straight face, fully cognizant of the US role in supporting shadowy militant proxies the world over.

Al-Qaida-esque, you say? I wonder who was the prime supporter of *that* militant group in the 80's?

When will the US stop trekking all over the world, lecturing the natives against practices longtime established in their own foreign policies?

3. I never got around to commenting on this when it was in the headlines, but did you all laugh as much as I did when reading about the CEOs of the Big Three (GM, Ford, Chrysler) pledging to work for $1 a year??!

What a bunch of phony insincere rascals!

I wonder how many of the public were duped by this 'magnanimous' gesture? While they may cut their annual salary down to $1, they'll be sure to cash in with their stock options, bonuses, and special executive incentives.

Check out this Slate article exposing these criminals. Although it was written back in 2003 about the dot com CEOs, the same con game lives on in 2008.

4. Did you all pick up on the game of semantics being played with the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq? In order to maintain his campaign promise of withdrawing all US forces within 16 months, Obama and his administration are creating a difference between 'combat' troops and 'support' troops.

So any troops that will remain in Iraq after 16 months will cease to be combat troops - they'll magically transform into 'support' troops - sorta like those AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) support groups where they all sit in circles and talk about their difficulties.

Not even president yet and you're already breaking campaign promises. Real smooth Obama...real smooth.

Read it regularly.

Read it so often that when a friend calls you up out of the blue and asks you when was the last time you read the Quran, your answer doesn't embarrass you.

In this short yet comprehensive interview with Wayne Madsen, he provides an excellent 5min summary on the major players involved in the Congo crisis. Plus he provides this little tidbit:

"It's much easier to loot a country when it has a destabilized government and various warring factions. You don't have to deal with one central government - you can deal with whatever warlord is controlling whatever diamond or gold mine you're trying to exploit."

That's exactly what I wrote in a previous post where I detailed the roots of the war in Congo.

BTW, be sure to bookmark the Real News Network. They've got amazing news reports with perspectives you'll never find in the MSM.

Check out these links:

Here's a new blog that I found has some interesting views: A Thinking Muslim. While I may disagree with much he says, I think its always important to maintain a dialogue with those who hold contrasting views.

Marc writes an interesting post calling out those amongst us who are constantly criticizing the Muslim community for its lack of manhood (as narrowly defined by them). While I can empathize with those calling for Muslim men to start acting more like men, Marc does make a valid point that the Ummah clearly has room for variations in the way we we implement 'manhood'.

Sr. Sidra at Healing Heart has a nice post featuring a tafseer of sorts on the famous song "Row, row, row your boat". Very interesting Islamic spin on this childhood favorite.

Here is an amazingly on-point article discussing the top 3 reasons why marriages fail for men. His first point is so absolutely true - I don't even know what his other two points were. It's ALL about the nafs people. As he mentioned in the article, you MUST lay down your nafs to let it get stepped on by your wife. I just can't imagine that a loving relationship is possible without that element of forced humility.

BTW, I don't think this applies to most women, since by their very nature, they are always giving in and sacrificing for the good of the family.

And one last link for some fun. Check out this audio illusion called the Virtual Haircut. It's a bit dated (I heard it last year), but maybe some folks haven't heard it yet. Be sure to plug in your headphones (the illusion is greatly diminished with speakers) and make sure it's silent in the room. Let's see if you can go through the entire audio without laughing out loud! :-)

*Check out this site for more cool Holophonic sounds.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse in Somalia...

1. The US is trying to push through a UN resolution allowing any nation fighting piracy to "take all necessary measures ashore in Somalia, including in its airspace". This would make Somalia officially a no-holds-barred, full-time war zone - as if it wasn't already.

2. BBC is reporting that more than 80% of Somalia's forces (almost 15,000 officers and soldiers) have deserted their posts and almost 70% of the funding for the government's security budget has disappeared amidst major corruption.

3. And in the weirdest twist of all, according to CNN more than a dozen Somali-American youth have returned to their home of origin to take part in the war. Although their plans are shrouded in mystery, they were most likely convinced to go back and partake in the jihad on the side of the Islamic Courts against the warlords and the Ethiopian occupiers.

Not sure what to make of this last bit of news. While I fully support the struggle of the Islamic Courts in trying to bring a semblance of peace and security to their war-torn nation, I'm not sure it's the wisest of tactics for American youth to go there to fight. Their energy and exuberance could have been channeled so much more productively if they had stayed in the US and actively participated in their local communities. Surely there is no dearth of work on the local front.

But on the other hand, I can see where that logic may lead us down the slippery slope of lazily justifying our lethargy when it comes to taking action. After all, if Somalia is not a proper arena for real Jihad against oppression and injustice, then what is?

What happened to the days when armies were mobilized from one side of the Muslim world in order to redress an injustice carried out on the other side of the Muslim world?

In these confusing times, may Allah (swt) guide us all to what is best!

I am very much enamored by the palm tree as there is so much to learn from it. The little amount of water that it needs to subsist is an important lesson for all of us, in this day and age of extreme consumption.

Additionally, I've seen enormous palm trees being transported on the back of large 18-wheeler trucks, revealing how their roots never go too deep into the soil - teaching us to also never entrench ourselves too deep into this world.

But most amazing of all is the way the palm tree dies. Oh, how I wish to die in a similar state!

When they die, most other trees remain erect and upright. However, I was truly taken aback when I saw how the palm tree dies in a form of bowing or even prostration. I pray I am able to meet my Lord in such a state of submission.









Let us strive to live in a state of dhikr so we can die in a state of dhikr!

We all know the history of the CIA in Afghanistan during the 80's. We all know how they trained, funded, and armed the Afghan mujahideen against the Russian occupiers. We all know how America had little humanitarian concern for the Afghan well-being, but rather used them as pawns in the Cold War.

So does it surprise us when we look at Darfur as another playing field in this on-going war of international politics. The venue has shifted and the enemy is different, but the game is the same. Instead of Afghanistan, it's now Sudan. Instead of Russia, it's now China. Instead of America, it's...oh wait...that's the same.

You see, while Sudan may not mean so much to America, it's a major business partner with China. This pesky relationship is built on massive infrastructure construction projects, huge military contracts, and of course oil. China is eyeing Sudan as a primary source of energy to source its economic growth.

That being said, is it beyond the scope of reason that the rebel groups (Sudan Liberation Army, Justice and Equality Movement*, and others) are being instigated by outside forces for the purpose of destabilizing Sudan. Has not America supported 'rebel groups' across Central America and South America in the past, turning a blind eye to the ensuing devastation, so long as her own interests were served? Why would Darfur be any different?

With the continuing genocide taking place in Darfur, the UN has attempted a handful of times to enact economic sanctions, with China calling upon its veto power to ensure the sanctions remain only on paper. After all, a Sudan handcuffed by economic sanctions would be a crippling blow to China.

I alluded to a similar strategy taking place in DR Congo, where outside forces are undoubtedly playing a major role in sustaining an atmosphere of instability. Only difference being that while DR Congo is a financially-motivated war (reaping the profits from subterranean natural resources), the Darfur crisis is a geopolitically-motivated war (hamstringing the growing Chinese threat).

I'm not defending any of the atrocities carried out in Sudan nor am I absolving China for their role in arming the Sudanese government. I'm simply saying there is much more to this crisis than many care to know. It's so much easier to create a good-v-evil campaign with Sudan and China playing the bad guys and George Clooney and America playing the good guys. But the reality is never so black and white.

So let's stop with the overly simplistic presentation of the Darfur crisis as some ragtag rebels and freedom fighters versus evil 'Arab' Janjaweed militias and the Sudanese government, and let's look at it with a more critical eye, focusing on political interests and international alliances.

*It's worth noting that the rebel group JEM has attacked multiple China-run oil facilities in Sudan in recent years.

The nominations for this years Brass Crescent Awards are out...do check them out.

Fittingly, yours truly is not among the finalists, as it's simply not possible to categorize my astounding writing skills. Just not possible folks.

But I will go out on a ledge here and categorically declare that if there existed a category for best Muslim blog by an American-Muslim of Pakistani descent, living in Riyadh, with wife and three kids, one named Humza - I would most definitely win.

I think.

Today marks the first of the 12th month, Dhul-Hijjah, of the Islamic calendar. It has been reported that while the last 10 nights of Ramadan are the most blessed nights of the year, these first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah are the most blessed days.

Fast, Pray, and Worship all you can.

Do a search on the 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah and read up on the enormous blessings. Or just check out Organica's post.

squat [skwot]:
1. to sit in a low or crouching position with the legs drawn up closely beneath or in front of the body; sit on one's haunches or heels.
2. to crouch down or cower, as an animal.

Since I promised this person that I wouldn't use their name in the retelling of this tale, I will instead choose an anonymous acronym. Hmmm...let me think. This person is a woman and I find her very endearing. So let's call her Woman I Find Endearing (W.I.F.E).

Perfect. Anonymity preserved!
===

W.I.F.E: Where are all these annoying flies coming from?

Me: Maybe its the cold weather. They're looking for warmth, I guess.

W.I.F.E: Can't you just go buy a flysquatter and kill them all?

Me: Buy a what?

W.I.F.E: A flysquatter. You know, those things used to kill flies. Sheesh, were you like raised in a cave? You really ought to read more and expand your vocab...

Me: Excuse me, but were you raised to catch the flies and *sit* on them?

W.I.F.E: What're you talking about?!

Me: Uhmm, squat means to sit down and you called it a flysquatter. Its supposed to be called a flySWATTER.

W.I.F.E: Yeah, whatever. Same difference.

Me (laughing): Sure, I'll catch the fly and you can sit on it. Deal?

W.I.F.E: Ha...Ha. Very funny

After a brief moment of silence,

W.I.F.E: Just make sure this doesn't end up on your stupid blog. I know you have nothing else to write about...

Me: Hey now, I maintain a high standard on my blog.

W.I.F.E: Yeah, like putting up a picture of your son wearing all orange.

Me: Well played. Fine, I promise I won't include your name...

As a fly buzzes past me,

Me: Quick my dear Crouching Tiger, there's another fly, go jump on it!

When a friend who's borrowed some money has a heart attack and the first thought that comes to your mind is 'uh-oh, I'm not gonna see my money.'

How pathetic!

And to think, some of you thought my last post was too harsh. Now you understand?

I find a comfortable shaded spot on one of the countless laid out carpets with a perfect view of the Ka'bah. The heat of the Dhuhr sun has found many of the worshipers scurrying into the shade, away from the open courtyard directly surrounding the House of Allah (swt), resulting in a very serene image of the bright black cube contrasted by the glow of the empty white marble floor.

The simplicity of the black cube frees up the senses to allow for greater reflection on the Divine and His attributes. I focus my gaze on the House of Allah and allow my heart to roam free in this most sanctified of places.

I slowly close my eyelids, attempting to temporarily suspend all my senses - for where I wish to go, my eyes and ears are a distraction. In the sea of Divine remembrance, only the heart can swim.

As my head dips down between my chest and folded up legs, a thundering voice wakens me from my spiritual slumber.

“Who are you?”

Startled, I look up to see who would dare raise their voice in the quiet confines of the Haram.

“Who are you?” thunders the holy house of Allah. The Ka'bah has taken on eyes and a mouth and is staring right at me.

“Uhmmm...me? I-I'm Naeem”, I sputter.

“Ahh yes, we heard of your impending arrival.”

“Really?”

“Yes, the birds spoke of the heavy-handed one arriving this weekend.”

“Huh? ‘Heavy-handed’? What does that mean?”

“Are your hands not too heavy to raise in dua'a? Are your hands not too heavy to pick up the Quran? Are your hands not too heavy to give charity?"

My stomach grinds at the sound of those deeply hurtful words.

"But I, I've come to you, the House of Allah (swt), to purify myself and soften my heart."

"HA!", the Ka'bah laughs a resounding, haughty laugh.

"Soften your heart, you say? The winds talk of the long distances you travel to arrive here and how you constantly return in the same pathetic state you arrived. If that is not indicative of a hard heart, then what is? All the animals bear witness that the stench with which you arrive is the same as when you leave. If that is not reflective of a hard heart, then what is?”

“But, but...”, I stammer looking for some hope in the words of the ancient blessed house.

“It really pains me to see you here. The khalil of Allah stood before me with his beautiful wife and son, worshiping his Lord. The beloved of Allah bowed his head before me, proving his undying love for his Creator. The greatest generation lived and died on these hallowed grounds. And now, I am forced to suffer the ignominy of your presence. Woe am I!”

Stunned into silence, I struggle to elicit a defense, but nothing flows from my dry, parched mouth.

“Your stench as you approach me is unbearable. If only you could smell the foul odor of your nauseating actions! If only you could smell your sickening breath, a result of the filthy words that have sprung forth from your tongue! But instead you are oblivious to the wretched odors you generate; brashly convincing yourself that your insignificant good deeds will eventually overcome all the chaos you have wrought.”

Finally I break my silence, only to regret doing so a moment later. "I admit to my many weaknesses, but isn't my presence in this holy sanctuary a reflection of my hope for self-rectification?"

“Silence, you insolent fool! You come here thinking that your mere presence suffices? How arrogant! How ignorant! The sincerity of intention that was constantly embedded into each and every act of worship of your great ancestors is but a distant memory with scoundrels like you. You perform rukoo’ and sajdah in the same way you drink a cup of water – like a donkey. And when you finally find it in you to beg of our Creator, you ask with the same enthusiasm as when you ask a stranger for the time.”

Emotionally distraught, I wipe away the moistness in my eyes, causing my vision to blur, quietly hoping the Ka'bah would disappear.

“You have perpetrated the greatest lie when you continuously lie to your own self. You claim to love Allah, yet your every thought and action prove otherwise.”

Frustrated beyond control, I close my eyes and cover my ears hoping the voice would go away, but to no avail. The Ka'bah continues speaking and I continue listening.

"You hands are too heavy to raise while your head is too lofty to be humbled. How quickly you raise your head from sajdah! How quickly your lower your hands from dua'a! Where is the love you pretend to have for your one and only Lord?"

And just like that, the talking Ka'bah returns to its slumber, leaving me with my thoughts of despair and confusion. So with a heavy heart, abused by the verbal lashes of the Ka'bah, I turn to the One who will never spurn me. I raise my hands and cry to Allah:

"Ya Allah, You have promised to answer the prayers of the oppressed. Today I stand before you, having been stripped naked by Your beloved Ka'bah, and I proclaim that there is no soul more oppressed than mine. For my soul is being oppressed by the greatest tyrant of all - my own self. So I beg of you to free me from the chains of oppression that I have thrust upon myself. I beg of you to lift me from the dungeons of my depraved soul."

I pause, exhale a deep sigh - mentally exhausted and spiritually flustered, I feel bitter and resentful towards the Ka'bah for ruthlessly exposing my inner state while also acknowledging the therapeutic value of beating down my nafs.

I look up at the motionless Ka'bah, ponder over my feeble nature, spiritually overwhelmed by the weighted words of the Ka'bah, I feel nothing better to sum up my tormented state than the comprehensively simple prayer of our dear Prophet Musa with which he called on his Lord after he was run out of town:


"Oh my Lord, I am indeed miserably needy of the blessings You send down on me!" (28:24)

We all know that homosexuality is forbidden in Islam. There is no doubting that clear injunction in Islamic law. Nonetheless, the issue of gay marriages in America (see Prop 8) is posing an interesting quandary for American Muslims.

On the one hand, do we stand against the principle of homosexuality on moral grounds?

Or do we take a political stand and support gay marriages as such a stance would prove beneficial to our community in the long run, if ever our rights were threatened in a similar manner?

Br. Sabir Ibrahim writes an interesting post where he is of the latter opinion.

"Muslims’ status as a religious minority in this country thus weighs against extending support to any endeavor that would impose the dominant society’s values as law, even in instances where those values may agree with their own."

I know how this will sting many of our long-time accepted sensibilities, but I really think many of us should give this issue more thought. Most of us simply write it off as haram and cease to ponder over it. For so many of us, being gay is a greater sin than even kufr or shirk. However, the issue is much more than that.

Consider well the points presented by the author as he concludes his article:

“In order to progress and mature as a politically relevant community, Muslims must resist one-dimensional knee-jerk reactions to issues that are actually multi-faceted in nature. A Muslim stand against campaigns to ban same-sex marriage is not a show of support for homosexuals or homosexuality. Rather, it’s a stand against the agenda of the Christian Right, a stand against the imposition of the majority’s values on minority communities that many not share them, and a strategic move aimed at building the Muslim voice in America.”

Truth be told, I found some legitimacy in his argument. The rules of the game dictate strategic political alliances that would normally be unacceptable ('politics make for strange bedfellows').

However, I must admit that I simply can't accept his basic premise is being tenable. It seems as if he's suggesting that for the benefit of the fledgling Muslim-American community and its minority rights, we must stand up for the rights of other minorities - even if it means going against our beliefs.

Hmmm. Would he suggest the same if Muslims were in the majority?

While *he* may not, many American Muslims would have no problem outrightly rejecting such a proposition in a Muslim-majority society. And so I sense a strong tinge of hypocrisy combined with a dose of weakened principles, where we may support gay marriages (going against our moral principles) only because it may prove to be politically expedient.

But I want to take this a step further in exposing us for the weak Muslims we've become.

Let's play a game, shall we?

Pretend that sometime in the hypothetical future, a trend for public nudity was being pushed with the religious right countering by calling for the government to ban such immoral displays. Would the American Muslim community support governmental intrusion on an individual's choice of clothing (or lack of) or would we side with our political conscience and support public nudity, since supporting the naked folks against state intervention dictating their clothing norms is simultaneously supportive of the Muslimah's choice of wearing the hijab? After all, if Big Brother can decide what one must cover, he can also decide what one must NOT cover, right?

Poppycock.

I propose that we ALWAYS stand up for our moral principles, regardless of the political ramifications. And with the support and assistance from Allah (swt) alone, we will collectively deal with whatever fallout may occur in the future.

This issue is bigger than gay marriages. It's about American Muslim sticking to their principles. Whether its choosing the 'lesser of two evils', taking part in interfaith dialogues, buying into home mortgages or any other concessions we may have adopted in trying to integrate, our Islamic values must always trump everything else.

It's about the defeatist attitude that has begun to exude from our numbers: "If we don't compromise in such and such a manner, we won't be able to succeed in the West."

Sorry to get all preachy on you folks, but success is from Allah (swt) alone. Victory and defeat come from Allah (swt) alone.

And if in the process of sticking to your guns, life becomes too difficult, Allah (swt) has given us guidance:

"Surely (as for) those whom the angels cause to die while they are unjust to their souls, they shall say: In what state were you? They shall say: We were weak and oppressed in the earth. They shall say: Was not Allah's earth spacious, so that you should have migrated therein? So these it is whose abode is hell, and it is an evil resort" (4:97)

Oh, and do check out Sophister's take on the same issue. He's got some nice points.

If you never understood the concept of Disaster Capitalism, the raging conflict in DR Congo is a textbook case.

More than 80 per cent of the world's coltan is in Africa, and 80 percent of that lies in territory controlled by DR Congo's various ragtag rebel groups, armed militia and its corrupt and underfunded national army. Coltan is a key ingredient in the production of electronic devices such as laptops, personal digital assistant, and mobile phones. Additionally, the country has rich deposits of diamonds, gold, cobalt, timber, and other natural resources.

"the Democratic Republic of Congo has the world’s purest and largest deposits of strategic minerals, including gold, coltan, niobium, cobalt, heterogenite, columbite (columbium-tantalite or coltan), copper and iron. Heterogenite exports coming out of Congo are alone valued at between $260 million (at $20/lb.) and $408 million (at $30/lb.) every month. That’s between 3.1 and 4.9 billion dollars a year. Diamonds account for another billion dollars annually. Oil has been pumping off the Atlantic Coast for decades, but now oil and gas deposits are being exploited from the great lakes border region—Lake Kivu (methane gas) and Lake Albert (oil)—and deep in the province of Equateur. And then there are the dark rainforest woods that sell by the thousands monthly for around $6000 to $12000 per log." [source]

With the re-surge in violence in DR Congo over the past weeks, it presents us with another opportunity to revisit Naomi Klein's Disaster Capitalism.

Basically the theory starts off acknowledging that old-school colonialism is long dead and new-age colonialism (Iraq) is too costly. Thus new ways have to be created to continue feeding the insatiable capitalist system. The newest way is to either wait for a disaster to strike (Katrina, tsunami) or initiate/agitate for one (civil war, invasion) and then send in the economic vultures to scoop up the natural resources at bargain basement prices. The West as well as newcomer China have become masters in exploiting the shock of the victim for their economic gain.

"If the Congo were at peace and able to hold democratic elections, its citizens might gain control over its resources, either by claiming national ownership (as Iran and Venezuela do with their oil) or by regulating the multinational companies that seek to profit from those resources. The violent atmosphere, however, makes it impossible for the Congolese government to challenge corruption within or to exert any authority over multinationals seeking profits. It is thus in the interest of the multinational companies to keep the Congo at war.

And this intentional destabilization is precisely what has been happening. A panel of experts set up by the UN Security Council in 2000 issued a series of reports over the next few years describing how networks of high-level politicians from Congo and neighboring countries, military officers, and business people collaborated with various rebel groups to fuel violence in order to gain control over Congo's resources. For example, in 2002 the UN panel noted that as much as 60 to 70 percent of coltan in eastern Congo was mined under the surveillance of the Rwandan military, using the forced labor of Rwandan prisoners.

A 2003 follow-up report by the panel listed eighty-five multinational companies that had profited from the war in Congo, including six U.S.-owned companies: Cabot Corporation, Eagle Wings Resources International (a subsidiary of Trinitech International), Kemet Electronics Corporation, OM Group, and Vishay Sprague." [source]

The chaos has not only been taken advantage of by these corporations, but has also been spurred on by them. What is commonly written off as internal tribal strife or a primitive war over land, the complex conflict in central Africa is much more indicting of the western corporatocracy.

By enlisting the services of Rwanda and Uganda, long time allies of the US, to maintain an atmosphere of political instability and civil strife, business interests remain protected.

"Rwanda and Uganda are allies of the United States, some would even say they are client states to US and British interests. Both countries receive financial and military aid from the United States, World Bank and other Western institutions. This aid has continued unabated even during the invasions of the Congo. During a Congressional Hearing in 2001 held by Congresspersons Tom Tancredo and Cynthia McKinney, it was documented by experts under oath that the US provided military aid to Rwanda during its first invasion of Congo in 1996." [source]

"A 2003 United Nations investigation into the illegal exploitation of natural resources accused both Rwanda and Uganda of prolonging their armed incursions into Congo in order to continue their plunder." [source]

Another angle often overlooked in the analysis is that of the contracts signed between multinationals and DR Congo - contracts heavily favoring the corporations.

As stated in this video report by Dan Rather, in 2005 the cash-strapped Congolese government signed unbalanced contracts handing over share of its mineral-rich mines to no less than 60 foreign companies. These deals were so rotten that even the World Bank, themselves notorious for privatizing national resources the world over, criticized their "complete lack of transparency" and stated that the government "may not have received the full value of the mines".

He also reports how the US embassy in DR Congo had a strong role in pushing one of those crooked deals through, involving Arizona-based Freeport-McMoran, one of the largest copper companies in the world. US support didn't just stop there. A US government agency by the name of Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) supported Freeport with $400million of financing for the projects.

However, those contracts are now under investigation by Congolese president Joseph Kabila.

"In a 2002 report, the U.N. alleged that many foreign mining companies, eager to exploit the lack of a strong central government in Kinshasa and avoid paying fair market value and taxes on the minerals they extracted, signed contracts with commanders from the invading countries as well as with then-President Laurent Kabila, who was struggling to cling to power in the face of the international onslaught. These contracts almost universally favored the mining companies. That is, until May of last year. In a move that sent ripples through the DRC mining community, the government announced that 63 mining contracts, many of them signed during the civil war of the late '90s, would be reviewed by a special ministerial committee." [source]

One wonders whether the current violence in DR Congo has anything to do with the review undertaken by the current Kabila administration of those 60+ mining contracts.

"Kabila’s government has taken the opportunity of a major review of mining contracts to terminate contracts with US, European and Australian companies in favour of Chinese firms. Few companies are prepared to discuss their position in Congo, but those under threat include First Quantum Minerals, Freeport McRoRan, BHP Billiton and Anvil Mining. Vast mineral reserves may be handed over to Chinese firms in the government review." [source]

So folks, be on the lookout for any military intervention sponsored by the UN, the US, or Europe. After all, business interests must be protected.

'Any armed “humanitarian” mission to Congo would be a thin disguise for a naked imperialist intervention that was intent on pillaging the resources of this mineral rich country.' [source]

Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reminded the world in his January 2008 interview with the Financial Times of London that “The international community has systematically looted the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and we should not forget that.”

Let us not forget that the root of the conflict in DR Congo is not a civil war. It is not local tribes jostling for control of subsurface resources. It is not about redressing injustices carried out in the Rwanda genocide (as justified by Rwanda president Kagame who has 'has vowed to root out the Hutu militias from eastern Congo').

It is a contrived conflict intent on destabilizing the region and shocking the locals while the international community plunders and loots.

No, not Obama.

This guy, Davis Fleetwood:



I won’t go so far as to say that Obama’s foreign policy is equal to the Bush doctrine, but clearly there is more than “a smidgen of commonality”.

Like a caged up wild animal, we too are enslaved. We are restricted by our lower desires. We are imprisoned by the insidious machinations of shaytan. We are confined by the attractions of this alluring world.

All the while thinking we are free.

The caged beast acknowledges its condition, constantly looking for a way to free itself. What about us?

We must aspire for true freedom.

We must free ourselves from our spiritual shackles.

And when the wild animal sees an opening, it pounces on the opportunity, never looking back, never thinking twice.

We, too, must make the jump. We, too, must flee to freedom. We must flee to the Source of freedom, Allah (swt). We must run without any hesitation. We must escape our chains of spiritual bondage.

Thus flee towards Allah (51:50)

Where else are you going to flee?

Who else is more merciful and compassionate?

Did He not command his prophet Musa to speak words of gentleness and softness to the defiant one (Pharaoh) who so arrogantly claimed to be the lord, most high (20:44)?

Then what about us, who humbly prostrate ourselves while glorifying Allah the most High? Will Allah not show us even greater gentleness and softness?

So indeed, we all should flee back to Allah, where we shall find true freedom.

And never look back.

I know I’ve been drilling this for the past few days, so I promise this will be my last post on the issue…for now. :-)

Dissident Voice has a nice article about the recent controversy surrounding Chomsky and Zinn supporting a vote for Obama. Check it out people. The writer ends the article with these strong words: "A vote for either John McCain or Barack Obama is—at best—an act of criminal negligence."

However, I was much more intrigued by the leading quote used in the article:

“You don’t stick a knife in a man’s back nine inches, and then pull it out six inches, and say you’re making progress.”
– Malcolm X

I see this as a perfect analogy representing the choice being made by anyone deciding between the two candidates. Obama supporters are essentially saying that pulling the knife out six inches is the best we can do.

I say we leave the knife all the way in until the poor sap figures out how to fight back. *That’s* the change we need!

A commenter on my previous post asked what alternative solutions do I propose (instead of voting Obama) and I responded that third party alternatives exist, as well as countless other grassroots organizations that are struggling for real change.

I find it truly objectionable when people respond that a vote for any third party candidate is a wasted vote. Why have we accepted this predicament where only two parties are representative of the broad spectrum of the American people? Isn't that the real question? We're accepting defeat when we allow the debate to be framed between these two parties. They do NOT represent all the varying views that exist.

We need to step outside the preset parameters of the Repub-Dem debate. Its not about Obama versus McCain. Its about the masses versus the elite.

Educate yourself with this debate between presidential candidates, Ralph Nader and Chuck Baldwin. Although I don't necessarily agree on all the issues with these candidates, I stand behind any and every attempt at busting the two-party mafia that runs America.



[Youtube Link]

The real shame is that most people will never watch this debate. They need 30-sec soundbites or else their ADD kicks in.

I’ve posted before on the hollowness of Obama and his campaign for ‘change’. Pigs will fly before he confronts the three-headed dragon of racism, materialism, and militarism that has wreaked havoc across the American landscape.

However, in this post I wanted to focus on another argument peddled by Muslims supporting Obama – namely, he’s the lesser of two evils.

Sorry folks, but that is such a defeatist attitude.

Instead of arguing about the need to change the crooked system that insanely refers to itself as a democracy and claims to stand for freedom and justice, American Muslims are justifying participation with this weak-minded logic of ‘lesser of two evils’.

Muslims must stand for their principles, as exemplified by our most perfect teacher (saw).

Have we forgotten how the Prophet (saw) rejected participation in the crooked Meccan political system? Did he not out-rightly reject their power-sharing deal, later responding with the famous words: Even if they (Quraish leaders of Mecca) were to place the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left, I will never join them nor will I ever desist from my message?

Then how come we are so quick to partake in an American political system that puts to shame the shenanigans of the Meccans?

I’m not arguing whether its halal or haram to partake in the political process. I’m simply talking about good ‘ol common sense.

Listen, even if the Prophet (saw) himself were standing for the President of the US, I wouldn’t vote for him. No one man can ever make a difference from within a crooked system. The Prophet understood that and that’s why he rejected participation. His struggle was to replace the rotten core - lock, stock, and barrel, instead of trying to reform it from within.

Those Muslims who are intent on exercising their right to vote by choosing the lesser of two evils would be better off focusing their energies on exposing this corporatocracy, as John Perkins of ‘Confessions of an Economic Hitman’-fame so aptly refers to it.

Simply choosing to ‘live in dignity’ as an American Muslim is burying your head in the sand ostrich-style. Simply declaring that we are ‘free’ to worship our Lord is not sufficient. Simply washing our hands of the crimes perpetrated by our adopted homeland is not sufficient.

I’m not calling for the shariah. I’m merely calling for basic justice.

The truth of the matter is that justice will be never be implemented by the current system of governance in the US. The powers-that-be will never allow for true justice to prevail. True justice has a price tag they are not willing to pay and requires a sacrifice they are not willing to make.

This is about decades of underhanded oppression that have strangled the peoples of South America, Africa, and Asia.
This is about pushing consumerism to the max, ignoring all social, economical, and environmental ramifications.
This is about supporting (and even installing) despotic regimes all over the world.
This is about the economical hamstringing of the entire Third World by the G8 countries (ingeniously using the IMF and World Bank).
This is about supporting anti-democratic forces against the democratically elected governments of Bolivia, Palestine, and Venezuela (to name a few).
This is about the cancerous banking system that has spread all over the world.
This is about a military-industry juggernaut that has wreaked global chaos with power and greed fuelling its ambitions.
This is about continuously expanding the gulf between the haves and the have-nots, within America and throughout the world.

(BTW, these injustices have taken place under the watch of both parties alike, Democrats and Republicans, so what kind of change are you expecting with Obama again?)

Confronting and ending these injustices is the change we REALLY need.

And sadly, all we American Muslims are concerned with is our ability to build Islamic schools, freely attend the local masjid, wear the hijab unharassed, and vote for Obama.

Fine, ignore the real struggle. Go ahead and claim that you’re doing your part by voting for the lesser of two evils - Just lemme know how the sand tastes down there.

If I had to create a list of the greatest blessings of being married, this would most definitely be in the top five.

You see, we have these little baby blankets all over the house – perfect snuggle blankets – very soft and just the perfect size. And me being the master-napper, I’m the ideal recipient of these blankets during my post-work siesta. So when my wife comes over and spreads the blanket and tucks me in, just as I’m gently floating into my glossy dream world, I can honestly say I’ve tasted heaven on earth.

But recently that rarely ever happens. ‘Cause after 15 years of marriage, I’m happy if she simply throws me the folded-up blanket from across the room.

So for you young couples out there, this is an easy way to get brownie points with your slumbering spouses. And for you older ones, just try and aim for the feet when you throw the blanket. We nappers would be much obliged!

We’re always reading about reporters embedding with the US forces or the coalition forces, but here’s a piece of real journalism where the reporter is embedded with the Taliban.

A real must-read folks.

My problem with the jihad being waged by the Taliban is illustrated in this passage of the article:

“Ibrahim's recent injury, it turns out, was the result of a clash between his forces and a group of foreign fighters under the command of Dr. Khalil. The foreigners wanted to close down a girls' school, sparking a battle. Two Arabs and 11 Pakistanis commanded by Dr. Khalil had been killed by Ibrahim's men.”

These fighters may spend most of their time praying in the masjid (as mentioned in the article), but they have no problem turning around and killing each other over differences in religious interpretation.

How very typical of this Ummah.

When it’s all said and done and the US negotiates a face-saving withdrawal (involving both the Afghan government and the Taliban), I fear the end result of this latest episode in Afghanistan will be the same in-fighting that erupted when the Russians were expelled in the 90’s. But instead of greedy warlords aspiring for power, it will be jihadi zealots claiming religious authority over each other.

That’s what you get when hearts are not transformed, choosing instead to force change from the outside in.

And about all this talk of a surge in Afghanistan, I like what was written in the article:

"More troops are not the answer," a senior United Nations official in Kabul tells me. "You will not make more babies by having many guys screw the same woman."

My good friend Marc at his Manrilla blog mentioned in a recent post the story of a third generation American Muslim who has basically left Islam. While the grandfather remains a practicing Muslim, the parents are more or less lax in their adherence and so the college-age grandchild has taken on the predominant American attitude towards religion – indifference.

About said individual, Marc made the following interesting remarks:

“By coming and staying in America [i.e., his identity forming here] and his parents not being full-time practitioners, their religious practice tapered off to reflect their environment, where there were no secondary or tertiary enforcements to inform his religious consciousness.”

And that, folks, is one of my greatest worries in raising children in the West – that lack of ‘secondary and tertiary enforcements’ that are readily available in Muslim countries.

From the adhan heard throughout the day to the social pressures against the hard sins (drinking, fornicating, etc.) to the ease in donning Islamic clothing to the non-issue of praying in public, I feel many Western Muslims are overlooking the importance of these peripheral factors.

By themselves, I admit, they are relatively insignificant. But in the larger context of creating an Islamic persona, their significance cannot be emphasized enough. Particularly when the primary enforcements (ie. parents) are lethargic (or maybe even ineffective) in their efforts to impart an Islamic ethos to the child.

Does such apathy towards religion exist in the Muslim world? Of course. But as of yet (and it may change), it’s not socially acceptable and definitely not celebrated. An atheist or an agnostic in the Muslim world would have to stay ‘in the closet’ or suffer social ostracization. Freedom of religion be damned.

It wouldn’t surprise me if the grandchild (or even the child) of the student cited above would one day openly renounce Islam and convert to another religion.

Regardless of how un-Islamic Muslim society has become, what are the chances of that ever happening in a Muslim country?

Thinking to awaken the blog after my Ramadan hiatus...lots to write about, just wondering if any loyal readers are still around....

I pray Allah blesses Muslims around the world with a Ramadan full of forgiveness and mercy.

I will be taking off to focus on internal inconsistencies and festering flaws. May I humbly suggest you do the same.