great going to the airport in the morning... better leave early may need some extra "Random" checks

Sh. Hamza's Eid Khutbah:



Imam Zaid's Eid khutbah

The first 1:30 minutes are arabic then in English.

Thank you for posting this rahmaa.

Jackie

I heard this on the news this morning. From what I have heard there are people that are claiming that it is talking about Islam and Satan, and that it is "spouting hate". WTF?? The only thing I heard it say is "Islam is the light". Is that spouting hate? Okay I understand that any type of religious message should be stated as such on the box, but isn't this being blown out of proportion a bit?

http://www.thecooljew.net/2008/10/target-s...m-is-light.html

I think that the doll also says "Satan is king" and that's where some of the hubbub is coming from. They just didn't show it on the video. In any event who the heck would program a doll to say anything religious whatsoever unless it was marketed that way? Very weird!!!! I wonder if she really does say "Islam is the light" though. "is the light" is discernable but the word "Islam" isn't. She might be saying something else.

I didn't hear anything about "Satan is the King", and you would think that they would have shown that on the news clip if they are going to claim that it is spouting hate.

Does it make you wonder if someone did intentionally program the dolls to say those things, are is it simply a misunderstanding of what the doll is actually saying?

I don't know if I would have heard that phrase had I not been expecting it. People hear what they expect to hear. I work in closed captioning where we transcribe television programs, and quite frequently, one of us will listen to a phrase over and over and still not understand what is being said. We call a coworker in to listen to that snippet, but we don't tell them what we think we are hearing because then their brain will expect to hear that. Most of the time, someone with a fresh ear can step in and hear it clearly, and it's often nothing like what the original listener thought it might be.

This stuff pops up every few years with these silly talking dolls and their indistinct mechanical voices. Wasn't Elmo or some other talking doll supposed to be saying something Satanic several years ago? Back then, there were Satanists lurking around every corner waiting to kidnap and sacrifice innocent kids. Pedophiles were supposedly sneaking sexual language into Disney dolls. Now Muslims are gonna brainwash the unsuspecting babies, oh noes! There are plenty of talking dolls out there legitimately marketed as using religious language. To suggest that Fisher-Price is somehow trying to implant a phrase into a child's brain and "turn 'em Muslim" is pure nonsense. Even if it were some big plot to introduce kids to Islam at an early age, why on earth would they throw in the "Satan is King" part?? What Muslim believes that? This whole thing just demonstrates where people's current prejudices and fears lie and who the bogeyman of the day is.

A telling experiment would be to put the phrase in a sound file and ask several individuals with "unpolluted" ears what they thought the doll was saying. I'll bet you'd get as many answers as you had listeners.

I vaguely remember where they were claiming there were phrases in Disney videos, but I don't remember at the moment the context of those phrases.

I think you are right, they need to test it without planting ideas in their heads. Of course no one from the Islam faith would have recorded "Satan is the king" if the goal was to convert anyone into Islam. I guess if someone was out to make Islam look bad they might have done this. But that would really be overboard.

yeah i remember that.... but don't remember who or what doll said it

Perhaps it was a disgruntled employee that just started a rumor. Who really knows. It is just a shame when a religion has to become a target.

well where I work the phrase is "cash is king".

Maybe if they programmed every doll on earth with that phrase eventually we'd climb out of this economic nightmare that we're in today.

lol

Gotta question has anyone seen anything on how the Umma is going with the presidential elections?

From what I've read on various blogs a lot are pro-Obama, though I'm not sure why. He was being accused of being Muslim at one point and vehemently denied it. fine, but why not also vehemently state that there's nothing at all WRONG with being Muslim?

You hit the nail on the head. I was thinking the same thing. I suspect he feels that way but the way a large amount of Americans view Muslims it could possibly cause him to lose votes. What a sad world we live in.

I agree his father's name is Hussein and his name is very close to a very bad muslim... so i think he's playing it safe. I didn't care too much for the removing the hijabies of the stage or going to the Jewish wall and praying but not once even seen talking to a sheik am i wrong?

Just a reminder, the Sunnipath fall semester starts soon! New-ish muslims (who've converted in the last 3 years) get a 75% discount on several courses:

Understanding Islam - Discount also applies to non muslims
Introduction to Islamic Beliefs
Essentials of Islam (Hanafi)
Essentials of Islam (Shafi'i)
Essentials of Islam (Maliki) - not offered this semester

I'm taking Introduction to Islamic Belief (always good to brush up on aqeedah with a teacher!), so if anyone signs up for that, let me know and we can be study buddies

American Muslims and politics has been interesting to watch. After a period of indifference on the part of the immigrant/second generation community, in the 2000 elections they decided to try to block vote to exercise some power. They chose to support Bush, mainly because he mentioned secret evidence in a debate.

This community effort completely ignored the african american segment of our population, who was not happy to vote for Bush.

After 9/11, the invasion of Afghanistan and the Iraq war, the general sentiment has been to run as far away from Bush as possible. That's the strategy. If he's not Bush, he's all good.

Of course, now we run up into the issues with Obama. Do we really want to support someone who ducks and covers whenever the word muslim is used? He's really in a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation - if he acknowledges muslims, we're all good, but then a large segment of the population screams in horror. If he ducks the issue, we're pissed, but everyone else is ok.

In the end, muslims tend to vote either for Obama or not at all. I haven't heard anyone say they'd support McCain.

Obama does talk with muslims, just not in a very noticable way. I know Keith Ellison is a supporter of his. inshaAllah next time I see Keith, I'll ask if Obama visited the muslim caucus at the Dem Convention.

http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/20486
http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2008/08/26...r_muslim_caucus
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/jstreet/348561

I agree he is in a big catch 22 situation... yeah ask Mr. Ellison let us know and i have to agree with you regarding the voting obama or not at all.

i'd rather write in ron paul, knowing full well there's not the slightest chance he'll be elected than have anything to do with obama being elected, or not voting at all.
otoh, the coffee shop next to my husband's work has an obama coffee blend, with kenyan and indonesian coffee, that's quite lovely.

My sincere hope is that once Obama is elected and he doesn't have to tread so lightly, he can help ease our country into a better understanding and acceptance of each other. I'm not idealistic enough to believe this will be automatic, but I believe that's where his heart and many of his strongest abilities lie. It has been painful to see him distance himself from the word Muslim, and I was angry to read that his campaign had changed its mind about having the women in hijab stand behind him at the rally (although I'm not sure he would have made that decision himself). I believed in what I was hearing from him from the beginning of his campaign. Now he's been forced into a negative campaign that has stifled some of the message that got my attention in the first place, though he still impresses me as the one most qualified to lead. I truly believe that once he has a chance to be who he really is, we'll see some real fence-mending in this country. This diehard optimist sure hopes so.

As for the other major camp, I would love to hear Ms. Palin use the words extremists and terrorists without modifying them with "Islamic" every single time. Not even Bush does that as much as she does.

so Caybee.... how do you feel about palin??? lol.

i am playing..... i agree though

I can't stand Obama. He hasn't done one thing to deserve Muslim votes. The only reason he's running is as a front man for George Soros.

There is this guy in OT who believes America is at war with Muslims!!!! i know al qaeda is a muslim organization but thats not what he means!!! HE MEANS ALL MUSLIMS!!!!! can someone plz tell me he is the only one who thinks that??? seriously; im so scared of going to the US!!! this is crazy!!! im soo intimidated by so many americans i ve seen here! i know i have to grow thicker skin when i live there but i want to know there are really intelligent ppl out there who know the difference!!!!!

Just like anywhere there are stupid people and not so stupid people Just remember it's between you your husband and Allah. We're all here to help when you need it.

~Rajaa

Pay no attention to him, he is just a bigot.

As LAL said...bigot. You know me... You know others....we are all here and will be here for ya when you arrive habibty!

I've been thinking to add to this thread, but am brinking on the fear of disturbing or say something wrong. So that's my disclaimer

I have been looking into Islam for the last two years (since Ahmed isn't here yet, I have a lot of time on my hands). I admit when i first started reading about it, it wasn't with the right frame of mind. As time has passed and I've learned more I've actually been able to relate with it and see the good and the beautiful of it. I'm always so touched and in awe of the devotion Muslims have to their faith and, generally, how they actually follow it. This is one of the things that drew me to my husband. I wanted a man who actually lived what he claimed to believe.

Here is my dilemma. I have been raised to believe that Salvation only comes through accepting Jesus sacrifice on the cross and to deny that is sure hellfire and damnation. I know that Islam believes that Jesus was a very good man and prophet, but that's it. I'm having a very hard time finding the bridge to cross over.

Also added is my family, who are all freaked out that I will convert and have made lectures and sermons part of their weekly conversations with me. Making sure I know and understand that I'll go to hell if I convert, while my husband tells me I will if I don't. (My personal opinion is that there will be many different faiths in Heaven, which my "religion" doesn't believe)

Maybe I should read this whole thread, but 72 pages is sort of daunting. I know some of you have converted and I am wondering how, if you had to, did you work this out? My husband says I already pretty much live a Muslim life anyway (minus the 5 pillars) and it wouldn't really be a change in my daily life. But it would be a huge change in my heart and soul. I don't know if I'm looking for confirmation, approval, explanation or an excuse. I just know I'm looking and don't know where to turn.

Have you ever thought about visiting a local mosque? At our mosque here we have classes for non-muslims that offer information on Islam as well as a chance to meet people and ask questions.

Just a thought...

I converted over 11 years ago before meeting my hubby. I was raised in a Catholic family and my mother ended up leaving the Catholic church for a Pentacotal one. She was a born again Christian which I'm sure if she was alive she'd tell me the same as your family and would have many sermons to share w/ me. I adored my mother and she was my best friend but she did not sway my choice it was in my heart. My father on the other hand, is more open minded and seems to embrace my choice. However, I think its easier for him as we have family on his side that are Muslim. To each his own...

I have actually tried the Mosque. I was able to sit down with one guy over there in February for about 2 hours and he was very kind while I asked him question after question. They offered to help set me up with some people to talk to and find out about any classes available, but that was the last I heard. I've emailed them numerous times and I get nothing. I have a friend who goes to the same Mosque and has offered to help me find people to talk to, but we haven't been able to hook up lately.

I try to explain my issue to my husband, but he doesn't quite understand, never having been Christian. I was born and raised Seventh Day Adventist and, even though my family wasn't strict about it, it's still ingrained

I am currently reading Muhammad - a biography of the Prophet by Karen Armstrong. I took it this morning to the car dealer to read while I waited and was shocked that tears came to my eyes as I read. Maybe I'm putting too much into it, but I know I felt something.

Thank you Annie for your response and suggestion. I will try to reach the Mosque again.

Follow your heart Tina. You'll find the right path to take. I believe that God has a lot of room in heaven for all of us - Catholic ones like me, too.

Thanks to both of you

It does help to hear positive and supportive things instead of the other stuff. I appreciate you taking the time!! I'd send a hug smiley, if I could find one

Tina- I believe u r already doing the right thing.... searching and getting questions answered. I suggest u keep doing that until one day u will know exactly what u want and what u believe and u will be very confident of it; regardless of ur choice. Keep looking and reading as much as u can -from authentic resources plz- until u have this amazing feeling in ur heart that wow i found it!! im at ease now!!

Try this: www.sultan.org

I guess I was lucky that I had lost my faith in Jesus (as) as the only way to heaven long before I became a muslim, if you could call that lucky to have a crisis of faith, lol. I did traverse a similar path - I went through a universalist faze before I finally settled on Islam.

For me, honestly I just woke up one morning and realized that I believe la ilaha il Allah, Muhammadur rasul Allah. A big part of that was after studying the life of the Prophet (saws) and realizing that this was a man that I wanted as a teacher and a role model. But in the end, after more than a year of considering it, I felt that I needed to know God, and that this was the best way to do so.

Ask yourself what you want from a religion. What do you want from a guide? What do you want to do to be close to God?

I'm working on a list of resources that I recommend to newbies. It's by no means complete, but it will give you some more things to read, listen to, and study - http://rahma.hadithuna.com/converts/

My pm/email is always open too.

Thank you HLM and Rahma! I will check both sites. You are both very kind to respond to my issue and I'm grateful of the support and help! Rahma, I will probably be using that PM. If I start to bug you with it though, tell me!

I know it's probably wrong to say, but sometimes I tell Ahmed I wish God would just come down and say "Tina, this is the direction I want you to go". I'd drop everyting and go. But like Ahmed says, why would He do that for you when everyone else has to figure it out themselves. He's right. There's just a lot of soul searching and trying to figure things out that I haven't before. I hate to admit I've never been "in to" my religion, it was more of a process I went through. I want to feel my religion and my God in my life, and know exactly what it is and why and believe it more than anything else. I want to be excited about what I believe. Just have to figure out what that is.

There are so many things I love about Islam and the Muslim people, I know it's a community and family I would love to be in. I just have to know that I'm doing it because I believe it and feel it, and that it's nothing to do with my husband.

Thank you again!!

That's what I felt when I converted to Catholicism. You should feel it all the way in your bones and your soul should sing. That's why one should convert - no more, no less.

Tina, my struggle with religion has been going on all my adult life. i just converted to islam in the last week. i have studyed and still am studying this. And for me this was the thing i needed in my life. I feel more at peace now than i ever did. Good luck!

Terrie I have a 'new sister' gift for ya! I'll bring it to the Chicago meetup!

Jackie

Thank you Staashi and Turia!

Staashi - That is so how I want to feel it. Right down to my bones and hear the singing from my soul.

Turia - Congratulations on finding your way! I want to find that peace, truly.

Religion and spirituality are such important steps and I want to be sure I took the right one. I was just talking with my hubby and he was explaining some of the washing and praying and a few other things and wow, it seems like a lot of work. He says eventually you get used to it and it's not a big deal.

I'm going to start harrassing the Mosque again to see if they can get me in some classes, as well as check out the sites HLM and Rahma gave.

Thank you all again for your input and suggestions!! It always helps to know I'm not alone.

I just want to be able to go see you guys

Aw Jax, how sweet you are!

asalaam alaikum
We had issues at the embassy but were able to get past them. I went with my wife and our family to the embassy for her interview for the K-1 and was stunned when they took me a U.S. citizen to a room for an interview . Don't be intimdated, know your rights. If you think you are not being treated fairly, speak up, it's your right. Don't be afraid to get your congressman or a good immigration lawyer involved. You have a right to pray, at work, in public, and yes, even at the aiport. Get involved at your mosque, stand beside your brothers and sisters, and remember when living and working in a non-muslim country, a good deed, maybe a how are you doing to the guy next to ya, even just a warm smile , is a great way to make dawah, start a conversation, and helps to break down the barriars and misconceptions.

Tina,

I converted a few months ago. I'm not feeling too well right now but if you ever want to talk about why I converted and hear my story just send me a pm. God bless you in your valley of decision.

Tasha

Brad,

In Cairo I was held in a room for 6 hours and told how bad Muslims were and how my husband would beat and possibly kill me because he wasn't getting a visa. (This was only because I asked about the marriage affadavit) I got on the ball when I got home and contacted my senator and low and behold he got the visa and is now a green card holder. It's unbelievable how sometimes Americans outside of our country can make us feel like we have no rights in our own embassy.

Tasha

You r so right!! thank you so much for taking ur time and posting this!

Thank you Tasha! I would love to hear your story!

I hope you feel better soon!

*bump*

you know i try to volunteer at my kids' school hijab and all the kids ask their questions but i like to get them used to seeing it so they won't be shocked or help their parents when they see another woman in hijab.

hehehe i love their questions mashallah

masha Allah thats sounds so good is ur kids school islamic?