ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Middle East and North AfricaEid Moubarak!

UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-09-30 08:08:00
Middle East and North AfricaEid Moubarak!
It's absolutely beyond a doubt physically impossible for the Saudis to have seen the moon today. The only place it was visible was on some islands in the south pacific. If it were actually a legitimate sighting, then I would say go ahead if that's how you roll. But knowing how suspect it is, I can't say I'd go that way.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-09-29 13:52:00
Middle East and North AfricaHe finally made it


I hope things run more smoothly for him now that he's here!
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-10-03 13:29:00
Middle East and North Africaneed a good place to buy halal meat
QUOTE (rclouse @ Oct 3 2008, 10:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Yeah, where's a good place to buy halal pork?

wink.gif

/I miss bacon sad.gif


Do you eat halal (ie meat that is permissble, but not necessarily slaughtered islamically) or zabiha (slaughtered islamically)? If it's halal, then jennie-o turkey ham is delicious. For bacon, try the beef variety. In my experience more fat = tasty.

I've heard rumor of zabiha chicken and turkey bacon, but haven't found it yet.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-10-03 13:52:00
Middle East and North AfricaWesterners in Algeria
Are there any yahoo groups/internet forums etc for western women married to Algerians/living in Algeria? I'd like to recommend some support to an italian sister thinking about moving to Algeria to live with her Algerian husband. Thanks!
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-10-07 13:04:00
Middle East and North AfricaFrom The Iraq War, A Troubled Romance In America
http://www.npr.org/t...toryId=95799727

I don't really have a comment on the story itself. I was thinking more about the couples we have here on VJ who have sucessful relationships with people they met while serving in Iraq. Perhaps some of them could write NPR about doing a follow up piece where the relationship is a sucess?
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-10-17 10:44:00
Middle East and North AfricaFor Bridget - leave in MENA please
Hope your recovery is quick and relatively pain free!


UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-10-24 10:32:00
Middle East and North AfricaNeed clarification on something, regarding...PORK!
For swimming, how about a more modest swimsuit? I have one that covers everything but the hands, face and feet, but I wouldn't expect someone who doesn't hold the muslim definition of awrah (body to be covered) to wear that much. There's a whole range of modest swimsuits out there, from the tankini to something with complete coverage.

http://www.modestclo...t-swimwear.html
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-10-24 12:01:00
Middle East and North AfricaNeed clarification on something, regarding...PORK!
I worked in the cafeteria through most of college, oftentimes with a cook from Afghanistan. A few of the other cooks had an ongoing game to see if they could trick him into eating pork. Thankfully, they told me this before they knew I was muslim, so I could avoid taking anything from them to eat. After I told poor Najeeb, he turned green and was sick for a week. It completely undermined the entire harmony of the workplace.

Seriously, it's just wrong. If someone has a sincerely held religious belief, why would you want them to violate it, if it's not doing anything to harm you.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-10-24 10:37:00
Middle East and North AfricaDoes Age really matter????
Perhaps I'm stating the obvious, but isn't it really a factor of who's online? If the majority of people looking for random people to chat with were 20 something americans, then these men would chat with them. And in these countries, it's the 20 something men who have more time on their hands, who can't get married because it's too expensive, so when the opportunity presents itself, when they've met a woman who will spend time with them online, they take it?

The only reason I met my husband is because I was absolutely miserable at my small university in the middle of indiana cornfields. I was too shy to really get out there and make friends, and really didn't like the people on my floor. Thus, I spent a lot of time online. If I had gone to Madison first, I would have had friends from high school who would have dragged me out to socialize and I wouldn't have spent as much time online.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-10-29 08:11:00
Middle East and North AfricaContinuation of "it's not been a bed of roses."
The husband and I look back at his first US resume and cringe. It took him a looooong time (think years, not weeks) to come up with his current, near fluent version. It took him dozens upon dozens of drafts to come up with the perfect native speaker sounding cover letter. And I won't even say how long it took him to find a good job. He also isn't too terribly good with directions. We'd drive some place tons of times, but he wouldn't know how to get there on the bus, because he doesn't pay attention when someone else is driving (his words).

Looking back, sure, I freaked out those first few months. But, what good did my freak outs do? Nothing except ellivate my blood pressure and increase the stress. Sure, the melt downs helped me releave some of the pressure inside, but they rarely helped improve anything afterwards.

There are a lot of things immigrants need to accomplish once they get here. Make a list of them. Getting a drivers license is important. Working on a resume is important. Applying for jobs is important. Learning/practicing english is important. Learning how to get around is important. Everything that needs to be accomplished, write it out. Then schedule time for everything. Have some time each day for applying for jobs. Some time for studying for the driver's exam. Some time for english, etc etc etc.

In the end, I remember it's all increadibly overwhelming. Not everything is going to be done perfect, or even well in the first few months.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-22 16:11:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslim and interested in going Vegitarian
QUOTE (Pattu Rani @ Nov 13 2008, 03:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (star_dragon @ Nov 13 2008, 02:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have a great recipe for Vegetarian Harira good.gif

(or wait, did I get there here on MENA blush.gif )


I'd like to see it. I'm looking forward to introducing my hubby to all the different (veg) cuisines we have here in New York. He is open to trying anything as long as there is no meat in it but he is happiest if he eats rice at least once a day.



Two awesome books and a website:

World Vegetarian
World of the East Vegetarian
International Vegetarian Union

You may already know these, but for any veggie-curious folks out there, these are great recipe sources. Almost everything I've made from these have turned out quite tasty.

And speaking of tofu, I searched it on the IVU website and found something I think I'll try this weekend - Oven Roasted Tom Tofu. I haven't done much with tofu outside of thai cooking, so this will definately be something interesting.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-11-13 16:52:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslim and interested in going Vegitarian
QUOTE (Pattu Rani @ Nov 12 2008, 07:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Also read 'Diet for a Small Planet' by Frances Moore Lappe - it was written over 30 years ago but is still the best book on the environmental impact of meat eating and how to combine plant proteins.


More recent books that are also good to read include Michael Pollen's The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food. They've both had a profound effect on my diet. I've greatly reduced my meat consumption, and the only processed food in my house is Kraft Mac n Cheese (gotta have one vice).
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-11-12 08:52:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslim and interested in going Vegitarian
I'm an ethical omnivore, meaning I only eat meat that was raised and slaughtered humanely. That greatly limits the meat I consume. We tried to go completely vegetarian earlier this year, but the husband had serious withdrawal issues, so now I approach meat as a side dish - a big plate full o rice, noodles, fruits, veggies, legumes, etc, and a small piece of meat on the side.

The only time where you will have to be involved in the slaughter of animals is Eid al Adhu. Although it's "only" a sunna (at least for the shafi'is), it is pretty much a given that a muslim family will slaughter an animal (or have one slaughtered on their behalf) and the meat distributed to the poor.

As for what the Qur'an says:

16:5 And He creates cattle: you derive warmth from them, and [various other] uses; and from them you obtain food;

Allah (swt) has created us as omnivores - creatures that benefit from both meat and vegetation. If you chose not to partake in the meat, then that's your choice. It's fiqh neutral. So long as you're not doing it because you think not eating meat is superior religiously to eating meat, it's fine.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-11-12 08:50:00
Middle East and North AfricaGOOD MORNING FRIDAY
It took my husband nearly 3 years to find a job in his field, and he only was able to get that because he was in the "english section" accounting program in egypt, where they learned american accounting from american books, and had quite a few professors from america.

If your husband is interested in law, look for an ABA approved paralegal program in your area. there are a lot of programs out there, but the ABA (american bar association) certified ones are the best that lead to the good jobs. You're required to do an internship with them, which leads to a lot of good contacts and often times a job. Many of my classmates found jobs through their internships.

If his egyptian degree can be evaluated as equal/equivilent to a US degree, the certification is only 30-35 credits. Many of the ABA approved programs also do a lot with online classes, so you can do a lot of the work from home.

It's a good way to learn the basics of american law, try your hand doing basic legal research and writing, and get experience in a law office that is invaluable for future lawyers.

http://www.abanet.or...gals/directory/
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-11-14 12:08:00
Middle East and North AfricaSerious Doubts
Large dowries (mahr) given to women are often the norm in MENA countries. It's one of the reason there's such a large population of 20 and 30 something men who aren't married over there (and why they're looking for american women online) - they can't afford the cost of buying an apartment, furnishing it and giving the requisit $$/gold to their future brides.

American brides of MENA men usually don't get these, because the man either neglects to tell her about this obligation of his, or because she turns it down.

Mahr - concepts and rulings
Stifled, Egypt's Young Turn to Islamic Fervor

QUOTE
But marriage is so expensive now, the system is collapsing in many communities. Diane Singerman, a professor at American University, said that a 1999 survey found that marriage in Egypt cost about $6,000, 11 times annual household expenditures per capita. Five years later, a study found the price had jumped 25 percent more. In other words, a groom and his father in the poorest segment of society had to save their total income for eight years to afford a wedding, she reported.The result is delayed marriages across the region. A generation ago, 63 percent of Middle Eastern men in their mid- to late 20s were married, according to recent study by the Wolfensohn Center for Development at the Brookings Institution and the Dubai School of Government. That figure has dropped to nearly 50 percent across the region, among the lowest rates of marriage in the developing world, the report said. In Iran, for example, 38 percent of the 25- to 29-year-old men are not married, one of the largest pools of unattached males in Iranian history. In Egypt, the average age at which men now marry is 31.

UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-11-17 13:54:00
Middle East and North AfricaSerious Doubts
QUOTE (Staashi @ Nov 16 2008, 07:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
One thing that you have to remember about all of this, is that with your husband this isn't just about Islam, this is about culture. His culture. For so many MENA men and women, too, they cannot and would never even think about separating their religion from their culture, it is ingrained - it is their life. When your husband met you, you were a devout hijabi wearing muslima. That is how you presented yourself to him, that was who he fell in love with. Now that he's here in America with you, his worst fear has come true. He's now in your culture, and the devout muslima wife he married but months ago has taken off her hijab and is now questioning the Qur'an and the Hadiths. I'm sure he's freaking the hell out - in his world, in his culture, I'm sure not too many women sit there and question the Qur'an and the Hadiths. You didn't just marry a Moroccan man, you married his family, his culture, and his religion, too.

He needs to be tolerant of you, but you also need to be tolerant of him - by you taking off your hijab in the USA he probably feels like he lost control, not of you but of other men. Other men can check you out, and he sees you as exposed. His whole world just turned around...give him a moment to digest all of this.


I just wanted to quote this so that it doesn't get lost in the muck. This is exactly what I was thinking, but didn't have the thoughts to put into words.

One small caveat, it is about religion too, not just his culture. There is a saying of the beloved Prophet (saws) in Bukhari and Muslim that says "A man marries a woman for four reasons: for her property, for her rank, for her beauty, and for her religion. So marry the one who is best in the religion and prosper".

If someone choses to marry someone based on their religious practices, and after marriage, those religious practices are perceived to weaken, that throws a monkey wrench in the whole thing.


~*~*~*~

[musings]

On a related note, this further illustrates something I've been mulling over for quite some time. Converts marry too quickly. You say shahada and as the aunties come up to hug you, they're sizing you up as potential wives for their sons and nephews. The community pushes us into marriage before we've fully formed an islamic identity. Then, as we learn more about the religion, we may change in our practices or deviate from what our spouses thought we were, and this causes problems.

Exhibit A, myself. I married in egypt 2 years after I converted, but even that was too quick in retrospect. Since I've gotten married, I've begun studying "traditional" islam and fallen in love with the science of tasawwuf (aka sufism). At the same time, I learned more about my husband's practice of the religion and realized that all the blah blah blah about this is Islam, not christianity, we don't have denominations is a gloss on the truth. Being a sufi loving shafi'i married to a ibn hazm loving neo-zahari is as tough as a staunch traditionalist catholic married to born again non-denomer. Alhamdulilah, as long as we both continue to practice the religion diligently, we're fine, but we do have weekly debates over various subjects upon which we disagree. And it would be really really nice to be able to take a tariq (join a sufi order) together, but that's just not going to happen.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd probably still marry my husband, but waited a few more years until I had learned more about the religion and was able to enter into the marriage with both eyes open.

Another common occurance is that the woman marries a muslim and as she learns more about the religion, she realizes he's not as practicing as she thought. She wants to do x, y and z to make a more islamic household., and he's like, um yeah, I'd rather go hang out at the club with the boyz. Or he doesn't want to give up the non-zabiha supermarket meat. Or he doesn't want to help her learn to read Qur'an or whatever.

So, for lack of a conclusion, yeah, converts and marriage. It's tough.

[/musings]
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-11-17 09:13:00
Middle East and North AfricaSerious Doubts
To provide an alternative perspective on ahadith:

The Science of Hadith: an Introduction
The Fallacies of the Anti-Hadith Argument
Issues Concerning Hadith
Rethinking Tradition in Modern Islamic Thought - the main meat of the book discusses modern reinterpretation of the hadith corpus, but the first part provides a good introduction to how and why hadith were compiled, and the conflicts around it. It's a scholarly work, not apologetics.
A Brief History of Hadith Collection and Criticism - absolutely brillaint lecture.

QUOTE
“I have never been more impressed with anybody in history in my life than with Muslim h?ad?th scholars. I mean, when I first started studying h?ad?th I was very skeptical, I though it was all made-up and bogus but the more you study it the more you just appreciate the intense brain power of these people. I mean they memorized thousands and thousands of books and then they were able to recall all the different versions of h?ad?th from these books, and then they were able to analyze them and put them all together and figure-out where they all connect and make judgments about the authenticity of these h?ad?th. I mean even nowadays with electronic databases, and computers and word processing, I have hard time following even their discussions of the h?ad?th - let alone their original mastering that they were drawing on. It's almost unbelievable... It's almost unbelievable, and if you didn't have the books in front of you that they wrote, I wouldn't believe it personally....”

UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-11-16 09:16:00
Middle East and North AfricaChristmas in MENA in the USA
Eat halal chinese food and watch a movie. We're grinches.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-11-18 19:32:00
Middle East and North AfricaMahr - What Determines Worth?
QUOTE (Sinergy @ Nov 18 2008, 11:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (rahma @ Nov 18 2008, 01:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If you're taking your interpretation of the religion from a flippant remark given in response to the statement that you know you're a MENA wife if you bought your husband, then you're probably not going to get a scholarly understanding of the concept.

See, sh*t stirring.

no sh*t stirring, its a question i became curious about...if i was muslim or married to one, this wouldnt be concidered sh*t stirring, so give me my scholarly answer if you can smile.gif


I've already done so twice - on this thread and on one of the locked threads yesterday.

Further:

http://www.islamonli...aEAskTheScholar

QUOTE
Mahr is not a bride price. It is a woman's right and it signifies a husband's love and appreciation for his wife. In the Qur'an it is called "sadaqah" which means a token of friendship. It is also called "nihlah" which means "a nice gift or present." Mahr also signifies a husband's commitment to take care of his wife's financial needs (nafaqah).
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-11-18 13:14:00
Middle East and North AfricaMahr - What Determines Worth?
If you're taking your interpretation of the religion from a flippant remark given in response to the statement that you know you're a MENA wife if you bought your husband, then you're probably not going to get a scholarly understanding of the concept.

See, sh*t stirring.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-11-18 12:55:00
Middle East and North AfricaMahr - What Determines Worth?
QUOTE (Sinergy @ Nov 18 2008, 11:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (rahma @ Nov 18 2008, 01:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Is it buying a green card when the foreign spouse buys a big ol diamond ring for his future bride? Or pays for the wedding? Or pays for any other number of things that are normally associated with marriage?

In an islamic marriage, mahr is simply part of the deal, just like an expensive ring is often part of the deal state side. It's a gift from the groom to his bride, and a bit of insurance for her future wellbeing.

its different when you buy your woman a diamond ring, or just buy the woman...your buying HER something while asking for marriage, but with a mahr, your buying HER as the property. big difference.




Ah, no. Mahr is a gift. The man is not purchasing the woman. A wife is not property of her husband.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-11-18 12:50:00
Middle East and North AfricaMahr - What Determines Worth?
Is it buying a green card when the foreign spouse buys a big ol diamond ring for his future bride? Or pays for the wedding? Or pays for any other number of things that are normally associated with marriage?

In an islamic marriage, mahr is simply part of the deal, just like an expensive ring is often part of the deal state side. It's a gift from the groom to his bride, and a bit of insurance for her future well being. Islamically, it's the husband's jobt to take care of the wife financially, and the mahr is part of that.

Edited by rahma, 18 November 2008 - 12:47 PM.

UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-11-18 12:46:00
Middle East and North AfricaMahr - What Determines Worth?
There isn't really anyone here who's qualified (ie we know who they are in real life, we know their qualifications) to answer a question such as that. For basic information purposes, there are 4 minimum requirements for an islamic marriage:

1. There is an uncoerced offer and acceptance
2. That there be 2 reliable muslims as witnesses (ie they can't be shady crooks and liars)
3. That the bride have a wali, a guardian (although in the hanafi school, a mature woman does not need a wali)
4. The marriage is publicized.

In some of the articles I posted earlier, it discusses what happens if a mahr isn't agreed to up front. It is still the right of the wife, and the husband should give her what is considered the usual for his and/or her culture.


If any of these 4 elements are missing, then contact a person of knowledge in your area. They'll know you, and your situation better first hand and can recommend a proper course of action.

Edited by rahma, 18 November 2008 - 11:24 AM.

UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-11-18 11:24:00
Middle East and North AfricaMahr - What Determines Worth?
Further, as an example, mine was a small amount of money up front, and the cost of further education once I decide what the heck it is that I want to do with my life. It was suppose to be law school, but now I'm looking into studying one of the islamic sciences. Haven't decided what area I'd specialize in just yet, so I'm just doing the basics for now.

Also, a cat. and inshaAllah we'll be getting that cat in a few weeks biggrin.gif

Edited by rahma, 18 November 2008 - 10:44 AM.

UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-11-18 10:43:00
Middle East and North AfricaMahr - What Determines Worth?
In case anyone actually cares and isn't just looking to stir ####:

In most schools of thought (ie codified methods to interpret islam), there are several different sources from which a ruling is drawn. One of these is urf, culture. While mahr, dowry, is spoken about in the Qur'an, and we see that the companions of the Prophet (saws) all gave mahr, exactly what a man gives today is dependant upon the culture of himself and his wife. In Egypt, a man will have to purchase a fully furnished apartment. In Iraq, it's a certain amount of gold. In the US, a woman may ask for cash, a house, a car, a college education, a hajj trip, or any number of things.


Marriage without a dowry: Is it valid?
QUOTE
It should be noted that Islam does not stipulate a minimum or a maximum amount of dowry that must be paid. It is left to the traditions and customs of each territory, but the groom has to pay something to the bride regardless of the amount.

In your case, if you gathered to conclude the marriage contract and you did not mention the dowry, then your marriage is valid, but you need to pay your wife a dowry that is equal to her peers'.





Stipulations regarding mahr in the hanafi madhab



QUOTE
Therefore, if you did not fix or stipulate an amount as dowry (mahr) when marrying, then if you have consummated your marriage (which I'm sure you have, for you state being married for two years), you will be required to pay an amount which is typically received as dowry by similar brides (mahr al-mithl). Now, mahr al-mithl is that which is customarily received as dowry by brides from the wife's father's side, such as her sisters, paternal aunties, paternal auntie's daughters, etc. Her mother and maternal aunties will not be taken into consideration unless they are from her father's family. If no woman similar to her is found on her father's side, then one will look at other non-related women.


Excessive amounts of dowry




QUOTE
"Give them (women) their dowers." (Surah al-Nisa, 24)

The minimum amount for dowry is ten Dirhams (30.618 grams of silver) and there is no maximum limit. Thus, the bride and groom may mutually agree upon whatever sum they desire. However, it is wrong and disliked to fix a large sum as dowry, especially when the groom is not financially capable of paying the amount.

Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) said: "Do not stipulate excessive amounts as dowry for women. If (doing so) was a token of honour in this world or a source of piety by Allah, then the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) would have been more worthy of it than you?." (Sunan Tirmidhi, no 1114)

UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-11-18 10:37:00
Middle East and North AfricaHe's driving me crazy
In 3 years, we've never made it through a movie without my husband pausing it and asking for clarification on a word, phrase or situation. That's the nature of the beast when you marry someone who's first language isn't english and they move to a country with a different culture.

Some people are able to drop into an unfamiliar situation and need no help. Others aren't. I know if I ever moved to Egypt, I'd need a whole heck of a lot of help settling in.

I do think it will help if he gets out of the house for some hours each week through a volunteer position or an ESL or computer class. Oo, is he good with numbers? Maybe a tax course at H&R Block? Then he'll have someone else to bug some of the time laughing.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-11-14 17:15:00
Middle East and North AfricaHe's driving me crazy
How does he spend his time? It looks like he's planning for the future, which is good. Set out some concrete steps he can take to make it happen. Is he prepared for when he does get an EAD? How is his resume? Has he ever written a cover letter? If not, find a few websites that explain how to do it, have him read through them and practice practice practice! Do any of his job skills need brushing up on? If he's home all day, help him look for something to do. If he doesn't think his english is good, find an ESL class. Look for volunteer opportunities that will get him out of the house and interacting with other people. Volunteering will also get him something essential for the future job search - references.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-11-14 13:54:00
Middle East and North AfricaDo you have a song?
inshaAllah when we have a wedding reception or anniversary party disguised as a wedding reception, I'm having my husband sing the entire Amr Diab songbook :luv:


We also have "Everything I do, I do it for you" by Bryan Adams and "The Rose" by Bette Middler, because it's one of the few love songs I knew how to sing :lol:
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2007-02-07 15:37:00
Middle East and North Africaanyone heard from jess?

Didn't she go back to Liban to be with George?


Thus why we're worrying :wacko:
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2007-01-26 07:31:00
Middle East and North Africaanyone heard from jess?
Bump. Any news?
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2007-01-25 16:16:00
Middle East and North AfricaThursday
Well, I think I'm going to retire from VJ. I was just going to slip quietly off into the sunset, but then I thought, OMG, people will PM me and I won't know what they say, hehe.

If anyone wants to get in touch with me, I can be reached at rahmaa @ gmail.com (just remove the spaces).


Thanks to all the friends and happy people I've encountered in my nearly 2 years here. I hope those of you still waiting for a visa get it soon!


Now, must...stay...away...

don't be suprised if i can't though, :lol:
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2007-03-01 13:59:00
Middle East and North AfricaTanta Moulid
I would be remiss if I logged about into VJ without posting in the ME/NA forum. So, hello friends *waves*

BBC pictures of the biggest moulid (birthday celebration) in Egypt

All righty, off I go.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2007-03-19 10:48:00
Middle East and North Africaisrael
Completely off topic, but can I just say that the whole "train wreck" thing really bothers me. Sure, it may be funny to some to put up a picture of some smashed and overturned cars. But, my everday work deals mainly with the legal reprocussions of train wrecks. It seems to be in poor taste, especially when many lives are horrendously adversly effected by these wrecks.


Sorry, I've just been looking at one too many pictures of dead bodies caused by a train wreck today. Carry on.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2006-11-29 14:04:00
Middle East and North AfricaDid you know that SO from the Middle East

I could pull out the quotes later, but don't have the time now. I equate terrorism with a war against Islam rather than merely a brother/sister who is wronging. My views about terrorists therefore are more consistent with ahadith and ayat that deal with how we treat those who make war against us.

I find it implausible that anyone can think of many things that have crossed greater harm to the faith, and thus why I think terrorists have taken war against Islam, despite any pleas they may make that it is for or in the name of Islam.


A wrong done by one muslim to another, or to non muslims, at least IMHO could be anything for refusing a friendly greeting all the way up until killing. Injustice is can be found in wronging at every level. The prophet (saws) was sent to stand as an image of justice, against the injustices of society. These injustices included violence, economic disparity and arogence, among other things.

If it's a war against islam, it is a symptom of a lack of authority. When several tribes refused to pay zakat following the death of the Prophet (saws), we had the authority figure of Abu Bakr (ra) to decide to go to war. Who has the authority to make war in Islam? These terroristas think that they have authority to defend Islam. Who has authority to stand against them? Can we fight them by undercutting their alleged authority?

I am unsure how sharia re: warfare is applied without a caliph. Wish we had a caliph.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2007-02-16 15:31:00
Middle East and North AfricaDid you know that SO from the Middle East
From an Islamic perspective, there are 3 kinds of brotherhood:

Biological, Humanity (Bani Adam, the tribe of Adam) and Religious. Technically everyone on earth is a brother to one another through Bani Adam. Muslims as believers, right or wrong, are brothers according to the Qur'an.


All believers are but brethren (ikhwah). Hence, make peace between your two brethren, and remain conscious of God, so that you might be graced with His mercy.

Qur'an 49:10



From Bukhari - Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah, (saws), said, "Help your brother, wronging or wronged." A man said, "Messenger of Allah, I can help him if he is wronged but tell me how I can help him if he is wronging?" He said, "You can restrain him - or prevent him - from injustice. That is helping him."

Edited by rahma, 16 February 2007 - 02:38 PM.

UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2007-02-16 14:37:00
Middle East and North AfricaDid you know that SO from the Middle East
*cof cof cof* Manji is a moderate? Seriously, there is some disconect between how muslims view themselves and how non muslims view us. Even within the progressive muslim community, Manji is waaaaay out in left field. This is giving me bad flashbacks to the time Daniel Pipes labeled Salman Rushdie a moderate muslim.



On the subject of muslims and terrorism, should we do more? Certainly. Are we not doing anything right now? Heck no!

Muslims Condemn Terrorism - a pretty comprehensive list of responses to 9/11.

Zaytuna Podcasts - in several of these (can't remember which at the moment), Sheikh Hamza and Imam Zaid speak very frankly about needing to do something to address the malidese in the muslim community.



What is the solution from my point of view? Probably won't be popular for stating it, but re-establishing the caliphate. A strong, just central authority who keeps the muslim ummah in line. A true caliph, not the weak, watered down versions we had these last few centuries. A muslim ruler who follows the advice of Imam al Ghazali

1. The ruler should understand the importance and danger of the authority entrusted to him. In authority there is great blessing, since he who exercises it righteously obtained unsurpassed happiness but if any ruler fails to do so he incurs torment surpassed only by the torment for unbelief.

2. The ruler should always be thirsting to meet devout religious scholars and ask them for advice.

3. The ruler should understand that he must not be content with personally refraining from injustice, but must discipline his slave-troops, servants, and officers and never tolerate unjust conduct by them; for he will be interrogated not only about his own unjust deeds but also about those of his staff.

4. The ruler should not be dominated by pride; for pride gives rise to the dominance of anger, and will impel him to revenge. Anger is the evil genius and blight of the intellect. If anger is becoming dominant it will be necessary for the ruler in all his affairs to bend his inclinations in the direction of forgiveness and make a habit of generosity and forbearance unless he is to be like the wild beasts.

5. In every situation that arises, the ruler should figure that he is the subject and the other person is the holder of authority. He should not sanction for others anything that he would not sanction for himself. For if he would do so he would be making fraudulent and treasonable use of the authority entrusted to him.

6. The ruler should not disregard the attendance of petitioners at his court and should beware of the danger of so doing. He should solve the grievances of the Muslims.

7. The ruler should not form a habit of indulging the passions. Although he might dress more finely or eat more sumptuously, he should be content with all that he has; for without contentment, just conduct will not be possible.

8. The ruler should make the utmost effort to behave gently and avoid governing harshly.

9. The ruler should endeavor to keep all the subjects pleased with him. The ruler should not let himself be so deluded by the praise he gets from any who approach him as to believe that all the subjects are pleased with him. On the contrary, such praise is entirely due to fear. He must therefore appoint trustworthy persons to carry on espionage and inquire about his standing among the people, so that he may be able to learn his faults from men’s tongues.

10. The ruler should not give satisfaction to any person if a contravention of God’s law would be required to please him for no harm will come from such a person’s displeasure.


Also, in the interest of full disclosure - I am in no way attempting to set up a caliphate from here in the US. I'm a big fan of our form of government. Heck, if I had the time and money, I'd go to the best law school in the country and become an ACLU lawyer.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2007-02-16 10:39:00
Middle East and North Africa221g
It's the thread that never ends...it just goes on and on my friends...some people started posting there not knowing what it was...and they're still posting there forever just because..it's the thread that never ends...
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2006-04-29 08:24:00
Middle East and North Africa221g

Well the only reason I said some people are vicious is because these threads tend to turn into personal attacks lately! I was just kind of joking around because to be honest I was laughing a little when I read some of this one, or the one about pre paid credit cards, if you know what I mean. Nothing serious, I just think it's funny how one topic turns into another everytime.

Carry on

I hope everyone is well

Sarah



A liberal use of the smilie :hehe: helps to convey lightheartedness in a post ;)

:whistle: :luv: :yes:
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2006-04-21 10:17:00
Middle East and North Africa221g


How did I miss the whole Jennieh drama? I got the whole dayum poo-flinging thing but that was a seperate incident.


Here is the thread http://www.visajourn...topic=5470&st=0

I guess I was the vicious attacker. I have no issue with anyone venting or complaining, but I was tired of hearing her do so while lashing out at K1'ers.


Rebecca


Thanks for the link. :star:
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2006-04-21 10:08:00