Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	QUOTE (Ahmed N Tina @ Mar 9 2009, 08:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Counldn't have said it better myself. The trinity and man deciding the divination of Jesus (council of Nicea) are the two big problems for me in Christianity (and that there are 2400 types that don't agree). I've had the trinity described to me as a family (Mamma, Pappa, Brother) with one purpose and that of an egg (yolk, white and shell), three parts in one item. No matter how you slice it, there are 3, not 1. The OT states one God, but the NT states 3 parts, so if you take the bible as truth, you must take both OT and NT, not just one or the other. In college, back in the day before I converted, I did some interfaith dialogue with muslims on campus. One of the muslims asked a question about the trinity, and I proceeded to explain it as an egg. A theology student quickly stepped in and shut me down - an egg isn't an apt analogy, because the Father is the whole, Jesus (as) is the whole and the Holy Spirit is the whole, not a part of the whole. It isn't monotheism to muslims, because Allah's (swt) personage is ahad, absolute singularity to the nth degree. But it is a type of monotheism, but in that is the mystery of 3 persons in one essense.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-03-09 12:43:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	QUOTE (Ihavequestions @ Mar 9 2009, 07:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (UmmSqueakster @ Mar 9 2009, 09:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If I'd venture to make broad sweeping statements, the majority position in christianity is that Jesus (as) is of one substance (homoousios) and is equal to the Father. That's what the Council of Nicea was all about - combating what they saw as herasies that Jesus (as) was not of the same substance, and that he was not equal to the father, among other things. This is the belief of the Catholics, the Orthodox and many of the larger mainline protestant denominations (who all hold the Nicene Creed), and since they make up the largest chunk of christians, I believe it's safe to say that this is the mainline view of christianity. I would argue that the Ten Commandments are universal among Christians, #1 being "I am the Lord your God," with a singular "I" as opposed to a plural "We." One of the mysteries of the trinity is that God is singular being with 3 distinct persons (hypostases). It took the early church 400 years to sort it out, but that's the conclusion they reached.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-03-09 08:56:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	If I'd venture to make broad sweeping statements, the majority position in christianity is that Jesus (as) is of one substance (homoousios) and is equal to the Father. That's what the Council of Nicea was all about - combating what they saw as herasies that Jesus (as) was not of the same substance, and that he was not equal to the father, among other things. This is the belief of the Catholics, the Orthodox and many of the larger mainline protestant denominations (who all hold the Nicene Creed), and since they make up the largest chunk of christians, I believe it's safe to say that this is the mainline view of christianity.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-03-09 08:32:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	QUOTE (KHPerfectMatch @ Mar 6 2009, 11:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I simply suggested that since Tina hasn't concluded that she no longer believes in the tenents of the faith in which she was raised, (a faith that doesn't require her to remove nail polish in order to pray), that until she believes in Islam, and choses to revert there is no need for her to struggle with issues related to performing wudu. I was speaking to Tina from the perspective that she had converted to Islam, but even if she hasn't, my advice is still the same. She had a question about nail polish and salat, so deserves to know what the fuqaha have to say about it. She didn't ask how her current faith views nail polish. If you were speaking about her making shahada when you were speaking about believing in her heart, then there was a misunderstanding. Just taking your post on face value, to me it seemed that you were advising people to only follow the tenents of islam that they believed in their heart. This is the wishy washy relativism VW was speaking of. If that is not what you were saying, then I apologize for getting it wrong. QUOTE Before someone can take on a new religion, they have to leave the "old one" behind... Especially if you were raised like Tina and I were.... You can't go to home plate with your foot still firmly planted on 3rd base... You must step OFF before you STEP ON. And there is an ORDER in which you submerge yourself into your new faith! That's why the 5 pillars come in an order! Haj doesn't come before Shahada!!!! Once shahada is made, then all 5 pillars are incumbant. If you convert to islam during zuhr prayer, you're suppose to pray zuhr prayer before the time is over. If you convert to islam during Ramadan, you're suppose to start fasting that very day. And once you convert, you should inventory your wealth and begin to give zakat. Hajj is the only one where there is a little bit more leniancy, at least for the shafi'is. QUOTE Yes Islam is comprisedof all 3 things, and they come in a logical order: Starting with: Iman (faith) FOLLOWED BY: Islam (submission)and FINALLY: Ihsan (charitable acts) 2 of the 3 have almost nothing to do with the RULES! (OK OK, zakat is a "rule" and it is ihsan) And this is exactly what I was saying to Tina... submission (rule following) without belief (or faith to believe) is hollow and in my opinion futile in the long run. Don't put the cart before the horse! Actually, Jibreel (as) asked the Prophet (saws) first about Islam, then Iman, and then Ihsan. Once one makes shahada (which is both islam and iman), they work on all three. Also, where do you get that ihsan is charitable acts? I've never seen it described that way. According to the Prophet (saws), Ihsan is "to worship God as though you see Him, and if you cannot see Him, then indeed He sees you." It is perfection of our acts of worship. Giving charity is an act of worship, but it's hardly the only one. QUOTE Islam requires Muslims to discuss religion ONLY WITH THE BEST of MANNERS. And this should extend from Muslim to Muslim, not only Muslim to Non-Muslim. I'm sure those who react with PIOUS VENOM to anything they read and don't either understand or agree with might not realize that their lack of manners (adab) weakens any possibility they have of impressing anyone with their claimed "knowledge"... if the person listening has the foggiest notion of how Muslims are SUPPOSED to act. When you're giving advice to others, it's best also to follow it yourself. When you type in all caps, that's considered yelling, which isn't the best adab either	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-03-09 08:17:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	QUOTE (Aymsgirl @ Mar 6 2009, 12:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thank you so much for always posting the different school of thoughts. You're welcome More on cats. The husband did not want a spayed/neutered kitty. He believes it's cruel to deprive an animal of their natural urges. Alhamdulilah, we adopted from the local humane society, where all the cats come spayed/neutered, so we didn't have to argue about that one too much. However, there is evidence that it is permissible to spay/neuter your kitty: Compound Cats Neutering Page Is it permissible to neuter a cat? Basically, it's permissible to spay/neuter your pet if there is benefit in it. From what I've read, female cats who are spayed before their first heat are generally healthier then those who have gone through heat. In addition, millions of pets are euthenized by shelters each year because there aren't enough homes for them. By spaying/neutering, you're helping the over population problem.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-03-06 14:46:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	I come from a liberal protestant tradition who's founder said "sin boldly, but believe bolder still." There was a lot more emphasis on Jesus (as) as a buddy, friend and savior than on dos and don'ts. Islam is a big change, but at it's heart, it's about submitting to God as His slave, and once we grasp this, inshaAllah it's easier to follow what He's asked of us. Ah kitties, how I *heart* them. I'm a shafi'i for the most part, but their rules of cats makes it very difficult to keep a cat, IMHO. When the cat sheds, the hair is considered impure, because it's like a dead unslaughtered animal. A small amount of hair is excusable, but since my cat sheds buckets, everytime I'd pray, I would need to change clothes and pray in a room she isn't allowed in. Since I want to make praying as easy as possible (ie get rid of any excuse to skip it), I take the hanafi dispensation. In the hanafi school, cat hair is pure. So, even when I'm covered in cat hair (which is my usual state at home), I can pray. Here's an interesting article on cats in islamic culture. Abu Huraira (ra) was one of the companions of the prophet (saws) and a narrator of many hadith. His name means "father of the kitten."	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-03-06 09:43:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	Lord knows I've disagreed with VW on a number of occasions, but in this situation, she's spot on. Islam IS a faith of rules, and if someone is considering converting to Islam, they should be well aware of that fact ahead of time. In the famous hadith jibreel, we find that the religion is composed of 3 things - islam, iman and ihsan. It's not made up simply of the rules, nor is it simply made up of faith. It's a balance between these three things. If you have one without the other, your religion isn't complete. I'd venture to posit that a lot of the problems facing the muslim world are because of an imbalance of these three things. re: dogs as pets, I'm not a dog person, so I've never had a need to look deeply into this issue. Now cats on the other hand, I'm all over Dogs in the hanafi school <-- I'm pretty sure the shafi'is come to their conclusions via the same sources Dogs in the maliki school <-- Imam Malik differed from the other mujtahid imams. While they maintained that the dog's saliva was impure, Imam Malik holds it's pure. However, this wasn't a blanket blessing to keep dogs. They were not to be kept as pets, only for hunting and guarding property. The general non madhab ruling is that it's impermissible as well. On a related noted, keeping guide dogs is permissable.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-03-06 09:02:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	QUOTE (childress_london @ Mar 4 2009, 05:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks for your replies! So the phrase "there is no compulsion in religion" concerns not being forced to convert to Islam, but is not about after you are already a Muslim? That is my understanding. From what I remember, this verse was revealed in response to some people among the Ansar (the helpers from Medina) forcing their children to accept islam. After people accepted islam of their own free will, there are certain things that are expected of them. The Prophet (saws) would enforce some things, and leave others. We look to his example to see what should be enforced.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-03-04 11:00:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	QUOTE (Virtual wife @ Mar 3 2009, 11:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I read this thread, but rarely post. However, this post caught my eye. I, too, have been concerned about the concept of "Islam is whatever is in our hearts" for some time, as repeated on this board. Islam is an organized religion with tenets, traditions, texts and established methodologies for forming interpretations. It is a legalistic faith. with rules, boundaries and absolutes, although they may not always be agreed on. Some are legislated in the Quran, and, through the Prophetic traditions. Some have developed over time though fiqh determinations. Islam is also a faith that require thought and consideration, for the Quran counsels against blind following, and also teaches that one's acts are one's rewards or burdens. While it is possible to disagree over interpretations, daleel (evidence) is required to support one's position. "I believe it in my heart" is not credible support in opposition to legitimate, if flawed, opinion. I cringe every time I read someone posting that, and have had more than my share of disagreements about it here and IRL. "Believing in your heart" is a form of moral relativism that has no foundation in Islam. It is offensive to more knowledable adherents and students of the faith, so, I strongly counsel against its usage in individual practice and guidance of others. We can and will debate points in Islamic tenets and practice, but should do so in keeping with proper scholarship and with the very best intentions, whatever you decide. Mark this day on your calendar ya'll. If VW and I agree on something, it's gotta be big.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-03-04 10:58:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	QUOTE (KHPerfectMatch @ Mar 1 2009, 03:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Ahmed N Tina @ Feb 26 2009, 12:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (KHPerfectMatch @ Feb 25 2009, 11:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Ahmed N Tina @ Feb 25 2009, 07:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Tasha! Thanks for feeling my pain my friend! I guess I'll have to look into the buffing tools. It just isn't as pretty as pink or red, but it'll have to do. Guess I'll have to get back in to toe rings for the summer, just to jazz up the feet a bit. If only you could come over we could put henna on your nails and you'd have nice "burnt sienna" nails for weeks/months! Soon my friend, very soon I'll be looking forward to that! I've been thinking about this issue of nail polish and wudu, etc. and I just want to say that if you try to do anything that you just don't TRULY believe from the bottom of your heart, you run the risk of eventually becoming irritated by it. If you believe from the bottom of your heart that your prayers are not heard or accepted unless you literally wash your naked nails then BY ALL MEANS DO NOT WEAR NAIL POLISH. If you don't yet believe this, then why would you do it? Take your time to be convinced in your heart, and the rest will follow. Take it from a "Big Frank devotee", any other way will not be lasting.. Let your actions follow your heart..... I'm a little concerned with this advice. Islam isn't comprised of what we believe in our hearts. It's made up of the book of Allah (swt) and the example of the Prophet (saws). Certainly, there are different interpretations of these sources, and differing opinions, and one can chose between the opinions, but we don't decide what to do in our religion based only on what we believe. That being said, I do agree that obsessing over details can drive one insane. I always tell new converts that the best example, the Prophet (saws) and his companions (ra) had 23 years to learn and perfect their religion, so we shouldn't feel that we have to get it all down in the first week. But, there is a balance. If you learn something that is definately a part of the religion, then put it in line to impliment. If it's too overwhelming, then set a goal to work on it, and eventually make it a part of your practice. Is there gradualism for converts?	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-03-02 09:44:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	It's the majority position of ahl al sunnah wa jamaah (aka sunnis) that the Prophet (saws) was in fact illiterate. There have been minority opinions throughout history saying that he at least knew a little of reading and writing, but the majority holds the evidence for that position to be weak, and that the stronger position is that he was illiterate. For some reason, the copy and paste function doesn't work for me on this computer, so I can't supply the source for this, sorry	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-28 17:43:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	I'm doing a month of the beloved on my blog, which will inshaAllah be a post every day about the Prophet (saws). Stop by and tell me what you love about the Prophet (saws). http://rahma.hadithu...e-ever-you-are/	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-27 09:45:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	Alhamdulilah, tomorrow is the beginning of the month of Rabi'-al-Awwal, the third month in the hijri calendar. In this month, our beloved Prophet (saws) was born, so it's as good a time as any to take some time to learn more about him and his life. To Listen and Watch: The Life of Muhammad - Imam Suhaib Webb Loving the Prophet - Sh. Muhammad Yaqoubi Loving the Prophet - Sh. Yasir Qadi In the Footsteps of the Prophet - Sh. Hamza Yusuf Right and Ranks of the Prophet - Sh. Faraz Rabbani Prophet Muhammad Described - Waleed Basyouni The Prophetic Legacy - Imam Suhaib Webb RMW's Loving the Beloved Tour Mawlid an Nabi with Sh. Hamza and Imam Zaid Allah and His Messenger in our lives - Sh. Hamza Active Love for the Prophet - Imam Zaid	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-26 09:02:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	If you broke your wudu, you'd have to take the nail polish off, make wudu, and then re apply the polish. One of the conditions of wudu is that the water touch your finger and toe nails, and the polish is a paint that stops the water from touching the nails. During that time of the month when you don't pray, you don't make wudu, so that'd be the ideal time to wear it.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-25 19:55:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	For Aasiya QUOTE The demons of anger, hatred, and rage are the absolute worst because they deprive human beings of the faculty of rational judgment and overwhelm any manifestation of compassion or conscience. It is this type of anger which our beloved Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, warned against when he said to the man who came seeking counsel: Do not get angry. Despite the man's repeated requests for further advice, the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, made a point of reiterating his statement: Do not get angry. This rigorously authenticated transmission has been commented upon by a number of scholars. Imam Nawawi, one of the most eminent of these commentators, stated that the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, realized that anger was a natural trait of human beings and had the ability to well up in all of us. However, the exhortation in this hadith is not so much that we have to avoid anger altogether, but that we must not, under any circumstances, act upon a state of anger. Why? Because acting upon one's anger can have untold consequences for the enraged person and the object of his rage. Anger is literally from the devil and is one of Shaytan's greatest weapons against the believer. That is why our noble Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, taught us a number of ways to protect against anger, the foremost of which is seeking refuge in Allah Most High, performing ablution, and removing ourselves from the situation. Anger is devastating. And in this terrible case, unchecked anger, hatred, and rage have resulted in the taking of an innocent woman's life and the destruction of an entire family. There are children who have been immeasurably harmed by this…children who no longer have a mother or a father.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-23 08:43:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	QUOTE (childress_london @ Feb 19 2009, 06:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (UmmSqueakster @ Feb 19 2009, 02:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Interesting explanation of the wig: http://www.israelnat...ticle.aspx/5690 QUOTE That anthropologist has not only mistaken a wig for real hair, but has also confused true modesty for his own version. He equates modesty with unattractiveness, but that is his definition, not Judaism's. From the Jewish perspective, modesty has nothing to do with being unattractive. Rather, modesty is a means to create privacy. And that is what a wig achieves. ... The hair-covering has a profound effect on the wearer. It creates a psychological barrier, a cognitive distance between her and strangers. Her beauty becomes visible, but inconspicuous; she is attractive, but unavailable. The wig achieves the desired effect exactly, because a wig allows a woman to cover all her hair, while maintaining her attractive appearance. She can be proud of the way she looks without compromising her privacy. And even if her wig looks so real as to be mistaken for natural hair, she knows that no one is looking at the real her. She has created a private space, and only she decides who to let into that space. I'd be interested to hear an anthropological approach to this as well, if this definition of modesty that the rabbi is talking about has developed and changed over time. Yeah, I don't get the modesty equals unattractive idea. To me that would mean that if you are already an unattractive woman, then you don't need to cover your hair! Besides, I have seen many beautiful women in the hijab. Didn't do a thing to make them unattractive. I guess what confounds me about this is that for me, the point of covering my hair is to cover my hair. If I put a wig on, then people can still see something that looks like hair. In my mind, that's akin to putting on a shirt that has a picture of a naked body on it, or wearing skin tight clothes, yes, your body is covered, but you can see see the body. I do concur that modesty doesn't have to equal ugly.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-20 10:01:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	It's recorded in the sahih collections of Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet (saws) said "It is not right for a man to abandon his brother for more than three days." It's not a religiuos thing, it's a man thing.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-20 09:58:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 18, 2009 Media contact: Wajahat Ali, 510-909-7506, wajahatmali@hotmail.com American Muslims Call for Swift Action Against Domestic Violence Murder of Buffalo resident Aasiya Zubair spurs American Muslims to forcefully address domestic abuse and violence against women; call on imams to address DV in Friday sermons SAN FRANCISCO - A coalition of Muslim organizations, journalists, community leaders, imams, and other concerned citizens are calling for immediate action by American Muslim leaders and religious figures to address domestic abuse and violence in America, including that found in the American Muslim community, on Friday, February 20, 2009. In response to the collective concern of the American Muslim community, imams and religious leaders across America have been asked to speak out against domestic violence to their congregations. They are asked to remind congregants of the Prophet Muhammad's abhorrence of harshness, abuse and violence, and emphasize solutions that strengthen families and ensure all members are treated with fairness and respect, free of fear of abuse or violence. Members of the coalition are contacting imams and religious leaders in major Islamic centers and mosques. They are encouraging sermons addressing domestic violence and are offering resources available through the Peaceful Families Project, a Muslim-run domestic violence prevention organization founded in 2000, to help educate the American Muslim community. This education addresses the extent to which domestic violence exists and strategies to stop it. Several prominent imams have heeded the call to action by concerned American Muslims including Shaykh Hamza Yusuf of the Zaytuna Institute in Berkeley, Ca. and Imam Tahir Anwar of the South Bay Islamic Association in San Jose, Ca. These imams have committed their Friday sermons to addressing domestic violence and preaching that in the Islamic tradition and by the example of the Prophet Muhammad, family harmony can never be achieved by force and that emotional and physical abuse is never acceptable. This call is being broadcast through various channels, including blogs, Facebook groups, personal contacts, and news media. "The outcry among Muslim Americans against this type of violence is a heartfelt one," said Shahed Amanullah, editor-in-chief of the online newsmagazine altmuslim.com. "It is essential that we address the problem and take steps to ensure that no one else faces the same tragic fate as Ms. Zubair." Specific calls to action for imams and religious leaders include: Unequivocally denounce domestic violence and any attitudes that enable or excuse it Remind Muslims that the Prophet Muhammad condemned with unequivocal language all forms of spousal abuse. Immediately create community social service committees made up of qualified social service providers to supply educational resources and staff institutional programs that support abused and battered women. Promote educational and awareness programs that outline abusive and violent behaviors. Allow community members ways of pointing out and preventing the emergence or escalation of possibly abusive relationships and environments Individuals and organizations helping to organize this call (partial list, titles for identification purposes only): Salma Abugideri, Peaceful Families Project Wajahat Ali, Playwright, Attorney and Journalist, domesticcrusaders.com Shahed Amanullah, editor-in-chief of the online newsmagazine altmuslim.com Zeba Iqbal, Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals Ruby Khan, Director, Hamdard Center for Health and Human Services Dr. Aminah McCloud, Professor of Islamic Studies, DePaul University Hussein Rashid, Visiting Professor, Hofstra University, husseinrashid.com Mosques, imams, and organizations confirmed to have joined this effort (partial list): Arab American Association of New York (New York, NY) Arab Muslim American Federation (New York, New York) Council of the Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago - Imam Abdul Malik Muhajid Islamic Society of San Francisco - Imam Khalid Siddiqui Islamic House of Wisdom (Dearborn, MI) - Imam Mohammad Elahi Islamic Center of Greater Lansing (Detroit, MI) - Imam Dawud Walid South Bay Islamic Association (San Jose, CA) - Imam Tahir Anwar The Islamic Center at New York University - Haroon Moghul Zaytuna Institute (Berkeley, CA) - Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Resources for the media regarding Muslim efforts to confront domestic violence: ACCESS (Michigan): www.accesscommunity.org Apna Ghar (Chicago): www.apnaghar.org Central Texas Muslimaat (Austin, Texas): http://www.ctmaustin.org Domestic Violence Resources for Muslims: http://www.crescentlife.com/psychissues/domestic_violence.htm Facebook Call to Action: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=54807221754 Hamdard Center for Health and Human Services (Chicago): http://www.hamdardcenter.org Manavi (New York, NY): http://www.manavi.org Muslims For Progressive Values (Los Angeles): http://www.thepetiti...te.com/1/mpv-dv Narika (San Francisco): http://www.narika.org North American Islamic Shelter for the Abused (San Francisco): http://www.ask-nisa.org Peaceful Families Project: www.peacefulfamilies.org Sakhi (New York, NY): http://www.sakhi.org SEMAH (San Francisco): http://www.semah.org Tahirih Justice Center (Falls Church, Va..): http://www.tahirih.org Turning Point for Women and Families (New York, NY): www.turningpoint-ny.org	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-19 15:13:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	Interesting explanation of the wig: http://www.israelnat...ticle.aspx/5690 QUOTE That anthropologist has not only mistaken a wig for real hair, but has also confused true modesty for his own version. He equates modesty with unattractiveness, but that is his definition, not Judaism's. From the Jewish perspective, modesty has nothing to do with being unattractive. Rather, modesty is a means to create privacy. And that is what a wig achieves. ... The hair-covering has a profound effect on the wearer. It creates a psychological barrier, a cognitive distance between her and strangers. Her beauty becomes visible, but inconspicuous; she is attractive, but unavailable. The wig achieves the desired effect exactly, because a wig allows a woman to cover all her hair, while maintaining her attractive appearance. She can be proud of the way she looks without compromising her privacy. And even if her wig looks so real as to be mistaken for natural hair, she knows that no one is looking at the real her. She has created a private space, and only she decides who to let into that space. I'd be interested to hear an anthropological approach to this as well, if this definition of modesty that the rabbi is talking about has developed and changed over time.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-19 14:22:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	Random books available to download that I like: Adab Mufrad - a collection of hadith put together by Imam Bukhari on the subject of adab, proper manners/etiquette. In this collection, he had a less rigorous standard then he did in his sahih collection, so there are a few weak hadith. Riyadus Saleheen - Imam Nawawi's collection of hadith, the Gardens of the Righteous. Both of the above are translated by Aisha Bewley. Duas from the Quran and Sunnah	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-19 10:32:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	re: covering For anyone interested, there's an multi-faith covering group on yahoo called Covered Women 4 God. I haven't been active in it for awhile, but if memory serves me correctly, it's mainly muslims, but with a decent number of christians and a few jewish women who cover.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-19 10:15:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	QUOTE (MrsAmera @ Feb 19 2009, 08:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> UmmSqueakster - I've seen the tafsir before and while helpful and part of what I'm looking for it's not totally. I really don't think that anything exists for what I'm looking for - I'm thinking of putting it together myself! I think I know what you have in mind, and I concur that nothing like it probably exists. I wonder if anyone is planning on making something like that? The english muslim book market is really growing, and that seems like something that would have a good niche. I do really like the Mariful Quran for studying, although nothing beats a good teacher or knowledgable discussion partner. I like to read the Qur'an with the husband, because when he reads it, he stops, ponders, and can have a good 30 minute discussion on a single ayah. Me, I tend to just read and slip into auto pilot.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-19 10:06:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	Have you looked at the various tafsir that are out there? Modern Tafsirs Tafheem ul Quran - Maududi's Tafsir Maariful Qur'an - Mufti Muhammad Shafi, translated by Mufi Taqi Usami, download it here. Classic Tafsirs Tafsir al Jalayn Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn Abbas Asbab al-Nuzul by Wahidi Tafsir ibn Kathir There are quite a few more available to purchase.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-18 16:54:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	QUOTE (faryan @ Feb 18 2009, 10:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> 2 days after I arrived, I got news that my grandfather has passed away... His cancer recurred and he was really in pain. We are really sad, but also relieved that he is now with God and not in pain anymore. Hope that you guys can also say a lil dua for him. inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon. To God we belong and to Him is our return. O God, surely Farha's grandfather is under Your protection, and in the rope of Your security, so save him from the trial of the grave and from the punishment of the Fire. You fulfill promises and grant rights, so forgive him and have mercy on him. Surely You are Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-18 11:36:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	Please make abundant dua for the mother of my husband’s best friend Yousry. She is only living with the assistance of a machine, and it looks like her time is near. It is killing my husband that he cannot be there.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-18 10:36:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	I recaptioned a recent lolcat from icanhascheezburger	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-16 17:09:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	Economic anxiety? Give charity and remain steadfast On October 25, 2008, Imam Zaid was invited to speak at Muslim Alliance of North America (MANA) event in Santa Clara, California. Imam Zaid gave advice on how to conduct yourself during an economic crisis. He also reminded us about the importance of charity especially in difficult times. Advice was also dispensed in regards to remain steadfast in our worship and have complete trust in Allah.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-13 10:45:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	QUOTE (Nawal @ Feb 10 2009, 02:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> http://www.themuslimbabyshop.com/ Cute site I found and they ship to the US! Aww, so cute. I need this one in an adult size. The world needs more muslim heroes fans, especially now that Justin Tolchuck of Aliens in America is Syler's sidekick.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-10 16:44:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	If you're not a muslim, then there's no need to be a muslim wife. If your husband didn't marry a muslim, then he has no business requiring you to adhere to something that isn't part of your belief structure if you didn't agree upon it before marriage. Simple as that.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-10 16:42:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	I actually just wrote a post about converting and husbands, because I'm dismayed at a number of recent posts/blogs of sisters leaving the deen/pulling back from practicing because of problems with their husbands. It's just something to think about, not saying that person A or person B will actually do this. But it's good to stop and check your intentions. I'm compiling a list of resources for newbies here - http://rahma.hadithuna.com/converts/. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-09 08:50:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	Sh. Hamza on Falah TV Neato - Live tonight at 7 pm online, although I"m not sure which 7 pm it is - maybe Pacific time since it's in california?	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-05 15:11:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	QUOTE (Rajaa_Reda @ Feb 5 2009, 11:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> gotta question absolutly love the green one my husband's futball team's colors btw. anyway, when you say size 12 i am assuming a lose cut 12??? I am typically a 10/12 with some junk in the trunk you know???? Also, never ordered from a an overseas company stating euros i am going to think at the end they can convert it over to $ yes? Unfortunately, my friend who's ordered from them tells me they're cut for very slim, asian (read pakistani/indian) women, so if you have any curves, it's touch and go. And yes, if you do order overseas, they'll use the current exchange rate and charge your card in dollars. QUOTE and yeah gotta start moving JJ and I are going to look at doing a 5 K this summer insha'allah.... I want to be a hijabie finishing in the middle of the pack with pride. I used to run 5ks a lot, but I'm really out of shape and practice now. I had been planning on running a half marathon this spring, but yeah, not going to happen.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-05 13:16:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	QUOTE (Turia @ Feb 3 2009, 01:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I love the white one too but white and me don't mix!!! Where is a place you can order online that carrys plus size and not expensive? Modest Clothes.com has a list of stores that sell plus sized clothes - http://www.modestclo...c-clothing.html I've ordered from Shukr, Jelbab.com and IslamicBoutique. Unfortunately, there aren't too many sales or good deals. I keep checking the shukr clearanced. I used to be able to get skirts there for $20, but now they rarely go below $30. Their stuff is really high quality though, and lasts a long time. The skirt I'm wearing right now I got from there probably 2 and a half years ago, washed it probably 50 times, and it's still in great shape.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-03 14:58:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	QUOTE (just_Jackie @ Feb 3 2009, 10:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If I wore pink I'd look like a big piece of Bazooka bubble gum..lol. I know you like the bright hijabs! Hey, rajaa and I are gonna get off the couch and move, can you inspire us? bwahaha, you'll have to motivate me too Once the weather gets a bit warmer and the ice melts off the sidewalks, I'm going to start running again, inshaAllah. I think there's indoor running here at the metrodome during the winter, so I may check that out. It's been quite awhile since I've been running QUOTE (HisLittleMasriyah @ Feb 3 2009, 01:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> i love them all!! definitly my style too...but i dont dress like that here much; im still not comfortable they re very expensive; in egypt they r not as expensive...may be starting at 3O$ and up. Oh, I know. I'm collecting pictures of abayas I like (mainly gulf style), and when the husband goes to egypt in september, inshaAllah he's going to have some tailored for me.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-03 14:56:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	I've been drooling over silk route abayas for years, but apparently if you're over a US size 12, they don't fit. So the goal now is to get down to a size 12 for eid inshaAllah. Going on a walk at lunch today to start, and then will do a pilates dvd when I get home inshaAllah. So I'm thinking this one in pink, this one in green (squee, it's a packer's abaya!), and/or this one in black. and inshaAllah if we make hajj in a few years, this one in white for my "ihram." Oh heck, if I lose enough weight to get down to a size 12, I may just have to buy them all to celebrate.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-03 11:29:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	Honestly, if you don't know the subject matter well, I'd decline presenting. I've given one halaqa, and that was just listening to a recorded CD lecture and leading the discussion afterwards. I do little one on one things with new converts about salat and other basic questions, but the fiqh of menstruation is complex. And if you don't know who your audience is (ie salafi vs madhab based), I have no idea what resources to point you towards.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-02 12:30:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	I got an email from the why islam website about a free class they hold for converts on the first saturday of each month. Looks like it's webcast: http://www.whyislam....77/Default.aspx In the email, it had links to recordings of the first session. They're not on the website yet, so if you want to hear them, pm me your email and I'll forward it on.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-02-01 15:27:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	QUOTE (childress_london @ Jan 30 2009, 11:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> So is this idea about innovation only Shia? I am always interested in both sides of the equation. I will check out the shiachat too. Thanks. Oh, no, I just noticed that your SO is from Iran, so I made the leap that he was shia and maybe you wanted information from that point of view. What I posted above is the 2 divergent sunni view points - all bida is bad vs. there is good bida and then there is bad bida.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-01-30 12:56:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	QUOTE (Ahmed N Tina @ Jan 30 2009, 11:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (UmmSqueakster @ Jan 30 2009, 09:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Ahmed N Tina @ Jan 30 2009, 10:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Jen, your knowledge astounds me every time I read something you post. My hat is totally off to you! It's all the fault of high school debate. I learned how research research research as a debater. But really, what I know is nothing in the grand scheme of things. I'm just a student at the beginning of the path. If you are at the beginning, I don't even have my big toe in the door yet! The way you put your info is really helpful and understandable for folks like me who are trying to learn and sometimes just don't get it. Just appreciating you girl!! Hey, just keep walking through that door. The sahaba had 23 years to learn Islam from the Prophet (saws), so there's no reason why we shouldn't also have time to learn too. QUOTE (Rajaa_Reda @ Jan 30 2009, 11:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> you know what is interesting i asked my moroccan husband if he is Maliki he doens't know... hummmmmmm People these days affiliate less with the traditional madhabs of their areas, due in part to the influence of the la-madhab movement out of Saudi Arabia. Petro dollars buy a lot of influence. QUOTE From my understanding the timeline is within three days but I am not certain as to the why???? Perhaps that is what was done with the Propeht (pbuh)? Everything in Islam is because that's the way the Prophet (saws) did it QUOTE (childress_london @ Jan 30 2009, 11:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks for your help. Maybe I should use the "call a Muslim" number. LOL. Have you heard of it? 1-800-why islam? They're sunni based, and I'm not sure if they'd have shia info, but it wouldn't hurt to ask Shiachat probably has some knowledgable people who'd be happy to answer shia questions.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-01-30 12:38:00
Middle East and North Africa	Muslims	QUOTE (Ahmed N Tina @ Jan 30 2009, 10:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Jen, your knowledge astounds me every time I read something you post. My hat is totally off to you! It's all the fault of high school debate. I learned how research research research as a debater. But really, what I know is nothing in the grand scheme of things. I'm just a student at the beginning of the path.	UmmSqueakster	Female	Egypt	2009-01-30 12:08:00