tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75929406506946640422024-03-13T12:18:22.070-05:00Queens of IslamQueen's of Islam are royal women of America who represent dignity, strength, and faith above all the rest. Breaking out of the mold, shell, and bubble...Queen's of Islam are truly unique in their quest to reform the reputation and meaning behind being American and following the faith of Islam. This blog was created and is led by Nicole Queen, the American convert who left her life as a media photographer to pursue her dream of a peaceful life, which she discovered in Islam.nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-13638195628913316632012-08-27T17:12:00.000-05:002012-08-27T17:12:48.858-05:00Inspirational Brothers Coming to Islam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's not just the<span style="font-size: large;"> ladies</span> making their mark as <span style="font-size: large;">reverts to Islam</span>...</h3>
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I know it's been a while since I have written and I apologize for my neglect. I won't say much but I can say that no one can accuse me of depriving Talal from having his Mother's full abiding attention! Well, enough about that, I was scanning Twitter as I do to see what's what and who's who and who's not who anymore and this story caught my eye. You know I do love stories about reverts to Islam and all of the stories I have shared have always been about the Sisters and I love boasting to others that Sisters maintain the lead when it comes to "choosing the straight path". It was, I admit, refreshing to read about the inspirational Brothers who have chosen the road less traveled (in America). I think it's <span style="font-size: large;">extremely important</span> for there to be more Brothers coming to Islam because they can really take the torch to places that are a little <span style="font-size: large;">taboo</span> for the Sisters to go to (much to my dismay). Each of their stories is different and please share these videos with others in hopes that they will feel the urge to take that final step to glory and be the <span style="font-size: large;">Man</span> they were meant to be...</div>
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The videos below and story are shared from: </div>
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<a href="http://creativemuslims.com/2012/journey-to-islam-5-moving-stories/" target="_blank"><img alt="Creative Muslims" src="http://creativemuslims.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/cm_logo_final_small.png" /></a>
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<em style="color: #636363; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/868dc8e60db3bc027801e515f8b5050f?s=70&d=identicon&r=G" />About the author:</em> Tubah Sultan<small style="color: #636363; float: right; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">View all posts by <a href="http://creativemuslims.com/author/admin/" rel="author" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s linear; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Posts by Tubah Sultan">Tubah Sultan</a></small></h5>
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A self-taught web developer and experienced user of popular web content publishing platforms Blogger, WordPress, Tumblr, and Joomla!, Tubah started Creative Muslims with the hopes of building a mainstream media network to connect the creative minds in the community and to promote a positive view of Islam.</div>
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/mustafadavis" itemprop="url" style="color: #112233; cursor: pointer; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Mustafa Davis" class="portrait portrait_lg" itemprop="image" src="http://b.vimeocdn.com/ps/344/442/3444422_75.jpg" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1px solid rgb(225, 226, 227); display: block; float: left; height: 52px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 2px; width: 52px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">1. An Intimate Conversation with MUSTAFA DAVIS hosted by USAMA CANON</span></h1>
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by <a href="http://vimeo.com/mustafadavis" rel="author" style="color: #112233; cursor: pointer; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;">Mustafa Davis</a> <time data-timeago="5 months ago" data-title="Tuesday, March 6, 2012 11:14 AM" datetime="2012-03-06T11:14:07-05:00" style="cursor: default; font-size: 11px;" title="Tuesday, March 6, 2012 11:14 AM">5 months ago</time></div>
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Ta'leef Collective presents "An Intimate Conversation with MUSTAFA DAVIS (Ta'leef Collective co-founder) and USAMA CANON (Ta'leef Collective Founding Director).</div>
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Usama Canon interviews Mustafa Davis about his recent tour to South East Asia and discusses Mustafa's childhood and opens up a very intimate conversation by asking "How did you get to where you are now?" Coming from a broken home, Mustafa candidly discusses his upbringing and how he found many similarities to his own story (amongst converts, reverts and born Muslims) during his travels throughout South East Asia.</div>
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visit <a href="http://www.taleefcollective.org/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #112233; cursor: pointer; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">taleefcollective.org</a> to find out more about the work of Ta'leef Collective.</div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/38034302" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="500"></iframe> <a href="http://vimeo.com/38034302">An Intimate Conversation with MUSTAFA DAVIS hosted by USAMA CANON</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/mustafadavis">Mustafa Davis</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: white;">2. How the Bible Led Me to Islam: <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The Story of a Former Christian Youth Minister – Joshua Evans</b></span>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="http://www.yushaevans.com/">www.YushaEvans.com</a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IYMKQKSV0bY" width="560"></iframe></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>3. Becoming a Muslim: My Story by Jon Dean</b></span></span>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/b85fNnNKuyY" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="line-height: normal;">4. Journey to Islam: Latino Muslims Share Their Story </span><br style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="line-height: normal;">by Br. Mujahid Fletcher & Br. Isa Parada</span></b></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>5. Shawn’s Story: Ta’leef Files</b></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/47644492" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="560"></iframe></span></span></div>
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nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-17813956298545677932012-02-15T12:00:00.001-06:002012-02-15T12:02:01.686-06:00Glad To Be Back!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Assalamu Alaikum!!!!!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Rahim</span><br />
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It feels so good to come out of "hiding". As most of you know I was pregnant for the past 9 months, lol...a normal length of time, and then Alhamdulillah, <span style="font-size: large;">I gave birth to the most precious gift that God could grant me</span>. <span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;">Talal Hassan Tahat</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 5th, 2012 7 lbs 10 oz. 20.4 inches</td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">AlHamdulillah, he is the sweetest joy and the coolness of our eyes. Talal is now five weeks old and <span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">growing like the weeds in my front yard</span><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">! </span>I have been so busy of course, attending to his every need and desire and believe me, he has learned how to work over Mommy and Daddy! He's a cheerful sprout in the mornings, right around 4 am he expects Mommy to play with him! We are over joyed with this bundle of snuggles and now that I feel more confident in my "Mommy skills"...I am ready to get back to work!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am super excited to share with you my first event since the changes in my life! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/174569272649563/"><img src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/423896_2620358358437_1539510257_32237789_1682257286_n.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"></span></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">Remember LoveStruck back in '10? Well this year, join IANT</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">Youth, Nicole Queen, and Nouman Ali Khan on February 17 </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">for LoveStruck Part II! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">We'll be talking beyond the guys, the </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">See y'all then insha'Allah!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">*Please note, this event is targeted for ages 13+</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">For questions or concerns, please email </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">bushra.haq@iantyouth.com</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">You can RSVP via Facebook or the IANT Youth Website!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">Special thanks to Ahmed Salim for the amazing flyer!!</span><br />
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</span></div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-88601497316750306872011-08-30T07:00:00.003-05:002011-08-30T07:00:14.657-05:00Eid Mubarak 2011!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NxgvEzIHtAXRHj1RgvGVVahFsdLO8dAr_4W5UaKHfDIVIrkrTrrFZihftlBFeRx5Kj69Tith9ZlddIgnm5iEWcNp8lSspt7L0x8m-rFJSQjEXvKcPd0GbGWvC-qsLmV8KdMni22GuZk/s1600/Ramadan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NxgvEzIHtAXRHj1RgvGVVahFsdLO8dAr_4W5UaKHfDIVIrkrTrrFZihftlBFeRx5Kj69Tith9ZlddIgnm5iEWcNp8lSspt7L0x8m-rFJSQjEXvKcPd0GbGWvC-qsLmV8KdMni22GuZk/s640/Ramadan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Assalamu Alaikum (Peace be upon you),</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This time we Pass the Lantern right here to <a href="http://www.visitdallas.com/">Dallas, Texas USA</a>! I am so happy to share with all of you the traditions and spirit of Ramadan and Eid, here in the United States...or at least here in Texas! Whats even more exciting is that I will also be sharing with you a Ramadan experience from the aspect of non-Muslim Americans, who were thrilled to share their "fasting" stories with us!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.iant.com/images/stories/iant%20imsakieah_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.iant.com/images/stories/iant%20imsakieah_small.jpg" width="246" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This year, Ramadan 2011 had some pretty distinct timing, as it began on August 1, 2011 and ended with Eid on Aug 30th, 2011. Here in Dallas, the Muslim community follows the Islamic timings according to the <a href="http://www.isna.net/Home.aspx">Islamic Society of North America</a>. This is how we get the exact dates and fasting times with which we follow during Ramadan. Our local mosque, <a href="http://www.iant.com/">Islamic Association of North Texas</a>, hosts all kinds of amazing events and activities during Ramadan! They even publish a convenient Ramadan fasting calendar for Muslims to use, so that we can keep up with proper times for suhoor, breaking our fast, and praying Tarweeh prayers each night. You can check out the Ramadan prayer and activities <a href="http://www.iant.com/index.php?option=com_php&Itemid=81">here.</a> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODe76VUG0HjQ5cCKBQGtQqM5W_6descuAEswaF9kHweVBnCBP1Z6apIn6Wf1_EEoZpVwlhbgtfCCZufFC9a0iOj6ttKrXWrgyMrSTpeqqaCb1QEiR2jVkwpEdCGu_NcCbSVAJAVE9nac/s1600/IANT2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODe76VUG0HjQ5cCKBQGtQqM5W_6descuAEswaF9kHweVBnCBP1Z6apIn6Wf1_EEoZpVwlhbgtfCCZufFC9a0iOj6ttKrXWrgyMrSTpeqqaCb1QEiR2jVkwpEdCGu_NcCbSVAJAVE9nac/s320/IANT2.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.iant.com/">IANT</a> helps keep Ramadan quite organized, members can follow that link and find out who will be leading the Tarweeh prayer each night, how long that Brother has been a Hafiz of the Quran, and even find out about additional khutbas, or lectures, that will be scheduled that evening. Twitter and Facebook are also used, to let members know ahead of time which section of the Quran will be recited that night during prayers, so that others can follow along! Iftars are also hosted every weekend at the mosque and the busy Tarweeh prayers are kept well organized with assistance from security and local police to aid in the over flow of traffic inside and outside the mosque! This is a necessity because in Dallas, hundreds and hundreds of local Muslims gather each and every night to pray.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.timesofummah.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/A-Lebanese-Muslim-man-shops-for-decorations-in-Beirut-Lebanon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.timesofummah.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/A-Lebanese-Muslim-man-shops-for-decorations-in-Beirut-Lebanon.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">At our home, we really look forward to Ramadan! This year, we decorated our home with glittery gold Islamic crescents and bright twinkling Islamic crescent lights! We also have a basket that says "Ramadan Kareem" on it and it's full of candy, which the kids (and everyone else) loves when they come over for iftar. For me, it's important for Ramadan to really feel like a holiday, since I am a convert to Islam. I really wanted guests of our home to know as soon as they walked in that we were celebrating a special time of the year. You can find Ramadan decorations at <a href="http://www.noorart.com/">Noorart</a> and <a href="http://www.eidway.com/categories/Decorate-the-Home/">Eidway</a> websites! We found ours while on our recent trip to Amman, Jordan, so that's an option too if your in the neighborhood, LOL.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.jan-leasure.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/perfecteggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://www.jan-leasure.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/perfecteggs.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When it's time for suhoor, we are always excited the first few weeks of Ramadan to wake up and have some breakfast! Right now at our home, it's just me and Hassan, so we wake up together and make some boiled eggs (his fav), and juice and water and I usually have a big bowl of whole grain cereal with some cut-up fruit. While we are eating, an application on my computer will play the voice of an old Muslim man, walking through an ancient Islamic village, beating his drum and calling out in Arabic for everyone to wake up for suhoor! It's so cute and really makes the early morning breakfast a little more fun. We then pray Fajr together and usually will sleep a little before time to start the work day!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Each year we enjoy hosting close friends for iftar, and we love visiting each other. There are so many nights that we will get invited to share an iftar at friends or families homes and we try to invite them back, the same. In Dallas, we break our fast with plump juicy dates, most are imported from Saudi Arabia (YUM). Then, we have a small bowl of soup and small salad. Afterward we will stop and all pray Magrib prayer together. Then it's time for the main course, then Tarweeh prayers. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://images.mefeedia.com/entries/29312698/video_140.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://images.mefeedia.com/entries/29312698/video_140.png" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">At my home, if I invite Hassan's Jordanian family for iftar, usually I will make a large roasted rosemary leg of lamb with roasted potatoes and carrots in the broth! On the side we will have a pasta salad and my hubby will make the best kabseh dish ever. He's the "Rice King", the title is not official though, LOL. We also serve up some yummy garlic cheese bread and a delish dessert with tea awaits everyone when they return from praying Tarweeh together at the mosque. For the kids, I make them their own individual personal cheese pita pizza's, it's their favorite and shows them they are special! Each year, I also prepare a Ramadan craft for the kids to create together. This year they colored Islamic mosaic designs for the kids to take home and decorate with, so beautiful! You can download your own Muslim coloring pages <a href="http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/holidays/ramadan-coloring-pages/">here.</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For the past few years, we have invited a few of Hassan's co-workers, at <a href="http://www.dfwworld.org/">World Affairs Council, DFW</a>, to fast for one day and then to break their fast with us in our home. It's always been something important to us, to share Ramadan with non-Muslims, and Hassan's co-workers really enjoy being included. This year, Hassan's boss, Jim Falk-President of WAC, suggested that the whole office be invited to fast and before you know it, the owner of a local halal restaurant offered to donate the iftar for that evening! I am so excited to share photographs and a few video clips from that special night with you!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We first prepared a friendly Ramadan email that was sent out to all the staff, highlighting the beauty and tradition of Ramadan and fasting, to give the participants a background. I even included some helpful "tips", like when you hit that afternoon fasting wall and you MUST have a coffee...just remind yourself of all the children in Somalia who are dying for only a drink of water. We also made sure to email positive motivation to participants the day of fasting, and tried to give a feeling of pride in having strong self-discipline. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The day was over and the sun was about to set, probably not quick enough for the brave few who made it through the fasting adventure. We all met at the beautiful home of Br. Ahmed, who owns an amazing (and favorite) halal Moroccan restaurant called, Kasbah! In his home he had a beautiful Moroccan inspired room for all of us to gather in, and a local religious leader was present to give a small speech on the beauties of Ramadan. The staff was surprised to learn all of the details involved in fasting, such as the fact that it is not seen as a burden and is pardoned from those who cannot partake in it. Shortly after it was time to break our fast with ice cold milk and juicy dates, and then on to delicious soup and warm bread! After the first course we all dined on the best Moroccan feast in Texas!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0a35U0g-Qc-GXoNnF9c9odkXjLrnEQkEMt6baIW3Hve1ep70zR2SgaH_hTR4p4fvmjJIz8l2yrA2NK-RUCZ5FABjc_mV21NX4V1HVPR8hXSqgCCmz5VWnZD4mkHBvcnRHIlWm9xiHEo/s1600/group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0a35U0g-Qc-GXoNnF9c9odkXjLrnEQkEMt6baIW3Hve1ep70zR2SgaH_hTR4p4fvmjJIz8l2yrA2NK-RUCZ5FABjc_mV21NX4V1HVPR8hXSqgCCmz5VWnZD4mkHBvcnRHIlWm9xiHEo/s640/group.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WAC staff along with Nicole, Natsiria, and Hassan</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The staff was in love with dinner that night and compliments were flying left and right! I think they were pretty grateful to eat! The Moroccan catered meal included tender roasted lamb, fresh hummus, greek salad, roasted egg plant, couscous with grilled veggies and much much more! After dinner we all enjoyed a buffet of fresh made from scratch cookies and the most amazing hot tea!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6URKiEhv1J7FFJ5KCjjk0vfmS3f1-osrXHNdLjeU_kU7jwCYLGjeMqCY1m4m-mjvmC8YSohTRD2jJ0cwANUAKicac19qCxZDIz0KFEjPWEwRMvxB-Hlv_YcxodYVM8pg9soZ_98JV3k/s1600/_DSC3186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6URKiEhv1J7FFJ5KCjjk0vfmS3f1-osrXHNdLjeU_kU7jwCYLGjeMqCY1m4m-mjvmC8YSohTRD2jJ0cwANUAKicac19qCxZDIz0KFEjPWEwRMvxB-Hlv_YcxodYVM8pg9soZ_98JV3k/s640/_DSC3186.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole with Jennifer and Natsiria<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CfxiKT4bC0vFBu6mI9EKoHlHJLjNWQ5QESqM9IQ8BAip0dKu_jbLt1njV2YkDwB2oOwVCAvx2Tw911OirUqLZ_bHnveSFNv8YZdwsUz8levMjw7uwD1BYA5_iLyRTu3z8CeE42GHjv4/s1600/3192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CfxiKT4bC0vFBu6mI9EKoHlHJLjNWQ5QESqM9IQ8BAip0dKu_jbLt1njV2YkDwB2oOwVCAvx2Tw911OirUqLZ_bHnveSFNv8YZdwsUz8levMjw7uwD1BYA5_iLyRTu3z8CeE42GHjv4/s640/3192.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hassan, Jim Falk and WAC staff members</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When the feasting had slowly come to an end, I was excited to hear from the staff and President of WAC about their fasting experiences. Sarah Gordon, a veteran team member of WAC along with Jim Falk were gracious enough to share their Ramadan thoughts with me on camera. I hope you enjoy their interview and I apologize for the back ground noise, it was a full house that night! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you would like to visit the amazing Moroccan restaurant that provided the feast for our iftar that night please see their information below:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.kasbahcuisine.com/" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="http://legacy.ybsitecenter.com/images/cdr/var/15649/indexphp_siteheader.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kasbah Grill</strong></span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2851 Esters Rd<br />
Irving, TX 75062</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">www.kasbahcuisine.com</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you would like to learn more about the World Affairs Council, DFW, then please visit the link below:</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.dfwworld.org/"><img src="http://alarm-inc.org/images/uploads/WAC_News.jpg" /></a></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Hassan and I would both like to wish you and your families an amazing Eid Mubarak, 2011. We have some special news to share with you all! You might have noticed some extra weight on me in the video! God has blessed us with a baby boy, due this winter, God willing. We thank God everyday for his blessing and are so excited to become parents soon! Eid Mubarak!!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXLbIJu-ry8exnuss88QjXUhGc4hiAkVbwZRWkzpqE1QCyjzUcKzreH-6-AHhEKHvjv7tR2vodTwnFJ5eldghnVbgP5GEW1LnHrj1hh3uFwYmLohXjuMy1gT3xcd6qfBG2VPlxU_RSYs/s1600/Eid2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXLbIJu-ry8exnuss88QjXUhGc4hiAkVbwZRWkzpqE1QCyjzUcKzreH-6-AHhEKHvjv7tR2vodTwnFJ5eldghnVbgP5GEW1LnHrj1hh3uFwYmLohXjuMy1gT3xcd6qfBG2VPlxU_RSYs/s640/Eid2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;"></span></span><br />
<div class="vcard" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-108321387195130442011-08-23T07:49:00.027-05:002011-08-23T07:49:00.201-05:00Pass the Lantern to Malaysia!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NxgvEzIHtAXRHj1RgvGVVahFsdLO8dAr_4W5UaKHfDIVIrkrTrrFZihftlBFeRx5Kj69Tith9ZlddIgnm5iEWcNp8lSspt7L0x8m-rFJSQjEXvKcPd0GbGWvC-qsLmV8KdMni22GuZk/s1600/Ramadan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NxgvEzIHtAXRHj1RgvGVVahFsdLO8dAr_4W5UaKHfDIVIrkrTrrFZihftlBFeRx5Kj69Tith9ZlddIgnm5iEWcNp8lSspt7L0x8m-rFJSQjEXvKcPd0GbGWvC-qsLmV8KdMni22GuZk/s640/Ramadan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I asked you to share your favorite <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><a href="http://thequeensofislam.blogspot.com/2011/08/share-your-most-memorable-ramadan.html">Ramadan Memories</a></b></span> from around the world and our first story comes from a Brother in Malaysia! This Brother even shared a great video of his family Iftar, you can view it at the bottom of this posting, God willing. Enjoy reading in his own words about Ramadan with his family in his home country and please make sure to send your story to <a href="mailto:hassanandnicole@gmail.com">hassanandnicole@gmail.com</a></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div dir="ltr" id="internal-source-marker_0.01788241066969931" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="internal-source-marker_0.01788241066969931" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="internal-source-marker_0.01788241066969931" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; white-space: pre-wrap;">17 August 2011</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brief stories of our </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>R</i></b></span><i><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">amadan</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Memories</span></b></i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><div dir="ltr" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.topnews.in/law/files/malaysia-flag_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.topnews.in/law/files/malaysia-flag_15.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Malaysia is a multi-cultural and ethnic society. The majority of it's 28 million population is Muslim. Malaysian Muslims are from Sunni following </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mazahab Shafei. 1</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">st</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Ramadan</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a public holiday in Malaysia.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="internal-source-marker_0.01788241066969931" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20090828&t=2&i=11395119&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=img-moai6reqclx0tcstsck9y2ebkolfjf8v" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20090828&t=2&i=11395119&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=img-moai6reqclx0tcstsck9y2ebkolfjf8v" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The coming of the Ramadan month can be noticeable in Malaysia. Many tents and outlets were set up for business selling assorted cuisines. Hotels too advertised Ramadan Buffets as well. It is a custom in Malaysia that the media will announce the starting day of Ramadan. Once it is make known, on that night most of us will go to the mosque to perform the 1</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">st</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tarawih</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> prayer. During </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ramadan</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, offices change their operation time clock to end the work day at 4.00 pm instead of 5.00 pm but they still maintain the 8 hour work schedule.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the evening of 1</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">st</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> day of fasting, we can see flocks of people shopping, buying their likes on groceries as well as ready made foods and delicacies. The non-Muslims too enjoy the fun as they can have so many choices of different foods during the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ramadan</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> months. Praying facilities are well equipped where you can find mosques as well as praying rooms at commercial centers such as supermarkets and hotels.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://happyhomemaker88.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/ramadan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://happyhomemaker88.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/ramadan.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here, we would like to share with you our life style in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ramadan</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> which it is quite common practice by most Muslims in Malaysia. We live in the city </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seremban</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, about 50 miles south </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kuala Lumpur</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the capital city Malaysia. Ramadan is special to us and we are very anxious for it's coming. During Ramadan we have special tasks to perform, like practicing to discipline our selves in all aspects in life. Hunger and thirst is one of the test we have to go through. When it comes to food, we find that our desire to spend more is high but we always maintain as minimum as possible meeting our needs and budgets.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: black; float: right; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img src="http://sgstb.msn.com/i/C7/416BB055D8AC3F99B36EDADBEF4BC.jpg" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We usually cook our own foods and buy some desserts or fruits to add into the variety. The dishes are simple, they are comprised of rice, main dish of meat or fish with gravy, vegetables soup or fried, cut out fruits or fruit juices and sweet delicacies as the starters. Off course we change the menu daily so that we always feel a new beginning and don't feel bored eating the same foods. Some preferred to buy ready made either take home or break fast at outlets, especially those working and have limited time to reach home.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/photo/2011-08/03/131026468_31n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/photo/2011-08/03/131026468_31n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After eating, we rest for awhile and then take our </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wuduk</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and perform </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">magrib </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">prayers and</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> doa.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We usually perform</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> magrib </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">prayers at home unless there are special occasion where we go to nearby mosque. Next, if we want to perform the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tarawih</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> prayers at the mosque, we then dressed ourselves up and leave our home before </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Isha</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> prayers. At the mosques we perform</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Isha</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as well as</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> tarawih </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">together with the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">jamaah</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. At the mosque we went, there are about 600</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> jamaah</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> mixer of men and women. Here, we performed 8 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rakaat tarawih</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and 3 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rakaat witir.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Some mosques in the country sides performed 20 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rakaat tarawih</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and 1 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rakaat</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">witir.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><div dir="ltr" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.riseap.org/wp-content/gallery/nidanik/malaysia-ramadan2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://www.riseap.org/wp-content/gallery/nidanik/malaysia-ramadan2.png" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Besides breaking fast at home, we also do 'pot-luck', bringing our foods to my mum's home and we share breaking fast together. My imediate families also join in making the day more merrier. At the mosques there are also foods people bringing in where we can enjoy the midnight hours with friends while listening to Quran recited by the</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> jamaah. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The mosque is never quiet during the Ramadan nights!</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">At times we perform </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Isha</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tarawih </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">after midnight. Our</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> sahur </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">time is after the prayer. We usually eat light food such as egg omelet with toppings, bread, tea or coffee. Plain water is also added in as we need to prepare for the next day of fasting. Upon hearing </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">azan subuh</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, we headed for our</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> wuduh </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and perform </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">subuh</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> prayer plus reciting Quran verses a bit.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://mynewshub.my/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ramadan1-565x329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://mynewshub.my/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ramadan1-565x329.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alhamdullillah,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for the past half month fasting and prayers we felt ourselves more healthier, energetic, peace of mind and cut loose all the unnecessary weight we had. With the Ramadan coming to the end, we felt that we are in the old track of life but with good values in our soul. Inshaallah Allah forgive us, looking forward for the next Ramadan and aim to do much better from what we have gone through this Ramadan.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is a great video of this Malaysian family iftar! Enjoy!</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/36_T69wmbGU" width="420"></iframe> </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would personally like to thank this Brother for sharing his Ramadan Memory with all of us and I hope to one day visit this beautiful country!<br />
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Would you like to see an article about Ramadan in your country? Then please Pass the Lantern to us by sharing your story! Send your story to <a href="mailto:Hassanandnicole@gmail.com">Hassanandnicole@gmail.com</a></span></div></div></div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-50395267490405505662011-08-05T07:53:00.000-05:002011-08-05T07:53:00.337-05:00Share your most memorable Ramadan stories!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NxgvEzIHtAXRHj1RgvGVVahFsdLO8dAr_4W5UaKHfDIVIrkrTrrFZihftlBFeRx5Kj69Tith9ZlddIgnm5iEWcNp8lSspt7L0x8m-rFJSQjEXvKcPd0GbGWvC-qsLmV8KdMni22GuZk/s1600/Ramadan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NxgvEzIHtAXRHj1RgvGVVahFsdLO8dAr_4W5UaKHfDIVIrkrTrrFZihftlBFeRx5Kj69Tith9ZlddIgnm5iEWcNp8lSspt7L0x8m-rFJSQjEXvKcPd0GbGWvC-qsLmV8KdMni22GuZk/s640/Ramadan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"></span></div><h2 style="font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, serif; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Assalamu Alaikum my Sisters and Brothers! Inshallah you are enjoying an amazing Ramadan, 2011! Ramadan is a special time of the year for all Muslims. A time of fasting, prayer, and oneness with our community. Across the globe Muslims are fasting for God, refraining from food and water from dawn until sunset, all know the feeling of hunger and thirst.</h2><h2 style="font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, serif; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">During Ramadan, Muslims also give in charity to the needy, something very important as a Believer! So many beautiful stories of togetherness, charity, and submission to God are shared by so many wonderful Sisters and Brothers!</h2><h2 style="font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, serif; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Now is your chance to share your inspiration with others! Share your story of love, charity, and family. You can write about anything that you felt was a special Ramadan memory! Sharing our stories helps inspire others during hard times and helps bring even more togetherness to our faith as a whole. The stories will be posted for Muslims to see on www.QueensofIslam.com and here on NicoleQueen.com and can be completely anonymous to protect privacy.</h2><h2 style="font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, serif; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Submit your personal inspirational story to: HassanandNicole@gmail.com</h2><h2 style="font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, serif; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">You can even submit a video! Find us on YouTube@TheNicoleQueen</h2><h2 style="font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, serif; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">You will be notified when your story is ready to be shared! I can’t wait to hear from you and may you and your family have a blessed Ramadan, Inshallah!</h2><div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">*Only respectful (free of profanity, or offensive materials) postings will appear.</div></div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-7296703661057830922011-05-13T17:31:00.000-05:002011-05-13T17:31:48.080-05:00Daughters of Abaraham<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS38G9aB-GiZ9u9wEcnij6NS53AD8AN9_pQpgHwlPCP1MGBx4aUDEp4mmVh7FQhl8DKkZZCQeLVLOg4H0Y6hepnq82VENgD_-WLtwGCzujAGpbdOoh4vpcEhdmV35JuQygdrDIn6grXY8/s1600/Flyer+East+Dallas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS38G9aB-GiZ9u9wEcnij6NS53AD8AN9_pQpgHwlPCP1MGBx4aUDEp4mmVh7FQhl8DKkZZCQeLVLOg4H0Y6hepnq82VENgD_-WLtwGCzujAGpbdOoh4vpcEhdmV35JuQygdrDIn6grXY8/s640/Flyer+East+Dallas.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Daughters of Abraham, in the DFW area is branching out and looking for new members!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A dear friend of mine, Alia Salem, has been talking about this amazing interfaith group she is a part of, Daughters of Abraham. She's always talking about their amazing meetings and get-togethers and community service projects, so when she said that they were expanding and looking for new members, I really wanted to learn more about what exactly it is that makes this group so special and unique.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"About 7 or 8 years ago a Christian woman started the organization after her son came home from serving overseas in the military. She is the wife of a preacher in Arlington and she really felt like we have got to open these chains of dialog. Her son had really created relationships with Muslims while serving in Iraq and realized it wasn't Muslims who were causing the problems there and it was more politics and government", says Alia about how DOA first began. She goes on to describe that it was sparked by the woman's son, and she joined along with some other Christian and Jewish ladies to begin this interfaith organization. Alia was first approached at a Central Market by a sweet little elderly woman. "I was dressed in my full black abaya and hijab when she approached me", Alia says. The woman then asked Alia if she had ever heard of The Daughters of Abraham. Alia was excited and told her she had heard about the group and would be interested in being part of it. "Now all we need to find is a Jewish woman!", the elderly Christian lady replied excitedly. Shortly after, the DOA Fort Worth group was spawned!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"The point of this, Alia says, is to reach out to people and really show that we are all so similar, we are all just human beings with the same beliefs! We don't get together and talk about politics or things that would offend someone. We love getting together and talking about how we interpret each others faith. We have the opportunity to dispel or confirm stereotypes about each others faith." Alia describes that most of the members have never actually met a Muslim and really enjoy learning about the belief structure of Islam. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkK045xuuE4fADPVwTt4rM4jPRrnYDITCjAdQVwrjM_J2K-nvKU3CFUijks9KLUK1lSKozhCMCCwbQsFmrrpBhGt3ifFlEdLnPI01vCyinVc2uK7wYxNYhVXh41Ip9PHnGedxCG2YhxU/s1600/DOA3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkK045xuuE4fADPVwTt4rM4jPRrnYDITCjAdQVwrjM_J2K-nvKU3CFUijks9KLUK1lSKozhCMCCwbQsFmrrpBhGt3ifFlEdLnPI01vCyinVc2uK7wYxNYhVXh41Ip9PHnGedxCG2YhxU/s640/DOA3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Members of DOA enjoying a discussion</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div>DOA takes part in so many events and are regularly invited to speak for universities and organizations. "Whenever we are all there speaking together, it really opens my eyes. I feel stronger about my faith during these times of sharing, we realize how common our beliefs really are. We always do a Q&A after we speak at an event and we all laugh because most of the questions are referred to me, as a Muslim, because of all the current events", Alia says. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppc_nZpsGCAmvTca4ZNNiAAV51OuesaSf6ClsG0nQq7E0SJODxA93araR5H7AejxpkcHqYQoYaTxcxFzL6KqgSN24sjuVgnWZcQ2hDXJBSjceaXQ_9yQAx-mVawmQ2IYX2w2m7znCu30/s1600/DOA5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppc_nZpsGCAmvTca4ZNNiAAV51OuesaSf6ClsG0nQq7E0SJODxA93araR5H7AejxpkcHqYQoYaTxcxFzL6KqgSN24sjuVgnWZcQ2hDXJBSjceaXQ_9yQAx-mVawmQ2IYX2w2m7znCu30/s640/DOA5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Member Keisha discovers something new at DOA meeting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0epYXrIlELiiFc8pP_gHHH8P4kSRoznc4OXKaqCc2ikSY_4Ars1lKjbiHHET6oI-stzRC0j6Zu3Ad2Bh0aEPXubMY3CAnnspMz58iKFEguf3lVvPGhTMNPm1cP6VCo__SqHNboJ6nfeM/s1600/DOA1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0epYXrIlELiiFc8pP_gHHH8P4kSRoznc4OXKaqCc2ikSY_4Ars1lKjbiHHET6oI-stzRC0j6Zu3Ad2Bh0aEPXubMY3CAnnspMz58iKFEguf3lVvPGhTMNPm1cP6VCo__SqHNboJ6nfeM/s640/DOA1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two DOA members at the DOA garage sale</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">So how can I become a member of DOA?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
There are different DOA groups that you can join, depending on which location your nearest to. There is a brand new East Dallas group that they are busily gathering new members for. There are three groups already established. One in Colleyville, the Fort Worth group, and the Arlington group. The groups get together at preset times and dates and they rotate their meetings between the different places of worship. Sometimes at a church, a temple, or a mosque.<br />
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The East Dallas group is being started by Adel Wallace and she is looking forward to finding some great Muslim Sisters who are eager to get involved in this interfaith dialog experience. The groups are usually intimate in size, some topics gather a large crowd, more than others. The target size is having 8 Jewish members, 8 Christian, and 8 Muslims. There is plenty of room for growth though! There is no cost involved whatsoever. The groups engage in social activism, like helping at a food bank, or gathering school supplies for children. Often the groups obtain grants for their activist events. "Our goal is really to show people out there that all these women of faith gather together with common loves of their families and children and hoping the best for society" Alia says. "The ideal member is a woman who is open to breaking down barriers, keeping our minds open to learning about others and respectful of each others beliefs", she says.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzUw8gUycWy_0Ux7wDV7L20tcsthCo9dFbj2pMkx3XVxoNGpAldxO8uoKiA092Zu_pKGoPyzkjG-YsEmNb45WYUsm92Bk62ayDChJ8v-BWS0X0MM_yTjE40zAw8hRSyXEil89h58xyEw/s1600/DOA2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzUw8gUycWy_0Ux7wDV7L20tcsthCo9dFbj2pMkx3XVxoNGpAldxO8uoKiA092Zu_pKGoPyzkjG-YsEmNb45WYUsm92Bk62ayDChJ8v-BWS0X0MM_yTjE40zAw8hRSyXEil89h58xyEw/s640/DOA2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smiling Daughters of Abraham</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">No matter what your faith, you can contact Alia Salem below to sign up or learn more about DOA!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="mailto:Alia.Salem79@gmail.com">Alia.Salem79@gmail.com</a></span></div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-44076127728108748562011-04-07T13:33:00.001-05:002011-04-07T13:34:43.948-05:00I Got Red Roses Today- Winner of Silence Hides Violence Competition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Assalamu Alaikum All!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You might remember that a month back there was a post here on our humble board about a British Muslim organization called <a href="http://nour-dv.org.uk/">Nour DV</a>. This amazing organization is dedicated to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">engaging the public, and especially the minority Muslim communities, to become aware and take action against this silent yet prevalent social injustice – domestic violence. They recently held a competition called "Silence Hides Violence", where viewers, age 16 and older, could submit poetry, art, portraits, videos, or short stories about domestic violence. The competition really allowed viewers to do their part in spreading awareness while showcasing their individual passions and talents. The judging was tough for Nour representatives but they were able to whittle entries down to a Top 5 category, and then from there, runners up were chosen and then finally, a winner. Below, I have shared the Top 5 entries and winners. Please </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">enjoy their poetry and writings respectfully and make sure to visit <a href="http://nour-dv.org.uk/">Nour Domestic Violence.</a></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nour-dv.org.uk/"><img alt="Nour DV" src="http://nour-dv.org.uk/wp-content/themes/MC/img/logo.png" /></a> <img alt="bismillah" src="http://nour-dv.org.uk/wp-content/themes/MC/img/Bismillah.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Winner of the competition!</u></b></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nour-dv.org.uk/2011/03/01/silence-hides-violence-creativity-competition-top-5-i-got-red-roses-today/"><img alt="Nour DV" src="http://nour-dv.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IGotRedRosesToday.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I Got Red Roses Today</strong></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I got red roses today<br />
It wasn’t our anniversary<br />
Brick-hard fists pounded me<br />
Blood splattered, yet thirstily he hounded me<br />
Face swelled, teeth cracked<br />
Mercy and leniency he lacked<br />
Smiles crossed his face<br />
That grace couldn’t replace<br />
But I know he’s sorry because he sent me red roses today</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I got red roses today<br />
It wasn’t my birthday<br />
He flung me effortlessly across the room<br />
And I thought, this is the end, this is my doom<br />
My feathery body that once swayed thumped hard against the door<br />
I heard it splinter into a million pieces on the floor<br />
Screaming with soreness, battered with scars<br />
I woke up coughing, as he watched from afar<br />
But I know he’s sorry because he sent me red roses today</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I got red roses today<br />
It wasn’t Valentine’s Day<br />
He soaked my face with inconceivable words to provoke me<br />
Pinned me to the wall, his hands quivering to choke me<br />
When my lungs couldn’t inflate<br />
I thought, finally checkmate<br />
But he re-started his violent game<br />
And my screams silent like he tamed<br />
But I know he’s sorry because he sent me red roses today</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I got red roses today<br />
Today, is my funeral<br />
As I lie in the dark, where he can’t touch my lifeless body<br />
The affliction, the violence, I am able to disembody<br />
If only I had injected myself with potency<br />
Overdosed and fought his brutal spree<br />
I would have returned the roses he sent<br />
As he has always been the raging red, the fiery red that caused torment<br />
It is now, that I realize he isn’t sorry because he sent the last red roses too late.</div><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nour-dv.org.uk/2011/03/01/silence-hides-violence-creativity-competition-top-5-the-cage-of-lifes-paradise/"><img alt="Nour DV" src="http://nour-dv.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/TheCageOfLifesParadise.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Cage of Life’s Paradise</strong></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Our lives now harp the songs of lamentations<br />
from deep within our slumbering souls which are walled up,<br />
But once there was a time,<br />
Yes, there was an Age of carefree wonder and rhyme.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Oh, how we sped across life’s miles,<br />
Alas, too soon we band of sisters became caged and beguiled,<br />
The waves of wind no longer ripples or sings through our hair,<br />
We were bartered, wedded and quickly ensnared.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="more-1422" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span>The morning sun no more drips nectar or honeydew,<br />
Our music once soared with the dawn chorus and to a crescendo grew,<br />
We were the ships of paradise floating upon the golden light,<br />
We sailed through the oceans of the deep blue skylight,</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Yet here we are now…</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">We birds of paradise confined to these narrow dreadful hell’s cells,<br />
O, you brothers, you who watch and stare and yell,<br />
Your kind dared to ensnare us and everyday in pain we play,<br />
Our glorious pride and colourful lustre plucked away,</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Where once we flew freely with our brightly shining feathers<br />
Now we hobble upon the grimy ground like tattered orphaned beggars.<br />
Red, green, white and blue, these are the colours that so impress you,<br />
Our rich and radiant plumage now rusts, please help us with your love and trust!</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You stand and mimic and mock,<br />
some of you search for stones and rocks,<br />
Outside these bars of our homes you prance and poke,<br />
What would it feel for you to bear this prison’s infernal yoke?</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Outside our weeping cage,<br />
There in God’s pure palace, written on freedom’s page,<br />
We can see a beautiful house upon Paradise’s hilly slope,<br />
How it glows, this home, this bright beacon of hope!<br />
The windows are without bars or glass panes,<br />
In that lovely house slavery is a shame,<br />
The doorway has no lock nor door,<br />
it is a home open to both rich and poor,<br />
Souls breeze in and souls breeze out and move freely about,<br />
They flutter in and flutter out,<br />
They sing here, they sing there, they sing everywhere,<br />
They have the freedom of life in the very air.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Is it true? Was it you? Did you do this in rage?<br />
How could you build our cage?<br />
Look to me and tell me true,<br />
Hey you! Yes, you who kicks and makes us black and blue,<br />
Please look here and not at yonder death’s crow,<br />
Can you for real cage our life’s rainbow?</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://nour-dv.org.uk/2011/03/01/silence-hides-violence-creativity-competition-top-5-i-remember/"><img src="http://nour-dv.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IRemember.jpg" /></a></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I Remember</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I remember when you brutally hurt me,<br />
I remember how you left me bruised and abused,<br />
I remember how you made me cry floods of tears,<br />
I remember how you cut my heart and let it bleed,<br />
I remember how you neglected me and watched me weep,<br />
I remember the anger and smirk on your face,<br />
I remember your deathly looking eyes,<br />
I remember how you were breaking my heart into pieces,<br />
I remember how you attacked me with so much fury and aggression, <a href="http://nour-dv.org.uk/2011/03/01/silence-hides-violence-creativity-competition-top-5-i-remember/">(cont.)</a></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://nour-dv.org.uk/2011/03/01/silence-hides-violence-creativity-competition-top-5-my-words/"><img alt="Nour DV" src="http://nour-dv.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/MyWords.jpg" /></a></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">My Words</strong></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It finally feels like I let go of my breath and I didn’t even realise I was holding.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Getting married is to have finally moved to the next stage of my life, ‘marriage being the beginning’, my blessing my guard, my shield my equal and my protection.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Now that months have gone by I see yet again in my state of ‘sabr’ I again am holding my breath to see, what you will do for me.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">But the guilt isn’t mine and I’m not wearing it anymore, that’s your dirty cover use it and abuse it however you wish, your intelligence amazes me, shame about the stupidity that overpowers it.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="more-1410" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span>You stood by and watched as little pieces of me were slowly chipped away.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You also stood by me and took the perfect picture.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You were with me when you stole my sacred gift. Then used it and made me loose every sense of reality.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">My helplessness was unappealing to both you and me. I doubt that I will ever be able to make you truly feel what you did to me.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Now that I walk without you when I breathe I do it for me and work twice as hard to make it flow. . I have my reservations where it will take me and will I still remain me. I smile at the challenge because I was truth and you were not, you lied to me with every ounce of your body.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">My strength and guidance comes from the fact that I stayed within my faith to be the dutiful wife to you, till this very day I wished only good things for you.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">And this right of speech will not be lost from my mouth again. I will not be silenced or ashamed, the biggest blessing that you lost was the right to stand next to me to complete me and be my equal my other half.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">My du’aas will be answered whether in this life or the next. In sha Allah.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">With your mouth your sweet lies.<br />
With your eyes the lost hope.<br />
With your hands the fake embrace.<br />
And with your intimate heart the sacred cut.<br />
For all the above I pray your forgiven.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To read more beautiful writings from the competition follow the link below:</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://nour-dv.org.uk/?s=silence+hides+violence">Silence Hides Violence-Top 5</a></span></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You can also follow <a href="http://nour-dv.org.uk/">Nour DV</a> at the links below, make sure to show your support for this never ending cause. </span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Follow Nour DV!</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/NourDV"><img alt="Follow Us On Facebook" src="http://nour-dv.org.uk/wp-content/plugins/social-media-widget/images/default/32/facebook.png" /></a> </span><a href="http://twitter.com/NourDV"><img alt="Follow Us On Twitter" src="http://nour-dv.org.uk/wp-content/plugins/social-media-widget/images/default/32/twitter.png" /></a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/NourDV"><img alt="Follow Us On YouTube" src="http://nour-dv.org.uk/wp-content/plugins/social-media-widget/images/default/32/youtube.png" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/nourdv"><img alt="Follow Us On Vimeo" src="http://nour-dv.org.uk/wp-content/plugins/social-media-widget/images/default/32/vimeo.png" /></a> <a href="http://nour-dv.org.uk/feed/"><img alt="Follow Us On RSS" src="http://nour-dv.org.uk/wp-content/plugins/social-media-widget/images/default/32/rss.png" /></a></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://nour-dv.org.uk/donate/"><img alt="Nour DV" src="http://nour-dv.org.uk/wp-content/themes/MC/img/logo.png" /></a> <a href="http://nour-dv.org.uk/donate/"><img alt="donate now button" src="http://nour-dv.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/donate_now.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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</div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-34655149470698731622011-02-18T07:01:00.014-06:002011-02-18T07:01:00.220-06:00Want Ads: New Muslim seeks supportive replacement to friendships lost in life transition. Full Time Only Please...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If only it were that easy. To be able to just post an ad when your first going through the transition of leaving your old life of emptiness, to fulfill your desire of closeness with God in Islam. Or maybe, like one of those online match-maker sites, only you would need to be able to look for a whole lot more than just love. How about searching for a new identity, self belonging, friendships, possibly even a new career? Wow, do people really ever look back and say "I can't believe I made it through that storm in one piece, but man it was worth it"? I know I say that on a regular basis and I bet I'm not alone. There is so much more to this, to becoming a Muslim, than just changing your faith.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Across the globe people everyday are reading, blogging, searching about Islam. It's the hottest topic, even in churches now instead of preaching about Christ, they can't seem to escape bringing up the subject of my new religion, Islam. The demand for information on Muslims and Islam is growing and heaping and rolling into one of those giant snow balls, rolling down the hill and the best part is how many people it's grabbing into it's snowy fluff along the way. The excitement you feel when you come to Islam, I call it the "New Muslim High"...LOL. I wish I could bottle that stuff up and sell it, it's such an amazing feeling. It's like all the sudden someone woke you up and said "Hey how's it going, let me introduce your to yourself, that old person was just your stunt double, here's the shiny amazing (you) that you've been dying to meet all this time". Along with any drastic changes to your life, you come to expect the challenges as well. I don't wanna talk about all of them, I would just like to focus on one for now. I wanna talk about the friends you lose and the new ones you gain and lose and gain...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I remember my own life, before Islam. Sometimes I wish I could forget some things, but it makes me who I am today. I remember all the "friends" I had before. People would blow up my cell phone when the sun started to go down. They wanted to know what was going on that night, what parties were hot, what clubs was I shooting at, can I add them to this list or that list. "Friends", I called them and they were plentiful. We had dinner at amazing restaurants in Dallas, they would introduce me to amazing people and I would return the favor, "networking" ourselves to get what we wanted. We partied together, held each others hair back when one of us had too much to drink and bullied whichever girl was seeing someone's ex. Life was bliss, so I thought, and we had nothing but good times to remember together, so when I decided to walk away from this life and enter into something with a deeper purpose...these "friends" didn't quite make it through the dirty water filter. Some did, and I thank God everyday for them, but most did not. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's a loss that we all have to deal with in our lives but what I want to mention is the gain. The gain that should always be there. When you give up something, you replace it with something new right? So what happens when you live a completely high energy free style life and you need to replace it with the lifestyle structure of Islam? I like to picture this huge "worm hole" from Star Trek explosion and walking through that mirror into another dimension and you have no idea what is going to be on the other side, but you hope it's nice and doesn't mind your still wearing last night's makeup.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I went from having a cell phone explosion each night, to slowly and slowly very few calls at all. Sometimes I would just look at my phone, check it, make sure it wasn't on silent and pretend that I didn't know why it was becoming less and less used. It was because I was becoming less and less used. I couldn't add people to that list anymore because I chose not to be part of it. I chose not to shoot at those clubs, not to have "hangover" brunch with them the next morning, not to meet for drinks for every occasion imaginable and in the end most of the people who called made a decision also, to not. "You don't need them" I would tell myself, if they didn't want to be happy for me or supportive then I guess I really didn't need them. What I did need however, were some new high energy exciting friends who would call and take their place, and also fill in that gap in my life so that I wouldn't feel the need to climb back through the mirror. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No matter how amazing and beautiful and absolutely necessary Islam is in someone's life, there is a much greater need in the first "tri-mester" of their conversion...it's the need of replacement of old with the new. I'm talking about friendship, support, healing...Open hearts and open minded people who can relate to you, who have things in common with you and hopefully who understand who you are, not as a Muslim, but you before that. This is so important because this is all you know for a while..."the old you". As a New Muslim, I can that there is nothing more important to maintaining the faith of a New Muslim, than having true and lasting new friendships that help reinforce the decisions that were made in that persons life. You have know idea how difficult that path can get and having the right people there to guide you, even 5 years later, could be the difference between a girl who stays passionate about her life for God, and another New Muslim who becomes an Ex Muslim. They didn't come to Islam for free popcorn, they came for a life focused on God, but if you can't find the common necessities of life to help keep you happy then it's very difficult to hold on to anything at all. It's so easy to turn away from a new faith simply because you just stopped feeling happy with yourself in it. How does that happen? Simple, because a lot of times New Muslims are unable to find a replaceable lifestyle to fill in the one that they left behind, so naturally they begin to turn back to the way they used to be, because they don't know where else to go. How can we as Muslims, let this happen? Simple, because people get so excited about a person converting, and congratulations and parties and then within a year that person is either still around or they are not and a lot of times it's because of a lack of lasting support and friendships. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Think about it, you remember seeing someone come to Islam right? You felt so happy, maybe even got a few tears in your eyes. You might have been a peer to that person, similar in age and hobbies, or new someone that could have been a great friend to them and you tried to hang out but got busy with your friends from your own culture, it's easier to spend time with them and their kids play with yours...This is totally understandable. In the end though, if no one is still having a lasting friendship with that New Muslim, then who is? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I wanted to talk about this mainly because I felt so thankful today. I felt thankful because I enjoyed a nice lunch with a good friend of mine, Shefaq. She would be so happy to see me finally spelling out her name right, I used to spell it Shafack, even though I knew very well it wasn't right, LOL. We didn't meet for lunch in uptown Dallas at a posh location to be seen by hot people. We met at my favorite halal spot, <a href="http://www.noodlewave.com/">Noodlewave</a>, a yummy Tai location in Richardson. You see, this is my lunch spot "replacement" as a New Muslim. Shefaq is one of the first Muslim friends I ever made, when I was first learning about Islam. I met her while attending the New Muslim class at <a href="http://www.iant.com/">IANT</a>. Even before I ever converted to Islam, Shefaq was my friend, she was my friend who got to know and like the "old me" and got to know over time the "new me" and God bless her, she still liked me...LOL. She was there when I said my Shahada and was there when I first got married and I was there when she got married. Today, almost 4 years after becoming a Muslim, Shefaq still calls. When other friends had stopped calling, because I wasn't gonna meet them at the club, Shefaq was one of the "replacement" people in my life who never left and stood their next to me while I went on this powerful journey. I know lunch is not a big deal, people do it all the time, but when you make a change to your lifestyle like me and hundreds of other New Muslims like me, then being that friend, who after years after your "New Muslim High" is still showing up on your caller ID, to ask you to spend time with them...well that lunch is enough to make you sit down and write a blog...and maybe bring a tear to your eye while doing it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">If your a Muslim and your in contact with a New Muslim...give them a call...and maybe ask them to lunch, no matter how long it's been.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGgg-xQax8QWZNY8KQFYhp8_KugPU-SJjEDh_84PGO2YRs4cBmRZsC6JBCpa67na12WnofvorHrXyuvD_OW7v_jUgO_qUZfURVpDoXzgKunmKfmhUF-t6bM6i7h1pD4mRs0QBYvpT_KE/s1600/R1-14A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGgg-xQax8QWZNY8KQFYhp8_KugPU-SJjEDh_84PGO2YRs4cBmRZsC6JBCpa67na12WnofvorHrXyuvD_OW7v_jUgO_qUZfURVpDoXzgKunmKfmhUF-t6bM6i7h1pD4mRs0QBYvpT_KE/s640/R1-14A.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katherine, Nicole, Shefaq @ Nicole's Shahada, 2007</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasDKTfDzYARM6FksnUvTOUjuTxI1hJOF5pzsRnrCaAR1KHbKqYOXuBO3d-noVclNu-Ds8nTfDE2yRwcZAK_63fs3odKnPdNX5Kfg-sOEB9-DpfOpUsQZocmxnF90pPoYE0ttlnVDvOmk/s1600/me%2526shefaq2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasDKTfDzYARM6FksnUvTOUjuTxI1hJOF5pzsRnrCaAR1KHbKqYOXuBO3d-noVclNu-Ds8nTfDE2yRwcZAK_63fs3odKnPdNX5Kfg-sOEB9-DpfOpUsQZocmxnF90pPoYE0ttlnVDvOmk/s640/me%2526shefaq2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole, Shefaq Jan, 2009</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/38284_1157868124869_1772748496_297044_3014140_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shefaq, Nicole & Friends July, 2010</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-41783312084987808892011-02-16T11:58:00.000-06:002011-02-16T11:58:12.859-06:00Poll: As a New Muslim, which videos would you want to watch the most?<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; "><h3 style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, serif; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(38, 94, 21); "><span style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">Assalamu Alaikum! (Peace Be Upon You!)</span></h3><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><span style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">I have been doing a lot of thinking and talking and thinking…these are the two things I do best, LOL. I have had so many sincere requests for me to start production on more videos about Islam, as an American Muslim. After a lot of pondering I have decided that I would like to begin producing a small line of videos, accessible online of course, to help New Muslims embrace the greatest most challenging decision in their lives! I remember how difficult it was for me to make my decision and come to God, well it’s not difficult to decide on God, but it is VERY difficult to make all the appropriate changes to your lifestyle to accommodate this. With this being said I am planning out the first set of videos. I want them to be really easy to follow, short and informative. Of course they will also have a lil of my humor/sarcasm added as well!</span></p><h3 style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, serif; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(38, 94, 21); "><span style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">Your Feedback!</span></span></h3><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><span style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">I have created a poll below. Please tell me which videos you would like to see first? Which titles are most important to you? Please click on the link below to vote. </span></span></p></span></div><div>P<a href="http://nicolequeen.com/2011/02/10/my-newest-project-inshallah/#pd_a_4533898">oll: As a New Muslim, which videos would you want to watch the most?</a></div><div><br /></div><div>PLUS: If you haven't seen it yet, check out my new personal webpage below</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.nicolequeen.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d193/queen_nic81/nicoleq.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-15216703773262333822011-02-07T21:16:00.000-06:002011-02-07T21:16:12.667-06:00Silence Hides Violence (Creativity Competition) | Nour DV<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9Xv8tLbauGxSSjVd0lRvSjBOlYFs4i9OrgOO0QlpHk9QqJvVgDow8UzKpgxjBkw4HUJzlUqpnvYmYcsfmdYJ15LuQD5BvF2pWE-I3uZWdTuwLcH7k7K3rZEk-pjQKU5qHYcCXiUVmOc/s1600/Bismillah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9Xv8tLbauGxSSjVd0lRvSjBOlYFs4i9OrgOO0QlpHk9QqJvVgDow8UzKpgxjBkw4HUJzlUqpnvYmYcsfmdYJ15LuQD5BvF2pWE-I3uZWdTuwLcH7k7K3rZEk-pjQKU5qHYcCXiUVmOc/s320/Bismillah.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</strong></div><div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Assalamu Alaikum (Peace Be Upon You)</strong></div><div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I wanted to share this competition on my site, since this is a much needed topic of discussion in the Muslim community. Domestic Violence is truly universal and should be abolished in all cultures and religions. One of the largest causes for consistent Domestic Violence in the home is lack of public declaration of such violence. For centuries women have kept their voices quiet while forcing themselves and their children to endure the abuse of their spouse and loved ones. Spreading the word about Domestic Violence and creating awareness is the best way a community can help combat this terrible affliction. Please share this contest with friends and family and even enter it yourself if you feel ready to share a piece of your heart with others, one of the greatest gifts. If you or someone you know is suffering from Domestic Violence, there is help and support available for you and your children, thanks to organizations like Nour DV- Nicole Queen</div><div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://nour-dv.org.uk/2011/02/01/silence-hides-violence-creativity-competition/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CXUPJD1O7MXMoLZwk-Ph3vEVZSQesZXKqmYDV6zCh4wyBSKjW5P2CVlECutMF9Ku0QYxq6-rGwQ7gLY2q7fUp6VZ-hI-A188RStTZ4ZMqcjZabEa8qTT9r74as9KG0wRIj4fhVyHbEY/s1600/logo.png" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://nour-dv.org.uk/2011/02/01/silence-hides-violence-creativity-competition/"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBnresMzkpyXv4XAG5tQU5bVAueaTscKYFeLofXpgHWC3hpawTGtRW-dGGwAMc-NYE6sDFO148-aN-D6kDopNq5RKMFV8GdfJ2nggtkFMu9qyogxsAEAtlyq-ti5QFRPldwoSptl_gt8/s640/SilenceHidesViolence.jpg" width="451" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;">Competition Details</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px;"></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The competition is open to anyone over the age of 16.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">We are looking for entries of: poems, short stories [max 500 words], video clips [max 3mins] or pictures and paintings. [Please adhere strictly to these word/time limits and make sure your submissions are not too explicit.]</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The deadline for all entries is midnight on Monday 28th February 2011.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">All entries must be sent to <a href="mailto:competition@nour-dv.org.uk" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #4d2a9a; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">competition@nour-dv.org.uk</a> with your name, age and contact details.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The best 5 entries will be shortlisted and uploaded onto the Nour website on Tuesday 1st of March. All readers will then have 2 weeks thereafter [up until Sunday 13th march] to comment, share, like or tweet on the respective entries shortlisted. The number of comments, likes or tweets each shortlisted recipient receives will influence the winning entry pieces.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Feel free to contact at us at <a href="mailto:competition@nour-dv.org.uk" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #4d2a9a; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">competition@nour-dv.org.uk</a> if you have any questions.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The 3 winners and the prizes will be announced on Monday 14th March 2011.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Wishing you all the best!</div><br />
</div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-63913352808562835982011-01-07T08:46:00.006-06:002011-01-07T08:46:00.235-06:00GuideUS.TV, The First Muslim TV Network in America<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guideus.tv/"><img border="0" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOfji6ffTZ1c37TOGbZG3so2cFPMvw3Ti3abmKWJhV-HX-adJjBcfVM7nyXEdzcbhwNeu06yeaZKq-Hvt490dYJj9c9bijKqYncbZmdshs2z54t9ZRToln8-v2Q7nTz6ehqi1z4WsAW4/s400/gusy.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">What would you get if you combined <a href="http://yusufestes.com/">Sheikh Yusuf Estes</a>, <a href="http://yushaevans.com/">Yusha Evans</a>, <a href="http://islamevents.com/speakers/speaker_detail.php?spid=2">Sheikh Mutahhir Sabree</a>, <a href="http://islamevents.com/speakers/speaker_detail.php?spid=9">Dr. Bilal Philips</a>, <a href="http://islamevents.com/speakers/speaker_detail.php?spid=29">Dr. Mohamed Saleh</a> and many more of the top Islamic media into one Cable\Internet channel? You guessed it! You get Guide US TV! The newest light bulb from the brain of <a href="http://yusufestes.com/">Sheikh Yusuf Estes!</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iZrR0K-pgR4?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iZrR0K-pgR4?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We all get kind of sick of seeing such a bad portrayal of Muslims in the media. I know it's a hot topic and I have given many a lecture on the importance of public relations for Muslims in America. Let's face it, we as Muslims are Googled, YouTubed, and Binged (whats Bing?) more than any other faith in history. Muslims are popular right now, but not for the reasons we would have hoped for. Not because of the peace we believe in, or the high morals and standards we live by. No, little of this is ever brought up. You mainly just see angry people being caught doing destructive, vile crimes against others while claiming they are with us. Sorry, but I'm not with stupid. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guideus.tv/">Guide US TV</a> is the first project that can take the message of what Muslims actually believe and live for, and spread that message across television screens world wide. No longer being contained inside internet TV, <a href="http://yusufestes.com/">Sheikh Yusuf Estes</a> and his intelliteam of Muslim techies, are taking Islam's teachings, putting them into plain English, and then shooting them across satellites and into our living rooms. Finally, Muslims will be represented in the media by actual Muslims! Instead of hearing about violence, people can hear about the passion Muslims have for God, and how we put God in the center of our lives! Most people don't even think Muslims worship God! Wow, we have a lot of work to do, but with such a dynamic team and most massive support imaginable (God's), we can really show the world the beauty behind the message with follow.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheikh Yusuf Estes interviews Sharif El-Gamal, developer of Park51, NY.</td></tr>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is why I have decided to join <a href="http://www.guideus.tv/">Guide US TV!</a></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hassan and I were invited to take part in the 48 hour telethon, hosted by <a href="http://guideus.tv/">Guide US TV</a>, at the MAS ISNA conference in Chicago. We saw it as the next step in our Dawah (sharing God's message) campaign. So after shooting a wedding Dec 24th, I packed my bags and flew to Chicago to see what this was all about. What an amazing weekend! Not only was it awesome to meet so many great Muslims in Chicago, but to meet the <a href="http://guideus.tv/">Guide US</a> team was bliss! During my own transition into living for God, I used to stay up all night watching <a href="http://yusufestes.com/">Sheikh Yusuf's</a> videos. Tears would come into my eyes as my heart began to realize that I had found something to relate to, an answer to why I was here. <a href="http://yusufestes.com/">Sheikh Yusuf's</a> videos helped Islam's warmth, relate to my lost heart. On top of that, he's totally hilarious! </span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole Queen, Hassan, and Sheikh Yusuf Estes </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Inshallah (God willing), I will work with <a href="http://yusufestes.com/">Sheikh Yusuf</a> and his team on Sister's programming for <a href="http://guideus.tv/">Guide US TV</a>, which will be a first for the channel. While in Chicago I was able to get a taste of filming LIVE with the team. Since we didn't really have a plan for Sister's content, we decided a good idea would be to go with a "talk show" style. We found some really brave Muslim girls attending the conference and I sat with the girls and LIVE on camera we talked about current events, peer pressure, and how they think<a href="http://guideus.tv/"> Guide US TV </a>can benefit the image of Women in Islam, for Americans. Currently most Americans feel that Women in Islam are oppressed, uneducated, unsocial and probably miserable with their lives. I can't speak for all Women but I am certainly none of those things and I am certainly Muslim and not miserable. Having programs that are available for an American audience allows Muslim Women to properly represent who we really are. Muslim Women are all types, some are home makers, educators, business Women, doctors, and some like me are in the arts\media industry. It would be so awesome to share stories of Muslim women from all over the world, and we could do that on <a href="http://guideus.tv/">Guide US TV</a>!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg7s-ev5mORLcW0FzwBTp78H5SiEw9HQBe-R6NTIpgHwnaiqPgn52e72fx7UCIcKVoIW930zvw7c5MhFCzo83SKJX-ox4XOe0E81z2rLQG6vP1Cxh-rZ2R3xwnE2j0PfU7bGZq5-d4y0/s1600/2197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg7s-ev5mORLcW0FzwBTp78H5SiEw9HQBe-R6NTIpgHwnaiqPgn52e72fx7UCIcKVoIW930zvw7c5MhFCzo83SKJX-ox4XOe0E81z2rLQG6vP1Cxh-rZ2R3xwnE2j0PfU7bGZq5-d4y0/s640/2197.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole Queen interviews a Muslimah on GuideUS.TV</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of the discussions I had with the young ladies was about their experiences attending public schools. While I was in high school I attended public school and I will tell you it's scary. The things that kids are capable of, the things they experiment with. Even if I wasn't a Muslim, I would want my child attending a religious school. So knowing this, I can't imagine what it's like for a Muslim teen, who wears Hijab (the Muslim modest dress code), to attend a public high school. One of the young ladies was the first girl in her school to wear Hijab, and what she said was shocking. She stated that people actually were showing her more respect because of the Hijab, and they respected her bravery. The school even made arrangements for a place for her to pray. This is fantastic and it's so awesome that in our country you can be who you are and follow your faith and it's respected, sometimes (I'm sure some of you have different stories). Another young student is a senior at her school and I asked her what it's like to face peer pressure as a Muslim in public school. I remembered how challenging peer pressure could be. You want to fit in, you want to keep up with other teens and if you don't you end up feeling lost and alone, unless you find another group of left out teens to fit in with, but then you can face their pressure as well. The amazing answer she gave me...She said that she doesn't really get challenged with any peer pressure! Huh?...Then it clicked to me. Guys are pressuring girls to do things because the girls are running around showing off their teen bodies. Girls are pressuring each other, because of their need to compete with each other. A Muslim girl doesn't get invited to parties because she doesn't drink and hang out with "party" girls. A guy isn't going to bother her because she is completely covered up, she is not provoking his raging hormones. A Muslim girl is not a bully, a gossip queen, a tattle tale, or a wanna be prom queen. Keeping her priorities in order, and her body protected, her faith shields her from the horror of teen pressure. WOW...umm for me that would be enough to show my teen daughter Islam. LOL...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3mrmyO1JEigsxuggiLZYcbiZXFrh2ZQF5_vFTWYMbWY-TRXpUgZFiZCHXM-0IWJjfAXvDj4_49jntkfrf6zVJxxDlFp33-adykGPQffUdcyGmbedm96GNV1BqaPvDwUY6Wk2RBvsoVo/s1600/_DSC2186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3mrmyO1JEigsxuggiLZYcbiZXFrh2ZQF5_vFTWYMbWY-TRXpUgZFiZCHXM-0IWJjfAXvDj4_49jntkfrf6zVJxxDlFp33-adykGPQffUdcyGmbedm96GNV1BqaPvDwUY6Wk2RBvsoVo/s640/_DSC2186.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole Queen discussing life with other Muslimahs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUZ4s6bdz4D9JzWyjsn_6DYmphIhgQPfc4F14kLBk-B8gUXVGFz6diByHAoAi3XbGnVDXiKVz9OFrtXqoSqvJezoJtb3olO8oQiMhYxDh94QtdXR-pn-h0tF9_zy7I5oa6YmyIdkAFEY/s1600/2181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUZ4s6bdz4D9JzWyjsn_6DYmphIhgQPfc4F14kLBk-B8gUXVGFz6diByHAoAi3XbGnVDXiKVz9OFrtXqoSqvJezoJtb3olO8oQiMhYxDh94QtdXR-pn-h0tF9_zy7I5oa6YmyIdkAFEY/s640/2181.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheikh Yusuf Estes helping his team while Nicole Queen films LIVE</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On top of being amazed by working with <a href="http://yusufestes.com/">Sheikh Yusuf Estes</a>, I was privileged to meet <a href="http://yushaevans.com/">Brother Yusha Evans</a>, and <a href="http://islamevents.com/speakers/speaker_detail.php?spid=2">Sheikh Mutahhir Sabree</a>. Both of these gentlemen are esteemed and very popular speakers for Islam here in America. Go ahead, Google either one and be amazed at some of their videos on life and Islam. It's such an awakening, spiritually, to be around people like this. When ever you feel like you are doing perfectly fine in life...go spend some time with these Brothers and you will always realize you still have much higher to aim! LOL...Ma'shallah (it was God's will) I went home with a hunger to read and read more about Islam. You can never learn enough! Especially with <a href="http://yushaevans.com/">Br. Yusha Evans</a>, he definitely has a way with words and can really simplify the meaning behind Islam, but at the same time it becomes the most important lesson you could learn.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTlnpjTZ3BRLD4yqyueDNpssSbOZFzgseyR1vfXcBZo4HE0yf_EHKfa6PnSG0x8CAAuyo9h_sS5pRl9yX2sc8NazM8Q8L122kZA1llIxdaqGHOan1LV-U2JHzzxJJU0sQWlAvyATfe18/s1600/2300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTlnpjTZ3BRLD4yqyueDNpssSbOZFzgseyR1vfXcBZo4HE0yf_EHKfa6PnSG0x8CAAuyo9h_sS5pRl9yX2sc8NazM8Q8L122kZA1llIxdaqGHOan1LV-U2JHzzxJJU0sQWlAvyATfe18/s640/2300.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole Queen, Hassan, Br. Yusha Evans</td></tr>
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As we all know the media is very BIG and very EXPENSIVE. Of course having cable and satellite channels for <a href="http://guideus.tv/">Guide US TV</a> is going to take some serious moolah. But don't worry, you can help! And you should. I should, we all should. By all means donate, since it is our duty to do what we can to pursue a better image and reputation for the faith that the Prophet Muhammad SAS (peace be upon him) spent his entire life to spread. It wasn't easy for him at first. If you have read anything about Islam and how Prophet Muhammad SAS was able to share the word of God with the Middle East, you will see that he was met with hate and hostility by the idol worshipers. He was surrounded by them, and people wanted nothing more than to ruin the name of God and destroy the Prophet, SAS. He never gave up, and neither did the Muslims who followed him. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well we have a problem now in America. People have been given the wrong message by hostile radicals and the Prophet, SAS, is not here to defend the good name of Islam (life surrounded around God). It is up to us, the Muslims of America, to teach Islam to others the way the Prophet, SAS, did, which was through his peaceful, compassionate, and completely understanding character. Think of how many people we can reach through television? How bout this, think of how quickly and how many people were reached through the media when someone claiming to be a Muslim did something wrong? Well now reverse that with good people who really are Muslim, doing good things in the name of God. Now you get it! Help us! You don't have to go out in front of the camera, and yes it's really hard to do! All you have to do is support the people who are willing to work hard to share the peace of our faith. Support them with spare cash, with your prayers, with your Facebook pages, Twitters, heck gossip about us on the phone with your gal pals! Do anything! Just please don't do nothing...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I think we have had enough of doing nothing, don't you?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Check it out here!</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guideus.tv/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOfji6ffTZ1c37TOGbZG3so2cFPMvw3Ti3abmKWJhV-HX-adJjBcfVM7nyXEdzcbhwNeu06yeaZKq-Hvt490dYJj9c9bijKqYncbZmdshs2z54t9ZRToln8-v2Q7nTz6ehqi1z4WsAW4/s1600/gusy.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Link to GuideUS TV<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Donate to GuideUS Here!</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jtPHbGfGutqRicUCDMtrSULdwBKHICc794PILsMowBgPmw8pGmQrShsJjrhfe7_fk0AoHZRIuvI5vjJhJA93g-pVSSwfPBt3xrrvpOJAzP4oZAdfW9D-wh-mg52RvWggWXewhmVo14o/s640/Support.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Link to GuideUS TV </td></tr>
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</span></span></div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-59481148803807626862010-12-15T11:50:00.000-06:002010-12-15T11:50:58.861-06:00"Any Mistakes Are Made By Me Alone, Not By My Religion"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Assalamu Alaikum</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">A wonderful Brother on my Facebook page: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Queens.of.Islam">http://www.facebook.com/Queens.of.Islam</a>, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">sent me a link to the article I am going to share with you below. I really love reading about experiences such as the first time a person visits a mosque, or meets and befriends a Muslim. After reading this article, I would love to hear back from you on your first time entering a mosque!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This article is shared with you from:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://idolmag.co.uk/?p=1231"><img src="http://idolmag.co.uk/wp-content/logo_drawn3.png" /></a></span><div><br />
</div><div><h2 class="singletitle" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘ANY MISTAKES ARE MADE BY ME ALONE, NOT BY MY RELIGION’</span></h2><div class="entry" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://idolmag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/mosque2_1000-2-600-x-373.jpg" style="color: #1d6b9d; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-1232 aligncenter" height="373" src="http://idolmag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/mosque2_1000-2-600-x-373.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="mosque2_1000 (2) (600 x 373)" width="600" /></a></div><h4 style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’ve never been a prejudice person. I’ve always mixed with different races and religions. So when my partner asked me to attend a mosque with him, I was interested. Especially giving the fact that a year ago, he was the type to have picked a fight with a Muslim for simply that, being a Muslim.</h4><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What had opened his mind, was working with a group of Muslim’s and a group of Christian’s, in constant (but friendly) debate. Being caught in the midst of these religious discussions and being atheist, he was somehow pulled in to the conversation and decided he’d like to view the way both religions work in order to gain a better perspective. After all, in Britain and today, there is ongoing media coverage over the ‘war’ between British culture and Islam.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What caught the attention of my partner the most, (and not to mention mine) is the fact that all the Muslims he knew, were converted, they were not born into or forced to be a Muslim, they were from other religions or were not religious at all. One individual being in fact so against Islam, that he actually intended to attack his sister’s boyfriend on discovering he was Muslim, yet now, he is sending me messages about Allah through Face Book. The change is miraculous. The change in my boyfriend is miraculous. I had to check out for myself the religion which is so publicly damned, yet seemed to be turning prejudice ‘thugs’, into peaceful citizens.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Friday came and upon hearing I was to be separated from my partner and had to worship in a separate part of the mosque, I was slightly put off and intimidated by the thought, but reassured by one of his friends offering to bring his wife so she could help me and keep me company. I wasn’t fully aware of the reasoning behind this separation, but John told us that when you are in worship to Allah, you’re mind and body should be solely focused on worship alone, yet if men and women are in a mosque together, they will distract each other from doing so, as John put it, “If some girl is bending over in front of you, you’re not really going to be able to concentrate on praying to Allah are you?”- The boy has a fair point. So at 1pm, we went down to Baker Street and followed the mass of Muslim’s attending worship. Upon entering, I was blissfully unaware John’s wife couldn’t make it until one of the others asked another attending woman, Selina*, if she would accompany me in. I was then ushered off in a midst of confusion and slight panic, but was automatically comforted by her gentle presence and guidance. She was incredibly kind, and said she would answer any questions I had.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">On entering the female section, I was asked to remove my shoes (luckily I decided to wear socks that day-I’m not a big fan) and I had brought a scarf which I was very nervous I’d wear wrong, but was told not to worry and just to drape it round my head in any way. This surprised me, because I thought my mass of long curls and swept over fringe would surely offend a religion that ‘oppresses’ women so blatantly according to reports we read in the media. I tried to cover up to what I felt was respectable, without jeopardising my love of fashion and all things indie and punk 80’s. Donning a pair of black leggings and huge oversized jumper which drowned me to almost my knees, I felt fairly comfortable that I was adequately concealed, even though I was the only female out of hundreds, not wearing a floor length skirt.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">We walked up a flight of stairs and peaked through a door where I could see hoards of women and young girls kneeling on the floor, but not much else. I was incredibly interested to see what the prayer hall (musalla) looked like in contrast to the many Church’s I had attended through my life time, but I barely caught a glimpse before we headed back downstairs. We walked past a tiled area which had taps and shallow water, and I assume, if I’ve heard right, this is where you can wash your feet, but at the time, I was still too shy to begin firing questions (I have since learnt this is the wudu, where Muslims wash their hands, forearm, face and feet before prayer). We then moved on past the ladies and into a small squared room, which didn’t have a door, just an open entrance, and we sat down amongst a crowd women already in worship. The khutbah (a public address or speech) was seeping through the speakers (spoken by the Imam, who I suppose, is similar to the Christian’s Priest), although I wasn’t aware where they were. Apparently, sometimes the musalla is so full, you have to find another area, like the one we were in, and the prayer is played out throughout the mosque for all to hear. I thought this part would be very strict, and I’d have to sit in absolute silence, confused over what to do next and attempting to pathetically copy my new found Muslim friend. But instead, we sat down and children played amongst us quietly, whilst she explained that this prayer is said first in Arabic, and then in English, for those who do not understand. This prayer seemed to go on for quite a while, and I felt lost and did not sense any inner peace which I get upon entering a Church. I felt no atmosphere of sacredness or quiet, yet I knew this was mainly due to my bewilderment of my surroundings and my lack of understanding on the culture and religion. If I understood the prayer (even in English, I struggled to comprehend over the accent) then I could focus on that and grasp some meaning. However, Selina went on to continue talking to me and explained what I think she felt was wrongly perceived in Britain, she spoke to me about their reasoning behind not eating pork or drinking, and said that she even researched for evidence behind the claims (Islam believes that pork and alcohol are damaging to the body over the years) and was surprised to find out there is evidence behind their claims (this is debatable according to reports on the net). She also advised me over the so called ‘oppression’ of women and the covering of their body from their wrists to their ankles, but revealed what isn’t so publicly documented, that men also have to dress to portray modesty, by wearing loose and clean clothing that doesn’t reveal their figure. I have since researched this and found the following:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">‘Islam requires that its adherents wear clothes that portray modesty. As a result, although many mosques will not enforce violations, both men and women when attending a mosque must adhere to these guidelines. Men are supposed to come to the mosque wearing loose and clean clothes that do not reveal the shape of the body. Likewise, it is recommended that women at a mosque wear loose clothing that covers to the wrists and ankles, and cover their heads with a hijab or other covering. Many Muslims, regardless of their ethnic background, wear Middle eastern clothing associated with Arabic Islam to special occasions and prayers at mosques.’</em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">‘Modesty in Islam is encouraged for both sexes. For the women they can wear whatever they like so long as it is modest. Modesty is outlined in the authentic text of Islam. You can wear Western clothing and be modest. However many Muslims will have different views on modesty. In the mosque however it is compulsory to cover the hair and the body. However there are many Muslim women who do not wear the hijab 24/7. This does not mean they are not good Muslims. Everything in Islam is done by choice. You are not forced to do anything and God is the Ultimate Judge. Intention is the most important thing in Islam. You have to make a genuine intention in your heart when perform any act or worship or good deed for it to be accepted by Allah.’</em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">So just like in Christianity, there are ‘rules’ you are advised to follow, but some do not follow them so strictly. We must also remember, those who follow Islam or Christianity by the ‘book’ so to speak, are devoted followers such as Nuns and Monks, who after all, wear floor length attire that often cover their neck, checks and hair and up to their wrists, which is similar to the way in which Muslim’s are advised to dress, yet not so publicly damned.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Selina also went on to explain how Islam is not so different from Christianity, and that they do not hate other cultures or Christians, but simply, like other cultures, they have extremists who unfortunately portray a hate which is deemed as the attitude of all of Islam, which is not the case. She told me how they do believe in Jesus, but they do not believe He was the Son of God, that instead they believe He was another prophet, and that it doesn’t make sense to say you shall not worship anyone else but God, yet Christian’s are told to worship Jesus (although to Christianity will argue this with the claim that Jesus is God). Islam in fact believes Jesus was a prophet and even believes He will return to us towards the end of the world. I have outlined Islam’s beliefs of Jesus below:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">In Islam, Jesus (Arabic: عيسى `Īsā) is considered a Messenger of God who had been sent to guide the People of Israel (banī isrā’īl) with a new scripture, the Injīl (gospel).<sup>[1]</sup> The Qur’an, believed by Muslims to be God’s final revelation, mentions Jesus 25 times.<sup>[2]</sup> It states that Jesus was born to Mary (Arabic: Maryam) as the result of virginal conception, a miraculous event which occurred by the decree of God (Arabic: Rab). To aid him in his quest, Jesus was given the ability to perform miracles, all by the permission of God. According to Islamic texts, Jesus was neither killed nor crucified, but rather he was raised alive up to heaven. <sup>[3]</sup> Islamic traditions (but not Qur’an) narrate that he will return to Earth near the day of judgment to restore justice and defeat al-Masīḥ ad-Dajjāl (lit. “the false messiah”, also known as the Antichrist).<sup>[4][5]</sup> Like all prophets in Islam, Jesus is considered to have been a Muslim, as he preached for people to adopt the straight path in submission to God’s will. Islam rejects that Jesus was God incarnate or the son of God, stating that he was a mortal man who, like other prophets, had been divinely chosen to spread God’s message. Islamic texts forbid the association of partners with God (shirk), emphasizing the notion of God’s divine oneness (tawhīd). Numerous titles are given to Jesus in the Qur’an, such as al-Masīḥ (“the messiah; the anointed one” i.e. by means of blessings), although it does not correspond with the meaning accrued in Christian belief. Jesus is seen in Islam as a precursor to Muhammad, and is believed by Muslims to have foretold the latter’s coming.<sup>[5][6]</sup></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">However, when she explained this to me, there was no anger, determined grit in her voice, she was calm and simply allowing me an insight into their beliefs. I never once felt from her that the faith was being forced upon me, merely that I was given information and could freely decide what I wanted to do with it.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">We discussed a few other aspects before she had to pray (called the salaah) and at this point, I was advised to sit and watch. I was made to feel incredibly welcome, but did wonder what people thought of a white girl, with a badly wrapped head scarf and leggings, sitting in the corner, not joining in on prayer. I felt the need to explain to everyone I wasn’t disrespecting them, I was just trying to learn, yet funnily enough, these were all misconceptions in my head, and was never once implied by anyone else present. On the contrary, I was welcomed with open arms, especially when at the end of the service, my Muslim friend approached 2 white girls (she called them sisters) and spoke to them briefly, before they came over to me, and warmly hugged me, kissed me and fussed hugely over me with big smiles and honestly, some of the kindest eyes I’ve seen. They explained they both converted to Islam a year ago, although they didn’t know each other before, instead had met through their new found faith. They seemed ecstatically happy, at peace and incredibly willing to help me and guide me. We discussed how they both felt Christianity left a lot of questions unanswered, yet were told to believe and not debate any of these. One also mentioned how she tried Buddhism, Scientology and Spiritualism amongst others before finally finding peace and belief in Islam. We all exchanged numbers and face books, emails, etc and it was nice to be so readily accepted by a group of girls, which I will be honest, is not that often in a westernised society (you’ll more likely to get dirty looks!). I encountered my first issue at this point, a much older woman, with a thick accent I could barely understand, began to get very heated about us writing on paper inside the mosque, asking to see what we had written and telling us to write outside. I later discussed this with the girls, and learnt that this is due to reporters sneaking in on several occasions, and writing damning reports on Islam (at this point I had no intention to write a feature-I swear!). The same woman then spotted my leggings (I knew I’d get in trouble for this) and began touching my leg and feeling the fabric, I think to emphasise the tightness of them or something and demanded I go and buy a skirt from the clothes shop at the mosque. I couldn’t really understand what was happening but my new found friends whisked me away and explained some people can be ignorant and shouldn’t react that way, instead it is a Muslim’s duty to welcome another into their faith, but again, I was more than aware this was the only individual I met displaying such an attitude. I researched into this duty of Islam and have been advised the following:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">‘It is the duty of ALL Muslims to convey the message of Islam to all of humanity. It is usually the Muslims who are knowledgeable about their religion who are most keen to help. The ones that do not are usually very ignorant as they are not educated thoroughly in their religion.<br />
Most Muslims know that Islam is a universal religion, meant for ALL mankind. Allah (God) is the Lord and Creator of the entire Universe, and Muslims have been entrusted with the duty of conveying the message to ALL mankind. Alas, most Muslims have become callous to this duty! While accepting Islam as the best way of life for ourselves, most Muslims are unwilling to share this knowledge with those of whom the message of Islam has not been conveyed. This is just through ignorance. The lady that helped you is obviously caring and following what she has been commanded by Allah (God) in the Holy Qur’an.<br />
The Arabic word called Da’wah means a CALL or an INVITATION. In the Islamic context, it means to strive for the propagation of Islam. The Glorious Qur’an says:<br />
“Ah! Who is more unjust than those who conceal the testimony they have from Allah? But Allah is not unmindful of what you do!” (2:140)<br />
Da’wah can be done in many ways but the best way is to set an example by living a life of righteousness, charity, good manners, kindness and humility to our brothers and sisters in humanity.<br />
The Qur’an says:<br />
“Invite ALL to the way if your Lord, with WISDOM and BEAUTIFUL preaching, and argue with them in ways that are BEST and most GRACIOUS!” (16:125)<br />
I am aware that there are Muslims who are dishonest, unreliable, who cheat, etc. And the media projects this as though all Muslims are of this character. There are black sheep in every community. I know Muslims who are drunks and who can drink most of the non-Muslims under the table. There are the ones that hold extreme views that cannot be justified by the authentic scriptures of Islam. However you cannot say that the whole family is bad just because of the black sheep. Islam is perfect in my eyes but Muslims are not.<br />
Any mistakes are made by me alone and not by my religion.<br />
Salaam alaikum (Peace be upon u)’</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Myself and the lovely ladies chatted away for so long that by the time we left the prayer hall area, I had 4 missed calls and my partner was waiting for me with a tub of food John had bought me from inside. Apparently, this was all part of the duty to be welcoming, etc. The girls commented he was great husband material and that the men are supposed to provide and care for you and if you wished, you wouldn’t have to work (although I had something to say about that!) He then went to explore the mosque further and I wandered off with the girls who wanted to buy me some books to help me learn if I wanted. All the books appeared very complicated and they suggested they’d send me the books they first began reading instead, but I then turned round to find that John had kindly purchased 2 books for me already, 1 being the Qur’an, and one being on women in Islam. The books equated to somewhere around £25 and I was constantly surprised by the level of giving and kindness I was receiving.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Eventually I said my goodbyes and I left with my partner and is two work colleagues, and discussed Christianity, Islam and random conspiracy theories further on our way to Victoria. They explained how it wasn’t their job to convert us, they wouldn’t hold it against us if we didn’t, but it was their job to pass on the message of Allah, and it was up to us to decide what we wanted to do with the information. They even said, if we became Muslim, it’s up to us how far we take the guidelines of Islam, and he wouldn’t judge us for our decisions.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I left the service, and the guys feeling very knowledgeable, refreshed and incredibly glad I decided to attend. My perspective had increased enormously and I was in awe of the people I met and their kindness. I was almost proud of what I had learnt and wanted to share it, but upon telling others, I was met with responses of ‘Did you check your pockets? They might have slipped a bomb in there.’ amongst many many others comments. An angry debate erupted, but try as I might, I could not get my flat mates to see above their ignorance and just listen to my story.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I suddenly felt hugely ashamed that my culture was disrespecting another culture who had welcomed me so kindly and were doing so blindly. If people were educated more, and gave me a logical argument, I could respect their opinion, but with no evidence behind their accusations, and with such childish comments, I felt very frustrated that this is what so many western civilisations were thinking due to media manipulation. With an estimated 2.4 million Muslim’s living in Britain, surely we’d have some severe issues than we have now if they were all as extremists, as my flat mates appear to believe?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m not writing this to convert the readers, or myself. To be honest, I have a love of fashion too much to ever fully follow the religion in its entirety and I don’t feel like I yet know enough about it to make that decision any way. But what I am writing this for, is to bring an awareness to those who believe everything the media pumps out (yes I am fully aware we are the media, but the guys with the power haven’t got to us just yet!) and before making an assumption of Islam, or any religion, culture, individual even, do your research before you believe second hand information. Find out for yourself and make your own decision. It is about time we stopped allowing our Government to dictate what we think, you may argue with me on this, but it happens unconsciously. If they put out certain messages in the media you believe, they have already altered your mentality and likeliness to make an assumption or belief on that information, without actually finding out the truth for yourself.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The UK is fast becoming a mindless nation. Don’t let it prejudice and hate breed any further. We are all one world.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">*name protected.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Illustrated by Tom Dench-Layton</div></div></div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-89322169069794290472010-12-03T09:01:00.001-06:002010-12-04T12:23:29.425-06:00SubhanAllah- The Great Outdoors!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Assalamu Alaikum!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I hope you all enjoyed having a little time off, this past Thanksgiving holiday, and maybe even a little turkey! As an American I truly love getting together with family and friends for dinner and giving thanks to Allah for our time together. This year Hassan and I spent Thanksgiving at a cabin with another couple, in a forest in Oklahoma. I shared the story of our trip on www.hijabitopia.com, another amazing Muslimah blog I write for, along with my two closest friends. Check it out, you will see some amazing photos of the beauty and nature Allah created and the great time we had on our adventure!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Check out the full story below @ </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hijabitopia.com/"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7z-i4Kk14TNXPURwrJCdtL5Jb8DO0V-sGlPWbfWb0OGXwuz94iyNvbxlGWAcTRpEdgl7t_dBc916O0MT3WpXSx8T86DdF8dJg5y-yyuWUEEiajQ_d4T2N5266D4iPaUQPtJsj0DS1XE/s640/Hijabitopia.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-84819438510661821272010-11-17T15:38:00.052-06:002010-11-19T15:07:05.118-06:00Crowning Moments-Sonia Audhali<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpMKw2blwZB9VJCEuhVeQO_TlYN0qBICVgvfadUMzQUS4TMOg1kwUrJNgf_1GTjlWIPopDWlE7_AExrHO5fVc00o3WkRtzg4shAq4z_hWpa9nrRINoLshY0dae8tFTBbptykQ7ibp49U/s640/Crowning+Moments.jpg" width="640" /></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Welcome to the first addition to the "Queens of Islam-Crowning Moments" collection. The reason I have titled this blog "Queens of Islam" is because I feel that all believing women who follow Islam and apply it's guidance to their daily lives are true "Queens". "Queens" are royalty, guarded and valuable, just like our Muslimahs. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whenever another Muslimah makes the decision to apply Islam in all aspects of her life, she is crowned a "Queen of Islam" and joins the ranks of pious, strong, and successful women. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I would like to highlight different stories in this collection that share the beauty of truly living with God as the center of your world, and still enjoying life as God intended. These are stories to inspire and motivate the "Queen" in all of us!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFG09GqPug4VqT5rN8RwaJKWFLADDTm18OliKjAJ9nSJvlPcB-_-Ty2tHvqrD8nCsV5qlx7nHnJcYHLLar7tlaq02tCuD4cqTYyMoWX5PsnGgCAczdXzcC3UHUrZMbJoVtPNyplK2D84c/s1600/Sonia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFG09GqPug4VqT5rN8RwaJKWFLADDTm18OliKjAJ9nSJvlPcB-_-Ty2tHvqrD8nCsV5qlx7nHnJcYHLLar7tlaq02tCuD4cqTYyMoWX5PsnGgCAczdXzcC3UHUrZMbJoVtPNyplK2D84c/s640/Sonia.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">British Fashion Photographer Sonia Audhali talks fashion, life, and her growing relationship with Allah.</span></b></u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Nicole Queen</span></u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">November 17, 2010</span></u></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5Qd941W7LXkMcC4TZ_YVmjgg0LJZaBIctaHOaEsuZ_Ing5Te5TFBUsXxunjQWAQE7bWWkCokuYd7XnLJPWnqbCixm7r_-IueGsHI9JEW4XxNBw36_tpMrFpBWIpN696KYmPpxkNY-iY/s1600/62390_430321282671_502062671_5228229_2634626_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5Qd941W7LXkMcC4TZ_YVmjgg0LJZaBIctaHOaEsuZ_Ing5Te5TFBUsXxunjQWAQE7bWWkCokuYd7XnLJPWnqbCixm7r_-IueGsHI9JEW4XxNBw36_tpMrFpBWIpN696KYmPpxkNY-iY/s320/62390_430321282671_502062671_5228229_2634626_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">"Don't ever be afraid to do anything </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">that you strongly believe in!"-Sonia Audhali</span></span></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So tell us about yourself! Where is our first newly crowned "Queen of Islam" from?</span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;">I am Sonia Audhali, 21 years old, born and brought up in Warwickshire, UK. My father owns a halal abattoir, so<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I grew up on the farm and would never want to change that for the world</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">,</span></span> as life was just a big adventure growing up. I still dread to think that one day I may have to end up living in a city. I love the fact that out here we learnt to drive on our land before having lessons on the road! We grew up playing in the fields, hide and seek behind hay bails and playing on quad bikes. We had all kinds of animals on the farm, lambs, cattle, goats, chickens, rabbits, horses, etc! My hobbies as a child grew to be horse riding, trampolining, badminton and fishing. It's lovely growing up in the beautiful British countryside, even if it is miserable weather in the winter!</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />My parents are Yemeni but my mother is half Omani as well. I head over to the countries as often as possible as i hold strong family values and I also find the culture fascinating. I love traveling and photographing culture that is different to what I'm used to seeing everyday.</span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>I know your a professional photographer, how does a farmer's daughter go into such an artistic field of work?</b></span></span></span></span><br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfadfDOpEYmnoV93EyK1qpUxFmR861-YMoqwQX6bhoYj1bg9wQZRIbGfAOVdKY38lfBQDhMRukjYC3jZQd9MuPCgNfhaI2a4_Ujxc2zwaA1WS9Dq-4FNdPXvO_0BWjFoitHngvFgMaIr4/s1600/25076_376356452671_502062671_3911312_1449586_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfadfDOpEYmnoV93EyK1qpUxFmR861-YMoqwQX6bhoYj1bg9wQZRIbGfAOVdKY38lfBQDhMRukjYC3jZQd9MuPCgNfhaI2a4_Ujxc2zwaA1WS9Dq-4FNdPXvO_0BWjFoitHngvFgMaIr4/s400/25076_376356452671_502062671_3911312_1449586_n.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;">I</span> realized I wanted to be a photographer when I was 16 and worked in a studio. I helped out on wedding shoots and in the lab, developing film.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As I was growing up, I was always the one with the camera!</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span>My parents would get really angry with the amount of film they would have to get developed, especially after holidays, and not one family member would be in the images! It would almost always be landscape photography!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;">I aspired to be a wedding photographer, but soon found that my passion swayed towards fashion photography. Within the fashion industry, I made a lot of connections through social networking sites and worked along side a modeling agency. I worked with some amazing people within the 4 years and I thank everyone who has been a part of it. I</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"> now intend to expand into documentary photography, taking my developed skills to provide a scenic stage to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">what is happening around the world. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">I found that the fashion industry made me care about looks more than anything else.</span> I'd walk down the street judging people on their looks and whether or not they would work well on a shoot! Don't get me wrong, being a fashion photographer is an amazing career to pursue. You get the opportunity to create photographic pieces based on complete fantasy scenarios, ending up with images revolved around your imagination! However, I felt the industry can be too <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ruthless</span> for my personal preference.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: large; line-height: 17px;">You have really grown closer to God, Islamically. Can you tell us about your relationship with God, as a Muslim, and how you decided to publically display your love for God by wearing Hijab?</span></span></b></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: large; line-height: 17px;"><br />
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<div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;">I was brought up as a Muslim, although I wouldn't say I practiced the religion as much as I should have.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: normal;"> I was pretty westernized </span>with my thoughts and was <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">extremely lazy</span> when it came to religion. I was never forced to wear a headscarf and if the conversation was ever brought up my parents would just say, <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">"Wear it when you feel you are ready."</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<div style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;">Just before Ramadhan this year<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> I started feeling I needed to be closer to Islam</span>. I started praying Salat Al Istikhara for something that would have been a huge mistake if I had gone through with it. The way things panned out was amazing, SubhanAllah, as I was doing it for about a month. It made me realise that God is watching us and no matter what, He will guide us if we ask Him for help. I felt the magnitude of the saying,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> <span class="Apple-style-span">"one step taken in the sake of God will give you two steps in return from God."</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5Qd941W7LXkMcC4TZ_YVmjgg0LJZaBIctaHOaEsuZ_Ing5Te5TFBUsXxunjQWAQE7bWWkCokuYd7XnLJPWnqbCixm7r_-IueGsHI9JEW4XxNBw36_tpMrFpBWIpN696KYmPpxkNY-iY/s1600/62390_430321282671_502062671_5228229_2634626_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5Qd941W7LXkMcC4TZ_YVmjgg0LJZaBIctaHOaEsuZ_Ing5Te5TFBUsXxunjQWAQE7bWWkCokuYd7XnLJPWnqbCixm7r_-IueGsHI9JEW4XxNBw36_tpMrFpBWIpN696KYmPpxkNY-iY/s400/62390_430321282671_502062671_5228229_2634626_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonia crowned in hijab!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am a strong believer that everything in this life happens for a reason, good or bad! I also love the fact that no matter what we do in life, God is merciful and will forgive us, inshAllah</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. Around this time was when my cousin Mustafa showed me some links on Youtube about <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Nicole Queen</span>. I found her story really inspirational. This was also the time I felt I needed to get out of the fashion industry and start helping people with my talent. As a couple of months before that I started feeling really unmotivated when it came to my photographic work. I needed a different type of satisfaction and to figure out what this life is actually about!</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">A girl I grew up with, decided to wear the hijab and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I was so proud of her for not caring about what people thought by just doing it. </span>She has known me since I was born and we grew up like sisters. Also, two sisters, who are my best friends started wearing a headscarf before that. I wanted to, but <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">never thought I would have had the</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">guts</span>. I live in an extremely English area, no ethnic minorities really. When my friend wore it, I felt<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> if I don't do it now, I will never do it</span> and at least we can support each other.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4do0XLSXTZYP6sf_rqdiDtIBz0U299WvyRcdsgfPWgpjJJ3lTnWIA30k-813gJGw-K07iUfwRU2lzGXZT5-PxyOqkJ-8tz-5ftAmTQAjbxX-7zDAhKVKD5dg6JOQcl1s4uztCE0Ip98/s1600/74460_124182664306291_100001436748448_156348_7365698_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4do0XLSXTZYP6sf_rqdiDtIBz0U299WvyRcdsgfPWgpjJJ3lTnWIA30k-813gJGw-K07iUfwRU2lzGXZT5-PxyOqkJ-8tz-5ftAmTQAjbxX-7zDAhKVKD5dg6JOQcl1s4uztCE0Ip98/s400/74460_124182664306291_100001436748448_156348_7365698_n.jpg" width="322" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonia & her Mother</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> They all gave me so much confidence and were extremely supportive! Before hand, I was worried that I could give a bad example of Islam if I wore one as I'd <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">have to watch everything I do and be careful with what I say when speaking about Islam</span>. But in reality wearing a headscarf makes you more <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">peaceful</span> as I do have to watch what I do, but in a good way, as I want people to see Islam for the peaceful religion that it is! No one is perfect and in Islam we believe no one can judge except Allah, right? But obviously we have to try our best to spread true Islam. The media make us out to be women with no say, men ruling our worlds, and that all Muslims are extremists.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We need to be the true examples</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">, </span>showing the real meaning of Islam. We all know the actual meaning of Islam is Peace! If I am totally honest, I mostly feared my siblings and what they would say. Wearing a headscarf, the public won't really say anything, but family will say exactly what they think. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Some hiccups did occur,</span> but once they passed I felt much happier as I was doing what I believed was right.</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div class="ecxim" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I put the headscarf on,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I automatically felt protected</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.</span> Anyone who approaches me actually wants to get to know me for me, my mind, not for how I look! Anyone who judges you for it clearly is ignorant and not worth knowing! I actually get a whole different level of respect wearing a headscarf. People who know me, know that I could never be forced to wear it, so clearly it is something I strongly believe in and I am not oppressed like some people think Muslim women are! I have had really thankful support from my Muslim friends, along with non-Muslim friends. I love the fact that when wearing a headscarf people say they see<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> nour (light) in my face</span></span>. And even non-Muslim friends have said the new me clearly has meaning to life and that I seem like a much better person. Obviously, no one is perfect and I have so much I still need to improve on. <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Alhamdulillah I am so happy wearing it</span></span> and haven't really experienced any trouble. Obviously, with the media and, for example, the 'Muslims Burning the Poppy' stories, people ask or say hurtful things against the whole Islamic religion. But with the people who I actually know, when they say things, I explain to them what Islam is really about and on a few occasions they have actually turned and started sticking up for the true Muslims out there!</span></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xDgNpTjc49VIejKHw21AljrQrNAqeuu8pdhn1zBZgrZjQbfAG1JYPRxvRfu0ibseneOXTYS6OzJ76xWEyQgsFgXHg9RJpDvM5R2NzDIf_lB2_AN4CWMUmxw1Q2GIS4yINRnY2DzacVk/s1600/photo-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xDgNpTjc49VIejKHw21AljrQrNAqeuu8pdhn1zBZgrZjQbfAG1JYPRxvRfu0ibseneOXTYS6OzJ76xWEyQgsFgXHg9RJpDvM5R2NzDIf_lB2_AN4CWMUmxw1Q2GIS4yINRnY2DzacVk/s640/photo-4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonia & Family</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my closest friends altered her religion about a month ago. She has been there constantly supporting me through all the changes I have made. She was actually one of the people I never thought would ever change her religion. She is a very strong minded woman and surprised us all with her change. MashAllah, it shows that if you educate yourself with Islam, in the way it is supposed to be studied, then you will believe, even if there are certain parts of Islam that hold you back, usually if you read about it, those points aren't usually Islam but tend to be culture! I truly thank her for all her support and I am so proud of her for doing what she believes in, no one told her anything, she educated herself! <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Knowledge truly is power</span></span> and following what you believe in is even more powerful! </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnE5xTNABTaOGvsVnNpQKZ9rSv1IrCTdI74uSeHhsWxOkV4EDwNneiQbvquAqcllqNcfegZgyD-LP_-lPt1xw3q4YgWivyfoCQxdCswlV7s_7lT1p3z1ucE6Ut5E_gxSvNXawe9hytWcg/s640/photo-1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonia & Friends\Family</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My cousins daughter is only 15 and she is a huge inspiration to young girls. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">(She is in one of the images, wearing blue/purple/leopard print scarves, in between me and another girl who recently started wearing a headscarf.)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"> She has worn a hijab,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">by her own choice</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">, since the age of 11 or 12 and hasn't let it stop anything she wants to do in life. She is a youth politician, head girl of her school and loves sports such as basketball. She is also part of Muslim Scouts so travels to all sorts of countries. I am very proud of her! She, her Mother, and Uncle, have supported me so much and I am truly grateful to have a loving family motivating me so much into doing what I believe is right.</span></div></div><div><div class="ecxim" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;">The only frustrating thing about putting on a headscarf is that I had a lot of images online from interviews and behind the scenes videos of shoots, which i had to discard. Such as the animal shoot and shoots that I had done with a modeling agency. I felt that changing from fashion would be a good move Islamically, as everyone knows within that kind of industry, sex sells. This seemed like the right change as coincidentally I was becoming less motivated towards the work anyway. Changing to documentary actually became exciting as I want to help people and teach people what is happening in this world.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I basically changed fantasy to reality.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What do you hope to contribute to Muslim women, by being a professional photographer?</span></span></b></span></span><br />
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<div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;">I would like to show that <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Muslim women can be strong and influential,</span></span> especially with their talents and personal beliefs. I want to show people who aren't Muslim that we are not oppressed and actually can follow our hearts, doing whatever career we choose to follow, and<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">no one can stop us!</span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;">Being a Muslim woman gives me an automatic advantage amongst other photographers, as I understand that women should not be photographed if the imagery can be seen by the wrong people. I can definitely make sure that these women can enjoy themselves in front of a camera without headscarfs on, making them feel like a model, and assure them that the images will not be seen by anyone except myself and give them total control of their portraits!</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don't see myself helping just Muslim women, but inshAllah all people</span></span>. I have done a little bit of volunteer work, helping organize images for Islamic Relief Worldwide, in Birmingham. This has made me more passionate about wanting to work alongside smaller charities, who will actually need help with publicity, needing creative imagery in order to get noticed. Whilst doing this I hope to <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">inspire Muslim women to achieve their goals</span></span>, just like I am aiming to achieve mine!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What advice can you give other Muslimahs who are afraid to commit to Hijab, because of their careers or other "worldly" concerns?</span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: large; line-height: 17px;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;">The decisions you may feel will effect your life drastically will almost certainly unravel themselves to be the <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">simple steps towards spiritual wellbeing</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.</span> You may get some hurtful comments thrown in your direction, but it is rare and you just have to take it as some people are truly ignorant, especially if they don't even want to understand what you strongly believe in. They are really not worth knowing. If it is someone close to you who throws the comment, sit them down and talk to them about why it is you believe in what you believe. With Islam we have the beauty of Quran and Hadith to back up everything we come across in life, so it actually makes life easier when discussing anything at all! Islam is a way of life which, if followed properly, makes us better people due to the respect we give others. It's a heartwarming feeling that no matter what, we always have direction in life! </span></div><div class="ecxim" style="line-height: 17px;"><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;">In Western society, we are given freedom to dress how we want. We as Muslims have a right to dress fashionably and in a way that will get us noticed as trendy Muslims, <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">not oppressed women who never leave the house!</span></span> If visiting Yemen I wear an abaya, but when in England, as I was a fashion photographer for 4 years, I do love fashion and love to wear hijabs to suit! What does intrigue me is the fact that women who do wear an ebaya or even a niqab actually care more about fashion and their looks underneath the black, than women in the West!</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QtQkzJel2FSzPry2Xh8M2lsiOKyOEFJlTH_xAXK0sv8UPRxjq2We68ZkZqYhqjFOzwJyIyhhyphenhyphenveOK4S7mYYhsYSDCGj1oHqvhEwci0vCISslvuvNmHCLJAEXgJbbe8TWdvfmmtGFYUQ/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QtQkzJel2FSzPry2Xh8M2lsiOKyOEFJlTH_xAXK0sv8UPRxjq2We68ZkZqYhqjFOzwJyIyhhyphenhyphenveOK4S7mYYhsYSDCGj1oHqvhEwci0vCISslvuvNmHCLJAEXgJbbe8TWdvfmmtGFYUQ/s400/photo-2.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonia Style!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;">We have a right to dress how we want and how we feel comfortable. At the end of the day, if in your job, people are targeting you for wearing a hijab, you have a right to <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">speak up for what you believe in</span></span>, just bare that in mind! You can most definitely stand your ground. I have a friend who got treated differently in her place of work and she just covered up with hats and scarves, rather than a headscarf - that is an alternative. I also know a girl who was told to take off her headscarf by a teacher at school, she was humiliated in front of her class mates! I couldn't believe it! I am so proud of her for having the guts to wear one into school at the age of 13, but it was totally out of line for the teacher to humiliate her! The teacher was then asked to apologise and the headmaster actually told her she looked nice in a headscarf! She was then told to just wear headscarves that match the uniform, and asked to wear tight fitted ones for sport and practical science lessons, which is understandable! So<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">there is always a way around everything</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">,</span> especially in this day and age. </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">"Don't ever be afraid to do anything that you strongly believe in!"-Sonia Audhali</span></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Congratulations Sonia! </span></span></i></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></i></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Your Crowned a "Queen of Islam"</span></span></i></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7mhSG38e5ihWfVbyVnSntdR_nQ_IhDX0TFwy7c5mVGRjDUGVe8WysP8PSb_umg7x2jHxe8IKLkOvr2Hw60voeDxF8OR4oB-IongpkFJs8pYlbPpUKvo_qkDNQx-uaizwG7eo-WewjtY/s320/crown4.gif" width="320" /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Check out more of Sonia's work below!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Mdx43o68s0oKCH7rSgZHTop7ZHowlb50wN3NILoekplLfuPPFdWPDKfJlKhFHALiQHEseAbPXWAyy-LYbuOJa9jGiQasCqEZhhHU1XegSrSlnzpBhvBhVQb29ivT-ZJKGCuxQaMYhxM/s1600/18752_210726262671_502062671_3208052_2826368_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Mdx43o68s0oKCH7rSgZHTop7ZHowlb50wN3NILoekplLfuPPFdWPDKfJlKhFHALiQHEseAbPXWAyy-LYbuOJa9jGiQasCqEZhhHU1XegSrSlnzpBhvBhVQb29ivT-ZJKGCuxQaMYhxM/s640/18752_210726262671_502062671_3208052_2826368_n.jpg" width="427" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yBQ94NzEheUtCOmzUV3ldJSRg81qYRgRbSgQTkLCKQ7cp5ALqVBVTyrJe-5WhMWXuzj1eE2M1xJRFE6iYvqwGdMnVLzV3ceLeRh9IUkgRe-FIZLURq2Wat68p6tSFwCsSPLGLBQ5jaw/s1600/10133_136283397671_502062671_2689036_771338_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yBQ94NzEheUtCOmzUV3ldJSRg81qYRgRbSgQTkLCKQ7cp5ALqVBVTyrJe-5WhMWXuzj1eE2M1xJRFE6iYvqwGdMnVLzV3ceLeRh9IUkgRe-FIZLURq2Wat68p6tSFwCsSPLGLBQ5jaw/s640/10133_136283397671_502062671_2689036_771338_n.jpg" width="424" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzNtx72OQaot5G_kbjxoOccIjhI__L9vTsnVgTJ4A92fsw2sWP_j4qIDGkCwnZF_JAzh6B02sK6dIoi-zrO0HgMtXJsJ-1NKfjKS6js1a0d5qcSacMd_i3y5RinweqY9v9qhntt7it00/s1600/25266_374200702671_502062671_3853077_7939897_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzNtx72OQaot5G_kbjxoOccIjhI__L9vTsnVgTJ4A92fsw2sWP_j4qIDGkCwnZF_JAzh6B02sK6dIoi-zrO0HgMtXJsJ-1NKfjKS6js1a0d5qcSacMd_i3y5RinweqY9v9qhntt7it00/s640/25266_374200702671_502062671_3853077_7939897_n.jpg" width="424" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You can follow more of Sonia's work at these links:</span></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;">Skinhead slideshow: </i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OGhzJcarig" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OGhzJcarig</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 17px;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></i></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;">Website: <a href="http://www.soniasphotography.com/" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">www.soniasphotography.com</a> </i></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;">Blog: <a href="http://www.soniasphotography.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">www.soniasphotography.blogspot.com</a></i></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;">Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/soniasphotography" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/soniasphotography</a></i></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;">Twitter: @soniasphoto</i></span></span></div></div></div></div></div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-15157717064319243412010-11-04T21:39:00.007-05:002010-11-05T09:46:46.251-05:00Changing for the Better of Me-Part 1<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Assalamu Alaikum! I am so glad that your enjoying my site, and I really hope and pray for any type of benefit you might gain from it, Inshallah! I would like to take a chance and share the story of my transition into Islam. Since it's kind of a long story I am going to be posting in "Parts". Tonight I am sharing "Part1" which introduces you into my life, "Pre-Islam", as I like to call it. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">*The things you might read can sound a little rough, or offensive, so it's not recommended for younger readers, but a raw look into who I was before God opened the door for me!</span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u></u></span></b></i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u>Part 1: Full Body Makeover</u></span></b></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I don't know where to start. If you see me around, you will definitely notice the new and improved Nicole. In order to express the essence of this drastic change I think it's best to start from the beginning, you know, "before and after".</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>July, 2006</b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am busy as ever with Zanphotography. That's the name of my Event Photography business. I photograph the shots you see socialite magazines around Dallas. You saw me all the time, if you were out and knew the hottest places to see and be seen. I was friends with every club owner, every doorman, DJ, cocktail girl, bartenders…you name it. I was hired by all the time venues in Dallas to capture their nightlife. I catch the sweat dripping from beautiful silicone filled breasts and show all the hungry people out there what they are missing if they didn't make it to that nights fashion show, or socialite birthday party. If you loved the Dallas nightlife, then you would love my life. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="211" src="http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d193/queen_nic81/famous.jpg" width="400" /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I woke up every morning around noon, if you wanna call that morning…Then I started my day by searching through hundreds of images of whichever hot event I had covered the night before. I love editing out the un-cool, or unattractive, and sending them over to the client for distribution the all the social magazines. Lunch with friends would follow, or tanning, or whatever I felt like doing. Tanning is a necessity when you show as much skin as I do. When the night comes is the time when I am most alive. It’s time to shower and go through my extensive closet, full of sexy revealing party clothes. What to wear? What to wear?…after smoking my eyes, sexing up my hair and taping my top to my chest, I am ready for another day at work.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="150" src="http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d193/queen_nic81/camera-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I head out, while answering calls from different friends, setting up that nights after party meet up. Shoot the venue till about 1 am…celebs, athletes, models…all in front of my camera. Gotta get all the best shots, catch who ever doesn't wanna be seen but yet they are partying at the most crowded venue in Dallas. I make my rounds, say my hellos, and give my kisses on the cheeks to who ever that was. Then it's off to the hot spot I wanna conclude my work day(or night rather) at. I only have an hour to catch up with my buds, so 6 cocktails should get me their fast enough. I don't think about the mindless calories I am pouring into my body…Who cares that it’s fattening I still look hot, my chest is perfect, my face is so nice…just show the booty, put on the makeup and keep being in the scene. Keep em all happy. Then a trip to Jack in the Box and a drunken drive home at 3 am concludes my work day. So healthy right? I stumble into my trendy loft, strip off all my clothes, and pass out still in all my hair and makeup…Who cares? Ahhhh…this the life. While all my friends wake up and head to the office, I am having sweet dreams and hoping that when I wake, I don't wake up realizing I drunk dialed so and so and I'm gonna have to send them a nice "sorry I was drunk" text. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="480" src="http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d193/queen_nic81/partygirl.png" width="640" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> You do a lot that you feel really stupid when you live a life like this, well at least I did. But hey, its so cool. I know everyone, everywhere. My phone rang off the wall with friends wanting on this club list or that. Wanting to know where was I going to be tomorrow night and can I shoot this, or that?What a life…right? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Did I really need a makeover? Why would I?</span><br />
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</div><div style="color: purple; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The following are actual photos taken by me, during my Zanphotography days, "Pre-Islam". </span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymVS2M0ty8TNwN0gRCQq5qEPDORlqn4X-nfMaxJi6Hn8rYUdWlOhrg1hUBxS8V4317-ELDE9Cfh3NYieMs-rozpV8ydhi4Ll6Rm_Gv9wtMOmafbsrLVEe59hu-Fkq-7CQQnqpLL8Dj9w/s640/DSC_0011.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9jxvmmDr5n8yabvx4aBqPIHuvnhyphenhyphenefmFgjylwTW0p0GAkc8NzGQ32_Tfq8nKoFp0QEQZlM2IyJ1pqKSbGbUmoaeyWM8Rx_KXwCdoq8KTvCgR33F_g57eAkLg3f69JBlq6e9Gyl4iTaI/s1600/DSC_0173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9jxvmmDr5n8yabvx4aBqPIHuvnhyphenhyphenefmFgjylwTW0p0GAkc8NzGQ32_Tfq8nKoFp0QEQZlM2IyJ1pqKSbGbUmoaeyWM8Rx_KXwCdoq8KTvCgR33F_g57eAkLg3f69JBlq6e9Gyl4iTaI/s640/DSC_0173.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGGq_N860bJfu3pZ2LI-u1-Pd1A239WxAUSDftqYQhun-QhSJ9CqpivLUM4thPI8FSdOjOH6bODt_QtOWiU2clW-FwuJ_He_fLJkN13RcXanr95rkaERe7VAQN7H7lIyyamdj8ySOvG8/s1600/jaimefoxwatermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGGq_N860bJfu3pZ2LI-u1-Pd1A239WxAUSDftqYQhun-QhSJ9CqpivLUM4thPI8FSdOjOH6bODt_QtOWiU2clW-FwuJ_He_fLJkN13RcXanr95rkaERe7VAQN7H7lIyyamdj8ySOvG8/s640/jaimefoxwatermark.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmXOkMUeaDrNY7U6WRhckbmXX-BYEI-3SZo5zEtZ6RV-cPte3wtuFDTX3yqE3fxADE3ZNzfI5reEkTUZBMX4kCEboDBZG9O9DCqiDAmYzdZzv2dQIy7rDNhLryXaH3tGe0X2qZ4-Xnmk/s1600/JT+Watermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmXOkMUeaDrNY7U6WRhckbmXX-BYEI-3SZo5zEtZ6RV-cPte3wtuFDTX3yqE3fxADE3ZNzfI5reEkTUZBMX4kCEboDBZG9O9DCqiDAmYzdZzv2dQIy7rDNhLryXaH3tGe0X2qZ4-Xnmk/s640/JT+Watermark.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thank you so much for reading, it feels good to share and appreciate the life Allah has granted me. I also invite you to share your story whether it's your conversion to Islam, or maybe it's a story of how you came back to your roots and deepened your faith. We all benefit when we all share! Send your story to me through email on the <a href="mailto:hassanandnicole@gmail.com">Contact Us</a> page. </span></span><br />
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</span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Stay tuned for Part 2 of "Changing for the Better of Me".</span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-61489942351184692472010-10-27T17:19:00.044-05:002010-11-01T11:33:03.929-05:00Islamic Reliefs' "Evening of Inspiration"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Volunteers For Islamic Relief Get Inspired"</span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sCFL0NRasJrAZ9T785-yCalS-hZtUMg6krDIqPCC-9HJU9R7nGJQQlvkN9QWu7cAUDNtFrfz6f-hlKnGz-rc83SbEFjqEyV-BC9tlAxQRGBX4qyNerVdpwu7r03xVw9_QXd9wTR6tIc/s1600/islamicrelief.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sCFL0NRasJrAZ9T785-yCalS-hZtUMg6krDIqPCC-9HJU9R7nGJQQlvkN9QWu7cAUDNtFrfz6f-hlKnGz-rc83SbEFjqEyV-BC9tlAxQRGBX4qyNerVdpwu7r03xVw9_QXd9wTR6tIc/s1600/islamicrelief.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This past Sunday, October 24th, Islamic Relief hosted their 5th Annual Evening of Inspiration benefit concert at Richardson's Charles W. Eisemann Center. Talk about inspiration! Adoring Muslim fans clamored into the packed center to cheer at a sold out show. This year the benefit concert featured HUGE new artist </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Maher Zain</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, and our</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> favorite Brothers from D.C., Native Deen</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, as well as a few other amazing Islamic musicians. Proceeds from Islamic Relief's yearly concert go to benefit the non-profit's hundreds of programs that supply water, food and education as well as medical needs for children and their families in deprived countries world wide. Founded in part, here in the USA, by Br. Anwar Khan, Islamic Relief first began in the UK, by Dr. Hany Al Banna. Dr. Al Banna was inspired to create Islamic Relief as a result of the famine struggle in Ethiopia, back in 1984. Islamic Relief is hailed as one of the most respected charity organizations in the world, and is linked with United Nations and World Food Programme. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">-image courtesy of IslamicRelief.org</span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.eveningofinspiration.org/common/images/in_need.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="In Need" border="0" src="http://www.eveningofinspiration.org/common/images/in_need.gif" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As if you needed to hear more, to get that warm feeling when you think of Islamic Relief? Well, let me top that off. For years, loyal "do-gooders" in our local communities across the U.S. have been <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">donating their minds and bodies </span></span>to assist in huge events such as the "Evening of Inspiration" concerts. Someone has to check tickets, sale concessions, and make sure that evening is organized enough to be as inspiring as it's expected to be! From children to adults to seniors, each year<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> people line up to volunteer</span></span>, knowing they are going to be working instead of sitting in a comfy chair with their other friends and families enjoying the show. Now thats giving back!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clubhouse:Location of Dinner</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Islamic Relief doesn't let these years of volunteering go unnoticed! No Sir! (or Madam). On Monday night, the day after the benefit concert in Richardson, TX, Islamic Relief, along with Sister Laila Khan, devoted wife of Anwar Khan and 12 year volunteer herself, (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>heart</b></span> as big as Texas), organized an amazing appreciation dinner for all of the Dallas volunteers. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laila Khan with her daughter</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I was lucky enough to be the photographer for this evening, and I am happy to share the wonderful photographs that helped capture the smiles and "thank you's" these volunteers felt. While photographing I asked Sister Laila (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>heart</b></span> as big as Texas) if all of these children would be out with the adults through the whole event. There were an even amount of kids, compared to the adults and I wondered "Are they going to stay in the theater room so the adults can enjoy their evening?" Sister Laila smiled warmly (that<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> <b>heart</b></span>!), and said, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">"They are the guests as well, most of these kids have been volunteering with IR for years now".</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBScqgKqMlPn0sy6vWaJEboNsxuUvusz3CuXWZz7WnONjsjOjYBcAbK1Mha4J3ANLeX-BOyOT_KwDJ5CsUCKaZOQ2F7PL2wrR2hyL-SXlFD6eFgjrrF5Hyoheus1pJy4CwU6hayLJitdk/s1600/IR11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBScqgKqMlPn0sy6vWaJEboNsxuUvusz3CuXWZz7WnONjsjOjYBcAbK1Mha4J3ANLeX-BOyOT_KwDJ5CsUCKaZOQ2F7PL2wrR2hyL-SXlFD6eFgjrrF5Hyoheus1pJy4CwU6hayLJitdk/s320/IR11.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">NEEEEEOOOOOOPPPP....thats the sound of me feeling small for thinking that they were just there and not part of the evening...LOL. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I felt so inspired right then and there...</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">These kids are giving up their play time, video game time, whatever time, to volunteer along with the adults to give back to kids in need and this night was just as much for them. The children of Sister Laila and Br. Anwar Khan, in fact, have been raised in this environment of giving, sharing, and working hard for those in need. It's like a second nature to them, and believe me they have a couple of beautiful intelligent little girls that could teach you a few things about the world's struggles. The children attending the dinner that evening all had a blast! Hot Chocolate flowed and little brown mustaches were running around the huge beautiful club house that hosted the evening dinner. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BN1twBpJsly8ePCbb3PnCCaziA26LHt0BVMTbsJmszYlELX7iWPk_83Bo4xP6di30uWMF4unDbyHI-87BkwfHeUOvXy5LNOyLZUf3KuvXYPZobbleWUWaZ3yJKi1dwBwbWb5pxqeS2E/s1600/IR10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BN1twBpJsly8ePCbb3PnCCaziA26LHt0BVMTbsJmszYlELX7iWPk_83Bo4xP6di30uWMF4unDbyHI-87BkwfHeUOvXy5LNOyLZUf3KuvXYPZobbleWUWaZ3yJKi1dwBwbWb5pxqeS2E/s320/IR10.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dinner was catered by Fadi's Mediterranean Grill...ummmm can we say </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">YUM! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A beautiful buffet of Middle Eastern delights were sprayed across a beautiful table. All I could think about was that warm soft pita bread...hmmmmm....pita bread...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNxXjxWLO8IjzYYnZkT3xXT9oS_mqeX52bfMFA4hiU-qaf_9dhv2Ls-O0H2qnoCdk-6Veeml37XhbCjx7iI730E0inm7yiVnEfzW-tXOlyqlYiytJxpllhGd5mEBqwMaccfxhpoH5eps/s1600/IR9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNxXjxWLO8IjzYYnZkT3xXT9oS_mqeX52bfMFA4hiU-qaf_9dhv2Ls-O0H2qnoCdk-6Veeml37XhbCjx7iI730E0inm7yiVnEfzW-tXOlyqlYiytJxpllhGd5mEBqwMaccfxhpoH5eps/s200/IR9.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ok, let me focus again, Oh Yes! Dessert! Strawberry topped Cheesecake, Smoldering Chocolate Cake and Somebody hold be back, Pecan Pie! Now you gotta make sure you say P-e-e-c-a-n Pie...the Texas way!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMp793dB_VWAmdoVwFEpQ8SASIBMup2xKGvBLEN6_HXHFhUKeJA-1z_4Tok3tGG54L27AbLBmCBf2O6kcqE8Zza9u81HGWyuWX7n6cWI4F9r5Ac965UVzBFWIxr8QlCt9JgaZQoua7H0/s1600/IR8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMp793dB_VWAmdoVwFEpQ8SASIBMup2xKGvBLEN6_HXHFhUKeJA-1z_4Tok3tGG54L27AbLBmCBf2O6kcqE8Zza9u81HGWyuWX7n6cWI4F9r5Ac965UVzBFWIxr8QlCt9JgaZQoua7H0/s320/IR8.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Everyone enjoyed the evening and the best gift of all, on top of all of this friendship, Cowboys game on the big screen theater, red velvet pool table and all the fancy coffee you can drink...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">the best was still yet to come.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">daughter of Anwar and Laila Khan</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When it was just about time to eat, a few more guest arrived. The beautiful daughter of our organizer </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">(heart)</span>,</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> came running to me announcing the arrival of our awaiting anticipation. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Walking in on cool feet and a modest heart, came </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Maher Zain</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> himself! Then </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Br. Naeem of Native Deen</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, sporting his "Evening of Inspiration" T-shirt and the biggest grin we could handle all night! The kids were racing up to them, sitting on their laps for photos...(I kept picturing kids sitting on Santa's lap, thinking something good was gonna come of it), but for these kids something good could definitely come, cause these guys were REAL, and with their huge spirits and faith in God, sitting around them could teach any kids a few things! LOL.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maher Zain</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Br. Naeem of Native Deen with close friends "The Noor Family"<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">These amazing Islamic artists displayed nothing but <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">modest, humble, yet totally outgoing </span></span>personalities and it really felt a lot like having a huge dinner with your closest family and friends. It was one of the best shoots I have been a part of because it didn't feel like work, it felt like spending time with really amazing people and I felt this huge need to capture that memory. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Br. Naeem even whipped out a guitar from his pocket </span></span>and gave us a beautiful intimate acoustic show...well maybe he had to get the guitar from his car but it was just as cool! With a melodic voice he sang about the struggles of Gaza as onlookers steadied their video phones. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcchUMINa7gKL7_Vglebm-oZjmStk4D8FcRBGtTRZHE1ccGiLcyMwjYOSP7VFNty3WWUBxqTBd20jB4ovQwMG_HuTihhDc-RugLSk936Q65xyKr0xauvWE00ZnwAfTzBOiVcBmPCYRZ4/s1600/IR1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcchUMINa7gKL7_Vglebm-oZjmStk4D8FcRBGtTRZHE1ccGiLcyMwjYOSP7VFNty3WWUBxqTBd20jB4ovQwMG_HuTihhDc-RugLSk936Q65xyKr0xauvWE00ZnwAfTzBOiVcBmPCYRZ4/s400/IR1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Br. Naeem-Native Deen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Br. Naeem plays Gaza-Native Deen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujDLh5elh2tRUHOreMxUUi7WUOCG1Pc0FFTKhDTjDIm0pIKI35wCa-DIkwVu3B44VxXJQMPnUuDrpctLmqa1MiMkVQWoN70elFVxEz9frqSilXaNS8ZTSUSqDTs7LJUPSbVoomeiqR-M/s1600/IR6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujDLh5elh2tRUHOreMxUUi7WUOCG1Pc0FFTKhDTjDIm0pIKI35wCa-DIkwVu3B44VxXJQMPnUuDrpctLmqa1MiMkVQWoN70elFVxEz9frqSilXaNS8ZTSUSqDTs7LJUPSbVoomeiqR-M/s400/IR6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maher Zain and Br. Naeem </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Maher Zain</span></span>, after much convincing (modest), hopped on a grand piano that just happened to be there and showed everyone how much he can't play the piano...which of course was absolutely not true! He hands graced along the keys and music and a lil nasheed flowed over the room. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WG6PrTk4RWPmqtJBCDxB8d3WMXhJiB-MVZhyphenhypheny3_vRAe7g1ypieeOhUyhPnvq8clHXL_d5yyQzOs_iX-9KwyNzZLT6E1MX9gVjufWo8ler7eVPGFJrW_th5pON-zsxqToBOXxgF5ncsI/s1600/IR15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WG6PrTk4RWPmqtJBCDxB8d3WMXhJiB-MVZhyphenhypheny3_vRAe7g1ypieeOhUyhPnvq8clHXL_d5yyQzOs_iX-9KwyNzZLT6E1MX9gVjufWo8ler7eVPGFJrW_th5pON-zsxqToBOXxgF5ncsI/s400/IR15.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Br. Naeem plays for guests of the dinner.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">An evening like this, there is only one thing that can be said in conclusion...</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Al-HamidilAllah</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maher Zain poses with Br Anwar Khan and Family</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-2704055127544464762010-10-07T23:46:00.006-05:002010-10-15T13:34:39.588-05:00Blushing Bride...<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Blushing Bride...For most its just a saying, but for most Muslim Brides, it's a literal thing! Instead of months and months of dating and giving and giving, hoping that he will propose, hoping that she's got what it takes to win his heart, Muslim Brides try a different approach to that thing called love. For these veiled beauties, you better face the "Rents" and cough up a pretty sweet ring before you get any fluttering of her endless lashes. They are true Blushing Brides because being with their husband is a new and exciting time, everything they do with their husbands will be special and sending plenty of butterflies for years to come because they save the best for last. Proposal for her hand in marriage is how you are allowed to date her and win her heart. Gives a whole new meaning to the term "Because Your Worth It". If he wants to date her, he better feel pretty sure she's worth it because nothing less will do! The "old fashion" system of courtship for these pious beauties is definitely worthy of a comeback for U.S. society. I know I'm hoping for this royal treatment for my daughter, whenever I actually have one! LOL...</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As most of you know I am a professional photographer and photograph a lot of Muslim weddings and events here in Dallas.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I hope you enjoy a few of my favorites from the formal engagement(Nikkah) of Sarah & Zeshaun. Does she have amazing skin or what! May Allah bless them both and give them a long beautiful life together.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJ5DC0elg0hyphenhyphenz_4R6mbGqkHZDMBOp-p77oo3QT66wO1Dqm74ercjlFub4lYdctVKFg19FqpA-M3MTmSyEiJXXzQK6fTytEicuzXDgjE3q9Gb4c7CD5zdXW5WSdkNyyilYJcOwtwaSvx4/s640/Sarah1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Covld0u3x9XUNmcy3qayT8WY8Q9Jzk2ULvSENKP3iFfGzqaY6ZDRaIaz8qROMdE55UmBkq90-eBtwaajexoOH5AbOkWU0Yp5eN1Re-NnKJwF8pux7PkejbCj_dvxiVpoeaZKS3Cu_BU/s640/Sarah2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Fun fact: Sarah is the daughter of Mariam, a friend of mine and also an American revert to Islam of more than 20 years. Mariam is the proud Mother of 7 beautiful children and #8 is on the way! All of her children attend Private Islamic School, and attend college upon graduation. Her older children are already Hafiz as Quranic education is just as important to both parents as well as social studies. All 4 of her daughters as well as Mariam wear Hijab beautifully. Ma'shallah I am so proud to see how close Mariam is to Islam and her family, she makes all American Muslims proud and I hope to one day be as great and patient of a Mother as she has been. </span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmIX3M5K5t7xRlbp73UPwjkpDPwIjwOToHmtLcNpzLT4I20T5v4QIP6YAtcG_q1-6YhMFArjExvd09uXwsVt6VknpviE0rbKAARW_tKnD1rOfK2toy1wKntompwJf6YSfFZ_bSChQ4lU/s640/Sarah3.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPpoo1u298KKFJbW8S47gWfmqg-u6yGbou8ablMa2XPR6dkxL8j5AmsfeMoY1CIv1V3_9IvmH-RwtSffvBrvTLaP2_uHLSxtFjX1_4I8Mzx8ADSpd7QpL_NgBrKo1bmwehBYCVOrq1nQ/s640/Sarah4.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="468" /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTS1JBgpFy8PmNe3jBYvJh9-VnnJj0yxhK92a8zwnqIi8flRSlJfAGYETHxceW5rnzFaTG0JYExVivog7NdYgUf9gMdPM9FrhFDoV2-gwRtUEhk1lTzkJPqOBvau8mZHHhyphenhyphenamyVkp4eVY/s640/Sarah5.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Congratulations Mariam, what a beautiful pious educated daughter you have raised through the guidance of God, in Islam. May Sarah be every bit as amazing of a Mother as she was taught to be.</span></span></span></span></div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-30159671308045181852010-09-28T14:29:00.006-05:002010-10-15T13:43:01.239-05:00Disney Unveils Hijab!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Throughout this month, my goal is to promote Positive Public Relations pertaining to Muslims! I am hoping to publish quite a few great articles shining some warm light on Muslims and their lives here in the US. As always I am and I am sure that you are very grateful for the beautiful life we live as an American Muslim and the strong independent voice you are inspired to share! Here is a great story I read today, where a young hijabi intern exercises her American right to perform her job, while still maintain her status as a crowned Queen of Islam...</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7mhSG38e5ihWfVbyVnSntdR_nQ_IhDX0TFwy7c5mVGRjDUGVe8WysP8PSb_umg7x2jHxe8IKLkOvr2Hw60voeDxF8OR4oB-IongpkFJs8pYlbPpUKvo_qkDNQx-uaizwG7eo-WewjtY/s1600/crown4.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7mhSG38e5ihWfVbyVnSntdR_nQ_IhDX0TFwy7c5mVGRjDUGVe8WysP8PSb_umg7x2jHxe8IKLkOvr2Hw60voeDxF8OR4oB-IongpkFJs8pYlbPpUKvo_qkDNQx-uaizwG7eo-WewjtY/s320/crown4.gif" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Disney Unveils Hijab-</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Included Costume for a Muslim Intern</span></span></span><br />
<u>By Lindsay William-Ross in News on September 28, 2010 8:30 AM 1 Comment 0 Likes 1575 Views</u><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Costume designed for a Muslim intern (AP Photo/Disney) </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Disney-Muslim-Worker.jpg" src="http://laist.com/attachments/lindsayrebecca/Disney-Muslim-Worker.jpg" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Disney intern Noor Abdallah, 22, has a new specially-designed costumed that incorporates the head-covering she wears as a part of her Muslim faith, according to the AP.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Abdallah had been working as a vacation planner for the Disneyland resort, but took a job in the stockroom when her head scarf, or hijab, became an issue. "Vacation planners are costumed employees, whose outfits include an optional baseball-style cap," explains the LA Times.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A group intervened on behalf of the intern when they learned of her job re-assignment. Disney agreed to design a special costume for Abdallah, but said it would take five months--the same amount of time as her internship was expected to last. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now Disney has restored Abdallah to her "front-stage job" and has provided her with a costume that includes a beret and a scarf. However, Abdallah "will not have the option to take off her hat while wearing the scarf-type covering," says Disneyland Resort spokeswoman Suzi Brown.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Abdallah is the second Muslim woman to make headlines in recent months for her struggles with Disneyland and her wish to wear her religious head-covering while on the job. Imane Boudlal, a hostess at a restaurant at a Downtown Disney venue, was removed from the work schedule after continuing to show up to work wearing her hijab, which is not permitted as part of her position's mandatory costume.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Boudlal wore her hijab to work despite being told it was not acceptable, and after refusing to accept a reassignment to a position with less public interaction. The Council on American-Islamic Relations say Boudlal's case with Disney remains ongoing.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Nicole Queen</b></span></u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">- </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">On a side note, after further research into Boudlals case with Disney. She did not wear Hijab when she was hired. Then after working there for a while, decided to start wearing it, which is great...but was not discussed with her employers, she just showed up one day with it on. I have worked as a non-Muslim, then a Muslim, then as a Muslim wearing Hijab...it is important to have as much respect for your employer as you demand they have for you. If your employed in a public position, like the service industry, it is a must that you have a respectful conversation with your employer about your decision and talk about what options you have for making it work.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> After they offered Boudlal a less public position so she could keep her Hijab, Boudlal refused. Then Disney had a designer create a cute look for her, that would still coordinate with her costume, and allow her to maintain her Hijab.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">She again refused, unlike Noor in the story above, and complained that the hat looked "silly". I personally no longer see this as a case of Disney not honoring her right to wear hijab, but now as a case of a girl who is hoping to win a law suit. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><u>Thank you Disney for trying to accommodate our girls...and the 200 other faiths that Disney has made exceptions and costume alterations to accomodate.</u></b></span></span>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-49184565485364868032010-09-24T13:52:00.006-05:002010-10-15T13:31:33.772-05:00Facing and Fighting Discrimination<div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I wanted to share this article I was reading today on the Huffington Post. It was published on Sept. 12th, 2010 and because I wasn't able to post anything marking the anniversary of the tragic events on Sept. 11th, I would like to share this now. My heart goes out to the families of victims of that dark day. I only pray that the actions of the people, who are responsible for so many deaths that day, do not continue to create so much turmoil for the true Muslim people today, who seem to be answering for those horrible crimes which they did not themselves commit, nor do they support. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">God bless America, and remind us all of the freedoms we so proudly represent.</span></span></u></span></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Here is a little background on the two strong Muslim women who have written the article below.</b></span></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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background-position: 0% 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #058b7b; float: left; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 23px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: 110px !important;">Get Email Alerts from this Blogger</a></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; clear: both; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; clear: both; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div class="clear full" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; clear: both; font-size: 1px; height: 8px; line-height: 1px !important; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden !important; overflow-y: hidden !important; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div class="author_bio_wrapper" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: black; font: normal normal normal 16px/20px Georgia, Century, Times, serif; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hena Ashraf is a filmmaker based in New York City. With roots from the subcontinent, she spent her early years in the U.K. before immigrating to the U.S. Hena graduated in 2008 from the University of Michigan with concentrations in Film & Video Studies, and Political Science. Hena is a fierce advocate for the making and use of independent media, and believes that people can empower themselves by creating their own media to amplify their voices. She tends to disappear into her headphones, and also writes and photographs.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"></span></div></div><div class="author_bio_wrapper" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: black; font: normal normal normal 16px/20px Georgia, Century, Times, serif; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><div class="reporter_content" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="about_author_archive" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; float: left; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 542px;"><div class="about_a_archive" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; height: 61px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 1px; margin-top: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/contributors/dinu-ahmed/headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dinu Ahmed" border="0" src="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/contributors/dinu-ahmed/headshot.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;" width="45" /></a><div class="about_reporter_name_email" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; float: left; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: auto;"><div class="about_a_archive_name" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #797979; font-weight: bold; font: normal normal normal 24px/normal Georgia; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; width: 182px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dinu-ahmed" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #058b7b; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Dinu Ahmed</a></div></div><div class="about_reporter_email-hp" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 182px;"><div class="clear_first" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; clear: both; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div class="author_archive_rss" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/index.php?author=dinu-ahmed" rel="nofollow" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #058b7b; float: left; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Get Dinu Ahmed's RSS Feed</a></div><div class="icon-rss float_left" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://s.huffpost.com/images/b_pixie.png?v4); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px -650px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: block; float: left; height: 16px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 16px;"></div></div></div><div class="becomeFan_and_getEmail" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; float: right; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 7px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="fb_like_cont" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; height: 33px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="align_left" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 6px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><fb:like background_color="#cccccc" class=" fb_edge_widget_with_comment fb_iframe_widget" font="Trebuchet" height="15" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dinu-ahmed/" layout="box" show_faces="false" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline-block; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;" width="200"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><iframe class="fb_ltr" id="f1205393c" name="f38abd6828" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?api_key=4d965afccc4d86c598dbf5d94fb34a7c&channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%23cb%3Df830c9f5%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%252Ff3f89756a%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&font=Trebuchet&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2Fdinu-ahmed%2F&layout=standard&locale=en_US&node_type=link&sdk=joey&show_faces=false&width=225" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; height: 26px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 225px;"></iframe></span></fb:like></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span id="blogger_becomefan" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/users/becomeFan.php?of=hp_blogger_Dinu%20Ahmed" id="blogger_menu_becomefan" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://s.huffpost.com/images/bloggers/blogger_ico_becomefan.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #058b7b; float: left; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; height: 16px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 23px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: 82px;">Become a Fan</a></span><span class="getEmail" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; clear: both; display: block; float: left; line-height: 13px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/users/login/" id="blogger_menu_email_up" style="background-image: url(http://s.huffpost.com/images/bloggers/blogger_ico_email.gif); background-position: 0% 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #058b7b; float: left; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 23px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: 110px !important;">Get Email Alerts from this Blogger</a></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; clear: both; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; clear: both; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div class="clear full" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; clear: both; font-size: 1px; height: 8px; line-height: 1px !important; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden !important; overflow-y: hidden !important; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div class="author_bio_wrapper" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: black; font: normal normal normal 16px/20px Georgia, Century, Times, serif; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Deluwara (Dinu) Ahmed is currently participating in the Community Organizing Residency (COR), a program devoted to launching social justice careers rooted in faith. She is completing her residency at Community Voices Heard, a member organization of low-income New York residents striving to build power and win improvements for their families and communities. She comes to this work with a background in youth organizing, and experience working on multifaith coalitions, issues of domestic violence, education, and legal advocacy, as well as organizing programming around the arts. Dinu graduated from Bryn Mawr College, where she studied comparative literature and political science.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://multifaithworld.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/huffington-post-logo1.jpg?w=150&h=96" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://multifaithworld.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/huffington-post-logo1.jpg?w=150&h=96" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"></span></span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><h1 style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><u><i><br />
</i></u></span></h1><h1 style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><u><i><br />
</i></u></span></h1><h1 style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><u><i><br />
</i></u></span></h1><h1 style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><u><i><br />
</i></u></span></h1><h1 style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><u><i>Facing and Fighting Discrimination</i></u></span></h1></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The controversy over Park51 has reached a fever pitch. Opinions and concerns from around the country have been expressed, with many falsehoods and stereotypes being propagated along the way. We feel that the voices of Muslim women are lacking in this debate, especially the voices of Muslim women who go to Park51, and as such, we have chosen to express our views on the matter.</span></span></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We have been astonished at how a local community project has suddenly become the focal point of political campaigning, and is now the basis for hate crimes against Muslims. We think it is important to understand the concerns and motives of the community in question, prior to assigning accusations of cultural insensitivity, because we believe that cultural sensitivity should be mutual.</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img alt="Supporters of the Islamic cultural centre and mosque planned for a site near Ground Zero in lower Manhattan, New York City, chanting slogans and waving placards. Photographs: Chris Hondros/Getty Images; Seth Wenig/AP Photo" src="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/images/tile/2010/0824/1224277443242_1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></span></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;">Supporters of the Islamic cultural centre and mosque planned for a site near Ground Zero in lower Manhattan, New York City, chanting slogans and waving placards. Photographs: Chris Hondros/Getty Images; Seth Wenig/AP Photo</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As former residents, students, and employees in Lower Manhattan, we find that the demand for prayer space in this neighborhood is very high. What many around the country do not know is that a local mosque in the area has been renting warehouse space every Friday for some time, simply to accommodate the overflow of worshippers. Due to the high local demand, Park 51 would provide much-needed space and services for the Muslim community in Lower Manhattan and in New York City. The fact that this is a complete interfaith and intercultural community center open to all is an additional benefit that would be an asset to multiple communities here in New York. The center should be built, not only on the grounds of religious freedom, but because the community in this area is in need of a such a space.</span></span></span></div></div><center style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">-----</span></span></center><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Dinu:</span></u></span></span></strong></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lower Manhattan is the neighborhood where I was born and raised, where I went to school, and where my community had rooted itself for the greater part of a century. As a young student at Stuyvesant High School, four blocks north, I experienced the shock of watching the towers crumble before my classroom window and being evacuated from the area. I had family and community members working at the World Trade Center and in the immediate vicinity. My high school was converted into a triage center, and so we were relocated. When I returned, I continued to deal with the trauma of loss in my community, with the fumes and debris in the air an ever-constant reminder of what we as a country had experienced. With public transportation knocked out that day, I remember sobbing and feeling terrified by the possibility of still being in danger, wondering if anything else was going to fall, if it was all over, and if everyone I knew would make it home safe. In the midst of a steady sea of people heading north, with the swirl of emotions in my head, I also encountered my first taste of being targeted as a Muslim American. I was 14.</span></span></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Even before I could begin to process bearing witness to this tragedy, my peers and I, as young teenagers, had already begun to experience accusations of perpetrating the very event that had scarred us. Such notions were highly illogical, xenophobic and racist. Every New Yorker knew someone who was directly affected; there were countless Muslims who were killed whose lives have not been honored justly. It is beyond unfair to even contemplate that Muslim Americans reeling from the calamity could be responsible for what happened; indeed, it is immoral. Let us re-emphasize: we were shocked, scarred, and grieving from our own losses on this day, and spoke out loudly against this gross distortion of our faith tradition.</span></span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><center style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">-----</span></span></center><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Hena:</span></span></u></span></strong></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In Michigan, I lived amongst a very large Arab-American population, with a third of the students in my high school being of Arab descent. Immediately after September 11 and in the following years, the surrounding Muslim and Arab communities were fearful of being targeted and harassed by federal, state, and local authorities, and for good reason -- this was happening to many families in and around Dearborn, Michigan. As a teenaged Muslim woman in America, I became highly aware in a very abrupt manner of the poisonous political environment seeping across the country that transformed many Americans overnight into the latest demographic threat. This perceived threat, which continues today, included both people visibly presenting as Muslims as well as ambiguously brown-skinned people mistaken for Muslims. As time went on and the War on Terror expanded from Afghanistan to Iraq, and with the Patriot Act, Guantanamo Bay, and racial and religious profiling, I have certainly felt very cornered growing up as a Muslim over the past nine years in this country.</span></span></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Fast-forward to this past summer in New York City. At different places and across various boroughs in New York, Dinu and I have experienced much Islamophobia. Never have I received as much consistent harassment in one place during one length of time as I have this summer in New York, from a shopkeeper asking in May if I was a suicide bomber, to a man shouting furiously at Dinu and me, "Where's Osama?!" (incidentally on July 4). Those are just a couple of the hateful incidents that have occurred to us as women who wear hijab -- our list also includes times when we were physically and verbally threatened. The unnecessary controversy and debate around Park51 has come to a boiling point with hate crimes against Muslims; just last week in New York, a cab driver was stabbed for being Muslim, and a man entered a mosque in Queens during the Ramadan nightly prayers, yelled at the congregation and urinated in the house of worship. Over the weekend, the site of a new mosque in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was attacked by arson. And then later this week, a shotgun was fired outside of a mosque in Carlton, New York by teens shouting slurs, who also drove their car up against a worshipper. The very next day, a Sikh man working at a 7-11 in Seattle, Washington was mistaken for Muslim and assaulted.</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">-----</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We have to wonder what has led people to commit such racist and hateful crimes. With our critical and unwavering eyes on the mass corporate media, we believe the coverage thus far has been highly irresponsible and biased in its depiction of Park51, starting with calling the center "the Ground Zero Mosque." The media needs to be held accountable to present objective, fair, and analytical coverage, rather than merely creating spectacle and allowing for hate groups to present their propaganda without critique. Moreover, politicians who have harnessed the media to design racist and xenophobic campaigns have been especially irresponsible, and are not only distracting Americans from real issues that affect our daily lives but also ramping up the hate discourse and actions against Muslims across the country.</span></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">We are Muslim women who live in New York and who believe in the linkage of all struggles. What we are experiencing at the present time is not new. Many communities in this country have struggled, and continue to struggle, against hate, biases, and stereotypes. We are in solidarity with them and understand that Muslim Americans, and those perceived to be Muslim, Arab, or South Asian, are just the latest groups in recent decades to experience such vilification. This Ramadan, we pray that New York and the larger American society will be as inclusive and welcoming as it is claimed to be, and strive to achieve liberty and justice for all communities.</span></div></div></div></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-85671755039348390052010-09-09T23:57:00.005-05:002010-10-15T13:52:52.666-05:00Eid Mubarak from Dallas, Texas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWDRj34w6Ub2_WNZio9XsB-RKx3ppGvxO27L8oRa99QtECROAEZEwOdBl5d68TzSCFpXocKyGXQLEyX48BfIn3wZdmpsvIC7RcVxbw6pfgo41AxZzxfImQJYrwLaQN_CzEmC6XBoahEE/s1600/Eid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWDRj34w6Ub2_WNZio9XsB-RKx3ppGvxO27L8oRa99QtECROAEZEwOdBl5d68TzSCFpXocKyGXQLEyX48BfIn3wZdmpsvIC7RcVxbw6pfgo41AxZzxfImQJYrwLaQN_CzEmC6XBoahEE/s400/Eid.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I just wanted to share with you a nice piece from the "Revealing Ramadan" series on NPR. It's a great program and they did a story on different Muslims and what the month of Ramadan means to them. Since it is the last night of Ramadan, sadly, I thought it would be nice to share what Ramadan means to me. I truly love Ramadan and I am always sad to see it go, but look forward to the coming year. Even more, I look forward to Eid! Praying with hundreds of Muslims in Downtown Dallas, you really feel like you belong to something greater than you could imagine. I love seeing all the bright shining faces and beautiful Eid garments. All the children are so excited, with twinkling eyes and pockets full of sweets. They look forward to receiving gifts after the prayers and a day full of fun with their families. We are all so thankful for the lives Allah has granted us and for at least this one day, there is peace throughout all Muslim hearts, despite media and political agendas. I can't wait to see my niece and nephews when I give them their long awaited Eid gifts...sometimes I think it's harder for me to wait to give them, than for them to wait on receiving! I will depart now, I need to make my first attempt at constructing Eid cookies, in my opinion it ranks in the tops of one of the most difficult cookies to bake, wish me luck in this venture as I'm covered in flour into the long hours of the night! Hamidillah for lifes simple challenges and simple pleasures...</span></span><br />
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background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-top: 10px;"><div class="info" style="float: left; height: 110px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; width: 710px;"><div align="right" style="float: right; font-size: 11px;"></div><div id="addThisButtons" style="float: none; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px;"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" id="addthis_email" style="color: #516a65; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal;">» Email</a> ¦ <a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" id="addthis_print" style="color: #516a65; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal;">» Print</a> ¦ <a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=20" id="addthis_share" style="color: #516a65; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal;" title="Nicole Queen - Your Voices, Your Stories | Revealing Ramadan [Speaking of Faith® from American Public Media]">+ Share</a></div><div style="font-size: 11px;"></div><div class="pullquote" style="color: #777777; float: right; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; width: 340px;">“I remember a friend of mine said to me, "Who is it that thinks your so glamorous and cool? What kind of people are they. They are just like you only caring about themselves and living for nothing...”</div><a class="maplet_container" href="http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2009/ramadan/yourstories.shtml?name=ramadan&response=665539#map_container" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 5px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 5px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 5px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 5px; color: #516a65; float: left !important; font-weight: normal; height: 100px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 15px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 100px;"><img height="100" id="maplet" src="http://maps.google.com/staticmap?center=32.7810780,-96.7971110&zoom=5&size=100x100&markers=32.7810780,-96.7971110,blue&key=ABQIAAAALNe2-J3VmovW8FplRbHFQBS3gWhwU_IBMBdZ93pr9eA3d8K5qBTneatglvbRDWPoh9Z0I6l6qlKI3Q" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; float: right; height: 100px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; width: 100px;" width="100" /></a><h3 style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Nicole Queen</h3><div class="geo" style="text-transform: uppercase;">DALLAS, TX (USA)</div><div class="background" style="font-style: italic;">Born in 1981<br />
tradition: Sunni Muslim faith</div><div class="audio" style="margin-top: 10px;"><div class="publicradio_embedded_player" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div id="speakingoffaith_first_person_2009_09_01_20090831_ramadan_fp_queen_128_player"><embed bgcolor="#ffffff" flashvars="name=speakingoffaith/first_person/2009/09/01/20090831_ramadan_fp_queen_128&prependName=underwriting/default&clickReport=speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/player/L31/1234265402/x90/MPRadio/media_player_futuretense/1_1/774d764a2b6b794f6547454144573450?_RM_AGENT_=Smarty+Template+Engine+2.6.26&const=1284405345" height="24" id="speakingoffaith_first_person_2009_09_01_20090831_ramadan_fp_queen_128_player" menu="false" name="speakingoffaith_first_person_2009_09_01_20090831_ramadan_fp_queen_128_player" quality="high" src="http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/www_publicradio/tools/media_player/e_player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="199" wmode="transparent"></embed></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: tahoma, arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://download.publicradio.org/podcast/speakingoffaith/first_person/2009/09/01/20090831_ramadan_fp_queen_128.mp3" style="color: #666666; font-family: tahoma, arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;" target="_blank">DOWNLOAD</a> | <a href="http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/www_publicradio/applications/formbuilder/projects/your_story/story.php?name=ramadan&response=665539" style="color: #666666; font-family: tahoma, arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;">EMBED</a> | <a href="http://americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org/audio_help/" style="color: #666666; font-family: tahoma, arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;" target="_blank">HELP</a></div><div id="speakingoffaith_first_person_2009_09_01_20090831_ramadan_fp_queen_128_syndication" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; font-family: tahoma, arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; visibility: hidden;"><div style="padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><br />
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<textarea cols="40" name="syndication_code" rows="5" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; height: 50px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: scroll; width: 172px;"></textarea></div></div><div id="speakingoffaith_first_person_2009_09_01_20090831_ramadan_fp_queen_128_underwriting" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-transform: uppercase; visibility: hidden; width: 1px;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px;"><div style="color: #666666; float: left;"></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 32px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://contribute.publicradio.org/contribution/public/contributor.do?&refId=NCYTABLE" style="color: #516a65; font-weight: normal;" target="_blank"><img alt="Support this program" src="http://americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org/standard/images/apm001/ads/default_blue.gif" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: 0px;" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="comment" style="font-size: 12px; opacity: 0.95; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;"><div style="font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/speakingoffaith/3820897979/" style="color: #516a65; font-weight: normal;"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2640/3820897979_e27fe77d25.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: 0px;" /></a>I was born in Houston, Texas to some very young parents. My grandparents are devout Baptist Christians who raised us close to this religion. Our parents didn't really follow any religion, so I used to ride the bus to church alone. When I got my license I drove myself there each Sunday. I stopped attending church after I graduated high school and began life as an adult. I spent some time in college and began working as a photography studio manager. I came back to Dallas from New York and, after managing for five years, began my own photography company.<br />
<br />
I scored a few huge jobs shooting celebrity events for Ghost Bar, inside the infamous W Hotel in Dallas. Only the most beautiful and successful people partied at this place. I shot everyone from Justin Timberlake to Owen Wilson and Kate Hudson, and lots of other sports and pop stars that graced our doors.<br />
<br />
With this job came lots of other restaurant openings, and every other main street night club had me shooting their private parties. My work then went into all the Dallas magazines, sometimes even in <em>People</em> and <em>Paper City</em>. I got to hang out with publicists from <em>Vogue</em> and worked with the best in the media business. It was simple and glamorous and along came with it lots of glam friends. I could walk into any party and it seemed I couldn't go anywhere at night without spotting friends.<br />
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I even had to look the part while working. I had to wear sexy clothes, loads of makeup, and "fohawk" style hair — it was popular at the time. I often found that I had fans. People actually came up and wanted to have their picture with me, on their own cameras. Later I would see it posted on Myspace or Facebook. I partied, and drank, and only cared about one person: me.<br />
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Deep down inside though, this life and the people in it started to wear down on my soul. It's a wicked life. I remember standing next to Justin Timberlake and all the flashes from the crowd going off, and we could barely see five feet in front of us. I only took about three shots of him, so I wouldn't get fired and then I slid my lens to the side. I couldn't do it more. It felt horrible all these people screaming, flashing, body guards around him, managers yelling — and this was after he had finished a three-hour concert. What kind of life was that?<br />
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I felt dirty that I was part of the reason he couldn't have a normal life. I started wondering what was so great about my life, what was I doing to better anything around me. Nothing, just shooting pictures of people partying and drinking and wow, "Here is my contribution America. I'm here to make the world a more materialistic and vain place!" Not exactly something that would make my grandmother proud.<br />
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So here it came, the overwhelming sensation of doubt about who I was and what I was doing with my life. I couldn't sleep. I began having nightmares with people screaming out to help them. I also couldn't escape the thought of the most important question that I had ever asked myself, "What will you say when you must explain your life to God?" OMG, what do you say, "Umm sorry God I am too busy drinking and hanging out with cool people to think about You or to help others."<br />
<br />
This is definitely a defining moment in my life where I knew it was time for some changes. I talked with friends about what I was feeling. They tried so hard to help. One friend recommended that I watch a few lectures on YouTube. One of which from a guy named Yusuf Estes, a Muslim convert who used to be a Christian pastor. The best part was he was from Texas! I watched the lectures and when I got to his I heard a bearded man explain everything I was going through right to me as though he was reading my mind.<br />
<br />
He told the story of his conversion to Islam from Christianity. Said he needed a greater purpose in life, a better reason to wake up in the morning. Oh how nice this sounded to me. To wake up without thinking, "What did I do last night, and how did I get home alive?"<br />
<br />
I became obsessed with learning more about his religion. I would come home from shooting around 2:30 a.m. and get online till the sun came up. It was so relieving to listen to other converts too! Holy cow I found some help! Of course when studying and believing in this religion, you start to look at yourself differently. It's like you see yourself from outside your body!<br />
<br />
I remember a friend of mine (who is now my husband) said to me, "Who is it that thinks your so glamorous and cool? What kind of people are they. They are just like you only caring about themselves and living for nothing better." Ouch, those words drove straight through me. He became my biggest supporter in my transition.<br />
<br />
I remember one day I wanted to start going to the New Muslim classes at the local masjid and I went into my huge closet to find something suitable to wear. Ha! Good luck! This day I went crazy I think. I teared up as I thrashed through the hangers of sexy tops and tight jeans and pants — not one single thing that I could wear to a holy place. Most of the tops had to be taped on to avoid the loose fabric from exposing your chest! I began crying at myself. What kind of girl was I!<br />
<br />
I tore through the clothes, throwing them behind me in a huge pile of slinky embarrassment. When I was done there was only a small rack of barely modest things left. I couldn't afford to replace them all so I slowly began the process of a new wardrobe. I started with looser pants, shirts with long sleeves, modest shoes instead of stilettos, and a low pony tail became my daily routine. Then it went from there, and slowly but surely God carved his way through my black heart and planted Himself deeply inside.<br />
<br />
I said my Shahada in April of 2007 in the office of Dr. Yusuf Kavacki, the father of Elif Kavacki. My later husband Hassan was there supporting me, as well as a few new girlfriends I had made from the New Muslim classes. I have a slew of new friends now, who follow the same lifestyle as me. I didn't get rid of any of my old friends, but if your not down for meeting people at the bar, then they tend to stop calling as much, until it's just never at all. No problem for me. I am busy as I ever was and happily married with a wonderful family of in-laws not far away.<br />
<br />
I asked Hassan if I could visit Jordan; he is from Amman and his parents and siblings live there. His family was so happy to have me. Muslims have the best sense of family and welcome guests as if they are blood. I stayed with his Mom and Dad for a month. I started wearing the hijab full-time there, it made being out in public easier for me, less men harassing you and people really respect you more. Wow, people respecting me for the way I dress and carry myself in public, that was a new and wonderful feeling.<br />
<br />
When I came back to Dallas, I couldn't take off the scarf. I just couldn't stand the thought of going back to being just another "piece of meat" for men to glare at. I didn't want to go back to competing with women based on whose boobs look bigger, and what brand are you wearing and are you sexy enough to be my friend. No more of this life for me. I wanted to be free from those chains and wearing the hijab was the only answer for this. I wore it proud, wore it with style, and actually more men than ever in my life opened doors for me and showed me respect.<br />
<br />
One day a man in his 40's came up to me at a store and said, "Where did you get these clothes, you look so classy and stylish. I wish my wife would start dressing this way." Why wouldn't men love this. They have a beautiful wife who shows her skin only to him and in public she covers demanding respect for herself and her religion with every public appearance she makes. I am currently working on designing new headpieces for hijab-wearing women to wear. Soon, Inshallah, I will have the first set completed.<br />
<br />
I still do photography, but I keep it clean, you know. I don't shoot clubs or crazy parties anymore. I stick with charity functions, fundraisers, and my newly started wedding and bridal photography is going quite well. I also take part in MAS (Muslim American Society) and WCTI (Woman Converts to Islam). I speak sometimes to schools about Islam, and even to Muslim schools to the younger girls, I try to tell them to stay away from the wrong kind of life. I tell them from experience that it gets you nowhere, a vicious lonely circle where everyone is lonely and rich and it never gets any better.<br />
<br />
I have a huge following on Myspace, thanks to the YouTube interview done on me. I use the page on Myspace to reach out to other "party girls" and show them that you can escape that life. Even if you don't wanna become a Muslim, just clean up your life and you will change forever for the best. Having God in your life is the best therapy you could ever hope for, and it's free!<br />
<br />
I also love working with Sr. Elif Kavacki. She is a great woman and really trying to open doors for Muslim women everywhere. I am happily married, and we are hoping one day Allah will bless us with an addition to our new little family. My husband and I enjoy living in downtown and keeping each other close to our religion. We frequent trips to the masjid and enjoy nights with friends for dinner. We have picnics by the lake and watch the sunset, and attend a lot of functions with his career. This replaced all the late-night parties and people who don't really care about you. I think it's a pretty good trade, Hamidillah.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div></div></div></div><br />
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</span></span></b></span></span></div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-14903672140278769242010-09-07T16:24:00.000-05:002010-09-07T16:24:52.570-05:00A Mothers Tears of Joy<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.hijabitopia.com/">Please enjoy this article, shared from www.hijabitopia.com</a>!</span></b></span><div><b></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2057072601"><br />
</a></b></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hijabitopia.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7z-i4Kk14TNXPURwrJCdtL5Jb8DO0V-sGlPWbfWb0OGXwuz94iyNvbxlGWAcTRpEdgl7t_dBc916O0MT3WpXSx8T86DdF8dJg5y-yyuWUEEiajQ_d4T2N5266D4iPaUQPtJsj0DS1XE/s320/Hijabitopia.jpg" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Elif writes below about the joy she feels as she learns that over the summer her beautiful daughter Jannah has decided to make one of the biggest and most beneficial decisions of a young girls life. Elif is one of 3 sisters, raised by her amazing parents to love allah above all else. Her mother, a teacher and hafiz of quran and her father, the imam of Richardson masjid, raised all of their daughters to be strong, pious, intelligent leaders of women in islam. elif in turn is passing that torch, spending her nights helping her daughter memorize quran, teaching her daughters about the beauty of islam and most importantly the strong chaste role of women in islam. Jannah practices memorizing quran while most other girls her age are watching tv after school and now at her mothers surprise and amazement read below as jannah makes another grand leap towards allah on her own free will. there is nothing more important and rewarding than raising your daughter the proper way, always having time for them, and putting education of allah and society before things like television, toys, and whatever else most parents throw their children in front of, just to QUIET them. always remember, children are given to parents with a blank slate, clean and pure, and what they become is completely molded by their parents. If you want your children to follow islam, have strong independence, and make the right choices as muslims...you must raise them within this type of atmosphere now...not later after they have developed their own bad habits, or yours. Raise them close to Islam now, for their own sake and for yours. congratulations elif, on being a successful hijab wearing woman, with amazing pious daughters who dream to follow in their mothers footsteps straight to allah.</span><br />
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</span></h2><h2 class="date-header" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal bold 11px/normal Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase;"><span>TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2010</span></h2><div class="date-posts" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry" style="margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="" name="9170078185835098480"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font: normal normal normal 24px/normal Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.75em; position: relative;"><a href="http://hijabitopia.blogspot.com/2010/09/tears-of-joy.html" style="color: #07077f; text-decoration: none;">Tears of Joy</a></h3><div class="post-header" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 670px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tonight I'm awake. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm awake in New York, the city that never sleeps.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's unlike me to stay up so late, but I'm overflowing with emotions. It seems impossible to put my head down on the pillow and fall asleep. I have no control over the tears that fill my eyes. I have no control over the excitement, the joy and the worry all at once.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In New York, schools start tomorrow. I feel like the young child that I once was, staying up with excitement the night before school starts. Worrying about new friends, new teachers and a new year of homework, tests and projects.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yet, I'm not that child. I'm a mother whose daughter will start school tomorrow. Going on to 4th grade. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm up because I feel like tomorrow will be the beginning of a new life for my daughter. I'm up because I don't know what tomorrow and the days to come will bring for her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My 9 year old daughter, Janna has decided to start wearing Hijab!!! She decided to start wearing it on the first day of school!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Why am I so shocked? I'm shocked because as a mother I can't remember how and when she grew up. I remember her as a baby, I remember her as a toddler, but as a young girl so determined to start wearing hijab? I thought that day was far away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Interestingly, I'm also shocked about her decision to start wearing the Hijab so young, so soon! </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This summer in Dallas, she asked me so many questions about the hijab, read books and articles. She heard me speak with my new convert friends about Hijab. I discussed with her when a young girl becomes responsible for her actions in Islam, and when it would be required for her to start wearing hijab. But I still didn't think she would start so soon.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I've asked her over and over again. Had long mother and daughter talks. Long discussions, with lots of questions to see if this was just a phase. But every time I got the same smart answers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She said " I want to start wearing it at the beginning of the school year mom!" in a tone that merely translated into "Duh! Don't you get it mom? If I become responsible in the middle of the school year, that would be way more difficult!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, I got it alright. But it just didn't register. During all of the discussions I had with my friends, about beginning to wear hijab, Janna would eavesdrop into our conversations, while she seemed to be playing. Afterwards in a casual tone, she would ask me questions about wearing the hijab.</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: large;">When she first told me she wanted to start wearing it, casually sitting at the breakfast table, I sat there not knowing what to say. Just sat and listened. "Aren't you happy for me Mom?" she asked. </span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: large;">"Well, of course dear, but do you realize that this isn't like getting a new pair of glasses that you are excited about every single day till it wears off? Do you comprehend what you are committing to? This is a serious decision you know! I just want to make sure this is not a childish phase you are going through."</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">She would roll her eyes at me, like I was the one being childish. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But of course, she was right!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Think about it. When is it too early to follow Allah's orders? Is piety for the elderly? Isn't it more precious and more rewarding when we are young? </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You might think, she's just a kid, what does she know? To that I say that she is a courageous kid, who loves Allah and wants to please Him, and only Him. She is a mature girl who knows that she will soon need to take this step and is taking control and making her own choice with the timing.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm awake with tears, because I'm so proud of her. I look at her and think, WOW, when did you become so mature and smart. I want her to enjoy this journey. I want her to know that each and every struggle will make her a stronger Muslim. Being the only hijabi, the only Muslim girl, in a school of 500, standing up for what she believes, in order to only and only please her Lord, is what makes her special!</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 670px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>May Allah keep all our children on the right path, and let them become good, strong Muslims.</i></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 670px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeSgHT0TIYP3D4OfLzHVyOfCX_lh9uhoAFpb6QRK9xNTzp5mWl7SDBKqz4KZh6IQN0ulMtI9xCxOuEEvRdV3YBFmnuf_iNzHvbkfLLrMLcN9pmTZTNnzvoMXRHeKaZ-aS0CkNcFQ6UNg/s1600/jannah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeSgHT0TIYP3D4OfLzHVyOfCX_lh9uhoAFpb6QRK9xNTzp5mWl7SDBKqz4KZh6IQN0ulMtI9xCxOuEEvRdV3YBFmnuf_iNzHvbkfLLrMLcN9pmTZTNnzvoMXRHeKaZ-aS0CkNcFQ6UNg/s320/jannah.jpg" /></a></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 670px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 25px;"><b><i>With lots of tears of joy, I'd like to welcome my own daughter Janna to HijabiTopia!!!</i></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Elif Kavakci for HijabiTopia</span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Elif Kavakci and her daughter Jannah</span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(254, 254, 254); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(254, 254, 254); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(254, 254, 254); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(254, 254, 254); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #07077f; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Gdsp9RqQI0c/TIXeoBHMmXI/AAAAAAAAATY/-7xk6RY1Hr4/s1600/DSC_0167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #07077f; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: underline;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Gdsp9RqQI0c/TIXeoBHMmXI/AAAAAAAAATY/-7xk6RY1Hr4/s640/DSC_0167.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 0px 0px 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Courtesy of QueensImage Photography</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.queensimage.com/" style="color: #07077f; text-decoration: none;">http://www.queensimage.com/</a><br />
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</tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.queensimage.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqHWhc2jOb4qmwKJvSW7F4WFrRPqLnvti2TIs4viS4LwvMmrx55tdKEpbv2B8dmGkHLOHjziQcj0Xrpb_vP55yNp9E1nH-BodiJQr6-DJVZMR1nbYe9h-X9IQQAGdggi7QsLHgSGl8hY/s320/BlogBanner.jpg" /></a></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 670px;"><br />
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</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-83283649518960829342010-09-03T13:55:00.002-05:002010-10-15T13:54:58.489-05:00Day of Dignity in Dallas<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Day of Dignity Dallas, TX!</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Check out this amazing article from Br. Zeyad</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Masaarani, who works directly with Islamic Relief. I truly loved taking part in the volunteer efforts of Day of Diginity. The line was all the way around the block and buses were bringing people all the way until 2:30 that afternoon. Then the challenge of fasting really hit as we all broke down all the tents and boxed up the left over clothing that wasn't needed. There is no greater feeling than to give hot plates of food to needy people, while fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. Appreciate what you have, appreciate all your beautiful clothing, your large family iftars each night, and the beautiful home that keeps you sleeping cozy. We only saw a small part of the needy\homeless population in Dallas that day. It's a wake up call for those of us here in Dallas, to be aware of the needs of people in our own back yard. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">I can't wait until next year's Day of Dignity! I'm going to start putting aside clothing and shoes already! </span></span></span> </span></span><br />
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<h2 class="date-header" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.5em;">Tuesday, August 31, 2010</h2><div class="date-posts" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry" style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.5em;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7592940650694664042&postID=8328364951896082934" name="6920046883355511919"></a><br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #0066cc; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.dayofdignity.com/2010/08/day-of-dignity-in-dallas-helping-people.html" style="color: #0066cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Day of Dignity in Dallas: Helping People Survive Another Day</a></h3><div class="post-header-line-1" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFya_oQumfCvOFI9J3V4_4uF9eFQ5C-3_wYAx7vnzxzKprzJ13GC9MMx_dsSFyMkrn0SHz2KV9d7peE5R2z-LwUEam6ecPcwQZEpckWMvd9zB63igN8XeFxIu2OLof8UUVav0llahAngM/s1600/Dallas_DOD+blog.JPG" style="color: #3d81ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511612457423112130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFya_oQumfCvOFI9J3V4_4uF9eFQ5C-3_wYAx7vnzxzKprzJ13GC9MMx_dsSFyMkrn0SHz2KV9d7peE5R2z-LwUEam6ecPcwQZEpckWMvd9zB63igN8XeFxIu2OLof8UUVav0llahAngM/s320/Dallas_DOD+blog.JPG" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; height: 213px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; width: 320px;" /></a>The sun was blazing. But that didn't stop the hundreds of underserved and vulnerable people in Dallas from lining up hours before the gates opened at Masjid al-Islam. Many of them were hot, hungry and thirsty.<br />
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Starting from 8 a.m., scores of volunteers began rushing around, readying hot plates, carefully arranging distribution stations, and laying out heaps of clothing in hopes of helping the less fortunate in their neighborhood.<br />
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With Ramadan in full swing, many of the volunteers were observing the daylong Ramadan fast and the scorching heat was audibly parching their throats.<br />
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It was Islamic Relief USA's <a href="http://www.dayofdignity.com/" style="color: #3d81ee;">Day of Dignity </a>– a day characterized by love, compassion and sacrifice.<br />
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For people in need, the warm meals, fresh fruit, socks, shirts, caps, hygiene kits, and all the other items available for distribution at the Day of Dignity are a beacon of hope. One less worry for mind plagued with the most basic of stress: "Will I survive another day?"<br />
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"Every day is a challenge," 45-year-old Glenn Black told me as he munched on some rice and beef provided at the event. He balanced an Islamic Relief tote bag full of clothes between his knees. "I need these clothes because it's getting close to wintertime," he said. His skin was thick and calloused, probably from sleeping in the street.<br />
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Another beneficiary told me just how much events like the Day of Dignity impact his community. "It helps out the neighborhood a lot," Alfred Burney told me, “Especially the kids.”<br />
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The 54-year-old was impressed that Muslims were spearheading the cause. “I’m surprised that it’s Islamic Relief,” he said.<br />
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Dennye Mills, a 55-year-old homeless widow, was there for the fresh fruit because it was easier to eat than the food she was used to receiving at food banks. "God bless Islamic Relief," she said between bites.<br />
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"The need here is huge," said Islamic Relief USA’s Domestic Programs Coordinator, Karim Amin. Amin is a strong supporter of helping fellow Americans in need. "<a href="http://www.islamcireliefusa.org/home" style="color: #3d81ee;">Islamic Relief USA</a>organizes the Day of Dignity because you must help your neighbors first before you help people afar," he said.<br />
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To learn more or to donate to Day of Dignity, <a href="http://www.dayofdignity.com/" style="color: #3d81ee;">click here</a>.<br />
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<em>-- Zeyad Maasarani</em></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><em><br />
</em></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><em>Here are additional photos compliments of Zeyad Maasarani</em></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/irusa/sets/72157624724237637/with/4944841537/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/irusa/sets/72157624724237637/with/4944841537/</a></i></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><img alt="Day of Dignity 2010: Dallas" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4944843975_98890147e9_m.jpg" /> </span></em><img alt="Day of Dignity 2010: Dallas" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4945424982_27590ce30d_m.jpg" /><img alt="Day of Dignity 2010: Dallas" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/4944842141_4604ee13a0_m.jpg" /><img alt="Day of Dignity 2010: Dallas" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/4944844601_78d5fde442_m.jpg" /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></em></div></div></div></div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-29277785152814154032010-08-26T13:49:00.000-05:002010-08-26T13:49:49.110-05:00CNN: My Take-Ramadan a season of service and dignity<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 32px; word-spacing: -1px;"><a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/11/my-take-ramadan-as-a-season-of-service-and-dignity/" rel="bookmark" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #ca0002; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: -1px;" title="Permanent Link: My take: Ramadan as a season of service and dignity"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">My take: Ramadan as a season of service and dignity</span></a></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCrUlb3W8JiIEdGRUP_tDGnEOsBoB3TgmqxYerLB77UfYlAm1OD47IHgzKglJOY5rtf007Kxg8QK7F_Trkb-6LkbIbTf9lkJ8X_Oe8dmbEX7-D3tOvJNr0fOTg2-83FoFIc7QYFMXjt0/s1600/tzleft.karim.amin.cnn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCrUlb3W8JiIEdGRUP_tDGnEOsBoB3TgmqxYerLB77UfYlAm1OD47IHgzKglJOY5rtf007Kxg8QK7F_Trkb-6LkbIbTf9lkJ8X_Oe8dmbEX7-D3tOvJNr0fOTg2-83FoFIc7QYFMXjt0/s320/tzleft.karim.amin.cnn.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Editor's Note</strong>: Karim Amin is a domestic programs </em></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">coordinator and humanitarian </em></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">aid worker for <a href="http://www.islamicreliefusa.org/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Islamic Relief USA</a>, </em></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">based in Alexandria, Virginia.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
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</em></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; line-height: 15px;"></span></em></span></div><em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="cnnRightPost" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 460px;"><div class="cnnBlogContentPost" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #010101; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 4px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="snap_preview" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">By </span><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Karim Amin</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">, Special to CNN</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">"I didn’t think anyone knew we were out here,” said the elder from the Crow Creek reservation as she humbly accepted a bag of food and clothing from me. “But you come back every year.”</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">She is known as “Grandma” on the Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Grandma is one of many Native Americans living in dilapidated conditions as joblessness and poverty continue to plague Crow Creek and many other reservations across the country.<span id="more-5063" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>Too many reservations that were intended to give the Native Americans their own sovereign land have become outposts full of trailer homes and temporary housing - a place where the original people of the Americas have been sent to and generally ignored.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I had come to the Crow Creek Reservation with Islamic Relief USA’s (IR USA) Day of Dignity, an annual effort dedicated to alleviating poverty to thousands of people across the United States.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">As Grandma talked to me about her and her family, I looked into her eyes and imagined all that she has seen - the pain, the neglect, the struggle.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">“I am going to bring my grandsons to thank you and welcome you,” she said with a warm smile. “We really appreciate you coming here.”</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I was moved but also humbled to see that a simple bag of groceries and supplies could make such a difference.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">"It’s more than that," Grandma explained. Our presence there meant more than the aid and services we were providing–it was, she said, an acknowledgment of our common humanity.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Islamic Relief USA, a nonprofit relief and development organization, began Day of Dignity eight years ago as a single event during the holy month of Ramadan. The idea was that since Ramadan is a season characterized by love, compassion and charity, American Muslims could use the day as an opportunity to act on their faith by helping those in need.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Today, Day of Dignity has evolved into an annual grassroots campaign that brings thousands of volunteers from all backgrounds together to distribute food, clothing, blankets, medical care, and other social services to homeless and underserved people. This year, the campaign’s goal is to serve about 20,000 people with the help of 2000 volunteers in more than 22 cities across the country.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">At the Day of Dignity event on the Crow Creek Reservation this past June (the first one this year), Islamic Relief USA volunteers spent hours assembling and distributing aid packages filled with blankets, t-shirts, hygiene products, school supplies and food. Youth volunteers set up games and face painting for children who came to the event and health professionals were on hand to provide screenings.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">But beyond the food, clothing and health services, perhaps the most touching exchange was that all day Crow Creek residents came and went, graciously accepting aid packages and stayed around to play games with the volunteers. Some of the elders sat with the volunteers to teach them about Native American language and culture.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">One of the organizers of the event, Victor David, an American Muslim and long-time Native American advocate, said beyond assisting others, Day of Dignity’s’ goal is to bring diverse communities together in the spirit of giving.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">“When we first came a few years back the people were hesitant first,” David said. “Now they look forward to us coming every year.”</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We left hoping that we made a small a difference, if just for one day.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Islamic Relief USA will be hosting many other Day of Dignity events across the country during the holy month of Ramadan. It is my hope that American Muslims and people of all faiths will come out and join us as we extend beyond the comfort of our homes, mosques, churches, and communities to help those in need.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Almsgiving and helping those in need are major pillars of Islam and the basis of Islamic Relief USA’s work, but it is also the foundation for many other faiths.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">As Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Do you love your Creator? Serve your fellow man first.”</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Karem Amin.</span></em></div></div></div><div class="cnnFBRecBtnBot" id="cnnStryRcmndBtnBtm" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; 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<tr style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="cnn_padb20" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;" valign="top"><span class="cnnBlogFiledBy" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted by:</span> <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/author/emarrapodi/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Posts by Eric Marrapodi">Eric Marrapodi</a> - CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="cnnBlogFiledBy" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Filed under: <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/islam/" rel="category tag" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Islam">Islam</a> • <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/opinion/" rel="category tag" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Opinion">Opinion</a><br />
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</tbody></table></div></div></em>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-5903424125017009632010-08-19T14:46:00.002-05:002010-08-19T15:14:45.819-05:00To Wear…or Not to Wear?…That is the Question. <br />
<strong><span style="color: #4bacc6; font-size: small;">The following is an article from my dear friend Elif Kavakci. I thought this was a great article to share during the blessed month of Ramadan. You can check out more of Elif’s articles on her blog:</span></strong> <br />
click to see:<a href="http://www.hijabitopia.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Hijabitopia" border="0" class="wlDisabledImage" height="145" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hrutdrKDHtw/TG2KHNzYkuI/AAAAAAAAAeM/WiXG9VnSBQg/Hijabitopia%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="Hijabitopia" width="296" /></a> <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Gdsp9RqQI0c/TGoa5capaYI/AAAAAAAAAMg/99ju0HojdvQ/s1600/hijabidiscussions2.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Gdsp9RqQI0c/TGoa5capaYI/AAAAAAAAAMg/99ju0HojdvQ/s320/hijabidiscussions2.jpg" /></a> <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I wanted to share with you a few thoughts... First of all, we formed this blog so that it could provide a support system and a fun environment for hijabis and those who choose to dress modestly. </span><br />
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Over the years, through my writing, I have been able to reach millions of readers. Before I started writing for HijabiTopia, I was a fashion writer for ZAMAN - the Turkish daily news, and then transfered over to <a href="http://kadinhaberleri.com/"></a></span><a href="http://kadinhaberleri.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Kadinhaberleri.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">, where now I have a weekly column.</span><br />
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Also being an Islamic Fashion designer, I've had many ladies contact me about changing the way they dress, and leading a more Islamic life style.</span><br />
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Writing has allowed me to get to know so many new faces, and beautiful ladies, some who wear hijab, some who are in search of how to wear hijab, and others who know exactly what to do but can't take the first steps.</span><br />
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It has been fun to share experiences and support each other through spiritual changes in our lives.<br />
I will now share with you some of my thoughts on hijab. For those of you who may not personally know me, I am not an extremist Muslim, and could never be one. I like to follow the sunnah of our Prophet (peace be upon him) about having balance in my religion. So therefore when I tell you my thoughts on this topic, I don't want you to think that I am some fundamentalist. I'm just sharing my thoughts on the way I feel.<br />
I feel very passionate about hijab. Alot of Muslims will state that it is an option to wear hijab. I am not one of those Muslims. I believe it is Fard (obligatory), because it is clearly written in the Qur'an that believing women must dress Islamically.</span><br />
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When people say it is a choice, it makes my blood boil. There is no question! To wear or not to wear hijab is not an option. If you love Allah and want to please him, you wear it. If you don't wear it, that is a decision you make as a Muslim, not a choice.</span><br />
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Now having said that, you are probably thinking "she hates all non hijabis, she sounds so extreme". Absolutelly not. I have many friends, those who wear hijab and those who don't. Those who are Muslim, and those who are not. I love them all equally. Whether they wear hijab or not does not affect my friendship with them. But my closest friends are always the ones whose lifestyles, goals, and dreams are closer to mine. I am encircled by those friends.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> I'm not going to tell you that wearing hijab is easy! Untill it becomes a complete part of you, it's difficult to carry. Yes, we get hot! Yes, it gets itchy. Yes we would love to just tie our hair in a pony tail, throw on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt and flip flops and walk out the door. But do we, NO! And why don't we? To please Allah!<br />
This Ramadan, I would like for you to think about that. If you haven't started wearing hijab, just imagine yourself in hijab. Imagine how happy it would make you feel to submit to an obligatory rule from the Qur'an.<br />
Ramadan uplifts our spirits. It's the same kind of feeling when you wear hijab, except it's on a daily basis. Imagine what you would feel like in the beauty of hijab. When you close your eyes, try to get beyond your image, and how other people might react to it, try to think of Allah, and try to think of all of us who are right there with you. Just like when you fast. You do the act yourself, but millions of Muslims are doing it as well.<br />
I could go on and on about this topic. We will have many discussions, and I would love to hear your comments, and your stories, whether you wear hijab or not. We love to have you as readers. Anybody and everybody is welcome.</span><br />
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Elif Kavakci for HijabiTopia</span>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592940650694664042.post-22452327899727532982010-08-10T00:42:00.004-05:002010-08-11T13:53:20.231-05:00“Journey into America”- The Challenge of Islam<h2><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I want to take a moment to share my thoughts (humbly) on this unique and ground breaking book, just released in July. If you are reading this blog (I’m honored), stop whatever it is your doing and enlighten yourself with the first “good read” for all who desire understanding and acceptance of society, faith, and culture in the beautiful U.S.A. After reading this I truly felt “proud to be an American” as well as a sense of pride in my faith of Islam (if the two could ever be bridged). As a matter of fact that’s what this journey is all about, bridges…</span></span></h2><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Check out Ambassador Akbar Ahmed talking about his new book, "Journey into America" on </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Daily Show!</span></i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
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<tr style="background-color: #e5e5e5;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</span></a></td><td style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-august-5-2010/akbar-ahmed" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Akbar Ahmed</span></a></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: #353535; height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align: right; width: 460px;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/" style="color: #96deff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">www.thedailyshow.com</span></a></td></tr>
<tr valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="autoPlay=false" height="301" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:343082" style="display: block;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" wmode="window"></embed></td></tr>
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<tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 53%;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Daily Show Full Episodes</span></a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 53%;"><a href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Political Humor</span></a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 53%;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/Tea+Party" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Tea Party</span></a></td></tr>
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</span> </span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I was lucky enough to be involved in this “Journey into America” when my dear friend Elif Kavakci (blog: HijabiTopia) invited me to photograph for an interview she was doing for Turkish publication, Zaman News. The article featured an America girl who was on an anthropological study of Muslims in America and also life in Muslim countries. </span></span></span><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hrutdrKDHtw/TGDmvJ9tEOI/AAAAAAAAAcI/OyJjCjwp6pU/s1600-h/3%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="color: black;"><img align="right" alt="3" border="0" class="wlDisabledImage" height="360" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_hrutdrKDHtw/TGDmvdgFUiI/AAAAAAAAAcM/XucJuHHnPuU/3_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="3" width="249" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hailey was her name, and the curious tendencies of human beings are her game. Hailey is a star pupil of the famed Professor\Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, of the American University in Cairo, and traveled with him and the rest of their group across several Muslim countries and then across her own homeland here in America.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Elif Kavakci interviews </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hailey Woldt</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br clear="all" /></span><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hrutdrKDHtw/TGDmwE2d2TI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/sOOIR0XeOBo/s1600-h/2%5B4%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img alt="2" border="0" class="wlDisabledImage" height="298" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hrutdrKDHtw/TGDmwuFKlfI/AAAAAAAAAcU/VKaXjNozpvA/2_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="2" width="432" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After photographing Hailey for Elif’s article, I was invited for dinner at the Kavakci home, where Hailey in turn would like to study into my own humble brain for the secret life of an American convert to Islam. The Professor also attended and it was truly an inspiring evening to top all dinner invitations (in my book).</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hrutdrKDHtw/TGDmxlqJjiI/AAAAAAAAAcY/JfRHEMDPAcc/s1600-h/6%5B7%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img alt="6" border="0" class="wlDisabledImage" height="316" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_hrutdrKDHtw/TGDmx2HX83I/AAAAAAAAAcc/NU6xz_lB0lE/6_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="6" width="414" /></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hrutdrKDHtw/TGDmxlqJjiI/AAAAAAAAAcY/JfRHEMDPAcc/s1600-h/6%5B7%5D.jpg"></a></span><span style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Elif Kavakci, Hailey Woldt, Nicole Queen</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The next day I met Hailey and Elif and the Professor, along with another star student manning a small camera, at a high end mall in Dallas. Hailey wanted to perform a sort of anthropology experiment where the three of us would dress in all black conservative garments, looking like what most Americans view as extreme Muslims, with simple black scarves around our hair, and heavy black abaya’s. This was an experiment she had tried before in a small town on her own (braver than me!) and was able to see a lot of shocked reactions from people, based on merely her clothing.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Honestly, I told Hailey “Hey this is Dallas, people aren’t shocked to see Muslims shopping in the mall, the mall is always full of Muslim women blissfully shopping. Elif and I only know this because it’s what we have heard…LOL”. We continued on anyway just to see if we could catch a few uncomfortable glances from passersby, curious at our choice of garments. Later that day I met with Hailey at the hotel they were staying at nearby and we engaged in conversation on camera, for their documentary,</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><a href="http://journeyintoamerica.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Journey into America”.</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Which later, was further inscribed into the pages of this challenging novel,</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><a href="http://journeyintoamerica.wordpress.com/journey-into-america-the-challenge-of-islam/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Journey into America-The Challenge of Islam”</span></span></a></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I’m not going to spoil it but this book is not your “run of the mill” political or social writings…</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Professor Akbar Ahmed turns his intrepid approach to cultural dialogue and inter-faith understanding onto American society, in this brilliant follow-up to “Journey into Islam”. His insights should be required reading for anyone grappling with national security, national identity and national cohesion in today’s complex era.” </span></span><strong><span style="color: red;"><em><strong><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Colonel David Kilcullen, author of Washington PostBestseller and Economist Book of the Year, The Accidental Guerrilla</span></span></u></strong></em></span></strong></em></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“I have not read a work as insightful, erudite, and innovative on the challenge of American identity since Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America. Akbar Ahmed sets a new paradigm in the ongoing debate on defining American identity.” </span></span><u><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Melody Fox, </span></span></strong><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Berkley</span></span></strong><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></strong><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Center</span></span></strong><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> at </span></span></strong><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Georgetown</span></span></strong><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></strong><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">University</span></span></strong></u></em></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In this book, y</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ou will follow the adventures of a group of enlightening students, as they themselves discover what it’s like to be a Muslim in the U.S., post 9\11. You had me at Chapter 1…it’s exciting right off the bat. Un-Expectantly adventurous and even a little frightening, but only enough to keep you wanting more. Here is a small preview:</span></span></span></span><br />
<blockquote><span style="color: black;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Muslim Odyssey</span></b></span></em></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"</span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I had walked into an ambush. An aggressive sniper was positioned directly in front of me, with two equally effective sharp-shooters to my left and the obvious leader of the group facing me from the back row. Having been in charge of some of the most battle-hardened tribes in Afghanistan and Pakistan, I knew something about war tactics. One lesson I had learned was to keep cool under fire.”</span></span></span><br />
<em><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Showdown in a Mosque</span></b></span></span></em><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Where does one begin a search for American identity and it’s Muslim component? The answer seemed obvious: in the nation’s heartland. But what could be learned about America’s founding principles of freedom of speech and religious tolerance in a nondescript, almost shabby mosque in Omaha, Nebraska, where I now was? Especially in the midst of a verbal ambush by an African American man wearing a typical Arab red-and-white checkered headdress, or </span></span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">kufiya, </span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">who looked as if he had come straight out of an orthodox mosque in Saudi Arabia.</span></span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hearing my call for interfaith dialogue with Jews and Christians, the man stood up in a startling breach of mosque-not to mention Muslim- etiquette to challenge my interpretation of Islam. “Good Muslims” could not talk to nonbelievers, he almost shouted. The salvos continued, despite my well-founded explanation: Muhammad, the holy Prophet of Islam, had himself paved the way for such dialogue. He had urged Muslims persecuted in Mecca to migrate to Abyssinia, a Christian country, because he anticipated they would be well received there once the natives of that land had met them and learned about Islam. But, the man in Arab headdress snapped back, the Prophet had really intended those Muslims to convert the Abyssinians by force.”</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The next day the team interviewed people about Omaha’s Islamic center and community. The four who had challenged me, they learned, had posted a </span></span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">fatwa</span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (pronouncement) in the mosque before 9\11 calling for the killings of Jews and Christians and praising the deeds of Osama bin Laden. All four were converts to what is known as Salafi Islam, in the United States, a fundamentalist version of the faith influenced by Saudi Arabia. It purports to be an unadulterated and “pure” form of Islam that is incompatible with any modern Western ideas.”</span></span></span></blockquote><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was honored to discover that excerpts from my interview with Hailey are featured in such an amazing collection of societal history. I would have never had the pleasure of meeting Hailey and the Professor if it wasn’t for the selfless act of my dear friend Elif, mentioning to the group that I was also an American who had become Muslim…and that I had a story to tell. I learn on a daily basis what true friendship actually means, it’s an ever changing definition, and one of my favorite addendums is “A real friend is excited to promote the smallest attributes in their close friends, even placing them before their own much more grand achievements.” I thank God every day for my new “Friendship Philanthropists”, without I might have never seen it’s true meaning. Below are a few passages from my feeble attempt at sharing something in this amazing book. Once again I am so thankful to my dear friend for opening the door to conversation with Professor Ahmed and his star pupil Hailey. Thank you to the Professor for hearing my words and illuminating them with such understanding and clarity.</span></span><br />
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<em><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Muslim Converts: Shame and Honor in a Time of Excess</span></span></em><br />
<blockquote><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Religious Conversion is a dramatic event in anyone’s life, no less than it was for Saint Paul on the road to Damascus. It changes everything. Fashion photographer Nicole Queen of Dallas had arrived at just such a turning point, paradoxically, at the pinnacle of her career. She was standing next to Justin Timberlake, one of pop music’s icons, with cameras flashing. The glare seemed to illuminate the world of vacuous celebrity that Nicole was part of. Wasn’t there more to life than this? At the suggestion of a Muslim friend, she watched motivational videos on YouTube and was impressed by Yusuf Estes, a white Muslim convert from Texas who was once a member of the Disciples of Christ Church. Shortly after, Nicole converted to Islam.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“One of the reasons for her conversion, Nicole explained, was the excessive behavior of women who appeared to be without shame or modesty, especially in front of a camera: “Girls took off their tops, exposed their breasts, they were making out with each other-and they aren’t lesbians, but if a camera’s there "I’ll do it if you put it on TV.”…Do you think their parents are proud of that?…They want to show that stuff because that’s what people want to see. How low can a girl go? That’s what sells here. They know what everybody likes; everybody likes to see the lowest point that someone can go. People just want to make a dollar out of it; these are the morals of our nation, whether we want to face that or not.”</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“For Nicole, conversion to Islam allows her to reaffirm her American identity. Once the heat and noise subside, it is American converts like her who can play an effective role in interpreting mainstream Americans and Muslims to each other. By doing so, they are ideally placed to counteract the idea of a clash between the two.”</span></span></span></blockquote><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Reading this treasure takes you on an indescribable journey that truly awakens your mind, clears out cluttered thoughts, and focuses much needed attention on the gripping relationship of Americans and Muslims. I truly home you will embark on this contribution to the vibrancy of American Islam.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Click below to get your copy of:</span></span><br />
<h3><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Journey-into-America-Challenge-Islam/dp/0815703872/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267210371&sr=8-1" target="_blank">“Journey into America-The Challenge of Islam”</a></span></h3><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Journey-into-America-Challenge-Islam/dp/0815703872/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267210371&sr=8-1"><img alt="journey-into-america-cover211" border="0" class="wlDisabledImage" height="451" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hrutdrKDHtw/TGDmydffVkI/AAAAAAAAAcg/JO0M2nqRNc8/journey-into-america-cover211%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="journey-into-america-cover211" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table></span></span>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567296705556769633noreply@blogger.com0