what’s the “big news” over at MuslimMatters.org ???

Have you ever wanted to find answers to some of the most important questions confronting mankind? Do you ever wonder what you’re life means in the grand cosmic scheme of things? Have you ever pondered the meaning of life itself? Have you ever been visited by Extraterrestrial beings? Is George W. Bush really that stupid? Is the the purple Teletubby (Tinky Winky) really gay?

Well…you won’t be finding answers to those questions (I think). However, you will find answers for questions related to Ramadan and other key Islamic topics. Actually, I’m not so sure about the whole “gay Teletubby” thing. Who knows, there might be a conclusion on that as well…

Anyway, do yourself a favor and check it out — if you haven’t already done so. Real Islamic scholars (Sh. Yasir Qadhi and Sh. Yaser Birjas) will be taking YOUR questions so feel free to give it to ‘em … Full-Force!

 

 

there goes the neighborhood…

It seems that (C)rap music is taking Morocco over by storm. Great. Just what the world needed…Moroccan rappers. Maybe they can rap about kabobs and shawarma — with an occasional riff (no pun intended) thrown in about Palestine or something. I wonder if Akon is going to be on DJ Shawarma’s first album?

 

investing the wrong way…

I am all for economic growth and development…but I have to ask…

Since when were we (Muslims) allowed to invest in casinos? What’s next…majority stock ownership of Anheuser-Busch?

you got Beef?

Beef?

No…not this kind..(way tooo rare!)

Nope. Not this kind either … still toooo rare …

 

Still … not completely done …

 

 

Yep. That’s more like it. “Beef” … kinda like this …

 

 

Beef – [beef] noun, plural beeves [beevz]

–noun

1.	the flesh of a cow, steer, or bull raised and killed for its meat.

2.	an adult cow, steer, or bull raised for its meat.

3.	Informal. a. brawn; muscular strength. b. strength; power. c. weight, as of a person. d. human flesh.

4.	Slang. a. a complaint. b. an argument or dispute.

–verb (used without object)

5.	Slang. to complain; grumble.

Beef? Beef? Who got Beef? Well it seems that a certain blogger, earlier this week, fired what may have been the opening salvo — if you will — in a tit-for-tat internet brawl that only the creators of Myspace and “Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire” could have have come up with. This is a “beef” … but not the kind that is for dinner … more like the kind that has the potential to result in internet jaw-jockeying and a whole lot of “he-said, he-said” nonsense. No, this isn’t an “East Coast / West Coast” thing. It isn’t a Biggie vs. Pac thing (actually if it was…Umar would have to be Tupac and I would have to be the Notorious BIG since I’m packin’ the pounds if you know what I saying).

Anyway, it seems that brother Umar Lee had a conniption earlier this week after reading a post that I had written in reference to the whole Lal Masjid fiasco in Pakistan. Well, wouldn’t you know, after reading the post (and focusing only upon a small portion toward the end) Brother Umar had to respond and…well…um…he GAVE-IT! He gave it FULL FORCE … without warning … without any hesitation … without any reservations whatsoever. He didn’t alert the townspeople of his assault. He didn’t bother giving the women and children time to disembark from the ship. He didn’t even allow the elderly & physically handicapped the time needed to don lifejackets and safely board lifeboats. No, instead he just GAVE IT! He literally gave it Godzilla style. Only in this case … he (Umar Lee) represents Bloggerzilla and I am merely the helpless nation of Japan trying to flee from impending doom.

Well Umar Lee, it seems that you’ve achieved your goal of doing what amounts to a digital drive-by (or an uppercut at the very least) … how ’bout I respond now that some of the hype (or something to that effect) has died down? Actually, I will simply be responding for the sake of clarification Inshallah, and not in the “in-your-face”/accusatory kind of manner, the way you did. There are two reasons for my taking a different approach: 1) I have no desire to be pulled down any further into the mud … as it appears that this is where you and a select cadre made up some of your most rabid supporters and fellow Muslim blog leaders seem to fester 2) I don’t want to add much more “noise” to a situation that could have otherwise (had you chosen) been handled much differently.

So, one might ask, what makes a leading Muslim blogger like Umar Lee with a Technorati ranking of 37,274 come all the way down (to create some mess) to the level of a novice like myself boasting a pathetic an atrocious/disgusting/offensive Technorati ranking of 218,155?

Could it be:

a) Anger

b) Revenge

c) Ignorance of the Islamic etiquette in dealing with others when one believes that he/she has been wronged

d) All of the above.

Allah (Azza wa’Jall) knows best, and I would rather not speculate, yet it may be that an online culture of shooting-off at the mouth (to personally attack and denigrate others) and ego may have a lot to do with it. In other words, perceived self-importance at its very worst, if you will. Nonetheless, I was called a number of names and personally attacked by brother Umar Lee, albeit in grade school fashion. I could have simply chosen to keep my mouth shut … allowed the accusations to stand … and just let the big-bad Muslim blog leader get away with it. But, why should I? Am I somehow bound not to respond according to the sacred Law of our Creator (AWJ)? If Umar Lee can hold opinions (and make them known in such a public manner) … why shouldn’t I be able to express my opinions or at least respond to such an attack? What to do? Oh, what to do?

The fact of the matter is that I do intend to respond, inshallah. And away we go…

Umar Lee writes:

“This is what I was thinking about before brother Abu Ameerah, someone who has been repeatedly critical of my writing and written in a pretentious way of the kind of religious “know it all guy” everyone hates to be around, tried to covertly attack Tariq Nelson and myself. In other words, more pompous than pious in his writing.”

“He did not mention either of us by name but anyone who has read what we have written knows who he is talking about and he should have been a man and showed a little courage and just came out and said it instead of doing what is the equivalent to punching a guy in the back and then running before he can turn around and that is the difference between Abu Ameerah and myself; I do not hide behind false pieties and I say what I mean and mean what I say and if I think something I come right out and say it.”

“There may be some truth in this that American-Muslims are often promoted to be a public face for Muslims in America; but more often than not you will find masjids in America ran by people who cannot clearly speak the English language, do not understand the society they live in, and have a whole host of cultural baggage they try and pass off as Islam.”

“There is a saying in English “attack the message not then messenger” and I think that is what Abu Ameerah is doing with Tariq and myself and what is the root of his anger? The root of this that this brother adheres to a “back home” mentality of ignoring problems and not speaking of them and hoping they will go away and if they cannot go away then making a conspiracy to explain them away and that is his cultural baggage. He is more than happy to point out the faluts in others but as soon as someone points a finger and those near to him he gets this mentality.”

“This was first on display when he, along with a few others, accused me of being a Sufi, with no evidence to the claim, during my Rise and Fall of the Salafi Dwah series, and then AA himself basically accused me of being a liar and saying I did not see what I did see but was too cowardly to come right out and say it and the root of his anger was that I was talking about things which he felt should have been ignored and not discussed. Well, sorry akh, I am not shutting up, and your little Internet rants do not impress me, and if you want to shut me up you will have to kill me and I think all of your homeboys who could do the killing are busy doing stupid stuff in Kashmir and blowing themselves up in Pakistan in order to overthrow the corrupt ruler of a falied state created more than a half-century ago by a British puppet.”

1. “…someone who has been repeatedly critical of my writing…“

Hmmm…let’s see. How many times have I been “critical” of your writing? You could probably count the number of times on one hand (likely minus the thumb) if you wanted. In terms of your actual style of writing (grammar & mechanics) … I don’t see much of a problem. However, I think it wouldn’t hurt you to use the spellchecker that wordpress offers.

2. “…written in a pretentious way of the kind of religious “know it all guy” everyone hates to be around…“

I, too, could think of quite a few…shall we say…colorful adjectives to describe you and your blog right about now akhi. Also, today is Yawm al-Jumuah so I’ll do my best to refrain, inshallah. A”religious know-it-all guy” … Moi? I have usually refrained from getting into religious debates with you or your supporters as this ultimately serves no purpose. Also, I think others that actually take your blog seriously have gotten into it with you much worse (in terms of religious matters) akhi.

3. “…tried to covertly attack Tariq Nelson and myself.“

Wow! “Covertly” huh? Was this some kind of CIA sponsored black-op akhi? Get your mind out of conspiracy theory land and try writing something of substance for once. Allow me to be clear on this: When I sat down to write the original post I had no idea what your opinion on the Lal Masjid situation was (and neither would I have cared frankly). I know it is hard akhi … but I want you to keep in mind that THE WORLD DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND YOU! I realize that I have, unfortunately, commented on your blog in the past. Yet…both you and the blog are really of no consequence to the vast majority of Muslims who do not live for the “Jihad of Umar”. In other words…the world is full of so much more than simply your inane observations. Don’t take it too hard akhi…I tried to break it to you as gently as I could. Here’s a tissue.

4. “…more pompous than pious in his writing…“

My writing is “pompous” akhi? LOL… Have you taken a hard look at your own writing recently? Well, akhi, hate to break it to you … but … the overly opinionated and culturally chauvinistic tone that you have demonstrated in your writing is quite clearly on display and available for all of your many readers to see. The way in which you deal with (and obsess over) issues of race, ethnicity, nationality, and culture is rife with a sense of an “Us vs. Them” notion amongst fellow believers of all people. Well, I suppose that I would be a more pious individual if I did an analysis of The Sopranos … or if I wrote about the movie 300 … or if I made reference to a skanky model in my blog. Sound familiar? It’s that good ‘ole fashion moderate Muslim piety on display, right?! TASTY!

5. “…he should have been a man and showed a little courage and just came out and said it…“

I won’t attack your manhood akhi … but if attacking others and lacking adab in dealing with believers is in any way the mark of a man … then YOU DA’ MAN akhi! YOU DA’ MAN! Allow me to make mention, once again, that the original post was NOT directed toward you! I was merely recalling my own dealings with Muslims in organizations that I have been a part of. Also, as we will see later on … you accuse me of calling you are Sufi. How could I have the courage to do that (which I did not) and yet I would not have the courage to call you out on my own blog? Makes no sense if you ask me.

6. “I do not hide behind false pieties and I say what I mean and mean what I say and if I think something I come right out and say it.”

Nope! No sir! You don’t “hide”. You just rudely go on the attack without giving a brother the benefit of the doubt. I mean … you could have simply dropped me an email. However, I suppose that wouldn’t have garnered the attention and smack-down controversy you were looking for. I mean, if it is your intention to be the Don Imus of the Muslim blogosphere … then go ahead be my guest!

Hey Umar, am I hiding now?

7. “…I think that is what Abu Ameerah is doing with Tariq and myself and what is the root of his anger?”

Again…I go back to the point. How did you know that I was attacking either you or Br. Tariq Nelson? I suppose, you know what is in the hearts of the believers? How can you be sure that I was attacking you? If there was a doubt … couldn’t you have emailed me … or left a comment (in the Lal Masjid posting) for me to respond to?

8. “…this brother adheres to a “back home” mentality of ignoring problems and not speaking of them and hoping they will go away and if they cannot go away then making a conspiracy to explain them away and that is his cultural baggage.”

You have beaten the “back home mentality” point to death akhi. You seem to use it quite often. Particularly, when brothers/sisters disagree with you on a point or simply with the way in which you dealt with a particular issue. I don’t think this tactic works with me akhi. I hold the same citizenship and nationality as you akhi. My skin tone (and that of my parents) may differ from yours … but that doesn’t mean that I ascribe to some kind of convoluted “back home” mentality as you have asserted. See, akhi, my “back home” is right here … just like you … I have nowhere else to go at the moment. My point, akhi, is that as Muslims we should use hikmah in dealing with situations … rather than resorting to a Jerry Springer style airing of the dirty the laundry so to speak.

Since we are on the topic of “cultural baggage” akhi, I think that you should also deal with your baggage. Unfortunately your baggage seems to permeate nearly every post you write about issues related to Muslims (either foreign or native born).

9. “He is more than happy to point out the faluts in others but as soon as someone points a finger and those near to him he gets this mentality.”

I was thinking the same about you akhi. Small world isn’t it?! LOL

10. “…accused me of being a Sufi, with no evidence to the claim, during my Rise and Fall of the Salafi Dwah series…“

When did I ever (directly) accuse of you of being, or refer to you as, a Sufi? I thought the “Rise and Fall…” series was somewhat of a joke … but beyond that I never recall having called you a Sufi. What would be wrong if someone were to call you a Sufi anyway? Do you have something against Sufis? Try to be more clear akhi.

11. “…and then AA himself basically accused me of being a liar…“

Don’t give me “basically” … that nonsense. Did I actually refer to you as a liar? If I did … the bring the proof akhi. I do recall disagreeing with you that you were a regular attendee of The Center for Islamic Information and Education (Dar al Arqam). I know that you attended the dars a number of times as I would often see you there. Once in particular you were telling a group of us brothers sitting on the floor (including Shiekh Ali), after Salat al Isha, about your travels to Israel. I specifically remember that you made mention of the fact that the Israeli authorities did not harass you while you on the actual trip.

12. “…the root of his anger was that I was talking about things which he felt should have been ignored and not discussed.”

Uhhh…No. I have simply disagreed with the central argument that you made in “The Rise and Fall…” series, akhi. That in no way means that I’m in favor of sweeping critical matters (that impact Muslim) beneath the rug — no matter how many times you say to the contrary.

13. “…I am not shutting up, and your little Internet rants do not impress me…“

No one has told you to shut up…even though it seems we’re getting close to that point. Also, what do you call your post about me? If not a “rant” … then was it some kind of UN fact finding mission report? Furthermore, nothing you do or have done up to this point has impressed me “akh” … and I could care less what newspaper you rant write for or what radio show you go on.

14. “…if you want to shut me up you will have to kill me…“

You have also used this line in one of your blog postings before. Only then, you seemed to want terrorists or Iraqis with “sharp knives” and bombs to kill you. Is it me or does someone have a death wish? The fact of the matter is that nobody is trying to kill you akhi. Well, I don’t know how many people you’ve managed to irritate in St. Louis or NYC … so I’ll just say that I doubt anyone is trying to kill you. Relax akhi. Lighten’ up! Either you are stressed out or the “kill me” reference has something to do a soap opera audition. I know that such dramatic statements bring more readers to your blog akhi … but I really don’t care for it.

15. “…all of your homeboys who could do the killing are busy doing stupid stuff in Kashmir and blowing themselves up in Pakistan in order to overthrow the corrupt ruler…“

What the … ? It’s “brothers” like you… making such asinine allegations that helped McNulty and Kromberg secure (bogus) convictions in the case of the “Virginia 11″ including the like Sheikh Ali al Timimi or Br. Sabri ben Kahla or the rest of the “Virginia 11″ (May Allah Azza Wa’Jall free them from the hands of the tawagheet, ameen!)

Also, I think your reference to Kashmir and the militancy in that particular region of conflict is a bit of a red herring, in and of itself. You tend to do this whenever you lack a cohesive argument or when you just want to bring negative attention upon someone. Therefore, anyone who differs with you on a particular matter can easily be linked to “terrorists” … or militant groups … or whatever you feel like. Kashmir had nothing to do with my Lal Masjid post and yet you felt like bringing that in. I find that interesting and pathetic at the same time.

Ultimately, akhi, you still likely would have remained the brave man that your are — had you simply emailed me in the first place. The choice was yours to make.

***UPDATE***

When you lack a response…this is what you do…a halfhearted attempt, at best, by the Blogger Currently Known as Umar Lee. I will continue to stand by my original post on the Lal Masjid as well as the above clarification and response to Lee’s attack. Umar Lee has offered no proof to defend his accusations … until then I will continue to regard them as nothing more than exaggerated speech.  Furthermore, I doubt if he even read the entire post.

So, in closing, when you lack a response … do as Umar Lee does … simply reassert your original point or argument (even if it is incorrect). To be quite honest, I expected more from such an acclaimed and well-known Muslim blogger.

irritated…

Came back from Salat al Jummah not too long ago. The whole experience was rather unpleasant. I suppose that I have to get used to this … now that I am no longer near a normal Muslim community. Anyway, I arrived at the Masjid late (the Khateeb was also late) and parked in the muddy field area. Actually that wasn’t so bad. Alhamdulillah, I was able to leave the Masjid much faster after the Khutbah was over — leaving the Masjid is pretty much my only highlight for Jummah these days.

So I enter the masjid and….. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh! Allah Paak Parwardegar-e-Alam!!!! The Khateeb for today is a well known innovator! Actually, he has been our Guest-Khateeb before … but it has been a while since he last gave a Khutbah and I just hoped that community (and its ever so ignorant leadership) simply forgot about this guy. Despite my hopes, unfortunately, this wasn’t to be the case. I should have known something was up since this guy has been coming to the Masjid for the last 3 Fridays.

GREAT! I think to myself. That’s just freakin’ Great!

So I quickly (and ever so frantically — like a deer in headlights) look to find a place to sit and situate myself … and what do I see … I notice our “dear” sisters sitting in their appointed SISTERS AREA … looking like a bunch of colorful butterflies as they swooooon away at the words of our Innovator Deviant Khateeb. The Sisters Area is another point of contention that I have with this Masjid … they literally sit right behind the brothers. I kid you not … right FREAKIN’ behind. No partition (because that would certainly be a “wahabi” thing) … no modesty … no distance … nothing. Why not just pray right next to me? How about that? That way… instead of focusing on the Khutbah … the brothers (who aren’t married) can think about suitable candidates for marriage. Sound good huh? TASTY. I just wanna eat that idea up…

So I find a place. I thought it was as far as I could possibly be from our “dear” sisters and damned if I wasn’t wrong. I could have managed to squeeze my rather large frame over to the verrrrrrry verrrrry right hand side of the Masjid — however I thought that area was full. Well….boo-hoo for me. I suppose I’m just that dumb.

I won’t get into all of the nonsense that the Khateeb spoke of (and tried to use as his Daleel) … as this would lead to another post in and of itself. However, for the purpose of clarification, I’ll just mention that the Khateeb used (as his first point) a quote from Abdul Qadir Jilani. WHAT THE ….. ?

Please don’t come to the defense of Jilani … there is no point. I am not some angry teenager who feels the need to attack scholars … but I do know a coded reference when I see one. As a well known (extreme) Sufi the Khateeb could have used references from soooooo many great scholars in Islamic history — but he chose Jilani. And, since I am not a complete fool, Alhamdulillah, I know what that means. ; ) Wink Wink.

Anyway, the Khateeb finishes his rant of a Khutbah. I leave ASAP. See brothers and sisters milling about in the lobby. Who cares about that, right? So I basically jet. I see no point dealing with these folks or making “suggestions” or giving advice as my father says. Many people, much better than I, have made suggestions and given advice to these people only to get completely shot down. So, let’s be honest, what is the point of a Wahabi-Salafist-Extreme-Militant-Radical-Nutter like myself going to say to these folks to change their minds?

What bothers me is not that there are people lack knowledge …

What bothers me is the Arrogance of those who lack knowledge.

 

Sex Ed 101…

What? Did someone say SEX? Who’s talking about SEX? Are you talking about SEX? I wasn’t talking about SEX! No Sir. Not Me. Well, they’re talkin’ about SEX over at Muslim Matters…why not give this rather interesting and thought provoking article a look-see. You know you want to… : )

http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/26/sex-the-muslim-ummah-part-1/#comment-3679

I think the article and the issues that the articles raises are quite cogent — especially considering the times in which we live. However, I would also like to see the discussion broadened a bit. I would like to see Muslim parents talking with their hormonally out-of-whack teenagers about issues like homosexuality as well. Confronting the issue of homosexuality, particularly in the West where it seems to flourish, is important.

That also leads me off topic, somewhat, to the very real and planned emasculation of the male persona in the West. While telling our children that it’s okay to cry, play with Barbie Dolls, and that Home-Ec is for both boys and girls — we kinda went overboard in the West and turned our sons into our daughters. Muslim parents have got to get real and start dealing with this (and all related) faggotry. There is simply no other option.

Let’s not forget the issue of dating — a whole new can of worms we must confront as Muslim parents. The fact of the matter is that Muslim youth date. I don’t care what form it comes in … a group-study meeting … hanging out with friends in the food court … chillin’ on the quad with my peeps … whatever. When you’ve got mixed gender gatherings in unique social settings — that counts as a date in my book. The reality is that warm glances are being traded … phone numbers are being exchanged … emails addresses are hurriedly being jotted down — and nobody is studying for the upcoming exam (unless of course the exam is on human anatomy).

To be quite honest…it is my belief that the parents of many Muslim youth today simply don’t care much about what their kids do — as long as the A’s come rollin’ in.  Many parents are willing to overlook a whole lot as long as young Ahmad or little Asma are on the honor roll.  Add to that, a culture the commercializes sex and makes it a punchline for everything and you’ve got yourself a recipe for disaster.   Now why couldn’t anyone teach me about that in Home-Ec ?

 

 

Sh. Bilal Philips: test tube babies to sex change operations…

This is a video of Sh. Bilal Philips. He is, quite simply, one of the foremost scholars in the English speaking world. I wish Bilal Philips was somehow able to come to the US. He could meet up with other scholars/da’ees and form a travelling Dawah group. They could call this allstar Dawah super-group “Shaykh-Down” -or- “Rage Against The Munafiqeen”… or something. This Dawah group could hit the road and go on tour. I don’t know if they would sell out giant arenas from coast to coast — but it would be a sight to see, nonetheless. Here is a list of an imaginary Dawah super-group that I would like to see.

Don’t get mad at me for anyone that I forgot to include on this list.  Here they are in no particular order:

1) Dr. Bilal Philips

2) Sh. Yusuf Estes

3) Dr. Ali al Timimi (May Allah Azza wa’Jall free him from the hands of the tawagheet, Ameen!)

4) Sh. Jamal Zarabozo

5) Imam Safi Khan

got the idea for this post from EXEX Blogger:

http://synkronyzer.wordpress.com/2007/02/05/the-promised-land-for-transexuals/

 

Day of Ashura: historical legacy

The Day of ‘Ashura: The Children of Israel were saved from Pharaoh and His Army Who drowned

by Imâm Ibn Kathîr Tafsir of Surah al-Baqarah ayat 49 to 50

49. And (remember) when We delivered you from Fir’awn’s (Pharoah) people, who were afflicting you with a horrible torment, killing your sons and sparing your women, and therein was a mighty trial from your Lord.50. And (remember) when We separated the sea for you and saved you and drowned Fir’awn’s (Pharoah) people while you were watching.

The Children of Israel were saved from Pharaoh and His Army Who drowned

Allah said to the Children of Israel, “Remember My favor on you

And (remember) when We delivered you from Fir’awn ’s (Pharaoh) people, who were afflicting you with a horrible torment,

meaning, ‘I - Allah - saved you from them and delivered you from their hands in the company of Musa, after they subjected you to horrible torture.’ This favor came after the cursed Pharaoh had a dream in which he saw a fire emerge from Bayt Al-Maqdis (Jerusalem), and then the fire entered the houses of the Coptics in Egypt, with the exception of the Children of Israel. Its purport was that his kingship would be toppled by a man among the Children of Israel. It was also said that some of Pharaoh’s entourage said that the Children of Israel were expecting a man among them to arise who would establish a state for them. We will mention the Hadith on this subject when we explain Surat Ta Ha (20), Allah willing. After the dream, Pharaoh ordered that every newborn male among the Children of Israel be killed and that the girls be left alone. He also commanded that the Children of Israel be given tasks of hard labor and assigned the most humiliating jobs.

The torment here refers to killing the male infants. In Surat Ibrahim (14) this meaning is clearly mentioned,

Who were afflicting you with horrible torment, and were slaughtering your Sons and letting your women live. (14:6).

We will explain this Ayah in the beginning of Surat AI-Qasas (28), Allah willing, and our reliance and trust are with Him.

The meaning of, [who were afflicting you]is, “They humiliated you,” as Abu ‘Ubaydah stated. It was also said that it means, “They used to exaggerate in tormenting you” according to Al-Qurtubi. As for Allah saying, [killing your sons and sparing your women] that explains His statement, [who were afflicting you with horrible torment] then it explains the meaning of the favour He gave them, as mentioned in His statement, [Remember My favor which I bestowed upon you].

As for what Allah said in Surat Ibrahim, [And remind them of the annals of Allah] (14:5) meaning, the favours and blessing He granted them, He then said,

Who were afflicting you with horrible torment, and were slaughtering your sons and letting your women live. (14:6)

So Allah mentioned saving their children from being slaughtered in order to remind them of the many favors that He granted them.

We sho