Saturday, August 15, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Nasheed
Welcome o ramadaan, you are honoured
O month of the qur’aan, it is ramadaan.
O one who sleeps, stand up and declare
The oneness of Allah the oneness of Allah.
O one who fasts, stand up in prayer at night
And Allah will forgive and Allah will forgive.
Welcome o ramadaan, you are honoured
O month of the qur’aan, it is ramadaan.
O you believe, give charity
For the pleasure of Allah, for the pleasure of Allah.
O you who believe, read the qur’aan
Every night of ramadaan, every night of ramadaan.
Welcome o ramadaan, you are honoured
O month of the qur’aan, it is ramadaan
O you who believe, look out for the night
Most blessed of all nights, most blessed of all nights.
O you who believe, take hold of this night
And lament to Allah and lament to Allah.
Welcome o ramadaan you are honoured
O month of the qur’aan, it is ramadaan
O you who believe at the end of ramadaan
Don’t weaken your iman don’t weaken your iman.
O you who believe give thanks to Allah
For the month of ramadaan, for the month of ramadaan.
Welcome o ramadaan, you are honoured
O month of the qur’aan, it is ramadaan.
O month of the qur’aan, it is ramadaan.
O one who sleeps, stand up and declare
The oneness of Allah the oneness of Allah.
O one who fasts, stand up in prayer at night
And Allah will forgive and Allah will forgive.
Welcome o ramadaan, you are honoured
O month of the qur’aan, it is ramadaan.
O you believe, give charity
For the pleasure of Allah, for the pleasure of Allah.
O you who believe, read the qur’aan
Every night of ramadaan, every night of ramadaan.
Welcome o ramadaan, you are honoured
O month of the qur’aan, it is ramadaan
O you who believe, look out for the night
Most blessed of all nights, most blessed of all nights.
O you who believe, take hold of this night
And lament to Allah and lament to Allah.
Welcome o ramadaan you are honoured
O month of the qur’aan, it is ramadaan
O you who believe at the end of ramadaan
Don’t weaken your iman don’t weaken your iman.
O you who believe give thanks to Allah
For the month of ramadaan, for the month of ramadaan.
Welcome o ramadaan, you are honoured
O month of the qur’aan, it is ramadaan.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Amal Soliman a mazouna
Amal Soliman, a 32-year-old Egyptian woman, has endured intimidation and ridicule in the year since she applied for a job as the Muslim world's first mazouna, or female marriage registrar, but she says her victory has been worth the fight.
In late September, Soliman, who holds a Masters degree in Islamic Sharia law, broke into what has until now been an exclusively males-only club.
However, the Committee of Egyptian Mazouns, an all-male organisation, challenged Soliman's application saying the job would be inappropriate for a woman and voiced their opinion in a statement issued by the committee.
A marriage officer presides over a wedding (or divorce) ceremony, recites verses from the Quran and signs the official certificates making the union legally binding.
Al Jazeera recently spoke with Soliman shortly after she conducted her first wedding ceremony on October 25.
Al Jazeera: Why did you decide to apply for a position that has traditionally – and for centuries – been a male vocation?
Soliman: In 2007 one of the two marriage officers of my neighbourhood passed away, leaving behind a job opportunity.
For three months everyone wondered who would be able to replace Al Hajj Abou Mesalam and right before the deadline (October 2007) for applying I rushed over to the civil court in Zagazig, the heart of rural Egypt, to give in my application.
I had been interested in pursuing a doctorate degree in Islamic studies but also maintaining a flexible job that would allow me to spend time with my three children.
Legally, there is no reason why a woman can't do the job, and the Mufti (Islamic scholar and interpreter of Islamic law) said it was religiously acceptable as it is only an administrative position.
In October 2007, my husband and I formally submitted an application to the local family court clerk for the post of marriage officer.
Was your application accepted?
Well, I took my husband with me because I was afraid I would be made fun of, which I was.
When I applied the man at the desk laughed openly at me and said that is was just not possible.
He imagined I would go home and forget about it, but instead I argued and told him that I had studied Sharia Law and I know it is an administrative job.
Though the clerk refused to accept my submission, I turned to Ibrahim Darwish, head of the local magistrate in Zagazig for his opinion.
Darwish was puzzled; he said there was no precedent for this situation so he did not know what to say. I took that as a sign that there was a small window of opportunity.
I then consulted Khaled el-Shalkamy, the head judge of Zagazig's family court.
I told him it was my right to be nominee as I was extremely qualified.
I told him just to accept me and let the other people involved in the selection process do the rest.
Were there no other applicants for the job?
Actually, I was in competition with 10 other candidates, all men, but none of them held post-graduate degrees in Sharia law like I did.
So el-Shalkamy accepted my application.
On February 25, I couldn't hold back my tears as I stood in front of the local court and was appointed as my district's new mazouna.
But the battle was half-won. I would not be able to begin work as a mazouna until Mamdouh Marei, the Egyptian minister of justice, formally signed off and authorised my appointment.
But many males did not accept the idea that a woman could hold what has been a man's job and you were targeted in the media.
The chairman of the Committee of Egyptian Mazouns, Muhammad Abou Ayeeta, said "the Ministry [of Justice] should refuse the appointment, because it is unacceptable that women would work in this occupation."
How did you deal with the backlash?
Well, at first my optimism slowly started to fade as I saw so much opposition. Some
columnists wrote that I was out to destroy tradition, that I was a threat to the religion and should be punished for pursuing the post.
But there were two main reasons for the opposition I faced. Firstly, it is simply rooted in male chauvinism. These people believe the woman's place is firmly in her house.
The other group was comprised of uneducated people who have developed an image of women's role in Islam from television; usually based on the words of a sheikh with a turban on his head.
Arguments made against me claimed that a woman couldn't perform marriages because of menstruation, as religion prevents women from praying or entering a mosque during her monthly cycle.
Others claimed that it was inappropriate for a woman to sit amongst men during the signing of the marriage certificates, which is traditionally predominately a male gathering where the marriage officer sits directly between the groom and his father-in-law.
Did no religious authority or group support you?
Well, four months after contacting the Ministry of Justice and receiving no word, I contacted the National Council for Women for a louder voice and stronger backing.
Both my opponents and proponents were beginning to wonder if I would ever receive the approval of the ministry of justice.
From the first moment that my papers where accepted as a nominee, the national press caught wind of this unusual event.
A journalist in Al Akhbar, one of Egypt's leading newspapers, heard about the situation, and helped launch my cause as a national debate.
Eventually the news went global. I think the media was a catalyst and made my appointment go through faster than it would have.
It made me happy to have so much international coverage … Sometimes when I'm sitting alone I wonder if I'm dreaming. What is going on? Did we really pull this off?
I'm happy not just for me; I had always wanted to show the world Egypt's developments with regards to women rights and gender equality.
But you did not get ministry approval until September 27; why did it take the ministry so long?
Of course I was happy and relieved, but more importantly I regained my confidence when the minister finally signed my appointment. I had slowly started to doubt myself up to that point.
However, I now believe that the minister had to be cautious, as this case was the first of its kind.
But laws are not religion. We can develop them.
On November 14, the United Arab Emirates followed in Egypt's footsteps and appointed Fatima Saeed Obeid Al Awani as a mazouna in the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.
In late September, Soliman, who holds a Masters degree in Islamic Sharia law, broke into what has until now been an exclusively males-only club.
However, the Committee of Egyptian Mazouns, an all-male organisation, challenged Soliman's application saying the job would be inappropriate for a woman and voiced their opinion in a statement issued by the committee.
A marriage officer presides over a wedding (or divorce) ceremony, recites verses from the Quran and signs the official certificates making the union legally binding.
Al Jazeera recently spoke with Soliman shortly after she conducted her first wedding ceremony on October 25.
Al Jazeera: Why did you decide to apply for a position that has traditionally – and for centuries – been a male vocation?
Soliman: In 2007 one of the two marriage officers of my neighbourhood passed away, leaving behind a job opportunity.
For three months everyone wondered who would be able to replace Al Hajj Abou Mesalam and right before the deadline (October 2007) for applying I rushed over to the civil court in Zagazig, the heart of rural Egypt, to give in my application.
I had been interested in pursuing a doctorate degree in Islamic studies but also maintaining a flexible job that would allow me to spend time with my three children.
Legally, there is no reason why a woman can't do the job, and the Mufti (Islamic scholar and interpreter of Islamic law) said it was religiously acceptable as it is only an administrative position.
In October 2007, my husband and I formally submitted an application to the local family court clerk for the post of marriage officer.
Was your application accepted?
Well, I took my husband with me because I was afraid I would be made fun of, which I was.
When I applied the man at the desk laughed openly at me and said that is was just not possible.
He imagined I would go home and forget about it, but instead I argued and told him that I had studied Sharia Law and I know it is an administrative job.
Though the clerk refused to accept my submission, I turned to Ibrahim Darwish, head of the local magistrate in Zagazig for his opinion.
Darwish was puzzled; he said there was no precedent for this situation so he did not know what to say. I took that as a sign that there was a small window of opportunity.
I then consulted Khaled el-Shalkamy, the head judge of Zagazig's family court.
I told him it was my right to be nominee as I was extremely qualified.
I told him just to accept me and let the other people involved in the selection process do the rest.
Were there no other applicants for the job?
Actually, I was in competition with 10 other candidates, all men, but none of them held post-graduate degrees in Sharia law like I did.
So el-Shalkamy accepted my application.
On February 25, I couldn't hold back my tears as I stood in front of the local court and was appointed as my district's new mazouna.
But the battle was half-won. I would not be able to begin work as a mazouna until Mamdouh Marei, the Egyptian minister of justice, formally signed off and authorised my appointment.
But many males did not accept the idea that a woman could hold what has been a man's job and you were targeted in the media.
The chairman of the Committee of Egyptian Mazouns, Muhammad Abou Ayeeta, said "the Ministry [of Justice] should refuse the appointment, because it is unacceptable that women would work in this occupation."
How did you deal with the backlash?
Well, at first my optimism slowly started to fade as I saw so much opposition. Some
columnists wrote that I was out to destroy tradition, that I was a threat to the religion and should be punished for pursuing the post.
But there were two main reasons for the opposition I faced. Firstly, it is simply rooted in male chauvinism. These people believe the woman's place is firmly in her house.
The other group was comprised of uneducated people who have developed an image of women's role in Islam from television; usually based on the words of a sheikh with a turban on his head.
Arguments made against me claimed that a woman couldn't perform marriages because of menstruation, as religion prevents women from praying or entering a mosque during her monthly cycle.
Others claimed that it was inappropriate for a woman to sit amongst men during the signing of the marriage certificates, which is traditionally predominately a male gathering where the marriage officer sits directly between the groom and his father-in-law.
Did no religious authority or group support you?
Well, four months after contacting the Ministry of Justice and receiving no word, I contacted the National Council for Women for a louder voice and stronger backing.
Both my opponents and proponents were beginning to wonder if I would ever receive the approval of the ministry of justice.
From the first moment that my papers where accepted as a nominee, the national press caught wind of this unusual event.
A journalist in Al Akhbar, one of Egypt's leading newspapers, heard about the situation, and helped launch my cause as a national debate.
Eventually the news went global. I think the media was a catalyst and made my appointment go through faster than it would have.
It made me happy to have so much international coverage … Sometimes when I'm sitting alone I wonder if I'm dreaming. What is going on? Did we really pull this off?
I'm happy not just for me; I had always wanted to show the world Egypt's developments with regards to women rights and gender equality.
But you did not get ministry approval until September 27; why did it take the ministry so long?
Of course I was happy and relieved, but more importantly I regained my confidence when the minister finally signed my appointment. I had slowly started to doubt myself up to that point.
However, I now believe that the minister had to be cautious, as this case was the first of its kind.
But laws are not religion. We can develop them.
On November 14, the United Arab Emirates followed in Egypt's footsteps and appointed Fatima Saeed Obeid Al Awani as a mazouna in the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Common Phrases
Asalaamu alaikum - May peace be upon you
Wa alaikum salaam - May peace be upon you too
Asalaamu alaikum wa rahmatuallahi wa barakatu - May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon you
Wa alaikum salaam wa rahmatuallahi wa barakatu - May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you too
Kaifa halak/Kaifa halik - How are you to a man/How are to a woman?
Alhumdulilah ana bekhair - Thanks be to Allah, I'm fine
Audhu bi allahi min al shaitani rajeem - I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed shaytan
Lā ilāha ill-Allāh - There is no God but Allah
Muhammed rasool Allah - Muhammad is the messenger of Allah
Sallah allahu alayhi wa salaam(saw) - Peace be upon him(say this after you say Prophet Muhammed)
Radhi Allahu anhu - Allah be pleased with him
Subhan wa ta 'ala - Glory be unto the Most High
Alhumdulilah - Thanks be to God
Bismilah - In the name of Allah
Subhan' Allah - Glory be to God
Masha' Allah - As Allah wills
Fisabilillah - For the sake of Allah
Jazakallah khair - May Allah reward you
Insha' Allah - God willing
Allahu akbar - God is Great
Astighfirallah - I seek forgiveness from Allah
Allahu Alum - Allah knows best
Wa alaikum salaam - May peace be upon you too
Asalaamu alaikum wa rahmatuallahi wa barakatu - May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon you
Wa alaikum salaam wa rahmatuallahi wa barakatu - May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you too
Kaifa halak/Kaifa halik - How are you to a man/How are to a woman?
Alhumdulilah ana bekhair - Thanks be to Allah, I'm fine
Audhu bi allahi min al shaitani rajeem - I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed shaytan
Lā ilāha ill-Allāh - There is no God but Allah
Muhammed rasool Allah - Muhammad is the messenger of Allah
Sallah allahu alayhi wa salaam(saw) - Peace be upon him(say this after you say Prophet Muhammed)
Radhi Allahu anhu - Allah be pleased with him
Subhan wa ta 'ala - Glory be unto the Most High
Alhumdulilah - Thanks be to God
Bismilah - In the name of Allah
Subhan' Allah - Glory be to God
Masha' Allah - As Allah wills
Fisabilillah - For the sake of Allah
Jazakallah khair - May Allah reward you
Insha' Allah - God willing
Allahu akbar - God is Great
Astighfirallah - I seek forgiveness from Allah
Allahu Alum - Allah knows best
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
How to get ready for ramadan insallah.
1) Become timely with all five of our daily prayers, and focus our hearts in our prayers.
2) Read more of the Quran each day.
3) Listen attentively to the recitation of the Quran.
4) Learn more about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his way, his life, etc. and send more greetings to him, sallalLaahu 'alayhi wa salam.
5) Participate in wholesome community activities.
6) Listen to lectures (these are easily available online) or attend classes regarding Islamic matters as a way to inspire us to improve.
7) Find ways to express compassion to loved ones, colleagues, and those who we surround ourselves with.
8) Attempt voluntary fasts, perhaps three times a month (on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of each lunar month) or on each Monday and Thursday - both of which were practices of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). As a shaykh once said, "sawm nurtures taqwa" (fasting nurtures God consciousness).
9) Work on improving our character, rectifying our errors, and repenting for our sins.
10) Work on developing a relationship with Allah, a relationship that we are all responsible for developing ourselves. Whatever you consider beautiful and necessary in a relationship, even complaining, take it to Allah.
11) Make a sincere effort to reflect on the bounties, blessings, and signs of Allah in all aspects of our existence.
12) And if we cannot do any of that, then perhaps we can at least try to grasp the essence of our deen again.
2) Read more of the Quran each day.
3) Listen attentively to the recitation of the Quran.
4) Learn more about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his way, his life, etc. and send more greetings to him, sallalLaahu 'alayhi wa salam.
5) Participate in wholesome community activities.
6) Listen to lectures (these are easily available online) or attend classes regarding Islamic matters as a way to inspire us to improve.
7) Find ways to express compassion to loved ones, colleagues, and those who we surround ourselves with.
8) Attempt voluntary fasts, perhaps three times a month (on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of each lunar month) or on each Monday and Thursday - both of which were practices of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). As a shaykh once said, "sawm nurtures taqwa" (fasting nurtures God consciousness).
9) Work on improving our character, rectifying our errors, and repenting for our sins.
10) Work on developing a relationship with Allah, a relationship that we are all responsible for developing ourselves. Whatever you consider beautiful and necessary in a relationship, even complaining, take it to Allah.
11) Make a sincere effort to reflect on the bounties, blessings, and signs of Allah in all aspects of our existence.
12) And if we cannot do any of that, then perhaps we can at least try to grasp the essence of our deen again.
a very wise Poet once said
لاَ تَعْمَلْ للِنَّاسِ شَيْئاً
وَ لاَ تَتْرُكْ لَهُمْ شَيْئاً
“Don’t do anything for the sake of people!
And don’t leave anything because of them!”
وَ لاَ تَتْرُكْ لَهُمْ شَيْئاً
“Don’t do anything for the sake of people!
And don’t leave anything because of them!”
Hijab in the heart
In response to people who say that Islam is in my heart so I don't need to show it by wearing hijab, Shaykh Saed Rageah responded:
"If Islam was in here (pointing to heart) then it would show up here (pointing to head symbolizing the hijab)
"If Islam was in here (pointing to heart) then it would show up here (pointing to head symbolizing the hijab)
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Muslim woman sues college
A Stockholm woman has reported an adult education college in Spånga to the Equality Ombudsman (DO) after being told that she could not wear an Islamic headscarf in class.
The woman was told on January 15th that she was no longer welcome at Västerort Vuxengymnasium, an adult education college in Spånga, if she persisted in wearing her niqab. The niqab is part of a hijab headdress and covers the entire face except for the eyes.
The woman has now reported the matter to the Equality Ombudsman (DO) alleging discrimination.
In her report to DO dated January 20th, the woman alleges that she was told that she could not wear her niqab in class or in contact with the school's staff.
The woman explains that the school justified its decision by referring to a recent decision by the National Agency for Education (Skolverket) which banned the wearing of some Muslim headscarves in class.
"But this is just a ruling, it is not a law and the ruling concerns those who wear a burqa, covering the whole face. I have a niqab which shows the area around the eyes," the woman argued.
The woman writes that she finds it "offensive" to be expelled for her "personal style" and argues that the ruling is confusing as some schools permit the niqab.
But the college's rector, Britt-Marie Johansson, has defended the school's right to exclude the student from classes, referring to the education agency's ruling.
"At Västerorts vux it is not allowed in the classroom to cover one's face, with a veil or similar. This rule also applies in contact with staff. This means that neither a niqab nor a burqa can be worn."
According to Johansson, the choice facing students is thus clear.
"Accept the rules stated above or discontinue your studies."
But the student is keen to continue her studies and claims that she has offered the school a compromise.
"I have said that I can sit at the front of the class, and remove the niqab during classes and to identify myself."
"I have even spoken to the men in the class...and they have said that it doesn't bother them."
The student argues that freedom of religion is enshrined in law in Sweden and this should take precedence over the education agency ruling.
The woman was told on January 15th that she was no longer welcome at Västerort Vuxengymnasium, an adult education college in Spånga, if she persisted in wearing her niqab. The niqab is part of a hijab headdress and covers the entire face except for the eyes.
The woman has now reported the matter to the Equality Ombudsman (DO) alleging discrimination.
In her report to DO dated January 20th, the woman alleges that she was told that she could not wear her niqab in class or in contact with the school's staff.
The woman explains that the school justified its decision by referring to a recent decision by the National Agency for Education (Skolverket) which banned the wearing of some Muslim headscarves in class.
"But this is just a ruling, it is not a law and the ruling concerns those who wear a burqa, covering the whole face. I have a niqab which shows the area around the eyes," the woman argued.
The woman writes that she finds it "offensive" to be expelled for her "personal style" and argues that the ruling is confusing as some schools permit the niqab.
But the college's rector, Britt-Marie Johansson, has defended the school's right to exclude the student from classes, referring to the education agency's ruling.
"At Västerorts vux it is not allowed in the classroom to cover one's face, with a veil or similar. This rule also applies in contact with staff. This means that neither a niqab nor a burqa can be worn."
According to Johansson, the choice facing students is thus clear.
"Accept the rules stated above or discontinue your studies."
But the student is keen to continue her studies and claims that she has offered the school a compromise.
"I have said that I can sit at the front of the class, and remove the niqab during classes and to identify myself."
"I have even spoken to the men in the class...and they have said that it doesn't bother them."
The student argues that freedom of religion is enshrined in law in Sweden and this should take precedence over the education agency ruling.
Pink dress
If you vear this with something white under it will look great for a party. You could have a pink hijab a white sweater and white pants under and pink shoes.
