I don’t know if anyone of you ever come across this guy’s website, it surely is something great to check out. For all the elaborate rationale dacwa I ever heard I can’t imagine anything that comes close to this guy’s clear and articulate delivery of the message. Sometimes I get bored with the Imams right after they uttered few words, but this guy has all my ears. Check out his audio section, you will not be disappointed. Al-Kawthar Academy

Viking, get a kick out of this confusion .It is a simple mistake we all make.It wasn't up my alley either when he called me your name.May be he was a clockwatcher when he was writting those sentence (Pay attention to your job The Point )

This is a good story from the motherland. I always knew that it only takes a little creativity to come up with a solution of African food crisis. The endowment of good natural resources and technology-based research will create food abundance. Education in its broadest sense is a necessary foundation for our present day, highly non-efficient African agriculture. Read the below link and check out what these principal in a remote Kenyan town could achieve with his degree in Agriculture from University of Nairobi. The family size farms project he started provide an economic climate in which his people can no longer depend on a hand out. African current perspective of food crisis can be put into a more positive perspective by covering such a positive initiative in order to encourage the continent to be independent. I am tired of catastrophic news on the media. Ever wondered why the rest of the world gets a few seconds catastrophic news in the media? This is chiefly contributed by the element of apathy. African chief assurance of food abundance rests on a can-do attitude like this gentleman. PS I have lived close to where the principal have started these project(Makutano area).Just to let you know I was proud of the guy. Africa Feed itself

A good advice, I must say, to every Muslim brother that crawls on the earth. A while back when I was an active member of a Muslim student Association in my school I happen to witness some of the things the writer pointed out. One time there was a free and fair election held by the student members of the club. The slot for president and vice president was both won by girls. This was a win that entailed that the organization day to day business will be run by Muslimas. Not to my surprise some members could not acknowledge the staggering loss of the male species. The boys didn’t realize that this was not a male only cast- any one with a half brain could tell the beauty of competition. They had seemed to be caught a little off guard with the competition. Let me spam you with another story (I feel like letting it out-another story ). The writer is also right on the money when he said that actions speak louder than words. There was a time when I and my other Muslim friends were at a school party. In the middle of the floor we happened to spot a hijab wearing muslimah. We were all taken back by the image of dazzling Hijab in the floor. We all started to make some rustling sound and concluded that she was lost. What we failed to realize was that we were at the same spot where we didn’t want a Muslimah to be spotted. Double standard from me and my partners eh?

Do i sense people heaping contumely on blacks? (I hate using the N-word on public forum). What Africa needs is a modernization of its agriculture.There is a potential for large amount of food production in Africa.It is lack of technology and unpredictable climate change that is keeping the sub-sahara Africa down.Today when you look at African farming method they use one that the western world was using a century ago.Africa is unable to protect plants and animals from the hazards of weather-which the rich nation is contributing to it shamelessly.How do you explain when you are the lowest contributor of per capita emission of greenhouse yet you are the one who is mostly susceptible to climate related diseases and droughts? When you have nematods and many diseases that have the potential of bringigng explosive outbreak on your backyard , don't you expect starvations? :eek:

Ahura, I agree with you.Inside Man is a great movie.One of the best Spike Lee movies I must say.The brother is doing his thing.I can't wait for his upcoming Katrina documentary.Paradise Now is another great movie I will recommend especially if you are Arabic speaking person.I had hard time keeping up with sub-titles while fidgeting with my Istuubidh glasses.

Mr Javier Solana Secretary General Council of the European Union Rue de la Loi, 175 B-1048 Bruxelles, BELGIUM 6 April 2006 Dear Mr Solana, EU position on Indoor Residual Spraying with DDT for Malaria control in Uganda You may be aware of the colossal global burden caused by malaria in both human and economic costs. Yet the disease is both entirely preventable and curable. One way to control the disease is to spray tiny amounts of insecticide on the inside walls of houses – known as Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS). The insecticide either kills or repels the mosquitoes and has been shown to be an extremely effective way of protecting man from the Anopheles mosquito (the malaria mosquito). There are several insecticides that can and should be used in IRS. One of them is dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane or DDT. DDT is an essential public health insecticide which led to the eradication of malaria from Europe shortly after the end of the Second World War. In recent years, growing evidence and an improved understanding of the role that it plays in malaria control has led to significant policy changes in malaria control. The World Health Organization lists DDT as a recommended public health insecticide. The Stockholm Convention gives DDT an exemption for use in public health. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria authorizes the use of DDT and funds its use. Recently the US Agency for International Development (USAID) recognized the need to purchase DDT as part of the new President’s Malaria Initiative. The EU is not proactively supporting malaria control as compared with the priority given to HIV and AIDS. We are not aware of any EU-supported development agency that is currently buying or supporting the use of DDT. Willfully ignoring an essential public health medical intervention is medical malpractice – in essence this is what EU development support for malaria control policies amount to. However matters are made worse by remarks made by the EU Chargé d’Affaires in Uganda, Mr Guy Rijken. The Ugandan Ministry of Health has stated on more than one occasion that it wishes to introduce DDT as one of the insecticides in its IRS program. Media reports in February 2005 quoted Mr Rijken as saying “…we are concerned about the impact large scale DDT use would have on Uganda’s exports of food products to the EU if a decision were made.†He went on to state “we urge Government not to use DDT.â€[ii] More recently Tom Vens, the head of Economic, Trade and Social sectors at the EU delegation to Uganda claimed that DDT would cause cancer if ingested and that Uganda would be “taking a risk†if they went ahead with DDT use[iii]. There is no conceivable scientific basis to the charges made by Mr Rijken and Mr Jens. The threats are arbitrary as there are approximately 10 countries in Africa currently using DDT and yet none have been singled out as Uganda has. This EU position has created confusion, misinformation and has hampered Uganda’s malaria control program, costing countless lives. On 29 September 2005 the Financial Times reported that Gerhard Hesse with Bayer Crop Science supported the EU threats of economic sanctions[iv]. Bayer Crop Sciences produces alternative insecticides to DDT and in an email exchange with malaria scientists, Mr Hesse noted that DDT is a commercial threat. It seems the EU is using the threat of economic sanctions to halt the use of DDT by other donors or sovereign governments. This interference in public health programs is unacceptable. Additionally people are sick and dying because European businesses like Bayer Crop Sciences use the EU’s position to further their own commercial interests. None of Mr Rijken’s or Mr Jens’s comments nor the media reports surrounding those by Mr Hesse has been accompanied by any official statement or clarification by the EU. We therefore request a clear statement on the EU’s position on the use of DDT in malaria control and its position regarding agricultural exports from any country that uses DDT in malaria control. The confusion and misinformation following the EU’s statements in Uganda has cost lives and damaged Uganda’s malaria control program and this must halt immediately. We would appreciate a response before 25 April, which marks Africa Malaria Day. Yours faithfully, Richard Tren & Roger Bate Africa Fighting Malaria cc: Hon. Minister Jim Muhwezi, Minister of Health, Uganda Hon. Minister Sam K. Kutesa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Uganda Adv. B. Gawanas, Africa Union Commissioner for Economic Affairs Hon. Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Minister of Health, Republic of South Africa Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, United Kingdom Senator Tom Coburn (R, OK) United States Senate Dr Arata Kochi, Director, Global Malaria Program, World Health Organisation Dr Kent Hill, Acting Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Global Health, USAID Sigurd Illing, EU Delegation to Uganda Linda Hales, EU Desk Office for Uganda SOURCES: I am sorry my computer is not behaving well today...You can check this in "Africa fighting malaria" website My take on this issue ....... The African countries are fighting for the right to use DDT to eliminate mosquitoes. It seems that the European Union wants to impose sanction on any country that dare to use DDT. This is a slap in the face of African countries that are dying of malaria. DDT is one of the most important insecticides ever to appear in the market, but also one of the most controversial pesticides in the history. I do believe that the use of pesticide should ideally be based on the knowledge of what they accomplish and what effect they might have in the ecosystem. Malaria was once a serious problem in America, but today it is practically non-existent, largely because of the use of DDT after the World War II. If the insect vector can be eliminated, malaria will today cease out in Africa. The only promising insecticide today is the DDT. According to the EPA website DDT is probable cancer causer. There is no one scientific study that has directly connected DDT to cancer! DDT does cause a thinning of the eggshell of birds, but there is little evidence that DDT residue is toxic or has major effect on human. Trade, science, and capitalism shape modern pest control. Commercialization is creating a strong influence on what insecticide can be sold in the market. Rich companies in the west largely shape the market. Pesticides sells are chosen to fit the economic gain of these companies. Think about this for a minute If DDT is today used by the African countries, who is going to buy all those medicines from these companies? They have to sell their products, right? There is a double standard here. I wonder if the west will ever be willing to return to the middle ages where transmission of a preventable disease were constant ticket to the hospital beds? I think it is time that the western world stops listening to the interest groups and pay attention to the millions of African children dying of malaria. If science is what provides tentative information about risk then we should pay attention to the numerous studies that have failed to determine the harmfulness of DDT.

Azmaya, Your comment was marked by a prickling sensation. It was an ineluctable comment that I couldn’t overlook since I was the guy who asked for opinion on a certain personal matter few lines above your comment.I had no problem with your scrutiny of Nur’s credibility after all the responsibility of who we want to hear rests with us individually. No one wants to neither wallow in the mud of ignorance nor follow a professional clown. I personally think you had the right to ask for anyone credibility.What I took issue with was your comment of calling those who asked for his opinion (Including me) as a herd that didn’t know better . This could be true to a certain extent due to my ignorance of the religion, but not to the extent of not knowing the difference between issues that are black and white .I have nothing against you as a person I only took a stab on your comment.

Nur, Allah has created this world.He created us and also gave us a heart, head, and intellect. There is no doubt(on my part) that Allah created of all that is nice and bad. He has given us the wisdom and the free will to decide on our own what is good and bad. We as a human being surely understand that if we take the wrong path we are destined to failure. It is a huge responsibility and a big significant that we follow whatever that our prophet (SAW) has instructed us to follow. The ongoing debate about the role of women in Islam seems to have captured my imagination. I personally have some critical things to point out on this issue of women leadership that I have read on a paper. Let me warn you that I am in no way making a claim to be an expert in the Quranic and Hadith here nor am I suggesting this to be my own work. There is no doubt in my mind that a hadith quoted in the Bukhari has been verified thoroughly! We are all created equal by one God. What I am not getting is if we men are superior intellectually in our leadership to women then how come that when the prophet (SAW) died people went to Aisha for advice on the religious matters? Isn’t it inconsistent with the faith people had with Aisha? I know that I am making intellectuality and leadership to be a coin of the same side. There is this scholar who would argue that these hadith was fabricated by Abubakar(RA).This scholar claim that when Aisha(RA) was fighting with Ali in the famous battle of Basra (the battle of Camel), Abubakra( RA) did not take any sides . Aisha army lost in the battle. Since positon of neutrality was not accepted when Abubakra was asked to explain why he failed to support Ali in this war, He quoted this hadith for the first time. What is on your take on this claim by this scholar? Edit: Thanks Amelia for the spelling mistake-I was supposed to say Abubakra and not Abubakar(they are two different people)

The year is 1986.I was a young kid breathing the fresh air of Africa. This is the same year the words of Nigeria president Ibrahim Babaginda were heard all over the world declaring affirmatively that “No government no matter the financial inducement has the right to mortgage the destiny of future generation of African childrenâ€. Under the dictates of the world super powers like the United State countries in Africa and the Caribbean became the target of one of the world’s most shameful blunder-the Khian Sea waste. In 1986 Philadelphia-the city of brotherly love- was faced with a problem of garbage disposal.The city relied heavily on a nearby landfills in New-Jersey.Unfortunately this same year many of the American landfills have been closed due to “Not In My Backyard†(NIMBY) outcry by the public.The city contracted with waste handler by the name Joseph Paolino and sons. The contarctor with unsuccessful attempts tried to dump the waste in states like Ohio where the public outcry overpowered them.It was a drama that kept many Americans alert and glued to their televisions. This outcry has led to investigation by the EPA to test the toxicity level of this waste.To the surprise of most it was found out that the waste contained deadly traces of Dioxin, Lead and chromium.The contracted company tried to buy the right of disposal from governments like Panama, Hiati(which unfortunately the company dumped some illegally) and the African countries.By 1988 the ship suddenly appeared in Singapore without its cargo.It is believed that the toxic waste was dumped somewhere in the Indian Ocean. It is still mystery today.No one knows where the waste has been dumped. This morning while I was having my cup of coffee the Khian Sea incident flashed in my coffee. How wrong can I be if I assumed that the Khian Sea was dumped in the waters of Somalia?

I remember my worst experience with Qabiil stuff. There was this old guy whom I prayed next to couple of times. As a usual respect I always said SALAM to the old guy.One day while I was minding my business in a local Somalian shoping center I happened to brush shoulders with the old guy.As usual I said SALAM to the old guy. To my surprise he replied to me in a feeble voice, “Atheer, you happen to say Salam to me always, yaat ahayt, I mean qolomaat ahayt".I was raged without bounds. I replied in an affirmative voice that I was only saying Salam because he is an older guy and that I happen to see him always in the masjid.The old man paused and little abashed continued “ atheer ninficaan batahay Igaraliahawâ€. This stayed with me for the remainder of the day in a state of utter stuupidity. Back in Kenya when I was growing up the only qabiil I knew was the neighbor. But when the war broke out things changed. Suddenly I had a neighbor who “murdered†my folks in Somalia. I could hear the politics of Somalia in my ear shot. The funny thing was there was intermarriage between the clans. I had cousins who might be fighting with my folks, but our families made sure to protect us. Of what is strange is here in the western world. This is where I am finding more of a group affiliation. This is where I am finding more of incoherent form of Qabyalad.

Wow, here I thought a woman place in this world was scrubbing the floor and cook the food . As a tradition dictates, the Somali woman must know how to cook and clean before she moves to her own home. Okay, who am I kidding? The ever watchful eye of SOL women? I know this sounds disturbing ,but It gives me the greatest delight to see women cooking a good food for their hubbies. I do not doubt that men should help too .

Inevitably, the old guys objection will impact upon my perception about the attitude and the kind of family I am about to have a blood relation with. I will try to do the best of my ability to come up with an appropriate strategy in order to bring the old guy on board. My first step will be to build a communication line through my folks (clansmen, family friends, Imam, Priest, or even the Rabbi). I will try to focus on his internal and external lines of communication (who are his close friends?). This communication will serve to correct any misunderstandings or stereotyping the old guy might have stored in his fetid brain. This may capture his heart and mind .And may be perhaps change his attitude. Many of us are predisposed to respond to certain things in a given way because of our prior experiences.If everything else fails I will put a bumber sticker on my car "Wakisema watachoka"

This is what I think of them........

So if you happen to ask for opinions about the path of God then you have the ticket to be labeled as a herd of cattle that can’t find the water point? I consider myself to be a fairly intelligent person, but I can’t figure it out what prompted some individual to treat people who ask for a guidance (from someone who came across as fairly knowledgeable )with such affront. Religion centers upon the spiritual rather than the carnal side of life.I guess it should have been obvious immediately any self-respecting, well read person would never be so immature. It is funny how some individual are marked by ignorance and stereotyping. There is nothing wrong with some one Calling people to refocus on the truth of the next life rather than the pleasure and the reward of this life. I have lately witnessed some individuals on the pages of SOL who take issue with anything about Islam. If you don’t like what you see, tough love. Invective and propaganda shots against Muslims will not make you look like an Ivy philosopher. No wonders some people demand a fresh orientation of the faith of Islam.

Thanks for the Kind words and encouragement. There has been something indescribably guilty about holding a person into a standard that I myself did not practiced. I think it is a pie in the sky to find someone who is a religious If you yourself you are not a good religious person.This is an area I am weak on. The tarmac road was made from layers of crashed stones and then smoothens to the way it looks. I think I will have to crush my stones together for now and then invite you or the rest when I bind it with a tar . As for now I will say things would be hunky dowry as long as I mind my Ps and Qs. Thanks again for the good words. Keep the brother in your prayers!

Brother Nur, this is a bit personal and a footle on my side. I have a question about the Hijaab Issue. I have a friend whom I know for almost more than six years now. This girl was the perfect girl I always wanted to be my little sister . She was a Hijabi in a refulgent Hijaab and an example of what you will call a perfect model of a Hijabi. Recently I have seen the little girl (of course she is grown now) I knew not covering her head anymore with the white Hijab I liked seeing her wearing it. I personally don’t like to judge people by their looks before I get to know them. Even though she changed her mode of dress she is still the same girl I knew. My confusion is where do you draw the line for a potential wife? Is Hijab a top priority for a selection of a wife even though I myself break the rules of Islam everyday by sinning (i.e. looking at women)? The reason I asked the above question is because I am at that stage of my life where I am looking for a potential wife and the road that I am seeing is one that will be a hollow because of mismatch between my expectation and the reality at hand. If I am weak on the Deen myself is it right for me to expect a good Muslimah who is a hijabi?

Heh,Scarlet.The babies of the families do grow out of the nest.For heaven's sake "we" are not weak and helpless souls.I am scared of little girls reading your words and acting on it, and then my chances of hitting on them goes down the drain once I mention that I am tailgating the Family .To the poster, Sorry for the effusive defense of my little club.It wasn't my intention to troll....... :cool:

^^^ By the time majority of American rich kids start cleaning the gound off their eyes, they have a connection to trot off to the top of the ladder.Even though the gap between the poor and the rich is growing, America dream is a doddle compared to what it takes to make in say Europe... Read Here

Since Money is the last thing you are worried about how about packing your bags and heading to Negril, Jamaica.If you are worried about the passport application fees then head towards Tybee Island in Savannah, Georgia.Goodluck....

Whoa Freestyle in the making.Atleast you should have warn me ahead before I read the bubbling...... Where is the mic?....I wanna see who is gonna spit the most.When is the gangster grill mixtape out?.....I got some "Jesus price" for the winner ....

^^Life is an ASSS especially when you struggle to piece together pathways and map out a way to make your applecart in order, only to find out the prospect are not promising...... :mad:

There is a positive association between negative emotional stress and heart diseases. When people do get angry or overreact to a certain stimuli this may produce effect on the sympathetic nervous system (Fight or flight response ) by releasing excess hormones such as corticosteroids and catecholamines. These hormones when they are over produced can cause cardiac disturbances. Chronic anger may drive a person to unhealthy behaviors like smoking. Whenever I do poor on a test my blood pressure goes up, I become nervous and easily irritated by the slightest provocation.I think if you eat and exercise well, you will be alright.

In Honor of Black month on February I should have slapped the first Indian on my path than the white dude I slapped.How Istuubidh of me not to have thought of that ha ?In one of my history class I did learn about the Caste system, and I never liked it.I hope your trip was not marred by such an execrable practice (I meant you didn't see someone flogged to clean the human soil)...Ewww

I don't think I have the medical credibility to treat or diagnose your health problem, but I think we can work on your neighbourhood selection and lifestyle decisions . EDIT Sorry, I didn't mean to hijack the thread, just an extra reason to smile.......