By Nahida 05 May, 2010 Poetry For Palestine To the American people who support Israel and its wars Dear friends I am writing this letter to you because of the devastation that is caused by your government in our lands, and because of the immanent threat to world peace that I see your government pushing for, again. The way things are moving now, I foresee great danger, and terrible risk to peace and security to the whole world. I am writing to you because I care very much about humanity and I love our planet, with all its inhabitants. I am writing to you because I believe in civilised dialogues, where people can express themselves freely, without being patronized, silenced, ridiculed, imprisoned or even killed for their beliefs. I am writing to you to build bridges not walls, and to take you on a short journey so you may see things from our perspective. I am writing to you for the purpose of advancing more realistic and humanistic understanding and for trying together to achieve a more tolerant and peaceful world. I see systematic efforts by most of your media pundits, to work endlessly at dehumanizing Muslims and their faith, and I see that as pre-emptive justification for more military attacks against more innocent civilians, aiming at our total destruction. When a group of people (Muslims in this case) are seen as intrinsically evil, and when their faith and beliefs are portrayed as violent, malicious, and aggressive, then, anything done to those people is acceptable and defensible. Without talking to one another, and without trying sincerely to put extra effort to understand the other, we will all be losers, and we’ll be driving our beautiful world towards catastrophe and devastation… that breaks my heart, as a mother, and as a human being. Is it too much to ask “to open our hearts and our minds and listen to what the other has to say” ? Can we learn something from little children; where prejudice and bigotry are non-existent ? Words in your media are used and manipulated to imply deceptive meanings, so you are kept in a state of constant fear, watching over your shoulders in panic from "Islamist monsters bent on invading and destroying you", never mind how absurd and ridiculous such allegations in reality are. The zionist-controlled media has hijacked our language, and vocabulary and disfigured our religion They drilled in people’s heads that: Islam is terror Jihad is holy war Fatwa is death penalty Muslim women are the manifestation of oppression, uneducated, forced into wearing the veil, and enslaved by their men. Muslim men are fanatics, cruel, sadistic wife beaters Muslim children are terrorists in the making When a c rime is committed, the criminal is a criminal, but when a Muslim commits a crime, even a petty one, he is immediately labelled a "Muslim criminal" irrespective the fact that his faith opposes such crimes. A Muslim criminal committing a crime becomes "a Muslim terrorist", and he committed the crime because he is a Muslim and his faith teaches evil! If only Americans could understand that what is published in US medias and blogs, is not the truth, but as much a lie as when your bankers all told you could borrow almost limitless and never suffer any economic consequences. The hard facts about Islam and Muslims, are different, and the vast majority of Muslims would not fit to this ugly stereotype. Islam is peace: the root of the word Islam is Salam, which is one of the Holy Names of God. Salam is Arabic for Peace. The meaning of the word Islam is beautiful as Islam is Arabic for bring into Peace. The word Salam is used for greeting others. Saying "as'Salam alaikum" to someone means "Peace be upon you!" When a Muslim greets another person with "Peace be upon you," the greeter is in fact proclaiming a contract of Peace with the other person. Hence, if the greeter has non-peaceful intentions towards the other person, he would be engaging in hypocrisy, which is one of the Major Sins in Islam! “When a (courteous) greeting is offered you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or (at least) of equal courtesy. God takes careful account of all things” Quran (4:86) Jihad is an Arabic word that means the endeavour to do your best to make this world a better one: Any effort to help achieve that is called jihad, or struggle, going to school to learn is a form of jihad, being a mother rearing children is jihad, spreading knowledge through teaching or writing is jihad, treating patients is jihad, looking after sick parents is jihad, also defending yourself when attacked is jihad, and struggling against oppression is jihad. Any action that one undertakes in order to bring good to mankind is jihad Life with all its ups and downs is a jihad The highest form of Jihad, however, is the inner Jihad, which is the Major Jihad that means the never ending inner struggle against one’s arrogance, greed, and selfishness in order to achieve the Generous Temperaments. The Prophet Muhammad, Peace be upon him, declared "Verily I was sent to this World to define (and live by) the Generous Temperament." According to him, the codes of Generous Temperament (makarem elakhlaq) are seven: “Pardoning those who have oppressed you Giving to those who have deprived you Connecting with those who have shunned you Benefiting those who have abused you Counselling those who have deceived you Forgiving those who have maligned you Forbearing with those who have angered you.” Contrary to common beliefs, the concept of holy war does NOT exist in Islam; it is a European concept from the days of the crusaders, and has absolutely no equivalent in Islam, it does however in the minds of the new crusaders as it seems from so many video clip we have seen, of your hypocrite politicians and zionist "evangelists", and in the sick minds of those who invaded our lands and murdered our people. To translate the concept of Holy War into Arabic is almost impossible. It would sound something like “Harb Muqaddassah” which does not exist in Arabic, even the concept of it is unheard of, never used in spoken or written language, as it is too contrary to Islamic principles and values ! How misleading and dishonest is the translation and misconception of jihad as a holy war then! By writing this, all I am doing is reclaiming my language back. Fatwa is nothing but an expression of an opinion by an informed person: Being what it is, it is not for any one to enforce their “fatwa” / opinion upon anyone. There is no hierarchy system, no priesthood, no church institution, and no clergy in Islam; and that is something totally misunderstood, and rarely ever mentioned. Any Muslim is entitled to make his/ her opinion from their understanding of the Qur’anic text. If those opinions are expressed by some knowledgeable person, they are called “fatwa”. All this falsification, distortion, and misrepresentation of Islam (deliberate or not) if not addressed and sorted out urgently, logically and with open-mindedness and compassion, then our world is doomed! Being a Muslim woman and knowing exactly what Islam teaches, I feel dismayed and heartbroken at the image that you are made to believe as a true representation of us and of our faith Now, if I come to you and say: “well, no in fact Islam teach this or does not teach that” would you take my word for it? Of course not, so, I “quote” some of the specific teachings in order to reflect-precisely- the position of Islam, from the most authentic source to Muslims: the Qur’an. Democracy and Freedom of choice: “No compulsion in religion or ideology” (2:256). “Say: O you that reject Faith! I worship not that which you worship, and you do not worship that which I worship... To you be your Way, and to me mine”. (109:1-6) “We showed him the Way: whether he be grateful or ungrateful (rests on his will)”. (76:3) “Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity”. (3:104) "And their affairs are (conducted) through consultation among themselves." (42:38) “If any one does a righteous deed, it ensures to the benefit of his own soul; if he does evil, it works against (his own soul). In the end will you (all) be brought back to your Lord”. (45; 15) Relations with others: 'O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one another. Truly, the most honoured of you in God’s sight is the greatest of you in righteousness. God is All-Knowing, All-Aware'. (49.13) “And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colours: verily in that are Signs for those who know”.(30-22) Women’s’ issues “Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily, to him will We give a new Life, a life that is good and pure and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions”. (16-97) “The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practise regular charity, and obey God and His Messenger. On them will God pour His mercy: for God is Exalted in power, Wise”. (9:71) “If any do deeds of righteousness, be they male or female - and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them”. (3-124) “Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it! And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it”. (99:7-8) “It is He who created you from a single soul, and made its mate of like nature, in order that he might dwell with her (in love)”. (7:189) “And among His Signs is this: He created for you mates from among yourselves that ye may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He plants love and mercy between your (hearts): verily in that are Signs for those who reflect. 30-21 “For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for truthful men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in Charity, for men and women who fast (and deny themselves), for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in God’s praise; for them has God prepared forgiveness and great reward”. (33:35) War and peace: The general rule is: Fighting is only allowed in case of self-defence, against Aggression (odwan) or Persecution (fitnah). 'You may fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not initiate aggression. God does not love transgressors.' (2.190) "O believers, be you guardians of justice, witness for God. Let not a group's hostility to you cause you to deviate from justice; be equitable - that is nearer to being God-conscious." (5:8) “To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to fight back), because they are wronged; and verily, God is most powerful for their aid; (They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right,-(for no cause) except that they say, our Lord is God”. (22:39-40) “God commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and antagonism: He advices you, that ye may be reminded.” (16-90) "No soul shall be made to bear the burden (liability) of another." (35:18) “But show them forgiveness, and say "Peace!" and soon shall they know!” (43; 89) “The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from God; for (God) loveth not those who are wrong-doers”. (42:40) 'If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things.' (8.61) “But God does call to the Home of Peace” (10-25) “Ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for God can best protect both. Follow not the desires (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily God is well-acquainted with all that ye do. Thus, have We made of you a nation justly balanced, that ye might be witnesses over the nations, and the Messenger a witness over yourselves” (2-143) “Show forgiveness, speak for justice and avoid the ignorant.” (7:199) “It may well be that God will bring about love (and friendship) between you and those with whom you are now at odds.” (60:7) “Nor can goodness and evil be equal. Repel evil with what is best: if you do so, he who is your enemy will become a close friend.” (41.34) ********************** I am only a mother, and I am also a person who detests violence, war, weapons, killings…etc I am sick to death with war and violence And I wish what I have seen and what my people had seen on nobody. Centuries of imperialism, and illiteracy followed by the brutal uprooting of a whole nation from their homeland in order to give it away to people from other parts of the world just because of their Jewish-ness, and to free the European’s mind of the guilt of the holocaust (which we –Muslims and Palestinians- had nothing to do with, but ended up having to pay the price for Europe’s crimes) Year after year, decade after decade of injustice towards the Palestinians, accompanied by unequivocal support from USA and Europe to the Zionist entity, led the Muslims to resent the hypocritical policies of the Western world. This blind support of the Zionists was/ is perceived by Muslims as an act of aggression and grave injustice. Yet those fundamental basic facts are not represented to you, what you led to believe is that Muslims hate your freedom, your democracy, they are jealous of your way of life, and they hate peace… what a load of nonsense!!! Muslims feel oppressed and persecuted by YOUR government, its unjust policies, its unconditional support of the terrorist zionist regime and its criminal wars and aggression They feel that justice had been denied to them, and that they have been constantly under attack. Exposed to so much injustice and oppression it is only natural that people would have resentments and would look for ways to liberate themselves from oppression and modern slavery, which is precisely the case in many Muslim countries nowadays. And instead of trying to right the wrongs you’ve done over decades of oppression and injustice, what do you do? You go yet again and attack more Muslim countries; you bomb Afghanistan and Iraq reducing them to rubble! And go on to threaten Iran with nukes! You kill over a million more! And what is more ridiculous is that you are doing so whilst claiming that you’re doing it for the sake of liberating us from our backwardness, ignorance, and our fanatics… What are you thinking? Do you think we are ******? We are sick to death with your interference in our lands, and our countries We are sick to death with your domination and your attitude of superiority towards us and the rest of the world. We are sick to death of you trying to impose on us your ways, your thinking, your problems and your solutions. Imperialism has no room in the future of our world, and most certainly, that must include thought imperialism. WE WANT TO BE FREE We want to be free in our homelands We want to be able to exercise our rights to choose our representatives and our governments We want our human rights that enable live peacefully and with dignity with no threat of bombing or ethnic cleansing We want our right to go home and not to live forever as refugees We want our right to believe in God or not to believe if we so wish to We want our right to be equal human beings with equal value to our lives We want to be free to solve the ills of our societies in our own ways not by copy-pasting your experiences and your solutions. It’s not good enough to try to justify the horrors that you’ve inflected and still inflecting upon us, by dehumanizing us and belittling our faith. Period Where to go from there? Yes indeed, where to go from there? Is there a way out? As an optimist, yes of course there is always a way out: To begin with, you must start with opening your hearts and minds to see us as equal human beings, worthy of life, love, and freedom. Remove your prejudice against us, and with sincere efforts open dialogues with us, not to tell us what should we do or how should we think, or whom to elect as our leaders, but to listen to us as your equals in humanity. A dialogue is a two way system. It’s also good to start educating yourselves a bit more about us, not taking your information from Hollywood but from us and our authentic sources. We have so much to tell you, so much to share, so much good we can offer you and the world. And that is not exaggeration; that is simply the truth. Because we are humans just like you. We all have so much to offer the world. May I give some suggestion towards a solution? Why not end your occupation of our lands? Why not stop supporting those puppet regime and dictators your successive governments have forces upon Arabs for the sake of "Nation Building" which is the most heinous word one can imagine, and why not continuing by accepting our FREELY elected representatives, whom we chose through democracy ? Why not visit and even come and live in Muslim countries without your army uniform, and without offering your bombs and missiles as gifts? Why not drop your arms and come to us with open arms rather than coming carrying machine guns and riding offensive tanks? Instead of pushing like crazy towards Armageddon; why not gently, lovingly, tenderly and with compassion, why not embrace a world of justice, tolerance and respect, as Jesus “peace be upon him” would’ve done if he was alive today? Why not attentively listen to each other? Why not dream and work for a more peaceful world built upon diversity and richness of multiplicity, a world where humanity is celebrated and variety is rejoiced, a world where all are respected, where all are free to think, to believe, and to live their own way without infringing on each other, or imposing our ways upon each other? As of now, the world already can see that the American dream is a nightmare, your s-elected and corrupt governments have made your country the most loathed country, and they have robbed you exactly as they robbed those "Arabs out there" If you look more vigilantly, more attentively, and closer to home, you will find the REAL terrorist worthy of your alarm and disgust, are the ones amongst your midst, ruling your country, robbing your resources, thriving on your poverty, rejoicing your misery. So why not transform this mad nightmare and ideologically driven devastation, back into a dream…. a reality? Who is there? Oh human Can’t you see! I am precisely like you I don’t like being humiliated I am no one’s doormat I’m person in my own right When I was born I was born innocent Happy and free And I want to live A normal life With dignity Wouldn’t you? I realise there is a dawn Waiting to be born And that… after hardship… passes away Ease will come to life… very soon But… they’ve inflected so much Pain and cruelty Upon this little girl And upon her homeland The world is watching Eyes open wide In bewilderment And disbelief “What we are watching Is a fiction movie It’s not really true” While in exile Puzzled… I agonize Wiping tears off my saddened face Searching around Any one there? Looking up… into sky Did You hear my cries? Did You witness the crime? Suddenly Knock… knock A gentle tap Yes, coming Who is there? Hope is here Smiling at my heart Standing by my door

Originally posted by chocolate & honey: Queen Arawelo(aka Marx, B and his other entourage) has found a potential husband? Yacni, aniga sidaasan u fahmay. Yeah, do JUMP on that bridge to the happyland we call courting.Track him down, bombard him with letters, phone calls, gifts etc.Surely he can still 'talk' to other sisters and you at the same time . Lool@gifts.. Maybe when pigs fly and money starts growing on trees.

Originally posted by Queen Arawello: Is it just me or have some women developed a habit of over-exaggerating that particular time of the month. Some of my friends throw a tantrum during the days preceding the event of the month, usually these early warning systems are useful, as they allow you to cater to the demands of the divas in question. Some other muslim like asians dont over-play this and are modest in their approaches. White women are usually the worst at this but due to the open attitude society of the white people, I think this can be excused. My concern is that more Somali women are delibrately developing these overt exaggerations and believe thier actions are justified and can be excused. Oh please!, sub-standard way of dealing with mother nature is a joke and really embarassing. They do over exaggerate I don't care what anybody says. I remember this Somali chick told us that she was on her period hence why she was so moody i didn't care until she turned around and thought she can shout at me. Boy did I give her a taste of her own medicine after that she was a good little girl for the rest of the day. It was like a miracle she went from *****y to being nice in one minute.

No I would not marry a broke man. Also even the prophet(pbh) advices men not to get married unless they are physically and financially stable with that said I am by no means looking for a wealthy man as long as he has a decent job with decent pay then we are good.

Originally posted by Oz: ^ ^ are you saying it could be QueenArrawelo? Poster go ask your mother/sister. Why would I waste my families time asking a question even a two year old child knows the answer to?

Originally posted by deleted: Could it be? Noo, surely not. I promised I would be back didn't I.

Originally posted by Kool_Kat: I think people (I don't want to name any names) owe Cynical Layd and I some apologies! Deleted, Oz, and NG, don't start nothing, there won't be nothing... You actually expect for people to apologise to you for my threads?.. Are you serious?.. Unless people have personally wronged you , you do not deserve an apology.

Originally posted by deleted: ^ I know nothing But I would like to ask the poster if this her way of asking his family for his Hand in Marriage? Is it better if I ask for his hand in marriage instead?

Originally posted by Malika: This is a different culture to the one I know, marka maxaa kaa garaneyaa,if one has to wait for some man to make up his mind or not..So,should you move on or wait...hmmmmmmm..am still trying to comprehend. Amna,are you serious? I have never waited for a man in my life so what do you think?

Thank you every one insha allah I will wait even if it takes me ten years to get an answer from them.

I have been communicating with a family member of a potential husband, this member recently began to take their sweet time replying to any of my emails and infact there is a possibility that they are talking with other interests for him. I have not spoken to him yet due to a difficult circumstances on his part but he did give them the go ahead to give me his contact info. However I really want this family of his to hurry up and send me what i have asked of them. Should I wait for the brother to reply to my letter? or should I take the fact that they are talking to other sisters as a hint?. Note I am not hundred percent sure that they are talking to other sisters just my gut instinct is telling me that they might be.

who are the mods for this section?

P.s. I would really apprecaited if someone would delete the entire thread. Thank you.

I have not found anyone, nor am i expecting to find anyone anymore. Oh well, at least i tried my very best. Jazakallahu khair for your duas

I can't believe some people are getting offended because someone decided to share something that is beneficial to us in this life and next insha allah. I search for videos like this on youtube alot so jazakallahu khair for sharing.

Sister Rose and Brother adnaan jazakallahu khair you truely are good people masha allah.

Blessed, thank you insha allah i will show her this post.

I believe this is her third

A friend told me she had gotten married in secret after her mother said she was not to marry again. Even though an imaam read her nikah is she stil unmarried because her family were unware of the marriage?. I,m really confused whether this is valid marriage because the imaam was there to give her away or invalid because it was a secret marriage.

Ayaanick, i could careless what these two have to say they are just tiring themselves really. To answer your questions, i have done alot actively, i've told my friends and they have introduced me to guys but all of them lacked deen and the number one criteria i look for in a husband is deen, i have also told my mother but she doesn't know anyone at the moment but she said she would keep a look out. As far as the masjid i have expressed to her that maybe that was a good option but, she said its ceeb and if this is something she considers embarrassing than no point in going there. Siren jazakallahu khair. Bless jazakallahu khair for the article iam reading right now, and to the rest of you who gave me wondeful advices, jazakallahu khair insha allah i will take heed in your advices.

^ Thanks, but no thanks i'll stick to making lots of supplications and asking people to do the same for me insha allah.

And how do you know that i don't count my blessings?. How do you know that iam aware that there are people worse then me and thank allah every day that he chose me out all of them to give me a comfortable life?. If i want something i will ask allah first and foremost than my family and allah's ummah to make dua for me and there is no wrong in that. I don't understand how this is affecting you so much, if you don't like that i asked my muslim brothers and sisters to make a simple dua for me than i suggest you to keep out of my topic. P.s. I think this seems like a pretty good forum to come to everytime i have a problem and will again and again.

I misread your post, so stop assuming things and don't worry about what i want in a dua because iam not asking you to make dua for me. Masha allah, everyone else has been kind enough to do that already. Insha allah khair, take care.

I do not have any problems with my condition alhamdulilah. P.s. Of course they will and they already have.

Thank you ones again to all of you. I don't think there is anything wrong with marriage, i think its beautiful and one of allah's blessings and it is part of islam and what is wrong in seeking something that allah made halal. With that said iam not desperate because desperate is someone who will jump in the marriage wagon with any guy who proposis to them, alhamdulilah i have not reached that level nor will i ever.I want to get married, but i also have set criteria, and if he doesn't meet that than its move on to the next potential, it happened many times. Jazallahu khair, i still appreciate for taking the time to say your two cent.