I don’t think we should care about how non-Muslims view these Mourshidah and how they define their roles. For centuries we have had Muslim women teaching other Muslim women and at times men alike. I can only see it as a positive thing. It's important for girls and women to know about their Deen and have a knowledgable female they can discuss this with and not always a male Imam.

Xalimo, I think this 'other' option that is delaying you must be important for you otherwise you would not have considered it. AS long as you know where you're going, slowing down isn't the end of the world, you might get some new perspective along the way and experience another things you might have not if you had followed the original route. It's a matter of which route to take not where you end up,It's not like you're changing your plan is it? Relax and be spontanious, life never works out exactly how you plan it anyways... p.s. if it's a Farax he better be worth it.

Val, I have seen these mineral based make up before but ddin't take note due to the high overload advertising of others. I was interested in Sheh's make up brand as well, especially since reading this today :eek: Washing with soap or shower gel, shampooing your hair, using a deodorant or aftershave or applying make-up are a mundane part of our everyday routine. But a survey carried out by the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health found that 884 chemicals used in personal care products and cosmetics were toxic and estimated that women absorb up to two kilograms of chemicals through toiletries and cosmetics over the course of a year. These products are often classified as “safe” on the grounds that you don’t eat them. Yet make-up is applied externally and consequently is absorbed through the skin directly into your blood stream. Source: http://money.uk.msn.com/mymoney/ethicalmoney/article.aspx?cp-documentid=700933

Lets stick to discussing clothes and not ppl. I for one think its a very MANLY way to dress, especially behind doors.

There is nothing special about women, if only everyone would consider each other human first. As for men and politics, during my IR course, we had this African guy called James, and he always put his foot in it. It was so comical, he even said once how ‘you can mess with women’s minds’ and I watched my die-hard-bra burning feminist Professor turn a shade a red that I have never seen before. Some girls argued with him for a while then gave up. By the end of the year he was slightly more modernized, or at least he knew what to say in front of whom. In general I don’t think gender has much to do with it. There is a really good book about women and diplomacy. Forgot who it was by, a good read and it shows you where exactly the women are in international politics. As for Somali politics, who likes to talk to a wall

http://www.lancome.co.uk/_en/_gb/APPLICATIONS/INDEX.aspx?SECTION=MAQUILLAGE That might help,you click on the right hand side, choose what you want to apply and click on it.

LoL, CC, no I just don't get what all the fuss is about. I respect ppl's pain but no excuse to moan about it. It just seems like unwarranted calaacal.

wondering around: same as wedding , you never know who you will meet around the corner. , but keep it natural. Only go overboard when the occasion calls for it. I get shocked when I see women wearing full on blinding make up on a regualr daily basis(mostly arab girls). You wear make up to work out?! To the gym? Xalimopatra, quiet the eye make up junki aren't you? I can't see anything though?

Poverty, War, climate change, mind-splitting ethical questions, jobs, careers, relationships... Cancer, Arthritis, IBS, Heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, infertility...who gives a toss about PMS? Get over it! Feel moody kulaha, go on a shopping spree, do something to make yourself happy. You’re moody because you’re a miserable person. Like wasting precious time to be depressed is an option? Wallahi some ppl shaqa la aan a kabadatay.

The panic seems to be on the ‘government’ side. Looks like they have something to hide. Indiscriminate shelling of innocent civilians.

Wonderful place, I know I would love to go there... As for the story tellers, sounds like they have fabulous jobs. Imagine sitting in a square all day telling stories.

Ridicules, trade has always been ok between the 2 places. Why not use the money to further development inside Yemen?

^^^ I agree. Nice words LX, nice reminder to enjoy the now.

Khalaf and Cambarro, You are both assuming all Muslims are good, ideally they should be but that is not the reality and asumption is simply not good enough when it comes to such an important issue as STDs.

Khalaf, In general Muslim ppl do not sleep around, and if they don't fear God they fear for their reputation. I was referring to countries where there is LIMITED HEALTH service, eg. Somalia, where it would be wise to limit the number of partners you have. I am not talking about AIDS but STDs which can be easily treated in most cases. So are you trying to tell me, logically, if a man or a woman has STD and the man has more than one wife this disease will not be spread around within that group? I'm not saying it is caused by polygamy but it doesn’t help the situation. Neither am I discussing the righteousness of polygamy nor if AIDS is prevail ant. Disease does not defrenciate according to your marital status.

We all know (or least I hope we do) that STDs are spread through sexual intercourse. The more partners you have the more risk. This is regardless of whether it is husband number 5 or wife number 2! That is a fact, whether you have a different opinion or not. I only mention polygamy because contrary to the believe that its not a common thing, it's quiet the norm in Somalia. I'm done repeating myself.

Johnny B, I couldn't resist... On a serious note, its common sense even if there is no documented proof for this yet.

Ok most of us can agree that Valentines Day makes a mockery out of romance & love (and ppl), I can understand dislike for chocolate, but death to all flower haters!

Cambaro, a very interesting topic. Firstly, nobody is immune from anything; STD in Somalia is just as unshocking as child abuse in Saudi Arabia. The point being, wherever there is reduced health service (as in Somalia) things tend to fester and get out of control. I must agree with your dad, free contraception is the way forward. It’s like banning the use of painkillers just because some people overdose and suicide is the result. Every right and every opportunity in life comes with responsibilities. If it is confidential it would be better. I’m sure people would rather be embarrassed than ill and spread this to their loved ones. Farax’s having 2, 3, 4 wife’s should also consider sticking to one. Even if STD is from the wife, he is bound to spread it to others. (No apologies to all the Xiins, and Nurs and any other champions of polygamy). And thumbs up to HIV testing, I wish they would have that all over Somalia.

Yes double congrats to Bloom Kamiya, my sister has just moved to Sharja, 2 weeks ago. She is liking it there despite the fact that she doesn't know anyone there (her hubby is in Investment Banking) and has been out there for some time. It sounds like a place that is happening. I can't get over the feeling though that the whole UAE thing is a life in transit. Can ppl really settle and live there long term? What's the social life like there? Are there many Somalis?

You friend needs to develop her own mind, I dont think you did anything wrong. Although if you made a promise you should keep it, and that is an entirely different matter. p.s. take Che with you, nac nacdiisa aan ka reysan laheyn.

I say Insha Allah all the time to non-Muslims, most Londoners know what that means anyway. The Islama-phobes get a bit edgy, worried you might have some how uttered a 'terror' phrase. I also take out my book of duacs (Selected Prayers) when some weirdos give you excessive looks on the tube, just to make them uneasy (it has a pic of a mosque on it)

^^ I agree, he means todays Faraxs are fab. I don't think it will get that bad, besides for every 3 Faraxs that shock you there is one that makes up for it. p.s. '7-He will identify himself with the sporting team he likes and their followers instead of his reer hebel hebel tribe.' This has already happened :cool: .

LOL, my ribs ache from laughter, I'm shocked, it doesn't seem right though, I find it disturbing that he is so good. What's with the hands?

We've learned by now to go deaf when the Aussie PM speaks, follow suit everyone...