It's tragic , but nowerdyas there are bombs everywhere. You can get bombed on your way to work, which is as routine as it gets. Do they know who is behind it? Very convenient for OBL to make video and 48 hrs later bang! I'm suspicious here.

Lol khayr, scared of a dog? Don't run, and make eye contact, dogs are not s.tu.pid.

loooooooool Khalf, thats funny. I have to come back for this.

Khalf, pride is a sin, I hate to remind you: Hadith Qudsi 19: On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Allah (mighty and sublime be He) said: Pride is my cloak and greatness My robe, and he who competes with Me in respect of either of them I shall cast into Hell-fire. It was related by Abu Dawud (also by Ibn Majah and Ahmad) with sound chains of authority. This Hadith also appears in Muslim in another version.

Yes well Khalf, pride is just as bad as hate (almost).

There are also the ones that keep the word 'Qabil' a taboo to the extend that they wont even mention where in Somalia they lived in fear of 'revealing' their tribe. You can't solve a problem by ignoring it. They don't help much either. As long as you know that a) the tribe you are dissing could well be in your family tree or part of your ancestory; b) you could have by chance been born into any of the other tribes that you dislike, where it Allah's will; c) that no matter how many ppl diss or praise your tribe, it takes nothing away from you nor does it add anything to your life/tribe. Finally, practise what you preach. The evil of pride creaps into all of our hearts from time to time. Best thing you can do is get on with it and treat everyone with respect and equality.

Yes well then shame on her. Khat is making generations of Somalis idle.

^^^ Why would the Un do anything, the UN is a European & American Club, any others will have to buy their place by cheer might & money (eg. China)

Sorry sis

Well we dont know her circumstance but it would help if she could still teach, there are pleanty of private educational establishments. Khat contributes to famine, do some research.

Good topic, I think the fact that most Msulim ppl I come across WANT a Sharia state is a good start. I don't think the right mechanisms are in place yet. It will be a more powerful movement when it comes from ppl's hearts and spreads outwards. Individuals don't to depend on a state to tell them what's right or not. If Allah's law is practised at home, in the community, surely it will spread to the country, willingly. Jawahir, I think JB is one of thsoe ppl who have rejected the Islamic faith and seeks spiritual fulfilment elswhere.

lol@zafir Scarlet said it all, be more specific. There is a wealth of information on the topic if you are interested in it from whatever view. No need to discuss it here.

This isn't funny you guys. It's tragic. That woman should be teaching, shame on her for lowering herself so easily. Khat trade is creating famine in the Horn beacuse its more profitable to grow khat than crops.

Africa has many problems and if someobody knew the solutions they wouldnt be in that predicament. Lets go over the obvius ones: 1) Bad governance, not only does this affect the populations in those countries but it also scares away frorign investment. West may use corruption as an excuse but Europe knows well enough that the money is lying in Swiss bank accounts and acumulating interest. Also, they help who they want, Israel has a similar climate as Ethiopia, you dont see them starving. 2) World Trade Organisation. World Bank & IMF. 3) Disease, obvious link to bad government and lack of health fascilities. You can also blame strict Christinity, (not sure if its Evangelism or Catholicsim) that prevents ppl using contraception and aiding in the spread of Aids. 4)Envionmental degredation(the amount of trees cut in Somalia must have significantly influenced the famine in the region).Also, Indian ocean being overfished & used as nucler waste dump. And the list goes on... For those of you who think Africans& blacks are St**** why dont you campaign for your white supremists friends.

Rokko I never noticed that. I suppose it depends on the level of fanatisism.

I think you tend to get carried away, ever heard people praying to Allah for Hebel and Hebel to score? lol

Lol@ the last hadith. The man is mysoginist maniac. Without being racist, the ME is traditionally a region that has hated women long before Islam, and it's only natural for them to contuinue this abuse using Islam as a shade. It's all about how you take it. Remember when the Prophet said the best of you are those who are best to your wifes? I think he even repeated it in his last speech. I wonder how this author would take that phrase, he would probably say, 'No, that was misinterpreted'. I think ppl are getting fatigued just by hearing the phrase 'women in islam'.

Ahura Technically speaking it's 4 day working week. It was a lovely break, cant complain about being back, that would be ungrateful. Good tip is to have something to look forward to on friday, doesn't have to be a big thing, just the little pleasures in life, such as a new book, or bunch of flowers, or seeing a new movie for whose release you couldn't wait, or even wearing a new outfit. ***Bliss*** time is flying by.

I posted this in general and realized it should be in the jokes section. > >English around the world >(For Some, English is not Easy) > >In a Bangkok temple: > "IT IS FORBIDDEN TO ENTER A WOMAN, EVEN A FOREIGNER, IF DRESSED AS A >MAN." > >Cocktail lounge, Norway: >"LADIES ARE REQUESTED NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BAR." > >Doctors office, Rome: >"SPECIALIST IN WOMEN AND OTHER DISEASES." > >Dry cleaners, Bangkok: >"DROP YOUR TROUSERS HERE FOR THE BEST RESULTS." > >In a Nairobi restaurant: >"CUSTOMERS WHO FIND OUR WAITRESSES RUDE >OUGHT TO SEE THE MANAGER." > >On an Athi River highway: this is the main road to Mombasa, leaving >Nairobi. >"TAKE NOTICE: WHEN THIS SIGN IS UNDER WATER, THIS ROAD IS IMPASSABLE." > >On a poster at Kencom: >"ARE YOU AN ADULT THAT CANNOT READ? IF SO, WE CAN HELP." > >In a City restaurant: >"OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND WEEKENDS." > >In a cemetery: >"PERSONS ARE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING FLOWERS FROM ANY BUT THEIR OWN >GRAVES." > >Tokyo hotel's rules and regulations: >"GUESTS ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SMOKE OR DO OTHERDISGUSTING BEHAVIOURS IN >BED." > >On the menu of a Swiss restaurant: >"OUR WINES LEAVE YOU NOTHING TO HOPE FOR." > >In a Tokyo bar: >"SPECIAL COCKTAILS FOR THE LADIES WITH NUTS." > >Hotel, Yugoslavia: >"THE FLATTENING OF UNDERWEAR WITH PLEASURE IS THE JOB OF THE >CHAMBERMAID." > >Hotel, Japan: >"YOU ARE INVITED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHAMBERMAID." > >In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox monastery: >"YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT THE CEMETERY WHERE FAMOUS RUSSIAN AND SOVIET >COMPOSERS, ARTISTS, AND WRITERS ARE BURIED DAILY EXCEPT THURSDAY." > >A sign posted in Germany's Black Forest: >"IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN ON OUR BLACK FOREST CAMPING SITE THAT PEOPLE >OF DIFFERENT SEX, FOR INSTANCE, MEN AND WOMEN, LIVE TOGETHER IN ONE TENT >UNLESS THEY ARE MARRIED WITH EACH OTHER FOR THIS PURPOSE." > >Hotel, Zurich: >"BECAUSE OF THE IMPROPRIETY OF ENTERTAINING GUESTS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX >IN THE BEDROOM, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE LOBBY BE USED FOR THIS >PURPOSE." > >Advertisement for donkey rides, Thailand: >"WOULD YOU LIKE TO RIDE ON YOUR OWN *** ?" > >Airline ticket office, Copenhagen: > "WE TAKE YOUR BAGS AND SEND THEM IN ALL DIRECTIONS." > >A laundry in Rome: > "LADIES, LEAVE YOUR CLOTHES HERE AND SPEND THE AFTERNOON HAVING A >GOOD TIME"

Nur, I understand what you are saying but (you knew there was a but coming) there comes a time in even the most domestic type of woman's life when she will have more time on her hands than is necessary for her family. What about divorcees? Unmarried women? Childless women? Middle aged women with grown children? The point is not how many women would do it but to have the option to do it (if Allah agrees with it). Khayr, I fully respect housewives. I know women don't need to behave like men to be of equal status to them. Having said that, there is still a lot more that women can contribute towards the advancement of their fellow humankind. There are some decisions that effect women and the quality of their life, so how can women shape their future without only having to depend on voting (which we all know is scarce in Muslim countries as it is)? What about midwifes, nurses, teachers, and professors? And these are only the traditionally women friendly jobs. Long hours, late hours, and lack of part time hours are all another way to keep women out of the working world. Many sisters are even choosing careers that will allow them flexebility later on in life should they need it. Technology is evolving, women , especially Muslim women need to take advantage of this. p.s. Khayr, MPs are very women friendly jobs. They have many opportunities to work independetly, long holidays, and only have to be there when parliment is holding session. (At least in this country. ) Major derailment from topic. Sorry.

I don't believe all somali males contributed to this and it is largely driven by the cultural machination. Xoogsade, I don't think women enjoy mutilating each other. They are/were under the impression that it's what pleases men, and an unmutilated girl would never have secured a husband. Thus, men have EVERYTHING to do with it. But we can't pin point individuals. Now certain men who have come to these countries, demand or indicate that they would prefer ‘natural’ women, whilst those who went through it all are rejected because men have 'changed their minds’. The irony & tragedy of it all. I am not condeming personal choice, however, it seems women loose out twice.

A few years ago I would have been so outraged with such a Hadith, I can see how a lot of women would be annoyed with it. (and that’s an understatement) As long as women can participate in parliament and in the important decision making process like Naden said, it would not matter if they had a role that is a mere symbol of power. The way politics is heading, it will be rare in future to find a leader that has absolute power over his people. Even if he is a leader of a Khalifa state, I’m sure some kind of decision sharing process would be included, keeping in mind that a large majority of Muslim states have royalty as leaders/heads of states. I personally do believe women have more influence than they are aware of and they should strengthen their positions rather than undermining their current roles. Amelia, for men to get a hand from Allah in dealing with women should be a clear sign that surely they wouldn't manage without Him. Imagine if Allah didn't make the role of men/women explicit in the Qur'an, the men would have been overrun in a day. Keep going, this is fascinating.

Ibtisam, my goodness, you are getting proposals right and left, that should solve all your problems. Perhaps people should declare themselves a damsel in dsitress without a murham more often. Ibtisam, if you are going alone, (under no circumstance would I travel with a group of guys) it's a lot safer if you have your money and won't need to work as you travel & to stay in decent hotels in well known cities. You can always join us once you get to N Africa.

Lol Amelia, Well Yahoo is having a jab at saqajanimo once in a while, I think he is debating whether to fully convert himself to that school or perhaps stick with the other multi-personality that delivers mature and good advice from time to time. Who has brothers and fathers on stand-by for everytime you feel like traveling? I know this is an issue for Islam pages but I thought it was discouraged to travel alone I didn't know there was a Sura explicidly banning it? Im off to battle with the ppl on the tube.

A group of marriages you say? I have a father who is highly interested if not desparate to fill the role of Inspector of Future Prospects or Matchmaker whatever you want to call it Nur, he asks the same Q couple of months or so and is sadly declined every time. We shall see.