Woe is me! Is this the warm reception I recieve when I return from a transient respite. I see the "Boredom" thread has been excavated, the general caption has been returned. Whence is all this madness, Good citizens of SOL? I wonder if the Baros and thier introductory threads will be resurrected too, a spine-chilling revelation indeed. But present trepidations are worse than horrible imaginings (the Baro), so I will entertain these thoughts no more! With Salaams PK P.S. Our fair lady, Seven of Nine, is a moderator. This discovery gave me a good chuckle.

Nomads It has often been asserted by a great many audaciously ambitous philosophers, "thriving" theologions, and emminent ethical scientists that the rationale or the motivation, as it were, behind any Human deed is, invariably, selfishness. The selfishness I am concerned with is not the evolutionary selfishness Richard Dawkins delinates in his pseudo-philosophical book The Selfish Gene. It is imperative to apprehend that the concept of selfishness is, indeed, a mulifaceted one. The moral and religous dimensions of selfishness is the subject matter of this enquiry. At the risk of committing a dicto simplicter or a sweeping generalization, I am in accord with the statement of many muslim theologians (mutakallimun), Gnostics ('irfanis), and philosophers (falasifah) that all Human actions are, forsooth, selfish in nature. This is not to say that selfishness is an unfavorable characteristic or trait; in fact, sometimes being selfish can yeild a most colossal dividend in the immediate herein and the hereafter. Although the word selfishness engenders a negative connotation, it need not always posses this signification. A selfish person is an individual who is chiefly and/or ultimately concerned with himself/herself. For instance, one prays to God, so that God, exalted be He, may bestow his mercy by granting one Paradise. Thusly, one is concerned with what one will obtain for oneself (i.e. paradise); it is a most selfish but reputable deed. Do you worship Allah out of sheer love or do you worship Him so as to avoid the torment that is Hell fire? Of course, there is one conspicuous exception to this pervasive proposition. A number of Sufi mystical masters claim, with cogent argument, that they worship Allah not of fear of Hell fire nor of a yearning for Paradise but of sheer Love. This is expressed eloquently in the "Ruba'iyyat" or the "quatrains" of Umar Khayyam , the eleventh century muslim mathematician and astronomer, and in the poems of the great Sufi, Jalaludiin Rumi. Some persons might fulminate, "all human actions are selfish? Surely this is a great lie!" What of a mother who, not being a natatorial creature, whilst attempting to save her drowning son, also drowns? How be she selfish even though she drowns? O! what a riddle of absurdity! Be it so, the dying mother still is ever selfish too. Wherefore did this mother leap into this dire den of death? Assuredly, the demise of the son is for the mother a bane and not a boon. The mother desires not to experience a biting affliction and agony. The death will have a deterimental effect on her health and spirit. Should her son die, then she will forever mourn in grief. On the other hand, should her son be alive and well, then she will be merry and gay. In the end, whether one's actions and deeds stem from Divine Injunctions, Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, Kant's Categorical Imperative, G.E. Moore's Principa Ethica, the action will ultimately be self-motivated and selfish. Think you that Humans, by selfishness, thrive? Perhaps we ought to give credence to the American Writer, Mark Twain (psedonym), for enunciating that " All our acts, reasoned and unreasoned, are selfish. " With Salaams PK

حب آل محمد صلى اللّه عليه وسلم قال الشاÙعي ÙÙŠ حب آل محمَّد صلى اللّه عليه وسلم: تَأَوَّهَ قَلْبÙÙŠ وَالÙؤَاد٠كَئÙيب٠= وَأَرَّقَ نَوْمÙÙŠ ÙالسّÙهَاد٠عَجÙيْب٠Ùَمَنْ Ù…ÙبْلÙغ٠عَنّÙÙŠ الحÙسَيْنَ رÙسَالَةٌ = ÙˆÙŽØ¥Ùنْ كرهتها Ø£ÙŽÙ†Ùسٌ ÙˆÙŽÙ‚ÙÙ„Ùوب٠ذَبيحٌ بÙلاَ جÙرْم٠كَأَنَّ Ù‚ÙŽÙ…Ùيصَه٠= صَبÙيغٌ بÙمَاء٠الأÙرْجÙوان٠خَضÙيب٠ÙÙŽÙ„ÙلسَّيْÙ٠إÙعْوَالٌ ÙˆÙŽÙ„ÙلرّÙÙ…Ùح٠رَنَّةٌ = ÙˆÙŽÙ„Ùلْخَيْل٠مÙنْ بَعْد٠الصَّهÙيل٠نَحيب٠تَزَلْزَلَت٠الدّÙنْيَا لآÙÙ„Ù Ù…Ùحَمَّد٠= وَكَادَتْ Ù„ÙŽÙ‡Ùمْ صÙمّ٠الجÙبَال٠تَذÙوب٠وَغَارَتْ Ù†ÙجÙومٌ وَاقْشَعَرَّتْ كَوَاكÙبٌ = ÙˆÙŽÙ‡ÙتّÙÙƒÙŽ أَسْتَارٌ، ÙˆÙŽØ´Ùقَّ جÙÙŠÙوب٠يÙصَلَّى عَلَى الْمَبْعÙوث٠مÙنْ آل٠هَاشÙÙ…Ù = ÙˆÙŽÙŠÙغْزَى بَنÙوهÙ!! Ø¥Ùنَّ ذَا لَعَجÙيب٠لَئÙنْ كَانَ ذَنْبÙÙŠ Ø­Ùبّ آل٠مÙحَمَّد٠= ÙَذلÙÙƒÙŽ ذَنْبٌ لَسْت٠عَنْه٠أَتÙوب٠هÙÙ…Ù Ø´ÙÙَعَائÙÙŠ يَومَ حَشْرÙÙŠ وَموْقÙÙÙÙŠ = Ø¥Ùذَا مَا بَدَتْ Ù„ÙلنَّاظÙرÙينَ Ø®ÙØ·Ùوب٠Source

No. I have a short fuse, so even the most amicable Nomad would taste my ire.

Feel not abashed if you are oblivious, Good Raula, because it is quite natural. I suppose by "philosophically" you meant "theoritically"; it is a minor error of diction non-native writers often make. In any event, whenever you do not know what you mean, just ask me. With Salaams PK

Originally posted by raula: its IMPOSSIBLE but phisolosophically it might work ). :eek:

As the poet pronounced: إن الÙقيه هـو الÙقيـه بÙعلـه ليس الÙقيـه بنطقـه ومقالـه وكذا الرئيس هو الرئيس بخلقه ليس الرئيس بقومه ورجالـه وكذا الغني هو الغني بحالـه ليس الغنـي بملكـه وبمالـه

I am currently re-reading some old favourites. I find it arduous, if not impossible, to read one book at a time; thusly, I read four or five books at a time. An effective way of palliating boredom methinks. The following is content of my delish dish English The Brothers Karmazov - Fyodor Dostoyevsky- there is much philosophical themes in this novella. Ulysses - oh what a masterpiece it is-- By James Joyce. Though this is the fifth time I am perusing this book, Joyce is pussiantly intimidating. This I love... Jane Austin- Pride and Prejudice-- Woe to he has deprived his mind of a literary feast. Arabic The counsel of the Birds منطق الطير . A profound mystical poetry by Faridu'd-Din Attar تلاقي الارب ÙÙŠ مراقي الادب The Diiwaan of As-safti With Salaams PK

But seriously I had work experience placement at a Chapters branch...and while I was working there they decided to remove all the chairs and couches from the stores What Chapters branch is this? I have not been to any Chapters bookstore in a month. I hope this is not the case with all the Chapters stores, because I have read many a book, and oh how many, without purchasing it.

I heartily endorse this decision. It was perhaps overdue. With Salaams, PK

أنا الموت إلا أنني غير صــابر على أنÙس الأبطال والموت يصبر أنا الأسد الحامي حمى من يلوذ بي ÙˆÙعلي له وص٠الى الدهر يذكـر إذا ما لقيت الموت عممت رأسـه بسي٠على شرب الدمـا يتجوهر سوادي بياض حين تبدو شمـائلي ÙˆÙعلي على الأنساب يزهو ويÙخر ألا Ùليعش جـاري عزيزا وينثني عدوي ذليلا نادمــــا يتحسر هزمت تميما ثم جندلت كبشهـم وعدت وسيÙÙŠ من دم القوم أحمر بني عبس سودوا ÙÙŠ القبائل واÙخروا بعبد له Ùوق السماكين منبــر إذا ما منادي الحي نادى أجبته وخيل المنايا بالجماجم تعثــر سل المشرÙÙŠ الهندواني ÙÙŠ يدي يخبرك عني أنني أنا عنتـــر إذا كان أمر الله أمـــرا يقدر Ùكي٠يمر المرء منــه ويحذر لقد هان عندي الدهر لما عرÙته وأني بما تخبر الملمــات أخبر وليس سباع البر مثل ضباعــه ولا كل من خاض العجاجـة عنتر سلوا صر٠هذا الدهر كم شن غارة ÙÙرجتهـــا والموت Ùيها مشمر بصــارم عزم لو ضربت بحده دجى الليل ولى وهو بالنجم يعثـر دعوني أجد السعي ÙÙŠ طلب العلا Ùأدرك سؤلي أو أموت Ùأعــذر ولا تختشوا ممــا يقدر ÙÙŠ غد Ùما جاءنـا من عالم الغيب مخبر وكم من نذير قد أتانــا محذرا Ùكان رسولا ÙÙŠ السرور يبشـر Ù‚ÙÙŠ وانظري يا عبل Ùعلي وعايني طعاني إذا ثار العجاج المكــدر ترى بطلا يلقى الÙوارس ضاحكا ويرجع عنهم وهو أشعث أغبـر ولا ينثني حتى يخلي جماجمــا تمر بها ريح الجنوب ÙتصÙــر وأجساد قوم يسكن الطير حولها إلى أن يرى وحش الÙلاة ÙينÙـر The poet is none other than our black brethren, Cantara.

Ø£ÙŽÙ…Ùنْ Ø£Ùمّ٠أَوْÙÙŽÙ‰ دÙمْنَةٌ لَـمْ تَكَـلَّم٠بÙـحَوْمانَة الـدَّرَّاج٠ÙَالْـمÙتَثَلَّـم٠وَدارٌ لَهَـا بÙالرَّقْمَتَيْـن٠كَأَنَّهَـا مَراجÙيع٠وَشْم٠ÙÙŠ نَواشÙـر٠مÙعْصَـم٠بÙهَا العَيْن٠وَالأَرْآم٠يَمْشÙينَ Ø®ÙلْÙَةً وَأَطْـلاؤÙهَا يَنْهَضْنَ Ù…Ùنْ ÙƒÙلّ٠مَجْثَم٠وَقَÙْت٠بÙهَا Ù…Ùنْ بَعْد٠عÙشْرÙينَ Ø­Ùجَّـةً Ùَـلأيَاً عَرَÙْت٠الـدَّارَ بَـعْدَ تَـوَهّÙم٠أَثَاÙÙيَّ سÙÙْعَاً ÙÙŠ Ù…Ùعَرَّس٠مÙرْجَـل٠وَنÙـؤْيَاً كَجÙذْم٠الحَوْض٠لَـمْ يَتَثَلَّم٠Ùَلَمَّا عَرَÙْت٠الدَّارَ Ù‚Ùلْت٠لÙرَبْعÙهَـا أَلا انْعÙمْ صَبَاحَاً Ø£ÙŽÙŠÙهَا الرَّبْع٠وَاسْلَـم٠تَبَصَّرْ خَليلÙÙŠ هَلْ تَرَى Ù…Ùنْ ظَعائÙـن٠تَـحَمَّلْنَ بÙـالْعَلْياء٠مÙنْ Ùَوْق٠جÙرْثَم٠جَعَلْنَ الْقَنَانَ عَنْ يَـمÙين٠وَحَزْنَـه٠وَكَمْ بÙـالقَنَان٠مÙنْ Ù…ÙـحÙلّ٠وَمÙحْرÙم٠عَلَوْنَ بÙأَنْمَاط٠عÙتَـاق٠وَكÙـلَّة٠وÙرَاد٠حَوَاشÙـيهَا Ù…ÙشَـاكÙهَة٠الـدَّم٠وَوَرَّكْنَ ÙÙŠ السّÙوبَان٠يَعْلÙوْنَ مَتْنَـه٠عَلَـيْهÙنَّ دَلّ٠الـنَّـاعÙم٠الـمÙـتَنَعّÙم٠بَكَرْنَ بÙÙƒÙورًا وَاسْتَحَرْن بÙسÙحْـرَة٠ÙÙŽÙ‡Ùـنَّ وَوَادÙÙŠ الـرَّسّ٠كَالْيَد٠لÙـلْÙÙŽÙ…Ù ÙˆÙŽÙÙيهÙنَّ مَلْهَىً Ù„ÙلَّطÙيـÙ٠وَمَنْظَرٌ Ø£ÙŽÙ†Ùـيـقٌ Ù„Ùعَـيْن٠الـنَّاظÙر٠الـمÙتَوَسّÙم٠كَأَنَّ ÙÙتَاتَ الْعÙهْن٠ÙÙŠ ÙƒÙلّ٠مَنْزÙل٠نَزَلْنَ بÙـه٠حَبّ٠الْـÙَنَا لَـمْ ÙŠÙحَطَّم٠Ùَلَمَّا وَرَدْنَ المَاءَ زÙرْقَاً جÙـمَامÙه٠وَضَـعْنَ عÙـصÙيَّ الـحَاضÙر٠المÙتَخَيّÙم٠ظَهَرْنَ Ù…ÙÙ†ÙŽ السّÙوبَان٠ثÙمَّ جَزَعْنَـه٠عَلَى ÙƒÙلّ٠قَـيْنÙيّ٠قَـشÙيب٠وَمÙÙ€Ùْأَم٠Ùَأَقْسَمْت٠بÙالْبَيْت٠الذّÙÙŠ طَاÙÙŽ حَوْلَه٠رÙجَـالٌ بَـنَوْه٠مÙنْ Ù‚Ùـرَيْش٠وَجÙرْهÙÙ…Ù ÙŠÙŽÙ…Ùـينًا Ù„ÙŽÙ†Ùعْمَ الـسَّيدَان٠وÙجÙـدْتÙمَا عَـلَى ÙƒÙلّ٠حَـال٠مÙنْ سَحÙيل٠وَمÙبْرَم٠تَدَارَكْتÙما عَبْسَاً ÙˆÙŽØ°Ùبْـيَانَ بَـعْدَمَا تَـÙَانَوْا وَدَقّÙـوا بَـيْنَهÙمْ عÙطْرَ مَنْشَم٠وَقَدْ Ù‚ÙلْتÙمَا Ø¥Ùنْ Ù†ÙدْرÙك٠السّÙلْمَ وَاسÙعاً بÙـمَال٠وَمَـعْرÙÙˆÙÙ Ù…ÙÙ†ÙŽ الْقَوْل٠نَسْلَم٠ÙَأَصْبَحْتÙمَا Ù…Ùنْهَا عَـلَى خَيْر٠مَوْطÙن٠بَـعÙيدَيْن ÙÙيهَا Ù…Ùنْ عÙÙ‚Ùوق٠وَمَـأْثَم٠عَظÙيمَيْن٠ÙÙŠ عÙلْيَا مَـعَدّ٠هÙدÙيْتÙمَـا وَمَنْ يَسْتَبÙحْ كَنْزَاً Ù…Ùنْ المَجْد٠يَعْظÙم٠تÙـعَÙÙ‘ÙŽÙ‰ الْـكÙÙ„Ùوم٠بÙالْمÙئيÙÙ†ÙŽ Ùَأَصْبَحَتْ ÙŠÙـنَجّÙÙ…Ùهَا مَنْ لَـيْسَ ÙÙيهَا بÙـمÙجْرÙÙ…Ù ÙŠÙـنَـجّÙÙ…Ùهَا قَوْمٌ Ù„Ùـقَـوْم٠غَـرَامَةً وَلَـمْ ÙŠÙهَرÙيقÙوا بَيْنَهÙمْ Ù…Ùلْءَ Ù…Ùحْجَم٠Ùَـأَصْبَحَ يَـجْرÙÙŠ ÙÙيهÙÙ…Ù Ù…Ùنْ تÙلاَدÙÙƒÙمْ مَغَـانÙم٠شَتَّى Ù…Ùـنْ Ø¥ÙÙَـال٠مÙـزَنَّم٠أَلاَ أَبْلÙـغ٠الأَحْلاَÙÙŽ عَـنّÙÙŠ رÙسَـالَةً ÙˆÙŽØ°Ùبْـيَانَ هَلْ أَقْسَمْتم٠كÙـلَّ Ù…Ùـقْسَم٠Ùَلاَ تَـكْتÙÙ…Ùنَّ اللهَ مَا ÙÙÙŠ Ù†ÙÙ€ÙÙوسÙÙƒÙمْ Ù„ÙـيَخْÙÙŽÙ‰ وَمَهْمَا ÙŠÙـكْتَم٠الله٠يَـعْلَم٠يÙـؤَخَّرْ ÙÙŽÙŠÙوضَعْ Ùـي ÙƒÙتَاب٠ÙÙŽÙŠÙدَّخَرْ Ù„Ùـيَوْم٠الْحÙسَاب٠أَوْ ÙŠÙعَجَّلْ ÙَـيÙنْقَم٠وَمَا الـحَرْب٠إÙلاَّ مَـا عَلÙمْتمْ ÙˆÙŽØ°ÙقْتÙم٠وَمَا Ù‡Ùـوَ عَنْهَا بÙـالحَدÙيث٠المÙرَجَّم٠مَتَـى تَـبْعَثÙوهَا تَـبْعَثÙوهَا Ø°ÙŽÙ…Ùـيمَةً وَتَضْـرَ Ø¥Ùذَا ضَـرَّيْتÙÙ…Ùوهَا Ùَـتَضْرَم٠ÙَـتَعْرÙككÙم٠عَرْكَ الـرَّحَى بÙـثÙÙَالÙهَا وَتَلْـقَحْ ÙƒÙشَاÙَاً Ø«Ùمَّ تÙنْـتَجْ ÙَـتÙتْئÙÙ…Ù ÙَتÙنْـتÙجْ Ù„ÙŽÙƒÙمْ غÙلْمَانَ أَشْـأَمَ ÙƒÙـلّÙÙ‡Ùمْ كَأَحْمَر٠عَـاد٠ثÙمَّ تÙـرْضÙعْ ÙَـتَÙْطÙÙ…Ù ÙَـتÙغْلÙلْ Ù„ÙŽÙƒÙمْ مَا لاَ تÙـغÙلّ٠لأَهْلÙهَا Ù‚Ùرَىً بÙـالْعÙرَاق٠مÙنْ Ù‚ÙŽÙ€ÙÙيز٠وَدÙرْهَم٠لَعَمْرÙÙŠ لَـنÙعْمَ الـحَيّ٠جَـرَّ عَلَيْهÙم٠بÙمَا لاَ ÙŠÙوَاتÙيهÙÙ… Ø­Ùصَيْن٠بْن٠ضَمْضَم٠وَكَانَ Ø·ÙŽÙˆÙŽÙ‰ كَـشْحًا عَلَى Ù…ÙسْتَكÙنَّة٠Ùَـلاَ Ù‡Ùـوَ أَبْدَاهَا وَلَـمْ يَـتَقَدَّم٠وَقَالَ سَأَقْضÙÙŠ حَـاجَتÙÙŠ Ø«Ùـمَّ أَتَّقÙÙŠ عَـدÙوّÙÙŠ بÙأَلْÙÙ Ù…Ùنْ وَرَائÙـيَ Ù…Ùلْجَم٠Ùَشَـدَّ وَلَـمْ ÙŠÙÙ€ÙْزÙعْ بÙـيÙوتاً ÙƒÙŽØ«Ùيَرةً لَدَى حَيْث٠أَلْقَتْ رَحْلَهَا Ø£Ùمّ٠قَشْعَم٠لَدَى أَسَـد٠شَاكÙÙŠ الـسÙلاح٠مÙقَذَّÙ٠لَـه٠لÙبَـدٌ أَظْÙَـارÙه٠لَـمْ تÙـقَلَّم٠جَـرÙيء٠مَتَى ÙŠÙـظْلَمْ ÙŠÙعَاقÙبْ بÙظÙلْمÙه٠سَـرÙيعاً ÙˆÙŽØ¥Ùلا ÙŠÙـبْدَ بÙالظّÙلْم٠يَـظْلÙم٠رَعَـوْا ظÙـمْأَهÙمْ حَتَى Ø¥Ùذَا تَمَّ أَوْرَدÙوا غÙمَـارَاً تَـÙَرَّى بÙالسّÙلاح٠وَبÙـالدَّم٠Ùَقَضَّوْا مَـنَايا بَـيْنَهÙمْ Ø«Ùـمَّ أَصْدَرÙوا Ø¥Ùلـى كَـلإÙÙÙÙ Ù…ÙسْـتَوْبÙÙ„Ù Ù…ÙـتَوَخّÙم٠لَـعَمْرÙÙƒÙŽ مَا جَرَّت عَلَيْهÙمْ رÙماحÙÙ‡Ùمْ دَمَ ابـن٠نَهÙيك٠أَو قَتÙـيل٠الـمÙثَلَّم٠وَلا شَـارَكَتْ ÙÙŠ الموْت٠ÙÙÙŠ دَم٠نَوْÙَل٠وَلا وَهَب٠مÙنْهÙÙ… وَلا ابْـن٠المÙخَزَّم٠ÙÙŽÙƒÙـلاً أَراهÙـمْ أَصْـبَحÙوا يَـعْقÙÙ„Ùونَه٠صَـحÙيحَات٠مَال٠طَالÙعَات٠بÙمَخْرَم٠لَحÙيّ٠حÙـلال٠يَـعْصÙم٠النَّاسَ أَمْرَهÙمْ Ø¥Ùذا طَرَقَتْ Ø¥ÙحْدÙÙ‰ الَّـليَالÙÙŠ بÙÙ…Ùعْظَم٠كÙرَام٠Ùَلا Ø°ÙÙˆ الـضّÙغْن٠يÙدْرÙك٠تَبْلَه٠وَلا الجَارÙم٠الـجَانÙÙŠ عَلَيْهÙمْ بÙÙ…Ùسْلَم٠سَئÙمْت٠تَكَالÙÙŠÙÙŽ الـحَياة٠وَمَنْ يَعÙشْ ثَـمَانÙينَ حَوْلاً لا أَبَـا Ù„ÙŽÙƒÙŽ يَـسْأَم٠وأَعْـلَم٠مَا ÙÙÙŠ الْيَوْم٠وَالأَمْس٠قَبْلَه٠وَلـكÙنّني عَـنْ عÙلْم٠مَا ÙÙÙŠ غَد٠عَم٠رَأَيْت٠المَنَايَا خَبْطَ عَشْوَاءَ مَنْ تÙصÙبْ تÙـمÙتْه٠وَمَنْ تÙـخْطÙىءْ ÙŠÙعَمَّرْ Ùَيَهْرَم٠وَمَنْ لَـمْ ÙŠÙـصَانÙعْ ÙÙŠ Ø£ÙÙ…Ùور٠كَثÙيرة٠يÙـضَرَّسْ بÙأَنْيَاب٠وَيÙـوْطَأْ بÙمَنْسÙم٠وَمَنْ يَجْعَل٠المَعْرÙÙˆÙÙŽ Ù…Ùنْ دÙون٠عÙرْضÙÙ‡Ù ÙŠÙŽÙÙرْه٠وَمَنْ لا يَتَّق٠الـشَّتْمَ ÙŠÙشْتَم٠وَمَنْ يَـك٠ذَا Ùَـضْل٠Ùَيَبْخَلْ بÙÙَضْلÙه٠عَلَى قَـوْمÙÙ‡Ù ÙŠÙسْـتَغْنَ عَنْه٠وَيÙذْمَم٠وَمَنْ ÙŠÙـوْÙ٠لا ÙŠÙذْمَمْ وَمَنْ ÙŠÙهْدَ قَلْبÙه٠إÙلى Ù…ÙـطْمَئÙنّ٠الْـبÙرّ٠لا يَتَجَمْجَم٠وَمَنْ هَـابَ أَسْـبَابَ الـمَنَايَا يَنَلْنَه٠وَإÙنْ يَرْقَ أَسْـبَابَ السَّمَاء٠بÙـسÙلَّم٠وَمَنْ يَجْعَل٠المَعْرÙÙˆÙÙŽ ÙÙÙŠ غَيْر٠أَهْلÙÙ‡Ù ÙŠÙŽÙƒÙنْ حَـمْدÙه٠ذَماً عَـلَيْه٠وَيَـنْدَم٠وَمَنْ يَـعْص٠أَطْـراÙÙŽ الزّÙجَاج٠ÙÙŽØ¥Ùنَّه٠يÙـطÙيع٠الـعَوَالÙÙŠ رÙكّÙبَتْ ÙƒÙلَّ لَهْذَم٠وَمَنْ لَـمْ يَـذÙدْ عَنْ حَوْضÙه٠بÙسÙلاحÙÙ‡Ù ÙŠÙـهَدَّمْ وَمَنْ لا يَظْلÙم٠الـنَّاسَ ÙŠÙظْلَم٠وَمَنْ يَـغْتَرÙبْ يَحْسÙبْ عَدÙواً صَدÙيقَه٠وَمَنْ لا ÙŠÙكَرّÙمْ Ù†ÙŽÙ€Ùْسَه٠لا ÙŠÙـكَرَّم٠وَمَهْمَا تَـكÙنْ عÙنْدَ أمرÙيء٠مَنْ خَلÙيقَة٠وَإÙنْ خَالَهَا تَخْÙÙŽÙ‰ عَلَى النَّاس٠تÙعْلَم٠وَكَائÙÙ† تَرَى Ù…Ùنْ صَامÙت٠لَكَ Ù…ÙعْجÙب٠زÙيَـادَتÙـه٠أَو نَقْصÙÙ‡Ù ÙÙÙŠ الـتَّكَلÙÙ…Ù Ù„Ùسَان٠الÙَتَى Ù†ÙصْÙÙŒ ÙˆÙŽÙ†ÙصْÙÙŒ ÙÙؤَادÙÙ‡Ù Ùَـلَمْ يَبْقَ إَلا صÙورَة٠الـلَّحْم٠وَالدَّم٠وَإَنَّ سَÙَاهَ الـشَّيْخ٠لا Ø­Ùلْمَ بَـعْدَه٠وَإÙنَّ الـÙَتَى بَعْدَ الـسَّÙَاهَة٠يَحْلÙم٠سَألْـنَا ÙَأَعْطَيْتÙمْ وَعÙدْنَا ÙَـعÙدْتÙم٠وَمَنْ أَكْثَرَ الـتَّسْآلَ يَوْماً سَيÙحْرَم٠web page

Eid Mubarak SOL Nomads. Eid Mubarak, Brothers and Sisters.

Originally posted by Farax Despiser: P.S. I NOminate Mutakalim for the "JERK" of the year award. NO one else comes even close. [/QB] I feel humbled.

Originally posted by Farax Despiser: Men are jerks simply cause they are men...try not to understand them. They are simple creatures with simple needs. Thats all a woman needs to know. I suppose this is but one of the many medicore attempts at comicality you perform. If only you were witty...

Originally posted by OG_Girl: Bari_Nomad, Nayaa !!! aaa??!! Awalan, Adeka Nayaa meika samesanin. So don't call me Nayaa :mad: :mad: Salam This goes without saying, I just love your Somali.

As دريد بن الصمة so eloquently said:- لقد أسمعت لو ناديت حيـا ولكن لا حياة لمن تنادي ولو نارا Ù†Ùخت بها أضاءت ولكن أنت تنÙØ® ÙÙŠ رماد This will be my last reply. We have derailed the topic far enough.

O the irony! The emoticon you have emoted is the self-same emotion elicited by your reply. The topic of discussion is the science, as it were, of the integration and assimilation of Muslims. You, naturally, like to wallow in the mud by criticizing and castigating your superiors (I mean this in every sense of the word). If you are going to criticize a scholar, then you must conduct an exhaustive and comprehensive research. In other words, read all the books the Sayid has written and see whether or not it is in accordance with the divine injunctions. You see, to know whether or not the said scholar is incorrect requires that you have an impeccable islamic erudition. To borrow J11's words, it takes a scholar to criticize a scholar. P.S. I think the Admin has already warned you about "bad-mouthing" scholars, thusly your life expectancy on SOL is unfavorable.

Viking: Do not expend even the least of energy in replying to this lad. Aye, in his "salad days" he is. أعرض عن الجاهل السÙيه **Ùكل مـا قـال Ùهـو Ùيـه ما ضر بحر الÙرات يومـاً***إن خاض بعض الكلاب Ùيه Salafi: Are you sure you do not mean "misconstrue"? Or are you going to warn me about the dangers of using a "dictionary". I hope you can appreciate the straw man (courtesy NGONGE).

I think there is a Prophetic (saw) hadith which states; that Khilafa stays with family of the Prophet (saw). Interesting. What do you mean by "stays with the family"? Do you mean that true Khilafah belongs to the family of the prophet? Do you understand the far-reaching implications of this hadith?

Nomads In any academic and formal discussion, it is imperative that there be a definition and conception agreed to by all parties. Analysis requires that one analyze the words before one commences to analyze the "relationship" between the concept of the words. I will once more reiterate (bear with me) the meaning of these two words in this "context": Assimilation The process whereby a minority group gradually adopts the customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture. Source: Webster's Dictionary Integration The bringing of people of different racial or ethnic groups into unrestricted and equal association, as in society or an organization; desegregation. Source: American Heritage Dictionary The point I intially made still stands: the terms are not synonyms. There is a causal relationship(integration, the cause; assimilation, the effect), but the two concepts cannot be used interchangeably. Again, this is not to say that there is no relationship between the concepts of integration and assimilation. What is the rationale behind integrating a minority? Is integration an "end-in-itself" or is it a means to another end, namely, assimilation? Integration, it seems, more often than not leads to assimilation. However, it does not not always lead to assimilation. There is no doubt that the West desires that muslims be assimilated. In his controversial book, The Clash of Civilizations , Hunnigton delinates that there needs must be a unbreakable cohesion among the constituents of a civilization if that civilization is to attain supremacy. In other words, Muslims that live in Western socities will undermine the eventual "clash of civilizations" if they do not assimilate (espouse the self-same belief system of the west). As some Nomads have already mentioned, when muslims resist to assimilate, the goverment actively "coerces" them to assimilate (the French Ban on Hijabs). The whole facsade of the tolerance of "multiculturlism" and "diversity" is a mere euphemism. Diversity is that which the western society upholds, not the beliefs and practices of Humankind. It is quite evident that even many so-called Muslims have been assimilated without goverment coercsion. Unfortunately, I think 4th and 5th generation muslims in west will almost definately be assimalted, illa maa raxima rabbii , except when my Lord bestows His mercy. We should not look at "integration" with extreme pessimism and cynicism; instead, we should be catiously optimistic about the results it will have on our creed. The only way a Muslim will survive this "ruse" or "strategem" is by grasping what Allah refers to as "Al-curwatul wuthqaa" or the "truthful handhold" which is the true islamic caqeedah. In the quran there are many verses that speak about subterfuges of this nature; Wa lan tardaa cankal yahuudu walannasaaraa xatta tattabica millatahum , Never will the Jews or Christians be pleased with you till you follow their religion. Insha Ar-Rahiim, if we hold on to the truthful handhold (one has to actively learn about the religon to survive), then Allah will endow us with the spiritual and material "mechanisms". Baashi:- Yes, I read a whole range of islamic literature. Although my specialty and "love" is Islamic Philosophy, I have always taken the liberty to read all Islamic scholars regardless of their camp of articulation (i.e. school of thought) and setting (i.e. time and place). With respect to your concern about voting, voting in an unislamic goverment is impermissible. Sayyid Qutb did not believe that voting could ever be permissible. There is no actual "necessity" to vote. Some contemporary and modern muslim scholars state that there is a necessity to vote. In democratic systems, only those who have "representation" will be safe-guarded. However, this is not entirely true because even if Muslims are not "represented" they will not be collectively mistreated. For instance, there will not be a mass rounding-up of Muslims if they do not vote. Given that political inactivity is not a "life-threatning" scenario anymore than political particiption, there is no real necessity to vote. Whilst I believe that by voting Muslims will be able to mollify or lessen the friction they experience, it is not "necessary". One can only act in opposition to the Divine Injunctions when there is no other way out. Besides, as Muslims we are not suppose to always feel "comfortable" in this world. The Prophet, Peace be Upon Him, once said (to paraphrase) that "Addunyaa sijnul mu'min wa jannatul kaafir" , This World is a prison for the believer and a Paradise for the Unbelievers. One should not vote just to fix a mere inconvenience such as racism and the like. With Salaams PK P.S. I have lived in North America for 23 years. I have not voted even once.

Malcolm X, the twienth century African American civil rights activist and "revolutionary", when asked about the difference between Republicans and Democrats said, "Republicans are like hyenas and Democrats are like foxes". "Rebuplicans" hal mar bay ku goosanayaan , laakiinse "Deomocrats" tartiib ayeey kuu cunayaan . Malcolm X, did not like to be torturted, so he preferred the Republicans. P.S. The autobiography of Malcolm X is a must read for anyone who wishes to apprehend the nuances of American polity.

NGONGE: You would make for a good moderator for the politics section.

Seven of Nine:- It is not just the topics that require this section of the fora be called "Off Topic"; the majority of the respones to the topics in this section are "Off Topic" as well. Social chit chat does not fall under the "general" section of a fora; instead, it falls under the "Off-Topic" or "Community" section. Some would even argue that all general topics are oftentimes off topic( such topics do not pertain to the purpose of the other forums), but not all "off topic" topics are general. As of late some new members have been posting "personal, introductory threads" in other sections of the fora. The title "general" is, at the risk of being redundant, misleading. NGONGE: You have expressed a colossal amount of sentiments in one post. How do you manage to do that? Your criticism of it at first seemed to be concerned with quality and a desire to see a better forum! Sounded fine at the time, yet now it seems all you had a problem with was a mere WORD! Does it give you a pyschological victory to defeat men of straw? The insinuation that my qualms with this forum revolved around a "word" is a textbook case of a straw man argument. Fred: "Poverty is one factor that causes crime." Alice: "You're wrong to claim that all poor people are criminals. My friend Jack is poor, but he is not a criminal!". The principle of charity, a principle which requires persons to intrepret their opponent's view in the strongest way possible, has been abandoned by many a Nomad. You have made for yourself a view out of straw, and then you have attributed it to me. Congratualtions! You have managed to destroy your straw man argument (i.e. that I was concerned with a "mere word"). How Merciless! Unfortunately for you the real opponent (i.e. the real argument) stands untouched and unscathed. Ethical scientists, I am most sure, would frown upon this caricature. At the time I had suggested the title to be changed, SOL was experiencing a "pandemic disease". This virus quickly took over the body of the General forum, and biological data clearly intimated that this virus was infecting the other forums. In an effort to "quarantine" this cyber disease, I suggested two options. 1.Change the title to "Off Topic" or "Community" so as to curtail the amount of nonsense posted on the other forums. This way all the garbage of this site can be put in one bin. And perhaps all the garbage from the other forums should either be deleted or transferred to this forum. Do you not think having one big garbage can is better and more effective than having several smaller ones? 2. Ban members who delibrately and "inadvertently" discolor site content. This second option was not, of course, reasonable to the guardians of this site. As for your suggestion that people try to “contribute†to the other sections, well, that in itself is a bit nonsensical. If they’re as trivial as you seem to think they are, then you’re only asking them to spread their trivia into the other sections Not all the posters who post in general section are "trivial"; the topics are trivial. You are a prime example of a poster who posts "casually" (i.e. incognitive) replies in the "Off Topic" section, but who also posts good replies in the other sections. So you see, it is not nonsensical as you are a testimony of this. I agree that the Debate, Islam, and Politics sections be strictly moderated. Evolutionary processes do not occur overnight, so it will take time for the changes to come to frution. I already provided Libaax San-Kataabte with suggestions on how to improve the other forums. The Adminsterator and his staff (i.e. moderators) are open to suggestions, so should you have any feedback, then send him a PM. With Salaams PK

I have gathered from reading many replies on this forum that a great many Nomads experienced an emotional earthquake as a result of the re-election of Bush. However, my inner Richter scale read nill after the election of the republican candidate. If Bush was not elected, then bleeding democrats would have dominated the US Supreme Court. One would be hard-pressed to fathom the effect a democratic victory would have on the social and moral values of the US. With Salaams PK