How would you tell a five year old how a baby is borne? He knows that the baby was in mummys tummy before coming out...

Originally posted by nuune: Janatul Fardawsa Ilaahay haku deeqo, samir iyo iimaan Ilaahay haka siiyo intii laga geeriyoodey oo dhan, amiin Ameen. Ilahay hakaa aqbalo.

^I hear you. I wonder what the legal details are on these things. :confused: I bet you those sites [that hoste their images] have a self protecting clause tucked away somewhere they know people won’t bother reading. Xaraam walahy. Some of those girls look like they are still in high school. Che. You are absolutely right. In many cases, your just inviting trouble. P.s The cockroaches are still at it. I didn’t want to give them an advert space here by providing their link. :rolleyes:

U need a pass to vote.? Many unis have wudu facilities. It isn't that much of a religious issue, really. I'd vote for it only because I feel that it's nasty to wash your feet in the sink.

I've just been watching a video on youtube and noticed that on the side there was a list of videos with similar titles like “Somali girls’ iyo wax saasah. These are basically made up of photos of Somali girls, which were picked out of their profiles from various sites. I instantly, recalled a girlfriend joking that I shouldn’t worry about a photo that I’ve sent her ending up on somesillysite.com. I really don’t get the whole image-sharing thing (par family and friends) . :confused: Laakin, I was intrigued, that some people actually take it to a level where they would go through the trouble setting up, collecting photos and negative histories of the girls involved. Weird! Why? It might be a grudge; the girls might have dissed them, but honestly this is pathetic. I saw a photo of some one I know on the youtube collection and although it’s an innocent every day photo. I know that she wouldn’t approve of it being used in this sleazy fashion. Some would argue that there’s a certain amount of risk associated with sharing ones photos, esp. where Faaraxs have access. :rolleyes: Whatever happened maintaining trust and respecting others? Faaraxs are a weird bunch, walah! I’m really trying to understand this phenomenon. I’m I the only one that sees this a pure thuggery? They wouldn’t do it to their sisters, would day? Reminds me of a certain Ninxoon....[i, know] And, yes. If I may, politely pass a sincere message to all those [paltalk etc] ladies that are getting all sexy online. Safe it for later! p.s Spread the word to those who might need to know.

SL and PL need a good lecture from Dr. Phil. It’s obvious; their mutual lover can’t or won’t fully commit to either.

^A detailed health plan, is all you need. Although, I'd say that a focused partner would be a great asset, you'd need to consider other factors to make that work. You can do it, if you put your back into it. All the best

It takes a village to raise a child. That was a very inspiring, uplifting show.

Where's the link for the poll?

^LOl! You should start by cutting back and stop consuming all that pretty but unhealthy junk. And, the pounds will start to drop off.

^Ax! I know the feeling babes. You need to go on a diet. There isn't much we can do about third world debt but there's alot you can do for female relatives back home.

Debt and women Poor countries' crippling debt burden has a particularly severe impact on women and girls. A new briefing paper explores how it is women who take on most of the extra burdens created by a debt crisis, and how debt cancellation needs to work for their benefit. Jubilee Debt Campaign has worked with ActionAid UK, Oxfam GB and WOMANKIND Worldwide to produce a briefing (downloadable using the link on the right) which explores the impact of debt on women, using analysis, case studies and illustrative facts. Globally, women and girls are more likely to be poor and disadvantaged. They are routinely excluded from decision-making at all levels, and have almost no independent control over resources: only 1% of the world’s land and property belongs to women. Despite this systematic discrimination, societies worldwide depend on the skills, work and knowledge of women to weather poverty: finding food to put on the table, caring for the sick, and bringing up the next generation. Both women's disadvantages and this role in supporting families and communities and providing essential services are intensified in a debt crisis. Debt drains poor countries of resources, and places them further under the control of the international financial institutions, who often demand further cuts in public spending as a condition of loans or debt relief. It is women who lost out most from the loss of services, and who make up the shortfall by caring for others. For instance: When countries charge fees to attend school, girls are more likely to miss out on education than boys. When healthcare and social services are cut, women take on the work of caring for the young, sick or elderly. Where water privatisation reduces access to water, this can increase the workload of women, who tend to have the role of fetching water. However, there is also some good news: where debts have been cancelled, spending on social services has increased, with clear benefits for women and girls. For instance: The abolition of school fees by countries like Uganda, after they received debt relief, have hugely increased girls' attendance at school. Bolivia and Mauritania have directed debt relief savings towards improving healthcare, including for pregnant women. There has since been a huge increase in the number of mothers with access to mid-wives and doctors. Benin, Bolivia and Tanzania are among the countries that are using funds from healthcare to provide training on nutrition and family planning for mothers. But clear problems remain. Many countries still have severe and unjust debt burdens; and policies around contraction, payment or forgiveness of debt - including conditions for debt cancellation - still ignore or even violate women's rights. The impact on ordinary women and girls is severe. We are calling for governments to uphold the commitments they have made to women and ensure that agreements concerning loans, debt and debt cancellation do not violate their rights. Rich countries must immediately cancel all illegitimate and unpayable poor country debt, without imposing conditions from outside. And both debtor and lender governments must ensure that women play a full role in deciding how the funds released by debt cancellation are used and monitored. Use the link on the right to download the full briefing. web page

This is not the first spring clean operation and I’ll bet all my dirhams that this time next year or sooner MMA and Admin will be mopping up more hunqaaco and rubbish.

Excerpts from the life of Fatimah Bint Muhammad (SAWS) Introduction Fatimah (RA) was the fifth child of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) and Khadijah (RA). She was born before the first revelation, during the time when the Prophet (SAWS) used to spend long periods meditating and reflecting on the great mysteries of creation in the mountains around Makkah. At the age of five, she heard that her father had become the Messenger of Allah, and instantly became more closely attached to him and felt a deep and abiding love for him. Child-life Experience One day, when she was around the age of 9, she went with her father to the Masjid al-Haram. He stood in the place known as al-Hijr facing the Ka'bah and began to pray, with Fatimah standing at his side. A group of Quraysh, led by Abu Jahil, the Prophet's uncle, gathered menacingly around him. Abu Jahl asked the group, "Which of you can bring the entrails (insides) of a slaughtered animal and throw it on Muhammad?" Uqbah ibn Abi Mu'ayt volunteered and brought some obnoxious filth and threw it on the shoulders of the Prophet (SAWS) while he was prostrating. Abdullah ibn Masud, a companion of the Prophet (SAWS) was present but was powerless to do or say anything. Imagine the feelings of Fatimah when she saw this treatment given to her father. What could she, a girl not 10 years old, do? She went up to her father, and removed the offensive matter and then stood firmly and angrily before the group of Quraysh and lashed out against them. Not a single word did they say to her. The Prophet (SAWS) completed his prayer and then said: "O Lord, may You punish the Quraysh!" and repeated this three times. Then he continued: "May You punish Utbah, Uqbah, Abu Jahl, and Shaybah." All of whom he named perished many years later at the Battle of Badr. More Unbearable Experiences Such were the incidents that Fatimah (RA) witnessed as a young girl. She did not just stand aside but joined in the struggle of defense of her father and his noble mission. She was one of the youngest members of the clans who faced the boycott of Quraysh, and underwent three years of hardship living in a narrow valley outside Makkah, with no food supplies. Often times, these trials were too much for her. Once, when she was around 16, an insolent mob threw dust and dirt upon the Prophet's gracious head. As he entered his home, Fatimah wept profusely as she wiped dust from her father's head. The Prophet (SAWS) said: "Do not cry, my daughter, for God shall protect your father." He also said: "The best women in all the world are four: the Virgin Mary (Maryam (ASWS)), Asiya the wife of Pharaoh (Fir'aun), Khadijah Mother of the believers, and Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad (SAWS)." Titles of az-Zahra and al-Batul Fatimah (RA) was given the title of "az-Zahra", which means "the Resplendent One". This was because of her beaming face which seemed to radiate light. It is said that when she stood for prayer, the mihrab would reflect the light of her countenance. She was also called "al-Batul" because of her purity and asceticism. Instead of spending time in the company of women, she spent much of her time in Salat, in reading the Quran, and in other acts of ibadah. Life with husband, Ali (RA) In the second year of Hijrah to Madinah, Fatimah (RA) got married to Ali (RA), the son of Abu Talib. Her life with Ali was as simple and frugal as it was with her father. Actually, as far as material comforts were concerned, it was a life of hardship and deprivation. To relieve their extreme poverty, Ali worked as a drawer and carrier of water, and Fatimah worked as a grinder of corn. One day she said to Ali: "I have ground until my hands are blistered." Ali said: "I have drawn water until I have pains in my chest." Ali then asked Fatimah to go to her father and request for one of the captives of war as a servant to help them out. Reluctantly, she went to the Prophet (SAWS). When asked what brought her to him, she replied, "I came to give you greetings of peace." In awe of him, she could not bring herself to ask what she had intended. Later on she told Ali she was too ashamed to ask her father (SAWS) for a servant. So the two of them then went together, but on their request, the Prophet (SAWS) replied: "I will not give to you, and let the Ahl as-Suffah (poor Muslims who stayed in the mosque) be tormented with hunger. I have not enough for their keep …." Ali and Fatimah returned home dejected. But that night, the Prophet (SAWS) visited them and sat down beside them on the bed and asked, "Shall I not tell you of something better than that which you asked of me?" When they said yes, he said, "Words which Jibril taught me, that you should say "SubhanAllah" (Glory be to Allah) ten times after every prayer, and ten times "Alhamdullilah" (Praise be to Allah), and ten times "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is Great). And that when you go to bed you should say them thirty three times each." Ali used to say in later years, "I have never once failed to say them since the Messenger of God taught them to us." Her love for Prophet (SAWS) and Universality of the Message of Islam Once the Prophet (SAWS) returned from a journey outside Madinah. He went to the mosque first of all and prayed two rak'ats as per his custom. Then he went to Fatimah's house before going to his wives. Fatimah welcomed him, kissed his face, his mouth and his eyes, and cried. When the Prophet (SAWS) asked her why she was crying, she replied, "I see you, O Rasul Allah, your color is pale and shallow and your clothes have become worn and shabby." The Prophet (SAWS) said tenderly: "O Fatimah, don't cry for Allah has sent your father with a mission which He would cause to affect every house on the face of the earth whether it be towns, villages, or tents (in the desert) bringing either glory or humiliation until this mission is fulfilled just as night (inevitably) comes." With such comments, Fatimah was often taken from the harsh realities of daily life to get a glimpse of the vast and far-reaching vistas opened up by the mission entrusted to her noble father (SAWS). Children of Fatimah (RA) In Ramadhan of the the third year of the Hijrah, Fatimah gave birth to a boy, whom the Prophet (SAWS) named al-Hasan (the beautiful one). One year later, she gave birth to another son who was called al-Husayn, which means the little Hasan (the little beautiful one). Four years later, Fatimah gave birth to a third child, a girl, whom she named after her eldest sister Zaynab who had died shortly before her birth. Fatimah's fourth child was born two years later and the Prophet (SAWS) chose for her the name Umm Kulthum after Fatimah's sister who had died the year before after an illness. The Prophet (SAWS) was exceedingly fond of his grandchildren, and would often bring al-Hasan and al-Husayn to the Mosque where they would climb onto his back while he prostrated. Death of Prophet (SAWS) In Ramadhan of the 10th year of Hijrah, just before the Prophet (SAWS) went on his Farewell Pilgrimage, he confided to Fatimah, as a secret not to be told to others: "Jibril recited the Quran to me and I to him once every year, but this year he has recited it with me twice. I cannot but think that my time has come." On his return from the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet (SAWS) became seriously ill. One day he summoned Fatimah. When she came, he kissed her and whispered some words in her ear and she wept. The again he whispered in her ear and she smiled. Aisha (RA), his wife, saw and asked her about this. Fatimah replied, "He first told me that he would meet His Lord after a short while and so I cried. Then he said to me: 'Don't cry for you will be the first of my household to join me.' So I laughed." He also said to her: "Aren't you pleased that you are the First Lady (Sayyidatun Nisaa) of this Ummah?" Soon the Prophet (SAWS) passed away. Fatimah was so upset, she would often be seen weeping profusely. One of the companions noted that he did not see Fatimah (RA) laugh after the death of her father Death of Fatimah (RA) Less than five months after her father had passed away, Fatimah woke up one day looking unusually happy and full of joy. In the afternoon of that day, she called Salma bint Umays who was looking after her. She asked for some water, had a bath, put on new clothes, and perfumed herself. She then asked Salma to put her in bed in the courtyard of the house. With her face looking to the heavens, she asked for her husband Ali. He was surprised when he saw her lying in the middle of the courtyard and asked her what was wrong. She smiled and said, "I have an appointment today with the Messenger of God." Ali cried and she tried to console him. She told him to look after their sons al-Hasan and al-Husayn and advised that she should be buried without ceremony. She then turned and faced the Qiblah, closed her eyes, and slept. It was a sleep from which she did not awake. Fatimah az-Zahra (the Resplendent One) was just 29 years old. (Compiled by Adeel from the book, "Companions of the Prophet" by AbdulWahid Hamid)

This is it! :cool: NB. The intro doesn't go with the rest of the video..check hablaha iyo wiilasha out.

Tariq Ramadan is a bit of an enigma. This is an old response from IA.. No, Thanks to Tariq Ramadan

^That's the thing sister, those sisters probably aren't very religious and so wear it primarily to uphold the local traditions. In that case, I say they are better than many other Muslims who wouldn't be seen dead in a hijaab. It's so old fashioned, see. Sulekha The hijab itself must not be a display. Allaah ordained it so as to cover the beauty of women and not for showing off. Allaah (swt) says `And not show of their adornment except only that which is apparent.' (S24:31). Surely, this doesn't mean that one has to go out of her way and pick the ugliest fabric in the store. There is the hadith about pride where the the sahaabas asked the Prophet (saw) if they were blame worthy for wanting to wear beautiful cloths and he (saw) responded that Allah loved beauty. I'm paraphrasing here but I'm sure that you know the hadith. Just to go back to the photos, the only problems with those abaayas is that they are too tight and the seductive posing. The hijaab doesn't have to be ugly to be Islamic. As for the accessories and the comments in the article, it does scream 'I'm a wotless consumer'. Many women are. It wouldn't be in Marie Claires' best interest to interview pious Muslimas who would speak out against wasting money on designer labels.

By Monica Chadha BBC News, Mumbai Women civil servants in India have expressed shock at new appraisal rules which require them to reveal details of their menstrual cycles. Under the new nationwide requirements, female officials also have to say when they last sought maternity leave. Women civil servants say the questions are a gross invasion of privacy. One told the BBC she was "gobsmacked". Annual appraisals and health checks are mandatory in India's civil service. The ministry was unavailable for comment. But one of its most senior bureaucrats was quoted in the press as saying the new questions had been based on advice from health officials. 'No words' The questions at the root of the controversy are on page 58 of the new appraisal forms for the current year issued by the federal Ministry for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. I have no intention of telling them anything about my personal life Sharwari Gokhale, Maharashtra environment secretary Women officers must write down their "detailed menstrual history and history of LMP [last menstrual period] including date of last confinement [maternity leave]," the form says. Women working in the civil service told the BBC the government had no need for this kind of personal information. "I am completely shocked!" said Sharwari Gokhale, environment secretary in western Maharashtra state. "I have absolutely no words to describe how I feel and I have no intention of telling them anything about my personal life. "It's gob smacking." Ms Gokhale said she had also served in the personnel department at the ministry which drafted the new forms and, while the health of officials was always a concern, asking such questions never crossed their minds. 'Natural phenomenon' Maharashtra's joint secretary for general administration, Seema Vyas, agreed that the new questions were uncalled for. I assume this will help evaluate the officer's fitness Satyanand Mishra, Personnel department secretary "Menstrual cycles are a natural phenomenon, they are not an aberration. One does not object to questions related to fitness levels - they are important as they can affect work. "But there is no need for these details as this does not have any bearing on our work," she told the BBC. "When we apply for maternity leave, we put in the appropriate application and the government already has those records so why ask again?" HAVE YOUR SAY There are some things that employers don't need to know and this is one of them Stacey, USA She said she and her colleagues were thinking of writing a letter to the authorities protesting at the questions. Despite repeated attempts, the BBC was unable to speak to the head of the personnel department, Satyanand Mishra. The Hindustan Times newspaper quoted him as saying the questions were based on advice from the Ministry of Health. "We sought the ministry's help to draw up a health-history format. I assume this will help evaluate the officer's fitness," he told the paper. Story from BBC NEWS:Source

It’s not my or any ones place to invalidate or explain away a person’s painful experience. Atrocities have taken place in times of war. That’s elementary. Secondly, I don’t see any reason why an [any] armed group should be given special privileges and not be held to account. However, there is a very significant matter that is being over looked here and to be frank, I’m not surprised. The people of SL have already addressed and buried this matter. The mutual wrong doings were mutually acknowledged and forgiven. In fact in 1992, in the second meeting between the people of SL that was held in Boorama and chaired by the clan of that region; the elders and leaders of SL made the decision to put that era behind them and to channel their efforts into creating a peaceful state for their people. The rest as they say, is history. Tis, the pride of Reer SL. :cool: I say this to GD, CX and Taako: ‘dira dire dabnaale, dadka nabad ah kala daa’

Lucky girl, first she got to Samatar and nowShay.

Horta what do they call the one where the ladies look like inay dhar dhaqoyaan? The dhaanto wins hands down. Esp. when you have a group singing to each other. I've seen some really nice videos coming out of SL but unfortunately none of them made it to Ytube. 'cept this bad hip hop . p.s I'm assuming Togdheerites are more like the Sanaagites in their dance tradions.

Go, google.

^Thanks! :cool:

Abaya, A Fashion?

One Size Fits All By Carrie Sloan On paper, Muna bin Kalli and Maryam Al Hamly sound like they could be two of your closest friends. Their local shopping ground is the world famous Mall of the Emirates. Al Hamly, 24, is in PR; bin Kalli, 22, is an events coordinator. In their downtime, they like to watch TV and dish about their favorite shows. In fact, bin Kalli is addicted to Desperate Housewives. "It's hilarious," she says. "It's so real. You can relate it to your daily life!" Their daily lives, however, are no Wisteria Lane. Al Hamly and bin Kalli live in Dubai-one of seven city-states that comprise the United Arab Emirates, a Muslim country situated just east of Saudi Arabia on the Persian Gulf. The events bin Kalli coordinates are for the Dubai Ladies' Club, an organization run by Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, the daughter of the ruler of Dubai. As for the mall, besides retail options ranging from H&M to Ralph Lauren, it also boasts an indoor ski slope with actual falling snow, 7000 parking spaces, and-well, you've probably never heard of their favorite store: The First Choice, which sells abayas and shailas, the black robes and head-scarves bin Kalli and Al Hamly wear every day. HEAD-SCARVES BY CAVALLI Dubai doesn't have fashion police-or religious ones. Bin Kalli and Al Hamly aren't required to wear these robes; they choose to. "We're proud to wear the abaya," says Al Hamly. "It represents our culture. We can look glamorous and good and still be covered up." "Dubai is an expanding city-there are more expats than locals now," bin Kalli adds. "The abaya helps us differentiate ourselves from the nonlocals." To American women used to staring down a dizzying merry-go-round of new colors and trends each season-Nautical! Menswear! Bohemian!-an abaya could seem like a relief: insta-wardrobe. But as it turns out, buying one isn't quite that simple. First, it's more a bespoke process than off-therack. Consider the fit: "We don't have ‘mediums' or ‘size 12s,'" says Al Hamly. "Each shop has a special tailor who measures you every time you go. The only rule is that it's comfortable. They make shorter abayas to go with short heels, longer ones for higher heels." Nor are abayas and their accompanying shailas meant to be humorless shrouds. "My favorite head-scarves are by Moschino," says bin Kalli. "They make ones with hearts or peace signs on them." But, she adds, "If you want to be noticed, you wear Roberto Cavalli." Noticed? In a black robe that shows only your hands, feet, and face? Indeed, in Dubai, wearing the abaya does not have to mean eschewing fashion. On the contrary, the style of robes and head-scarves women wear-to say nothing of the makeup, jewelry, and handbags they accessorize with ("We spend a fortune on handbags," confides Al Hamly)-combine to make a declarative fashion statement. GLAMOUR IN THE GULF Abayas, when worn in public, are always black. (Jalabiyas, on the other hand-the Arabian-style dresses women typically wear to entertain guests at home-are sold in every color of the rainbow.) An "everyday" abaya, which costs between $80 and $190, is usually made of crepe. "It's the fabric of choice for Gulf women," says Al Hamly. This regional preference has nothing to do with the heat, which can reach an oppressive 120 degrees during the hottest months. Rather, crepe-or krebe, as it's known here-is slightly stretchy (read: less likely to rip), and it irons well. (Important since women in Dubai typically wash their abayas every three days or so, with special detergent formulated not to fade the black color.) Still, even in a country where black is the new black, a woman can have a little fun. "You can play around a bit with the style to be different," says bin Kalli, whose favorite casual abaya has denim embroidery on the sleeves. Then there are special-occasion abayas: often a base of delicate black chiffon, transformed-by way of colorful embroidery, Swarovski crystals, and hand-beading-into a couturequality work of art. "Normally, we wear abayas that are decorated with lots of color at weddings," says bin Kalli, "or to the kind of gathering where girls get together." These black-tie versions are costly, though: They run roughly 4000 dirhams ($1000 U.S.) a pop. Nevertheless, just as in the West, women in Dubai are prepared to hand over the money if it helps them stand out. In fact, the pressure to look original is so intense that Al Hamly and bin Kalli often forgo the mall and import instead: "I shop for abayas that make me look different than other women," Al Hamly explains. "Some I order special from Saudi Arabia." The process can also be secretive: "Certain girls are reluctant to reveal where they had their abayas made, because they fear someone will copy them," she adds. To thwart the competition, women tend to buy from artisans who design right out of their homes. DOES MY BUTT LOOK BIG IN THIS ABAYA? The latest abaya craze in Dubai is the "butterfly" cut, which flitted onto the fashion scene about six months ago-though its inspiration, Al Hamly believes, is much older. "There used to be a one-piece abaya that older women wore," she says. (Meaning there was no separate head-scarf; you simply threw the fabric over your head.) The butterfly, it seems, grew out of that cocoon. Cut like a Batman cape, from behind, the butterfly abaya gives the appearance of wings. Al Hamly already has one on order: "It has gold lining around the edges. The headscarf has different shades of bronzeand gold-colored Swarovski crystals to give it a metallic feel," she says, adding, "it will go really well with my bronze Balenciaga bag!" Still, she does admit to some trepidation over the new trend: "I'm not sure if I'll have the courage to wear it," she says. "The butterfly cut tends to look best on tall, thin girls. It might make me look wider." Beyond the fashion deliberations, wearing a floor-length black robe does present certain practical concerns: Abayas tear easily-especially if you're a working girl. "They get caught in the wheels of our office chairs, and you can't really mend them," says bin Kalli. As a result, women tend to buy new abayas monthly. "I have no idea how many I own," says Al Hamly. "More than 30, combined with those I share with my sisters." Adds bin Kalli: "How many do I own? How many pairs of shoes does Carrie Bradshaw own?" Sex and the City aside, Emerati women pay close attention to global trends. "Westerners think we're oblivious to what is happening stylewise, but we're very keen on educating ourselves about fashion," says bin Kalli. "One of my favorite channels is E!, just to see what's going on and what Jessica Alba wore to the Oscars." Such informed consumerism has led to fashion-forward abaya trends not found elsewhere in the Middle East. "There's a big difference here," acknowledges Al Hamly. "If I wore an abaya with color on it in Riyadh, they would freak out!" "The abaya is our fashion, not just our religion," adds bin Kalli. "We even get compliments from Western expats living in Dubai. One woman thought my shaila was so pretty, she asked me where she could buy one." :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: web page