Obama, Clinton offer Ramadan wishes to Muslims (AFP) – 12 hours ago WASHINGTON — US President Barack Obama extended his best wishes Monday to Muslims beginning the holy fasting month of Ramadan, using the occasion to urge people to help victims of drought and famine in Africa. His Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also extended good wishes to the world's 1.6 billion Muslims, while blasting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime for orchestrating a deadly assault against protesters at the start of the holy month. Ramadan is "a time of deep reflection and sacrifice. As in other faiths, fasting is used to increase spirituality, discipline, and consciousness of God's mercy," Obama said in a statement. "It is also a reminder of the importance of reaching out to those less fortunate. The heartbreaking accounts of lost lives and the images of families and children in Somalia and the Horn of Africa struggling to survive remind us of our common humanity and compel us to act," he added. "Now is the time for nations and peoples to come together to avert an even worse catastrophe by offering support and assistance to on-going relief efforts." Aid groups have scaled up operations to help millions of people devastated by a harsh drought in the Horn of Africa region. Somalia has been the country the hardest hit by the region's worst drought in decades. Earlier this month, the United Nations said southern Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions in southern Somalia had been hit by famine, with up to 350,000 people facing starvation. "Times like this remind us of the lesson of all great faiths, including Islam -- that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us," Obama said. "In that spirit, I wish Muslims around the world a blessed month, and I look forward to again hosting an Iftar dinner here at the White House. Ramadan Kareem." Clinton took direct issue with "the Syrian regime's violent assault on civilians... even as Ramadan began, highlighting again the brutality and viciousness of the Assad regime." "During what should be a time of prayer and family gathering, we mourn the deaths of all those killed, especially innocent children," she said in a statement. Throughout the month devout Muslims must abstain from food, drink and sex from dawn until sunset when they break the fast with the Iftar meal. The fast is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the annual pilgrimage to Mecca which able Muslims should do once in a lifetime.

^True. Liverpool lost 2 games and drew another in the last couple of weeks. Jug jug meeshaada joog ahaa. They are so number 6

^Have you been to Toronto? 30% of the people are muted and depressed and yes that statistics is based on my own study as well.

^I see. Well, I only have suxuur because its sunnah ]plus I don't wanna be too hungry the next day [/size]. As far the timing, how does an average person like you and I know the exact time of fajr without the help of the local masjid? Specially in the west.

^Suxuur is way before fajr time, sir. Are you sure you haven't been eating the wrong times?

Polanyi;738079 wrote: 99% of all food products should come with a warning, " this product is not officially good for you, according to health fanatics". Sxb, Bisinka lo qabta. On a different note, have you seen the warning on mouth tobacco? "This causes mouth cancer" it reads. Yet people chew it so I doubt people will stop buying food products because it is says it is bad for u on it.

So I had two alarm clocks set for the Suxuur thing last night but still missed it because I went to bed about 2ish in the first place . After suffering today with a mixture of gaajo and laabjeex LOL, I am completely ready to wake up tonight for suxuur. I downloaded an alarm app on my phone today, what is different on this app is, it will make you answer a math question or the alarm won't shut up LOL. P.s. One advice for all of you, don't attempt to walk or run for a mile while fasting. Learned this the hard way. P.s.s. Just had a food by the name of "ICUN" for afur LOL.

^Loooooooool@ four kilometer square. That was it? Darn!

^

^Maxaad ku qosli geel beele?

I am being told the entire Bakara Market is now under the AMISOM forces. Al-shabaab are indeed on the verge of losing the whole city. Suuqa Xoolaha, their strongest base, is currently under fire. Godane is alreadyrunning to Baydhabo via Ceelasha Biyaha. Down Alshabaab, down Godane!

Khaldaamiinta can barely be taken serious most of the time. Adeer shidaalka Somali galbeed alluu idinka yahaye ee get your own gas. Oh wait your desert has no gas, too bad!

Shirkii Azania oo maalintii labaad galay Kn: Shalay magaalada Limuru ee bartamaha Kenya waxaa ka furmey shir lagu dhamaystirayo maamul goboleedka Azania kaasooy ka qeybgalayaan boqolaal ergo ah iyo korjoogayaal kale. Shirka waxa uu ka dhacayaa isla goobtii uu ka dhacay shirkii hore ee madaxweynenimada loogu doortey Prof. Maxamed Cabdi Gaandi, waana caweys lagu magacaabo Wida oo ku yaala magaalada Limuru oo qiyaastii 30 Mile u jirta Nairobi. Shalay shirka waxa uu ahaa furitaan iyadoo khudbado ay ka jeediyeen dadka kala ah Ilyaas Barre Shiil oo ah xildhibaan hore oo Kenya ka tirsan, Prof. Gaandi, Khaliif Guure iyo dad kal. Mas’uuliyiinta Azania ayaa kasoo qeybgalayaasha u sheegey in ay soo xushaan xildhibaanada matali kara deegaanadooda iyo madaxda dhaqanka ee dhabta ah “ma dooneyno kuwa iska sheegtey” sida laga soo xigtey mid ka mid ah mas’uuliyiinta Azania. DKMG ah wakiilka kaliya ee ka socdey waxa uu ahaa qunsulka safaarada Soomaaliya ee Nairobi Maxamed Cusmaan Aadan (Edsan), halka dowlada Kenya ay matalayeen Ilyaas Barre Shiil iyo Cabdiraxmaan Coloow. Waxaa madasha la keeney nuqulo ka mid ah dastuurka Azania si ergada loogu qeeybiyo, dastuurkani waa kii lagu ansixiyey shirkii hore iyada oo aanan dadka la siinin wax nuqul ah, balse kaliya laga tusey shaashad darbiga lagu cawirey (aaladda huumaagga bixisa ee Projector-ka loo yaqaano). Shirkani oo ergada ay aad uga badanyihiin kii hore, islamarkaasina dadka sida dhabta ah bulshada u matala ay xadair yihiin intooda badan ayaanan la ogeyn in cod laga siin doono wax ka badalista, wax ku darista ama in sidiisa lagu dhaafo dastuurka iyo in kale. Shirka waxa uu soconayaa illaa 29-ka bishan, howsha ugu weyn ee hortaalana waa soo xulista labada gole ee maamul goboleedka Azania.

^ Yep.. Check this out: Somalia's al-Shabaab militants ban samosas Somalia's al-Shabaab group has banned samosas after ruling the popular snacks are too Christian, it was reported on Tuesday. But the newspaper said locals believed al-Shabaab leaders had decided the triangular shape was not compatible with their strict version of Islam. The unexpected move means Somalis could now expect to be punished if caught cooking, buying or eating samosas, known locally as sambusas. The ban is the latest in a string of authoritarian rulings introduced by al-Shabaab, a violent Islamist organisation linked to al-Qaeda and classified by several countries as a terrorist group. The extremist army has taken command of several provinces of Somalia and is fighting the country's official government for total control. However it has been widely criticised for its strict enforcement of Shariah law and unmerciful treatment of the population. At the weekend the organisation sparked outrage after saying it would refuse to allow overseas aid agencies into drought-hit parts of Somalia. Militant Islamist fighters last week used vehicles mounted with loudspeakers to announce the bizarre ruling across the regions of the war-torn country it controls. The extremist group has offered no official explanation for the ban on the triangular snacks, which are commonly cooked up and served across the Horn of Africa. But it is believed the organisation took offence at the three-sided savouries' supposed resemblance to symbol of the Christian Holy Trinity. Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper on Tuesday reported that residents of the Somali town of Afgoye, 20 miles south of the capital Mogadishu, had confirmed the samosa ban had been imposed. The fried snacks, usually filled with spicy meat or vegetables, have been served for centuries in the East African country. The UN last week declared a famine in two parts of the country and warned millions face death from starvation. Al-Shabaab had previously suggested it would allow foreign agencies to bring in vital food aid to prevent its people from dying. But on Friday the group denied the famine even existed and accused Western governments of inventing the crisis as a propaganda tool. The organisation also warned foreign agencies were still banned in the regions of Somalia it controlled. Experts have warned the group's refusal to acknowledge the food crisis could cause millions of unnecessary deaths as people struggle to find food amid a devastating drought. The reported ban on samosas is the latest in a string of bizarre rulings from the organisation, which has been likened to the Afghan Taliban. Earlier this year the group introduced a blanket ban on the playing or watching of football. It has also previously ordered men to grow beards and warned it will take action against anyone caught wearing tight-fitting clothes.

AYOUB;734770 wrote: Zack, don't say "the cup". *yankee doodle* Hey hey! That is what we call it here. The UEFA one is much more important and they call it a cup LOL. NGONGE thinks Looserpool will win something.

^ :D I like the sambusa when all it has in it is potatoes - the Indian version LOL. Usheega bal Roobow taas.

Jacpher;736786 wrote: Zack: My good friend, tolka meelo badanaa laga heystaa, if the professor aims to do a service for the community, Gedo and Jubbada Hoose are the least problems of tolka. Priority is not in check. That I agree, my friend.

Jacphar, LOL@ignore all I want. Azania shall prevail regardless what few in the north say. The locals are to decide its fate. EDIT: It matters, you can't point out someone's nakedness when you get no clothes ON! It is illogical! Sadaqah starts from home. I will take the Unsomaliness of the name from somebody who is from Xiiman and Xeeb (That is a somali word) but not someone from a "PUNTLANDer" for god's sake! In other words, why not advise tolka to Somalisize their name before advising others to do so Puntland is NOT a somali term and it originated from the pharaohs (yes that is so coooool, right?)of Egypt. Azania is NOT a somali term and it originated from Tanzania. Learn your history sxbkey before throwing janbal around here LOl.

Jacpher;736779 wrote: LOL@Puntland. Waxaa la wariyaa in uu magac u yaal yahay dhulkii carfoonaa historically. Hadde adigaa su'aasha keenayee tan Odinga dhisayo magaceeda muxuu u taagan yahay taloow? The history of both names are out there, I am just pointing out that it is ironic to question somebody's name when your own name aint that cool. Neither Azania nor "Puntland" is a Somali name.

Jacphar, Haddaa Puntland baa baa magac Somali ah.. Well said Somali!

Xiin, if Azania is a kenyan extension, then puntland is the mother of all ethiopian extensions. If I were u I would just watch and see what the locals do.

^LOOOOOOOOOL Good stuff! Our own Azania is on the move!

Taleexi, badanaa waa ku jiraa, dee alshabaab yaa baray LOL. Like I said, they should at least not ban the veggie one.

Defend? So they are playing defense after all? Is Jose Mourinho their coach? We were hopeful that they will play offense.