I found these pictures on a web site and wanted to share them with everyone. A view of an outside wall of the haram hints at some of the incredible archictectural use of gold, marble and inlaid stones throughout the haram. The floors are indeed cleaned and polished enough you could eat off them. This is an incredible satellite photo of the Haram and surroundings. The Kaaba. The focus of the entire Muslim world and the most sacred building on earth. This photo shows how big the kaaba really is relative to the ppl constantly in motion around it. You can also see some of the beauty of the interior levels of the haram. This picture shows the haram one night when it is jam-packed with ppl from in front of the kaaba all the way up to the rooftop. The haram glows with power an energy in the midst of Makkah. Twilight at the haram filters everything into a blue light. Worshippers sit or stand right in front of the holy door to the Kaaba and the Maqam (station) of Ibrahim Cars, buildings and mountains surround the picturesque masjid. The haram looks as if it's hiding a mysterious, beautiful secret within. . . .

well done Lander and Shuju.. Well done.

Originally posted by Thoth: It is interesting that you bring this up JIDAAWY. I was in somalia with the marines when the U.N. first went in to somalia. I have also been in several other areas of war, civil war, or unrest with the U.N. I have looked down the barrel of a gun and been shot at. I can tell you exactly what I would do, because I have done it. I have pulled the trigger of my weapon enough to fill two lifetimes. I don't enjoy war or killing in anyway and I pray to GOD that it would not be needed. But I have never used women and children as human shields, then cry foul when they are killed. And I have seen it done numerous times, expecially in Somalia. I have also seen women and children pick up weapons and shoot. You should ask yourself that question, what would you do? When a gun is pointed at you, I am sure that you would not shoot back but let yourself get killed. Thoth.. First and foremost let me assure everybody here that you were not looking down the same gun my fellow Somali’s were looking at during the ranger’s genocide in Mogadishu in 1993, you and your fellow rangers were well protected in your Bradley armored vehicles roofed by several Apache helicopters which has massively assaulted the Somali women and children. So for you to cowardly claim to have looked the same barrel and been in the same shoes as those who got killed while running for cover is absolutely unacceptable. Imagine the terror of a mother, cowering with her children on the road as "some 21-year-old soldiers" decide whether to kill them, or kill the old man who is looking suspicious? The children are clearly little "scouts" used as shields; the women are, well, who knows and who cares? Now imagine that happening in your hometown Seattle during an invasion by mightier troops. Absurd ? of course yes, simply because that only happens in countries like Somalia and Iraq, which can be attacked at will and without a semblance of legitimacy or morality: weak countries, of course, and never countries with weapons of mass destruction like Korea.. Originally posted by Thoth: To your second part, I stated previously that america has made mistakes. The only way to make peace is to start over. When you don't learn from the past, you are doomed to repeat it. So hold your grudges all you want. When you wonder why there is no peace, look no further than the mirror. It seems so many people want to blame others for their own problems. Like GOD has said, if GOD wills it. You need to understand that not all grievances against the US are Muslim and Arab. Not by a long shot. Anti-Americanism is a phenomenon that is rapidly sweeping the globe, as evidenced by spontaneous outbursts everywhere from Germany to China. this is comes as no surprise, given the scope of US imperial involvement around the world. a crucial misconception you must overcome if you actually seek to understand what’s going on around you, a misconception that only serves to solidify stereotypes of US arrogance. Obviously you think the hostility towards the US is merely a facet of the “Underdog syndrome,” in which support of the weaker party or “underdog” is also coupled with a hatred of the larger belligerent (the US in any given case). In other words, you were attempting to explain to me that my hostility towards US foreign policy was generated by nothing more than my own ineptitude and personal failures, and this farcical little theory could be extrapolated further to explain away a couple of generations who will grow up hating America. The primary downside to this theory, one could hold, is that it is based on a demented conception of US infallibility. The US administration cannot possibly have done anything to earn such rabid hatred, and therefore, there can be no legitimate basis for any such sentiments. I, and many millions of others, would like to assure US citizens that this is not the case.

Originally posted by Thoth: More to the point is that Somalia, like numerous other countries can't let the past stay in the past, and learn from it. We as americans try to live a joyous and wonderful life.We as americans try to live a joyous and wonderful life. We don't know alot of the things that the CIA, FBI, or our government has done. Yet for some reason we are held accountable for those things. ". Thothfrom your replies I could tell you are supportive for the jolly little wars in which large numbers of heathen savages are mowed down by western military technology at minimal cost to imperial troops, I wonder how you’d feel if you were looking down the other side of the gun ?!! Would you incline yourself to forget about the murder of your innocent son or daughter and move on to live your "joyous" life? i know i will never forget about the 900 civilian somalis killed by the rangers in 1993. To say that as American you have no knowledge of about the CIA and Bush’s plots to conquer Iraq and probably the world is simply ridicules, Any blind man can see the true objectives of the war against Iraq, The imperial Britain ruled Iraq from the 1920s until 1958 by relying on the RAF to bomb and strafe rebellious tribesmen. Bush now appears set to follow the British Empire by keeping order in its new colony through the use of air power rather than ground troops. the new U.S. bases in Iraq, will have a far more important role than mere colonialism. The new Iraqi bases will give the U.S. control of the region's second largest oil producer, and allow a lower American profile in Saudi Arabia. They will be stepping stones to U.S. Central Asian bases - in Pakistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan - to dominate their Oil Basin. Don’t for a minute think we would believe the crude propaganda you outlined to us, the US didn’t invade iraq to free the Iraqi people from a dictator, and rid their country from some weapons of mass destruction they are yet to find a shred of evidence of its existence, never mind a "smoking gun," to justify an entirely illegal invasion of a sovereign nation, violating international law and the UN Charter. Originally posted by Thoth: Shujui-Moja #1. You asked who have we helped in the past century? How about every allied country in WWI or WWII. Look at what caused the wars, what became of the axis powers after the wars, and the part of the U.S. governments and military played in each. Do you know the difference in the history of East and West Germany? How about WWII Japan and the current Japan? How about the Korean conflict? Can you see any difference between North and South Korea today? If you don't just let me know I'll send you some internet sites you can visit to gain knowledge in these areas. take a look at the various regimes that rule the world, regimes whose relations with the US cover a spectrum ranging from “cordial” to “excellent.” Look at the “moderates.” Check for their relations with the US. Some receive economic aid, others, arms, some, both. Some are merely acknowledged as “democratic.” Now, check some human rights reports on these same states that enjoy such friendly and lucrative ties with the US. Do you see the problem? No? Look again. Let me clarify one point to you though, no one hates the American people, I come across many of you who believe what’s going on in Iraq is unjust, and people’s hatred is centered towards Bush’s foreign policy. Nevertheless as an American you should be held accountable for that since it’s you and only you who put Bush in the office and its only you who can disarm him by not voting for him on his second term.

Ayannick everybody is welcome to join us, and so far it seems ladies are more into this trip then guys. trust me Xalimo, if girls show up, guys will .. and dress code will be strictly enforced we havent set up a time and date on the trip yet, even though the weather is almost 80 degrees the lakes are still cold. it should take few more days to warm up.. Shyheem.. comeon man.. Jet Skiing is the simplest think you could ever do.. i dont know why you are so scared!! Link you dont have to have a license to ride a jet ski. they will just give you a quick orintation on how to operate it, Rafting ?!! loool thats sounds fun too, hey you can wear whatever makes you comfortable.. and i suggest you dont jet ski if you dont know how to swim.. you can fall of the jet ski and draown.. so give it another though brother.. for those who are asking about the cost.. i didnt do the math yet, i got a little busy with exams and assignments.. definatly i will start calling resorts to check for rates on rentals and stuff... but first i need to know how many are seriouse and are willing to go.. peace out

Only one person interested ?? well I thought SOL had more thrill seekers.. anyways Taagane, the cost of the trip isn’t much compared to all the fun and thrill you will have on a scenic jet ski cruise in the lake, the last trip we went out to was about 2 summers ago, we had a hook up from a fellow nomad who worked in a resort, so 1 day rental of 2 jet skis cost us about $100, we gathered in Mpls and we all rode on 2 cars, we arrived in Alexandria by 11:00 AM.. and by 12:00 we were riding the damn things until 8:00 pm, we took a break for dinner then went home.. the trip cost us each about $50. and if truth be told I would have gladly spent $100 more for all the fun I had… Speaking of fun, I thought Snowmobiling would be as much fun, at first I was kind of not that excited about snowmobiling on a sub zero weather, but a friend of mine convinced me the leather jacket, heated hamlet, heated seats, and heated handles of the snowmobile will keep me warm.. so we went out to with bunch of white guys and I fell into a ditch, way deep in the country and with the nearest gas station at least 30 minutes away,the only warmth I could get was some fading sun rays, everywhere u look was freaking snow..it took us about 20 minutes to get the snowmobile back on track… by then.. I started to feel the frost bites on my fingers and feet.. it was so damn cold that it felt hot lol.. that was one sport I don’t think is meant for us lol…

SC u are a damn quick typiest .. thank you for the good wishes and the quick response,, jet skiing is not for kids, it can get real dangerouse, but it shouldnt be that seriouse once its handeled by an experinced jet skier,, its alot of fun, the guys i took last year are completely hooked.. i would love to to try it again and at the same time meet the SOL nomads in my area

Its almost summer and the weather is warming up here in MN, we all know 60 degrees is not something we dont get to enjoy all year round, so I am thinking of organizing a Jet Skiing trip where we would meet up in one of the 10,000 lakes of MN and rent us some 3 or 4 Jet skis (depends on how many nomads show up) and have fun from sun up to sun down !! I have done that 2 years ago and it worked out real well.. we were only 10 (6 guys and 4 girls), we went to this lake in Alexandria, and rented 2 Kawasaki jet skis, pretty much like those.. The speed and thrill on those things are something else, I thought motorcycling was adventures until I rode a jet ski for the first time in 1997. So if you are speed freak and like to try new things (if you haven’t already) and live in MN or Wisconsin, then holler back and come with us.. and feel free to ask any question or give any suggestions, you can also use this page to holler at anybody who is your area and is willing to go jet skiing Peace out

Last friday i was running to a class at school, when I passed by a punch of white kids who were rallying in gratitude for the “brave” men and women invading iraq killing innocent women and children..there, and int the middle of them.. stood our fella! yup it was the very same somali guy i told you all about..he was basicaly giving away free handouts of bumper stickers that read “Libarate Iraq” and “Rally For Your Troops”… when i saw him.. i thought i was going to be pissed.. rather i found myself cracking up with laughter ... he simply reminded me of a proverb that goes like.. "Only a Fool Feels Secure in a Fool's Paradise"... i thought supporting a republican senator calling for war with Iraq was the stupidest thing he could do, turned out he has more sh!t up in his head ......

Brother Medusa, First and foremost u need rejoice in the fact that Alaah SWT is continuing to bestow His Mercy upon you. Had you been left astray by the will of Allah, you would not have had enough concern for your salvation to write to us and seek help… My beloved nomad, rest assured that these suspicious thoughts you are having are only whispers of a Shytaan who is desperately trying to derail you from becoming a good muslim, you can defy him by reading QURAN and studying hadiith.. trust me walaahi you will feel a lot better once you seek refuge in allah.. Also make lots of Ducaa.. Alaah is the most merceful and will not turn you down once you sincerely ask him for help.. these are some useful Ducaa's I suggest you to memorize or cut and paste them on a peice of paper and stick them on your car’s dashboard or carry it in your wallet.. If you feel you are in trouble read this Ducaa.. [c] إذا نزل به هم أو غم أو حزن : الهم إني عبدك ، ابن عبدك ، ابن أمتك ، ناصيتي بيدك، ماض في حكمك، عدل في قضاؤك، أسألك بكل أسم هو لك سميت به نفسك ، أو أنزلته في كتابك ، أو علمته أحدا من خلقك ، أو استأثرت به في علم الغيب عنك، أن تجعل القرآن العظيم ربيع قلبي، ونور صدري ، وجلاء حزني ، وذهاب همي. And this one too.. عند الكرب والشدة : لا اله إلا الله العظيم الحليم ، لا إله إلا الله رب العرش العظيم ، لا إله إلا الله رب السموات و رب الأرض ورب العرش الكريم ، and / or ويقول: لا إله إلا أنت سبحانك أني كنت من الظالمين ، ويقول: يا حي يا قيوم برحمتك استغيث . And if your problem keeps on getting worse, dont give up, just read this.... إذا أصابته مصيبة : إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون. اللهم أجرني في مصيبتي وأخلف لي خيرا منها. دعوت المكروب : اللهم رحمتك أرجو فلا تكلني إلى نفسي طرفة عين وأصلح لي شأني كله لا إله إلا أنت. عند الكرب : الله.. الله ربي لا أشرك به شيئا and if an exam is too hard for you then read this.. اللهم لا سهل إلا ما جعلته سهلا و أنت تجعل الحزن إذا شئت سهلا [/c] As brother Khayr said, you have your sanity, your helthy and all your senses.. what more could you ask for ? a stupid exam is not the end of the world, infact you shouldn’t let a worldly issue like that depress you and wear you out like that. Brother.. I do understand that being true muslim may seem very difficult thing to be in north America, but if you befriend and keep company with other pious young men who would help you enjoy what is right and forbid what is wrong you will find out how easy it is to stay on the righteous path.. another suggestion i have for you brother is to go to Umrah this summer.. walaahi you will feel a lot better, you will get a peace of mind and experience the joy of Istlam.. and since that is where i was born and raised, i will be happy to give you any information or help you may need if you choose to go to Umrah.. Again may allah bless you and guide all of us to his salvation.

I have just heard about it tonight, i am so sorry he is arrested. i used to see him on TV quite often, he is one of the few outspoken somali activists, i hope was not set up.. may alaah help him..

if you were a candle, would you burn your self to light someone’s life? and who would that be ?.. I just want to know how far my fellow nomads are willing to sacrifice.. For me.. I would burn myself like a candle on a heart beat to light the lives of my Mom, Dad, sisters, brothers.. and a true honest “friend”. I am characterizing the “burning” to be unconditional love, unselfish behavior, and to sacrifice my own interest chiefly or solely when necessary to help them out…. This vigorous topic may be the offshoot of obfuscating personality check… please take a moment to tell us what you think ??

Brother Shyheem, May allah help our brothers and sisters in Iraq.. these are some recent pictures taken in Basra after yesterday's bombing.. لا حول و لا قوة الا بالله...

Brothers and sister, as the bombardments of Iraq continues and as more and more innocent Muslim women and children fall victims by the cowardly attacks of Bush and Blair, I ask you to pause for a moment to ponder about those Muslim leaders ( Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Kuwait) who are helping the tow butchers launch their offensive strike against another Muslim country! never has the old maxim `hang together or be hanged separately' been more fitting than for the Arab states now quailing in fear before President George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq. I am dedicating this topic for the picture of the war in Iraq, pictures the folks in CNN and MSNBC don’t want you to see.. I hope you follow suite and post any picture you think will contribute to this topic…. A kuwaiti, holding US and UK flags celebrates the bombing of Iraq.. And an Iraqi elder prays to Allah for help.. Some US military pigs praying before going to inside iraq to kill innocent Muslims...

whats up Xafsa..

الاخ الحبيب قطري اشكرك على مشاعرك الطيبة... افادني الله واياك لكل ما فيه خير و منفعه... من مبدأ تعميم الفائدة بيننا ارفق لكم اخوتي هذا الحديث الشريف.... الدعاء الذي فتحت له السماوات الثلاث في حديث عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: كان رجل على عهد النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يتجر من بلاد الشام إلى المدينة ولا يصحب القوافل توكلاً منه على الله تعالى... فبينما هو راجع من الشام عرض له لص على فرس، فصاح بالتاجر: قف فوقف التاجر، وقال له: شأنك بمالي. فقال له اللص: المال مالي، وإنما أريد نفسك. فقال له: أنظرني حتى أصلي. قال: افعل ما بدا لك . فصلى أربع ركعات ورفع رأسه إلى السماء يقول: يا ودود يا ودود، ياذا العرش المجيد، يا مبدئ يا معيد، يا فعالاً لما يريد، أسألك بنور وجهك الذي ملأ أركان عرشك، وأسألك بقدرتك التي قدرت بها على جميع خلقك، وأسألك برحمتك التي وسعت كل شيء، لا إله إلا أنت، يا مغيث أغثني، يا مغيث أغثني، يا مغيث أغثني وإذا بفارس بيده حربة، فلما رآه اللص ترك التاجر ومضى نحوه فلما دنا منه طعنه فأرداه عن فرسه قتيلا، وقال الفارس للتاجر: اعلم أني ملك من السماء الثالثة.. لما دعوت الأولى سمعنا لأبواب السماء قعقعة فقلنا: أمر حدث ثم دعوت الثانية، ففتحت أبواب السماء ولها شرر، ثم دعوت الثالثة، فهبط جبريل عليه السلام ينادي: من لهذا المكروب؟ فدعوت الله أن يوليني قتله. واعلم يا عبد الله أن من دعا بدعائك في كل شدة أغاثه الله وفرج عنه. ثم جاء التاجر إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فأخبره فقال المصطفى صلى الله عليه و سلم : (( لقد لقنك الله أسماءه الحسنى التي إذا دعي بها أجاب، وإذا سئل بها أعطى)) صدق الرسول الكريم عليه افضل الصلاة والتسليم

brother Modesty.. i thank you so much for your kindness.. our brothers and sisters in Iraq need our prayers as they undergo the bombing of zionests.. May allah be on their side.. Ameen..

Allaah said in his holly book.. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم { وَلَنْ تَرْضَى عَنْكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلَا النَّصَارَى حَتَّى تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللَّهِ هُوَ الْهُدَى وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ بَعْدَ الَّذِي جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ } This is what the Christians and Yahood want us to do.... لا حول و لا قوة الا بالله العظيم اللهم انصر اخواننا المسلمين في العراق

Brother Libaax there is no aspect of living in the US that angers me more relentlessly and insidiously than the way we're alternately portrayed by the U.S. based mass media. The media's distortions of Islam and muslims have been decried far too often to bear repeating here. In a nutshell, they center around lying to their people about whatever happens in this world.. Anyways.. only few minutes are parting us from a possible war that may take many innocent muslim lives.. I hope it don’t happen, and hope victory for our muslim brothers and sisters everywhere… Libaax, walaahi I wanted to post this very same topic when I logged in few minutes ago.. you beat me to it man.. good going brother..

can someone please move this topic to Polotics ?

Watching American TV can be a surreal experience. Sandwiched between ads for instant weight loss products, and ba$tards like Bill O’riely from Fox news who bay like rabid dogs for war against Iraq, and subject nations daring to oppose President Bush's evangelical march towards Bagdad, thats probably why I quit watching US cable news channels long time ago. Now tell me my beloved nomad.. have you ever heard about this story in their news ?? never has the bias, backstabbing, and prejeduice American media been more pathetically on display like it is now.. please read this report about this young american activist . I hope this girl was muslim and May allah rest her soul in Janaah… http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-03-16-american-woman-killed_x.htm GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — In a matter of months, Rachel Corrie went from the orderly peace movement of this small liberal city to a deadly world of gunfire, violent political conflict and the bulldozer that crushed her to death. Corrie, 23, a student at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, died Sunday in Gaza while trying to stop the bulldozer from tearing down a Palestinian physician's home. She fell in front of the machine, which ran over her and then backed up, witnesses said. In an e-mail earlier this month, Corrie had described a Feb. 14 confrontation with another Israeli bulldozer in which she referred to herself and other activists as "internationals." "The internationals stood in the path of the bulldozer and were physically pushed with the shovel backwards, taking shelter in a house," Corrie wrote in the e-mail, distributed in a March 3 news release by the International Solidarity Movement. "The bulldozer then proceeded on its course, demolishing one side of the house with the internationals inside," she wrote. Just a few months before her death, Corrie had been organizing events as an activist in Olympia's peace movement and at Evergreen, a small campus know for its devotion to liberal causes. Through a local group called Olympians for Peace in the Middle East, she joined the International Solidarity Movement, a Palestinian-led group that uses nonviolent methods to challenge Israeli occupation. Among their methods is standing in front of the bulldozers Israel sends into the area nearly ever day to destroy buildings near the Gaza-Egypt border. Other protesters who were with Corrie in Gaza on Sunday said she was wearing a bright colored jacket when the bulldozer hit her. "Rachel was alone in front of the house as we were trying to get them to stop," said Greg Schnabel, 28, of Chicago. "She waved for the bulldozer to stop and waved. She fell down and the bulldozer kept going. We yelled, 'Stop, stop,' and the bulldozer didn't stop at all." Israeli military spokesman Capt. Jacob Dallal said her death was an accident. State Department spokesman Lou Fintor said the U.S. government had asked Israeli officials for a full investigation. A tearful Craig Corrie, Rachel's father, remembered his daughter Sunday as "dedicated to everybody." "We've tried to bring up our children to have a sense of community, a sense of community that everybody in the world belonged to," he said from his home in Charlotte, N.C. "Rachel believed that — with her life, now." Corrie was already a committed peace activist when she arrived at Evergreen State, a small campus is known for devotion to liberal causes, said Larry Mosqueda, one of Corrie's professors and a fellow activist. "She was concerned about human rights and dignity," he said. "That's why she was there." The move from organizer to front-line opposition in a war zone was a switch for Corrie, whom friends said was not usually inclined to the overt acts of civil disobedience that characterized such events as the World Trade Organization protests in Seattle in 1999. "As long as I've known her she's always been very energetic and very focused about social justice," said Phan Nguyen, 28, a friend and fellow activist who has made several similar trips to the West Bank. "It seemed natural that she would do something like this." In her e-mailed dispatch from Rafah, Corrie painted a picture of the perilous life of a human shield, recounting a Feb. 14 confrontation with the Israelis. "We can only imagine what it is like for Palestinians living here, most of them already once-or-twice refugees already, for whom this is not a nightmare," Corrie wrote, "but a continuous reality from which international privilege cannot protect them, and from which they have no economic means to escape." May Allah rest your soul in Janaah.. you have done what many men feared... Mashaa alaah

A simple question i ask all of you my beloved nomads, How come so many of us posted topics about the 2003 new years celebration and resolutions and no one ever mentioned let alone celebrating our Hijiri year that started 2 weeks ago ? how many of us based his/her resolutions on the Hijri year ? how many of you has called their loved ones and said happy new year ?..... just wondering….

please check these flash presentations... http://www.shra3.com/flash/yomaha.swf اينك من التوبة يا اخي المسلم ؟ ارجو من الله العلي العظيم ان يفيدني و يفيدك بهذا الفلاش المؤثر http://www.shra3.com/flash/kawafal.swf http://www.shra3.com/flash/see.swf التويه التوبه يا اخي و اختي المسملمين..... هداني الله وأياكم http://www.shra3.com/flash/friend.swf رحمة الله عليك اخي الشهيد......... http://www.shra3.com/flash/shaheid.swf

Brother Darman first of all you need to repent to allah and try to help the girl out thru her ordeal, you have put her in that situation so figure out a way to put her out..