nice stuff. enjoyed reading.

Interesting. Congrats to him. His model was revolutionary 30+ years ago. But with all the competition in the area right now, borrowers have soo many options. There are alot of critics out there as well, that don't support the almost exculsive focus on women and don't see it as a form of empowerment but manipulation. heh.

Fake. The guys seemed to be beating the floor more then he was beating the guy. Was in the city about a month ago,our jeep had tinted windows and when we would pass the numerous security checkpoints along the berbera-hergaisa road, the guards would ask us to lower the windows, and jokingly ask if my uncle was hiding the islamist in there. Who knows, this could be someones idea of a joke.

"Do informal communications make better neighbors?" Yes. They do. Very few people these days even know who thier next door neighbour is. Communication between them would usually consist of a "hello+smile" nod, whenever they happen to meet in the apt hallway, or infront of thier houses. And it is through this that they judge each other as being "okay" people. Is this good? Nope. I am sure we all would like for things to be like how they are back "home".Where everyone down the street is "family". However this isnt "home". So lets adapt, just a little bit. Ps. I am in love with this quick reply thing. very nice admin.

What i gather is that he is talking about covering your face only when he says "veil" and not the hijab, covering of the hair and wearing loose clothes? We know that covering your face is not a necessity. Right? So if you consider this position, from an angle of community relations in a society where the majority of people are ignorant of Islam. You must be able to see the merits of his argument. How many times a day do you say hello to a neighbour or a shopkeeper that you pass by everyday, without knowing this persons name or ever having had a full conversation with them? I am sure lots. How are you able to do this. Simple body langauge, people see your face and read you by it. You smile, they smile and all is good. People are very receptive. When you can't see someones face it stops so many forms of informal communication... However It shouldnt have come from him. And it doesnt just sound right. even though I agree with him.

He could be asking from Allah to relieve him of his prison

Hi, First Things First. YOU ARE NOT UGLY! Looking at that picture, one thing came to mind. I bet that it isnt your acne that leads you to withdraw from social activities but your preception of what others see and think when they look at you. But its quite simple, people are generally ****** ,really distracted or self ingrossed... Its not your face that they judge you by but your Body Language for instance, are you Tense, Nervous, Worried, Too Quite...they follow your LEAD! I am talking out of experience, not with Acne, but bad case ecezma that decided to land right i the middle of my face I have had selfesteem issues all through out highschool and used alot of makeup to cover it up, which only made it worse. And in grade 11, through being around POSITIVE and SUPPORTIVE people, I decided that makeup wasn't for me and I had to wakeup everyday, Go to Work, School..without my mask...It wasn't magic, first two weeks I wanted to die..I was in the washroom after every class to see, If I was any more hedious! But after a few weeks, I got use to it, It was me and there wasnt much I could do about it. IF I CAN LIVE WITH IT..SO CAN THE REST OF THE WORLD! Listen Enjoy your young years now, dont let them go to waste, hating yourself. Your Beautiful. It will pass, take care of your body and be good to yourself. I like going to this forum sometimes to readup on posts...kinda makes you feel that your not alone Check it out.. http://www.uncommonforum.com/viewforum.php?f=12

Its a sad thing they are putting foward, I hope it doesnt go through, some good news though! I am very proud of ISNA, inshallah khair this move will lead to great achievements. DR. INGRID MATTSON ELECTED FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF THE ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA (ISNA) 08-25-06 08:51 ISNA Muslim organization elects Imam Mohamed Magid as Vice-President. Plainfield, IN 08/23/2006 -The Islamic Society of North America (www.isna.net), the largest religious organization representing Muslims in North America, has elected Dr. Ingrid Mattson as its President. She is the first woman to head the organization. Dr. Mattson, who earlier served as the first female ISNA Vice President, is Professor of Islamic Studies and Director of Islamic Chaplaincy at the Macdonald Center for Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, CT. Dr. Mattson, born in Canada, studied Philosophy at the University of Waterloo, Ontario (B.A. '87) and earned her Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from the University of Chicago in 1999. Dr. Mattson has numerous publications exploring the relationship between Islamic law and society, as well as gender and leadership issues in Muslim communities. Her forthcoming book, The Qur’an: Its History and Place in Muslim Societies, is being published by Blackwell Press. Dr. Mattson lives in Connecticut with her husband and two children. ISNA members also elected Imam Mohammed ibn Hagmagid – popularly known as Imam Magid -- as the organization’s Vice-President. Imam Magid is the Executive Director and Imam of The All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS; www.adamscenter.org). He is also Chair of Fairfax Faith Communities in Action, member of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington Assembly, and Board Member of the Fairfax Youth Partnership. Imam Magid lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and five children. Since its establishment in 1963, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) has been active in bringing people and communities together. Its goal has consistently been one of bridge-building between the Muslim community and the American society at large. ISNA is an association composed of Muslim organizations and individuals who aim to provide a common platform for presenting Islam by supporting Muslim communities, developing educational, social and outreach programs as well as fostering good relations with not only other religious communities but also numerous civic and service organizations. ISNA organizes dozens of annual national and regional conferences including the ISNA Annual Convention held over Labor Day weekend which attracts nearly 40,000 attendees.t go through.

Women’s Prayer Area in Haram Might Be Shifted P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News JEDDAH, 26 August 2006 — The proposal to shift the prayer place of women within the circumambulation area (mataf) to two places inside the Grand Mosque, away from the Holy Kaaba, has drawn mixed reactions from both Saudis and expatriates. Some said the move was discriminatory while others said it would reduce overcrowding in mataf and facilitate tawaf (circumambulation). Opponents of the proposal urged authorities to provide women wider areas inside the mataf instead of denying them the right to pray close to the Kaaba. According to the proposal made by a committee set up by the Presidency for the Two Holy Mosques Affairs, women will be given two wider prayer areas on the ground floor, in the northern part of the mosque overlooking the Kaaba; the first between Al-Fatah and Al-Nadwa gates and the second between Al-Madinah and Al-Hudaibiya gates. “These two places are ideal for women worshippers and provide wider space for them,†an informed source at the presidency said. “The present area provided for women in the mataf covers 630 square meters but the new places offer them double the area,†he added. Suhaila Hammad, a member of the National Society for Human Rights and the International Union of Muslim Scholars, opposed the move, saying it would deny women the right to pray inside the mataf. “In Islam, women have equal rights like men in terms of worship and devotion to God,†she said narrating a verse from the Holy Qur’an. “When we make a decision on this matter, we should also take into consideration the feeling of the thousands of Muslim women who come here from different parts of the world for Haj and Umrah. We should not deny them the right to pray inside the mataf,†she told Arab News. Suhaila called upon authorities to allocate at least three more areas inside the mataf for women to pray and meditate comfortably. Hatoon Al-Fassi, a Saudi writer and historian, expressed her confidence that the presidency would not accept the proposal that goes against the message and spirit of Islam that treats both men and women equally. “I strongly reject this proposal and request the authorities not to implement it,†she said in comments published yesterday. Such a move has never taken place in the history of Islam, she added. Hassan Misfar of the International Fiqh Academy called upon the mosque authorities to allocate special areas for women to perform tawaf. He said he feared that Western media would use the new proposal in support of their allegation that the Kingdom’s regulations discriminate against women. “The move is unfair,†said Safiya Ali, an expatriate dawa activist, commenting on the proposal. She feared that once the present area for women in the mataf was shifted they would not get a chance to stay and pray closer to the Holy Kaaba. Safiya wanted wider prayer areas for women in the mataf with greater privacy. Osama Al-Bar, dean of King Fahd Institute for Haj & Umrah Research, supported the plan, saying it would solve the problem of overcrowding in the mataf area, especially during peak Haj and Umrah seasons. “We have to take into consideration that the mataf has a limited area and is very difficult to expand it further,†he said. Many other Saudis favored the move saying it was necessary to create more space for circumambulation around the Kaaba for the growing number of pilgrims. http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=78420&d=26&m=8&y=2006

I can't help smiling....funniest post in a while Rudy's response says it all. Ps. What happened in the 1930's for the arabs to be considered white?

^ nope....its absurd...no youtube, no flicker...I can't even see any of the pics on any of the websites/blogs I visit on my daily net routine..

Um, put up that story about grey's anatomy will email it to my sister, its her favourite show. we usually endup arguing,since I am big ER fan..and anyone can see that show is just a poooooor copy cat of the great ER its only worth watching for that canadian actress..the chinese one..she's great

Yep Ramadan is coming, exicited about it, since a new masjid opened right infront of my house, eases tarawiix prayers and increases the feel of a true community since its you and all you neighbours praying together

Can't access the site. Its banned in the UAE, any possibility of copy&paste?

^ or perhaps its just selective reporting... Lived in an arab country before a young five yr old girl was molested by a shopkeeper in the neighbourhood..it was huge, since the family came and beat him to a pulp...he was deported...headlines? none. watsoever.

^ and when did you conduct that census? Do relax. I was about to actually post on how kind the somalis I met in the city are.

cheap isnt it. But then again, they werent exactly super models

Dubai has been the most curious city. Many faces..the old gold and spice souk in contrast to the city centers and towering buildings. There is one unifying element though. Money rules in this city. I have never had the opportunity to ever really see an actual prostitue while in Toronto discussing prices with a potentail "customer" But i did have the unexpected chance of all places here in Dubai. Very amusing and strange at the same time, to be sitting in small cafeteria in one of the busy souqs at a friday night waiting for an order of mango juice with a friend. While the following happened Imagine this scene. 3 women, of which nationality I cannot say, Persian maybe or Eastern European..I dont know. They were in thier late 30's to early 40's, wearing very flashy clothes and heavy makeup, just like us waiting for thier orders. At this time I noticed an African guy, standing beside them behind the glass walls, staring at the women. I knew men here stared, and these women weren't exactly covered, so I didnt give it a second thought. When he came in and sat right next to them I was really shocked...what guts he had. since we were right at the next table, the convo was very aduible ... it went something like ths Guy-Hi how are you.. lady-"Smiles" good good Guy-Yes, um "how much" Lady-120 dirhams... At this point, I realized what I was listening into..... If this is happening in the middle of a crowded souq on a friday night, in a crowded restraunt with children and families, God only knows what happens behind closed doors. Oh and incase your wondering, I guess, it was abit expensive for him... he left without the product.

I understand where your coming from. However your giving these people undue attention. Its such a tiny unknown forum. The best thing to do is to ignore them and not to advertise them any further.

The African Gold souk is rather nice, very decent. I still have to get used to the small alleys with the somali dirac stores. Recenltly checked out the Ibn Batutta mall, was recommeded by a friend who came down a few weeks ago, its reallllly nice, lovely stores and educational too. Simply by far the best one of them all...i just dont get that Mall of Emirates (i thnk it was the one) with the 400 meter ski slopes..? Just.Strange. Seeing an arab with his thob and a large ski jacket over him lol

Spending sometime currently in Dubai, last time I was here was 2002 and the change is something else walahi. In terms of buildings and the entire setup this city is so beautiful. So many things happening at once. What is the Toronto Skyline compared to this one? Nothing! ThePoint, the heat isnt that bad, people here dont go outside until after 6pm. Went to buy some diracs as is per tradition when you come to Dubai and its crime what I pay in toronto. I basically bought an amazing dirac of my choice among another hundred, a full set for 30 bucks. I am used to paying 130 dollars. Northerner, congrats. enjoy yourself!

To be honest, i doubt they stopped him first to find out if he knew the shahad or the five pillars of islam, his skin colour must have been enough for them to kill him. Its sad.

Loud songs, your dosing off in the subway/bus/train..and suddenly its Britney/Creed/Korn or some other loud group and your awaken so so suddenly its painful. I have a song myself but its nice slow kazem al saher song....its soft and poetic.

Great Game. Go Ghana. Played well and guess what no Israeli Flag this time!

^ Hanan Turk is an execption, she is far from the end of her career, and is possibily the most sought after masri actress nowadays. I can easily understand the shock her recent movies gave you no hint. Both ways. Good for her. can't wait to see what projects she takes on now.