The History of Islam in Pittsburgh and America

• Author: MR
• Filed under: America, Culture, Dawah, Documentary, Education, History, Islam, Video
• Date: Jul 2,2009 | 01:49 AM

We need to learn more about our history here.

Canadians: Go to JOF!

• Author: MR
• Filed under: Canada, Dawah, Events, Islam
• Date: Jun 30,2009 | 11:38 AM

ISNA is the same weekend as JOF but it’s in DC which is much closer for me (and I already planned to go before I knew of JOF), but for all the brothers and sisters in Canada, JOF is in your country, meaning you won’t have to cross the border and face our lovely homeland security check points.

My thoughts on Michael Jackson’s death

• Author: MR
• Filed under: America, Culture, Dawah, Islam, Music, Sad, Take Action
• Date: Jun 26,2009 | 08:38 PM

The Angel of Death has come for the King of Pop.

Next stop: us.

Are we ready?

The sahabahs (companions of the Prophet – peace be upon him and his companions) are here:

We’re going there too!

Can’t fit much except for your body wrapped with cloth.

May Allah forgive us all and guide us all.

New Muslim Cool – Tonight on PBS – 10 PM EST (DCs WETA PBS not showing it, see post)

• Author: MR
• Filed under: America, Culture, Dawah, Documentary, Hip Hop, Islam, Music
• Date: Jun 23,2009 | 02:06 AM

NEW MUSLIM COOL airs on PBS, Tuesday, June 23 @ 10 pm

Premiere Date: June 23, 2009

Synopsis
Puerto Rican-American rapper Hamza Pérez pulled himself out of drug dealing and street life 12 years ago and became a Muslim. Now he’s moved to Pittsburgh’s tough North Side to start a new religious community, rebuild his shattered family and take his message of faith to other young people through hard-hitting hip-hop music. But when the FBI raids his mosque, Hamza must confront the realities of the post-9/11 world, and himself. New Muslim Cool takes viewers on Hamza’s ride through streets, slums and jail cells — following his spiritual journey to some surprising places in an America that never stops changing. Produced in association with Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB) and the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM).
For more info, please go to

www.newmuslimcool.com
www.pbs.org/pov/newmuslimcool

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Governor Jon Corzine with New Jersey Muslims

• Author: MR
• Filed under: America, Dawah, Islam, Video
• Date: Jun 18,2009 | 07:02 PM

New Jersey Muslims stepping up.

Shaykh Hamza Yusuf on President Barack Obama

• Author: MR
• Filed under: America, Article, Barack Obama, Dawah, Islam
• Date: Jun 17,2009 | 12:47 PM

Hamza Yusuf on a Presidency of Descending Grace

It is an extraordinary and momentous event to call you president. Your father was of the Luo clan and, as you know, it would be difficult for a Luo to be elected president in Kenya. In our country, while tribe is not an issue, color often is, but you have succeeded in overcoming both clan and complexion, and in doing so inspired millions of people around the world.

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“Bassem is trying” – Funny and weird short film

• Author: MR
• Filed under: Culture, Dawah, Funny, Islam, Video
• Date: Jun 17,2009 | 12:46 AM

I laughed at the praying and the elevator. Everything else was weird.

Pearls of the Quran – Nov. 6-8, ‘09 – H. Yusuf, Z. Shakir, M. Ninowy, M. Maghroaui, M. Magid, Z. Alwani – Dulles, VA

• Author: MR
• Filed under: America, Dawah, Education, Events, Islam, Quran, Traditional Islam
• Date: Jun 15,2009 | 12:28 PM

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Islamic Revival in Bosnia

• Author: MR
• Filed under: Dawah, Europe, Islam
• Date: Jun 10,2009 | 12:11 PM

Alhamdulillah. Excerpt:

Though there is little talk of the war in Sarajevo today, religious leaders trace Bosnia’s Islamic revival directly to the horrors people witnessed in the 1990s, when they were children. “This generation grew up overnight,” says the country’s Grand Mufti, Mustafa Efendi Ceric. “We had an entire generation asking, ‘Does God exist?’ And now we have a generation that is very religious.” Husic and her friends bear that out. As young girls, they watched their hometown of Mostar become ripped apart as lifelong neighbors turned against each other in a spiral of ethnic enmity; two of the four women lost their fathers, while another watched as an uncle was dragged away to his death. As rockets pummeled the city, the girls huddled in the makeshift basement that served as their classroom. Deeply shaken, all four opted to study in Egypt after the war under a religious sponsorship. They returned at 18 in hijabs — a sharp break from their families’ traditions. Their transformation was hardly unique. Aida Begic, 33, a director whose first feature film Snow has won numerous awards, says her teen years in besieged Sarajevo shook her to the core. “Every minute you wonder what will happen after you die,” she says. “You cannot postpone those questions until old age.” After years of dabbling in Buddhism and Judaism, and a phase as a punk rocker with blue hair, four years ago Begic adopted the Islamic head scarf and long dress and became deeply religious. She says the decision “caused an earthquake” among her family and friends, who are still uncomfortable with her devotion.

Read the full article here.

May Allah continue to guide them and keep them firm on the straight path. Ameen!

Snopp Dogg – “Asalamu Alaykum”

• Author: MR
• Filed under: America, Dawah, Hip Hop, Islam, Video
• Date: Jun 4,2009 | 01:20 AM

One step closer. Like Malcolm X, Siraj Wahhaj, and the 1,000s that have come, may Allah guide him. Ameen.