Egyptian Gumbo

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May Allah accept from me and from you. ameen.

Surat Yunas:

Surat Al-Qiyyamah:

This post is for all of those brothers and sisters who are thinking about approaching someone for marriage.Take heed from this post. Do everything differently from what these guys did.

I was thinking about the typical harassment in Egypt and wondering how guys keep trying over and over again to use the same pick up lines with no avail. And I started wondering out of how many times they harass a girl, how many actually amount to anything more than a girl hitting the guy with her purse. “Hmm…,” I wondered.  I also was curious if at any point in time it resulted in the harasser marrying the harassed.

That led me to think about bad marriage proposals, but I thought it’d make for a good post.

I asked a couple of friends to share any stories they may have about them or someone they know. I’ll list a couple here, but I’d be very interested in hearing stories from the rest of you in the comments section.

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1. “The Choo Choo” sister.

A friend of mine told me this story of a brother who was interested in his friend’s sister. He convinced his friend to let him “observe” the sister in her natural surroundings by letting him hide behind a door in his house. The interested brother hid, while his friend sat down and called his sister to make him some tea.

The girl went into the kitchen made the tea, and as she was coming with the tea she started to head towards her brother making ‘train noises.’ “Chooo choooo,” the sister came howled as she came toward her brother.

By this time both the interested brother and his friend were trying as hard as they could not to laugh. As soon as the girl left the room, they busted out laughing.

If i were that sister I would have killed my brother, if I had one.

2. The Bollywood Big Shot

A friend of mine related this story to me:

“Thankfully, my parents never put me in a rishta-like situation after the first one went disastrous:

My mom was being super nice to me, and so my sister and I got really suspicious –my mom’s generally a sweet and jolly lady, mashaAllah, but it was a little off this time. Anyway, next thing we know some limo pulls up in front of our house and it’s this dude my dad knows - guy doesn’t even drive it on a regular basis. So after laughing till our sides ached (who pulls up in a limo?! just for the getting-to-know and check-the-larhki-out?!), we snook out of the house, hopped into my sister’s car and didn’t come home till late in the evening when we were sure mr.im-oh-so-impressive would be gone. so aside from the bummy look as totally not attractive, overdoing it on the bling-bling side is a bit of a throw-off (if not ridiculous), too

4. The Playing Hoops Brother.

There was a brother who went to go propose to a sister. When he came to meet the parents, not only was he extremely nervous as he was sweating like crazy, but he looked like he just came back from playing basketball because he had jeans, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes on. Not only that, he had the nerve to be “In a rush because he had to go somewhere.”

Needless to say, the answer was no.

5. The Single Guy in New York.

A brother approached a sister but wanting to get married ASAP, meaning like two weeks from when he started emailing her. The sister was in no rush and likewise couldn’t move in with the brother even if she wanted because she lived far and had to finish college. She was to be done in only a year. He told her that a year was wayyyy too long and that he’s a single guy living in New York. And although the girl was “Everything he would look for in a wife” he told her he didn’t want to come see her because if he liked her, he didn’t want to be  “stuck” in an engagement just in case he found someone who was willing to get married sooner.

So the brother told her that if in another year he doesn’t find someone, he’ll come back. (!!!!!!!!) Not only did the sister laugh really hard and sent him an email telling him he’s got to be kidding (not to even bother),  the sister also gave him naseeha telling him not to ever tell another sister something like that, or else he’ll have a hard time getting married.

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Brothers, if you want to propose to a sister, please don’t do what these guys did. I want to hear all your stories if you have any that happened to you or a friend of yours. Please don’t put any names. Enjoy

Assalamu alaikum everyone,

Really quick,

Barak Allahu feekom for your dua. Alhamdulillah Allah ‘az wa jal saved us from what could have been a huge disaster. The scene here in baton rouge is unbelievable. I feel like I’m in TV. The number of trees that have fallen and been uprooted, the fact that 1.4 million people without power, wallahi it’s truly a huge test during ramadan.

This is a lesson alhamdulillah I’m so greatful to Allah to be able to go through. Because wallahi it’s made me so much more greatful to Allah for His blessings he has bestowed upon us.

I will update everyone soon with everything. But everyone is OK, we are just living without electricity for a long time, which had truly been difficult. WAllahul Musta’an. walhamdulillah.

Keep us in your dua.

Wassalam,

Shirien

p.s. I’m currently writing things from LSU. Practically the only place I know of with it’s power restored

I often complain about living in Louisiana, after all there are only a few avenues to seek knowledge. But wallahi brothers and sisters one blessing Allah ‘az wa jal has given the Muslims here In Louisiana is the chance to become the Ansaar of Allah.

One week after coming back from Egypt, I’m welcomed by Hurricane Gustav. (Ahh, the genius behind the name “Egyptian Gumbo.”)

The shelves in the grocery stores are empty, people lining up to fill up their gas tanks, and the interstate starting to crowd with cars coming from New Orleans in hope to get out before the storm comes. Stores are even starting to put away the jewelry in a safe place in case of looting.

Every year I’ve been a student at LSU, we’ve always gotten days off the second week of school due to a hurricane — whether it struck or not.

I received calls yesterday asking me if I could help accommodate the sisters that will be coming to our masajid for due to mandatory evacuation in New Orleans. During Katrina, we had over 100 families stay in our small campus masjid.

A solider of Allah is coming, and we ask Allah ‘az wa jal to protect us from his wrath.

It’s truly a humbling experience to be able to help shelter people and tend to their needs. And I’d very much like to share it with the world. So if happens and the hurricane does come to Louisiana, I will try to document the efforts and the needs of the victims so that inshaAllah people will know exactly what is needed in order to help them. And perhaps i’ll try to get people’s personal stories. I can’t promise anything, because 1. We are unsure what the conditions will be like and 2. My priority will inshaAllah be helping people, not filming them — but if I have the opportunity and feel it will be beneficial, inshaAllah I will. — This is, if Allah protects us and averts any destruction from coming our way.

You don’t need a hurricane to help your fellow Muslims and non-Muslims. Ramadan is here, feed those who need food. Become an Ansaari.

May Allah protect us all, and bless us in Ramadan with His mercy and forgiveness. Ameen. Keep us in your dua, inshaAllah.

Sun, Moon, stars — all ayat of Allah; all prove his existence.  However, very seldom do we look toward the other ayat of Allah for lessons in our deen. And for the Muslim youth out there, inshaAllah I hope this post will be a profound reminder.

The first time I saw this clip I was in awe, because it immediately reminded me of a hadith of the prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam which teaches the insaan an important life lesson and advice to staying on the correct path.

First, I want you to watch the clip. Then, I want you to reflect for a moment and try to see what hadith I could possibly be referring to.

Allah ‘az wa jal shows us through nature sometimes lessons to be learned and adopted by humans.

After all, look at the story of the two sons of Adam, Qabil (Cain) and Habil (Abel), in the Quran. When Qabil killed his brother Allah ‘az wa jal sent a crow/raven before him who dug up the earth to show him how to cover the body of his dead brother.

Perhaps there are quite a few lessons one might have derived from the above clip, but the ahadith that clearly came to my mind when I first watched this, were the ahadith about friends.

In one hadith the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam said,

“The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk, and the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows. So as for the seller of musk then either he will grant you some, or you buy some from him, or at least you enjoy a pleasant smell from him. As for the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows then either he will burn your clothes or you will get an offensive smell from him.”

In another hadith, the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam said,

“A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so look at whom you befriend.”

The ant in the above clip was inflicted with a deadly disease. Any ant nearby that saw the deranged ant would move it far away from the rest of the colony as to not infect and ruin the other ants.

Subhanallah, Allah ‘az wa jal showed us sacrifice, hardship, straying from the correct path and saving those around you all in this short nature scene.

If you want to become closer to Allah, you have to look at those around you to get a better outlook on your own state. If you see that the company you have isn’t the type to remind you of Allah, the type that gossips or constantly gets in trouble or arguments with others, than take that as a sign to start finding a new group of people to keep you company.

There is always a certain point someone can look back and say, “This is when I started to change and started to become more religious.”

I find a common thread between everyone who’s said this statement. These three things are what lead people to change into a better slave of Allah:

1. Changing friends/ environment

3. Going to the Masjid more/ seeking more knowledge

Today, I want all of us to focus on the first one. Deep down we know the type of people we should keep as company.

Just like the ant in the video, we know sometimes it requires a greater sacrifice.

In the video you saw that as cruel as it was for the other aunt to leave it to die far away and alone, sometimes this is what is needed to save the rest of those around you. When sin becomes well known others will begin to follow in it’s footstep (which is why it’s best that we not reveal our sins.) Sure, we will lose people we may care about greatly, but the greater sacrifice is for Allah; seeking His face. When you take away the root of the problem, you will see that everything else inshaAllah will fall into place and your environment will be much safer from diseases of the heart– not only for you but for those around you as well.

One ant sacrificed leaving one deviant ant to tend to itself, so that it could save not only himself but those around him.

It truly is amazing to see the profoundness of the creation of Allah and His Ayat.

wallahu alem.

Well, I’m on my last vacation here in Egypt before I leave back to Louisiana. I’m here for two weeks, and If I seem a little MIA these days it’s because I’m relaxing here in Marina. It’s truly one of the most beautiful places on this earth, MashaAllah, la qowwita illa billah.

The key to surviving in Marina if you’re somewhat religious is to go out at awkward times of day. So you should go out after fajr to about 12 pm then maybe again before maghrib time.

Anyway, below are some pictures. I have my tripod here so i’ll try to get more professional shots soon.  I have video also but for some reason Egypt and YouTube uploading don’t get along, so inshaAllah when i get back to the states I’ll post the videos. Enjoy!

Ohh girls, you know exactly what I’m about to talk about, don’t you? Tisk tisk.

For those of you who know what Nour is, I’m sure you already know what I’m about to talk about just by my title.

For the rest of you, get ready to be amazed at a real life example of everything that’s wrong with TV– because it’s all represented in this one Turkish soap drama, recently dubbed in Arabic, which has caused the whole Arab world to become obsessed.

It’s making its way to America too. (See Facebook groups.)

Alright, let’s first talk a little bit about Nour:

Most women who watch the show watch it because of this strikingly handsome guy, “Mohannad.” Most will also tell you they never liked the blond hair look because they all wanted the tall dark and handsome guy. Well, to them the only exception to that rule is “Mr. Mohannad.”

Anyway, apparently he marries this girl named Nour, they live amongst their huge wealthy family, babies everywhere, kidnappings, love stories, etc. etc.

I have to say I didn’t even think these people were Muslim but apparently I was told they fast Ramadan but they drink alcohol at all times of the day. Then I remembered the guy’s name was supposedly “Mohannad,” which confirmed what people have said.

In any case, the obsession of this drama has gone way too far. I don’t know anyone in Egypt or any other part of the Arab world who DOESN’T watch this show. Even people in America who have a dish are obsessed with the show.

Mufti’s in Saudi Arabia recently declared the drama to be “haram,” and rightfully so. (But isn’t almost everything else on TV?) Well, that just shows how far people have taken it. It’s gotten to a point where sheiookh have had to name it specifically and told people it’s haram to watch.

Still not convinced? Ohh just wait guys it gets better (actually horrible):

Recently, there have been reports of the divorce rate climbing in the Arab world. Why? Because of Nour fever. Women want their husbands to “be like Muhanad.”

Instead of me reporting it, go ahead and read this well written, but shocking article written by AlArabiya.net:

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DUBAI (AlArabiya.net)

The hit Turkish soap “Nour” which is being aired on MBC has sparked a rash of divorces in countries across the Middle East as women compare their real-life husbands to the TV heart throb, according to press reports.

The trouble centers around the lead male character called Muhannad – played by Turkish actor Kivanç Tatlitug – whose good looks and charms have left many Arab women weak at the knees.

Fed up with his wife’s obsession with Muhannad and constant complaints that he should be as romantic as the TV hunk, a Saudi husband from Dammam divorced his wife and threw her out of the marital home, Saudi newspaper Al-Yawm reported.

A Jordanian daily said a husband divorced his wife after she uploaded Muhannad’s picture on her cell phone.

And a Syrian website reported that there were four divorces in Aleppo because of the steamy soap.

In one case, a husband divorced his wife after they had a heated argument about the actor while watching the series, which MBC has dubbed into Arabic to suit Middle Eastern audiences.

According to a neighbor, the wife reportedly told her husband: “I want to sleep with Muhannad for only one night and die afterwards.”

In another case, a husband divorced his wife after she hung a picture of Muhannad – the character Mehmet in the original Turkish version – on their bedroom wall.

Nour, which airs on MBC, the parent company of Al Arabiya, is about a woman who is married to Muhannad after he loses his true love in a tragic accident.

Muhannad is then forced to marry Nour by his family. The series traces the hardships Nour must go through to win her husband’s heart and to prove herself on a professional level.

Nour, called Gümüs in the original series, is played by Turkish actress Songül Öden.

(Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid).

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!! I seriously can’t believe women would say and do these things. Wallahul musta’an. Seriously, this is everything that’s wrong with TV. May Allah protect us all.

1. Pretty Much it’s Going to be Hot Everywhere:

2. Sandcastles

3. 911 Call from 4-year-old Kid:

4. Crouching Tiger Hidden Kitten:

5. Very Long Snake:

If there’s one thing I dislike more than someone calling me extreme, it’s calling me extreme in front of my face as if I’m not even in the room.

Yesterday, I went to this jeweler we go to every year in Alexandria. I was outside the store looking at the display in the window while my mom, aunt and cousin made themselves comfortable inside.

I was happy my mom did her routine warning of telling men, “My daughter doesn’t shake hands (with men).” It’s actually kind of funny; I’m not the one that gets embarrassed to tell a guy if he puts out his hand that I won’t shake his hand. I think my mom is the one that feels awkward in that situation. Sometimes, I’d actually rather the guy be a little embarrassed so he’ll think twice the next time he’s about to try to shake a random woman’s hand.

Anyway, I was looking at some rings with my mom when the owner comes up to me and asks me, “Shaking hands with men, halal or haraam?” (Typical Egyptian question. Look at number one on my past post about Egypt)

“Haraam,” I answered.

“No wallahi, it is not haraam,” he said.

At this point I’m thinking. ‘Who are you? And why did you just swear by Allah on a fatwah you just pulled out of the air?’

I knew exactly where this conversation was going. I knew they typical Egyptian mentality in which anything non-Egyptian like is considered extreme or abnormal. I figured before he says something else that’s extremely haraam, I’m not going to respond because 1. Any response may lead him to say more dangerous statements, so it’s better I stay quiet and 2. That mentality is very hard to convince otherwise.

But no. He wanted to try to “change my mind.”

“Wallahi I’m telling you it’s not haraam. Believe me, this is what I say. It’s all about intentions,” he went on to say.

At this point I begin to open my mouth to try to correct him, in which he asks, “Who told you it was haraam?”

“Rasool Allah, salallahu alayhi wa sallam did. In a hadith…” And before I could even site the hadith.. he turns to my mom and asks her, “Where does she get these ideas? Probably from America and the people she hangs around over there.”

At this point I’m thinking of the irony of that statement. That I can learn something correct in the deen in a non-Muslim country, while people here, in a Muslim country, are clueless. Alhamduliillah for the guidance of Allah. In the end he continued telling my mom I was extreme and that a “sheikh on religious TV channel” told them it wasnt haraam. (See number two on my list.)

Today, being called extreme is a compliment. I don’t want to be liberal and wishy washy. A friend of mine told me a long time ago of this matrimonial service in which one of the main questions they ask is:

“How religious should your partner be?”

A. Liberal

B. Moderate

C. Extreme

Extreme…seriously? Haha. Sadly, that’s what I’d circle.

When you start to change and start becoming more religious, often times you’ll see the first people to call you extreme are your family and friends (i.e. those closest to you.) Then it’ll slowly progress to random people and jewelers you hardly know.

Be patient. The more your endure the more your eman will increase and the firmer you’re feet will be planted in the deen. Wallahu alem. Just my two cents/rant for the day.

Wallahu alem.

Bismillah,

It’s time to offer a different type of analysis of an already huge story.

As most of you have heard, Why Islam has been under a lot of heat lately because of their attempt to do dawah on New York subways. The goal is to place ads within the subways that provoke thought with those who see the ads thus, drawing them to their website where they can learn more about Islam. The controversy? The controversy arises with the sponsors of the ads and some bigoted republican, Peter King, who is calling on the Metropolitan Transit Authority to take down the ads claiming Sheikh Siraj Wahaj, a supporter of the ads, is “linked to terrorism.”

I thought it was time for me to do my research and analyze the subway controversy.

As I was doing my research the first place I went to look for information was WhyIslam.org. To my surprise they had nothing on their Web site mentioning anything about the controversy.

This in turn, provoked me to write this post offering my advise to both Why Islam and anyone else who may be put in the situation of crisis communication (may Allah protect us from this):

1. Information on Web site*

From a public relations perspective, not having information on the website is not a very good idea. So far, it seems Why Islam has really defended themselves well, mashaAllah. However, in crisis communication you should always provide outsiders with information.

I understand that millions of people must have gone– and are still going– to the Web site. And I also understand the over all goal is to educate the public about Islam. However, know that millions of reporters are also going to the Web site looking for any information about the controversy and looking for any statements from the organization. This is perhaps the first place a reporter looks. So my advice to Why Islam is to place a section on the Web site with a statement about the controversy, and any other information debunking myths surrounding the crisis situation.

If you don’t already have a communications director get a PR person to write the pieces that will go up on your Web site. This is extremely important for the credibility of your company. The way it looks as of now is that there is something shady that no one wants to talk about.

May Allah make it easy on all those involved.

2. Get people to write letters to the editor (opinion pieces), in defense of the ads.

Get public figures to back you up and support you. I saw that the mayor was not against the ads saying that if people wanted to spread Islam, they are protected by free speech. When writing press releases or opinion pieces one should mention these big public figures and their stance with your campaign. It will build your credibility, and get you more public support.

The most important aspect of this is to get people who are well informed and preferably people from your communication/PR department to write any press releases or other statements that will be sent to major media.

3. Always have a calm and collected spokesperson.

The general image of Muslims today is that they are violent and always angry. Having a spokesperson who is both eloquent in speech but not someone who gets angry easily is the way to go. CAIR does a great job of this with their spokesperson, Ibrahim Hooper. He knows when to be tough when he needs to, but he’s also not raging with anger.

The video with Br. Azeem Khan was a great example of this as well:

4. Be proactive, not reactive. Take advantage of the media blitz.

This is hard with crisis communication, only because you have to be reactive to the issue that has just ensued. However, be prepared and minimize the possibility of the situation getting any bigger.

Be prepared for anything they might throw at you. With the media spotlight on you, do more dawah activities and work. Make pseudo events and invite media to your events, give back to the community and during Ramadan give lots of food to the poor.  This should all of course be done purely for the sake of Allah, but there is no problem using this opportunity for spreading Islam by inviting the media. This can be done in various communities sponsored by Why Islam. And each locality can invite the media of that area to attend an iftaar or any other event sponsored by Why Islam.

5. Build good relations with reporters, and get contact information.

Not all reporters are out to make you look bad. Be nice and courteous with them and exchange contact information. Let them know that if anything new happens you’ll call them to report on it. That way anytime you have a major event in the future, you build a good relationship and can have a nice story about Islam run in the paper or on the news.

6. Pray istikhara before making any moves.

This is especially important for Muslims because we may think that we will say something that will make the situation better, but wallahu alem things get turned on us very quickly and easily. Seek Allah’s help in everything that you do and put your trust in Him alone.

For anyone in a crisis communication situation, be sure to follow these few guidelines of many.

We ask Allah ‘az wa jal to make it easy on the Muslims everywhere, and to give us success in this life and the hereafter, ameen.

Wallahu ta’ala alem.

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*If anyone is wondering why I wrote “Web site” rather than “website”then this is because this is the way it is written in Associated Press style.