Egyptian Gumbo

Recently, a brother commented on my recent post about “Bad Marriage Proposals.” He concluded by stating, “Girls should not be allowed to post on the internet without their Mahrams supervising them.” I went to the brother’s website to see him post this:

This basically says:

New Fatwa:
No Internet for women except with a Mahram

Riyad - Aylaf

Two Saudi Sheiookh, Uthman AlKhamees and Saad Al Ghamdy, decreed a fatwa making the Internet haram for the woman because of the “Evil Vileness of her Turned Page”. The Fatwa added that, “The woman is not allowed to open the Internet except in the presence of a mahram knowledgeable about the woman’s whoredom and wileyness”

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This quite frankly came as a shock to me because I’m a huge “fan” of Sheikh Uthman AlKhamees.

Now, as anyone who works in journalism would do, one would at least try to see if this was fabricated or not. After all, Uthman AlKhamees is mostly known for his debates with Shia scholars. Shia scholars always lie.

So as it turned out this is actually a FABRICATED fatwah. Because on Sheikh Uthman’s offical website was found this:

Which basically after the questioner described what he saw, he asked the sheikh if he really wrote the fatwah, to which sheikh Uthmaan replied:

“(Subhanak) this is a great slander (buhtaan), this is a lie I didn’t say, and, I haven’t come across the fatwa of Shaykh Saad al-Ghamdi”"

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On top of that, this fatwah is all over the internet and is found on ( surprise, surprise) mostly Shia and Coptic websites.

Don’t believe everything you see. Brothers and sisters please verify information before you go spreading it around everywhere.

Does not Allah ‘az wa jal say in surat Al-Hujuraat:

“O you who believe! If a rebellious evil person comes to you with a news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful to what you have done.”

While I do agree that there should be certain etiquette and rules to be followed, but we shouldn’t go to extremes on either end.

WAllahu alem.

As *Eman Hamadah was growing up, she was blindly unaware of the severe abuse her father inflicting upon her. To her it was just a normal part of her life.

As she grew older and older, the abuse got worse. It use to be something that happened maybe once a week but soon turned into every day. And only when she became older and aware of what was really happening, she soon realized how painful her life had just become.

One day, Eman approached her father about the abuse he was inflicting on her and the family. She sat down in front of him and boldly said,

“Ya Abi, you’ve abandoned your prayer and the pain it has caused me is too much. I love you very much and am scared for you; I’m scared that you might die in this state and meet Allah this way.”

Her father replied, “I get it, I’m a kaafir… you happy? Yes I’m bad, I’m going to hell, now leave me alone. ”

Eman still has sleepless nights sometimes, worrying about her father.

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Not praying to Allah is perhaps the most selfish action a person can do.

Allah ‘az wa jal created a Mankind and Jinn so that we can worship Him. As Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says:

“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” [Quran 51:56]

But subhanallah, it’s even much much deeper than that; our lack of praying to Allah affects everyone around us as well.

We hear the reminders all the time, “We could die tomorrow.” But very few of us stop to think about what that could mean for us. One of the worst pains someone can inflict on another person is to stop the worship of Allah, know you are wrong, but not doing anything about it until it’s too late. Sure, Allah is the one who guides the hearts and similarly, whoever dies a disbeliever in Allah it is by Allah’s will. But there is no one to blame but oneself in the end.

So I’d like you to put yourself in this scenario, May Allah forbid:

Imagine you are with your mother, the woman who would give anything, even her own life if she had to, in order to see you live a healthy life. She is the one who is the most empathetic with you when you are sad, the one who stays by your side when you are sick, the one who no matter how bad you messed up at the end of the day will tell you she loves you, and the one who strokes your head until you fall asleep. Now imagine… her dying upon kufr.

Wallahi, this is the reality of many of us today. And it’s one of the scariest realities some of us will have to face in our lives. But what if it’s not someone we love who is inflicting this pain upon us, but it is us unknowingly inflicting pain on someone else? Subhanallah, how could we be so selfish. How could we completely be so ungrateful to our creator? And at the same time how can we knowingly inflict pain on the most beloved people to us?

It’s not too late to change and in fact NOW is the BEST time for change. The gates of hellfire are closed. When a believer, a sinner calls upon his lord and says “Ya Rabbi!”  Allah replies, “Labbaik ya Abdi! (I am here O my slave)”

This is a month full of forgiveness, mercy and blessings from Allah. If we aren’t practicing now is the best and easiest time to start worshiping Allah the way He deserves to be worshiped. If we are sinning constantly, now is the easiest time to rid of the weight of these sins.

Every soul will stand in front of Allah alone. But we don’t have to be alone in Jannah.

Wallahu ta’ala alem. Food for thought during your fast.

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*Real name not used.

MashaAllah, La qowwitta illa billah.

Take a moment from your busy day to sit and listen to The Quran with khushoo’. This recitation is, mashaAllah, beautiful and will fill your heart with the love of the book of Allah, inshaAllah. Trust me, you’ll want to listen to the whole thing, bi’ithnillahi ta’ala. Enjoy:

Part 1 Surat TaHa:

Part 2 Surat TaHa:

I usually always upload videos during Ramadan, make sure you subscribe if you want to hear more, inshaAllah.

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.