Find and interview a terrorist, and we’ll give you an advance.

That’s .00001 percent of our population, and that’s all anybody gets to see on the news or gets to read about.”

That is, indeed, the entire point of the book she was trying to get published. “War on Error: Real Stories of American Muslims” (University of Arkansas Press, $18.95) is a collection of profiles of young Muslims, as wide-ranging as they are peaceful: a feminist Muslim, a gay Muslim, a rapper, a convert from Catholicism, a buff Muslim with tattoos and one who sounds like a surfer when he tells her, “Dude, I think I’m like one of the worst Muslims I know.”

Moezzi, who lives in a condo near Emory University with her husband Matthew Lenard, two cats (Olyan and Talula) and a great many books, is an Iranian-American, the daughter of two physicians who came to this country after the Iranian revolution. She’s an attorney who doesn’t practice law at the moment, a self-described activist, a devout Muslim whose Apple laptop sports a large bumper sticker that reads, in Arabic, “All praise is due to God.”

And finally, without interviewing any terrorists, she is a published author. “I wrote this book because I was sick of how the media was portraying something that was incredibly important to me,” she says. “My faith. Most of us are no different from any other people of faith. We want to do right by God.”

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Note: The book includes life of a “gay” Muslim. I beleive homosexuality is strictly prohibited in Islam and whoever claims that it is allowed in Islam is only trying to mislead Muslim brothers and sisters.

In the early days of December 2007, I made the decision to go to the Reviving the Islamic Spirit Conference (RIS6). Prior to this experience, I heard from friends that this conference is like no other event. Furthermore, little did I realize the actual impact this gathering would have on my life as a Muslim in this dunya and the akhira.  In the next paragraphs, I would like to discuss how important these gatherings are for us, as Muslims living in North America and I will share with everyone my new aspirations as well as what other Muslims should strive for.

Firstly, I strongly urge Muslims living in the Western hemisphere of the world to make an intention to attend and participate in such gatherings.  One of the speakers present at the conference was Sheikh Hamza Yusuf.  Allah the Almighty has blessed this brother with the magnificent faith of monotheism; “There is only one Allah worthy of worship and Muhammed (peace be upon him) is His messenger”.  Sheikh Yusuf highlighted the fact that Muslims residing in North America are facing more challenges than people living in Islamic countries are. Amongst, some of the challenges he mentioned were substance abuse, domestic abuse, and pornography.  He urged the participants to discuss these issues with children and youth and not ignore these as taboo.  However, we should open discourse so they must know on what side of the fence Islam stands on issues of domestic abuse, substance abuse and pornography.  Only open dialogue with our youth can minimize the incidents of domestic abuse and any fatal incident like the death of Aqsa Parvez.

Imam Zaid Shakir talked about how parents in North America should treat their children to make them good Muslims and good citizens.

Contrary to the ever-increasing media reports and discussions, our religion promotes love and peace.  We will never achieve peace if we cannot be tolerant of our neighbors’ beliefs.  Our beloved Prophet (pbuh) lived in peace with Jewish and Christians regardless of their religious affiliations. We should all be good will ambassadors of Islam and should treat our non-Muslim neighbors the best ever way.  Only through our akhlaaq (good manners) will our neighbors see us as loving and peaceful citizens.  We also have the option of making duas to the Most Merciful to guide them to the path of Islamic monotheism.  We do not know what Allah holds in the future as only He chooses whom to guide.  I as a new Muslim had a good friend to show me the true akhlaaq of Muslims.

In conclusion, Reviving the Islamic Spirit conference made me realize I was being selfish by not sharing the wonderful message that Rasul of Allah (pbuh) brought us.  I have a new goal in life, Inshallah to revert others to this religion by simply being a fulltime good will ambassador of Islam.   Brothers and Sisters let us stop promoting hate to our children and start taking active role in their upbringing according to the basic principles of our religion.  We should share with them the life teachings of our Prophet (pbuh).  Furthermore, we need to revive our own spirit by attending large Islamic gatherings promoting the true message of Islam, peace.  It is very important to educate our children as Allah made knowledge ‘fard’ (compulsory) upon us. I pray to Allah, He guides us during our passing journey in this dunya. Ameen.

Reviving the Islamic Spirit “Family Matters: The Basis of a Civil Society” Conference (RIS6) was held from Decemeber 28 to December 30, 2007 at Toronto Metro Center. The pictures are from the Reviving the Islamic Spirit website.

His concerns were voiced as it emerged that a rift is opening between the British Government and four Muslim organisations over moves to introduce national guidelines for Britain’s 1,350 mosques. The initiative aims to make mosques more accessible to women and young people. It also seeks to combat extremism by promoting civic responsibility and inter-faith dialogue.

But Dr Hussain, the founder and director of the Karimia Institute, a multipurpose community centre in Nottingham, Britain  that features a mosque, a sport centre, a nursery, classrooms and a radio station, said that too many seminary students studied a narrow syllabus and inhabited a cocooned world that left them ill-equipped to connect with the 21st-century concerns of young British Muslims.

Hundreds of graduates emerge each year, he says, “without sufficient communication skills, without leadership skills and without a good understanding of British culture. The people coming out of British seminaries are detached because they can’t fit in. And the young people who desperately need their guidance, knowledge, and moral values will be deprived in the long run because they won’t feel comfortable approaching such imams.”

Dr Hussain’s concerns were echoed by other leading Islamic scholars who addressed Hazel Blears, the British Communities Secretary, at a recent meeting of Muslim academics and theologians.

A recent survey of 300 mosques in Britain found that 84 per cent of the imams were born in South Asia. A mere 8 per cent were British-born and only 30 per cent of the sermons at Friday prayers were delivered in English.

Moves to employ more British imams are being encouraged, in part, by new immigration rules under which foreign religious leaders seeking to enter Britain must prove their theological qualifications and pass tests on their English proficiency and knowledge of British society.

The reliance on Imams from other countries should be of concern to every Muslims whether in North America or in Europe. Most of time, there is a language barrier between Imams from other countries and the local young Muslims which makes it difficult for these young Muslims to understand and grasp the fundamental concepts of their religion. Misunderstanding and lack of knowledge creates frustration among these younsters when they are unable to understand the logical reasoning supporting many deeds which they see their non-Muslim friends doing. 

Power of knowledge is much stronger than that of violance. Muslims can live with members of other relegion without any major problems or disputes if they have enough knowledge about relegion to argue with reasons when ever in challenging situation.

Source: DontVisitthis.com

The Strategic Microelectronics Council (SMC) of ITAC provides an Industrial Collaboration Award that is open to graduate degree students of a Canadian university. The Award is focused on research activity arising from university-industry collaboration which has produced substantive results with commercial potential.

 The new wireless device will help the cancer patients.  The device is self-powered, more sensitive, and completely integrated with a transmitter including an on-chip antenna. Their new dosimeter is convenient for the user because it is wireless and small.  It requires a small battery for its operation and is disposable. It is more sensitive and accurate than its competitors and is capable of continuous radiation dose monitoring.

Congratulations Muhammad Arsalan and Atif Shamim on your acheivement. We wish you all the best for success in your future endeavors.

Allah made me funny is the official Muslim comedy tour featuring America’s best Muslim comedians Preacher Moss, Azhar Usman and Mohammed Amer.

George Lopez of ABC show ‘The George lopez Show’ remarked about Allah made me Funny as “Preach is not just a comedian for the Muslim comunity, but a teacher for the world”. And it is very true. Allah made me funny is not just for Muslims, it is for the whole world to understand Muslims. Muslims are also human beings and live their lives just an ordinary man on earth will live and like humor as well.

More information: Allah mad me funny