Health, wealth and all that wisdom

I can't wait for a day when...

2008-01-30T23:41:00.000+04:00

Gmail will have

most recently starred emails show up in a separate box on the top
an embedded calendar widget that'll help me remember pending emails, emails to follow-up on, and emails labelled as "action items"
the ability to label emails in one click
a customizable layout that'll allow me to place my Labels above the Chat list
the ability to label draft emails before they get sent
and also, the ability to click on any label on an email in the conversation list which will take me to all the emails with that label.

Yea, all these features will definitely make my Gmail experience more fun and perhaps almost complete :)

New in 2008

2008-01-12T17:33:00.000+04:00

This blog might just self-destruct.

Canadian: Kids can Free the Children

2008-01-09T00:08:00.000+04:00

Emirati Marriage Fund

2008-01-04T18:29:00.000+04:00

Which is where the Marriage Fund comes in. Its main function is to give one-off gifts of £12,000 to help bridegrooms pay for their weddings. But there's a catch. The bride must be an Emirati girl, not a foreigner. Each groom must have a fertility check and an AIDS test. So far -- since 1992, the Fund has helped to marry off 44,000 couples.

From Secret Dubai Diary's blog:

UAE mass marriages are always a heartwarming story, given the ludicrous and vast amounts of debt so many other young Emiratis get themselves into over their weddings:

Abu Dhabi: Five hundred young Emiratis, from all seven emirates, will tie the knot in a mass wedding dubbed the "Emirates wedding", on Friday, at the Dubai World Trade Centre's Za'abeel ballroom.

The wedding, which is being funded personally by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, is being celebrated on the occasion of the second anniversary of Shaikh Mohammad's accession as Ruler of Dubai.

If only there could be a general mindshift to view overblown nuptials as tacky and profligate rather than socially desirable, then there might be more young couples embarking on matrimony unblighted by huge debts:

"The Institute for International Research, a UAE think-tank, puts the average cost of a wedding ceremony in the UAE at Dh300,000 – 50 times the salary of an entry-level government employee in Dubai."

So good luck to these five hundred sensible young people, and may their marriages be long and happy.

Notes from my Hajj Journal I

2008-01-01T19:54:00.000+04:00

December 24, 2006

And so it began. I’m on my way to Abu Dhabi... I have mu laptop in the car, so I decided to type the first part of my entry. It's become very popular for people to write their experiences once they come back from their travels, and Hajj is one of them. I'm not sure I want to follow the trend. I'm not sure how people can share the most intimate and private thoughts... their closeness to Allah (swt). Those who've asked, I've told them I'm nervous. Nervous... that my Hajj be accepted, that it be safe...

I know right now I long to be able to come back and tell all those people who asked me to pray for them, that I did.. that I took their duas with me, and tell them of the places I prayed for them at.....

But I dont know if I'll return.

4pm @ Jeddah Airport- Pilgrims section

Abu Dhabi airport was pretty…interesting. This one uncle on his way for Hajj started shouting @ the poor airport officials who sent him upstairs twice.

A khutbah is going on in the flight. We’ll be approaching the meeqat soon. The khatib is explaining the 3 types of Hajj and that you don’t have to wear Ihram if you’re going to Madinah first.

I received lots of tips from people, especially Farah Aunty. She told me to make sure I don’t miss the meeqat while making the niyyah in flight, when they announce it. She also told me that the crowd for stoning is less on one side, and that I should go to the end to throw the stones… and some other stuff.

I was feeling nervous. I took out my notes, read them, and felt much better.

Last night, I had read Sawitri’s Hajj memoirs. I was overwhelmed. She’s such an amazing sister, she captured so much in a few words.

I turned 23 today. My friend Sana said that this is the best birthday gift I could ever get. I know. It’s unbelievable.

Especially thinking about how difficult this had been. I remember having a conversation with someone- “When do you want to go for Hajj?”, I asked. “This year inshallah if I don’t get married, otherwise next when I can save up for two people.”

For girls in my culture, it’s not customary for them to go for Hajj before they get married. In fact, what people say is that, “spend an entire lifetime in sin, and then go for Hajj to repent”.

8:30pm

Still @ the airport. Really, how people even reach their destination is a miracle. Reminds me of my Hafiz sahib telling me about the organised chaos in India. He was once telling us how in India, everything just falls into place, despite extreme corruption, no centralisation of the transit system, the trains don’t have a schedule to run on, yet the country has progressed so much- life moves on. And it’s the same @ the Jeddah Pilgrims section of the airport. Total chaos, very few people know what’s really going on, and everyone else is sitting and having tea in the middle of the airport.

Saudi Arabia

The home of the 2 holiest cities, so holy that they’re blessed with real things from Paradise- the black stone in Makkah, and the Rawdah in Madinah.

As we exited the plane, in the bus to the airport, a sister noticed my UofT sling bag and started chatting with me. She was travelling with Nugget Travels from Scarborough. They were going to Madinah first.

I really wished the airport was non-smoking. I changed my seat several times and then finally gave up. Every other employee or guest @ the airport smoked. Little I knew that I would soon discover that the situation isn’t much better in the cities. I looked around me, and thought, nothing about this airport reflects the wealth of Saudi. This could be Africa, and you wouldn’t have noticed the difference. There are simply too many men everywhere. Do they even have a website?

Through the painful waiting hours I spent @ the airport, I often wished we were with a group… or at least a few more people. But there’s blessing and wisdom in every arrangement that we had. The airport authorities really exhausted my father. I prayed silently for Allah to help him, because for the time I was standing there, he must have run @ least 8 times between the finance and the pilgrims office.

I made a renewed effort to clear my conscience and intentions. Too many thoughts!

Azan and Music

2008-01-01T19:14:00.000+04:00

A few days ago, a tent was setup about 20 metres from my house. I was wondering what it was for, when I concluded today that the men were having some celebrations because I could hear Arabic music blasting away.
At 7:11pm, the muazzins began to call out the azan for Isha. The music didn't stop, I could hear the azan and the music at the same volume. For a few moments, I was quite disappointed.
Subhanallah, we lose ourselves in entertainment so easily that we forget about all the muazzins in the city who have been appointed to call people to Salah. As I heard the words, I replied to each phrase of the azan, wondering which dua of mine will be answered by Allah (swt).
At that instant, the blasting music stopped. I was surprised... could it really be? I waited for the azan to finish and said the dua for the Prophet's rank in Paradise.
Then, I went to my sister's room and peered out her window. The tent seemed empty. Looks like the men went for salah (the closest masjid is a 4-5 minute walk from the tent).

Alhamdulillah.

Notes about my Hajj Journal

2008-01-01T18:40:00.000+04:00

I tried to use the present tense wherever I could, but unfortunately, many times I would be too disheartened, or tired to write. I wish now that I didn’t lose any opportunity to pen my thoughts, but then it would have changed my entire experience. In so many ways, what a person writes does not reflect the changes they undergo within them.

I know this isn't the most vivid or best account I could write. Having worked for a year, my first priority was to go for Hajj as soon as I could. However, my plans wouldn't come together. Every door closed up on me and I locked myself up with depression. I couldn't understand what was happening in my life, and why I was facing nothing but rejection.

My parents couldn't see me suffer like that, and so my father, canceled all his important meetings, changed his investment plans, did whatever else he had to, and decided to, with Allah's Will, make my Hajj possible. We had our visas stamped some 4-5 days before the date of departure. It was truly an invitation from Allah, because such last minute plans are hardly entertained by travel agencies.

I was quite embarrassed before Allah (swt). How could I have not been patient through my ordeals in life? Perhaps I felt He had taken something away from me, but He replaced it with the best experience a Muslim could ever have, and that's how it was going to be.

A part of me was not completely prepared. I had a few exchanges, some words of advice, a fiqh course on SunniPath, and internet searches. I was going to be on my own. This was going to be my father's second Hajj, and mashallah, he had prepared well. I didn't want to discuss fiqh issues with him, because my own knowledge was recently acquired, and I was scared to confuse myself. Hence, despite being part of a group, I was on my own.

Coincidence blend

2007-12-31T00:20:00.000+04:00

Today, I made the wackiest tea drink ever and I named it the Coincidence Blend. It's a blend of a special Pakistani tea and Ethiopian tea spice.

The reason why it's a coincidence is because, my mother made some Kashmiri tea for my brother because he requested her to (exam cravings I believe) and instead of making regular tea to find out how it tastes with the Ethiopian tea spice mix which my father brought back today, I added it to the pink tea that she made.

Don't ask me how many cups of that I've had (and I'm not a tea drinker)! But when you have pistachios, almonds, rose water, tea spice, sugar, milk and Pakistani green tea (or Kashmiri chai) all in one... it can make you high! I have to say, you are missing out! Unless if you're in town a few weeks from now because I'm seriously thinking of throwing a tea party.

I spent an hour in the internet searching for the ingredients of the tea spice without any luck. Anyone know?

Never Smile at a Crocodile

2007-12-28T23:16:00.000+04:00

Never smile at a crocodile
No, you can't get friendly with a crocodile
Don't be taken in by his welcome grin
He's imagining how well you'd fit within his skin
Never smile at a crocodile
Never dip your hat and stop to talk awhile
Never run, walk away, say good-night, not good-day
Clear the aisle but never smile at Mister Crocodile
You may very well be well bred
Lots ot etiquette in your head
But there's always some special case, time or place
To forget etiquette
For instance:
Never smile at a crocodile
No, you can't get friendly with a crocodile
Don't be taken in by his welcome grin
He's imagining how well you'd fit within his skin
Never smile at a crocodile
Never dip your hat and stop to talk awhile
Never run, walk away, say good-night, not good-day
Clear the aisle but never smile at Mister Crocodile

From: Peter Pan

Ernie and Bert

2007-12-28T19:52:00.000+04:00

Freeha, this one's for you:

Nafay's Travel Blog from Kabul

2007-12-28T06:40:00.000+04:00

Nafay writes:

I'm currently in Kabul (Afghanistan) doing a short internship at an organization here - Women and Children's Legal Research Foundation. I guess this is what legal "activism" is about ;-). Anyways, if ever you hit a dull moment where you are about to crack open a book and get a head start on next semester's work (HAH!), you check out my travel blog: http://afghan-diary.blogspot.com/ which tries to show what life in Afghanistan is like these days.

Nafay has a BA and MA in Economics and he's currently pursuing a law degree @ Mc Gill.

Doesn't matter

2007-12-25T02:36:00.000+04:00

If I'm a year older. I still run around and jump all over the place and sing songs and do silly things.
Forever young inshallah.

Eid Mubarak

2007-12-18T19:00:00.000+04:00

and Eid Mubarak from our goat Sheikh as well!

May Allah (swt) accept from us.

Eid day is going to be rather interesting. I hope I have some time to put mehndi on my sister's hands. I chose a really difficult design so it's a 3 hour work. I haven't been able to move my neck since morning (not sure what I did!) so that adds to the challenge.
A conference call meeting at 5am, another at 6am, both of which I'm running. Then, Eid salah around 7:30am. We decided to do the sacrifice on the second day. So I hope that leaves me enough time to clean up my room (yea, I'm bad...). Sometimes it's hard to be prepared in advance!
And if all goes well, I'm going on a desert safari on Thursday!

Egg crisis!

2007-12-14T00:19:00.000+04:00

Eggs have disappeared off the shelves of all major super markets in Al Ain. I don't know the situation in other cities, and I'm too lazy to research. You can check out Gulf News.com or Khaleej Times.com.
A tray of large eggs used to cost 12 dhs. A few days ago, the price had doubled to 26 dhs. And I asked my father today, it's upto 29, and eggs are still hard to find!

I hope this scarcity is temporary. The reason is cases of bird flu in India and Saudi Arabia. Local production isn't enough to meet the demands.

On an unrelated note, my mother collected the vegetable waste in the evening so that my father could give it to the neighbours to feed their hens. I didn't know hens eat vegetables.

Today however, we went to Buraimi for some errands. For all you Al Ain-ers lost without eating their eggs, the cost of the tray across the border is only 18dhs, and they are available!

Go get 'em!

What is our problem?

2007-12-13T02:52:00.000+04:00

Either we ask too much, or we don't ask at all. We can't seem to find a balance. A friend who's been having trouble praying at work (and losing her values) was talking to me, and she said, "you know, it'll be great if you can get a degree from Harvard. That way, you'll have no problems at all".
Had it not been towards the end of our conversation, I would have lashed out a defensive, in a positive style.
I said to her, "inshallah I won't have problems even otherwise", and I know she had a skeptical look on her face.

I spent 5 years in Toronto. I can't say that I didn't face challenges with practicing Islam, but I can say for sure that there wasn't a problem that didn't have a solution. One of the best examples was the way I was able to handle the issue of praying during exams especially in winter with the help of the MSA, some students with like minds and my faculty. There were professors who said no to me on my face. Others asked me to make a "silent" prayer at my desk, and so on. But in every situation, I did not miss a prayer because of conflict with exam timings. There were times when the exam ended at 4:30pm. With Maghrib setting in at 4:40pm, that gave us less than 10 minutes to get through the crowd and find a spot to pray, and then open our fasts. This was a situation when we weren't accommodated because of our own oversight of approaching the faculty too close to exams.
The best arrangement I found was praying right outside the door, with a TA watching me, as well as the students inside the room. We would take turns. I always carried a compass on me so I always knew the direction of the Qiblah). And sometimes, some of the brothers who availed of these opportunities even did a jama'a in low voices during the exam!

So, why do we lose out? Why does my friend think that a degree from Harvard will pave way for me in the most difficult of times which I might face because I come across as a visible Muslim?

Being a visible Muslim
A person can use any situation to their advantage, or disadvantage. Most people tend to feel weak and wary as soon as they're faced with a difficult situation that compromises their beliefs. As a visible Muslim, instinctively I want to be able to portray a good image because I know that Islam is the right way, and by opening up people to Islam, I'm introducing them to a better way of life. Now, I might have a degree from Harvard, but people will first see me as a Muslim always because I don't think for the rest of my life I intend to walk around with the degree stuck to me. So much for the degree.

It's important to be in a mindset that hijab is great, and my hijab will help me. I still remember my first year in Canada. I was new to the hijab and didn't know how to pin it properly, but I never failed to notice the way guys differentiated in their treatment towards me and towards other girls. I was always given more respect. This same "respect" can be very easily labelled as "cold shoulder" by other people. In their efforts to "integrate", especially girls, they often forget that it's better not to be associated with people of the opposite gender if they are not able to respect you.
In particular, I remember a guy called Trevor. A classmate decided to study at my place, and in the hallway, we ran into him. I'm not sure how, but the conversation steered towards the topic of the reality of hellfire. Trevor resolved to become a better person.

It is so much easier for people to ask me what I'd like rather than for me to tell them, and being a visible Muslim makes it so much easier. I worked as a student assistant for a quadriplegic student for a summer and we became really good friends. I never needed to mention that I'm a Muslim to him. He once invited me to his party, and left me a very long voice mail message before he began his preparation. He wanted to know if I had any dietary restrictions, and then chanted off a list of ingredients in the different food items he was planning to use, and, "do you eat onions?".

It's true that you'll not always people who are accommodating and friendly. Sometimes my friend and I ventured to go jogging in the mornings. And at one time, someone did shout something awful at her. This incident was easy to ignore. What's not easy to ignore is the case of my friend, who's colleague with whom she shared her office, told her not to pray there because she felt uncomfortable. Even that situation has a solution.

Another friend, 19 year old revert to Islam, simply couldn't get herself to wear the hijab because she worked at a jewellery store. Everyday her story was the same- She felt horrible about the way she dressed, but she needed the job.

What a lot of people fail to understand that, when you place your values and religious responsibilities before everything else, Allah (swt) raises the ranks of such people in a very different way. They don't necessarily have to become CEOs or begin earning 6 digit salaries (there are examples of such people as well) but at least their hearts and minds do not possess the guilt that comes with selling out their values.

For sure if you want prosperity, you will achieve it through hard work, whether you wear the hijab/keep a beard or not. The comparison doesn't exist because you cannot compare the position of a person in this world, with his position with Allah (swt).

Perspective & creativity
We might think that Islam is foreign to most people around us in Western societies, and a scary religion as well. Yet, the bigger reality of this life is that there are millions of people groping in the darkness, looking for a guiding light. People in search of inner peace because nothing in their search, nothing else has satisfied them. So many people who are thirsty for the truth, but they just don't know that it all lies in Islam, because it's not within human comprehension to view the major benefits of being a Muslim right away. I'm still growing in my faith and discovering new paths.

My exposure hasn't been too wide, but I feel that we can always find a solution if we don't blow things out of proportion. There were people who would insist that if they want to pray during an exam, it has to be in a separate room on a "clean" floor. I found that to be so unnecessary. I wish in our training system we introduce a course titled "Foresightedness". Everything has to be done in steps. What is the bigger goal? Every time I walked into the registrar's office with the intention of making arrangements to pray during my exam, the thought that if I succeed, it's going to make it easier for Muslim students after me, was always there. So, stop being selfish.
Our salah is so beautiful that it has no attachments to material requirements. It is so pure that even with hundreds of eyes on you, you can pray if you really want to.

Also, if we weren't accommodated for, it was because we didn't ask for it early enough. There's hardly anything in life that wont go well if you don't plan it well. And planning ahead is an important part of the creative process.
The decision in this case, to allow students to pray, is not taken by just one person, but rather, it's propagated up/down several levels because they also have to choose the best possible solution. Don't forget to thank them later. Little gestures like these really go a long way. It's so easy for us to be aggressive and create so much drama every time something goes wrong in our community, but we are not quick and constant in our relationships with others.

When I was working as a research assistant on campus, in my lunch breaks, I would run downstairs to the Alumni office and help them prepare for the upcoming alumni dinner for those who graduated in the 40s and 50s. I would barely have 20-30 minutes because I had to eat and pray as well. However, this was an excellent opportunity to network (because I was hoping I'd be allowed to attend the dinner!) at the same time, I had made a place for myself that people would remember. To explain further, I did quite mundane tasks such as photocopying and cutting out old class pictures and sticking them up on boards, or making phone calls for RSVPs. But in that little time I had, I maintained a great relationship with the employees working in that office. One lady was from Cyprus and she told me about how in Cyprus, there's a major focus on family values. It was raining heavily one day and she decided to drop me to my place (I had to leave my bike on campus).

The problem does not lie in asking for time off for Friday prayers when you negotiate your job offer. The problem lies in how you ask for it. There are several factors operating at different levels. Study the person you are going to ask. Know your workplace. Prepare your case well, don't just blurt it out. Make an impressive statement about yourself. Be friendly. And my most important advice would be, ask for what you need after you have created a relationship of trust with your colleagues and immediate managers.

I've been to several fundraising events in Muslim communities- fundraising dinners for their own organisation, relief, masjid, etc. And over the years, I've seen a great improvement the way the it's done. We cannot expect to do things in the same way for the rest of our lives and expect impact in our society. Look at what children do in order to earn a few bucks- car wash, painting, window cleaning, etc. This work requires a lot of creativity.
I've seen congregations dwindle because of the mosque's fundraising techniques. Being creative is in other words, growing with society.

There was a time when mosques did not have loud speaker systems, and now they do (after much fiqh debate of course). Creativity is key. Be different. If you're asking for something, ask in the best possible manner. Definitely it is your right, but when you are setting a precedence, excellence and creativity are key.

I had worked at a startup company for a really short time and there was a really cool Muslim guy in his late 30s who had a prayer mat in his drawer. He showed me the room where he used to pray- a room full of pipes and cleaning supplies. He had an amazing attitude towards dealing with his religion. He had started working there a week before me, and I remember on one Friday, he walks into the CEO's office and goes, "Hey Daniel, I'm stepping out for an hour for the prayer. Will see you later. Have a great lunch."

If you feel troubled by asking for religious accommodation, then trouble is what you will get. Again, I'll stress that I'm not perfect. I faced problems and several times I made decisions that affected me adversely. And at the end, I always reminded myself, I need to be stronger.

Jumping at delusive opportunities
We have an interesting habit of rejoicing at small "successes" and then forgetting all about it. Just because someone asked me about whether their list of ingredients is halal, does not mean I'm calling up the guy and telling him I'm coming over with a Qur'an for him and start preaching Islam.
We really know how to torture people with our ways of communicating our very profound thoughts on Islam without checking if the other person is listening or even cares.
Islam is best spread by action. Get your own act right before you start preaching. We so easily forget that action is not just salah (in public) or making a grand statement of not drinking alcohol, but action is also your honesty, your hard work, your demeanor, your professionalism, and very importantly- your outlook and your treatment of others!

Note: This post was originally titled, "The trouble with not wearing Hijab".

Join Us - January 11 to Shut Down Guantanamo!

2007-12-11T18:58:00.000+04:00

Friday, January 11, 2008: The 6 year anniversary of the first prisoners being brought to Guantánamo.

Last year on January 11th, after 500 people processed from the Supreme Court to the Federal court, 150 people risked arrest on behalf of the men in Guantanamo, with 88 being arrested inside the Federal Court in DC. Many of those arrested withheld their identification and took the names of men at Guantanamo. It was a very powerful day, made possible by the contributions of many in the extended Catholic Worker family.

This year, we again are working with many groups on a demonstration in Washington, D.C. The day will begin with a press conference at the White House led by Amnesty International followed by a “prisoner procession” to the Supreme Court.

Come to DC or organize a vigil, demonstration or speaker in your own community!

Additionally, and as a recruiting mechanism for Jan. 11th, we are asking people to participate in a 24 hour fast for justice on December 5th, the day the Supreme Court will hear two cases related to Guantanamo prisoners. [Download flier]

ENDORSE the Jan 11 Day of Action
DOWNLOAD flyers, web buttons, adaptable press release, and more.
FIND housing, food, transportation, legal and other logistical info.
POST your event to our calendar.
DONATE and support the Jan 11th mobilization

International Day to Shut Down Guantánamo

“If it were up to me I would close Guantánamo not tomorrow but thisafternoon…We don't need it and it is causing us far more damage than any good we get for it.”–Colin Powell, June 10, 2007, Former Secretary of State

“The Guantánamo camp was created on a myth…It was built on a lie…And it was organized around a fiction…It is time to get rid of it.” –New York Times Editorial “Gitmo: A National Disgrace,” June 6, 2007

Guantánamo is “a stain on the character of the United States.” –Archbishop Desmond Tutu

“Immediately close the detention center for at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and either release its inmates or bring them before an impartial tribunal.”–United Nations Human Rights Commission

Find resources for action, order T-shirts and jumpsuits, and get complete and up-to- date details about the day’s events on our website: www.witnesstorture.org

Prisoners of Guantánamo march to the Supreme Court:
A provocative street theater performance involving people wearing orange jumpsuits and black hoods. We will march in an orderly, silent procession, hauntingly evoking the moral disgrace that is Guantánamo.
• All participants are strongly encouraged to attend a final planning meeting and training on Thursday (January 10th), 4–6pm.

After dinner, there will be a public program on Guantánamo from 7–9 pm. Location: St. Stephens and the Incarnation Church,
1525 Newton Street NW, at 16th Street.

For more information or if you have any questions, please email Matt Daloisio (Daloisio@earthlink.net) or Frida Berrigan at (Frida.berrigan@gmail.com).

• Organize a vigil, speaker or demonstration in your own community if you cannot come to Washington, DC.

In December 2005, a group of twenty four friends, following the nonviolent tradition of Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker walked to Guantánamo to visit the prisoners, calling themselves
“Witness Against Torture.” When they returned, they launched the “Campaign to Shut Down Guantánamo,” which consists of public education and community outreach, networking and resource
sharing, and acts of nonviolent civil resistance to draw attention to the plight of prisoners in Guantánamo, and victims of the war on terrorism everywhere.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Marks Six Years of Torture, Detention and Abuse at Guantánamo
10:00am– Gather at Lafayette Park for Orientation to Prisoner March (1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW)

11:00 am – Amnesty International and National Religious Campaign Against Torture demonstration in Lafayette Park

Noon – Guantánamo Prisoner Procession from the White House to the Supreme Court (2 plus miles)

1:30 pm – Funeral Ceremony at the Supreme Court remembering the four men who died in custody at Guantánamo and mourning the death of Habeas Corpus

From: Of course, Cageprisoners.com

New aerobics class in Al Ain

2007-12-08T01:58:00.000+04:00

My mom.. seriously..! (this was her idea)
What can I say? Alhamdulillah!

Introducing a great fitness program for aunties!
for the FIRST time in Al Ain
Commencing December 9, 2007

Days: Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays
Exercise type: Hi/Lo aerobics, progressive
Timings: 8-9am
Location: New Khabisi
Duration: 6 weeks

I want to set up another program for a younger age group 26 and below.

If you're interested in either, drop me an email.

Email addiction

2007-12-08T00:44:00.003+04:00

On my way back from Dubai today I was marking assignments in the car on my laptop. And since I had been away all day from email, I walked up the stairs with my laptop checking my email until I got to my room.
This is really bad. I tried to limit checking my emails every 6 hours, but it didn't last too long. I wasn't this bad until I started working for Ansar Financial on the Islamic Finance conference...
Those were crazy days. I'd wake up between 2-3am almost daily just to check my email.

But it's because I DO get that many emails! And I have to keep track of 5 timezones (business hours). I love the global aspect of my life, but I absolutely don't love the loss of routine.

Can the addiction be any worse? Tell me I'm not the only one!
Yea, you can also tell me I need a life and I'd believe it!

Connect with nature everyday

2007-12-06T15:13:00.000+04:00

Lately I've had my window open. The weather is absolutely gorgeous! Everyday, I pull the curtains aside and watch the birds on the trees right outside my window. I can hear them chirping throughout the day, a very welcoming distraction when I'm working.

It's really important to have a direct connection with nature every day of your life. The signs of Allah (swt) are manifest in his creations in a much better way than they are in the creations by humans.
And every time I venture out into the desert, I try to imagine the serenity and peace our Prophet (pbuh) and his companions experienced when they would spend time alone. I appreciate the desert more each day.

It’s easy to go several months without ever touching the earth, as most of our activities involve walking on pavement as we move from home to car to office to grocery store and back again. When was the last time you sat down on the ground or touched the earth in some way?

I feel quite sad when I see people overloading themselves with painkillers for a headache or any type of pain. Our lifestyles are harming us, and we don't even realise because time just flies. We have stopped breathing. And something as simple as breathing can solve a lot of problems.

Physical contact with soil, natural waters, sunlight, and fresh air is healing. When stress has built up to the danger point, a trip to the ocean or mountains, or even a walk around the block, is often all you need to restore perspective. Beyond that, contact with nature keeps you apprised of your place in the ecological system. Many of nature’s forces are stronger than an individual human, just as many species are more vulnerable than humankind. This humbling perspective keeps the big picture in mind.

You need to remember that your true environment is far more than just the stimulation and context of your relationships, ambitions, career, family, home and so on.

Start Today
Here are some simple ways to connect with nature again:

Go barefoot. Feel the grass or the gravel or the hard-packed earth under your feet. Wade in a rain puddle, or walk barefoot in the snow for a new sensation!
Grow plants or flowers and let your fingers touch the earth.
Keep living green plants and flowers around your house.
Get outdoors, if only for a few moments a day. Let the sunlight touch you and warm you. In the heart of a city, it is still possible to find green zones.
Listen to the sounds of nature—the wind blowing, rain falling, birds chirping—even in the midst of an urban environment.
Prepare your meals using fresh and raw foods whenever possible, or bake your own bread. Carefully handling the fruits of the field reminds you of your connection to the earth.
Practice the Native American way of adapting yourself to nature, rather than trying to make nature adapt to you. For example, avoid dependency on air-conditioning in hot weather. In cold weather, keep the heat in your home at 68°F (20°C) or lower.
When you are around young children, use language that communicates a healthy respect for the power of nature and a sense of awe at its beauty and mystery. Avoid teaching them that soil is dirty or that any creatures (even so-called vermin) are bad.
Exercise outdoors as much as possible. Take a hike. Go for a bike ride instead of driving your car to the corner store. Rollerblade in the park, or get a group of friends together for a ball game or a kite-flying party.
Plan your vacations for maximum enjoyment of the outdoors (with minimal environmental impact). Even a one-day family trip with a picnic can be a tremendously healthy break in your normal routine.

Build a Masjid

2007-12-06T01:02:00.000+04:00

This is a really nice piece!
I wonder if Sh Amienoellah has similar stories to share from his ancestors?

Virtues of Building a Masjid: Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani (Discourses on the Islamic Way of Life)
On At-Talib's blog:

Allah decreed that the Dutch attacked Cape Town seize it. The Britishers had known that the Malaysian were very good fighters and warriors. They were very brave. So, they asked them to drive away the Dutch but the Malaysians said that it made them no difference whether the Britishers had authority of the Dutch, for they were slaves any way. However, they were willing to fight the Dutch on condition that they be permitted to offer prayers in Cape Town and allowed to build a mosque.

ONLY THE DEMAND TO BUILD A MOSQUE
We must heed this fact- these people did not demand monetary remuneration. They did not ask to be set free, and they did not put forth any material condition. Their only demand was that they be allowed to build a mosque. Accordingly, they fought the Dutch very bravely and compelled them to retreat. The Malaysians then reminded the Britishers of their demand and were allowed to build a mosque. These poor people built the first mosque in Cape Town in very trying conditions. They lacked proper tools and material and money. They even could not determine the Qiblah [ The direction in which Muslims Pray, facing the Ka’bah at Makkah} with the result that it is off the mark by 20 degree or 25 degree. Today, the prayer mats are spread at the proper angle which leaves disalligned with the walls.

These brave people did not ask for a house to live in and they did not demand money. They did not seize the opportunity to demand proper food and drink. Their demand was that they should be allowed to construct a mosque. This is the history of the Muslim people. They preferred a mosque over everything else and did not omit the duty of building it in their pitiable condition, too.
...

May Allah (swt) enable us to be from those who are able to build mosques for the people. May Allah make all the mosques a source of goodness and blessing for the people of the neighbourhood. May He cause these people to fulfill their obligations and may they inhabit their mosques and keep them occupied. Ameen.

Just because I live in UAE

2007-12-05T09:13:00.000+04:00

does not mean that:

I live in Dubai.

I would commend you if you are able to tell me that Dubai is a city in UAE, it's not the other way around, it's not the capital, and what UAE stands for.
Abu Dhabi is the capital city, and Dubai is one of the 7 Emirates.
I live in Al Ain, which is about 120km away from Dubai.
Hence, I cannot answer your complicated questions on Dubai- I have never lived there!
Although I am guilty of telling people I'm from Dubai simply because it's so much easier...

I'm Arab.

It's hard to find Arabs here, which is almost sad!
You cannot become a citizen of this country even if you're born here or lived all your life.
I believe one way is, if a girl marries a local Arab man then she can become a citizen? Other than that, I'm not aware of ways of obtaining citizenship.
Everyone here is on a visa or temporary residence.

I can speak Arabic.

I wish I did! I can tell you all about Arabic grammar (because I've been studying it) but I can't speak a proper sentence.
You only need to know English here, and Urdu is an asset.
In fact, you can get away with just Urdu as well, and a few words of English. Lots of hand signs.

I don't know English.

I'd meet random people in Toronto and elsewhere who would be bursting with this question.
The local Arabic schools are mostly attended by local Arab children. Everyone else goes to private schools.
Choosing a school is an experience in itself, the variety is commendable- French, Libyan, American, Lebanese, Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Chinese... you can study wherever you want!
High school exams actually get sent back to the country of the school for correction.

I can't bike.

I could bike if I wanted to. The problem is, the roads here are not designed for pedestrians or bikers. They're only designed for cars. Hence, it's a dilemma to cross the street.

I can't drive.

Yea, I still get this (as of yesterday)
I've to drop my mom off- brb
u drive??
both stick and automatic :D
and they let u there!!!
huh? This is UAE...
the Finance minister is a woman...

I have a dozen cars.

We have 3, but the reality is, none of them are mine. As an expatriate, you cannot have more than one car under your name. In fact, many people don't own their cars, it's under their company's name.

I'm rich.

It depends on field you work in. But it took my father about 20 years to get to the level he's at.

I walk barefeet outside.

It's true that the roads here are very smooth. Driving is an unparalleled pleasure! However, there's no way you can walk barefeet in 40degree + temperatures

I go for Umrah every month.

Wow, I wish! But everything requires logistical planning. Definitely being able to drive to Makkah is a big blessing!

I can buy all the gold I want.

It's true there are gigantic gold markets in many cities of the UAE, but personally, I'm not attracted to gold.
So do people shop for gold until the drop? I think that only applies to local Arabs. Most expats are busy paying for expenses such as children's school fees, etc.

I'm a knowledgeable Muslim.

It's sad, but I have to rely on external sources for my Islamic knowledge.
Perhaps the resources in Arabic are adequate, but it's hard to find books in English.
It's harder to find Islamic learning centres. In fact, propagation of Islam is rather discouraged. It's discouraged to discuss religion openly.

I own a house.

You can only own property in Dubai through certain dealers. This is a new rule introduced in the last 6 years that enables you to obtain a 99-year residency. This is the closest you can get to permanent residency.
We've been paying rent since day 1 here.

I can't withstand the cold.

There's always that adjusting period at the beginning of winter that takes me a while to get used to, but I love winter sports such as skiing and skating.
At the same time, I love the desert sports as well- dune bashing and sand skiing.
But my parents can't withstand the cold at all :(
HOWEVER, offices and malls here in UAE are freezing cold!
"You wear a jacket inside and take it off outside"

And this list below is specific to Dubai:

You know you have lived in the Dubai too long when...

You're not surprised to see a goat in the passenger seat
You expect the confirmation of your flight reservation to be 'inshahallah"
You think everyone's first name is Al
You don't expect to eat dinner until 10.30pm
You need a sweater when it's 80 deg F
Your idea of housework is leaving a list for the houseboy
You think speed limits are only advisory
You think black is appropriate day time wear
You wear a jacket inside and take it off outside
You don't question how an ID card works for women wearing abayas
You think the further you edge into the intersection, the faster the light will turn green
You believe that the definition of a nanosecond is the interval between the time the light turns green and the guy behind you starts blowing his horn
You give directions by land marks instead of by road names
You think a red light means run it
You make left turns from the far right lane
You make right turns from the far left lane
You make U turns from any lane you want
You know a traffic jam on this side of the road means an accident on the other side
You measure time by the prayer calls
You don't expect the traffic police to stop you for a traffic offence
You know that the colour of your skin is your entry criteria
You think driving with your foot on the dashboard is cool
You find everybody thinks they can speak English
You think Bebsi is better than Coke
You shake your empty Cappuccino cup when you've had enough
Having a belly is a sign of being healthy
You think the hazard lights are fog warning lights
You find you've visited all the new malls that mushroom by the minute
You still buy Dubai Duty Free's lottery tickets when it would have been cheaper to pay the down payment for the BMW instead
You know which side of a shawarma to unwrap first
You look forward to rainy days

From: http://www.much.net/dubaichat/dubaitoolong.html

I'm nervous

2007-12-05T08:50:00.000+04:00

Friday is an extremely important day. I hope it goes well, because it's been so long and I haven't tried hard enough to get out of my comfort zone. It's only the beginning of the challenge, and I wont know the results until the second quarter of next year.

It's almost as if there were no changes for so long, and all of a sudden everything is happening at the same time. I thrive on excitement, and no doubt I'm really looking forward to facing challenges, but a small part of me is slightly scared.
It took a lot of hope and waiting for me to finally decide what I want to do, and a lot of motivation from a friend. I feel now that if she does not keep me going all the way, I'm not going to be able to do it.

Thanks Sana, you're simply awesome! Actually, another person deserves credit as well, but I wont mention the name.
I did it once before, several years ago, and there was nothing like it. I wish it wasn't so difficult doing it again the second time. May Allah make it easy...

To my friends going for hajj this month

2007-12-04T21:48:00.000+04:00

Your experience at Hajj is one that you should never forget. Ozair just reminded me it's been a year now! Alhamdulillah my hajj experience was quite amazing. A few of my friends were also at Hajj last year and I managed to meet up with them. It was great!

I remember talking to Sawitri a month after we returned from Hajj and asking her, when will I feel the impact? And she said that sometimes it comes much later, and the older you are, the earlier it hits you.

Even though it was just me and my father, I think Alhamdulillah I managed to do a few interesting things. I was sick all the way in Madinah and was able to go to the Masjid once a day, if at all. But, I managed to join Rania's Hajj group to visit a Sheikh who was 99 years old, mashallah...

I can't say that Hajj is a spiritual experience. It's actually an experience of struggling to experience spirituality amidst millions of people.

Those who are going for hajj this year have been asking me for advice and tips. All that information can be found online. In fact, there's also a website that Hafsa had found last year- Hajj Tips.com.

What advice would I give?

Try to go out of your as much as you can to help people. An old woman/man might need help in making tawaf, someone might lose their slippers, others may get lost, many people lose money as well. There are endless opportunities to help others.
Be generous. My Hajj roommate was amazing at this. She'd spend a lot herself, and encourage me to spend as well, and with anything she bought she'd remind me, "wow, there's so much reward in this! aur kharch karo!"
Try to do a tawaf a couple of times a day or more (after/before each salah).
People will make you go crazy...... ignore them and be patient.
Don't waste a single second on the day of Arafat. Most people in my tent were busy with either their chai, or gossiping (unbelievable) or sleeping!

that's all :)

And I carried lemon, tea bags and honey with me everywhere I went. Mummy said that if you have black tea with lemon and honey in it, it will protect you from illness.

Donate blood

2007-12-04T06:42:00.000+04:00

I received the email below from Fahmi:

Dear friends,

We are writing this email because we need your help desperately. Our father has been diagnosed with myelofibrosis, a blood disease that results in acute leukemia and is in urgent need for a stem cell transplant. We are sincerely asking all of you to help save our father’s life.

As you may know, finding a matched stem cell donor is very difficult. Unfortunately, patients are not able to find a suitable donor within their family 70% of the time. Likewise for our father, no match was found within his family members. The only remaining hope is to look into unrelated marrow network registry around the world. As tissue types are inherited, a patient is most likely to find a match within his/her own racial or ethnic group.

It gets worse. As a Bangladeshi Canadian, his chances of finding a match within the South Asian community is 1 in 20, 000. This is because there is a severe shortage of people from the South Asian community who are registered on the network. This is also true for other ethnic communities such as Asian, African and Middle Eastern communities. This is why, Canadian Blood Services is promoting and welcoming all ethnic minority groups to join the marrow network.

We need all of you to join Canada’s OneMatch stem cell network. If we collectively take an effort to join the registry and spread the word, we can help save a life like my father’s and of thousand others around the world.

Registering for Canada’s unrelated marrow network is very easy. After completing an online form, a registered nurse from Canadian Blood Services will contact you in few days to make an appointment for you to give a small sample of your blood. The sample would be used to determine your tissue type (HLA type) and this is not the same as your blood group. Once again, all you need to get registered is to fill out a form and to give a small sample of blood, its very simple. You can fill out the online form to register and get more information at:

http://www.blood.ca/CentreApps/Internet/UW_V502_MainEngine.nsf/page/E_ubmdrPKG-intro?OpenDocument&CloseMenu&p=OMSplashJoin

To be able to register as a stem cell donor, you must be aged between 17 to 50 years, be in good health, and be willing to help save the life of any patient with whom you may match. After registering in the marrow registry, if you are a match for a stem cell transplant, the most common way to donate your stem cells is through your blood. Despite what you may have heard, modern techniques enable donors to donate their stem cells simply by donating blood. There is absolutely no risk or complications associated with being a donor. Please visit the websites for more information.

Our father’s best chance of finding a match is within the South Asian community. You can be that match and register to marrow network. Just like my father, there are thousands of patients around the world who is looking for a suitable matched donor. You can save lives and given them second chance at life.

You can help by doing three critical things:
1• Getting informed: Learn about stem cell and bone marrow donation process. Please visit www.onematch.ca in Canada or www.marrow.org in U.S. You can also call 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283) in Canada and 1-800-MARROW-2 (1-800-627-7692) in the U.S.
2• Spreading the word: Tell your family, friends, relatives and co-workers. Tell them in person, through phone and through email. Forward this email to as many people as possible and ask them to do the same. Remember, you can ask anyone between the ages of 17 and 50 and that means the students in schools, colleges and universities. You need to raise awareness about this issue in your community.
3• Joining the registry: There are thousands of people around the world awaiting to find their one match. You have the ability to save a life.

We are in desperate need for all your help to save our father’s life who we love very much. Would you not want the same if a loved one needed a stem cell transplant?
We hope we can count on each and every one of you to join the OneMatch stem cell network.
For more information please check the websites and attached documents. Should you have any questions, concerns or comments regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact:

Fahmi & Ishtiaque Choudhury, Family and Friends
Toronto, Ontario
416-458-3094
savealife1@gmail.com

Fresh Tuna Stir-Fry & Cannelloni- Cooking with Asra

2007-12-03T19:42:00.000+04:00

On Thursday, Naseer uncle's 13-year old daughter came over to our place after school. Uncle was coming home (the doctors have told him bed rest for 3 months minimum) and Rizwan had gone to pick him up, my parents were out grocery shopping so it was upto Asra and I to make dinner.
I taught her a few things, and here are two awesome recipes from Thursday's menu.

Fresh Tuna Stir Fry
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 1/4 lbs fresh tuna, cut into 1-inch cubes*
1/4 cup low-sodium teriyaki sauce**
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup vertically sliced onions
2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
3 garlic cloves, minced
Additionally, you can marinate it with spices beforehand.

1. In a bowl, combine lime juice and tuna.
2. In a small bowl, combine teriyaki sauce and cornstarch, stirring with a whisk.
3. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over med-high heat.Add in onion, ginger, and garlic; stir-fry 2 minutes.Add in fish mixture; stir-fry 2 minutes. Add teriyaki mixture; stir-fry 30 seconds or until slightly thick.

Cannelloni with Cheese, Spinach and Walnuts

12 Barilla cannelloni
2 cups milk (700ml)
1 cup ricotta cheese (500g)
400g Parmesan and marble cheddar/halloumi cheese**
150g fresh spinach
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup chopped almonds
3 tbsp butter
1/4 cup flour
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

In a pot, melt the butter on low heat, and slowly add the flour, milk (previously boiled). Whisk. Add all the cheese (except 1/2 of Parmesan), salt and pepper and let them melt together. In another saucepan, cook the spinach coarsely chopped in olive oil for 5 minutes.
Mix it all with the nuts and fill the cannelloni. Spread half the cheese cream at the bottom of a pyrex baking dish and place the filled cannelloni at the top. Cover with the remaining sauce and cook for 40 minutes at 180 degrees Celcius.

*Chopping up a fresh tuna fish was not fun. It was the complete fish with the eye and all. Eeks!
But I had to do it because my father insisted that I make the tuna. I only managed to cut half, the rest, I mixed with the ingredients and put it in the oven for baking.

**I had asked my parents to get teriyaki sauce and it was quite the experience for them. They called me 3-4 times from Carrefour! I've never found Parmesan cheese here, and even hazelnuts are an extremely hard find in Al Ain...

***The original recipe uses gorgonzola and percorino, I just used marble cheddar :)