Articles

RaMaDan FeVeR!

Author: 
Unknown

The heat is on! Once a year a dramatic change occurs in the Muslim community. Once a year Icky baby and the Sams becomes Iqbal and Sameera.

Off come the baggy jeans, the Nike 180's and the Raiders cap. On come the yellow Shalwar Kameez (clothes most Pakistanis wear), the brylcreamed hairstyle which glues on that terribly uncool Towpee(cap) and in comes the miswak in the top pocket, making you look like something like "Karachi cops".

It's during this HOLY month of Ramadan that we ditch the daytime raves and the frequent visit to the library (and we don't mean for the reference section) and begin to act it out. Icky baby becomes temporarily religious.

Hijaab is an Attitude, not a Fashion (and it's for Men Too!!)

Muslim tourist wearing a headscarf

Muslim tourist wearing headscarf
Muslim tourist wearing headscarf.
Author: 
Fawzia Malik

Wearing the Hijaab isn't just a matter of simply putting a piece of cloth on your head, it is an attitude, a way of thinking and behaving, and accepting yourself for who and what you are. Basically it constitutes an Islamic way of life, it is a statement which indeed should portray a certain attitude.

A woman may indeed wear a long skirt and a scarf, but if she flirts constantly, then she can't be really described as wearing the Hijaab (Indeed clothes should be long, loose and not see through, after which any style of clothing is applicable).

What Ramadan isn't about

Boy eating

Boy eating
Boy eating
Author: 
Unknown

Yes, its that time of year again when we taste the wonderful variety of our family's home cooking. Never in such a short space of time do we encounter such scrumptious meals.

Every evening there will be a knock at the door and the aunty (or a liberated uncle) from next door will oblige with a sample of his or her delicacies and vice versa. Yes you've guessed it- its Ramadhan!

There is feverish activity during this month that is truly unsurpassable. Young children will eagerly get up for Sheri (the morning breakfast) bright eyed and excited for they have been allowed to fast. There will be competitions amongst the youngsters as to who can keep the most fasts, as they never seem to tire.

What is The Islamic/Hijri Calendar?

Author: 
Syed Khalid Shaukat

The Islamic calendar is based on lunar months, which begin when a thin new crescent Moon is actually sighted in the western sky after sunset within a day or so after the New Moon. Hence, the month is either 29 days or 30 days.

There are 12 months in an Islamic year, which is either 354 days long or 355 days long, compared to (Gregorian) civil calendar year of 365 or 366 days. Since the Islamic Lunar year has 12 lunar months, it is on an average, 11 days shorter than the (Gregorian) civil year, the Islamic year shifts earlier in each civil year by about 11 days.

The 12 months of the Islamic calendar are:

The war in Yemen

Yemen

Yemen
Yemen
Author: 
Helen Lackner

International media talk constantly of Huthi forces, but in reality the main military force in Yemen is now that of ex-president Saleh who, wherever he is, is doing what he promised: destroying as much as he possibly can.

The war which has now started is what many of us feared for so long and hoped, against all rational thinking, would be avoided. And this time, let us not fool ourselves with misguided optimism, this will be long and as awful as any war can be. While political and even military internal struggles are hardly a novelty in Yemen, the new element is that the conflict has now added a major layer of international ‘proxy’ features which will only worsen the situation, making it reminiscent of the Lebanese civil war in the 1970s-80s. 

Did the British Security Services create "Jihadi John"?

Author: 
Ben Hayes

Why Britain won’t talk about crucial elements of Jihadi John’s story?

In “”, professor Paddy Hillyard produced what remains the world’s most detailed ethnographic study of the impact of repressive laws and state policies on what we now call “radicalisation”. That was 1993.

A Nightmare On Wedding Avenue

Wedding Ring

Wedding Ring being put on finger
Wedding Ring being put on finger
Author: 
Anonymous Submission

At one point or another, you’ll get the Time To Get Married card and either you’re one of those lucky few who instantaneously finds someone and lives, as happily-ever-after as possible or you’ll be in position countless people are in today – struggling to find someone.

So how does a person go about finding someone? Is it the, more traditional, family members or friends ask around approach or do we take things into our own hands and find somebody ourselves. Let’s say we do, do the latter. What are our options? Dating – hmm, now that’s a no no. Going to places to mingle? Again, a no no. Ah how about online?

You Must Know This Man

Author: 
S.H. Pasha

You may be an atheist or an agnostic or you may belong to any of the religious denominations that exist in the world today. You may have been a Communist or a believer in democracy and freedom.

No matter what you are, and no matter what your religious and political beliefs, personal and social habits happen to be - You Still Must Know This Man!

He was by far the most remarkable man that ever set foot on this earth. He preached a religion, founded a state, built a nation, laid down a moral code, initiated numberless social and political reforms, established a dynamic and powerful society to practice and represent his teachings, and he revolutionized the worlds of human thought and human action for all time.

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