Most of the more than one billion muslims world over can read the Quran to an extent, and gather its meaning from translations, but many have questioned the authenticity of translations although they can provide the overall meaning they in most cases are not literal translations.

Throughout the 25 Arabic speaking states, all people must learn Modern Standard Arabic, in so that they can understand news, and speak formally when necessarilly and of course understand the Quran. We must also realise for the Arabs themselves the Quranic Arabic is not easy even for them as native speakers.

">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPcGy77Gru8]

Goiung back to a lecture that was put in a blog a while ago: Allah (swt) is with those Who submit, there was one bit that I think warrants further discussion.

A point that the Shaykh made was placed in the summary:

whenever people are defeated or begin to lose..they always blame other people...very unusual of the Ottomans reaction when they began to lose land...the Ottoman's didn't blame anybody..they asked 'what are we doing wrong?'

They weren't blaming others

Can I say that this may have been a bad thing instead of a good thing as it was portrayed in the lecture?

">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68F2ix3i9mw]

No, not a whole story in just seven words. That would be very difficult to have character development and/or a compelling twist at the end.

But...

A story that we write together (thus serving the useful purpose of Ummah unity and all that jazz), seven words at a time.

There have to be some rules, which I will now go through with you.

1) All posts must be relevant to story.
2) All posts must be seven words only.
3) No more and no less than seven.
4) I really mean it; I'm utterly serious.
5) Don't think I'll make exceptions; I won't.
6) I am the boss of the story.
7) There must be no Star Wars references.

OK, so those are the rules. Only seven rules, each has only seven words. There's a beautiful simplicity to it, isn't there?

Over the weekend Iranian snipers marched in the annual Army Day parade in Tehran in full camouflage.

[IMG]http://i39.tinypic.com/205xk6b.jpg[/IMG]

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A SNIPER?

Iranian army sniper
When and where: now, Iran.

Planet of origin: Earth.

Language: Farsi, officially.

Average height: approximately 5ft 8in, without haystack suit.

Weapon of choice: the sniper rifle, presumably, although pictured holding the rather less precise AK-47 assault rifle for some reason.

Strategic advantages: concealment. Would be virtually invisible, for example, at a Star Wars convention, or in a vat of angel hair pasta.

">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3o1XKax-aw]

Gay Iraqis are facing death and murder on unprecendented scale in some parts of Iraq as the government turns a blind eye

In Turkey Zeynep Fadillioglu well known for designing stylish Bars and Resteraunts for the Modern Istanbul, is set to complete a new and fairly different project, a mosque.

It has been called a monument to Modern Islam in Turkey both for its intricate detail and design as well as style and for the first time ever its desginer was a woman.

Asalaam,

So, I was just thinking the other day about Muslims, 'so called Muslims' and heaven and hell.

I came up with some questions, which I have my opinions too, but I wanted to see what you all think as well.

Q1) Do you people think there is a difference between a practising Muslim, and a non practising Muslim?

Q2) Do you think we say a person is just Muslim by name? (In the sense that they do everything haram, such as dating, drinking, gambling,zina,thiefing etc etc...but they are born into a Muslim family)...

And lastly, whatever your opinions are, are you able to back it up with authentic Hadith ( from what Sunnis believe , i.e. Sahih Buhakri, Sahih Muslim etc) and Qura'n quotes?