Gotta love this guy.

It certanly isn't the voice of the Muslim Youth - I am pretty loud here, but I am old enough to have a walking stick!

It isn't a centre for Muslim activism as its generally pretty laid back and quiet.

Probably too small to be called a community.

So what is it?

Is having a TV in the house (with a child) around a good or bad thing? Is it better to have a TV around for their entertainment purposes, or no? Or is technology so advanced that a TV has become pointless?

FOR- Helps a kids development.

AGAINST- They spend less time interacting and socializing with each other and spend most of their time staring at a screen.

Thoughts.

When the Premier League started in 1992, it included just one footballer known to be Muslim, Tottenham's Spanish midfielder Nayim. England's top division now features 40 Muslim players and they are having a significant effect on the culture of the game.

On 5 February, 2012, Newcastle United played Aston Villa at St James' Park and one moment symbolised the impact Muslim players were having on the Premier League.

After 30 minutes, Demba Ba scored for the home side. He raced to the corner flag and was joined by Senegalese compatriot Papiss Cisse. The two devout Muslims then sank to their knees in prayer.

The growing influx of Muslim players has been fuelled by the internationalisation of football.

Scouts have spread their nets wider in the search for new talent and the Premier League has become a much more diverse place.

Young men with origins in remote villages of west Africa or tough estates in Paris have become global stars.

They may have found wealth and fame playing for English clubs, but many still hold on to something that is rooted in their cultural identity, something that guides them and comforts them when the going gets tough - their Islamic faith.

When a player of the calibre of Ba, who left Newcastle last year to join Chelsea, says he is serious about his religion, some might argue clubs cannot afford not to listen.

...

Watch The Muslim Premier League on BBC1 on Sunday, 7 July at 12:20 BST or catch it again on Monday 8 July at 23:35 BST.

Full story http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23159023

This documentary is on BBC iplayer now and I think it's worn a watch. It focuses on the struggles of girls literally dying for the right and access to education. The presenter visits dangerous and Pakistani-Taliban controlled areas to speak to these girls and members of the community. The presenter also talks to two girls who were with Malala and were also hurt and there's also a little bit where Malala talks too, though I was expecting more tbh - they flew to Pakistan but couldn't get a proper interview with Malala in Birmingham :S

It's depressing, yes, but also inspiring and there is hope! I felt a few things were looked at negatively but perhaps I'm taking them out of context cuz those specific people said some shocking stuff too.

Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mobile/iplayer/episode/b036lx4n

Guardian article which says:

General rate of birth defects in Pakistanis: 3%

Rate where couple are first cousins: 6%

General rate of birth defects in Brits: 2%

Rate when the woman is over 34: 4%

(The article headline only covers the cousin marriage aspect.)

Source

So my sister bought a tub of ice-cream but it doesnt really say its suitable for vegetarians but i cant see anything haraam in the ingredients either.

Its a tub of Carte D'or Macadamia night.

Has anyone tried it and do you know if its halal?

Channel 4 is to air the Muslim call to prayer live every morning during the month of Ramadan.

The broadcaster said it was an act of "deliberate provocation" aimed at viewers who might associate Islam with extremism.

The headline-grabbing move will see Channel 4 broadcast the three-minute call to prayer at about 3am for 30 days from the start of Ramadan on 9 July.

In addition, on the first day of Ramadan Channel 4 will interrupt programming four times during the day – to mark subsequent calls to prayer – with a 20-second film to remind viewers of the approaching prayer time.

After that date, the channel will air the 3am call to prayer on live TV, with the other four prayer times will be broadcast on its website.

Ralph Lee, Channel 4's head of factual programming, said: "The calls to prayer prompt Muslims to carry out quiet moments of worship, but hopefully they'll also make other viewers sit up and notice that this event is taking place.

"Observing the adhan on Channel 4 will act as a nationwide tannoy system, a deliberate 'provocation' to all our viewers in the very real sense of the word."

Lee added in an article in the Radio Times: "No doubt Channel 4 will be criticised for focusing attention on a 'minority' religion but that's what we're here to do – provide space for the alternative and a voice to the under-represented.

"Following the horrific events in Woolwich and subsequent reprisals against British Muslims, there has surely never been a more pressing need to give a voice to the moderate mainstream majority. And let's not forget that Islam is one of the few religions that's flourishing, actually increasing in the UK. Like Channel 4's target audience, its followers are young. It's recently been reported that half of British Muslims are under 25."

The Muslim Council of Britain supported Channel 4's move.

"This is a very special month for Muslims and its recognition on a mainstream channel is not only symbolic for belonging and solidarity but will hopefully help to portray a more realistic account of Islam and Muslims," said a spokesman.

He added that he believed nearly 5% of the UK will be actively involved in Ramadan and questioned whether the same could be said of other national events that gain significant TV coverage, such as the anniversary of the Queen's coronation.

A short film of two to three minutes, Ramadan Reflections, will run ahead of each morning's call to prayer.

The film, made by production company Watershed, will "feature a range of voices, from imams to architects, feminists to a former rock chick, each providing some serious Ramadan food for thought".

Channel 4 is also launching a season of programmes around the period of prayer, called 4Ramadan, starting on 8 July.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/jul/02/channel-4-muslim-call-to-pr…

Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said: "It seems reasonable that there should be some acknowledgment on TV of the needs of the growing Muslim population in Britain, although one can't help wondering whether this is just another of Channel Four's publicity-seeking stunts. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23142732

Hmm...

 "..The technique itself will result in babies with DNA from three people - two women and a man - and this genetic alteration will be passed down the generations.

Once babies have been born using this technique, there will be no going back. A permanent and novel genetic change to members of the human race will have been made.

That might sound pretty worrying, and talk of three people's DNA mixed together seems a bit ghoulish at first glance. So is this science overstepping the mark?

There will be some who find this disturbing - tampering with nature. But for the families affected by mitochondrial disease it is a chance to have a healthy child, and to ensure that future generations are healthy too.."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23086162

First the test tube baby. Now a risky approach to creating designer babies in a bid to maintain "healthy" generations. 

Crazy.

I thought id post a separate topic for this, rather than spoil the good vibes of the ramadan thread.

Something that came up earlier today whilst i was talking to my friends was 'Part Timer Muslim'. Tbh i had no idea what a part timer muslim was *fool* ... mostly because i tend not to care how other people choose to practice their faith.

Anyway so the conversation basically went like 'oh its almost ramadan, bet all them part timers will come crawling out the woodwork now. Where where they all year?'

Now i was like; part time muslims? *unknw* what you on about?

So they explained 'part time muslims who suddenly start practicing during ramdan and then like clockwork they stop at the end.'

And i was thinking we shouldnt be juding people who are trying to be better during ramadan. Isnt that kinda the point of Ramadan? To put aside everything else and concentrate on bettering outselves (spiritually) during Ramadan? Or did they change the whole point of it whilst i wasnt looking.

It doesnt matter how practicing you are right now but in ramadan you try harder and earn the pleasure of Allah (swt). We shouldnt be'little people. Maybe im too soft, i dunno. But ive always thought that if we try and do better in Ramadan that inshallah it will stick with us afters as well and we will continue to do that.