As if the world doesn’t have enough issues, here comes Iran which wants to hold war games (lasting five days) to protect its nuclear facilities. The nuclear facilities Iran claims are apparently for “generating electricity”. Even though senior officials from six world powers had proposed to delay this, Iran disagreed. “The United States, Russia, China, Germany, Britain and France met after U.S. President Barack Obama warned there could be a package of sanctions against Iran within weeks”.

Another interesting point is that, “Iran, which says its nuclear program is solely to generate electricity, has threatened to hit back at Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf if it is attacked”.  A cleric in the Revolutionary Guard warned that the Islamic Republic would fire missiles at "the heart of Tel Aviv" if attacked.

Now I’m confused. So if Iran’s nuclear program electricity is “solely” to generate electricity, how does it expect to attack back, and with what? It all seems a little suspicious. If Iran is holding these “defense exercises”, what are they preparing for exactly?

"If the enemy should want to test its bad luck in Iran, before the dust from its missiles settles in this country, Iran's ballistic missiles would land in the heart of Tel Aviv," said cleric Mojtaba Zolnour, IRNA news agency reported,”

it seems as though Iran and its leader are very much on board with the idea of attacking. Apparently, Iran holds these exercises and announces them well before they occur to let the rest of the world know that if their nuclear program is disputed, they are ready to take measures on it.

Now there’s another issue Iran has, and that is that Russia isn’t delivering the “S-300” (which I later figured out is a type of missile). Hilary Clinton, on the other hand, commended Russia for not presenting Iran with these missiles. 

“The truck-mounted S-300PMU1, known in the West as the SA-20, can shoot down cruise missiles and aircraft. It can fire at targets up to 150 km (90 miles) away.” Now how’s that for a comforting bedtime story?

"They have declared technical problems as the underlying reason for this delay, but we think it has been due to the Zionists' pressure," Mighani said, Fars reported. "We are hopeful the Russians will ignore the pressure of the Zionist lobby."

All I wonder is: could these incidents lead to some sort of war? I know Anila wrote an article stating that Tehran isn't as big a threat as its words suggest, but this pompous rhetoric is certainly not helping its case. What is Iran trying to do and why all these war games? I don’t believe at all that it is necessary for countries to have nuclear weapons (nor do I think war is the answer to any matter). I know that power is a horrible thing that drives even the most down-to-earth person mad. And since nuclear weapons and these missiles are sources of power, couldn’t that mean that once Iran (or any country for that matter) has it, it would be tempted to use it? I know its suggested that Iran only wants to defend itself from attack, but what if it is instigating the very attack it is trying to prevent? 

If Iran keeps getting its troops ready and keeps preparing that an attack, I think that could lead to an attack, even if it has no purpose.

Only time will tell where all this will take us, Until then, May God be with us All.
Full article here.
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So we all know that as Ramadan starts so do the extended night prayers called, tarawih. When Ramadan started in the summer, I was quite motivated to attend those prayers in our local masjid. It was actually a really great experience and definitely memorable; especially since I had some of best friends praying with me, and my younger sister, Rafia. It was a pleasant, peaceful time (expect for the occasional disaster caused by a noisy kid).

I attended the majority of those prayers and noticed something quite peculiar.

Do we go pray tarawih for Allah, or just because it’s some type of fad?

I noticed that when the time of Isha Salah beings, the sisters' prayer room would be quiet empty; the salah would end, people would pray their sunnah and then once the Iman exclaims “AllahuAkbar” to commence tarawih, that’s when the room starts to get populated.

If you’re not praying your farz salah, which is the most important, then what’s the point of tarawih, which isn’t even farz for you?

I don’t want to be one to judge, as there could be people who may have gotten in to some business or gotten late. But every day, that is what I observed.

Anyhow, in the first few days of Ramadan, the sisters' room was so completely packed that, at one point, I was left praying out in the hall. As the days went by, fewer and fewer people came; only a few regulars. And then came the night of twenty seventh Ramadan: the day our masjid ended the recitation of the Quran during tarawih.

I was in complete shock when I saw the amount of people who turned up; ladies from God knows where with God knows how many kids (that’s another post on its own; those kids need a leash)! The place was so packed that there wasn’t even enough room to do a proper sajda.

Can you guess what the turnout was the following day?

Yup, not even close to a quarter of the day before. So is it a fad? Or are people just capitalizing on the right day to get the sawaab? Well, I guess it’s better than not praying at all.
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ASSALAAMOALAIKUM fellow readers.

Now, did you reply “WALIKUMASSALAAM” after reading that first line?

How many of say you actually say Salaam and don’t get a reply back? Or worse, how many of you are the ones who don’t reply?

Saying Salaam to a fellow Muslim is Sunnah, and replying to it is Wajib (compulsory). Nowadays, we are so caught up with western culture, we say “Hey, what’s up? How are you?” upon meeting someone. And when we depart, we say, “Alright, take care! Bye!”

Have we forgotten our own culture? Have we forgotten our distinct identity as Muslims? Even when you enter someone’s house (or your own) you should enter by saying Salaam. Even if no one is in there, it increases barakah (blessing). Don’t hesitate to be the first to Salaam whenever you see a fellow Muslim; whether you know them or not.

This post is inspired by a lecture given by Shaikh Rafiq Sufi on this topic.  He mentioned that some people wait for someone else to say. Even if someone is a “Chaudhry” or a “Khan” (or other common Muslim last names) they won’t say Salaam unless someone else has offered it to them. It perhaps make them feel subconsciously superior. Or they are ashamed to highlight their own religiosity by being the first to say it; for fear of being seen as un-Canadian and fresh-off-the-boat.

Apart from the issue of actually saying Salaam, there are some who mess it up when they do say it. Instead of “ASSALAAMOALAIKUM” they rush it and say, “slaamalaikum”. Or, they say “Allahfiz”, or “Khudafiz” instead of “Allah Hafiz” and “Khuda Hafiz” ALLAH/KHUDA means “God”, and HAFIZ means “the protector.”  Therefore the complete phrase means, “Allah the Protector”. This is a very strong sentiment which should not be mispronounced.

Are we really that caught up with our lives that we can’t even spare a few extra seconds to say the name of GOD properly? We have the time to walk down the street or the halls of school between classes and say, “Yo what’s up, how’s it going”, but not say a proper Salaam? Or maybe it’s not a time issue at all. Are you embarrassed? And if so: of what? Think long and hard about what stops you from saying InshaAllah, or Salaam or MashaAllah in front of non-Muslims or other Muslims.

Yes, we reside, study and work in the west. Yes, our lives are here. But our culture and our faith is not something we should modernize completely. Or else there are no roots left to hold on to.

Please note that there are also some restrictions on saying Salaam. You need not say it when you are in the mosque, or when someone is eating. This is because we say Salaam to remember Allah. When in the masjid, you are already communicating with the Lord. Thus, by saying Salaam, we are interrupting that mental state of being. Secondly, we don’t want someone to choke and die; so there are practical reasons to avoid opening your mouth to say Salaam while eating. 

It’s hard to get rid of habits we’ve developed for so long. But we have to be strong to re-build what’s been lost over the years. If you say it with your head held high, it becomes cool, not F.O.B-by. For example: due to the Algerian immigrant wave in France, barakah has become a French synonym for luck, used in non-Muslim vocabulary. In this way, the words we are sometimes embarrassed to say can become unique and special if only we dare to use them. Your language becomes your tag; and it stands as a method of communication with the rest of the Ummah; like a special tongue for an extraordinary club. Remember, we get only sawab for saying Salaam; so we have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

Allah Hafiz.
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“Unionized driver examiners across Ontario are on strike, putting thousands of licence applications in limbo.”

CBC news has definitely got that right! What is up with Ontario and strikes this summer? First we have to spend our entire summer with the smell of garbage everywhere. And now, we can’t even rush to get our license before school gets too hectic!

Politics: Oh how I deeply despise thee. Ever since I can remember I always ran away from it. It wasn’t only because I found it confusing but also because most of what I heard just seemed so corrupted that I didn’t want to wrap my head around it. Don’t get me wrong: it’s not that I don’t care - I used to care, and I tried to care -  but it is all nonsense to me. It's all a power game.  

Unionized workers of Drive Test centers are on strike (after 55 hours of bargaining because of wages, overtime and sick days. This is why I don’t understand political people and the government. Why can’t everyone just be fair and equal?! Why can't union workers, on the other hand, just be grateful for what they have? Think about all the homeless who have nothing at all! People just always want more and more. Let’s be happy with what we have and what we are given (thanks to Allah).

I guess I’m just frustrated because I was supposed to give my drivers’ test (written) last week (after having already delayed a year) and when I finally decide to do so, they happen to be closed. This is an example of how political issues come chasing after you; no matter how much you try to avoid them.  I guess in all fairness they examiners have the right to go on strike for their wants. Last week I wrote that people should try to take time off for Eid if they can. But without unions, there wouldn't be any sick days or vacation days to take off!  While some people do abuse benefits many people do need them to survive. With cancer and disease rates rising, many people must work while getting treatment. If they didn't benefits, they would pretty much end up homeless. In a lot of non-unionized environments, someone who was diagnosed with a permanent illness might find himself/herself weeded out of a job.

But at the same time the governments and the union should try to speed up the process so the public doesn’t have to suffer. Okay:  they did extend the expiry dates on licenses for those who need renewals (but what about those who need to actually get a license?!). I’ve also heard from friends that the legal age to get your permit might be changed to eighteen. Great. They can do that after I get my permit.

The biggest thing to realize is that the union is paid by union members to GET RESULTS at the negotiation table. This is why they often resort to a lot of sketchy tactics to get what they want. The city workers went on the strike specifically in the summer so that the smell of the garbage and the lost tourism would get on the news -- even though hundreds of city summer students lost six weeks of pay that they can never get back. And at the garbage dumps, picketers were getting mean, hurtful and even scary, at times. This is an example of how unions, though they have good intentions, attract public hatred when they play political games.  

I really hope they open up soon, because school is about to start and then it will be quite hectic to find a day to go give a drivers’ test. Oh and I hope to God Ontario faces no more ridiculous strikes.


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Assalamoalaikum fellow sisters and brothers! As I’m sure you are all well in the middle of Ramadan and busy with your prayers and iftaries, there is another event that is coming up that I’m sure everyone has been thinking about since they sighted the moon. EID. That’s right, with Ramadan well in its way; Eid-ul-fitr is just around the corner. Eid is when Muslims all around the world gather with their family and friends, after a whole month of fasting and offering as many prayers as possible. This is also the time when all the younger Muslims get to fill up their wallets! It’s such a joyous event and every family has a different way of enjoying the day (or DAYS) of Eid. (It is explicitly a three-day holiday, but many families only celebrate the one day immediately after the end of Ramadan).

When I was younger and back home in Pakistan, everyone would get up early, get showered and dress up in the fanciest clothes of the season; mixed with elegant jewellery and henna on the hands (this applies only to the girls!). Then we would pray the Eid prayers after which the FUN would begin! I used to run around with a small purse with me saying Salaam to everyone as they gave me my ‘Eidhi’. We would then go to our relatives homes where there would be a BIG lunch and dinner (and of course: more Eidhi!). Among the cousins and siblings we would exchange Eid-cards (which, in Pakistan are a BIG thing. And boy, did they have some awesome looking cards!). Eid Day Two and Eid Day Three would be pretty similar, and just as fun. 

Now that I’m here in Toronto, I don’t get to spend Eid with my relatives, but instead with my friends and family acquaintances. The morning doings are exactly the same, but then all the family friends gather at someone’s house and once again we indulge in the deliciously cooked foods (including biryani, kebabs, chicken, pasta, custard, kheer, butter chicken, korma, ghulab jamun, kofta, nihari...and the list literally goes on). This past Eid, my friends and I actually skipped another day of school just to have an Eid Party; and it was fantastic.

I’ve heard of some people who don’t go out and celebrate Eid. They go to work or they go to school, they get on with life. My heart goes out to those people, really. Come on, people! If you can sometimes lie and take a sick leave... then why not take a day off from your daily life to celebrate this once a year joy of Eid-ul-Fitr?! It’s definitely worth it, even if it’s just with your immediate family: there is just something really special about the atmosphere of Eid.

Then again, there are some other people who dread this event not because they don’t care, but because of certain limitations. Some parents can’t afford to provide other children with Eidhi or and some students would rather not go through the trouble of writing another make up exam or test (either because it’s a huge process, or not permissible). What I think is that due to the large number of Muslims (speaking of Toronto, in particular) teachers and employers should seriously have some consideration. They all very well know when Eid is approaching, so they should at least try not to make dead-lines, tests or exams close to that date – it shouldn’t make a huge difference in their schedule; a little consideration never hurt anybody.

For the fellow Muslims going through this struggle; InshAllah, you still have Eids Day Two and Three to enjoy! 

As for the people who feel their financial life affects their complete participation in Eid: I know that if they don’t give Eidhi they might feel embarrassed, or they may be looked at in an ill manner by the other parents if their kids are not suited in a brand new lahenga or shalwar kameez. But not everyone can easily do everything; I don’t want something like money or gifts to be a reason for anyone to dread such a joyous occasion. I say they should still try and make the best of it: give out a piece of chocolate to the kids – they just want to have “something.” It’s not what you give that matters, but the intention with which you give.

And if anyone should have a problem with the way you celebrate, you may have to learn to ignore it. Only God is fit to judge, in the end. We kids, at least, should reject some of these social/cultural “responsibilities” that threaten to take precedence over our religious lives.

Eid is something that all Muslims worldwide are supposed to enjoy. Young, old, rich, poor, whomever and wherever: every Muslim deserves the right to indulge in these festivities… and they shouldn’t let anything come between that.

So...start getting ready for Eid everyone! Get your jewellery, your clothes, your food list, or your excitement ready (but don’t let it interfere with your Ramadan prayers...because that would be counter productive) and most importantly get your spirit ready!

Eid-Ul-Fitr Mubarak to everyone (in advance)!

(By the Way, the exact date for Eid will depend on the moon, but it could possibly take place on Sunday, September 20th, 2009).
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