Moorgs Blog page

Mos Def reads Malcolm X. 07/14/2009

tomorrow may never come, for you or me life is never promised...

I just want to say that Mos Def is one of my favorite people, and one of my favorite thinkers and speakers, so its a special pleasure to post some of his videos.

Mos Def is a renaissance man, he performs and is able to articulate his expression with such depth in almost every capacity imaginable. Acting, spoken word, theater, fashion, social & political activist, a debater are amongst his many talents and designations. As a Muslim, many Islamic ideals, practices and morals intersect in his work and many times are shown through his character and his involvement with most prominent topics to our community. I am an absolute hip hop fan and am always fascinated with the work and subjects Mos Def speaks on and works with.

(Check out more videos below)

The Terral Manifesto. 07/14/2009

Start claiming your right brain terrain.

Taken from http://www.rightbrainterrain.com/Manifesto.htm
Copyright 2009 Frederic Terral

YOU CAN DO IT...

" “If I can do it, so can you.” That’s what I’ve been preaching to friends and colleagues since I started this terrain. Late nights, early mornings and sacrificed weekends is what it takes, but the rewards offset the inconveniences. So many of these crazy talented folks are dissatisfied with their professional lives so I wrote The Manifesto to be that annoying “you can do it” voice in the background. The Manifesto also gets a bit preachy about the sacrifice of the arts in our schools, because as a father of little ones I want them to master their A-B-Cs and 1-2-3s AND their Red-Green-Blues and E-A-D-G-B-Es... "

Learn more at www.rightbrainterrain.com

Interesting Chinese Islam Blog. 07/10/2009

Muslim waiter front of a La Noodle shop, Lin Xia. (jding77, Webshots)

For the people who don't want to read any further here are a few interesting posts from Islam in China:

Picture - Mother & Child (search all posts tagged pictures, great stuff)

Chinese Islamic Wallpapers Galore & Chinese Islamic Wallpapers

Muslim Manga Artists (for anyone that's curious)

In Hopes of highlighting the art of the Chinese-Arabic Calligraphy, I did a quick and sloppy google search and came across the site of master calligrapher Haji Noor Deen Mi Guang Jiang (site). I had never before imagined the realization and amalgamation of Chinese Arabic calligraphy before visiting a booth at MuslimFest one year. The work of the artist at the viewing booth, presumably also done by master calligrapher Haji Noor Deen, made the connection between Islamic Arabic and Chinese Calligraphy feel very organic. The characters have such distinct origins, the Chinese characters belonging to the logogram designation and the Arabic characters coming from the group of Semitic languages is a more cursive script. Yet they almost naturally compliment each other when illustrated by a pro.

Interview with Bad Boy rap artist turned Muslim, Loon. 07/05/2009

"A growing number of rap artists are leaving the bad boy hip hop lifestyle for a more spiritual one. The Canadian Dawah Association says that an increasing number of rappers this year have embraced Islam or acknowledged they had in the past. Amir Junaid Muhadith, better known for his stage name, Loon, talks to Al Jazeera about his spiritual journey." - AlJazeera English

Amir Junaid Muhadith, formerly known as Loon was a rap artist from the Bad Boy music label.

For video of his first public appearance as a Muslim, click Read More.

A Peculiar Post Secret. 07/05/2009

1 Comment

thoughts anyone?

Post Secret website.
(Warning may contain some mature themes)

1 Comment

Istanbul's first female Mosque designer. 07/05/2009

Thanks to Mueen Farooq Hakak for sending us this, we're kinda late on this news but nonetheless wanted to share.

"Among the dozens of mosques in Istanbul stands a radical exception. It is not only different in design but is also the first to be designed by a woman. Known for designing hotels and bars, Zeynep Fadillioglu said she wanted to create something contemporary. She spoke to the BBC's Sarah Rainsford as they walked through the building." - (taken from) BBC News

Zeynep Fadillioglu's website.

What are your thoughts on this?

I, Introvert. 07/03/2009

mo' power to the introvert!

I am an introvert with inborn idiosyncrasies,
and I can inspire so don’t insinuate I am an idiot,
my intelligence indicates otherwise.

I like to draw and doodle, I like to make words rhyme, I like to stare into and read weighty books at long lengths, I like to reminisce while flipping through photo albums, and I like doing this often being left alone in peace and quiet.* *Please Allah protect this, for it is He who made me what’s good in me today.

Growing up a secret introvert was tough given the fact that it appeared as if every other family we were friendly with had kids that were gifted and comfortable with public displays of their talents. I despised the encounters we had with some of these families because each time we met or communicated something else would crop up which shadowed my achievements. I find it a reoccurring occurrence with immigrated Indian families, when at the parents' relentless behest the children have to do something they aren't prepared to do, and I believe this often times has to do with adults wanting to live vicariously through their kids. My own parents have pushed me oft times to participate or get involved with activities that don’t take into consideration my interests or my preferences.

It can be very discouraging when your parents can’t accept the fact that you’re an introvert and don’t understand that it’s not a problem or an excuse to live a more secluded life. It’s an orientation sometimes not of our choosing (studies show the brain and genes can be born with these inclinations), a lifestyle of which we get accustomed to and are comfortable with, not us simply being or becoming complacent with a simpler standard of life like some may believe. We introverts aren’t asocial or anti-social as my mom puts it, and we aren’t morose or miserable loners. Understand that we have different needs and preferences from extroverts; our mental maintenance is an altogether different undertaking that is usually resolved in an independent state away from crowds and people. Our contributions to society may be more subtle and very likely overlooked but recognize this, we are as ambitious as anyone else. Don’t disregard us because our ambitions lead us elsewhere or to less elevated designations.

Be Optimistic Today! 06/26/2009