Sami Yusuf سامي يوسف

Can't tell you how impressed I was when I first watched Sami Yusuf's song "Moalem", a beautiful song about the love and appreciation of prophet Mohamed (PBUH), Sami's warmth of voice, modern look, beautiful music and topic that cannot miss the heart of any Moslem ..

The modern take was much much needed in bringing closer religion amidst the younger generations, we are used to this topic being covered dramatically by ancient actors, boring music, slow talking over-acting did I say boring again? It is! But taking it into the video clip age is an accomplishment worth noting.

Another Islamic Superstar is in the making, he is ready to join Amr Khaled and Moez Masoud and others in the hall of fame of those that have touched the lives of both teenagers and older generations through modernization in presenting Islam, note well: Not modernizing Islam itself, there is a difference!

Back to Sami, a LOT is riding on this guy, that is why I have to be totally frank here, after the "Moalem" song I saw another two, they where pathetic repetitions of his first song, the last of which was about "Mothers".

Sami, unless you intend to be another one song star, you seriously need to re-invent yourself, a religious song needs not be so sad and morbid, people don't like that, you need to get yourself a good writer and composer, repeating the same music over and over is plain boring, you are competing for air time and the attention of audience used to striptease, so take your mission seriously and rise up to the challenge. Oh and you need good marketing too, I think this says it all.

Wishing Sami a long successful career and looking forward to his new productions, a good role model would be Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens)
I hope this does not offend Sami's fans, just please keep in mind that I am not writing to make friends.
1PA

Storm in a Mug - Moslem Women leading prayers?

A storm is brewing in the Islamic world over Dr. Amina Wadud's leading the Friday prayer in a New York mosque. I heard her speaking and I did not find her offering any explanation (religious or otherwise) as to why she is stirring an unneeded controversy in this TIME and PLACE!

Here is a half-witted statement from the "organizers" shedding light by saying "this event is about Muslim women reclaiming their rightful place in Islam"
What ?? I guess Moslem women's list of demands is nearing the bottom of the list!

My point is:- Moslem women's struggle IS to re-claim what Islam has originally given them, and what deep rooted social traditions have taken from them in some countries.
e.g. Inheritance, right to manage her own money, and run her own business, freedom to marry & divorce whoever and whenever, freedom to refuse her husband's taking on another wife whthout her consent, right to have her husband or brother fully cover all her financial needs from their own money ..
NB. Islam gave women more rights than "western" women enjoyed until only 50 years ago, and in many countries until today.

- I understand why the Friday speech and prayer is led by a man, and if you think it's racist, please point me to where I can find the name of the last woman that held the Pope position, and the name of the church where the sermon is led by a nun. And as far as I know female Rabbis are hard to find!

- I would be more than willing to change my view if anyone can tell me how this woman's leading the Friday prayer will serve Islam better in New York and all over the world.

- All they managed to do is stir unnecessary controversy about a trivial issue, and in the process stamp Moslems with gender discrimination, and giving room for some dumb ass to come out and scream his stupid lungs about how this is against Islam and how that prayer will not be accepted!

Please have mercy on Islam, all of us women and men need to first apply Islam in our daily life, be merciful, humble, forgiving, charitable, loving, working hard .. Then the world will see Islam for what it truly is, a religion of peace and love, some over zealous and badly timed actions like this one are setting us back many years.
One final note: I am not even a religions person, I am just one angry Moslem right now!
OnePissedArab 1PA

The Arab Dream

For non-Arabic readers, these are the lyrics of an Arabic song called the "Arab Dream" which is about a dream for peace, unity, optimism, positive attitude, and hope. I find it very appropriate to post here as it is one of the very few "large group" productions in the Arab world, sung by many artists from all around the Arab world, done in the "We are the World" style, the effort is very befitting the meaning in the song itself, I am very touched every time it plays, as it reminds me of the older generations' dream for unity of the Arab world, and at times when Iraqis and Palestinian children were being bombed by people that have no right to be in their land or skies, it provokes a deeper meaning inside all of us, one of anger, helplessness and disgust.

كلمات أوبيريت الحلم العربي

اجيال ورا اجيال --- ح تعيش على حلمنا
واللي نقوله اليوم --- محسوب على عمرنا

جايز ظلام الليل --- يبعدنا يوم انما
يقدر شعاع النور --- يوصل لأبعد سما
دا حلمنا طول عمرنا --- حضن يضمنا كلنا كلنا

الحلم ماهو مستحيل --- مادام تحقيقه مباح
والليل لو صار طويل --- اكيد من بعده صباح

قول انت بكل مافيك -- إن كان لك والا عليك
حاول جرب وبتوصل --- شرف التجربه يكفيك

جايز ظلام الليل --- يبعدنا يوم انما
يقدر شعاع النور --- يوصل لأبعد سما
دا حلمنا طول عمرنا --- حضن يضمنا كلنا كلنا

عرف زمانك من تكون --- إرضى طموحك اجتهد
افتح لمرآتك عيون --- يبصر بها من جا بعد

إتحدى الكون وإتمرد --- وإتعلم تبقى جريء
مشوار الألف ميل --- خطوة تبدأ بطريق

جايز ظلام الليل --- يبعدنا يوم انما
يقدر شعاع النور --- يوصل لأبعد سما
دا حلمنا طول عمرنا --- حضن يضمنا كلنا كلنا

محتاج العدل للقوة --- علشان تقدر تحميه
ولا عمر بكلمة وشكوى --- حق بيرجع اراضيه

والحب كل ناره شرارة --- وعيون مليانه بشارة
بعيد تكوين العالم --- اطفال بإيدها حجارة


جايز ظلام الليل --- يبعدنا يوم انما
يقدر شعاع النور --- يوصل لأبعد سما
دا حلمنا طول عمرنا --- حضن يضمنا كلنا كلنا

من اي مكان في الارض --- ناطق بلسان الضاد
وبأعلى الصوت والنبض --- بنقول الوحدة ميلاد

اطفالنا بكل مكان --- ضي عيون الاوطان
الحق الحب الخير --- رسالتنا في كل زمان

جايز ظلام الليل --- يبعدنا يوم انما
يقدر شعاع النور --- يوصل لأبعد سما
دا حلمنا طول عمرنا --- حضن يضمنا كلنا كلنا

و معانا غنوا و قولو --- الفن دا طوق و نجاة
من الحزن بنخلق فرحة -- من حرف طريق وحياة

كلمة صدق في أغنية --- تتقال و تعدي في ثانية
جايز من بعد سنين --- تتغير بيها الدنية

جايز ظلام الليل --- يبعدنا يوم انما
يقدر شعاع النور --- يوصل لأبعد سما
دا حلمنا طول عمرنا --- حضن يضمنا كلنا كلنا


خلي الأغاني حقيقة --- وأحسب لوقتك حساب
كل الدروب الغريقة --- يفتح لها الحب باب

و الغنوة في كل حدود --- و وطنها هو القلب
و مادام عايشين هنغني -- و مدام قادرين هنحب


جايز ظلام الليل --- يبعدنا يوم انما
يقدر شعاع النور --- يوصل لأبعد سما
دا حلمنا طول عمرنا --- حضن يضمنا كلنا كلنا

و الحب ماهوش بالكلمة --- بالفعل و بالاحساس
كن ضي و نجمة و بسمة --- و دليل في طريق الناس

حلمنا وفي كل زمان --- وحدة كل الأوطان
كل الخلافات حتزول --- وكفاية انك انسان

جايز ظلام الليل --- يبعدنا يوم انما
يقدر شعاع النور --- يوصل لأبعد سما
دا حلمنا طول عمرنا --- حضن يضمنا كلنا كلنا

فنك وطنك في الغربة --- من منين ما تخطي دليل
غني للناس وللصحبة --- هتلاقي الكون جميل

بلغات العالم حبوا --- واختصره سنين بثواني
قدر العصفور طيران --- وقدرنا نغني أغاني

جايز ظلام الليل --- يبعدنا يوم انما
يقدر شعاع النور --- يوصل لأبعد سما
دا حلمنا طول عمرنا --- حضن يضمنا كلنا كلنا

الشجرة و كانت بذرة --- و القصة وكانت فكرة
ومدام بنحب ونحلم --- راح نوصل سكة بكرة

نتمنى الحلم يكون --- ونغير اي سكون
ما كثير الحق بيسطع --- ويقولوا عليه جنون

جايز ظلام الليل --- يبعدنا يوم انما
يقدر شعاع النور --- يوصل لأبعد سما
دا حلمنا طول عمرنا --- حضن يضمنا كلنا كلنا

1PA

Stop Rubbing - The tip of the volcano

1400 years ago, Prophet Mohamed peace be upon him (PBH) and 317 of his followers went against 950 infidels, the Moslems had only 3 horses while the infidels had around 100, at a time when a horse was the equivalent of today's tank. Outnumbered one to three, the Moslems came out victorious, not by a miracle of God or any supernatural intervention, it was by pure belief in what they were fighting for. Only 17 Moslems died and the infidels fled defeated.

This not a religious or a historical blog, but there are a couple of points to be made here:

Prophet Mohamed PBH CONSULTED his followers on where to best confront the infidels, he had originally chosen a location by the now well known "Badr" water well, one of the prophet's followers asked if this location was by any inspiration from God, when the prophet said no, the follower then asked for the place to be changed beyond the water well so that the infidels would not have a chance to rest and get water before the confrontation, and it was decided as such. Even the prophet is to be challenged about his own personal judgment, Islam DEMANDS that we use our brains and take noting for granted.

At a time when numbers and gear meant the difference between victory and defeat, belief was the deciding factor.
Fast-forward to 2005:

The US is riding the high democracy horse, and arrogantly dictating and demanding, is at the end of the day only superior in terms of gear, they are incessantly rubbing the tip of a dormant volcano, what is confronting them now is just sparks, what lies within the volcano, if not feared and respected will blow in their face, the moral here is : Stop Rubbing ! while it may appear like Bush is succeeding in changing the political landscape, in reality I do not think anyone can quanify the repercussions, it is all cosmetic & artificial change, may look good for a while, but the long term is scary for all involved.
1PA

Bush: No to elections under occupation in ... Lebanon

Bush has been on the case of yet another Arab country, now he is ordering a Syrian military withdrawal from Lebanon.

Today I heard on the CNN the Bush saying "I don't think you can have free elections with the Syrian troops there"

Am I the only one seeing the irony here ??? !

Here is the full story.

Just for the record and on topic:
- I am 101% for the withdrawal, after all they can always come back if Israel gets gun happy again, not that they have been successful in protecting Lebanon or themselves inside Lebanon, but any bump in Israel's way to Beirut is more than welcome.
- Other than the obvious benefits for the Lebanese, who else benefits from this withdrawal?
- Why the sudden US very late interest in welfare of Lebanon ??
More on all this later
1PA