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Hat-tip to Islamify.com.

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I’ve had a stressful week – lots to do and so little time.

Okay, playing on my computer and killing hordes of bad guys didn’t help either but a person should be to have a break now and again!

Erm…What can I show you guys this weeks?!?!

*Runs off to search the net*

Okay…found something - http://www.azaan.com.au

That’s right people – we are back in the land of the Kangaroos (Erm…that means Australia)!!!

Sydney-born designer & artist Peter Gould founded Azaan to explore his passion for contemporary graphic design, art, photography and the rich visual & spiritual traditions of the Middle East.

Since embracing Islam in 2002 his travels and studies throughout the Islamic world have inspired a unique cultural fusion that is reactive to a world of misunderstanding. Peter’s work has reached many audiences locally and abroad through exhibitions, appearances and collaborations with other artists.

Recently he has updated his site and it’s worth a look, so check it out!

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I wonder how many people actually read my updates, just out interest leave me message. It can be about how cool you think I am or a bunch of threats to shut up and get on with the post!!!

On that note – Back to the post!

Soooooooo…..I was busy looking through the web (Okay that was a lie, I was bored and I got tired of looking at YouTube) when I came across the following blog site – Crooked Rib.

Crooked Rib is a project that is currently under way in the land of the Kangaroos. Erm… for the rest of the readers that would be Melbourne, Australia. Yes that’s right – last week it was America and now it’s Australia. Who needs a tour guide when you have me – Okay, I’ll shut up now!

This blog documents the progress of them. A creative collaboration between a group of young, Muslim women and an experienced professional artist.

They are exploring different mediums from street art to Islamic Calligraphy to photography as they attempt to define what it means to be young, Muslim and living in Melbourne.

They will also be holding an exhibition later in the year. So check them out, while I book an appointment with a mental clinic. I think it’s way overdue!

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Robert Salaam quotes Mike Ghouse-

The real issue is not about who is a Muslim, but it is about the role of a majority in a diverse society. [...] The real question that we need to address is should we let a majority determine what one believes, wears or eats? Can the Majority in the United States do that? Can the majority in Indonesia do that? Should that work in India?

On a different note, indscribe twines Ahmadiyyas and Sunnis, Iraq and Pakistan-

Country, region, religion, sect, followers of different spiritual leaders, they are all baying for each other’s blood. Is it not Iraqi blood? It is in this context that I have quoted the couplets here.

The family of Obaidullah Aleem, a poet born in India, had migrated to Pakistan long back. It was the sectarian clashes in Pakistan that may have prompted him to write these lines.

Ironically, Aleem belonged to the Ahmadiyya sect, that believes in Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiyani as prophet, though their split branch, Lahoris, believe him as a mujaddid or reviver, but both sects were declared un-Islamic in Pakistan.

I admit that I was biased against the sect. But the kind of persecution they have braved, is also unparalleled.

[Image of an Ahmadiyya Mosque: Satyadasa]

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From 1405 to 1433, Zheng He led his fleet to voyage to the Western Sea for seven times. The number of ships of his fleet was from 40 to 63 each time, taking many soldiers and sailors on the voyage, with a total party over 27,000 people. Their ships navigated the wide sea area from Ryukyu Islands, the Philippine Islands and Maluku Sea to the Mozambican Channel and the costal areas of South Africa, developing mutual trade, exchanging culture and technologies, communicating traffic on the sea and promoting social and economic development in such countries and areas. The mighty fleet voyaged on the Indian Ocean, not only astonishing the Arabian navigators, but also amazing the Venice businessmen coming and going between Hormuz and Aden, hence providing a new enlightenment to the European navigation. Zheng He’s voyages are 87 years earlier than that of Columbus, 93 years earlier than that of Gama, and 116 years earlier than that of Magellan.

Read on

(Through islamify)

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Conversion of the Mongols to Islam was indeed one of the few unpredictable events of history. The Tartaric wave of conquest which had swept away the entire Islamic east within a short period of one year was, in truth, not so astounding as the Mongol’s acceptance of Islam during the zenith of their glory; for, the Muslims had by the beginning of the seventh century of Muslim era imbibed all those vices which are a natural outcome of the opulence, luxury and fast living. The Mongols were, on the other hand, a wild and ferocious, yet vigorous and sturdy race who could have hardly been expected to submit to the spiritual and cultural superiority of a people so completely subdued by them, and who were also looked down and despised by them.

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Ramadan’s discussion centred on citizenship and a sense of belonging. He acknowledged the practical challenges facing pluralistic societies, and also for Muslims in terms of their faith. He suggests that we are lacking discourse on spirituality and universal ethics (politics, etc). He wants to see more Muslims taking up academic positions, writing literature, learning and teaching Islam within their Western nations and, overall, participating socially and politically. He advocates commonality — in other words, send your children to state schools and provide strong supplementary guidance at home.

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