We're coming close to the date where the costs of Sh. Ali's legal fees need to be fully covered. If anyone hasn't donated yet, please go to www.altimimi.org and make your donation. If you have donated already, donate again - even if its only a fiver. In the UK, there are a team of brothers who are raising funds, i can put you in touch with them if you want to send the money through them.
The one talk Sh. Ali had planned to give, but didn't, and i wish he had, is called "The primacy of shari'ah." I think that would have been an important talk to have in any activist's tapes collection. Especially nowadays with the modernist movement gaining strength and numbers and media attention.
In any case, keep Sh. Ali in your du'as.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
The Arab psyche
You know, Arabs are really nice people, alhumdulillah. I've met some brothers in the Arab world whose firmness on the deen is unmatched by anyone who i've met in the West. Arabs are generous, they are very hospitable and kind people. But hidden underneath all that niceness is something which I, as a Pakistani, find a bit strange.
Let me tell you what i'm talking about. After I'd done the Tawaaf al-Ifaadah this past Hajj i caught a cab back to Mina. The roads were jam-packed and i was sharing with three gulf-arabs, i think they were kuwaiti. Nice chaps they were. Anyhow, i REALLY hate traffic - i rarely go driving in London during rush-hour because i can't stand seeing my life drift away sitting couped up in a row of cars. So i decided to get out and walk the rest of the way back. But the Kuwaitis said to me 'don't walk, we'll be on the move in just a few minutes.' So i abandoned the idea of walking and stayed in the taxi. 10 minutes and only 10 metres later i thought, thats it, i'm gonna walk. But again they convinced me to stay in the cab because Mina was just over the hill.
15 minutes and 15 metres later i thought, thats it, i'm definitely leaving this time. So i announced my intention and one of the Kuwaitis in the cab says to me "If you leave, we will consider it as though you are leaving because you don't like our company." I thought "Huh??? where did that come from?" After all, all i wanted to do was get back to the camp, have a shower and get out of ihraam.
After a moment's indecision i just thanked them and left. hehe... but get this, for the part-drive to Mina the cabbie asked for 20 riyal! But then one of the Kuwaitis admonished the driver and told him not to rip me off. So the driver asked for 10 in the end.
So you see, the strangeness and the kindness all in one go? I love Arabs.
Let me tell you what i'm talking about. After I'd done the Tawaaf al-Ifaadah this past Hajj i caught a cab back to Mina. The roads were jam-packed and i was sharing with three gulf-arabs, i think they were kuwaiti. Nice chaps they were. Anyhow, i REALLY hate traffic - i rarely go driving in London during rush-hour because i can't stand seeing my life drift away sitting couped up in a row of cars. So i decided to get out and walk the rest of the way back. But the Kuwaitis said to me 'don't walk, we'll be on the move in just a few minutes.' So i abandoned the idea of walking and stayed in the taxi. 10 minutes and only 10 metres later i thought, thats it, i'm gonna walk. But again they convinced me to stay in the cab because Mina was just over the hill.
15 minutes and 15 metres later i thought, thats it, i'm definitely leaving this time. So i announced my intention and one of the Kuwaitis in the cab says to me "If you leave, we will consider it as though you are leaving because you don't like our company." I thought "Huh??? where did that come from?" After all, all i wanted to do was get back to the camp, have a shower and get out of ihraam.
After a moment's indecision i just thanked them and left. hehe... but get this, for the part-drive to Mina the cabbie asked for 20 riyal! But then one of the Kuwaitis admonished the driver and told him not to rip me off. So the driver asked for 10 in the end.
So you see, the strangeness and the kindness all in one go? I love Arabs.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Next update
Its been a long time since i updated the blog because i have been so B_U_S_Y!
First and foremost, i'm working in a new job :) Alhumdulillah.
The first Monday back from Hajj i wrote to an old manager (who is now the CTO of a company) asking him whether he had space for a new developer, and alhumdulillah he did. I went in, met the team, was interested in the work they were doing and then i was offered the job.
And that is great timing because the work that we've been doing on the new house has cost an arm and a leg. We installed a new boiler, had new double glazing windows fitted, the walls plastered and painted and finally on Saturday a new carpet installed.
Two days ago we started moving our stuff across and insha'Allah by Saturday we'll move in too.
And alhumdulillah, we have confirmed dates for AlMaghrib coming to London: September 3,4 and 10,11.
So alhumdulillahs all round :)
First and foremost, i'm working in a new job :) Alhumdulillah.
The first Monday back from Hajj i wrote to an old manager (who is now the CTO of a company) asking him whether he had space for a new developer, and alhumdulillah he did. I went in, met the team, was interested in the work they were doing and then i was offered the job.
And that is great timing because the work that we've been doing on the new house has cost an arm and a leg. We installed a new boiler, had new double glazing windows fitted, the walls plastered and painted and finally on Saturday a new carpet installed.
Two days ago we started moving our stuff across and insha'Allah by Saturday we'll move in too.
And alhumdulillah, we have confirmed dates for AlMaghrib coming to London: September 3,4 and 10,11.
So alhumdulillahs all round :)
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