Archive for April, 2008

Abdullah Chhadeh Solo Qanun Rast

Posted in Illuminating Videos, Music on April 9, 2008 by Arabilluminist

Poll: American Muslims reject extremes

Posted in Uncategorized on April 9, 2008 by Arabilluminist
The USA’s estimated 2.4 million Muslims hold more moderate political views than Muslims elsewhere in the world and are mostly middle class and willing to adopt the American way of life, according to one of the most comprehensive surveys of this segment of the nation’s population.

The Pew Research Center study released Tuesday found that “Muslim Americans are very much like the rest of the country,” says Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. “They do not see a conflict between being a devout Muslim and living in a modern society.”

Muslim Americans, however, have a much more negative view about the Iraq war and the war against terrorism than the U.S. public as a whole, the survey found. The study also found pockets of sympathy for Islamic extremism, especially among younger people. Muslims between the ages of 18 and 29 express significantly greater acceptance than older people of suicide bombings in some cases.

The young show a greater tendency to identify themselves as Muslim first and American second. This faith-first pattern is even more pronounced among Muslims in Europe, according to previous Pew surveys.

Muslims here “come across as much more moderate than the Muslim public in other areas of the world,” says Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center.

Muslims in the USA have been under intense scrutiny since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. More than half of those surveyed say it is more difficult to be a Muslim since then and believe that the government singles them out for extra surveillance. Only 5% say they have a favorable view of al-Qaeda, although 27% express no opinion.

Most hold a positive view of American society. Seven in 10 say Americans can get ahead through hard work, a higher proportion than the public as a whole.

The survey shows that 47% of Muslims consider themselves Muslim first and Americans second. Previous Pew surveys show that 42% of Christians identify with their religion before their country. Among white evangelicals, 62% say they identify themselves first as Christians.

The U.S. Muslim population is one of the world’s most diverse. The nearly two-thirds who are immigrants came from 68 countries.

The poll found that African Americans are the most disillusioned segment of the Muslim American population, a possible reflection of their economic conditions and experience with racial discrimination.

The poll has a margin of error of +/-5 percentage points.

The survey “clearly shows that the American Muslim community is well integrated in our society,” says Ibrahim Hooper, communications director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights and advocacy group in Washington, D.C. “The overwhelming majority of American Muslims reject terrorism and religious extremism.”

Source: USA Today

Keeping America Clean! – Good Job

Posted in News, Social on April 5, 2008 by Arabilluminist
**Personal thoughts to be added soon..**
From my university e-mail box:
“All sorts of names have been changed”
Letter# 1
————————-
From: Chief of Police
Sent: Wed 02/04/2008 03:23 PM
Subject: Crime Alert – Suspicious Person

At approx. 1:45 PM today, Wednesday, 4-2-08, a female student reported that she was approached by an unknown Middle Eastern male on Salem St. in the vicinity of the Salem St. apartments at approx. 1:20 PM. He tried to engage her in conversation, talking first about religion and Darwin’s theory of Evolution, and then made several sexually explicit remarks giving the student the impression that he was attempting to solicit sexual favors.
The subject, who was last seen walking east on Salem St., is further described as being approx. 30 years old, dark complexion, mustache, thick Middle Eastern accent, wearing a tan sweater, dress pants and was carrying a camera. He also mentioned that he had a sister who lived in an apartment in nearby.

Anyone with information concerning this subject is asked to call the University Police Dept. at 555-4202

Chief of Police
————————-

Letter #2
————————-
From: Chief of Police
Sent: Thu 03/04/2008 03:41 PM
Subject: Update to Suspicious Person Crime Alert issued on 4-2-08

The suspicious person described as a Middle Eastern male, approx. 30 years of age, in the Crime Alert issued on 4-2-08 has been identified and issued a Trespass notice banning him from campus. If he returns to campus he is subject to on-sight arrest for Criminal Trespass in the First Degree.
Since no criminal charges have been filed we cannot release his identity and photograph at this time. He is scheduled to return to his native Pakistan on Friday, 4-11-08, and it is not believed that he poses any further threat to the University Community.

Chief of Police
————————-

**Personal thoughts to be added soon..**

موضي و البودي جارد

Posted in Only in Saudi Arabia, بالعربي on April 2, 2008 by Arabilluminist
بعد أن قامت موضي بتجربتيها المثيرتين بركوبها (سيكل) في شارع التخصصي، وقيادتها سيارتها في طريق الملك عبدالله بمدينة الرياض، اشتهر أمرها، وأصبحت مدار حديث المجالس، ومادة خصبة لنقاشات الشباب في الاستراحات والمقاهي، وسيارتها أصبحت معروفة، وبدأ تبادل الرسائل في الجوالات على هذا النحو. هاه… ما طلعت موضي اليوم…؟؟ ولذلك ما إن برزت سيارتها كالـ(عفريت) في طريق الملك فهد بعد مغرب يوم الخميس حتى لفتت الأنظار، وحصل الهرج والمرج، وبدأ ارتباك السير.
كانت تسير باتجاه الجنوب، وعبرت نفق العروبة، ثم أخذت طريق الخدمة، وعندما وصلت شارع التحلية انحرفت ناحية الشرق، وزاد ارتباك السير، وكان الشباب قد بدؤوا يتبعونها، ولاحظوا أن هناك رجلاً يجلس في المرتبة الخلفية أسمر اللون مفتول الساعدين يلبس قميصاً ضيقاً يكشف عن أعلى صدره، ويغطي رأسه بـ(هات) رياضية، وشعر جميع الذين حولها بالذهول… تسوق السيارة ومعها رجل في المرتبة الخلفية بهذا الشكل…؟؟!!… ماذا يكون… ومن يكون…؟؟ وكثرت الأسئلة… واستقر الأمر على أن هذا الذي معها هو (بودي جارد) لحمايتها.
حين أصبحت موضي بمحاذاة مقهى المساء كان رواد المقهى قد علموا بكل شيء… فخرجوا يتفرجون على المشهد المثير… وحينئذ كانت رسائل الجوال كالعادة عندما يحدث أمر جلل قد تكاثرت مثل الوباء… الحقوا… الحقوا… موضي تقود سيارتها في شارع التحلية ومعها الـ(بودي جارد) وارتبك السير بعد قليل، وبدأ توافد الشباب وعشاق الإثارة من كل مكان… وحين عبرت موضي شارع العليا بطريقة الزحف البطيء كانت الحركة قد توقفت أو أوشكت على ذلك… ونزل كثير من الشباب من سياراتهم بحجة محاولة تنظيم السير، وأحاطوا بسيارة موضي، وبدؤوا يتفحصون ذلك الـ(بودي جارد) ويطلقون التعليقات العجيبة… وتعددت الاجتهادات… واستمرت رسائل الجوال… قالوا إن الـ(بودي جارد) معه (شوم) غليظة… وقالوا معه عصا كهربائية… وقالوا… وقالوا… ونشطت وكالة (يقولون) على نطاق واسع.
وجاءت أجهزة الأمن… وطلبت من موضي العبور لطريق الخدمة والوقوف… فلم تجبهم… وبقيت في السيارة المغلقة الأبواب والشبابيك… وتحرك موكب موضي ببطء بعد تفريق الشباب… فسارت موضي وسار الموكب خلفها… وأصبحت المشكلة في غاية الصعوبة… وحاولت أجهزة الأمن إجبار موضي على الاتجاه نحو طريق الخدمة عن طريق اعتراض سيارتها ولكن موضي لم تستجب، بل توقفت، وبقيت في سيارتها، فاقترب منها رجال الأمن… وفتحت موضي زجاج نافذتها… فبدأ رجال الأمن يهزون أياديهم في وجهها بعنف وغضب شديد، وقالوا بصوت واحد… هل أنت معتوهة… ثم قال أحدهم… يالله انزلي بسرعة… قالت موضي… لست معتوهة… ولن أنزل… لماذا أنزل…؟! فقال رجل الأمن… وهذا الذي معك من يكون…؟ قالت… ما لكم دخل… فنظر رجل الأمن إلى زملائه وقال… أكبر معتوهة… ما كفاها قيادة السيارة… لا… ومعها رجال أجنبي… فقال أحد زملائه… والله شيء عجيب… لا… أكيد ما هي صاحية… يا الله خلّونا نتصل بهيئة الأمر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكر تشوف صرفه معها.
أشارت موضي لبعض السيارات التي بها نساء وقالت… شوفوا… هذي سيارات مثل سيارتي… كل سيارة فيها رجال أجنبي وحرمة سعودية… أنا مثلهم… أنا حرمة سعودية واللي معي رجال أجنبي… وش الفرق…؟؟ ونظر رجال الأمن لبعضهم البعض وهم في غاية الذهول… وقال أحدهم… صحيح إنك خبلة… هذه السيارات بها سواقين… وأنت وضعك مختلف… أنت تسوقين السيارة وهذا ممنوع… ومعك رجال أجنبي… يعني غير محرم… وفي خلوة غير شرعية.
وحينئذ فتحت موضي الباب ونزلت… وفتحت الباب الخلفي لسيارتها حيث يجلس ذلك الرجل الذي معها… فصاح أحد رجال الأمن… هذي مخّها مفوّت… لا… وتفتح الباب للـ(بودي جارد) حقها… إلا… صحيح… وش يصير هو… هو (بودي جارد)…؟؟ وأكملت موضي فتح الباب وهي تقول… انزل يا كومار… فنظر رجال الأمن لبعضهم وقال أحدهم… كومار…!!؟؟ وش كومار…؟؟!! شوفوا لا يكون معه عصا والا سلاح.
نزل كومار وهو يرتعد من الخوف ويقول لرجال الأمن… أنا مسكين… أنا قالت لي اركب ورا… وركبت أنا ما أعرف… أنا درايفر… أنا مسكين… ونظر رجال الأمن لبعضهم مذهولين وكل منهم يقول للآخر… درايفر… معقول…؟؟ وش الحكاية… فقالت موضي على الفور… نعم… هذا هو السوَّاق حقي… يعني أنا مثل هالحريم اللي في السيارات اللي قدامكم… حرمة ورجال أجنبي… الفرق بس في القيادة… أنتم تقولون إن منع المرأة من القيادة لأنها لا تستطيع التصرف لو حصل عطل طارئ في السيارة… وأنتم تقولون إن الغرض من السوَّاق حماية المرأة… طيب… السوَّاق معي علشان يتصرف إذا حصل عطل في السيارة… وعلشان يحميني من المعاكسات… طيب… وش تبون غير هذا…؟؟ أنا معي رخصة دولية… وأسرتي موافقة على أني أقود السيارة… وش تبون بعد…؟؟!! ليش تمنعوني من قيادة السيارة… وش الفرق إذا كان قدام ولا ورا… مهو قصدكم أنه يكون موجود…؟ طيب هو موجود الآن… وش الفرق إني أسوق ولا يسوق هو…؟ بالله قولوا لي وش الفرق…؟؟
كان رجال الأمن قد فتحوا أفواههم من فرط الدهشة والذهول… وكاد أحدهم ينفجر من الضحك وهو يشير للرجل ويقول… هذا سوّاقها…؟! أي والله حالة عجيبة… بس وش نقول لها المعتوهة الآن…؟؟ قالت موضي… أنا لست معتوهة… أنا في سيارتي ومعي سوَّاقي… وكل الشروط متوفرة… وما تعديت على أحد… ولا حتى أخطيت على أحد… ولا تعرضت لأحد… ليه تعَرَّضون لي الآن…؟؟
وحار رجال الأمن في هذه الحالة (العويصة) وقال أحدهم… وش نقول الآن لها المجنونة…؟؟ ثم قال آخر مخاطباً موضي… أنت ممنوعة من السياقة وبس… ولا تطولينها… أنت ممنوعة من السياقة….لحالك…. والا معك سواق… كله سوا….لا… إذا كان معك سواق بها الشكل فالمسألة أسوأ… قالت موضي… ليه…؟؟ قال… من غير ليه.
نظرت موضي لسواقها… وقالت… يالله يا كومار… اركب وسق… فركب كومار في المرتبة الأمامية وركبت هي مكانه في المرتبة الخلفية… ثم نظرت لرجال الأمن وقالت… طيب… هالحين خلاص… انحلت العقدة…بالله قولوا لي وش الفرق…؟؟ ثم أجابت وقالت… أنا أقول لكم وش الفرق… أنا أسوق أحسن من كومار… وأتكلم عربي أحسن منه… وأعرف الشوارع والمنعطفات وهو ما يعرفها… وأعرف التقاليد والعادات وهو ما يعرفها… وأقدر أتفاهم مع الناس وهو ما يقدر… وأنا أحرص منه على نفسي… وعلى مصلحتي… وعلى مصلحة البلد… هالحين لما ساق أصبحت المسألة عادية… وإذا سقت أنا تقوم القيامة… بالله ليش…؟؟ أنا بصراحة مانيب فاهمة… يا ناس فهموني… خلاص ما بقى إلا ناخذ طيارات… والله عجيبة… إذا قدت الطيارة يكون ما فيه مشكلة… وإذا قدت السيارة يكون فيه مشكلة… أكيد فيه حاجة غلط… يا إخوان حالتكم هذي غلط في غلط… مع السلامة

“Radical Islam”-It’s Getting Boring!

Posted in Arabilluminist Gossip, Middle East on April 1, 2008 by Arabilluminist

Original post by Bebichan

I am getting tired of hearing about “a new movie condemning Islam”… “Islamic nations respond with death threats and a fatwa against “…””

Once again, we are faced with a new critic of Islam…Geert Wilders.
Wilders is a member of the “Party of Freedom” in the Netherlands and is known for his backwards mentality opposing any form of immigration from non western countries, and opposition to Multi-cultured society (especially when those cultures are from “non western” parts of the world). Fitna (which is an Arabic word referring to schism) is the latest Anti-Islam movie which he released on the 29th of March.

Islamic criticism is becoming a somewhat repetitive topic which holds no facts, and no reality to what the Islamic religion really is…and I’m sure the “real Muslims” are tired of defending their religion, and arguing with the masses of ignorant, misinformed beings.

Figures like Geert Wilders fail to impress me in their so called skills of criticism, using radical figures that are obviously psychopaths and have no relation to the religion itself as their examples of what Islam truly is. One can only sit back and laugh at the completely absurd claims they make.

One of the major things Geert Wilders speaks about is his belief that there is no such thing as a moderate Muslim, that this is in no way achievable.
However there is no such thing as “radical” “extreme” or “fundamental” Islam either.
There has been a growing use of the phrase “Radical Islam”… in actual fact radicalism and Islam has no correlation. There is no such thing as “extremists” in religion…its either religious or it’s not, and when it gets to what’s described as “extreme” it is no longer religion.
It’s time and time again that Muslims have to keep proving that violence, killing and suicide bombing have nothing to do with Islamic teachings and in fact are one of the three fundamental sins of Islam (suicide in any case, violence towards others and murder).
Suicide bombing derives from a psycho-mentality that we have seen in many groups, Buddhism being one of those…it does not originate from Islam.
People who condone things like this “Killing in the Name of God” are not Muslims, but rather brain washed psycho’s.

It can be agreed that there is a growth in hate amongst what’s known as the “Islamic Nations” but this is entirely for political reasons, and whilst you have insane so called Islamic leaders preaching violence and hate, one must not continue to make the mistake that they represent of Islam. It’s not just Muslims in these regions which hold tensions toward the west.
Using terrorists and radical psychotic figures as the face of Islam is much like using the KKK as the face of white people, and claiming that the KKK’s white supremacist ideologies are the ideologies of the entire White race.
This is an absolutely inaccurate suggestion, which is far too general to be realistic.

When I witness people who have not read any Islamic scripts (such as the Qur’an for Islam) in their original language (Arabic in this case), arguing and claiming that Islam is a religion of violence and not peace, hatred and not love… it becomes annoying to try and explain to them that their argument is of no significance.
Practising Muslims, strive to read and understand the Qur’an in its original script in order to gain the real meaning of it, while Islamic critics read a void translation of separated verses taken out of context and use these as evidence against Islam.
You can’t read one paragraph of a book and generate an entire synopsis on the book.

I’ll give you an example of what is being done to Islamic texts today in order to give a negative interpretation of text by taking one sentence from my above paragraph:

“Islam is a religion of violence and not peace, hatred and not love”

Without reading the sentences before and after this, we have an unfinished sentence with no back up and no explanation. For someone who is reading that on it’s own it appears as if I am attacking Islam, while in actual fact in that paragraph I am trying to point out that these are ignorant claims.

When a verse or line in the Qur’an is quoted, and used as proof of all the negative claims against Islam, I have to stick by the argument that this is absolutely foolish.

We know for sure that there is a massive tension between the West and the Middle East, and as I have stated before, this is entirely generated because of Political tensions and has nothing to do with people being Muslims.
I mean let us not forget that 9/11 caused the invasion of two countries… and a few thousand deaths of innocent civilians… led to approximately 1.7million innocent civilian deaths.
Continual western intervention has led to the fall of Iraq, the creation of a massive insurgency which some people seem to forget was started by the mistakes of a Paul Bremer (an American official working under Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush)…who thought it a good idea to disband the entire Iraqi army (which numbered to around 700,000 people), fire all Ba’ath members in Parliament, ministries, and schools (also known as the de-ba’thification of Iraq)…
Lest we forget that the reason the Bush administration claims it decided to go to war was to remove Saddam from power and enforce democracy in Iraq…despite previous American Administrations funding Saddam, helping him to gain power and helping him to carry out atrocities against Iraqi’s.

Afghanistan which was immediately invaded post 9/11 because of links to the terrorist attacks, got in the state it was before 9/11 under a Taliban regime, after America helped to train the Taliban and get them into power in Afghanistan…so there’s two terrorist organisations America has funded or trained.

See every time the west has involved itself with Middle East it has caused nothing but trouble and more atrocities…which stirs only more hatred amongst the people, not because they’re Muslims, but because of the continuous crap they go through at the hands of western governments.
This has nothing to do with radical Islam, but it has everything to do with hate growing amongst people after decades of wars, invasions and being appointed terrorist or dictatorial leaderships by the west.

This is why I’m tired of “radical Islam” crap, “Islam is a religion of hate” bullshit, critics trying to attack a religion without looking beyond it and seeing what actually causes this mass hatred amongst people. It’s simply baseless, poorly formed arguments and I’m tired of it.

Religions should have absolutely nothing to do with politics and people continuously linking the two just causes more and more problems.