Ali Eteraz

While I walk and a vixen towards me wanders or veers, sharply, in my direction, I shrug and I turn laughing at her defection. But being Muslim I must worship, woman’s visage, her divine perfection, so askance I cast my eyes towards the window where, I happily spy her lovely reflection.

If sweet water flows in all the rivers, from where does the ocean take its salt except from our tears.

Check out why the Gulf is an ideal Islamic place to live.

Does this link work for yall? If so, you can read his book on the website where its (still) available. Here is my live blog of his book launch.

I reviewed Asma Afsaruddin’s book, The First Muslims, which is about the first generations of Muslims — usually called the salaf as-salih — for Guardian. Its an interesting book because it evaluates whether the Islamists or modernists are the “true” salafis.

Check it out.

Obviously we know that the Quran doesn’t mandate any earthly punishment for apostasy. However, I was talking to a friend and she suggested that you can also offer the following verse as evidence that rejection of Islam isn’t a big deal.

“(O Prophet) proclaim: ‘This is the Truth from your Lord. Now let him who will, believe in it, and him who will, deny it.’” (18:29)

ps - if someone has a little bit of time, can they use the search feature of this blog and link all the posts I’ve ever made against the death penalty for apostasy?

LOL. I thought this diss — at the end of a post that mentions my Hijabi sisters piece — was pretty hilarious:

For anyone who wants to take my abaya or rip off my headscarf, y’all can get out of my face. Yes, I will be courteous and act as if I didn’t hear what you said, but know this: In my heart there is a flame that burns 24/7. You thought you could put it out, but this flame can only be extinguished by One. While you are spreading hatred and violence against my sisters, a different kind of Flame is being prepared for you.

I love how we Muslims are so in touch with God that we know who’s going where in the after-life. Here, though, its done subtly: “a different kind of flame.” Almost makes hell sound like a romantic dinner candle. By the way, if you capitalize flame, aren’t you implying that hell is co-extensive with God at least in a durational manner? I’m almost certain the kalam nerds have had this debate at some point.

Someone tell this sister no one wants to rip anything off of her. Even most people who do not consider hijab fard — as I do not — consider it part of religious liberty and tolerance to protect other’s right to freedom of religion. I may not agree with your decision to wear scarf but I’ll defend your right to wear it. My mother wore hijab. I wasn’t sitting there ripping it off of her. Actually, I was flipping off the assholes that looked at her funny.

People seriously need to stop getting brainwashed by the fire and brimstones brothers. At the least because it leads to the making of bad metaphors.

Different kind of flame. I’m still laughing. By the way, what in the world is a “native Muslimah revert.” First of all, the whole revert thing is idiotic. Second of all, that’s just a really confusing phrase. Anyway, she sounds like a nice sister and I have nothing against her, even if she has consigned me to the Flame.

Well written and cogent articulation of a very simple thought: let the state engage in civil unions, leave marriages to religions. Its an idea I’ve mentioned here before but I like this post because its clearly written. I have a tendency to appreciate clear writing. I think you will too.

(We’ll forgive Ali Rizvi that he doesn’t have me on his recommended links).

Man, I was so disappointed to see the Suns and then the Hornets get knocked out of the playoffs because those teams are actually interesting to watch, and likable. The only people who like the lakers are desiderata from the 80’s and washed out celebs and as the article I’m about to link points out, not only are the Spurs the nastiest sportsmen, no one likes them. Just like this guy, I was really disappointed when the Hornets, and Cp3 got bumped, because they actually make playing basketball enjoyable.

Stupid Spurs. Stupid Lakers. He’s right. It’s a lesser of two evils situation. I’m tired of that option. Why can’t it ever be, greater of two goods?

I no longer have time to baby stupidity so there’s going to be a strict new comments policy in place.

If you violate the reasonable person standard — i.e. you do not seem like a reasonable person to me — you get one warning from me — which will be in the form of “this is your first warning.” I will include a link to this post in my warning.

If you do not desist, you are best off remembering the great 90’s one hit sensation, Onyx.

Slam! (Let the boys be boys).

IP block.

If you need a visual analogy to how it feels to get IP blocked, check out this flying penis getting smashed.

There is a new community blog related to immigration matters, called The Sanctuary. It considers itself a “pro-migrant” space.

Welcome to “The Sanctuary,” a new on-line community where human-rights, civil-rights, and progressive activists will be discussing issues of concern for all those interested in humane and practical immigration reform, migrant-rights, human-rights, and the greater struggle of all who those have left friends and family behind to start new lives in new lands.

The Sanctuary is an effort to create a virtual community to share information, organize, engage in activism, and come together under one roof to unite in our efforts to effect change

h/t Booman

This chart is pretty revealing in that Obama has won 3 out of the 5 and 6 out of the 10 “whitest” states. If you include hispanics whites, then Obama has won 8 out of those 10.

Yet apparently according to the media white people won’t vote for him.

According to Gallup he’s also pulled ahead of Clinton in support from women voters.

Has come from Clinton, I argue at Huffington Post. Albeit unintentionally.

A: Why do you push your dog around in a stroller?

B: The stroller wasn’t for the dog.

This is amazing. The baby buffalo gets attacked by the lions…and then see what happens.

Plug your blogs and blog posts or share interesting news

According to Christianity, the meek (Mathew 5:5).

There is in the Quran a similar answer:

God has promised those among you who believe and perform righteous deeds to inherit the earth…

Quran 24:55

I suppose my question is, is the idea of the “meek” in Christianity connected to one’s beliefs as a Christian? Or is meekness a universal phenomenon? I suspect that early Christians thought that only Christians could be meek but today’s Christians no longer think like that. How does the existence of the phrase “you who believe” in the Quranic version of this idea prevent it from becoming universalized.

Islamic Creationists and all those desperate to locate the marvels of modern science in the Quran would be well advised to heed the words of al-Biruni (973 - 1048), an anti Mu’tazilite Asharite. Here is what he had to say:

“The Quran does not interfere in the business of science nor does it infringe on the realm of science.” [Encyclopedia of Quran].

Wiki says al-Biruni was Sunni on the basis of Ziauddin Sardar, but Britannica says al-Biruni was Shia. It doesn’t really matter, just noting the difference of opinion.

In his works on astronomy he discussed with approval al-Sijzi’s idea of the Earth’s rotation on its axis.

Isn’t al-Biruni’s idea a form of fideism? If so, Muslamists must rejoice, as they can now take credit for Muslims inventing something else.

Muslim sisters, stay home and get pregnant, advise Muslim hip-hoppers Outlandish.

Yeah!
My moms chose my wife
Got it all arranged
I love my mommy cuz she takes care of everything
Without her everyday journey to and from the well
There wouldn’t be no water whole village would be looking hell
Enough bragging she got me a pretty girl
You don’t need to work
Just help my moms in the kitchen world
And every second year we’ll make a baby or baby twins
Don’t worry girl ya know my mom’s gon’ baby-sit
Never depend on me, it depends on my family
That’s how we do it’s gangsta, how it always be

Oh yeah — gangsta be when life is a 1950’s TV sitcom. I wonder if it be gangsta when mommy comes and changes your diaper too?

Anyway, I don’t really think they are trying to be socially conservative. I’ve heard some of their earlier and older songs. I think they’re playing off on all the stereotypes about Muslims and making them acceptable. Sometimes its funny, like when they say: “I don’t pimp ho’s, I pimp sheep.”

But sometimes, the same tactic with the section above, its just stupid. Its also pandering to the stupid side of their audience — then again they are entertainers and not intellectuals or activists. Artists should innovate and stimulate, not pander. This is not a Muslim problem though: mainstream hip-hop panders to the stupid as well.

I think Outlandish will be in US soon. Check them out. Most of their stuff is good.

Koffler at Jewcy:

Dr. Ron Paul earned the nickname “Dr. No” by voting against any and all federal appropriations that came before the House of Representatives, but it seems that Paul is equally adamantly opposed to purely symbolic governmental interventions. Nick Curran of Radar reports that Paul was the only member of the House to vote against a resolution sending condolences to the Burmese victims of Cyclone Nargis. Which is literally the least the US government could possibly do, but too much for Paul.

Ha, the Radar headline is hilarious: Ron Paul Against Unconditional Myanamar Love.

How’s it looking Muslims for Ron Paul? Oh right, you can’t answer me, you are too busy moulding a toilet from river clay in West Texas. (Make a bidet, or at least a lota, while you’re at it eh).

Ok fine I realize I’m doing straw-man stuff with this Ron Paul business. I’ll stop soon, especially as I’ll take a RP Muslim over a Neo-Con anyday. I may even do a slightly favorable post towards Ron Paul (seriously) due to his civil libertarian views.