Islam

I usually don't bother replying to this crap but I've had a rough few days and I didn't feel like offering the other cheek, bent over or otherwise.

Still, I thought I was pretty polite. Click on the thumbnail to embiggen.

That was polite, right?

The Psyche of a gay Muslim By Bashir Al-hamim for my friend

I first saw him and was struck by his soulful eyes, he a round melancholy face
He wore an 80’s porn star style moustache back in the 50’s
He was the silent type never talking always observing the world
He was a fierce man of passion; we loved but never committed the act of love with me
He was afraid he’d burn in hell for being true to himself
He was drinking Coco in Paris when I first saw him, ahh those round brown lips
I think back to that moment and repeat to myself on how beautiful he was
Once a year for forty years we met in this small musty smelling café and loved
He was a poet of sorts a fellow truly never at home in this world
For years we always stayed in a damp cold hotel, for years I begged him to hold me for years he refused, but he did love me thou he never spoke the words
When we first met he was a chain smoking fool with suicidal thoughts

I feel a sense of frustration and like a failure because everything that has happened over the course of my marriage. (I start to cry as I right this) I feel like a batter in World Series that has struck-out for the final time with two teammate on base and two outs. I went into marriage ill prepared for the true difficulties that arises and how to handle them. In my marriage their were so many demons that rose from two broken childhoods; my wife and I battled the buried ghost of abused and neglected children which took their adult form in us. I suppose I didn’t truly have a great example in my own father who many years was a great dad then who turned into a drug user and deadbeat in time I became him in my own way. Thou I did gain a great father figure in the form of an uncle who I love and call “pops”, he’s the father I hope to be! I could just copout and blame a broken childhood for everything but I am a big believer in personal responsibility for ones actions.

Let's party like it's 1431! Because it, you know, is.
What's with the no celebration of the new year thing? I've always wondered about that. The eidayn are great, really, but they lack the frivolity one needs to really have a good time. With the obligations, the recommended sunan, etc it's definitely more rite than party. And everyone needs a good party.

With the eidayn, one must rise and get all gussied up early in the morning. I don't know about you, but if I must be presentable before seven, I'm out cold by noon. Not exactly conducive to hitting the party circuit. And the whole eating sweets, making sure you've paid zakat-ul fitr, and mapping out different routes to and from the eidgah? I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but the only thing I want to map out for a party is the shortest route to the dance floor. And before you ask, Schenectady does dance with his mama.

As an American Muslim I celebrate national holidays thanksgiving, Veterans Day, and secular Christmas. I was wondering when the opportunity arises how should I spend and introduce it to my son? (I’d like some suggestions) I was raised in a spiritual Christian family; where we celebrated both the religious and secular xmas. What I have in mind is teaching him about the greater Christmas spirit of giving unto others and volunteering. I also want to introduce him to the Christmas meal, picking a tree and decorating it, the gathering of family, gift giving. I’d tech the Quranic version of the Isha story while teaching him to respect the differences between the verious traditons. Is there anyway to put an Islamic spend on xmas?

As-salaamu alaykum

I had completely forgotten I use to post here. My life on the Net waned and died, focusing on little else but Second Life. It was a demise reflecting the fact I was suffering from severe Vitamin D defficiency, unbeknown to me, for which I was self-medicating with codeine, until I eventually became addicted. Last Summer, I went cold turkey, had lots of tests, got a medical diagnosis (instead of being dismissed as a looney), plus we finally got help looking after my disabled son. Nine months on, and I am beginning to feel human again. The world is drifting back into focus.

The book

From the back cover of “Mother of the Believers: A Novel of the Birth of Islam”

Deep in the heart of seventh-century Arabia, a new prophet named Muhammad has arisen. As his message of enlightenment sweeps through Arabia and unifies the warring tribes, his young wife Aisha recounts Muhammad’s astonishing transformation from prophet to warrior to statesman. But just after the moment of her husband’s greatest triumph – the conquest of the holy city of Mecca – Muhammad falls ill and dies in Aisha’s arms. A young widow, Aisha finds herself at the center of the new Muslim empire and becomes by turns a teacher, political leader, and warrior.

Novelized Islam

By his own admission, Kamran Pasha thinks this book is going to be controversial. “I have no doubt,” he writes in a recent article, “That the book WILL generate controversy and create a passionate debate among both Muslims and non-Muslims, as there are aspects of my novel that will offend people in both communities.”

Promoted to the front page

I get home to my apartment, turn on my computer, check my e-mail, and see that I have a comment on one of my Facebook pictures. I look at the comment, and it says the following:

إنشاء الله تهترئ بنار جهنم يا شاذ
you don't have the right to talk about islam. not ever! read about 'قوم لوط'.

Now, before I even saw the message, I knew it was gonna be some homophobic stuff because I've gotten messages like this from this guy before. Who, for some odd reason, friended me on Facebook...and one day left a message on my wall that said "homo" and nothing else. Incidentally, this guy is also friends with two other (gay) FB friends of mine.

I suppose Dr. Ann Holmes Redding is just trying to play it safe, faith-wise. She's been an Episcopalian priest for 30 years, but for the last three, she's also been Muslim:

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/04/02/muslim.minister.defrocked/index.htm...

" Redding said she does not want her belief in two religions to diminish the value she holds for both Christianity and Islam. Each faith by itself is enough to fulfill a person spiritually, she said.

"It's all there. I am not saying you have to go somewhere else to be complete. Some people don't need glasses, some people need single lenses. I need bifocals."

I'm of the mind that she'd probably be happier with the UU or Universal Sufism, or some other funky blend of faiths, rather than trying to force orthodox Christians or Muslims to accept syncretism. She'd be welcome at my imaginary mosque, but then again, so would just about everyone short of Fred Phelps.

On this essay…

Over the last couple of weeks or so, I’ve seen a ton of comments hit the site about Ismailism - far more than on just about any topic I’ve ever seen. I’ve watched with some amusement and some bemusement as snark, agitprop, polemic and vitriol seemed to mingle in equal parts with reasoned debate, common sense, rational inquiry and honest questions.

There are more than a hundred comments on the initial blog posting about Ismailism by the user named ‘Haris’ and I’ll honestly admit I’ve not read each one in detail. So, in all honesty, this particular blog entry of mine may not be a full and complete summation of every argument made in that comment chain. It’s not intended to, either. It is, however, intended to make a few points about my faith that are as much about self-examination as they are about my thoughts on the legitimacy of any sect within Islam and the legitimacy of the followers of that sect as Muslims.