Discuss Islam

Allison Carey, The Plain DealerBoody Qur’an draws fashion inspiration from greats like the late Alexander McQueen.

Boody Qur’an, 25, Lakewood

‘Jack of all trades’ at Dolce Wraps Rotisserie Grill restaurant at Westgate, Fairview Park.

So you’ve been here for three years. Where did you move here from?

I was born in Jerusalem. It is holy and beautiful, but there is too much war among the religions and among the nationalities. I was there for 19 years, and then I went to Italy. from Italy, I was in the Middle East, then I came here. my story is featured in a documentary called “City of Borders.”

Tell me about Italy. It sounds like a brave move to make on your own.

I wanted to go to Europe because it’s beautiful and fashionable. I worked as a translator for Dolce & Gabbana; I speak four languages. I also modeled, but it was too stressful there. my pictures appeared in magazines in Milan and Rome. It was cool. Then I traveled to Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. I recorded music; I love the arts. In Jordan, I worked for a famous chain of luxury hair salons called Pace e Luce. after five years of travel, I came here to be with my family. I love America! Americans are sweet people; they don’t judge. I got lost on my way here today. three people happily helped me. In Europe, no one would help.

When did fashion become one of your interests?

I have loved fashion all of my life. When I was 6, my mother gave me sketchbooks. I drew pictures of clothing; I wanted to be a fashion designer. I could wear whatever I liked behind the doors of my house, but when I went to school I had to adapt, be like everyone else, not stand out. my mom is my angel. she is down to earth and so supportive of me. that is what’s important.

It seems that the way you dress has been a theme in your life.

The way you dress shows what you’re feeling inside. I had to dress like everyone else in school, but now I can’t be like everyone else — I have to be me. my clothes express who I am. I do my own thing.

Allison Carey, The Plain DealerBoody Qur’an was born in Jerusalem and says he likes how free he feels to make a statement with style here in United States.

I first met you at Dolce Wraps. how do you always look so put together when you work so hard?

I love cooking; I love making people the [Middle Eastern] food. I know the food so well, and I know how people like it. we try to keep it a calm, no-stress place. I am used to the heat, so I don’t ruin my clothes sweating all day. I have certain clothes for work; I keep them clean and neat. They’re fashionable, too.

I love your outfit. You make a great statement with an interesting mix of fabric, layers, and the shoes, and your accessories are fabulous.

I love jeans from the ’90s. they have a little higher waist with skinny ankles but are loose in the leg. They’re coming back. I bought the jacket in Italy; it was worth the money because I still love it. The boots are from Aldo at the mall. they were about $100. I collect boots. I like to rework everything. I make accessories; I take things apart and put them with other things. nothing that I’m wearing came this way. my T-shirt is from American Eagle. Big stripes and bold colors are really in. I love hats. I shave my head; it’s so easy. I made the white wrap bracelet, and I carry this bag everywhere.

Where do you like to shop?

Aldo has great shoes and accessories. for clothes, my favorite is H&M. It’s affordable, and they have good designs. I always check the sale section. I don’t like to spend a lot because styles change quickly. I don’t like high retail prices. Hot Topic has fun stuff, I like Express, and Hugo Boss has great quality and it’s made right here! I shop online; I like eBay. Target has great hats. I look at designer sites to see what’s going on in fashion. I watch people to see how they put things together. I pick up the free magazines at H&M and Express to keep up with everything.

How do you describe your style?

When it comes to fashion, I think you have to be fierce, be yourself! You have to show what you feel inside. I like to be comfortable, but I will put fashion before comfort. I like to take a risk, but I’m more mature, not as rebellious as I used to be. I like a simpler life now.

You must have some fashion icons — who are they?

Alexander McQueen was so awesome. Versace, Dolce & Gabbana. I look at Zuhair Murad and Elie Saab. These are all geniuses in fashion. I like to go to their websites . . . I like to see the thoughts of the designers in the finished products.

Since you are fashionably fierce, do you stick to any rules?

Yes, don’t wear a belt and shoes that don’t work together. I like a simple look that makes a statement. Fashion lets you make any kind of statement you want, but I like small amounts of colors and well-fitted clothes. I like a classy look, but one that is a little unusual. I am freer here in America to make a statement. Glasses and watches fascinate me. I wear lots of looks by changing my accessories.

You have a good eye. have you considered being a stylist?

Eventually I would like to work in fashion and clothes. I would like to dress mannequins, put outfits together. I miss being around more people who are like me. at Dolce & Gabbana, everyone lived for fashion, all day long. I miss that. It’s hard here to hang out with really fashionable people, because I don’t go to bars or clubs. I live every day to help people. I work against bullying. I worked with Dare2Care [Unite against Bullying]. That’s where you meet great people, the people who help people.

Those people are the best people!

Shah Marai / AFP – Getty Images

Afghans shout anti-American slogans during a protest in Kabul on Thursday.

By NBC News, msnbc.com staff and news services

Updated at 9:50 a.m. ET: KABUL, Afghanistan – President Barack Obama has written a letter to his Afghan counterpart apologizing for the burning of copies of the Quran at a NATO military base in the country. Two U.S. soldiers were also shot dead Thursday at a protest about the desecration of the holy books.

A man wearing an Afghan government soldier’s uniform killed the American troops and wounded four others at the demonstration in Nangarhar province, officials told NBC News.

There have been violent protests daily since it emerged on Tuesday that Qurans used by detainees held at the Bagram military base had been burned. The incident has become a public relations disaster for foreign forces in Afghanistan.

A statement from President Hamid Karzai’s office said the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan had delivered the letter from Obama Thursday.

Taliban to Afghans: kill foreigners over Quran burnings

In the letter, which is quoted in the statement, the U.S. president expressed his “deep regret for the reported incident” and offered his “sincere apologies.”

According to the statement, Obama wrote: “The error was inadvertent; I assure you that we will take the appropriate steps to avoid any recurrence, to include holding accountable those responsible.”

Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the National Security Council, told NBC News that Obama had “expressed our regret and apologies over the incident in which religious materials were unintentionally mishandled at Bagram air base.”

The Quran burnings at the vast Bagram base could make it even more difficult for U.S.-led NATO forces to win the hearts and minds of Afghans and bring the Taliban to the negotiating table ahead of the withdrawal of foreign combat troops by the end of 2014.

Muslims consider the Quran the literal word of God and treat each book with deep reverence. Desecration is considered one of the worst forms of blasphemy.

NBC’s Afghanistan correspondent discusses the Quran controversy

General John Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), on Tuesday offered his “sincere apologies” for the burnings. “When we learned of these actions, we immediately intervened and stopped them,” he added. “This was not intentional in any way.” 

The deadly protest in Nangarhar was one of several across the country on Thursday.

Riots triggered by the inadvertent Quran burning at a U.S. military base prompted the U.S. to lock down its embassy. NBC’s Atia Abawi reports.

According to Haji Mohammad Hassan, the deputy police of Khogayani district in Nangarhar province, American soldiers had starting firing at protesters who were attacking their base.

He said that an Afghan soldier then turned his weapon on the U.S. troops, shooting six, killing two and injuring four.

PhotoBlog: ’Death to America!’ Afghan anger over Quran burning intensifies

Hassan said the Afghan soldier escaped by joining the crowd of protesters. however, a provincial official, who asked not to be named, said the shooter had been killed after the attack.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack, NBC News reported. 

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a text message that they infiltrated the army with one of their fighters who had shot and killed the Americans. Mujahid claimed that their insurgent killed 10 Americans.

More from msnbc.com and NBC News:

The associated Press, Reuters, NBC News’ Atia Abawi, Chuck Todd and Kristen Welker contributed to this report.

Despite the fair treatment she receives at the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) detention block, Democratic Party lawmaker Angelina Sondakh feels she is facing discrimination. On Tuesday, the former beauty queen requested an electronic Koran with an electronic pen, the same two items she demanded last week.Her lawyer, Teuku Nasrullah, argued that the electronic Koran and pen “would help her recite Koranic verses because she doesn’t know how to read it [Arabic]”.Angelina is being detained for her alleged role in fraudulent budget deliberations at the House of Representatives (DPR).On Tuesday, the KPK extended her detention for another 20 days.the KPK provides Angelina with an ustadz (teacher) every Wednesday to help her recite Koranic verses. however, Nasrullah insisted that Angelina “wants to recite the Koran every night, which is why she has requested the electronic tools”.“She told KPK investigators that she has lost everything — position and [social] status. she begged to not lose Allah, Nasrullah said after visiting Angelina on Tuesday.Earlier this month, Angelina requested a canvas board and painting tools, as well as a guitar. she made the request after being in detention for only two days. the KPK has yet to grant the request she also requested surgery for an old wound on her shoulder. Nasrullah said that she wanted “to be fit when she faces trial”.A KPK doctor checked her condition right away and recommended that Angelina be treated at the Metropolitan Medical Center (MMC) last week. however, Angelina suddenly declined the treatment.Nasrullah said that Angelina wanted to be treated by her doctor at Muhammad Husni Thamrin Hospital as she did not want to start her treatment again from scratch.Only days after her arrest, Angelina was hospitalized for sinusitis after repeatedly complaining about her condition through Nasrullah. she was checked by the KPK‘s doctor and later recommended treatment at Proklamasi Otolaryngology (Perhati) Hospital.Angelina’s lawyer insisted on Tuesday that her client had never requested special treatment from the KPK, only fair and decent treatment, just like other detainees.“She felt she was being discriminated against. There are people [in jail] who are treated much more humanely,” Nasrullah said. “She is not even allowed to exercise.”The 34-year-old mother of three questioned her detention on Tuesday.“Angelina told me that she wanted to give [further] testimony right away, yet the investigators have only questioned her twice in the past 20 days,” Nasrullah said. “Is her detention really necessary?” Nasrullah said that the KPK imposed strict visiting hours for Angelina’s parents and her children, who were only allowed to visit her on Monday and Thursday.she asked that the KPK allow her son to visit her every day “for just 30 minutes”. KPK spokesman Johan Budi dismissed Angelina’s claims, saying that the KPK “has never barred her from meeting her family during official visiting hours”.Johan also said that visitors could meet Angelina on Saturday and Sunday if they got approval from the KPK.moreover, he added that the KPK cared about Angelina’s health, pointing out that the KPK’s doctor gave recommendations to her several times, saying “how can we not pay attention to her here?”Johan said that the investigators were confident that her detention was needed for their investigation into her role. He added that the KPK was still a long way from completing the case.“The effectiveness of our investigation is not determined by how many times we have examined the suspects,” Johan said. “Our investigation into her role in the case is not over as we are still questioning witnesses. we will question her further again soon.”

Tweet Print this story RTA programme for staff to improve Holy Quran reading (Staff Reporter) / 18 May 2012 DUBAI ? in a bid to maintain the UAE?s national identity, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched the ?Read and Elevate? programme to help employees become proficient in reciting, memorising and modulating (tajweed) of the Holy Quran.

The programme was started by the National Identity Team, Dubai, at the RTA as part of the ‘Good Eloquence’ initiative. the aim of the programme is to maintain the UAE’s national identity by advocating the use of Arabic language, avoid common mistakes and raise religious awareness and culture.

Dr Aysha Al Busmait, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communication, Head of the National Identity Team at the RTA Administrative Support Services Sector, said, “Preservation of our national identity is a religious, national and moral duty. As Islam is one of the most important components of our national identity, the team is prompted to embed it as a core component of its programmes, as the religious faith in human beings contributes to their advancement, development and nobility, and makes them helpful and distinguished, benefiting all people around.

The programme is overseen by a panel of Holy Quran reciting and modulation scholars, and certified by the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai.

VIDEO: FL PASTOR BURNS KORAN IN PROTEST OF IRAN JAILING CHRISTIAN.

It can be assumed that Florida Pastor Terry Jones isn’t a big fan of Islam since he publicly blasts the religion often and threatens to burn the religion’s holy book.

Earlier this year, the Pastor had issued a threat to the Iranian regime calling for the release of imprisoned former Muslim now Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani.

On Saturday, Pastor Jones made good on his promise to burn a photo of the prophet Mohammed and the holy Koran if Nadarkhani wasn’t released.

Below is a long video the church posted on YouTube showing Pastor Jones setting fire to the Koran and a Mohammed photo. Scroll ahead to the end of the video to see the holy book burned.

(THE BLAZE) – Florida Pastor Terry Jones on Saturday made good on his threat to burn the Islamic holy book, lighting a copy of the Koran on fire to protest the imprisonment of Iranian Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani.

Jones had threatened to burn the Koran and images of Muhammad back in February as a way to demand Nadarkhani’s release from prison in Iran. Nadarkhani has been jailed since 2009 following his arrest on apostasy charges for his conversion to Christianity and is reportedly facing execution.

Wearing an “Infidel” T-shirt, Jones burned a copy of the Koran and an image of Muhammad in a portable fire pit on church property late Saturday afternoon, the Gainesville Sun reported. About 20 people gathered for the event, which included speeches by Jones and another pastor calling for Nadarkhani’s release. The event was also streamed live over the Internet.

Quote via: The Blaze.

In 2008, I warned Canadian Muslims that bringing human-rights complaints against mark Steyn and other critics of militant Islam was a mistake: it was only a matter of time till the human-rights watchdogs come after the mullahs themselves.

“Like the Bible, Muslim scripture contains a lot of material that, by modern standards, would be considered sexist, homophobic or even anti-Semitic,” I wrote. “One statement attributed to Muhammad, for instance, declares that ‘Judgment day will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews, and the Muslims will kill the Jews’ … The prospect of a human rights tribunal telling you which Suras and Hadiths you are and aren’t allowed to preach in your mosques may sound ridiculous. but it’s not.”

As an example, I cited the the case of a Saskatchewan Christian named Hugh Owens, who was taken up on human-rights charges for quoting Bible passages, such as Leviticus 18:22, in his campaign against homosexuality. “If Leviticus is now hate speech,” I asked in 2008, “how long before the Koran gets the same treatment?”

And now we have our answer: about four years.

“it was recently brought to the attention of The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) that a curriculum issued by the Toronto-based East End Madrassah contains anti-semitic themes,” declared a CIJA press release on Monday morning. “In particular, the Level 8 curriculum document, which is publicly available on the Madrassah’s website, equates the beliefs of Judaism with Nazism, and claims that ‘treacherous Jews’ had ‘conspired to kill Prophet Muhammad’ … Canadians of all backgrounds would be outraged to learn that horrific conspiracy theories are included in this curriculum, including the blood libel that Jews plotted to kill Muhammad.”

Given this massive build-up, readers will expect a really epic anti-Semitic hatefest. but Jew-hatred-wise, the 160-page East End Madrassah document is a major let down.

Most notably, it doesn’t “equate” Judaism with Nazism. it merely lumps the two together (on page 71, along with “the beliefs of the ancient Romans”) as thought systems that are “restricted to a certain community or a certain race” — as opposed to Islam, which is “for all human beings.”

I agree that choosing Jews, Romans and Nazis as a three-pronged control group is weird and offensive, sounding more like the premise to a misfired three-guys-walk-into-a-bar joke than anything else. but the point is accurate from a purely technical perspective. (As anyone who has gone through the Jewish conversion process can attest, becoming an official Jew is very difficult. becoming a Muslim, on the other hand, takes seconds.)

The other CIJA charge — that the madrassah’s curriculum contains “anti-semitic themes” and “horrific conspiracy theories” — also fizzles out upon close inspection.

Yes, it’s true that the 20-page section of curriculum text extending from pages 111 to 131 contains references to various “treacherous” and “crafty” Jews, not to mention “Jewish intrigues and conspiracies.” but the very same themes can be found in the Koran and Hadiths themselves (of which this portion of the madrassah curriculum, and some of the pages that follow, is largely an abbreviated version).

Muslim religious texts say all sorts of conflicting things about Jews, but the dominant narrative surrounds those “treacherous” Jewish tribes that rejected Mohammed’s message, and took up arms against him — which resulted in their slaughter or expulsion. you can call this “anti-Semitic hate speech” if you like — but in doing so, you have to call the whole Koran “anti-Semitic hate speech.”

And where does that get you? To the same awkward place that calling the Bible “homophobic hate speech” gets you. either you tolerate an established religion and its ancient, hateful (whether to Jews or gays) texts, or you don’t. Yet many of the same folks howling about the East End Madrassah would be scandalized if the human-rights machinery of state were brought down on a Christian school for proclaiming God’s wrath against homosexuals.

Not that I am any fan of the East End Madrassah’s curriculum. but that’s mostly because of its crushing focus on ritualism. One section, for instance, teaches that when performing ceremonial washing ceremonies, men should start washing their forearms from the outer side, while women should do it from the inner side. another section sets out a prayer schedule that is so complex, the authors were required to include a full-page flowchart to explain its 34 elements. There is also a separate section on what “doubts” a person may harbor while performing prayers: “There are 22 kinds of doubts … Out of these, seven doubts are those which invalidate the prayers, and six are those which should be ignored. And the remaining nine doubts are valid doubts.”

Of course, all established religions contain this sort of eye-glazing legalese (just ask any religious Jew to recite the rules about what is or is not Kosher, or what can or cannot be done on Shabbat). The question is whether the schools that teach this material are also teaching the material that students actually need to get along and integrate in a Western country such as Canada.

As the example of Pakistan shows, radicalism and ignorance blossom when children are taught nothing more than the memorization of religious texts and rituals. That is one of the reasons why India is crushing its Muslim neighbour economically; and also why the term “madrassah” has a bad odor about it here in the West, despite the fact that Muslim schools in our part of the world generally do not resemble their fundamentalist Pakistani counterparts.

Islam’s traditionally negative take on Jews is troubling, but not nearly so much as a school system in which children can recite the Koran by heart, but can’t add or read. That’s the main issue we should be examining in regard to the East End Madrassah, and all the other Canadian Muslim schools besides.

By Aneela Shahzad | PKKH Exclusive

Tolerance is a handy word, it is a sophisticated way of saying ‘let everyone do wrong, just shut your eyes and bolt your ears, if you don’t like what’s going on around you’.

Has the west not spent the last two centuries or more boosting upon the world how it is culturally elevated, verbally sophisticated and civilized to such degrees that it is rendered imperative upon it to reach out to the whole humanity, lying bare in misery, disgrace and paganism, to deliver them into this light of institutionalized mannerism and the scientific discourse. do they not, owing to their highly successful civil-lization, impend upon the barbaric others, to follow their thoughtful, respectful, refined ways of life? Is it not true that civilization begins when two people decide to live together, share space, respect each other’s wants, beliefs and mannerisms; is harshness, disrespect, abuse and bully not the end of civilization; do they not tear the two people apart. On what standards can the west plea that freedom of expression allows disrespect, when they themselves want to be respected in every possibility of the word, all around the globe, unquestioned.

The standard is set in the bible, their supposedly revered but practically forsaken book that overburdens them with its weight of irrationality so as to turn them, the proclaimed civilized, ferocious and barbaric. the standard was set when they filled their own space of reverence with filth and disrespect. the standard had been laid down when less than two millennia back they started converting the revered David into the naked despot whose favorite sport is killing, the revered Solomon into the playboy man-of-the–bed and when they had the revered Lot sit down with his own daughters. they were slowly turned into a people for whom godliness would be another name for shameless tyranny, they were supposed to believe in a book, that was originally edited to rule a pagan majority; but when in time the pagans learned to read and write, they found themselves under the espoused shadows of darkness, they had nothing but disgust for what they thought was God. so, as the rudely west grew up, it explained to itself that all that is divinely revealed is falsehood and all that can be sought empirically is truth-hood; religion is for them the root of all evil, it is the creator of the church, that has been accursing man into all devilish detours. In extreme generalization the humane-west vehemently rushes to the realization that all divine books are compulsorily bad and are the deep-trenched reason for the misery of all humanity; the proof they take is their apparent success scored by secularizing belief and believing in the empirical. so when they burn the Quran, in their self-perception, they are doing a good to humanity.

As much as the western thought was trained to analyze, dissect, experiment and find the truth by connecting pieces of the riddles found in nature and not rely on their hunch, the more they were affirmed in their belief against religion. All their arguments start with ‘because religion is false’ and none with ‘if religion was true’, this is not a scientific attitude, this is a blind belief and this very blind belief leads our self-proclaimed higher genera of the west, into repeated psychopathic outbursts in the grief of the downcast others.

Blind to see the light of true wisdom that illuminates the souls of millions and sets into harmony and peace many millions more; blind to be able to read through simple articulation of profound truth; blind to feel the love and respect the Quran gives to all the revered prophets and to all humanity. Respect that binds humans into humanity, gives it the space to civilize, the space of peace that gives man a chance to recline and mediate into the higher perspectives of life. This is what the Quran brings into the life of its followers and this is why only after the advent of this book humanity finally got the repose to lend itself to scientific inquiry and philosophize. Muslims are taught from childhood to respect not only the Quran and the Prophet, whom it was revealed upon, but to respect all prophets and all Holy Scripture, especially the Torah and the Bible; they are revered scriptures from God; only the Quran does not insist on irrationally following their distorted forms.

Here are a few stances from the Book that they burn, and how it trains its followers to reconcile with scripture:

‘He hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture with truth, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, even as he revealed the Torah and the Gospel.’ (3:3)

‘We did reveal the Torah, wherein is guidance and a light…’ (5:44)

‘If they had observed the Torah and the Gospel and that which was revealed unto them from their Lord, they would surely have been nourished from above them and from beneath their feet.’ (5:66)

‘We gave unto Moses the Scripture, and we appointed it a guidance for the children of Israel…’ (17:2)

‘… and we caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow, and gave him the Gospel, and placed compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who followed him.’ (57:27)

Yet we find, in the wild-wild-west, the freedom and will to disgrace and defile scripture, becoming the vogue of the day; are we witnessing a civilized gesture of a composed society or vile spew of arrogant egoists; is the sink-hole for humanity that falls it back to the age of barbarism appearing in the whiter continents. In the vanity of their technological advances, they have already forsaken cloths, family and marriage, the next logical step to savagery was outright slander and physical victimization; which they show as they kill, plunder and enslave humanity round the globe; which they show when they blasphemies and burn what is revered by others.

The Muslims are weary of the reality that it only their Book, that is being burnt, not the Nikayas or Sutras of the Buddists or the Vedas and Puranas of the Hindus or the Avestas of the Zorastrians or any of the thousands of revered scripture associated with the thousands of proclaimed religions; not the Bible or the Torah. Even the LaVeyan’s ‘Satanic bible’ is held with due respect, owing to the freedom of thought and personal space of others. but when it comes to Islam, it’s Prophet or its Book, the private space is cut open, we have no right to the freedom of thought and choice, we are exiled from ‘good is what you think is good’, our damnation is international and our irritation is the laughing stock on-air.

They preach to us: ‘we don’t mind if anyone calls Jesus or Moses bad, learn to be tolerant’… we say ‘tolerance for the vile is not our religion’, we will never call them bad, we just can’t, we love all the good men of God, we cannot come down to your uncivilized manners, we have been trained to be very considerate in this matter:

‘Revile not those unto whom they pray beside Allah lest they wrongfully revile Allah in enmity, without knowledge…’ (6:108)

Aneela Shahzad is an editor at PKKH.tv and can be contacted via info@pakistankakhudahafiz.com,  and you can also find her at Aneela Shahzad’s Blog

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, Dalam dunia Teknologi informasi (TI) atau dunia gamers istilah trial and error sangat akrab di telinga. Jika seseorang mencoba sesuatu tanpa tahu petunjuknya, tapi dia akan terus mencoba lalu dia akan tahu setelah justru menemukan kegagalan demi kegagalan. Istilah itu disebut trial and error. Mencoba dan gagal, tetapi jika kita terus mencoba akhirnya walhasil kita tahu bagaimana seharusnya sistem beroperasi atau bagaimana operasi sistem yang seharusnya.Bagi Pak Cucu, seorang supervisor finance sebuah perusahaan swasta dan mungkin untuk sebagian orang lainnya, sistem trial and error ini acapkali digunakan, apalagi terhadap sesuatu software atau hardware yang tidak mengandung risiko atau minim risikonya, seperti games misalnya. Tetapi bagaimana dengan yang berisiko tinggi? Sudah sebaiknyalah kita sebelum memulai, membuka terlebih dahulu manual book atau juklak (petunjuk pelaksanaan) atau tatacara operasi sebuah software atau hardware agar terhindar dari pemborosan waktu bahkan terjadinya damage atau kerusakan terhadapnya.Begitu pula dengan hidup dan kehidupan. Menurut saya sangatlah berisiko bila kita melakukan trial and error, sampai kemudian mencapai hakikat dari kebenaran tersebut. Biasanya seseorang bila diajak untuk meninggalkan suatu kebiasaan buruk atau diimbau untuk masuk ke dalam tuntunan agama seringkali, atau banyak orang beralasan belum mendapatkan hidayah. Sedangkan hidayah terambil dari kata huda yang dapat diartikan dengan petunjuk itu sudah ada sejak dahulu. Karena sesungguhnya Allah SWT telah dan selalu memberikan petunjuk yaitu lewat Alquran. Hanya saja seringkali kita tidak mau membacanya, membuka petunjuknya, membaca manual book dari sebuah sistem kehidupan yang Islam atau yang selamat, yang sekaligus sebagai rahmat bagi alam semesta. Sebagaimana ayat “Kitab (Alquran) ini tidak ada keraguan padanya; petunjuk bagi mereka yang bertaqwa,” (QS Al-Baqarah, 2 : 2). Dan dalam ayat lain ; “wa wajadaka dhaallan fa hadaa” (QS. Adh Dhuha, 93 : 7) yang artinya ; “Dan Dia mendapatimu sebagai seorang yang bingung, lalu Dia memberi petunjuk”.Yang dimaksud dengan bingung dari ayat di atas adalah kebingungan untuk mendapatkan kebenaran yang tidak bisa dicapai oleh akal, lalu Allah menurunkan wahyu kepada Muhamad SAW sebagai jalan untuk memimpin ummat menuju keselamatan dunia dan akhirat. Tetapi banyak orang lebih sering memilih untuk melakukan trial and error dalam menjalani kehidupan, membuat perhitungan-perhitungan sendiri, merumuskan analisa dan prediksi premis yang terkadang takberdasar, kemudian menetapkan hukum-hukum tanpa disandarkan kepada aturan yang Haq. Yaitu Alquran dan As-Sunnah. Jika kita bahas lebih jauh, bahwa wahyu yang pertama atau ayat yang pertama turun kepada Rasullullah SAW adalah; “Bacalah, dengan nama Tuhanmu Yang Menciptakan.” (QS. Al Alaq, 96 : 1). Pesan ini sangat penting agar manusia menggunakan seluruh perangkat indra yang dianugerahkan oleh Allah SWT kepada kita, seperti ; penglihatan, pendengaran, hati dan akalnya secara optimal.  Iqra dari kata qoro’a yang dapat diartikan dengan menghimpun. Karena itu perintah menghimpun seluruh informasi yang ada di jagat raya dengan dihubungkan kepada “bi ismi Rabb” dengan atau atas nama Rabb, Allah Yang Menciptakan, Yang  Menyempurnakan, Yang Menetapkan ketentuan, Yang memberi petunjuk(khalaqa fasawwa, qaddara fahada).Ilustrasinya, jika kita melihat makanan apa hubungannya dengan Alloh Yang Menciptakan. Lalu Iqro, himpun informasinya, jika makanan itu adalah buah mangga, maka Allah yang menciptakan biji, membelah bumi agar dapat ditanami, membuat dataran tinggi dan dataran rendah agar angin mengalir, mengarak awan, mencurahkan hujan, menciptakan matahari, malam dan siang, bulan dan planet agar terciptanya gaya gravitasi yang memungkinkan biji itu tetap ditanah, semesta jagat raya semua saling berhubungan dengan tumbuhnya biji-bijian yang selanjutnya setelah melalui proses yang panjang lalu hadir di depan meja makanan kita, siap untuk dihidangkan. Subhanallah, walhamdulillah, walailaha illalloh, wallahu akbar. Dengan ilmu iqra kita dapat menjadi cerdas, berpengetahuan dan berwawasan luas. “Bacalah” atau ilmu iqra juga membuka jalan kearah lingkungan ilmiah. Rasullullah tidak mengumbar “kesaktian” sebagaimana halnya beliau berdarah dikeningnya ketika berperang.

Hal itu membuat islam membuka semangat berpikir (aqliyah) yang merupakan ruh dari budaya intelektual. Oleh karena itu Islam adalah agama yang logis jika logika kita diselaraskan dengan tuntunan Alqur’an dan as Sunnah sebagai dasar pedoman Islam.Bukankah jika kita ingin menggunakan semisal handphone yang sangat canggih pun kita mestilah membaca manual book atau buku petunjuk penggunaan agar alat atau handphone tersebut dapat berfungsi secara maksimal? Kemudian jika kita memakai sistem trial and error, apakah tidak akan merusak alat atau kecanggihan handphone tersebut? Lalu bukankah kita manusia adalah ciptaan Allah SWT, juga alam semesta raya ini. Tidakkah kita tergerak agar dapat maksimal dengan membaca manual book, atau buku petunjuk seluruh manusia?“Pada hari ini telah kusempurnakan untuk kamu agamamu, dan telah kucukupkan kepadamu nikmat-KU, dan telah Kuridhai Islam itu menjadi agamamu.” (QS. Al Maidah, 5: 3)

Semoga kita menjadi orang-orang yang selalu mencari petunjuk-NYA, dengan selalu membaca petunjuk-NYA sekaligus mendapatkan taufik, hidayah serta berkah dan rahmat Allah SWT,  Aamiin, Ya Rabbal Al Amin.Tidaklah lebih baik dari yang berbicara ataupun yang mendengarkan, karena yang lebih baik disisi ALLAH adalah yang mengamalkannya.Ustaz Erick Yusuf: Pemrakarsa Training iHAQi (Integrated Human Quotient)         Twitter: @erickyusuf

you don’t need a roster to find Maha Madi. When the conference champion Andover Lady Trojans take the field, Madi is easy to identify. Because of her devotion to Islam, Madi covers her head, arms and legs out of respect for the Koran’s call for women to dress modestly. That requirement extends beyond the walls of a mosque to her attire for school and even on the soccer pitch. But Madi said having to dress differently than most other girls on her team and in her school hasn’t made her an outsider. “I really fit in better,” she said. “People are curious about why we dress this way and ask questions.” her coach, Chris Lemons is in his first year at Andover High and is a good friend of Hussam Madi, Maha’s father. he said Madi is a good player and teammate. “her teammates love her play on the pitch, but they also truly value her friendship off,” Lemons said. “She is a part of the team, period.  There is no difference in how one player treats another. I absolutely love that about this team!  they fight for each other on the pitch and would do anything for one another.” Madi’s sister Heba is a sophomore who also plays for Lemons on the junior varsity team. “I am really good friends with her father so I was extremely excited to coach his daughters,” Lemons said. The coach said he worried about what might be said or done due to Madi’s display of her religious beliefs on the field. “My worries were from other teams and especially their fans.  I have found in the heat of an athletic event, fans can say and do things they shouldn‘t.  I know that people can be cruel at times to people who; by their race, religion, or background etc, seem to be different than the norm” he said. he wasn’t alone in those concerns. Hussam and Lana Madi talked to their children about the possible reactions they could encounter at school, at the mall or during a soccer game. Hussam came to America from Kuwait almost 30 years ago in order to go to college with plans of returning home when his schooling was complete. However, as the time he would have returned approached, the first Gulf War erupted and Kuwait was at the epicenter of the ordeal. Hussam decided he and his family would stay in Wichita. Of course, after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2011 the pressure on Muslims in America became heightened. Because of the tragedy, people became less accepting of followers of Islam. But as one of the leaders of the Islamic congregation in this area, Hussam knew what had to be done. “We showed people we are Americans like they are,” he said. “We have a different religion and women dress differently. But we aren’t different.” his wife, Lana – who teaches at Southwestern University in Winfield, KS – agreed. “it has a lot to do with how you present yourself,” she said. “sometimes dressing differently can make women shy and withdrawn. When people find out you are just a normal person like them, it doesn’t matter as much.” Maha said she hasn’t encountered any negativity due to her faith or the scarf she covers her head with at school or during games. “other teams seem very understanding,” Maha said. “I am used to it now. I love soccer. Wearing a scarf is just a small sacrifice so that I can play.” her coach said he hasn’t encountered any problems either. “I haven’t heard any issues about it, and I am glad,” Lemons said. “I wouldn’t be too happy if there were people that had a problem with what she is wearing.” Soccer is a part of life for the Madi family. Hussam played at Friends University in college and played on a club team at Wichita State while he studied there. he also continued his soccer career with Wichita professional club teams like the Wichita Jets, Wranglers and Wings. “Wichita and Andover people are so nice,” Hussam said. “it is a great place to live.” he now owns Discount Wheels and Tires in Wichita and is a leader at the Muslim Community Center on Highway 96. The family will continue to live by their faith and work and play in the community. With older brother Hassan out of the house, Maha graduating this year, sophomore Heba and younger siblings Mahmoud and Hana, they will have plenty of chances to stay involved in the community through school and soccer for years to come. “Maha and her little sister Heba are great players, but they are even better people,” Lemons said. “they have a heart for others and show nothing but kindness.” Lana said those connections help people overcome their initial impressions of Islam and its followers. “The more attached you are to the community, the more bridges you can build so people can see us for what we really are,” Lana said. Maha is hoping her senior season of soccer doesn’t end soon. The team begins the playoffs next week. as undefeated Division 2 Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League champions the Lady Trojans are hoping for a deep run in the playoffs. “We have been successful this year,” Maha said. “Our new coach helped a lot. We just have to keep working hard.”

you don’t need a roster to find Maha Madi. When the conference champion Andover Lady Trojans take the field, Madi is easy to identify. Because of her devotion to Islam, Madi covers her head, arms and legs out of respect for the Koran’s call for women to dress modestly. That requirement extends beyond the walls of a mosque to her attire for school and even on the soccer pitch. But Madi said having to dress differently than most other girls on her team and in her school hasn’t made her an outsider. “I really fit in better,” she said. “People are curious about why we dress this way and ask questions.” her coach, Chris Lemons is in his first year at Andover High and is a good friend of Hussam Madi, Maha’s father. he said Madi is a good player and teammate. “her teammates love her play on the pitch, but they also truly value her friendship off,” Lemons said. “She is a part of the team, period.  There is no difference in how one player treats another. I absolutely love that about this team!  they fight for each other on the pitch and would do anything for one another.” Madi’s sister Heba is a sophomore who also plays for Lemons on the junior varsity team. “I am really good friends with her father so I was extremely excited to coach his daughters,” Lemons said. The coach said he worried about what might be said or done due to Madi’s display of her religious beliefs on the field. “My worries were from other teams and especially their fans.  I have found in the heat of an athletic event, fans can say and do things they shouldn‘t.  I know that people can be cruel at times to people who; by their race, religion, or background etc, seem to be different than the norm” he said. he wasn’t alone in those concerns. Hussam and Lana Madi talked to their children about the possible reactions they could encounter at school, at the mall or during a soccer game. Hussam came to America from Kuwait almost 30 years ago in order to go to college with plans of returning home when his schooling was complete. However, as the time he would have returned approached, the first Gulf War erupted and Kuwait was at the epicenter of the ordeal. Hussam decided he and his family would stay in Wichita. Of course, after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2011 the pressure on Muslims in America became heightened. Because of the tragedy, people became less accepting of followers of Islam. But as one of the leaders of the Islamic congregation in this area, Hussam knew what had to be done. “We showed people we are Americans like they are,” he said. “We have a different religion and women dress differently. But we aren’t different.” his wife, Lana – who teaches at Southwestern University in Winfield, KS – agreed. “it has a lot to do with how you present yourself,” she said. “sometimes dressing differently can make women shy and withdrawn. When people find out you are just a normal person like them, it doesn’t matter as much.” Maha said she hasn’t encountered any negativity due to her faith or the scarf she covers her head with at school or during games. “other teams seem very understanding,” Maha said. “I am used to it now. I love soccer. Wearing a scarf is just a small sacrifice so that I can play.” her coach said he hasn’t encountered any problems either. “I haven’t heard any issues about it, and I am glad,” Lemons said. “I wouldn’t be too happy if there were people that had a problem with what she is wearing.” Soccer is a part of life for the Madi family. Hussam played at Friends University in college and played on a club team at Wichita State while he studied there. he also continued his soccer career with Wichita professional club teams like the Wichita Jets, Wranglers and Wings. “Wichita and Andover people are so nice,” Hussam said. “it is a great place to live.” he now owns Discount Wheels and Tires in Wichita and is a leader at the Muslim Community Center on Highway 96. The family will continue to live by their faith and work and play in the community. With older brother Hassan out of the house, Maha graduating this year, sophomore Heba and younger siblings Mahmoud and Hana, they will have plenty of chances to stay involved in the community through school and soccer for years to come. “Maha and her little sister Heba are great players, but they are even better people,” Lemons said. “they have a heart for others and show nothing but kindness.” Lana said those connections help people overcome their initial impressions of Islam and its followers. “The more attached you are to the community, the more bridges you can build so people can see us for what we really are,” Lana said. Maha is hoping her senior season of soccer doesn’t end soon. The team begins the playoffs next week. as undefeated Division 2 Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League champions the Lady Trojans are hoping for a deep run in the playoffs. “We have been successful this year,” Maha said. “Our new coach helped a lot. We just have to keep working hard.”

April 26, 2012

Atlantic 10 Release

Bronx, N.Y. –

Fordham University men’s tennis student-athletes Kuba Kowalski (Krakow, Poland/Piarist Gimnazyum), Srikar Alla (Hyderabad, India/Pendleton School) and Mischa Koran (Basel, Switzerland/Gymnasium Baumlihof) were all named All-Atlantic 10 it was announced by the league office today. Kowalski was named to the first team while Alla and Koran were placed on the second team. They become the first Fordham men’s tennis players to earn All-Conference honors since Chris Kelly in 2002.

The three players, who all recorded more than 20 singles wins this season, led Fordham to one of its best seasons in years, finishing the year with a 17-10 record, the most wins for a Fordham men’s tennis team since the 1995-96 squad went 18-3. the Rams also advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2012 Atlantic 10 Championship with a win over Saint Louis in the first round, Fordham’s first win at the championships since 2006. the quarterfinal appearance was the first for the Fordham men’s team since joining the conference in 1995-96.

Kowalski, a sophomore transfer from San Diego State, played at the number one singles position for the Rams all year, compiling a 21-9 record. Kowalski was also the leader in doubles wins for the Rams this year, going 19-11, 17-8 at first doubles.

Alla, a freshman, led the Rams in 2011-12 in singles wins, going 23-9 on the year, playing mostly at second singles where he was 16-2 on the year. in doubles action, Alla was17-14 overall, 7-0 at first doubles.

Koran, a sophomore transfer from St. John’s, closed out his first year at Rose Hill with a 20-6 singles record, 12-3 at the third position. He also achieved a double digit win total in doubles play, going 12-9 on the year, playing mostly at first doubles.

The three Rams became the first Fordham players to win more than 20 singles matches in a season (previous mark was 17 set by Guy Gebbia and John Cerga in 1995-96).