Tuesday, October 30, 2007

What Dreams May Come...

So the other day I was listening to an Anwar Al-Awlaki CD on the times of Abu Bakr As-Sideeq as a khalifah. One of the stories he was narrating dealt with how Khalid bin Waleed used to deal with his armies and one of the wisdoms he passed on was "speak with your soldiers at night." Imam Anwar continues to explain the significance behind this hikm (wisdom) was that even in the sahaba's time they understood how people work and night time brings out an open/more revealing aspect of people's personalities. In other words, being the General of the army, he knew if he spoke to his soldiers at night he would be able to gather information he might not otherwise find out.

As I was sitting in my car, stuck in the usual rush hour bumper to bumper traffic I found myself ridiculously excited, practically talking to myself (I sincerely apologize to all those in the cars surrounding mine) with exclamations of understanding. It totally makes sense, and often times when least expect it, its those long night conversations, periods of connection to old friends that you absolutely miss the most. I remember an old friend of mine who used to ponder the "late night discussion" phenomena and while it's always been one of those things that just happens, I've never fully contemplated why. I've frequently heard that more jinns come out at night, so somehow that could be tied to our lack of conscious in guarding and protecting what we normally would during daylight hours. Or perhaps, its simply that we're more sleepy after a long day and the effort to think about what we're saying is just too much. Whatever the reason is, I found it interesting Imam Anwar acknowledged this point as well...

On a slightly different perspective, the anticipation and jitters of my approaching graduation are beginning to hit me. It's kind of interesting trying to decide what it is exactly that I'm anxious about--the fact that me, the master of all planners, for once in my life, no matter how hard I try, can't seem to lay out a plan. Or is it that affirmation of faith...the age old line of "Man proposes, God disposes" and realizing the depths of that statement. It's funny because unlike many of my colleagues, for the first time in my college career, I'm not really on a massive job hunt, nor do I have much of a concern of where I'll be going come January. That plan seems to be set, inshaAllah...then again, what plan is ever really set? On the other hand, I see my apprehension as one of the major things that could pose as a true test for me by Allah SWT. In a brief but enlightening psychoanalysis of my personality by some of my family members, it became strikingly clear to me that even as a kid, I had it all planned out...planned until college. Everything becomes hazy after that, even my dreams. But then again, maybe its having all the unknowns that make the adventure all the more fun...

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For those of you who read my first post on the "Tyranny of Choice," this is precisely what I was talking about hah :)


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"The sufferings that are endured patiently, as being inevitable, become intolerable the moment that it appears that there might be an escape...The suffering, it is true, has been reduced, but one's sensitivity has become more acute."

Tocqueville (on the beginnings of the French Revolution)

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

So I was sitting in history class and my prof suddenly busts out with this:

Barker's Basic Laws of Human Nature:
1) People do stupid things
2) Timing affects EVERYTHING
3) Hypocrisy is human nature

Granted he backed each of these statements with something in history (Custer's 7th regiment battle, Hitler, death by a split second) I must say this list made my day. Maybe I'm just in a bitter mood but, I couldn't help but smirk at the irony of presenting this list to our class today. Alhamdulilah.

On a quite different topic--has anyone ever analyzed the Apple marketing strategy? MashaAllah if I do say so myself, its no wonder they are such a growing trend in technology purchases. Granted, getting used to the different interface takes a lil' bit of learning-their overall package deal is quite awesome for what you get and pay, not to mention their superior customer service and accessibility. Okay so I'm done now :)

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“Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.”
--Winnie the Pooh

Monday, October 22, 2007

So I've had plenty of thoughts lately but haven't really been in a writing mood. So-instead I'll leave you with two articles that reflect the topic of conversation lately.

Love Even Those Who Revile You : Interesting article on forgiveness and patience. I'll leave it at that.

The Social Involvement of Women in Islam: So the past week seems to have been the week of discussing gender issues in contemporary Islam. My first point of contention with this issue is with complaints of a sister "reading translation" before Taraweeh. While this wasn't addressed to me specifically-it did manage to make it's way to me. This article addresses an Islamic perspective of women's involvement in the community and while it doesn't hash out the details, it gives a broad understanding of the different gender roles.

On the flip side as I was enjoying a pizza dinner with some friends, the issue of the muslim girl and her place in today's society, and the juggle between domestic life/career came up. It seemed to be an underlying theme of frustration with finding a social balance and dealing with trying to do it all--and have a happy personal life. It was interesting to conclude that there really was no conclusion except that Islam layed it out beautifully and the rest is really a personal balance.

On a very different note...I absolutely love chocolate covered apples.

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Pride & Prejudice to Nelly Furtado's Try -- believe it or not this actually helped me with my paper!

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Wa ma tawfiqi illah billah--And there is no success but from Allah

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Sooo, basically I was working on a paper discussing women during WWII and researching the Rosie the Riveter phenomena and came across a website which uses artwork to express what freedom means to them...with this as the leading pic. I could go on a rant and rave but I think I'll save that for another day...

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The Memory Game: http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/2007-11/memory/memory-game.html

try it!

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“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.”

--Paulo Coelho

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

"All the worlds a stage, all the men and women merely players"
--Shakespeare

Monday, October 8, 2007

Eid Sa3eed!

Alhamdulilah if finishing off 4 midterms and 2 papers isn't the best Eid gift, then I don't know what is!

So in one of my self imposed study breaks which lasted longer than my study session I got into a discussion with an old friend. We ended up discussing political candidates and they brought up Ron Paul--this up and coming Republican Presidential candidate. Initially when they, we'll refer to them as Y, brought him up, in the back of my head I was half expecting another Islam bashing, super conservative candidate and to my complete and utter surprise, got a completely different picture. To start with Y showed me a speech he delivered on War to the House of Reps.

"Changing our policy of meddling in the affairs of others won’t come quickly or easily. But a few signals to indicate a change in our attitude would go a long way to bringing peace to a troubled land.
1. We must soon, and Congress can do this through the budget process, stop the construction of all permanent bases in Iraq and any other Muslim country in the region. Think of how we would react if the Chinese had the military edge on us and laid claims to the Gulf of Mexico, building bases within the U.S. in order to promote their superior way of life. Isn’t it ironic that we close down bases here at home while building new ones overseas? Domestic bases might well promote security, while bases in Muslim nations only elicit more hatred toward us.
2. The plans for the biggest U.S. embassy in the world, costing nearly 1 billion dollars, must be canceled. This structure in Baghdad sends a message, like the military bases being built, that we expect to be in Iraq and running Iraq for a long time to come.
3. All military forces, especially on the Arabian Peninsula, must be moved offshore at the earliest time possible. All responsibility for security and control of the oil must be transferred to the Iraqis from the United States as soon as possible, within months not years." --2005

Ok fine, a lot of people might think like this but, once they get into the race and the pressure is on, surely they will succumb to the dirtiness of the race and change their platform.

Upon further discussion with Y, I found out that Y actually had sent a letter to him and received a response. One of the questions posed in his letter was what sparked his interest in politics and to be in Congress. I found his response quite interesting so I'll share:

"Thank you also for asking how I made the decision to run for Congress. I ran for Congress because of my concern that the federal government has so grossly expanded into areas where it has no legitimate role and is thereby threatening our constitutional liberties. After careful reflection, I decided the most effective way I could impact national policy was to run for Congress. It is my belief that participation in the legislative process is crucial to the preservation of liberty so highly esteemed by our nation's founders as well as myself."

So I started liking him even more. And then I found this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjQYg5RoH2s

Granted there is probably still plenty of more research on this guy and I think I post this a) because I'm ashamed I didn't even know who he was b) because I'm sure there are plenty others who don't and might be interested in knowing who he is and c) any presidential candidate that is willing to take the time to write out a personal letter to a random person is worthy of noting.

On a completely different note, little things make the biggest difference in the world. The other night admist my trying to study for 4 midterms and take as much advantage as possible of the last days of Ramadan a friend of mine randomly came up to me and just gave me the most spontaneous hug ever. Taken aback I turned to her and questioned "what was thatttt for?!" Her response was, sometimes, people just need hugs and your week seems crazy. She doesn't know how much that small gesture meant but all I could think was wow, subhanAllah smiles or something that small really can be charity. To top it all off when I got home I found a cup of iced coffee made by my cousin for me! Alhamdulilah for the people I'm blessed to be around and Eid Mubarak!! :)

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“Verily after every hardship there comes ease.” (Chapter 94,Verse 4--Quran)

Sunday, October 7, 2007

And on that night...

We revealed it in the Night of Decree.
Inna anzalnahu fee laylatialqadri
انا انزلنه فى ليلة القدر

And do you know what is the Night of Decree?
Wama adraka ma laylatualqadri
وما ادرىك ما ليلة القدر

The Night of Decree is better than one thousand months.
Laylatu alqadri khayrun min alfi shahrin
ليلة القدر خير من الف شهر

The Angels and the Spirit come down in it by their Lord's leave to carry out every matter.
Tanazzalu almala-ikatu waalrroohufeeha bi-ithni rabbihim min kulli amrin
تنزل الملئكة والروح فيها باذن ربهم
من كل امر

It is peaceful until the coming of dawn.
Salamun hiya hatta matlaAAialfajri
سلم هى حتى مطلع الفجر

[The Holy Quran: Al-Qadr-97]

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And You? When will you begin that long journey into Yourself?
--Rumi

Friday, October 5, 2007

On Peaks, Valleys & Gluttony

R: "Yas, you're going through a quarter-life crisis."

H: "Yasmin, be careful about eating so much, you're reaching your peak and then after that your metabolism is going to slow down."

T: "Yeah Yasi, you definitely look older than your age--it's like you don't even look like a college student anymore!"

N: "Remember when you were 18 I kept telling you that you were 2 years from 20? Well now you're 2 years over 20--wow, you're over the hill Yasmin!"

Conclusion: I'm old, rickety and aging. Alhamdulilah.

Question of the day:
Courage or stupidity? War is declared and you are part of a regiment sent to battle. Before leaving it is agreed no man is left behind, dead or alive. Time comes for battle and one of your men gets shot and is severely injured. The rest of your regiment is running away in the opposite direction but you instead run to save your friend. As you are rescuing your man, you too get shot and killed leaving you both to die. Courage, or stupidity?

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"If death meant just leaving the stage long enough to change costume and come back as a new character...Would you slow down? Or speed up?"
Chuck Palahniuk-1961

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

The Tyranny of Choice

A friend, we'll call her R once said "happiness is when you know what you want and you go for it." She's wise.

Apparently, Barry Schwartz author of "The Tyranny of Choice" (www.sciam.com - April 2004 issue) agrees. According to research done by Robert E. Lane of Yale University, increased choice and affluence have a direct correlation to decreased well-being or happiness. So basically, the more we have to choose from, the harder it is to be content with the choice we have, thus increasing unhappiness. The solution? Pick your battles and learn to forgo opportunity costs as just that, an opportunity cost. Hmph, easier said than done.

As I sat in my world globalization class listening to the clinical psychologist my professor brought in for this very topic, I wandered off to my usual state of daydreaming. Was I too a product of this addiction to consumerism so prevalent in our society that massive amounts of research were now being administered? I'd like to think--no way but, the unfortunate reality is yes. Case in point--after a considerable amount of time wasting away in class daydreaming, I came to the conclusion I'd return to my life as a blogger. Now the most pressing question--LiveJournal or Blogspot or one of the other gazillion options out there? Why is it I actually wasted my time considering my different options--is it so hard to just pick a blog? Obviously, I did...but not without wasting time which could have been far more productive elsewhere. Did I seriously just actually contemplate this??

It's interesting in dealing with college age people, that nearly every person I encounter is on a quest for happiness. Somehow every individual's methodology in achieving this state of mind or state in life is unique, yet everyone ultimately works for the same thing. Time and time again though, a consistent pattern of happiness is found with those who perform "voluntary simplicity" or adaptive resourcefulness yet time and time again people chase happiness in material substenance. Props to those marketers who've shaped a society full of industrialized children and consumerism to the max.

I suppose as I write this I really have no point other than this article hit me, probably more so than a majority of my classmates. We justify ourselves with the immunity that we'll never be products of this system yet we somehow are. So I guess now, the choice is--what do we do about it?

On a completely different note, we watched "We Were Soldiers" for my history class today. Just a side note--if you're breaking for iftar and have a weak stomach--I reallllyyyy don't advise watching this movie. While it was gory and definitely had its macho manly appeal of blood, fighting and war-this movie was also one of the most impacting movies I've watched lately. I won't spend too much time going into the details about this since I would advise if you are in the mood for a thought provoking movie you should definitely see this I will say I can see why the reward for Jihad is so immense. It was also interesting to see the wife of an army man's struggle and in a sense dealing with jihad of her own. Ok enough of my babbling...

So as my cousin just asked--why exactly am I writing here when I have a 5 page paper due this week? I'm not sure but that's my cue to head out. Maybe just maybe the choice for my research topic will be done with slightly more ease....maybe.