Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
More Words That Don't Exist In the English Language
Biritululo (New Guinea): the act of comparing yams to settle a dispute.
Zalatwic (Polish): the use of friends, bribes, personal charm or connections to get something done. This was particularly useful in the days of communism, as it was easier to get something you wanted through guile as opposed to official means.
Tingo (Easter Island): a person who borrows things from a friend’s house one by one until there is nothing left.
Bakku-shan (Japanese): the word for a girl who looks pretty from behind but ugly in front.
Kyoikumama (Japanese): a mother who pushes her children far too hard when it comes to schoolwork.
Qualunquismo (Italian): a person who doesn’t really care about politics and issues in society. The term came from a political party in Italy, in 1944, which promoted anti-political feelings and a mistrust of public organizations. The party was called the Fronte dell’Uomo Qualunque or “the front of the ordinary man.”
Uitwaaien (Dutch): take a brief break in the country side to clear one’s head.
Hygge (Danish): complete absence of anything annoying, irritating or emotionally overwhelming, and the presence of and pleasure from comforting, gentle and soothing things.
Zalatwic (Polish): the use of friends, bribes, personal charm or connections to get something done. This was particularly useful in the days of communism, as it was easier to get something you wanted through guile as opposed to official means.
Tingo (Easter Island): a person who borrows things from a friend’s house one by one until there is nothing left.
Bakku-shan (Japanese): the word for a girl who looks pretty from behind but ugly in front.
Kyoikumama (Japanese): a mother who pushes her children far too hard when it comes to schoolwork.
Qualunquismo (Italian): a person who doesn’t really care about politics and issues in society. The term came from a political party in Italy, in 1944, which promoted anti-political feelings and a mistrust of public organizations. The party was called the Fronte dell’Uomo Qualunque or “the front of the ordinary man.”
Uitwaaien (Dutch): take a brief break in the country side to clear one’s head.
Hygge (Danish): complete absence of anything annoying, irritating or emotionally overwhelming, and the presence of and pleasure from comforting, gentle and soothing things.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Five on Five
Mondays are the dumps. Work is poured on you while you’re still trying to revive yourself from your weekend coma induced by eating your weight in Frosted Flakes and sleeping for 18 hours. Today is no different. So to wake my brain up and keep my sanity, I’m listing off the five rules that I live by in high school.
5) SDAN – Stop Drop And Nap. There isn’t any time that can’t be napping time, especially at school. Nobody can say that they haven’t fallen asleep at least once in their high school career, if not everyday of this wretched job. My favorite times to apply this rule are math and English class. I just daydream and doodle in the rest of my classes.
4) Caffeinate. As soon as you wake up from your dead-and-drooling sessions, immediately begin to drain large containers of coffee. You need to focus for the rest of the day to make up for all of that sleeping you just did. If you don’t like coffee, offer it to a chicken and then eat the chicken to absorb the caffeine.
3) Pants are useless. Do lions wear pants? No. Do bears wear pants? No. Do sharks wear pants? No. They all roam freely with nothing plastered onto their lower bodies that prevent them from doing unnecessary high kicks. Therefore, I wear them to school as little as possible. Pants are constraining. End of discussion.*
2) Suck up to teachers. I’ve never been a teacher’s pet, but I have managed to stay on their good sides. Kill them with compliments. It’ll come in handy when you forget to do homework. For example:
Mrs. Murphy - Class, please turn in your worksheets.
You – Mrs. Murphy, did I tell you how lovely you look this morning? Well, just in case I didn’t, you look absolutely stunning. Is that a new shirt? That color really suits you. And I like those shoes. The seahorses on them are quite intriguing. So how about I give you that worksheet tomorrow?
Mrs. Murphy - …
You – Great! I’m glad we could come to an agreement.
1) The magic words. When a teacher unexpectedly calls on you for an answer and you don’t have any idea of what’s going on, simply blurt out one of the following: satire, 0 degrees Kelvin, post-modernism, or free will. Chances are that one of those is going to be the correct answer.
And that is how I survive high school. Results may vary. Term and conditions apply.
*WARNING. This rule does not allow you to walk around in your underwear. Please find a socially acceptable substitute for pants, like bear skin.
5) SDAN – Stop Drop And Nap. There isn’t any time that can’t be napping time, especially at school. Nobody can say that they haven’t fallen asleep at least once in their high school career, if not everyday of this wretched job. My favorite times to apply this rule are math and English class. I just daydream and doodle in the rest of my classes.
4) Caffeinate. As soon as you wake up from your dead-and-drooling sessions, immediately begin to drain large containers of coffee. You need to focus for the rest of the day to make up for all of that sleeping you just did. If you don’t like coffee, offer it to a chicken and then eat the chicken to absorb the caffeine.
3) Pants are useless. Do lions wear pants? No. Do bears wear pants? No. Do sharks wear pants? No. They all roam freely with nothing plastered onto their lower bodies that prevent them from doing unnecessary high kicks. Therefore, I wear them to school as little as possible. Pants are constraining. End of discussion.*
2) Suck up to teachers. I’ve never been a teacher’s pet, but I have managed to stay on their good sides. Kill them with compliments. It’ll come in handy when you forget to do homework. For example:
Mrs. Murphy - Class, please turn in your worksheets.
You – Mrs. Murphy, did I tell you how lovely you look this morning? Well, just in case I didn’t, you look absolutely stunning. Is that a new shirt? That color really suits you. And I like those shoes. The seahorses on them are quite intriguing. So how about I give you that worksheet tomorrow?
Mrs. Murphy - …
You – Great! I’m glad we could come to an agreement.
1) The magic words. When a teacher unexpectedly calls on you for an answer and you don’t have any idea of what’s going on, simply blurt out one of the following: satire, 0 degrees Kelvin, post-modernism, or free will. Chances are that one of those is going to be the correct answer.
And that is how I survive high school. Results may vary. Term and conditions apply.
*WARNING. This rule does not allow you to walk around in your underwear. Please find a socially acceptable substitute for pants, like bear skin.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Islam and Women: Modern Empowerment
The first article for my Woman's Column in the INFW Newsletter.
We’re living in a time where feminism is gaining interest in the world, especially in the west. Society has managed to ignite the ultimate enmity between the opposite genders, a man and a woman. Historically, society has tainted the minds of many women, inviting them to believe that men are unjust, hypocrites, and suppressers. It suggests that the only way a woman attains independence is by rebelling against her father, being arrogant with her brother, and disobeying her husband. If she doesn't, then she'll be put down as an underprivileged daughter, a humiliated mother, an abused wife, and an oppressed sister. Society has distorted all facts and fabricated all truths. It has taught one to rid herself of her religion because piety and honor are chains on freedom, hijab is limiting and a return to the Stone Age, prayer and fasting are a waste of time, and obedience to any man is slavery. But in the process of brainwashing, society has also managed to rid one of the happiness and comfort of generous parents, a happy marriage, and good brotherly relations.
Dear sisters,
You are half of humanity. You are half of this Ummah. Your ancestors, the remarkable women of Islam, were one of the main reasons that this great nation is still thriving today. You also have the chance to contribute to its greatness. Sisters, do not fool yourself into thinking that men are the ones who rule the world and you are only here to be stepped on. Just because women are not in the spotlight doesn’t mean they don’t exist. They share the responsibilities of enjoining the truth, forbidding the evil, and raising the flag of Islam with men, as it says in the Qur’an:
Women may share the common responsibilities with men, but the tremendous burden placed upon her is unlike any of the difficulties that men bear. That is why so much importance is given to mothers in Islam. They are the initial teachers in building a righteous society, providing that she adheres to the Qur’an and Sunnah. Sisters, you are raising the future leaders of this world and supporting the current ones. Your task isn’t easy, but it is indeed an honorable one. So many great scholars never would have existed if they hadn’t been encouraged to study Islam by their mothers. So many great leaders never would have stepped up if they hadn’t been encouraged by their wives.
Look at Khadija radi Allahu ‘anha, one of the most exemplary mothers and wives in the history of mankind. She was one of the very first people to believe in the Prophet Muhammad salallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. She stood behind him every step of the way, continually comforting him, advising him, and putting him at ease. She brought tranquility and serenity to his soul. Not only that, but she raised their children to be strong and adherent Muslims. She may never have been the one whom everyone saw, but she contributed greatly to this Deen through her support of the Prophet salallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.
Sisters, this is where your happiness lies: in being an obedient and believing daughter, a loyal and generous wife, and a pious and merciful mother. Do not think that you will become happy and free in imitating a man by taking off your hijab and giving up your family for materialism. I am not saying that you should set aside your academic and work related goals, but you need to know your limitations. Do not forget that your main duty is to Allah. Your role in building society is essential, and if you throw it away for some worldly success, you’re sacrificing the well-being of this Ummah as a whole. For every man in society, there is an even stronger woman behind him. If the man is the head, then the woman is the neck. The neck may not be noticeable, but it is what controls the movement of the head. Not only that, but it must be firm and stable if it’s going to support the head. Remember, you are mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, aunts, granddaughters, and grandmothers. You make this Ummah a nation.
We’re living in a time where feminism is gaining interest in the world, especially in the west. Society has managed to ignite the ultimate enmity between the opposite genders, a man and a woman. Historically, society has tainted the minds of many women, inviting them to believe that men are unjust, hypocrites, and suppressers. It suggests that the only way a woman attains independence is by rebelling against her father, being arrogant with her brother, and disobeying her husband. If she doesn't, then she'll be put down as an underprivileged daughter, a humiliated mother, an abused wife, and an oppressed sister. Society has distorted all facts and fabricated all truths. It has taught one to rid herself of her religion because piety and honor are chains on freedom, hijab is limiting and a return to the Stone Age, prayer and fasting are a waste of time, and obedience to any man is slavery. But in the process of brainwashing, society has also managed to rid one of the happiness and comfort of generous parents, a happy marriage, and good brotherly relations.
Dear sisters,
You are half of humanity. You are half of this Ummah. Your ancestors, the remarkable women of Islam, were one of the main reasons that this great nation is still thriving today. You also have the chance to contribute to its greatness. Sisters, do not fool yourself into thinking that men are the ones who rule the world and you are only here to be stepped on. Just because women are not in the spotlight doesn’t mean they don’t exist. They share the responsibilities of enjoining the truth, forbidding the evil, and raising the flag of Islam with men, as it says in the Qur’an:
“The believers, men and women, are Awliya’ (supporters) of one another; they enjoin Al-Ma’ruf (Islamic belief) and forbid Al-Munkar (disbelief); they perform Salah and give Zakah, and obey Allah and his Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.”
Women may share the common responsibilities with men, but the tremendous burden placed upon her is unlike any of the difficulties that men bear. That is why so much importance is given to mothers in Islam. They are the initial teachers in building a righteous society, providing that she adheres to the Qur’an and Sunnah. Sisters, you are raising the future leaders of this world and supporting the current ones. Your task isn’t easy, but it is indeed an honorable one. So many great scholars never would have existed if they hadn’t been encouraged to study Islam by their mothers. So many great leaders never would have stepped up if they hadn’t been encouraged by their wives.
Look at Khadija radi Allahu ‘anha, one of the most exemplary mothers and wives in the history of mankind. She was one of the very first people to believe in the Prophet Muhammad salallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. She stood behind him every step of the way, continually comforting him, advising him, and putting him at ease. She brought tranquility and serenity to his soul. Not only that, but she raised their children to be strong and adherent Muslims. She may never have been the one whom everyone saw, but she contributed greatly to this Deen through her support of the Prophet salallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.
Sisters, this is where your happiness lies: in being an obedient and believing daughter, a loyal and generous wife, and a pious and merciful mother. Do not think that you will become happy and free in imitating a man by taking off your hijab and giving up your family for materialism. I am not saying that you should set aside your academic and work related goals, but you need to know your limitations. Do not forget that your main duty is to Allah. Your role in building society is essential, and if you throw it away for some worldly success, you’re sacrificing the well-being of this Ummah as a whole. For every man in society, there is an even stronger woman behind him. If the man is the head, then the woman is the neck. The neck may not be noticeable, but it is what controls the movement of the head. Not only that, but it must be firm and stable if it’s going to support the head. Remember, you are mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, aunts, granddaughters, and grandmothers. You make this Ummah a nation.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
إِنَّمَا ٱلتَّوۡبَةُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلسُّوٓءَ بِجَهَـٰلَةٍ۬ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ۬ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ يَتُوبُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡہِمۡۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَڪِيمً۬ا (١٧) وَلَيۡسَتِ ٱلتَّوۡبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ قَالَ إِنِّى تُبۡتُ ٱلۡـَٔـٰنَ وَلَا ٱلَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمۡ ڪُفَّارٌۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ أَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابًا أَلِيمً۬ا
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