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Where would you like to go?
Kashif
10/11/00 at 18:24:11
assalaamu alaikum Which places would you guys like to visit if you were able to (outside of Mecca & Medina)? For me, it'd be China - especially the places where the Muslims reside. Yeah i could go to NY, but all it'd be is the same as London except that the people speak in a different accent. But in China you have a culture that hasn't completly capitulated to the lifestyle in the West, so it would be something different. To live and eat with, and serve elderly Chinese muslim men and women would be something i'd really like to experience. And also doing some of that slow-motion Karate in the mornings would be cool too. hmmm.. i'd also like to spend a year or two with the Bedouins. But more realistically i'd like to go to Jordan and study under Sh. Umar al-Ashqar! May Allah make that easy for me! Ameen! Kashif Wa Salaam

Re: Where would you like to go?
bhaloo
10/11/00 at 18:39:14
slm [quote] To live and eat with, and serve elderly Chinese muslim men and women would be something i'd really like to experience. And also doing some of that slow-motion Karate in the mornings would be cool too. [/quote] Really?  Well I'm sure I could find some elderly Chinese muslim men and women out here in the US, that could use your services. ;) Heheheheh, you are into Karate? Where would I go besides Meccah and Medina?  I have no idea.  I guess the politically correct answer for me to say is the ISNA Convention.  lol, hahahahaha. California is a beautiful place, beautiful weather. :)

Re: Where would you like to go?
jannah
10/11/00 at 19:01:12
arshad you're so funny... funnier than those british jokes even hah anyways if i could go anywhere i'd go to some tropical island somewhere which had isolated bungalows to rent.. and very modern facilities and a nice empty beach and some great hiking trails with waterfalls.. and i'd spend ... forever there :)

Re: Where would you like to go?
Sara
10/11/00 at 19:33:58
Assalam, Well,I would love to travel all around the Middle East. I would love to visit Mexico and Spain. I would love to visit New York and Flordia. I would love to visit New Jersey again. I love sight seeing and taking pictures.

Re: Where would you like to go?
Asim
10/11/00 at 20:08:22
Assalaamu alaikum, Man, there is so much to see in this world. I love nature and the beauty and variety is just amazing, subhanAllah. My wish list includes places list New Zealand, some remote pacific island, Greenland, Alaska, and northwest US. And any place is better than the hustle and bustle of a city. and i'd spend ... forever there ditto here! Only if it was possible :(

Re: Where would you like to go?
Sara
10/11/00 at 20:46:35
Two more places I would love to travel to is: Hawii and Itlay.

Re: Where would you like to go?
Arsalan
10/12/00 at 00:28:14
Besides Makkah and Madina (in order of decreasing importance): Jerusalem India (more specifically the villages from which my forefathers came from) Grand Teton National Park Yellowstone National Park New Zealand France and ... New York (nyc, not albany ... just kidding :)) Wassalamu alaikum.

Re: Where would you like to go?
MuSLiMa
10/12/00 at 00:42:19
Well i guess i'd love to go to Pakistan ... check out how da ppl live, and not to mention all the crafty stores ... i have a weird fascination with that country and its people Maybe go to a country where i can find a group of people literally living off the land, moving house/tent every few months or so and stay with a family who could not speak my language nor me theirs ... we'd have to communicate via hand movement and smiles etc ... I don't know all the countries of the world or what its main features or attractions are, else i'd probably have a dozen more places i'd wanna go

Re: Where would you like to go?
tree
10/12/00 at 06:31:45
Asalaamu alaikum Kashif - there's this cool book in our library about Islam in China (can't remember if that's the title but i can get it for you if you want) and it is soooooo cool. Shows some really nice people and places.  And once i went to an AbdalAdheem Sanders slide show and he had slides of when he went to China, and wow, it looked so beautiful.  The mosques were just like the shapes of chinese temples...no domes or minarets...and they looked completely fascinating.  And he also told us that the Muslims he met there were so kind and peaceful, and when he went to pray jummah there it was one of the most relaxed that he had been to, because usually after the fard in other countries, people get up and leave, hurrying away to their busy lives, but here, they quietly and casually pray all their sunnahs.  And he said that the mosque is always full at prayer times.  I've always been fascinated by China and Chinese Muslims because my two good friends are Chinese, and the chinese script is just so cool! well, i suppose i should say the place i'd most like to go is Morocco, cause insha'allah i'm going there in like 3 weeks!  For about nine months!  eek. tree

Re: Where would you like to go?
Saleema
10/12/00 at 09:38:55
Assalamoalykum, I would like to go to Australia--to see the kangroos, and other weird mammals. So that meas, somewhere in the jungle I guess. Don't want to visit anything else over there. But most of all, I would like to go live with the Bedouins too. And I would love to go to Kashmir and fight. I would also like to go to Afghanistan and hunt up my tribe. Learn some family history from people rather than some ancient family tree books. By the way here is something cool that i would like to share with you guys. Our family tree is traced back all the way to Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him). And now, our names are added in it too, (my age people from our family,) I would like to have the possesion of the books when I am older and pass it on to my kids. I will have a hard time convincing my unle to hand it over to me instead of one of his children. wassalam

Re: Where would you like to go?
Kashif
10/12/00 at 09:38:39
Tree: its that relaxed atmosphere that i really cherish. Even though i have a masjid to pray my jumu'ah near where i work, the khutbahs aren't very inspiring, and so i take holidays on jumu'ah often. But even then, London is so busy on Fridays its unbelievable. But can you believe it, a ticket to China with BA is over £1400? Muslima - u sure you wouldn't like to know the language of the people you're staying with in a foreign place? That kinda reminds me of point #1 in my latest posting in the Brothers section. Kashif Wa Salaam
NS

Re: Where would you like to go?
nadeem
10/12/00 at 11:04:35
Assalam alaykum boyz n galz.. Id like to go and visit, nigh stay in the ISLAMIC KHILAFAH STATE. But alas, non-existant at the mo..: ( corny point? well what the hec eh?! anyway, br Kashif mentioned a shiekh nameSh. Umar al-Ashqar?..can u provide more details about this geezer? jazakallah ws

Re: Where would you like to go?
bhaloo
10/12/00 at 12:02:16
slm Kashif, it sholdn't be that expensive, that's crazy.  From out here in California to Pakistan is $1000 to $1300, and the plane stops in China. :)  That's something like 750 British pounds.  You are alot closer to China, so it should be a lot less.

Re: Where would you like to go?
widad
10/12/00 at 12:57:20
slm Wow saleema you are from Afghanistan?? My family also is traced back to the prophet sala Allahu alyhi wasallam (thru Fatima and Ali chidren:-Al-Hassan and Al-Hussain,of course). To the others who want to go to China,did you know that Bukhary and Muslim originate from there?of course they weren't chinese but the chinese and the Russians invaded the muslim parts that were called Turkistan and the rest of the islamic territory in central Asia?? -As for me I would love to go to Spain to see Alhambra and Andalusia,where the muslims have left a lot of culture,buildings and other things too.
NS

Re: Where would you like to go?
Saleema
10/12/00 at 13:55:26
Assalamoalykum, No widad, i am not from Afghanistan. i am from Pakistan. My ancestors are from there. wassalam

Re: Where would you like to go?
Arsalan
10/12/00 at 14:01:14
Assalamu alaikum, To all the non-sayyids out there like myself (i.e. people who are not from the lineage of Prophet Muhammad pbuh) don't despair!  We all can claim to have at least one Prophet in our lineage too!!! :)

Re: Where would you like to go?
Saleema
10/12/00 at 14:03:33
Assalamoalykum, Widad, yes however, I am pakhtun. wassalm

Re: Where would you like to go?
Kathy
10/13/00 at 09:09:37
slm I would like to go into the arms of my love.

Re: Where would you like to go?
Mona
10/13/00 at 14:40:50
Assalamu alaikum, Sister Kathy has the best answer to the question:-) I just love it. If she doen't mind, I'll be unoriginal and echo it as my answer. Brother Kashif, Is that Dr. Umar Al-Ashqar? The one who used to be in Kuwait?  He used to be the Imaam of our mosque when we lived in Kuwait. Small world eh? Thanks for clarifying the word "Sayyed" Brother Arsalan.  I have always wondered what it meant..hmm makes sense now.   Wassalam

Re: Where would you like to go?
Kashif
10/13/00 at 10:57:59
assalaamu alaikum Sr Mona Small world indeed. His books are really inspiring and he is a scholar who is doing some really good work where he is alhumdulillah. But I have to complete my arabic asap so that i can benefit from the ulama we have! BTW. does anyone know how easy it is for sisters to study under scholars like this? Do the scholars hold classes for all, with sisters behind a curtain or something? Or would it be like i'd have to go to the class, learn the lesson and then teach that to the womenfolk in my house? Kashif Wa Salaam PS I think my trip to China is still the most exciting answer yet.

Re: Where would you like to go?
abc
10/13/00 at 12:04:29
assalamalikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh Mona, what mosque would that have been? I've lived in Kuwait for about 15 years but have never heard of this Sheikh :(   and now he's no more here :( anyways, I'd love to go to the far east, visit Malaysia, singapore etc. Dunno why but these countries sort of fascinate me. And oh yes, like sis Kathy I'd LOVE to go into the arms of my beloved ;) as soon as I figure out who the person is. :) wassalam abc

Re: Where would you like to go?
widad
10/13/00 at 12:19:51
slm Yeah,everybody you should all work real hard on arabic and leave the other languages aside wallahi you are missing a lot ,enough that you miss the beauty of the quran. What makes me real sad is that the arab-talking people miss out on the beauty of the quran too,but at least the non-arabs DON'T KNOW arabic,but the ones who do know, don't know the beauty of it out of neglect. Ya rabb guide all the muslims in the world to what You love and want,ameen ya rabb al-alameen. *PS. I myself only knew the beauty of the quran just two years ago when  I started taking tajweed lessons.
NS

Re: Where would you like to go?
widad
10/13/00 at 12:35:12
slm Arsalan and all the non-sayeds out there don't despair,it's not important really who our forefathers were(I was just telling Saleema we were relatives,heheheh).What counts is  what we do for islam and how God-fearing we are.So no need to claim anything,just do your best and fear Allah and do what you can for Islam. Remember what the prophet said to his daughter Fatima :meaning of hadeeth:Ask me for my money whatever you want,butI can do nothing for you when it comes to Allah(Allah's rights)"ya fatima bint muhammad ,salini ma shi'ity min mali,la ughni anki minallahi shaya'an). And in another hadeeth when they went to him to forgive some woman from the law of cutting the hand of a thief,he also said:"If Fatimah bint Muhammad had stolen,I would've cut her hand..." Ya Allah use us for the sake of Islam and help us in our iman,ameen yarabb al-alameen.
NS

Re: Where would you like to go?
Mona
10/13/00 at 22:59:29
Assalamu alaikum Sister abc- that was masjid Al-shaikha Badriyya in Salmiyya.  Dr. Al-Ashqar likely left Kuwait, like us and most Palestinians, after the 1990 events.  The reason I remember him is because my dad and brothers knew him on a personal level then. Bother Kashif- you have a valid point. I don't speak from experience but I think that the exact format of teaching depends on the 'comfort' levels of the shaikh and his female students. I seem to recall that sisters Jannah and sse7en mentioned that they are studying with a shaikh in their mosque. How is done there sisters?

Re: Where would you like to go?
Kashif
10/13/00 at 19:03:32
assalaamu alaikum Sr Mona I was actually referring to the facilities for learning in the Middle East. Is it safe to assume that the way Islam is taught in the West is different to the way its taught in the Middle Eastern countries? Kashif Wa Salaam
NS

Re: Where would you like to go?
Mona
10/13/00 at 23:38:17
Assalamu Alaikum, Brother Kashif, yes things are very much different in the middle east. Usually there is a complete separation of the women. They sit in a different room where they cannot be seen or heard from. The room is of course equipped with a PA system in order for them to hear the imaam during halaqas. As you might imagine, there was little chance for women to ask questions. Not surprisingly, women's attendance at these things was not exactly stellar. Yet, there were a few sisters with a sound knowledge of Islam who regularly organized 'all-women' halaqas which were held in one of the sisters houses. Granted, they were not scholars with a formal education in Shari'a, but I personally learned a lot from going to these halaqas. And actually it was fun too since most of the other students were girls in my age group.

Re: Where would you like to go?
jannah
10/13/00 at 23:54:14
Our classes and halaqas are together ie both brothers and sisters and families and kids are all there, but the sisters are separate from the brothers and the imam sits kinda where both can see him. I find seeing the speaker changes my whole outlook on learning. If i was in a room with a PA I wouldn't come back.  I've seriously been in too many mosques stuck in the basement or the back room or behind curtains...what's the point you might as well learn from a book or a tape. Anyway lest my bitterness overtake me i'll say adieu

Re: Where would you like to go?
Arsalan
10/14/00 at 00:36:42
Assalamu alaikum, Jannah, your frustration is understandable because of the environment that you have been raised up in.  In the old days, in Hindustan, Muslim ladies would learn from their teachers from behind a curtain.  They were used to it, and therefore didn't have any problems whatsoever.  Of course, when you are used to attending high school and college in this country, and moreover listening to shuyookh etc live in conventions and stuff, it becomes difficult when somebody puts a barrier between you and the speaker. Anyway, I think the way things happen in our Masjid is rather unique.  There is a separation between men and women, but not using a curtain or a wall.  There is a sliding glass door that is the barrier between the two sides.  The glass is one-way, like those limousine glasses.  The sisters can see us, we can't see them.  So whenever a speaker gives a khutbah or a lesson, or even when we are praying, the sisters can see everything.  For communication, a wireless microphone is available for the sisters to ask questions.  They can also submit written questions if they are shy to speak out. The glass doors work out real well, alhamdulillah, except for one slight problem - some new brothers tend to comb/set their hair in the reflective glass, thinking there is nothing behind it!  Imagine the sisters watching the amusing scene from behind the glass :) Wassalamu alaikum.

Re: Where would you like to go?
bhaloo
10/14/00 at 01:21:17
[sa] [quote]Imagine the sisters watching the amusing scene from behind the glass :) [/quote] LOL, how embarassing for these brothers.  This reminds me of a museum I went to that had something like this, a 2 way mirror.  On the side with the mirror there was a sign that said check your teeth, and it had pictures of funny faces to try and make in the mirror.  Walking a little further down the hallway in the museum there was a room one could enter where one could see all these people making funny faces in the mirror. ;) There is a mosque in northern California that has the mirror as well.

Re: Where would you like to go?
se7en
10/14/00 at 10:45:51
as salaamu alaykum wa rahmatAllahi wa barakatuh, The masjid in Troy is setup for the general classes like this: ------\ bros   \          \              ------\ br.M             sis  \                          \ ------------------- So both the brothers and sisters can see br. Mokhtar from where they are, but they can't see each other.   Isn't my artistic ability awesome :) That sliding glass door thing is pretty phat.  Hahah, and I can imagine the sisters laughing at all the brothers checkin themselves out, hehehe :)   I think the reason we're not comfortable with being curtained in or closed off is because we've had an amazing teacher who has always made sure that we are acknowledged and given the same opportunity for knowledge the brothers have.  Every single one of his classes, seminars, everything, there isn't even a question about sisters participation.  I remember once someone was making an announcement and said "brothers we need to..." and he said "say brothers *and* sisters"  All of us were like ;D  Little things like that man, when you're used to having a teacher that considerate, that treats you like that, it's hard to have patience with other kinds of teachers.

Re: Where would you like to go?
nadeem
10/14/00 at 13:29:14
Salaam. Just like to repeat my question agan. Who is dr ashqar?what does he teach etc? Also what kinda dawah activities or islamic activities take place in Albany and what ulema are there? wassalaam

Re: Where would you like to go?
Mona
10/18/00 at 19:36:25
Assalamu Alaikum, I will answer the part about Dr. Al-Ashqar, and this is just what I found on the internet after a brief search. I should say that I feel kinda of embarassed not to know all this before, especially that Shaikh Umar Al-Ashqar was the imam of our mosque in Kuwait...but I was too young then :-).   Dr. Umar Al-Ashqar is currently a faculty member at the Dept of Islamic Studies in the University of Jordan.  He obtained a PhD in comparative jurisprudence from Al-Azhar University (Egypt) in 1980. One of the websites I just came across mentions that he is a  student of Shaikh Mohammed Nassiruddeen Al-Albanee rahimahu Allah (from http://www.fatawa-online.com) Shaikh Umar Al-Ashqar authored numerous publications, but I found only 2 in my quick search: -The Names and Attributes of Allah -The World of the Jinn and Devils (Available at Barnes and Noble!!) You may ask brother Kashif about his collection of Dr.Al-Ashqar's books. Wassalam

Re: Where would you like to go?
proudtobemuslim
10/19/00 at 10:40:13
Assalam-u-Alaikum, A place I'd really like to visit is Spain... see the Rock of Gibralter (Jabal-at-Tariq) etc.  I think china would be a really interesting place to visit, but im also interested in those plainy areas in scotland/ireland (dunno which one).  I just see them on tv with grayish clouds, strong winds and tall green grassy things in a hilly plained backdrop... just beautiful, Masha-Allah.  Or maybe im just that desperate for a change in the hot weather that seems to be wherever i go!  And of course i just gotta get myself over to lahore someday (no, ive still never visited there!!!) Sis. Saleema you have any tips for tracing family lineages?  People say that my ancestors are probably mongolian... but i'd really like to know for sure!   Wassalam-u-Alaikum Uzer

Re: Where would you like to go?
proudtobemuslim
10/19/00 at 10:42:21
OH MY GOD 100 POSTS!  WHO NOTICED?! Wassalam-u-Alaikum Uzer

Re: Where would you like to go?
Saleema
10/19/00 at 11:30:00
Assalamoalykum, LOL. Only you noticed. Your last name--tell it to some people in Afghanistan and they will direct you to your people.  that is the only way.  Afghanis haven't put their ancestorly lineages on the internet yet like other countries...so that is the only way to know. Trust me, those people still take pride in knowing what tribe they come from and have al this cool info. Or maybe check with some old people in your family, maybe they will have books that are updated everyonece in a while, like they do with my family. wassalm

Re: Where would you like to go?
Anonymous
11/16/00 at 18:36:42
Salaam               A place I would love to go to...               Well I have been to Mecca and Medina Turkey and many middle eastern               countries. I loved some parts of Europe, like France, but believe me, the               best place to go to is NYC with some one you love...NO do not get me               wrong. What I meant is some one close to you. Believe me, I tried it, and               it was Great..               By the way...Britain was great. I loved it. I went ot Leades, and I               want ot go back.               If any one wants to go to NYC next month let me know...:)   WINK                                             Hiyam

Re: Where would you like to go?
Malika
11/17/00 at 12:41:20
Assalamu Alaikum Some isolated tropical island (I don't think Bora Bora qualifies) like Sr. Jannah said with a empty beach. just looking at the water is a very serene moment or hour etc.. Then I would love to visit Africa (I am a Discovery channel nut) and see some of those wild animals up close. Then off to Canada to see the waterfall. Now, about the one way glass that is a very good idea as I feel like I am being totally alienated when I have to go to the basement or an extra room (that is what it feels like) and hear the Khutbah or recitation of Quaran or make Salah.  It feels like you were an afterthought and they were forced to include you.  Although I do understand the reasons for the separation and agree with them but gosh!
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