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Suggestions for the board

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Suggestions for the board
admin
09/12/02 at 15:00:47
Please post your suggestions here!
Re: Suggestions for the board
admin
09/12/02 at 15:02:30
Salaams

Hope all is well with you and your family.

A couple of things I've thought about the board...

Have you thought of haivng only a moderator forum or
link where the mods can have a discussion but its held
in private view and not public, in other words only
mods can see this folder and not everyone else ?

What about having an online chat room again just
decdicated to you guys or say for example, you wanted
to teach somebody dawah or there was a special course
or subject and it was opened or invited through a
faciltiy common as a chat room ?It'd be live and
perhaps may appeal to people, for example, have you
seen Microsoft NetMeeting ????? A similiar function to
that. Now since you're quite experienced in your dawah
and your knowledge perhaps it may be a way to share
this knowledge with others.

I also feel that the old board was quite good, it felt
slightly more in line with Islamic terms, maybe its
just me with the pressures of family life not
recognising the new features of the new board. Yet I
do feel that we need to change our slant a bit and
gear more towards inviting people.
Another problem, well not a problem is the state of
our ummah, right now we are in the doldrums. And
nearly every Islamic board you go to, its like lets
get Ariel Sharon and his henchmen or always on about
Al-Qaeeda and 9/11, and I think we can't escape from
this. Even our own Ummah board which has adjusted its
place, lately is again full of news that is either
Palestine, Al-Qeeda, Afghanistan or some sort of
oppression against the muslims. I feel if the Ummah
board was more than just reporting oppression of
Muslims it would be better. Yet the question arises,
how do we control this better ? Do we have a stricter
policy in place or should another folder be created
which soley focuses on human rights issues with
Muslims ???

I have got a few other issues but I won't address them
right now.

One thing I do find is that I feel I'm quite old for
the board and I do sometimes think its time for me to
move on. I have thought of creating my own msg board
where the age limits of joining are a bit higher
perhaps for the oldies and goldies, you'd be invited!.
The reason that I'm saying this is when I read some of
the posts on the board I feel I want to discuss more
finer topics and in depth. I'd love to talk about
finance, economics, science, welfare, more topics as
how we can move forward together as an ummah. Maybe
I'm just too old or maybe its something else...

Well anyway hope you have a nice journey to India, a
word of caution don't have any Islamic bayaans on you
as your traveling. I've heard some scare stories where
a few scholars have landed in jail only because they
had an Islamic talk in urdu or Arabic, the authorities
have cited that this was a jihadi talk, what rubbish!.

Well if I don't get to hear from you again, then take
care as you and the fellow Madinites have been great.
May Allah make all your dreams come true in this life
and the next.
Re: Suggestions for the board
admin
09/12/02 at 15:03:48
Bismillah and salam,

Here is my list of things that can be improved:

1. I hope you can make the search feature open a new page when you click on the thread. I liked that in the old board because you can open a few and compare,etc

2.i agree with what someone said that it would be nice to have it more action oriented.
i think having an e-jihad forum is good for many reasons, some of which is motivating other muslims to take their faith to action, and ingraining in non-muslims what the word jihad can also be.
Ex. of actions in such a forum would be:
-letter writing campaignes (not just to protest, but i always want to write some people as well for da3wa. Like for example when i saw the mother of the Samantha Runnion and she is distraught and she said she is getting alot of support from the letters and she promised to read them all. i thought if only 50 muslims would write her different letters of support and da3wa i think she would look into it, because it is the right time for da3wa)
-memorizing Quran together was nice. i wish it continued
-study club. many books are online and we can read together to take advantage of it, and exchange information. Or we all listen to one particular lecture and we summerize or write one thing we liked and whatever is the best one can get sent to all the madina members in an email.
-although i didn't join but i think it was a good idea to do the missions. We can do talk to one peron about islam who is a stranger, help a sister accomplish a life goal, etc.
-I would even like to see everynow and then a pc program lessons. Like photoshop and we all make an islamic da3wa collage. or i don't know what they would learn to make those nice flashes/short movies with images, sound, and writing.


3. I hope we never make the friday night poetry thing even though some people asked. I think never should we say we meet online at this one particular time, as people will pass up real life opportunities to do this. it should be at the convenience and at the right priority.

4. I must say i love the board but i often feel that something is compromised for the sake of da3wah. i mean, when it comes to women especialy. If something is said to be closer to taqwa, someone will always write and say..oh there is a difference of opinion and it is easier to go with the other opinion,etc instead of really encouraging each other as muslims to do better. I think from experience the new muslims are more eager and accepting of things that born muslims resist still (ex. hijab, not mixing for no good reasons,etc.) It would be nice if the standard is hightened without making it hard or unappealing to non-muslims. One way we can do this is have a series just for the impowerment of sisters since everything else in this world is pretty much against. Maybe we have a lessons on nisa' khalidat like the one by Dr. tariq swaidan (memorable sisters of history stories), when we see how they lived we won't want to settle for the vanishing little trivials and luxuries of this world insha'Allah and will  focus more on akhira. I think it is true, we don't see it too often that we push each other to do better. if you were doing something for 10 years that is halal, why not by now try doing something mustahab? I would love to find a place anywhere where a few committed sisters can challenge themselves to do better islamically. And once in a while when the mainstream says this is ok, to speak out and say there is something better, instead of always the opposite.

Other impowerment tools: tips on nondependency and on aim towards self suffiency as they are preconditions to an islamic revolution. Obviously i don't mean from men as we are a pair. I mean from any non-islamic system. This can range anywhere from the basics of survival: how to make many foods with only flour. how to garden, to make clothes, to encourage marrige and having children and raising them right, to know how to use naturual things to heal...to other modern day needs that may include budgeting tips, freebies, making use of time and technology,etc

5. Don't get rid of posting anonymously feature.
6. Add a spellcheck :)

If i think of more things i will email again insha'Allah.
Re: Suggestions for the board
admin
09/12/02 at 15:05:07
Salam alaikum,
Ok, I did my homework, so here it is:

Adding new moderators. I would love to help with the sister’s forum, if you need any help there.
Making the board members-only. I agree 100% with this. I personally think it’s scary that people lurk around for so long… I mean, who knows who is lurking about.

Creating new forums. Some type of health awareness forum dealing with exercise, healthy eating, new researches by the medical/science people, cancer, diabetes, ect…… (we need to make sure or Ummah is healthy and informed!)

Removing unused forums. I don’t see a need for Jannaration J Oasis; it’s hardly ever used.

New creative ideas for the Special forum.

-Islamic Quizzes.

-Islamic articles that everyone reads, and then posts what they understood from it and how they benefited from it and how to apply it in their everyday lives using real examples.

-Weekly goal setting and then posting if they achieved their goal

Adding new features. I’d love to have more icons and fonts available. I would also like if another name could be used for non-Muslims on the board underneath their board name. That way we are not calling a non-Muslim a Muslim and also when they post or give advice, everyone knows its coming from a non-Muslim.

Allowing new members only by recommendation. I don’t like this idea too much. The Madina is for dawah, we should not pick and choose who to give dawah to. Also many people find the Madina by surfing the net and become nice/informative members on the board. This allows for diversity, which I think makes the board so great.

Not allowing certain types of posts or topics. I dislike when someone posts something about a problem with someone else, then some people start bashing the one that didn’t post. I truly believe there are 2 sides to each story and we should also give benefit to the doubt. So perhaps these types of responses should not be allowed since we don’t know the whole story. We should just give kind/beneficial advice to the one posting the problem.



Re: Suggestions for the board
admin
09/12/02 at 15:05:43
Asalam Alaikum,

Although I wasn't a member and never posted anything, I would visit the board once or twice a week and always come away having learned something new and beneficial alhamdulillah. I hope you do not make it for members only as I am sure that many people feel the same way.

Wasalam Alaikum Wa rahmatullah...
Re: Suggestions for the board
admin
09/12/02 at 15:07:39
Assalamu Alaikum,

Dear Jannah,

I hope the vacation yields some fruits Insha-Allah.

As for recommendations, the thing that first comes into mind is something
that I have posted before on the board and that is about the redundancy of
some of the sections.

My most visited sections on the board are Bebzi Stand and Naseeha corner,
and then the Taqwa Masjid, Ikhwan folder and the UCC.

Other than these I think the following should be combined:

1.IHKabob and Shahadah bookstore.  The should be combined and renamed to
somehting general along the lines of "Your literary exploits here".

2. The Generation J should be deleted I think.

These are the only ones I can think of right now without having the board as
reference since the others may interest other parties more than I.

I very much do support shifting moderators around even if it is just
arbitrary.  It can serve to make them more vigilant having given new and
somewhat diferent responsibilities (depending on the forum assigned) and
thus may release some form of hidden creativity for that particular subject.
 I think that the function of the moderator should be to not only to remove
unacceptable posts but to promote and help propagate threads that may
generate good discussions (which may otherwise have been left neglected e.g.
due to a poor first post etc.).  I don't really know the difference between
an admin and moderator... i always considered them synonymous.  I just want
to mention that I think a moderator should have sufficient responsibility to
make him or her feel imporant so that he does not feel he his just another
member.  This could lead to more motivation.  (its in the Maslow's hiearachy
of needs or something)  As such maybe it wont be too good an idea to add
more moderators.

Regarding the special folder I think that the best idea would be to assign
essay research questions in the folder and have competitions in that regard.
 But I admit I was never very creative in things like these so I am sure
you guys can think of somehting better.

But I'm sure the most hot issue will be regarding the status of posts in the
madina. Generally I am with the current status quo 99%.  Its just I don't
think its the best idea to not allow duplication of threads.  I mean if
someone comes and asks about dating then would it be most effective to just
direct him to a previous thread and subsequently lock the discussion.  I
don't think so.  New members will have their points of view that might help
as well as the specific questions of the particular new poster.

Otherwise with regards to discussions in which one engages in things that
are best left to scholars I believe 100% that they should not be allowed.  
One would be wise to follow the advice of Sh. Al-Ghazzali when he said if
all ignorants would refrain from discussing religious matters then
disagreement would stop or something to that effect.  Note however, I think
that matters of Aqeedah and the basics of Islam are not subject to
discussion and disagreement and thus should be mentioned and explained as
much as needed.  As such I believe that we should actively promote the
Aqeedah of the Salafus Salih and explain the incorrectness of deviant
Aqeedahs such as that of Wihdatul Wujood.

These are the things the glare at me immediately; Insha-Allah I will try to
give as many suggestions as I can as they come to me... otherwise I believe
that jannah.org/board is still the best discussion board on the internet.  
And althought it is not at its prime right now I hope that this email may
play a small part in helping it to regain its former glory... With the
people at the helm as sincere as they are Masha-Allah, I am sure that that
time is not far off.

Jazzak Allahu Khair.

Wassalamu Alaikum,
Re: Suggestions for the board
admin
09/12/02 at 15:08:47
This is in response to the request for 10 suggestion. Your board is so
wonderful I don't know if I can come up with 10.

1) I would keep the mens and womens boards the same. I have seen many women
come to the womens board with some serious concerns and problems. Although
non of are proffessionals, I think many women would hold things inside and
not get help if they didn't have the sisters on the board to lend an ear and
prayer and advice.

2) My main concern is the board where there is a lot of political posts. I
have split feelings about this board. Half of me says it is a good thing
Muslims have a place to compare what they are seeing and reading in the
media, discuss concerns, etc, But if the main basis and goal is to share
Islam, then some folks, (i.e. Americans and British, etc ) may be totally
offended and turned off and not give the board a chance.

When having to confront relationalship issues some counsilers suggest
starting sentences with. I think, I feel, I wonder, I am concern,   and not
...They are this and You are and maybe putting ones post as ... they feel and
they wonder and not saying something "IS".  

Again I have mixed feelings about the above. I want to learn, make friends
and be a friend, not use my time in Medina to defend myself, my country or my
fellow countrymen.  I don't take things personally, but I can't stand by
while Muslims verbally attack my country and BELIEVE ME when I am in Islamic
chat rooms I DO NOT STAND BY while other attack Muslims verbally. I speak out
and defend Muslims.

3) Making the boards a Members only? If I had not had a chance to sample the
board I would not have joined. If you are trying to share Islam and educate
people, how can they learn if they cannot read if they are not a member.

Re: Suggestions for the board
admin
09/12/02 at 15:11:28
Bismillah wal hamdolellah wa assalatu wa asslamu 'ala rasooli Allah,

Assalamu alaikum

Dear moderator(s)

I am a regular visitor and a registered user of the madina message board on
the jannah.org site.

I wish to provide you with some (belated) feedback regarding the message
board given its recent temporary suspension. To be honest, I am not aware of
all the details that compelled you as moderators to pull the plug on the
board, but I trust in your judgment as keepers of a truly wonderful and
beneficial message board.  Jazakum Allah khair for all your ongoing efforts
in making, keeping and guarding the Madina.

Below are some randomly listed thoughts on how to improve an already
wonderful message board, and hopefully to curb future conflicts that might
lead to murky situations.

1. The current open format of the board provides the best combination of
approachability and friendliness.  It attracts many people who are genuinely
trying to understand Islam, as well as many muslims who experience difficult
situations and have no sense of community to help them out.  It is a very
un-intimidating place in its current format and this cultivates a feeling of
belonging to many users. As thus,  I don't favour restricting viewing the
board to registered users.  It is true that this also leaves the door open
for ill-intentioned individuals to post and potentially harm others. But
this is why this board is moderated. In the past such individuals have been
weeded out easily.

2. As to the registered users who never post, I think it is just shyness and
maybe inability to articulate thoughts initially.  After a month or so, they
can be deleted if they haven't posted anything.  I think this is fair. There
should be no need for frequent warnings that they need to post to maintain
their membership active.  If after a month they still did not post, then
they should be automatically deleted explaining that active membership
requires posting and that they could come to the board to read its contents
without registering if they wanted.

3. Membership regulations are fine in the current format. If membership is
made on a recommendation basis, it might initiate some sort of cliquing
(sp?) that would leave others resentful and angry for not being included.

4. The current moderators are doing a wonderful job. I can only imagine how
tough such a responsibility is.  They probably need a break from time to
time.  How about holding a moderator retreat (cyberly of course) from time
to time?

5.  Deletion of troublesome members should be done if they abuse their
membership and behave in violation of constitution. If some members are
deleted unjustly, or if this is done in a way that may seem unjust, the
morale of the whole board is affected.  I also recommend that before members
are deleted that they are requested to "resign" the board, to save face.  If
they refuse, then you may delete them yourself.  In any case, this should be
done as a last resort and with utmost discretion.  I am particularly puzzled
and saddened by the sudden deletion of mwishka, who we are told has
developed an addiction to the board - well who hasn't?  Again, I trust that
you had other reasons that rationalized this deletion.  But to be honest,
this just seems unwarranted given that she has been trying to come to a
closer understanding of Islam while leading a very troubled life.  

6. The topics/discussions that seem to fuel bickering between members are
all well known.  No matter how many articles you add to the constitution,
these topics will creep up some way or another.  So, my suggestion for the
moderators is to stay calm and not to take sides no matter what the
circumstances are, even if they agree with the person who is causing the
trouble in the thread.  Remind others of civil and Islamic conduct when
needed by way of instant messaging/email.  If the discussion continues to
deteriorate, then lock the thread.  Ideally, the moderators should be as
neutral as possible in conflicts on the board, just like a parent trying to
break apart 2 quarrelling children.  Never take sides.

7. Cutting and pasting of online fatawaa should be banned, because the
fatawaa are often not treated with respect due to ignorance. Individuals
with fiqh questions should be redirected to sites that host question/answer
sessions with learned scholars. Gentle reminder will gradually wean people
off posing these questions, insha'Allah.

I hope the above were of help.  May Allah reward you all.

Take care.
Wassalamu alaikum.
Re: Suggestions for the board
admin
09/12/02 at 15:12:15
AOA
please dont make the madina a member only site. i
love going on your site and i do it a lot. but i've
been too lazy to register. i like using the anonymous
posting feature to ask advice for my problems. so
please keep it open.
Re: Suggestions for the board
admin
09/12/02 at 15:13:22
as-salaam alaikum wr wb:

I think there should be a clear statement of purpose for the board.  Is it a
dawah board geared towards introducing kufaar to Islam or is it a board for
Muslimeen to talk about issues in Islam?  For me there was a lot of
confusion because of the ban on certain topics.  If we cannot talk about
these things, where else would we go?
I suggest a feature like "ask the shaykh" or something where a scholar or
shaykh would answer questions,  there were always people asking questions
and sometimes we would give incomplete answers or opinions.
There should also be more moderators.  And people who violate rules more
than 2 times should be expelled.   First time a warning, then suspension for
a week, then expelled (3 times you're out).  Fitnah of gossip, backbiting,
slandering, should not be tolerated.  People that engage in such behavior
should be expelled immediately with no warning.  Definetely delete members
that have not posted in more than 2 months, unless they notify an admin that
they won't post for x amount of time (travelling, studies, family reasons,
etc)
Also designate threads for "hot topics" (Palestine, Afghanistan, War on
Islam, etc) so instead of someone posting one thread every day and no one
reply, have them post it in the relevant thread and that way it will stay
current.
Basically I call for more discipline and structure.  We should not have to
educate people on adab and manners.  These are things that every person with
common sense and maturity should know already, there are no children on the
board.
May Allah reward you all for your work!

Wa alaikum salaam,
Re: Suggestions for the board
admin
09/12/02 at 15:13:58
Hi, sorry I did not express my option earlier, but I was on holiday and very busy with work.  Looking at the suggestions on the page http://www.jannah.org/madina/, my only comment is that selecting members by recommendation is not a good idea.  This may result in a homogeneity of opinion that would stifle some steps towards a fuller understanding of God and the universe.

I personally discovered the madina by accident, other will do the same, and I don't know any of the other citizens in real life.

Regards
Re: Suggestions for the board
amatullah
09/17/02 at 15:16:01
my suggestion for the search also in the ark to please have headings of each folder it used to be in and then you hit hte little plus sign so that it opens the whole section.

Or at least please have easy access to the page number. to find the akhwat stuff i had to go about through 40 pages first!


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