AA,
It was only a matter of time for this to happen! :) Alhamdullilah, Nadia and Omar are engaged!
We wish them ever-lasting happiness, love, faith, and prosperity. Ameen.
Here's to good things happening to good people!
Omar, welcome to the family.
Congratulations!
Dadi Ami, Baby Aunty, Ali, Umar, and Yours Truly
Hey
My company (ClinPhone : www.clinphone.com) entered a softball league this summer. Overall, we have a winning record, I'm just not sure what it is. But enough about the team, let's talk about me...
For at least a month I have been unable to play with the team because of my hectic work shedule (not playing on your work's softball team because of work - go figure, eh?). But tonight I was abe to play. And did I ever! Our regular pitcher, Charlie, wanted to play first base and so he passed the ball onto me and I humbly (all the while concealing my excitement of what I knew was the inevitable) accepted it. How could I pass up on such an offer? Afterall, growing up playing baseball "back in the days," I was the undisputed strikeout king in my hood. Call me Nolan Ryan, The Rocket, Tom Glavine, Pedro Martinez (which is whom Charlie repeatedly referred me to as), Garland, etc. I fit the fricken bill, man!
Why so full of myself? Well, if the opposing team scored ZILCH (that's zero, or nothing, or nada, or kuch be nae, or...) and your team scored roughly 20, you'd be pretty full of yourself, too, now wouldn't you?!
Next week the playoffs begin. Get your autographs now (especially before I forget your name)...
With all sincerity intended,
Imran M. Shakur
Holler.
Yo, homies -
In the time honored tradition of 'keeping it real,' I've got to let something out, man: The entire Game versus 50 Cent and G-Unit rivalry has caused me significant emotional trauma. In fact, I am unable to sleep peacefully as a result. Not even holding onto my gat (aka, "piece" or "gun"), that lies securely underneath my pillow at night, can console me. Let me explain...
As a student of rap, I'm torn between my West Side roots ( refer to my last name) with The Game and appreciation for the New York niggaz (G-Unit and Jay-Z). Personally, the martyrdom of Pac and Biggie have taught me a lot: "It may be a thug life, but it's the only life you got. We cats are smooth, but we ain't got 9 lives, ya know?" **
(** Phrase copyrighted by Imran '2pac' Shakur. All rights reserved. 1979-2005.)
It's like the death of 2pac and Biggie has been in vain. How can you consider them martyrs now when the East Side and West Side rivalry is heating up all over again?
Thanks a lot, Game, for complicating our friggen lives.What'll become of the hip hop world if we cannot live by the phrase, "One love." Hey, I understand that we're all thugs and that we live by the gun and die by the gun and whatnot. But, at the same time, we have to learn to cope with another, too...
AA
Excuse the nerd-tech moment, but...
:)
AA
A good idea from my brother required me to remove the license plate that read 'yahody.' But, man, you should've seen it! Totally out of left field...
Hi -
This one movie, called The Warrior, looks really interesting. It seems similar to those 'ancient China kung fu epic' type of movies, but with desis. For that alone you have to watch it!
The main actor is a Muslim, I assume (Irfan Khan). Don't know much about him.
If you're into user reviews:
- Yahoo! users give it a "B-."
- IMBD folks say 7.1 stars out of 1 0.
- Critics' reviews seem favorable overall.
So, if you don't watch it in theaters (or theatres for the British readers), definitely rent it. Let me know what you think.
Oh, here's the link:
http://www.miramax.com/thewarrior/index.html
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&cf=info&id=1808412016
Another movie:
Al-Ghazali: The Alchemist of Happiness.
Website: www.matmedia.org
This one seems to have the endorsement of Sh. Abdal Hakim Murad and Sh. Hamza Yusuf (may be?). Watch the trailer. I'm definitely planning on buying the DVD. Can't hurt, right? But based on the trailer, I'm not sure if it's done in the type of narration style where you have scholars like Sh Hamza tell about Imam Ghazali (rh) and then they show part of Imam Ghazali's life? I wouldn't prefer that style to be honest. I'd just like to see the entire film and then perhaps some commentary from the scholars.
Hmm...I wonder what SunniPath would say about this?! Better not ask, man! I already think I know the answer. I think a part of me would feel bad watching an actor portray someone at such a high level as Ghazali (rh). ?!?!?
It's kinda like how there are supposed to be people making movies on Salahuddin (rh), especially after the (pretty good) movie Kindgom of Heaven with Orlando Bloom (the man!) and Liam Neelson (awesome actor). Do you watch it to gain some historical knowledge of that era and the person? Do you also watch it to support Muslims making such movies that insha Allah give good light to us? Or do you following the advice posted here: http://www.sunnipath.com/resources/Questions/qa00003386.aspx?
Sh Faraz's first sentence in response to the question ("Are we permitted to watch 'The Passion?'") and point 3 stick with me the most! Tough questions (for me). But, as my best friend would say, "let's be realistic": I'm probably gonna end up watching it. Wow, me saying that raises an entirely different spiritual/Islamic issue as well. But, it's late now and I must sleep.
Make dua for me! :)
Salaam
Hey -
Alright, so I actually clicked on the link Umar provided to the FDA to see their commentary on the word "hypoallergenic." It is kinda interesting. Basically, the FDA suggests that pharma companies made up the word for marketing purposes. How clever. And conniving!
I can totally see it: Pharma companies getting together at an undisclosed location (i.e., secret chamber underneath icebergs in Antartica) to make words up. In fact, believe it or not, I know this happens. Just between me and you, read the following transcripts taken from such a meeting. For your own safety, don't ask how I got the transcripts. Just be thankful...
"The following is a comprehensive list of definitions that we [big pharma companies] will slowly inculcate the world with:
drugs: (noun)
1: A substance absorbed by the human body through a number of different ways. Drugs are aimed at producing high levels of addiction causing the user to buy more.
Cinnamon (okay, technically, synonym): medication(s)
2: A substance used in high levels by poor people. Also, a substance used in excessive levels by rich kids that are the sons or daughters of American political figures.
Example of use: "Hook a brotha up with some drugs, yo! A brotha has to live, right? Holla!"
Synonyms: medication(s)
money: (noun)
1: Coins or notes used to buy certain items.
Example of use: "We live for money" or "We need more money" or "Let's buy doctors off with money."
2: See: bling, bling.
marketing: (verb)
1: An auspicious way of conducting business through the use of tangibles such as paid-off mortgage bills. Intangibles include vacations to exotic cities that makes the marketee (the one being marketed against) feel good.
doctors: (noun)
1: Individuals qualified to receive formal methods of bribery.
2: The pharmacetical industry's best friends.
FDA:
1. A cover-up organization designed to..."
Well, that was all I got. I hope you...
Oh shoot...I hear footsteps behind me. Gotta go!
Rgds.
I'm just gonna say it:
MY BROTHERS' BLOGS SUCK, man! I mean, who really cares about Ali's adventures on trying to make a router? What the...? Or Umar's all-too-medical blogs on his adventures of being a nerd? Think I'm being too harsh, huh? Think again, buddy:
Umar's most recent entry is entitled, "I produce fewer allergic reactions." Wait! Don't go. You've got to read this:
"Apparently the word 'hypoallergenic' doesn't really mean anything at all...I
thought products with that description underwent some rigorous cleansing process
to remove allergens or something...but I guess it doesn't have to mean much at
all according to the FDA."
"Like I said in my earlier positing, I am working with a router at home. I was
able to give it a host name, configure IP address for the serial interface
and Ethernet interface, change the login password, and save the configurations to
the router.The next thing that I will do is have the router communicate with the
PC. Stay tuned for my exciting adventures in the router world!!!"
"So, wait! You're telling me that the three guys surrounding the newly weds are single? How is this possible?" Come on, I know you were thinking it. Alright, just humor me then...
Insha Allah, we all wish the best for Bilal and his wifey, Umrana (sp?). They look like an awesome couple and since Bilal is one smooth cat, I'm she's cool as heck, too. We pray for their happiness and a long, happy, healthy, wealthy, iman-filled life. Ameen. I also pray that Bilal remembers us, too. The dude is so fricken whipped, man...
Man, this sucks.
I just found out an old friend from a previous job is being 'released'. This has bummed me out for a lot of different reasons:
1) He's a friend of mine and someone I respect greatly. We get along on different levels and I sincerely admire his ever-lasting and unselfishly selfish (think about that one) love for his two young sons.
2) The company is relatively small and my friend has been with them for at least the past five years (back when the company was made up of 10 or 12 people). If you've ever worked for a small company, you're well aware that after just one year, you feel like a part of the family or an "inner circle." So multiply that feeling by at least 5. And now cut yourself of that relationship. Yeah, not so nice, is it?
3) Apparently, the company still knows little about the value of loyalty and committment. This friend of mine has, on multiple and frequent occassions, slept over at the office in order that he may get what needs to be done, done. Doesn't that count for something, even if there are faults within my friend. (Whom can you honestly say in your work environment is perfect after all?)
4) The company still knows little of project and personnel management. This can only lead to a company's self destruction as A) people quit or B) people are fired because existing managment is not ready to cope with change in a needed, pragmatic, and in this case, dramatic, way.
One interesting story to note about my friend:
A great saxophone player, he often plays by Watertower in Downtown Chicago off of Michigan Ave. One day, while playing, a man in a big, assumingly expensive fur coat comes out of his limo, rushes to the other side of Michigan Ave to where my friend is playing and drops a twenty in the empty sax case and says to my friend, "I know a good sax when I hear one." The mystery man that said is was none other than Paul McCartney. Yes, one of the fricken Beatles told my friend that he is a good sax player. Unbelievable!
Lessons Learned:
Be prepared for anything. Whether it's knowning how to deal with your growing company, managing people, or life in general, you should always accept what's happened(or happening), deal with it in the best manner, and move on. If you sincerely trust in God, you will find that everything works out for a reason. Just pray that it works out for the best.
Also, how come Paul McCartney only dropped a twenty? Isn't that almost a slap to the face?!
Best.
Salutations -
Alright, so it's been a few months since I've had a McDonald's lunch. No, I'm not joking -- it really has been that long. Stop laughing, you incredulous punk!
Unfortunately, my few month hiatus from the Golden Arches deserves another long-term hiatus. You see, I've been meaning to write this blog for the past few hours now, but have been unable to do so because of resulting unpleasant bowel movements post the McDonald's lunch, which has caused several visits to the washroom. Ugh!
Without divulging all the dirty little secrets (hee hee), I will now make a smooth transition onto today's topic: The guy who ate McDonald's for 30 days in a row (see documentary: Super Size Me). His name is Morgan Spurlock; also known in the medical community as an idiot, but as a messiah in the fat people community. (See Spurlock's blog at: http://blogs.indiewire.com/morganspurlock/)
You've probably heard by now of his new TV show on FX (Fox Network - go figure!) called 30 Days. If not, too bad. The point of the show is to have someone live someone else's life, in a manner of speaking, for 30 days. Well, one episode dealt with a white guy...err, a male Caucasian from somewhere where there's a lot of white, ignorant people**...is dropped off in the middle of Dearborn, Michigan, where Muslims are the majority. So this guy (David Stacy) lives with a young Muslim couple while trying to learn what these 'fanatical' Muslims are all about.
**(Disclaimer: I'm not saying white people are ignorant. Just the ones in America. J/k!)
"We live in a country where 3 in every 20 people have passports. That's only 15%. We rarely think beyond our own communities, let alone beyond our borders. What this show is about is what happens when you let your guard down to learn something new about someone else; someone you judged for reasons that weren't even supported by your own experiences, but by stereotypes, rumors and conditioning.
This episode is about American born muslims, people whose
parents came to America with the same hopes and aspirations as your and my ancestors. They are Americans, just like you and me, and they have a deep faith and belief in God."
Greetings,
Unfortunately, I find that my next blog entry is dedicated once again to counter my brother's argument of being a White Sox fan. Upon reading mine, he came up with the (largely weak) comeback as follows: http://ushakur.blogspot.com/2005/07/evolution-or-why-im-sox-fan.html.
Read it, if you're bored and willing to gouge your eyes out. Or, rather, your heart in this tragic case.
Actually, the more that I think of about this, the more I've come to realize two things: 1) I don't need to warrant a comeback and 2) I've learned, after 25 years of existing, a new thing about my brother. Allow me to elaborate on point #2...
Umar, ever so wittingly, entitled his comeback response (I swear I saw him wear a Cubs rally cap while writing it) "Evolution.." blah, blah, blah, blah. After reading it, I quickly realized that my brother has the making of being a player. Specifically, a playa. Confused? Well, here's my psychoanalysis: Like most playas, he was attracted to a certain, let's say, object. Soon after the object got used and abused, he immediately began seeking other, more appealing objects. The curves weren't as curvy in the older object and so he felt he had to move on. Thus...
Okay, before your mind dips into the gutter, you should know I was talking about a curve ball pitch and how the Cubs (i.e., the "object") started to fall apart, alright? Getting back to my analysis...
... we now have a "new" Umar. One whom, my respected female readers, you should be careful and in fact fearful of.Afterall, man's sense of loyalty to sports is directly and unequivocally connected to his sense of love, marriage, etc.
Even if a chick becomes like a rotten tomato, all smushy and ugly, your significant other would rightly root for you and say, "Honey, I know you can't fit into those jeans like last summer season, but you're still my go-to woman always." What would a shark like Umar say? "You old bag! What the heck's the matter with ya? You know you're too dang fat and out of shape to be puttin' em jeans on! You had one good honeymoon year and that was it!" Next thing you know, these pigs are suddenly strolling down the park, thinking, "Man, so-and-so does a good job putting those jeans on. And they've been consistent from season-to-season. I should check it out..."
Fast forward a few years later, and you find Umar sitting at home writing blogs about how he's happily married to another red hot girl...err, team.
Alright, alright! We all know that Umar isn't like that in the least (thankfully!). And we know that he's a sensitive, caring dude. (But if you ask me, a little too sensitive, may be? :) ) Not to mention, he's simply an oustanding citizen. But I have made a valid point here today: You can tell a lot about a man by the way he supports his teams.
And on that note, you should know that I'm easily the biggest Chicago Bears fan out there. I am in love with Da Bears and I'd do absolutely anything for you...them, I mean.
Yo! The beauty of Madinah is breath-taking. Subhan Allah! Below is a recent email I sent to a good friend about it (I'm posting it here b/c of the excerpts I copied and pasted):
"AA Bro,
I came across a blog that's being dedicated to the Rihla your wife is attending! Pretty cool, masha Allah. I read a few of the blogs and it makes you want to die to be there. Masha Allah, the ppl who wrote the blogs wrote it with such feelings (I thought). Check out this excerpt:
"I am so happy to be here, Alhamdulillah. I feel like Allah has chosen and invited me out of thousands that wanted to come. We are being treated like royalty. We are being taken on tours that dignitaries are taken on. It started out bumpy with flight issues but Subhanallah, it is by the wisdom of Allah because such trials bring us closer to Him. Anything worth experiencing is indeed worth being trialed for."
Or this one:
"I have come to realize that the beauty and blessings of Medina include: the little sleep that feels like hours, the little food that keeps you full, and Zamzam that takes care of everything else."
Subhan Allah! ... Here's the blog address: http://q-rihla.blogspot.com/ "
Insha Allah, we all get the opportunity to go there and to be buried there as well.
Well, it had to be done. A memorial of sorts for my fish. My favorite one was the big one you see here. Him (though my mom referred to it as "she") along with the small one that's kinda underneath the classy plastic plant (he may be hard to see) were a part of my life for about 5 great years. The other fish were added more so for the sake of having a supporting cast, ya know?
Often times, my grandmother (Nani Ami) would tell me on the weekends that for dinner, we should fry up the fish; especially the big one. Little did she know that after laughing with her about it, I'd quietly go up to my bathroom and cry for a few minutes at such horrid thoughts. Through my tear-filled eyes, I'd look at the fish and say, "No. Not today guys. Not today and not ever" as I clenched my fist and waved it at nothing in particular. And for a couple great moments, the big fish would look at me as though he understood all my problems and fears. He knew I wouldn't betray him. It was as if he wanted to say to me, "Don't let the pressures of the world get to you, Imran. I know you'd never eat me. Now look at me swim in one of only two directions I can swim in."
We had a good relationship. I'd feed them. They'd eat the food. We were a big happy family. I guess you should know, if you didn't know already, that we placed the fish home ("fish tank" sounds so impersonal, doesn't it?) in our bathroom. It was a perfect fit. We had the sea / lighthouse theme going on in the bathroom with the lighthouse wall paper border, lightly painted blue walls, pictures of fish on the soap dispenser, a couple model lighthouses (one on top of the toilet), and things of that nature. You'd probably be shocked to know that some people felt that their privacy was stripped from them, too, because they insisted that the fish stared at them. I guess I should also mention that the fish home was placed right text to the toilet. "Stripped of their privacy?" I ask! Nay! Rather, they have been given non-judemental companions while...umm...taking care of business. I mean, how fricken cool is that? I'm sure if my house was featured on MTV Cribs, people would be like, "DANG, man! Them Shakur's bathroom is tiiight, yo! They've got a Gilligan's Island-like theme or somethin crazy-fresh like dat all up in their bathroom. And they've got fish in there, too, dude!" Biases aside, I can seriously imagine having a conversation like that.
So, at this point, you may be asking, "Imran, you speak so highly of the fish, but it's all in the past tense. What happened to them?" Glad you asked....
So, over the course of a few months, my mom would mention in passing, "Why don't you get rid of the fish since it's such a big hassle to clean it up?" Could you imagine my rage upon hearing these words from my own mother?! She was the one that had to be the most understanding and protective. I mean, it's in her job title as being a mother, for crying out loud!
Despite my rage and desire to protect (had I turned into a mother of sorts for these fish?), my mom's words would echo through my mind on an occasional basis. Then, I started to think, "What if I set them free? What if I'm holding them back here in this 20 gallon fish home when they could be exploring the world and meeting other fish? What if they'll blame me on the Day of Judgement for that? What if..." Oh my god! What if I really did become a mom?!
Upon this tremendous enlightenment, I decided to cut the umbilical cord. No, I didn't flush them down the toilet (crocidiles in the sewer system would eat them, of course!). Instead <deep breath>, I decided to give them away to a local, small fish and pet store.
This was done nearly 3 months ago. It's tough. I want to tell all parents out there reading this (which is really to say just my mother) that when you let your kids go initially, it can be heart wrenching. Looking into their bubbly little eyes in a bucket of water (note: don't put your kids in a bucket of water, sicko! Just patronize me for a little while longer...), your heart will drop to your stomach. But, know this: It's for the best. Life is to be for living afterall...
Cheers.
AA
Okay, so here's my dillemma: I'm a Cubs fan at heart. I mean, how can you NOT be? Sure, they disappoint you nearly every year, but that's okay, right? I mean, I am a Bears fan, too. (Ouch!)
Seriously, though. How do you not love Jerome Walton's hitting streak his rookie year back in the late 80s? Or Andre Dawson gunning people down from right field? Ryno. Ernie. Wild Thing (aka Mitch Williams). Maddux. And Grace. Just to name a few reasons. Oh, yeah...and Wrigley Field, of course. Hey, it may be against my religion to drink and try to pick up girls there, but it's still an awesome place to kick back and watch the Cubbies play.
Alright. So, back to my dillemma. I like the Sox, too. Now, before you try to write me off as a bandwagon guy considering their amazing year, I'd have to say that you're wrong and on crack. The Sox are fricken tight this year, masha Allah, but I've always respected/liked them. From their jersey to their consecutive years of doing well (sans always breaking down post-All-Star Game/making playoffs). And now there's Ozzie, too. Remember Tim "Rock" Raines? Bo? Harold? Pudge? Ventura? How can you, as a baseball and general Chicago sports fan, NOT appreciate them? Even as I type this, I'm wearing a Sox jersey. In fact, I have more Sox shirts than Cubs.
Now, I'm not an extremist. Specifically, I'm not the type that would wear those shirts that are half Cubs logo and the other half Sox logo. That's just wrong. Haram, in fact, in most baseball madhabs. I do have a backbone afterall. Or do I?
The Cubs-Sox issue has become an issue more so these days as two of my co-workers, one a die-hard Cubs fan and the other a die-hard Sox fan, give me crap for this all day long at work. I told them that when it comes down to it, I'm a Cubs fan. "So, why the Sox jersey, Imran?" they both ask. "Because the Sox jersey is about a bizillion times better than the Cubs." ("And my mom happened to buy the Sox jersey one day many years ago." Yeah, as if I'm gonna tell them that part!)
So, lately I've been telling myself that I just need to pick. My hearts says the Cubs, but my mind the Sox. What to do? For now, I'll just let this be. Perhaps I'll pray istikhara about it.
I guess, at the end of the day, I can at least be proud of myself that I'm not like my brother, Umar (in this regard, that is). If you go to his blog, you'll see one post called, "We're Number One" (see: http://ushakur.blogspot.com/2005/06/were-number-one.html). We?!?!?!? What the heck? This is coming from a guy who, just like me and my other brother (Ali), grew up on the Cubs? I mean, when we played ball and when our team won, we'd yell, just like good ol' Harry would, "Cubs win! Cubs win!" True, we were all jaded by continuous disappointing years and many years of saying, "This is the year..." but you don't go back on your fricken roots and root for the 'other' team to the point that you claim to be one of them!! It's like I can't talk about baseball or even sports with him anymore (I won't even get into him liking the the Green Bay Fudge Packers over the Bears -- I'll save that one for when football season begins). How can I take him seriously? If you have the courage to read his blog, you'll see that even his "support" of "his" White Sox team is half-hearted. Look, I'm at least honest. I tell people that I'm a Cubs fan at heart, but I don't hate on the Sox, as makruh that may be. So here's my message to you, Umar: "We're Number One, huh, Umar? Is that what it comes to now? Where did you go wrong? What college life experience scarred you so? Why create this fitna in our home, brother? It bloody hurt when I read your post. So much so that my heart vociferated, "Et tu, Brute?"
I shall say no more for now...
AA / Hello / Cheerio / Holla at me / Que pasa / Kya bath hae / World,
Yeah, I think that pretty much covers the world's most important welcoming styles.
I felt like I wasn't on the band wagon of the Blog World, so here I am. I can now take comfort in belonging to something great. Something with a purpose. Something that will take me somewhere...
So here I go...MY FIRST BLOG POST! Gotta make this one count...
" ... "
Umm. I actually don't have anything to say right now. So, cheers and all that. I'll have something insightful to say here. Okay, stop laughing. Eventually, it's gotta happen, ya know...
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