Prelude | Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII

The “The Motherland” series will go over the benefits and challenges of studying Islam overseas in India, institutions of learning there in, and Nihal Khan’s journey of studying at Nadwatul ‘Ulama in the 2014-2015 academic calendar year. The subsequent articles in this series will detail his experiences and reflections from his travels and studies in India.

. . .

Knowing Your Limits

As soon as I situated myself in Lucknow, I began discovering my physical, emotional, and psychological limits. Experiencing the bitter cold winters of Lucknow and her brutal summers really showed me how my body adjusted without a heater or air conditioner in each season respectively. I also unfortunately encountered the Indian health care system much sooner than I had expected.

Rae Baraily (not to be confused with Baraily): The hometown and resting place of Shaykh Abul Hasan ‘Ali al-Nadwi, the great writer and last rector of Nadwatul ‘Ulama.

Physical

In my first three months in Lucknow, I lost between twenty-five to thirty pounds (11-13 kg) from just adjusting to the food, water, and weather. Americans are bound to lose weight simply by the nature of how people eat in India. Portions are smaller, organic food is more abundant. Oh, and not to mention the water. As soon as I settled into Nadwa (the shorter name for Nadwatul ‘Ulama), I started to drink the tap water of India. I had the typical daily (okay, twice) diarrhea for about three weeks, until one morning I woke up and threw up like I have never thrown up in my life. I felt my stomach was going to come out of my throat.

After that I was in bed for a week or so. But finally after recovering, drinking water from the tap became very easy for me–as did eating street food. As one of my friends said, “You now have a stomach of steel.” I knew I was going to be in India for a long time and decided that it would be most convenient to start getting used to living as others do over there. Getting bottled water was just too complicated after seeing ‘cold taps’ available for drinking right next to your hostel.

The food situation was also quite tricky. After several failed attempts at having food delivered to me from outside tiffin services, I gave up and starting eating out for almost every meal. That became taxing as temperatures were increasing and the cost of meals was adding up. I successfully started eating food from the madrasa cafeteria which happened to taste quite pleasant. I received rice, bread, and lentils twice a day with a different curry dish each time. I still go out, usually once a day, to a local cafe just to unwind and get some comfort food. I spend a decent amount of time studying and eating at the Tramp Tree Café in Hazratganj (the Times Square of Lucknow) which is owned by India’s first MasterChef Pankaj Bhadouria.

Mazahir al-Uloom in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The school where India’s most senior teacher of hadith resides, Shaykh Yunus Saharanpuri.

Emotional/Psychological

When you think things cannot get any more ridiculous, leave it to the interactions of an American student with his Indian environment to prove him wrong. The biggest arena where this was tested was in my interactions with administration,and  students and teachers alike at Nadwa. The most powerful incident which challenged my status quo was when I needed to get a measly managerial task completed, and instead of someone doing their job and getting done what needed to get done, I was introduced to the rather accepted and overbearing culture of purposeful procrastination. It was one of those things which would make me angry, while also upsetting me to the extent of wanting to shed tears, but I would stop myself as there was absolutely no functional premise for me to do so. Crying would not get me anywhere. This was a big deal as many of these tasks need to be completed in succession to be able to either sit in classes, complete registration, get permission to travel during the school year, etc. When this situation would unfold repeatedly, those intense feelings would not come back as strongly as they did the first time. I realized that my level of patience had gone up at that point. I had collected myself emotionally, and was now able to cognitively begin to analyze the environment that I was living in and its effect upon me. I will end up speaking more about this aspect in regards to interactions with students and teachers in the section below.

The Phrase “It’s Really Hot Today” Redefined

Getting used to the climate in Lucknow was not as easy as I had imagined it to be. From May to August the heat is unbearable. The average temperature just in May was 110 degrees Fahrenheit with a 125 degree real feel. It only gets worse in June through August when the humidity sets in. Though the monsoon season also starts around this time sending cool rains to moisten and cool the air, this year the storms arrived very late.

Things cool down between September to mid-December where it’s between 80-90 degrees usually. Then from mid-December to January the temperature drops to 40 to below freezing for many days.  Now though that does not sound too cold, you need to remember that there is no system of heating in most households and motor vehicles–so staying warm can be quite a challenge! Finally, from February to April the temperature is once again mild in the mid 80s during the day.

A goat climbing a car in New Delhi.

What Will You See in the Rest of this Series?

Within this series on MuslimMatters, readers will be shown how life in India is for an American, experiences with health care, law enforcement, locals, Islamic institutions, what students of knowledge should consider before thinking about studying overseas, and lastly reflections and recommendations on the institutions I have visited.

. . .

Check out Part III of this series –> Health Care in India: Scooters, Breaking Bones, and Surgery | The Motherland

The post Self-Revelations: Discovering Your Limits in India | The Motherland: Part II appeared first on MuslimMatters.org.

After a 5-year wait, the Diyanet Center of America, also known as the Turkish American Community Center, is ready for worshipers and for visitors of all faiths.

A true majestic wonder- it is something made from a hundred million prayers. May Allah bless this gift to the people of the United States from the Turkish nation.

The photography is by Salam Aref of New Dream Designs, an upcoming architect, artist and designer based in Maryland.

The center of the masjid is designated as the sacred sanctuary

The Mihrab is made of marble and gold leaf technique which was applied by artisans from Turkey. The upper part of the side of the mihrab is decorated with tiles imported from Turkey. On the pediment of the mihrab is a figure of the tree of life which symbolizes the 99 names of God.

The ornate, marble mimbar is used for special occasions such as the Eid salah. It was designed and made in Turkey

The kursi, where the imam gives dars, is composed entirely of wood and was made in Turkey. The kündekari technique of woodworking (the tongue-and-groove paneling of polygons and stars set in a strap work skeleton), which is the traditional art of wood decoration, and inlaid with mother-of-pearl. As the characteristic of kundekari technique, no nails, screws, glue, or fasteners were used in the panels

Over the area of the sanctuary, there is a main dome on each side of which are five small domes. In order to provide  light inside the mosque, there are windows around the rim of the main dome. This dome is adorned with Arabic calligraphy, one of the traditional decorative arts of Islam. The large and small domes are supported by arches, in conformity with traditional architecture. Four marble columns were brought in from the Turkish provinces of Istanbul, Eskişehir, Afyonkarahisar, and Tokat, which are famous for marble.

An intricately carved rehal holding a large Quran

The central dome is inscribed with Surah al Ikhlas.

A tree of life motif is centered, complete with the 99 names of Allah.

“The Million Dollar Door”

The door of the main masjid is a brilliant piece of art made with the Kündekâri technique, This woodworking technique was developed in Anatolia during the era of the Seljuks. “Masters involved in the art of kündekâri, known as kündekârs, state that the starting point of this art is patience. They also complain about the lack of patience and interest among the younger generations concerning this traditional art form. In practice, say the masters, if you overlook a deviation even on the order of millimeters, you will lose control and fail to assemble the kündekâri. The technique produces pieces that are known to last for seven to eight centuries easily if not subjected to the negative effects of such things as earthquakes, fire, and excessive humidity.” From AnadoluJet magazine.

The mosque has six wood doors which open to three areas of the sanctuary and three areas of the courtyard.

The central courtyard is anchored by a marble fountain. Copper taps are used keep an old world aesthetic.

The windows in the outdoor courtyard

This is the only masjid in America that has two minarets

The mahfil, the area reserved for women covers about 1300 square feet. The ceiling
of the mahfil is covered with five small-scale domes. The domes are decorated with geometric designs.

Chandeliers in the domes of the main hall of the masjid

A 220-seat auditorium is a part of the multi-purpose cultural center. This includes a  conference room equipped with an advanced sound system and simultaneous translation rooms.

Tiles adorning the cultural center at DCA

The post The Most Amazing Masjid Complex Built in the Western Hemisphere appeared first on MuslimMatters.org.

Snapchat – an already popular app – has been gaining a lot more attention and praise lately. An app that allows people to share pictures and videos of what you are currently doing with all your friends, Snapchat (in August of 2014) added a new feature called “Live” to their already existing “Our Story” feature.

With this feature, Snapchat users who are in a certain area or attending a certain event are able to submit their snaps to the event’s Live Snapchat Story, where many photos and videos are picked to be showcased to the rest of the world for a period of twenty-four hours after they are first put up.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsLh6i6kHIo[/youtube]

Snapchat is taking the world by storm by utilizing this feature across the globe, from LA to Japan, and more recently, from Makkah. Muslims from around the world have gathered to perform Umrah, the voluntary pilgrimage, during an incredibly sacred time in which it is believed that the Quran was revealed – the last ten days of Ramadan. This event, known as “Laylat Al-Qadr,” was broadcast during the Mecca Live Snapchat Story.

Naturally, this has many Muslims around the world and especially on social media very happy and excited:

A common theme being represented by the response is that of the beautiful unity of human beings from all walks of life that is being shown:

The Mecca Live Snapchat Story is also giving many Muslims a chance to educate people of other faiths about Islam:

Beyond just that response, however, many self-proclaimed non-Muslims are weighing in with their opinions also. And, given the recent state of representation of Muslims in the media, we seem to be getting an overall positive response:

Even politicians are weighing in on this Live Snapchat Story:

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Representing Texas’ 18th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives

We are seeing that technology – especially social media – is slowly finding its way into our daily lives. This Mecca Live Snapchat story is truly showing the world the true power of social media as not just a platform for people to share pictures of their lunch or videos of their cats, but rather to show the true nature of a group of people who have been maligned by bad press all over the world, who have had their religion hijacked by extremists– a nature that one does not find by simply going online and doing a search on Google.

May Allah bless those who worked hard to get this story in motion and may He invite us all to this holy city one day.

Ameen.

Asad Yazdani is an American Muslim of Pakistani descent. Currently studying Engineering in San Diego, he hopes to find a way to incorporate his studies into bettering the lives of Muslims and non-Muslims around the world one day, inshAllah.

The post #Mecca_Live on Snapchat- Showcasing Laylat Al-Qadr on Social Media appeared first on MuslimMatters.org.

He sat next to me and said, “Let me explain you something.” Just kidding – although it would be much cooler if it started out that way. Here’s what he really said, “Let me tell you something, everything in Islam orients around food.” I started laughing, indulging him politely. But this made him upset.

“This is not a joking matter, I’m serious.” I perked up, taken aback a bit. He then decided to wax philosophical on me by expounding his theory. Ramadan is a great example. We begin and end our fasts together – with food. When we want to increase the bonds of brotherhood, we can’t go out partying or hanging out at bars – so we eat. When we need the community to pitch in and support the masjid, we have a fundraising dinner. When we want the community to come and socialize at the masjid, or even learn, we provide dinner or have a potluck. Some Muslims can’t be bothered to pray Dhuhr on a weekday, but they’ll drive 3 hours to get halal meat on the weekend. Food is the way in which diverse Muslim cultures show each other up. Eating is what we are most passionate about, and halal meat is what we fight about most passionately [Click here to tweet that].

Foodie culture in general has been on an uptick in past years. It’s no surprise that the internet has been a major facilitator of that. We have access to millions of recipes from around the world along with accompanying photographs. We have online review sites where we can discuss food quality at various restaurants – or even provide amateur investigative journalism on where a halal restaurant really gets its meat. We share what we’re eating with everyone. In fact, the oldest joke in the book about social media is, “Why do I need Twitter, no one cares what I ate for breakfast! ha ha ha!”

Food culture is clearly here to stay – and by extension networking around food. As the conversation takes place on social media, the medium will dictate the form of communication. Currency online is in likes, shares, retweets, and comments [please go ahead and share this article on Facebook].

A number of critical questions come up though. These are a few that I have had, and although I don’t have answers, please leave your thoughts in the comments section:

• Is food for sustenance only, or is it meant to be enjoyed? Are there any Islamic proofs giving credence to one side over the other?
• What is the line between being thankful for the food and showing off?
• Are there any limits to appreciating the artistic nature of food?
• Are pictures of food really about food – or something else altogether?

As with all things social media, it boils down to intention. It doesn’t seem like we will ever reach a codified answer of right and wrong. Rather, what is important is to understand why we are sharing a particular photo. I’ll do this with my own Instagram feed. These are actually photos of food I have shared with my friends. Underneath each photo I will highlight a number of different intentions that one could have in posting such a photo. These are not necessarily my intentions, but instead of picking on someone else’s photos, I’m using my own to prove how the same photo can be perceived in different ways.

http://instagram.com/p/ib8PR/?modal=true

This picture can show:

• I’m such an amazing cook – everyone look at me
• Hey I’m learning how to cook, here’s a try, I want to connect with other friends who are doing the same
• I’m an awesome husband

http://instagram.com/p/MO9DOqJVOp/?modal=true

• I’m such a hipster, I’m having something you’ve probably never tried before
• If you’re ever in Atlanta, this is a cool place to try
• Forget the milkshake, I want the world to know my fiqh opinion on marshmallows

http://instagram.com/p/M9fCu7JVMF/?modal=true

• Everyone’s been waiting to try this, I have, so ask me for my feedback
• I’m more cultured than you because I tried this zabihah burger before you did

http://instagram.com/p/NSMD9rpVFW/?modal=true

• Attempt at humor
• Cry for help, wife not home and hoping someone [my mom] sees this and brings food to my house
• Please hit the like button to give me validation

http://instagram.com/p/PS_LxMJVHh/?modal=true

This one is a little easier. Nothing is ever wrong with some Texas pride.
http://instagram.com/p/TrlLQ-pVKV/?modal=true

• I’m adding cooking to my array of awesome skills
• I read a book and am using the hashtag to share my experience and connect with other readers of the book
• Maybe this is a dish you’ll enjoy so I’m just putting it out on the internets

http://instagram.com/p/aT9vqdpVAA/?modal=true

• Appreciating the artistry of the restaurant
• Doing a public service by geo-tagging the photo so others considering this venue can see real photos
• I’m a foodie and know all the cool places to eat at in Dallas

http://instagram.com/p/kZjID0pVOm/?modal=true

Again – Texas pride is practically fard.

http://instagram.com/p/nB2PBypVKA/?modal=true

• Look at me, I like Pakola (i.e. I really am Desi).
• I found a really cool local Muslim business everyone should support.
• If you don’t think a Pakola snow cone sounds appealing, then you’re not a good person inside.

http://instagram.com/p/rphwwepVNy/?modal=true

• I want to show off who I was eating with
• My friends think I talk about important things
• Maybe I didn’t want to post this, but because my friend did, I wanted to acknowledge it by re-sharing it
• I appreciate well done latte art, but just don’t want to be too in your face about it

http://instagram.com/p/vwSU7gJVIN/?modal=true

• I’m courageous enough to try foods you’ve never heard of
• I’m cooler than you because I eat food like this
• Step up to my instagram food photography skills

http://instagram.com/p/yXlNcEpVCx/?modal=true

• Look at me, I’m in California
• Look at me, I’m so cool because I’m eating with Imran
• I’m sophisticated because I can find cool foodie places that aren’t touristy
• Had a good time eating with a friend and wanted to document the experience

—

The hadith, “Actions are judged by their intention,” forms the foundation of how we view social media. Sharing photos of food can be an expression of yourself or part of your personality. It can be a service to others. It can be purely entertainment. It can be artistic appreciation. It might be a way of connecting with others around a common interest or shared experience.

When posting a photo, ask yourself what you’re trying to get across. This doesn’t mean that everything has to have some unique value to make the world a better place. Maybe it’s just pure entertainment – that’s ok, and there is room for that.

Food can also be a way of connecting with family – sharing photos from family dinners or parties, or reminiscing on something specific from a particular family member.

But food photos can also be self-serving, a sign of ingratitude, or for those who constantly post everything they eat – a sign of some serious issues. For some it can be a means of hoarding and attention – craving likes and shares at all costs.

Before you post that next food photo online, just slow down and ask why. Be comfortable with your answer and go from there. Just have limits – like standing on a chair at a restaurant to get a better shot. In that case, you’re better off not documenting it and just enjoying the meal instead.

For more articles like this, and a free copy of the 40 Hadith on Social Media eBook, sign up for the Fiqh of Social Media email list. 

The post The Fiqh of Foodstagramming appeared first on MuslimMatters.org.

Once in Makkah, he embraced Islam according to some and was spying according to others  and was known as Abdul Ghaffaar. There he took photographs and made various sound recordings. In this recording of the Quran, Surah Duha is being recited using Thomas Edison’s newly-invented wax cylinders. ‘He stayed for five months, documenting the run-up to Hajj, but although he had intended to stay for the pilgrimage, he was forced to leave after unfounded accusations of his involvement in an attempt to steal a historical artifact’ by the French government.

This recording was exhibited in Dubai’s Empty Quarter Gallery.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/y2z34uYXF5I[/youtube]

The post This is Perhaps the Oldest Recording of the Quran using Edison’s Wax Cylinder Phonograph appeared first on MuslimMatters.org.

This month we wanted to do something special and highlight our masajid. With that in mind, we’ve got a special photo contest with 4 prizes. Here’s how it breaks down:

Simply take a photo (or a few) at your masjid and submit in the appropriate category-

1. Inside your mosque
2. Outside your mosque
3. With the Imam
4. At Taraweeh prayers.

Write a short caption about what makes your masjid yours and let us know what’s in the photo.

*Contest is for masjids in the United States.

Once you’ve submitted a photo, make sure to let your friends know so they can vote. A winner with the top 3  votes in each category will be randomly selected for the prize. Each category has a prize of $1,500 – that’s $1,000 to your masjid, and $500 to you. And yes, you can enter multiple photos in multiple categories.

To get started with the contest, like the Guidance Residential page and submit your photo!

We’ll be highlighting random photos throughout the contest, and in the end we hope to have a great photoblog of masjids across the US.

Contest ends August 15th. Click here and get ready to win!

The post *Special Announcement* Photo Contest with $6,000 in Prizes! appeared first on MuslimMatters.org.

There are two things I wanted to explain about this short film: how and why I made it.

First question is why I made it?

I made this video for a couple of reasons one being I had recently bought a new camera, the Panasonic GH2, so I was itching to test it out and challenge myself with a unique creative project. Secondly, my inspiration came after watching a video entitled Zen by Andrew Reid the editor of EOSHD.com. Andrew made the film in Shanghai with the exact same camera. After watching it I felt compelled to try and make the best video I could and compete with his level of production.

Now what made me think of the subject matter is while watching his video, I noticed how he highlighted the simple elegance of the Buddhist temple and the beauty of these people’s worship that immediately drew my mind to Salah. The very simple yet thought-provoking idea that we visit the house of Allah on a daily basis only to worship Him was powerful to me. Going to the Masjid for Salah on a daily basis can sometimes become a mundane practice, so I wanted to highlight the power of simple actions like Wudu and Adhan, and I wanted to showcase the hidden beauty inside of the Masjid that we walk by on a daily basis yet never really notice.

The other reason I wanted to make this video was because I wanted to make something that was simply beautiful and thought provoking. I feel like films in the Islamic realm are being used as another vehicle to preach instead of being creative works that engage an audience. Most of the Islamic or Muslim short films that you see are either preaching towards a certain cause or telling people that they shouldn’t sin because they’re going to die one day. A filmmaker’s job is to tell a story, present an idea, or pose a question to the audience and allow them to come to their own conclusion.

The second part of this post is the how. Step by step, I’m going to explain how I prepared for the shoot, how I filmed and what I did in postproduction to get the look that you see in the final version.

To prepare for this shoot, the first step was to choose the right location. It just so happened I was headed to Houston that weekend for my brother’s (Abdul Nasir Jangda) seminar (Tafseer of Surah Yaseen). Once we arrived at the newly completed Masjid Maryam I knew this would be a great place to shoot. Secondly, I needed a primary subject. One of my brother’s students who was with us, Hafidh Hassan Faye, agreed to participate; at that point I began to mentally put together the film in my head. I scouted the Masjid top to bottom gathering a shot list and organizing my day so that I could gather as much footage as possible.

In the end, I had 2 hours and nearly 20 GB’s of footage, which resulted in a 3.5 minute video. The key to any shoot is to get every possible shot because you can’t always get all of your equipment and go back to your location and recreate things exactly the same way, so the rule of thumb is do 3 takes and then do 3 more just to be safe, an extra take doesn’t cost you anything.

The next step was to film everything. This part was much easier because I had properly organized everything in step one so I simply went down my list, getting all of the shots needed. The only part that was a bit difficult was getting shots of people praying because I wanted a close intimate shot, but at the same time didn’t want to get so close as to disturb someone’s Salah by distracting them. And for the shots of people praying in Jammah, I had to man the camera and pray afterwards which required me to explain myself more times than I would have liked.

Below is a full breakdown of the equipment I used on this shoot:

Panasonic GH2 hacked

18-55mm Lens (3.5-5.6)

Quantaray 9502 Tripod

Tripod Dolly

It doesn’t seem like a lot of equipment, I know. And that’s because it’s not. I didn’t have multiple lenses to use, didn’t have a follow focus, no slider, no ND filter, no crane, and no steadicam. Would these things have made my film better? Maybe. Would they have made the shoot easier? Definitely. But the point is you don’t have to have them to create something, you simply have to have the motivation and ingenuity to go out and shoot.

David Kong wrote a great blog post over at Philip Bloom about a film he shot in Italy with literally 1 DSLR and a shoulder bag of gear. It’s a really informative post which I think any newbie filmmaker should read because when people get interested in making videos many times they can become more obsessed with equipment than actually filming.

However, now having used this camera for almost 2 years I will make a few recommendations; first you need to read Andrew Reid’s GH2 Shooters Guide back to back. He will teach you how to hack it so you can maximize the camera’s abilities and give you recommendations on lenses and settings. And he provides a great breakdown of basic camera techniques, terminology, and concepts for beginners. Its only $20 and if you really want the most out of your camera it’s well worth it. I won’t go into detail about accessory recommendations for the GH2 because that will get very long and technical, I’ll simply advise you to get his book. I’ll just quickly list which lenses I would recommend getting for this camera. I own two of them and they have served me very well and I hope to buy the third one as well. All three of these lenses are also recommended in Andrew’s book.

First off is the Canon FD 50mm 1.8, if you’re going to use the GH2 or any other MFT DSLR for video you have to get this lens for two reasons:

1. It delivers a fantastic image and

2. It is dirt-cheap! Literally dirt-cheap!

Canon FD lenses are outdated lenses that were used on film cameras before the advent of digital photography and autofocusing. So because these lenses have no digital mechanism and MFT cameras have no mirror they both work perfectly together. You simply need a cheap $20 adapter to connect the lens to the camera mount and you can easily pick up a 50mm 1.8 for $20-$30 on eBay. I bought mine off Craigslist for $20. All in all you get the whole setup for $40-$50.

Second is the Panasonic 14mm 2.5, this lens has been very handy because

One, it is an original Panasonic lens so it autofocuses, which is very useful when shooting quick videos, especially web content such as the Qalam Hangout which are all shot on this lens. The second reason, which is why I bought this lens in the first place, is to shoot the Qalam Hangout with it is because it is super wide. You see one of the shortcomings of the GH2 is that it has a cropped sensor. In my opinion this doesn’t affect image quality, Philip Bloom and Andrew Reid have both done image comparisons of the GH2 and other Full Frame DSLR’s and this camera performs just as well as most full frame cameras. I won’t get into the argument of my camera is better than your camera, but simply put all cameras will have some sort of shortcoming and you have to buy based on what your needs are.

I bought the GH2 for 2 primary reasons. It has a mic jack which many DSLR’s don’t and it has no video time limit, virtually all DSLR’s that are capable of video have artificial time limits such as 12 minutes or 29.59 minutes. This is done so that the camera does not get taxed as a camcorder, the GH2 is the only DSLR I know of that doesn’t have a time limit and because I quite often film extended content like lectures. This was an important feature to me. Back to the matter at hand, because of the GH2’s cropped sensor a 50mm lens will deliver a 100mm image so I needed a super wide lens so that I could easily shoot in small spaces, it cost me roughly $200 and it was well worth it.

Third is a lens I don’t own, but it will definitely be my next purchase, the Noktor 12mm 1.6. This is an even wider lens than my 14mm and it is a lot faster which will be very useful for low light, however like the 50mm it is manual focus only so I will still keep my 14mm but its definitely on my wish list. This lens is slightly pricy at $500.

Below is a video I filmed with my GH2 and the 50mm and 14mm:

Now post-production is a funny story, even though I just released the film, it was in fact shot well over a year ago. Between working full time and being a college student I don’t get much time to indulge in creative personal projects, but Alhamdulilah due to organizing my schedule better, encouragement from my brother, and the Barakah of Ramadan I was able to finally complete the film. I edited the entire film in Sony Vegas Pro. I currently use version 11. If you would like to argue with me about how Premiere Pro and Final Cut are better softwares then email me and we’ll go at it, but suffice it to say I have used every pro grade editing software and I find Vegas to be the most intuitive, compatible, functional and easy-to-use software. I also color graded parts of the film using Magic Bullet Looks.

I hope this post was informative for everyone, if parts of it were too technical I apologize, if you have any questions please feel free to contact me. If you enjoyed the film and this post then please share it with others.

By – Abdullah Jangda

The post Behind the Scenes: Anatomy of Prayer appeared first on MuslimMatters.org.

Eid Mubarak!!!

Last year we announced a contest “The Best ‘Īd Instagram Photo 2012″ contest and due to some technical issues could not host a poll to vote on the final winners.  We have been feeling guilty ever since.

With the NEW site that we launched this year, we can finally host polls and vote for your favorites. These photographers have patiently waited for a whole year, so please help us give out those promised prizes. Last day to vote is August 19th, 2013.

The post Eid Photos Poll | Help Muslimmatters Choose the Winners #MMeid appeared first on MuslimMatters.org.

Every Muslim down in Islamville liked ‘Eid, a lot!

But Abu Grinch, who lived north of Islamville, DID NOT.

Abu Grinch hated ‘Eid, oh you might think it treason!

But don’t ask why, no one quite knows the reason.

It could be, perhaps, some angry Masjid uncles were mean,

Or perhaps no sister wanted to marry a guy so hairy and green

But I think the most likely reason of all,

May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.

But whatever the reason, his heart or his cold whims,

He stood there during Ramadan, hating the Muslims.

Staring down from his cave with a Grinchy frown,

At the hungry Muslims about to break fast in their town.

For he knew every Muslim down in Islamville below,

Were busy cooking meals and baking tasty dough.

“They’re putting out dates and drinks!” he snarled with a sneer.

“Tomorrow is ‘Eid-ul-Fitr- it’s practically here!”

He trembled, his cold heart beating like Zain Bhikha’s drumming,

“I must find some way to stop ‘Eid from coming!”

For tomorrow, he knew- all the little Muslim girls and boys,

Would jump, shout, and play joyously with their new toys!

And the noise… ugh, the noise! The Noise! Noise! NOISE! NOISE!!

All the Muslims, young and old, would embrace one another and hug

And they’d hug! And they’d hug! And they’d HUG! HUG! HUG! HUG!

Not once, not twice, but three times- oh, such a touching display

That the mere thought of it caused Abu Grinch to wince in dismay

THEN they’d do something that he hated most of all,

Every joyous Muslim, the big and the small,

Family, friends, and perhaps a loving soul mate,

Would all gather together and start to celebrate!

Uncles fondly reminiscing about good times long past,

While Aunties set up matches to get their kids married fast,

Young men playing XBOX and talking about sports and cars,

While young sisters make henna designs and swoon over Bollywood stars.

Cute little kids full of energy would rush about, jump, play, and sing,

And the furious Abu Grinch would shout, “I must stop this WHOLE THING!”

Then he got an idea! An absolutely AWFUL idea.

Abu Grinch got a terribly awful idea!

“I know just what to do!” Abu Grinch laughed in his throat.

And he grabbed his favorite hat and his puffy old coat.

And he chuckled and chortled, “What a great Grinchy plot!”

“I’ll turn them against each other; divide and split up the whole lot!”

And so Abu Grinch crept into the joyous town, completely unaware,

He began to speak poison to the Muslims, their emotions he’d ensnare.

What a delightful topic moon-sighting can be… oh, how swell.

Grand fights to start Ramadan, and the same fights in its farewell!

A stroke of a few egos, the spewing of jealously and spite,

Fanning flames in a family reunion, turning it into a bullfight!

The joy of ‘Eid was slowly being robbed; clear to anyone who could see,

Abu Grinch tried to take what the Muslims needed most- sweet harmony.

And as he chuckled and reveled in his cold-hearted glee,

He found himself towering over tiny little sister Imani.

She frowned at Abu Grinch, her tiny eyes welling up with tears,

“Why are you doing this?” she asked through his sneers.

“Sweet girl,” hissed the Grinch with a sinister scowl,

“They turned their backs on me, treated me quite foul”

Abu Grinch’s face snarled, “They don’t care at all for me.”

“And those who take away joy, don’t deserve to be happy.”

And then something happened, that Abu Grinch hadn’t planned,

Little sister Imani wiped her tears away and gently took his hand.

“Someone was mean to me once, too” she said without fear,

“But in Ramadan I forgave them, and I gave them gifts every year”

And so amongst all the Muslims fighting and arguing on every inch,

She took her small ‘Eid gift, a toy pony, and handed it to Abu Grinch.

“’Eid isn’t about the moon or the money” she said with a smile,

“It’s about sharing happiness, that’s what makes it worthwhile.”

Abu Grinch felt wobbly, his mind swept into a blur,

He never felt this way before, she caused quite a stir!

The Muslims around him overheard her words and felt its touch,

Who knew a child’s sweet innocence could teach them so much?

Abu Grinch balanced himself, his mind still feeling sore,

And then he thought of something he hadn’t before.

“Perhaps this day of ‘Eid means something much more.”

“A gift of escape from hardship and sadness that Muslims ask for.”

The ice of Abu Grinch’s cold heart began to melt as he felt inspired,

He finally found the happiness and welcome that he always desired.

And what happened then? Well in Islamville they say,

That Abu Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day.

‘Eid Mubarak Everyone!

The post How the Grinch Stole Eid appeared first on MuslimMatters.org.

Alhamdulilah, through Allah’s Infinite Grace and Mercy, we have been fortunate to experience the blessed month of Ramadan this year.During this month of spiritual renewal, prayer, and of re-commitment to bettering oneself, we enjoy the increased opportunities to spend time and strengthen bonds with our families, friends, and the community.

The Prophet has attached great importance to the rights and care of neighbors – that we live in peace and harmony with them and treat them with kindness.

Aisha reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say, “Gabrial continued to advise me to treat neighbors well until I thought he would make them my heirs.”

Source: Sahih Muslim 2624

عَائِشَةَ تَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ مَا زَالَ جِبْرِيلُ يُوصِينِي بِالْجَارِ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ لَيُوَرِّثَنَّهُ

2624 صحيح مسلم كِتَاب الْبِرِّ وَالصِّلَةِ وَالْآدَابِ بَاب الْوَصِيَّةِ بِالْجَارِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ إِلَيْهِ

Not only does this act make us compassionate human beings, but insha’Allah, it will also open up the lines of communication, appreciation, and understanding between our different cultures and faiths – something so important for Muslims, especially in this day and age.

For the past three years, my family and I have been preparing and delivering Iftar platters to our neighbors as a way of spreading the Ramadan cheer and spirit; this year we continued the tradition. We made an eclectic mix of traditional savories from my ethnic background and American sweets, including chicken tikka (barbeque) with raita (yogurt dip), spinach pakoras (fritters), cholay (chickpeas), fresh fruit salad, California medjool dates, meat pies, and blueberry muffins.

We plated and wrapped up our platters with cello paper and ribbon. Strung from the ribbon were three note cards; a cover wishing everyone a Happy Ramadan from our family, a description of each food item we included, and an informational card with a short summary of what Ramadan means to Muslims. 

Here is the downloadable pdf for the note card we shared for those who would like to share with their neighbors –iftar_notecards

My children loved going door to door, carefully balancing each platter and beaming with excitement as they rang doorbells and wished everyone a “Happy Ramadan!”  Our neighbors were delighted with the gesture and were happy we included them in celebrating our holy month.

The next morning, we received the following lovely note from one of our neighbors (names have been changed for privacy purposes):

“”Neighbor”,

Thank you so much! The entire platter was delicious! Both “Bob” and I enjoyed every morsel! Loved the meat pie, the spinach fritters, the chickpeas, chicken, fresh fruits and dates, and the scrumptious blueberry muffin!

I especially liked the card that spoke about the purpose of Ramadan— it is very heartwarming.
You and your family have always been special, kind, and loving neighbors to us. Though the neighbors around us seem very nice, it’s really only you and your family that I feel I can trust. I hope all of you and your family know that we think very highly of you. Whenever I talk with my friends and family, when also there are instances of media bias about the Islamic faith and people, I do find myself defending and reminding anyone that they should not generalize nor make conclusions based on racism, bigotry, and lazy ignorance; that I know of a people of kind faith and devotion to their family and community—-our neighbor and his faith community.
Thank you for the continued and unconditional lessons you give your neighbors.

May all of you have the peace and renewal this Ramadan.

– “Shannon”

Subhan’Allah!  These kind words warmed our souls and brought smiles to our faces. Alhamdulilah, we were able to bring awareness about Islam through the simple act of sharing food. The beautiful impact this small form of Da’wah had in return is priceless.

If you haven’t already done so this Ramadan, please try to share something with your neighbors – be it samoosas, mana’eesh, cookies, fresh fruit, or dates. You too, will insha’Allah, feel closer to your neighbors and develop a better understanding between our different faiths.

Narrated Abu Shuraih Al Adawi : My ears heard and my eyes saw the Prophet when he spoke, “Anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day, should serve his neighbor generously… [Sahih Bukhari]

May Allah purify our intentions, make us all amazing neighbors and accept all our good deeds.  Ameen!

The post Neighborly Love | Ramadan Iftar Platters appeared first on MuslimMatters.org.