SaqibSaab

Meeting Umar Lee at MAS-ICNA Conference 2007 – pt. 2

We stood outside the bazaar exit and exchanged salaam with Umar Lee. He was helping out with one of the charity booths that poured out of the actual bazaar area. “You guys are a little early.”

“Yeah, we’re here to check out the bazaar and stuff,” AbdelRahman told him. One of main reasons we wanted to hit up MAS-ICNA that night was to make some purchases. AbdelRahman wanted to buy some itthar, I wanted to buy the Pray As You Have Seen Me Pray DVD by 1 Islam Productions for a sister who accepted Islam.

I had only heard about the DVD and seen it on online Islamic shops, but actually found out it was a great prayer guide when a brother who recently accepted Islam from ICN told me how beneficial it was for him to learn how to pray. AbdelRahman told me he saw it for just five bucks from one of the vendors at MAS-ICNA so I was really excited to run in and pick up a copy before they sold out. Read more »

Meeting Umar Lee at MAS-ICNA Conference 2007 – pt. 1

I found myself last weekend looking for some sort of Islamic escape. My plans to drive down to Houston, TX for Texas Dawah Conference XI were laid to rest so that left me stuck at home. Christmas weekend weather in Chicago was gloomy and there was nothing much to do. Family from Michigan was due in town, but weren’t all coming in until Monday morning. I found myself bored.

Real bored. So bored, in fact, that I fell asleep at the computer after Maghrib and woke up three hours later on my bed. A post sunset nap on a Saturday evening? That’s a sign that I needed to get out.

While checking my Email and various blogs 8,000 times to pass the time, I saw Umar Lee posted that he was in Chicago for the weekend. Was he here for the MAS-ICNA convention at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare? Had to be. I Emailed him and he replied.

Umar Lee to me

was, I am at the MAS convention in Rosemont by the airport. Are you near to this area? I will be free tomorrow… wa salaam, Umar

There it was. The perfect escape that I had wanted for the weekend. Read more »

Did they forget the next verse?

Written by Ayesha Siddique of www.anightingale.com

Imagine a group of Muslim boys sitting together on a Friday night at a friend’s place. They’re making plans to go to the local Blockbuster and rent a movie to watch later that evening. The following conversation ensues:

BOne: What do you guys want to watch?
BTwo: Nothing in particular

BThree: Dude, I’ve haven’t seen Transformers yet, do you want to get that?
BOne: Yea, dude! I heard they made Optimus Prime look sick!

BTwo: Who cares about the robot, the girl in that movie has a slamming body. I would watch just for her.
BOne: Haha, so wrong, yet so right!

BThree: But foreal, let’s rent it.

Disgusting, right? How could Muslim boys have no shame and talk about women in such a way? Why aren’t they embarrassed admitting in front of their friends that they don’t lower their gaze, and that they want to watch something solely for the purposes of checking out girls? Read more »

Khana Korner #002 – Day After Biryani with Tamatr ki Chutney

When it comes to biryani, I’ve grown up with what is pretty much standard Bangalori style. The biryani meat is usually lamb, served with baigan ka salan (eggplant gravy) and standard dahi ka chutney (AKA raitha). This is has been the case for my house, as well as my five mamu’s houses in MI whenever I’d visit for shadis, dawaths, or Eids.

Lately, however, my mom has evolved her Fiqh of making the staple Desi delicacy, and today, I had a plate that was so outstanding, it made way to be Khana Spotlight #002.

There were some key characteristics to this killer plate. Firstly, the base, Bangalori biryani. For those who don’t know, it really is something else. Obviously I’m biased glorifying it, but those who’ve had it can agree that there it is off the chain. Some people don’t like Hyderbadi style, while other complain about Pakistani versions of the Desi delight. I think the Bangalori style biryani, particularly how my mom and khandan-mates make it, is a straight up perfect balance between all kinds. Again, I’m probably biased, but those who’ve come over most probably also agree.

Next, I topped it with tamatr ki chutney. Tamatr ki chutney is beautiful. It gives biryani a wonderful kick that is far superior to baigan or michi ka salan. I particularly like the Hyderbadi style the best, and that’s I had employed on this plate here. What? A Banaglori praising food from Hydros? Read more »

Two “cute” boys and Dawah at Tim Horton’s

A sister on the AlMaghrib forums posted a story about an experience of hers during the last seminar in Windsor. From the sound of things, it seems as if the is actually talking about Waasiq, Saad, or Humza, my brother, cousin, and friend, respectively. That Saturday morning I took them to Tim Horton’s right before class and got them some hot chocolate.

If it really is about them, I’m guessing one of them was standing in line with me, while the other two trailed behind and were in front of this sister who wrote the following story… Read more »