SaqibSaab

Did Michael Jackson Die As A Muslim?

The biggest news all over the world yesterday was the death of one of the most famous musical artists in recent history, Michael Jackson. As the hour long television specials, radio playlist tributes, and music video marathons already began on the same day, many Muslims are left wondering, “was Michael Jackson a Muslim?”

The short answer? It’s hard to say.

The long answer? Initially it began with rumors years back that he had joined the Nation of Islam. On top of that, Jermaine Jackson, his brother, is a known and confirmed Sunni Muslim, which added another ingredient into the mix.

Then in November 2008, various news sources reported that Michael Jackson had officially accepted Islam, as he had been interested in it since 2005 with the help of his brother Jermaine. Other news sources claimed that Muslim artists Dawud Wharnsby and Idris Phillips were also involved in his acceptance and that they were present when he took the shahadah (testimony of faith), and even that he was also meeting with singer Yusuf Islam, the former Cat Stevens.

But since then, not much else had been said about his acceptance of Islam. Read more »

A NEW RECORD! Thirteen TONS of Biryani

[audio:http://www.saqibsaab.com/audio/a_new_record.mp3]
Indian chefs aim for record with 13-ton biryani

Mar 1, 2008

NEW DELHI (AFP) — Sixty Indian chefs on Saturday cooked a rice dish weighing 13-tonne (28,600 pounds) in a bid to enter the Guinness Book of World Records, organisers said.

Three cranes dumped 3,000 kilos of Basmati rice, 85 kilos of chilli peppers, 1,200 litres of oil and 3,650 kilos of vegetables into a giant vat at a New Delhi sports stadium in the presence of a Guinness observer.

The steel vat was mounted on a three-foot high furnace while the chefs clad in fire-resistant outfits perched on a platform to stir the biryani — one of South Asia’s most popular dishes — with oar-like ladles.

The cooks threw “a pinch of salt” weighing 86 kilos into the 16-foot (4.87-metre) deep steel vat, organiser Gurnam Arora said.

The sponsors used a hose to pour 6,000 litres of water into the vat and sprinkled 10 kilos of exotic spices and aromatic condiments to prepare the tangy biryani, Arora said.

“This is a great activity to revive the feasting and celebration tradition associated with biryani in India,” New Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit said.

Kaoru Ishikawa, a records manager from the British-based Guinness Book of World Records who was on hand for the 10-hour cooking session, said: “I’m here to certify them for preparing the world’s largest biryani weighing around 13,000 kilograms,” Ishikawa told AFP. Official recognition of the record is expected later in the year.

The dish would be divided and trucked to city orphanages once Ishikawa certified the weighing of the cooked biryani, garnished with carrots and 750 kilos of creamy yogurt, Arora said.

“This event is a one-of-a-kind endeavour unmatched by any other past culinary activity,” Arora said to the cheers of hundreds of spectators.

Currently, there is no listing for the largest biriyani in the Guinness Book of World Records, Arora said.

Source: AFP

Hakeem Olajuwon Monument Islam Compliant

Got this article sent to me from ThE ShIZZ.

Monument honouring Hakeem Olajuwon to be unveiled in April
February 14, 2008, 11:44 PM ET

HOUSTON – The Houston Rockets plan to unveil a monument honouring former star Hakeem Olajuwon on April 11 outside the team’s arena.

Organizers said they worked hard to ensure that the monument complied with Olajuwon’s Islamic beliefs. Rockets spokesman Nelson Luis told The Associated Press that details about the monument had not been released.

Houston television station KRIV reported that it would focus on his jersey and accomplishments, but in keeping with the tenets of his Muslim faith, it won’t include a picture or likeness of him. Read more »