tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9326984.post113633826759827331..comments2023-04-04T11:31:01.006-04:00Comments on Irrelevant Opinions: Bugs in my cerealFrazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02611431995183800220noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9326984.post-1153981509505182462006-07-27T02:25:00.000-04:002006-07-27T02:25:00.000-04:00Assalamu'alaykum anonymous,No need for the "unfort...Assalamu'alaykum anonymous,<BR/><BR/>No need for the "unfortunately", that response definitely was of benefit to me! I really appreciate your comments; I haven't come back and visited this post in months, and was happy to see some scholarly advice reflecting my random thoughts on a significant problem.<BR/><BR/>Ameen to your du'as, and may Allah grant you the best, and to all other anonymous people out there insha-Allah. :)Frazzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02611431995183800220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9326984.post-1153978635024628272006-07-27T01:37:00.000-04:002006-07-27T01:37:00.000-04:00Assalaamu'alaykum wa rahmatu AllahAint that the tr...Assalaamu'alaykum wa rahmatu Allah<BR/><BR/>Aint that the truth! Sometimes though, we need to feel a little removed and introspective. There's good in it. I remember Shaykh Talal once saying that when something constricts us it could be for two reasons: 1) it could be a matter of this world which can easily be taken care of and then the constriction leaves, or 2) it could be a constriction due to our imaan strengthening because it hurts for our imaan to grow.<BR/><BR/>Sidi Omar Mahmoud once said (something to the effect) that our imaan goes through a loop..it's high, then it drops.. but some of us get discouraged when it drops and in fact that's where we need to work harder to continue to the loop and thus perserverence takes us a long way.<BR/><BR/>I seem to sway into the same thoughts... and if I allow myself to think about it now ..shucks..guilty. 25 years means close to half that of a lifetime. Anything after 60 is 'bonus' the way I see it..but anything past puberty (when our sins are enumerated) is a blessing since it's more time to either earn rewards or to repent, insha'Allah.<BR/><BR/>Sorry.. I digress. Unfortunately I think this response may be of more benefit to me than to you..my apologies. <BR/><BR/>May Allah give you baraka in your life, ameen. All the best, insha'Allah!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9326984.post-1137025525248410242006-01-11T19:25:00.000-05:002006-01-11T19:25:00.000-05:00Salaam alaikum Faraz and Eid Mubarak! What is so ...Salaam alaikum Faraz and Eid Mubarak! What is so annoying about this transitional period is that you feel guilty about being depressed so you become even more depressed. I pray we can use our youth for something vital and important and not wallowing away in confusion and sadness. I try to remind myself that others don't have it as good as I do so I need to stop whining and get to work.izzymohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17291401836911872733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9326984.post-1136865454533676602006-01-09T22:57:00.000-05:002006-01-09T22:57:00.000-05:00Sister Asmaa: We have a rich history on which to b...Sister Asmaa: We have a rich history on which to base our understanding of ideal Muslims; we shouldn't be discouraged by our shortcomings compared to them, but rather be inspired by them and their devotion.<BR/><BR/>Roberto: Welcome to Irrelevant Opinions! It's great to hear your perspective on all this. You mentioned that you prefer the commercialization of goth culture; I'm curious though, doesn't that defeat the purpose of the subculture? If part of the subculture is a desire to be outside the mainstream, doesn't the easy availability of the products and clothing cheapen it?<BR/><BR/>Or maybe I just really don't understand the whole culture altogether.Frazzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02611431995183800220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9326984.post-1136841418310826932006-01-09T16:16:00.000-05:002006-01-09T16:16:00.000-05:00I'm an ottawa resident as well and I'm also a some...I'm an ottawa resident as well and I'm also a sometime member of the goth subculture.<BR/><BR/>I agree with allot of what you're saying about the subculture.<BR/><BR/>I however don't mind our culture being commercailized, in fact I prefer it. That way more goth products and culture become more availible.<BR/><BR/>I really really liked your insight as a newcommer into canada about how stupid it is for the privedged her to jion a culture that wants to be rejected by society. <BR/><BR/>I never really looked at the goth culture from the perspective of someone already outside the mainstream.Roberto Shamasiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00126362097685778652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9326984.post-1136827813637574242006-01-09T12:30:00.000-05:002006-01-09T12:30:00.000-05:00Reaching a point where you are a true representati...Reaching a point where you are a true representative of Islam is one of the most trying and most difficult goals to have. <BR/><BR/>The most discouraging thing about it is that if a person really is an ideal Muslim, then having the "image" would come completely naturally. It is then arrived at that we are not in any way the ideal Muslims we sometimes suppose ourselves to be.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you; it's the root that needs working on. Image is nothing.Asmaahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12799829085959558569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9326984.post-1136615602964658082006-01-07T01:33:00.000-05:002006-01-07T01:33:00.000-05:00Assalamu'alaykum sister Safiyyah, thank you for th...Assalamu'alaykum sister Safiyyah, thank you for the kind comments.<BR/><BR/>I also generally tell people not to be so hard on themselves whenever they chide themselves over their own faith. But then I wonder sometimes though at how some <I>Sahabah</I> - even the most prominent ones like Abu Bakr and Umar RadhiAllahu'anhuma - used to have misgivings about their faith, thinking themselves to be hypocrites. Now I think a little doubt and worry is okay every once in a while, because it is a sign of sincerity in our faith and gives us a reason to work harder.<BR/><BR/><I>SubhanAllah</I>, they were so far ahead of us, yet still...Frazzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02611431995183800220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9326984.post-1136557011692636952006-01-06T09:16:00.000-05:002006-01-06T09:16:00.000-05:00Don't be too hard on yourself. You write wonderful...Don't be too hard on yourself. You write wonderfully, by the way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9326984.post-1136515847439111412006-01-05T21:50:00.000-05:002006-01-05T21:50:00.000-05:00Assalamu'alaykum,Sister Hajera: I've been thinking...Assalamu'alaykum,<BR/>Sister Hajera: I've been thinking about these "subcultures" for a while, mainly because it's always annoyed me that I sometimes feel shy about wearing sunnah when others are dressed all wacky. Why is it easy for them to go against the norm and difficult for us, when our sunnah is beautiful and meaningful and their image is meaningless?<BR/><BR/>Nauman: I'm not sure if the Habs performance made things worse, but I do feel that I might have to finally surrender to my city and become a Senators fan. Argh.. Either way, I apologize for my lack of enthusiasm in TO.<BR/><BR/>Sister Asmaa: I guess only in Toronto would Indian clothing become mainstream. I haven't noticed that myself, but the South Asian population here isn't nearly as large as it is in Toronto. You make a very interesting point that promoting these images could be an easy way to keep these marginalized groups quiet. But my complaint is really with the people that aren't discriminated against, who have all the luxuries, but put on this act so that they can sulk and wear slogans.<BR/><BR/>Overall, this whole thing mainly bothers me because I see it as a weakness on my part that I'm not willing to stand up for a Muslim image (aside from the beard and kufis and stuff, which lots of non-Muslims have too) while so many others are standing up for their meaningless images.<BR/><BR/>A few days ago, I was on a bus wearing a Saudi jalabiyya. An old guy asked me "What'chu wearing a dress for? You some kinda queer?" I responded by just laughing and saying, "Don't worry about it." Looking back, this could have been an opportunity for da'wah but instead I just answered vaguely and rather condescendingly.<BR/><BR/>I guess that just means my roots are weak, so I'm not bearing fruits. I need to correct those roots first.Frazzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02611431995183800220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9326984.post-1136424966687458782006-01-04T20:36:00.000-05:002006-01-04T20:36:00.000-05:00Wow Hajera, I had no idea that you were now solici...Wow Hajera, I had no idea that you were now soliciting on blogs. Have you no shame? >:) By the way, Nauman, it's a magazine, NOT a newspaper.<BR/><BR/>About gothic culture being commercialized - everything in existence will one day be commercialized. It's enough to make someone go mad, really. <BR/><BR/>I dislike it when cultural stuff goes on the market but it doesn't serve to garner respect for the culture it comes from. Take, for example, the recent upsurge of Indian-style clothes and jewelry on the market. Some people who wear this stuff are still bigots and will have no problem muttering racist slurs at anyone who's Indian-looking. <BR/><BR/>In addtion, the culture of the supressed and oppressed somehow manages to becomes popular. Kind of like how it's in for people to dress like thugs...I suppose the government's way of quelling the threat of these marginalized groups is to promote their culture, while ignoring the real issues of the people.Asmaahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12799829085959558569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9326984.post-1136422437571319482006-01-04T19:53:00.000-05:002006-01-04T19:53:00.000-05:00You know you're big-time when UFT's MSA asks to in...You know you're big-time when UFT's MSA asks to include your writing in their newspaper, The Muslim Voice (TMV). :)<BR/><BR/>Good post, Faraz... and yes, you looked totally out of it last weekend when you were here in TO. I would be too I guess if the Habs were losing alot...Naumanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13984809110650620788noreply@blogger.com