while googling for organic/free-range halal meat I came across an article in the Daily Express that first slightly irritated me then made me laugh out loud....something about a well-meaning headmistress wanting the school christmas dinner to feature halal chicken, so as to be 'inclusive'. Also on the menu, I should point out, were 'sausage and bacon rolls' (or possibly sausage rolls and bacon?). Anyway, cue cries of outrage and 'pc gone mad' etc. etc. One outraged mother felt that "my religion and culture is being trampled on". So the school has to offer a non-halal main course option after all.
What made me laugh was the same mother fuming: "we bend over backwards at eid to eat THEIR food". I tried and tried to figure out what hardships or even inconveniences these brave people overcame in order to eat the sweet pastries or little snacky things that are usually on offer to non-muslims at eid. It couldn't be just reaching out your hand and lifting the food to your lips could it?
The article mentions concerns over the Halal/Kosher methods of slaughter which prohibit stunning the animal if that might kill it or otherwise affect the draining away of blood (the heart needs to be beating when the throat is cut).
There is more to halal meat than pronouncing God's name over it and draining the blood. We are told by the Prophet pbuh that the animal must be relaxed, if it is terrified you cannot slaughter it, you have to let it go. The life of the animal matters too, it is essential that the animal had a good quality of life and was treated humanely. For this reason I no longer regard chicken as halal if it is not also free-range. I don't think intensively reared chicken can ever be halal.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Thursday, November 16, 2006
More Bad News from Iraq
Bismillah arrahman irraheem
A couple of days ago a number of employees at some ministry in Baghdad were kidnapped, apparently by Iraqi police who were able to pass through several American security checkpoints both before and after the kidnap.
Not for the first time I noticed a reticence, a coyness shall we say, on the part of western reporters to spell out the fact that Sunnis were in this case victims of Shia aggression. Al-Jazeera (Arabic) broadcast interviews with witnesses who plainly said that the kidnappers checked the ID documents of all the men and released those they identified as Shi'i, and took the Sunnis away. It was later reported, again on al-Jazeera, that they were taken to the al-Sadr district, which is a Shi'i area and home of the notorious Shi'i militants called, I think, the al-Sadr Brigade. BBC and ITV however only said that they separated the men from the women and took the men.
An update today on the BBC website, which says that although some of the kidnapped men have been released, there are fears that the remaining captives have been tortured and killed. Although it makes no mention of ethnicity in this case, it goes on to say that today in Baghdad gunmen entered a bakery in a mixed (Sunni/Shi'i) neighborhood and killed those present - the reporter helpfully explains that most bakers are Shi'i and Shi'i are often targetted by Sunnis.
This obvious bias really puzzles me as I don't see what purpose it serves.
For the record, dh was in the Iraqi army a couple of decades ago. His commanding officers were Shia and made his life a misery - not because dh is Sunni (though he is), but because he has a problem with authority and was always being sent to solitary confinement for insubordination. Being a private in the army isn't an ideal job for someone like that, but since dh refused to join the ba'ath party, his career choices were limited. His commanding officers, of course, were members of the party.
No doubt Saddam dealt harshly with Shi'i who stepped out of line - but the fact is he dealt harshly with EVERYONE who defied him.
It is always claimed that the Sunnis ruled Iraq - as if every Sunni person was more powerful and wealthy than every Shi'i, Kurd or Christian. The reality is that life was hard for everyone under Saddam. Certainly dh's family suffered a lot after the 1st gulf war, when sanctions were in place.
It is not my intention to deny the massacres carried out by Saddam - but it's not as simple as saying 'sunni bad, shia good'.
A very common refrain from all Iraqis - Sunni and Shi'i alike - when they comment on the present violence is "It was never like this before, we were all good neighbors to each other, we were all brothers of one another, we worked together and married each other, there was no difference between Sunni or Shi'i". If that's how it was when Saddam was in charge, when supposedly the Sunnis held all the power, why has it changed now?
A couple of days ago a number of employees at some ministry in Baghdad were kidnapped, apparently by Iraqi police who were able to pass through several American security checkpoints both before and after the kidnap.
Not for the first time I noticed a reticence, a coyness shall we say, on the part of western reporters to spell out the fact that Sunnis were in this case victims of Shia aggression. Al-Jazeera (Arabic) broadcast interviews with witnesses who plainly said that the kidnappers checked the ID documents of all the men and released those they identified as Shi'i, and took the Sunnis away. It was later reported, again on al-Jazeera, that they were taken to the al-Sadr district, which is a Shi'i area and home of the notorious Shi'i militants called, I think, the al-Sadr Brigade. BBC and ITV however only said that they separated the men from the women and took the men.
An update today on the BBC website, which says that although some of the kidnapped men have been released, there are fears that the remaining captives have been tortured and killed. Although it makes no mention of ethnicity in this case, it goes on to say that today in Baghdad gunmen entered a bakery in a mixed (Sunni/Shi'i) neighborhood and killed those present - the reporter helpfully explains that most bakers are Shi'i and Shi'i are often targetted by Sunnis.
This obvious bias really puzzles me as I don't see what purpose it serves.
For the record, dh was in the Iraqi army a couple of decades ago. His commanding officers were Shia and made his life a misery - not because dh is Sunni (though he is), but because he has a problem with authority and was always being sent to solitary confinement for insubordination. Being a private in the army isn't an ideal job for someone like that, but since dh refused to join the ba'ath party, his career choices were limited. His commanding officers, of course, were members of the party.
No doubt Saddam dealt harshly with Shi'i who stepped out of line - but the fact is he dealt harshly with EVERYONE who defied him.
It is always claimed that the Sunnis ruled Iraq - as if every Sunni person was more powerful and wealthy than every Shi'i, Kurd or Christian. The reality is that life was hard for everyone under Saddam. Certainly dh's family suffered a lot after the 1st gulf war, when sanctions were in place.
It is not my intention to deny the massacres carried out by Saddam - but it's not as simple as saying 'sunni bad, shia good'.
A very common refrain from all Iraqis - Sunni and Shi'i alike - when they comment on the present violence is "It was never like this before, we were all good neighbors to each other, we were all brothers of one another, we worked together and married each other, there was no difference between Sunni or Shi'i". If that's how it was when Saddam was in charge, when supposedly the Sunnis held all the power, why has it changed now?
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Closed Minds
Last night in a conversation with my sister I mentioned how some people are closed minded. I wasn't referring to her or indeed any specific individual. Immediately I put the phone down I started worrying whether that is how I come across when I speak to someone who doesn't share my own deeply held beliefs.
I usually make a conscious effort when discussing Islam to say 'I believe such&such' or 'Muslims believe this...', and if discussing Christianity with a Christian I would prefer to say, for example, 'the doctrine of original sin, and the blood sacrifice of a sinless, perfect man being necessary for the salvation of the human race..... does not make sense to me, and seems unjust and illogical'; rather than '....is a load of baloney' which might seem like a knife in their heart, and cause either pain or anger if they are fervent believers in that doctrine.
However I have come across people who become very confrontational and completely stonewall you when you simply want to have an exchange of views ("YOU may believe that but THIS is the truth....). We all have to accept that our dearest, most cherished and passionately held beliefs may simply not make any sense to someone else, and be prepared not to back down or deny our faith, but allow that the other person has a right to their beliefs.
As the qur'an puts it (interpretation of meaning):
'To me my beliefs (or way of life), and to you yours." 109:6
And that's what we are commanded to say to the Kafiroon - or 'those who deny/conceal the truth'. Not fight them, which is a commonly held misconception, or even shout angrily at them. As regards those who are not denying or concealing the truth, but have not had 'the truth' presented to them in the proper way, we should speak to them, God commanded us, with 'beautiful words'.
I usually make a conscious effort when discussing Islam to say 'I believe such&such' or 'Muslims believe this...', and if discussing Christianity with a Christian I would prefer to say, for example, 'the doctrine of original sin, and the blood sacrifice of a sinless, perfect man being necessary for the salvation of the human race..... does not make sense to me, and seems unjust and illogical'; rather than '....is a load of baloney' which might seem like a knife in their heart, and cause either pain or anger if they are fervent believers in that doctrine.
However I have come across people who become very confrontational and completely stonewall you when you simply want to have an exchange of views ("YOU may believe that but THIS is the truth....). We all have to accept that our dearest, most cherished and passionately held beliefs may simply not make any sense to someone else, and be prepared not to back down or deny our faith, but allow that the other person has a right to their beliefs.
As the qur'an puts it (interpretation of meaning):
'To me my beliefs (or way of life), and to you yours." 109:6
And that's what we are commanded to say to the Kafiroon - or 'those who deny/conceal the truth'. Not fight them, which is a commonly held misconception, or even shout angrily at them. As regards those who are not denying or concealing the truth, but have not had 'the truth' presented to them in the proper way, we should speak to them, God commanded us, with 'beautiful words'.
Scaring the Neighbors
Bismillah arrahman irraheem
yesterday in the lift with an elderly neighbor, Zeno started talking about Rumsfeld's resignation and gave her the benefit of his opinion on Dubya. When she hesitantly agreed with him, Zeno went into more detail and it was altogether an uncomfortable ride down 5 floors. As soon as the doors opened she was off like a greyhound out of the starting box.
I am trying to wean myself off the news in the morning (BBC Breakfast), more for Zeno's sake but insha'Allah there will be benefits for myself as well. There's always the papers. No, hang on - english language Al Jazeera is starting in a few days, I will surely have to check that out.
On the subject of neighbors, the ones I share a floor with are mostly elderly. and very pleasant. In fact, one Polish lady is a sort of adopted granny to the kids, she comes out of her door immediately she hears us passing and makes a fuss of them, especially Boudie. She gives us presents too, posh M&S biscuits and chocolates, and fruit, even a jacket for Zeno. However the man down the end has started ignoring me and I'm not sure why. He seems to be more frail than before (he uses a stick and moves quite slowly) and it may be something to do with that, or it may be that he told Zeno off a while ago - in fact wrongly accused him of disturbing his pot plants - and Zeno argued back. I really don't know what to do about that boy's argumentative nature. Would banning the News & political programmes/discussions help?
yesterday in the lift with an elderly neighbor, Zeno started talking about Rumsfeld's resignation and gave her the benefit of his opinion on Dubya. When she hesitantly agreed with him, Zeno went into more detail and it was altogether an uncomfortable ride down 5 floors. As soon as the doors opened she was off like a greyhound out of the starting box.
I am trying to wean myself off the news in the morning (BBC Breakfast), more for Zeno's sake but insha'Allah there will be benefits for myself as well. There's always the papers. No, hang on - english language Al Jazeera is starting in a few days, I will surely have to check that out.
On the subject of neighbors, the ones I share a floor with are mostly elderly. and very pleasant. In fact, one Polish lady is a sort of adopted granny to the kids, she comes out of her door immediately she hears us passing and makes a fuss of them, especially Boudie. She gives us presents too, posh M&S biscuits and chocolates, and fruit, even a jacket for Zeno. However the man down the end has started ignoring me and I'm not sure why. He seems to be more frail than before (he uses a stick and moves quite slowly) and it may be something to do with that, or it may be that he told Zeno off a while ago - in fact wrongly accused him of disturbing his pot plants - and Zeno argued back. I really don't know what to do about that boy's argumentative nature. Would banning the News & political programmes/discussions help?
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Enforced Inaction
Dirty dishes in the sink; the floor (all the floors) need to be vacuumed; laundry waiting to be sorted; Zeno's arabic lesson for today needs to be put together and delivered; however, Boudie has decided that he wants to sit in my lap all morning and bursts into sobs if I put him down. Did I mention that my bladder is bursting?
Zuzu is hovering with 'The Gruffalo' (I've already read it twice this morning, as well as 'Mog and the Baby'). Zeno just got up, after another late night with his dad, and is asking for breakfast. There's a scripture on my mind that I want to hunt for, to refute something that was said to me a while ago.
Either I keep Boudie on my lap and let the dishes and everything else wait (while the will to do them slowly saps away), or I put him down and get on with things to the sound of his (ear-piercing) wailing in my ears. ah, the joys of parenthood.
Zuzu is hovering with 'The Gruffalo' (I've already read it twice this morning, as well as 'Mog and the Baby'). Zeno just got up, after another late night with his dad, and is asking for breakfast. There's a scripture on my mind that I want to hunt for, to refute something that was said to me a while ago.
Either I keep Boudie on my lap and let the dishes and everything else wait (while the will to do them slowly saps away), or I put him down and get on with things to the sound of his (ear-piercing) wailing in my ears. ah, the joys of parenthood.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Yesterday (Thursday) was a lovely day. First off to Swiss Cottage (which is an area of NW London, not a house in the style of an alpine chalet - although there is one of those near the tube station). Met up with a friend outside the newly refurbished library & sports centre and reminisced about the old sports centre, which used to offer a Saturday session for Muslim ladies in their small swimming pool. The whole issue of modesty is hugely misunderstood by non-muslims, who manage to simultaneously hold several contradictory positions on the subject as soon as Islam or Muslims are mentioned. But enough of that for now.
From there we walked to St. John's Wood where there is a lovely children's playground (oddly enough in the middle of a cemetery). The kids ran around, climbed the wooden structures, got pushed on the swings and generally had a fine old time while us 2 mums caught up with our news.
We walked to the nearby Central Mosque for lunch in their basement restaurant - my friend is not a Muslim and was a bit hesitant at first at the idea of going to the mosque, but I managed to persuade her that it would be fine. And thank God it was - mosques are public buildings and meant to be welcoming to non-Muslims, but unfortunately you will sometimes come across the odd screwball with time on his hands hanging around dying to assert his imaginary authority. There were lots of people at the masjid but no screwballs thank God and we had a nice lunch, until my youngest 2 started running around the restaurant causing havoc so we tidied up and left. There was plenty of food left so we packed it up and took it with us - it's haram (forbidden) to waste food.
We parted outside the masjid and I walked the kids home - it's a bit of a walk but I do love walking, even though Zeno complained almost all the way home that he was 'tired' - funny that because the minute we got home he was tearing up and down the hallway with the toy buggy, and bouncing off the walls. As usual. Zudie and Boudie were also pretty lively for a while but had an early night.
Abuzeno is studying at the moment for his PCV and LGV theory tests so I went over some questions with him until my voice gave out. But he's doing well masha'Allah I think he will pass the tests without a problem.
Right now, Friday 1pm - Boudie (22 mo) is having a nap, Zudie (3yo) is playing and Zeno is doing some maths. we're working specifically on sums involving money, and learning the time. I thought he would learn to tell the time a lot quicker than this but, alhamdulillah anyway, it's a bit of a slow process. Although he is very bright masha'Allah, he only concentrates if it is something that interests him - and maths just doesn't interest him. When we started home educating I thought we would do an hour of maths, an hour of science, etc. etc. Well that didn't work. He lost interest after about 2 minutes and thereafter refused to cooperate despite threats and bribes. These days (2 years later) we spend 10 or 20 minutes on each subject. But then throughout the day we talk about different things and a lot of learning takes place informally, as they say.
I can't believe what a compulsive talker he is - at his age you would have been lucky to get 2 words out of me, but a constant stream of words come out of Zeno's mouth, and he provides a running commentary along with everything he does. I still don't like talking overmuch, and what with this non-stop conversation going on, as well as 2 lively toddlers currently in the throes of potty-training, I find it a bit stressful not to have any time for just sitting and thinking. insha'Allah that'll be something for my old age.
From there we walked to St. John's Wood where there is a lovely children's playground (oddly enough in the middle of a cemetery). The kids ran around, climbed the wooden structures, got pushed on the swings and generally had a fine old time while us 2 mums caught up with our news.
We walked to the nearby Central Mosque for lunch in their basement restaurant - my friend is not a Muslim and was a bit hesitant at first at the idea of going to the mosque, but I managed to persuade her that it would be fine. And thank God it was - mosques are public buildings and meant to be welcoming to non-Muslims, but unfortunately you will sometimes come across the odd screwball with time on his hands hanging around dying to assert his imaginary authority. There were lots of people at the masjid but no screwballs thank God and we had a nice lunch, until my youngest 2 started running around the restaurant causing havoc so we tidied up and left. There was plenty of food left so we packed it up and took it with us - it's haram (forbidden) to waste food.
We parted outside the masjid and I walked the kids home - it's a bit of a walk but I do love walking, even though Zeno complained almost all the way home that he was 'tired' - funny that because the minute we got home he was tearing up and down the hallway with the toy buggy, and bouncing off the walls. As usual. Zudie and Boudie were also pretty lively for a while but had an early night.
Abuzeno is studying at the moment for his PCV and LGV theory tests so I went over some questions with him until my voice gave out. But he's doing well masha'Allah I think he will pass the tests without a problem.
Right now, Friday 1pm - Boudie (22 mo) is having a nap, Zudie (3yo) is playing and Zeno is doing some maths. we're working specifically on sums involving money, and learning the time. I thought he would learn to tell the time a lot quicker than this but, alhamdulillah anyway, it's a bit of a slow process. Although he is very bright masha'Allah, he only concentrates if it is something that interests him - and maths just doesn't interest him. When we started home educating I thought we would do an hour of maths, an hour of science, etc. etc. Well that didn't work. He lost interest after about 2 minutes and thereafter refused to cooperate despite threats and bribes. These days (2 years later) we spend 10 or 20 minutes on each subject. But then throughout the day we talk about different things and a lot of learning takes place informally, as they say.
I can't believe what a compulsive talker he is - at his age you would have been lucky to get 2 words out of me, but a constant stream of words come out of Zeno's mouth, and he provides a running commentary along with everything he does. I still don't like talking overmuch, and what with this non-stop conversation going on, as well as 2 lively toddlers currently in the throes of potty-training, I find it a bit stressful not to have any time for just sitting and thinking. insha'Allah that'll be something for my old age.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
I must be mad starting a blog considering I hardly have time to wipe my nose when I have a cold. Also my life is incredibly boring, consisting mostly of the usual day-to-day stuff of looking after 2 toddlers (3yo & nearly 2) and home-educating a 7yo who starts talking the minute he opens his eyes in the morning and doesn't stop all day no matter what he's doing. however - this blog is mainly for myself, as a sort of diary which I will no doubt find riveting some day (perhaps when the kids are grown up insha'Allah) and also as I do actually enjoy the process of writing. so if you're reading this and you're not one of the 4 or 5 people mentioned here you will probably be bored witless - don't say you weren't warned.
I became a home educator reluctantly. My eldest, Zeno, just didn't settle in at school, although I was enjoying the PTA meetings and fund-raisers and was considering becoming a parent-governer. I had been the treasurer of Zeno's pre-school, also I do have a nursery teaching qualification so you could say I was personally a big fan of school education for the very young.
Sadly Zeno didn't agree. He hated school from the start. He went to pre-school from the age of 3. Mums were encouraged to stay around and help out, so I was there with him about 80% of the time anyway, and he enjoyed it. But then we moved to a different area of London and after a 5 month wait he started at the local state nursery (attached to the junior school). It was a big old place, with 'proper' teachers (his was particularly severe and distant), and it definitely didn't want mums around. I was allowed to stay with him for the first week and then politely but firmly told they didn't want me around. He went there for 2 terms before moving up to Reception class. By now I was having to almost literally drag him to school, crying and sobbing. I knew he was a bright boy, masha'Allah, and really (really) wanted him to love school.
He was now full-time (9.00am - 3.30pm) and I was getting lots done at home - not only was I studying a couple of subjects I had really wanted to do, but my house had never been so clean and my life so organised. BUT, there was no joy in any of this because it was all at the expense of leaving my distraught child at the place he hated for 6 & a half hours a day. While I waited outside the classroom to collect him at 3.30, I noticed how he sat slightly apart from the other children, plucking his lip nervously. The unhappiness was obvious in his eyes, his expression, his whole demeanor. He was a picture of misery. I couldn't leave him there any longer. I de-registered him one month after his 5th birthday, and though I sometimes wish he had liked school better, I don't regret making the decision to home educate him.
I became a home educator reluctantly. My eldest, Zeno, just didn't settle in at school, although I was enjoying the PTA meetings and fund-raisers and was considering becoming a parent-governer. I had been the treasurer of Zeno's pre-school, also I do have a nursery teaching qualification so you could say I was personally a big fan of school education for the very young.
Sadly Zeno didn't agree. He hated school from the start. He went to pre-school from the age of 3. Mums were encouraged to stay around and help out, so I was there with him about 80% of the time anyway, and he enjoyed it. But then we moved to a different area of London and after a 5 month wait he started at the local state nursery (attached to the junior school). It was a big old place, with 'proper' teachers (his was particularly severe and distant), and it definitely didn't want mums around. I was allowed to stay with him for the first week and then politely but firmly told they didn't want me around. He went there for 2 terms before moving up to Reception class. By now I was having to almost literally drag him to school, crying and sobbing. I knew he was a bright boy, masha'Allah, and really (really) wanted him to love school.
He was now full-time (9.00am - 3.30pm) and I was getting lots done at home - not only was I studying a couple of subjects I had really wanted to do, but my house had never been so clean and my life so organised. BUT, there was no joy in any of this because it was all at the expense of leaving my distraught child at the place he hated for 6 & a half hours a day. While I waited outside the classroom to collect him at 3.30, I noticed how he sat slightly apart from the other children, plucking his lip nervously. The unhappiness was obvious in his eyes, his expression, his whole demeanor. He was a picture of misery. I couldn't leave him there any longer. I de-registered him one month after his 5th birthday, and though I sometimes wish he had liked school better, I don't regret making the decision to home educate him.
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