Some thoughts on the news, religion and life in general
Nabeel al-Azami
Less is more
Jul 21st
There is a saying – ‘never give a man a microphone or a woman a telephone. Once on it they can’t get off it.’
And it’s so true. In the case of us blokes I’ve hardly found any speaker, lecturer or ‘maulana’ who stuck to their time allocation or managed to give a short, sharp and sweet talk. Yet we find that by all accounts the Prophet never gave a talk for longer than 20 minutes. Now there’s a bit of Sunnah that we could all do with seeing more of.
In fact recent research suggests that the attention span of the average individual in a monologue situation is no more than 20 minutes. About 10 more minutes may be tolerated, but after that you really have lost them. More >
The post-Ramadan experience
Oct 2nd
Picture this. A man joins the army. He is then inducted and put into an intensive and gruelling training programme. He develops his stamina, trains very hard, and becomes a disciplined member of his unit who the commander can rely upon.
What would you expect from this soldier once his training is complete? Would you expect him to be a liability to his unit? Would you expect him to lose his stamina due to laziness? Would you expect him to eschew his responsibility to defend his country? More >
Sort yourself out. Fast
Aug 31st
I remember once talking to a brother in Manchester who was not fully practicing. He had been struggling with his faith, and said to me, ‘you know Ramadan really helps me from getting completely lost in life’.
He was someone who by his own admission had More >
The men and the sea
Aug 19th
Four men were praying on a beach facing the sea. Suddenly a great whale rose out of the water and crashed back into the sea creating an awesome scene before the men.
How do you think the men reacted? More >
It would be a cardinal sin to disagree
May 24th
Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor recently said that Britain could not be allowed to become a God free zone. And the head of Britain’s Catholic community is quite right. Just look at what happens when society turns away from God.
Year in year out we hear news and statistics pointing to our ever increasing rates of crime, teenage pregnancies, drug addiction and alcoholism (even among kids). Britain is often referred to as the teenage pregnancy capital and the crime capital of Western Europe, among other unceremonious titles. We are also the worst rated in obesity, literacy, and certain health conditions like asthma, compared to our Western European neighbours. As Bill Bailey put it, Britain has become ‘a bunch of stoned, illiterate, wheezy, lardy, (illegitimate children)’! I desist from using the b-word he used at the end, but you get the point. More >
Let Boris know your views
May 1st
Thursday has come and gone. Votes have been cast and we are all tensely waiting on the outcome.
In all honesty I am concerned Boris may well nick it. That’s mainly for three reasons. One is that he’s more a celeb than a politician, which in today’s Big Brother world counts for a lot. Second is that people just find his oddities and gaffes an interesting novelty. And third is the deadly ‘newness factor’, as people may just want change after 8 years of Ken.
Boris has of course been trying to convince everybody of his credibility as a leader who will apparently ‘end the cronyism in City Hall’, and replace it with what we may wonder.
Well have I got news for you…. the BNP have apparently endorsed him as their recommended second choice. Also what does he think of Islam? Well according to Boris ‘the proposed ban on incitement to ‘religious hatred’ makes no sense unless it involves a ban on the Koran itself.’ (Telegraph 21/07/2005)
Boris has been popping into the odd mosque and ethnic enclave to try to convince us he was not a secret member of the BNP. A few days ago he was also trying to show his soft side by holding a little puppy (which decided to use his hands as a toilet!). Whatever happens on Thursday, I’d expect all minorities to join the puppy & leave our political views all over his hands.
