Wood Carving

How to Carve an Irish Celtic Toy Chest St. Patrick’s Day

Wood Carving Stop Motion

Wood Carving Wood Spirit Lesson #1:

Wood Carving Wood Spirit Lesson #2:

Wood Carving Wood Spirit Lesson # 3:

Wood Carving Wood Spirit Lesson #4:

Wood Carving Wood Spirit Lesson # 5:

Wood Carving Wood Spirit Lesson# 6:

Wood Carving Wood Spirit Lesson # 7:

Wood Carving Wood Spirit Lesson #8:

 

Formula to Success: A Personal Perspective

After a decent conversation with a friend, I realized there is a secret formula to success.  It is not wealth, status or anything else….it’s realizing the worth of a person, the dignity of a human being. If human beings were to respect each other, or at least tried their best, then every human being would have been successful in their life, no matter which walk of life, he/she belongs to.

I am writing this here to remind myself every now and then, of this simple basic truth. I must polish the self to get nearer to this basic truth.

 

Recession, Life and Friendship

This piece is unfinished.

This short story is based on true events that took place in the GTA. Both Alicia and Lita are real people. Their names and details of certain circumstances have been altered in order to maintain confidentiality.

By: Arzoo Zaheer.

She walked up to Alicia one day and said a simple “Hello”. Alicia wondered who that lady was and what business she had with her. As Lita introduced herself to Alicia, she mentioned that she needed notes for ENG101 course they were taking together.  This chance meeting gradually transformed into a strong friendship. And then Recession & Life swallowed Lita. Perhaps she went to her homeland China. Perhaps she took a different job in a different city. Whatever the case, Lita simply disappeared out of Alicia’s life without any explanation, any closure. Alicia tried tracing her via email, telephone and tried to locate her condominium amid the myriad of Brampton based condos. Alicia had visited Lita’s new condo just once and did not had the time to jot down the address or memorize the directions. She just remembered what the entrance looked like but during the hunt for her best buddy, she found out that there are numerous condos with similar looking entrances.  Stop! Just stop! She can’t be living in her condo anymore because her phone service has been disconnected. This all was very confusing.

Just to add coherence to all her jumbled up thoughts, Alicia walked alone that night.

“Why has her close friend disappeared all of a sudden?”  Gradually, things started becoming more clear and coherent in her mind. She remembered how Lita told her she just got divorced and thought to move on with her life. She remembered how one day, Lita just packed all her belongings and left her house. She remembered how Lita hid her inner fears when she was moving, “Oh, I am used to this, Alicia. No worries.”  But Alicia knew and understood more than Lita wanted her to know.  After Lita had moved into her condo, Alicia talked to her only once via the telephone. “Where is Lita? Where is she?”, Alicia wondered as she strolled through the slushed snow. And then a role reversal occurred within her mind. She was now Lita. And she understood why Lita had disappeared into this world, this immense Sea. She has “disappeared” in order to let go of everything, just so that she may move on. Breaking old ties with everyone from her old town was one way of letting go of her pain. Perhaps, Lita just wanted to be carried away with the flow of this world; just like a lone survivor who is carried to the beach by the sea waves. Alicia knew Lita was alive and breathing and that she is still her close friend. “Give her some time. She will come back one day with samosas in her hand and we will have tea. I just know it”.  Silently, a much composed Alicia prayed for Lita’s safety.

True friendship doesn’t require words. It requires understanding.

 

Trinity Vs. Tawhid–An Educational Debate at NAMF

A close Christian friend, unknowingly inspired me to finally pick up a book that would teach me more about Trinity and Tawhid. The book is titled “The Bible led me to Islam”. It is written by Abdul Malik LeBlanc, who is a revert to Islam. He has vast knowledge of both Christianity and Islam. Based on the readings he has done, he believes that the major difference between Islam and Christianity is the concept of Trinity vs. Tawhid.

Anybody interested in learning more about this concept should definitely read this 95 pages long book.

Here are some excerpts from the book.

The word “Son” must not be accepted literally because God addresses many of his chosen servants as son and sons. The Jews have also claimed Ezra to be the Son of God. The New Testament Greek words used for “son” (pias and paida, which mean servant, or son in the sense of servant) are translated as son in reference to Jesus and as servant in reference to others in some translation of the Bible. Further, the term “Father” as used by Jesus corresponds more closely to the term Rabb, i.e. one who nourishes and sustains, so that in Jesus’ doctrine God is “Father”-Nourisher and Sustainer – of all men. The New Testament also interprets “son of God to be allegorical: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14). This allegorical suggestion is futher supported with Jesus being called the only begotten Son of God.

In Psalm 2:7, the Lord said to David:

“…Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.”

Does this mean that God had two sons? Jesus also said that God is not only his Father but also your Father (Matthew 5:45,48) Luke 3:38 says:

“…Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the Son of God.”

Who is mentioned in Hebrews 7:3 as like unto the Son of God? Is it Melchisedec, King of Salem, as mentioned in Hebrews 7:1. He [Melchisedec] is more unique than Jesus or Adam. Why is he not preferred to be the Son of God? Moreover, Adam did not have a mother or father, but was the first human being created by God and in the likeness of God to exist in the Garden of Eden and on earth. Wouldn’t this give more rights to Adam to be called the son of God in its truest meaning?

Another excerpt:

Luke 10:25-28 agrees with Matthew 19: 16-17 which says:

“And behold, one came and said to him (Jesus), Good teacher, what good things shall I do that I may have eternal life? So he (Jesus) said to him, “Why do you call me good? -  No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into eternal life, keep the commandments.”

There is no commandment that says to worship Jesus, but there is one that tells us to worship God alone.

In Luke 4:41, Jesus refused to be called the Son of God by demons. Do you think that Jesus would rebuke the demons, or anyone else for that matter, for telling the truth? Unquestionably, no! Jesus rebuked the demons because they were saying something false by calling him the Son of God. Also, if the demons knew that Jesus was the Christ, for Jesus to shut them up because they called him the Christ is a contradiction to Jesus’ mission.

In Luke 9:20 & 21, Jesus said unto his disciples:

“But who say ye that I am? Peter answered saying, “The Christ of God, and Jesus straightly charged them and commanded them to tell no man that thing.”

…and so the reading continues:

The Quran 19:35 says:

“It is not befitting to [the majesty of] Allah that He should beget a son. Glorby be to Him! When He determines a matter He only says to it “Be”. and it is.”

So, are your religious or truth-seeking grey cells intrigued yet? If yes, make sure to come to this reading. Just got this in an email:

North American Muslim Foundation
Presents
Christian-Muslim Dialogue
Tawhid vs. Trinithy

Panelists:

Rev. Tony Costa
&
Imam Habeeb Ali

Moderators

Neil Bulloch
&
Sheharyar Shaikh

Thursday, June 11th, 2009
7:00 pm

Venue

NAMF Islamic Centre
Jamil Dar Convention Hall
4140 Finch Avenue East, Scarborough, Ontario, M1S 3T9
between Kennedy and Midland on Finch

Admission: FREE

Please RSVP
Naveen Hussain @ 416-299-1969 X 26
Email: namf@bellnet.ca

 

Annoying (but very funny) Mom phrases!

Hehehe!

Annoying (but very funny) Mom phrases! @ Yahoo! Video

 

Indian Schoolgirls practise Wushu

Alright, this is great news, thank God. These ladies look so great studying self defence, mashaAllah.

Read the full post here.

Later days

 

Stereotypes within Muslim Families

As a Muslim woman who loves to study self-defense, I have come across so many stereotypes. Some people, I came across, actually call me “manly”, which is very stupid of them. I just laugh it off though because I know that they are being narrow-minded.  I have seen and met some Muslim folks who actually think that a woman does not need to have a job or a woman does not need to be in self-defence. They base these ideas on the fact that men are supposed to protect and defend women. So, when a woman goes for her career or if a woman likes to learn self-defense, she is viewed as different. Oh, the world is this way and she is that way. And in certain Muslim families, the notion of a Muslim woman speaking her mind and showing her opposition against a man’s opinion is merely stupid. “Oh! the woman must be obedient to her father and husband all the time.” This notion is so stupidly propagated in certain Muslim families that women fail to grow and develop properly. They learn to depend on men and thus cripple their chances of survival in today’s society. I am saying this from experience. Yes, ladies,  be obedient. It is good to listen and follow advice Insha’Allah but don’t you think that men should listen to you as well?  I mean is your husband or father good at every matter of this world? Aren’t there certain things that he may not be aware of as much as you are?  In certain Muslim families, there are times when a woman is hushed up despite the fact that she is right. This is very unreasonable.

I remember from Prophet Mohammad’s time, that a Muslim woman once corrected Khalifa Omar on an issue. And Khalifa Omar (r.a.) said this woman is right and I am wrong.

In certain Muslim families, a woman is mocked if she points out some mistake of a male relative. I have seen this first hand. And I loathe every instance of it. And yes, I speak out against it, right there, in everyone’s faces.

Whenever you speak, speak justly, even if a near relative is concerned (Quran 6:152)

I think people are confused about religion of Islam. They follow certain culture and traditional values and they think that these are Islamic in nature. They mix “obedience” with “blindly following everything a man says”.  Some women turn out to be so meek that they can’t even speak out for themselves. This is totally ridiculous.

There are certain Muslim households where women are expected to serve food to their male relatives and do housechores, while the men just relax and do absolutely nothing. Ridiculous!

I read a hadith once where Ayesha (r.a.), wife of Prophet Mohammad (p.b.u.h.) was asked what does Mohammad do when he is at home. She replied, “He helps me with house chores”.

So, lazy men, just stand up and start doing the house chores.  Your wife did not marry you in order to serve you.

I guess this is it for today: a healthy wake up call for the men and women alike.

Later days now

Take care

 

Backbiting

This Quranic verse is really useful. It is fundamental to the fabric of the society to avoid backbiting. I have seen this habit among a lot of people. Quite frankly, hanging around with backbiters eventually leads to backbiting. I have backbitten sometimes but alhamdulillah, as long as I work on this, that’s great. I seriously think backbiting is bad. So, how do I intend to fight this inner disease back? It’s simple. Don’t say anything if you feel you got nothing positive to contribute.

“O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, for some suspicions are a sin. Do not spy on one another, nor backbite one another. Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, you would abhor it, [so similarly, avoid backbiting]. And fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Most Forgiving, and accepts repentance, Most Merciful” Qur’an, [49:12]

 

Interview with The Pakistani Spectator

Recently, I received an interview request by the Pakistani Spectator.  This particular site is dedicated towards providing news and opinions specifically on Pakistani Politics and more generally on World Politics as it relates to Pakistan. They also conduct these interviews with members of the blogging community in an attempt to Connect and Communicate.

I perceived this interview request as a means of communicating my thoughts to the Pakistani people inshaAllah, so I ventured forward and completed the interview. It has now been published. Kindly view inshaAllah.

Alright later days

Peace and Blessings

 

Yvonne Ridley Converts to Islam

Peace and Blessings Everyone

You must have heard the story of British journalist Yvonne Ridley who was taken captive by the Talebaan some years ago. Guess what! she became a Muslim a while ago.  Interesting!

Alright!

Later days

Take care