Hvitfeldtskas Muslimska Ungdomsförening

New Fresh Start soon!

hmuf — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:17:07 +0000

Lately has been the hectic period for all of us, which has given the consequence of us not being able to be updating this blog. We’re incredibally sorry for that, but we will be updating the blog more oftenly as soon as the summer holidays starts for us inshAllah!

Anyways, we have recently had a “Hvitfeldtska day!”. This day is basically about different organisations in school organizing activites related to promoting themselves. There were also different language cafees, as well as their are performances contributed by the people going in the music programme. Basically, many things happening a whole day rather than having a normal school day.

So thus, we also prepared something. All the members had baked or cooked something, which we then let everyone taste. There was even henna put on.
We even had a quiz, where we had questions like, ” What islamic year is it?” or ” What is a mosque?”, etc.

Anyways, here are some pictures from the day!
Peace!

Outfoxed!

hmuf — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:55:13 +0000

Here are two clips from a documentary called Outfoxed. It tells us about the reality of Fox News, which many couldn’t imagine about. Not either did I know about this, until we watched this documentary in our Civics class. I got shocked and amazed over the information given and about how we humans are influential nowadays by the media. I would recommend everyone to see this documentary, which can be found on YouTube when you search for Outfoxed.

Peace!
S.C

Ozymandias

hmuf — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:50:48 +0000

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: `Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear –
“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.’

By: Percy Bysshe Shelley

This is a poem that I liked, especially when reading between the lines. One of my friends suggested this poem to me when I got the task in one of my subjects to look for a poem and read out for the class. At first, I didn’t pay much attention to the poem, although when I read it out allowed to the class, something struck me. I paid attention to the words and realised that this was actually an interesting poem when looking deep into the meanings. I think this poem was a reminder for me. So basically I’m going to tell a short analysis of this poem and refer it to how this reminder regards to us Muslims too.

The first vital point to note is that the poem is an Italian sonnet. It encapsulates a great story about Ramses, the past king of Egypt. The poem was written around 1800 and the fact that it was written in an “antique land” illustrates that the author was attempting to distance himself from Ramses, indicating the faded view of the past king Ozymandias.

Great opposition, irony and sarcasm appears when it is said, “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!” Nothing beside remains.” This negative connotation shows that there once was a vast kingdom, but now that kingdom has disappeared. Neither property nor the king himself is immortal.

When it is said that the “lone and level sands stretch far away” the reader realizes that perhaps the sand is more vast now than the empire is.

Finally, when breaking down the word “Ozymandas” in the original Greek, we realize that the kingdom no longer exists. Ozy comes from the Greek “ozium,” which means to breath, or air. Mandias comes from the Greek “mandate,” which means to rule. Hence, Ozymandias is simply a “ruler of air” or a “ruler of nothing”. It is then obvious that the King of Kings spoken of in the poem is actually nature itself. Nature never disappears and nature represents the immortality not represented by the Ramses or any other individual or possession.

This is what we Muslims need to bear in mind. The life her in duniya is nothing, it’s rather the life after death and what’s going to happen to us then that is more essential for us to worry about. Even the most known celebrity, the popular person amongst a group or even the person with most friends means nothing. It’s better for us to concentrate more on how to benefit from this duniya to have a better life after death, so inshAllah we can have a place in Jannah!

After a while everyone will forget we exist; just as it happened to the most powerful King of all Kings as suggested in this poem.

Peace!
S.C

hmuf — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:33:57 +0000

A new album from Sami Yusuf is finally released. It’s called Without You and is actually in my point of view quite different from the previous album released from him.

While on youtube, i found a song that really caught my attention.

Enjoy, Peace!
S.C

Constantinople in Middle Earth?

hmuf — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:27:00 +0000

The Lord of the Rings trilogy is probably one of the most famous novels ever written. I myself have been a huge fan having read the whole thing at least 9, 10 times! However as time has passed my LOTR euphoria has gradually declined and instead I have become more and more interested in history and if I were to specify which part I would say Islamic history. The Ottoman Empire has really fascinated me. How from ruling a small principality in inner Anatolia they became masters of a huge empire stretching from Persia in the east to Tunisia and Algeria in the west. From Yemen in the south to Vienna in the north. The story of its expansion really caught my attention. However another thing, which also caught my attention, was the striking similarities between the Ottoman expansion into Europe and the growth of Mordor into the ancient kingdom of Gondor in the LOTR trilogy.
Now for anyone who has read the LOTR books, they will know very well that Gondor has two main cities i.e. Osgiliath the ancient capital of the kingdom and Minas Tirith, the new capital which is waiting for an attack by the orcs of Mordor. These two cities I believe have been inspired from two modern day cities, Istanbul (Constantinople) for Osgiliath and Vienna for Minas Tirith since I can find numerous parallels between the Ottoman capture of Istanbul and the Orcs capture of Osgiliath, and then subsequently the Turks failure to capture Vienna a few hundred years later and the Orcs failure to capture Minas Tirith.

To start of with Osgiliath, It is a city of two banks with the river Anduin running through it. It used to be the capital of Gondor. In a civil war much of the city was destroyed and its defenses considerably weakened. It resisted for long against the Orcs and lost the east banks of the city for some time before the whole city was lost. It was once the greatest and most populous city in the kingdom but was later reduced to ruins with more or less nobody living there. This is a brief description of Osgiliath. Now compare it with Istanbul.
Istanbul is a city also divided to two sides by water with the straights of Bosporus running through it. It was the capital of the Byzantine Empire before its fall to the Turks. The Arabs and the Turks had several time laid siege to the city and the eastern banks had for a long time been out of Byzantine hands. It was once, maybe the greatest city on the planet but due to the several civil wars, plagues, sieges etc it had fallen into decay. Its population had been considerably reduced e.g. in AD 950 the cities population was around 400 000. However when it fell in AD 1453 it had been reduced to a mere 36 000.

The second city which I mentioned before was Minas Tirith which was the new capital of the kingdom. After the fall of Osgiliath everyone knew an attack against it was inevitable. Gondor if you look at the geography of Middle Earth (the planet of Tolkien) is a sort of barrier between evil orc Mordor in the East and South East and the free noble human and elves in the North and North West. In other words it is a shield for the other human and elf kingdoms against the aggressive, expansionist orcs in the east. It has a beacon system extending to Rohan(allies of Gondor). Beacons were fireplaces used in emergency cases. Their purpose was to inform allies to aid them when attacked. It worked by having a bonfire next to the city which would be lit. Then the men at the next beacon a few miles away would see the smoke and fire from the first beacon and would light theirs. Then the third one would see the second ones and in this way the beacons went on to the land of their allies Rohan.
Now the Orcs did attack the city and were easily winning before the arrival of Rohan and its cavalry. They were not expecting any help for Gondor and thought it was only a matter of time before the city fell. However this turned out to be the turning point to Mordor’s successes and after this battle they retreated and retreated until they were eventually defeated

This is a short description of Minas Tirith. Now compare it with Vienna.

After the fall of Constantinople the Ottomans were expanding into Europe at an intense speed. They won nearly all the battles and had gained the reputation of being invincible. However between them and the rest of Europe lay the Austrian Empire. In other words the Austrian Empire formed a barrier between the Turks on one side and the Germans, Italians, Poles on the other side. Just like Gondor did in LOTR between the humans and elves in the west and the Orcs in the east! Thus the Ottomans had to overcome the obstacle of Austria and everyone knew that sooner or later it would be attacked. Just like in the book it is mentioned again and again that Minas Tirith will be attacked very soon. Also around Vienna lay an advanced system of beacons just like in LOTR around Minas Tirith. However just like Rohan in the LOTR Austria’s allies mainly Poles came with their cavalry just when the Turks were least expecting them and charged them and forced them to break the siege just like in LOTR. This event is extremely important in European history since it’s a turning point for the Ottomans. This was the deepest they came into Europe just like the deepest the Orcs came into Gondor.

These are just a few of many examples but I think that even from these, one generally gets the idea where Mr. Tolkien got his inspiration for some parts in Lord of the Rings from!!

Peace!

Hamza Iqbal

Lack of Time!

hmuf — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 13:00:01 +0000

Most of us have been busy with studies lately, thus making it hard to find an opportunity to write about something. Anyhow, everything happening in Gaza and the whole situation is something that we all have on our mind. There is so much to say about it, but mainly because we have so many other splendid blogs and websites who are doing a good job and keeping us updated, we think it would be better referring to them. We can basically say no better than these people are already saying. Do pay a visit to these links:

http://forumforfrihet.blogspot.com/

http://dettavissteduinte.blogg.se/

http://www.palestinainfo.se/

There are many other blogs which you can find when you google, but can’t think of any more right now on top of my head.

Do sign this petition! It’s mainly a prosecution of Israel’s crime against the humanity!

http://www.namninsamling.se/index.php?sida=2&nid=2804 d=2804

Peace! S.C

A Liberalist’s Views on a Recent Tragic Development

hmuf — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 12:59:12 +0000

In today’s modern societies, there is a clear diversity in public opinion regarding certain controversial issues. One, as my fellow collogue S.C expressed in her previous post of Gaza, is a prime example. The unstable ground zone of Gaza has sustained its dangerous status for the past decade. Public opinion is most primarily towards immediate termination of the war, due to overwhelming number of casualties – just today a school was targeted and the alleged causalities are numbered up to 40. Though the causalities are statistically leaning towards more Palestinian’s, it does not give adequate justification for siding with them in mere regard to sympathy and sorrow over the dead. Israel is performing a preemptive attack against Hamas in defense for any future possible offence. It is natural for a state under threat, to attempt to resolve its problems (by any means) if its citizens are living in life threatening conditions.

The discussion of whether or not Israel is acting this war in terms of proper war conduct is another discussion. Its seemingly random attacks have caused many innocent lives to be taken and the possible boundaries of “any means” are being tested. In my personal opinion, I see a state acting under influence of emotion and have not thoroughly thought out how to handle the situation. Medical supplies are low, casualties are high and the individual’s rights are being violated. It’s not a matter of Israeli causalities or Palestinian casualties, whether they are Jews or Muslims, whether they are black or white; but that they are Humans. A resolve has to be reached in benefit for both Parties, and that resolution seems farther away as Israel are determined to destroy the entire infrastructure of Hamas which has the support of its resident citizens – which I believe is a just act. However their execution of the act is not properly performed, as innocent lives are being killed. Secondary pressure from other Nations is weak and the US has showed its support for Israel.

I personally believe that Hamas has to be stopped but so has Israelis recent aggression. By pressuring the situation they are merely giving Palestinians more reason to support Hamas as they are there only means of defense. Its easy for one to say, stop the aggression. But then what? Is Israel supposed to let Hamas reestablish its defenses and once again end up in the same situation? The method to eliminate Hamas and any other future hostile political organization is by gaining Palestinian support for it. External forces are never going to resolve it; it’s an internal struggle and we may sure as hope that it’s resolved very soon. The Palestinians have to pose against Hamas and Israel aggression for the Gaza strip to ever become stable.

All knowledge is to be questioned; and whether we in Sweden are being provided to an accurate source of information through newspapers such as Metro, Aftonbladet or GP is questionable. Perhaps this blog input shows my liberal views, but I surely do stand by them. May we hope that the situation is resolved.

PS: Sorry if you find this depressing.

Peace!
Ali Chaudry

Ummah Films!

hmuf — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 12:58:33 +0000

http://www.ummahfilms.com/

Gå in dit och titta. De påminnelser som han ger till oss tycker jag är väsentliga och ges på humoristisk sett vilket gör det ännu roligare att titta på dem. MashAllah den här brodern har verkligen lagt ner ett oerhört bra jobb och nåt ut till många tycker jag. Må Allah belöna honom för sitt jobb. Amin!

Fred!

Muslim Ummah!

hmuf — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 12:57:07 +0000

- The Muslim ummah is an unique ummah among the whole mankind: Their Land is One, their War is One, their Peace is One, their Honour is One and their Trust is One!

May the people in this world wake up, especially the neighbouring countries of Palestine, and help the people dying and getting hurt in Gaza inshAllah!

People living in Gaza = Life of Pi situation?

hmuf — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 12:54:24 +0000

What is happening to this world? Seriously, it feels like day by day everything is just getting worse. Where are pupil’s human rights? Where is the logic thinking gone? Is justice and peace ever going to conquer this world?

Well these questions again in my point of view are something, which cannot be easily discussed. Anyhow, my point by this is: Something heartbreaking that happened again, as it has been doing for several years, the people living in Gaza had to suffer another tremendous tragedy. Over 200 people have been killed and 200 have been injured in Gaza of the bombings from Israel.

I agree with what Nabila wrote on her blog, and would refer you guys to her blog and read it, although it is in Swedish. ( If I’ve got the time I will provide with a translation)
à http://nabila.wordsilah.com/2008/12/27/gaza/

Although something which really attracted my attention was when she wrote this:

“Han berättade skräckhistorier om hur folket blivit så desperata efter mat, elektricitet, mediciner, bensin att de förvandlats till djur,”

In English: ” He told scary stories about how people have become desperate for food, electricity, medicine, petrol that it has turned them into animals,”

This reminds me about a book I’ve read recently called Life of Pi. It’s basically about a boy named Pi whose animal behaviour characteristics come out when he has to survive under harsch circumstances in a lifeboat, after experienced a ship sinking that he was in. He is in middle of nowhere in the Pacific Ocean all alone without any presence of humanity or a way to communicate. He also tells about how him having a belief in God helped him to survive his suffering.

(I would recommend everyone to read it or at least read a little more of the summary which you can google it up.)

Anyhow, my point to make is, have the living standards for some human beings dropped so much that they have to live a harsh life like Pi? When I read this book, I felt
disgusted and emotional for what Pi had to do in order to survive and that is how I feel when hearing that human beings just like me, just like us, when living in their own homes they have to become animals. Their circumstances are put forward by human beings, nothing where it has to be a must for them to live in. This is the work of harsch people not having any consideration for children, women and the old; the living. This is not a situation where they have to have these characteristics in order to survive, it’s rather served to them in a plate by humans. This is something not all of us can imagine of doing, especially when living here in Sweden. We have it so much better than we can imagine. Materialism is such an essential thing for people in the western world that we forget about having the access to food, fresh water, a warm place to live and sleep in, is such a huge privelage. This is something you should have in mind when you for example can’t afford to buy the latest shoes from a well-known brand. It doesn’t matter, be happy that you have shoes and clothes, having too much of anything is never good. Anyway I think im going a little off track her.
I would really, really say to all that they should at least try to situate themselves in these innocent civilians and try to help in someway for them and their human rights to come back to their normal lives from the barbaric animal conditions they have to live in. I don’t think anyone wishes to live in these circumstances and nor would you wish that for your swornest enemies.

I pray to Allah to better our brothers and sisters conditions in Gaza, and letting go people’s animal characteristics by them having a privilege of getting food, fresh water and their human rights back!

Peace! S.C