We have just confirmed that Nader Khan from Toronto, Canada and Hamza Robertson from the UK have arrived in Malaysia. They will be performing at the Selangor Islamic Song Festival in Malaysia. Nader will be touring Malaysia and Singapore, to meet him please contact: http://scr.im/mqube

Find more information here: http://semua.my/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137722552904886

Now is the time to help those in need. You can help us fight hunger by joining us during our online concert.

Register now to reserve your attendance of the FeedMe Fast Concert broadcast. http://www.feedmefast.org/

The FeedMe Fast Concert is an online hunger relief event  that will include songs, spoken word poetry, and inspiring talks to raise funds to help those in need.

Here is a video of Shaykh Faraz Rabbani introducing the FeedMe Fast Concert – http://1.mqu.be/FMFCSFR (video also embedded below)

We have 3 broadcast dates scheduled:

* July 7, 2010
* July 14, 2010
* July 21, 2010

Registration is FREE!

Confirmed artists:
- Native Deen
- Nader Khan
- Baraka Blue

Confirmed speakers:
- Imam Zaid Shakir
- Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
- Preacher Moss
- Mustafa Davis
- Imam Abdul Latif Finch

Invited artists:
- Yusuf Islam
- Zain Bikha
- Khaleel Muhammad
- Ghuydar Bashmaf
- Hamza Robertson
- Sofia Baig
- Halal Meat
- Jafar Alam

Invited speakers:
- Shaykh Afeefuddin Al-Jailani
- Ustadh Usama Canon

Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/feedme_fast
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/FeedMeFastConcert
YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/user/feedmefastconcert

20,000 people. 200 vendors.

100 artists. 4 stages.

1 day.

Takin’ It to the Streets is a Muslim-led festival where artistic expression, spirituality and urban creativity inspire social change.

Takin’ It to the Streets bridges today’s cultural divides by connecting diverse racial, ethnic, and religious communities through a dynamic festival. The festival will enrich cross-cultural community building not only in Chicago, but around the world.

What: Takin’ It to the Streets: Urban International Festival
When: June 19th, 2010
Time: 9am-9pm
Location: 6734 S. Kedzie Ave. in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois
Price: FREE (donations encouraged)

More info: http://www.Streets2010.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=238476845127

Featured Artists:

• Imam Zaid Shakir – Scholar
• Mos Def - Grammy Winner
• Brother Ali – Minnesota, USA
• Tinarwein – Mali
• Chabab al Andalous – Morocco
• Preacher Moss – Comedian / Motivational Speaker
• And many more!

Four Stages:

• Unity Stage: Reflects this unifying principle and showcases the diverse musical talents of contemporary artists
• Hip Hop Pavilion: Bringing together the elements of MCing, DJing, Breakin’, and graff art, with skateboarding and workshops
• World Music Stage: Blending global expression of traditional art forms through international artists
• Streets Stage: The festival’s signature stage bringing together dynamic performers and inspiring speakers

Activities:

• Faith & Justice: Speakers, panel discussion, and dialogue on a variety of issues relating to spirituality & social change
  
• International Bazaar: Cultural artifacts, multi-ethnic cuisine, community organizations and more!
• Health & Wellness Fair: Free health screenings, information on healthy living and refreshments
  
• Sports Arena: 3-on-3 Basketball tournament open to all
  
• Family Zone: Rides, interactive games, children’s activities, and family-friendly performances
• Prayer Center: A quite space open all day for meditation, reflection and prayer
  

Additional Streets 2010 Events

Since its inception in 1997 as a single-day event, Takin’ It to the Streets has steadily grown in attendance and impact, and in 2010 it is preceded by a full week of events that embrace a new Muslim cultural renaissance.

Salaam Film Festival June 13-15: University of Chicago

A three-day festival highlighting the power of film as a tool for peace and social change. The festival will also screen films from the One Chicago, One Nation online film contest. Click here for more info

Melodies from Morocco June 16: Old Town School of Folk Music

The festival continues with a performance by the renowned Orchestre Chabab Al Andalous from Morocco Click here for more info

Dandana: A Celebration of Muslim Voices June 17: Millennium Park

World Music artists Tinariwen, from Mali, and Omar Faruk Tekbilek, from Turkey, will perform at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Click here for more info

About the Producer

Takin’ it to the Streets is produced by the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), a globally recognized leader that aims to change, serve and inspire by working on social justice issues, delivering a wide range of direct services, and cultivating the arts in urban communities.

The Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Learn more about IMAN: www.imancentral.org

Session I: Scholarly Consensus in the Purview of Culture (Ijma’ wa ‘Urf)
Session II: Islam & Popular Culture (Entertainment & Art)
Session III: Q&A

Taught by Shaykh Abdullah bin Hamid Ali

At the age of 17, Abdullah bin Hamid Ali, begun a serious study of Islam and the Arabic language. A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania born to Muslim parents, he took advantage of many of the local scholars and teachers, including Dr. Khalid Blankinship, Hafiz Anwar Muhaimin, Ustadh Anas Muhaimin, their father?Imam Nafea Muhaimin, Imam Aberra?a native of Eritrea who studied Islam and Arabic in Egypt, and others.  Abdullah has served as resident scholar for Zaytuna Institute (http://www.zaytuna.org) since 2007. Prior to moving to California from Philadelphia he served for five years as the fulltime Assistant Head Chaplain for the State Correctional Facility of Chester, Pennsylvania. In 2001, he became the first and only Westerner to attend and graduate from the University of al-Qarawiyyin’s Faculty of Shariah located in Fes, Morocco, having acquired a four-year collegiate license (al-ijazah al-‘ulya) to teach the Islamic sciences. Prior to studying under the tutelage of a number of Morocco’s prestigious scholars, he acquired fluency in the Arabic language having spent close to seven years in the US studying with some of America’s most influential academics and leaders in Philadelphia and surrounding cities. Before traveling to Morocco to pursue higher studies in Islam, he attended Temple University for two years majoring in Computer Science, while concurrently attending graduate level lectures on Islam with Dr. Khalid Blankinship. He has worked as an Islamic school teacher, a barber, a painter, and was as an active member of the hip hop generation being at one time a breakdancer and a rap artist who produced a single in 1986 and an LP in 1990 with a local Philadelphia group, Rock Hard Delegation. Abdullah has authored over 40 scholarly articles, authored and translated four published works: Muslim Funeral Guide (Lamppost Productions); Explanation of Murshid Al-Mu’een: Ibn Ashir Recited: Part 1 (Lamppost Productions); The Attributes of God (Amal Press); and A Return to Purity in Creed (Lamppost Productions).  His work can be found at: www.lamppostproductions.com

Barakah Life is now in DC taking part in ISNA’s 46th Annual Conference and Bazaar.

The DC trip is part of a larger launch for Barakah Life, with it’s new web site due to be online this weekend as well as new products like our 2 new Childrens Poetry Posters, The posters have whimsical designs incorporating traditional calligraphy. We also have two new greeting cards with designs created by Soraya Syed and Haji Noor Deen. The 2009 “Days of Joy” kits for children are also available.

We had the wonderful privilege of working in collaboration with HajI Noor Deen on some of our new offerings. We have more products in the works so please keep checking back to see what is new.

If you are in the DC area this weekend please come visit us. You can find us in booth #140.

On June 17, 2009, the Mayor’s office of San Francisco, the Indonesian Consulate, the California College of the Arts welcomed the batik collection of Ann Dunham, the late beloved mother of President Barack Hussein Obama.

Much thanks to the Alhadi / Usman family, we were given invites to attend this exclusive event. The photo gallery slideshow above is also on our Flickr page: Ann Dunham Batik Collection

A Lady Found a Culture in Its Cloth: Barack Obama’s Mother and Indonesian Batiks

This exhibition features 20 large fabrics and two scarves from the batik collection of Ann Dunham, President Barack Obama’s late mother. The collection has been in storage for many years and this is a valuable opportunity for the public to see it. The presentation is part of a national tour that is also passing through New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, and Washington DC this summer.

Indonesia is home to the ancient tradition of batik, in which fabric is decorated using a wax-resist dyeing process. Batiks are often intricately patterned and vividly colored, and they come in a wide variety of styles, from classic to contemporary.

The San Francisco presentation of the exhibition will also feature selected works by students in the Textiles and Fashion Design programs at California College of the Arts. These works will complement Dunham’s collection and indicate some of the contemporary directions this centuries-old art has taken. (Source: California College of the Arts)

Press release link.

Amir Sulaiman presents DUNYA:::Directed by Mustafa Davis from amir sulaiman on Vimeo.

“The 1st of The Meccan Openings music film series is premiering today. creating these music films has been a great experience for me as an artist. God willing it will be a great experience for you. this is only the beginning. go watch it. tell all your homies to watch it. and tell them to tell all their homies to watch it.” – Amir Sulaiman

http://www.amirsulaiman.com

Directed by Mustafa Davis. See what happened behind-the-scenes – http://amirsulaiman.com/film-making-of

Preacher Moss, world renowned comedian and motivational speaker, is working on his upcoming (and possibly last) comedy album. The album cover was just released for worldwide preview. Preacher has informed us that he will be providing more information and details about this highly anticipated project. In the meantime, you can get a sneak peek of the interim website for Everyday People here: http://everydaypeoplecd.com/

You can follow Preacher Moss on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/preachermoss

Check out our interview with Preacher Moss we conducted in February 2008 for Black History Month.

IslamCrunch is offering 2 free tickets to sold out film screening of New Muslim Cool. For a chance to win these tickets, simply post a comment here and describe another important element of Islam in the West (besides hip-hop).

Here’s an example: Technology is an important element of Islam in the West. We have so many Muslim engineers, scientists, computer specialists. Plus we have the benefit of centuries of jurisprudence, Islamic law and spiritual teachings. We can use this extensive knowledge to lead the technology front in order to benefit humanity.

The most appealing answer will be given the tickets. Video comments would be very cool too. Screening will be on Sunday, April 26 at 3pm in San Francisco. More details here: http://fest09.sffs.org/films/film_details.php?id=63

We would like to request that the winner provide a review of the film. Your review may get posted on IslamCrunch!

This contest is sponsored by Kinza Academy – Muslim home education.

I could not write about you
For fear
Fear of your presence
And fear of
My hearts’ brittleness
That I might die
In this pursuit
Yet wishing to die
In this state of intoxicated love
This is the conflict within me
Language cannot explain
Except the language
Of tears and laughter
Even the molecules
Of my body
Shake and tremble
With awe and excitement!

I just can’t explain!
Oh Messenger of God!
I can’t explain you!

Sometimes I forget
To say “Prophet” before your name
Not from heedlessness
But from desirous haste
To just say your name!
Muhammad, Muhammad, Muhammad!

I just can’t explain!
Oh Messenger of God!
I can’t explain you!

Oh the mystery of how
You have captured my heart
As a Christian
I loved the Prophets
Before you
But with you
I get them all!
I can love
Abraham, Moses and Jesus
Just by loving you!
Without this love
Your nation falls
With it
They are purified and irresistible!
Let those who
Possess this love
Not be stingy
Take it to the marketplace!
The workplace
And especially the home

It’s hard to explain!
Oh Messenger of God!
I can’t explain you!

Seeing the land of your life
Causes some to live
And seeing your grave
Causes some to die
Nothing is more difficult
Than you

In my youth
I have written easily
My love for many
But when I encountered you
The translator of my heart
Fell mute
Lost in inexplicable wonder!

That is hard to explain!
Oh Messenger of God!
I can’t explain you!

You sacrificed for me
Before I was even born
How should I thank you
As I now walk upon the earth?
My heart holds your love
My tongue sends you blessings
But it is my limbs
That often fall short
All this controversy about you
A proof of the veil
On the hearts of your enemies
And a proof against those
Who only follow you with words
But don’t turn your face from me
As I reach for a drink
From your soft hands

Because it’s hard to explain!
Oh Messenger of God!
I can’t explain you!

I heard one of my teachers say that upon the poet is to write about the Messenger of God, may His peace and blessings be upon him. As a person who often writes things in a form that some call poetry, I have been haunted by the weight of this statement since hearing it!
I converted to the way of life called “Islam” because of an overwhelming sense of the divine origin and authority of the Quran and after a mere glimpse at the life of the Prophet Muhammad, may His peace and blessings be upon him.
So the feeling of love and debt is immense – yet every time I have tried to write something about him… I get stuck! I just sit there frozen with my pen hovering over a piece of paper that ultimately is left blank!
Then, one of my closest companions sent me a link to a YouTube video about the “Mahabbah Awards” which is a unique awards program done in the spirit of love for God and His Messenger.
Unexpectedly, this short and simple video clip opened a flash-flood of emotions and tears within me that I could not control or contain! I jumped up from my chair to try and regain my composure but felt a rumble inside like someone was boiling water in my chest! My knees started to buckle so I sat back down and felt a pressure in my head and heat in my heart that I knew from experience would lead to words!
“Finally!” I said to myself, I have a chance to say something about this amazing Messenger! I quickly grabbed my pen and an orange Post-it notes pad and started to scribble as fast as I could, the English translation of this stream of consciousness and love.
May the Giver of Gifts gift us with loving His beloved more than our own selves.

From the book, Ash-Shifa’ of Qadi ‘Iyad…
Anas said that a man came to the Prophet and asked, “When will the Last Hour come, Messenger of God?” He said, “What have you prepared for it?” He said, “I have not prepared a lot of prayer or fasting or charity for it, but I love God and His Messenger.” The Prophet said, “You will be with the one you love.” (al-Bukhari)

It is related that a woman said to A’isha (may Allah be pleased with her), “Show me the grave of the Messenger of God.” She showed it to her and the woman wept until she died.

Originally posted here on Sidi Haroon’s blog.

Recited in commemoration of the Prophet’s birth here: http://islamcrunch.com/archives/bay-area-mawlid-2009/