YouTube will broadcast live coverage of the Islamic ritual of Hajj for the first time this Saturday, according to the company’s blog.

Hajj, which is the largest pilgrimage in the world, is a demonstration of the solidarity of Muslim people and a submission to Allah. It represents one of the five pillars of Islam and is a religious duty that every able-bodied Muslim must carry out at least once in their lifetime.

This year’s Hajj—an event that is likely to attract close to 2.5 million worshippers—will be live on the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information’s YouTube channel. The broadcast doesn’t start until Saturday, November 5, but the channel already contains many related videos.

Google is working with the Saudi Ministry again after the two partnered to broadcast Islamic prayers from the Holy Mosque in Mecca live during Ramadan for the first time earlier this year. The plan for is another example of the positive communication benefits of today’s technology and it seems likely that more similar events will be covered on YouTube going forward, bringing them to larger global audiences.

The live broadcast will also be available to some television viewers after Google Saudi Arabia partnered with Saudi Telecom Company (STC) to bring YouTube to Interactive Television, or Invision, customers who can access the service through their TV set.

Source: The Next Web - YouTube to broadcast Islamic ritual of Hajj live for the first time

From Radical Middle Way – Luton is one of the most diverse cities in the United Kingdom, with people coming from and representing diverse cultures, religions, languages and experiences. It is important to acknowledge and see the strength of this diversity. This special programme brought together two of contemporary Islam’s prominent scholars, Habib Umar bin Hafiz and Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, providing a rare opportunity not only for young people but also all those who work in the frontlines of community relations to explore and get clarity on the faith’s teachings on a variety of challenging contemporary issues, particularly the challenges of living, working and making a better community together.

View the videos, listen to the audio files, scan the QR codes here - http://radicalmiddleway.co.uk/blog/rmw-blogger/the-mercy-of-diversity

Permissibility of Celebrating the Mawlid from Nazim Baksh on Vimeo.

In March-April 2010, Sidi Nazim Baksh accompanied Dr. Umar Faruq ‘Abd-Allah, scholar in residence at the Chicago based Nawawi Foundation, to Trinidad, Barbados and Guyana. They were guests of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG). CIOG organized visits to the Berbice region of Guyana. Dr. Umar visited the Bushlot, Adelphi, Farm and No. 78 Masjids. Everywhere he went people asked about the permissibility of celebrating the Mawlid of the Beloved Messenger of Allah. This is the answer Dr. Umar gave at No. 78 Masjid.

United For Change – Our Families, Our Foundation – Imam Zaid Shakir from MQube on Vimeo.

http://www.UnitedForChange.com

Exclusive first showing of Imam Zaid’s video invitation to the 2nd annual United for Change event: Our Families, Our Foundation. This year the event will be held in Montreal, Canada, oui oui. Yes, this bi-lingual event will be held in French and English. Magnifique!

Full details here: Our Families, Our Foundation

Full HD video here: http://1.mqu.be/IZSufc (Please click on Share & Like)

15 million children die of hunger every year. 200 people have died around the globe since the time you read this. About half the world struggles to survive on $2/day; an amount spent on one cup of coffee by a North American.

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