There's been growing emphasis in Australia on the separation of religion from schools, government and other public sectors. Educational ministers proposed an overhaul of the regulation surrounding religious celebrations in public schools including banning Easter and Christmas celebrations, reports The Age.

Australia now has a Prime Minister - Julia Gillard - who doesn't believe in God, and it seems religion has taken a back seat in the public eye, only creeping up on Current Affair shows. So, until only a few weeks ago, the thought of propagating a particular religious thought through mainstream media was a pipe dream.

Major Religions Air Television Ads
The first Mormon ads aired on local Australian television recently and I my wife asked me if I thought we'd ever witness Islamic TV advertisements in the future. My response was pessimistic with a slight hint of hope.

With the questionable media coverage Islam currently gets, a whole advertisement set to promote the faith seemed far-fetched.

The Mormon ads (video) were marketed well, linking faith in science to faith in God, simple and effective. A few years back, I probably wouldn't have reflected on the ads as I didn't have any knowledge of the Mormon faith. Having worked with people of the Mormon faith for over a year now, the ads appeal to me because I can relate to both, the people and the faith. I thought to myself,

If there ever were Islamic television ads in Australia, they should be shown the modern Mormon way – steering away for traditional preaching and text book Da’wah.

To my amazement, a few weeks later the first Islamic TV ad aired on local television.

Successful Islamic TV Ad
The advertisement itself is a MyPeace campaign based in Sydney. Famously known for the 'Jesus Is A Prophet Of Islam' billboards, MyPeace's Facebook page has raked over 10k members for launching similar posters, and illustrating over forty buses with Islam's principles.

Now, the first Australian Islamic television promo takes advantage of thirty seconds, sharing three key points based on Islam's holy scripture, the Qur'an and the collected teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him - the sunnah.

The final message is one of community peace and understanding, promoting aspects of Islam that the average person wouldn't even consider.

An awareness of Islam is promoted through human rights and eliminating poverty. Emphasis is given to show the similarities between "Australian" and "Islamic" values; they are not mutually exclusive.

As a television advertisement, good use of a voice-over creates the perfect dramatic overlay to a subtle yet concise message. A message of religious tolerance and care.

Australian Islam Works
As an Australian Muslim, I don't believe the advertisement could have been done any better in design and content.

I was impressed when I read about it online and was amazed when it aired on network television a few weeks later. It will take more than a thirty-second television ad to address the misconceptions of Islam but this is a great start, it's the right start.

The campaign makes me proud to be an Australian Muslim.


Link to Australia's first Islamic ad video {http://youtu.be/MYWrQ8dTidM}

Find more about Islam in Australia {MyPeace}

More Muslims in Media:
Filmmakers Depict Women In The Muslim World
Media To Blame For Islamophobia, Says Survey
Al-Isharah Create First Adhan In British Sign Language

Fathi Otmani's The Most High is simply yoga for the soul.

The Amsterdam born nasheed (Islamic music) artist recently created 'The Most High', an eclectic music video praising God, with support from Islamic Relief.

'The Most High' carries a message of taubah, repentance for listeners. It questions a Muslim's heart, which is meant to be in a cognizant state of "absent from thee, I languish still". The song recognises that sometimes you do not have the strength to read the Qur'an as ethereally as you used too, and performing aeronautics while praying has clearly become a thing of the past.

Then this dainty by Otmani comes meandering its way to your ears, and attempts to heal your grieving heart. I believe it does. Listening to the track and watching the video's overly-repeated waves crashing into the coastline - it can and does undo some of the niggling troubles that were captive in your mind. If only for a few moments.

Fathi's aim for singing these hymns was to show mainstream audiences the softer, musical side to Islam and that the religion does not have room for antagonism.

He says on his site,

Fathi's swallow-like singing style echoes the dua (supplication) Muslims make when they turn to God to ask for help. The song is a prayer, sung to higher-pitched string instruments and a pop-like beat.

Amongst Fathi Otmani's work is the internationally known 'Ya Rabbi', an Arabic translation for 'Oh my Lord'. Ya Rabbi is a great contrast from his latest, although both are in essence prayers to God asking for help.

The young Dutch switches from English to Arabic in both tunes, but The Most high is enlivened with a distinctive hip hop-ish beat. It is the song that could be played in the car and sung to with friends. On the other hand, Ya Rabbi is one you could listen to in a Robert Frost-ic journey of the soul, glistening harps, in the early morning, on repeat, and... you get the visual.


More musika:
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Dasham Brookin's Spoken Soul

In Ramadan this year, the first ever Muslim call to prayer (adhan) was communicated in British Sign Language (BSL) on British television.

The prayer call was broadcasted on the digital television channel Ramadan TV, a project of Canadian organisation Mercy Mission. The signing in the video was communicated by Al-Isharah, one of Britain's first centres for the Muslim deaf community. Al-Isharah provide professional resources to cultivate a holistic celebration of Muslim diversity in the United Kingdom.

Al-Isharah (الإشارة), Arabic for 'the sign' or 'signal', has built a reputation on firsts. It was the first organisation to introduce British sign language mosque sermons (khutbahs) for the East London mosque in 2009, extending across England; it helped create the first information signing video on forced marriages by Scottish organisation Isharah; Al-Isharah is the first to provide Umrah pilgrimage trips catered to deaf Muslims.

The Muslim call to prayer (adhan) is an Islamic tradition beginning from when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) chose the African Bilal ibn Rabah al-Habashi, a freed slave, to invite the community to pray. Traditionally called in Arabic, the invitation reads,

"God is Great, God is Greater.
I testify that there is no god except the One God (Allah).
I testify that Muhammad is God's Messenger,
Come to prayer, come to worship.
Come to success."

Another first in the sign language adhan shows the need for resources and inclusivity for deaf Muslims.


Link to video {http://youtu.be/YjKiN34u7YE}



More:
Deaf Muslims Set Sights on ASL Qur'an
Video: Muslim Signers Answer 'What Is Islam?'
"I'm Blind, But I'm A Qur'an Hafidh"

Born to a Muslim family but raised as a Hindu, 'My Name Is Khan' actor Shahrukh Khan shares his childhood memories of Eid with family.

The video, in Hindi, has a brief transcript below.


Link to video {http://youtu.be/0CHmkxyg6s8}

"You can all come to mine, at 6 we'll pray! And we'll make a du`a for everyone's well being and freedom.

When I was younger we used to attend the Eid namaz (prayer, Farsi/Hindi). It's unfortunate that I haven't been able to attend the prayers here in Bombay, so I pray at home or with friends.

I have two strong memories for Eid; once after filming, we were in the Egyptian desert (singing a song!) and it was the Eid celebrations. Absolutely nobody was in the desert, for 100km it was deserted. There were just 50 of us and we gathered to pray Eid salah there.

I also remember when my father and uncle took me on a 2 wheeler, and our sandals would get stolen or lost. We used to go for the Eid festival in south Delhi, my father would take me, and that is really important because as I get older I hope to take my son."

Image {flickr}

More:
My Name Is Khan Movie Review
Imam Zaid Shakir's Eid Message
Is Eid the Muslim Christmas?

This exclusive message for Ramadan by Imam Zaid Shakir is packed with energy, which is exactly what is needed in these long summer days of fasting as we seek a reward from "Out of this World".

Video courtesy of Radical Middle Way.


Link to video {http://youtu.be/qHnK9lawmV0}

More:
Video: Imam Zaid Shakir's Ramadan Motivator
This Is Your Brain On Ramadan
Ramadan Tweets 2011 - Share Your Own #RamadanTips
Fasting For Ramadan As A Non-Muslim
'Trees4Life' Invite You To Plant A Tree In Indonesia

Imam Zaid Shakir delivers a talk on Ramadan at the Islamic Society of Britain's Living Islam 2011 festival.

A brief transcript is included for this video.




Link to video {http://youtu.be/nzxaKLWZH9Q}

"(Du`a) As-salam`alaykum,
An American poet, Robert Frost wrote a poem,
'Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow [...]

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Indeed, I'd like to stay here with you and enjoy ourselves, but there are promises to keep, which is why I have to go immediately to Sheffield for a programme after this (conference at Living Islam).

The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Qur'an has been revealed. Qur'an is a guidance for Muslims, it is a means to prayer, to worshipping God. The significance of the month is therefore a connective between the difference elements we read about. We read about the revelation itself in the Qur'an. Elsewhere we read about taqwah (Qur'an, 2:185) - that fasting is connected to God consciousness, which translates into a willingness to fulfil His orders.

Ramadan is therefore about fasting, taqwah and Qur'an. But what is our relationship with all three? Through fasting we became more accutely aware of Allah's commands. We're voiding those things that were otherwise lawful, that which is ordinarily halal and good for us - the tayyibaat, like drinking cold water at iftar which makes us feel so good when opening the fast.

If we can for one twelfth of the year avoid what is ordinarly good for us, how easy is it to leave those filthy things that are bad for us? And this is how we increase our taqwah. This quality opens up our hearts and illuminates it.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, "Taqwah is here", pointing to his heart three times.

The conditions of taqwah are to affect our heart. Our hearts become more receptive to the message. Allah says the Qur'an is a guidance for people WITH taqwah. As Ramadan is the month of Qur'an, it's asking us to increase reading, it's a connection between these elements.

The Prophet ﷺ also said, "All of the actions of people are for Allah, and good deeds are multipled up to 700x and more. Excepet fasting, that is for Him."

Fasting is exempted from those multiplied deeds. It's not limited in numerical terms of reward. Fasting involves patience. And patient people have no limit to their reward. Allah says patient people wil be given their reward without measure in Jannah. Fasting lasts an entire month, it's not a 5 minutes salat or a cheque for zakat, or a week for Hajj. That's done, quickly over with. But fasting is for an entire day, not five separate times during the day like prayer.

In England, the summer fasts are longer and will be in the coming years. Someone said to me, 'it's not fair, in Makkah they have shorter days.' Well, our days in winter were short so we're balancing things out, alhamdulillah. Even our fasts are an opportunity to purify ourselves by fasting longer! We remember the words of the Prophet that fasting is half of patience, and "Ramadan is the month of patience".

We're challenged each day in Ramadan. Some days we feel tired, other days we have a headache, cramps and pains. But we persevere. There are hard times, but there are easy times.

Ramadan is a metaphor for our entire life, like our life's journey. As we move, we have easy years, with easy money and fulfilled needs and difficult years where we struggle. We have good friends some years, and for other periods we're lonely. Sometimes our Islam is clicking and some years it's a struggle to hold on to.

The most important thing we need in life and what we need in Ramadan is: PATIENCE.

Insha'Allah we will realise at the end of our lives that we haven't struggled in vain. We didn't miss those opportunities for material gain by investing in interest or indulging in haram business. We gained something better. We passed on the haram and we stayed patient. We don't do all of that in vain without reward. We do it for Allah's pleasure."

Watch part 2 on YouTube {http://youtu.be/NLWYaCd-BGY}
Image:: flickr

Londoners share their experiences of Ramadan in the cultural melting pot that is London, on the Radical Middle Way blog. Do you have a Ramadan story, photo or video to share? View more stories and submit yours at {http://ramadaniyyat.tumblr.com}


Link to video {http://youtu.be/2vYblAlBacw}

Image: flickr

"LIKE: Facebook.com/RadicalMiddleWay
The Ramadan blog: http://ramadaniyyat.tumblr.com/

Five Muslim comedians and a Pakistani Londoner whose YouTube diary has reached over 20million hits, are coming to a city near you.

Cue the screaming fans.

The UK comedy tour is organised by Peace, Youth and Community Trust (PYCT), a new charitable organisation, in association with The Salam Project. As part of their launch, the PYCT are raising money for local and national projects that work with young people.

How to help
The PYCT are asking everyone to donate items and services that can be auctioned off. If you are able to help, then please email them at: comedytour@pyct.org.

The tour includes some of the UK’s top Muslim comedians and new faces

• Humza Arshad became an online video sensation with his ‘Diary of a Badman’ videos, which have topped three million views with over 20 million views altogether.
• Stand-up comedian Prince Abdi made his television debut on Paramount’s Hit Show ‘The World Stands Up’, and has performed in various clubs in the UK, US and Europe. He won 'Your Comedy Star 2007' at  the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
• Nabil Abdulrashid is one of the youngest ever comedians to perform stand-up at the Hammersmith Apollo and has already racked up over 400 gigs.
• Jeff Mirza’s stand-up has won him an EMMA comedy award and taken him to the finals in the BBC Open Mic Award.

Fresh up-and-coming comedians MJ and Nazim Ali are also being introduced.

Dates: The tour will visit the following cities:

• London - Friday 22nd July (Brent Town Hall, HA9 9HD)
• Birmingham- Saturday 23rd July (The Bordesley Centre, B11 1AR)
• Bradford - Sunday 24th July (Ventnor Hall, BD3 9JP)
• Manchester - Friday 29th July (Friend’s Meeting House-M2 5NS)

Time: Doors open at 5:30pm, prompt start  at 6:00pm

Entrance fee: £15 for Adults | £10 for youths and students *Discounts for group bookings

This year PYCT will be supporting the 'Kiyaan Prince Foundation' {www.kiyan.org} and 'Ansar Youth Project' {www.ansaryouth.org.uk}. The tour will be hosted by Brother Ismael Lea South.

And now, a note from the Pakistani Londoner... Masha'Allah, whatever Allah wishes.


Link to video {http://youtu.be/RbaguR0pafo}


For ticket purchases and more info: w | www.pyct.org  e | comedytour@pyct.org
t | 0208 427 8388 / 079 580 46 602

If getting into 'Ramadan mode' is a guilty challenge and preparing for 30 days of fasting feels burdensome, you need a dose of Ramadan Prepping, son.

Behold! Be inspired by ten iconic Muslims from July 21st onwards on preparing for Ramadan mentally, practically and healthily. Listen to motivating talks that will put the Taqwa back into life and gear you towards a more productive fasting season.



Leading up to Ramadan eve, the whole ten day program is free and open to all.

Date: July 21st and July 30th.
Time: 6:45 pm – 8:00 pm CST/ 4:45 pm – 6:00 pm PST/ 7:45 PM – 9:00 PM EST

The schedule and speakers are as follows:
• Day 1: Omar Soleiman | "Let the hearts submit"
• Day 2: Hanaa Gamal | "Ramadan Fiqh and Women"
• Day 3: Wissam Sharieff | "Ramadan & Desires:
• Day 4: Abdelrahman Murphy | "Youth: Balancing School"
• Day 5: Yaser Birjas | "The Art of Excelling in Ramadan"
• Day 6: Farhat Hashmi & Aisha Altaf | "It's A Special Time for Moms"
• Day 7: Nouman Ali Khan | "You & Qur'an - A New Beginning"
• Day 8: Waleed Basyouni | "Ramadan Changed History & It Can Change You!"
• Day 9: Dr. Bashar Shala | "Living A Healthy Ramadan"
• Day 10: Gyasi Mckenzie | "The New Muslim Experience"


Link to video: {http://youtu.be/4g_W5F1mhNo}

Confirm your place on the Ramadan Prep Facebook events page.

Muslim vloggers Muslema Purmul and Jamaal Diwan have produced a video series on relevant issues that often sweep under the Islamic radar.

In episode 4 of the MAS Youth project, Muslema covers racial unity - what does Islam say about racism? Why are we 'coloured'? What does it mean to be 'equal'?




Link to video: {http://youtu.be/LEgYh5qzaLM}

Check out their fantastic Ramadan Countdown project for daily updates up to fasting season: {http://theramadancountdown.wordpress.com/}

Read more: {www.jamaalandmuslema.com/blog}

Journey to Mecca is an IMAX® dramatic and award winning documentary feature that tells the amazing story of Ibn Battuta, the greatest explorer of the Old World, following his first pilgrimage between 1325 and 1326 from Tangier to Mecca.

His perilous journey resonates with adventure while presenting an unforgettable picture of Islamic civilization during the 14th century, culminating with Ibn Battuta's first Hajj. The story is book-ended by a close-up look at the contemporary Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca that draws three million Muslims from around the world.


Link to video: {http://youtu.be/C9zee0ka-2Q}

After receiving great acclaim, Journey to Mecca has played in theatres around the globe including a grand opening in Birmingham, UK and Chicago.

Journey to Mecca is coming to New York on August 20th, 2011 and Melbourne on September 1st, 2011. {www.imaxmelbourne.com.au}

Interested in hosting Journey to Mecca in your city? Want to help give students a chance to see the film? Get in touch: e | jtm@skfilms.ca

Dr Bilal Hassam, Executive Member of The Leaf Network, shared his thoughts last Wednesday on taking care of elderly parents, on Channel 4's 4thought.tv.

This airing coincided with the major news story on 15th June: a financial crisis at Southern Cross, the UK's largest care home provider, with 751 homes across the country.

Bilal Hassam gave his views, both as a Muslim and a doctor, briefly discussing what he believes are the Muslim and societal duties towards our parents and elderly relatives.


Watch Dr. Hassam's video on {www.4thought.tv}

Stay updated on British Muslim activism {www.theleafnetwork.org.uk}

Image: 4Thought.tv ©

Baba Ali of Ummah Films talks about Cultural Parenting in his latest video - where Muslims mix cultural values with Islam, making it difficult for young adults to differentiate. This is a case of understanding how actions that speak louder than words, can have a backlash.

Cue Shaykh Hamza Yusuf: "Sometimes so much emphasis is made on children respecting their parents, that actually our parents forget that in Islam young people have rights as well".

Follow Baba Ali on Twitter {http://twitter.com/ummahfilms}. For more videos like this, click "LIKE" on Half Our Deen's page {http://facebook.com/halfourdeen}.


Link to video: {http://youtu.be/GTBv4Voqoew}

*Correction: Brother Ali means to say midpoint, "When you have a predominantly cultural upbringing, you're pretty comfortable around your cousins, who are actually your non-mehram" (non-guardian).

RapNews:
It's the end of an era. The decade which opened with a ferocious attack in the United States of America, closes with the announcement of the death of its greatest and most conveniently disney-like villain, Usama Bin Laden. In a decade which has been dominated by the Empire Strikes Back, our affable and dextrous host Robert Foster invites us to scrutinise the events shrouding the killing of this twentyfirst-century Goldstein. Joining him in this May retrospective are Rap News regulars, General Baxter, the Pentagon's most effusive spokesperson, attempting uncharacteristically to stay 'on message', and his counterpart from the world of alternative academia, the conspiracy industry's favourite son, Terrence Moonseed. What actually happened in Abbotabad? Do the public have a right to see evidence of this event? What is Terrence wearing on his head? Was justice really served? What next? History is happening.

Muxlim viewers: Watch this video by Juice Media on YT

During the Middle Eastern revolts back in February, Muslim nasheed artist Maher Zain was watching the Egyptian people's courage very closely. Here is what Maher created out of that inspiration.

A note from Maher Zain:

"About six weeks ago (in February) I was inspired by the brave young people struggling for their freedom in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya to write a new song called FREEDOM. I performed this song for the first time on the 25th and 26th of Feb in Malaysia and we made this video. Thanks to everyone involved. I hope that you will like it insha'Allah, please share with your friends :) <- smiley"

Muxlim viewers: Watch FREEDOM by Maher Zain on YT (Awakening Records)

♫ FREEDOM lyrics:
Gathered here with my family, my neighbours and my friends
Standing firm together against oppression holding hands
It doesn't matter where you're from or if you're young, old, woman or man
We're here for the same reason, we want to take back our land

O God, thank you
For giving us the strength to hold on
And now we're here together calling you for freedom, freedom
We know you can hear our call, oh
We're calling for freedom, fighting for freedom

We know you won't let us fall oh.

We know you're here with us
No more being prisoners in our homes
No more being afraid to talk
Our dream is just to be free, just to be free

Now when we've taking our first step towards a life of complete freedom
We can see our dream getting closer and closer, we're almost there

I can feel the pride in the air
And it makes me strong to see everyone
Standing together holding hands in unity
Shouting out loud demanding their right for freedom
This is it and we're not backing off

Oh God we know you hear our call
And we're calling you for freedom, freedom
We know you can hear our call oh

We're calling for freedom, fighting for freedom
We know you won't let us fall oh
We know you're here with us

Freedom, freedom, freedom.

The American Muslim book 'I SPEAK FOR MYSELF' is being released in May 2011. For the past six months masses of excitement has built towards the magnificently authored book about 40 Muslim women, and holy roti, I'm very much looking forward to holding and reading an actual copy.

One of those authors and renowned writer on the MuslimMatters.org blog is sister Heba Ahmed, a Muslim woman who chose to wear the face veil (niqab) after converting to Islam. Both she, and Mona Eltahawy, debated over the pros and cons of the France burqah ban, from a personal and religious perspective.

I will add here that sister Mona has received a lot of criticism for her views but we must ascertain her personal reasons and background before adding further negativity to a matter that is supposed to focus on Muslim women's rights. No Muslim woman is in the firing line: President Sarcozy and the French government are.

The full transcript to this video has been provided by MuslimMatters.org. Feel free to share your thoughts on the lengthy discussion developing on their site.


Muxlim.com viewers: Watch the {CNN debate between Ahmed and Eltahawy on YT}.