HAPPY PLAYOFFS!

so stop calling me. thanks.

jawad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL0Qvo0LmHA
jawad: if i knew anyone with an imminent birthday i'd send them that

Aerosol Arabic on USA 'Arts and Islam' Tour

i'm dumb for not having gotten this out earlier. sorry, kids :-/

If you're not aware of his work, it's pretty damn hot. i'm a huge fan. he's touring the US; check it out if you get a chance, if for no other reason than because his name is friggin "aerosol arabic"... c'mon! you know that's awesome.

The dates for the Arts and Islam USA programme are as follows:

Chicago:
11th-14th April
New York:
15th April – 19th April
Boston/Massachusetts:
20th April – 21st April

Aerosol Arabic's youtube videos

Pearls Before Breakfast (Washington Post)

ironic that i'm highlighting an article about taking the time to find beauty in life, eh?

Washington Post placed Joshua Bell, a world renowned violinist, in a busy metro station to see how many people would stop to listen or drop change. he goes on to discuss the priorities we've set in our our lives and whether we take the time to appreciate beauty in the midst of our hectic schedules. seriously a very well-written article; i highly recommend reading the whole thing.

Pearls Before Breakfast by Gene Weingarten (Washington Post)

Highlights/Spoilers:

No one knew it, but the fiddler standing against a bare wall outside the Metro in an indoor arcade at the top of the escalators was one of the finest classical musicians in the world, playing some of the most elegant music ever written on one of the most valuable violins ever made. His performance was arranged by The Washington Post as an experiment in context, perception and priorities -- as well as an unblinking assessment of public taste: In a banal setting at an inconvenient time, would beauty transcend?

The poet Billy Collins once laughingly observed that all babies are born with a knowledge of poetry, because the lub-dub of the mother's heart is in iambic meter. Then, Collins said, life slowly starts to choke the poetry out of us. It may be true with music, too.

and

But the behavior of one demographic remained absolutely consistent. Every single time a child walked past, he or she tried to stop and watch. And every single time, a parent scooted the kid away.

And then there was Calvin Myint. Myint works for the General Services Administration. He got to the top of the escalator, turned right and headed out a door to the street. A few hours later, he had no memory that there had been a musician anywhere in sight.

"Where was he, in relation to me?"

"About four feet away."

"Oh."

There's nothing wrong with Myint's hearing. He had buds in his ear. He was listening to his iPod.

What about Joshua Bell?

He was too loud, too, Souza [ the shoe shine lady] says. Then she looks down at her rag, sniffs. She hates to say anything positive about these damned musicians, but: "He was pretty good, that guy. It was the first time I didn't call the police."

Souza nods sourly toward a spot near the top of the escalator: "Couple of years ago, a homeless guy died right there. He just lay down there and died. The police came, an ambulance came, and no one even stopped to see or slowed down to look.

"People walk up the escalator, they look straight ahead. Mind your own business, eyes forward. Everyone is stressed. Do you know what I mean?"

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

-- from "Leisure," by W.H. Davies

Tickle Me Elmo on Fire

so. disturbing.

Smoke Art

Gorgeous.

"An engineer by education and profession, Mehmet Ozgur is also an avid photographer. His work spans a substantial range of subject matter and technique, from the landscape panorama to normal format landscape, digital compositions and his amazing smoke works. His smoke series comprise stunning images of incense smoke, mainly in monochrome but some in color. These, as all of his work, are digitally manipulated on the computer to provide the effect he is after" (Cosshall).

Cosshall, Wayne J. "Jan 2007 Outstanding Art/Photo Site Award - Mehmet Ozgur" The Digital Imagemaker. 2007.

Pictures

Purification of the Heart - Displeasure with the Divine Decree

*Excerpts from "Purification of the Heart: Signs, Symptoms, and Curses of the Spiritual Diseases of the Heart," a translation of Imam al-Mawlud's Matharat al-Qulub, by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf*

Displeasure with the Divine Decree

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Poem Verses 106-107

“Displeaseure with the Divine decree occurs when one resists
God, the Majestic and Exalted, in what He has decreed.

For instance, saying, “I did not warrant this happening to me!” or “What did I do to deserve this suffering?”

(p. 69)
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“God-conscious people, when asked about what their Lord has given them, say that all of it is good. They say this out of knowledge of the nature of this world, as a temporary crucible of trial and purification. Because of this elevated understanding, they are patient with afflictions and trials. For worldly people, there is only this world, and this understanding creates a blind spot to the wondrousness of God’s creations and the signs strewn throughout.”

(p. 69)

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“As for obedience, one must recognize that obedience is a blessing from God. If a religious person starts to believe that he is better than other people – even if these “other” people are in a state of disobedience – he invites haughtiness. This is the danger of obedience and, in fact, the danger of religion – self-righteousness.”

(p. 70)
-------------------------------------------------------------------

“The Prophet (saw) once said that whoever has a mustard seed of arrogance in his heart will not enter Heaven, a sentiment shared with Christianity. What God asks from obedient people is simply acknowledging that their obedience is a gift from God. The Prophet (saw) said, “Do not find fault in others. If you find fault in them, God may take their faults away and give them to you.” It is unbecoming for a believer to look with scorn at those in tribulation, exhibiting loathsome disdain towards others who seem unguided. It is better to come with compassion toward them and gratitude to God. When the Prophet (saw) saw people severely tried, he made the supplication: “Praise be to [God] who has given me well-being such that I was not tried like these people. And He has preferred me over so much of His creation.” Compassion for those in tribution and gratitude for well-being is how the Prophet (saw) responded when he witnessed people in difficulty.”

(p. 71)
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“ “It may be that you dislike something, though it is good for you. And it may be that you love something, though it is bad for you. And God knows, and you do not know (Quran 2:216). Ibn ‘Abbas said that if a person is tested with a tribulation, he will find in it three blessings: first, the tribulation could have been worse; second, it was in worldly matters and not in spiritual ones; and third, it came in the finite world and not the infinite one. All three are reasons to thank God even for tribulations.”

(p. 71)
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“It is important to look at the life of the Prophet (saw) and know that no one faced greater tribulation.
…
Not once in a single hadith is there a complaint from him – except when beseeching his Lord.”

(p. 72)
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“Should people be happy with all that comes their way, even the bad thigns? God has decreed that evil exist in the world in order to test humankind and for reasons that accord with His wisdom. We should not be displeased with His choice in allowing this. But when one sees societies plunged into immorality, it is not something to be pleased with or even feel indifferent. On the contrary, God requires that we dislike it. But never should we resent or be displeased with the fact that God has created a w world wherein such things exist, however unpleasant they may be.”

(p. 72)