Interests:trying to find God in everything, talking/chillin/debating/laughing/having a good time, Islam, Philosophy, Googling, aviation, drawing, basketball, cats, urban living (city=good, suburbs=bad), being anti-gluttony and anti-materialism, good movies, good music, taking pictures of everyday life, architecture, good comedy, flying and/or falling - adrenaline rushes, the economist, CAIR, social policy, eating good food from anywhere, watching infomercials, political activism & fighting for human rights, BBC World, trying to convince apathetic morons to do things, the Illini, watching the sky, video games, The New York Times, driving, utilizing the five senses to feel truly alive (stop and smell the flowers), and blowing hookah rings Expertise:Knowing useless information, having pointless discussion about it. Occupation:Consulting Industry:Construction
This is what was posted on ISNA's website more than a month ago, in September, before the start of Ramadan 2006:
The Astronomical New Mooning (Conjunction) will occur on Sunday, October 22, 2006, at 5:15 a.m. Universal Time, i.e., 1:15 am Eastern Daylight Time - or Saturday, October 21, 10:15 pm Pacific Daylight Time. At sunset in Nome, Alaska, hilal will be formed (angle is 10.8� >Danjon Limit), and its age is 22 hours. At San Diego, angle is 9.8� >Danjon Limit, and moonset is 8 minutes after sunset so it is present above the horizon. At Longitude 179:59W and latitude 45:00S Moonset is 71 min after sunset. Age is 25.4 hours and is 11.3 degrees above horizon. On October 22, this moon will be sightable at the South West coast of South America, which is East of North America. This moon will be easily sightable (weather permitting) in Polynesian Islands on October 22.
And this is what was posted on the Chicago Hilal website as of October 22, 11:00 pm:
The Chicago Hilal Committee has confirmed the moon sighting reports from California. Ramadan will end in 29 days and the first day of Shawwal, Eid-ul-Fitr will be October 23, 2006.
I rest my case.
EID MUBARAK TO ALL
The Hilal Committee of Greater Chicago rejected ISNA's proposal to determine lunar dates by calculation because it "is clearly in conflict and violation of the Shari'ah and the Sunnah." Yes, the prophet (s) did not use calculation, just as he did not drive a car, use a computer, or have the luxury of a lota (he used water when available, and if it was, very little was used).. Which, by the way, I'd love to see these guys give up their usage of the lota, since using 3 gallons of water to clean your butt isn't the sunnah either.
Anyway, here are some of ISNA's reasons for using calculation (besides embracing modernity):
Sighting the Hilal (ru’yah) is not an act of ‘ibadah in itself; it is rather a means to know with certainty about the beginning of the new month related to Islamic ‘Ibadat.
Ru’yah as a means was indicated and used by the Prophet –peace be upon him- because he himself said that the Ummah at that time was not literate and did not know how to write or to calculate (complicated astronomical data).
Some classical jurists were willing to accept the calculations.
Some classical jurists refused to allow calculations in this matter because in their time astronomy and astrology were not quite distinct sciences. Jurists were suspicious that astronomical predictions may not be based on exact science but on whims, conjectures, superstition etc.
During the last century an increasing number of Muslim jurists indicated that calculations could be used to negate erroneous reports of crescent sighting. Some jurists were of the opinion that calculations could also be used as a positive method to determine the new Islamic lunar months.
There are now many Muslim astronomers who have been working for many years to develop a global lunar Islamic calendar. Fiqh Council particularly appreciates the efforts of its consultants Dr. Imad ad-Dean Ahmad, Dr. Khalid Shaukat, Dr. Muhib Durrani and Dr. Ahmad Salamah.
Dr. Salah Soltan and Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Shah also presented scholarly papers to give thorough evidence from Fiqh Perspective that the use of calculations is not against the Sunnah of the Prophet –peace be upon him.
The positive effects of this, insha-Allah:
Announcement of Islamic dates ahead of time will reduce a lot of hardship,chaos and confusion that happen every year at the time of the beginning of Ramadan and the two Eids.
Announcement of Islamic dates will help Muslims to plan their activities in advance, facilitating their ability to take off from work or school. Many other benefits will result from this.
Announcement of these dates will also remove unnecessary financial burdens from the Muslim community in North America.
Muslim of America will become more united in their celebrations.
Muslims of America can also work to have their Islamic holidays officially recognized.
The Muslim community of North America will lead the way towards the development of a unified global Islamic calendar for the whole Muslim world.
And please don't tell me that I'm not a scholar so I have no right to THINK about my own religion.
Below is a post I wrote on Thursday, April 27, 2006, 5 months ago, almost to this day. It came so much sooner than anyone would have expected, but I regret to inform you all that my friend, Mr. Rebel, passed away last night.
Thanks Mona, for letting me know. Sigh.. The amount of regret that is filling in me is difficult to describe, it is like a torrent of rain that floods a street within minutes. I had every chance to share Islam with him, but I always thought it would be too soon. I pray that Allah (swt) accepts Rebel for acknowledging His/Her (swt) existence and has mercy on Rebel during this month of blessings, for Allah is the Most Merciful.
Verily, to Allah (swt) we belong and to Him/Her (swt) we shall return.
I will miss you Rebel. Thanks for the hours of good conversation, insights into life, and lessons in humility you taught me. And thanks, for the picture, I will never forget.
For those of you who would like to do something for Rebel, the Hometown Pantry on 6th and Green is collecting donations for a funeral, although these reports are unconfirmed, you can always stop by and see. Also, the Illini Media company (D.I.) will be doing something as well. Those of you in Champaign will find out soon. If you can, please drop in some cash for Rebel, thanks.
So I've made a new friend this past semester while at pita pit. His name's Rebel, I just call him Reb. Not quite sure what his real name is, or was. He's homeless, and has been in such a state, so he says, for 21 years, in champaign-urbana. We've been talking ever since I started in mid January, very interesting fellow, and he has now become a part of my routine every day I work.. we have a cigarette or two together and enjoy a nice chat of politics and life.
I hadn't seen him for about 3 days earlier in the week, so yesterday I asked him where he'd been the past couple of days, because I see him everytime I work. He said he was at the hospital, and that the doctors said he completely destroyed his liver by drinking so much. They've given him 6 months to a year to live, and since he doesn't have anything close to medical insurance, a liver transplant is out of the question, and the waiting list for those things sometimes exceeds five years.
I asked him if there was anything I could do, including maybe even getting him under my Dad's insurance, if that was possible. Reb said he wanted to die, he's lived enough, and is just tired, of life, of everything. I said ok Reb, how about we make the best of what you have left? He's actually quite content with his life, and says that he enjoys nothing more than chillin on the street corner, talking to people and doing whatever he can to brighten their days. I said Reb, let me do at least one thing for you, since you've taught me so much already. He said, no one's taken a picture of me, take a picture of me Moein.
Take a picture, and remember me he said, and pray that I don't go to hell, again.
He trusts me, the least I could do is have him repeat the shahadah one day, before I leave campus. Becoming Muslim or saying the shahadah is not even important to me, if he didn't trust me so much I probably wouldn't bother with it. He's already very conscious of God, it comforts him, and that should be enough. But now that I have his respect, I think that's the least I could do. Inshallah, it'll work out. please pray for rebel, he's a good man.
Well it's about that time where I think about how ISNA went this year, and the concept of ISNA in general.
Mashallah I'd like to say though, I'm very proud of ISNA and what it does, and of the convention. The Saturday nights are my favorite - I get to see the greatest leaders American Muslims have produced (all converts of course), and I get to hear their thoughts for the next year and where we should go as a broader community. It enlightens my spirit and gives me a sense of strength. I'm proud that we have home grown scholars and people to look to for guidance. The line-up Saturday night was amazing.. ex Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, the awesome British author and journalist Robert Fisk, and of course, Sheikh Hamza Yusuf.
I will never get tired of the convention. May Allah (swt) bless all of those who work tirelessly for to make it a success, every year. And may Allah (swt) guide those ignorants who are ungrateful, Ameen.
And speaking of haters.. I wish ISNA would take a more bold stance on the retarded amount of hating that goes on. Speaking directly to ISNA haters: What do you people want? An unorganized mass of idiots in America with no leverage in politics and the national stage? Do you not want a convention at all? Do you realize that old college friends of opposite genders catching up in the lobby is not haraam? And how about contributing to society instead of being a critic all the time?
But anyway, I guess growing up in Springfield, I appreciate ISNA a whole lot more. Unlike Chicago kids, we weren't handed everything to us. Want a masjid? Build it. Want Islamic school? Build it. Want things to do with your Muslim friends? Organize it. To see where ISNA has come, in 43 years, is something I can really identify with and appreciate. I can't imagine the amount of sweat and tears it took to get ISNA to where it is now. May Allah (swt) reward them all.
And finally, it kind of sucks that I didn't get to see everyone that I wanted to see. I was busy with a wedding in the middle of it all, but I hope that we all Illini Muslims use ISNA as a chance to see friends and acquaintances that we normally wouldn't see, or people outside of our close knit group of friends. If we don't make the effort to stay in touch now, we'll lose contact for good. Inshallah next year someone can organize some sort of reunion.. Otherwise, we can always dominate the convention center lobby like we always do, but it'd be nicer to have something more formally organized.
"Despite the attribution to the Prophet of a large number of traditions hostile to dogs, we know from a large number of sources such as Ibn Hajar al-'Asqlani in his commentary on Bukhari, from al-Mubarakafuri in his commentary on Tirmidhi, and al-Nawawi in his commentary on Muslim, there are several reports indicating that the Prophet's young cousins, and some of the companions owned puppies. Other reports indicate that the Prophet, peace and blessings upon him, prayed while a dog played in his vicinity. In addition, there is considerable historical evidence that dogs roamed freely in Medina and even entered the Prophet's mosque. In another report, the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, warned his companions against evicting a dog weaning her puppies from her chosen spot. In other words, the Prophet taught that if a dog is found weaning her puppies, people should not disturb her. In one report, it is transmitted that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, changed the course of his marching troops in order to avoid disturbing a pair of dogs and their puppies. However, one of the most important and well-documented report states that the Prophet taught that a prostitute, and in some versions, a sinning man, secured their places in Heaven by saving the life of a dog dying of thirst in the desert. These various reports are in clear tension with reports prohibiting the ownership of dogs or reports that de-value the moral worth of dogs."
Sigh.. The amount of regret that is filling in me is difficult to describe, it is like a torrent of rain that floods a street within minutes. I had every chance to share Islam with him, but I always thought it would be too soon. I pray that Allah (swt) accepts Rebel for acknowledging His/Her (swt) existence and has mercy on Rebel during this month of blessings, for Allah is the Most Merciful. 
