Human Costs of the Iraq War

On this, the 6th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the United States, the sobering human costs of the Iraq War to date are (minimum figures):

U. S. Military - 3,774
U. K. Military - 169
"Other" - 129
U. S. Wounded - 36,943
Self-Inflicted - 122
Iraqi Civilians - 71,720 - 78,296
Journalists - 155
Contractors - 414

Sources:
http://www.icasualties.org/
http://www.iraqbodycount.org/

No group of people has suffered more than the Iraqi people in the "War on Terror".

Jihad

This image is from a poster for director Hina Khan's film, Jihad - Struggling With Islam. The film documents her personal jihad, her inner struggle, with her own faith and identity after the events of 9/11.

Many people do not understand that the term "jihad" has a meaning separate from that used by media and uninformed people. Jihad is mistakenly referred to as "holy war". Say the word jihad and images are conjured up of car bombs, expoding buildings, bearded men yelling "Allahu Akbar" and on and on. There is no such thing as a holy war in Islam.

Why am I writing about jihad?

Well, as my blog suggests, part of my name is Jihad. It is my husband's name. The Quran tells Muslims that we should keep the name of our fathers. My birth name is Sharon Elayne Levine. When I married my husband, I did not take his name as my last name. Rather, I inserted it before my father's name. Thus, I use the name of S. E. Jihad Levine. Among Muslims and close friends, I am known as "Safiyyah".

A friend of mine asked me to write a book review and back cover blurb for a Musim author who will soon be publishing her first book.

When I received the manuscript, it was badly in need of content and copy edit. It had numerous errors about Islam and the grammar was horrible. The author's first language is not English. So, I spent many hours and exchanged a number of emails in order to tighten up the manuscript. I then wrote a long review for the author to use for marketing purposes. Also did the blurb for the back cover. After many hours of work, I sent a good draft to the author and to my friend for their review. I didn't charge for this work. I did it as a favor for my friend. I also did it for the exposure. All I asked of the author was that she keep by byline intact when sending out the review. My byline included my name: S. E. Jihad Levine.

Well! The author sent an email to my friend stating that she was "alarmed" when she saw the word "jihad" in my name. She feels it may jeopordize what she is trying to achieve. And what is she trying to achieve?

She wants to market her book mainly to non Muslims. Muslims are not her target audience. The characters of her book are Muslims. She wants to present Islam in a positive light.

"Jihad" in someone's name may put off the non Muslims.

So, she asks, would I be willing to change my byline to "Safiyyah Levine" or "J. Levine".

No, I am not willing to sanitize my name for the non Muslims.

What is up with this internalized Islamophobia in some Muslims? Examples of it include:

1. Changing a Muslim name to an "American" one, i.e., Samir to Sammy, Mohammad to Moe, etc.
2. Not wearing a hijab.
3. Not wearing a beard.
4. Celebrating non-Islamic holidays, i.e., Christmas, Mother's Day, etc.

I'm sure you can think of more examples.

No non Muslim I know is put off by my name. As a matter of fact, my non Muslims friends think my name is comical ... a Muslim name and a Jewish name put together.

And I have never had a Muslim editor ask me to change/delete my Jewish name of "Levine".

Good thing my husband's name is not Sadaam or Osaama!

"Seemed To Be A Crisis"

This is a picture of one of my tomato plants from just a few weeks ago. Most of the plants only had one or two rippened tomatoes hanging from their branches. Every day I enjoyed a fresh tomato from the garden. It was heaven. But then it happened, like it does to gardeners everywhere: an explosion of rippened tomates!

So Alhamdulillah, this afternoon I made spaghetti sauce from scratch. As I sit here writing this, I am enjoying the aroma from the kitchen.

I had to do something soothing like cooking this afternoon. Because this morning, I experienced what seemed to be a crisis: our well stopped working.

We share a well with three other families. My neighbor's landlord came over and changed the filter on the well pump. Sometimes the filters get clogged up and then the water stops flowing.

After that, we had water. For about 15 minutes.

The landlord came back and found that the well filter was totally clogged again.

Our area is experiencing low levels of ground water because we have not had sufficient rain this summer. Because the well pump has to work harder to find and bring up water, it brings up a lot of soot that keeps clogging the filter. The landlord finally took the filter off so we could at least have running water.

But wait! It's UNFILTERED water. OK for the toilet, but what about for the showers! And washing the dishes! Never mind a load or two of laundry. That's out of the question. Now I have to spend my day off tomorrow at the laundromat.

The bottom line is that we have it deal with it while the landlord arranges to hook us up to the city's water supply.

I say that the situation "seemed to be a crisis" because after all the excitement was over, I sat down and thought of all the Muslims from various areas of the world who have no access to clean water.

I'm sure that many Muslims who live in regions where there is drought would be grateful for the unfiltered water that I have flowing through my pipes.

Many Muslims also live in areas where there is no indoor plumbing - running water, toilets, washing machines, dishwashers, etc. - all the conveniences of modern life that many Muslims enjoy by the Mercy of Allah (swt).

I'm sure that some would even be grateful for my homemade spaghetti.

I'm now sure that it is not a crisis after all. Inconvenient, yes. Crisis, no.

"Allah is He Who sends forth the winds so they raise a cloud, then He spreads it forth in the sky as He pleases, and He breaks it up so that you see the rain coming forth from inside it; then when He causes it to fall upon whom He pleases of His servants, lo! They are joyful ... Look then at the signs of Allah's mercy, how He gives life to the earth after its death, most surely He will raise the dead to life; and He has power over all things." (30:48-50)

Pregnant Somali Mom and Daughter Missing in Minnesota Bridge Collapse

Please say dua for the family of Sister Sadiyah and her little daughter Hanah. Sister Sadiyah is a 23 year old nursing student. She is also five months pregnant.

An online news article at KARE11.com said that Minneapolis Somali leader Mohamed Hassan called Sahal a bright light, "She was an active young lady who had a beautiful life in front of her."

Read the entire article about those still missing at http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=261310

May Allah (swt) give His comfort to this sister's family, and to everyone affected by this tragedy/Ameen.

Stuffing Prisons With Black Men - by Harold Jackson

What do you think of the article below?

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 8/4/07

STUFFING PRISONS WITH BLACK MEN

by Harold Jackson

Only about 2 percent of Iowa's population is black. But blacks are 13.6 times more likely than whites to be imprisoned there. That's more than twice the national average, which is bad enough. Hispanics nationally are imprisoned at double the rate of whites.

I shouldn't pick on Iowa, though. I live in New Jersey, where blacks are imprisoned at 10 times the rate of whites. In Pennsylvania, it's five times.

You would think the disparities would be worse in the Old South states ...

READ THE REST OF MR. JACKSON'S ARTICLE AT: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_520617.html

Laundry Day Visitor #2

A Laundry Day Visitor!

Alhamdulillah For Halal Butchers

I heard another piece on the evening news tonight about the use of carbon monoxide by U.S. meatpackers. This issue was in the news a few years ago when fresh food advocates asked the U.S. FDA to ban the practice.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/foodsafety/carbonmonoxide112205.cfm

Meatpackers use carbon monoxide to make meat look fresh. It is necessary, in part, because the practice of buying meat that is sliced or prepared on spot is becoming a thing of the past. Most big modern grocery stores sell pre-packaged meat. Shoppers spend a lot of time looking at the different packages of steak or ground meat in order to find the pinkest package. This, they believe, is the freshest meat.

Grocers like the practice of using carbon monoxide to make meat stay pink because people will not buy brown meat. Reports claim that grocers suffer a huge financial loss when they have to discard less-than-pink meat because consumers will not buy it.

However, the appearance of meat does not necessarily indicate that it is fresh and safe to eat. Color, likewise, does not indicate freshness. In fact, the practice of altering the color of meat can actually hide or hinder the behavior of certain bacteria, etc.

Bad odor upon opening the package is a more accurate sign that the meat may not be fresh or that it may even be bad.

But the bottom line is that no matter what the industry does, food safety in general is a huge concern in America. Also, some meat sold in America is from other countries.

The meatpacking industry claims that there is no safety risk in the use of carbon monoxide to improve the appearance of meet. Some advocate groups disagree.

Seeing this report on the news again tonight got me to thinking about the Islamic obligation to eat halal meat.

I love my halal butcher!

Everything is cut, sliced, and packaged on the spot in his store.

I don't have to worry about the freshness of the meat or chicken in this brother's halal market.

Some Muslims complain that halal meat is more expensive. Other claim there at fatwaas stating Muslims can eat the meat in the U.S. grocery stores because America is a "Christian" country, and Christians are People of the Book.

I think the Quran is clear on this matter.

I am grateful to have one less thing to worry about.

Pardon My "Remodeling"

I finally decided to use the new Blogger Layout feature. So, I am changing the look of my blog! Insha Allah I'll be done real soon. Come back and let me know how you like it.

British Police ID 2 Suspects as Doctors

By DAVID STRINGER, Associated Press Writer

LONDON - "An Iraqi physician and a Palestinian doctor working at British hospitals were identified Monday among those held in the failed car bomb attacks on London and Glasgow, while authorities said the latest suspect had been arrested in another country.

British media reported at least five of the eight people now in custody were doctors, but police would confirm only the two physicians whose names were released ..."

If the above is true, it disturbs me deeply. Not only because these people are Muslims, but also because they are physicians. Doctors. People who are supposed to be concerned with alleviating suffering. Medical professionals who are supposed to focus on saving lives.

Yet these "physicians" are willing to blow people up with car bombs.

A news report said that one of the suspects was being treated in the hospital where he had worked! I cannot imagine the feelings of his colleagues.

Ya Allah!

I Needed To Repack My Suitcase

I wrote this article and it was published at Reading Islam:

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1179664522295&pagename=Zone-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout

When I made the decision to become a Muslim, I didn’t tell a soul. It was a decision between me and Allah (swt) alone.

But, I did approach my supervisor at work to feel out whether or not my workplace would be a supportive environment for my new way of life. “Hmm, let’s say” I began one morning after my supervisor and I were finished with a staff meeting. “If I were ever to convert to Islam, would it be a problem for me to wear a scarf here?” I asked. “Hmm, let’s say if you ever did that,” he responded with a twinkle in his eye, “it would be okay with me.” Because he knew my husband, he had an idea what I was considering.

I had been married to a Muslim man for about a year at that time. He never pressured me to become a Muslim, but he gave me silent dawah by his excellent example. One of the things we did as a married couple was to visit other Muslims. We were often invited to the home of one particular family, and I spent many evenings conversing about Islam with the wife of the house.

I said the Shahadah on her garden porch in the summer of 1998. Before I left her home that special afternoon, she gave me my first hijab. I remember it was an al-amira type, the one-piece kind that slips over the head.

The day after I became a Muslim, my husband and I traveled to Puerto Rico. Just 24 hours before, I had been planning a vacation that included sunbathing on the beach in a skimpy bathing suit! Needless to say, I spent part of my first evening as a Muslim repacking my suitcase.

I don’t know what I expected concerning the reaction of others to my hijab. Looking back, I wasn’t worried too much other than potential problems with my job. I was sure that I wanted to be a Muslim. Almost overnight, however, I lost my identity as an “American” in my own country. It was immediately assumed by others that I was from the Middle East or some other Muslim country. At the Philadelphia International Airport, on my way to Puerto Rico, for example, I was frequently stopped by security and asked about my country of origin. Was my hijab changing my national identity as well as my religion? It was clear to me that my life had taken a 180 degree turn overnight.

The Caribbean heat hit me hard as I exited the main terminal of the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan wearing my new white cotton hijab. But I was determined to keep it on.

In the following days, I was a bit confused as I walked the streets of nearby Condado. Many of the local people greeted me with an admiring look and a smile. “Dios te bendiga, madre!” (God bless you, mother) they would say as they walked past me. Did they think I was a Catholic nun? I later learned that there is a Christian group in Puerto Rico whose female members wear while veils similar to the hijab.

When our vacation was over, we made our way back to the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport. Again I got a security grilling, but it was more intense than the one I had experienced in Philadelphia because this time I was attempting to enter the United States. My husband was proud of how I handled myself. When we returned home, he told me that he knew I was serious about hijab due to the fact that I wore it in public the entire vacation despite the Puerto Rican heat!

When I returned to work, I was a little anxious about walking through the door of the agency. The first person I saw was my supervisor. He was in the file room when I arrived. He gave me a long smile when he saw me in my hijab. “So – you did it!” he said, shaking his head up and down with approval.

The best reactions I got to my hijab came from my Muslim clients. (Remember: I hadn’t told anyone!) One of them was scheduled to see me the day I returned to work from vacation. When I saw Mahmoud, he was flabbergasted. “Alhamdulillah!” he exclaimed. His eyes glistened with tears that soon overflowed and spilled to his cheeks. “Mabrook! You look so beautiful!” He kept saying it over and over again.

I was a bit apprehensive in the following days, but my friends and acquaintances were supportive. The encouragement they gave me made my transition to wearing hijab very smooth. Sadly, I know that some of my revert Muslim sisters have not had such a positive experience.

There was no internal struggle or conflict for me concerning the wearing of hijab. I had read a lot about Islam, including the issue of hijab, prior to making my decision to become a Muslim. I understood hijab to be part of the “package” so to speak. It was that simple for me.

At that time, I had no spiritual sense of hijab; I was wearing it to comply with Allah’s command in the holy Qur’an. Today I do have a spiritual sense of hijab. My hijab lets the world know that I am a Muslim woman. It symbolizes what my life stands for. I wear it to please Allah (swt), but I also wear it for myself. I have worn hijab since the day I said the Shahadah. I have never taken it off, even after the dreadful days following the events of September 11th.

Mother's Day Mubarak?

People all over America and other places in the world are celebrating Mother's Day.

It seems that this non-Islamic holiday is also creeping into the Muslim world. Not only here in America where Mother's Day originated, but also abroad.

The other day, I received an email from Sound Vision about Mother's Day. It reads, in part, as follows:

"As Mother's Day approaches this weekend, do more than just send flowers or buy gifts for mom. Rekindle your relationship with her, regardless of how she has treated you. If your relationship has been non-existent or distant, commit to doing one thing for the next year than can help you become closer. This can be one extra phone call on a regular basis or inviting her over to your place at least once a month. If you're blessed with a close relationship, find ways to strengthen it. And if your mother has passed, find a way to honor her memory, whether it's donating to her favorite charity every month or simply raising your hands in Dua every Friday asking for God to forgive her and grant her Paradise."

The email goes on to provide various Sound Vision links about mothers, including a link for shopping for Mother's Day gifts.

In Jordan, Mother's Day is observed on the first day of spring. Queen Noor, a Muslim, is the honorary chair of Rediscover Mother's Day. She has written a piece on CNN.com entitled, Let's Reclaim Mother's Day for Peace http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/05/10/commentary.noor/index.html

It is interesting to note how Queen Noor opens her piece:

"In 1982, during a period of dangerous stalemate in the Middle East peace process, I gave a speech at Georgetown University about the critical need for a more engaged and balanced role for the United States in the region.

The newspapers the next day covered my handbag, my rings, and my dress. When asked about the substance of my message, one U. S. Senator said, 'It's a great public relations weapon to have an attractive queen.'"

Well, my sister, what do you expect? Mixed messages?

More mixed messages when a predominant Muslim woman is the honorary chair of such a thing as Rediscover Mother's Day?

Is the condition of our ummah in such dire straights that we need a non-Islamic holiday like Mother's Day to help us with our relationships with our Muslim mothers?

May Allah (swt) help us all if we need such an occasion as Mother's Day to raise our hands in dua to Him to ask for forgiveness and Jennah for our deceased Muslim mothers.

The danger for Muslims in America is that cultural and secular practices have a way of intertwining themselves with Islam. Then people end up not knowing the difference. We have seen this in our own masjids and Muslim communities.

When I first considered becoming a Muslim, I read a LOT about Islam. Once I became a Muslim and interacted with the Muslim community, I was blown away. I soon discovered that many Muslims didn't know the difference between cultural and Islam. It was not uncommon for me to hear, "But Safiyyah, this is how we do it in my country."

Will our children be saying this decades from now? Defending the practice of observing secular holidays by Muslims as "how we do it" in America?

Buying your mother a gift for Mother's Day is practicing this secular holiday. Buying her gifts throughout the year is truly honoring mom!

We have the Quran and Hadith for guidance in how to honor and celebrate our Muslim moms, Alhamdulillah! Muslim need not look toward secular sources for help in this area!

Iraqi Parliament Going on Vacation?!

It happens annually at my masjid: the mass exodus abroad.

Right after school ends, families beginning leaving for vacation "home" or to "my country".

The only Muslims left are the locals (usually born Americans converts who are already "home"), the poor, and the "undocumented" who would love to visit "home" but cannot for obvious reasons.

Just about everything at the masjid comes to a dead halt: halaqa, school, Arabic class, board meetings, special events, etc. No decisions are made until those who went "home" come back home again. Those of us left here over the summer are in an Islamic Twilight Zone until the end of August.

Why is this so?

Something I saw on the Sunday morning political talk shows gave me a clue.

My ears perked up as I heard that the Iraqi Parliament is scheduled to take a TWO MONTH vacation soon. What!!! A TWO MONTH vacation? With all that is going on over there?

I couldn't believe my ears!

Maybe the Iraqi Parliament has taken a cue from the American Congress, who leaves Washington, DC, on a regular basis for long weekends, vacations, breaks, etc. When they are in session, they don't get much accomplished except partisan bickering. What of the people's business? Don't ask.

Most Iraqi Parliament members don't even live in Iraq. They live abroad. What? Again, I couldn't believe my ears! No wonder they're not in touch with what's going on in Iraq. When they leave for vacation and return to wherever they live "abroad", do they tell people that they're going "home"?

Maybe the Iraqi Parliament has taken a cue from the Palestinians. When Yasser Arafat and his administration were in power, most of their families lived "abroad" too. Did they think it too dangerous to have their own families living and working in Palestine? Do the Iraqi government officials think it too dangerous to have their families living and working in Iraq?

If the answer is "yes", that the country is too dangerous or unstable, then why don't they remain in Iraq and tend to the people's business?!

After all, the Iraqi people cannot take a two month vacation from the madness. Neither can the coalition members unless they have replacements.

And the "insurgents" don't take vacations either.

George Bush tells us that we will stand down when the Iraqis are able to stand up. How will the Iraqis be able to do this, when their own leaders go "home" for two months, leaving them alone to face the car bombings, market explosions, mosque devastations, sectarian violence, tribal/clan disputes, etc., etc., etc., etc., etc.?

The Portrait

(photograph by S. E. Jihad Levine, Hill District, Pittsburgh, PA, Summer 1975)

As a young photography student,
I remember a distinct
incident while taking
photographs in the “ghetto”.

A black man was
laying on a playground bench,
nodding off a drunk.

When he noticed me,
I asked permission to take his picture;
surprisingly, he agreed without inhibition.

He started to clear the
debris and garbage
from the area below the bench.

As he bent down to push aside
the crumpled, cellophane cigarette packs
and discarded, empty food wrappers
I snapped a shot.

He lifted a broken whiskey bottle,
and I snapped a shot.

He finally raised his head,
exalted, ready,
expecting to be photographed.

I had no more film;
I was ashamed.
I, who was so eager,
to capture misery.

Human Costs of the Iraq War

U. S. Military Dead - 3,256
U. S. Military Wounded - 26,188
Iraqi Civilian Dead - 60,411*
Journalists Killed - 155
Contractors Killed - 390

Figures are as of March 30, 2007

(Sources: www.rsf.org and www.icasualties.org)

* This is the minimum estimate; Iraqi Body Count gives a maximum estimate of 66,280 but other estimates are as high as 655,000. (Source: www.iraqibodycount.org)

from The Williamsport Guardian, www.williamsportguardian.com

Waleed Shaalan - Virginia Tech MSA Student

Ina Lillahi wa ina Ilayhi rajeoon ... Brother Waleed Shaalan, victim of Virginia Tech shootings.

The Virginia Tech MSA is collecting money for Brother Waleed's family ... to read more, and to donate Insha Allah, click here

More Forced Hijab

Jill Carroll as a hostage - Another picture that depicts hijab as a symbol of oppression and religious extremeism.

Last year I wrote a poem that was published on IslamicPoetry.org. I love my hijab and wrote a little poem to celebrate it:

FOR ALLAH

I wear my hijab for Allah,
Not for my father
Not for my husband
Not for my brother
Not for any other

Than Allah

I cover myself for Allah,
No one makes me
No one forsakes me
No one rejects me
No one subjects me

But Allah

My modesty is for Allah,
Commanded in Qu'ran
For Him and no one else
Seeking His reward
Moving closer to Allah

Someone Finally Asked My Opinion!

I've always been fascinated by the results of polls and statistics in news articles.

"67% of all Americans believe ..." or "38% of all women think ..." etc. Everyone has heard these types of statistics.

I used to ask myself where they got this stuff. Who did they talk to? Why hasn't anyone ever asked me?

Well, last night someone finally asked my opinion! I participated in a telephone poll!

The questions went something like this:

1. Have higher gas prices changed your standard of living? Press 1 for yes, press 2 for no.
(I over-budget for gas, so I have a cushion for price fluctuations.)

2. Do you approve of the job that George Bush is doing? Press 1 for yes, press 2 for no.
(Well, that's a loaded question!)

3. Are you in fear of losing your job in the near future? Press 1 for yes, press 2 for no.
(Seeing how I work in a prison, losing my job is not the main fear in my workplace!)

4. Do you think that America is in a recession? Press 1 for yes, press 2 for no.
(I don't know much about Economics; I wish there was a "not sure" choice.)

I'm not sure of the validity of my responses, but it was fun to participate!

Nancy Pelosi in Hijab!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alhamdulillah! Here's a photo I never thought I would see! This photo is from her trip to Syria. (Photo from Reuters)

Happy Passover!

Happy Passover to my Jewish family and friends!

"Hamburg Haggadah 1731, Dorot Jewish Division, The New York Public Library