Have been meaning to mention the deathbed conversion of the poisoned former Russian security officer Aleksandr Litvinenko...
This from the press...
Litvinenko's father, Valter, told RFE/RL's Russian Service his son converted to Islam shortly before his death and wished to be buried according to Muslim tradition.
"He told me about his decision two days before he died. He said, 'Papa, I have to talk to you about something serious. I've become a Muslim,'" Walter Litvinenko said.
"I said, 'Sasha, it's your decision. As long as you don't become a communist or a satanist, that's the main thing.' I'm a Christian myself, but I have a granddaughter whose father is Kabardin -- my daughter's husband, he's Muslim as well," he continued. "We haven't lost God; we believe in God. But how to believe in God, how to pray -- everyone should do that in the way they consider best."
Hallelujah
rip the godfather of soul
James Brown died today. Reading his biography (and looking at the lines on his face) he clearly had a long, tough life. Hopefully he'll soon be in heaven singing with the angels, adding some soul to paradise...may he rest in peace.
hajj boutef
President Bouteflika is going to Mecca to perform hajj. This was announced by one Algerian paper when it announced that he will address the nation in a "surprise" speech on 12/26 after an "extraordinary reunion" of the highest levels of the government.
[UPDATE: No hajj this year...there he was at Aid prayer in Algiers. I now realize that the fact-checking department at Algerian newspapers is somewhat lacking...sorry for the misinfo.]
[UPDATE: No hajj this year...there he was at Aid prayer in Algiers. I now realize that the fact-checking department at Algerian newspapers is somewhat lacking...sorry for the misinfo.]
prophet jesus
One of the biggest misconceptions of Islam is that we don't "believe" in Jesus, when in fact he is a much loved and revered prophet in Islam. Another great misconception of Islam, perhaps the greatest and most damaging of all, is that "Allah" is different from the Christian "God," when in fact Allah is a translation of the word God, and Muslims, Christians and Jews, all "people of the Book" worship the same God.
Here are some of the words in the Koran about Jesus (Yusuf Ali translation):
Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah; He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous." She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: Allah createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is! "And Allah will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel, And (appoint him) a messenger to the Children of Israel, (with this message): "'I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah's leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by Allah's leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe...
My best wishes to all my Christian friends. Peace.
Here are some of the words in the Koran about Jesus (Yusuf Ali translation):
Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah; He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous." She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: Allah createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is! "And Allah will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel, And (appoint him) a messenger to the Children of Israel, (with this message): "'I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah's leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by Allah's leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe...
My best wishes to all my Christian friends. Peace.
j'aime ça
OK, so I've been writing some pretty serious stuff lately. On a more positive note, these are just a few of the things I love about this country, feel free to add your comments!
• couscous on Friday afternoons
• the Adhan, even when it wakes me up at 5am
• lambs grazing in the middle of the city
• chahchouha
• having the entire family within a 3-mile radius
• darija
• rai music
• weddings where the guests, not only the bride, change clothes several times
• baklawa & makroud
• the desert
• berber culture
• generosity & kindness
• contrasts and contradictions
• slower pace of life
• the mountains
• coffee at 4
• jasmine
• harissa & felfel haar
• roadside shwa
• couscous on Friday afternoons
• the Adhan, even when it wakes me up at 5am
• lambs grazing in the middle of the city
• chahchouha
• having the entire family within a 3-mile radius
• darija
• rai music
• weddings where the guests, not only the bride, change clothes several times
• baklawa & makroud
• the desert
• berber culture
• generosity & kindness
• contrasts and contradictions
• slower pace of life
• the mountains
• coffee at 4
• jasmine
• harissa & felfel haar
• roadside shwa
up in smoke?
OK, I've been in Spain, and in Morocco, where the smell of hashish and the sight of someone rolling a hashish cigarette is quite common...but Algeria?
Apparently Algeria is moving from a country of transit to a country of consumers. A recent survey of 3000 students aged 15-16 indicated that 17% of the boys had tried marijuana (2% of the girls, who are either staying out of trouble or just too afraid to fess up).
One of the things that always strikes me about Algeria is the fact that a group of people huddled together on a dark street corner is a common and non-threatening occurence...not in any way indicative of any illicit or illegal behavior. Hopefully this won't change...
Apparently Algeria is moving from a country of transit to a country of consumers. A recent survey of 3000 students aged 15-16 indicated that 17% of the boys had tried marijuana (2% of the girls, who are either staying out of trouble or just too afraid to fess up).
One of the things that always strikes me about Algeria is the fact that a group of people huddled together on a dark street corner is a common and non-threatening occurence...not in any way indicative of any illicit or illegal behavior. Hopefully this won't change...
rewriting the koran
According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, copies of the Koran with "serious and malicious alterations" have appeared for sale in the streets and mosques in Algeria, and from now on all copies in circulation will undergo inspection and will be stamped if approved. (Kind of like the blue stamp from the FDA you find on your steak?)
So much for the inalterable word of God, and how do they expect to handle the inspection...word for word comparison? Wonder what the alterations and/or deletions were? Crazy scary stuff...
So much for the inalterable word of God, and how do they expect to handle the inspection...word for word comparison? Wonder what the alterations and/or deletions were? Crazy scary stuff...
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