Zahra Lari, the ‘Ice Princess’ in the hijab...
By EMMANUEL BARRANGUET AFP CANAZEI From the sand dunes of the Rub al Khali desert to the snow-capped peaks of the Dolomites in northern Italy, Emirati teen Zahra Lari made figure skating history this week. The 17-year-old not only became the first figure skater from the Gulf to compete in an international competition but the first to do so wearing the hijab, an Islamic headscarf. “In my country women don’t do much sport and even less figure skating,” the quietly-spoken teenager told AFP after competing alongside skaters from 50 countries in the European Cup. A practicing Muslim, her black headscarf and sober costume, stood out among the flashy orange tutus and fluorescent pink tights. “I skate with the hijab,...

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 10 quotes on his birthday...
1. No ‘i’ in team “One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team.” 2. Hit the books “I’m not comfortable being preachy, but more people need to start spending as much time in the library as they do on the basketball court.” 3. Attention to detail “I try to do the right thing at the right time. They may just be little things, but usually they make the difference between winning and losing.” 4. A key difference “I think that the good and the great are only separated by the willingness to sacrifice.” 5. A matter of faith “My choosing Islam was not a political statement; it was a...

Muslim Women Slowly Breaking Sports Barrier...
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.–The women entered the brightly colored room with sets of kickboxing equipment lined up on the side. Some slowly took off their scarves, also known as a hijab, and jilbab, revealing their workout gear underneath. Their fitness instructor, Phalestinah Abdo, welcomes them with the words, “Assalamu ‘alaykum” (Peace be with you). Responding with the words, “Wa ‘alaykum salaam,” they began stretching their arms, starting their cardio kickboxing routine with two sharp jabs and a hook. Although there is nothing in the Quran that forbids Muslim women from exercising, they are not allowed to exercise uncovered or have physical contact with men. However, there are many stories well known to Muslims about women going to battles....

UK Muslim Girl to Carry OIympic Torch
Published on Wednesday 28 March 2012 16:37 Several well deserving people have been given the honour of carrying the Olympic torch. Dinnington Comprehensive’s Dana Abdulkarim and Jack Waring were both overwhelmed when they discovered they had been chosen. Jack, 17, was left paralysed when he collapsed after taking ear drops for a suspected infection several years ago. Since then he has taken up wheelchair basketball now trains with the GB as well as playing for various others, as well as studying for his A Levels. “I am just overwhelmed. It’s really, really exciting and I’m honoured to be chosen for such a thing,” said Jack, who will carry the torch in Scunthorpe. “I’m looking forward to watching...

US, Canadian imams issue fatwa against honor killings...
Over 30 American imams signed a fatwa Saturday condemning honor killings, after a Canada court convicted Afghan immigrants for murdering four female relatives accused of damaging the family’s reputation. “There is no justification for honor killings, domestic violence and misogyny in Islam,” according to the religious order issued by the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada (ISCC) and signed by 34 imams from Canada and the United States. Such violence, including spousal abuse and child abuse in all forms, is “forbidden,” it said. “The relationship between the husband and wife is based upon mutual love and kindness.” Imam Syed Soharwardy, the ISCC’s founder, said the group put out the fatwa “because of the Shafia trial, because it has...

Timothy Winter Puts Islam and Violence into Perspective...
Delivered during Cambridge University Islamic Society’s Experience Islam Week (EIW) 2010 by TJ Winter (Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad). Islam, violence, and terrorism: three words that are too often combined without a second thought. What is Islam’s stance on violence? Do Muslims really condemn terrorism? [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtIaQt_26s0[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFUsKACFFDM[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldREBPQynkQ[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fim1Db0wz2g[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93gRj-1DVlc[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0OPPirUEwE[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9gTMC6KrKU[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjviGxCbip4[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21SiLVqEqhc[/youtube]...
