Another Muslim Mac-head

It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, “what’s the difference between a Moslem/Muhammadan and a Klingon?” It’s not really. While in the popular imagination, I’m sure there is a great deal of similarity between the warlike, aggressive, territorial patriarchal Klingon culture and how Muslims are perceived, there really is more difference. Take for example the great warrior phrase associated with Klingons, “today is a good to die.” If you listen to one of the Sabri Brothers’ Qawwali albums, you’d know that Muslims actually believe “today is a good day to cry.” At least that’s how I’d translate the…

The Princess and the Commoner « alBostoni. An Andalusian Princess in her Cordovan castle was told that a commoner was at the gates. “The same one your majesty, whom you never let in.” A mistress feeling pity for him pleaded that he be granted entrance, to which the princess replied: “There are people who come to be in my presence. There are those who come seeking sustenance. And there are those whom I must admit entrance, lest they feel abandoned and revolt against life and my family. But then there is this commoner who is perplexing.  He comes neither for…

Rabia al-Adawiyya (aka Rabia al-Basri) was running through the streets of town, Basra, one day with a pail of water in one hand and a burning torch in the other. When asked what she was doing, she responded, “I want to put out the fires of Hell, and burn down the rewards of Paradise.” She was then asked why, to which she responded, “They block the way to God. I do not want to worship from fear of punishment or for the promise of reward, but simply for the love of God.”