Muslims' America - American Sufis - - English P1 in 3 breaks

Muslims' America - American Sufis English Part 1 in 3 breaks
A VOA Urdu service presentation

Having traveled around the world, people have always asked me if there are any Muslims in America... and if there are than are they like any other Muslim? What kind of clothes do they wear? How do they pray? What brand of Islam do they practice? What do they for a living?

This line of questioning might seem strange to some people but the truth is that there is a misperception about America and Muslims around the world and this misconception is vice versa.

To answer these complex questions, I head out to a location hidden deep in the woods of Philadelphia.

Muslims' America - American Sufis - - Urdu P1 in 3 breaks

مسلمانوں کا امریکہ ۔۔۔ پہلی قسط: امریکہ کے صوفی-

عمران صدیقی
واشنگٹن

July 11, 2008

مجھے دنیا کے مختلف ممالک میں جانے کا اتفاق ہوا ہے۔عموماًلوگ مجھ سے پوچھتے ہیں کہ کیا امریکہ میں مسلمان بستے ہیں؟ اگر ہاں، تو پھر، کیا وہ دوسرے مسلمانوں کی طرح ہی ہوتے ہیں؟

وہ کس طرح کے کپڑے پہنتے ہیں، وہ کس طرح نماز پڑھتے ہیں،اسلام کے کس مَسلک کو مانتے ہیں، وہ روزگار کس طرح کماتے ہیں؟

دوسری طرف، کچھ لوگوں کے نزدیک، اِس طرح کی سوچ ہی حیران کُن ہے۔ یہ حقیقت ہے کہ امریکہ کے خلاف دنیا میں غلط تاثر پایا جاتا ہے، اور یہ تاثر اِس کےبرعکس بھی ہے۔
اب جب کہ میں امریکہ میں ہوں اِس لیے میری یہ کوشش ہوگی کہ اِن پیچیدہ سوالات کے جوابات معلوم کروں، اور یہی بات مجھے امریکی ریاست پینسلوینیا کے گَھنے جنگلوں میں چھپے ہوئے ایک پراسرار مقام کی طرف کھینچ کر لےجار رہی ہے۔

A VOA Urdu service presentation

Muslims' America - an introduction

When people think of Muslims they think of the Middle East, South Asia or Indonesia -- but never the United States of America.

Muslims' America gives a first hand perspective on the lives of America's millions of Muslim citizens, by looking at how they're making a positive difference and help differentiate between myths and reality about the American Muslim experience in all spheres of society.

We will tackle issues through dialog and profiles, human-interest storytelling in a balanced and creative format, respecting all faith traditions along the way.

Some programs in the works:

A neighborhood Imam who volunteers at a local youth center

A Muslim woman activist who works for the rights of battered women of all religions

A Muslim magazine columnist who demonstrates the true message of Islam through peace, tolerance, logic and reason.

We -- the team at VOA's Urdu service -- would like to invite you -- our valued audience -- to give us feedback and story suggestions. We look forward to hearing from you.

Salam

for more check out
http://www.youtube.com/muslimsamerica
http://www.urduvoa.com

The lost peace of Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi

6 explosions wound 37 in Karachi, Pakistan

By ASHRAF KHAN –

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — A string of small explosions wounded at least 37 people Monday in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, rattling the country a day after a deadly suicide attack in the capital, officials said

Five men were detained in connection with the blasts, a police official said.

The six blasts came within about an hour of each other, striking residential and commercial spots in the teeming port city, where political and militant-related violence is common.

Television footage showed ambulances rushing people through Karachi's crowded streets, and victims lying in hospital beds with bloody bandages.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, just as there has not been for the Sunday blast in Islamabad, which left at least 18 people dead, most of them police officers.

Liaqat Memon, an official at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, said 37 people including eight children were hurt. One adult was in critical condition.

At least 2,000 people gathered at the hospital in central Karachi, where many of the victims were taken. People were searching for friends and relatives among the wounded.

Babar Khattak, Sindh province police chief, said that it appeared that about 5 ounces to 7 ounces of explosives were used in each of the six Karachi blasts — only enough to create a relatively small explosion. He confirmed the detention of the five men.

More here from the Associated Press

chris cornell - street team

chris cornell . com

Call - Pakistans rock sound LIVE in DC

"CALL" - the dynamic rock band from Pakistan recently performed in Washington DC. The band was very excited to be here and served as a bridge between the people of Pakistan and America. "CALL" said they're taking positive memories back to Pakistan and were delighted to see the diversity, appreciation and mutual respect in the American people. VOA Urdu TV's Beyond the headlines caught up with the band to talk about their 1st US Tour and listen to them perform live and unplugged at the roof top.
For Urdu readers check out Urdu TV link
http://www.voanews.com/urdu/2008-07-03-voa3.cfm

36 years

I cant believe 36 years have gone by - It all seems like yesterday - Many people have retired by this time and yet I feel like I haven't even begun.

Yet so many intelligent people I have come across so much wisdom in them I have seen, so many jerks that I have passed by, so many copy cats, so much of love and sighs and everything in between.

And as so many paste my lines and so many claim what I wrote, I stare the landscape and feel the skies and keep learning the ropes.

And while so many transfer as theirs what I shoot and so much of them that I apply to edit, without me you are nothing and without you I am the same, so lets all just forgive and forget it ...   start over again.