Ebru: The Art of Patience

One of the most unique and beautiful forms of Turkish art is Ebru, or water marbling. Ebru is formed by drawing designs with dye on top of water, and then carefully placing paper on the surface of the water in order to absorb the dye.

The earliest examples of Ebru are found in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, and are dated 1539, but the detail and quality of the work suggests that Ebru was present long before this time in the Ottoman Empire. Ebru has traditionally been rarely signed, and therefore many great artists remain unnamed. Modern day students may study for more than 10 years before being considered master marblers, learning how to make the perfect dye, water bath, and design. Since each dye bath can only be transferred to paper once, every original piece of Ebru is unique.

The first step in Ebru is getting the perfect dye. Dyes are created from various organic substances. Soil from Istanbul, white lead, indigo from Pakistan, and red ochre are used to create the perfect color. 24-karat gold may be added to the dye in order to provide shimmer and shine. The dye is mixed with ox-gall, and water, an art form in itself, since each dye is unique depending on the time of year collected, its age, and its fineness. Ebru artists often spend years simply learning the art of mixing dye, before ever attempting their first marble.

The next step in Ebru is getting the perfect water bath in which to place the dye. White kitre, a gum like substance, must be place in the Ebru water in order to keep the dye design in place and in order to allow the design to stick to the paper. Fresh kitre is available in herbal shops during the fall, and every marbler buys enough kitre to last an entire year. The density of the kitre, along with the type of water being used, requires the marbler to make many attempts before getting the correct stickiness. Too little, and the design spreads before it can be finished and won�t adhere clearly to the paper. Too much, and the paper becomes difficult to remove, again smearing the design. Once the correct balance of kitre and water is achieved, the mixture is left overnight, with occasional stirring. After four days of settling, the water mixture is poured through a cloth bag, and is then finally ready to be used.

Next, the marbler gathers her homemade horsehair brushes for detail work, needles for dropping dye onto the water, and homemade combs for drawing the dye through the water. The water is placed in a tray, only slightly larger than the paper to be used.

Now, the creative portion of the work begins. Using only a mental idea of the finished product, the marbler drops dye onto the water surface with the needles, spreads the dye with the handmade combs, and uses the brushes to draw a design. Flowers, birds, geometric designs, and calligraphy are common choices for the Ebru artist.

Ebru is often used for bookmarks, inside the bindings of books, for wall hangings, and to surround both Arabic and Turkish calligraphy. The next time you visit the beautiful bazaars of Istanbul, make sure that you don�t consider leaving without picking up a beautiful piece of Turkish culture, a totally unique, handmade Ebru.

My journey To Islam

My journey To Islam
Video sent by noormaryam

Who is Ömer Sevinçgül?

Human..! He learnt reading-writing when he was seven years old. He said: “I want to be a writer!” when he was fifteen years old. He can’t remember the first question he asked. Loves life...And dark tea...He doesn’t know where but there is a diploma for his BA degree on engineering. Sevincgul is the Concept Counselor for Carpe Diem Publishing House and Adı Yok magazine... His puplished books:

Short, Easy, Pleasurable Philosophy
I Want to be A Writer
Soul-touching Thoughts by Albert Camus
Are Toys of God?
Do I Determine My Fate?
Whistles of Evil
Which Language Adam had Used to Speak?
Let me Know When Jesus Arrives
Cookies Gods
Men of Deccal
Are You an Exception?
Is it Any Good that I Exist!
Who would Resurrect Rotten Bones?
The Little Dictionary
The Special Dictionary
Pull Yourself Together, Deep Man!
Is Love Sacred?
Four Seasons Spring
My Servitude is My Sultanate

Metamorphosis

Will you always live as a worm and drag yourself on the ground? When are you going to have wings to fly?
Is that impossible or too late?
No it isn’t. You, too, can be a butterfly.
Don’t hinder yourself… Have you already made up your mind? Why wait then?
Go beyond your limits…Renew your personality… Make a new man out of yourself. Start from the beginning… Everyday is a door to a new world. So why shouldn’t you display a new character.
Try it once… If not, try it once more.
Why wait for tomorrow? Start right away. You can only possess this very day. Yesterday today was the tomorrow. And when tomorrow comes, today will be yesterday… And yet, you are waiting for tomorrow. You will keep on waiting for days and days and all your lifetime will be passing away. In the end, you will have no tomorrow to wait for.
Your questions are waiting for answers. Questions are like thorns plunged in soul. They offend you. Problems are pending which hurt you. Solve them and you are going to be relieved. A life without contemplation is no life at all.
You wish to be different… Then be yourself. For every human is original. But very few can venture to be him. Streets are full of people who have not been able to establish themselves.
They don’t recognize and understand you… Is that so? That means you can’t make yourself be understood. Don’t look for an excuse which is the easiest way. Come, choose the difficult.
He who makes it will be considered.
To be noticed by others… Why’s it so important? If you are not discredited by yourself, that is good enough.

By Ömer Sevinçgül

http://omersevincgulenglish.blogspot.com/
http://carpediembook.blogspot.com/

Quran-e Kareem

Celebrating The Islamic New Year

10 January 2008 is an important date for Muslims. It marks a very special occasion because it corresponds to the first day of the Islamic lunar (Hijri) calendar; 1 Muharram 1429.
This week's issue focuses on its difference from the solar Gregorian calendar and its significance for the Islamic world. Please join in our forum to share your comments about celebrations of the Islamic New Year.

Months of the Islamic Calendar: Their Meanings

There are twelve months in the Islamic lunar calendar. Since their names are in Arabic, their meanings might be somewhat difficult to grasp for a non-Arabic speaking audience. In this short piece, we briefly examine these terms...

1. Muharram: is named so because the Arabs used to prohibit fighting during it.

2. Safar: is named so because the Arabs used to leave their homes during that month as they used to set out to fight their enemies. It is also said that they used to leave their homes to escape summer heat.

3. Rabi` al-Awwal: is named so because it usually coincides with the spring time.

4. Rabi` al-Akhar: is named so because it usually coincides with the winter time.

5. Jumada al-‘Ula: The Arabs named it so because water gets frozen at winter time, and that coincides with the time of Jumada al-‘Ula.

6. Jumada al-‘Ukhra: is named so because it coincides with winter time.

7. Rajab: is derived from the Arabic word ‘rajaba' which means to ‘sanctify' something. The Arabs used to sanctify the month of Rajab by putting a halt to fighting during that month.

8. Sha`ban: The Arabic word Sha`ban is derived from the word ‘tash`aba', which means to go in different directions. It is said that Sha`ban takes such a name because the Arabs used to go in different directions fighting their enemies.

9. Ramadan: The word Ramadan is derived from ‘Ar-ramda' which refers to extreme heat. Ramadan time used to coincide with that extreme climate of heat in the Arab Peninsula, and that is why it is called Ramadan.

10. Shawwal: The name Shawwal is derived from the Arabic word ‘tashawwala', which refers to the scarcity in she-camels' milk.

11. Dhul-Qi`dah: refers to Arabs decline to go out fighting their enemies as the early Arabs used to call it a sacred month.

12. Dhul-Hijjah: is named so because the Arabs used to perform Hajj during that month.

Peter Sanders Photography

Peter Sanders, internationally recognised as one of the worlds leading photographer of the Islamic World.

The photographer began his career in the mid-1960's covering Londons' seminal rock and roll scene, capturing now legendary music icons in a collection that is considered a classic by collectors.

Towards the end of the 1970's, Sanders' attention turned inward which set him on a spiritual search that took him to India and led him in the end to the Muslim world. All the while the photographer captured his surroundings on film, creating a striking and disparate record of the last vestiges of traditional Muslim societies in transition. Sanders' own deep commitment to and love of traditional Islamic culture has brought him into intimate contact with people and places few photographers reach.

"My photography has always been an extension of my life," he said. "Photography is a wonderful process - a gift from God - that has allowed me to learn so much about myself and the world around me. Its like chasing a moment, trying to capture a beautiful bird in flight." "The photographs are extremely, extraordinarily beautiful," claims Japanese Art Critic, Tsuyoshi Kawasoe.

"One should not under-estimate the importance of Peter Sanders' work," said American writer Michael Sugich. "He is the only photographer working today who has systematically and with great devotion to the task, covered vast areas of the Islamic world as an insider. Because of his deep understanding of the culture and his impeccable spiritual courtesy, he has been able to photograph places and people that virtually no western photographer would be able to access. He has left an indelible, poetic and ravishing record of an extraordinary time and a rich and fascinating culture."

It has also been quoted, "he captures the spritiual beauty of creation itself."

Sanders' photographs have appeared in many international publications, including Time Magazine, Paris Match, The Observer, The Sunday Times Magazine, Aramco World and the London based pan-Arab news magazine Al Majalla who published his work as a cover story.

His intimate photographs of the sacred cities of Makkah and Madinah are in great demand.
Peter Sanders Photography Limited includes travel, location and studio photography, a photographic library of over 120,000 slides, as well as the production of fine art prints.

This year will see the publication of his first photographic book, 'In The Shade of The Tree.' Another three are in mid-production, including one about the muslims in China.

http://www.petersanders.co.uk/

New album from Native deen: Not Afraid to stand Alone

I really loved this album.
You are working great!
Thank you Native Deen!

www.nativedeen.com

Who is “Last Prophet”

The concept of prophethood, coeval with the first man, Adam, is one that represents the guidance of human beings, themselves the core of macrocosm, the universe. History has shown us that people are in need of Prophets as guides; many prophets have been sent to us from the day of Adam until today. Allah has sent Prophets to us as He does not leave humans alone and aimless. The last prophet who completed the deen (religion), “the last brick in the edifice of prophethood”, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), has been the most remarkable cause for the receptions of blessings from Allah. In addition to the exceptional personal characteristics of Prophet Muhammad, the responsibility that he shouldered for all of mankind makes it incumbent on all to respect him. He never hesitated to make sacrifices to convey the divine message and he also presented this message in accordance with the different worldviews and emotions of the addressees. This characteristic placed the Messenger of Allah at the focal point of respect and love for all times.

www.lastprophet.info

Recognising Rumi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwGvp6dBM4Q

Stories by Rumi
Mevlana Celaleddini Rumi is a Turkish Sufi, who has been embraced in the world with his sayings, thoughts and works. He has poems about Sufism in Persian. His works has been translated into many languages, his thoughts has influenced many thinkers and writers.
Composing his thought systemired by Quran and Hadith, Rumi writes about the ways of becoming a perfect human in his works, which are over 60,000 verses. In his most well-known work, Mesnevi, there are stories about how to be happy in both this and the other life, the aim of one’s coming to the world, general moral criteria like honesty, generosity; the immense love that is advised to give to all of the creations, and about tolerance. In these stories, there are clues for one to live in peace with oneself, the creator and the surroundings.
Like other Sufis, love and divine love are significant part of his thinking. Love is an important mean that helps one to get mature and takes her/him to the Creator.
Rumi, who has won people’s hearts from different religions and cultures and enlightened the whole world like a divine light with his teachings and advices, has been a guide for humanity and will continue to be…
“Rumi saved the world from a big turmoil seven hundred years ago. Today, the only thing that will save Europe is His works.”
Prof. Dr. A. J. Arberry
(British Orientalist and Rumi Researcher)

You will find the most beautiful and wise stories selected from the best-known work of Rumi, Mesnevi, in this book, “Stories by Rumi”. Stories with lessons by Rumi that inspires many wisdom pursuers from the East and the West…
You will very much enjoy these stories that have been diligently collected by Sadık Yalsızuçanlar…

The Ottoman Peace, a proposal for salution from Ortayli

THE OTTOMAN PEACE, A PROPOSAL FOR SOLUTION FROM ORTAYLI

One of the things that conflict regions like the Balkans, Caucasian and currently the Middle East have in common is that they were all a part of the Ottoman Empire once. The fact that communities that used to live together peacefully in the past today are hostile each other lead many to seek for ways towards “peace”. One of the leading historians of Turkey, Prof. İlber taylı presents examples that will help to find those ways in his new book, The Ottoman Peace.

Stating the Ottoman Peace is the title of a system, Prof. İlber Ortayli adds that this had been successfully applied by the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans and the Middle East. İlber Ortaylı continues: “The root of nation problems in the East today dates back to the Ottomans. The hope for a solution as much as the problems is in the Ottoman period.”

In the book, the professor also discusses issues like Ottoman intellectuals, the scope of degeneration that Turkish family structure had to go through in the last century, transformation that the Ottoman palaces had undergone during the 19^th century, and the intense analysis of the dark sides of the Ottomans that comes from the past.

The Ottoman Peace
Ottoman History / Ilber Ortaylı

http://www.timaspublishing.com/index.php?key=kg&id=234

NATIVE DEEN

Native Deen has emerged into a leading Islamic Hip-Hop group based out of Washington, DC. Their music, which calls to the remembrance of Allah (God), has resonated with Muslims and non-Muslims alike, throughout the world. Native Deen has spread the uplifting message of Islam by performing throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Together, they have filled some of the world’s most distinguished auditoriums and performed alongside artists such as Yusuf Islam, Sami Yusuf, Zain Bhika, Raihan, Dawud Wharnsby, and 786.

When they are not working on Native Deen related projects, Joshua is a community activist. He coaches local youth in Basketball, practices martial arts, but most of all enjoys playing with his two sons Musa and Harun. Abdul-Malik enjoys working with youth in the community and volunteers at his daughter’s school. He is an instructor of Pencak Silat, an Indonesian martial arts. Naeem, who enjoys snowboarding when not on tour, quickly fills up his day working on relief and development projects. He has helped to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina and tsunami ravaged Indonesia.

Abdul-Malik was born in Connecticut in 1975 but spent most of his life in the Washington, DC area. He was home-schooled by his parents until 12th grade. After finishing high school, he attended Georgetown University. During this period, Abdul-Malik was able to visit the Middle East and become fluent in the Arabic language. Abdul-Malik now resides in Virginia with his wife Rahima and daughter Sakina. He owns his own web development company, Kufic Graphics. Abdul-Malik has produced numerous songs and raps for the MYNA Raps as well as songs for Astrolabe video productions.

Joshua Salaam was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1973. Raised by a single mother in Kansas City, MO - Lombard, IL – and Indianapolis, IN. He studied Martial Arts from 6 years old and entered the Air Force as a police officer where he served for 4 years. Joshua served as Imam on the Air Force Base. In the military he was able to serve as a D.A.R.E. Officer (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) for local elementary schools. He also was part of an elite training team for Cops. After the military he worked for the county in NC to provide drug resistance education to youth from low-income families. Joshua also worked as a private investigator and started his own Private Investigation Company. He later earned a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.

As a result of getting married and moving to VA he started working at CAIR investigating cases of religious discrimination. Josh worked there for 4 years. Around that time he met his father for the first time at the age of 30. His father lives in SC and since meeting him he now feels like he has a better understanding of himself. He also found out that he has another sister. Josh left CAIR to work in a local Baltimore community where they are trying to establish Islam by moving together, praying together and working together. He started by becoming a campaign manager for a Muslim brother running for city council. Now he manages a Muslim construction company. His main focus is working with the general community to reduce crime and drugs in Baltimore by patrolling the streets and working with the police department. Josh also serves on the board of the community association working to develop the neighborhood with new businesses.

Josh began performing rap songs at the age of 10 and by the age of 12, he was performing at youth camps as a member of MSU (Muslims Steppin Up) to entertain members of the Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA)-a national Muslim youth group. Later, he co-founded a group called Sonz of the Crescent in 1993 with their debut album ” What’s the Word.” In college he won several rap competitions. After joining Native Deen and working with Abdul-Malik and Naeem, he became more focused on giving dawa through his music.

Naeem Muhammad, born on June 25, 1975, grew up in the inner city of Baltimore, Maryland where he currently lives with his lovely wife and 3 daughters. Born and raised in Baltimore city, the 3rd of seven children, Naeem was his mother’s first child born and raised Muslim. Naeem’s artistic interests may have come from his father who was a painter or from his mother who attended art classes with baby Naeem in a carrier. He has many fond memories of attending countless art festivals, live music performances, and African cultural events as a child. Naeem’s mother wanted to nurture more than just his cultural and artistic development, so she enrolled Naeem into the Islamic Community School of Baltimore.

From fifth grade until graduation, Naeem spent these formative years in Islamic education and youth activism. He graduated from the Islamic Community School of Baltimore, a private Muslim parochial school, and went on to attend Towson University in Towson, Maryland. He has been involved with Muslim youth work since the age of 13, working with various organizations such as Muslim Youth Council of D.C. and Muslim Kids Club of Baltimore and MYNA. This is where he eventually met the future members of Native Deen. Naeem has written and performed a number of songs for the MYNA Raps album series and had songs featured in the soundtrack by Astrolabe Pictures for their animated movie entitled The Boy and the King.

Naeem also had a love for IT most of his life, so it was only natural after college he’d work in network administration for the state of Maryland and soon after move into private sector. Around 2003, Naeem was offered the opportunity of a lifetime to leave IT and work for the international relief and development organization, Islamic Relief. Through Islamic Relief Naeem has assisted earthquake victims in Bam, Iran, joined first response teams in tsunami ravaged Indonesia, and delivered much needed food aid to the Timbuktu region of Mali.

Native Deen - Deen You Know

Details

• Artist: Native Deen

• Album: Deen You Know

• Language: English

TRACK LIST

• Alhamdullilah (intro)
• Deen you know
• Dedication
• Intentions ‘05
• Small Deeds
• Looking glass
• For the prophets
• Paradise
• Test
• Drug Free ‘05
• Sakina

DEEN YOU KNOW is the debut album from the dynamic group Native Deen. Previously recording under the name MYNA Raps, Native Deen have come a long way and have recorded an album which is testimony to that fact. With 11 songs on this debut album, each with its’ own social and moral message, DEEN YOU KNOW is an album that shares the message of Islam in a contemporary style, the style of Native Deen.

http://www.thenasheedshop.com/prod.php?pc=ND-001

~ Rachel Corrie ~

Do You Know Who Is Rachel Corrie?

Dedicated to a 23 year old peace activist who was killed on March 16, 2003 when she was crushed by a bulldozer on the Gaza Strip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7x2IEd-VN8

What is the truest definition of Globalization?

Question:
What is the truest definition of Globalization?

Answer:
Princess Diana’s death.

Question:
How come?

Answer:
An English princess with an Egyptian boyfriend crashes in a French tunnel, driving a German car with a Dutch engine, driven by a Belgian who was drunk on Scottish whisky, followed closely by Italian Paparazzi, on Japanese motorcycles; treated by an American doctor, using Brazilian medicines. This is sent to you by Indian, using Bill Gates’s technology, and you’re probably reading this on your computer, that use Taiwanese chips, and a Korean monitor,assembled by Bangladeshi workers in a Singapore plant, transported by Pakistan lorry-drivers, hijacked by Indonesians,unloaded by Sicilian longshoremen, and trucked to you by Mexican illegals…..

That’s Globalization.

Come, come no matter what you are...

Come, come no matter

what you are,

A polytheist,

fire-worshipper or idolater,

Our dervish convent is not

the assembly of hopelessness

Come, even though you have broken

Your repentance a hundred times.

DEBU

DEBU’s music is a lively blend of strings and percussion, with accompanying lyrics in several languages. “In terms of (a) music genre, DEBU’s music would have to be called world music, simply because of its varied nature, lack of adherence to any one concept, and the use of ethnic instruments,“

Sarayda

(In The Palace)

Debut video for the the Turkish album Heb Beraber. Produced and directed by DEBU.

Nyawa dan Cinta

(The Soul and Love)

This video was produced and directed by Mustafa and the members of DEBU.

Ucapkanlah Bersama

(Let’s Say it Together)

This video was shot on location at several live concerts.

Mazhab Cinta

(The Path of Love)

Lautan Hatiku

(The Sea of Love)

Cinta Saja

(Just Love)

DEBU’s debut video

The Way of Love