Reading time: 4 – 6 minutes

:: Update BEGIN ::1.2.2009

I’m excited to announce that I’ve been extended an invitation by the Liberty Science Center (New Jersey) to watch a screening (invitation only) of this film next week. Their plan for the local community is basically get the invited guests’ feedback on the film and how to approach the Muslim communities to come watch the film.

I’ll be sure to keep you all updated on the schedule of the film release here as well as any developments on this movie’s release.

See the trailer below!

Watch the Arabic trailer

Personally, I find the Arabic version of the trailer to be much more powerful in its delivery. Tell everyone you know about the film – JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP

:: Update END ::

Imagine being able to experience the Hajj…in IMAX!

In light of yesterday’s post “Hollywood Hajj” the following is a nice bit of news.

I got an email earlier this week that originated from the President and CEO of the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey on December 16, 2008. The following is a excerpt from the email:

The spectacular giant screen film “Journey to Mecca” by Jonathan Barker and Taran Davies is about to have its world premiere screening in Abu Dhabi. Also as an update for you, the touring exhibition Islamic Science Rediscovered is about to open at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto.

Journey to Mecca has flexible distribution terms and Liberty Science Center is keen to try to show it in its IMAX Dome Theater with particular outreach to the NJ-NYC s Muslim community. As of yesterday, we expect to have a screening of this 45-min film at at convenient late-in-the-day time on Monday, January 5.

::Update:: 12.31.2008 @ 2:56pm

If this news makes you feel nostalgic about Hajj or you’re yearning to go in the near future, get yourself some wallpapers I’ve made to continuously remind yourself what it would be like standing right there (or go back) – where history was made for all of mankind, from Adam to Ibrahim to Muhammad-sal Allahu alayhi wasallam — http://parablesoflight.com

::Update End::

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My Thoughts

To start off; I’ve seen the film

I saw it August 2008. Shaykh Waleed Basyouni (Instructor for AlMaghrib Institute) was one of the consultants brought on to make sure the film is accurate in its representation of the Hajj and is proper in its content.

I was in Houston at the time and he invited me to go over the film with him and take any and all notes on stuff that needs to be changed, adjusted, etc.

I HIGHLY recommend EVERYONE to go see this film in the IMAX and bring ALL your friends along. The movie is about 45 mins long and follows Ibn Batutta beginning his journey with the Hajj.

Visually this film is a beautiful eye-candy treat. They’ve taken you into the past of what it was like to go to Hajj in the olden days and have paralled it with what it’s like today.

The filming of this movie was done last year and they’ve done a mighty fine job.

To get more info on the film itself:

• Big Movie Zone
• IMDB

::Update:: 12.31.2008 @ 2:48pm

David Kearns (a fellow Muslim blogger) posted on Mujahideen Ryder’s Blog the website that’s under construction: http://www.journeytomeccagiantscreen.com/

Not much info there yet, but keep your eyes open.

::Update End::

Reading time: < 1 minute

Video explains it all:

Reading time: 3 – 5 minutes

Shaykh Waleed Basyouni of AlMaghrib Institute annouced at TDC that AlMaghrib and Bayyinah are teaming up to bring everyone an AWESOME Arabic learning experience.

YouTube Link

Nouman Ali Khan (director of Bayyinah) has brought some videos together for everyone to benefit from (produced by your’s truly).

After you watch the video above, go to: http://UnderstandArabic.com and sign up for the daily videos to have them arrive in your inbox daily.

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What Does This AlMaghrib-Bayyinah Team-up Mean?

The following was taken from EgyptianGumbo.com

Carrying forward the vision of providing the best Islamic education available in the West, Bayyinah and the AlMaghrib Institute have finally joined hands!

Students from all over North America and the UK will finally be a step closer to getting their bachelors degree in Islamic studies, without having to cross any oceans.

What this all means:

Bayyinah offers high quality Arabic education, with a special emphasis on the Qur’an. Those students who take Bayyinah classes will not only learn the fundamentals of Arabic, but those who excel will be able to understand the language of the Qur’an in a whole new way.

The AlMaghrib Institute offers students the chance to earn their bachelors degree in Islamic studies. To earn this degree a student must:

• Memorize a portion of the Holy Qur’an
• Complete 90 mandatory credit hours*
• Complete 20 Electives credit hours
• Complete 18 Arabic credit hours

This means that those students who wish to earn their degree with the AlMaghrib Institute must complete at least 18 hours of Arabic, which will be offered by Bayyinah*.

The Arabic classes will be conducted in cities in which AlMaghrib seminars are regularly conducted, insha’Allah.

Bayyinah classes will be run and managed by the Bayyinah Institute and will not be run under the qabeelah system.

*See AlMaghrib.org for more details on accreditation requirements
*Register at Bayyinah.com

– — –

I’m definitely really excited about this partnership, you all should be very excited. Especially since we will be launching our new class “Divine Speech: Literary Characterisitics of the Qur’an” in 2009 in your city or a city by you.

Now, if you love the Bayyinah instructors, or if you’ve never had the privilage of attending a Bayyinah seminar, inshaAllah we’d like to give you a taste of the beauty of Arabic.

In order to get EXCLUSIVE videos from Bayyinah, you can only access them through this website: UnderstandArabic.com

Once you put your name and email, everday for about two weeks you will be able to access our exclusive videos, including Br. Nouman’s take on the 10 FAQ of Arabic.

This is for your benefit inshaAllah, so take advantage of it!

Reading time: 2 – 2 minutes

If you haven’t voted yet then do so now – only a few day’s left. Click the image above

Oh by the way, just to let you know – Leechon was nominated for “Best Design” – You have to simply choose which blog in your opinion has the most aesthetically pleasing site design, appealing to the eye, evoking Islamic themes, and/or facilitating debate and discussion.

Cast your vote!

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The following is taken from the website;

The Brass Crescent Awards, a joint project of altmuslim and City of Brass, is an annual awards ceremony that honors the best writers and thinkers of the emerging Muslim blogosphere (aka the Islamsphere). Nominations are taken from blog readers, who then vote for the winners.

What are the Brass Crescent Awards? They are named for the Story of the City of Brass in the Thousand and One Nights. Today, the Islamsphere is forging a new synthesis of Islam and modernity, and is the intellectual heir to the traditions of philosophy and learning that was once the hallmark of Islamic civilization – a heritage scarcely recognizable today in the Islamic world after a century’s ravages of colonialism, tyrants, and religious fundamentalism. We believe that Islam transcends history, and we are forging history anew for tomorrow’s Islam. These awards are a means to honor ourselves and celebrate our nascent community, and promote its growth.

Reading time: 1 – 2 minutes

UPDATE: A correction from bedou (a commentator)

Just so you know, The Boston Globe itself did not cover the events. Instead, The Big Picture, which you link to here, was a blog started by a member of their staff, which really deserves the credit here. Many consider it to be the blog of the year; it’s curated so excellently by a staff of one, and the large images really do provide greater insight into the subjects being presented.

The photographs themselves are culled together from all the different wire and image services, as attributed in the credits.

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Boston Globe took the honor of covering the Hajj and Eid around the world. They’ve shot some amazing pictures. They’ve shot some amazing photos. If you want a sneak peak see below.

For the full Article: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/12/the_hajj_and_eid_aladha.html