IShuttari's Xanga

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Thu, 10 May 2007 21:22:57 GMT

FIS Incident

This really happened to me today, athough not to the extent that I reported. Nonethless, I began to wonder how the story would be reported in some local newspaper in Chicago. This is what I came up with...

It was an ugly scene at Loyola Law School as Muslim Law Student Irfan Shuttari was caught cleaning his feet on the 5th floor of the Law Library. Eyewitnesses claim that an unidentified student walked into the Men's Restrooms on the 5th floor and was shocked to see a student with his foot in the sink. At the sight, the student proclaimed, "Whoa that's nasty bro!" At this proclamation, Mr. Shuttari took his foot out of the sink, only to miss his placed slipper on the floor and slip under the sink. The unidentified student notified Loyola Security immediately. When asked of the incident, Mr. Shuttari resolved, "All that was said is hearsay by the unidentified student! It was a simple case of FIS - Foot In Sink. I want my rights - does the Patriot Act highlight anything restricting my right and ability to wash my feet at sinks in public restrooms? I demand fair and honest treatment for all victims of FIS!" Authorities later concluded that Mr. Shuttari had no intent for devious acts in washing his feet, and only wanted to prove to the rest of the world that his feet were in fact very clean. Loyola Law waived the charges against Mr. Shuttari, who was found in a crouched position, in a corner of the 5th floor of the Law Library. Although saying that he was simply 'praying', authorities believe he was simply hiding in embarrassment. All University campuses are now on high alert for such incriminating acts. Individuals that witness such acts are asked to inform campus security immediately.

Friday, May 04, 2007

Fri, 04 May 2007 22:46:14 GMT

THE MUSLIM'S FRITO LAY ISSUE
???

[email that I sent out - wanted to post it here as well]

From: Irfan S. Shuttari
Date: May 3, 2007 2:59 PM
Subject: The Muslim's FritoLay Issue

Assalaamu 'alaykum,

There was a slew of emails that developed over the past few months that discussed the ingredients of FritoLay Brand chips, in particulair Doritos. The specific ingredients in question were the enzymes that were being used in the seasoning of the chips. The argument of enzymes being a moot point within the Hanafi position (linked below), the matter of whether the enzyme was pork or not was still in question. However, recently FritoLay has updated their 'Ingredients' page (linked below) to highlight that the listed products do not contain 'porcine enzymes'. (I spoke to a representative from FritoLay and they informed me that this list of items not containing porcine enzymes did not exist until very recently, due to an influx of phone calls asking about these ingredients - Muslims at work, I suppose). Included in this list are many, but not all, of the Doritos products that were brought in question. And apparently this list will continue to be updated by FritoLay periodically.

___

For those confused as to the meaning of 'porcine':

por·cine (pôrs n) adj.

Of or resembling swine or a pig

(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/porcine)

FritoLay Ingredients:

(http://fritolay.com/fl/flstore/cgi-bin/ProdDetEv_Cat_306_SubCat_351852_NavRoot_361689_ProdID_564690.htm)

Hanafi Position on Enzymes:

(http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=7&ID=432&CATE=29 )

___

InshaAllah this should alleviate the issue of FritoLay Brand chips, and whether they do or do not contain pork.

***HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THESE PRODUCTS ARE CERTIFIED AS HALAL!!! For example, Doritos Salsa Verde Flavored Tortilla chips are known and confirmed to contain chicken flavoring. This was only meant to clarify the contention of whether or not pork was contained in the enzymes used to season the chips. Please read all ingredients carefully, reference the list that FritoLay has published, and proceed with caution!***

In short, the products on this list do not contain pork. This does not mean they might contain other meat or animal products - read the ingredients further to check for these.

If anyone has further contentions, please reply back letting me know.

At the end of the day, chips are simply unhealthy - eat a carrot instead!

Jazakullah Khayr,

Waasalaamu 'alaykum

ISS

--
________________________________________________
Irfan Syed Shuttari, 2L
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Juris Doctor Candidate - Class of 2008
(586) 801-0491
________________________________________________

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 05:03:22 GMT

FREE DR. AL-ARIAN!!!

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

CAIR ACTION ALERT #509

ASK ATTORNEY GENERAL GONZALES TO FREE DR. AL-ARIAN

(WASHINGTON D.C., 3/9/07) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations ( CAIR) is calling on American Muslims and other people of conscience to contact Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to ask that he free Dr. Sami Al-Arian, a former Florida professor currently on a hunger strike in federal detention to protest his treatment by U.S. authorities.

Al-Arian is being held in a medical facility in North Carolina after initiating his water-only hunger strike on January 22. He began his protest after being given a sentence of up to 18 months for refusing to testify before a grand jury in Virginia. His physical condition is deteriorating daily. A family member told CAIR that he has lost 45 pounds since beginning his protest and now spends most of his time in a wheelchair.

Al-Arian's attorneys say an earlier plea agreement freed him from further cooperation with the government. Supporters also say the government's actions amount to a form of harassment.

Federal authorities say they will soon begin force-feeding Dr. Al-Arian.

SEE: Force-Feeding Near for Fasting Inmate (AP)

In 2005, a Florida jury rejected federal charges that Al-Arian operated a cell for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Al-Arian later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was scheduled for release and deportation in April.

SEE: No Guilty Verdicts in Al-Arian Trial (Tampa Tribune)

SEE ALSO: U.S. Muslims Call Al-Arian Imprisonment 'Double Jeopardy' (AMT)

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be firm, but POLITE.)

1. CONTACT the following officials to request that Dr. Sami Al-Arian be released from detention and allowed to leave the country with his family. (Make sure to include your name, address and ZIP Code in the letter)

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
Department of Justice
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001

Fax: 202-307-6777
Tel: 202-353-1555
E-Mail: AskDOJ@usdoj.gov

The Honorable Judge Gerald Lee
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
401 Courthouse Square
Alexandria, VA 22314
Fax Number: (703) 299-3339

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Comments: 202-456-1111
Fax: 202-456-2461
E-Mail: comments@whitehouse.gov

Sample Letter:

Dr. Sami Al-Arian is currently on a hunger strike in federal detention to protest his treatment by U.S. authorities. He began his hunger strike after being given a sentence of up to 18 months for refusing to testify before a grand jury in Virginia. His attorneys say an earlier plea agreement freed him from further cooperation and that the government's actions amount to a form of harassment. I therefore respectfully request that you support the immediate release of Dr. Al-Arian so that he and his family may resume their lives in another country.

2. CONTACT your own elected representatives through: http://capwiz.com/cair/dbq/officials/

3. SEND COPIES of all correspondence to CAIR at: info@cair.com or fax: 202-488-0833

4. COPY TO Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. E-Mail: john.conyers@mail.house.gov or fax: (202) 225-0072

- PLEASE ANNOUNCE, POST AND DISTRIBUTE -

Friday, February 09, 2007

Fri, 09 Feb 2007 16:50:20 GMT

Al Aqsa TODAY!

This was just shocking to watch...and it happened TODAY!

It's not easy to talk about the suffering of Palestinians, but it is deafening to actually see how they live!

Please pray for those that live in an endless cycle of suffering in the streets of Palestine...

Friday, January 05, 2007

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 20:55:32 GMT

Being PROactive, Not REactive

(The First Muslim Congressman being sworn in to office by the Speaker of the House, as his Wife holds Our Found Father's Qur'an that was presented by the Library of the Congress)

Newly elected Representative (and Rockstar) Keith Ellison has been thrown into the limelight (lemonlight for some) of American Congressional politics. Not only did he become the first Muslim to be elected to Congress, and the first Afro-American to do so from Minnesota, but he also became the first Congressman to be sworn in to office under the Qur'an. An amazing feat to be sure, it was met with a lot of criticism. However, he has dealt with it in a manner that is reflective of the potential that the next generation of Muslims contain in their political prowess - as Dr. Jackson always put it, "We need to be less REACTIVE and more PROACTIVE in our approach!" Not only did he respond to comments made by Representative Virgil Goode in the most constructive of manners, but he found a way to throw it right back into his face - the Qur'an used at his swearing in ceremony was that of former President Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers of this country.

(Jefferson's 'Koran' or commonly called 'The Alcoran of MOHAMMED')

And then, just to portray his status as a straight rockstar (not your normal political lingo, I know), he goes right to the face of Rep. Goode during the swearing in ceremony and greets him in the most cordial of ways (if you look at the video closely, our boy Rep. Dennis Kucinich was in the mix as well).

I can only think of one thing as I saw this video and read this article - WHAT A TEAR UP!!!

ARTICLE (response from Rep. Ellison to Rep. Goode):

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2007/01/choose_generosity_not_exclusio.html

VIDEO (meeting between Rep. Ellison and Rep. Goode):

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 22:04:47 GMT

ISLAM in the midst of it all!

DISCLAIMER: I usually try to stay away from hardkore religious posts (primarily because I have nothing productive to say being one of very little knowledge, but also because I'm not one to post religious advice as a Xanga post). However, after walking around downtown Chicago today, I felt the need to share my newfound hope! And instead of trying to articulate such with words, I felt that only a pictorial rambling would do the trick!

The message of this post is simple - as much as it looks like Islam is being attacked in every way, shape or form around the World, we have no cause in the least to believe that we have lost, as the Message of our Prophet SAW and ultimate will of Allah SWT never ends! The results of this are the cause of my newfound hope.

This post was inspired by a the following verse of the Qur'an from Surah As-Saff (061:008):

يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِؤُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَاللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ

"Their intention is to extinguish Allah's light with their utterances; but Allah has will to spread His light in all its fullness, however hateful this may be to all who deny the truth!"

SO as I was walking to my bank on Dearborn and Washington, I aimlessly wandered past the Daley Center. This time of year in Chicago, the Daley Center is home to the annual Chriskindlmarket, a traditional Christmas market stocked with cabins selling Christmas food and the sorts. As an individual that doesn't celebrate Christmas, I quickly moved past the market, trying to avoid the groups that were there touring the city and this spectacle. However, as I looked to scurry away, this structure and the first sign caught my eye:

Now that seems weird! Salaat? At Chriskindlmarket?? And the sign goes on to say 'FORMAL PRAYER - 5 times Daily.' I started to wonder what this was, and as I stepped to the left:

Zakaat? I mean, there is a Salvation Army guy standing right next to this, but are they now calling this type of charity Zakaat?? I stepped to the left again, and:

SAUM?? Are we still in Chicago?? Where is this going?? And another left:

Shahaada - Testimony of Faith?? I saw this and just made my Sahhaada again!! There has gotta be one more left:

HAJJ! OH SNAP!! The Traditional Pentafecta!!! What a sight! You have to believe that when I saw the Christmas display, the last thing on my mind would be to find something from my very own faith! Subhan'Allah! It might seem small to some, but seeing this structure right in front of the Daley Center reassured me of so many of the doubts and concerns that I had in my mind at the time about Islam, and tests that Muslims are currently facing!

Now after having seen this structure, I figured it was time to get to school. So I walked over to the Red Line to take it to my Chicago stop. As I get into the station, I was surprised to see:

OH SNAPS! That's my school! And the Muslims got the shout out too! My spirits uplifted and my hopes restored, I now sit at school making this post. Seeing these visuals throughout the great city of Chicago has restored my hope! We cannot ever believe that the rough spots we are going through are anything but a test, and that ultimately we will pass these tests! And ironically enough, I have a Constitutional Law final on Friday!

The last line I leave you with is also the last line that Shaykh Humza Yusuf said at ISNA this year before he ended his talk:

"So we need to prepare ourselves for these tribulations! Because it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets better!"

Monday, December 04, 2006

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 20:45:21 GMT

Spilled Doritos chips wash up on Outer Banks

I want to be invited to her SuperBowl party...by the way, there doesn't seem to be any Fiery Habienero flavor...

A cargo container that apparently fell from a ship washed up on the Outer Banks of North Carolina on Thursday and spilled thousands of bags of Doritos brand tortilla chips on the beach. People collected the chips, which were apparently still fresh due to their airtight packaging. It was unknown which ship had lost the cargo or to what port it was bound. Photo by Donna Barnett / special to The Virginian-Pilot

People gather bags of Doritos in various flavors. Photo by Donna Barnett / special to The Virginian-Pilot

The cargo container apparently fell off a ship at sea and broke open. Photo by Barbara Satterthwaite / special to The Virginian-Pilot

Read the story.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Sun, 03 Dec 2006 01:40:19 GMT

*NEW* Michael Richards (Kramer) Apologizes!

In response to the racist remarks made by Richards at a comedy show of his earlier....

Friday, December 01, 2006

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 21:05:32 GMT

EXAMS

It's the little things in life, and on the news, that one must truly appreciate at times of stress/exams...

Please keep both me, and my exams, in your prayers!

Friday, November 17, 2006

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 21:49:15 GMT

THE GAME OF THE CENTURY!

All the hype has been built up - all the storylines have been played out. It's time to kickoff and settle it on the field!

#2 VS #1

And the quote that probably puts this game in a complete perspective:

"I'll tell you how big this game is," former Ohio State coach John Cooper said Wednesday on a Master Coaches Survey teleconference. "The loser is going to the Rose Bowl."

Hail! to the victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan
the leaders and best

Hail! to the victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan,
the champions of the West!

LETS GO BLUE!!!