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	<title>Lantern Torch</title>
	<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com</link>
	<description>Creative Illumination</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:43:37 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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	<language>en</language>
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		<title>10 More Documents Obama Failed to Disclose</title>
		<description><![CDATA[With all the hoopla surrounding President Obama’s birth certificate, or lack thereof, our writers at All Blogs Considered have come up with a list of ten documents that may be even more damaging to the President’s legitimacy, if he were to reveal them. It is time for President Obama to tell the truth. 1. His dental [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/1339/obama-documents/</link>
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		<title>Muhammad Ali – From Draft to Jungle</title>
		<description><![CDATA[October 30 1974 “Ali Boom I ay!” “Ali Boom I ay” “Ali kill him!” translated into English.  The cheers ring round a Kinshasa stadium sitting in the heart of Africa &#8211; now the Democratic Republic of Congo.  The humidity adds to the atmosphere as the heavyweight champion of the world and overwhelming favourite George Foreman [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/1328/muhammad-ali/</link>
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		<title>Racism in Social Media</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Anytime I read an article, blog post, or watch a video, I browse through the comments, just to see how people react to various media.  Many comments are absurd and not worth reading, but I occasionally find worthwhile insights. One interesting phenomenon that I have noticed, however, is that racism is alive and well within [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/the-dunya/1132/racism-in-social-media/</link>
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		<title>Shaykh Ahmad Bamba Qasida Back Online</title>
		<description><![CDATA[More than a year ago, I moved OneUmmah.Net from one server to another.  In the process, I somehow misplaced the audio files.  Among them, was the particularly popular qasidas written by Shaykh Ahmad Bamba and recited by El-Hajj Muhammad El-Barrakh and others.  I had pretty much given up home on finding the original files, but [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/1125/shaykh-ahmad-bamba-qasida-back-online/</link>
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		<title>Why Imam Husayn?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Imam Husayn (peace be upon him), whose full name was Al-Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib, was the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), the the son of the Commander of the Faithful Ali and the leader of the women of paradise, Fatimah Al-Zahra (peace be upon them).  Nevertheless, lineage [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/1121/why-imam-husayn/</link>
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		<title>Muslims Are Brothers</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Imam Ja&#8217;far As-Sadiq (pbuh) said:  &#8221;The Muslim is the brother of the Muslim:  he is his sight, his mirror, and his guide.  He does not betray him, cheat him, oppress him, lie to him or slander him, nor does he promise him something and then go back on his promise.&#8221;]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/1117/muslims-are-brothers/</link>
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		<title>Dude, you HAVE no Koran!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Snuck up behind him and took his Koran.  Said something about burning Koran, and I was like: Dude, you HAVE no Koran! and ran off.&#8221; YouTube link to the video Autotuned remix]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/1114/dude-you-have-no-koran/</link>
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		<title>The Birth of Jesus</title>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;He [the angel] said: &#8220;Nay, I am only a messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a holy son.&#8221; She [Mary] said, &#8220;How shall I have a son seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?&#8221; He said: &#8220;Even so: Your Lord says, &#8216;That is easy for [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/1112/the-birth-of-jesus/</link>
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		<title>Online Digital Qur&#8217;an Project</title>
		<description><![CDATA[When I first started OneUmmah.Net back in 1999, it was intended to be my small attempt at uniting Muslims by offering a few thoughts on the subject.  I was ignorant and young, but I hope and prayed I could contribute what little I knew. Today, I am still ignorant but a little older.  The site [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/1107/online-digital-quran-project/</link>
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		<title>Sure, Build a Mosque, Just Not Here</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As a Muslim who enjoys religious freedom in this country, as an African American who has experienced firsthand racism, and as an American who truly believes in the principles of freedom that this country claims to support, it has been sickening to read all of these reports about the mosque that New York Muslims want [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/1101/sure-build-a-mosque-just-not-here/</link>
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		<title>The Month of Blessings</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Ramadan is the month in which the Qur&#8217;an was revealed.  Sometimes, we seem to lose sight of that, in between all of our moonsighting vs. calculation debates and our obsessions with nightly rituals that involve hours of preparation in and outside of the kitchen. At the end of the day, what really matters is the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/1099/the-month-of-blessings/</link>
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		<title>Changing Gears</title>
		<description><![CDATA[When I originally started LanternTorch.com, it was supposed to be mainly about my thoughts, spiritual endeavors, and general observations of this crazy world.  At some point along the way, however, my occupation as a professional writer has allowed that to creep into this blog.  Well, no more. From this day forward, all of my professional [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/1096/changing-gears/</link>
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		<title>Like it or not, Helen Thomas was right</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It may not have been a pretty exit, as President Obama himself called it &#8220;offensive&#8221;.  But the fact remains that by saying Israelis should &#8220;get the hell out of Palestine&#8221; Helen Thomas amplified the stifled voices of native peoples all over the world. Much of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and yes, America, was occupied [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/1090/like-it-or-not-helen-thomas-was-right/</link>
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		<title>Rajae El-Mouhandiz in her new video</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Grandson of Malcolm X in Rajae El-Mouhandiz’s latestvideo Rajae El-Mouhandiz is a young Muslim woman from Amsterdam. She is also a world renowned singer of North African descent whose second CD, Hand of Fatima, was released in December 2009. One of the singles in the video, Malcolm Lateef Shabazz, has garnered a lot of positive [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/1075/rajae-el-mouhandiz-in-her-new-video/</link>
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		<title>Expressions Magazine Released</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Expressions Magazine, the official literary magazine of the Muslim Writers Society, has been released. Download it now in PDF format.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/1061/expressions-magazine-released/</link>
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		<title>On the death of Imam Ali</title>
		<description><![CDATA[On the night of the 21st of Ramadan, after Imam Ali (peace be upon him) died, Imam al-Hasan (peace be upon him) rose and gave a sermon: &#8220;Tonight you have killed a man on a night in which the Qur&#8217;an came down, a night in which Jesus son of Mary (peace be upon him) was [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/1037/on-the-death-of-imam-ali/</link>
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		<title>Birth of Imam Hasan ibn Ali</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It is reported that Imam Hasan ibn &#8216;Ali (peace be upon him) said: “Be obedient to Allah and have faith in Him. The loftiness of those who know the greatness of Allah is expressed in their modesty. The safety of those who know the power of Allah is expressed in their surrender to Him. Do [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/1033/birth-of-imam-hasan-ibn-ali/</link>
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		<title>Breaking News: Spider-Man hooks up with Tinkerbell</title>
		<description><![CDATA[OK, I am making a joke to cover my concern about the news that Disney is purchasing Marvel for $4 billion.  Sure, it means that we will probably see an X-Men theme park in the future.  And yes, Disney has an impressive history of not injecting their own products into their subsidiaries (i.e. we haven&#8217;t [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/the-dunya/1018/breaking-news-spider-man-hooks-up-with-tinkerbell/</link>
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		<title>Ramadan Lectures</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Ramadan Mubarak to all. Here are some of the scholars and intellectuals speaking on the English Ramadan lecture circuit.  All of these are video and audio. Hajj Hassanain Rajabali Sheikh Jehad Ismail These are being broadcast live and then the recordings will be uploaded to YouTube. Sayyid Hossein Al-Qazwini This will be broadcast live, and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/1001/ramadan-lectures-3/</link>
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		<title>Rapper, The Game to play B.A. Baracus?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[According to Blackfilm.com, the new A-Team film will feature The Game playing B.A. Baracus. I actually feel kind of sorry for The Game. Maybe he is a good actor. Maybe he will even get the attitude down and have the perfect mohawk and over-the-top jewelry. Maybe he will drive the van like he was made [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/the-dunya/981/rapper-the-game-to-play-ba-baracus/</link>
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		<title>Islamic reformation?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I have been hearing more Muslims everyday talking about &#8220;reforming&#8221; Islam.  I have read article after article (that means two articles), claiming that Islam is in the beginning, middle, or end of a reformation.  Really?  Reza Aslan, author of No god but God reportedly said this: I believe we are living in the time of [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/949/islamic-reformation/</link>
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		<title>More Stargate Universe News</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The producers of the new SGU series have opened up a little more and revealed some of their thinking on the new show.  I should preface this by saying how skeptical I am about the potential success of this show.  I was an avid SG-1 watcher, but I was skeptical when Stargate Atlantis came out.  [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/the-dunya/910/more-stargate-universe-news/</link>
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		<title>Twitter Updates for 2009-04-19</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A DVD with strange permissions is forcing me to rip it as root (and no, it&#8217;s not a commercial DVD). # So I&#8217;m sitting here encoding this TV show and surprised to find Montel Williams in all of the commercials. # It sounds like we have some new baby birds in the nest under our [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/906/twitter-updates-for-2009-04-19/</link>
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		<title>Twitter Updates for 2009-04-18</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I can&#8217;t get my two monitors to show the exact same colors! Which is true blue??? # Trying to find two non-fiction books on the same topic. # I&#8217;m running the 64-bit version of Linux on this Mac Pro and am please to find no shortage of packages. # Finally, the house is quiet. # [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/905/twitter-updates-for-2009-04-18/</link>
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		<title>Poor Wolverine</title>
		<description><![CDATA[From the Register: &#8220;Hugh Jackman has described himself as &#8220;heartbroken&#8221; by the leak of X-Men Origins: Wolverine which saw an incomplete version appear on several BitTorrent websites ahead of the official 1 May US release date&#8230;&#8221; What the flip?  Heartbroken?  Come on Wolverine!  Man up!]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/the-dunya/876/poor-wolverine/</link>
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		<title>A Review of the 80s Movie: The Last Dragon</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Last Dragon is an 80s B-movie with an attitude: Bruce Leroy, Sho&#8217;nuff, and &#8220;the glow.&#8221; Here is a short review, complete with pros and cons, and the bottom line. See more at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1562173/a_review_of_the_80s_movie_the_last.html]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/868/a-review-of-the-80s-movie-the-last-dragon/</link>
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		<title>Obama Caves to the Israeli Lobby</title>
		<description><![CDATA[From AntiWar.com: &#8220;The outrageous agitation…will be seen by many to raise serious questions about whether the Obama administration will be able to make its own decisions about the Middle East and related issues&#8230;[It casts] doubt on its ability to consider, let alone decide what policies might best serve the United States rather than those of [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/866/obama-caves-to-the-israeli-lobby/</link>
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		<title>Hampshire College becomes first to divest from Israel</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Good news from Democracy Now: The Board of Trustees at Hampshire College has agreed to divest from six companies because of their involvement in the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Hampshire is believed to be the first U.S. college or university to divest from companies tied to the Israeli military. The companies [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/834/hampshire-college-becomes-first-to-divest-from-israel/</link>
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		<title>Where I&#8217;ve Been &#8211; Grand Prix Hell</title>
		<description><![CDATA[For the past several days, I&#8217;ve been working on my car.&#160; For what should have been a 20-minute job turned into quite an ordeal, but I can now say that it seems to be working properly. I have a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP&#160; (yes, the engine is supercharged &#8212; that actually felt good to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/832/where-ive-been-grand-prix-hell/</link>
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		<title>When logic fails</title>
		<description><![CDATA[My five-year-old daughter is brilliant.  It is, therefore, no surprise to me that she regularly uses logic to come to conclusions.  She is always trying to figure something out and goes through a very intense method of reasoning to finally find her answers. What is also not surprising, however, is that her conclusions are often [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/829/when-logic-fails/</link>
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		<title>Lately, we&#8217;ve been waking up w&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Lately, we&#8217;ve been waking up with two extra little people in our little bed.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/828/lately-weve-been-waking-up-w/</link>
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		<title>Happy new year!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Happy new year!]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/827/happy-new-year/</link>
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		<title>sending prayers for all of the&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[sending prayers for all of the Palestinian people]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/826/sending-prayers-for-all-of-the/</link>
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		<title>Testing Twitter/WordPress inte&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Testing Twitter/Wordpress integration.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/825/testing-twitterwordpress-inte/</link>
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		<title>May God shower mercy on the Pa&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[May God shower mercy on the Palestinian people and grant them ease after this difficulty]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/805/may-god-shower-mercy-on-the-pa/</link>
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		<title>Just woke up, need to go back &#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Just woke up, need to go back to bed, but have to take out the trash]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/806/just-woke-up-need-to-go-back/</link>
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		<title>just finished a sausage bagel&#8230;.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[just finished a sausage bagel. Don&#8217;t worry&#8230;it was soy!]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/807/just-finished-a-sausage-bagel/</link>
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		<title>Should I be this hungry at Faj&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Should I be this hungry at Fajr time?]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/808/should-i-be-this-hungry-at-faj/</link>
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		<title>I&#8217;m beginning to think Duke Nu&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;m beginning to think Duke Nukem Forever will be released before Fanboys.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/809/im-beginning-to-think-duke-nu/</link>
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		<title>- I live in a house full of dr&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[- I live in a house full of drama queens]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/810/i-live-in-a-house-full-of-dr/</link>
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		<title>&#8220;The butcher didn&#8217;t kill the o&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;The butcher didn&#8217;t kill the ox. The ox didn&#8217;t drink the water. The water didn&#8217;t put out the fire. The fire didn&#8217;t burn the stick. T &#8230;]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/811/the-butcher-didnt-kill-the-o/</link>
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		<title>- I wonder when the &#8220;hit Bush &#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[- I wonder when the &#8220;hit Bush with a shoe&#8221; flash game is coming out]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/812/i-wonder-when-the-hit-bush/</link>
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		<title>fell asleep in the office chai&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[fell asleep in the office chair again (shsh! don&#8217;t tell the wife!)]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/813/fell-asleep-in-the-office-chai/</link>
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		<title>waiting on my wife so we can w&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[waiting on my wife so we can watch this movie]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/814/waiting-on-my-wife-so-we-can-w/</link>
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		<title>The baby is sick :(</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The baby is sick]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/815/the-baby-is-sick/</link>
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		<title>watching the snow fall</title>
		<description><![CDATA[watching the snow fall]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/816/watching-the-snow-fall/</link>
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		<title>They can imprison the wise, bu&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[They can imprison the wise, but they can&#8217;t imprison wisdom. They can capture the visionary, but they can&#8217;t capture the vision.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/817/they-can-imprison-the-wise-bu/</link>
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		<title>wonders why some people say &#8220;y&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[wonders why some people say &#8220;yuman&#8221; instead of &#8220;human&#8221;]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/818/wonders-why-some-people-say-y/</link>
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		<title>stalling going to work for as &#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[stalling going to work for as long as I can]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/819/stalling-going-to-work-for-as/</link>
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		<title>Writing about anything</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Sometimes when you are having trouble writing (and you happen to be a writer), it is best to just write.&#160; Write about anything, or as I am so eloquently illustrating, you may write about writing. Let us see what&#8217;s going on in the world: Halal Food on a university campus Make sure to vote for [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/801/writing-about-anything/</link>
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		<title>Is trying this twitter thing a&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Is trying this twitter thing again.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/820/is-trying-this-twitter-thing-a/</link>
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		<title>The Obama Administration</title>
		<description><![CDATA[All hail his majesty, the Sultan Barack Hussein Obama II.&#160; Sorry, I couldn&#8217;t resist.&#160; His name just sounds like a 12th century Muslim African sultan.&#160; In all seriousness, I believe it to be a monumental achievement for a man of color to reach the White House.&#160; He climbed up the backs of many African Americans [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/799/the-obama-administration/</link>
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		<title>The Intellect</title>
		<description><![CDATA[From OneUmmah.net: It has been related that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: Allah created the intellect from a stored-up light which was hidden within His fore-knowledge, and neither emissary, prophet nor high-ranking angel has seen it. Then He made knowledge its &#8216;self&#8217;, understanding its spirit, abstension (zuhd) [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/797/the-intellect/</link>
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		<title>My voting experience</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I woke up at five, hurriedly made my lunch and gathered my things.&#160; I did most of my preparation the night before so that I&#8217;d be ready to go by 5:30.&#160; The polls opened at 6, and I figured I&#8217;d need to get there early in order to vote on time and still make it [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/791/my-voting-experience/</link>
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		<title>Jim Brown&#8217;s new job</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The following is only my poor attempt at humor. We always knew that Jim Brown had multiple talents: playing football, acting, er&#8230;um&#8230; diplomacy?&#160; Apparently he has been masquerading as Sudan&#8217;s ambassador to the United Nations.&#160; Take a look at the photos.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/the-dunya/788/jim-browns-new-job/</link>
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		<title>Ubuntu 8.10 Released</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Ubuntu 8.10 has been released.&#160; I upgraded to Kubuntu 8.10 when it was still a released candidate, and I have many comments about the quality of packages and overall presentation. Nevertheless, I will leave the idea of reviewing it for now and just enjoy the new release, codenamed Intrepid Ibex.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/785/ubuntu-810-released/</link>
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		<title>Biased Media&#8217;s Love of Obama</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I never watch or read ABC News, but somehow, and for reasons I still do not fully understand, I happened upon an article by Michael S. Malone called &#8220;Media&#8217;s Presidential Bias and Decline.&#8221;&#160; I have no idea who Michael S. Malone is, but from the way he spends the first half of the article listing [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/775/biased-medias-love-of-obama/</link>
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		<title>I hate flashback episodes</title>
		<description><![CDATA[You know what I&#8217;m talking about.&#160; You sit down thinking you&#8217;re about to see a new episode of a show, only to hear one of the actors say, &#8220;Remember when&#8230;&#8221; and suddenly the screen fades into an episode you&#8217;ve already seen, albeit chopped into little clips that probably would not make sense to someone who [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/771/i-hate-flashback-episodes/</link>
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		<title>African American Fantasy</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I am an author and have been writing for most of my life.&#160; I am particularly fond of fables, short stories, and epic fantasy.&#160; What I have noticed, and perhaps this is just because of my own ignorance, is a rather thin collection of fantasy and adventure novels with young adult characters of African descent. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/769/african-american-fantasy/</link>
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		<title>Day Two</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Day two (Saturday): We returned to the convention center a little after 1PM to catch the end of a session, which was a tribute to the late Imam W. D. Mohammed (may Allah have mercy on him).&#160; It was very touching and enlightening to hear the wonderful stories people had to share about him. We [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/767/day-two/</link>
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		<title>Day One</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I must be honest.&#160; The first day of the convention was pretty disappointing.&#160; Imam Zaid Shakir did lead the Jumu`ah prayer, and that was worth attending.&#160; But it was not worth the price of admission, since that part was undoubtedly free. The rest was disorganized, rescheduled, and pretty much boring.&#160; The bazaar was bare and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/765/day-one/</link>
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		<title>Convention weekend</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We&#8217;re going to the MAI / ISNA midwest regional convention this weekend.&#160; Imam Zaid Shakir is leading the Jum`ah prayer, and &#8220;Allah Made Me Funny&#8221; will be shown (our city was not one of the &#8220;select cities&#8221; chosen to show the movie, so this is a treat). I&#8217;ll post updates and maybe some pictures later, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/761/convention-weekend/</link>
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		<title>Real Winners</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Have you ever played to win?&#160; When you were a kid, did you ever buy a cereal box, a soda bottle, or a piece of candy with the hopes of winning a lifetime supply of something (anything), a trip to a theme park, or spend a day with a superstar kid singer or actor? I&#8217;m [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/the-dunya/759/real-winners/</link>
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		<title>Haves and Have Nots</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I know I said I was going to write something this weekend, and it&#8217;s not that I don&#8217;t have anything to say.&#160; It&#8217;s more like I have too much to say.&#160; There are so many thoughts swirling around in my head. Let&#8217;s just talk a little about this &#8220;financial crisis.&#8221;&#160; It is truly amazing that [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/757/haves-and-have-nots/</link>
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		<title>oh yeah</title>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8230;I have a blog.&#160; I&#8217;ll get back to that this weekend, insha&#8217;Allah.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/753/oh-yeah/</link>
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		<title>The Rich Are Staging a Coup</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I just received this letter from Michael Moore.&#160; The only problem with it is that it assumes the rich weren&#8217;t already controlling everything and needed to stage a &#8220;coup.&#8221;&#160; All they&#8217;re really doing is re-solidifying their stranglehold over the American people and the rest of the world. The majority of us have been experiencing a [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/751/the-rich-are-staging-a-coup/</link>
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		<title>Sarah Palin on Israel Attacking Iran</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Palin says that an Israeli attack on Iran should never be &#8220;second guessed.&#8221; Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin: “We don’t have to second-guess what their efforts would be if they believe that it is in their country and their allies, including us, all of our best interests to fight against a regime, especially Iran, who would [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/749/sarah-palin-on-israel-attacking-iran/</link>
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		<title>Iran, Israel, and the One-State Solution</title>
		<description><![CDATA[CNN has posted a video of Larry King&#8217;s interview with Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.&#160; I took the time this morning to watch and came away with two main observations: 1. It greatly increase my respect for and admiration of the Iranian president.&#160; He is both intelligent and tactful in his response and also seems genuine. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/747/iran-israel-and-the-one-state-solution/</link>
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		<title>Sheikh Jehad Ismail</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I had intended to spend the second half of Ramadan listening to the lectures of Hasanain Rajabali, but the website that is publishing his lectures is, once again, using a lousy proprietary windows media streaming server that makes it difficult for Linux and Mac users. Granted, I could labor it at it and possibly get [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/742/sheikh-jehad-ismail/</link>
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		<title>Obama and Muslims</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Many Muslims (myself included) have expressed concern that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has not met with American Muslims nor addressed their concerns, but apparently, on at least one occasion, he has.&#160; This is actually old (from May), but it&#8217;s news to me.&#160; I do not recall it being mentioned in the media at all. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/736/obama-and-muslims/</link>
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		<title>The Prophet&#8217;s Fasting</title>
		<description><![CDATA[From OneUmmah.net: A few narrations about how and when the Prophet (pbuh) used to fast. Read it here.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/733/the-prophets-fasting/</link>
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		<title>We are from God and to Him we return</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Our condolences and prayers go out to all of the students, followers, family, and friends of Imam W.D. Mohammed, who passed away today in this holiest of months. May Allah bless him, forgive him for his shortcomings, and have mercy on him, and there are none who are more merciful than the Most Merciful.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/727/we-are-from-god-and-to-him-we-return/</link>
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		<title>Ramadan 1429 Lecture Circuit</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As with every Ramadan, I love the nightly lectures. This year, I&#8217;ve become quite fond of a young man named Ammar Nakshawani. He is a self-taught student of knowledge who delivers powerful and touching lectures filled with pearls of wisdom. You can listen to his current lectures here.Also, for other dynamite lecturers and scholars, see [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/723/ramadan-1429-lecture-circuit/</link>
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		<title>Ramadan and Lucid Dreaming</title>
		<description><![CDATA[For whatever reason, during Ramadan, I tend to have more vivid dreams. In some cases I even become lucid, whereas that normally does not happen. I have no training in lucid dreaming, although I have desired it on occasion (and then chickened out). This morning, my alarm clock did not go off or was not [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/718/ramadan-and-lucid-dreaming/</link>
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		<title>Ramadan Mubarak</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I pray that all Muslims around the world have a Ramadan filled with blessings and good deeds. Here is my formal greeting card to all of you.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/716/ramadan-mubarak-2/</link>
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		<title>Stuck in my head</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Shake your wanny fanny funky song funky song Shake your wanny fanny fu-unky song! I&#8217;ll give a prize to the first person who can comment with the show where that song originated.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/the-dunya/714/stuck-in-my-head/</link>
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		<title>Audio Qur&#8217;an for Ramadan</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If you&#8217;re a person on the go but don&#8217;t want to get behind on your Ramadan Qur&#8217;an reading, there are a few free sites that offer audio recitation along with English translation. Islamway radio Qur&#8217;anEnglish.com MP3 Qur&#8217;an Online Any of these can be downloaded, installed on an MP3 player, or burned to several CDs. If [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/713/audio-quran-for-ramadan/</link>
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		<title>Where has he been?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Well, I started a new job at a new school, and that is part of the reason why I have not been blogging much. The other reason is that I&#8217;m just a bad blogger. Shame on me! Today I&#8217;m blogging on my new EeePC (more on that later). Also, Ramadan is right around the corner [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/712/where-has-he-been/</link>
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		<title>Enjoying family</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Enjoying family]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/821/enjoying-family/</link>
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		<title>Weathering the storm</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Weathering the storm]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/822/weathering-the-storm/</link>
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		<title>Sunni-Shia Discord</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This is from the Islamic Information Center: July 29, 2008 In a recent interview, Ayatollah Fadlallah, one of Lebanon&#8217;s chief theologians, stated that any notions of strife between Shi&#8217;ites and Sunnis was untrue. Most Muslims value unity, and simply need some sort of motivation to work together said Fadlallah, suggesting a large scale collaborative project. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/711/sunni-shia-discord/</link>
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		<title>McCain and Obama both want another Vietnam</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Just some excerpts from a great article: But is Barack taking his own advice? For he pledges to shift two U.S. combat brigades, 10,000 troops, out of Iraq and into Afghanistan, raising Americanforces in that country from 33,000 to 43,000. For, without any visible strategy for victory, Barack is recommending thesame course LBJ took after [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/709/mccain-and-obama-both-want-another-vietnam/</link>
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		<title>Obama&#8217;s not Anti-War, just Anti-Iraq War</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As I suspected, Barack Obama carries the same understanding of the Iraq war that most other democrats have: &#8220;We need to get out of Iraq because we&#8217;re losing.&#8221; The same democrats who were opposed to it are now calling for an end, not because it is morally wrong to occupy another nation and take so [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/708/obamas-not-anti-war-just-anti-iraq-war/</link>
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		<title>Happy Independence Day</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The only proper and truly &#8220;American&#8221; way to celebrate our independence is to trivialize it with rock and roll music, flag waving, and random images of patriotism. And few have accomplished that the way that the following man has. So, this one&#8217;s for you, America: Oh yeah, and it never hurts to head butt the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/the-dunya/702/happy-independence-day/</link>
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		<title>Imam Zaid: Is Obama a Used Car Dealer?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Once again I managed to beat Imam Zaid Shakir to the punch with my article about Obama&#8217;s love affair with the AIPAC, but that is probably only because he took the time to ponder over it and write something much more elqouent and powerful. His article is certainly worth a read.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/698/imam-zaid-is-obama-a-used-car-dealer/</link>
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		<title>Rosetta Stone of Preschoolese</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Macaroni ma-cheese = Macaroni and cheese Circle Soup = Spaghetti O&#8217;s Tindo DS = Nintendo DSDoll waffle = Waffles with pictures of Barbie on themBrooming = Sweeping the floor with a broom (actually makes sense) smacks = Gummy snacks (I pretend to smack her when she asks for it) There are many more. I&#8217;ll post [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/family/695/rosetta-stone-of-preschoolese/</link>
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		<title>First morning</title>
		<description><![CDATA[On this first morning of my summer vacation, I watched the sunrise. Check.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/694/first-morning/</link>
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		<title>Who really controls the United States</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In their 2006 working paper The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy, University of Chicago professor John Mearsheimer and Harvard University Kennedy School of Government professor Stephen Walt accuse AIPAC of being &#8220;the most powerful and best known&#8221; component of a larger pro-Israel lobby that, they say, distorts American foreign policy. They write: &#8220;AIPAC&#8217;s success [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/693/who-really-controls-the-united-states/</link>
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		<title>Obama Lost My Vote</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It seems very few have been willing to admit what we really knew all along: Barack Obama is just another American politician. He is not some savior of humanity, as some would like to portray him, and he is certainly not going to step on the toes of the corporate demons who fund his campaign. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/691/obama-lost-my-vote/</link>
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		<title>Secularism vs Human Rights</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Turkey has once gain placed their so-called &#8220;secular&#8221; principles above the independence and human rights of their own people by once again upholding the ban on head scarves in universities.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/689/secularism-vs-human-rights/</link>
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		<title>Wondering where the Kubuntu pa&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Wondering where the Kubuntu packages for KDE 4.0.5 are]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/823/wondering-where-the-kubuntu-pa/</link>
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		<title>Tall Tales</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Or lies if you prefer: Grandfather: &#8220;If you&#8217;re good, maybe I&#8217;ll give you two some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.&#8221; My 4-year-old daughter: &#8220;I don&#8217;t like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.&#8221; Grandfather: &#8220;Yes you do.&#8221; Daughter: &#8220;No I don&#8217;t because they make me throw up.&#8221; Not true of course.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/family/688/tall-tales/</link>
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		<title>What would make KDE 4 cooler</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Konqueror currently has a feature that allows you to preload an instance or even multiple instances of it. As a result, clicking the konqueror button brings up the window immediately, even on a slower machine. Now the dolphin is the default file manager, it only makes sense to add this feature to dolphin.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/687/what-would-make-kde-4-cooler/</link>
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		<title>Stormy days</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We&#8217;ve had quite a bit of turbulence in our area lately. A storm last week ripped the roofs off of many buildings in our area. Many people were left without power or even homeless. By the grace of God, our neighborhood was spared. My prayers go out to any who were injured or displaced.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/685/stormy-days/</link>
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		<title>Testing KDEtwitter for KDE 4</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Testing KDEtwitter for KDE 4]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/824/testing-kdetwitter-for-kde-4/</link>
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		<title>And they still will not impeach him?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[From Democracy Now: McClellan went on to say President Bush had personally told him he authorized the leak of former CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity. McClellan says he asked President Bush aboard Air Force One if he was the one who approved outing Plame to the media. McClellan says Bush replied, “Yes, I was.” McClellan [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/684/and-they-still-will-not-impeach-him/</link>
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		<title>Happy Mother&#8217;s Day</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A man asked the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace): &#8220;Who should I honor the most?&#8221; Prophet: &#8220;Your mother.&#8221; Man: &#8220;And then who?&#8221; Prophet: &#8220;Your mother.&#8221; Man: &#8220;And then who?&#8221; Prophet: &#8220;Your mother.&#8221; Man: &#8220;And then who?&#8221; Prophet: &#8220;Your father.&#8221;]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/682/happy-mothers-day/</link>
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		<title>Reaction to the Sean Bell Verdict</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Another good video from MobLogic about the reaction to the acquittal of the police officers who fired 50 shots and killed Sean Bell, unarmed man, on the morning of his wedding. Click here to watch.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/681/reaction-to-the-sean-bell-verdict/</link>
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		<title>Iranian Gay Rights Activist</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Here is an interesting video from MobLogic about a gay rights activist from Iran:Click here to watch]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/680/iranian-gay-rights-activist/</link>
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		<title>The Devil and Hillary Clinton</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I almost missed this one from the April 16th democratic debate: OLBERMANN: Can you clarify…which hypothetical Middle East conflicts would incur massive retaliation by this country and what constitutes massive retaliation? CLINTON: What we were talking about was the potential for a nuclear attack by Iran. If Iran does achieve what appears to be a [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/678/the-devil-and-hillary-clinton/</link>
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		<title>McCain Admits Iraq War Is for Oil</title>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;[My energy policy] will prevent us from having ever to send our young men and women into conflict again in the Middle East,&#8221; said republican presidential candidate John McCain. The &#8220;again&#8221; implies that it has been done before, and the fact that it is his energy policy that will prevent it indicates that it was [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/677/mccain-admits-iraq-war-is-for-oil/</link>
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		<title>Did I miss something?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;m sorry, but what did Rev. Jeremiah Wright say that was so wrong? The only reason Americans are upset is because he spoke the truth. He aired America&#8217;s dirty laundry, and the US media saw an opening to attack Sen. Obama. &#8220;We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans and now [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/676/did-i-miss-something/</link>
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		<title>Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a hater</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As Islam continues to flourish despite the misguided efforts of people like Ayaan Hirsi Ali, she continues to throw salt in our game (hating to see us succeed and do good in the world). She will fail. From the IIC: &#8220;Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Dutch critic of Islam, will publish a fictional children&#8217;s book about [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/675/ayaan-hirsi-ali-is-a-hater/</link>
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		<title>Meet Your Meat</title>
		<description><![CDATA[What the meat industry doesn&#8217;t want you to see, the truth about how animals are treated in factory farms: Warning: this is not for the faint of heart or a weak stomach. Meat.org]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/the-dunya/672/meet-your-meat/</link>
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		<title>The rights of Indigenous people and Haiti&#8217;s food riots</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Thursday&#8217;s episode of Democracy Now is something everyone should watch. There were two very important issues covered: The first was about the United states&#8217; role in Haiti&#8217;s food riots: &#8220;As people around the world continue to protest the soaring prices of basic food items, the World Food Program has described the crisis as a silent [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/671/the-rights-of-indigenous-people-and-haitis-food-riots/</link>
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		<title>The Gold-plated Vote</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We are governed by a political system that is increasingly manipulated by multinational corporations and special interest organizations with significant financial influence over politicians. We live in a time when a president can face impeachment for sexually lewd acts and another can be rewarded with a second term after plunging his country into a dismal [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/670/the-gold-plated-vote/</link>
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		<title>Earthquake</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We felt an earthquake this morning. That was my first one. Alhamdulillah, everyone is ok.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/668/earthquake/</link>
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		<title>Islam vs Secular -ISM</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Here is a new article posted on OneUmmah.net by Maryam Sakeenah, a contributing author: &#8220;States in the West loyally commit themselves to it, living under a grandiose fantasy of superior humanity and a higher civilization. With this narcissistic perception comes the license to play the global Big Brother, dictating the order of things arbitrarily&#8221; Click [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/667/islam-vs-secular-ism/</link>
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		<title>Children</title>
		<description><![CDATA[They are lovely when they&#8217;re awake and when they&#8217;re asleep.&#38;nbsp; It&#8217;s the transition between the two that can drive you insane.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/665/children/</link>
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		<title>A Child&#8217;s Innocence</title>
		<description><![CDATA[According to &#8220;Remember These Children,&#8221; between 2000 and 2008, 982 Palestinian children (ages 17 and younger) have been killed by Israelis.  91 Israeli children have been killed.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/664/a-childs-innocence/</link>
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		<title>Jesus was black, Ronald Regan was the Devil, and&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8230;the government lied to you about 9/11. In other news of corruption: Papa John&#8217;s stole money from me.&#160; We ordered pizzas with Sprite.&#160; They failed to deliver the Sprite and then refused to refund us.&#160; Sure, it might only be $2 from us, but add up how many others they&#8217;ve probably ripped off and it [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/663/jesus-was-black-ronald-regan-was-the-devil-and/</link>
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		<title>Issue Update</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It has been a while since I&#8217;ve updated the status of my issues (children).&#160; So, here it is in a nutshell: &#160; &#160; &#160;&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160;]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/family/661/issue-update/</link>
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		<title>Total Lunar Eclipse Tonight</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We&#8217;re in the beginning stage of a total lunar eclipse tonight.&#160; Quite a site! Salat al-ayat is an obligation during such events.&#160; Please be sure to perform it during the appropriate time. Total eclipse begins at 10:01 PM EST in the US.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/658/total-lunar-eclipse-tonight/</link>
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		<title>Real Democracy</title>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;There can be no perfect democracy curtailed by color, race, or poverty.  But with all we accomplish all, even peace.&#8221; &#8211; W.E.B. DuBois]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/656/real-democracy/</link>
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		<title>Stabilizing Afghanistan</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I find it amazing that western &#8220;analysts&#8221; keep pounding their heads on their expensive wooden desks because they cannot figure out what is going wrong in Afghanistan. Why is the Taliban still fighting them after all of this time? Why is NATO unable to tame them? Why is al-Qa&#8217;idah still entrenched there? It shows not [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/655/stabilizing-afghanistan/</link>
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		<title>Ya Husayn</title>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8216;Ashura is not a time only of sadness.&#160; It is not a time in which Muslims should remember defeat.&#160; It is not a time in which Muslims should be divided.&#160; Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) was the imam of Islam for all Muslims of his time.&#160; No one, even the enemies of Islam, would [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/654/ya-husayn/</link>
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		<title>From Vietnam to Iraq</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As Chuck D from the rap group Public Enemy predicted in 1998: &#8220;F**kin&#8217; with Saddam will bring a new Saigon&#8230;&#8221; Truer words have rarely been spoken.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/652/from-vietnam-to-iraq/</link>
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		<title>Reactions to Vick Sentencing</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This video is worth a look.&#160; Some fans react to the sentencing of Michael Vick to 23 months in prison.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/650/reactions-to-vick-setencing/</link>
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		<title>Christian parents, Muslim babies</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve always wondered about the intentions of Christians who mail-order children from places like Afghanistan.&#160; Instead of these children being raised in a Muslim environment, they are brought up in Christian (and often white/European) households completely isolated from the language, religion, and culture. I&#8217;ve heard of Korean children growing up in such an environment and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/649/christian-parents-muslim-babies/</link>
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		<title>Hajj Season</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Another Hajj (pilgrimage) will soon be upon us, insha`Allah.&#160; I pray that all hajjis will have a safe journey, a blessed Hajj, and a safe return. This also means that Eid al-adha will soon be upon us.&#160; It will be close to Christmas, and I&#8217;m sure that many non-Muslims will confusingly assume that Muslims have [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/648/hajj-season/</link>
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		<title>Top Ten Books I&#8217;d Take to a Desert Island</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Warning:&#160; Umm Yasmin induced this: 1.&#160; Survivor&#8217;s Guide to Desert Islands&#160; (if that doesn&#8217;t exist, someone should write it).2. The Qur&#8217;an3. Nahjul-Balagha4. Any book about Mulla Nasruddin (I&#8217;ll need humor and some spirituality rolled into one).5. Survivor&#8217;s Guide to Escaping Desert Islands (yes, definitely)6. Mathnawi (Maulana Rumi will comfort me on my lonely nights)7. Essentials [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/645/top-ten-books-id-take-to-a-desert-island/</link>
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		<title>Writer&#8217;s Block</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Yes, I haven&#8217;t been writing anything&#8230;anywhere.&#160; I don&#8217;t know what to write, or maybe I have so much to write that I can&#8217;t figure out what to write first.&#160; At any rate, here&#8217;s some advice for all you budding writers:&#160; When you get stuck with writer&#8217;s block, just start writing.&#160; It doesn&#8217;t matter what it [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/642/writers-block/</link>
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		<title>She&#8217;s One</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Our youngest daughter had her first birthday party last weekend.&#160; Click on the picture below to see more.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/641/shes-one/</link>
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		<title>DWN (Driving With Niqab)</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It has been a while since the issue of women wearing niqab in a driver&#8217;s license photo has been in the news, but a co-worker of mine recently brought it up to me. He, of course, was in favor of the Florida ruling that a particular woman was not allowed to keep her license because [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/638/dwn-driving-with-niqab/</link>
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		<title>Al-Quds Day 2007</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Here is a full report of the demonstration in London for Al-Quds Day this year in Ramadan: available at inminds.co.uk]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/637/al-quds-day-2007/</link>
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		<title>Universal Morality</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I forgot to mention that I&#8217;ve published the first in my four part series on Universal Morality: Blood, Property, Honor at OneUmmah.net. Please read it and let me know your thoughts.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/635/universal-morality-2/</link>
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		<title>Chavez: take Bush to madhouse</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I love it!&#160; Regardless of what you think of Hugo Chavez, you have to admit that the man says what he means and means what he says. &#8220;The US President (George W. Bush) made an atomic bomb threat,&#8221; Chevez said on Thursday, referring to Bush&#8217;s war rhetoric against Iran. &#8220;In other words, he&#8217;s threatening a [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/632/chavez-take-bush-to-madhouse/</link>
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		<title>The Evil that is Israel</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Israel is going ahead with plans to shut off electricity to Gaza. Collective punishment.&#160; Sounds a bit like Nazi Germany doesn&#8217;t it?&#160; Their oppressors became their teachers.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/631/the-evil-that-is-israel/</link>
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		<title>Original Sin?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The concept is foreign to Islam. It is reported that Imam Ja&#8217;far as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: Truthfulness is a light which radiates its reality in its own world: it is like the sun, from whose reality everything seeks light without any decrease occurring in this reality. A truthful person, in fact, is a [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/629/original-sin/</link>
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		<title>Golden Scrolls Book 3</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve started on the third book of The Golden Scrolls series.&#160; I know you&#8217;re probably thinking, &#8220;What happened to the second?&#8221;&#160; Well, it&#8217;s done, but I&#8217;ve vowed not to publish it until I get a big publisher for the series, insha`Allah.&#160; So, in the meantime, I&#8217;ll keep writing until the series is finished.&#160; The second [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/628/golden-scrolls-book-3/</link>
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		<title>There is no separation</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There are those who wear pants but no shirts and those who wear shirts but not pants.&#160; Those who wear only pants, take Islam but reject sufism.&#160; And those who wear only shirts, take sufism but reject Islam.&#160; In reality, there is no separation between the two.&#160; Sufism is the heart of Islam.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/627/there-is-no-separation/</link>
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		<title>Eid al-Fitr</title>
		<description><![CDATA[No, don&#8217;t get excited.&#160; I&#8217;m not announcing it.&#160; I&#8217;m just thinking about the preparations.&#160; I never really thought of preparing for it when I was younger.&#160; Eid was just the prayer after Ramadan&#8230;and maybe a brunch.&#160; Other than that, I didn&#8217;t actually do much.&#160; Now, with a family of four, Eid is an event.&#160; The [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/626/eid-al-fitr/</link>
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		<title>Considering Consequences</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I just finished an article for OneUmmah.net on morality.&#160; It&#8217;s the first one I&#8217;ve finished in several months.&#160; Anyway, I am missing one reference, so I started searching my hadith books for it.&#160; In the process, I stumbled upon this hadith: Imam Ja&#8217;far as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) narrated that once a man came to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/625/considering-consequences/</link>
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		<title>Sunan An-Nabi</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve purchased a new book from the Academy for Learning Islam. It&#8217;s called, Sunan An-Nabi: A Collection of Narrations on the Conduct and Customs of the Noble Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him and his family peace). The original work was written by the venerable &#8216;Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Taba&#8217;taba&#8217;i (may Allah [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/623/sunan-an-nabi/</link>
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		<title>Remembering Imam Ali</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The 21st night of Ramadan is the night that Imam &#8216;Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) returned to his Lord.&#160; A year ago, I wrote some words regarding it.&#160; Rather than trying to outdo myself, I&#8217;ll just link to it here.&#160; Insha`Allah, it will be of benefit.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/620/remembering-imam-ali/</link>
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		<title>What is success?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[On the&#160; night of the 19th of Ramadan, the accursed Abdur-Rahman ibn Muljim struck Imam &#8216;Ali with a poison-tipped sword.&#160; The Imam, who had already endured severe hardship at the hands of his enemies, cried out, &#8220;By the Lord of the Ka&#8217;ba, I have been successful.&#8221; In modern secular societies, success often means wealth, so [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/618/what-is-success-2/</link>
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		<title>Be Moderate and Gentle</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (peace be upon him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, &#8220;If moderation and gentleness were physical creations that could be perceived, there would be nothing more beautiful, out of all that Allah has created, than these two attributes.&#8221; &#8211; &#8220;Jihad al-Nafs&#8221; (from Wasa&#8217;il al-Shi&#8217;a) by&#160; Shaykh Muhammad [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/616/be-moderate-and-gentle/</link>
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		<title>The New One Ummah</title>
		<description><![CDATA[From OneUmmah.Net: The New One Ummah Network  by Tavis Adibudeen, Director of Publishing “Verily, this community (ummah) of yours is one community (ummah), and I am your Lord, therefore, worship only Me.” (Qur&#8217;an 21:92) For the past decade, One Ummah Network has striven to uphold this principle of unity (tawhid). As is narrated from the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/614/the-new-one-ummah/</link>
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		<title>My blog, except it&#8217;s not mine</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Apparently, Tavis Adibudeen (that was me last time I checked) has a blog on blogspot. It has part of my conversion story, the old one that has been circulated all over the net despite its deficiencies. The only problem is, I didn&#8217;t make this blog, yet the user wears my name. No other information is [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/613/my-blog-except-its-not-mine/</link>
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		<title>Al-Ghazali &#8211; The Alchemist of Happiness</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We just finished watching a film that is worth watching many times over, the story of the life, struggle, and eventual realization of Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali. Not only is the story one that anyone seeking spiritual awakening should consider deeply, but it is also an incredibly well produced film. The style is unique, mystical, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/608/al-ghazali-the-alchemist-of-happiness/</link>
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		<title>No Limit on Thikr</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Allah says in the Qur&#8217;an: &#8220;Oh you who believe, remember Allah, remembering often.&#8221; (33:41) Imam Ja&#8217;far b. Muhammad as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) reportedly said: &#8220;There is a limit to everything, but there is no limit to the remembrance of Allah. Excess in anything is disliked by Allah, but Allah&#8217;s love increases proportionately to the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/605/no-limit-on-thikr/</link>
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		<title>The Artist</title>
		<description><![CDATA[She calls this masterpiece &#8220;Exploding Dragon.&#8221;]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/family/604/the-artist/</link>
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		<title>Blackwater Banned from Iraq</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I reported on Blackwater some time ago. Now it seems they&#8217;ve crossed the line, killing 8 Iraqi civilians. The Iraqi government has banned them. Let&#8217;s see if they actually leave.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/603/blackwater-banned-from-iraq/</link>
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		<title>Ramadan Lectures</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As with every Ramadan, there are many lectures and lessons to hear. If you are unable (or even unwilling) to leave the house to hear them live, there are now many available avenues to you. I usually listen brother Hassanain Rajabali. His lectures as well as many other English-language programs can be accessed at the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/602/ramadan-lectures-2/</link>
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		<title>Knowledge and Understanding</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It is reported that the Messenger of Allah (upon whom be peace and blessings) said, &#8220;Everything has a pillar, and the pillar of this religion is understanding.&#8221; and also: &#8220;Everything has its own path, and the path to Paradise is knowledge.&#8221; &#8211; Nahj Al-Fasahah, hadith no. 565 and 566]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/601/knowledge-and-understanding/</link>
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		<title>They Don&#8217;t Care About Us</title>
		<description><![CDATA[My brother from another mother, Tavis Smiley, reported on the Tom Joyner Morning Show on September 13th that, on the 14th, he would appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and discuss his upcoming &#8220;All-American Presidential Forums on PBS.&#8221; The Democratic forum has already passed, and the stage has been set for the Republican [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/600/they-dont-care-about-us/</link>
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		<title>Ramadan Mubarak</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I pray that Allah brings us all closer to Him during this time, lightens the burdens of our sins with forgiveness, and strengthens our taqwa (God-consciousness). Amazingly good and unexpected things always happen to me each Ramadan.  I pray for nothing less this year and pray that good will also come to you and yours.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/599/ramadan-mubarak/</link>
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		<title>Muggy</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s so hot and sticky outside right now that a mosquito could probably lay an egg in the air. You could probably grow a rice patty in the middle of your yard. It&#8217;s so hot and wet, you could steam vegetables. Need I go on?]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/598/muggy/</link>
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		<title>Doggonnit</title>
		<description><![CDATA[For whatever stupid reason, I&#8217;ve been queuing blog posts in my mind instead of just posting them. As a result, I&#8217;ll probably do several separate posts this weekend. My first one has to be about the Michael Vick case. I&#8217;m not going to comment on whether I think he was treated fairly or on the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/the-dunya/597/doggonnit/</link>
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		<title>Progressive Islam</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Nation ran an article last month entitled: &#8220;American Muslims Reimagined.&#8221; It highlights what it perceives (and what apparently some Muslims have purported) to be &#8220;progressive&#8221; Muslims who have broken out of the traditional barriers that are supposedly placed on them because of Islam. This is not directly stated but is implied both by the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/596/progressive-islam/</link>
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		<title>Path of Light</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This is my first ever attempt at writing a ghazal, which I discovered is no simple task in English. If you happen to be an expert on ghazals and feel I&#8217;ve butchered the form, please tell me, as that was not my intent. I&#8217;m merely exploring different avenues of self-expression. Path of Light by Adib [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/595/path-of-light/</link>
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		<title>Bad Me</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I know I haven&#8217;t been blogging lately. I haven&#8217;t written at all lately. I&#8217;ve felt a little out of sync, but now things are starting to click again. Many things are happening. The older issue starts school tomorrow, inshaAllah (preschool that is). We&#8217;ve chosen what we think is a decent Islamic school. The younger one, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/594/bad-me/</link>
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		<title>We&#8217;re Like Fox News</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;m not one to usually post advertisements, but this one for The Nation is too good to pass up: &#8220;We&#8217;re like Fox News. Only smart. And not crazy. And we don&#8217;t lie.&#8221; So true.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/593/were-like-fox-news/</link>
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		<title>Ethics in Islam</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve suddenly developed an insatiable desire to study ethics (akhlaq) more deeply. I&#8217;ve often flirted with the idea, reading works such as Jami&#8217;a al-Sa&#8217;adat, but I haven&#8217;t taken it to the next level. Much of what Muslims face today in their personal lives, family lives, and even political lives, center around a lack of understanding [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/592/ethics-in-islam/</link>
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		<title>Eight Weird or Random Facts about Yourself</title>
		<description><![CDATA[That dervish lady tagged me, so here goes: 1. Every morning, I have everything laid out and done the exact same way, otherwise I&#8217;ll forget stuff. My wallet, mobile phone, shoes, etc. are always in the same place. I also always leave about 15 minutes earlier than I need to. And I get up at [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/590/eight-weird-or-random-facts-about-yourself/</link>
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		<title>My daughter has a boyfriend</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I prayed this day would never come. Not only did it come, but years sooner than I ever imagined! My three-year-old daughter has a boyfriend&#8230;ahem, well, he&#8217;s a boy who happens to be her friend&#8230;er, OK, and he&#8217;s imaginary, but still! Yes, sweet little Zahra has entered the world of imaginary friends. This one is [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/family/589/my-daughter-has-a-boyfriend/</link>
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		<title>Sicko</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If you have any concern about healthcare in the US (and if you live in the U.S. you definitely should), and you haven&#8217;t seen Sicko yet, you need to&#8230;now!]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/family/585/sicko/</link>
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		<title>Compiz-Fusion: 3D desktop future?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If you have been following the 3D desktop revolution, by now you know that the Beryl Project and the Compiz project are merging back together not long after Beryl first forked from Compiz. I was one who originally left Compiz with the Beryl crowd. It was just more exciting: more plugins, better community support, and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/uncategorized/582/compiz-fusion-3d-desktop-future/</link>
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		<title>Return to Geexbox</title>
		<description><![CDATA[When I first started my HTPC project, Geexbox was my distro of choice. But when we got a widescreen TV, Geexbox, which didn&#8217;t use X.Org at all, could not display widescreen resolutions. In that interval, I tried both Freevo and MythTV (running on Ubuntu), but things have never run as smoothly and easily as they [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/uncategorized/580/return-to-geexbox/</link>
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		<title>Write down your knowledge</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It has been related that the Messenger of God (may God bless him and grant him and his family peace) said: &#8220;If a believer after death leaves even one paper which has religious knowledge, then that paper will become a curtain between him and Hell, and for each letter that is written on the paper, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/577/write-down-your-knowledge/</link>
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		<title>Man&#8217;s true nature</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The master of traditions, Muhammad ibn Ya&#8217;qub al-Kulayni (may Allah make his grave fragrant) reported that Zurarah said: &#8220;I asked Abu `Abd Allah (al-&#8217;Imam al Sadiq) (peace be upon him) regarding the words of God, `God&#8217;s creation (fitrah) upon which He originated mankind&#8216; (Qur&#8217;an 30:30). The Imam(peace be upon him) answered: `He originated mankind upon [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/575/mans-true-nature/</link>
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		<title>Enlightenment</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve taken some interest in various forms of new-age spiritual enlightenment. It is not that I think they will enlighten me, but rather that I hope to gain some understanding of what draws people to them. To clarify, I&#8217;m interested in new western groups (not necessarily cults) that often focus their attention to a guru [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/565/enlightenment/</link>
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		<title>Farfour the Martyr</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The militant-mickey, Farfour, famous in the Palestinian territories for teaching children via Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV, was mercilessly beaten to death by an Israeli soldier on live television. (That link goes to an article, not video footage. Sorry). But, before you get out your flag-burning material, you should know that it was in the script. The [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/uncategorized/564/farfour-the-martyr/</link>
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		<title>Practice what you preach</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It has been related that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him and his family peace) said: A group of the people of Paradise will get worried about some of the people of Hell, and will (therefore) inquire: &#8220;Why are you in Hell? By God, we did not enter Paradise except [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/563/practice-what-you-preach/</link>
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		<title>Sir Salman Rushdie of Jahanum</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Why is anyone surprised or upset that Rushdie was knighted in the UK? I mean, it&#8217;s not as though knights have ever been known for their intelligence, wisdom, piety, or bravery for that matter. Isn&#8217;t it kind of like a badge of shame that someone whose fame is based on the publishing of intentional insults [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/559/sir-salman-rushdie-of-jahanum/</link>
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		<title>Islam in Ancient China</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I have started a new book by Sachiko Murata called Chinese Gleams of Sufi Light: Wang Tai-yu&#8217;s Great Learning of the Pure and Real and Liu Chih&#8217;s Displaying the Concealment of the Real Realm. Yeah, that&#8217;s a mouthful. It&#8217;s actually two books translated. It also includes Lawa&#8217;ih, translated by William Chittick and juxtaposed with the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/557/islam-in-ancient-china/</link>
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		<title>The Quest for Realization</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There are ways to know of God and there are ways to know God. What is known as ma&#8217;rifah (awareness, realization) must be achieved through self introspection. Soon will We show them our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/556/the-quest-for-realization/</link>
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		<title>Global Quest for Spirituality</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Last night, the wife and I watched an enlightening video of a lecture by Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri given at Agha Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. The title was The Global Quest for Spirituality. His argument was that we essentially need spirituality (that is, nurturing and development of the spirt or ruh) more than anything else [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/554/global-quest-for-spirituality/</link>
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		<title>Mercenaries in Iraq (revisited)</title>
		<description><![CDATA[About a month or so ago, I reported on the growing number of mercenaries fighting the &#8220;war&#8221; in Iraq, particularly via the coporation called Blackwater. There are a few details that I left out. We should not think that only American corporations are involved. Not to be outdone by the US, Canadian and British mercenaries [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/552/mercenaries-in-iraq-revisited/</link>
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		<title>Like a thief in the night</title>
		<description><![CDATA[My birthday was Tuesday, and, although I told my wife not to get me anything, she insisted. Amir Sulaiman&#8217;s latest: Like A Thief In The Night was on my Amazon.com wishlist. So, she ordered it for me, and it came probably a week before my birthday. She assumed that it was the correct CD, but [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/549/like-a-thief-in-the-night/</link>
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		<title>The US war in Somalia</title>
		<description><![CDATA[What? You didn&#8217;t get the memo?]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/545/the-us-war-in-somalia/</link>
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		<title>True Zuhd (Asceticism)</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Ibn Arabi, who is considered to be the greatest sheikh in Sufism, was traveling to Mecca, and he passed through Tunisia. In Tunisia he was told that there was a holy man living there who he must visit. This holy man was a fisherman who lived in a mud hut on the beach and caught [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/543/true-zuhd-asceticism/</link>
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		<title>Knowledge of the Self</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Allah says in the Qur&#8217;an: Do they not reflect within themselves? (30:8) The Messenger of Allah reportedly saids, &#8220;Whoever knows himself knows his Lord.&#8221; A man came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him and his family peace) and said, &#8220;O Messenger of Allah, how does one arrive at knowledge of the Real?&#8221; [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/542/knowledge-of-the-self/</link>
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		<title>Leave me alone</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I really don&#8217;t like MMORPGs. That is all.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/539/leave-me-alone/</link>
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		<title>Lanky beanpoles</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve been ordering shirts from Shukr. My goal is to eventually replace my entire wardrobe (won&#8217;t take as long as you might think) with these stylish Islamesque (patent pending) shirts. I love the store, but there is one problem. Their size charts assume that everyone is a lanky beanpole. Maybe it&#8217;s a cultural thing, but [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/538/lanky-beanpoles/</link>
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		<title>Enforcing Hijab</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, Iran has begun to &#8220;crack down&#8221; on violators of hijab.  Specifically, women who are not covered properly must deal with the legal authorities and whatever that entails (fines, jail time, etc.) I&#8217;ve been wondering lately what precedence there is for enforcing hijab.  By precedence, I mean the historical legal framework under which a law [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/536/enforcing-hijab/</link>
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		<title>The Palestinian Problem</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The problem for the Palestinians, as it has always been, is not directly Israel or America. It is not the influence of Syria or Iran. It is not the lack of support from neighboring arab countries or their treatment as second-class citizens when they flee to those countries for support. All of those issues are [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/535/the-palestinian-problem/</link>
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		<title>Dead Birds</title>
		<description><![CDATA[So, we have a dead bird in our yard, and before you comment and say, &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you just pick it up and throw it in the trash?&#8221; you should learn a few things about infectious diseases. Anyway, the Department of Public Works (i.e. waste management) said that they were no longer picking up dead [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/the-dunya/533/dead-birds/</link>
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		<title>Israeli Apartheid</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on the Zionist occupation of Palestine: You can’t find peace, unless you address the existing issues, honestly, and frankly. &#8230; There’s no doubt, now, that a minority of Israelis are perpetrating apartheid on the people in Palestine. The Palestinian people. It’s not based on race, as I make very clear [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/532/israeli-apartheid/</link>
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		<title>Your Mother&#8217;s Right Over You</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It has been frequently narrated that the 4th Imam of the Prophet&#8217;s immaculate household, Ali ibn al-Husayn, known as Zayn al-&#8217;Abideen said: &#8220;The right of your mother is that you know that she carried you where no one carries anyone, she gave to you of the fruit of her heart that which no one gives [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/528/your-mothers-right-over-you/</link>
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		<title>Companions of the Prophet</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Imam Ja&#8217;far ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) reportedly said: Do not forsake certainty for doubt, and what is clear for what is hidden. Do not pass judgement on what you cannot see because of something you are told about it. Allah despises slander and bad opinion of your believing brothers. What then does [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/527/companions-of-the-prophet/</link>
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		<title>Beautiful Islamic Art</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If you would like to purchase some amazingly beautiful Islamic art (including calligraphy), I can think of no better artist than Kelly Izdihar Crosby. Check out her web site, and spread the word. We should support all Muslim businesses, especially the good ones. You will find that her art carries the tradition of Islamic calligraphy [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/520/beautiful-islamic-art/</link>
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		<title>Kucinich on attacking Iran</title>
		<description><![CDATA[On March 1, 2007, Democratic Representative and presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich gave this speech on the floor of the House of Representatives: &#8220;I am totally opposed to any attack on Iran. It would have disastrous consequences for Iran, the U.S., the region, and the world. It would put 140,000 U.S. troops in great jeopardy. It [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/525/kucinich-on-attacking-iran/</link>
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		<title>Roman Religion</title>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8230;as if it were written about modern western secular societies: &#8220;The various modes of worship, which prevailed in the Roman world, were all considered by the people, as equally true; by the philosopher, as equally false; and by the magistrate, as equally useful.&#8221; &#8211; Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/524/roman-religion/</link>
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		<title>Fun at the Playground</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Our little suburban neighborhood has a playground. Zahra recently spent the day there. Click the image above for a larger version, as well as a few more snapshots.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/family/521/fun-at-the-playground/</link>
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		<title>Hired Guns in Iraq</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As if the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan weren&#8217;t sinister enough with legitimate soldiers doing the Bush Administration&#8217;s dirty work, an article by Jeremy Scahill reveals that firms such as Blackwater are employing thousands of private contractors to engage in military activities within Iraq and Aghanistan, as well as recent activities near or possibly even [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/518/hired-guns-in-iraq/</link>
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		<title>Modern Extremists</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve stated this many times using varying phrases, but I am saying it again because I found a new quotation from Eqbal Ahmad that illustrates it more effectively. Extremism (or if you prefer fundamentalism) in the case of 21st century Islamists is a product of the 19th and 20th centuries, not the 7th century. Perhaps [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/517/modern-extremists/</link>
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		<title>Son of Karbala</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I just started reading, Son of Karbala: The Spiritual Journey of an Iraqi Muslim by the brilliant Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri. I&#8217;ve long admired this shaykh, and it is no surprise to me that he has experienced such an intriguing life, growing up in the shadow of Imam Husayn&#8217;s shrine and then encountering education, trials, and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/515/son-of-karbala/</link>
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		<title>Pack your bags</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I know I know. I haven&#8217;t posted in nearly a fortnight. Well, I&#8217;m back with some great news: A habitable planet has been found. Let&#8217;s call it New Caprica! Oh wait, it already has a name: Gliese 581 c (ugh!).]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/the-dunya/514/pack-your-bags/</link>
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		<title>Tasty Denim</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A dress never tasted so good.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/family/512/tasty-denim/</link>
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		<title>Is Disney a Broken Home?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Here is a very relevant article about Disney&#8217;s &#8220;alarmingly&#8221; frequent portrayal of single-parent families. Try and think of the last Disney film you have seen that features a protagonist that has both parents throughout the entire feature. There are truly some discrepancies with this trend such as The Incredibles or Hercules, but the numbers that [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/family/508/is-disney-a-broken-home/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Separate but equal?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As we entered the building, my wife and daughters were suddenly ripped from my arms and dragged away into a small room. I was shoved forward into a large room of men. After an hour of shouting, the loud speakers reverberating in my head, I was returned to the entrance where my family awaited me. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/507/separate-but-equal/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Fajr Birds</title>
		<description><![CDATA[So, spring has arrived, and I love the sound of birds chirping as Fajr arrives. I don&#8217;t even need an alarm clock. SubhanAllah! When I hear those birds, I know it is time. So, anyway, as I was minding my own business, strolling on the promenade, the hoopoe gracefully landed on my shoulder. What it [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/afterthought/505/fajr-birds/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Mawlid Activities</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This is a general request to all lovers of Rasulullah (may Allah bless him and grant him and his family peace). If you know of any good Mawlid activities, please post them in the comments. They can be solitary or group activities. I&#8217;m looking for ways to remember the Prophet on his birthday by doing [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/503/mawlid-activities/</link>
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		<title>Paper Jewels</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There are two new stories available online which are based on the Golden Scrolls by Tavis J. Hampton. Paper Jewels is a collection of short stories told by the wise Storyteller. You can read the first two stories by following the links below. Both stories should feel very familiar to some of you. The Story [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/books/502/paper-jewels/</link>
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		<title>Complete Faith</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It has been narrated form Nafi` from Ibn `Umar that he said that the Messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) said, “A servant’s faith in Allah will never become complete until he possesses five traits: complete reliance (al-Tawakkul) upon Allah, complete dependence (al-Tafwid) upon Allah (what He has decreed), [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/501/complete-faith/</link>
			</item>
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		<title>Qur&#8217;an Alone</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Over the past 11 years that I&#8217;ve spent as a Muslim, I&#8217;ve occasionally run into someone from the Submitters, a group that describes itself as following &#8220;only the Qur&#8217;an.&#8221; They eschew hadith books as extraneous and contrary to the teachings of the Qur&#8217;an. The Sunnah, they say, is what the Prophet did and was told [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/al-islam/498/quran-alone/</link>
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		<title>If You Were Iran</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I hate to beat a dead horse, but I think there&#8217;s some people who still don&#8217;t grasp the predicament in which the U.S. and its allies have placed Iran. So, I decided to produce a visual aide. I hope this doesn&#8217;t get me thrown into a cell in Guantanamo. The blue dots represent strategic U.S. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/496/if-you-were-iran/</link>
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		<title>In other news</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ Today&#8217;s top headline: &#8220;Gore Urges Congress to Save Planet&#8221; It&#8217;s pretty sad when Congress has to be &#8220;urged&#8221; to save their own planet&#8230;kinda makes you wonder if they have a secret escape plan, while the rest of bake in our global oven.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/politics/494/in-other-news/</link>
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		<title>You have to try this</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Dip your breadsticks in hummus. It&#8217;s delicious!]]></description>
		<link>http://www.lanterntorch.com/the-dunya/492/you-have-to-try-this/</link>
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