Stop Child Advertising!!!!!!!!!!

I've always been shocked by the way some brand names advertise their products. It's nothing new to see half exposed girls (and guys) wallpapered in every corner of major stores our neighborhood malls.

If I had to pick up something at the mall (or strip mall) for any reason. I would just go (like a normal upright human being) pick it up and leave. But, sub7anAllah, now, I find myself avoiding the malls all together. It seems everywhere my eyes landed, I would find a "larger-than-life" poster or window displaying humans (sometimes I wouldn't be able to tell if they were female or male) that had a blotch or two of fabric randomly placed on their bodies while being in various immoral positions. If I have to go, I would actually walk with my eyes looking downward praying that I don't bump into anyone while I try reach my destination.

This next article is very interesting. Please read it and do what your conscience tells you to do. Now, mind you, I didn't include the images that were embedded into this article. They would make your skin crawl. Hasbi Allah wa ni3mal wakeel!!!!!!!!!**************************************

*************Thongs for 10-year-olds that say "eye candy." Shirts with slogans like "Who needs brains when you have these?" and "Do I make you look fat?" Ads touting group sex to sell clothing to teens and preteens. When it comes to sexualizing children, Abercrombie & Fitch is among the worst corporate offenders.

That's why it's so egregious that Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, is planning to rename its emergency room The Abercrombie & Fitch Emergency Department and Trauma Center in exchange for a $10 million donation. These naming rights will entwine an institution of healing with a company whose advertising is notorious for undermining children's wellbeing and will promote the exploitive Abercrombie brand to children in a hospital setting.

Please tell Children's Hospital in Columbus: Don't sell naming rights to Abercrombie & Fitch.

Research links sexualization and objectification with some of the most pressing and common health problems for girls including depression and poor sexual health. It is also distressing that a children's hospital would promote a company that features impossibly thin and idealized body types in its advertising when 10 million girls and young women in the United States are struggling with an eating disorder.

We understand that it is common for public health institutions to seek gifts from the business community. We are not asking that the hospital return the money. But gifts that include a quid pro quo like naming rights cross the line from philanthropy to advertising. Given that this company has built its brand by sexualizing and objectifying children, no public health institution should be advertising Abercrombie & Fitch.

Yesterday, CCFC sent a letter signed by many of the country's leading advocates for children's health to the hospital urging them to rescind the naming rights. Our letter has generated national attention with stories in the Associated Press and New York Times.

Now we need your help. Please tell Nationwide Children's Hospital not to sell naming rights to Abercrombie & Fitch and forward this message to family and friends.

CCFC's letter to Nationwide Children's Hospital and its 100 signatories can be found at http://commercialfr eechildhood. org/actions/ childrenshospita lletter.pdf.

For a brief history of Abercrombie' s controversies and exploitation of children, please visit http://commercialfr eechildhood. org/actions/ af.htm.
Thanks,

The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
www.commercialfreec hildhood. org

Sudden Death

A young man died in our community last week. He was only 17 years old. The sad thing is that he was a great student, a kind brother, a pious Muslim and an ambitious young man.

It seems to many (especially those I met at the funeral) that Allah is taking the "good ones" early. What is your take on that? How do you feel about having to bury your son or daughter?

Remember, this is another sign of the "Hour", sudden death. A car accident is a sudden death as is a heart attack, no preparations were made to clear your sins and replace them with good deeds.

Are we taking this as a reminder to us or are we just mourning with the family for a few hours or couple of days and we go right back to our lives again, the way we've been living them, no changes. Our Qurans are collecting dust on the bookshelf until next Ramadhan.

I will not say what disappointed me during this time for fear that someone will read this blog and recognize the family of the deceased. But I was devastated by many things I witnessed and experienced during this past week.

May Allah enter Iman into our hearts. May He increase us in knowledge and faith and love for our deen and our ummah. May Allah bring us reminders of the Hour without testing us beyond what we are capable of handling. May He bless us and our family and our home and our friends.

Ameen, ameen, ameen.

Assalamu 3leikum

This is my first blog. I'm nervous and quite excited.

I chose this name because of the frequent reminders around us of how near Judgment Day seems to be. It's a subject I either think or talk about DAILY! I'm wondering if I am happy about this or scared. The world around us (including our own families) keeps changing so fast (unfortunately, for the worst).

Some of the signs; Death of scholars. Knowledge will be taken away (by the death of people of knowledge), and ignorance will prevail. We have, yet another man of knowledge whom has recently passed away (may Allah bless him). An Egyptian Sheikh, Mu7ammed Amr Abu Latif passed away just 3 weeks ago: (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Sek8OtRJ7HI&feature=related)

People find me pessimistic. They are quick to point out how far we have advanced in technology, science, trade, international relations, etc.

My answer to that is; we have advanced in the art of war, occupation and oppression. We've also gained skill in dance, sports & art (movie making, music & fashion). In addition have become the leaders in negotiating, deceiving, signing agreements, and passing bills (without just outcomes).

What about putting our efforts to make this a better world. It is evident that our efforts are put into making ourselves mightier. Leaving the poor, oppressed, orphaned and disabled to fend for themselves with a handful to help them.

All I've mentioned above is an opinion shared by many. What will we do about it???? I'm tired of talking about it, sharing it with others and blogging about it. Is everyone that is complaining like me doing something in their own small way. A small gesture like visiting an orphan in the hospital is such a BIG thing to the orphan that feels so alone, scared and cut off.

Why do we think that someone else is taking care of this? I'll tell you what that "someone else" is doing; they are working for personal gain in status & finances, going to the health club for personal satisfaction of the body, going shopping for personal desire through vanity, going to a party for personal fulfillment through entertainment and so on and so on and so on. It's all about the self (nafs).

Do something for someone else without expecting anything in return. Allah will know that you are doing it to please HIM. This is the ultimate "personal gain" for a servant of Allah. HIS happiness is our satisfaction. In the end, we are all going back to ALLAH, (swt).