Decent Halal places are hard to find in Dublin, but oddly enough, it’s easier to find an actual Halal place in Dublin than in the _tolerant Saudi City of Jeddah. Apparently, their meat is Dodgy and shouldn’t be touched. But, should you say that in the holy Land of Makkah and Madina you would almost certainly be killed. The Sauds’ are not especially nice people.

So, whatever does this Halal stuff Mean?

Well, Halal means ‘allowed’, and is the opposite of Haram, which means forbidden. It applys not only to food but to every Religious ruling. For example, it is Haram to steal, murder or Commit adultury. And, for the most part, it is Halal to do what is not Haram (There is an ‘unknown’, or disputed series of things, but I might talk about that later).

This brings us to Animals

Animals need to be killed a certain way before they are considered Halal. It’s throat must be slit quickly and sharply so that the animal feels no pain, and is dead instantly. It’s also the quickest way to remove blood from it’s body. The animal must have ‘Had a life’, that is to say must have at the least been born (no Veal here folks). The animal must not sense fear, meaning that if there is any blood on the ground it must be cleared away. A prayer is also said for any animal killed. Most this is the same as Kosher rules for Jews. This essentially means that Muslims_{, and Jews,} cannot eat in places like KFC, a place which buys chickens from companies where workers were seen mistreating the livestock, “stomping on chickens, kicking them, and violently slamming them against floors and walls”. Battery Hens are not allowed in Islam, they are Haram.

I hope that explains it, if it doesn’t, please drop me a comment and I will explain it.

Anyway

Aren’t the royal family great! I mean, not content with being arrogant, inbred bufoons, they also have a habbit of constantly undermining their very existence. Like, when Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh told the world that “British women can’t cook”, or confirming with a British Person, who had been treking through Papua New Guinea, that he “managed not to get eaten then”. What a great bunch of Public Servents, aye. Who better to represent the British people.

But today they went to another great height in Public perception.

Just.. look at him!

You would never have been able to make this stuff up!

It’s somewhat odd being a Muslim in Dublin, or rather, it’s somewhat odd being an Irish Muslim in Dublin today!

Every Friday you go to Mosque and attend congregation and everyone is really nice to you, seemingly because they know I am definitely a Brother, definitely Muslim.

However, when I go into a Halal Grocery, Butcher or Restaurant and Salaam the person, I am usually asked to explain myself. “What are you saying, I don’t have any Assalaamo Alaikum’s in stock, sorry”. One time when I asked a Turkish Burger place if thier food was Halal the Chef looked at me with a hatred I’ve never seen before and said “You Irish, what do you know of Halal”, before storming out.

Not the nicest of experiences.

I think, perhaps, they think I am mocking them, or insulting Islam; altough I’m not sure why they would draw this conclusion – and they serve their Non-Muslim customers, (the vast majority of thier patronage perfectly nicely). They also ‘Salaam’ their non-White Muslim brothers, just not me. Perhaps if I wandered around in an Ihram all the time they might realise, but then I just might die from hypothermia in our Irish weather!

For those Who don’t know, ‘Salaam’ literally means peace, when Muslims meet each other they are supposed to ’salaam’, or wish for peace to the other.

One Muslim will say “Assalamo Alaikum”, meaning “Peace be upon you”

The other Muslim will reply with “Wa Aleikum Mussalaam”, meaning “And may peace be with you also”

Unsuprisngly, this has been shortened to “Ma’Salaam”, “Wa’Salaam”, when Muslims are greeting friends. Another way of saying hello to an Arab is by saying “Ahalan“, which is used if you are unsure of their Religion, or if you want to be ultra-polite!

I hope you’re learning this folks!

Anyway, permit me to rant!

I am not always a pacifist, I believe that on occasion War is needed. Like, when your country has been invaded by a group of Religious Fanatics, especially those who are proposing that they are defending the world from a more dangerous (but invisible) other group of religious fanatics. So when i say that the US should not have invaded Iraq, i don’t say it for no other reason than to promote peace (although that is a noble reason).

America has got itself in a war which, at the end of the day can only benefit it’s last remaining Reagan – Era enemy. The Good old Shia republic if Iran. Indeed, as the rise to power of the Ayatollah’s in Iran was caused mainly by America’s own doings (installing the brutal Shah), so too will the Loss of Iraq be mainly because of there ill-timed, poorly planned assualt on Iraq.

Consider this

The Current US Shah Puppet is Ayad Allawi, but he is nothing. When Muqtada Al Sadr, a self proclaimed Shia “Cleric” took control of the holy city of Najaf Allawi, backed with the US Armed Forces were unable to take it back. It took the real power in the country to regain the city, and he did it without resorting to violence. He was Ayatollah Ali Sistani, and he is an extreme pacifist.

So What happens when he dies?

Ali Sistani’s health is not as strong as it could be, indeed recently he was shipped off to England for heart surgery. When he dies, Iraq _{(Which may be then be in the middle of a Civil War)} will have a new power. It will be a new Ayatollah. It will be Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, America’s Number one enemy in the region.

It’s going to be interesting folks! All thanks to George Bush!

Aint this guy swell!

I’m Usayd, an Irish Muslim bloke living in Dublin.

Dublin is a small smelly city, rich in Cultural and Historical heritage, apparently. It also has a decent night-life, of which I used to be a regular partaker, and a growing number of halal food joints and Muslim services.

Islam is new to this tiny lil place. When the Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Indians, etc where all finding their way to Mainland Europe and in particular the UK in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s Europe got it’s first actual real taste of Muslims, and of real Islam. Dublin didn’t get this, instead Dublin in that time was a Roman catholic bastian, glowing in it’s hatred for the heathen Protestant Brits. This was mainly a reaction, mind you, to the way the British were acting in Northern Ireland. Indeed in 1972 , the British Embassy was burned to the ground.

Thus, Islam is, essentially, new to Irish shores.

I am new to Islam.

So, in this blog I’ll be posting about all the stuff within Islam as I learn it, and hopefully anyone who is interested can read about it here too!

I’ll also be ranting quite a bit, I guess… I like a good ol’ rant.

I’ll be back tomorrow!