Abdo's Personal Blog

DRAFT QUALITY FOR VIDEO MAKING – This isn’t the final article

Asalamo Alikum Brothers and sisters,

Today, we’re going to start the first episode in lessons in unity: our title today is about the definitions and concepts about unity, and other concepts that goes against unity of Muslims.

First of all, what’s unity?

Finding a specific definition isn’t my ideal way of presenting things, but let’s try to go around some definitions to understand what we’re talking about.

Logical definition:

Unity is grouping some units together to form a more solid structure. Let’s see an example from the wise man who while dying, wanted to teach his kids the meaning of unity, so asked everyone of them to take a stick and break it, it’s easily broken, but when when we collect those sticks together, it’s much more harder to break.

And told them: That’s why my sons you’re supposed to be always together; not to be easily broken individually by your enemies.

So, according to this definition; unity is being safe by being with those who share the same fate, you unite with them to be safe, so if you can handle it yourself, why to unite ..

Strategic definition:

Let’s go across some strategic definition, that definition is much more clear in business and military, achieving an economic benefit or a strategic advantage.

If I as a single unit will be able to achieve a little, and If I united with some other people who share my vision, we’ll together have much more resources, we’ll be able to achieve more profit individually, or defend ourselves against common enemies, with much more “resources”.

So unity is sharing of resources to achieve things that couldn’t be achieved individually. So, there is still something for the “self” that motivate people for unity and when I think about establishing such strategic unity, I should be wondering; what’s in it for me ..

Islamic definition:

So which definition of those would be more close to the idea of Muslim unity, in Islam we have a more solid concept about unity:

“The Believers are but a single Brotherhood.” [Al-Hujurat 49:10]

So it’s nothing like the solid structure or the strategic allegiance, it’s sharing of not only destiny but the way that leads to it too, not upon fear from challenges or profit and strategic advantage, but upon brotherhood!

This is the strongest human relationship as we’ll see, if we look to the issue individually the meaning of being a Muslim is being as close as my brother and sister.

So, why aren’t Muslims united now a days! Where there is always problems among Muslim countries, and Islamic groups and even different schools of thought, why there is always attacks even hatred sometimes inside the mosque.

In this series we’ll be going through the major incidents in our Islamic history that sharply demonstrate the meaning of unity, starting with unity between individuals up to unity in Ware and strategic unity. These lessons are expected to inspire us towards achieving unity as individuals and communities as well.

Concepts the goes against Muslim unity

So, fundamentally what’s the major points that hinder Muslim unity, these are the easiest to dive through, that’s why we’ll start with these defninitions.

Racism:

Judging people based upon their race and background, prophet moahmed told “let it it’s rotten” when he talk to his brother about his background. In today’s world everybody think racism is for close-minded uneducated people, so the practice of racism is usually not hugely clear, instead it’s covered by gestures, and unclear practices, so that person practicing racism won’t but attacked or identified as a racist.

Islam totally goes against racism and breaking the bound of bounds of brotherhood based upon, race or background. Prophet Mohamed PBUH said: “”

Nationalism:

Nationalism is grouping certain people based upon geographical location, and calling themselves a nation, with a separate destiny, with separate identity and with separate methodologies.

Let’s face it nationalism isn’t a new concept,  human nature love belonging to a specific group of people, feeling secured and protected, even prophet Mohamed identified that as one of the most basic human needs.

Some people attack anyone saying where is he coming from, that’s extremism, Khalid ibn El-Waleed, used flags to make people jealous and get better results for the group, is he a nationalist, understanding and common sense is what our religion Is about.

Sectarianism:

I understand that sectarianism is a sensitive issue in the Muslim community, while we’re seeking to unite, we’re not supposed to tolerate altering and changing our religion.

Why Abu Bakr didn’t go easy with whom denied zakat because it’s a part of Islam and denying a part of Islam or changing it shouldn’t be tolerated in a Muslim community.

So the point to eliminate the effect of Sectarianism on the Muslim community is by scholars from different  “sects” to reject any practices that goes against the authentic teachings of Islam.

Next Lesson:

In the next episode, we’ll see how unity had been between companions of the prophet, how they blended together to form a solid community, that enlightened the whole world, and got the lowest level of crimes ever, no crimes for 3 whole years, solidarity to an unbelievable level.

Looking forward to meet with you tomorrow, with how Sahaba (RA) lived in unity within the Muslim community.

Asalamo Alikum

NOTE: Campaign moved to http://abdo.me/unity This page isn’t updated anymore.

Asalamo Alikum Everyone,

Some of you already know that I presented a plan to go through the topic of unity between Muslims from a while and didn’t continue for personal reasons (Link: http://abdo.me/2009/05/lessons-in-unity-outlines/ ). Also, some of you know that I started MarwaElSherbiny.com and didn’t continue for similar reasons. Plus, frankly, I got no response from nearly everyone I contacted and wasn’t possible to handle everything myself (Link: http://abdo.me/2009/07/preparing-for-marwa-el-sherbiny-com/ ).

Thinking about Ramadan this year and chatting with some friends about the topic, I thought about having a business-free Ramadan, that means that I’m going to suspend my business activities during Ramadan and will launch a campaign instead during the whole month that will cover both topics unity and Marwa El-Sherbiny in a one campaign mainly on Twitter and of course using other social media tools.

I didn’t make an effective use of my YouTube channel so far as I didn’t have the time, but during Ramadan; I’m going to get involved more with the Muslim community there and going to finish the unity series I planned to finish, Insha’ Allah.

This is just to let you know that, I’m going through a #muslimunity campaign via Twitter and I already started inviting people, people already involved are:

@MarwaElSherbiny, @HichamMG, @slashnews, @skinny_legs, @rockinrose, @egGooner, @ReemAlashry, @habzm, @AyubiSalahin, @IslamicInsights, @abdo_me, @DeveloperMan, @EgyptDesigners, @Egypreneur, @aladham, @Helwaan, @SineMuslim, @rildenia, @ibrahimsuheyl, @786Khadija2, @reeem, @MhdBadi, @Sunset87, @AyubiSalahin, @LoveHopeFear, @yazzie_me, @reihab, @DrDheenaSadik, @Amir_HealthGuru, @HijabiApprentic, @rinimaru, @skyhakim, @shukr

The campaign is going to be led anonymously through @MarwaElSherbiny Twitter account and will be centered by MarwaElSherbiny.com, the gesture is that Marwa El-Sherbiny who died for her Hijab and persistence to defend her rights is leading Muslims to unity during Ramadan.

The goal of the campaign is to bring the HashTag #MuslimUnity to the top of the HashTags of the month of Ramadan. HashTags is the term used on Twitter.com for campaigns. Check the last month’s top tags: http://hashtags.org/trends/month We want #MuslimUnity on the top during Ramadan! Can we?? Why not?? Why is that important? will reply to that ASAP.

More information about Twitter HashTag campaigns could be found here: http://twitter.pbworks.com/Hashtags Details to be out soon Insha’ Allah.

Outcome from the campaign:

• Self confidence in Muslim Unity especially the young ages who’s involved in social media
• Extreme PR effect by grabbing the world of New Media to read #MuslimUnity at the top of Twitter HashTag
• Networking the cause of Marwa El-Sherbiny and communicating ideas about Hijab and Muslims in the west

What to practically do??? assuming that you’re already using Twitter, if not, easily crate a Twitter account (Video tutorials illustrating everything to be released soon).

1. Follow @MarwaElSherbiny on Twitter
2. Follow @HashTags on Twitter (VERY IMPORTANT) for the tags to be picked by the engine!
3. Add #MuslimUnity in some of your Tweets during Ramadan (ones that encourage unity between Muslims).
4. Follow all the participants in the campaign on Twitter (URLs above)
5. RT any content that’s encouraging unity between Muslims (specific tweets will be available here soon Insha’ Allah)
6. Search for latest uses of the HashTag from Here (Link: http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23MuslimUnity )
7. Tell everyone you know about the campaign and engage with the campaign with your full power

Tawakalto Alaa Allah.

UPDATE: content will be moved from here to MarwaElSherbiny.com as the campaign get to a more solid state and I find sometime too!!

- Abdelrahman

Sharing Link: http://abdo.me/ppwtws

Hi,

This is a comment I posted on a blog on Ecademy and thought to share it on my blog too, the comment is a reply to a topic about torture

Check it out here: http://www.ecademy.com/node.php?id=132933#c645421

Hi John, Yes, I understanding what you mean and I’m not personally offended or anything, the point is just, when referring to torture and wrong doing in warfare in the last 100 years, how much of that wrong was coming from those you’re referring to as your people. Taking war on Iraq as an example?

In the video from 6:00 to 8:00 :

“We created a great lie to live with, the lie was, we’re the good ones, we’re the idol, we’re the ones who help others, But that’s not the case. I think we in the west didn’t control the world because of our great way of thinking, or for our great values, or for our great religion. But, because we used merciless violence more than others.

If I can be more serious. Muslims weren’t who slaughtered 4 million people during the crusade. Muslims weren’t the people who slaughtered 50 million people during imperialism. Also, Muslims weren’t the people who killed 70 million people during WWI & WWII. Muslims weren’t the people who killed 6 million Jews either.

But, that had been the result of western invasion, and when we talk about the victims of Al-Qaeda, and here I repeat that Al-Qaeda to me are murderers, then we need to talk about the victims of the western policies in Iraq & Afghanistan”

By the way, I’m pretty open minded and while I proudly belong to Egyptian, Arabs and Muslims. I had been in close personal relationships with westerners, including a Jew, and quite sense that they’re my people too, as long as they don’t do or wish any harm to anyone.

And I’m being religious and following my religious teachings while doing that:

8 Allah does not forbid you respecting those who have not made war against you on account of (your) religion, and have not driven you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly; surely Allah loves the doers of justice

9 Allah only forbids you respecting those who made war upon you on account of (your) religion, and drove you forth from your homes and backed up (others) in your expulsion, that you make friends with them, and whoever makes friends with them, these are the unjust.

English Translation of the Holy Qur’an [60:8 ~ 9]

- Abdo

Sharing Link: http://abdo.me/gycqta

Hey There,

I just went through a typing test after years with no serious testing, I remember, during high school  I was happy getting to 50 word per minute with 98% accuracy (touch typing) and during final year’s exams I get around 55 (That was 5 years ago). And yes, I was practicing till even a few hours before the exam, may be thought about learning something beneficial!

Wikipedia Says:

In one study of average computer users, the average rate for transcription was 33 words per minute, and only 19 words per minute for composition.^[1] In the same study, when the group was divided into “fast”, “moderate” and “slow” groups, the average speeds were 40 wpm, 35 wpm, and 23 wpm respectively.

An average professional typist reaches 50 to 70 wpm, while some positions can require 80 to 95 (usually the minimum required for dispatch positions and other typing jobs), and some advanced typists work at speeds above 120.

A few days ago, I went through a typing test and got the results:

Cool typing speed, but not so good accuracy, I can say that taking the exams isn’t the normal state to evaluate touch typing speed, as you’ll be going naturally for the highest speed, so, normally when you’re typing you don’t actually type in this speed.

Can also say that in the test you type from the text you see in the screen, so that take some time to proceed in your mind other than writing directly from your mind.

Anyway, I’ll be refining my typing skills, especially for DeveloperMan’s upcoming video tutorials.

Remember that you can have a free typing test from here: http://www.typingtest.com/

- Abdo

Sharing Link: http://abdo.me/vsakqy

Hi Everyone, Just on the run, sharing a very interesting video from UmmahFilms:

What points you’ve got about that video??

Thanks

- Abdo

Sharing Link: http://abdo.me/87f6zv

Hi All,

I wrote that comment as a reply to an Ecademy blog entitled: “A Question of Faith, Philosophically Speaking” and as keeping my content in one place is what that blog is all about, had to publish it here too.

Link: http://www.ecademy.com/node.php?id=132840

As a Muslim, we do have a reply to that question. Simply, God or Allah or whatever you call it, will never subject people to punishment and reward without giving them a physical evidence to make them believe both in his existence and the way he wants them to lead their lives.

So, for people to follow God’s guidance, prophets had been sent with visual miracles that convince everyone watching it that, this is something extraordinary and the person presenting it and claiming that he’s a messenger of god, had to be right, accordingly. So, in this case as you saw yourself Jesus returning the dead back to life (by god’s will) and telling people what they’re keeping in their homes, without visiting it.

If you or me had been personally in that situation, we’d find it easy to follow Jesus (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him), or if we attended miracles of Moses (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him), we’d definitely believe him, because that’s something extraordinary, and we saw it with our eyes.

So, for our situation currently, if there were a God shouldn’t he give us a miracle that should drive us to believe in his existence and guidance?? Is it fair to be judged the same way, the followers of Jesus, Moses and Mohamed attended such VISUAL miracles?? And we didn’t saw it with our own eyes?? So, Is god or Allah fair, to put us in such doubtful situation and others before us attended miracles visually and lived it??

As Muslims we believe that God is fair and he did send an ever remaining miracle to the end of the world with prophet Mohamed, which wasn’t only VISUAL, for the attendees of the miracle to believe and then tell the others what they’ve saw and they believe.

No, God sent via the final messenger PBUH, a miracle that will remain to the end of the world, which is the holy Qur’an. Oh! Ya! So you believe that it’s a miracle so should everyone just believe that is a miracle like you do.

Absolutely not, the Qur’an hold scientific facts that had been revealed 14 centuries by a man who can’t read or write and still till today, scientific research is coming with these facts and finding it in a book from more than 1400 years! So, isn’t that an evidence that make people believe in that book, that the person told these facts is the messenger of God?

Not only scientific facts, while it might be the sharpest for a non-Arabic speaker, the words itself and the combination of verses is a miracle in itself, that no one was ever able to come with a writing that approach it, either in style or content. The concept of miracles is presented here in that video from minute 4:00 to 13:00 after that they continue their talk about how the Qur’an is the miracle of our age.

So, as a simple reply to your question, there is is a miracle that’s not visual and still miraculous, from every angle it’s approached from and sincere study from someone trying to find the truth, will drive to the believe in God and his messengers peace be up on him, including the final messenger Prophet Mohamed PBUH.

Regardless, of all the propaganda from haters and envious to the truth, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, especially the USA, where millions of dollars are invested in anti-Islam propaganda.

Feel free to ask about anything ambiguous in my post and the concept itself, these are one of the subjects that interest me.

- Abdo

Sharing Link: http://abdo.me/5npqhy

Hi Everyone,

I had been preparing some YouTube videos and I’m from the type that seek perfection and hard to get satisfied, especially with something I personally do, as I control the majority of variables involved and can make it better.

That was apparent for me while making videos, as I record the video multiple times, some of the videos I published before, I just published them as they got done, edit it with Premiere Pro, and publish it with some negative points I know could be improved, but found it okay to be published like that.

While making the Ice-breaker for DeveloperMan, which is supposed to be more professional, well, it was kind of testing to the light and configuration for Chroma key and I didn’t actually had a script, but I found more than 10 videos both in Arabic and English, some of which ended with, well, Shit!

Didn’t really feel good about any of them, in terms of script and presentation.

Thought about it and came to the conclusion of optimizing things other than either launching it with a quality that I don’t like or waiting for so long till getting things close to perfect and decided in making it as complete as possible and taking it from there, then optimizing its presentation style with software.

So, prepare a script, adjust the video quality as of the current skill level and available tools, optimize it with software, filters, editing and you’re good to go.

Stay tuned, will be posting when things get satisfactory!

- Abdo

Sharing Link: http://abdo.me/3cfe5e

Hi There,

Today, sharing an interesting video from UmmahFilms, about how Muslims or middle-eastern looking is being treated while flying!

Do you think that it’s really random??

- Abdo

Sharing Link: http://abdo.me/t6syys

Hello Everyone,

It was very interesting, being Cairo club ToastMaster for the first time last meeting, I had been a member since last March and delivered 4 speeches in the competent communicator track. I would like to utilize this opportunity to introduce my audience to ToastMasters, and encourage everyone to become a member or get involved in a similar activity.

ToastMaster is the leader of the session: introducing speakers, commenting on speeches and engaging attendees with the session while keeping track of the time.

You can check for more information about ToastMasters at the official website: http://www.toastmasters.com

ToastMasters cairo club: http://www.cairotoastmasters.com

Best of luck

- Abdo

Sharing Link: http://abdo.me/sqmwx7