#Sarah Ayoub

[paul-archibald]

STAND Preview Video

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[yacoupalnahal]

‏, Hello , I am Yacoub, I am 29 years old, I am from Gaza City and the father of a girl named Kiraz, two and a half years old, and my wife Noor is 24 years old, my daughter and my wife and I live difficult days in the absence of the needs of life from food and drink. I also live in a tent in very harsh conditions, and I lost my work and the place was demolished and I lost everything, and my house was also very damaged and we were surrounded by destruction from everywhere, and all the houses of my relatives have been demolished. We don't know where we're going after the war is over, and I struggle daily to get the necessities of life, let alone be dangerous and dying every day. There is no safe place in Gaza. We die slowly. I appeal to your humanity to donate to me and help me so that I can provide food for my family and protect them from diseases. My daughter also needs diapers and I support 8 people, including my father is 65 years old, my mother 50 years old, my brother Ayoub, 30 years old, and his children Sarah is 4 years old and generous one year, because they are old and they cannot provide for their needs by themselves. I will try to collect the amount so that I can do so and my family can escape the war to a safe place and live a decent life. They ask for $5,000 per person, and that's more than we can afford. My daughter suffers from dermatitis due to the intensity of the heat in the tents, and I hope it will be treated as soon as possible. Share the link with your friends. Every small donation will help make a difference, please help me 🍉🙏🥺🥺🍉

[thereadingchallengechallenge]

🦘 Booklr Reads Australian - Authors on My Shelves 🐨

so, I’ve been trying to think of a way to recommend a lot of Australian authors really quickly for Booklr Reads Australian. what I came up with was just to give y’all a giant list of all the authors I have at home! 

most of them are YA and/or fantasy authors, and I’ve marked my favourites with an asterisk (*) but if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an ask 😊

1. Sarah Ayoub 2. Eugen Bacon 3. Shirley Barber * 4. AJ Betts 5. Danielle Binks * 6. Cally Black 7. Steph Bowe * 8. Alice Boyle 9. JC Burke 10. Meg Caddy * 11. Frances Chapman 12. Wai Chim * 13. Claire Christian 14. Lyndall Clipstone 15. Claire G Coleman 16. Katherine Collette 17. Harry Cook 18. Cath Crowley 19. Robyn Dennison 20. Cale Dietrich 21. Lauren Draper 22. CG Drews * 23. Michael Earp 24. Kate Emery 25. Sarah Epstein 26. Alison Evans * 27. Fleur Ferris 28. Carly Findlay 29. Helena Fox 30. Lisa Fuller 31. Emily Gale 32. Meg Gatland-Veness 33. Sophie Gonzales 34. Erin Gough * 35. Leanne Hall * 36. Pip Harry 37. Sonya Hartnett 38. Adam Hills 39. Simmone Howell 40. Megan Jacobson 41. Amie Kaufman 42. Melissa Keil 43. Nina Kenwood 44. Sharon Kernot 45. Kay Kerr * 46. Will Kostakis 47. Jay Kristoff 48. Ambelin Kwaymullina 49. Benjamin Law 50. Rebecca Lim 51. Gary Lonesborough * 52. Kathleen Loughnan 53. Miranda Luby 54. Tobias Madden 55. Melina Marchetta 56. Ellie Marney * 57. Freya Marske 58. Jodi McAlister * 59. Margot McGovern * 60. Nikki McWatters 61. Anna Morgan 62. Jaclyn Moriarty 63. Liane Moriarty 64. Garth Nix 65. Lynette Noni 66. Carly Nugent 67. Poppy Nwosu 68. Kate O’Donnell 69. Shivaun Plozza 70. Michael Pryor 71. Alice Pung 72. Emily Rodda * 73. Autumn Royal 74. Omar Sakr 75. Holden Sheppard 76. AG Slatter 77. Jo Spurrier 78. Krystal Sutherland * 79. Jared Thomas 80. Hayli Thompson 81. Gabrielle Tozer 82. Christos Tsiolkas 83. Alicia Tuckerman 84. Ellen van Neerven 85. Marlee Jane Ward 86. Vikki Wakefield 87. Lisa Walker 88. Jessica Watson * 89. Allayne L Webster 90. Anna Whateley * 91. Samantha Wheeler 92. Jen Wilde * 93. Rhiannon Wilde 94. Lili WIlkinson 95. Gabrielle Williams 96. Rhiannon Williams 97. Fiona Wood 98. Leanne Yong 99. Suzy Zail 100. Nevo Zisin 101. Markus Zusak

[ya-world-challenge]

2023 Wrap-up

I fulfilled 31 countries for the World Challenge this year, bringing my total up to 57 out of 208.

I also read about 14 other books that were repeats of countries, additional books in series, and ones I just randomly picked up, so something like 44 in total.

I also finished up all the backlog of countries I had rolled with the randomizer, so in the new year I will get to roll some new ones - yay, exciting.

So here are my top favorites from the year!

Top 5 reads in 2023

The Orphan Sky by Ella Leya

A really beautiful novel of a prodigy pianist coming of age in Soviet Azerbaijan. Musical prose and just breathtaking story.

2. The Exiles of Crocodile Island by Henye Meyer

This was an unexpectedly really good book that I was lucky to find for the tiny islands of São Tomé & Príncipe. Following a group of Jewish children forced to a Portuguese settlement. Really insightful characterization and lovely writing.

3. The Man Who Spoke Snakish by Andrus Kivirähk

Such a unique folklore-esque story by an Estonian author. A clash of modernity with ancient ways, and what gets forgotten.

4. The Key by Sara Elfgren & Mats Strandberg

Book 3 and finale of the Engelsfors series set in Sweden really brought the series to an amazing climax and gave us great character development. Also I think, the longest book I read this year.

5. The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa

Super fun queer pirate adventure! This was just so refreshing and comforting at the same time.

Honorable mentions:

All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O'Donoghue; Travelers Along the Way by Aminah Mae Safi; I Am Kavi by Thushanthi Ponweera; On the Edge of Gone by Corrine Duyvis; When a Bulbul Sings by Hawaa Ayoub

See my book review tag for all my reviews!

Full list of countries read this year

Here's all the countries I fulfilled this year and the books I read for them.

🇦🇺 Australia - Ghost Bird, Lisa Fuller

🇦🇿 Azerbaijan - The Orphan Sky, Ella Leya

🇨🇺 Cuba - A Tall Dark Trouble - Vanessa Montalban

🇩🇰 Denmark - The Shamer's Daughter, Lene Kaaberbøl

🇪🇪 Estonia - The Man Who Spoke Snakish, Andrus Kivirähk

🇫🇯 Fiji - The Wild Ones, Nafiza Azad

🇮🇷 Iran - Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi

🇮🇶 Iraq - Yazidi!, Aurélien Ducoudray & Mini Ludvin

🇮🇪 Ireland - All Our Hidden Gifts, Caroline O'Donoghue

🇱🇹 Lithuania - Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepatys

🇱🇺 Luxembourg - The Elf of Luxembourg, Tom Weston

🇲🇹 Malta - The Maltese Dreamer, Catherine Veritas

🇲🇽 Mexico - Secret of the Moon Conch, David Bowles; Guadalupe García McCall

🇳🇵 Nepal - What Elephants Know - Eric Dinerstein

🇳🇱 Netherlands - On the Edge of Gone, Corrine Duyvis

🇵🇸 Palestine - Travellers Along the Way, Aminah Mae Safi

🇵🇹 Portugal - Mariana, Katherine Vaz

🇵🇷 Puerto Rico - The Wicked Bargain, Gabe Cole Novoa

🇷🇴 Romania - And I Darken, Kiersten White

🇱🇨 St. Lucia - 'Til I Find You Greta Bondieumaitre

🇸🇲 San Marino - The Gladiator, Harry Turtledove

🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe - The Exiles of Crocodile Island, Henye Meyer

🇸🇳 Senegal - No Heaven for Good Boys, Keisha Bush

🇸🇬 Singapore - Sofia and the Utopia Machine, Judith Huang

🇸🇰 Slovakia - Impossible Escape, Steve Sheinkin

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka - I Am Kavi, Thushanthi Ponweera

🇸🇪 Sweden - The Circle, Sara Elfgren & Mats Strandberg

🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago - When the Vibe is Right, Sarah Dass

🇹🇳 Tunisia - Other Names, Other Places, Ola Mustapha

🇻🇪 Venezuela - The Sun and the Void, Gabriel Romero Lacruz

🇾🇪 Yemen - When a Bulbul Sings, Hawaa Ayoub

And here's the moods that Storygraph says I read which turned out to be pretty varied.

------------------

Overall not bad progress, and I look forward to continuing to read in 2024!

Have you read any of the books I picked or have them on your TBR? Feel free to comment!

[wankerwatch]

Commons Vote

On: Finance Bill: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading

Ayes: 112 (89.2% Con, 4.5% RUK, 2.7% Ind, 1.8% DUP, 0.9% UUP, 0.9% TUV) Noes: 333 (96.1% Lab, 2.7% Ind, 1.2% Green) Absent: ~205

Day's business papers: 2024-11-27

Likely Referenced Bill: Climate Finance Fund (Fossil Fuels and Pollution) Bill

Description: A Bill to require the Secretary of State to publish proposals for a Climate Finance Fund, to be funded via a levy on fossil fuel companies and other organisations that contribute to pollution; and for connected purposes.

Originating house: Commons Current house: Commons Bill Stage: 2nd reading

Individual Votes:

Ayes

Conservative (99 votes)

Alan Mak Alberto Costa Alex Burghart Alison Griffiths Andrew Bowie Andrew Griffith Andrew Murrison Andrew Rosindell Andrew Snowden Aphra Brandreth Ashley Fox Ben Obese-Jecty Ben Spencer Blake Stephenson Bob Blackman Bradley Thomas Caroline Johnson Charlie Dewhirst Chris Philp Christopher Chope Damian Hinds Danny Kruger David Davis David Mundell David Reed David Simmonds Desmond Swayne Edward Argar Esther McVey Gareth Bacon Gareth Davies Gavin Williamson Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Geoffrey Cox George Freeman Graham Stuart Harriet Cross Harriett Baldwin Helen Grant Helen Whately Iain Duncan Smith James Cartlidge James Wild Jeremy Hunt Jeremy Wright Jerome Mayhew Joe Robertson John Cooper John Hayes John Lamont John Whittingdale Joy Morrissey Julia Lopez Julian Lewis Julian Smith Katie Lam Kemi Badenoch Kevin Hollinrake Kieran Mullan Kit Malthouse Laura Trott Lewis Cocking Lincoln Jopp Louie French Luke Evans Mark Francois Mark Garnier Mark Pritchard Martin Vickers Matt Vickers Mel Stride Mike Wood Mims Davies Neil O'Brien Neil Shastri-Hurst Nick Timothy Nigel Huddleston Oliver Dowden Patrick Spencer Paul Holmes Peter Bedford Peter Fortune Priti Patel Rebecca Paul Rebecca Smith Richard Fuller Richard Holden Robbie Moore Robert Jenrick Roger Gale Saqib Bhatti Sarah Bool Simon Hoare Steve Barclay Stuart Andrew Suella Braverman Tom Tugendhat Victoria Atkins Wendy Morton

Reform UK (5 votes)

James McMurdock Lee Anderson Nigel Farage Richard Tice Rupert Lowe

Independent (3 votes)

Ayoub Khan Iqbal Mohamed Shockat Adam

Democratic Unionist Party (2 votes)

Gregory Campbell Jim Shannon

Ulster Unionist Party (1 vote)

Robin Swann

Traditional Unionist Voice (1 vote)

Jim Allister

Noes

Labour (320 votes)

Abtisam Mohamed Adam Jogee Adam Thompson Afzal Khan Alan Campbell Alan Gemmell Alan Strickland Alex Baker Alex Ballinger Alex Barros-Curtis Alex Mayer Alex McIntyre Alice Macdonald Alison Hume Alison McGovern Alistair Strathern Allison Gardner Amanda Hack Amanda Martin Andrew Cooper Andrew Gwynne Andrew Lewin Andrew Pakes Andrew Ranger Andrew Western Andy MacNae Andy Slaughter Angela Eagle Anna Dixon Anna McMorrin Anna Turley Anneliese Dodds Anneliese Midgley Ashley Dalton Baggy Shanker Bambos Charalambous Barry Gardiner Bayo Alaba Becky Gittins Bell Ribeiro-Addy Ben Coleman Ben Goldsborough Bill Esterson Blair McDougall Callum Anderson Calvin Bailey Carolyn Harris Cat Eccles Catherine Atkinson Catherine Fookes Catherine McKinnell Catherine West Charlotte Nichols Chi Onwurah Chris Bloore Chris Bryant Chris Curtis Chris Elmore Chris Hinchliff Chris Kane Chris McDonald Chris Murray Chris Vince Chris Ward Chris Webb Christian Wakeford Claire Hazelgrove Claire Hughes Clive Betts Clive Efford Clive Lewis Connor Naismith Connor Rand Dan Aldridge Dan Jarvis Dan Norris Dan Tomlinson Daniel Francis Daniel Zeichner Danny Beales Darren Jones Darren Paffey Dave Robertson David Baines David Burton-Sampson David Pinto-Duschinsky David Smith David Taylor Dawn Butler Deirdre Costigan Derek Twigg Diana Johnson Elsie Blundell Emily Darlington Emma Foody Emma Hardy Emma Lewell-Buck Euan Stainbank Feryal Clark Florence Eshalomi Frank McNally Fred Thomas Gareth Thomas Gen Kitchen Gerald Jones Gill Furniss Gill German Gordon McKee Graeme Downie Graham Stringer Grahame Morris Gregor Poynton Gurinder Singh Josan Hamish Falconer Harpreet Uppal Heidi Alexander Helen Hayes Henry Tufnell Ian Lavery Imogen Walker Irene Campbell Jack Abbott Jacob Collier Jade Botterill James Asser James Frith James Murray James Naish Jayne Kirkham Jeevun Sandher Jeff Smith Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Jess Asato Jess Phillips Jessica Morden Jessica Toale Jim Dickson Jim McMahon Jo Platt Jo White Jodie Gosling Joe Morris Joe Powell Johanna Baxter John Healey John Slinger John Whitby Jon Pearce Jonathan Brash Jonathan Davies Jonathan Hinder Josh Dean Josh MacAlister Josh Newbury Josh Simons Julia Buckley Julie Minns Juliet Campbell Justin Madders Kanishka Narayan Karin Smyth Kate Dearden Katie White Katrina Murray Keir Mather Keir Starmer Kenneth Stevenson Kerry McCarthy Kevin Bonavia Kevin McKenna Kim Johnson Kim Leadbeater Kirith Entwistle Kirsty McNeill Laura Kyrke-Smith Lauren Edwards Lauren Sullivan Laurence Turner Lee Barron Lee Pitcher Leigh Ingham Lewis Atkinson Liam Conlon Lilian Greenwood Linsey Farnsworth Liz Twist Lizzi Collinge Lloyd Hatton Lola McEvoy Lorraine Beavers Louise Jones Lucy Powell Lucy Rigby Luke Akehurst Luke Charters Luke Murphy Luke Myer Luke Pollard Margaret Mullane Maria Eagle Marie Tidball Mark Ferguson Mark Hendrick Mark Sewards Mark Tami Markus Campbell-Savours Marsha De Cordova Martin Rhodes Mary Creagh Mary Glindon Mary Kelly Foy Matt Bishop Matt Rodda Matt Turmaine Matt Western Matthew Patrick Matthew Pennycook Maya Ellis Melanie Onn Melanie Ward Michael Payne Michael Shanks Michael Wheeler Michelle Scrogham Michelle Welsh Mike Kane Mike Reader Mohammad Yasin Nadia Whittome Natasha Irons Naushabah Khan Naz Shah Neil Coyle Neil Duncan-Jordan Nesil Caliskan Nia Griffith Nicholas Dakin Nick Smith Noah Law Oliver Ryan Olivia Bailey Olivia Blake Pam Cox Pamela Nash Patrick Hurley Paul Davies Paul Waugh Paula Barker Paulette Hamilton Perran Moon Peter Dowd Peter Kyle Peter Lamb Peter Prinsley Peter Swallow Phil Brickell Polly Billington Preet Kaur Gill Rachael Maskell Rachel Blake Rachel Hopkins Rachel Taylor Richard Baker Richard Quigley Rosena Allin-Khan Rosie Wrighting Rupa Huq Rushanara Ali Ruth Cadbury Ruth Jones Sally Jameson Sam Carling Sam Rushworth Samantha Niblett Sarah Champion Sarah Coombes Sarah Edwards Sarah Hall Sarah Owen Sarah Russell Sarah Sackman Satvir Kaur Scott Arthur Sean Woodcock Seema Malhotra Shabana Mahmood Shaun Davies Simon Lightwood Simon Opher Siobhain McDonagh Sojan Joseph Sonia Kumar Stella Creasy

Stephen Kinnock Stephen Morgan Stephen Timms Steve Race Steve Reed Steve Yemm Sureena Brackenridge Tahir Ali Taiwo Owatemi Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi Terry Jermy Tim Roca Toby Perkins Tom Collins Tom Hayes Tony Vaughan Torcuil Crichton Torsten Bell Tracy Gilbert Tristan Osborne Tulip Siddiq Uma Kumaran Valerie Vaz Warinder Juss Yasmin Qureshi Yuan Yang Zubir Ahmed

Independent (9 votes)

Apsana Begum Ian Byrne Imran Hussain Jeremy Corbyn John McDonnell Mike Amesbury Rebecca Long Bailey Richard Burgon Zarah Sultana

Green Party (4 votes)

Adrian Ramsay Carla Denyer Ellie Chowns Siân Berry

[scottgoodstein]

Scott Goodstein on the Electronic Journalism Panel in Rabat, Morocco (Part 3)

From April 25th - April 26th, 2008, Scott Goodstein had the opportunity to speak about electronic journalism on a panel in Rabat, Morocco on behalf of the National Democratic Institute. Other panelists included: - Mark Parkison, Democracy & Governance Advisor, USAID - Rachid Jankari, blogging expert - Sarah Zaimi, Middle East Youth Initiative - Ayoub El Mouzaine, Chebab al Maghreb

View original video here.

[ladyherenya]

Springtime!

Reread: Checkmate by Dorothy Dunnett, and Penric’s Mission and Mira’s Last Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold.

Total: Seven novels, four novellas (including one audiobook) and one graphic novel.

Still reading: To Treasure an Heiress by Roseanna M. White.

My favourite: The Stand-In is really enjoyable! Funny and fluffy in places, thoughtfully serious in others but still positive. 

I’d also recommend: You Deserve Each Other, Home and The Cult of Romance.

Cover thoughts: I’d seen  recommendations for You Deserve Each Other  and if I hadn’t enjoyed Hogle’s Twice Shy I would have kept ignoring them, because the combination of cover and title suggested a relationship I didn’t want to read about.

I particularly like the covers for The Stand-In, Home and Kind of a Big Deal, even though pink and pastel green are not a favourite colour combination.

Titles, authors, genres and ratings listed below, with links to my reviews on LibraryThing.

Sofia Khan and the Baby Blues by Ayisha Malik. Novella sequel to Sofia Khan is Not Obliged and The Other Half of Happiness. Contemporary fiction. 2½☆

You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle. Contemporary romance, single POV. 3½☆

The Stand-In by Lily Chu. Contemporary fiction set in Canada, about standing in for a Chinese actress. 3½☆

Home by Penny Parkes. Contemporary fiction set in England, about a house-sitter. 3½☆

A Night at the Frost Fair by Emma Carroll (narrated by Maya Soroya). Children's time-travel set in London. 3☆

The Cult of Romance by Sarah Ayoub. Young adult romantic fiction set in Australia and Lebanon. 3½☆

Runaways: Come Away With Me (volume 6) by Rainbow Rowell and Andrès Genolet. Marvel superhero comics. Sequel to Canon Fodder. 3½☆

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood. Nerdy romance about working for NASA. Single POV. 3½☆

Kind of a Big Deal by Shannon Hale. Bookish YA fantasy. 3☆

[swanasource]

When your bestie is marrying a guy she barely knows, can you save her from the cult before it's too late? Natalie is living proof that love is a scam. She's traumatised by her parents' failed marriage and overwhelmed by her grandmother's expectations of good Lebanese girls — marriage, motherhood and exceptional tabouli-making skills. When her best friend decides to get hitched to a guy in the motherland, Nat's not exactly thrilled by the mammoth task before her: juggling cultural traditions, extra bridesmaid dresses and super-judgemental relatives. And to top it off there's the annoyingly good-looking best man and his constant need to mansplain all of the things. Natalie is in for the trip of her life. But can she save her friend from the cult of romance, without falling in love herself?

Book: The Cult of Romance by Lebanese-Australian, Sarah Ayoub

[bookishyikes]

Book haul from Sydney Writers Festival!! some of these I already owned (illuminae + anything but fine) but I got them signed + got the opportunity to have a chat with the authors!! Also chatted with a couple of authors whose books I didn't get (Kay Kerr + Ella Baxter)

So so thankful that I got to meet them, and for the kind notes they wrote! I loved what they had to share in their various interviews and talks - I cannot wait for next years festival

[t3rra-bull]

the biggest shred collab song in the world III (2019)

[bandmcommunitymag-blog]

Ayoub sisters return to school

Two inspirational musical sisters from Bearsden returned to their secondary school to give a special performance to pupils.

Sarah and Laura Ayoub visited Douglas Academy earlier this year to perform in a concert and to join a questions and answers session.

The sisters play piano and strings and have been recently signed by Decca Records. They have also been championed by Classic FM and played London’s Royal Albert Hall for one of the radio station’s concerts, in the company of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Sarah and Laura said it was a huge honour to be back in Douglas Academy, which is home to a prestigious Music School, and to perform again with the school’s orchestra.

They added: “The school took such wonderful care of our musical abilities from the ages of 13 to 18 and between the two of us, we had piano, violin, cello and singing lessons, as well as theory, harmony, aural and composition lessons. We also had countless opportunities to play in an orchestra and sing in a choir.

“To relive our teenage years by performing once again with the school orchestra we once played in was incredibly moving and a moment we will sincerely cherish.”

Mark Evans, the music school course director, said: “It is wonderful to see the girls doing so well. We are all very proud of what they have achieved. They have both worked so hard, and their current success is so well deserved.

“I’m delighted the girls wanted to come back to the school to perform and it is, I think, indicative of the important part that Music School played in their early musical development.”

In other news, the sisters were also delighted to hear they had topped the classical charts on iTunes, in time for Burns’ Night, with their hit, Melodies From Scotland with the RSNO. It features some of Burns' most famous works, including Auld Lang Syne and My Love is Like A Red Red Rose. Although their parents are not from Scotland, the sisters said they were brought up with a love of Scottish music.

Sarah told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: “We were born in Glasgow but our parents are Egyptian so when we'd have guests at home, we'd be summoned to the lounge and requested to play Scottish music.”

The pair's talents have also been spotted by award-winning producer Mark Ronson. They had posted a cover of his hit Uptown Funk on YouTube only to be contacted by him days later. Sarah said: “Mark Ronson must have seen the video and summoned us and a couple of other musicians to record a new cover in Abbey Road Studios in London.”

[thereadingchallengechallenge]

Book review: The Yearbook Committee by Sarah Ayoub

Rating: 3/5

Now, nobody die of shock, but I've finally found an Australia YA that I actually enjoyed.

The characters were all fantastic with wonderful, expressive voices that made them all really distinctive. I think Charlie was my favourite but I really loved and felt for Gillian too. I would have liked to have seen a bit more diversity amongst them though - one with a disability or a person of colour or a different sexuality.

The plot was a bit meh, it's definitely a character-driven book, but I really could have done with more insight to the aftermath of the Big Event described in the prologue. I felt we were left hanging with so many minor story lines. Did Charlie go back to Melbourne? Did Ryan figure out what he wanted to do? Did Tammi's dad finally give in to her wishes? Did Matty's mum get better? Were there any repercussions for Lauren Pappas did to Gillian? I really wanted answers to all those questions.

And it needed another good proofread. My edition was riddled with typos which really detracted from the reading experience in some places.

Having said that, this was an enjoyable read that I found myself devouring quite thoroughly whenever I picked it up. A lovely book that was really fun to read.

[suhyla]

I feel islam isn't very compatible with the idea of a man and a woman in love.

The first argument in support of it would offcourse be polygamy. But then I thought that generally muslim women are not self independent and hence they are completely destroyed by divorces or if their husband die, hence polygamy is a good idea to help out such women so that every poor women has a support of a man. So maybe polygamy was pro woman. And after all the world is just a test. And hence people have to make sacrifices.

But the concept of man having multiple spouses in Jannah so much supports this incompatibility. Because even in Jannah where there is no requirement for a man's support for a woman. Still Allah is promising men 72 virgins. Even in heaven a man and a woman love is not celebrated. And also women's jealousy is taken out of them so that they don't oppose the idea of sharing their man with a hundred other women.

Why is islam so much about satisfaction of male sexual desires

Lol, let's talk.

Jannah is not all about a person's sexuality.

We are promised many things in Jannah. Fruits, rivers, palaces, no ill feelings, eternal happiness - and of course, spouses.

﴿لَهُم فيها ما يَشاءونَ خالِدينَ كانَ عَلى رَبِّكَ وَعدًا مَسئولًا﴾

[Al-Furqân: 16]

"And they will have therein all that they desire, abiding in it forever, and that will be [upon your Lord] a promise."

Everyone will have a spouse because having a partner will make us happy, and no one will be alone in Jannah.

We frequently read in the Quran that we (both men and women) will have "spouses" or ازواج, so reading this hyper fixation on virgins honestly sounds like basic uncreative Western discourse. People make it seem like men will just be given women to please them, and that's all women are there for. If we actually read the Quran, it easily becomes clear that that's not the case.

Relationships in Islam are about companionship.

Are we forgetting that Adam was alone in Jannah, and Allah could have given him hoor. If that was all a man desired, then surely Allah would have given Adam, the first man, that? But He knew that the cure for Adam's loneliness was a partner. Someone to complete him.

Hawa, the first wife in Islam was meant to be a friend. There's narrations of Adam wanting to speak to the angels, but they were all busy and he had no one to speak to.

Allah gave him Hawa so that he would have a friend, not just someone to find pleasure in. A spouse is supposed to be a friend, someone you're at peace with. Someone you share love with.

﴿وَمِن آياتِهِ أَن خَلَقَ لَكُم مِن أَنفُسِكُم أَزواجًا لِتَسكُنوا إِلَيها وَجَعَلَ بَينَكُم مَوَدَّةً وَرَحمَةً إِنَّ في ذلِكَ لَآياتٍ لِقَومٍ يَتَفَكَّرونَ﴾

[Ar-Rûm: 21]

And it is among His signs that He has created for you wives from among yourselves, so that you may find tranquility in them, and He has created love and kindness between you. Surely in this there are signs for a people who reflect.

And here again, there is a duaa from the Quran.

﴿رَبَّنا وَأَدخِلهُم جَنّاتِ عَدنٍ الَّتي وَعَدتَهُم وَمَن ��َلَحَ مِن آبائِهِم وَأَزواجِهِم وَذُرِّيّاتِهِم إِنَّكَ أَنتَ العَزيزُ الحَكيمُ﴾

[Ghâfir: 8]

"Oh Allah, and enter them into the gardens of Eden that You promised them, and whoever was righteous from among their ancestors, spouses, children - verily You are the Aziz, the Hakeem."

Why would we be taught duaas asking for our partners in Jannah if Islam didn't honor those relationships? We are literally being taught that love is forever - it's not till death do we part, it's till we meet again in Jannah (where we will be happy together forever).

We see how precious love is in the Prophets' lives. Ayoub was sick and lost everything but remained patient. When did he break down? When he saw his wife, whom he obviously loved, sell her hair for his sake (due to his chronic illness). Yusuf could have easily fallen into a mistake with the wife of the Aziz. He certainly had desires, he's a man. As a man and a Prophet of Allah, why shouldn't he able to do what he wants? If it's all that a man would need in Jannah, and that was all a woman was good for, then why wouldn't Allah allow it here? But he didn't- because Islam doesn't recognize sexual relations as a partnership. Lust isn't love, it's not a relationship. It's illegitimate. That doesn't change just because it's a man. Ibrahim didn't marry Hajar because he wanted another woman, he married her at Sarah's insistence- because she couldn't have a child.

Moreover, literally polygamy is not exclusive to Islam. Historically, Islam's "4 women" rule was to limit men from having too many spouses, not to allow them to go from 1 to 4. Many men at the time had more than one wife, some a lot more than one. Suddenly, they couldn't any more.

Finally, if Islam focused so much about the satisfaction of male desire, it would not have prohibited sexual relations outside of marriage and the family? Men have these desires but Islam came to put some ground rules. To tell them they couldn't just use women. That a relationship was about companionship, commitment, and responsibility. Islam prohibited so called "pleasure marriages" in which men would "marry" women temporarily to satisfy their desires and then divorce them after. Because that is antithetical to an Islamic relationship.

These things honor a man and woman's relationship. Please read the Quran and sunnah, and you'll discover how special love is between a man and a woman in Islam.

[wankerwatch]

Commons Vote

On: Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading

Ayes: 173 (57.0% Con, 35.5% LD, 2.9% RUK, 2.3% Ind, 1.2% DUP, 0.6% UUP, 0.6% TUV) Noes: 335 (96.1% Lab, 2.7% Ind, 1.2% Green) Absent: ~142

Day's business papers: 2024-11-25

Likely Referenced Bill: Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill

Description: A Bill to make provision for, and in connection with, the introduction of higher non-domestic rating multipliers as regards large business hereditaments, and lower non-domestic rating multipliers as regards retail, hospitality and leisure hereditaments, in England and for the removal of charitable relief from non-domestic rates for private schools in England.

Originating house: Commons Current house: Commons Bill Stage: Ways and Means resolution

Individual Votes:

Ayes

Conservative (98 votes)

Alan Mak Alberto Costa Alex Burghart Alison Griffiths Andrew Bowie Andrew Mitchell Andrew Murrison Andrew Snowden Aphra Brandreth Ashley Fox Ben Obese-Jecty Ben Spencer Blake Stephenson Bob Blackman Bradley Thomas Caroline Dinenage Caroline Johnson Charlie Dewhirst Chris Philp Christopher Chope Claire Coutinho Damian Hinds Danny Kruger David Davis David Mundell David Reed David Simmonds Desmond Swayne Edward Argar Edward Leigh Gareth Bacon Gareth Davies Gavin Williamson Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Geoffrey Cox George Freeman Graham Stuart Gregory Stafford Harriett Baldwin Helen Grant Helen Whately Iain Duncan Smith James Cartlidge James Cleverly Jeremy Wright Jerome Mayhew Jesse Norman Joe Robertson John Cooper John Hayes John Lamont John Whittingdale Joy Morrissey Julia Lopez Julian Lewis Julian Smith Katie Lam Kevin Hollinrake Kieran Mullan Kit Malthouse Lewis Cocking Lincoln Jopp Louie French Luke Evans Mark Francois Mark Garnier Mark Pritchard Martin Vickers Matt Vickers Mel Stride Mike Wood Mims Davies Neil Hudson Neil O'Brien Neil Shastri-Hurst Nick Timothy Nigel Huddleston Oliver Dowden Patrick Spencer Paul Holmes Peter Bedford Peter Fortune Priti Patel Rebecca Harris Rebecca Paul Richard Fuller Richard Holden Robbie Moore Roger Gale Saqib Bhatti Sarah Bool Shivani Raja Simon Hoare Steve Barclay Stuart Andrew Tom Tugendhat Victoria Atkins Wendy Morton

Liberal Democrat (61 votes)

Adam Dance Al Pinkerton Alex Brewer Alison Bennett Alistair Carmichael Anna Sabine Ben Maguire Bobby Dean Brian Mathew Calum Miller Caroline Voaden Charlie Maynard Charlotte Cane Chris Coghlan Christine Jardine Claire Young Clive Jones Daisy Cooper Danny Chambers David Chadwick Edward Morello Gideon Amos Helen Maguire Helen Morgan Ian Roome James MacCleary Jamie Stone Jess Brown-Fuller John Milne Josh Babarinde Joshua Reynolds Layla Moran Lee Dillon Lisa Smart Liz Jarvis Luke Taylor Manuela Perteghella Marie Goldman Max Wilkinson Mike Martin Monica Harding Munira Wilson Olly Glover Paul Kohler Rachel Gilmour Roz Savage Sarah Dyke Sarah Green Sarah Olney Steff Aquarone Steve Darling Tessa Munt Tim Farron Tom Gordon Tom Morrison Victoria Collins Vikki Slade Wendy Chamberlain Wera Hobhouse Will Forster Zöe Franklin

Reform UK (5 votes)

James McMurdock Lee Anderson Nigel Farage Richard Tice Rupert Lowe

Independent (4 votes)

Adnan Hussain Ayoub Khan Iqbal Mohamed Shockat Adam

Democratic Unionist Party (2 votes)

Gavin Robinson Jim Shannon

Ulster Unionist Party (1 vote)

Robin Swann

Traditional Unionist Voice (1 vote)

Jim Allister

Noes

Labour (320 votes)

Abtisam Mohamed Adam Jogee Adam Thompson Afzal Khan Al Carns Alan Campbell Alan Gemmell Alan Strickland Alex Baker Alex Ballinger Alex Barros-Curtis Alex Mayer Alex McIntyre Alex Norris Alex Sobel Alice Macdonald Alison Hume Alison McGovern Alistair Strathern Allison Gardner Amanda Hack Amanda Martin Andrew Cooper Andrew Gwynne Andrew Lewin Andrew Pakes Andrew Ranger Andrew Western Andy MacNae Andy McDonald Andy Slaughter Angela Eagle Anna Dixon Anna Gelderd Anna McMorrin Anneliese Dodds Anneliese Midgley Ashley Dalton Baggy Shanker Barry Gardiner Beccy Cooper Becky Gittins Ben Coleman Ben Goldsborough Bill Esterson Blair McDougall Brian Leishman Callum Anderson Calvin Bailey Carolyn Harris Cat Eccles Catherine Atkinson Catherine Fookes Catherine McKinnell Catherine West Charlotte Nichols Chi Onwurah Chris Bloore Chris Bryant Chris Elmore Chris Evans Chris Hinchliff Chris Kane Chris McDonald Chris Murray Chris Vince Chris Ward Christian Wakeford Claire Hazelgrove Claire Hughes Clive Betts Clive Efford Clive Lewis Connor Naismith Connor Rand Damien Egan Dan Aldridge Dan Jarvis Dan Norris Dan Tomlinson Daniel Francis Daniel Zeichner Danny Beales Darren Jones Darren Paffey Dave Robertson David Burton-Sampson David Pinto-Duschinsky David Smith David Taylor David Williams Deirdre Costigan Diana Johnson Elsie Blundell Emily Darlington Emily Thornberry Emma Foody Euan Stainbank Fabian Hamilton Feryal Clark Fleur Anderson Frank McNally Fred Thomas Gareth Snell Gareth Thomas Gen Kitchen Georgia Gould Gerald Jones Gill Furniss Gill German Graeme Downie Graham Stringer Grahame Morris Gregor Poynton Hamish Falconer Harpreet Uppal Heidi Alexander Helen Hayes Helena Dollimore Henry Tufnell Hilary Benn Imogen Walker Irene Campbell Jack Abbott Jacob Collier Jade Botterill Jake Richards James Asser James Frith James Murray James Naish Janet Daby Jas Athwal Jayne Kirkham Jeevun Sandher Jeff Smith Jen Craft Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Jess Asato Jessica Morden Jessica Toale Jim Dickson Jim McMahon Jo Platt Jo Stevens Jo White Joani Reid Jodie Gosling Joe Morris Joe Powell Johanna Baxter John Grady John Slinger John Whitby Jon Pearce Jonathan Brash Jonathan Davies Jonathan Hinder Jonathan Reynolds Josh Dean Josh Fenton-Glynn Josh MacAlister Josh Newbury Josh Simons Julia Buckley Julie Minns Justin Madders Kanishka Narayan Karl Turner Kate Dearden Katie White Katrina Murray Kenneth Stevenson Kerry McCarthy Kevin McKenna Kim Johnson Kim Leadbeater Kirith Entwistle Kirsty McNeill Laura Kyrke-Smith Lauren Edwards Lauren Sullivan Laurence Turner Lee Pitcher Leigh Ingham Lewis Atkinson Liam Byrne Liam Conlon Lilian Greenwood Linsey Farnsworth Liz Twist Lizzi Collinge Lloyd Hatton Lola McEvoy Lorraine Beavers Louise Jones Lucy Powell Luke Charters Luke Murphy Luke Myer Margaret Mullane Maria Eagle Marie Tidball Mark Ferguson Mark Sewards Mark Tami Markus Campbell-Savours Martin McCluskey Martin Rhodes Mary Creagh Mary Glindon Mary Kelly Foy Matt Rodda Matt Turmaine Matt Western Matthew Patrick Matthew Pennycook Maya Ellis Meg Hillier Melanie Ward Miatta Fahnbulleh Michael Payne Michael Shanks Michael Wheeler Michelle Scrogham Michelle Welsh Mike Kane Mike Reader Mike Tapp Mohammad Yasin Nadia Whittome Natasha Irons Naushabah Khan Naz Shah Neil Coyle Neil Duncan-Jordan Nia Griffith Nicholas Dakin Nick Smith Nick Thomas-Symonds Noah Law Oliver Ryan Olivia Bailey Olivia Blake Pam Cox Pamela Nash Patrick Hurley Paul Davies Paul Waugh Paula Barker Paulette Hamilton Perran Moon Peter Dowd Peter Kyle Peter Lamb Peter Prinsley Peter Swallow Phil Brickell Polly Billington Preet Kaur Gill Rachael Maskell Rachel Blake Rachel Hopkins Richard Baker Richard Quigley Rosena Allin-Khan Rosie Wrighting Rupa Huq Rushanara Ali Ruth Cadbury Ruth Jones Sally Jameson Sam Carling Sam Rushworth Samantha Dixon Samantha Niblett Sarah Edwards Sarah Hall Sarah Owen Sarah Russell Sarah Sackman Satvir Kaur Scott Arthur Sean Woodcock Seema Malhotra Shaun Davies Simon Lightwood Simon Opher Siobhain McDonagh Sojan Joseph Sonia Kumar Stella Creasy Stephanie Peacock Stephen Morgan

Stephen Timms Steve Race Steve Reed Steve Witherden Steve Yemm Sureena Brackenridge Tahir Ali Taiwo Owatemi Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi Terry Jermy Toby Perkins Tom Collins Tom Hayes Tom Rutland Tonia Antoniazzi Torcuil Crichton Torsten Bell Tracy Gilbert Tristan Osborne Uma Kumaran Valerie Vaz Warinder Juss Wes Streeting Will Stone Yuan Yang Zubir Ahmed

Independent (9 votes)

Apsana Begum Ian Byrne Imran Hussain Jeremy Corbyn John McDonnell Mike Amesbury Rebecca Long Bailey Richard Burgon Zarah Sultana

Green Party (4 votes)

Adrian Ramsay Carla Denyer Ellie Chowns Siân Berry

[vividreveries]

"Hello comrade ,

We have been deceived - we created a world to ourselves that is not connected to reality! We have been deceived comrade- yes, Albert Camus deceived us - Dostovsky and Chekhov deceived us - novels and books deceived us, and Dostovsky deceived us when he said: « Despite the wreckage of your heart, love will one day bloom and repair it. » Chekhov deceived us when he said: If you can love, then you can do anything.

They deceived us comrade - or we deceived ourselves and tried to attach our failures and weaknesses to others!

Russian and French literature has never been a reason to change reality. And the Music of Fayrouz, Asmahan, and Layla Mourad has never changed hearts

But rather than wars, blood, and body parts that are the main causes of change. The more deaths, the greater the chance to change the world and reality. I hate blood - curse my heart, which does not resemble the hearts of people of my country.

Damn on us , comarde. Because we want peace, love and life and we believed in the difference. "

From the notes of Sarah Hijazi

No in Al-Qanater Prison, 2017

_______

Translated to English by

Ayoub El Hamri