#islamic legends

[annachum]

Basically

Broke : Helen of Troy literally caused the Trojan War

Woke : While Helen of Troy may have played a part in causing the Trojan War, it was Menelaus and Paris who actually mobilized Spartan and Trojan troops at each other and thus all 3 played a part in causing near total devastation of the Grecian Realms in the Trojan War

Also

Broke : Queen Guinevere caused the fall of Camelot

Woke : It is actually King Arthur's increasing pride that inadvertently driven Guinevere and several of his knigbts away, and Lancelot and Guinevere grew closer over the shared disappointment and dismay in what Arthur has become. Arthur's increasing over pride literally becomes a single and major factor for the fall of Camelot

Also

Broke : Scheherazade single handedly saved the Abbasid Caliphate with her stories

Woke : While Scheherazade's stories may have played a focal part in ceasing the Abbasid Civil War, it is actually also all the royals and nobles siding with Harun AL Rashid and Shahryar ( and Shahryar himself ) then learning to take responsibility and commence efforts in repairing the Abbasid Civil War, after literally waging a civil war at each other over how one of Harun's younger cousins, who is Shahryar's 1st wife, cheated on him with a cook who plotted for Shahryar's demise from his Persian throne.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

[calabria-mediterranea]

The Festival of the Giants in Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy

A glimpse of i giganti at a Sicilian or Calabrian festival is a treat for all ages. But who are these folkloric giants – the golden-haired damsel and her dark-skinned suitor – and what are their origins? Just as the evocative figures float and whirl through the streets, their history entwines actual events and colorful myth to create the intriguing tradition.

The legend of the giganti is generally thought to originate in Messina, the northeastern Sicilian city that is separated from Calabria in the toe of the mainland by the aptly named Strait of Messina. Some accounts tell of a beautiful peasant girl, others of a local princess, but whatever her social position, the young maiden came from a virtuous, Christian family. Her name was Marta, or Mata in dialect. One day around 970 A.D. during the period of the Saracen invasions, a very tall Arab named Hassass Ibn-Hammar came ashore with his men to pillage the city. Upon seeing the lovely Mata, the prince asked for her hand in marriage. She refused, causing him to plunder all the more.

In the picture: THE IMPRESSIVELY GIANT GIGANTI IN MESSINA, SICILY

As a good Catholic, Mata resorted to prayer. Some stories tell of her kidnapping, but whether voluntarily or by force, she eventually capitulated and fell in love with the Muslim prince when he converted to Christianity and gave up his barbaric ways. He subsequently changed his name to Grifo and came to be known as Grifone due to his noteworthy physical stature. (The suffix -one denotes largeness in Italian.)

Across the Strait of Messina in Calabria, the giganti are constructed of papier-mâché and rest on the shoulders of their handlers.

Hidden under the giants’ skirts with a face hole to help guide their way, the puppeteers engage in a dance of courtship – the swarthy, mustached Saracen versus the fair, rosy-cheeked girl next door.  Fast footwork to the step of the tarantella conducts the couple through turns, inclinations and other gestures that draw them ever nearer and lead to an embrace or kiss to the delight of the crowd.

The ballo is accompanied by the incessant beating of drums that not only requires great stamina from the puppeteers, but has even inspired legends.

Calabria and Sicily share the giganti as they share the Strait and histories plagued with foreign incursion and domination. The ballo of Mata and Grifone is commonly viewed as a representation of the struggle between Islam and Catholicism. In festive atmospheres throughout the regions, the conflict is peacefully resolved, the people emerge victoriously, liberty is preserved and everyone has a good time. Long histories and engaging folkloric traditions come together to form part of a rich cultural fabric in which i giganti play an important part, both enlightening and entertaining the generations of today and tomorrow.

Video by Giganti Varapodio RC Profilo

Written by Karen Haid

Follow us on Instagram, @calabria_mediterranea

[saturnshari]

tiny fandom rant

thinking abt how being an Intellectual Brown woman isolates me from fandom experiences bc since i call out orientalism/racism against swana and my people in media that makes me too "anti" but the shit id be into and ship since i was 13 would land me 100ft deep into "proship" territory....

[mfelewzi]

From r/AvatarMemes, by u/HAZMAT_Eater: yo

The Legend of Koran, Book 3: Fitna

Man, I love this parodistical AU! More than original show.

I would have loved some references to the other two Great Traditional Religions of Asia, Islam and Christianity (I intend the Syriac Christianity that was in China and India before Jesuit Missions, especially in the last country with One of the secular Malabarian Community), and not Just those. The Earthlings of South Earth Kingdom (Omashu folks, Sand Folks of Si Wong Desert) could have a more persian and arabic references, and the same could be for the Air Temples, making them more differents Just like Water Tribes.

Maybe Eastern Air Temple Monks could be more like these:

While Southern Air Temple Monks a fusion between this

And this

Chinese representation of Tang Dinasty about a nestorian/eastern christian chinese/turk monk.

And a theme for The Rift and other comics could be the differences among different Monastic traditions of Air Nomads, and a difference between Monks and normal Air Nomads, more similar to turks and mongolians.

That's cause a thing that I loved of Ehasz's ideas was the Return of Air Nomads and Air Bending. And a return without "spirit things" would be more interesting than what Bryke had done.

And speaking about "Spirit things": It would be more Better for Lore and Avatar's Origins some changes about Spirits, especially Raava and Vaatu (maybe a third subject with them: Brahman as one of the Three Great Ones Who would had seen the World's Story and Formation).

A thing like this.

And yes, I created this Retcon and AU because I had seen a meme!

[wellofhavoc]

very weird to see people seemingly willfully ignoring the actual connections between the fictional kingdom of hyrule to real world historical events and even claiming it's racist to draw those connections

nintendo was the one who put a cross on link's shield first

the only thing that makes link NOT a crusader is the fact that we know objectively in the world of legend of zelda that hylia is a real, benevolent god and that demise (in the body of ganondorf) is ACTUALLY the devil. that's it, that is the only thing that distances the games from real world atrocities committed by christians in the name of their god. you can still enjoy the games! i love the games!!! but acting like people who draw these comparisons are the ones who are insensitive and lacking an understanding of real world cultures is- in fact- the weird thing to do here, so please let other people enjoy their own interpretation of the series- i promise you that you can still enjoy the games as they're written.

[takunwilliams]

Muhamed Ali arrows death

[chillinaris]

Menangis bukanlah tanda kelemahan, itu adalah tanda kedewasaan emosional.

KHAMZAT CHIMAEV | A beast a monster but not one with a dead heart ❤️

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS84amJab/

[xtruss]

[discoverislam1]

https://www.instagram.com/stories/discover__islam_1/3433906990193521621?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=MWFiNHduYjMzemMwZQ==

[alostwanderernotfound]

Between Religions & the Transfer of Similar Ideas from One Culture to the Next

Summary: All the religions since the very first have passed on ideas from one to another due to similar people passing between regions.

One major common denominator between the two groups of opposing “spiritual beings” or “Good Vs Evil” has been the development & rise of slavery in each corresponding region.

So as slavery came to each major culture & region, pantheons & religious figures rose in opposition to these forces.

Even if not discussed as a core tenant, each religion developed an extreme anti slavery stance vs a pro slavery faction & actively sent their people to free slaves from all cultures, such as: Egypt, Rome, & America.

As these battles continued throughout history, before leaving the region the slavers in the religion & pro slavery followers changed major parts of the religious texts in each region & created incongruences & mysteries to obscure the true story of these real people. Most religious texts hold some sort of major inaccuracies in relation to real events due to this long standing pattern.

[jesusislord3333]

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

Published: Jun 19, 2024

Around 1.8 million Muslims were expected to travel to Saudi Arabia for the religious journey, where temperatures this year reached 51.8C in the shade.

At least 550 people have died during the Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in the scorching heat, it has been reported.

Temperatures reached at least 51.8C (125F) in the shade in the Saudi Arabian city, as huge crowds of Muslims undertook the annual religious journey - one of the five pillars of Islam.

"Hajj is a difficult task, so you have to exert efforts and perform the rituals even in the conditions of heat and crowding," an Egyptian pilgrim said.

Pilgrims used umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun, as Saudi authorities warned pilgrims to stay hydrated and avoid being outdoors during the hottest hours between 11am and 3pm.

Stampedes, tent fires and other accidents have caused hundreds of deaths during the Hajj in the past 30 years. Some 240 people reportedly died last year.

This year's pilgrimage began on Friday and as usual coincided with the religious holiday, Eid al-Adha.

Dozens of deaths have been reported during this year's Hajj, with the AFP news agency putting the total at 550, citing diplomats.

Some 323 of the dead were Egyptians, most of whom perished due to heat related illness, AFP said.

A 2024 study by the Journal of Travel and Medicine found that rising global temperatures may outpace strategies to deal with the heat. A 2019 study by Geophysical Research Letters said that as temperatures rise in arid Saudi Arabia due to climate change, pilgrims performing Hajj will face "extreme danger".

A Saudi health official, speaking on Monday before many of the reports of deaths were issued, said authorities had not noticed any unusual fatalities among Muslim pilgrims amid the extremely high temperatures.

The ministry had so far treated more than 2,700 pilgrims who suffered from heat-related illness, he added.

What is the Hajj?

One of the largest mass gatherings in the world, the Hajj is a once-in-a-lifetime duty for able-bodied Muslims who can afford it.

Every year hundreds of thousands of Muslims journey to the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and of the religion of Islam.

The Great Mosque of Mecca - Masjid al-Haram - is home to the Kaaba. It is Islam's holiest site and the direction in which Muslims all over the world face when they pray.

More than 1.8 million pilgrims were expected to take part this year, according to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics.

==

What a complete waste of life. In more ways than one.

[thenerdsofcolor]

The Middle Geeks Episode 64: LIVE at Awesome Con (Washington D.C.)!

The Middle Geeks are LIVE at Awesome Con discussing all things SWANA representation!

The Middle Geeks are LIVE at Awesome Con, discussing all things SWANA/MENA Representation! Continue reading The Middle Geeks Episode 64: LIVE at Awesome Con (Washington D.C.)!

[graye]

Hello! Actually, OP this might not be all true! I just went ahead and checked with my mom (Islamic teacher) and my local Sheikh and Imam, and actually, it's quite the opposite!

Salam (سلام) isn't derived from Islam (اسلام). Both words are derived from the Arabic root word 'Sa-La-Ma'. Which is quite close to what you meant by s-l-m! Salama (سلامه) means 'Peace'! So, in turn, the root meaning of Islam means peace.

Back when Muhammad ﷺ began his mission, he had sent a couple of his Rusuls (messengers that spread the belief and religion) to the dominating leaders of each neighboring country. Some examples include the Roman leaders who took over Syria, Iran Al Furs in Iraq and etc.

When the Rusuls (messengers) arrived, the leaders, who were used to bloodshed and war, were greeted with 'As-Salamu-AlAikum'. Which actually means 'Peace upon you.' or the Google translation 'Peace be unto you.' These Rusuls explained to the expectant leaders that when we arrived, we have greeted you with peace, we are a religion of peace and so we spread it. They have not asked the prideful leaders to submit, that would have ended badly.

This is the reason why we now greet one another with 'As-Salamu-AlAikum'. The foundation of Islam is Peace. Not submission. Submission to Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala is part of the belief, that Allah (SWT) is the one true God who had created the universe and us, so we must find the want within ourselves to honor, respect and thank him through acts of worship.

If we said that Istislaam was the verb of the noun Islam, or God-forbid imply that the root meaning is submission, it would completely change the meaning of our greeting and lore of how it came to be.

You may not have meant it, seeing as this is a taught not a learnt idea, but the very concept of submission has very bad connotations with non-Muslims and already struggling Muslims. People don't like the concept of forcing someone into something, especially people in power. It's why the Rusuls understood this, chose their words carefully and greeted the non-Muslims with 'Peace be unto you'!

Though, this may be due to how different we both may have been brought up. I'm not blind to the fact that some religious teachers use fear of the afterlife and anger of Allah (SWT) to hammer in belief into people. Yeah, it's useful when used correctly but can you remember a time where it ever was? It's especially damaging when it's used to shame people from asking questions. It creates misconceptions that it's taboo to be curious and that ends up being taught instead of the teachings. EDIT: and the fear of asking questions creates ignorance (جهل)!

Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala is not just the 'Al-Mumeet' (Bringer of Death), 'Ad-Dharr' (The Distressor) and 'Al Muzil' (The Humiliator), he's also 'Al-Lateef' (The Most Gentle), 'Al-Ghafoor' (The Forgiving), 'Al-Shakoor' (The Most Appreciative), 'Al-Wadood' (The Most Loving) and 92 other nice names. I feel like most religious teachers forget that lmfao.

“islamophobia isnt a thing, you cant be scared of a religion” well clearly you’ve never seen the looks we get at airports

[mfelewzi]

Find it in r/AvatarMemes, posted by u/HAZMAT_Eater.

When it autocorrects with "The Legend of Koran"... (HAZMAT_Eater)

Ok, now I could be a bit interested to watch LoK!

So, the Avatar would be the Incarnation of Brahman, the First Speaking of Al-Aql, the Active Intellect Over the Reality, and Raava and Vaatu are comrades and traitors of Brahman, cause they desrespected its view about Humanity as Only Keepers of Material World. So the story could follow part of Bryke's retcons of AtlA's lore, but Raava would be one of the villain and protector of Zaheer and Kuvira. Ah, in this AU there isn't Korrasami, but Korra would become a lone celibe Who follows the Search of True Path, as a Real Monk similar to Saint Symeon the Stylite, Ra'bia Al-Adawiyya or Siddharta Gautama.

And clearly, the Air Nomads would return before Korra and without that "spiritual crap", and they would have a morr interesting and complex history, with Four Different Historical Monastic Traditions: the Yellow Monks in the North, the Buddhist-like, becoming the Only Traditions under Avatar Szeto and without approvation of Yangchen; the Red Monks, a fusion between tibetan red lama and jainist monks, in the West; the Black Monks, inspired by Syriac Diaphisite Christian Monasticism in India, Turks countries and China too (Historically repressed by Imperial Chinese Authorities before Mongol Invasion); and White Monks, the Sufi-like, in the East.

And the Air Nomads would be a fusion among indo-aryans people and turk people, nomadic and warrior, that slowly in the time would had became more attract to spirituality and they would had divided in Two Hordes with two different interpretations of World and Avatar too.

Yes, I created a lore and an AU from a meme!