Here we go again...

During the summer, my friend Mohamed Sabur and I sat down to create a new organization. I was skeptical then and, well, I still am.

Neither of us was (and is) interested in creating an advocacy group or an “umbrella group.” But we were both drawn by a desire to promote self-education within the Shi'a community, especially on socio-political concerns..

Enter The Qunoot Foundation. Our purpose is three fold:

1) To distribute scholarships for internships in Washington, DC. The details are still being ironed out and we hope to make an announcement soon.

2) To organize forums that address community concerns. Our first will be held on November 12, 2005 at GW Law School and more info can be found here.

3) To create content. We have kept that term purposefully vague. This summer we launched a series of podcasts on iTunes. Whats a podcast? Click here

Another part is this group blog. Our purpose is not to provide ad nausem commentary on events, like the killing of 5 Shi'as in Iraq, but rather to aggregate these news items and perhaps offer snippets of insight.

A few ground rules should be established (Ahem—read up interested Qunoot bloggers):

1) All entries will be under 350 words. Or at least we will try.

2) Whenever possible, we will try to use hyperlinks and quote excerpts and not the entire article.

3) No personal information will be posted. Just aced your LSAT? Congrats. That does not belong here. But if you were recently harassed (or treated kindly) on account of being Shi'a in your local masjid, MSA, whatever, let us know. We need to start documenting our experiences—positive and negative.

4) Entries will address concerns of the Shi'a community. This is not limited to just events where the word “Shi'a” are mentioned. Think the US response to Katrina sucks? Well a lot of people do. Send us your thoughts. We just might publish it. And if you come to our conference, you just might get an extra cup of masala chai.

5) Humor is not haraam. Well some of it is. But use the halal kind. We like it and, frankly, Muslims need more of it.

That’s 365 words. I went over. Ok so just this once we will make an exception. I shall go now and stand in the corner as punishment.

Send us your thoughts: info@qunoot.org*.

*If you go over 350 words, we will not banish you to the corner. Well we might.