Not too much news right now.  I’m waiting for my Czech visa and a solid work schedule.

I’m in a food mood today!  I don’t have many new recipes to share but I’ve never posted my sarma (Bosnian stuffed cabbage leaves) recipe here, so here it is!

These pictures are from May of this year, when I visited Mostar and Blagaj.

I remember, in Blagaj, thinking, “If I could just have a small house (like the one a couple pics down) and small farm here…”

Prague is nice, but it is lacking in something, something the soul needs.

…to all of those who are celebrating it now!  According to our local mosque, we begin fasting on Saturday here in Prague.  Enjoy!

Bosnian Naqshbandi nashid about Ramazan

(See translation here)

Rejjan – Ramazanska večer

Hor Hazreti Hamza – Duh islama mog

Gazel – Ramazan

CoTu – Lord of Ramadan (swiped from Hahmed)

Ya Hilalan فيديو كليب يا هلالاً

Funny song with Fuad al-Mohandes and Shuweikar about the temptations and quarrels on a day of fasting during Ramadan. Arabic with English subs.

Ramadan – Gana of Abdel Motelib

Dr. Amir Liaqut – Salam Ramzan

Ramadan Nashid

New Muslim Cool – Struggle Bagel Ramadan Rap

See link above.  At this time, I am only including the places I have actually visited, so the page will grow as I become more familiar with the area.

Right, I know I don’t update too often anymore.  I’ll try!  I’m in Prague now, and I’ll be teaching English here for awhile.  That’s all for now!

To promote their new album “Ya Resulallah,” Hor Rejjan performed for a packed hall tonight, along with special guests Hfz. Aziz Alili, Eldin Husejnbegović, Zejd Šoto, Miralem Babajić, Hor Hewser, and Hor Gazel.  I’m sure video from the concert will show up on YouTube, and I’ll update the post when it does.  For now, here are some of their music videos, and some photos from the event.  Great job guys!

With Gazel

Zejd Šoto

Hor Kewser

Eldin Husejnbegović (the girls next to me were going completely nuts – I didn’t realize he was that kind of popular!)

Hor Rejjan

With Hfz. Aziz Alili

Definitely the best view I’ve had from anywhere I’ve lived, and possibly the best I’ll ever have.

On an unrelated note, I think facebook has killed my blog…

Kewser is a Bosnian organization focused on educating women and children. Hor Kewser (hor means choir) has produced a CD and DVD and also tours within and outside Bosnia and Hercegovina (BiH). You can read all about them on the English section of their website; they sponsor a lot of cultural and spiritual events, especially to honor Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him).  They have published a magazine called Zehra for eight years, for women and families.  Here is the video of their song “San” (A dream), followed by the Bosnian text and English translation.

San

U pećini Hira
Ugledah Muhammeda,
U snu mi se ukaza
Obris lika njegova,
A ja žedna krenula
Do vode sa Izvora
Kad me svjetlost okupa
Od meleka silnoga.

Hatidža sva zablista
U nastavku moga sna
Ona čvrsto zagrli
Voljenoga Ahmeda.
Izgubih se i ja sva
U ljepoti Kur’ana
Ikre bismi Rabbike
Uđe u moje srce.

Sallallah ala Muhammed
Sallallah alejke Ahmed

Tu sam, blago prošapta
Ljubav našeg Resula,
Istina je zasjala
Pomoću ti Mustafa,
Sve što imam dajem ja
Od imanja svojega
Moja duša bliska je
Tvojoj duši Ahmede.

Sa uzdahom pogledah
S bolom dun’ja ugledah
San k’o privid iščeze
Ali želja ostade.
Budi ukras mog ahlaka
Ja Mustafa, Ja Nazif
S tvojih vrata dozivam te
Šefaat podari mi.

Sallallah ala Muhammed
Sallallah alejke Ahmed

Dream

In the cave of Hira
I saw Muhammed
In the dream he appeared,
The silhouette of his countenance
And I, thirsty, gravitated
Toward water from the Source
When I was bathed in the light
Of the glorious angel

Khadija fully glowed
As my dream continued
She tightly hugged
Her beloved Muhammed
And I also was completely absorbed
In the beauty of the Kur’an
“Read in the Name of Your Lord”
Entered my heart.

Sallallah ala Muhammed
Sallallah alejke Ahmed

“I am here,” softly whispered
The beloved of our Messenger
The truth was illuminated
“For your assistance Mustafa
All that I have I give
Of my possessions
My soul is next to
Yours, O Ahmed”

With a sigh I opened my eyes
With grief I saw the world
The dream like a shadow disappeared
But the joy remained
Be the adornment of my character
Ja Mustafa, Ja Nazif
At your door I call you
Grant me assistance.

Sallallah ala Muhammed
Sallallah alejke Ahmed

Here are a few photos of Bosnia.  Enjoy!

On the train from Zagreb, somewhere between the border and Sarajevo.

Dome inside Gazi Husref-Beg’s mosque

Another dome

Inside the mosque

Latin bridge.   This is where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was shot by a Bosnian Serb, beginning World War One.

Sebijl, Baščaršija (“Pigeon Square”)

View of the hills from my balcony, a couple weeks ago.  The snow is all gone now!

Miljacka River, from Grbavica

Kazandžiluk street in Baščaršija, where all the copper and silver tea sets are sold.