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Tuesday, 9 September 2014

"Black Jesus" - Season 1 Episode 1




AYTD has just watched this premiere episode and thought it was fairly funny. Perhaps the bad language was a tad excessive, but I assume it's trying to be authentic to the perceived nature of overall life and culture within the black community of Compton.

Although the show does play out the theme as Jesus being the Son of God, the Lord Saviour that died on the cross for all of our sins as detailed in Christian faith, the human qualities of making mistakes and being susceptible to one's weaknesses shows that even JC is somewhat fallible. Displays such as smoking weed and encouraging alcohol drinking points out to us that much like us mere mortals, Jesus also indulges in things he'd be better off without. At one point he even put his feet up at his homie's mum's home; he soon apologised for his action, but it is again another example of how Jesus is capable of flawed behaviour. These instances seem to adhere closer to how Islam refers to Jesus. Although he is indeed the Messiah having been born via the immaculate conception and having the holy spirit instilled into him from birth, The Qur'an shows that he is no more or less a human being than you or I - 

"The Messiah ['Iesa (Jesus)], son of Maryam (Mary), was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother [Maryam (Mary)] was a Siddiqah [i.e. she believed in the words of Allah and His Books (see Verse 66:12)]. They both used to eat food (as any other human being, while Allah does not eat). Look how We make the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to them, yet look how they are deluded away (from the truth)."
(Surah 5; Surah Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread with Food), verse 75)

This above verse from The Book gives a great example of not only how God and Jesus are not the same or parts of a God that make the one God, but also how they are different. the two verses below go a bit further to explain that God is not related to Jesus (nor anyone or anything else for that matter):

"And they say: "The Most Beneficent (Allah) has begotten a son (or offspring or children) [as the Jews say: 'Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah, and the Christians say that He has begotten a son ['Iesa (Christ)], and the pagan Arabs say that He has begotten daughters (angels, etc.)].""
(Surah 19; Maryam [Mary], verse 88)


"He to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Who has begotten no son (children or offspring) and for Whom there is no partner in the dominion. He has created everything, and has measured it exactly according to its due measurements.
Yet they have taken besides Him other aliha (gods) that created nothing but are themselves created, and possess neither hurt nor benefit for themselves, and possess no power (of causing) death, nor (of giving) life, nor of raising the dead."

(Surah 26 Al-Furqan (The Criterion), verses 2-3)


There is even a surah dedicated to this very issue; it is short and clear:

"Say (O Muhammad (pbuh)): "He is Allah, (the) One.
"Allah-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks).
"He begets not, nor was He begotten;
"And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him." "

(Surah 112; Al-Ikhlaas or At-Tauhid (The Purity), verses1-4)



I don't think Jesus swearing and smoking within the show discredits or taints his inherent core status of his purpose in life. The underlying message of him showing his friends and to his community The Way of doing good as much as possible was present in the programme, and that surely is a more important thing to remember and take from it than his relinquishing to his vices, his skin colour, or that he had a weave rather than a natural afro-like do.

So, what did you think of Black Jesus? Please leave a comment below.

WARNING: The programme contains highly explicit language; viewer discretion is advise.

The episode can be watched by following this link.

Sunday, 27 July 2014

El Chombo (feat. Andy Val Gourmet) - "Chacarron Macarron"


Behold; the current state of the mainstream music industry. To be fair, its been this way for awhile now...

Enjoy.





El Chombo (feat. Andy Val Gourmet) - Chacarron Macarron


Thursday, 24 July 2014

The World; Through A Lens - Kids Killed Amongst Latest Incident Of The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict




24 July 2014
Beit Hanoun, Gaza City,Palestinian Territories / Israel


Chaos persists in the Middle East as Israeli and Palestinian forces take part in explosive military exchanges. Often blaming each other for their actions, these opponents inflict attacks on the other, often causing extensive damage to towns and neighbourhoods. Unfortunately its not just mere bricks and mortar that bare the brunt of the countless acts of aggression - fatalities are inevitable as a result. Civilians on both sides have suffered with their lives being sacrificed as the ultimate fight over ownership of the Holy Land rages on and on. Ceasefires are seemingly negotiated upon, and then almost immediately broken before the Bic ink has even dried up on the parchment.

In this latest round of discord, notable recent incidents including that of the murder of a Palestinian teenager and then of three young Israelis left the Jewish state's military arm feeling that it had "no alternative"but to commence a firm open-ended sequence of airstrikes over the unimaginably densely populated area of Gaza on July 8. Within this region, the Palestinian offence is spearheaded by the democratically elected Islamist party Hamas, whom fight with what means they have; usually firing rockets into Israel whilst being rained on from Israeli shells. Over these last two and a half weeks or so, over 750 Palestinians and roughly 33 Israelis have been killed due to this relenting wave of hostilities.

Today's episode involves the shelling of a UN-run school-turned makeshift shelter for Palestinian refugees. So far, 15 people are reported to have been killed, and over 200 injured. Children are believed to be amongst the dead. The UN have stated that it gave the co-ordinates of the school to the IDF [Israeli Defence Force] in order to avoid it from being bombed on. As things stand, neither the IDF or Hamas are officially claiming responsibility for carrying out the brutal assault.

(WARNING - Following images may be disturbing to some; AYTD doesn't intend to offend or upset)


Saturday, 28 June 2014

The Boondocks, Season 4 Episode 8 - "I Dream of Siri"



"Granddad loves Siri on his new iPhone. Unfortunately, she loves him back, a bit too much. When she becomes obsessed with him, Granddad finds that Siri is one app that won't be deleted that easily."

Watch the episode here (WARNING - Contains explicit language)

Tuesday, 24 June 2014

Ramadan 2014



A great time is nearly upon us yet again; a time of introspection where one looks into their own self and reflects on current states of condition whether it be mental, physical or otherwise. A time to simultaneously think of others - those you know of and those you don't, those near and those far, in order to send out positivity for them all to enjoy. A time to acknowledge and be thankful for The One and Sole Source from which everything comes from. Although He gave us free will, without His permission will anything happen.

This time is Ramadan.

Where we can think of ourselves, others, the One Source all year round (and it is recommended we all do so as much as possible), it was within this time in which for the last time His World was set upon Muhammad (pbuh), the last prophet, being revealed to him little by little over 23 years during the 7th Century. His Word, The Qur'an is a message of knowledge, guidance, relief and mercy for us to follow as best we can, and so its during Ramadan where we show our thanks to Him for delivering this amazing gift to us.

In 2014, permitting the sighting of the moon, Ramadan commences on the 27th-29th of June (dependent upon your location on the planet). More info can be found over here.

AYTD wishes everyone a very happy Ramadan, and gives all thanks and praises to Allah - The One True Source of everything. Thank you.

Friday, 16 May 2014

Michelle Obama's "#BringBackOurGirls" Campaign Backfires


One of the biggest current affairs stories in recent weeks to grace news headlines across the world is that of the abduction of over 200 girls in Nigeria by the Islamic militant organisation Boko Haram. This currently ongoing situation has been condemned by political leaders from all corners of the globe (AYTD does also btw) - with a number of them offering to help the Nigerian government's efforts in finding the girls and bringing them back to freedom and safety.


Bringing them back... this segways superbly into the catchphrase that instantly became a viral mantra to further bring the story to the forefront and really put pressure on Boko Haram to relent. US First Lady Michelle Obama made her voice heard on this subject via venturing down the social media route. She tweeted:  "Our prayers are with the missing Nigerian girls and their families. It's time to #BringBackOurGirls. - mo", along with an accompanying photo of herself in the White House brandishing the hashtag on a piece of paper. Numerous famous figures both in and out of the political realm rushed to show their support; from David Cameron to Puff Daddy.

Despite gaining the level of momentum an advertising agency has wet dreams of, it took little more time than an acne-riddled basement-dwelling nerd losing his virginity for the #BringBackOurGirls campaign to take a turn for the worse. The same platform of social media was used when the Michelle Obama's original image was "shopped" - where her message was erased and replaced with various statements, many highlighting the US' own terrible record of foreign policy such as these below:
 

Never one to miss a chance at jumping on a bandwagon let alone wasting time talking about psuedo-political trends whilst more important things are going on. AYTD decided to participate in this mild diversion by coming up with some hashtags of our own which we'd like to see being brought back.