Islamic / Hijri / Arabic Calendar

Salaam Friends,

I am currently working on a personal project to create and distribute an Islamic / Arabic calendar for the year 2010 (1431). I have always been disappointed to see not even one Arabic calendar in bookstores across America. I'm even hard-pressed to find Islamic / Arabic calendars online. When I have found one, it has usually been focused on a particular artist or poet, like Rumi, and these do not show the Hijri dates. They are often beautiful, but I have longed to see an Islamic calendar which is about Islam, itself.

My Islamic / Arabic calendar will show the Gregorian dates as well as the dates of the 1431 Hijri calendar. The Hijri dates are based on the Suggested Global Islamic Calendar. And the imagery will show the cultural diversity that makes up the world's Muslim community, or global umma.

We are all from different countries, speak different languages, practice different customs, and yet are united as Muslims, all praying to Allah, all facing the Kaaba when we pray, all reading Allah's words of guidance in Qur'an.

In today's political climate, most of the press depicts Islam as oppressive and Muslims as fanatical and violent. Islam has been so badly represented by the very few, and left the rest of the Muslim community to face terrible prejudice and misunderstanding.

I want to help show the world the true face (or faces) of Islam, of Muslims today. I want to educate the world about the beauty of Islam, that it's about peace and surrendering to Allah's will. That far from oppressive, Islam preaches freedom, equality and democracy. That our diversity is a result of Allah's will and wisdom, for Allah says in Quran:

"Oh men, We created you from a male and female, and formed you into nations and tribes that you may know each other..."[49:13].

"Among other signs of His is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variety of your tongues and complexions..." [30:22]

Islam is one of the five major religions on Earth. We live on every continent in the world. And yet, our beautiful religion is hardly represented in mainstream society, not even in the small, subtle way as with a yearly calendar. I believe it's time for that to change.

When I thought about what may be the best way to obtain global images to illustrate the Islamic / Arabic calender, I realized that I should get fellow Muslims around the world involved. We believers in Islam, we represent Islam today. The way we practice our faith, live our lives, in all the beautifully diverse ways that we express our faith in Allah and appreciation for the life Allah has given us.

So I am calling on you all to submit images to this project, from wherever you are or have been. Any image that you feel relates to Islam and Muslims. These could include, for example, mosques, Muslim people (praying, celebrating Islamic holiday, etc.). Also, submit any related art you may have created; these could look wonderful too. If the artwork is 3D then submit a photo of it.

To make a submission please send an email to amylynphoto@gmail.com with image(s) attached. Please only submit images for which you own the copyright or have full permission to use in this way. For example, for any people who could be recognized, you need permission from them "the model" to use their picture.

Images should be in jpg (jpeg) format and needs to have at least the following dimensions: 11" x 8.5" at 200 dpi. That's 11 inches by 8.5 inches at 200 dots per inch. It's a resolution of 2200 x 1700.

Also, email me with any questions or suggestions you may have regarding this project. I welcome any and all input you can offer.

If you believe in this project, as I do, then please share this link with all who you think may be interested in knowing about it and/or contributing to it.

Thank you so much for your help with this project. I will let you all know as soon as the calendar is online and ready for distribution.

For more details about this calendar project please check out my Squidoo lens.

Masalaam,
Amy Lyn