By Alveena Salim

Hey, check him out! He must be the fittest boy I’ve ever seen… let’s sit closer to get a better view. Gwaan check him out, but don’t be too obvious…"

"Phwoarrr! Did you see her walk by? I swear she was eyeing me up, innit! My mate reckons she's well easy!”

Sound familiar? Rating the ‘fitness’ of others is one of the most common time-pass in most schools, colleges, uni's and work places. “We’re only looking - it’s minor” is the defensive response of most. So the question arises “Is it really not a big deal?”

By Sajid Iqbal

What can be said about a man who has been called many things? He is known as a role model to Muslims. A religious fanatic. A father for black power. A menace to society. An inspirational leader and a legend.

By Irfan Jalil

"The media" eh? God bless it. It's normally a popular subject at the sheesha joints. We can blame it for all the ills of the world.

We'd love to have a good old bash, but someone realised that we, "The Revival", are part of the media too. The magazine. The website. The interviews. It's all a part of the media. So we toned it all down and decided to concentrate on other media outlets.

The media has a strong influence on public opinion. It provides not only information but ways of looking at the world. It informs and influences. Issues about Muslims are very often shaped by the media.

By Sajid Iqbal

I was co-presenting a late night discussion show on my local Radio in the month of Ramadan this year, which I have been doing for quite a few years now. The topic was marriage, which is one of the most popular shows every year… I dunno why! However, every year, a small section of the listeners remind me of one massive ignorance and fault our Muslims communities have across the UK.

[i]By Alveena Salim[/i]

[b]You pull up to a red light beside a car full of rude-boy wannabes blasting one of the latest RnB/hip-hop/rap tunes, and before the light turns green, you’ve heard of four different sex acts, someone’s mum cussed, you’re told to get high on drugs and encouraged to beat up the “ho that steps outta line”. [/b]

By Sajid Iqbal & Irfan Khan

Jamal goes to visit Ali in prison…

Ali: Jamaaaal!!! Holy cow!!! Is that really you?

Jamal: Salaam Ali. Yep it's me bro… and I ain’t no cow.

Ali: I can’t believe you's come all the way from Egypt to see me! Raas man! You're not a dodgy Mullah after all!

Jamal: No, not as dodgy as you bro… hahahaha.

The word "Nasheed" is just an Arabic term meaning Islamic songs. Nasheeds aren't just about Allah (swt) and the Prophet (saw), but they cover all sorts of issues concerning the Ummah today.

Nasheeds have been around ever since the time of the Holy Prophet (saw), yes that is 1400 years ago! In total there were 45 Munshideen (Nasheed artists) at the time of the Holy Prophet with Hassan ibn Thabit (ra) being the favourite.

Select messages received by the Editor

Assalaamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullaah

I am writing to congratulate you on the Revival Magazine! It’s beautiful… mashallah!!!!!

According to your website, you started a while back but I only found out a few days ago, actually I found the magazine in my local masjid (Clonskeagh mosque, Dublin 14, Ireland) few days before Eid… alhamdulilahi! I was so excited I took it home without asking the owner or anything! May Allah Tala forgive me.

I would also like to get some more copies for the youth here! Ireland's young Muslim population is very little therefore most youth are straying, it will be very good to have a magazine like yours around! I, mashallah really enjoyed reading it. Wassallaam

[b]Sami Yusuf, largely unknown to the Western world, is dubbed ‘Islam’s Biggest Rock Star’ by Time magazine.[/b]

He was born in Tehran but grew up in London in a family of musicians and started composing music at a very young age. He later studied classical oriental music in London, alongside renowned composers and musicians including composers from the Royal Academy of Music in London, which is one of the world’s most prestigious music institutions. He has also studied Islam and Arabic from Al-Azhar University in
Egypt and is able to sing in Urdu, Arabic, English, Turkish and Persian.