In 2008 Sherry Jones' literary endeavours yielded 'The Jewel of Medina'. Now in 2010 we have the sequel 'The Sword of Medina' ...

It is creative writing at its most cloy: "His head pressed to my shuddering heart. His stiffened face, as if turned to stone, when I'd laid him in our bed. Now he lay beneath me, buried in my room, the fresh earth moistened by my tears. Exhausted after the long night, I'd fallen asleep atop his grave. Not even the call to morning prayer had roused me....

...from the rooftop rang the muezzin's call to worship, summoning all Muslims to pledge their allegiance. In the doorway I spied the fat, bald-headed al-Abbas lurking like a spy in the shadows. Revulsion sent me out to the courtyard where my sister-wives clustered in the mosque's entryway and watched the goings-on. 'Everyone seems so happy, all of a sudden', drawled Raihana, the Jewess, her haunting, houri eyes turning down at at the corners.

She'd been a gift to Muhammad from his men, a captured princess. Our warriors had killed all the men of her tribe after their leaders had tried to assassinante Muhammad, and her resentment over the deaths of her husband an dsons had gven her a bitter tongue. 'Don't tell me another prophet has risen from the dead....I watched Zaynab walk away with a yearning to join her, to bury my face in my hands and succumb to the anguish of losing Muhammad. By al-Lah, wasn't my grief greater than hers? Hadn't Muhammad loved me best of all his wives. He'd known me all my life...Al-Zubayr clamped his hand around my hair and dragged me into the adjoining room..."

Part II of a multi-part dossier

Ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair was in a for a rude shock on his recent foray in South East Asia.

So four Muslim MPs voted with Government to extend pre-charge detention to 42 days! They can be put to shame!

Ken, one Cricklewood household salutes you, what you stand for, and your achievements for London. The clock on progressive politics in London has been turned back two decades.

The 4-day literary Hay Festival at the Alhambra 3-6th April was a unique and highly enjoyable cultural event which included lectures, discussion, poetry recitals, bookstalls, book signings, film showings and music concerts.

Salaam blogger's own Islamophobia watch: quotations by 'leaders of society' about Muslims in Britain - statements that serve to promote misunderstandings and prejudices...

Like the good old Duke of York, the Tories are sometimes marching up the hill, and sometimes down again thus (i) sending out confused signals within the ranks, and (ii) obfuscating the facts

Last November Brown declared in the Commons, “Mr Speaker, it is by seeking to build on shared interests and shared values that we will isolate extremists and foster understanding across faiths”. He also floated the idea of “setting up in Britain a European Centre of Excellence for Islamic studies”.

Hollow laughs and guffaws from the stalls.

“Pakistan was a country orphaned at birth”, thus begins an essay by Aryn Baker, under the heading: National Tragedy: Pakistan was born of hope, but the country seems destined for a life of despair.