A question from a talk last night: “We believe in Allah, but do we believe Allah?” Juz 12 answers how to : • Stay firm, even when it's the hardest • Protection doesn’t always look like ease • Closeness grows with sincerity • Silence may be quiet care • Keep going, trust the outcome long term.

If anyone were to suggest that a government should be able to exercise ANY influence over our media, screams of ‘leave the free press alone!’ would ring out. When they simply buy that influence, everyone is silent. #nzpol

Juz 11 is simple and direct: if you want to return to Allah, the path is open. No games, no pretending. He already knows what’s in our hearts. When faith feels low, don’t pull away. Stay close to honourable people who help you stay steady. Ramadan Day 11 Reflection. Still trying.

On RNZ, Clark also repeated her critique. "The whole point of international law is to put rules around when force is legitimate. "A strike is justified if there is an imminent threat of attack, which clearly there was not." “the initial strikes by Israel and the US violated international law. #nzpol

Operation Epic Distraction anntelnaes.substack.com/p/operation-...

“The military strikes by the U.S. and Israel against Iran violate international law and threaten regional and global security.” Chair of The Elders, Juan Manuel Santos, calls for an immediate halt to military escalation.

This opinion piece by Peter Oborne is about UK's Labour, but we can say exactly the same things about @australianlabor.bsky.social eg— “Labor’s refusal even to acknowledge that Israel is committing war crimes—has turned Labor into the party of atrocity denial” www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/elec...

League of Arab States says Israel seeking to ‘evade ending its occupation’ of Palestine, per report from Al Jazeera. Also, all entries into Gaza once again closed. aje.news/p4rw7y?updat...

#nzpol Pay attention Aotearoa NZ. The National/NZ First/ACT coalition govt are 'considering' giving your legally protected private biometric data to a foreign country being led by white supremicist fascists who are rounding up 20 million US residents for mass deportation via concentration camps.🧐🤬

My Ramadan reflection for Juz 10 is that Allah is aware of all things, open and secret and knows what is in actors' hearts. Also: • Oppression does not erase dignity or truth • Unity with the suffering is a form of moral courage • Justice is bigger than the moment (including this one)

In light of actions being taken to bomb Iran, this Radio NZ article is extremely important to read! May Allah protect us from all evil. www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...

OH MY GOD

What if every job cut by AI came with an equal reinvestment to create new ones, using automation savings to build industries, not just margins 🤔

Juz 9 & last night’s IWCNZ Auckland iftar reminded me of the power of God’s Names: Most Loving, Most Merciful, Protector, Helper. • His mercy is vast, closeness deepens it • Do your part, trust the outcomes • Setbacks open doors to growth & learning • What feels huge becomes lighter with Him

A legally blind, 65 yr-old woman: has unintentionally lost 28 pounds because she can't afford food under Trump. "The end is coming near. Under Joe Biden I received $80 SNAP per month & was able to put away $100 per month for food. Trump took that away from me." #sheshed

Today’s Chorus: 1 in 7 or 169,300 kids now live in material hardship; Claire Achmad says kids can't wait for the economy; Construction confidence, jobs & activity slump in Feb after pre-Xmas mortgage hikes; & NZ’s most popular politician migrates to Australia #nzpol open.substack.com/pub/thekaka/...

The richest man owns X. The second and third richest men control Google. The fourth richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The fifth richest man owns The Washington Post. And now the sixth richest could soon take over both Paramount and Warner Bros. See the problem here?

Juz 8’s reflection: You control your effort, but not the outcome. Choose grounded optimism, not denial or despair. Don’t let popularity decide what’s true. Keep doing good, even when no one notices.

This an org with hospitals that had data breaches, we've had medical providers with data breaches... so why one asks, is this a good idea?

This is a must watch www.youtube.com/watch?v=voEC...

Breaking news: A federal judge found that the IRS violated federal law “approximately 42,695 times” when it shared confidential taxpayer addresses with immigration enforcement officials last summer.

Members of Team USA's women's hockey team say they don't want their Olympic gold medal achievement to be overshadowed by the backlash over President Trump's joke about having to invite them to the White House during a call to the men's team.

NEW: Guards have taken away crayons, colored pencils & paper during recent room searches at Dilley, according to detainees and others. After one inspection, the children just “cried and cried and cried,” a mother said. The facility denies the claims. By @mckenziefunk.com @micarosenberg.bsky.social

They killed him. It takes a lot to infuriate me and break my heart only because you have to be able to tolerate a lot when covering Trump and fascism and try your best to stay centered and hopeful. This story I can't let go. They chose to let him just die. www.motherjones.com/mojo-wire/20...

Early morning Juz 7 reflections: We only see fragments, whereas Allah sees the whole. Pain does not equate to proof of abandonment. What we witness is real, but the picture is simply incomplete to us. Stability comes from staying anchored to the Qur’an. Not all answers belong to this life.

Feel good story for today.

In today’s NZ Herald

Ramadan reflection for Juz 6 in simply: Dignity is greater than revenge. God has the power to punish, yet often chooses to pardon. Real strength isn’t retaliation. The Qur’an offers steps for sincerity with this. Often what is hidden (not public) matters more than what is shown.

UK sanctions New Zealand insurer Maritime Mutual after Reuters report reut.rs/4c8gFNH

“The Justice Department has withheld some Epstein files related to allegations that President Trump sexually abused a minor, an NPR investigation finds.”

I need to address this immediately, because I am WAY too Minnesotan to ever claim credit for this. I built a thing to point the fire hose of people's generosity in the right direction. That's it. I am thankful for the piece, because hopefully it means people will donate more money.

Last night, Juz 5 reminded me guidance isn’t meant to burden us, but to protect us. Don't fight wrong with more wrong. Integrity matters most when it’s hardest. Not everyone will be kind. Allah sees what I cannot. In conflict & hurt, choosing restraint over revenge is part of God-consciousness.

Some more news from... #UnlimitedAppetiteClub 👇

Missed this from Netsafe NZ, but it is consistent with what my community is seeing.

Good. www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...

Peter Mandelson arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office

If youbwantvto stay on top of the depressing world of tech and the tech companies may I suggest you follow ccan news on here. It's drops valuable articles regularly.

I must say that I do find it interesting that Stuff would be leading top of its pape with an article written by another newspaper's journalist who is based in Israel, but is apparently reporting what is going on "on the ground" in Iran. How does one verify long distance news reporting these days?

Reminders from Juz 4 last night, for those who may need them too: • Death isn’t “someday”... arrival without warning. • Grief is human & what we do with it matters. • What looks like loss...may not be loss at all. • Giving from what we love is sacrifice. • Grudges don’t travel, so why carry them?

Pay equity change a 'real slap in the face' to women newsroom.co.nz/2026/02/20/p...

A Ramadan reflection on Juz 3: • God needs nothing, yet guides. • Faith shows in how we live, not just what we say. • Life carries purpose and accountability. • Generosity, especially giving from what we value, liberates the heart.

My Ramadan reflections for Juz 2 of the Qur’an, • God does not need to prove anything, rituals are meant to shape us. • Life's tests ask us to trust, even when we do not understand. • You should believe sincerity brings Mercy • Ramadan is a time to try to become better, more patient human being.

Not surprised at all: the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled Trump’s tariffs illegal. After straining global alliances and rattling both the U.S. and world economies, the legal breach is now confirmed. Expect a major distraction next, think conflict, feuds, or another headline-grabbing move.

Important read for all NZers: “The economy in the US is struggling, Trump’s polling has collapsed and they have midterm elections in November. Plus the Epstein files are day-by-day undermining Trump’s leadership." 1/2 www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...

Ramadan Mubarak

Wondering how much cutting academic funding has opened up NZ to this national security risk as desperate researcher hunt for funds to progress their projects and careers... the underfunding of institutions issue for some time now.