Watch Ummah Films in German, Dutch, and even Russian!

Bismillah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem,

JazakAllah khair for the volunteers who have been translating the videos so far. Already many videos have been translated in German, Dutch, and Russian and we hope to have more videos translated into more languages InshAllah. Alhamdulillah, the efforts of those who are helping with this translation project is allow viewers around the world to watch the Reminder videos. Also, it allows those who have hearing disabilities to receive the reminders as well.

You can watch the videos at the new youtube URL for all Ummah Films subtitles videos: http://www.youtube.com/ufsubtitles

Ummah Films screening @ MSA West (next video will premiere there!)

Bismillah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem,

InshAllah there will be a screening of the Reminder videos at the 9th Annual MSA West conference in Pomona on January 13th, 2006 from 6:50pm to 8:10pm. The next video in season 2, will also debut at the screening InshAllah. For more information about the conference, please visit www.msa-west.net

I'm also scheduled to be speaking at Mission Veijo Masjid, Vermont Masjid, and Hawthorne Masjid in the upcoming weeks InshAllah (please see calendar above)

Watch Ummah Films on your iPod! (we're now podcasting)

Bismillah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem,

Apple has approved our show, which means if you search for "Ummah Films", you can now subscribe to our videos so it will automatically download to your computer when a new episode comes out. Those who have iPods can now subscribe (for free of course) to "The Reminder" series, which means you can now easily download the videos into your ipod at a much higher quality than youtube. Even if you don't have an iPod, you can download it to your computer using the iTunes application, which is also free. Just search for "ummah films" in the iTunes search to find our new podcast. How cool is that? :)

We are getting closer to the 1,000,000 video views mark (Alhamdulillah), and I hope with this new door being opened, it will help pass the reminders into even a larger audience InshAllah.

If enough people subscribe to it, iTunes will move our show up the ranks so Ummah Films will be shown on their main page. The goal is to get more people to watch the videos and benefit from it InshAllah. Being apple to reach the millions who own iPods out there is pretty big so we are excited about the news.

Of course the success is out our hands so we'll just put in the effort and leave the rest with Allah (swt). No matter what the outcome is, we say Alhamdulillah.

Watch the preview of Ramadan Reruns coming out this Friday

Bismillah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem,

Sneak of Ramadan Reruns coming out on 12/15/06 (Friday!). The video is actually about 8 minutes which is larger than most of the previous videos. The is just a 30 second clip grabbed from the middle of the video so it may not make sense until you watch the full thing. Anyways, it is preview of the second video of Season 2.

The Reminder in different languages? Yes! Subtitles!

Bismillah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem,

A viewer translated one of the videos ($25k Muslim Weddings) into Dutch (subtitles). The quality of the video didn't come out good because they were limited to the compressed version of the file. I have resent the file with a higher quality.

Another viewer has contacted me and wants to translate the videos into Russian. Amazing!

How cool is that?

New Reminder Video coming 12/15/06

Bismillah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem,

I never found my USB drive so I started over. This time I bought a laptop (which are a little harder to lose) and started from scratch. After a few weeks of traveling to different cities and guest speaking, losing all my data, its been kinda tough working on the Reminder but Alhamdulilah I am almost finish with writing the next video and I plan to film it soon. Sorry about the lack of posting so here are some updates and highlights to catch everyone up:

1. The next Reminder Video is premiering on 12/15/06. I might be able to debut in the Reminder screening this weekend (San Diego) if I somehow manage to write, film, and edit it by tomorrow InshAllah (I'm only 1/2 way done writing the ideas I want in this video so I'm not sure if I'll finish or not)

2. The shirts should be done by tomorrow evening InshAllah. I am going to pick them up from the printer InshAllah. I will post up links to purchase them by this Sunday InshAllah. Each size is limited in quantity so make sure you order your shirt before I'm out of your size (yeah this time I got small and medium too!)

3. The Reminder - Season 1 screening is this weekend in San Diego. I plan to be there InshAllah.

4. It looks like we've passed the 725,000 video views mark, which is amazing, Alhamdulillah. The success of these videos is ONLY because of Allah (swt). Please continue telling others about the video and help us get the word out about the next Reminder coming out next Friday.

5. Alhamdulillah, the emails are still pouring in and I'm still trying to answer them. Some of them are truly amazing and really have made an impact on me. Honestly, when I did these videos, I had no idea if anyone is going to watch them. There is no one even there when I film them as it just me sitting in a chair, talking to myself in the middle of the night..(haha..all of them are filmed at night...most of them late night) but when I read the emails afterwards, with viewer's telling me that the videos have reminded them or impacted them, it motivates me to continue making more of them. Here are just a few of the many emails I have received:

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As-Salaam o Alaikum! YOU ROCK!!!!!!! :D Because of your vlogs, I have decided to convert to Islam. You are a GREAT inspiration!! Keep up the wonderful work in Allah!

Khuda hafiz,
Rawdha

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I have seen everyone of your, videos, and I was happy with every one. I want you to know that you are making a great impact. Because of you, I have converted, and I live in Detroit. Not that that should mean anything, but it is a little rare. Anyway, I really wanted to see your conference in San Diego, but I live to far away.

You don't have to reply to this if you don't want to. Just know what you are doing is great. Assalamualaykum, my brother.

Alhamdilulah,

Yushua.


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I am an American Jew. Although I was raised a Jew, I do not accept all media and stereotypes as truth, and I have always tried to have an open mind. Your videos are brilliant, enlightening, and straight up educational (besides being really entertaining). I am grateful to you for bringing this side of Islam to light and I wish you continued success. What you are doing is VERY important, and I hope you realize the positive impact it is having.

FiddlinBenz

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As-salaam alaykum. My name is Bailey and I just wanted to thank you for all
the work that you do. I've watched all of your films on YouTube, and I will
continue to, and I think that what you are doing is wonderful. Thanks to
you, I have made the decision to convert to Islam. Currently, I am a
Christian (obviously, I do not practice it at the moment) and began to study
Islam out of pure curiosity and also for the novel I am writing. The more I
began to study Islam, the more appealing it became. I've had problems with
the Christian faith for a while, but I couldn't find a religion I believed
in, until I came across Islam. I'm currently studying the Qu'ran in English
(however, I am learning Arabic and Urdu at the moment) to make sure I really
do want to convert, and with the help of your blogs, I have become confident
in my decision.

Many thanks to you and may Allah bless you abundantly.

Khuda-hafiz,
Bailey


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Assalamu alaikum,

I'm writing this email just to let you know the PROFOUND INFLUENCE
your blog has had on me. In all actuality, I came upon the blog by
accident, through some random link I found on my friend's facebook
page. After meandering incessantly through 18 million web pages, I
fell upon it, and immediately I was intrigued. At 3 am, I sat and
watched all of the episodes; laughing, crying, and pondering the state
of the ummah as presented by you. And I came upon a conclusion;
everything you're saying is sad, but true - you tell it like is when
we're all trying to skirt around it. And no matter what IT is, you
step up and coherently, candidly, and cohesively explain..............

Thanks for all your teachings and I look forward to more.

Salam,
Maia


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There are hundreds of emails and I don't want to copy and paste all of them. I just wanted to say that I truly I am touched. I am not trying to convert anyone (there is no compulsion in Islam) so as Muslims we try to lead by example.

I have been making these videos assuming that only Muslims would watching. This is why I talk about issues that Muslims can relate too, with the hope of reminding everyone (starting with myself) of going back to practicing Islam correctly (instead of the way many of us do it now). As the emails have been pouring in, I have realized that there are many non-Muslims also watch and enjoy the videos, Alhamdulillah. How cool is that? :)

Although some of the videos have humor in them, almost all of them have a message behind it. Alhamdulillah it nice to know that people aren't just smiling but are thinking about what is being said as well. Maybe everyone, starting with myself, will be reminded of the silly things we do so we will think twice before we do them in the future. Instead, I hope we all try to increase our good deeds InshAllah.

JazkAllah khair for ALL your emails and please forgive me if I have said anything wrong. If I didn't respond to an email, please forgive me but I just wanted to let you know that I do read ALL the emails but sometimes it hards responding to each and very emails especially when emails come in while you're trying to respond to other emails. You know what I'm sayin'

your brother in Islam,

Ali