Ummah Films Update

Bismillah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem,

We are just a few days away from the release of the second to last episode of the Reminder series, "The Haram Police".

I apologize for the lack of posts as I have been traveling to different cities. The first season was much easier because I would turn on the camera and speak my mind whenever something new came up. These days, I find myself traveling to cities all around the world and presenting the Reminder videos which has really taken up my weekends. Thus it has slowed down the speed I make these videos. Unlike other speaker/entertainers, I have a normal life and my free time use to be weekends (key word: use to be). What is amazing is when I come across the Reminder videos in various events which I'm not even part of, including non-Muslim events. I got an email today from an event that was held in Romania by non-Muslims and the clip shows the Reminder videos on the big screen in their event. The email noted that there was a very positive response from the crowd Alhamdulillah. The other day my neighbor came up to me and said "are you famous"...I was like "uh what?"...then they told me "your picture is in the newspaper". Yeah that was strange..especially since I had no idea about the article.

Anyways here are some updates:

1. The status of the Ummah Films shirts is SOLD OUT.... :) In the last event, 165 shirts went in less than 30 minutes! Congratulations for all those who got their hands on one but I'm sorry to say that we have no more shirts for sale. I think the last event that we'll have shirts selling at will be ISNA (Chicago). For all those people who love to bargin with high price sellers, I'm not selling $30 t-shirt but rather the shirts are very reasonable priced and since they seem to be popular, I suggest you get yours the first day instead of the last day. Otherwise, I may not have any left. The last event only had a few hundred people. ISNA has 30,000 people and I'm only thinking about 200 to 300 shirts (if that).

2. As much as I love traveling and meeting brothers/sisters from around the world, it has taken its toll on me. I'm officially burned out. I have plans to visit four more cities and then I'm think I'm completely done InshAllah. This will be the last of the Ummah Films tour.

London, UK (not yet confirmed)
Sydney, Australia (not yet confirmed)
Chicago, US (confirmed)
Toronto, Canada (not yet confirmed)

3. The entire Season 1 & Season 2 will be coming out on a Dual DVD set package in August InshAllah. Just like everything else sold at Ummah Films, it will be reasonable priced.

Sometimes when I'm hanging out with my friends and if all experienced something interesting, I'm picked to "tell the story" because I tell the same story but with sense of humor for the one person who missed it all. With the videos, its the same things. Often times, you can find humor in many things you go through but there isn't comedy in everything. I think the Season Finalle will be more on the serious side.

At the end of the day, I'm not here to make everyone laugh but more importantly its about the message. Sometimes I turn on the camera and I'm in a silly mood while other times, I'm more in a serious mood. Just like everyone else, I'm a human being and have both funny and not-so-funny days :)

I often get asked why did you become Muslim. What triggered you to give up your lifestyle for Islam. In the Season Finale, I will tell you.

Ali