http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#comments Baba Ali graced us with his much awaited presence Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:30:39 +0000 en http://www.toseef.com/toseef-logo.gif http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#comments 116 25 toseef's logo http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#comment13 http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#1422 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:30:39 +0000 Piniyini
You mention the price tag, I think it's a no-brainer to figure out this isn't about money - rather the time the event started (and yes it was 45 mins later, we had a couple of things planned afterwards so I was time conscious). ]]> http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#comment12 http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#1421 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:26:47 +0000 Mb-7
it's very easy to sit there and criticise but a lot of us would've done the same if we were in the organiser's position...

if you've ever given a presentation at uni or wherever you know how distracting it can be when groups of people enter late into the lecture theatre and find their seat... and inevitably talking while they do it...

now imagine this on a huge scale with hundreds of latecomers, and bear in mind that the event had the biggest audience to date of any ummahfilms event.

basically, considering that baba ali has only done a handful of events so far and this was the biggest... i think the organisers made the right decision to delay until the latecomers arrived... but yeah i agree that they probably should've announced the reason.

besides, imperial college events usually start on time unlike other islamic societies... i'm sure the organisers were as agitated as you were about the late start

anyways that's my 2 pence... apart from the late start the event was amazing... actually i totally forgot about the late start til i read your blog today ]]> http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#comment11 http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#1420 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 11:42:17 +0000 Piniyini http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#comment10 http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#1419 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 01:44:37 +0000 No One
@ Toseef...sorry yaar...laters!! ]]> http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#comment9 http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#1416 Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:01:07 +0000 Piniyini
About the 'comment above' that you mention, it's not by me.

Oh, and I am one of those people who 'arrived from afar'. If I can do it anyone can!

Sara, welcome and care to elaborate?

Humaira, something I said or regarding the event? (or both?)

Rufaida, I knew someone would say this. Basically I don't pray at home so it wouldn't seem right going to London to pray (after all I was there for the event). Also, the situation with the prayer hall didn't help in any way.

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I thought this post was kinda dead and no-one would comment, guess I was wrong. I've yet to write the aftermath to this post (will do soon).

Toseef ]]> http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#comment8 http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#1414 Wed, 28 Mar 2007 20:54:37 +0000 Rufaida http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#comment7 http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#1413 Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:47:01 +0000 Humaira http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#comment6 http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#1412 Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:45:57 +0000 Sara http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#comment5 http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#1411 Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:20:10 +0000 Mohammed www.theisoc.com

(By the way, I know the above as I was one of the organisers of the event.)

Jazak-Allahu-khayr, ]]> http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#comment4 http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#1410 Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:18:25 +0000 Mohammed www.theisoc.com

Assalamu'alaikum,

Thank you for your review, it was an interesting read.

Just to correct a couple of points in your post; after the second speaker got on stage and said "the event will start in one minute"... it actually did start 1-2 minutes afterwards (yes, we measured).

Secondly, and more importantly, the reason for the delay in starting was because the majority of the attendees arrived after 6.30pm, and it wouldn't have been practical to start the event with a large proportion of guests absent - because of the disruption/noise it would cause when those guests entered, and because many guests arrived from afar.

Our electronic booking system counted a large proportion of attendees coming into the Hall after 7pm. In fact, there were only about 250-300 people in the Hall by 6.30pm, which is just 1/3 of the audience!

That was the only reason we started late.

As for the comment above "the event was organized by some desis", there's no need to make racist generalisations. ]]> http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#comment3 http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#1405 Tue, 27 Mar 2007 17:44:41 +0000 Piniyini http://www.toseef.com/200703-baba-ali-ummah-films-imperial-college-london ]]> http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#comment2 http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#1404 Tue, 27 Mar 2007 17:00:19 +0000 Wayfarer wayfarersjourney.blogspot.com

is that the guy with the videos on you tube - the "this is a reminder from ali" guy? ]]> http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#comment1 http://www.toseef.com/200703-intro-to-an-evening-with-ali#1403 Mon, 26 Mar 2007 21:23:59 +0000 No One