As’salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatu,

Dear brothers and sisters in Islam – the questions listed below deserve our attention right now. and are worthy of a serious discussion by fellow Muslim bloggers – both the experienced and the new.  Every question on this list has the connecting thread of La I’laaha Il’lallah, but our servitude to Allah through our blogging may be expressed in different ways.

To a certain degree, you have to take yourself out of the picture to answer these questions honestly.  For just a few moments we need to forget what we like doing and think about if it is worth doing.

The first time you comment, please place a link to your blog with a brief ( <25 word) description so that others can connect your reflections with the type of content you are writing.  Here are the questions.  I look forward to a serious, mature, and respectful discussion in the comments section below.

1. Is blogging really the most productive thing I could be doing with my time?
2. How has this really increased my relationship with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’aala)?
3. Are the posts and topics I write about really what we, as Muslims, need to focus on?
4. To what extent should we share our views?
5. Where is the line between open discussion and speaking without knowledge?
6. What practical effects should Taqwa have on our blogging?
7. Am I responsible to filter comments?
8. When does blogging become vain talk?
9. Will I be able to explain why I spent my time blogging on the Day of Judgment?

If you have any suggestions about additional questions that Muslim Blogger MUST ask themselves then please share it.

(Photo: Oberazzi)

This is where the Muslim blogger (that’s all of us) differs from others.  Let’s get straight to the questions of how to pick a topic and niche (audience) for your blog.

Discover Your Passions

Take a few moments to list all the things you are passionate about.  Don’t stop to think about each one at first – just take 60-120 seconds and keep writing.  Later on we will go back and filter it out but, for now, don’t underestimate the importance of this step.  This will help you organize your thoughts, provide you a more comprehensive list of your interests, and set you up for the next step.

Remember that your readers will know whether or not you are actually passionate about your topic; it will be reflected in your writing.

Start filtering

Look through the list you just created and begin crossing off the ones that you merely enjoy reading or learning about.  What should be left are topics that you are knowledgeable about – topics that you are willing to put in time to research about.  The list should also be narrowed down to a topic you see yourself writing about for (at least) the next few years.

When you start your blog, you are automatically placing yourself as an “expert” in that field.  It is not necessary for you in fact to be an expert in the field.  However,  whatever topic you decide to move forward with should be one that you have a certain degree of experience in.  People won’t expect you to know all there is to know about the topic, but they will expect you to provide some sort of valuable content they can’t find elsewhere.

Connect your topic with the Day of Judgment

There is, of course, a line between writing about something you are passionate about and a topic that may be completely useless.  I’m not talking about whether or not the topic is popular.  This is about us standing before Allah on the Day of Judgment and being asked about how we used our time.

In one way or another, your blog has to connect with worshipping Allah and spreading the message of Islam.  Here are some quick ideas for topics that might not seem directly related to the deen and how we can “Islamicize” them:

Technology
How can we use the latest technology for street dawah?
A list of ways Islamic schools can use computers to enhance their education
Inform parents how to monitor the websites their children are visiting

Productivity
How can Muslims continue worshipping Allah properly during exam time?
What are the different methods that people use to memorize Qur’an?
Share examples of how the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions used their time

Culture
How can we embrace culture without compromising our deen in any way?
Discuss the various cultures throughout Islamic history
Connect the emphasis on good manners in Islam with cultural etiquette

That’s just a few examples of posts for different topics.  Of course, it may not be that simple with all our posts or even the majority.  However, at no time should we forget that our intentions, our writing, and all the time we spent on our blog will be asked about on the Day of Judgment – and we better have answer….for our own sake.

How much time can you dedicate to your blog?

Calculate the approximate amount of time you can afford to put into your blog.  If you don’t have much time to dedicate, don’t pick a topic that requires constant updating (like cell phones for example).  No matter how much you love the topic or how much content you can write, if you can’t keep up with the other competing blogs then your readers will just go somewhere else.

Keep in mind that blogging is a lot more than writing.  You’ll want to take into consideration the time it takes to:

• Edit your posts, participate in the comments section,
• Research and learn more about your topic,
• Connecting with other Muslim bloggers in some way, and taking the
• Time to follow-up with the back-end data (Google Analytics, advertising stats, affiliate programs, etc…)

All of these elements are key to starting and running a successful blog.  The last one on the list varies depending on how much you are tracking.  Many of us are not keeping track of the data simply to check how much money was made from ads or the number of people visiting.  If you use Google Analytics you’ll want to take some time to make lists of your most popular posts, the types of visitors that are coming, search terms that people are using to get to your site from search engines, and other important pieces of information.  If you use AdSense, you’ll want to find out which ad sizes are making the most and where they are placed.

So take all of these factors into consideration when you are figuring out how much time you have available for blogging.

Research your peers (a.k.a your competition)

Spend some time searching for other bloggers (Muslim or non-Muslim) who share your passion and interest in the topic.  Subscribe to their RSS feed, sign-up for their newsletter, read up on what they have to say about the topic, and participate in the discussions if you can.

In a healthy way, Insha’Allah, the blogs that you find are your direct competition.  Find out what topics they are not covering that deserve to be written about.  Connect with them and help each other to become better, more knowledgeable bloggers.   Competition doesn’t mean bashing or avoiding linking to their blogs.  As Muslim bloggers, we are always looking for the best interest of our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters.  As the Prophet (pbuh) said:

“None of you can truly be said to believe until he wants for his brother what he wants for himself.” (Bukhari)

Picking a niche

Once you’ve found your topic, the next step is to pick a specific audience that you want to write to.  For The Muslim Blogger, I selected to write specifically to the Muslim blogging community.  However, you may choose to write towards Muslim youth or maybe just anyone that has an interest in your topic.

Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind is that your blog must be a way to spread the message of Islam for the reasons that will be discussed below.  So if your blog is about business management and it is not geared to Muslims exclusively, don’t leave out words like Insha’Allah or Alhamdulillah.  Rather, use them like any Muslim should and provide a page that defines/explains Islamic terminology.  If there is a relevant hadith or ayah you can place in your blog post, use it.

Teach people that whatever the topic is, Allah’s religion has a position:

“This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion” (Al-Maidah:3)

Of course, we still need to recognize and stay within the limits of our knowledge when including ahadaith or ayat- but as Allah tells us Ibrahim said in the Qur’an:

“And who is better in speech than the one who calls to Allah, and does what is just and right, and says ‘Verily, I am of those who have surrendered themselves to Allah’”? (Fussilat:33)

Follow the series:
Blogging 101 [Intro]: The Complete Guide to Muslim Blogging
Blogging 101 [Part 1]: Starting in the Right Direction: Pray Istikhaara
Blogging 101 [Part 2]: Selecting a Topic and Niche
Blogging 101 [Part 3]: The Resource Center and Brainstorming Ideas
Blogging 101 [Part 4]: Coming Soon…

Google Buzz is out there and spreading fast.  In the first 2 days, there were over 9 million buzzes. Participating in Google Buzz hasn’t really become much of an option for many of us – unless you turn it off (you can do this at the bottom of the Gmail page).

If nothing else, we can use Buzz to bring in more traffic to our blogs and  get the word out about our latest blog posts.  Here are 10 plugins and addons to get your WordPress blog buzzing:

Share your latest Google Buzz Feeds/Streams

Google Buzz ER
Google Buzz
Simple Buzz

Place a Buzz button in your posts

Simple Buzz Link
Google Buzz Button For WordPress
Google buzz this Button
WP Google-buzz
Buzz This
Google Buzz It
WPBuzzer

Follow Me Button

This is a picture that you can save to use on your blog (Right Click and Save As).  Edit it however you want and then upload it using either FTP or use this link to directly connect to it:  http://www.themuslimblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Buzz2.png

If you want it in your sidebar, copy and paste this code into sidebar.php wherever you want it to appear.  Make sure you replace the profile link with yours.

<a href=”http://www.google.com/profiles/YOURPROFILEHERE”><img src=”http://www.themuslimblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Buzz2.png” alt=”" title=”Buzz” width=”302″ height=”42″ /></a>

2 Extra Buttons

If you want to customize the Buzz It button yourself for whatever reason and just need a ready to use Buzz image, here are 2 that you are free to save and use on your own blog:

In any case, here’s a question for you – do you use Buzz and has it been helpful tool for you?

So Google Buzz just launched and I’m trying to figure out how to use it productively. Anyone care to chime in with thoughts on how Buzz can help Muslim bloggers do their jobs more successfully? Or do you think it’s something that can’t really be used effectively?

Update:  I found 2 WordPress plugins that were already made – amazing.  I don’t know how good they are.  Google Buzz ER and Simple Buzz
Update 2:  I tried out the Buzz plugins.  Simple Buzz wouldn’t get up and running.  Google Buzz ER worked fine with some tweaking but Buzzes look really weird when not taken into context.

Update 3: I found a very useful guide to Google Buzz.  Look through it to get your questions answered and learn some neat tips and tricks.  You can find the guide here.

1. How can you send people private Buzzes?
   
2. Can Buzzes be organized into categories?
   
3. How do you keep Buzzes out of our inbox?
   Set up a Gmail filter that searches for the word “Buzz” in the subject line.  In the next step, set it to Mark As Read and Skip Inbox.  That’s it.
4. Is there a way to block other people? (ANSWERED by Arif)
   Click the name of the person.  On the next screen, select “Block [name]”
   
5. Can you do a search within Buzzes?
   Once you are in the Buzzes page, the search bar up top automatically switches to “Search Buzz”.
   
6. Can you share contacts with other people?
   
7. What does “Mute this post” do?
   
8. How do I completely turn Buzz off?
   Go to the bottom of the Gmail page and click “turn off buzz”
   
9. Why and how is Buzz choosing the people that I follow? (ANSWERED by Arif)
   They automatically select the list from your contacts and people that you’ve emailed.
   
10. Who can see my comments?
    By default, all your comments are public and can be seen by anyone.
11. Is there a way to make it so that ONLY my followers can see my comments?
    
12. Your question here…

Update 2 (02/2010): A NEW logo has been set up and is at the top. It was made by my brother-in-law; may Allah reward him.

Update (01/2010): Neither logo is being used since TMB redesigned the site/layout.

The new TMB logo is up compliments of an awesome designer: Saad Tasleem from www.saadtasleem.com. Now the question is – what do YOU think about the new logo?

I placed a poll in this post to make it easy.  If you want to leave any additional comments, the comments section is down below.  Jazakumullahu Khayran to Saad Tasleem for designing it and to all the readers of The Muslim Blogger.

The old TMB logo

The new TMB logo

I follow about 30-40 blogs using Google Reader.  Among them are Engadget, Gizmodo, Write to Done, LifeHacker, and  others.  But, I also keep up-to-date with a number of Muslim blogs.

So start sharing the Muslim blogs you enjoy reading with others in the comments section.

If you want to share and promote your blog  – head over to Post Your Blog Address.

(Photo: brentdanley)

I enjoyed your really earnest pleas for quality blogging. There’s a lot of hope I hear in what you say. That’s refreshing! Good for you! Keep being hopeful for Muslim bloggers and we just might rise to the occassion.

I made bold the last sentence because I wanted to build on what she said with this: not only might we rise to the occasion, but Insha’Allah, we will rise to the occasion.  The question is whether we will be a part of that rise.

Brothers and sisters, this is our media.  Of course it is not the only type, but where else can you so quickly reach the world without paying a penny for the site or hosting?

Anyhow, I thought her comment was worth noting because it is an attitude that we should all try to have.  An attitude of hope and belief that we, as Muslims, will speak loud and speak clear.

Update (September 7th): I made a short 5 minute video clip.  I’ll place inside this post but it will also be on the front page to view at any time.

Blogging requires that you discipline yourself to adopt a certain set of characteristics.  Everyone is different but, in the end, there are universal qualities every successful  blogger must have.

Genuine

If there’s something you want to write about, there is a good chance that someone else already did it.  It doesn’t matter.

Producing quality content doesn’t necessarily mean that no one else ever touched the topic.

What makes your writing yours, what makes your content unique, what will make readers come back to your blog is your approach to the topic of discussion.

No one else has had the same life experience as you and we are different in some way from one another.  Bringing your personality to you writing is what makes your post authentic and genuine.

Hard Worker

Another factor in writing original material for your blog is effort.  Anyone can throw a blog post together in 20 minutes, but a successful blogger take his or her time.

One rule to writing that I will continue to emphasize is this: You should never publish a blog post without editing and proofreading it. This is a rule that applies to all writers but even more so to bloggers.  Why?  Because it is much easier to publish your content.

You will always want to revisit your blog entry before it is published.  Try to do this at least a few hours after you write it.  If this is a post that you want to be a big hit with your readers then leave it for a full 24 hours.

Confident

Never avoid writing a post because you think your readers won’t like it.  Do that and you might miss out on writing what could have been your best post.  If you want to write about something and you feel passionately about it, then write it.  Be confident in your abilities to interact with your readers and know that that confidence comes from writing about things you care about.

Your job as a blogger is not to “please” your readers.  Sometimes that will happen and sometimes it won’t.  What your readers really want is to be able to interact with your writing in some way. This interaction may come in the form of comments and discussion.  Other times it may be that your post caused him or her to begin thinking more deeply about whatever it is you wrote about.

Open-minded

This point is directly linked to the previous.  However, it’s important to note that there is a difference between confidence and arrogance  When you are writing your content make sure you stay open-minded to other views (this does not apply to matters of aqeedah of course).  Just because you are the writer does not mean you are the smartest, most knowledgeable person on the issue.  Believe in your readers and they will believe in you.

When you are piecing together your thoughts for a post, write it as confidently and genuinely as you can.  At the same time, you need to leave room for discussion. Your readers need to feel like their opinions can be voiced and that they can freely (and openly) disagree with you.

Arrogance is something that is reflected everywhere, even our writing.  I ask Allah (swt) to protect us from arrogance because it takes only a mustard seed’s weight of arrogance to keep us from Jannah.

Creative

You are the creative type.  The very fact that you turned to a blog as a form of communicating a message is a creative behavior on its own.

The problem isn’t whether or not you are creative.  Rather, the problem is what is limiting your creativity.

One of the top reasons you feel you’re not the creative type is because you tell yourself that.  Instead of telling yourself that you’re not creative enough – do the opposite.

There’s no secret to creativity.  It is a skill, not a talent that we’re born like — and like any other skill, it gets better with practice.

Right Intentions

The Prophet (saw) said that from the branches of eeman is removing an object from the road.  Imagine then if you had the right intention when blogging.  Imagine if you were writing and communicating knowledge that could benefit and inspire people.

Subhan’Allah brothers and sisters, with the right intention Allah (swt) could grant you Jannah if He so pleased.  When you blog, remember why you are doing it and keep in mind that you will see every letter you typed again on the Day of Judgment.

One of the only things that can benefit you after your death is leaving something behind that helped people after you.  Make your intention to please Allah (swt) and Insha’Allah you will reap the fruits of in dunya and akhira.

________

This list is not as complete as it could be.  There are many other characteristics and qualities that everyone should have.

My question to you is what other characteristics and qualities should bloggers in specific have?

(Photo: clspeace)

Here at TMB, the goal is to help Muslim bloggers reach their full potential.  But, what about those Muslims who don’t blog?  Should they blog?  Blogging might not be right for everyone, but I do think that more Muslims should be blogging.  Blogging has a lot benefits, can have so many positive effects on a person, and is also beneficial for the community at large.

• To blog, you need to sit down and just write.  Writing is an awesome exercise to get your brain moving and to work on your communication skills.  Of course there are other methods of communicating besides writing, but much of our world today revolves around technology.  Being able to communicate your ideas in writing to others is crucial to success both in your personal life and in the professional world.
• Blogging helps you to become more introspective.  When you write, you find that your personality is reflected.
• One of the best ways to successfully run a blog is to use a schedule.  Updating your blog randomly isn’t good for you, your readers, or your blog as a whole.  In order to do this, you need to be disciplined, patient, and work hard – 3 of the key ingredients to become an awesome blogger.
• My guess is that blogging is going to be around for a long time, but even if it’s not, that doesn’t mean you can’t do good in whatever time blogs are still popular.  The ease of publishing and updating your blog provides you a perfect opportunity to quickly share a story that may motivate others.
• In a time when we, the youth, are helping to revive the Islamic movement, there is lots we could be sharing with each other.  For example, the types of activities happening in communities all across America or whatever country you may be from.  Your activities could help youth in other areas to start their own youth groups or add to existing ones.
• Many of us listen to and attend lectures of various types.  I know that the Al-Maghrib students have blogs on which they share their thoughts, notes, and questions.  Blogs are a great opportunity to post the knowledge that we pick up from lectures and classes.

There are tons of reasons to blog.   We can help each other out by quickly disseminating information to other Muslims around the internet – that’s in addition to blogging being a writing exercise that is good for you.

Are you a blogger?  Why do you blog?  Have you learned anything about yourself through writing?  Do you think (more) Muslims should be blogging in general?  Share your thoughts.  I look forward to reading your comments.

(Photo: JakeBrewer)

I wanted to talk to you for a moment about some basics when it comes to commenting on blogs.  Commenting, as you all know, is one of the trademarks of blogs and one of the reasons people enjoy going to (and starting) blogs.  What the community has to say about a post, what YOU have to say about a post, and how the writer of the blog responds – all of that goes into the comments sections.

But, just because you have the ability to write whatever you want in the comments section doesn’t mean you should.  Remember that every thought in our heads and every letter we type, Allah (swt) knows about it.  Remember – you will be held accountable for what you say when the Day of Judgment comes.

Here are 5 basic rules to remember before you leave a comment on any blog (including your own).

1.    Be Respectful – It doesn’t matter what blog you decide to comment on, remember that being respectful is not an option.

2.    Do Not Curse – The Prophet (saw) said that those who use vulgar language are not from among us (i.e. Muslims).  Vulgar language does not necessarily have to be that of the tongue – it can come in the form of typed letters on a keyboard.

3.    If You’re Not a Mehram… – Islam is very clear about the type of permissible communication between men and women.  Commenting on a blog does not release you of these limits.  This doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be beneficial dialogue, but it does mean that you should fear Allah (swt) in the comments you write when they deal with members of the opposite sex.

4.    No Spamming – Whenever you comment, you are given the option to have a link placed back to your site.  While this is a great way to get traffic to your blog, that doesn’t give you the right to just spam blogs with useless comments.  It is even worse if you write a comment just to tell others to visit your site.  If you want people to take you seriously then write something useful.

5.    Know Your Limits – This is super important and even more so when commenting on a post that talks about Islam.  The vast majority of us are not scholars, but when it comes to writing comments on blogs, we all of a sudden become the greatest scholar in the Ummah.  Fear Allah (swt) brothers and sisters.  In real life, you have to say “I don’t know”.  Online it is even easier – just don’t say anything!