Oh snap! Its been almost 2 months…so much for “Everyday” with Hiba J. But many things have happened during this time such as: I came back to America from Syria, my best friend got married in Jersey, my uncle came to visit from Saudi Arabia, we took a trip to Colorado, I got accepted into dental hygiene school in St. Louis, Ramadan, I got an apartment, Eid and now…back to reality.
Over the past couple of weeks I've been trying to wrap my brain around all the change that's going to be happening in the next couple weeks. So I compiled a list of things that have been running through my little head. Here goes...
Allah
Surat Taha…my new obsession
Intentions
Gheeba sucks
Packing, which im in denial about
Moving…do I really want to do this?
Friends…I don’t want to make new ones, I already like the ones I got
Hend’s Moving…stupid Jersey
Not seeing my best friends everyday
Leaving Rula, Arwa and all my girls
Qu’ran…I wish I had it memorized
New masjid
New school
Only hijabi
Will I make friends?
I feel alone
My heart hurts
Salah makes me happy
Intentions
New apartment…need to buy night lights
My nafs
I'm going to miss my mom
I wish Ahmed will move with me
I should look for a job
Will I do well in hygiene school?
St. Louie…the Nelly song
Balance
I wish I can memorize the Qu’ran
Im going to miss Columbia
Intentions
Keeping Allah happy with me
Is what I'm doing worth it?
I hope the Prophet (pbuh) will be proud
Life’s too short…tick, tick tick.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Hend and Ammar =)
I was talking to my bff hend the other night on gchat and she informed me that her hennah party is going to be on Sunday. Unfortunately I won’t be there to celebrate with her. However in approximately 2 weeks I’ll be heading out of the City of Jasmin, heading over to the Show Me state, then up to the Garden state for her fabulous wedding inshallah!!
As many of you already know, Hend is not only my best friend, but she is also the sister I never had. She was always there for me, through everything. I feel like I must have done something really good for Allah to have kept Hend in my life.
When I heard that Hend was engaged a million and one things ran through my head: Whats his name? What does he do? Where does he live? Does he deserve her? Is he good enough? And after meeting Ammar for the first time after their Katib Kitab last summer, all my questions were answered. He was, walhamdulilah, perfect for my best friend…and I finally understood that I needed to back off and share her. Now im not saying that I was completely thrilled nor easy going about this but through time I realized that Ammar was not just ok, he was pretty cool and he made her really happy.
My very best wishes and duaa are for you both, Hend and Ammar. I pray that God willing, you will both find genuine happiness and sakeena. I pray that Hend will find in Ammar a partner that will stand by her through thick and thin and be her most loyal supporter and comfort in life.
Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) taught that marriage, in Islam is ‘half the faith’. The goal of marriage in Islam is a lot more than two people trying to productively live together. It is to practice Islam, and to help one another become stronger in their deen, to bring peace, love, happiness, and security.
Im pretty sure that none of this happens in 2 seconds and it doesnt come naturally, but it can be created…with love, patience, and selflessness. As Muslims, we are asked by Allah to do our best to create happy, secure, and pious households.
Be noble, be kind, be tolerant, generous and compassionate. May Allah bless you both and keep you and your marriage safe. May he send his angels to guard, protect and guide you and keep you away from those that will harm you. May Allah bless your marriage with trust, and everything good. Ameen.
I love you both, Hend and Ammar, for the sake of Allah (SWT) and will really miss you Hend. But im glad to know that you are with someone who will take care of you, be there for you and treat you better than I ever could.
As many of you already know, Hend is not only my best friend, but she is also the sister I never had. She was always there for me, through everything. I feel like I must have done something really good for Allah to have kept Hend in my life.
When I heard that Hend was engaged a million and one things ran through my head: Whats his name? What does he do? Where does he live? Does he deserve her? Is he good enough? And after meeting Ammar for the first time after their Katib Kitab last summer, all my questions were answered. He was, walhamdulilah, perfect for my best friend…and I finally understood that I needed to back off and share her. Now im not saying that I was completely thrilled nor easy going about this but through time I realized that Ammar was not just ok, he was pretty cool and he made her really happy.
My very best wishes and duaa are for you both, Hend and Ammar. I pray that God willing, you will both find genuine happiness and sakeena. I pray that Hend will find in Ammar a partner that will stand by her through thick and thin and be her most loyal supporter and comfort in life.
Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) taught that marriage, in Islam is ‘half the faith’. The goal of marriage in Islam is a lot more than two people trying to productively live together. It is to practice Islam, and to help one another become stronger in their deen, to bring peace, love, happiness, and security.
Im pretty sure that none of this happens in 2 seconds and it doesnt come naturally, but it can be created…with love, patience, and selflessness. As Muslims, we are asked by Allah to do our best to create happy, secure, and pious households.
Be noble, be kind, be tolerant, generous and compassionate. May Allah bless you both and keep you and your marriage safe. May he send his angels to guard, protect and guide you and keep you away from those that will harm you. May Allah bless your marriage with trust, and everything good. Ameen.
I love you both, Hend and Ammar, for the sake of Allah (SWT) and will really miss you Hend. But im glad to know that you are with someone who will take care of you, be there for you and treat you better than I ever could.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Smoky City
In a world where Chicago is known as “The Windy City”, New York as “The Big Apple”, Seattle as “The Emerald City”, Miami as “The Magic City”, Bermingham as “The City of a Thousand Trades” and Philly as “The City of Firsts” I couldn’t help but wonder: What is Damascus known as?
With the help of google.com I was able to find out that Damascus is known as “The City of Jasmin;” Jasmin as in the flower, not the Princess :). However, after being here for a little over a month I think im going to go with “The City of Smoke;” Smoke as in cigarette smoke.
Today my cousin who came down to Sham from Homus for the weekend took me and my baby brother out to a very popluar/hip café known as “In House”. As he and Ahmed ordered their chocolate milkshakes, I got an Americano with sweet ‘n low packets since no one in this country has heard of splenda yet. We managed to snag two couches facing eachother and a table in between. As Ahmed and I sat, the smell of cigerettes was overwhelming. To our luck, maybe 2 feet away, there was a group of four 20-something guys, each on a laptop cigerette in hand.
As we waited for our drinks to arrive, my 20 year old cousin himself pulled out a cylinder of death. Why?...WHY??? I could see Ahmed’s eyes getting bigger, I could no longer be silent…I had to say something. As I began asking my cousin questions such as, “umm excuse me but what the heck are you doing with that?” and “uhh you do realize that cigerettes are nasty and you can die” the four guys sitting next to us decided to join in on our conversation.
All four of them, including my cousin himself could not understand that they are being inconsiderate and disrespectful by smoking in front/near me. I explained that they made the “dumb” choice of harming themselves with a nicotine, tar, radio-active polonium, arsenic and benzene vapour filled piece of paper. By smoking in near me, they’re exposing me to these poisons. They all looked at me and laughed, as if the words that were coming out of my mouth were outragous and I was just being a big baby about it.
Literally in a matter of 20 seconds, the couch across from me was filled with the four guys and my cousin all eager to make me sound like a dummy…awkward! Hamdillah Ahmed had my back on this one and I wasn’t alone.
Just in time the guy brought our drinks and made things a little less awkward, but it was still weird. They were all staring at me waiting to hear what I had to say…One of the guys had a grin on his face, I could tell he was waiting to make fun or say something “smart”. I took a sip of my Americano and tried to explain to them a little more in depth my point of view…
It is my understanding that in Islam doing something that will make you sick is prohibited. Allah says in Surat Al-Baqara aya 195 “Do not cast yourselves, with your own hands, into destriction.” Also Surat Al-Nisaa aya 29 says “…nor kill yourselves.” Now im not saying that smoking is like suicide, but in my opinion, it’s pretty darn close.
I also believe that smoking is a source of wasting one’s wealth. Allah says in Surat Al-Israa; aya’s 26-27 “But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift. Verily spendthrifts are brothers of the devils.”
As soon as I got done with my little “lecture” as Ahmed likes to call it, the 4 guys across from me including my cousin himself started laughing…again. Uhh…did I say something funny?
They all said that they pretty much smoked because they’re bored and its something to do. It seemed like everything that I had just said went in one ear and out the other. So I kinda let things go but did ask them to not smoke in front of me and my baby brother.
A while later Ahmed, my cousin and I decided to head out. To my surprise walhamdulilah, the whole walk home my cousin didn’t pull out a cigarette. I guess maybe he was listening to what I said, or maybe he just didn’t want to hear me lecture again. :)
With the help of google.com I was able to find out that Damascus is known as “The City of Jasmin;” Jasmin as in the flower, not the Princess :). However, after being here for a little over a month I think im going to go with “The City of Smoke;” Smoke as in cigarette smoke.
Today my cousin who came down to Sham from Homus for the weekend took me and my baby brother out to a very popluar/hip café known as “In House”. As he and Ahmed ordered their chocolate milkshakes, I got an Americano with sweet ‘n low packets since no one in this country has heard of splenda yet. We managed to snag two couches facing eachother and a table in between. As Ahmed and I sat, the smell of cigerettes was overwhelming. To our luck, maybe 2 feet away, there was a group of four 20-something guys, each on a laptop cigerette in hand.
As we waited for our drinks to arrive, my 20 year old cousin himself pulled out a cylinder of death. Why?...WHY??? I could see Ahmed’s eyes getting bigger, I could no longer be silent…I had to say something. As I began asking my cousin questions such as, “umm excuse me but what the heck are you doing with that?” and “uhh you do realize that cigerettes are nasty and you can die” the four guys sitting next to us decided to join in on our conversation.
All four of them, including my cousin himself could not understand that they are being inconsiderate and disrespectful by smoking in front/near me. I explained that they made the “dumb” choice of harming themselves with a nicotine, tar, radio-active polonium, arsenic and benzene vapour filled piece of paper. By smoking in near me, they’re exposing me to these poisons. They all looked at me and laughed, as if the words that were coming out of my mouth were outragous and I was just being a big baby about it.
Literally in a matter of 20 seconds, the couch across from me was filled with the four guys and my cousin all eager to make me sound like a dummy…awkward! Hamdillah Ahmed had my back on this one and I wasn’t alone.
Just in time the guy brought our drinks and made things a little less awkward, but it was still weird. They were all staring at me waiting to hear what I had to say…One of the guys had a grin on his face, I could tell he was waiting to make fun or say something “smart”. I took a sip of my Americano and tried to explain to them a little more in depth my point of view…
It is my understanding that in Islam doing something that will make you sick is prohibited. Allah says in Surat Al-Baqara aya 195 “Do not cast yourselves, with your own hands, into destriction.” Also Surat Al-Nisaa aya 29 says “…nor kill yourselves.” Now im not saying that smoking is like suicide, but in my opinion, it’s pretty darn close.
I also believe that smoking is a source of wasting one’s wealth. Allah says in Surat Al-Israa; aya’s 26-27 “But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift. Verily spendthrifts are brothers of the devils.”
As soon as I got done with my little “lecture” as Ahmed likes to call it, the 4 guys across from me including my cousin himself started laughing…again. Uhh…did I say something funny?
They all said that they pretty much smoked because they’re bored and its something to do. It seemed like everything that I had just said went in one ear and out the other. So I kinda let things go but did ask them to not smoke in front of me and my baby brother.
A while later Ahmed, my cousin and I decided to head out. To my surprise walhamdulilah, the whole walk home my cousin didn’t pull out a cigarette. I guess maybe he was listening to what I said, or maybe he just didn’t want to hear me lecture again. :)
Thursday, June 18, 2009
My Family: East and West
A couple nights ago I had a very interesting dream. I woke up very happy walhamdulilah…I saw my friends. Its been almost a month since I last saw them, some of them even longer. In the dream there was my bff Hend, Arwa, Mariam, and Rehab. We were sitting in Hend’s basement laughing. It was awesome. I woke up to myself laughing; it was going to be a good day!
Being in Syira surrounded by my family is great, and I thank Allah every day for giving me the opportunity to come see them, well most of them. But I really miss my other “family.” The ones that are on the other side of the planet right now, the ones that know everything about me, the ones that are part of what makes me...me. As the day went on, I couldn’t help but wonder: Why did Allah bless me with such amazing friends?
Ja’far Al-Sadeq (RA) said: “Avoid the company of five categories of people: the liar, because he deceives you; he is like a mirage; the fool who wants to benefit you but he harms you; the stingy who lets you down when you are badly in need of him; the coward who runs away from you at hardship and the corrupt for he sells you for a little food or something less”
I feel that with the duaa from my family here and Allah’s will, Allah has protected me from the types of people mentioned above. He has granted me with a different family in the form of my friends. They have sound minds, true religion and amazing character. I look up to them and even though we are apart now, and I don’t get to see them all as much as I want when Im home in Columbia, I pray that we will always love each other for the sake of Allah (SWT). I pray that we will always have that close bond and have each others backs. And I pray that Allah (SWT) grant my baby brother a family, just like mine in the form of friends, that will have his back and help him stay on the straight path.
Being in Syira surrounded by my family is great, and I thank Allah every day for giving me the opportunity to come see them, well most of them. But I really miss my other “family.” The ones that are on the other side of the planet right now, the ones that know everything about me, the ones that are part of what makes me...me. As the day went on, I couldn’t help but wonder: Why did Allah bless me with such amazing friends?
Ja’far Al-Sadeq (RA) said: “Avoid the company of five categories of people: the liar, because he deceives you; he is like a mirage; the fool who wants to benefit you but he harms you; the stingy who lets you down when you are badly in need of him; the coward who runs away from you at hardship and the corrupt for he sells you for a little food or something less”
I feel that with the duaa from my family here and Allah’s will, Allah has protected me from the types of people mentioned above. He has granted me with a different family in the form of my friends. They have sound minds, true religion and amazing character. I look up to them and even though we are apart now, and I don’t get to see them all as much as I want when Im home in Columbia, I pray that we will always love each other for the sake of Allah (SWT). I pray that we will always have that close bond and have each others backs. And I pray that Allah (SWT) grant my baby brother a family, just like mine in the form of friends, that will have his back and help him stay on the straight path.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Bab Sigheer
I’ve been in Syria for about 10 days now and alhamdulilah with the help of Allah (SWT) ive finally gotten into my usual routine. I havnt gotten a chance to go out and explore yet but I’ve been going from house to house visiting people. Last Thursday, I was at my aunt Nihad’s (May Allah’s rahma and blessing be upon her) house for an akhdan khatir. Because my aunt passed away while my mother and I were away, people have been coming to my aunts house on Thursdays between Asr and Maghrib to give their condolenses. The next day my mother, tete, uncle and I decided to go visit my aunts (Allah yirhamha) grave.
Right after Salatul Jummah, we all get into my uncles beat up blue car (that’s the best descirption I can give lol) and head to Bab Sigheer (the name of the cemetary) in old Damascus close to Al-Amawey mosque. Before we enter the cemetary, I noticed an old man selling little plants right next to the cemetary. I couldn’t help but wonder; why were people going to this old man, buying a little plant and then going into the cemetary?
Then it hit me…I was sitting in the womens library upstairs next to number 3 room in Abla Fadiah’s class. It was just me and Hend and I remember vaguley a hadith but what was it ya rabi. As I was standing next to the old man waiting while my uncle bought some plants i remembered! (Oh how much I miss Ghazali). Anywho, in the hadith it is said that the prophet Mohammed (PBUH) was once passing and pointed to two graves and said that they were being punished. One because of backbitting and the other because of the impurities while urniating. Then the prophet (PBUH) took a palm plants and planted it on the graves. The ulama say that everything in this wold praises Allah including animals and even plants. The plants are said to reduce the pain of the person in the grave. Ya subhanallah =)
We all began walking into the cemetary. I knew what I had to say but the meaning of the words didn’t hit me until I was in the cemetary surrounded by tomb stones and I heard the words that were coming out of my mouth: “Al-Salaamu Alaikum ya ‘ibad Allah, Antum al-sabiqoon wa nahnu al-lahiqoon.” Translated into: peace be with you oh slaves of Allah, you were first but we will soon follow.
Scary. Even though I knew that death is haq for every human, this experience made me realize how little time we are given on this earth and that our ultimate goal is to please Allah (SWT) and inshallah get into Jannah.
I might have passed over 100 graves and knew nothing about the names that I read on the tomb stones. I finally understood that people won’t remember how much money I made, or whether I lost the 10 pounds that I desperately want off or even whether I had the perfect marble floors in my non existing villa. What they’re going to remember is my akhalq, my deen and the impact I had in this world.
I pray that Allah (SWT) always guides me and ummat Mohammed on the straight path, Ameen.
Please recite surat Al-Fatiha for my aunt Nihad and all of your loved ones that have beat us to the other side. May Allah’s mercy and forgivness be with them all inshallah.
Right after Salatul Jummah, we all get into my uncles beat up blue car (that’s the best descirption I can give lol) and head to Bab Sigheer (the name of the cemetary) in old Damascus close to Al-Amawey mosque. Before we enter the cemetary, I noticed an old man selling little plants right next to the cemetary. I couldn’t help but wonder; why were people going to this old man, buying a little plant and then going into the cemetary?
Then it hit me…I was sitting in the womens library upstairs next to number 3 room in Abla Fadiah’s class. It was just me and Hend and I remember vaguley a hadith but what was it ya rabi. As I was standing next to the old man waiting while my uncle bought some plants i remembered! (Oh how much I miss Ghazali). Anywho, in the hadith it is said that the prophet Mohammed (PBUH) was once passing and pointed to two graves and said that they were being punished. One because of backbitting and the other because of the impurities while urniating. Then the prophet (PBUH) took a palm plants and planted it on the graves. The ulama say that everything in this wold praises Allah including animals and even plants. The plants are said to reduce the pain of the person in the grave. Ya subhanallah =)
We all began walking into the cemetary. I knew what I had to say but the meaning of the words didn’t hit me until I was in the cemetary surrounded by tomb stones and I heard the words that were coming out of my mouth: “Al-Salaamu Alaikum ya ‘ibad Allah, Antum al-sabiqoon wa nahnu al-lahiqoon.” Translated into: peace be with you oh slaves of Allah, you were first but we will soon follow.
Scary. Even though I knew that death is haq for every human, this experience made me realize how little time we are given on this earth and that our ultimate goal is to please Allah (SWT) and inshallah get into Jannah.
I might have passed over 100 graves and knew nothing about the names that I read on the tomb stones. I finally understood that people won’t remember how much money I made, or whether I lost the 10 pounds that I desperately want off or even whether I had the perfect marble floors in my non existing villa. What they’re going to remember is my akhalq, my deen and the impact I had in this world.
I pray that Allah (SWT) always guides me and ummat Mohammed on the straight path, Ameen.
Please recite surat Al-Fatiha for my aunt Nihad and all of your loved ones that have beat us to the other side. May Allah’s mercy and forgivness be with them all inshallah.
Monday, June 1, 2009
The Trip
May 21, 2009; 6 PM my flight left St. Louis for our nations captial, Washington DC. As I was in the plane I couldn’t help but think of all the things I was going to miss in the two months that I was going to be gone. My dad and brother, my car, my house, my masjid, my friends and so much more, but I was looking forward to seeing my family. As I reached Dulles airport at around 7:45 PM I realized that I only had an hour to reach my flight to London. I had to wait outside next to the plane in the rain for the people to bring me my pink carry on bag that contained my beloved yet massive laptop. I saw them throw my bag from the plane to the rolly basket thing with all the bags and thought I was gonna have a heart attack, but I finally got my bag and ran to my gate. As I was running past people I was making duaa that I wouldn’t miss my flight. Alhamdulliah I reached the plane with literally 2 minutes to spare. The flight to London wasn’t so bad, other than the fact that I got really bad motion sickness (like always) and threw up. A lot. Eww.
10:32 AM London time I was in England, woot woot. London was a good break. I was able to change, freshen up and actually look presentable but fatigue took over my body. I hadnt slept in over 24 hours; I was getting super cranky and super duper irritable. My flight was delayed an hour which wasn’t so bad and finally by 2:00 PM I was on my flight to Damascus. The plane was full of Arabs but mostly kids…so many kid. For seven hours I was forced to listen to children crying. When one of them would stop another one would start up again. I kinda felt sorry for the old man sitting next to me just cuz I kept bumping into him as I was trying to reach my number one venue, the bathroom. Somewhere between Europe and the Middle East I decided to watch a movie. There wasn’t much of a selection (thank you British Airways) so I started watching the best thing I can find: “Confessions of a Shopaholic.” Really…what a dumb movie, I couldnt even finish it…not only was I feeling crummy but there wasn’t even a decent movie to watch (wow I really need to chill on the complaining). At that moment I really missed Lord of the Rings and was pissed that we didn’t do our Lord of the Rings Night before I left (mmhmm Arwa and Hend).
Alhamdulilah I reached Damascus around 9:15 PM Syrian time. As I left the plane I was immediately hit with the smell of cigarettes and gasoline. Mmm the smell of polution, I liked! I couldn’t wait to see my family. As I walked into the airport I noticed some changes. The walls were painted yellow and green. Interesting choice for an airport I thought but at least they’re trying. I checked in and was directed to bag claim. I was waiting for my bags when the woman next to me pulled out a cigarette and started smoking in the airport. I turned to her, with a look of shock on my face but she didn’t flinch. So I went about my business and got my bags. As I was pushing the cart I heard someone screaming my name. It was my cousin Samer running to help me and the rest of my family waiting right behind him. Seeing their faces reminded me of how much I really did miss them. I realized that being away for so long really does harden your heart. I couldn’t wait to get home and hear what everyone had to say.
We all loaded up in the cars and began another journey to my tete’s house. The car ride was horrifying. I forgot how crazy the driving in Syria is. I was holding on to the handle bar so hard I think I lost circulation in my right hand. We all got to my tete’s house in one piece hamdillah and shawirma was waiting for us at the table. Yum, too bad I was so sick I couldn’t eat it. Haha. But being around my family was so nice. I felt like I was in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Syrian style of course.
As my cousins, aunts and uncles left my grandmother’s house one by one, my mom, baby brother and I along with my grandmother and now, only aunt were left alone. Finally I thought…some peace and quiet. But that wasn’t the case at all…They decided to unpack while I decided to make the kids their goody bags. At around 4:15 AM Syria time, I had just finished making all 25 goody bags, my mom, aunt and grandma finished unpaking our bags and my baby brother was passed out on the couch remote in hand and Ally McBeil on the tube (I really wanted to say that). It was around that time that I heard something outside. It was the Imam reciting Qu’ran on the speaker right before the fajr athan. I closed my eyes and listened like I was in a trance, it was so beautiful. A couple minutes later I heard at least six different masjids, all around my grandma’s house, calling for prayer. It was at that moment that I realized that I was really blessed that Allah gave me the opportunity to go to Syria again, to see my family again and to let me hear the athan on the speaker for all ears to hear, again.
10:32 AM London time I was in England, woot woot. London was a good break. I was able to change, freshen up and actually look presentable but fatigue took over my body. I hadnt slept in over 24 hours; I was getting super cranky and super duper irritable. My flight was delayed an hour which wasn’t so bad and finally by 2:00 PM I was on my flight to Damascus. The plane was full of Arabs but mostly kids…so many kid. For seven hours I was forced to listen to children crying. When one of them would stop another one would start up again. I kinda felt sorry for the old man sitting next to me just cuz I kept bumping into him as I was trying to reach my number one venue, the bathroom. Somewhere between Europe and the Middle East I decided to watch a movie. There wasn’t much of a selection (thank you British Airways) so I started watching the best thing I can find: “Confessions of a Shopaholic.” Really…what a dumb movie, I couldnt even finish it…not only was I feeling crummy but there wasn’t even a decent movie to watch (wow I really need to chill on the complaining). At that moment I really missed Lord of the Rings and was pissed that we didn’t do our Lord of the Rings Night before I left (mmhmm Arwa and Hend).
Alhamdulilah I reached Damascus around 9:15 PM Syrian time. As I left the plane I was immediately hit with the smell of cigarettes and gasoline. Mmm the smell of polution, I liked! I couldn’t wait to see my family. As I walked into the airport I noticed some changes. The walls were painted yellow and green. Interesting choice for an airport I thought but at least they’re trying. I checked in and was directed to bag claim. I was waiting for my bags when the woman next to me pulled out a cigarette and started smoking in the airport. I turned to her, with a look of shock on my face but she didn’t flinch. So I went about my business and got my bags. As I was pushing the cart I heard someone screaming my name. It was my cousin Samer running to help me and the rest of my family waiting right behind him. Seeing their faces reminded me of how much I really did miss them. I realized that being away for so long really does harden your heart. I couldn’t wait to get home and hear what everyone had to say.
We all loaded up in the cars and began another journey to my tete’s house. The car ride was horrifying. I forgot how crazy the driving in Syria is. I was holding on to the handle bar so hard I think I lost circulation in my right hand. We all got to my tete’s house in one piece hamdillah and shawirma was waiting for us at the table. Yum, too bad I was so sick I couldn’t eat it. Haha. But being around my family was so nice. I felt like I was in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Syrian style of course.
As my cousins, aunts and uncles left my grandmother’s house one by one, my mom, baby brother and I along with my grandmother and now, only aunt were left alone. Finally I thought…some peace and quiet. But that wasn’t the case at all…They decided to unpack while I decided to make the kids their goody bags. At around 4:15 AM Syria time, I had just finished making all 25 goody bags, my mom, aunt and grandma finished unpaking our bags and my baby brother was passed out on the couch remote in hand and Ally McBeil on the tube (I really wanted to say that). It was around that time that I heard something outside. It was the Imam reciting Qu’ran on the speaker right before the fajr athan. I closed my eyes and listened like I was in a trance, it was so beautiful. A couple minutes later I heard at least six different masjids, all around my grandma’s house, calling for prayer. It was at that moment that I realized that I was really blessed that Allah gave me the opportunity to go to Syria again, to see my family again and to let me hear the athan on the speaker for all ears to hear, again.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Boy, Girl, Boy, Girl...
A week or so ago, a couple of my girlfriends and I decided to go out, and since there is really nothing to do in Columbia we went to…Starbucks
As we were lounging waiting for our mocha frappaccinos, green ginger tea, americano with an extra shot and a banana mango vivano with extra energy and protein (I actually don’t remember what everyone ordered, I just wanted to sound cool =)) a group of Muslim boys walk in…
Now the plot. Half of the boys were on something, the other half were roudy and abnoxious and almost all of them had girls all over them…(plus there were girls just chilling with them)
So they all order and decide to sit near our area...not only was it disgusting, but it was really uncomfortable. i felt like my body was going to explode with different emotions…I was angry, hurt, sad and betrayed…I couldn’t help but wonder…what has become of our deen? Not only did the Muslim boys fall into this trap, but a lot of the girls I grew up with did too…
In Surat Al-Nur ayas 30-31, Allah says: “Say to the believing men to lower their gaze and their modesty. That is purer for them, and Allah is aware of what they do. And say to the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their modesty”
Also, Imam Muslim narrates from Jarir ibn Abdullah (RA) who says: “I asked Allah’s Messenger about the sudden glance on a non-mahram. He commanded me that I should turn away my eyes.”
In light of the above, it is obvious that the free intermingling of both sexes is not allowed. Islam teaches us that both men and women have to lower their gaze in the presence of eachother…how can that be accomplished if Muslim guys and girls are hanging out together, whether it be on campus, going out for lunch or even going to starbucks?
A couple of days after the “incident” I was thinking about what happened and was still pretty upset about it. It is very easy for us to get sucked into the “college life.” You know, chillin on campus for the hell of it (even though we don’t have anything to do), going to lunch with a big group of people (guys and girls) etc etc…
We are prone to fall into temptations of sin and the whispers of shaytan…Allah says, Put your hope in Me. Man was not created sinful, but he was created weak.
It’s important to realize that yes, we are gonna screw up but we should always turn to Allah (SWT) and call upon Him, ask him for forgiveness and know that there is hope cuz he is the most merciful.
On the authority of Anas, who said: I heard the messenger of Allah say:
Allah said: “O son of Adam, as long as you call upon Me and put your hopes in Me, I have forgiven you for what you have done and I do not mind. O son of Adam, if your sins were to reach the clouds of the sky and then you were to come to Me with sins that are close to filling the earth and then you would meet me without ascribing any partners with Me, I would certainly bring to you forgiveness close to filling it.” –Hadith Qudsi
In the hadith, Allah gives us hope (woot woot) =) he truly is al-Rahman (the most compassionate) and al-Raheem (the most merciful). The hadith taught me the importance of realizing Allah’s mercy and having both faith and hope in Him. It’s really important to ask for forgiveness and to repent.
I pray that Allah will guide us all towards the straight path especially us, the youth still in college and facing all these temptations. I ask Allah to forgive me for any judgment I might have felt towards those guys and pray that inshallah our iman will defeat our shaytan. Ameen
May Allah give us the strength of Umar Ibn Al-Khatab (RA), the loyalty of Musab Ibn-Umair (RA), the presistance of Salahudeen Al-Ayoobi and the faith of Abu Bakr Al-Sideeq (RA). Ameen
As we were lounging waiting for our mocha frappaccinos, green ginger tea, americano with an extra shot and a banana mango vivano with extra energy and protein (I actually don’t remember what everyone ordered, I just wanted to sound cool =)) a group of Muslim boys walk in…
Now the plot. Half of the boys were on something, the other half were roudy and abnoxious and almost all of them had girls all over them…(plus there were girls just chilling with them)
So they all order and decide to sit near our area...not only was it disgusting, but it was really uncomfortable. i felt like my body was going to explode with different emotions…I was angry, hurt, sad and betrayed…I couldn’t help but wonder…what has become of our deen? Not only did the Muslim boys fall into this trap, but a lot of the girls I grew up with did too…
In Surat Al-Nur ayas 30-31, Allah says: “Say to the believing men to lower their gaze and their modesty. That is purer for them, and Allah is aware of what they do. And say to the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their modesty”
Also, Imam Muslim narrates from Jarir ibn Abdullah (RA) who says: “I asked Allah’s Messenger about the sudden glance on a non-mahram. He commanded me that I should turn away my eyes.”
In light of the above, it is obvious that the free intermingling of both sexes is not allowed. Islam teaches us that both men and women have to lower their gaze in the presence of eachother…how can that be accomplished if Muslim guys and girls are hanging out together, whether it be on campus, going out for lunch or even going to starbucks?
A couple of days after the “incident” I was thinking about what happened and was still pretty upset about it. It is very easy for us to get sucked into the “college life.” You know, chillin on campus for the hell of it (even though we don’t have anything to do), going to lunch with a big group of people (guys and girls) etc etc…
We are prone to fall into temptations of sin and the whispers of shaytan…Allah says, Put your hope in Me. Man was not created sinful, but he was created weak.
It’s important to realize that yes, we are gonna screw up but we should always turn to Allah (SWT) and call upon Him, ask him for forgiveness and know that there is hope cuz he is the most merciful.
On the authority of Anas, who said: I heard the messenger of Allah say:
Allah said: “O son of Adam, as long as you call upon Me and put your hopes in Me, I have forgiven you for what you have done and I do not mind. O son of Adam, if your sins were to reach the clouds of the sky and then you were to come to Me with sins that are close to filling the earth and then you would meet me without ascribing any partners with Me, I would certainly bring to you forgiveness close to filling it.” –Hadith Qudsi
In the hadith, Allah gives us hope (woot woot) =) he truly is al-Rahman (the most compassionate) and al-Raheem (the most merciful). The hadith taught me the importance of realizing Allah’s mercy and having both faith and hope in Him. It’s really important to ask for forgiveness and to repent.
I pray that Allah will guide us all towards the straight path especially us, the youth still in college and facing all these temptations. I ask Allah to forgive me for any judgment I might have felt towards those guys and pray that inshallah our iman will defeat our shaytan. Ameen
May Allah give us the strength of Umar Ibn Al-Khatab (RA), the loyalty of Musab Ibn-Umair (RA), the presistance of Salahudeen Al-Ayoobi and the faith of Abu Bakr Al-Sideeq (RA). Ameen
Monday, May 18, 2009
Al-'Eethar...Say Whaat?
The other day I was sitting with my mom and some of her friends. They were watching Iqra on tv, like always and I was just chilling with nothing to do. For those of you who are not familiar with Iqra, it is one of the Arabic channels that pretty much shows Islamic lectures 24/7 (which is pretty tight, especially during Ramadan). Anywho, one of the scholars kept repeating the word “al-‘eethar.”
Usually when I hear a word that is unfamiliar, I brush it off and go about my business but something about this word was different…I really wanted to know what it was. So I ask mama and her friends and they couldn’t give me an exact translation in English.
There are many words in Arabic that when translated to English the definition doesn’t entirely statisfy the broad sense of the word. For example, the word “Haya.” we translate it to shyness, but in Arabic there is a different word for shyness. The same could be said about the word “Tawadu” which is translated as humbleness in English; but the translation of the word is humility…Ya I know, super confusing…I guess you can say, its complicated. All in all, my mom and her friends agreed that the best translation for al-‘eethar is selflessness.
So i did some hardcore research, haha, and according to dictionary.com, the act of being selfless is “having little or no concern for oneself, especially with regards to fame, position, money etc…” Well, I think this definitioin is better and it sounds a little more Islamic to me: “to give prefernce to others over yourself and considering their happiness and welfare before your own.”
It’s amazing that some Islamic beliefs have vanished and become unknown although Islam calls for them and our prophet Mohammed (PBUH) applied them. I couldn’t help but wonder, where can we find al-‘eethar?
Imam Al-Ghazaly says in his book Al-Ehyaa (The Revival), that there are three leves of al-‘eethar:
1. To give your bother/sister what you would give to a servent (i.e. you eat and give him your leftovers)
2. To treat your brother/sister like you want to be treated (woot woot for kindergarten)
3. To prefer your brother/sister over yourself (i.e. provide their needs before yours)
The greatest ‘eethar in this life is to seek the pleasure of Allah (SWT) over that of people and yourself. The Holy Qu’ran states “And give them (Emigrants) prefernce over themselves, even though they were in need of that” (Surat Al-Hashir, Aya 9)
Allah’s pleasure should be given top priority!
When we live only for ourselves, we will live short lonely lives that suck. However, when we live for each other, we will find happiness in other people, we will find opportunity with other people, we will be super duper happy! =) Plus, imagine…if you make people happy, that will give them an incentive to make duaa for you…who wouldn’t want that?
I heard in an Amr Khaled lecture once that a good man once said right before he passed away, “My daughter I don’t fear death any more, even if it came now. I took a lot from life, I mean I gave a lot! Sometimes my daughter it is very hard to differentiate between taking and giving, because for a believer they carry the same meaning. Every time I gave, I took. Actually I took more than I gave.”
So let’s make it our goal to give prefernce to others over ourselves for the sake of Allah (SWT) and the rewards of the hereafter. Woot woot for al-‘eethar!
*This post is dedicated to my mama, the most selfless person I know.
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