Busy

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu everyone!

Sorry for the lack of posts; it's a combination of not having much to say and being really busy with schoolwork. I really want to do well this semester and not slack off like I did last year, so Insha'Allah I'll be able to keep up with everything. I'll write when I have more time/something actually interesting comes to mind.

Anne

In Memoriam

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu,

Nine years ago today, three thousand innocent people were brutally murdered by men who I am ashamed to call my brothers in faith. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun to all those who died and suffered, and may ALLAH continue to comfort and guide all the "left-behind" victims who lost family and friends.

September 11, 2001 and the time after it remains so clear in my mind. I must say that linguistically, the terrorists succeeded because I was literally filled with terror and deep, deep sadness. I had never felt anything like it before in my eleven years of life, and I have never felt anything like it since then. I know it's cliche to say, but I honestly feel that my life was not the same after that day. My innocence was shattered, and I was thrust into the "adult" world of fear, uncertainty, and grieving. My knowledge of current events skyrocketed, because I could no longer afford to remain ignorant about the world around me.

And I never, never, never would have imagined that nine years later, the religion that supposedly "justified" these disgusting attacks would be the most important thing in my life. Subhanallah, ALLAH works in mysterious ways.

Ya ALLAH, please bless all the people who were affected by September 11th, please comfort them and ease their pain. Please change and soften the hearts of terrorists who think that killing innocent people is the way to achieve their goals and put peace and mercy in their hearts instead. Please let us all work for worldwide salaam, and please grant us all guidance, Ya Rabb. Ameen.

New sister, Masha'Allah!

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu everyone!

Today, September 6, 2010, fellow blogger Jesse from "Yesie or Jesse?" took her shahadah! ALLAHU AKBAR! May ALLAH bless her always and help her to become the best Muslim she can be, and please guide us all and keep us all on the Straight Path, Ameen!

Welcome to the ummah, Jesse! <3

A little fun, and an update

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu everyone!

Firstly, I am going back to Boston tomorrow (Insha'Allah) after 3 VERY long months living at home with my parents. I am absolutely thrilled that this day has finally come. This has been an extremely difficult summer for me, and Insha'Allah once I return to Boston my life will improve greatly. In Islam, the term "hijrah" is used when a person migrates from a place where they are oppressed/not free to practice Islam to a place where they have this freedom. Aside from the actual hijrah where Prophet Muhammad (saw) and his companions (ra) migrated from Makkah to Madinah, this is usually in reference to people moving from secular or non-Muslim majority country to a Muslim-majority country (notice I didn't say "Islamic country", because there are no countries that truly follow Islamic principles and law). However, I truly consider this move back to my college a hijrah; at my parents' house I am simply not free to practice Islam the way I want to, but at school I can live my Islam to the fullest. Hence, I'm not one of those people who thinks that one is only a "muhajir" if they move to a Middle Eastern, African, or Asian country; rather, whoever moves anywhere where they feel safe and free to practice Islam is a muhajir, even if it's within their own country.

Secondly, fellow blogger Caraboska tagged me to fill out this post, so here goes (by the way, I was shocked to see how much Caraboska and I have in common):


Books I've read recently...

1. The Qur'an (English translation of the meaning by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, since I still can't really read or understand Arabic)

2. The Ladies' Auxiliary by Tova Mirvis (a novel about the Orthodox Jewish population in Memphis, Tennessee, and how their tight-knit, set-in-their-ways community is changed when a new convert moves in)

3. Fresh for '01, Ya Suckas! Boondocks Treasury by Aaron McGruder

4. Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks (a very interesting read, even though I disagreed with her on a lot of points)

I really don't read that many books per se, but I do devour articles, encyclopedias, non-fiction works, and reference books like it's nobody's business.


Songs or albums I listen to all the time...

1. The Qur'an, usually Mishary-Rashid as the reciter (one of my Ramadhan goals is to listen to the entire Qur'an, and Alhamdulillah I have been keeping up with this goal quite well)

2. The Adhan (I especially love the Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens one)

3. "Qasidah Burdah" (by far my favorite nasheed)

4. "Full of Humility" by Dawud Wharnsby Ali

5. "A Whisper of Peace" by Dawud Wharnsby Ali

6. "Peace Train" by Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens

7. "GOD of Wonders" (actually a contemporary Christian song, but it could easily be a nasheed)

8. "Sakeena" and "Aisha" by Outlandish


I love...

1. ALLAH

2. all the Prophets (peace be upon them all) and all the Righteous people

3. the Qur'an (a truly amazing Book)

4. my masjid

5. Boston

6. food (best carnal pleasure ever)

7. all types of humor


Things I've learned this year...

1. How to live with Asperger's syndrome (same as Caraboska!)

2. How to live hijab (same as Caraboska again!)

3. It's the effort and intention that truly matters.

4. That in the end, any strength I have comes from ALLAH and His Word (same as Caraboska again!!)

5. My metabolism isn't what it used to be, and I need to be more mindful of what I eat.

6. Chinese Studies isn't really my calling, rather sociology and religion are.

7. I may want to be either a social worker or a Muslim chaplain one day, Insha'Allah.


New recipes I want to try and make...

Homemade ice cream

chapli kebab

actually learn how to use a grill


Favorite online hangouts...

1. Blogs

2. Wikipedia

3. Facebook

4. Islamic clothing sites

5. YouTube

6. Zabihah.com

7. Cracked.com

8. the Top Chef forum at televisionwithoutpity.com


Projects I need to work on...

1. memorize more Qur'an and du'as

2. staying on top of my schoolwork and stop procrastinating

3. excel in all my classes

4. practice reading Arabic

5. start studying Spanish again


Other people I think should do this (people that have already been tagged by Caraboska are not listed on here):

1. NeverEver from "Finding Guidance"

2. Umm Aaminah from "Ummi of Aami, Muslimah Mommy!"

3. Jesse-Lee from "Yesie or Jesse?"

4. Nikki from "Striving to Be the Best Me"

5. Stephanie from "Muslim Mama"

6. Stacy from "Livin in Layla Land"

7. Rukhpar Mor from "Rukhpar Mor"

8. Ellen from "Steadily Emerging with Grace"

9. Candice from "Exploring Life and Islam"