Subhanallah, I've just started to realize why Allah stresses on the importance of education. It's as though I've had an epiphany of some sort(My high school teachers would be so pleased). I am so grateful to be able to have the opportunity to go to college and expand my knowledge base. I've learned so much in the past month and a half that I'm eager to find out how much more learned I'll become by the time I graduate, inshallah. Along with two creative writing classes I'm taking a Middle Eastern Civilization class. Now I know most of you are thinking along the lines of "Why in the world would she take that class? She's been learning the history of Islam since she was 6", let me tell you that there is a lot more to Middle Eastern history(and Islamic civilization) than the Prophet's(PBUH)life and the reign of the four khalifahs. So much more. And it's this extra information that for the first time in my life has given me hope for the plight of the Muslims.
If you have been brought up the same way that I have(and I think you have in regards to this aspect)then you have undoubtedly been told about Islam's glorious years,a far off age when Muslims commanded the respect of civilizations around them, when government wasn't filled with corrupt officials, and these reminiscent statements are usually followed by a wistful and sad statement that Muslims today are weak. That Muslims are nearing their end. Let me tell you something; they are wrong.
Muslims throughout the ages have faced so much adversity that it makes our present problems seem like child's play. There were times that the survival of Islam was doubtful. Riots, wars, the assassinations of Omar, Uthman, Ali, and Hassan. The beheading of Hussein at the battle of Karbalah, by his own Muslims brethren I might add. Shall I continue?
Ever heard of the Crusades? It gets worse. At about the same time, the Mongols swept through the Middle East paving a path of absolute destruction; killing, burning, and pillaging. At Baghdad alone they killed between 80,000 to a million Muslims. In order to get a sense of how great a loss Baghdad symbolized, think of it as an older version of Washington D.C. The Mongols not only massacred the inhabitants of Baghdad, but they also burned and dumped thousand upon thousands of books. Libraries that had troves of knowledge in the Sciences, Mathematics, and Philosophy were in an instant destroyed. The entire political infrastructure of the Islamic empire was completely and utterly decimated. Can you imagine how bleak life may have seemed to the Muslims? Centuries of growth and knowledge destroyed. Their very survival seemed unlikely. Yet they did bounce back again. It took the Muslims 300 long and dark years to recover, but they DID recover. And were back on top in world politics.
Some people may ask why in the world I'm going on a rant about Mongols and Crusaders and it's for one reason; to impart hope. Muslims were not always as strong as portrayed; even in the Golden Age. Don't let people try to convince you that this is the end of Muslims. This is just the beginning. We are in no way near as bad of a situation like the Muslims back in the thirteenth century. Let's take time to thank God for sparing Muslims from a massacre that our 13th century Brothers and Sisters had to endure and let us forge on to the future with the hope, pain, and sweat that our predecessors put into ensuring the survival of Muslims.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Muslim girl says "whaaaaat"
Today's a relatively slow day. I sit here in the library with my fingers poised over the keyboard keys and for once in my life I don't know what to say. This moment should go down in history books across the worlds. I always have something to say, which is why this experience is so disconcerting.
Ahh, I think I've found a topic. You can all heave a sigh of relief, all five of you readers. Maybe I should preface this with saying that even though Some Americans can be accused of stereotyping Muslims, so can Muslims themselves. And that makes me sad. I'm currently taking two creative writing classes this semester: poetry technique and fiction technique. Well on my first day of fiction technique class, I met this girl named Nadia who turned out to be Muslim. You have no idea how excited I was because ,I kid you not, There aren't any Muslims in any of my other classes. Well I was expressing my excitement when she interrupted and said "Listen, I'm a corrupt Muslim and I want to warn you before hand that some of my writing may offend you".
Ironically, I was more offended with that statement than most of the writing she has produced, although there was this one paragraph that she had written for one of our assignments that goes something like this "I grew up in a restrictive culture where women aren't encouraged to do stuff for themselves", and something about "The men in Saudi Arabia that tell me what to do. F**** them". Shocked does not even begin to cover what I was feeling when I read this, but ridicule soon followed.
Sometimes I feel like going up to her and telling her "Who are these men that you speak of?" and "Maybe they are voices in your head." or "Hon, it's pretty clear that you have no real understanding of your religion. You do realize that sheiks come from all countries over the world and that there are a considerable amount of female sheiks too. Maybe you're getting Islam and Catholicism mixed up". Of course I say this all in my head with a what I would imagine to be a voice dripping with sarcasm.
Even then I didn't say much to her because I thought to myself "You know, it's obvious this girl has some serious issues with her parents. Just let her be" but honestly I am just sick and tired of her repeated dire warnings of "My short story will offend you" that I don't want to be nice to her anymore. I definitely don't appreciate the fact that she's projecting her pre-conceived ideas about Religious Muslims on me. It's so sad, that I get more respect from atheists than from her. Whatevs, it's obvious that she wants to open the doors for debate between me and her and I'm just going to piss her off, by not giving her the time of day.
Ahh, I think I've found a topic. You can all heave a sigh of relief, all five of you readers. Maybe I should preface this with saying that even though Some Americans can be accused of stereotyping Muslims, so can Muslims themselves. And that makes me sad. I'm currently taking two creative writing classes this semester: poetry technique and fiction technique. Well on my first day of fiction technique class, I met this girl named Nadia who turned out to be Muslim. You have no idea how excited I was because ,I kid you not, There aren't any Muslims in any of my other classes. Well I was expressing my excitement when she interrupted and said "Listen, I'm a corrupt Muslim and I want to warn you before hand that some of my writing may offend you".
Ironically, I was more offended with that statement than most of the writing she has produced, although there was this one paragraph that she had written for one of our assignments that goes something like this "I grew up in a restrictive culture where women aren't encouraged to do stuff for themselves", and something about "The men in Saudi Arabia that tell me what to do. F**** them". Shocked does not even begin to cover what I was feeling when I read this, but ridicule soon followed.
Sometimes I feel like going up to her and telling her "Who are these men that you speak of?" and "Maybe they are voices in your head." or "Hon, it's pretty clear that you have no real understanding of your religion. You do realize that sheiks come from all countries over the world and that there are a considerable amount of female sheiks too. Maybe you're getting Islam and Catholicism mixed up". Of course I say this all in my head with a what I would imagine to be a voice dripping with sarcasm.
Even then I didn't say much to her because I thought to myself "You know, it's obvious this girl has some serious issues with her parents. Just let her be" but honestly I am just sick and tired of her repeated dire warnings of "My short story will offend you" that I don't want to be nice to her anymore. I definitely don't appreciate the fact that she's projecting her pre-conceived ideas about Religious Muslims on me. It's so sad, that I get more respect from atheists than from her. Whatevs, it's obvious that she wants to open the doors for debate between me and her and I'm just going to piss her off, by not giving her the time of day.
Monday, February 8, 2010
I'm Baaaaaaaack!
HELOOOOOOO!
I am so excited to start up this blog again. It's been what, nearly four months since I last updated? Shame on me. Well my dear five followers , in case you don't know, my life has gone through many dramatic changes; I suddenly find myself going to Florida Sate University, sharing an apartment with three great roommates,and I am engaged. Just kidding about the last announcement by the way, I just wanted to be able to say a third thing ;). I feel like this move will give me so much material for my blog because I've only been living in Tally for about a month and so many crazy things have happened whether it's being terrorized by the neighbor's itty bitty little dog or having the referees making fun of the soccer team I play on. The jerk'ish refree said and I quote "This is the funniest game I have ever seen." Nice man, right?
Even though I'm so excited to be at FSU and feel as if the remnants of the chains that have been holding me down in PC have been broken, I can already tell that it won't be easy dealing with the University atmosphere for two more years. It's not so much the partying and shallowness of a large group(most) of undergraduates, but also the professors who have absolutely no respect or regard for the institution of religion, mainly Christianity. I feel bad for all potential Christians who might be in my 4 out of 5 classes. It's not as if I haven't had experience with atheists or agnostics, I have. In fact, I have a "chum" back in PC who's an agnostic herself. Difference is that these were respectful agnostics. The people(including professors) at University have no qualms whatsoever about saying things like "Religion is the most constraining force ever" or making snotty comments about "the magical guy upstairs, if he exists." Sometimes I feel like yelling out "Jesus! You seem to have a double standard going on here, huh. You talk about the fact that religion expects everyone to follow in his/her path and yet you're here expecting everyone to agree with what you're saying and belittling people who don't. Get OVER yourself." And again, I feel so bad for Christians on campus. I have no idea what they have personally done to the professors I'm taking this semester, but my professors seem to have some major beef with Christianity/ Christians.
Anyways, I best be going. It's nearly 3 in the morning an I must get some "beauty" sleep. Fat lot of good that'll do me. Byeeeeee, and see you guys later.
I am so excited to start up this blog again. It's been what, nearly four months since I last updated? Shame on me. Well my dear five followers , in case you don't know, my life has gone through many dramatic changes; I suddenly find myself going to Florida Sate University, sharing an apartment with three great roommates,and I am engaged. Just kidding about the last announcement by the way, I just wanted to be able to say a third thing ;). I feel like this move will give me so much material for my blog because I've only been living in Tally for about a month and so many crazy things have happened whether it's being terrorized by the neighbor's itty bitty little dog or having the referees making fun of the soccer team I play on. The jerk'ish refree said and I quote "This is the funniest game I have ever seen." Nice man, right?
Even though I'm so excited to be at FSU and feel as if the remnants of the chains that have been holding me down in PC have been broken, I can already tell that it won't be easy dealing with the University atmosphere for two more years. It's not so much the partying and shallowness of a large group(most) of undergraduates, but also the professors who have absolutely no respect or regard for the institution of religion, mainly Christianity. I feel bad for all potential Christians who might be in my 4 out of 5 classes. It's not as if I haven't had experience with atheists or agnostics, I have. In fact, I have a "chum" back in PC who's an agnostic herself. Difference is that these were respectful agnostics. The people(including professors) at University have no qualms whatsoever about saying things like "Religion is the most constraining force ever" or making snotty comments about "the magical guy upstairs, if he exists." Sometimes I feel like yelling out "Jesus! You seem to have a double standard going on here, huh. You talk about the fact that religion expects everyone to follow in his/her path and yet you're here expecting everyone to agree with what you're saying and belittling people who don't. Get OVER yourself." And again, I feel so bad for Christians on campus. I have no idea what they have personally done to the professors I'm taking this semester, but my professors seem to have some major beef with Christianity/ Christians.
Anyways, I best be going. It's nearly 3 in the morning an I must get some "beauty" sleep. Fat lot of good that'll do me. Byeeeeee, and see you guys later.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
A manual for living life.
Dishes to clean
groceries to be bought.
Homework to be done
Teachers to bedazzle.
Mothers to please
Marinade the steak,
frost the cake
Don't forget to take a bath!
Lie in bed,
and read a book
only to keel over
and sleep.
Unknown Love
I have dreamed of you
but who you are, I don't know.
Let the mist seep away
Let the light keep your shadows at bay.
One day we'll meet
On a busy street
And we'll feel,
Our hearts reel.
But until then, my dear friend
I'll wait, lying in a glen
Watching swirls of golden dust,
Dance 'til they leave with a gust.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Feeling hated.
In case you haven't noticed yet, I'm a Muslim. And no, I don't' have any plans to take over America and "Raise the flag of Islam" over capitol hill as many extreme right wing bloggers obstinately repeat to themselves. Believe me, I have more important things to worry about...like whether my shoes and purse match. This seems like a random post, right? It's just that I'm tired of living in the shadow and not wanting to bring attention to myself. You think it's hard going through adolescent year? Imagine having the added emotional baggage in a post 9/11 world.
Any ways, back to my point, I met a girl named Sarina at my mosque on Friday, and she stressed on the point that she never hears from Muslims in the media. She mentioned that she hasn't heard Muslims condemning honor killings or terrorists. I told her that not many people are interested in hearing what Muslims have to say. I'll give you an example: Promoptly after the collapse of the twin towers, a national Muslim organization released a statement to media outlets saying that they don't condone the attacks. The news didn't publish this statement. But just for the record I ,and Islam, don't condone terrorist attacks, honor killings, abusive husbands, and every other calamity on the face of this planet.
This moves me along to another topic. I would say that not too many people in America have any idea how it's like being a muslim teenager in a post 9/11 world. Not only did I have to deal with my body going through an awkward transitional phase and wearing a headscarf in Florida, but I also had to endure rude comments and pitiying glances. That's not the worst of it. What truly proves to be the hardest part about growing up is the fact that you are held accountable for all the Muslims in the world. This may sound like an exxageration, but it's the truth. Think about it, if a Saudi man beats his wife up you bet your retirement savings that the newspapers are going to headline "MUSLIM MAN BEATS WIFE". But let's say an Italian man beats HIS wife up, you won't see The New York Times headlining THAT story with "ROMAN CATHOLIC BRUTALLY BEATS WIFE". There's a definite double standard going. Think that's just a fluke? Let me give you another example. When extreme right wing Christians bomb abortion centers is it expected of all denominations of Christianity to issue public statements denouncing that? If a drug dealer who gets thrown into jail is a jew, is it expected from National Jewish organizations to issue statements? Do newspapers even bother to mention that drug dealer's religous beliefs if he's not Muslim? As if this apparent double standard isn't enough, but young Muslim teenagers have to live with the fact that that they're expected to "denounce" all negative practices that One billion people all over the world may engage in. Do you think that's fair?
There is no political sensitivity shown towards Muslims whether it's on the news, television shows, or books. You're surrounded by it at all times. When I was sixteen, I spent religions class going through all fo the misinformation printed about Islam. When I got home to watch TV, it was Msulims this and Muslims that. When I googled Topics about Islam I came across websites promoting "Muslim proofing America" and "It's the damn liberal's fault that we have so many Muslims in the world". Even "Muslims are like a bad case of infestation, they need to be extreminated." Reading teen books wasn't a safe place either. As i'd settle myself in for some comic relief from The Princess Diarires" series, I had to endure jibes about the weak and mistreated Muslim women. Basically, I grew up in an atmosphere that made it very clear that I wasn't a welcome presence and with the knowledge that people would have an already cemented opinion of me without even talking to me. Can you imagine living a life like that?
Any ways, back to my point, I met a girl named Sarina at my mosque on Friday, and she stressed on the point that she never hears from Muslims in the media. She mentioned that she hasn't heard Muslims condemning honor killings or terrorists. I told her that not many people are interested in hearing what Muslims have to say. I'll give you an example: Promoptly after the collapse of the twin towers, a national Muslim organization released a statement to media outlets saying that they don't condone the attacks. The news didn't publish this statement. But just for the record I ,and Islam, don't condone terrorist attacks, honor killings, abusive husbands, and every other calamity on the face of this planet.
This moves me along to another topic. I would say that not too many people in America have any idea how it's like being a muslim teenager in a post 9/11 world. Not only did I have to deal with my body going through an awkward transitional phase and wearing a headscarf in Florida, but I also had to endure rude comments and pitiying glances. That's not the worst of it. What truly proves to be the hardest part about growing up is the fact that you are held accountable for all the Muslims in the world. This may sound like an exxageration, but it's the truth. Think about it, if a Saudi man beats his wife up you bet your retirement savings that the newspapers are going to headline "MUSLIM MAN BEATS WIFE". But let's say an Italian man beats HIS wife up, you won't see The New York Times headlining THAT story with "ROMAN CATHOLIC BRUTALLY BEATS WIFE". There's a definite double standard going. Think that's just a fluke? Let me give you another example. When extreme right wing Christians bomb abortion centers is it expected of all denominations of Christianity to issue public statements denouncing that? If a drug dealer who gets thrown into jail is a jew, is it expected from National Jewish organizations to issue statements? Do newspapers even bother to mention that drug dealer's religous beliefs if he's not Muslim? As if this apparent double standard isn't enough, but young Muslim teenagers have to live with the fact that that they're expected to "denounce" all negative practices that One billion people all over the world may engage in. Do you think that's fair?
There is no political sensitivity shown towards Muslims whether it's on the news, television shows, or books. You're surrounded by it at all times. When I was sixteen, I spent religions class going through all fo the misinformation printed about Islam. When I got home to watch TV, it was Msulims this and Muslims that. When I googled Topics about Islam I came across websites promoting "Muslim proofing America" and "It's the damn liberal's fault that we have so many Muslims in the world". Even "Muslims are like a bad case of infestation, they need to be extreminated." Reading teen books wasn't a safe place either. As i'd settle myself in for some comic relief from The Princess Diarires" series, I had to endure jibes about the weak and mistreated Muslim women. Basically, I grew up in an atmosphere that made it very clear that I wasn't a welcome presence and with the knowledge that people would have an already cemented opinion of me without even talking to me. Can you imagine living a life like that?
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Menopausal woman.
I live in a city.
A very boring city.
In Florida.
You're probably thinking to yourself "Gosh, she lives in Florida? That's aweseome! It's always shining in Florida and they have great oranges and she can go to Disney World anytime she wants to." Well guess what: wrong wrong WRONG. Whoever gave Florida the name of "sunshine state" obviously hasn't visited the panhandle area. It has been raining for a freaking week. I'm probably going to get depression from lack of sunshine. But you know what the worst thing about this whole situation is? My city can't decide "I'm going to be rainy today" or "I think I'm going to be windy". Ohho, she wants to make people's lives so much more difficult. One minute it's sunny, the next rainy, the next windy, and suddenly it's humid. It can’t make up it’s freaking mind! Which is why I characterize my city as a menopausal woman..you never know what you're going to get.
A very boring city.
In Florida.
You're probably thinking to yourself "Gosh, she lives in Florida? That's aweseome! It's always shining in Florida and they have great oranges and she can go to Disney World anytime she wants to." Well guess what: wrong wrong WRONG. Whoever gave Florida the name of "sunshine state" obviously hasn't visited the panhandle area. It has been raining for a freaking week. I'm probably going to get depression from lack of sunshine. But you know what the worst thing about this whole situation is? My city can't decide "I'm going to be rainy today" or "I think I'm going to be windy". Ohho, she wants to make people's lives so much more difficult. One minute it's sunny, the next rainy, the next windy, and suddenly it's humid. It can’t make up it’s freaking mind! Which is why I characterize my city as a menopausal woman..you never know what you're going to get.
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