January 21, 2010

Do you sometimes wish that you could apologize to the people you've hurt in the past?

Or apologize for your own behavior?

Without looking like a jerk?

Or are you frightened that it would only bring up old wounds and memories that should be best left forgotten?

That with your new persona and appearance, it is unnecessary to ask for such forgiveness because you are - as you claim and as they believe-,

a 'Whole New You'?

But somewhere, deep inside, you feel a tug, a nagging, of that regret

a glimmer of remorse,

whenever you hear news pertaining to that past

that person,

And it takes all of the strength within you to calm down those rush of emotions

To not bring up that anger or hurt, jealousy or spite

So you click the 'X' mark on that page and turn around

Wiping away all thoughts

And beginning again.

Being 'Proper'

Asalamu Alaikum ladees!

Did you guys have a good Eid? I hope you did because I know I did :D

Unfortunately it rained on my parade (literally) and I could feel the carefully applied foundation dripping away.

-sigh-

But other than that, my maternal Uncle had gotten married last year and his wife (who is a convert from Romania -my maternal family is pretty diverse in their marriage partners) brought me some turkish hijabs!

I can't believe they remembered that when I had only said it in a passing comment when I heard they were going to Turkey a couple months ago!

I got black, white, purple and a patterned purple one <3

She even taught me how to wear it!

I can't wait to get a coat to wear it with. Yeah, I see great things in my future -insha'Allah-

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*Vague on purpose*

Why can't everyone learn to accept each others differences?

If you tell someone over and over again to change something benign about their appearance you're only making yourself look bad.

Although you could argue that you're trying to 'forbid an evil' (And yeah I'm all for it and willing to hear it)

A person's choice of wardrobe is their choice.

Maybe they like their jeans and skirts and sandals.

Maybe they have done their research and just decide to opt out of something they don't perceive as obligatory.

Take your self-righteousness and shove it.

We can't all be perfect like you

************************************************************************

I dislike many people's definition of Islam, it's such a false dichotomy; you either do it this way or you're doing it wrong.

These people love to have such precise ways of doing something that it irks me.

I mean, really?, there's a detailed paragraph on how to wash yourself after you take a piss?

Really?

And there's always some hadith giving an exact play by play on how to do wudu, eat, sleep, walk and talk that I wonder how people can like being so constricted.

Islam is such a beautiful way of life, but people love to narrow it down

-boxing it in-

that things that shouldn't be overthought "dang it, I forgot to step in with my left foot" are taking so much more importance to the things that should matter

(i.e have you paid your zakat yet?)

But if you like to adhere to strict rules, than go wild, sorry for feeling differently about it.

It kind of reminds me of a story in the Qur'an of how Moses tells his people about Allah swt wanting them to sacrifice a cow.

(Do you all remember that story?)

And how essentially they asked for more and more detail on what kind of cow they wanted that Allah swt gave them an almost impossible task.

They took what was a general order

-just find a cow-

and made it so much harder

He said: "He says: A heifer not trained to till the soil or water the fields; sound and without blemish." They said: "Now hast thou brought the truth." Then they offered her in sacrifice, but not with good-will. (2:71)

Islam rocks you guys, seriously, but I'm not a conformist

(at least that's what I tell myself in the hopes that one day it'll ring true in all aspects of my life)

and I love the simple beauty of Islam that I find in the Qur'an and the not-so-detailed aspects of the Sunnah.

I agree that the Prophet (saw) was the final prophet and one of the best men of all time (leads to a link containing some snippets of music)

But some muslims frighten me in their near-worship of the Prophet (saw). Celebrations like mawlid- but I can't be a hypocrite, I attend those once a year just to see friends I see.. once a year or so-, and people following his example to the licking of their fingers.

I'm not criticizing, really, but he was just a man who delivered to us the beautiful message of Islam.

And ya just don't worship the messenger.

“But as for those who believe in God and His apostles and make no distinction between any of them – unto them, in time, will He grant their re wards [in full]. And God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace. (4:152)

-steps down from soapbox-

Okay, I'm done being the type of person I'm ranting about.

But if anyone feels in complete disagreement with what I've written that they're starting to froth and seethe in angry rage at such a big-mouthed infidel- the x button is always on the right hand corner-

Thank you and have a nice day/night/evening/afternoon/whatever

Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. (2:62)

I don't believe...

November 17th, 2009

That God gave us talents only to be told by others that it is 'haram'

or violates 'such and such rules of propriety'

or that we are committing some act of sin because the boy in the third row got into a frenzy of lust.

I don't believe

that God is unjust.

That we aren't here for a reason.

I don't believe

That with whatever talents we have, with God always in mind and always first to please,

we must conform to other people's standards of 'religiosity'

I won't believe,

that I must look like my fellow sister Aicha down the block to be considered 'a perfect muslimah'

Nor do I think that everyone has to conform to one standard of Islam.

I do believe

that people do things in stages

Like a crescent moon slowly waxing into a full moon

so does sister Laila take steps to wearing hijab

I believe

that any woman -hijabi or not- is a sister to me

I believe

in destiny

in human goodness

in the light at the end of the tunnel

in the calm after the storm

I won't believe in everything of this life

But I will believe in God

-Modest Justice

Pirates

October 7th, 2009

You call me a pirate

Yet you steal my food

And poison my waters

I cannot feed my family

Yet you call me a terrorist

That my people are lawless

and savage

You dump your waste in my waters

And kill my people

Yet you call me a pirate

You kill those who steal and it is called justice

We defend our waters and it is called piracy

Hundreds are sick because of your dumping

And it is we who are the pirates

What is justice?

If this is justice, then we want no part of it

For we are just pirates, after all

-ModestJustice

*Written from the perspective of a 'pirate'*

"We don't consider ourselves sea bandits. We consider sea bandits (to be) those who illegally fish and dump in our seas." Sugule Ali, a pirate leader