Assalamu Alaykum,

The 14th Issue of MBMuslima is now online! Alhamdulilah!

September 2010- Shawwal 1431The Eid Special, Unity Issue Read it now!

JazakAllah khair,

MBMuslima.com

MBMuslima Magazine is a global contemporary magazine for Muslim women that keeps the guidelines of Islam embedded in every single page, between every single letter. The teachings of the Qur’an and Hadith are very important to the magazine. By the pure help of God, MBM will never imitate a manipulated ideology of women. MBM is unique in presenting authentic views, visions, and thoughts.

MBM does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other basis covered. All matters related to employment are decided on the basis of qualifications and merit.

Candidates must have an appreciation for the magazine industry, be self-motivated & detail-oriented.

* * *

Part-time Advertising Account Executive

This is a work-from-home commission based sales position with part-time, flexible hours. The candidate will contact prospective advertising clients. This is a great opportunity for anyone who is looking to gain solid advertising and business development experience while making money based on their performance.

Qualifications

-              Very strong written and verbal communication skills, especially in E-mails

-              Self-starter, self-motivated

-              Trustworthy

-              Will be responsible for contacting prospective clients, with sales letter and MBM Advertising Kit

-              Responsible for maintaining relationships with clients

-              Will serve as a key liaison between clients and Founder of MBM

-              Will be given a list of prospective clients to contact.

-              Familiar and knowledgeable with the religion of Islam

-              Previous sales / business development a plus

-              Will have the opportunity to put together a portfolio of editing work

To apply: E-mail cover letter and resume to hr@mbmuslima.com

MBMuslima Magazine is a global contemporary magazine for Muslim women that keeps the guidelines of Islam embedded in every single page, between every single letter. The teachings of the Qur’an and Hadith are very important to the magazine. By the pure help of God, MBM will never imitate a manipulated ideology of women. MBM is unique in presenting authentic views, visions, and thoughts.

MBM does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other basis covered. All matters related to employment are decided on the basis of qualifications and merit.

Candidates must have an appreciation for the magazine industry, be self-motivated & detail-oriented.

* * *

Editing Internship

This is a work-from-home internship opportunity that will require 7-10 hours a week. The candidate will be given various documents to be edited. This is a great opportunity for English/Journalism majors to get hands on experience within the magazine industry. We are preferably looking for a Freshman or Sophomore in College. However, Juniors and Seniors in College are also encouraged to apply. Under special circumstances, we will consider high-achieving high school seniors.

Qualifications

-              Very strong written and verbal communication skills

-              Grammar obsessed

-              Self-starter

-              Responsible for editing documents without changing the voice of the author

-              Responsible for proofreading MBM website and blog when assigned.

-              Familiar and knowledgeable with the religion of Islam

-              Self-motivated and detail-oriented

-              Willing to use Microsoft Word “Track Changes” feature

-              Will have the opportunity to put together a portfolio of editing work

*This is an unpaid internship*

Candidates are able to receive college credit, if they wish.

To apply: E-mail cover letter, resume, and 3 writing samples to hr@mbmuslima.com

***

Advertising Internship

This is a work-from-home internship opportunity that will require 7-10 hours a week. The candidate will be given various advertising tasks and projects. This is a great opportunity for Business/Marketing majors to get hands on experience within the magazine industry. We are preferably looking for a Freshman or Sophomore in College. However, Juniors and Seniors in College are also encouraged to apply. Under special circumstances, we will consider high-achieving high school seniors.

Qualifications

-              Very strong written and verbal communication skills

-              Strong interest in advertising

-              Responsible for searching for new advertising clients

-              Responsible for doing market research on the Muslim market

-              Will have the opportunity to gain hands on experience in the Advertising industry

-              Will have the opportunity to handle all the advertising stages of one client, in order to complete an Internship project that will be turned into a portfolio

-              Familiar and knowledgeable with the religion of Islam

-              Self-motivated and detail-oriented

-              Interest in learning basic graphic design and copywriting

*This is an unpaid internship*

Candidates are able to receive college credit, if they wish.

To apply: E-mail cover letter and resume to hr@mbmuslima.com

***

Marketing Internship

This is a work-from-home internship opportunity that will require 7-10 hours a week. The candidate will be given various tasks and projects related to several marketing functions. This is a great opportunity for Business/Marketing majors to get hands on experience within the magazine industry. We are preferably looking for a Freshman or Sophomore in College. However, Juniors and Seniors in College are also encouraged to apply. Under special circumstances, we will consider high-achieving high school seniors.

Qualifications

-              Very strong written and verbal communication skills

-              Strong interest in marketing, social media, advertising and blogging

-              Responsible for doing market research on the Muslim market

-              Will have the opportunity to gain hands on experience in the Advertising industry

-              Will have the opportunity to gain a plethora of hands on marketing experience

-              Familiar and knowledgeable with the religion of Islam

-              Self-motivated and detail-oriented

-              Interest in learning basic graphic design and copywriting

*This is an unpaid internship*

Candidates are able to receive college credit, if they wish.

To apply: E-mail cover letter and resume to hr@mbmuslima.com

***

Media Internship

This is a work-from-home internship opportunity that will require 7-10 hours a week. The candidate will be responsible for nurturing and developing key media relations for the magazine. This is a great opportunity for Communication or Public Relation Majors majors to get hands on experience as well as develop Media contacts, while working under a strong brand name in the magazine industry. We are preferably looking for a Sophomore, Junior, or Senior in College.

Qualifications

-              Very strong written and verbal communication skills

-              Someone who is familiar with Muslims in the Media

-              Responsible for monitoring media buzz

-              Will have the opportunity to gain hands on experience with media contacts

-              Will have the opportunity to represent MBM to the media

-              Must be confident enough to contact media personnel

-              Familiar and knowledgeable with the religion of Islam

-              Self-motivated and detail-oriented

-              Interested in creating a strong portfolio, with press releases, interviews, and other media

-              Arabic speaking/writing is a plus

*This is an unpaid internship*

Candidates are able to receive college credit, if they wish.

To apply: E-mail cover letter and resume to hr@mbmuslima.com

***

While these internships are mainly geared towards college students, anyone is welcome to apply. Even though certain internships state an ideal major, all majors are welcome to apply.

MBM does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other basis covered. All matters related to employment are decided on the basis of qualifications and merit.

Contact hr@mbmuslima.com with any questions.

JazakAllah khairan.

Bismillah Al Rahman Al Raheem,
Ramadan Mubarak from MBM!

MBM asked: What is your goal this Ramadan?

You answered:

To be HAPPY and positive and ENERGETIC during it rather than being overly ambitious and falling short.. then feeling shoddy.

~Sister Zaufishan

Gratitude and renewal, inshAllah

~ Sister Soumia Fares

To stay in the moment each day of Ramadan. The gates of Jannah are open the entire month. My goal is to work on being more patient and not worry about things I can’t control, insha’Allah May we each achieve our goals or be rewarded for our intentions Ameen.

My goal for this Ramadan is to start memorizing the Surahs of the Holy Quran one after the other, with the aid of an mp3 player which I plan to purchase, specifically to download the Holy Quran on. I plan to listen to it as frequently as possible inshaAllah.

~Sister Farida Ibrahim Audu, a Nigerian, living in Lomé, Togo

Assalamu Alaikum fellow muslima, my goal for this ramadan is to start memorising the
surahs of da Holy Quran one after the other with the aid of an mp3 player which i
plan to purchase, specifically to download the Holy Quran into. i plan to listen to
it as frequently as possible insha Allah. I am Farida Ibrahim Audu, a nigerian in
Lomé, Togo
                                              Bi Salam.

1. Get a good night’s rest. Since you won’t be eating during the day, you will need to get a good night’s rest. Especially if you are used to drinking caffeine to stay awake.

2. Eat a healthy, light suhoor. Eat something that will fill you up, but is not heavy. Also, try to keep it balanced.

3. Aim to do everything for the sake of Allah SWT. Intentions make or break your actions towards Allah SWT.

4. Speak up. Ramadan is a great time to clear up misconceptions amongst non Muslims. When the opportunity arises, be sure to answer questions that may come your way.

5. Stay organized. The more organized you are, the less energy you’ll have you use while fasting.

6. Make duaa.

7. Go to iftaars. Take advantage of iftaar on campus, if you can’t make it home for iftaar. Focus less on the food, and more on the people.

8. Love everyone for the sake of Allah SWT. If you want to be one of those people who has Allah’s shade on the Day of Judgment, of course =)

9. Break your fast with dates. Check out our Ramadan 2009 issue for an article on the benefits of dates. Plus, it’s Sunnah. =)

10. Exercise and stay active. It’s not easy, but it’s important for you and your body! Check our Ramadan 2009 issue for an article on exercising during Ramadan.

Do you ever find yourself feeling tired during Ramadan or even falling asleep in the middle of the day, just because you’re fasting, and your sleeping patterns are all messed up? Even worse, have you been seriously considering not fasting because you can’t hack the working day?

If you answered YES, then ProductiveMuslim.com is here to help you! Launching a brand new site THIS Ramadan called ProductiveRamadan.com. Our vision is to inspire the Ummah to be productive again during Ramadan and to fight the stereotypes of Muslims being lazy and unproductive during Ramadan. With Ramadan just around the corner, we must maintain our productivity during Ramadan. ProductiveMuslim.com is suggesting a 2 fold answer:

1. Time Management

Healthy Diet.

Time-Management

It’s funny how our day to day plans go haywire once Ramadan starts. We can’t do much during the day because we’re hungry or have spent the previous night in the shopping malls or with friends for one of those “Ramadan nights”. So we promise ourselves that we’ll work in the evening.

Evening comes, and we overkill it at iftar, that we can’t move for at least 2 hours, and thanks to our “well-targeted” media, our 2 hour lay is encouraged with the 20 must-see Ramadan series on TV. Before we know it, we rush to the mosque, and after an hour or so of some spiritual food (or so we hope), some of us want to go shopping for next day’s iftar (or for Eid even). Then comes suhoor time, followed by for Fajr. Afterwards, we get ready for work in the morning. And no work is done.

Sound familiar?

I know people who have a phobia against Ramadan, saying that during Ramadan they can’t do anything! And I’m amazed at how far from the Sunnah we’ve drifted and ended up in such a mess.

Brothers and sisters, it’s time for change. We’ve wasted enough opportunities during past Ramadans, continually repeating the above scenario on a daily basis, and it must stop this Ramadan! With only a few days left before Ramadan, let us draw a schedule that will maintain our productivity and keep us up to speed with our day to day work, so we can ultimately combat unproductivity in this blessed month.

Steps to Prepare for Ramadan Physically & Spiritually

Time Management

For most people, shopping is a great priority during Ramadan and can be a time killer. First step to take, do all your Ramadan & Eid shopping BEFORE Ramadan starts. That’s right, don’t do it during Ramadan when opportunities for Laylatul Qadr and extra ibaadah can be missed out. Ramadan Sales are tempting, but for the sake of sanity and maintaining the Ramadan spirit, finish up all your shopping for Ramadan and Eid before Ramadan starts. You’ll find that one day’s worth of trawling the shopping mall is better spent in fulfilling time with Allah swt.

Plan your iftars well in advance: Know what you’ll cook on each day and follow the health diet suggested below for a healthy and delicious Ramadan iftar experience. By doing this, you will save hours each day  by not having to think and plan what to eat. It is a great idea to take into consideration what types of food will be better suited to help you maintain energy and spirit to perform your acts of worship with focus. Biryanis really ought to be banned at iftaar!

Have suhoor before Fajr, NOT at mid-night. This will help you maintain your productivity levels throughout your working day, instead of your body craving for food by mid-afternoon. Choose a light but wholesome meal for suhoor. The Prophet (pbuh) advised us that there is blessing in the suhoor and having a light but carbohydrate filled foods will start your day off on the right foot!

Start working after Fajr. Remember the post about waking up for Fajr and boosting productivity? Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) made dua that Allah blesses this Ummah in the early hours. So seize these early hours to get the most work done, especially as you’ll be energized with suhoor. Your boss would be particularly impressed to see you achieve so much before the day even starts! Perhaps he might offer you the opportunity to go home early when you’re hungry and feel less productive in the later part of the day.

Don’t waste those 2 hours between iftar and taraweeh in front of the TV. Use them for reading, spending time with family, visiting anyone who is sick, following up important e-mails, listening to recitation, or any productive activity.

Plan your day the night before, to ensure that you do at least 3 important tasks the next day. When you set yourself such goals, you’ll be geared towards maintaining them regardless of how hungry you are and it will become your habit to eat those 3 frogs each morning! [Not literally of course!]

At times when you feel particularly hungry or worn out, do mundane tasks that don’t require much thinking, e.g. administrative tasks, cleaning, typing up information.etc. You can also focus on taking time to reflect, especially if you are at work in a busy office environment.

Finally, the MOST important Time Management advice for Ramadan is to make sure you schedule in time for Allah (SWT). Remember, Ramadan is a once a year bargain for attaining good deeds, a chance to have all our sins expiated and guaranteed Jannah with sincere faith inshaAllah. We sometimes forget in our day to day running of the virtues and benefits of this month. Don’t waste it for worldly deeds unless it’s crucial. I know of a brother who saves his paid holidays off work so that he gets all of Ramadan off. He then spends it in the mosque praying, reading Quran, and remembering Allah. Don’t be caught at the end of Ramadan with regret that you haven’t done much during Ramadan. Being able to accomplish your goals during these blessed 30 days will inshaAllah set you in for a productive year.

2. Healthy Diet

Where should I start with the diet of Muslims today during Ramadan? My local Imam used to be amused by watching families stock up for Ramadan. One would think a war or famine is coming and there’ll be no food for at least 6 months!

At home, a state of emergency is declared in the kitchen, and a long list of “Ramadan dishes” are drawn up for poor Mom to cook. It is a terrible to burden mothers each Ramadan for hours to prepare such dishes for Ramadan. Instead of her spending time reading Quran and praying, she’s enslaved to cook for her ever-demanding husband and children. Be considerate of this throughout Ramadan.

What about those of us who have Iftar in the mosque? That’s another issue. For some reason, some brothers/sisters who organize collective Iftar (especially in Mosques) have this bad habit of laying out ALL the food before iftar time (in the 10 minutes between Adhan and Iqama of Maghreb). An unwritten food competition begins on who can swallow the most kebabs and samosas! That’s all well and good, until prayer time starts, and you hear a symphony of burping brothers during salah! On the other hand, for those organizers who are reasonable enough to delay the main meal till after salat Al-Maghreb, I urge you to look into the Iftar you bring in daily to the brothers/sisters. Rice + Meat + Curry on a daily basis can get tiresome after a while, and you need to convince your donors not just to bring in variety, but to think of healthy alternatives as well.

Visit ProductiveRamadan.com for More Productivity Tips to ensure you get the best out of your Ramadan. Sign up to our mailing list for reminder articles, daily tips, and much more! At www.productiveramdan.com

The benefits of Fasting

By Kyle Smith

A corner stone of Ramadan is fasting.  During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating or drinking from sunrise until sunset. As Muslims, we also restrain ourselves from physical desires. Now to an individual who has never fasted before, this may seem like a very difficult thing to do. Some may even see it as unnecessary. Some may question how fasting going to get them closer to God, while some may wonder what the benefits are. As Muslims, we know that whatever Allah (SWT) mandates upon us will benefit us in this life and the hereafter. InshaAllah, in this article I will talk about the various benefits of fasting.

Fasting protects against sins. Fasting puts an individual in a state of control. When someone is in control of themselves, while refraining from sins, it is more likely for that individual to do good deeds for the sake of Allah (SWT). For example, we know that marriage is supposed to keep an individual away from zina(fortification). At the time of the Prophet (SAW), there was not a large abundance in the Muslim treasury, as there was in the time of Umar. Therefore, during the time of the Prophet (SAW), it was difficult to sponsor other Muslims marriages. A man came to the Prophet (SAW) saying that he could not afford to get married. So, the prophet (SAW) advised him to do extra prayers, and to fast to keep him away from sin. One of the most important things in Islam is to stay away from the abomination of backbiting. To understand how devastating this abomination is, Muhammad (SAW) related it to eating the flesh of your dead brother. As humans, it is very easy to be caught up in this abomination. This is because the shaiytan whispers to us the justifying of this action. Therefore, as Muslims, we should always refrain from sins such as this. We can do this by fasting.

Another benefit of fasting is to be rewarded by Allah (SWT). The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said that “when one fasts purely for the sake of Allah (SWT) Allah will put a riding distance of seven years between his face and hellfire. Therefore, if one fasts purely for the sake of Allah (SWT) during the whole month of Ramadan, his face will be a riding distance of 210 years away from hellfire. Also, anything a Muslim does during the month of Ramadan is multiplied by a minimum of 30 fold, up to a maximum of 1000 fold. Just imagine how far one would be from hellfire just for fasting the whole month purely for the sake of Allah (SWT). Furthermore, when we fast, we please Allah (SWT). Muhammad (SAW) said “every good deed that a human does is for his own benefit, except for fasting—it is for Allah (SWT)”. Just think about how special this is. Allah (SWT) does not need us to do anything for him, but he wants us to fast just for him. As we know, Allah (SWT) is responsible for all the good things that we have in this life, and inshaAllah, by his mercy, he will grant us the ultimate prize of his jannah. So, when we fast, we are doing something that is pleasing to Allah (SWT). This is a great way to thank Him for everything. Since fasting is the only good deed that is for Allah (SWT), it is like no other.

As stated before, whatever Allah (SWT) mandates upon us is for our own benefit, whether we realize it or not. Fasting has many health benefits. The first major health benefit of fasting is that it removes toxins from our body. Dr. Joel Fuhrman, MD, author of Eat to Live explains how this process works. Dr. Fuhurman explains that, “When you go without eating for more than a day or two, the body enters into ketosis. Ketosis occurs when the body runs out of carbohydrates to burn for energy, so it burns fat. And the fat is where the body stores many of the toxins it absorbs from the environment”.

The second health benefit of fasting is that it increases ones life span. Drs David Sinclair, and Christoph Westphaul teamed up to create a new drug that prevents the ageing process. In their findings, they discovered that when the Sirtuin gene is active (its normally inactive), it then triggers a survival mechanism that extends life. Dr Sinclair was convinced that something in nature could activate that gene. In his findings, he found that Rezveratrol has the ability to activate that gene. Rezveratrol is found in high concentrations in the skin of grapes. They are now in the process of converting Rezveratrol into an oral medication. They predict that this pill may have the ability to increase a human’s lifespan by one to two decades. However, the Doctors also figured out that there is one other thing that can activate the sirtuin gene in our bodies, and that is long periods of hunger. SubhanAllah, this is equivalent to fasting, which Allah (SWT) already mandated upon us during Ramadan.

Fasting is truly a special thing, as it is the only good deed that Allah (SWT) wants us to do for him. However, if we look at the health benefits of fasting, how far it will keep us from hellfire, and how it keeps us in a state of control it is evident that we are benefitting ourselves. So during this Ramadan make our fasts purely for the sake of Allah (SWT). InshaAllah we should all set goals for ourselves to do voluntary fasts after Ramadan inshaAllah.

–

You can E-mail Brother Kyle Smith at sptiger51@yahoo.com to ask him any questions.

Jazakum Allahu Khairun. (May Allah reward you for the good)

–

Photograph: http://pages.intnet.mu/islam/clipart.htm

For those who don’t know, what is ‘Return to the Deen”?

We are a group of Muslim brothers and sisters who are trying to get resources  together to help those who have gotten caught up in the dunya  and it’s ways.  The addictions of the dunya come in many forms: Drugs, Alcohol, Gambling, Harmful Lifestyles, Gangs, Internet, Crime, Institutionalization, Fornication, etc. We firmly believe in the concept of ‘hiding the faults of your brothers/sisters,’ however,  we also realize that our community is in dire need of a program that is both halal and structured to help them return to the Deen. The dunya is a very enticing and alluring place. Therefore, if we stand by and watch our brothers/sisters fade into the darkness, the people of the book have one on us. They have many facilities and safe homes to help guide their lost back home. We should be at the front line in treating these diseases, not the back -we are Islam!

What do you consider ‘Return to the Deen’ as? A project? An organization? Something else?

The name ‘Return to the Deen’ speaks for itself, in terms of what it means. It is a way to offer an avenue for our brothers and sisters of Islam, as well as the rest of humanity. It gives individuals a way to return to the natural religion and way of life for mankind. We are an organization/group of people who are taking a realistic look at life in this modern world and offering our community several different avenues of recovery through Islamic values and principles.

How did this wonderful endeavor start? What motivated it?

At one point, I [ Brother Tawheed] was looking for an Islamic sober living home or rehabilitation center and there was not one available at all. Following this, I started a group on Facebook and the rest is history. I then introduced the concept to Brother Arbazz, who also got involved. Next, Brother Mansur joined our team, followed by Kameen Waheed. After that it was on and cracking. We then began production on the videos and submitted the paperwork to become an official non-profit organization. I then became a certified Substance Abuse Counselor  (CSAC1). Thank you again Allah!

What has been accomplished so far?

We are currently awaiting paperwork in order to establish ourselves as a certified non-profit organization. We began by raising awareness using our videos as well as visiting mosques around Southern California to speak with our community about the organization. More and more people are interested and slowly starting to get involved, alhamdulilah! We have also started an Islamic ‘twelve step’ meeting, Milatti Islami, that takes place every Tuesday at 6pm at Back to the Grind in Downtown Riverside.

Can you share with us the inspiration behind the episodes that have filmed so far? What went into making these videos?

The main inspiration for our videos was to tell a raw and realistic story based on situations and scenarios that have happened or could happen to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Also, there are serious cultural issues addressed along with issues of tribalism, nationalism, racism, drug addiction, and premarital sex, etc.

What kind of feedback did you receive?

Actually I have received nothing but positive feedback and support for our cause, alhamdulilah. ‘Return to the Deen’ is a tool to speak to the world. These videos are our expression of a truthful reality, and our cry for help. Our team at ‘Return to Deen’ have only one purpose and that is to open the eyes of the Ummah (the Muslim community) and the world, inshaAllah!

Who is involved in this? Can you tell us about your team?

The people involved in this beautiful cause include everybody in the videos and some behind the scenes supporters. For the most part, we are still a nonprofit organization in the making. Any help, donations, or overall support is greatly needed and appreciated. We still need a facility for the ‘First Islamic Healing and Wellness Center.’ The vision we have is a rehabilitation center that treats anything that pulls a person from their Deen, for both Muslims and non Muslims. InshaAllah, we are working on making it a facility that offers the individual an Islamic based program with Islamic principles and values. We want to offer a tool to people who are sick with the disease of addiction or whatever disease they suffer from a way to Return to the Deen!

What struggles have you faced?

Some of the problems our community faces are serious and as a result, many are afraid or ashamed to admit that even we are susceptible to the temptations of the dunya. One of our major struggles was getting the Ummah as a whole to see the need for a facility of rehabilitation for muslims/nonmuslims based on Islamic

principles and values.

What is the ultimate goal / future plans?

To acquire a facility and the revenue to staff it and run it. Imagine, The First Islamic Healing and Wellness Center, A rehabilitation facility based on Islam…Alhamdulillah.

What way can our readers help your endeavor? How do they get involved?

Your readers can get involved by helping us acquire a facility and by donating revenue/funds, time, and any resources. This Facility will serve as a center for the healing of the complete soul for muslims and non-muslims alike. Hence the name, Return to the Deen. I [Tawheed] am not an Imam or a Scholar but I am an ex-con and a recovered drug addict and I am a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC I) and all I do is (Insha Allah) offer a program based on the basic principles and values of Islam…the rest is for the Mosques, Imams, and Scholars.

A poem about the many forms of worship because worship does not only mean to pray and fast but to incorporate it in every action that we do because Allah (swt) loves it and we do it for His sake only.

It is the things that Allah loves:

Whispering Bismillah over a steaming plate of chicken biryani,

struggling to brush your little sister’s tangled black hair, or

the charitable goofy smile you spread

at another student, whose tears are escaping

into her turkey sandwich at lunch time while

the wind flaps at the lettuce leaf wilting

beneath the layers of tomato and mayo.

When you gently pour the milk into your kitten’s ceramic dish,

when you wave to your Qu’ran teacher after class,

reciting Surah Yasin before you do your math homework,

and taking out the trash that smells like dead fish for your dad

because he broke his leg at the construction site.

It’s saying jazakum allhu khair to your Aunt Layla for baking

you a red velvet cake because you memorized the first juza, and

going to bed at 9pm before your mother normally

drags you to the bedroom while your feet get carpet burns.

It’s washing your dishes and your grandma’s mug she likes

to drink Earl Grey Tea from.

It’s before you go out to kick the soccer ball around after Asr or

rearranging the dolls on your bookshelf before Maghrib.

It’s that crisp apple you reach for in the fridge

instead of dipping your dirty hands into the cookie jar before dinner,

and it’s eagerly getting up for Fajr before the adhan,

stumbling to the bathroom to make wudu, and it’s

you surfing the web for stories of the prophets instead of playing

the usual video games that make you resemble a zombie.

It’s saying thank you or making wudu when you are angry,

and telling your friends that they should not say that Ayah has big ears.

It’s when your little brother Omar wants your new basketball and with

ease, you bring it down and hand it to him and kiss his auburn hair, telling him

that he should go have fun.

When you say salam to a stranger with a golden hijab,

and it’s when you cautiously carry the silver tray of mint

tea and Maria biscuits to your parents’ guests,

and it’s saying alhumdulliah instead of complaining

that Adnan has more comic books than you do.

It is watching the red sun melt behind the mountains

and having a fear grow like ivy in our hearts

as we remember that Allah is All-Knowing

and He loves when our everyday actions are for Him only.

–

Mariam Al-Kalby is a graduate from Cal State Long Beach with a B.A. in English Education and Creative Writing.  She currently is a Religion Editor for InFocus News and has also contributed articles to muslimahsource.org.

She also likes to create designs and likes to write short stories, poetry, articles, anything that is writing!

For more info contact her at digging4truth@gmail.com

Photograph: http://pages.intnet.mu/islam/clipart.htm