As many of you already know, Jamaica is currently undergoing a national emergency. Since my family is from Jamaica I started doing some research on the current events going on there and came across this eye-opening documentary on Al-Jazeera. I hope you find it just as gut-wrenching as I did.
Oh Allah most-Gracious most-Merciful please give strength to the many innocent people in Jamaica and please let there be peace and tranquility in a nation that has seen so many decades of violence and corruption, ameen.
Please make dua for those in Jamaica.
Assalamu alaykum,
Aisha
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Update!
Assalaam alaykum everyone!
As noticed, it has been quite awhile since I last posted something. When I first started this blog I was just in the process of studying for exams, and realized I had to buckle down! After exams, I had come back home from university and had just become busy with seeing family and friends and then went on vacation with my aunt to St. Maarten! These are the excuses I am using for my lack of attention to my blog. So for the few of you who check my blog regularly, I am sorry.
Now after a long hiatus, I have decided to obviously post something! This post is going to be more of a jumble of things floating in my mind at this exact moment!
First, I think I am going to change the purpose of this blog. I will still discuss my journey as a new Muslim, but I'd like to also talk about politics, human rights, travel, love, and life! Just to broaden the horizons, as I am a person who constantly thinks of different things and having a blog so narrowly focused, isn't the best for me! Hopefully, you will all find what I have to say interesting and if you would like to add something, please be free to do so! I love hearing and considering other people's opinions!
In case you were wondering, yes I am still practicing Islam and I actually have told some members of my family about my conversion! The first I told was my Mom, who I was really apprehensive of telling first, due to her critical perspective on religion. She was initially disappointed with my decision, but I think after she realized that I was still the same person she now respects my decision. However, there are times when she says a passing comment that exhibits her misunderstanding of the religion, it really doesn't interfere with our relationship so, Alhumdulilah! The second person I told was my aunt, who had already guessed that was something I had done! So that was made easy. She has been extremely supportive of my decision. In fact when I went on vacation with her she had witnessed me pray countless times and actually begun asking me questions on certain things. Alhumdulilah I was able to give a little bit of dawah (teaching/spreading information about Islam). However, there is one member of my family that I have not yet told, and this is partially the same reason why I didn't tell my Mother right away. She has a strong personality, and would be highly critical. Though I find it interesting, because she is the only one in my family who strongly believes in a Higher Being. InshAllah I will tell her soon and that she will receive it well.
I've been thinking about my journey so far as a Muslim and I began to think about how I started my new life as a Muslim. Two words can express how I was in the very beginning; a religious zealot! This is something that most new Muslims become. I had started to cut things from my life so quickly, and was starting to impose some of my zeal on other people who were close to me that had been Muslim all their lives. AstughfurAllah! (Allah Forgive me.) And I eventually realized that I was overwhelming myself and I needed to slow down! I had started to realize this after a reading a quote from the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s) which had basically said that a convert should not dive deeply into the religion in terms of attempting to do everything all at once, for eventually they will come to feel overwhelmed. My apologies, for I cannot find the exact quotation! Thus, I have realized that I need to progress to be a better Muslim and individual slowly and at one step at a time. So my zeal has calmed down considerably. So at this point my advice to new Muslims is to take things slowly. Obviously it is of utmost importance to learn how to pray and do your five daily prayers and fulfill the five tenants of Islam (declaration of faith, prayer, fasting, zakat, and InshAllah, one day pilgrimage to Mecca.) However, the smaller intricacies of our faith should be developed once we gain a deep understanding of what our faith means to us as individuals, and the beauty of its teachings.
Salam
As noticed, it has been quite awhile since I last posted something. When I first started this blog I was just in the process of studying for exams, and realized I had to buckle down! After exams, I had come back home from university and had just become busy with seeing family and friends and then went on vacation with my aunt to St. Maarten! These are the excuses I am using for my lack of attention to my blog. So for the few of you who check my blog regularly, I am sorry.
Now after a long hiatus, I have decided to obviously post something! This post is going to be more of a jumble of things floating in my mind at this exact moment!
First, I think I am going to change the purpose of this blog. I will still discuss my journey as a new Muslim, but I'd like to also talk about politics, human rights, travel, love, and life! Just to broaden the horizons, as I am a person who constantly thinks of different things and having a blog so narrowly focused, isn't the best for me! Hopefully, you will all find what I have to say interesting and if you would like to add something, please be free to do so! I love hearing and considering other people's opinions!
In case you were wondering, yes I am still practicing Islam and I actually have told some members of my family about my conversion! The first I told was my Mom, who I was really apprehensive of telling first, due to her critical perspective on religion. She was initially disappointed with my decision, but I think after she realized that I was still the same person she now respects my decision. However, there are times when she says a passing comment that exhibits her misunderstanding of the religion, it really doesn't interfere with our relationship so, Alhumdulilah! The second person I told was my aunt, who had already guessed that was something I had done! So that was made easy. She has been extremely supportive of my decision. In fact when I went on vacation with her she had witnessed me pray countless times and actually begun asking me questions on certain things. Alhumdulilah I was able to give a little bit of dawah (teaching/spreading information about Islam). However, there is one member of my family that I have not yet told, and this is partially the same reason why I didn't tell my Mother right away. She has a strong personality, and would be highly critical. Though I find it interesting, because she is the only one in my family who strongly believes in a Higher Being. InshAllah I will tell her soon and that she will receive it well.
I've been thinking about my journey so far as a Muslim and I began to think about how I started my new life as a Muslim. Two words can express how I was in the very beginning; a religious zealot! This is something that most new Muslims become. I had started to cut things from my life so quickly, and was starting to impose some of my zeal on other people who were close to me that had been Muslim all their lives. AstughfurAllah! (Allah Forgive me.) And I eventually realized that I was overwhelming myself and I needed to slow down! I had started to realize this after a reading a quote from the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s) which had basically said that a convert should not dive deeply into the religion in terms of attempting to do everything all at once, for eventually they will come to feel overwhelmed. My apologies, for I cannot find the exact quotation! Thus, I have realized that I need to progress to be a better Muslim and individual slowly and at one step at a time. So my zeal has calmed down considerably. So at this point my advice to new Muslims is to take things slowly. Obviously it is of utmost importance to learn how to pray and do your five daily prayers and fulfill the five tenants of Islam (declaration of faith, prayer, fasting, zakat, and InshAllah, one day pilgrimage to Mecca.) However, the smaller intricacies of our faith should be developed once we gain a deep understanding of what our faith means to us as individuals, and the beauty of its teachings.
Salam
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