Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu brothers and sisters!
As mentioned in my previous post I said that I would try to blog everyday throughout Ramadan inshaAllah. However, I thought it would be nice to share with you the thoughts and feelings that are floating within me the evening before the first day!
I am so very excited for Ramadan! But to be honest, I was worrying about not being able to reap the benefits of this blessed month. But Alhumdulilah, through the grace of Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) I am more confident about what is to come.
This month, I am looking forward to fasting and breaking fast with the beautiful souls I have met since reverting to Islam. I hope to learn more about Islam and be constantly breathing this amazing deen.
I pray that we all reap the benefits from this Holy Month, be forgiven for our sins, and reach new spiritual heights!
Ameen
-Aisha
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Ramadan is Almost Here!
Assalamu alaikum!
Ramadan is quickly approaching and I am both excited and nervous! This year will be my first time fasting and insha'Allah I will be able to reap the many benefits of this Holy month.
I plan to fast everyday insha'Allah, but some of my friends have recommended that I do the best that I can but not to worry if I need to take a break. I am going to try my best to do as much as I can though.
For the month, I'm thinking of blogging everyday insha'Allah about my experiences fasting for the first time. If you are reading, maybe you would like to do the same? Just an idea.
I pray that everyone has a wonderful Ramadan that will help us to become closer to this wonderful deen.
Salaam,
Aisha
Ramadan is quickly approaching and I am both excited and nervous! This year will be my first time fasting and insha'Allah I will be able to reap the many benefits of this Holy month.
I plan to fast everyday insha'Allah, but some of my friends have recommended that I do the best that I can but not to worry if I need to take a break. I am going to try my best to do as much as I can though.
For the month, I'm thinking of blogging everyday insha'Allah about my experiences fasting for the first time. If you are reading, maybe you would like to do the same? Just an idea.
I pray that everyone has a wonderful Ramadan that will help us to become closer to this wonderful deen.
Salaam,
Aisha
Saturday, July 31, 2010
The Blessing is in the Struggle
Lupe Fiasco said it best.
I feel that I am currently experiencing my own inner struggle. Not to say that struggle doesn't face us everyday of our lives, but I think at the moment I am being pulled between two different directions. These two directions are a bit self-labeled; the Truth and the Deception.
The Truth represents; Islam and living, loving and doing for the sake of Allah (swt). The Deception refers to this dunya (world) that the Shaytan al-rajeem (the rejected) uses as a way to deflect us from the path of True knowledge and wisdom.
I think everyone experiences this tug and pull between the two. I pray that we all will have the endurance, strength and blessings of Allah(swt) to overcome Shaytan's attempts to lead us off the righteous path.
Ameen.
-Aisha
I feel that I am currently experiencing my own inner struggle. Not to say that struggle doesn't face us everyday of our lives, but I think at the moment I am being pulled between two different directions. These two directions are a bit self-labeled; the Truth and the Deception.
The Truth represents; Islam and living, loving and doing for the sake of Allah (swt). The Deception refers to this dunya (world) that the Shaytan al-rajeem (the rejected) uses as a way to deflect us from the path of True knowledge and wisdom.
I think everyone experiences this tug and pull between the two. I pray that we all will have the endurance, strength and blessings of Allah(swt) to overcome Shaytan's attempts to lead us off the righteous path.
Ameen.
-Aisha
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
My Apologies
Asssalamu Alaikum!
I haven't written much on my blog in awhile. Part of that reason is because I have started to pay closer attention to a more personal secret blog that I chose not to share with anyone. It acts most like a journal where I talk about some deeper thoughts as well as some poems that I have started to write.
I recently cut a very important person out of my life, and although I know that its for the best and is what Allah (swt) wants for me, I have gotten new inspiration for some thoughts and feelings.
I am sorry for being so vague! But there are just certain things that I don't want the entire world to come across.
I will however, try to make more of an effort to post more on this blog. Insha'Allah I will do a better job at doing so.
Be rest assured however that I am doing very well Alhumdulilah! I'm just enjoying my summer with amazing people and also trying to do a lot of self-reflecting. Perhaps I will post a rendition of my more intimate posts on here soon insha'allah.
Until next time,
God Bless,
-Aisha
I haven't written much on my blog in awhile. Part of that reason is because I have started to pay closer attention to a more personal secret blog that I chose not to share with anyone. It acts most like a journal where I talk about some deeper thoughts as well as some poems that I have started to write.
I recently cut a very important person out of my life, and although I know that its for the best and is what Allah (swt) wants for me, I have gotten new inspiration for some thoughts and feelings.
I am sorry for being so vague! But there are just certain things that I don't want the entire world to come across.
I will however, try to make more of an effort to post more on this blog. Insha'Allah I will do a better job at doing so.
Be rest assured however that I am doing very well Alhumdulilah! I'm just enjoying my summer with amazing people and also trying to do a lot of self-reflecting. Perhaps I will post a rendition of my more intimate posts on here soon insha'allah.
Until next time,
God Bless,
-Aisha
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Name Change
So I just realized that in my earlier posts I had signed off as Aminah and my last post I ended with Aisha. You must all think that I am suffering from a case of multiple personality disorder, but I assure you I am not! After I converted I was thinking about what name was a best fit for me for when I introduce myself to other Muslims. The two names that were in heavy competition were Aisha and Aminah. Aisha (r.a) being the name of the Prophet (s.a.w.s) wife and Aminah, meaning "trustworthy" and the name of the Proohet's mother. After introducing myself as both names to my friends, I have finally settled on Aisha. Thus, for future posts I will sign off with Aisha.
Peace my friends and strangers!
- Aisha :)
Peace my friends and strangers!
- Aisha :)
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Al-Jazeera- Island of Music and Murder
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
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
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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