It’s been a while, I know. There’s just too much to do and plan before baby #2 arrives in my book, so please forgive my absence…and the absence of notes from the Rihla (inshAllah I’ll start back on that someday…). But if I’m honest here, you probably won’t be hearing much from me unless there…
When we were in Palestine a couple of months ago, I remember how astonished people were to find out that there was such a thing as indigenous American Muslims. For some reason, there’s a misconception running amuck overseas that all American Muslims are converts and need to be quizzed on their knowledge of certain surahs…
Today is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, a day globally designated for recognizing the accomplishments of women, past and present. Women have been devalued in so many ways across so many cultures throughout time that this day is a great way to bring some of the forgotten stories of noble women upfront and…
I feel spring fever coming on…did you go outside today? I did…it was beautiful. I bundled my daughter and myself up only to be met with the need to shed the gloves and wool scarf. We are now in the third Islamic month, Rabi al’ Awwal , which literally means the first spring. And what…
It was Ramadan and he (saws) was 40 years old–it was 610 CE. He was approaching the Cave of Hira (where Mecca’s hunafa often retreated). He would be in seclusion…the cave was so small that two people scarce fit. He could see the Ka’aba down below him from the mouth of the cave. He would…
Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things). (Surah Al ‘Isra 17:1) It was the…
On this day, July the 4th, in 1187, which was later to become America’s Independence Day and the day of my marriage anniversary, Salahuddin Ayyubi (ra) recaptured Jerusalem. It was called the Battle of Hattin, and it was the time of the Crusades. Salahuddin was vizier-sultan-caliph of Egypt, and he then extended his rule to…
I’ve been going on a googling search frenzy to find out more about the Battle of Tabuk which happened in Rajab. Surah Al-Tawbah (Bara’ah), the 9th surah of the Qu’ran, tells us the majority of what we know about the Battle of Tabuk and the lessons to be learned from it in verses 30-129. Surah…
I’m being hit by a lot of conflicting ideas. It requires patience, sincerity of intent, and a prayer for guidance on my part. I want to go to Jerusalem. I want to live and breathe its spiritual history. I want to live out the hadiths of the prophet Muhammad (saws): Zaid Ibn Thabit (ra) reports…
THE SANDAL 