Born Confused

Loving for the Sake of Allah

ilana — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 02:52:59 +0000

iqra (2:26:31 AM): assalaamu alaikum me (2:26:50 AM): hey, walayakumassaalmwarathmatullah me (2:27:05 AM): can’t sleep? iqra (2:27:23 AM): umm lol not really iqra (2:27:24 AM): im just up iqra (2:27:35 AM): not really as in i can sleep if i want to iqra (2:27:36 AM): aH me (2:27:48 AM): same here alhumdullah me (2:28:05 AM): wassup iqra? iqra (2:28:17 AM): need your insight iqra (2:28:26 [...]

Desert Rose

ilana — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:15:37 +0000

A friend shared a story… “Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his [...]

Breathing Mask

ilana — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 05:17:44 +0000

A mask, a sign of morality–trying to keep numb when I know the time will come when all is said and done and no turning back, a lump in my throat trying to relax but we all know there’s a subtle unrest as I blink back tears realization dawns; numb is not acceptable, tears irrefutable– [...]

ARTiculate

ilana — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:25:31 +0000

Random thoughts, random words, inspiration hits–widens and challenges the wit… unable to articulate in such confines, so simply art, music, dance are there to express the love of the divine.

Change

ilana — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:34:01 +0000

Eh: so why do you think the Muslim Ummah declined? Me: many reasons… one of is the Muslim Ummah having this dual identity crisis that persists in the middle east resulting from colonialism. They want to be “Modern” (the western way) but that has some serious growing pains… islamic growing pains–and I feel that inshAllah they [...]

I’ll miss…

ilana — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:54:33 +0000

I will miss my youngest sisters attempt to copy me and make wudu. I’ll miss how they stood next to me in prayer—head on my elbow. I’ll miss holding my small sisters when they cry and seeing them laugh and squeal as I roar and chase them in the backyard. I’ll miss listening to my brother’s confessions—just trying [...]

A Quote I had to share

ilana — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:57:41 +0000

When a certain emperor commented that he would not act in a certain way because it was against his interest Confucius replied ‘It is well your majesty thinks of his self interest. Soon the ministers will think of their interests and following their own interests none shall think of the interest of the nation’. A political [...]

Cable Cars, the Bay Bridge and my hatred for TV

ilana — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:56:50 +0000

I am reminded day after day why I hate TV so much. I am at the place of my childhood, of my birth… and yet I feel so uneasy. Towns are wide spread… and I guess I would find it relaxing but let me tell you this. At least now I know positively my priority [...]

The Identity crisis and/within Islamic institutions

ilana — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:32:32 +0000

A speech I did at the Education Forum Chicago Alhumdullah We see over and over again, Conferences, gets together, camps, organizations, Islamic schools trying to address the dilemma of the youth: Identity. This theme—this problem, is huge, expansive, the seed—that gives birth to unity and inshAllah countless good deeds and endeavors. Identity is in itself means a [...]

Thoughts on the MYNA Leadership camp…

ilana — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:20:14 +0000

My heart is so small, it’s almost invisible. How can You place such big sorrows in it? “Look,” He answered, “your eyes are even smaller, yet they behold the world.” “‘In the woods, we return to reason and faith,’ and become ‘part and parcel of God’”. –Emerson. Before MYNA camp I looked at this quote and [...]