Salam,
I never got the chance to do something that I should have done immediately after its occurance as I would like to address my opinion on the Danish cartoon controversy:

Hopefully all of us can agree that the Danish caricatures desecrated the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings Upon him), and the cartoonist had the least bit of sensitivity towards the Islamic ruling on depicting Prophets of Islam.
Despite the degrading publication, violent protests and irate mobs of so-called Muslims were innapropriate for the lack of a stronger word. Such hypocritical behavior only asserts what the cartoonist has implied!
In such a situation, Muslims need to seek advice from Quran and Sunnah. What would our very own Prophet think of Muslims burning flags and vandalizing embassies across the world?
"The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of God upon him, was asked about a man who fought to display his bravery, another who fought out of fealty to his tribe, and a third who fought to show off. Which had fought in the Way of God? He replied, peace and blessings of God upon him, “The one who fought to make the Word of God uppermost has fought in the Way of God.”[4] Is the nature of the current campaign working to make the Word of God uppermost? Every Muslim needs to ask that question."- Imam Zaid Shakir

In light of the frenzied response to the Danish cartoons, I fully advocate open dialogue to better understand the Islamic view on the Prophet's depiction. We shoudl also discuss media's responsiblity to respect religions and cultures while exercising their right to free press. I fully advocate organized and peaceful assembly and petition that denounces the desecration of one's religion in the media. And I condemn the violent and threatening protests led by thousands of Muslims world wide. I condemn the propogration of anti-European sentiment and I condemn, with utmost humiliation, the ignorance, hypocrisy, and barbarism that Muslims have demonstrated recently.


For more information on the Muslim insight on the cartoon controversy, click here.

Salam,
From what I remember, I have been the most nervous in three occasions of my life:
1. my driver's test, April 2005
2. my AP bio cat practicals, January 2006
3. the night before my interview with Drexel Med. School, February 2006.

Yeah, I had it pretty good as a kid. Never really had the chance to get nervous, alhamdulilah. But I have to say, now as a high school senior, I've experienced more mental breakdowns (yes, I'm admitting it, leave me alone) and nervewracking experiences than all my years of living put together. Maybe it's because I have lived up to this year, ever since I first learned the meaning of college and career and..and FUTURE.
Sure, everyone goes through this process. In many previous posts, I express some struggle I have challenged like becoming closer to the deen or overcoming frustration. But subhanAllah with every day, there is an even bigger struggle so I guess this post is just preparing me for what's yet to become of my future, inshaAllah.

So I just realized, as I'm writing this, that I posted up a statement on my door this morning about taqwa earlier, and subhanAllah how it fits in with this post:
It was reported that Umar bin Al-Khattab asked Ubayy bin Ka'b about taqwa. Ubayy said,"Have you ever walked on a path that has thorns on it?"
Umar said, "Yes."
Ubayy said, "What did you do then?"
He said, "I rolled up my sleeves and struggled."
Ubayy said, "That is taqwa."

At my interview this weekend, I felt pretty confident and was able to express myself well, alhamdulillah. I had about three interviews that day, all with doctors, and it was gruelling, exhausting, stressful to say the least but nothing compared to the night before. I had questioned what I wanted to do with my life career wise (obviously not the first time) and just thinking of this medical program and how it assures me medical school if I get in, I mean I wouldn't have much of a choice then after my enrollment. And for those that do know me, my passions lie far beyond medical terminology and studying molecular garbage until fajr.
To those reading this post, I hope you don't get the misconception that I aspire to study medicine. I'd just like to say that I'm open to anything in my future, as long as I love what I do and never short of taqwa :) inshaAllah.
keep it halal yo.

Salam,
I can't be myself, completely. In school I can't express the love for my deen as much as I would like to or it would seem as if I am imposing my religion. At home I cannot express my passion for public work/human rights as I would like to, for my family (who I love so dearly)dissuade me because they think it takes away from studying, but really how much studying can an individual take on? And my friends, I can't be myself because if I was, they would characterize me as an islamic extremist becuase I just don't like doing things other girls do. As a matter of fact, I would sorely regret it if I had to please them by assimilating to their teeny-bopper, self-obsessed, boy-crazy ways instead of pleasing the One. And I honestly don't care if I don't please friends, because they come and go except for a special few in your life.
So I told a dear friend that I couldn't wait for my "freedom" in college. My freedom to express who I was in the way I spoke, acted, and dressed. But that's a stupid notion. College may be worse as there are more people to talk about you, more to speculate and judge you, so I thought I was trapped. And then I felt worthless for not trusting Allah on this one.

"Strength is not constituted so much by the sharpness of arms as it is constituted by the strength in the heart of the soldier. Justice is so much inherent in the text of the law as it is in the conscience of the judge. Education is not so much on the pages of the book as it is in the soul of knowledge. The realisation of projects does not lie so much in the constitution of committees as it is in the enthusiasm of those who execute them"

Oh, yeah. I'm 18 years young today and any minute closer to death. As my plane from Indiana was airborne, it grew extremely turbulent and it scared me. The pilot assured us it was only a little turbulence, so there was nothing to worry about. But is there? We are given so many Signs of the last Day, yet we do not tremble at the thought of it. Something so trivial such as plane turbulence rings fear into our hearts, yet we read the Quran in verbatim, no sweat, no tears, no anything. Just think...one ayah has the power to shake a mountain. Allahumma bismika amuutu wa ahyaa.
keep it halal.

oh yeah, my family brought a cake, but I wanted my gulab jamun instead. ignore my sister's vanna white hands.