Salam,
You know what absolutely perturbs me is when a Muslim doesn't recycle. That's right. I find it hypocritical of every believing Muslim man and Muslim woman to deny their environment of cleanliness when simultaneously they love God and His blessings.

We fail to realize that one of Allah's blessings is that he placed us down on this Earth. We live on His creation. We breathe, eat, sleep, believe on the Earth he created only for us.

Every Muslim must be an environmentalist. If you love Allah, you love His bounties, one being the environment.

“There is none amongst the believers who plants a tree, or sows a seed, and then a bird, or a person, or an animal eats thereof, but it is regarded as having given a charitable gift.” [Al-Bukhari, III:513]. Even our Prophet was an environmentalist. Based on every account of his deeds, Mohammad (Peace and Blessings upon him) had deep respect for nature, and this "emotional attachment" to the elements earth, water, fire, air.

So I came across this amazing article written by F. Chatel, "Prophet Mohammad: A Pioneer of Environment" and she discusses the Prophet's environmental philosophy and how its based on three main concepts: Tawhid (oneness of God), Khalifa (stewardship), and amana (trust). According to Chatel, if one believes in Allah, he or she would take the responsibility to purify and preserve His Earth. This duty to the environment is based on Allah's trust. Therefore, we cannot break this trust.

“Surely the creation of the heavens and the earth is greater than the creation of man; but most people know not [40:57]”.

So if this Earth is greater a creation than us, humans, we must do everything in our power to purify and sustain our God-given environment. .

“The earth has been created for me as a mosque and as a means of purification.” [Al-Bukhari I:331]

subhanAllah, fellow Muslims. Start recycling :) NOW

Salam,

I would just like to thank those who have taken the time to pray for me that I would be granted acceptance into my first choice school.

In return, the most I can do is show my appreciation and share with you the beautiful news - I got in! Alhamdulilahi rabiyal alameen.

Today, I had woken up after a much needed nap and got a phone call from an admissions counselor at Bryn Mawr, congratulating my acceptance. It was amazing. yet I don't think I made a great impression, because I kept choking on my words. It's like 40-nafl worth! In fact, I don't even know if prayers can express my gratitude to Allah subhana wa ta ala. InshaAllah it will suffice.

Again, God bless those who prayed for me, but keep me in your prayers as I will for you- I still have to find a way for my family to afford it.

until then, keep it halal.

Salam,
I really enjoyed the bonding time with my brother yesterday. mashaAllah, fourth graders have nothing to worry about. He was assigned a project based off this book he read "King of the Kooties". lol. So he decided to create the main character with the head of what he believed looked like a cootie.

Anyways, tonight will be the last day I see this kashmiri couple, who have come to America to visit their son and daughter in law a few minutes from our home. They couldn't speak English so they helped me brush up my language skills. I hope I don't cry when they leave. Since I haven't seen my grandparents in years, I saw them as my own and mashaAllah, they really made me feel like I was a part of their family. may Allah grant them the highest rank in jannah. ameen.

As for other news, if you are so kind, please make dua/prayer that I hear good news from college this week. I will be hearing if I got accepted into Bryn Mawr or not. Just thinking about it is making me queezy. I guess I shoudln't be worried knowing whatever happens, its by the grace of Him. So,please please please make dua that I get an acceptance letter from Bryn Mawr.
inshaAllah inshaAllah inshaAllah, it's my first, yet most competitive choice.

regardless, keep it halal.

As I walked into first period that September of 2001, the loud chatter of students after a whole summer without seeing one another subsided. I could only hear the throbbing of my heart resonate throughout my body as one student after the other turned around to gape at something they had never expected. Was it really me? Or was it just a Muslim girl observing the headscarf prescribed by her religious dress code? “Here”, I said as my teacher called out my name for attendance. Here I am. It is I, a hijabi.

Salam,
That would be the last paragraph of a personal statement I wrote for the bajillion scholarships I'm applying for. Hijab is so versatile, subhanAllah. It has motivated me to become involved where I would never have imagined. It has made me enthusiastic about learning, contributing actively, being someone who could think on her own feet. A vocalist, a political activist, a feminist, and a human rights advocate have I become as I shaped by beliefs even apart from Islam. And it makes a really good college essay. :)

salam,
I hate shoes. If I could run barefoot all the time for the rest of my life, words couldn't describe my happiness. inshaAllah, if I end up in Jannah, I won't wear shoes, because I won't need them and that is truly..Jannah.
If anything, flip flops rock my world. flip flops zindabad.

Why I bring up an inane subject as this is because my mom promised she would throw my only pair of shoes that I wear into the fireplace if I didn't buy new ones. My shoe collection consists of these black sneakers, dress shoes that I never wear, and my rubber flip flops. Pitiful for a girl, I know.

So this is what my favorite pair of shoes looks like:
lol. yeah. I know I need new shoes. Anyone who wants to earn some sadaqah, maybe you can buy girlfriend a decent pair of shoes because I really don't feel like shopping for them. boooooo hissss.
keep it halal. :)

In February, I visited Philadelphia for a couple college interviews. Since it was on a Friday, my Uncle and I decided to stop by the Villanova masjid for Jumah prayers. Then I visited their refreshment stand and got myself a samosa (not a fan of, but was hungry) and stale mango juice. I tried to keep from laughing when one of the sisters behind the stand took my money and placed into a children's cashbox (mashaAllah). My cell phone's picture option would have finally come to use, but it would have been pretty rude if I just randomly snapped a shot.
It looked something liket his though:

I'm not making a mockery out of them, astaghfirullah. If you think about it, so many American Muslim communities are disunited over ridiculous politics and in my community's case, it all started with disputes over who owed what, and where the money invested in nonexistent masjid went.
But at some masjids, Muslims wash such matters off their hands; it's like their sincerity is their soap.
“Whoever leaves this world with sincerity to Allah Almighty, the One and Only, and performs the prayers and pays the Zakah will die in the pleasure of Allah.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

down with power hunger. down with materialism. down with disunity. and down with the people who think we can't do anything to help their Muslim community. (this goes for all of us, first most for me)

Salam,
I'm changing my blog URL to www.iFearOne.blogspot.com
keep it halal.