We rose before the sun,Tired eyes, filled mouths,And before the dawn splinteredProstration’s patience began. A day with no food,A day without water,But with the sun’s journeyWas also the soul’s. A physical deprivationBut with spiritual sustenance,As the sounds of recitationFilled the open air. This year was slightly different,Isolated at home,Missing the comforting smiles,The community. Taraweeh at…
The black night’s cloak surrounds,Shadows that eat at my thoughtsOn the lonely dirt roadOf that which I call life. The crickets chirp in the creek,Dancing melodies that escapeWhen you search for them,Yet always exist on the side. The sun never really disappears,Even in the darkest winters,Or the cold nightsWhen it hides behind the earth. But…
Time flows by like a channelLeading into a large pond.Some seconds smoothly streamWhile others ripple beyond. Filled with moments held dearAnd those wished to forget,By reflections within and outAnd the people that we’ve met. Sailing in these bodiesAre hardships old and young,Some sunk, some still sturdy,Yet to the blue water clung. To the horizons we…
Water is an important resource. It’s used for wudu in Islam, baptism in Christianity, ritual washing in Judaism, and spiritual rebirth in Hinduism. In all world religions, water is essential. It is an entity of cleanliness and purification. However, today, many countries with minority populations lack access to clean water. With water pollution affecting irrigated…
“A man who stands for nothingWill fall for anything,”1Said El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz,The man known as Malcolm X. He was a minister, activist, leader And so much more than mere roles.He was a passionate person- Fighting for his people’s souls. It’s his vague title heard often:‘A popular figure of the civil rights movement’-Though criticized for controversy,For resolute advocacy…
The world is on fire,The smoke snaking in my ears.It met the swirling air within,The antithesis of dripping tears. The contrast flares high,For both require attention.The smudged lens feels cracked,Lacking resolution. Politics shackled my mind,Imprisoning naïve idealism.Communication is the key,Instead of barred skepticism. Yet we can take small steps,Set achievable goals.The world may be large,But…
When I was in middle school, my friends and I loved writing short stories. We would post them on a forum, eager for feedback from other readers. One friend wrote a story where the main character was a Pakistani girl named Iman – “belief” in Arabic. I clearly remember thinking afterwards: “Well, that’s unrealistic. That’s…
Chemistry of CommunityThe world is made of atoms,Both individual and packed.A combination of customs,Both tangible and abstract. Communities chemically composed,Elementally individual.But energy stored in bonds-Thermodynamically favorable. Each bond a different length,Yet each a notable factor.Changes based on wavelengthBut still can shape character: Our melting and boiling points,Supportive structural integrity.Our awareness and viewpoints,Solidarity and reactivity. It’s…
There is no cloud in the air, What is that smoke? There is no death in the neighborhood, What is that cry? Those Yemen lands are so rugged Over there is Yemen, its rose is fenugreek Those who go never return, Why? Yemen Turkish Folk Song(1) Yemen is a country set at the southeastern portion…
Khawlah bint al-Azwar, fluttering cloth and clinking metal, deep in the heat of the desert; Squares her shoulders, draws a breath. Sends a word heavenwards, Eyes steely behind their shade. No fear must slake her resolve today. The hilt of the blade warms in her grip, the blood thrums under her skin- The spirit is…