Illuminated Reflections

Don't Lie!

2011-07-01T16:52:00.004-06:00

You lied again
I felt sadness...and amusement
And thought: “there he goes again.”
I know you well

You may assume that I am simple
Or you may think you are so clever
That I will fall for your Lies
Covered with veils of partial truths

They are so clearly dishonest
Your lies so un-clever and bare
The veil is sheer, the lies are dark
Yet you are proud of your talent

I walk away wondering
Will honesty ever win the contest?
I feel ashamed for you…and sad
And wish you’d stop!

Was Osama Binladen my neighbor?

2011-05-12T12:53:00.000-06:00

A wonderful article...a must read for all. Click on the title.

Letter to N.Y. for Louise Crane

2011-03-04T21:55:00.003-07:00

In your next letter I wish you'd say

where you are going and what you are doing;

how are the plays and after the plays

what other pleasures you're pursuing:

taking cabs in the middle of the night,

driving as if to save your soul

where the road goes round and round the park

and the meter glares like a moral owl,

and the trees look so queer and green

standing alone in big black caves

and suddenly you're in a different place

where everything seems to happen in waves,

and most of the jokes you just can't catch,

like dirty words rubbed off a slate,

and the songs are loud but somehow dim

and it gets so terribly late,

and coming out of the brownstone house

to the gray sidewalk, the watered street,

one side of the buildings rises with the sun

like a glistening field of wheat.

--Wheat, not oats, dear. I'm afraid

if it's wheat it's none of your sowing,

nevertheless I'd like to know

what you are doing and where you are going.

By: Elizabeth Bishop

Propelled into Evolution

2011-03-04T21:12:00.002-07:00

The period of twenty three years during which the holy Quran was revealed was a period in which Islam was to propel humanity on an evolutionary course. It provided humanity with principles that were to be applied at different times, contexts, geographies and cultures. This application of Islamic principles were to help humanity evolve into better versions of themselves regardless of where, when and in which context they lived. This succeeded for many years, at least intermittently, as those who applied Islamic principles succeeded in making things better for humanity through their contributions to science, technology, art, and politics.

This evolution towards better with the goal of reaching the Perfect One should have continued. If it had, I am certain, the state of Muslims around the world would have been better than it is today. But alas we failed! Instead of looking at that wonderful period as the launching pad for a continuous evolution into better, we mistakenly identified that period as the snapshot we must emulate and re-create. Of course it is impossible to create today what was there 1400 years earlier. Our attempts at trying to fit a square peg into a round hole made us create something entirely different than what God and the Prophet (PBUH) intended for us.

We must go back to the basics. Here I am not referring to the literal meaning of the words (Quran or Hadith), but to the spirit of their message. We must extract the principles that the message conveyed and apply those principles to our lives. Thankfully others in the world have taken those principles, many of which happen to be universal, and have allowed for the evolution to continue. It is time we used our faith to contribute to the evolution for the better on route to the perfection that is God.

Back to the Basics

2011-03-04T21:05:00.002-07:00

If we all went back to the basics…if we figured a way to remove all the clutter from our faith traditions…I would not be shocked to find that God’s basic message has not changed. It is the clutter of the many centuries…the interpretations…and interpretations of the interpretations…human input given the power of God’s declarations…and intentional and unintentional misinterpretations…that have widened the gap among us. So it is not the faith…it is not God…it is not Moses, Jesus, or Mohammad who should be blamed…but what we have done to their messages that should be blamed for keeping us apart.

My Adina

2010-12-15T21:16:00.002-07:00

Adina
Kind and gentle
Thoughtful, compassionate and caring
Amazing spirit!

Diligent and smart
Self-reliant
Passionate and firm
A born-leader!

I am proud to watch you
Chart your way
To your future
A life of triumph!

Carry on my “Choocha,” flourish!
May God be with you.

"The Grand Mosque of Paris"

2010-11-13T17:50:00.002-07:00

This is a wonderful children’s book about a little-known subject, the story of how Muslims rescued Jews during the Holocaust. I recommend this to all my friends. Don’t let the fact that it is a children’s book keep you from reading it.

“From 1940 to 1944 during the Nazi occupation of Paris, no Jew was safe from arrest and deportation to a concentration camp. Few Parisians were willing to risk their own lives to help them. Yet during that perilous time, many Jews found refuge in an unlikely place: the sprawling complex of the Grand Mosque of Paris. Not just a place of worship but a company center with the gardens, apartments, a clinic, a library, and even a restaurant, this hive of activity was an ideal temporary hiding place for escaped prisoners of war and Jews of all ages, including children. Karen Gray Ruelle and Debora Durland DeSaix tell the almost unknown story of the resistance staged by the Kabyles and the people of the Grand Mosque and how their courage, faith, and devotion to justice saved the lives of so many."

"Peace Be Upon You"

2010-11-13T15:47:00.005-07:00

This is the title of a book I highly recommend.

The story of conflict and confrontation between Islam and the West has become daily news, but throughout the ages Muslims, Christians, and Jews have shared more than enmity and war: there is also a rich and textured history of coexistence that has all but disappeared from our collective memory. In this timely and revealing book, Zachary Karabell traces the legacy of tolerance and cooperation from the advent of Islam to the present day.

In an extraordinary narrative spanning fourteen centuries, Karabell introduces us to the court of the caliphs in Baghdad, where scholars of various faiths engaged in spirited debate. He evokes the wonders of medieval Spain, where Jewish sages, Muslim philosophers, and Christian monks together deciphered the meaning of God and the universe. He offers a portrait of the Crusaders that goes beyond the rivalry of Saladin and Richard the Lionheart, and shows how Christians and Muslims lived side by side. And he paints a vivid picture of religious autonomy in the Ottoman Empire.

As he explores the growing tension of the modern era, Karabell traces the rise of Arab nationalism, the redrawing of the Middle East map in the wake of World War I, and the increased hostilities following the creation of the state of Israel. Through it all, he reminds us that dialogue and friendship have always punctuated times of war and discord. Today, while some Muslims, Christians, and Jews engage in confrontation, others—in Dubai, in Turkey, and around the globe—find common grounds. Remembering the legacy of coexistence and recognizing its prevalence event today is a vital ingredient to a more stable, secure world.

Zachary Karabell, the author of the book, was educated at Columbia; at Oxford, where he received a master’s degree in modern Middle Eastern studies; and at Harvard, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1996. He has taught at Harvard, the University Massachusetts at Boston, and Dartmouth. He is the author of several books, including The Last Campaign, which won the Chicago Tribune’s Heartland Prize for best non-fiction book of the year. His essays and reviews have appeared in various publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, and Foreign Affairs. He lives in New York City.

The Beautiful Sound of Freedom and Tolerance

2010-09-03T22:31:00.003-06:00

I am saddened by the reaction that the planned construction of the Muslim community center in New York is receiving from many, and heartened by the support of many more. It is particularly hard to listen to those who appear to agree that freedom of religion should be upheld but in the same breath they ask Muslims to "respect" the sensitivities of the American people by building “their” center far from “our” ground zero. These individuals and organizations are simply hiding their bigotry under a thin veil of self-righteousness.

Over five million Muslims call United States of America their home. They pay taxes and serve the country in many capacities including in the military. Furthermore, Muslims were also among those killed as a result of the 9/11 tragedy. In fact the pain Muslims felt was made more profound by the fact that not only their fellow countrymen and countrywomen were killed on that day, but that this was done in the name of their religion.

So why is it that in spite of knowing these facts, some politicians inflame the fire of hatred by classifying Muslims as the other and expect them to stay out of “their” sacred ground? Is ground zero not ours too? Have we not lost our compatriots—Jewish, Christian, Muslim and others?

It seems to me these are bigots hiding under the mantle of sensitivity who are using this opportunity to outdo each other. These are the same people who argue that “it is not guns that kill, it is people that kill,” and yet they are blaming a religion with over a billion peaceful followers for the evils of a few of its marginalized members. Then they use that excuse to limit the freedom of all of its followers. To appease their constituencies and to discredit their political opponents they are willing to destroy all that is beautiful in this country. But fortunately there are many more who value and cherish the freedoms this country offers to all. And as loud and scary as the voices of bigotry may be it is drowned by the beautiful sound of freedom and tolerance.

What Muslims Need

2010-08-28T14:39:00.002-06:00

I watched Fareed Zakaria’s interview with Vali Nasr (professor of International Politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University). He seems to believe in the transformative effects of a “healthy inclusion of Muslims in the world economy.” He looks at the model the West provides us and concludes that becoming “modern” has transformed it to its current state; he, then, applies this equation to the Muslim world claiming that inclusion of Muslims in the world economy will have a similar transformative effect on them.

While it is true that inclusion and integration does change attitudes, these changes may not be sufficient to be deemed transformative. It is social change (development and growth) that must be the trigger for the economic growth (change) and not vice versa. The economic inclusion as a trigger for transformation requires a top-down approach. Top-down approaches are more often than not imposed and as such will not have the public buy-in. For this reasons, many such top-down approaches have failed miserably. For any meaningful transformation to take place, social change must be initiated at the grassroots level. It is grassroots level social change and the gradual transformation as a result of it that will lead to the sort of economic change that is long-lasting and meaningful.

If Muslims are to truly benefit from what Mr. Nasr dubs as “people’s ability to benefit from developing products they have created,” grassroots organizations must be encouraged in the Muslim world that are focused on transformation through education, and implementation of best practices. While this process will take time and a great deal of effort, it is the only way for transformation into mature societies. It is this kind of a long-lasting maturation of societies that will lead to the elimination of extremism, tyranny and occupation.

The Power of Interfaith Dialogue

2010-07-10T23:35:00.002-06:00

I believe in interfaith dialogue as an effective tool of sowing seeds of peace and harmony in the community. As part of my involvement in an organization called The Abrahamic Initiative, I have had the privilege of working with some wonderful people who are using this tool to bring peoples of various faiths together and to create opportunity for all to understand and respect each other. The following letter from my friend and fellow interfaith activist, Ruth Lurie, to the editor of the Intermountain Jewish News is but one example of the value of interfaith dialogue.

Dear Editor,

I read with interest Tehilla Goldberg's column entitled the Moderate Muslim Voice, asking where it is heard--- as it appears not to exist. I so like her reminding us that the moderate way is considered by Maimonides to be the ideal.

My work in the interfaith community in Denver has lead me to become acquainted with many moderate Muslims. They disdain violence, and for them faith in Islam is absolutely inconsistent with the violent acts of a minority of extremists. Unfortunately their voices are not heard loudly enough.

I sometimes ask myself whether that is in part because our media prefers dramatic headlines of violence and therefore distorts our sense of reality. Certainly we in the Jewish community have experienced that sort of distortion in the mainstream press' reporting of events in Israel and the Middle East. No?

For those interested in this subject, I would suggest looking into two local organizations and the programs which they offer: the Colorado Interfaith Alliance and the Abrahamic Initiative.

As well I would suggest reading a highly informative article written by International Editor of Newsweek, Fareed Zakaria: How Moderate Muslim Leaders Waged War on Extremists and Won, Feb. 12, 2010 (available on line at newsweek.com.) (http://www.newsweek.com/2010/02/11/the-jihad-against-the-jihadis.html)

We as Jews seeking moderation need to seek our counterparts in other religions, including the Islamic community, to encourage the path toward understanding and reconciliation.

Ruth Lurie

Not Willing to Bid them Farewell

2010-07-08T18:54:00.002-06:00

I lay shivering from the chill
Of the operating room
In a daze from the sedation
Due to drugs pumped into my veins

I ponder about my life
Filled with trials, yet so amazing
Filled with victories and failures
More victories than the latter

Then I wonder about death
Is it time for me to go?
As my father before me…at 49?
I shiver more

I doze off…I hear a voice
“chest pain?”
I say: “no”
Back to my thoughts…I am still here

Can I fight? Can I survive?
I wonder what is meant by “will to live”
Do I have the will to live?
Yes I do!
For my wife and for my daughters
“I must live!”

Tears fill my eyes
No longer contained they swell
My love! My Girls!
I am not willing to bid them farewell
Oh God, let your plan be
For more time with them

I doze off
I awake as I am told that it is over
I am grateful for a second chance
Thank you God

Freedom Gained and Lost

2010-06-27T19:13:00.003-06:00

We abandon our lands to escape the rule of tyrants
In search for a home in which to dwell in freedom
This land gives us the liberty we so desired
And the happiness one finds through freedom

Then,
We forget the pain that drove us from there
And the craving that brought us here
We build replicas of what we left behind
Fortresses of brick, rules of tyranny
In the midst of the sea of freedom
We live miserably on our old tyrants’ little islands

My Muslim Community

2010-06-06T18:58:00.002-06:00

It has been more than twenty years since I moved to Denver with my wife and four little daughters. Soon after my arrival in Denver, encouraged by my wife, I approached the local mosque and offered my voluntary services. Since then I have been active in the community in one capacity or another at the city’s largest mosque and a number of other Islamic organizations. In spite of my full participation in the affairs of the community, I have never really felt like I belong. After many years of participation, wandering and sometimes outright estrangement from the community, I have come to realize this: I am not a good fit for the Muslim community of Colorado. I do not fault the community for this. I am simply saying that I have not found my community yet.

My community of Muslims would be one that sees beauty in diversity of religious understanding. It would consist of individuals with varying degrees of religiosity and appreciate these variations. It would be made up of those who do not judge or preach, but strive to learn and grow together. Each member of my Muslim community would understand that each individual has his/her own journey of faith and spirituality and would support and not enforce. I am looking for a community that would provide an alternative to the mosques and organizations for the many who are searching for such an alternative. Don’t get me wrong, I do see a purpose for the mosques and organizations. For new arriving immigrants and those who feel they need to be protected from the larger society, they serve a useful purpose. My community would break down the walls and actually help me live as a member of the larger community and contribute to it. My community would be open to all those who consider themselves to be Muslims regardless of whether they are "religious" or not and would provide them with the opportunity to grow and serve regardless of how they dress, live or pray but simply because they are Muslims. Finally, my community would respect those who belong to other faith traditions and strive to work with them to serve humanity in obedience to the creator of all humanity.

I realize that finding such a community may not be possible. But I also know that building one is within the realm of possibility. I know of many who feel this way and are desperately looking for such a community. I invite them to join me in establishing it.

A Precious Life Wasted

2010-05-29T20:11:00.001-06:00

The message was short and in the form of a question: “Is it true that Abe is dead?” I had no idea. I wished it wasn’t true.

Abe was a classmate of one of my daughters in elementary and middle school. He, his brother, my daughters and some other kids together used to walk home from school. He had been described to me as a “smart kid,” and a “good kid.” I had no reason to doubt this. All indications were that this was true.

Years later when he found one of my daughters on Facebook and re-established contact with us, I was happy to hear from him. When we had a chance to meet, I found him to be a bit lost and, I thought, deeply unhappy. Having fathered several children he was doing his best to raise them on his own. I admired his willingness to raise the kids, although I did not agree with other choices he had made in his life. It seemed that he was working hard on making up for the mistakes of the past. It was a short visit and I did not hear about him for several months until I received the message.

Soon it became clear that Abe had died from a gun shot to the head. Apparently, under the influence of alcohol, he had put the gun to his own head to scare his girlfriend into not leaving him; he pulled the trigger not knowing that the gun was loaded. A precious life wasted.

“Why are Muslims so silent?”

2010-03-07T11:10:00.004-07:00

A popular question posed to Muslims by fellow Americans in almost every interfaith event is “why are Muslims so silent about what terrorists are doing in the name of their religion?” The standard answer to this, “Muslims are not silent; we are not good at PR and the media pays little or no attention to what we say,” is faced with a certain level of skepticism. This is partly because we are not convincing enough and partly because of the overwhelming “evidence” provided by the media that we are silent. I admit that we are not good at PR and I can see that media is more interested in sensational news the “bad” guys make than the response of the “good” guys.
For all my interfaith and other friends who have been wondering about this question, I am providing a couple of links to two documents compiled by CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) that provides evidence that Muslims have been talking. I hope it is found to be a useful reference and shared with others.

http://www.cair.com/Portals/0/pdf/September_11_statements.pdf

http://www.cair.com/Portals/0/pdf/Condemnation_of_London_Bombings.pdf

My Daughters

2010-02-13T15:25:00.004-07:00

I have been thinking about my daughters today. From the day on which my first daughter was born, as I held her in my arms, I knew that she and her siblings would be dictating what I would do for many years to come. Years later, now that they are independent young women each with their successful carriers and lives, they have become the source of happiness and pride for their dad.

While their success is a source of pride for me, I am most proud about their characters. They are kind, caring and compassionate. It is when I see these qualities in them that I whisper thanks to God. "Thank you God for my daughters...who are kind, caring and companssionate...thank you for their hearts and for their minds...oh God protect them."

My Linda

2009-11-18T13:02:00.002-07:00

Then…
She was the light
That God of wisdom
Shined upon me
During the darkness of despair

She was the rope from high above
That God of mercy flung to me
To pluck me out
From the depths of my sorrow

Now…
She is my friend, companion, teacher,
My strength and happiness
She is the one with whom I’ve built
A loving home, a life of triumph

She is my love!

My Mother's Smile

2009-10-05T18:22:00.002-06:00

As I stroll across the road on a “zebra-crossing”
At the speeds below what comfort will allow
I slow down to a virtual crawl
Holding her soft hand no longer firm, no longer strong

I recall crossing the road on a “zebra-crossing”
At the speeds below what comfort would allow
She would slow her walk to a crawl
Holding my soft child-hand, hers strong and firm

I feel tightness in my throat
Tears force there way to the corners of my eyes
The quickly-moving and decisive woman has changed
The strong and firm hands are no longer what they were

I look at her and see her smile
Familiar smile, though a bit timid, altered by time
One that encouraged with love then
Now filled with gratitude and love

I want to say so much to her
But I just smile
Smile filled with gratitude for then
Filled with encouragement for now
Always with love

“There glances said ‘that she had played her part in life, that what they now saw was not her whole self, that we must all come to the same extremity one day, and that they were glad to give way to her, to forebear for the sake of this poor creature, once so dear, once as full of life as ourselves, now so pitiful.’ Only the really heartless and stupid members of the household, and the little ones, failed to understand this, and kept away from her.” (Leo Tolstoy – War & Peace)

We Just Disagree (Dave Mason)

2009-10-05T15:14:00.002-06:00

Here are the lyrics to one of my favorit songs by Dave Mason...

Anyway, haven't seen you in a while

How've you been? Have you changed your style?

And do you think that we've grown up differently?

Don't seem the same since you've lost your feel for me.

So let's leave it alone 'cause we can't see eye to eye.

There ain't no good guy, there ain't no bad guy,

There's only you and me and we just disagree.

I'm going back to a place that's far away.

How 'bout you? Have you got a place to stay?

Why should I care when I'm just trying to get along?

We were friends, but now's the end of our love song.

So let's leave it alone 'cause we can't see eye to eye.

There ain't no good guy, there ain't no bad guy,

There's only you and me and we just disagree.

So let's leave it alone 'cause we can't see eye to eye.

There ain't no good guy, there ain't no bad guy,

There's only you and me and we just disagree.

The "authentic" Me

2009-08-25T18:58:00.004-06:00

A discussion with friends about Face Book has made me wonder about my decision to become a Face Book user and even my decision a few years earlier to start a blog. My response to those who have expressed surprise at this has been the standard one: to connect with friends and family. While this is true, it is not all that there is to it.

My blog is my attempt at sharing with others my deepest thoughts on issues that matter to me. It is my hope to let people know the real me, my thoughts, feelings, doubts, fears and more. It is my wish to open up to others.

I am not great at initiating social contact. While I care deeply for those with whom I am connected through family relationship and friendship, I have not been good at keeping up with staying connected. Face Book has provided me with a venue through which to connect with many with whom I had lost contact.

As I open up and connect I sense a return of passion in my discourse with others. I no longer hesitate to share my thoughts, feelings and passion on matters that are important to me.

Finally, and most importantly, I am working on becoming a better listener. I have always considered myself to be a good listener, but I realize that there is much more to accomplish.

The openness, the wish to connect, the willingness to show passion about matters that are important to me, and my effort at becoming a better listener are all part of a conscious effort on my part to become an “authentic” individual: “one who is true to his own personality, spirit and character despite external pressures.” All this, so that the one you meet is the one you get: the “authentic” me.

A Friend's Trip to Israel

2009-08-25T18:15:00.006-06:00

Kate Simmons is a friend and someone I admire and respect. She recently graduated from high school and just a few days ago started college. She is a fellow member of the Steering Committee of Abrahamic Initiative and also a fellow participant at an Interfaith Dinner group. She is an impressive young woman. It is an honor to receive the following letter from her and to publish it on my blog.

August 2009

Peace is not the absence of conflict,

but the ability to cope with it.

- Dorothy Thomas

Dear Linda and Monir,

My trip to Israel was educational, emotional, exciting and exhausting. In a period of two weeks we worked our way from the Negav in the south of the country and traveled north. We started our journey in Be’er Sheva, went over to Sedrot, viewed Gaza from a roof there, traveled north to Tel Aviv, had a tour of Yaffo, went to Nazareth, and then ended in Jerusalem. I learned so much about the geography, the history, peace organizations, the people, and their every day struggle. The entire trip was enticing, but I’m going to share with you some of the most memorable memories.

In between Be’er Sheva and Sedrot we stopped at a Kibbutz called Kibbutz Be’eri. There, a woman told us about Kibbutz life: what it means to live on a Kibbutz and gave us a tour. On the tour we saw a shelter where the Israelis go when they hear the siren that warns of a rocket strike. Every group we met with, after introducing themselves, would say something like, “There probably won’t be an attack but if you hear the siren [they point to a wall, stairwell, or door] that is where we will go immediately and wait until the siren is over or we hear an explosion. ” This shelter is where the people on the Kibbutz go when they hear the siren.

The first time I heard of this siren was last December when my friends from BBfP, the camp I went to last summer with Israelis and Palestinians, sent e-mails to each other during the Gaza war. Not only did I see this shelter but earlier in our trip, all of Israel had a mass drill where they put on the siren and everyone had to find the nearest safe place. At that time we were visiting with the Bedouins and like everyone else they commented on the siren after introducing themselves, but their ‘place to hide’ was much different than every other place we visited. The Bedouin woman said, “We don’t have a shelter so when the siren goes off we will stop our presentation and wait patiently until the drill is over.” One of my Bedouin friends from camp met up with us and served as a translator. He told me on the bus ride that when you’re walking along the side of the road or in a field and you hear the siren, you lay on your stomach, put your hands over your neck, and “pray to God, Allah and Yahweh that it doesn’t fall on you.” Being there, hearing the siren and seeing the different ways people react and deal with the fear they face was a very interesting part of the trip.

While we were around Sedrot, our bus pulled off the highway and started driving down a narrow road. I had no idea why we were driving this way until I looked out my window and to my right was the Separation Wall. We pulled over, walked up a hill, looked out and you could see the wall’s length as far as the eye could see, Israel on one side, Gaza on the other. As I looked out I saw this land that only a few months ago divided my friends and fueled the hatred we worked so hard to eliminate at camp. As I looked out at this unique landscape I remembered an e-mail sent from a Palestinian girl, who stayed at my house before camp, to an Israeli girl who was in my cabin. She said, “It doesn’t matter if you and I make peace with each other because one day your children will kill my children.” Comments like this started to diminish some of my hope for a positive solution. Seeing the wall diminished some of my hope for a positive solution.

We visited a cemetery in Jerusalem where Theodor Herzl, the founder of Zionism and therefore, some believe, the founder of Israel, is buried. Soldiers from the 1948 War of Independence are buried there and soldiers who have fought in every war since are buried there. This tour was my favorite, not because of the site we were at, but because of our tour guide. He was very insightful and added humor to a very devastating monument. I’m going to mention a few things he said that struck me and gave me insight into his mindset and into the Israeli mindset. He referred to Lebanon as, “no longer our most recent war.” No one in America refers to wars like that. It made me think of the frequency of violence his country faces and how accustomed to fear people are. He took us to a grave that holds a friend of his. He said, “I saw him leave and he came home in a box with a flag on it.” On the left side of this man’s grave was grass area. Our guide said, in a very sorrowful tone, “We will find a way to fill that space.” He told us that past generations used to say that their children would not have to go into the army, that it would be an option. No one says that anymore. On the right of this man’s grave was a twenty-year old man from Philadelphia who went over to fight in the Lebanon war. On his grave were lyrics from a Nickelback song, “And as we lie beneath the stars We realize how small we are If they could love like you and me Imagine what the world could be. If everyone cared and nobody cried If everyone loved and nobody lied If everyone shared and swallowed their pride Then we’d see the day when nobody died.” I almost cried reading this. It sums up for me not only the conflict I was immersed in for these two weeks but nearly every conflict: personal and societal.

In Jerusalem we visited four places of which I have included pictures. The first three are arguably the most holy sites in Israel and people argue over which one is the holiest. They are the Dome of the Rock, the Wailing Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The fourth site is the Separation Wall that runs between Jerusalem and the West Bank. I realized something when going over the photos with my parents. When I say ‘the wall in Jerusalem’ or even ‘the wall in Israel’ to them they immediately picture the Wailing Wall because it is the only wall that has been there for the all of their lifetime. When I hear that same phrase, I immediately think of the Separation Wall. This difference in perspective between our two generations makes me wonder what impact this has on the peace process and whether it is a step forward or a step backward.

I had such a life changing experience that I hope this will be the first of many trips to the area. It solidified my desire to major in International Studies with a Concentration in the Middle East. Building Bridges for Peace taught me that pain is universal. The pain I feel is related to the pain they feel. The pain an Israeli gets when losing a loved one is the same pain a Palestinian feels when they get that same news. I realized, after being there, how connected we all are. I became much more aware of my place as a citizen of the world and my yearning to utilize that citizenship to foster positive change so someday, the only wall my child will think of is the one she has to break through to make her dreams come true.

Kate Simmons

"Defenders of God"

2009-08-20T21:38:00.002-06:00

Reading through the book called “Life of Pi” I came across the following paragraphs which I think is worth sharing:

“There are always those who take it upon themselves to defend God, as if Ultimate Reality, as if the sustaining frame of existence, were something weak and helpless. These people walk by a widow deformed by leprosy begging for a few paise, walk by children dressed in rags living in the street, and they think, “Business as usual.” But if they perceive a slight against God, it is a different story. Their faces go red, their chests heave mightily, they sputter angry words. The degree of their indignation is astonishing. Their resolve is frightening.

These people fail to realize that it is on the inside that God must be defended, not on the outside. They should direct their anger at themselves. For evil in the open is but evil from within that has been let out. The main battlefield for good is not the open ground of the public arena but the small clearing of each heart. Meanwhile, the lot of widows and homeless children is very hard, and it is to their defense, not God’s, that the self-righteous should rush.”

I Hope You Dance

2009-08-11T20:26:00.006-06:00

These are the lyrics of another song I love...I dedicate it to my daughters Nadia, Adina, Zarlashtah and Sara and their wonderful role model my wife Linda.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat

But always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed

I hope you still feel small

When you stand by the ocean

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me you'll give fate a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Living might mean taking chances

But they're worth taking

Lovin' might be a mistake

But it's worth making

Don't let some hell bent heart

Leave you bitter

When you come close to selling out

Reconsider

Give the heavens above

More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

Time is a wheel in constant motion always

Rolling us along

Tell me who

Wants to look back on their years and wonder

Where those years have gone

I hope you still feel small

When you stand by the ocean

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance

I hope you dance

Time is a wheel in constant motion always

Rolling us along

Tell me who

Wants to look back on their years and wonder

Where those years have gone

Tell me who

Wants to look back on their years and wonder

Where those years have gone

Colors of the Wind

2009-08-11T20:14:00.008-06:00

Here are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs...

You think I'm an ignorant savage

And you've been so many places

I guess it must be so

But still I cannot see

If the savage one is me

How can there be so much that you don't know?

You don't know ...

You think you own whatever land you land on

The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim

But I know every rock and tree and creature

Has a life, has a spirit, has a name

You think the only people who are people

Are the people who look and think like you

But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger

You'll learn things you never knew you never knew

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon

Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?

Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains?

Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?

Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest

Come taste the sun-sweet berries of the Earth

Come roll in all the riches all around you

And for once, never wonder what they're worth

The rainstorm and the river are my brothers

The heron and the otter are my friends

And we are all connected to each other

In a circle, in a hoop that never ends

How high will the sycamore grow?

If you cut it down, then you'll never know

And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon

For whether we are white or copper skinned

We need to sing with all the voices of the mountains

We need to paint with all the colors of the wind

You can own the Earth and still

All you'll own is Earth until

You can paint with all the colors of the wind.

2009-07-31T16:57:00.001-06:00

Oh God

2009-07-30T19:19:00.006-06:00

The source of wisdom
Give me the patience
To contemplate
To see beyond that which is seen
To hear beyond that which is heard
To feel beyond that which is felt
Grant me a single drop
From the oceans of your wisdom

The source of knowledge
Grant me the faculty to ponder
Below the surface
Beyond the clouds
Within the depths
Above the heights
Grant me a fraction of
The vastness of your knowledge

Master of love
Open my heart
To love you more
And those you love
And those I love
Fill up my heart
With your eternally flowing
Fountain of love

Open the door
Show me the way
Turn on the light

The Tragedy of Intolerance

2009-07-30T19:16:00.001-06:00

I am better than you!

I know the truth

And if you disagree with me you MUST be wrong.

You’ve come up with a different conclusion than mine…

You must have bad intentions…

Or you are just not as smart as I am.

I condemn anything that does not match my version of things.

Your version of faith is no good!

Your version of OUR faith is no good!

This is MY religion!

He is my Prophet!

I love him!

You lie when you say you love him.

I know exactly how the Prophet lived and even how he felt!

When you question my claims of this, in effect you reject him and even God.

You are no good!

You are “Kafir!”

Or may be a “Munafiq?”

God will burn you in hell!

You are condemned.

I have the right to destroy you.

It is my duty to destroy you.

DIE my “brother in faith.”

Michael Jackson made me wonder

2009-07-07T18:47:00.003-06:00

The discussion on whether Michael Jackson is a Muslim or not has been making me wonder…

What is there in a name? Does it really matter whether I am called a Muslim, a Christian or a Jew? Why do we use such classifications? Is it to identify ourselves? Why do we need to be identified as a group? Is it not that these identities have been used throughout history by those who lust for power to pit us against each other in a contest of superiority over the other?

I wonder…about my identity as a Muslim (with capital ‘M’) versus the state of being a muslim (with small ‘m’)—one who submits himself/herself to the will of God and attains peace through it. Does my dressing a certain way, donning a substantial beard and quoting scripture truly reflect my being in the state of islam (with small ‘i’)—submission to the will of God? Who is on the right track to reaching God? Do I have any way of knowing who? Should I judge, then, based on behavior and not identity…and leave the rest to the creator? I wonder…

I, for one, have decided to leave Michael and his Lord to sort things out as far as his level of inner peace is concerned…I will simply admire him for his songs…the ones I enjoyed.

My Loyalty

2009-05-04T22:06:00.001-06:00

Reading the article on the appointment of a Muslim woman as Obama’s advisor reminded me of the question I, and clearly many other Muslims, have been asked time and again about our loyalty to America versus our loyalty to Islam.

To those who ask me: “To which does your loyalty go first, America or Islam?” I say: “How about both?” To survive, one needs both food and water. If both are available why choose one over the other? I have both America, my country, and Islam, my faith. As an American Muslim I need both to live the life I have chosen.

If I am asked whether my loyalties lie with America, my current home, or Afghanistan, my former home, I will not hesitate to pick America. It was not an easy decision to forego my Afghan nationality for American citizenship; but once I vouched my loyalty to America, I had no doubt that it would be to America that I would stay loyal. To me American citizenship is not merely a piece of paper, but a declaration that I have found this nation to be worthy of my loyalty.

The person that America accepted as its citizen came complete with Islamic values and beliefs. America did not reject me because I was a Muslim; on the other hand, Islam does not renounce me because I became American. Neither America, nor Islam asked me to choose between them…those narrow-minded ones—be they American or Muslim—who may ask of me to choose, I shall ignore.

‘NO’ to Revolution…’YES’ to Evolution!

2009-05-02T06:59:00.004-06:00

In my teens and twenties I believed in revolution as an agent for change. I felt, for example, that the answer to problems the Muslim world faced was change that was to be introduced through force, including violent force, if necessary. I could not see any other way the dictators holding power in those countries would give up their hold on power.

Two decades later, I suppose I have evolved into what you’d call a counter-revolutionary. Don’t get me wrong, I still think that dictators in those countries will not give up their hold on power without a fight, but now I am convinced that violence simply is not the solution; in fact it is part of the problem; it simply leads to more violence.

In order to put an end to the circle of violence that has plagued many countries, revolutionary change must be replaced by evolutionary change. A society must be given the opportunity to evolve into a better version of itself. Those who are interested in change must model good behavior rather than impose good behavior. For example a ‘democratic’ system that is adopted because the leaders and the public see it as an appropriate system of governance will last forever. The same system, if imposed by force, will have little or no chance of survival. They say that nations get the leaders they deserve. If this notion is true, and I happen to think it is, then, it is the nation that must be made worthy of better leadership and for that matter better system of governance.

So, I say ‘no’ to revolution and ‘yes’ to evolution.

God’s Word Suppressed by Man’s Word?

2009-04-18T15:22:00.003-06:00

We are told that to understand what God is telling us through the Quran, we must listen to experts who use a number of sources to interpret and explain God’s word. We are told, for example, that fully understanding the Quran is not possible without the knowledge of the stories and reasons for the revelation (asbab an-nuzool).

I agree that having such information available to us would be helpful. I am concerned, though, that God’s word is now dependent on the accuracy of man’s word. Man has not proven himself to be reliable when it comes to recording history. At best, history has been presented with the biases of historians with good intentions; at worst it has been corrupted whether intentionally or unintentionally. While referring to history is useful, I worry about depending on it to explain God’s universal message to mankind.
What would the Quran tell me if I were completely ignorant of the “reasons for revelation?” To answer this, the best resource we have are those who have converted to Islam. I have yet to come across a single Muslim convert who would tell me that he/she was aware of “asbab an-nuzool” when reading the Quran before converting to Islam. On the contrary most, if not all, were completely unaware of the existence of such a “requirement” for understanding the Quran. Yet, the overwhelming majority of converts, will site reading the Quran as the reason for their conversion. While those of us who were born Muslim have been convinced that in order to understand our holy book we have to become a scholar or depend on one explaining the “asbab an-nuzool” to us, ordinary people who are seeking God are finding him through simply reading the Quran. They read it and hear the message straight from God’s word, while born Muslims are searching for God’s message through man’s word.

"Islamic Punishment?"

2009-04-04T08:18:00.002-06:00

I was alone at home with nothing better to do so I started surfing the net. As usual a few key words surface in my mind when I surf the net: Afghanistan (I was born there), Muslims, Islam, and Middle East (I used to live in that region)…

The first item on the search results for “Islam” was titled “Video of Stoning to Death – Islam in Action.” I did not have the heart to click on the link and watch the video. My surfing the net effectively ended as my mind started to wander…

I started to think about what we Muslims call “Islamic Punishment” and wondered why followers of a religion that emphasizes justice and mercy would proudly claim stoning of another human being as their own.

I recall the story of the prophet of Islam (Peace be upon him) when a person approached him and admitted to having committed adultery and demanded to be punished for it. The prophet turns his face away as to pretend that he did not hear the man. This is repeated a number of times before the prophet hesitantly agrees to accept the man’s claim and his demand for punishment.

Time and again the prophet showed us by example his displeasure at inflicting upon his followers the types of punishments that were common in those days. These punishments not only predated Islam in Arabia but were common all around the world. Yet many of us not only overlook this important fact, but proudly call them “Islamic Punishments.”

Cutting the hand, death penalty, stoning, corporal punishments are NOT “Islamic.” These are punishments that Islam tried to regulate in the short-term and eradicate in the long-run through its teachings of concepts such as justice and mercy. Following the example of the prophet (peace be upon him) Muslims should have worked on finding better ways of dealing with crime rather than ensuring to maintain ancient forms of punishment for centuries to come. Isn’t it time that Muslims of the 21st century did something about it?

Episcopal minister defrocked after becoming a Muslim

2009-04-02T11:19:00.003-06:00

The imam at the Islamic Center in Seattle, Washington, where Redding prays said she brings the best of both traditions to her beliefs.
"Coming from an example of wanting to be Christ-like and coming from the perspective of wanting to follow the best example -- the example of our prophet Mohammed -- it all makes sense then," Benjamin Shabazz said.

Click ont the title for the complete article.

Constructing Buildings or Building Communities?

2009-04-01T21:20:00.005-06:00

The other day as I sat on the easy chair in the room my wife and I jokingly call “the morning room,” I wondered about the cause of the sadness I was feeling. I had just returned from the mosque and once again instead of feeling spiritually revived, I felt empty and sad at the state of our mosques and by extension our community. Just then I noticed a book on the bookshelf next to me with the title “The Faith Club” co-authored by Ranya Idliby (a Muslim), Suzanne Oliver (a Christian), and Priscilla Warner (a Jew). I opened the book randomly and came across the following passage written by the Muslim woman, Ranya Idliby:

"For months, I’d been longing for a mosque and an imam who could promote and sustain our family’s understanding of the Muslim faith and God. I wanted a mosque in which my American family would not feel foreign, a mosque that was not dominated by first-generation immigrant men who had left their families behind in either their home countries or their homes in New York. I needed a mosque not only for myself but for my four-year-old son, who had begun asking incessant questions about life and death. I was filled with sadness as I saw my son struggle to overcome his fears and come to terms with his own and his loved ones’ mortality. Those questions were challenging me to reexamine my own unresolved faith issues. I craved, for him, a setting similar to a Sunday school or Hebrew School, where his religious education could be taken care of without me having to wrestle with the answers to his questions alone…"

I closed the book and continued to feel empty and sad as I reflected. Here I was a “first-generation immigrant” Muslim man feeling the same sort of sadness my female compatriot expressed in her book. My conclusion after twenty years of struggle: focus on building communities of Muslims…and leave the buildings (mosques) to little tyrants who want to control them.

A Prisoner's Poem

2009-03-31T12:03:00.009-06:00

The following is a poem by an Iraqi prisoner from the Bucca detention center in southern Iraq:

Stop at the ruins and ask the wrecked corner. . . . Are my people aware of what's happening to me?

Ask the river, does it still remember me? . . . And the people, do they still hold their noses high?

Are they sleeping in comfort and in peace? . . . With an unembarrassed smile upon their lips

Tell them I am a hostage to humiliation. . . . Oh, my poetry, or have they become deaf

My partner, my passion for you is killing me. . . . In the heart there is flame from a blazing fire

How to reach those who have become so dear a quest. . . . And the longing inside me, my friend, is burning

The hand of days has torn me apart leaving. . . . A deep wound and a sick body

My hue has paled, for my eyes always. . . . Cry for my loved ones, first tears, and then blood

And my soul cries out for the help of the wandering spirits. . . . And in the sea of my sorrows, my worries clash

By God, after our parting life has no appeal to me . . . because my life without you is nothing

My chest is tight with breath that seems. . . . As if it were lava between my ribs

I begged patience to come and console me . . . it said "no," and worry said "yes" to me

Patience, if it comes to me, comes single, but when . . . the worries come to my heart, they arrive as nations

My partner, my mind is lost, is anxious. . . . In it thoughts and suspicions are teeming

I ask the stars about my family and my country . . . and about my little ones I ask the moon: how are they faring

And I said to the wind: In my village there is a man . . . who is of good nature and beautiful face and words

And it said to me: That is Abu Ghassan ! I know him . . . in him there is pride, honesty and generosity

Amongst Abu Hamdan he is a man of science and . . . good manners. Most sincere of friends

And in me is grief and pain that hurt me in a way . . . that no pen and paper can describe

Injustice, subjugation and deprivation are crushing me . . . and the wounds of my heart are oozing pus and pain.

When I see you, I see Paradise approaching . . . towards me, and all the wounds of my soul will heal

I ask God to quench my thirst for you by seeing you . . . before I die, that would be the highest bliss.

— Translation by Sahar Issa , McClatchy special correspondent
Poem written June 7, 2007 , in Bucca detention center
Note: Prisoner has apparently been released.

Gender, Metaphysics, Ethics

2009-01-28T14:58:00.002-07:00

Following link takes you to Sara Ludin's blog where she deals with the issue of gender in the Qura'an.

http://muslimcanvass.blogspot.com/2009/01/gender-metaphysics-ethics.html

My Light

2008-12-27T07:54:00.005-07:00

It was 1978 when I graduated from Bonn American High School in Germany. My goal was to continue with my school at the University of Maryland in Munich, Germany for two years and then move to the US to continue my education to become a medical doctor. A year later, however, life had different plans for me: I had to leave school to look after my family--made up of my mother, two sisters and two brothers--when my father died suddenly at age 49 in Saudi Arabia.

Since then I have been striving to get my degree from college. Early on in Saudi Arabia I had to work two jobs in order to make enough money to maintain a reasonable life for my family. Even later when I did not need to work a second job, continuing my education in Saudi Arabia was impossible due to lack of such opportunities for foreigners in that country. My early years in the US were also spent with struggle to make a living for my young family as my wife and I agreed that I would work two jobs so that she could stay home with the children.

Finally, it was in 1993 that I was able to sign up for some classes at the local community college. A year later I transferred to the University of Colorado Denver where I was accepted at the college of business to pursue my studies in international business. I stuck to the plan dutifully by taking two classes each semester until recently. I did take a number of breaks, lasting several years, due to extensive traveling and our move to the United Arab Emirates.

I finally reached “the light at the end of the tunnel” when I received my degree in International Business on December 11, 2008. This is a far cry from what my dreams as a youth were, and even further from the dreams my parents had for me, but I am happy to have achieved it. Looking back at the years past I have no regrets at all about the choices I have made. My life has been at times challenging, but always wonderful due to the love and support of my wife, Linda who is also my best friend. I met and fell in love with her when I was 18, married her during the most difficult time in my life when I was 20, and have reached this point in my life with her standing by me and cheering me on. So as I celebrate having reached “the light at the end of the tunnel,” I realize that the light has always been with me; I have just reached another milestone in my life with her help. Thank you my love!

Snow

2008-12-13T19:42:00.004-07:00

Linda Ludin's latest haiku on snow...

Absorbing all sound

Feathers dropping one by one

Get out the shovel

Islamphobes and Scarf

2008-12-13T19:11:00.007-07:00

My daughter, Sara, is in Germany on a Fullbright scholarship. In her blog she writes about a recent experience with Islamophobia. Thought I'd share it with you.

http://muslimcanvass.blogspot.com/2008/12/part-1-id-like-you-to-tell-me-why.html

We are so lucky

2008-11-05T11:47:00.008-07:00

Following is an excerpt from Denver Post dated November 4, 2008 introducing the prize-winning Haiku written by my wife, Linda.

We were particularly moved by the poem submitted by Linda Ludin of Aurora:

Anonymously
We can speak our minds freely.
We are so lucky.

Mubarak on blessed journey!

2008-07-14T14:44:00.003-06:00

The feelings I have for my daughters cannot be expressed in words. Occasionally, however, I feel an overwhelming need to express them. This, my first attempt at writing poetry, is an example of a moment of overwhelming love for my oldest daughter, Nadia. I hope the reader excuses my inability to write and sees this as just the sound of a proud father's heart...

Mubarak Nadia, my daughter,
On your plans for awesome journey,
To the future,
To form a family.

Wasn’t long back
When the thought of losing you
Stirred in me
Feelings of panic and utter sadness.

But today, my “precious one,”
I am glad to see you go;
To see you leave on blessed journey,
Full of joy!

You’ve amazed me
With your sense of independence
And capacity to live on your own terms
My first-born, the trend-setter!

Whether first job at fourteen
Or establishing your home away from home
You’ve excelled in all you’ve done,
You have earned my trust, respect.

Once again
Shaping the path to blessed journey,
On your own terms,
Once again setting the trend
I rejoice as I am certain
You will shine.

Fly, my “dove,”
Fly free and high,
I support you, wish you well;
May God be with you!

The Voyager of Self-Discovery

2008-05-12T20:21:00.004-06:00

A poem by Sri Chinmoy:

I yearn and ache for thee.

Everyday I become

Love-seed,

Devotion-plant,

Surrender-tree.

O Lord, forget me not

In my outer goalless wandering

Far and wide.

O Lord, make my pilgrim-heart

The voyager of self-discovery,

The emperor of self-mastery.

Gossip

2008-01-17T12:10:00.001-07:00

I am listening to a book on CD called "A Complaint Free World" by Will Bowen these days. The book is part of a program that helps one become a "complaint-free" person--one who does not complain or "vent" or gossip. It is a proactive and deliberate effort at removing negativity and gossip from one's life. Here is a link to the web site:

http://www.acomplaintfreeworld.org/

How Should an American Muslim Look?

2008-01-05T14:13:00.001-07:00

A wonderful thing about Islam is that it requires you to be a Muslim simply by saying (and believing) that there is one God and that Mohammad is his messenger. This declaration of faith is the only requirement for one to be considered a Muslim. Now, there are other values and principles that a Muslim is expected to abide by. However, these values and principles are not the requirement for one’s “Muslim-ness,” but are to enable one to become a better human being. The Prophet (PBUH) has said “Al-Deen-u mo’amala” (The religion (of Islam) is interaction). The way Islam was revealed i.e. through many revelations on an as needed basis through a period of 23 years, instead of in a single swoop, makes it clear that embracing of the Islamic principles and values can be achieved throughout life, provided that by declaring the article of faith, one establishes the intention to work toward the goal of ever getting closer to God and continuously striving for implementing Islamic principles to ones life and using them to tweak one's behavior and habits to become a better member of the human race. If this is true, then Muslims are not the few who dress a certain way or don a certain look, rather they are of all kinds of looks and types and have one thing in common: they believe in one God who is the creator of all things, and they believe that Mohammad was a human being selected by the creator to lead them towards the goal of becoming better humans. Click on the following link and see how American Muslims look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbcmPe0z3Sc

"Saving Fish from Drowning"

2008-01-02T18:43:00.001-07:00

Amy Tan, in her book Saving Fish from Drowning quotes an anonymous source as follows:

A pious man explained to his followers: “It is evil to take lives and noble to save them. Each day I pledge to save a hundred lives. I drop my net in the lake and scoop out a hundred fishes. I place the fishes on the bank, where they flop and twirl. “Don’t be scared.” I tell those fishes. “I am saving you from drowning.” Soon enough, the fishes grow calm and lie still. Yet, sad to say, I am always too late. The fishes expire. And because it is evil to waste anything, I take those dead fishes to market and I sell them for a good price. With the money I receive, I buy more nets so I can save more fishes.”

As I read this short but meaningful commentary, it reminded me of so many with good intentions who unfortunately due to lack of understanding are saving fishes from drowning.

Smoke of Speculation and Scholastics

2008-01-01T21:07:00.000-07:00

Contemplation and reflection have taken me to places where I would not have dreamt of going as recently as a few years ago. One such trips has led me to wonder how Islam has been transformed from a simple and clear set of guidelines, understandable by ordinary people, into a complex science which only few can claim to understand. Guidelines which were revealed to the Prophet (PBUH) in the duration of 23 years, making adjustments to human behavior gradually and systematically, have been turned into a compilation of “religious knowledge” that no ordinary person could ever dream of covering let alone grasping.

It is true that the Prophet (PBUH) declared that the superiority of the learned man over the mere pious is like the superiority of the moon when it is full over all other stars. However, as I reflect and contemplate, I see that like on many other occasions, by this the Prophet (PBUH) was encouraging all Muslims (men and women) to strive to acquire knowledge. The assumption was that the totality of the Islamic knowledge was well within the grasp of every able Muslim. Today, one can honestly say that this is not the case. Ilm Al-Din (religious sciences) has become so complex and vast that one cannot learn it but through specialization. The religion has been made so complicated that no sign of its clearness and simplicity remains. As I lack in knowledge, I could not be sure if what I am wondering about is a reasonable concern until when recently while reading Muhammad Asad’s book The Road to Mecca, I came across the following statement made by the author (prior to becoming Muslim) to an Afghan host of his during his trip to Afghanistan in 1925.

“Tell me—how has it come about that the faith of your Prophet and all its clearness and simplicity has been buried beneath the rubble of sterile speculation and the hair-splitting of your scholastics?”

In order for us to be able to see what the Prophet left us, our only hope is to remove the smoke of “sterile speculation” and “scholastics!” As our religion is taking blows from all sides, it is our duty to look inward and return to the original guidance provided to us 1400 years ago.

The Age of Introspection?

2007-12-29T21:43:00.001-07:00

The last two years or so, for me, have been the years of introspection and self-analysis. This unprecedented self-scrutiny has had me review every aspect of my life, every decision I have made and every step I have or have not taken. My relationship with family members, with friends and acquaintances and with colleagues has been scrutinized and reviewed. My social, political and religious beliefs and values have been analyzed and questioned. This has resulted in acceptance of certain realities, while in other areas it has compelled me to change. It has also led me to question certain aspects of my values, beliefs and convictions. At this point I am no where close to completing this introspective journey. I find myself somewhere in the middle of this restless ocean of self-analysis with no land in sight. I can only hope that I can step on the stable and solid footing that land provides before too much of the rest of my life passes me by.

The Road to Mecca by Muhammad Asad

2007-12-29T19:00:00.001-07:00

Following is an excerpt from Muhammad Asad's The Road to Mecca.

"According to the Koran, God did not call for blind subservience on the part of man but rather appealed to his intellect; He did not stand apart from man's destiny but was nearer to you than the vein in your neck; He did not draw any dividing line between faith and social behaviour; and, what was perhaps most important, He did not start from the axiom that all life was burdened with a conflict between matter and spirit and that the the way toward the Light demanded a freeing of the soul from the shackles of the flesh. Every form of life-denial and self-mortification had been condemned by the Prophet in sayings like Behold, asceticism is not for us, and There is no world-renunciation in Islam. The human will to live was not only recognized as a positive, fruitful instinct but was endowed with the sanctity of an ethical postulate as well. Man was taught, in effect: You not only may utilize your life to the full, but you are obliged to do so."

Graduation

2007-05-13T21:00:00.000-06:00

My third daughter graduated from college this week. I was proud of her for this great achievement and for a number of other achievements during her 4 years of college. But I was most proud when one of her professors approached us on the day of graduation and told us what a pleasure it had been for him to teach her. He also said that she was as beautiful inside as she was out. Nothing makes a father more proud than to hear that his daughter has a wonderful character. This makes every hardship and challenge one has been through worth it. I thank God for this blessing and ask him to protect my daughters who are the light of my eyes.

The Opening

2007-03-02T18:43:00.001-07:00

I start this blog in the name of the creator who is merciful and compassionate. May he whose mercy has no limit and who is generous and forgiving make this blog become the tool for illuminated reflections.

May you the reader of the blog, accept my point of view with generosity and magnanimity and help me see your point of view through the sharing of your thoughts.