I learned something in a very concrete way yesterday. We had bought a set of 2 beds and it seems they were made of very weak material; so they broke. There was a serious problem in their foundation, but it took a break to find it. And as a result of the break, the man… Read More
The heart can withstand any calamity—except one: loving something as it should only love God. *** Never make your happiness dependent on something inconstant—by definition everything, but God. *** Once you awaken, every moment spent away from His remembrance is a misery. Its only when you’re still asleep that you can be distant without pain…. Read More
If you are trying to get over a person you can’t be with, treat it like an addiction: 1. Cut yourself off from the drug completely: Cut off all communication and reminders–even if that means blocking numbers, emails, a Facebook profile, and stop checking their Facebook! This is your detox. 2. Replace it with something… Read More
It’s easy to minimize a person’s hurt without understanding the nature of pain. People often like to categorize how much a person should or shouldn’t hurt about things. For example, when someone is upset about something, they say, “At least you’re not paralyzed, or starving in Africa.” While it’s imperative to be grateful for what… Read More
I close my eyes and dream quietly of breaking free. I dream of breaking every single chain that has ever held me. I cut them. I throw glass cups against the wall. Every vase shatters, and then I’m set free. Free. I will own love. Love will never own me. To break free is the… Read More
To those who tell you to be silent and have ‘patience’ about abuse, know that the Prophet (pbuh) said:”Help your brother if he is an oppressor or oppressed.” A man said, “Messenger of Allah, I can help him if he is oppressed but tell me how I can help him if he is the oppressor?”… Read More
A speech I gave at a conference in Houston on March 10, 2012 (my birthday): A few years ago today—we wont talk about how many years—but a few years ago today, I was born. And while a lot of people get into the theological debate about celebrating or not celebrating birthdays, I want to… Read More
In his first 2004 presidential debate, Senator John Kerry began the night in the favor-of-the-day. Answering his first question, Kerry explained that America needed to isolate the “radical Islamic Muslims”. “I have a better plan to be able to fight the war on terror by … beginning to isolate the radical Islamic Muslims, not have… Read More
Fall in Love with the Real Thing It’s never easy to let go. Or is it? Most of us would agree that there are few things harder than letting go of what we love. And yet, sometimes that’s exactly what we have to do. Sometimes we love things that we can’t have. Sometimes we… Read More
Imagine you were told a hurricane was coming and it would destroy anyone who didn’t take shelter. What would happen? Those who believed, would take shelter and provision before it hit. Those who didn’t believe would go on with their lives, as if nothing was coming. But could someone *really* believe it, and yet do… Read More
