People realize the faults of others,
They are not willing to forgive.
Yet we try to overlook and we cannot because
We see the faults of them.

When I want to say something
I realize even I am a benefactor of this
Shameless lawless rule
What to do? What to do?

Days when I push myself,
There will be three items for dinner.
When I come home from work...
Four dishes anew.

When people learn to step on other's toes
And the elders turn their heads away,
There are angels writing each word, each sight
While we are all left wondering what's next?

Dreams don't matter?

You go to people with your dreams
And your dreams don't matter

You go to God with your dreams
And they surely won't shatter

He'll give you what you want
He'll give you want you love

But at the end is that all that matters?
For dreams to come true and not shatter?

Dreams are a way for people to express their hopes
Live in reality and hopes become a fantasy

Reach out to those you love before it's too late
One moment at a time, the clock ticks away

What is important... only you know it
What is irrelevant... only your tears show it

Grandma

My father says his mother was a wise calm person. She educated her daughters at a time when women were looked down upon for going to school, and learning as much (or less) than men.

Older family members say my cousin Amina and I look like my paternal grandmother. People say I am a mix of my grandmother and my mother. I wonder what she looked like. 

I wonder if she was around what advice she would give me. She lived her life taking care of seven children, and dying shortly after giving birth to number eight. 

If I got anything from her it was her ability to understand different people, and her calmness in chaotic situations. She was a gentle easy-going person. I think I'm more sensitive and temperamental (probably from another family member).

I wish I could find my inner calm more often. I wish I was more like my grandmother in that way.

Where you are, why you're there

Destiny is inevitable.

You will be where you're meant to be, when you get there.

If you try to catch a cup as it is falling and it still drops, it was destiny. (lol)

I often reflect on how I live in terms of far removed of the way I used to. I realized a few things:

• I have become a better person - I can read people's emotions better.
• I understand the concept of hospitality.
• I learned to be more patient.
• Maybe God is keeping me away from worse things.
• Maybe He's saying it's time to grow up already!
• People deal with worse things.
• At least there is peace.
• Everything in life is a stepping stone for something else.
• Trials and tribulations are a way to self-purify.
• Many of the things I want to do or think I may are worldly desires. Having fun all the time doesn't serve me right.
• Things that are for my own good can be done even without always having my way.
• If my husband was into doing half the things I'd rather do than stay home, my house would be a mess, we would be stressed, my in-laws would respect me less.
• I've seen the easier steadier type of culture practiced.
• There aren't as many dawaths as there were when I first moved.
• There are some cultural things that cannot and will not be enforced on me - don't drive, don't get out of the house, don't go to Islamic programs, don't talk to other men (when necessary), have your husband do everything for you non-house related but do everything for him.
• Staying in my room will eventually lead me to clean it.

Ahh and I'm done for now!

Five Muslim Magazines to Know

Candor Magazine and blogs
candorstyles.com
A Canadian magazine for Muslim life.

Emel
emel.com
Muslim lifestyle magazine in the UK

SISTERS Magazine
sisters-magazine.com
A magazine for Muslim women around the world.

AlJumuah
aljumuah.comA Muslim family lifestyle magazine based in Wisconsin.

Little Explorers Magazine
littleexplorersmagazine.co.uk/storeA magazine for kids!

Seeking forgiveness from Allah, repentance

أسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَ أتُوبُ إلَيْهِ
Astaghfirullaha wa atūūbu ilai(hi) (I seek the Forgiveness of Allah and repent to Him.)
[to be reicted 100 times during the day] [Sahih al Bukhari, Muslim 4:2075]

http://www.islamawareness.net/Repentance/repentance.html

Duas for Asking for Forgiveness from God
http://www.soundvision.com/info/islam/forgivenessdua.asp

More duas for repentance
http://www.islamawareness.net/Dua/forgiveness.html

Ramadan Look-ups

Quick Rewarding Dhikrs - http://fastaqim.blogspot.com/2007/05/dhikr.html

lovemuslim twitter tweets - https://twitter.com/#!/lovemuslim

Don't Be Sad pdf - http://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_books/single/en_Do_not_be_Sad.pdf