Cover(ed) Girl

Paws 4 Pogo

2012-02-12T11:57:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine, Mandi, is a 100% service-disabled Navy vet. Her service dog, Pogo, is a rescue who was later trained to her current occupation. Pogo has a torn ACL (ligament) in her leg and needs a very expensive surgery ($3,500) to have it repaired. Due to her disabled status, Mandi is unable to work and is on a fixed income. She can't afford Pogo's surgery alone, and is largely confined to her home without her service dog due to her disability.

Here's where we can help! A fundraising campaign has been started at:

Paws 4 Pogo - Fundly.com

If you can donate, please consider doing so. Pass the word along to your family and friends through social networking. Please help us to reach our goal ASAP, as Pogo is in a lot of pain and suffers each day that she doesn't get this surgery.

Sunnah in the Qur'an

2012-01-23T10:08:00.000-08:00

A lot of people think you have to have the hadith to provide the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. They say the Qur'an contains no sunnah. I'm sorry, your Qur'an must be different from mine. Mine contains a staggering number of questions by the people and directly answered by Allah. I'm going through them all to make sure, but wanted to provide the list I made to those who are interested.

"Say:"

Chapter 2
2:8 2:11 2:13 2:14 2:25 2:26 2:58 2:76 2:79 2:80 2:91 2:93 2:94 2:97 2:102 2:104 2:111 2:113 2:120 2:135 2:136 2:139 2:140 2:142 2:156 2:170 2:189 2:201 2:215 2:217 2:219 2:220 2:222
Chapter 3
3:7 3:15 3:16 3:20 3:26 3:29 3:31 3:32 3:61 3:64 3:73 3:84 3:93 3:95 3:98 3:99 3:119 3:154 3:165 3:168 3:181 3:183
Chapter 4
4:46 4:72 4:75 4:77 4:78 4:81 4:127 4:141 4:150 4:171 4:176
Chapter 5
5:4 5:17 5:18 5:19 5:41 5:59 5:60 5:61 5:68 5:76 5:77 5:83 5:100 5:104 5:109 5:116 5:119
Chapter 6
6:7 6:11 6:12 6:14 6:15 6:19 6:23 6:25 6:27 6:31 6:37 6:40 6:46 6:47 6:50 6:53 6:54 6:56 6:57 6:58 6:63 6:64 6:65 6:66 6:71 6:90 6:91 6:105 6:109 6:124 6:135 6:143 6:144 6:145 6:147 6:148 6:149 6:150 6:151 6:156 6:157 6:158 6:161 6:162 6:164
Chapter 7
7:28 7:29 7:32 7:33 7:37 7:43 7:47 7:53 7:95 7:158 7:161 7:169 7:173 7:187 7:188 7:195 7:203
Chapter 8
8:1 8:31
Chapter 9
9:24 9:49 9:50 9:51 9:52 9:53 9:61 9:64 9:65 9:81 9:83 9:86 9:94 9:105 9:124 9:129
Chapter 10
10:15 10:16 10:18 10:20 10:21 10:28 10:31 10:34 10:35 10:38 10:41 10:48 10:49 10:50 10:53 10:58 10:59 10:69 10:101 10:102 10:104 10:108
Chapter 11
11:7 11:8 11:12 11:13 11:18 11:35
Chapter 12
12:108
Chapter 13
13:7 13:16 13:27 13:30 13:33 13:36 13:43
Chapter 14
14:30 14:44
Chapter 15
15:89
Chapter 16
16:24 16:27 16:32 16:101 16:102 16:103
Chapter 17
17:24 17:42 17:47 17:50 17:51 17:56 17:80 17:81 17:84 17:85 17:88 17:93 17:95 17:96 17:100 17:107 17:108 17:110 17:111
Chapter 18
18:22 18:24 18:26 18:29 18:39 18:49 18:83 18:103 18:109 18:110
Chapter 19
19:26 19:75
Chapter 20
20:40 20:47 20:97 20:104 20:105 20:114 20:135
Chapter 21
21:4 21:24 21:38 21:42 21:45 21:46 21:108 21:109
Chapter 22
22:49 22:68 22:72
Chapter 23
23:28 23:29 23:84 23:85 23:86 23:87 23:88 23:89 23:93 23:97 23:109 23:118
Chapter 24
24:47 24:51 24:53 24:54
Chapter 25
25:6 25:15 25:17 25:27 25:57 25:60 25:63 25:65 25:74 25:77
Chapter 26
26:16 26:203 26:216
Chapter 27
27:59 27:64 27:65 27:69 27:71 27:72 27:84 27:92 27:93
Chapter 28
28:47 28:49 28:53 28:55 28:63 28:65 28:71 28:72 28:74 28:75 28:85
Chapter 29
29:2 29:10 29:20 29:29 29:46 29:50 29:52 29:55 29:61 29:63
Chapter 30
30:42 30:58
Chapter 31
31:21 31:25
Chapter 32
32:3 32:11 32:28 32:29
Chapter 33
33:16 33:17 33:63 33:66 33:67
Chapter 34
34:3 34:22 34:23 34:24 34:25 34:26 34:27 34:29 34:30 34:34 34:36 34:39 34:41 34:46 34:47 34:48 34:49 34:50 34:52
Chapter 35
35:34 35:40
Chapter 36
36:48 36:52 36:79
Chapter 37
37:18 37:36 37:52 37:151 37:167
Chapter 38
38:65 38:67 38:86
Chapter 39
39:8 39:9 39:10 39:11 39:13 39:14 39:15 39:38 39:39 39:43 39:44 39:46 39:53 39:56 39:57 39:64
Chapter 40
40:11 40:48 40:50 40:66 40:74
Chapter 41
41:6 41:9 41:13 41:21 41:29 41:44 41:47 41:50 41:52
Chapter 42
42:15 42:23 42:24 42:45
Chapter 43
43:9 43:77 43:81 43:89
Chapter 45
45:25 45:26
Chapter 46
46:4 46:8 46:9 46:10 46:11 46:17 46:34
Chapter 47
47:20
Chapter 48
48:11 48:15
Chapter 49
49:14 49:16 49:17
Chapter 52
52:30 52:31 52:33 52:44
Chapter 54
54:2 54:8 54:44
Chapter 56
56:47 56:49
Chapter 62
62:6 62:8 62:11
Chapter 63
63:1 63:7 63:8
Chapter 64
64:7
Chapter 66
66:8
Chapter 67
67:23 67:24 67:25 67:26 67:28 67:29 67:30
Chapter 68
68:51
Chapter 69
69:19 69:25
Chapter 72
72:1 72:20 72:21 72:22 72:25
Chapter 74
74:31
Chapter 78
78:40
Chapter 79
79:10
Chapter 83
83:32
Chapter 99
99:3
Chapter 109
109:1
Chapter 112
112:1
Chapter 113
113:1
Chapter 114
114:1

I'd say that a pretty comprehensive question/answer list. : )

Show me the proof!

2012-01-17T17:22:00.000-08:00

If someone is going to say things to me like "You won't enter jannah unless you love the prophet more than you love yourself", you'd better back it up with Qur'anic proof. If you can't find that proof, then perhaps you'd better re-evaluate the stuff you're parroting that you've heard from other people.

Believe what you want. I support that completely. But I will not accept the hadith as proof of an assertion in lieu of evidence from the Qur'an.

3:78 "And from among them is a group who twist their tongues with the Book so that you may think it is from the Book, while it is not from the Book, and they say it is from God while it is not from God, and they say about God lies while they know."

So bring it.

New year, healthier me.

2012-01-16T15:14:00.000-08:00

I went running on Saturday for the first time in 6 months (okay, going on 7). It was just around the block. So why are my legs sore?! I guess I'm going to have to start all over on the running front... : ( I was running 4 miles with no problem. Not the fastest time (okay, I'm really the slowest kid alive), but the point is that I could DO IT. -.- I hate the first bit when I go back to running. It sucks.

However, I am utterly determined that I will NOT be the fat girl at my high school reunion! Yes, my 10-year reunion is this year. I will NOT be fat! Will not will not will not! Running, in combo with balanced diet, is my most effective source of weight loss.

Quranist Belief: the Myths and the Realities

2012-01-03T11:43:00.000-08:00

I've noticed a lot of anti-Quranist sentiment among Sunni/Shi'a Muslims, so I figured I'd do a post to clear up some of the utterly mistaken things that are said about Quranists and our beliefs. Granted, many of those things were on Yahoo Answers' Ramadan section, and I know you sisters here are brighter than that bunch, but it doesn't hurt to clarify things.

What Quranists are:

Muslims who believe the Qur'an is the revelation of Allah and that Muhammad is the last in a long line of prophets sent from Allah.

Sounds like Sunni and Shi'a and everybody else, right?

What Quranists aren't:

Followers of Rashid Khalifa. The most common accusation levelled against Quranists is that we believe Rashid Khalifa was a prophet.

This is false. FALSE. I don't know a single person who believes he was a prophet, or thinks much of him at all. When we do discuss him, we give him props for having the guts to say "Follow the Qur'an Alone. Worship Allah alone.", but in no way, shape, form, or fashion do we consider him a prophet. Actually, most of the people I've talked with consider him to have had a great idea but that he went coo coo for Cocoa Puffs after that.

We do not reject Prophet Muhammad. We reject the near-worship of him and the emphasis that is placed on him above all other prophets. The Qur'an instructs us not to elevate any prophet above another and not to make partners of anyone with Allah. What do you think the shahada does? Singles out Muhammad and joins his name with that of Allah.

Muhammad, in traditional Sunni/Shi'a practice, IS a partner with Allah. You don't see people react to cartoons of Jesus or Moses or Abraham with the outrage and hysteria that they do if someone makes a cartoon of Muhammad. People wish blessings on Muhammad because they think he can intercede for them -- despite the Qur'an saying that no one but Allah will be able to intercede for anyone on the last day, that Muhammad was just a warner, that he had no power over belief or disbelief, that no one shall bear another's sins.

When the Qur'an says "obey the Messenger", it doesn't mean copy every single thing Muhammad supposedly did or said and invoke his name so your prayers will be heard. It means to follow his teachings: the oneness of God, equality of the prophets, belief in the last day, and to deal with each other in kindness.

On Hadith:

There are a couple of different perspectives regarding hadith.

Some Quranists believe that you can accept the hadith that do not contradict or add to the Qur'an, but that you should interpret the hadith you accept only as good advice, not as guidance or a source of divine law. Others believe that you should not accept any hadith, period, but only the Qur'an.

By rejecting part or all of the hadith, we aren't rejecting the sunnah. Consider the many examples in the Qur'an where Allah instructed Muhammad to answer the believers. "Say:" is how it always began. These are the true sunnah. The Qur'an describes itself as the best hadith.

If you insist on having secondary sources to the Qur'an, the Qur'an tells us what our authorized sources are: the Torah and Gospel of Jesus! Being Muslim does not mean you exclude the other books from study. The three should be used in conjunction, to verify and clarify what is right and what is wrong.

Qur'an 10:94 "If you are in doubt regarding what We have sent down to you, then ask those who have been reading the Book from before you. The truth has come to you from your Lord, so do not be of those who doubt."

As Quranists, one of our highest ideals is to respect other faiths and other interpretations of Islam, so don't think I'm trashing your beliefs. I'm not. All I'm saying is: know what you believe and why. Be able to back it up. Be able to look at your beliefs with a critical eye and find answers to your questions.

For me, the beauty of Quran Alone is that it makes Islam simple again. It removes the cultural traditions and supersitions of the hadith and gives us the book revealed to and followed by Muhammad, untainted by centuries of "scholarly interpretation".

Do you seriously think you need a scholar to tell you what to think so that you can understand the Qur'an "correctly"? ("Correctly", of course, being that scholar's own POV.) Would you call Allah a liar by saying the Qur'an is too holy to be understood by the layperson and requires hadith to clarify it, when He says that it is a clear, detailed book of guidance for all mankind?

2011 meme from Amber

2011-12-29T11:38:00.000-08:00

I love doing these kinds of things!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

Spent half the year in Afghanistan. Never did that before.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Didn't make any.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My older brother and his girlfriend had a baby boy -- he's 3 months old now and one heck of a cute little nub. : P

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Nope.

5. What countries did you visit?

Brief stops in Spain, Iraq, Kuwait, Germany, and a long stay in the remote regions of Afghanistan.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

A decent job that will pay the bills but won't require me to be somewhere where I get rockets shot at my base.

7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

16 June 2011. The day my feet touched the ground in the US.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Making it back from the 'Stan in one piece.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not being able to find a decent job after getting back.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I've been sick a couple of times, just enough to make me miserable but not life-threatening.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I don't know....

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My cats for being excited to see me when I came home.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

My younger brother's.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Buying books!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Coming home to my kitties! Getting to see my friends and family. Being able to drive and buy books.

16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2011?

"DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" by Usher, "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele, every song on Darren Hayes' "Secret Codes and Battleships" album, "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. Happier or sadder?

ii. Happier in some ways -- I'm home!

iii. Thinner or fatter?

iv. Fatter (but only by a little bit!)

v. richer or poorer?

vi. Definitely poorer. :/

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Reading. I read about 70 books the first half of the year, but not so much since I've been home.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Shopping. :/

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

I spent it eating brunch at Denny's with a friend and working at the bookstore (we got bored and decided to come work and open the store for about 3 hours).

21. How many one-night stands?

None.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

"Army Wives"

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Yep, one person who showed themself to be a thief and liar.

24. What was the best book you read?

If I have to pick just one, I'd say "Just Kids" by Patti Smith. Close runner-up is "Built of Books: How Reading Defined the Life of Oscar Wilde" by Thomas Wright.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Being introduced to Muslim artists Native Deen and Maher Zain.

26. What did you want and get?

I wanted books and I got them.

27. What was your favorite film of this year?

I don't really have one.

28. What did you do on your birthday?

I ate a cheeseburger and chocolate ice cream at the DFAC with my platoon sergeant.

29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

1st half of the year: brown camo. Second half: jeans and t-shirts.

30. What kept you sane?

Reading, watching "Star Trek", and lots of prayer time.

31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Chris Pine...

32. What political issue stirred you the most?

When the politicians almost didn't pull their heads out of their backsides and approve the budget so soldiers could get paid.

33. Who did you miss?

Everybody! (But my cats especially.)

34. Who was the best new person you met?

I don't think I met anyone new, really.

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

Family is important and freedom and peace shouldn't be taken for granted.

The TBR Double Dare Challenge

2011-12-11T09:23:00.000-08:00

Can you do it? I'm taking the dare to reading only the books in my TBR pile from 1 January until 1 April. I have literally hundreds of books waiting their turn to be read.

See here for more details:
http://readywhenyouarecb.blogspot.com/p/tbr-dare.html

Yet another quiz thingy

2011-11-07T16:44:00.000-08:00

Mark things that apply to you with an X.

(X) I am a cuddler.
(X) I am a morning person. (Yes I am, but oddly I am something of a night owl, too. @_@ How does that work?)
I am an only child.
I am currently in my pajamas.
I am currently pregnant.
(X) I am currently single. (Yep, but not for too much longer, inshaAllah!)
I am currently suffering from a broken heart.
I am left handed.
I am married.
(X)I am addicted to my myspace. (Change this to Facebook and the answer would be yes.)
I am online 24/7, even as an away message.
(X) I am a little shy around the opposite gender at first. (More like all the time. Unless they're Army guys. Then it's all "Hey, dude, what's up?" : P)
I bite my nails.
(X) I can be paranoid at times.
I don’t like anyone. (LOL)
I enjoy country music.
I enjoy jazz music. (I like it as background music on TV.)
(X) I enjoy smoothies. (Especially strawberry banana smoothies!)
(X) I enjoy talking on the phone. (I don't have much choice if I want to talk to my family!)
(X) I have a car. (Can't get anywhere here in a timely manner without one.)
(X) I have a cell phone. (Who doesn't?)
(X) I have/had a hard time paying attention at school. (I always got in trouble for reading in class, lol)
I have a hidden talent
(X) I have a lot to learn. (Don't we all?)
(X) I have a pet. (Four cats.)
I have a tendency to fall for the “wrong” guy/girl
I have all my grandparents
(X) I have at least one brother (Two older half brothers, one younger full brother)
(X) I have been to another country. (Mexico, Afghanistan, Kuwait, with brief stops in Germany, Spain, and Iraq that can be numbered in hours.)
(X) I have been told that I am smart
(X) I have been told that I have an unusual sense of humor.
I have OR HAD broken a bone.
(X) I have Caller I.D. on my phone.
(X) I have changed a diaper
(X) I have changed a lot over the past year. (I like to think I have, at least.)
I have done something illegal.
I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color
(X) I have had major/minor surgery. (Very minor, tonsils out when I was a kid.)
I have killed another person.
I have had my hair cut within the last week.
(X) I have mood swings (Don't we all?)
I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life
(X) I have rejected someone before. (Yep. Five offers of marriage from Afghani guys while I was deployed, lol)
(X) I have seen The Lord of the Rings trilogy. (Extended version. Multiple times. All in a marathon row.)
I have seen the television show The O.C.
I like Shakespeare.
I like the taste of blood.
I love to cook.
(X) I like to sing. (At home with my cats and in the car)
I love Michael Jackson
(X) I love sleeping. (Quality sleep is the best thing ever.)
I love to play computer games.
(X) I love to shop. (For clothes? No. Hate it. For books? LOVE IT!!!)
(X) I miss someone right now.
(X) I own 100 CDs or more
(X) I own and use a library card
(X) I read books for pleasure in my spare time. (All the time.)
I sleep a lot during the day.
(X) I strongly dislike math (It is by far my worst subject.)
I watch soap operas on a regular basis.
I will try almost anything once.
(X) I work at a job that I enjoy.
I would classify myself as ghetto.
I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free.
(X) I am currently wearing socks.
I am tired.
I love to paint/draw/sketch/sculpt.
(X) I have had/have a broken heart
Smoked cigarettes. (Nope. Never even remotely tempted to.)
Rode every ride at an amusement park.
(X) Collected something really stupid. (Barbies, lol)
(X) Gone to a rock concert. (Recently, I went to see Panic! at the Disco and Hanson. Two separate concerts, lol)
(X) Helped someone.
Gone fishing.
Watched four movies in one night.
(X) Gone long periods of time with out sleep. (28 hours. Woohoo!)
(X) Lied to someone. (Unfortunately. :( I try not to do it, though.)
Been dumped.
Failed a class. (No, but I've gotten pretty close.)
(X) Taken a college level course. (I graduated from community college.)
(X) Been in a car accident.
Been in a tornado.
Watched someone die.
(X) Been to a funeral.
(X) Burned yourself. (accidentally)
Ran a marathon.
(X) Your parents got divorced.
(X) Cried yourself to sleep.
(X) Spent over $200 in one day. (This happens far too often when I make the rounds of my favorite book stores...)
(X) Flown on a plane. (FAR too many times in the last year and a half. I'm so over it.)
Cheated on someone.
(X) Been cheated on. (Yes. We aren't going there.)
Written a 10 page letter.
Gone skiing.
Been sailing.
(X) Cut yourself. (Accidentally)
(X) Had a best friend.
(X) Lost someone you loved.
Shoplifted something.
Been to jail.
(X) Had detention. (In 5th grade...)
(X) Skipped school. (Senior year, one day, on a "Senior Skip Day".)
(X) Got in trouble for something you didn’t do. (Probably.)
Stolen books from the library.
Dropped out of school.
Been in a mental hospital.
Watched the “Harry Potter” movies.
(X) Had an online diary. (I reckon a blog counts, right?)
(X) Fired a gun. (M-16 A2 and M-4 rifles, woohoo! So good my nickname was "Annie Oakley", lol)
Gambled in a casino.
(X) Had a yard sale.
Been in a school play.
(X) Been fired from a job. (Yes, for stupid reasons, and I'm still mad about it. :/)
(X) Taken a lie detector test.
Swam with dolphins.
Gone to sea world.
Attempted suicide.
Voted for Pop Idol.
(X) Written poetry.
(X) Read more than 20 books a year.
Gone to Europe.
(X) Loved someone you couldn’t have.
(X) Had surgery. (minor)
Had stitches.
(X) Taken a taxi.
Seen the Washington Monument.
Had more than 5 IM’s/online conversations going at once.
Had a drug or alcohol problem.
Been in a fist fight.
Suffered any form of abuse.
Had a hamster.
Petted a wild animal.
(X) Used a credit card.
Gone surfing in California.
Dyed your hair.
Got a tattoo.
(X) Had something pierced. (ears)
Got straight A’s.
(X) Your parents sent you to a shrink.
Been handcuffed.
Known someone with HIV or AIDS.
(X) Taken pictures with a webcam.
Started a fire.
Had a party while your parents weren’t home.
Gotten caught having a party while they were gone.

Another survey quizzy thingy.

2011-11-07T15:51:00.000-08:00

Books I've read recently...

1. The Qur'an (English translation, of course)

2.

3.

4.

Songs or albums I listen to all the time...

1. "Secret Codes and Battleships" Darren Hayes

2. "Vices and Virtues" Panic! At The Disco

3. "Thank You, Allah" Maher Zain

4. "The Remedy" Native Deen

5. "Not Afraid To Stand Alone" Native Deen

6. Anything by Josh Groban :)

7. Anything by Selena

8. Anything by David Bowie

I love...

1. ALLAH

2. my family

3. my cats!

4. my friends

5. Books!

6. food of most types -- leave out the fish/seafood, please.

7. a good night's sleep : )

Things I've learned this year...

1. More patience, lol.

2. How to readjust to life in the US post-deployment.

3. How wonderful my family and friends are.

4. Allah is always there for me!

5. That I eat too much bad food. :/

6. And it makes me gain weight. :((((

7. That I am a good person, despite my flaws, and I'd want to be friends with me!

New recipes I want to try and make...

Vegan neatballs with spaghetti

Vegetarian "chik'n" shawarma

Pizza crust that isn't all soggy and yuck (from scratch)

Favorite online hangouts...

1. Blogs

2. Facebook

3. Amazon

4. Yahoo

5. eBay

Projects I need to work on...

1. cleaning house

2. working more :/

3. organize my books

Islamic quizzy survey thingy. : P

2011-11-07T14:59:00.000-08:00

1) Are you a convert or born Muslim? How about your parents?
I'm a convert (converted in April 2011, alhamdilullah). My mom is a practicing Christian, my dad is not a practicing Christian, but practicing Pentecostal -- these are two separate things in my family. If you knew them, you'd understand why. X/

2) What's your ethnicity and how did it relate to how you were raised?
I'm white, lol. Irish or Scottish and German on paternal side, I think, and Southern of English descent on the maternal side. :)

3) Where are you from, and if not the Middle East, have you been there? For how long and why?
I'm from the South in the US. If being deployed in Afghanistan counts, then yes, I've been to the Middle East.

4) What's your favorite Arab/Middle Eastern dish?
Hummus and pita bread, and chicken shawarma is a huge favorite.

5) What's the most interesting or funny Islam/Arab related saying you use day to day?
I don't really use anything on a daily basis except perhaps for "salam aleikum".

6) What's the most attractive and unattractive thing you find toward a Muslim or Arab man/woman?
I like open-minded people who respect others' free will and individuality. I loathe people who expect me to act like some wilting flower just because I'm Muslim. I have a big mouth, plenty of opinions, and don't appreciate control freaks.

7) What's the thing you love most about Islam? What do you dislike the most?
I love the Qur'an and the new understanding it has given me of Allah. It answered so many questions for me that the Bible just didn't. I don't like the hadith, the way some people put Prophet Muhammad on a pedestal and nearly worship him, or the insistence in reciting the Qur'an in Arabic instead of reading it in your native language.

8) What's the most interesting/embarrassing/funny thing in your house that's related to Islam or Arab culture, excluding the Quran?
Ummm... I have two shelves of books about Islam and the Qur'an, and I have a little wall hanging with the shahada/kalima -- wish I had one that just said "La illaha il Allah" and left off the rest.

9) Do you speak Arabic? If you do, then say something.
Only the most basic stuff: the salams, inshaAllah, mashAllah.

10) Name of all the Islamic Prophets you can remember at the top of your head. No Cheating!!
Adam, Jesus/Isa, Abraham, Noah, Muhammad, Lot, Ishmael (was he a prophet?).... Wow, I can't think of any more! I fail, lol!

Feel free to copy and fill out yourself!

Love and diversity.

2011-08-06T17:41:00.000-07:00

Salam aleikum, everyone. Hope you're enjoying a relaxing weekend.

I was just thinking earlier today about how awesome the diversity of religion and people are. To paraphrase the words of a favorite song of mine, the idea that God "might love you, but I'm His favorite of all" just doesn't do Him justice. I can't imagine the extent of His love, mercy, and forgiveness for all of us who love Him and strive to obey Him, whether we're Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, or whatever.

I think we need to give God more credit than that. But we'll all see Him one day. If He's not the generous, forgiving, loving God that I believe in, then I don't want to serve Him. If He is, then our faith is totally justified, whatever form it may come in.

Peace.

Ramadan.

2011-08-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

A belated Ramadan mabrook (or kareem, if you prefer) and assalam aleikum, everyone.

I made it home safely, alhamdilullah. I'm enjoying a quiet life of staying home with my cats and working at my friend's book store. I have to look for a "real" job soon.

Ramadan started four days ago. I nearly made the first day's fasting (had just 10 minutes to go), but was quite ill after working an 8 hour shift and not eating or drinking all day. Cold sweats, severe headache, the works. It actually took me an additional 30 minutes before I could eat. Since then, I've only been fasting half days (from 5:30 am until between 12:30-1:00 PM (since I've been going to work at 1 and getting off at 7). I think that, if I slowly lengthen the amount of time I fast, by the last week of Ramadan I should be able to fast all day (without the unpleasant side effects, inshallah).

I think Allah (SWT) knows that I do want to fast the whole day but that I'm not at the point where I can do it yet without making myself ill.

Did any of you have to do it segments at first?

Fashion LOVE.

2011-06-28T15:55:00.000-07:00

Now, I'm not much of a girly-girl. I hate shopping for clothes with a passion, especially in the last couple of years, since I put on -- it hurts to type this -- 50 lbs. But I found this tunic and... I. Love. It.

It's the Summer Goddess tunic from World Market. They cost $19.99 and a L/XL quite comfortably and loosely fits an American size 14/16. It may even work for a woman who wears an 18.

This is the lightest, airiest, most comfortable shirt I've ever worn. If you don't mind the 3/4 sleeves, it works quite well with hijab and jeans. The fabric is surprisingly thin, but it's also opaque -- no showing more than you want to show. : )

I have two -- one has a blue and green floral motif, the other is blue/light purple -- or pink, I can't decide -- and white. They're both gorgeous. Sorry I couldn't find photos online... I'll post them when I can.

Best of all? When it gets worn out I'm going to rip out the seams and use it as a pattern to make my own tunics. The only difference is that I'll make the sleeves a little longer.

It won't be long....

2011-06-10T07:35:00.000-07:00

Assalamu aleikum, everyone! ^_^ I hope you're all well and that God is blessing each and every one of you in your lives.

I'm getting excited about going home VERY soon. I can't say when... but it's soon. LOL I went shopping yesterday and bought 4 scarves (light pink, bright pink, light purple, and blue), so I'll have some hijabs to wear when I get back. I'll have to go shopping, though.

Ramadan is coming up! Who else is excited?

A little of this, a little of that...

2011-06-07T06:53:00.001-07:00

Assalamu aleikum, everyone!

I'm in the process of getting ready to go home right now. With any luck, God willing, I will be in the US again in a few days. My family is excited about it, and so am I. My cats are thrilled too, of course. : P

Just finished doing laundry so I have clean clothes for tomorrow. Still mildly annoyed at the person who took 2 of my tan t-shirts from my laundry, reducing me to 4 t-shirts.

I've read the first 7 books of the Southern Vampire mysteries by Charlaine Harris this week. I can't get myself to call them the "True Blood" books because, well... the books predated the show by many years. And I can't call them the "Sookie Stackhouse" books because, sorry, but I think her name is ridiculous. Yes, I know that Southerners, particularly rural ones, come up with some odd names, but I can't read that without thinking "WEIRD!!!!" every time. At least the character isn't hopping in the sack with every gorgeous man in the world madly in love with her for no good reason and developing a new power every book. Plot, you are refreshing indeed. : )

And I'm packing and filling out inventory sheets for each duffle bag. It's a lot of work, but if anything ends up missing out of all this over-priced stuff (95% of which I never even used), I won't have to pay for it. :D

And life goes on....

I would be....

2011-05-27T23:33:00.000-07:00

If I were a month, I'd be November
If I were a day of the week, I'd be Saturday
If I were a time of day, I'd be dawn
If I were a planet, I'd be the moon! (Okay, not really a planet, but it is in space.)
If I were an animal, I'd be a cat
If I were a direction, I'd be the South (what else? :D)
If I were a piece of furniture, I'd be a comfy, retro sofa (like the one I have)
If I were a liquid, I'd be vanilla Coke
If I were a gemstone, I'd be an Amethyst
If I were a tree, I'd be a maple tree
If I were a tool, I'd be a pen
If I were a flower, I'd be a Cherokee Rose
If I were a kind of weather, I'd be a cool breeze off the ocean
If I were a musical instrument, I'd be an electric guitar
If I were a color, I'd be purple
If I were an emotion, I'd be content
If I were a fruit, I'd be a seedless grape
If I were a sound, I'd be the cat's meow
If I were an element, I'd be fire
If I were a car, I'd be a Toyota Camry
If I were a food, I'd be chicken tikka masala over rice with naan and rice pudding on the side
If I were a place, I'd be Spain
If I were a taste, I'd be peppermint
If I were a scent, I'd smell like an orange stuck with whole cloves and boiled in an open pot
If I were an item of clothing, I'd be a pair of jeans
If I were a body part, I'd be hands
If I were a facial expression, I'd be a smile
If I were a song, I'd be "Como La Flor" by Selena.
If I were a pair of shoes, I'd be flip flops.
What would you be?

Recommendations.

2011-05-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

So, after the sudden (but brief) flurry of posts, I'm drawing blanks on post topics. Anybody have any suggestions? :)

Salam.

Native Deen

2011-05-08T11:18:00.000-07:00

I usually hate rap music, mostly due to the nastiness of it: nearly-naked women shaking their assets, the bad language, drug and violence references... There's very little good in it.

But my sister Sarah pointed me towards a Muslim group called Native Deen. The lyrics are all Islam-related. One of my favorites is "My Faith My Voice", about religious tolerance and the true nature of Islam and Muslims. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx7uj-yFpC0

One of many.

2011-05-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

This is just one of many reasons that I believe in God. I took this photo a few hours ago. The sunset and the starry nights, with very few artificial lights to compete, make me want to bow down and humble myself before Him.

Questions.

2011-05-07T01:53:00.000-07:00

My favorite. . .

1. Food – Indian food. I love it, especially naan with chicken tikka masala, and rice pudding. :)
2. Color – Purple, blue, green, pink, silver, blue... I love them all.
3. Animal – I have four cats. I adore them all.
4. Sports – None. Ever.
5. Dessert – Rice pudding from my favorite Indian restaurant.
6. Pair of shoes – Ballet flats, or sneakers when my feet hurt.
7. Outfit – Jeans and tunics.
8. Brand – ... I don't really have a favorite, but Avenue is a good store for curvier girls. :)
9. Perfume – Elizabeth Arden 5th Avenue
10. Accessory – Hijab! Sometimes earrings.
11. City - San Antonio, Texas
12. Hobby – Reading, blogging, praying, watching movies, shopping for books. :)
13. Beauty Product – Lotion, if my skin is dry.
14. Snack – I like grapes, or applesauce with shredded cheddar cheese.
15. Holiday – I like the 4th of July. :) Fireworks are fun, patriotic-colored hijabs are more fun. :)
16. Movie – the new "Star Trek" film at the moment, but I also love "Top Hat" with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
17. Song – I can't pick just one, but I love all of Josh Groban's music, no exceptions. :)
18. Guilty Pleasure - Reading a book in bed with my cats piled around (and on) me on a cold, rainy day.

Haram and Halal

2011-05-07T00:28:00.000-07:00

“Dogs are haram!” “Music is haram!” “Makeup is haram!” “Bright colored clothes are haram!” “Pictures of people or animals are haram!”

I know you’ve all heard this before. For the person who is just learning about Islam, it can be overwhelming. It can leave you wondering if Muslims are allowed to do ANYTHING but wear black, pray, and read the Qur’an.

What does the Qur’an say is forbidden?

Forbidden food

The blood and meat of animals who die of natural causes or are killed or partially eaten by a wild animal, pork, and anything sacrificed or slain by the name of any other but God. If you are starving and this is the only food available, then you are permitted to eat it. Sharing meals with Christians and Jews is not forbidden.

2:172-173 “O you who believe, eat from the good things We have provided for you, and be thankful to God; if it is Him you serve. He has only made unlawful for you that which is already dead, and the blood, and the meat of pig, and what was dedicated to other than God. But whoever is forced to, without seeking disobedience or transgression, then there is no sin upon him. God is Forgiving, Merciful.”

5:3-5 “Forbidden to you is that which is already dead, and the blood, and the meat of pig, and what was dedicated to other than God, and that which has been strangled, and that which has been beaten to death, and that which has fallen from a height, and that which has been gored, and that which the wild animals have eaten from except what you managed to rescue, and what has been slaughtered on altars, and what you divide by the arrows of chance. This is vile. Today the rejecters have given up from your system, so do not be concerned by them, but be concerned by Me. Today I have perfected your system for you, and completed My blessings upon you, and I have approved submission as the system for you. So, whoever is forced by severe hunger and not seeking sin, then God is Forgiving, Merciful. They ask you what was made lawful to them, say: “All the good things have been made lawful for you, and what the trained dogs and birds catch, you teach them from what God teaches you.” So eat from what they have captured for you and mention the name of God upon it, and be aware of God. God is swift in reckoning. Today, the good things have been made lawful to you, and the food of those who have been given the Book is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them…”

Forbidden “fun”

Alcohol, gambling, idols, and fortune telling. God tells us that these things are used by Satan to distract us from Him and prayer.

2:219 “They ask you about intoxicants and gambling. Say: “In them is great harm, and a benefit for the people; but their harm is greater than their benefit.”…”

5:90-91 “O you who believe, intoxicants, and gambling, and stone idols, and fortunes are an affliction used by the devil. You shall avoid him so that you may be successful. The devil only wants to cause strife between you through intoxicants and gambling, and to repel you away from remembering God and from the prayer. Will you be deterred?”

Interest

This is a hard one. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a mortgage or car payment every month! But this verse seems to address those who collect interest, not those of us who have to pay it.

2:275-276 “Those who consume usury do not rise except as one being influenced by the touch of the devil. That is because they have said: “Trade is the same as usury.” While God has made trade lawful, and He has made usury unlawful. Whoever has received understanding from His Lord and ceases, then he will be forgiven for what was before this and his case will be with God. But whoever returns, then they are the people of the Fire, in it they will abide. God condemns usury, and He grants growth to the charities. And God does not love any wicked sinner.”

Forbidden Relationships

Anyone who is related to you by blood or marriage, or a similar bond: mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, foster parents, foster siblings, mother-in-law, step daughters, or marrying sisters. This applies to the male counterparts for women. Also anyone who is a polytheist or fornicator.

4:22-23 “And do not marry who your fathers had married from the women, except what has already been done. It is a lewdness, and an abhorrence, and an evil path. Forbidden for you are your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and the sisters of your father, and the sisters of your mother, and the daughters of your brother, and the daughters of your sister, and your foster mothers who suckled you, and your sisters from suckling, and the mothers of your women, and your step-daughters who are in your lodgings from your women with whom you have already consummated the marriage; if you have not consummated the marriage then there is no sin upon you; and those who were in wedlock with your sons who are from your seed, and that you join between two sisters except what has already been done. God is Forgiving, Merciful.”

24:3 “The adulterer will only marry an adulteress or she who is a polytheist. And the adulteress, she will only be married to an adulterer or he who is a polytheist. And such has been made forbidden for the believers.”

Nowhere are dogs forbidden or labeled unclean. Music is not forbidden. Nowhere are pictures of animals or people forbidden. Neither bright colors (which mimic the plants and flowers that Allah created and colored!) nor makeup are forbidden. Music, photos, and makeup should, of course, be in good taste, but they are allowed.

Allah (SWT) has warned us about forbidding what He does not forbid. He chastised Muhammad (PBUH) for trying to do just that!

66:1 “O Our Prophet! Why do you forbid what God has made permissible to you? Do you seek to please your wives? God is Forgiver, Merciful.”

So enjoy the good things Allah (SWT) has made permissible for us!

Ablution

2011-05-07T00:26:00.000-07:00

I was asked about performing ablution without the instructions from the hadith. Now that I’ve done some research, let’s see what the Qur’an says on the subject.

5:6 “O you who believe! When you get ready for prayers, wash your faces and hands along with the elbows, and wipe a part of your heads and feet to the ankles, and if you are polluted (have been intimate with your spouse), then cleanse yourselves, and if you are sick or on a journey, or if one of you comes from the privy, or you have had contact with women, and you do not find water, betake to pure earth and wipe a part of your faces and hands with it; God does not intend to lay a hardship on you, but to purify you instead so that He may complete His favor on you, you may be grateful.”

Wow. Could it be any simpler than that? Not really. So here we have proof of what God wants from us in regards to ablution. Washing three times, washing your ears, rinsing your mouth, and blowing water out of your nose… this is all added by man. If God wanted us to do these things, He would have told us in the Qur’an.

If you do these things, that’s dandy. I’m not criticizing you. Do what makes you happy. I’m just pointing out what the Qur’an says God wants, versus what people say God wants.

Prayer

2011-05-06T02:33:00.000-07:00

Amber asked me about how I pray if I don’t follow the hadith. Well, let’s see what the Qur’an says about prayer.

1. How are you supposed to pray?

7:29 “Say: “My Lord has enjoined justice and set your faces upright when prostrating. Call upon Him sincerely, turning to Him exclusively in religion, even as He brought you forth in the beginning, so to Him shall you also return.”

23:1-2 “Successful, indeed, are the believers, who are humble while offering their supplications.”

107:4-5 “So woe unto those who pray – while being heedless to (the commandments of) their prayers.”

We are to pray sincerely, humbly, and minding what those prayers command, turning to God exclusively and calling on Him.

2. What form is prayer to take?

9:112 “(These are) they who turn to God (seeking forgiveness), who worship Him, praise Him, fast, bow down, prostrate themselves…”

18:110 “Say: “Call upon God, or call upon Ar-Rahman (the Beneficient); whichever you call upon, to Him belong the best names. And do not say your prayer too loudly, and do not say it too softly either, but seek a middle course between these two (extremes).”

We are to bow and prostrate ourselves, and to say our prayers aloud, but not shouting or whispering them.

3. When are we supposed to pray?

2:238 “Be strict in observance of the prayer and (in particular) the midday prayer, and stand up in devotion to God.”

11:114 “Establish prayer in the two ends of the day, and at the approaches of the night. Indeed the good deeds take away the evil ones; this is a reminder for the (believers who are) mindful (of their Lord).”

17: 78-79 “Establish prayer (regularly) from sunset until the darkness of the night, and the recital at dawn; verily the recital at dawn is witnessed. And (in a part) of the night, awake from sleep for performing the prayer, as a supererogation for your own good, perchance your Lord will bring you to a praised position.”

20:130 “So be patient with what they say, and glorify your Lord by praising Him before the rising of the sun and before its setting, and in some hours of the night glorify Him, and during parts of the day, that you may achieve the Pleasure (of your Lord).”

30:17 “So glory be to God when you approach the eve or the morn.”

62:9 “O you who believe! When the call is made for prayer on Friday, then hasten, all of you, to remembering God, and abandon all trading; that is better for you, if you only know.”

We are to pray in the morning at dawn, at midday, and in the evening before the sun sets. Waking up for prayers during the night is encouraged as something extra that is good for us, but not a requirement. We should be especially attentive to prayer on Fridays and the midday prayer.

4. Under what circumstances is prayer to be postponed?

4:43 “O you who believe! Do not approach prayer when intoxicated until you know well what you say, nor if you have had intercourse, unless you are traveling, until you bathe. If you are sick, or on a journey, or if one of you comes from the privy, or you have touched women and you do not find water, then take pure earth and wipe (with it a part of your face and hands); God is Pardoning, Forgiving.”

So, if you’re drunk or high (that you shouldn’t be should go without saying), you shouldn’t pray until you’re sober. If you’ve been intimate with your spouse (unless traveling), if you’re sick, or traveling, if you’ve used the bathroom, or (once again) been intimate with your spouse – NOT just touched a woman – prayer should be postponed until you can do the ritual purification. You are to use dirt if water isn’t available. Nowhere does it say that women can’t pray, touch or read the Qur’an, fast, etc, during their periods. The hadith on this were just men being all grossed out by a process they couldn’t understand. What God makes is not unclean, and He never prohibited women from fulfilling their religious obligations at any time.

My Reasons for Converting to Islam, part 2.

2011-05-05T00:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, continuing on with my story.

What about people who change their religion (ex. Go from being Muslim to Christian, etc)?

You were given the freedom to choose whatever religion you wanted, be it Islam, Christianity, or other. No one, not even Muhammad (PBUH), could force someone else to be a Muslim.

29:18 “If you reject the truth, then indeed nations before you rejected it, and nothing is incumbent upon the messenger except the delivery of a clear message.”

88:21-26 “So remind, for you are but a reminder. You have no power over them. Except for he who turns away and rejects. Then God will punish him with the great retribution. Indeed, to Us is their return. Then to Us is their judgment.”

The foolishness about killing apostates is a load of garbage. The Qur’an says that Allah (SWT) is our judge and that He will judge between us and clarify for us that in which we differed, and punish those who didn’t believe in Him. So who are we to try to usurp God’s place as judge?

In fact, if people don’t believe, we are supposed to leave them alone. Not harass them, abuse them, stone them or kill them.

43:88-89 “And it will be said: “O my Lord, these are a people who do not believe.” So disregard them and say: “Peace.” For they will come to know.”

Nor are we forbidden to be friends with Christians, Jews, or anyone else, especially if they don’t obstruct us in practicing our religion. In fact, we are instructed to be kind and fair to them.

60:8 “God does not prohibit you from those who have not fought you because of your system, nor drove you out of your homes, that you deal kindly and equitably with them. For God loves the equitable.”

Why does God allow so many different religions if only one really leads to Him?

2:148 “Everyone has a direction to which he turns. Hasten then to outdo each other in everything good. Wherever you may be, God will bring you all unto Him, for verily God has power over all things.”

5:48 “For each of you We appointed a law and a way. Had God desired, He would have made all of you a single community, but He wished (instead) to try you in what He has given you; therefore, compete excelling one another in goodness; to God alone is the return of all of you; it is then that He shall declare to you that wherein you differed.”

22:17 “On the Day of Judgment, God will decide between those who believe, those who are Jews, the Sabians, the Christians, the Magians, and the polytheists; verily God is witness over all things.”

God’s forgiveness extends to all, not just Jews or Christians:

5:18 “And the Jews and the Nazarenes said: “We are the children of God, and His loved ones.” Say: “Then why does He punish you for your sins?” No, you are merely human beings which He has created. He forgives whom He pleases, and He punishes whom He pleases. And to God is the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and all that is in-between, and to Him is the destiny.”

9:27 “Then God will accept the repentance of whom He pleases after that. God is Forgiving, Merciful.”

42:25 “And He is the One who accepts the repentance from His servants, and He forgives the sins. He is fully aware of what you do.”

And so, after two long, confusing, stressful years I gave in to the truth of what I’d learned and the longing in my heart and became a Muslim. I know that it won’t be easy to tell my family, but what person has been given faith and not been tried in that faith? Inshallah, trials will only make my faith stronger.

In closing, I leave you with these verses.

1 Timothy 4:10 “We struggle and work hard because we have placed our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all and especially of those who believe.”

28:70 “And He is God, there is no god except He. To Him belongs all praise in the first and in the last, and judgment belongs with Him, and to Him you will be returned.”

30:60 “Be patient, therefore; verily the promise of God is true, and let not those who have no belief in God make you despair of His promise.”

Alhamdilullah! May we all be together one day in Paradise , enjoying the reward of God to his faithful. Ameen.

My Reasons for Converting to Islam, part 1.

2011-05-04T22:03:00.000-07:00

Assalamu aleikum, my sisters. I've been asked about what led to my conversion to Islam. Let me tell you, it wasn't an easy decision! It took a lot of praying, thinking, and studying -- and a lot of time. I had to be willing to let my previous understanding of God, Christianity, and Islam be put to the test, and to accept the results with an open mind and heart. Please keep in mind that these are my personal experiences and opinions, and that my interpretation of things may often differ from yours. I do not intend to cause any offense to anyone or say anything against Christianity, but merely to give you all a glimpse into my personal journey.

Let's rewind back to spring 2009. As a previously life-long Christian, I never thought much about my faith or the reasons that I believed the things I did. Religion had never been a major interest or priority in my life. Not that I was indifferent to it. I just had that whole "young and invincible" mindset. You all know the one I'm talking about. The one where you think you'll live forever. The soul, religion, and what comes after death just weren't things I ever thought much about.

My interest in religion began after I read a Spanish article on the condition of women in Islam, followed by an article from the same site on the hijab. I was intrigued by the concept of covering up for God, and that such covering was an exterior expression of an internal state of modesty and purity. The idea that covering up like that was not really encouraged until a woman had achieved this internal purity was also interesting, and ran counter to what I'd always heard about women being forced to cover by their husbands, fathers, and brothers (and that was if I heard anything about it at all). I had never thought about Islam or Muslims before. Though I knew virtually nothing about Islam, I knew that my dad's assertion that Muslims worshiped Muhammad (PBUH) and not God couldn't be right. Also, having come of age in post-9/11 America, I wanted to see for myself what all the fuss was about.

This branched off initially as in interest in Muslim women. I read countless articles, blog posts, and books about hijab and the rights of women in Islam. I won't repeat any of that here, since I know a lot of you know just as much, if not more, on these topics than I do. Suffice it to say, I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. My interest didn't expand out of that small area for several months. Because of what I'd read about hijab and the fact that, historically, Christian women also covered, I branched out into learning about modern-day Christian head covering and adopted the practice myself. (For those of you who are interested but tired of reading books by men on the topic, I recommend Michelle Barnes McClendon's excellent book "Life as a Prayer: Recapturing the Wind of Headcovering".)

As time went on, I began reading more. Books about the history of Islam, current Muslim beliefs and practices, the different groups within Islam, guides on how best to study the Qur'an, books that compared Islam and Christianity (with virtually all of them, to my annoyance and frustration, leaning towards one or another of them, never being truly impartial and scholarly), and, of course, the Qur'an. But wait! There's more. In my study of Islam, for the first time I became genuinely curious about Christianity, and just a little annoyed at the assertions I found everywhere that the Bible was a "corrupted" (altered) text. Rather than take the word of a preacher as I'd always done in the past, I began to study and learn about Christianity for myself. I read about its history and that of the Bible, compared verses from several different translations of the Bible, and generally searched for answers to my questions.

One of my first questions was:

Why did God keep the Qur'an from being changed, but not the Bible or the Torah?

In my mind, such a thing implied that God was incapable of preventing changes (whether deliberate or accidental) to the earlier books. The idea that God couldn't do something was (and remains) utterly foreign to me. As I read about the history of the Bible, I learned that it wasn't originally one or two books, but dozens of separate books pieced together and decided upon as the Christian scripture in council several hundred years after Jesus (PBUH) preached his message. So what did Christians follow before they had the Bible to tell them what to believe? (I must add that I was also amazed at the sheer variety of belief just within the first 200 years of Christianity. Some sects say Jesus was never crucified, others say he never died at all, and others say he WASN'T the Son of God! Nevertheless, they all claimed to be Christian.) Many of the books they used are now contained in the Apocrypha, floating around out there individually, or lost to time and burning. I still haven't found a satisfactory answer to this question, but I'll keep looking.

From there, I began to wonder other things, such as:

What was Jesus' (PBUH) true role in all this?

The Bible, quite frankly, confused me on this topic. It never gave what I considered to be a definite "I am God" answer. In two of the three translations I have with me here, one of the verses that could be used as answer for this question is Matthew 27:11: "Jesus stood before the Roman governor, who questioned him. "Are you the king of the Jews?" he asked. "So you say," answered Jesus." The verse is virtually identical in Luke 23:3-4. Another translation says "You have said it" as Jesus' response. Or, another popular one, Matthew 3:17: "Then a voice said from heaven: "This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased."

Once again, it doesn't outright say that Jesus is God. I knew from my studies that the Jews at that time would not have interpreted "Son of God" to mean literally God's son, but that he was a holy man. Jesus was not the only person in the Bible to be called "Son" by God. Adam and, if I remember correctly, Saul, and others whose names currently slip my mind, were also called the son of God.

Jesus called himself "the Son of Man" in Matthew 16:13, but not God. A couple of verses down, Peter says "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus says "Good for you! For this truth did not come to you from any human being, but it was given to you directly by my Father in heaven." But go a couple of verses farther down: (v. 20) "Then Jesus ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah." Messiah, I found, simply meant "the anointed one", as did "Christ" in Greek. Jesus wasn't the only one to be anointed as a holy man; rabbis were also, in the temple. *sigh* So, once again, nothing for sure.

The Qur'an, on the other hand, makes it clear in many verses who Jesus was:

"O people of the Book, do not overstep in your system, nor say about God except the truth. Jesus, son of Mary, was no more than a messenger of God and the fulfillment of His word to Mary and a Spirit from Him. So believe in God and His messengers, and do not say: “Trinity.” Cease, for it is better for you. God is only One god, be He glorified that He should have a son! To Him is all that is in the heavens and the earth; and God is enough as a Caretaker." 4:171

"The Messiah, son of Mary, is no more than a messenger; like whom messengers have passed away; and his mother was trustworthy, they used to eat the food. See how We clarify the signs for them, then see how they deviate." 5:75

"He was no more than a servant whom We blessed, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel." 43:59

Nothing confusing about that answer.

Question number 2: What happens after death to all the people who aren't Christian?

According to what I'd always been taught, you had to be a Christian to go to heaven. That's it. Oh, but wait! God has a covenant with the Jews, so they're okay, too. My reaction: HUH???? For me, this is quite possibly the biggest contradiction of belief. And what about all the people since the dawn of humanity who weren't Jews or Christians? What about all the Muslims in the last 1,500-ish years? Why would it be okay to be a monotheist Jew but not a monotheist Muslim? A loving, just God wouldn't consign the majority of the world's population over the course of history to Hell, for not being born a Jew or, later, a Christian.

Luke 10:25-28: "What must I do to receive eternal life?" Jesus answered him, "What do the Scriptures say? How do you interpret them?" The man answered "Love the Lord your God with all your heart,with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and Love your neighbor as you love yourself." "You are right," Jesus replied; "do this and you will live."

Says nothing about having to be a Jew or Christian.

2:62 "Surely those who believe; and those who are Jewish, and the Nazarenes (Christians), and the Sabians, whoever of them believes in God and the Last Day and does good works; they will have their recompense with their Lord, and there is no fear upon them, nor will they grieve."

This is the loving, just God that I believe in. This is one of the things that most brought me to Islam. And it's not that Him accepting Jews, Christians, Muslims, and others who believe in Him is a wide, easy road. The requirements are basically the same: Love and obey God and be kind to others. It's a narrow path, just as Jesus said.

To be continued...

On the Hadith

2011-05-04T21:54:00.000-07:00

Amber asked me a question about Muhammad’s behavior in regards to his critics, as mentioned in the hadith about him ordering the death of Asmaa bint Marwan, for example, and how I could reconcile that behavior. The answer to that is very simple. I am aware that many of you will disagree with my position on this, and that’s okay. However, don't try enter into a debate with me to change my mind and tell me I'm wrong, a heretic, and going to Hell. Allah (SWT) knows my heart. If you can't restrain yourself, you’re free to stop following my blog. In fact, if it bothers you that much, I encourage you to go. I'm not looking to cause trouble, just express my point of view.

My answer is this: I don’t follow the hadith. Gasp, shock, I know. Why? Because, as far as I’m concerned, the hadith are nothing but hearsay at best. Yes, I know that they went through a chain of narration to test their authenticity, blah blah. I’ve heard all that. But it’s like that whisper game where one person is told something, and it gets passed on down the line until you reach the last person, and the last person says what they thought they were told – which always ends up being totally different from the original comment. The fact of the matter is, modern scholars can’t even completely agree on what is authentic and what is weak or outright false. If scholars can’t figure it out, how is your average Muslim supposed to know?

The hadith are also the source used most often by the crazy extremist-types to justify their behavior, by governments to continue stoning people (hello, Iran) or to prohibit women from leaving their homes, going to the mosque to pray, and a whole variety of other issues facing the Muslim world over here. In some cases, the hadith are used as a guide INSTEAD OF the Qur’an. That’s when people begin to dangerously elevate Muhammad to a near worship-like status. How can you put the hadith and sunnah anywhere near the level of the Qur’an, the Bible, or the Torah? You can’t, and by doing so, I believe that we risk associating Muhammad with God (which is often the complaint made against Christians about Jesus and the greatest sin a person can commit).

Most often, the comment I get after this is: But Muhammad himself told us to follow his sunnah and the Qur’an!

Yes, he did. I’m not arguing that. But what so many people disregard is that some 30-ish% of the Qur’an IS sunnah! It contains a lot of questions from Muhammad and God’s answers. Want to know if gambling or alcohol is allowed? Qur’an has the answer. How to behave with the opposite sex? Qur’an has that answer, too. Want to know how or when to pray? How to treat your family? What to do to be pleasing to God? You guessed it. Qur’an has the answer.

In short, the Qur’an has the answers. It states many times that it is a detailed book, complete in itself, but that if you have any questions or doubt about what was revealed in it, you are supposed to look to the Gospel (Bible) and Torah. I don’t need to look any farther than that.

If you’re interested in learning more about Qur’an alone, go to www.free-minds.org. They have a lot of excellent articles on a variety of subjects, and always supported with ayat.

It's All So Strange and New.

2011-04-30T00:56:00.000-07:00

Assalamu aleikum to all my sisters here, Muslim, Christian, or whatever you may be.

I don't really think of myself as Muslim yet. I have all of the basics down when it comes to belief, and I'm working on the practice (hello, prayers!). But the label is kinda... "Uhhhh..." at the moment, lol. It's different on the inside looking out, rather than on the outside looking in. I think, given some time, I'll be more comfortable saying that I am a Muslim. Right now people ask me "Are you Muslim?" and I look around wondering who they're talking to, haha!

I think that I'll start to "feel like a Muslim" when I get home and can wear hijab and go to prayers and classes at the mosque. Here, I'm one of a grand total of THREE females, and the only Muslim. It's pretty isolating. :(

Not to say I'm not surrounded by Muslims. Guys. But they're all looking at me like, ooh, is she married? (No.) My sergeant has actually gotten four marriage proposals for me. LOL, he's friends with all these guys, and I'm his soldier, so I guess that makes him my wali in their eyes. : P One guy offered $500 as a dowry. LOL It really cracks me up. But I'm not looking to get married, especially to a local. If and when I'm really to marry, inshallah he'll be an American convert/revert like me. (I prefer the term convert because I don't buy into the belief that everyone is a Muslim at birth and taught differently by their parents.)

Oh, and to my dear sis Sarah -- this wouldn't have happened without you and your willingness to engage in long email and chat Q/A sessions. We couldn't be more alike if we tried. Inshallah, Allah (SWT) will add this firmly to the scale of your good deeds and reward you with many blessings, in this life and the Hereafter. : )

Big news.

2011-04-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

I can't really explain the mental hoops I've gone through over the last 2 years. I've shared some of them with you all, but only a fraction of them have made it into this blog, especially in the last year, with my deployment and all. I don't have time to change my blog right now.

However, this is big news. I'm happy, and I feel a sense of peace in my faith that I haven't felt in a while. This will seem abrupt to all but one of you, but...

How about I cut your pay, Mr. Senator?

2011-04-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

Is. Very. Annoyed. Half a paycheck? REALLY? Um, did you forget something, oh Federal Government? As in, I'm IN FREAKING AFGHANISTAN!!!!!!!!

GRRRRR....

These politicians will cut everyone's pay but their own, and tax the poor and middle-class more than the rich.

When I am Queen of the universe, these things will change. Soldiers and teachers will be paid at least $70,000, and athletes and movie stars will make absolutely no more than $45,000 a year.

*is fed up with the ridiculi of the world we live in*

Home

2011-03-20T08:26:00.000-07:00

Well, after annoying extensive travel, I'm finally home with my family for a few days of leave. It's great, and I'm really happy to be here. ^_^

Currently reading: Mother of the Believers

2011-02-06T20:53:00.000-08:00

Spring scarves from HijabGirl

2011-02-06T20:48:00.001-08:00

I know many of you may already get the email notices from HijabGirl, but I can't help putting the info out there. On top of the fact that HG now carries Capster athletic hijabs, they now have a gorgeous new selection of spring scarves. I'm in love with the new floral prints, available in a wide variety of colors. I'm particularly keen on the dark and light purple ones, the dark turquoise, the gray, and the pink. These make girly just gorgeous! ^_^

Is this a circus and nobody told me?

2011-02-04T20:34:00.000-08:00

Or did I fall off the freak show truck? Do I have a third eyeball on my head? What? Grrr...

Okay, I know this is a bit random. I'm just venting (again) about being stared at. All. The. Freaking. Time. It's annoying more than anything, but slightly creepy, too.

The local nationals are the worst. And the ANA/ANP/whatever guys are also bad about it. Granted, there aren't many females here (big surprise).

Yeah, I got it that women don't go out uncovered here. Many of them still wear the burqa. Army regs don't let me wear hijab. But that's no excuse for all these men to STARE AT ME.

So lower your gaze!

-- Currently has epic case of "gaze rage" --

Book of the Moment and a website for book lovers

2011-01-24T05:08:00.000-08:00

I just got this in the mail yesterday, and I can hardly wait to read it. My book of the moment is:

Also found this awesome (and amusingly titled) website: www.bookshelfporn.com. It's THE site for people who never get tired of looking at bookshelves filled to overflowing. I love it!

Questions for you all, my lovely lady friends.

2011-01-19T23:35:00.000-08:00

Ladies,

I've got a few questions and would love to read your responses, if you choose to reply. There are so many of you on here that I never hear from, and I'd love it if you chose to chime in, as well.

1) What faith do you follow?

2) Is it the faith you were raised in or not?

3) Would you ever consider converting to another faith?

4) If you are a convert/revert to a faith, why did you choose to convert/revert to it?

5) Do you think that once you choose a faith for yourself it is permanent, or do you think that a faith can work for you for a time (be it months or many years), after which you search for another to better meet your needs?

Swimsuit sale at HijabGirl.

2011-01-14T05:08:00.000-08:00

Just a quick stop in to say hello and tell you ladies about the swimsuit sale at HijabGirl. (I get their e-mail fliers.) All of their swimsuits are 50% off right now. Granted, they're already cheaper than Ahiida (although I love my Burquini), but now they're much cheaper! If you've been wanting one but found them too expensive in the past...Now's your chance to get one for the summer. : )

That's my promo blurb for the night.

All is well. It snowed last night, so the mountains are absolutely gorgeous. I really want to get some photos, but it was too hazy most of the day. Maybe tomorrow it'll be clear. : )

Salam.

Happy New Year's, happy day!

2011-01-06T13:45:00.001-08:00

I am happy today. But, before I delve into the reasons why, let me wish all of you a happy new year! We actually did have a ball of lights hanging from a crane for the New Year's countdown -- and we got to celebrate it several hours ahead of you guys, which seemed kinda silly, but oh, well. It was pretty. And our "friends" outside the wire sent us some pre- and post-New Year's "fireworks" to help us celebrate. Wasn't that nice of them? : P

But, really. I'm happy because I've gotten e-mailed back on one job and two e-mails out of the blue from HR guys who'd seen my resume on an internet resume site and wanted to know if I was interested in applying for the job they each had to offer. And they're all in the place I was intending to move back to after this deployment, anyway! I talked to one guy on the phone and I think it went pretty well. I'm so excited and nervous... The possibility of getting hired by one of the two companies for my dream job in the city I want to live in is just too much to take!

I really want to run around outside jumping and hollering, I'm so happy right now. ^_^ Yaaaaaaay!

Merry Christmas (for real this time!)

2010-12-24T15:02:00.000-08:00

I know it's not quite Christmas for many of you yet, but it's Christmas here. Therefore...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I ask that God bless, inspire, and keep you all today and in the coming year, and that He makes us all aware of the blessings that we have. I know that my eyes have been opened, more than ever before, to the abundance of provision God has made for me. I have so much to be grateful for. Even here. Especially here.

Peace.

A New Perspective.

2010-12-13T13:01:00.000-08:00

Well.... This is very interesting. I'm intrigued. And I've learned some things in the last couple of days that make me say "Wow". I'm looking at Islam with new eyes, eyes that aren't clouded up with all the convoluted and confusing cultural things that people mistake for true Islam. And I like what I see. Who knows what the future holds? God does. All my faith in Him! : )

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-07T14:28:00.001-08:00

Yes, I know it's early. No, I haven't lost my marbles. LOL! I just wanted to go ahead and wish you all and your families joy this Christmas season (if you celebrate Christmas. If not, I wish you a lovely December and new year.).

There's scarcely more than two weeks left until Christmas, but I must confess that it doesn't quite seem like that time of year (other than the cold, right, Amber?). This will be a very difficult Christmas for me because it will be the first time I haven't been home. If nothing else, I was always able to be with my family at this time.

I ask for all of your prayers at this time, for me and my family, and for all of you as well. I hope that the New Year finds you all healthy and happy, and pray that God bestows more blessings upon you in the coming year than last year.

The Qur'an (Koran) that I read.

2010-12-07T12:12:00.000-08:00

This is the version of the Qur'an/Koran that I have. Well, I have several, but this is my favorite.

The translation is clear and modern English, the font is a good size, and it even has an index in the back that helps me find verses on certain topics. : )

I don't know what the general consensus is on this translation, but I like it.

Jesus and God in Islam and Christianity.

2010-12-01T20:29:00.000-08:00

I know, I've posted about some of this before. This was in large part in response to Banana Queen, who said that you don't have to believe anything in particular about Jesus to be a Muslim -- you just have to believe the shahada, in response to my comment that I could be Muslim if it weren't for what I call "the Jesus debate". BQ, please forgive me if I don't do your very interesting comments justice! (I'm so pleased that the quiz link I posted is generating discussion! YAY!)

The belief about Jesus is most often the biggest dividing point between Islam and Christianity. As much as I love 2:136 in the Qur'an - it's a gorgeous verse, and definitely a favorite - it does place Jesus firmly in the Prophet category. While that is dandy with Christians - Jesus as prophet, agreed - in Islam the Christian view of Jesus as the Son of God (as taught by my church) or God in human form is totally off. "Worship the Creator, not the creation", etc. There are other differences, too, but Jesus' role is the biggie.

In what I think to be an interesting contradiction of...something... I do believe in the Christian faith with Jesus as the sacrifice for sin, but I also believe that God is generous in ways we can't begin to fathom, and being God, He has no limitations on what He can do, including forgiving us for our wrongdoings out of love for us, with no need for a sacrificial Lamb in order to do so. Doesn't requiring Jesus to be sacrificed in order for God to be able to forgive us for sin and allow us into Heaven impose a limitation on God -- that He can't forgive and reward whom He pleases, as He pleases, through His Own power? It seems so to me.

Regarding "Son of God" or "God as man", I've gotten the "you're going to Hell" look from people several times - especially the evangelist Pentecostal types - before when discussing religion and how my church taught that Jesus was the Son of God, not God Himself. : P

The Church of Christ isn't so much "traditional", I suppose, as it is literal. At least the one I was raised in was. That means all the scary stuff in Revelations, as well as all the other stuff sometimes taught as metaphorical in other denominations, was, is, and will be real. That there will be multi-headed dragons, etc, in a very physical sense.

Well, this was fun, but I need to be off to bed. I meant to go to sleep an hour ago, but you smart ladies lure me back to the debate. : D Continue on!

Army Basic Combat Training: The End of Sir/Ma'am

2010-12-01T19:42:00.000-08:00

This was prompted by Susanne's love of cultural...snippets, I guess. I totally forgot the word (sorry, Susanne!), but it's a funny story. I'll continue them if you guys are interested. Feel free to ask me any questions you have about "the Army way". Chances are pretty decent I'll have a story for it. : P

Basic Combat Training: The End of Sir/Ma'am

My whole life I'd been taught by my mama that men and women who are older than me and/or in positions of authority are to be addressed as sir or ma'am. It's a Southern thing. (Yes, I am totally Southern, although maybe a little teensy more "redneck" Southern (thanks, Dad) than Scarlett O'Hara Southern.) It's The Rule and if I was a rude little brat at times and wouldn't say it as a kid, she'd tan my hide when we got home to adjust my attitude.

Anyhoo, by the time I enlisted in the Army I had over two decades of Sir/Ma'am ingrained in my brain. This would put me in an uncomfortable spot a time or two come Basic Training. Let me explain just why.

In the Army, Sir/Ma'am is a title of respect reserved strictly for officers and warrant officers. You never EVER call an enlisted person sir or ma'am.

Particularly if said enlisted person is a drill sergeant.

The general response of a drill sergeant to being called sir or ma'am goes something like as follows:

Dumb-private-who-knows-no-better: "Yes, sir/ma'am!"

Drill Sergeant: "What did you just call me, Private? What? You see any bling on my uniform? My name is Drill SERGEANT! I work for a living!" ** (The shouting gets a little louder as he/she goes on.) The joke in this is that there is a popular belief in the Army that officers don't work -- the enlisted do all the work, the officers get the pay and the recognition. Thus, by calling an enlisted Soldier "sir" or "ma'am", you are implying that they don't do any work. ** As this line was used by every single drill sergeant I've had (roughly 10 of them, at least) , I think they teach it in Drill Sergeant School as part of the curriculum. "Drill Sergeant One Liners 101".

Now, if said Private is too dumb for words ups the ante.... well. This is hilarious for everyone in the general vicinity who is not the unfortunate private with the drill sergeant's undivided attention.

Dumb-private-who-just-keeps-digging-the-hole-deeper: "Sorry, Drill Sergeant!"

Madder Drill Sergeant: "WHAT? So NOW I'm a SORRY DRILL SERGEANT???" This is usually accompanied by more shouting and general DS grumpiness and push ups for the hapless private who has drawn the drill sergeant's ire, as well as the battle buddy of said private. (Soldiers - especially in basic - never go anywhere alone, particularly to see the Drill Sergeant/Platoon Sergeant/First Sergeant/Commander, and will suffer the same punishment as their idiot buddy.)

Needless to say, a Southerner will often get in a lot of trouble for saying sir/ma'am. I had the worst time trying to break myself of the habit. : P

Interesting quiz

2010-12-01T17:34:00.001-08:00

I found a link to this interesting quiz while browsing through the Kindle library on Amazon looking at books about Islam.

http://www.areyoumuslim.com/

According to the results it gave me, I'm 93% - extremely compatible. If you take the quiz, would you post your results here so I can see? I'm curious, especially about all my non-Muslim sisters out there. I know all my Muslimah sisters agree already, but I have love for all of you, too. : )

You know, if it weren't for the whole Jesus debate, I could be Muslim. I really believe I could.

Happy December!

2010-12-01T15:43:00.000-08:00

Happy December, everyone! I hope this first day of the last month of the year went well for you. To my excitement we got snow flurries today - they collected a bit, but not enough to put even a sheet's worth of blanket on the ground. I'll cross my fingers for it!

Going through airport security...

2010-11-26T15:32:00.000-08:00

I must report that getting through airport security yesterday went much better than I'd dared hope, hijab and all! They had a line for military folks, so I zipped right through. There was one of the usual metal detectors - no issues there. The lady patted me down, but she was very professional and polite and it wasn't invasive. I felt very comfortable the whole time. The fact that she was very kind and friendly helped, too - many of the TSA agents look so cranky, it was almost odd to see a happy one. : P Then I had turkey dinner at Denny's with my friend after I arrived at my destination.

Woke up this morning to my kittens walking on me. : D So far this little vacation has been a great deal of fun. Fifteen minutes with my kittens just took away four months of stress. : ) I am much happier at this point in time.

I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving with your families, lots of good food, and aren't too tuckered out from Black Friday shopping! I avoid shopping like the plague the day after Thanksgiving (partially because I'm usually finishing up my Christmas shopping at this point, not starting it), so I've been helping my friend out at her store after lunch at our favorite Indian restaurant.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T21:47:00.000-08:00

For those of you in the US, I extend my wishes for a happy Thanksgiving. I hope that this day finds you well and with your families. For those who aren't in the US or just don't celebrate Thanksgiving, I wish you all a lovely day. : )

You won't believe this!

2010-11-19T17:56:00.000-08:00

Something just occured to me a little while ago, so I dug around all the myriad piles of uniform stuff occupying my room (courtesy of Uncle Sam). And I found it. And tried it on.

According to the military, it is a "Fire Resistant Improved Lightweight Performance Hood", but by my calculations, it is hijab. It's hijab, and it's cold, so I can wear it outside! By golly, I'm going to wear it as often as I can get away with! That's why I'm grinning behind my hand. Because this is SO AWESOME.

On a side note, what do you gals think about the airport body scanner debate? I understand the need for tighter security measures, but at the same time, I don't like the prospect of a more invasive pat-down for those who opt out of going through the scanner. Either way, it's definitely a big invasion of privacy. You either go through the scanner and have some person - who could very likely be male, but you'd never know because the person who looks at the image is in another room - see you down to your undergarments (a mortifying thought) or you opt out and get practically strip searched as a result.

I know the TSA folks are just doing what they're told. The guy or gal running the machines and doing the searches doesn't have a say in the matter. They're little person on the totem pole. And I know that my hijab will make me a more likely target for paranoia, but not wearing it when I have the opportunity isn't an option. *sigh* This is one case where technology is more a curse than a blessing. (Unless they actually catch a bad guy would-be terrorist via this process.)

God is God is God...

2010-11-13T19:41:00.000-08:00

Nothing too heavy tonight, ladies. Just wanted to drop a quick note, say hello, how are all of you, etc. Feeling very mellow tonight and comfortable with God. God is God is God. He doesn't change. He's the one being I can rely on at all times.

I must admit that I have a hard time seeing God as anything but a loving, gentle Father. Granted, He has to deal out the spankings from time to time because we get to rollin' on our "terrible twos" and just don't get whatever-it-is through our heads and try to "do our own thing" (in Army speak), but that doesn't make Him any less loving.

I kinda find it hard to believe that there are people out there who don't believe in God at all. I guess it's too deeply ingrained in me... I could never NOT believe in God. That's one thing that will be consistent for me.

So...just wanted to give a shout out and say: God, I love You. I really do. Even if I am a spoiled, bratty kid sometimes.

A time to give thanks...

2010-11-07T17:26:00.000-08:00

I was just thinking of that verse... you know, there's a time for everything. Right now is a time for me to give thanks (which I really should do more often) for all of the wonderful people and things in my life. I'm thankful for such a kind and supportive group of ladies here in the Interwebs.

It's funny. I stumbled over Amber's blog during my quest for information on headcovering - could it really be something like a year and a half ago now? It's just snowballed from there. No matter what stage of covering you happen to be in at the moment (from none to full niqab) or what religion you belong to (Christian, Islam, questioning, etc), it's nice to have somewhere to discuss and rant and vent and just have someone tell you it's okay to question or be afraid to make a change.

You've all been a source of encouragement to me as my desire and ability to cover has been affected or curtailed by outside forces, or even those within me - may God grant me the strength to cover in my search for more closeness with Him, despite what other people, even my own family, think, Ameen.

Headcovering is scary, especially when there's no one else around you doing it. But it helps to know you're not the only one who feels that urge. (Although, honestly, I like bucking the system and not allowing myself to be stuffed into a box under this label or that one.)

I have so much to be thankful for, and you ladies are high on that list for helping me to make this journey closer to God through headcovering. It's a practice I intend to resume as soon as I return from this (literal) journey I'm currently on. I ask for your continued prayers.

New fall/winter items from HijabGirl!

2010-11-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

I am absolutely in love with this:

I'm not usually a fan of sequins or beads, since they have an annoying tendency to fall off and leave dangling threads (or require you to handwash said article of clothing), but I think this is so cheerful and beautiful:

They've also been getting more wholesale/bulk hijabs, so you can get more at a lower cost. : ) If I were at home, I might go a wee hijab buying spree. : D That purple is just gorgeous...

Life, our plans, and God's own time.

2010-10-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

LK recently posted something that resonated with me about love and marriage and finding "Mr. Right". The ladies who commented made some very good points -- I particularly enjoyed yours, Caraboska.

I had to laugh a little. Not AT you, dear LK. More at myself and the world at large. I've felt like that more and more often, especially as my friends from school back home have gotten bachelor's degrees and gotten married at 23 or 24 (or younger) and had kids (not necessarily in that order, of course). And where am I? Only got an associate's degree, have been out of school for nearly 6 years now, had a rather disastrous first enlistment, and got sucked back into Uncle Sam's unrelenting grasp for a lil' bit more Army - because the first ride on the merry-go-round didn't suck enough. : P

I'm also something of a disaster when it comes to romantic relationships. The last one was so much like my dad and was the biggest epic fail thus far. I thought to myself "Oh crap. I DO NOT want to be with a guy who is a control freak jerk like my dad." I know God doesn't want that for me, either. I was just trying to get God to work at my pace, rather than waiting on God like I should've, and that was a mistake. I got burned for it, but I learned from it. You can bet your last Coke that I won't be falling for any sweet talk from control freak users again. >:D

I know God has my guy waiting in the wings somewhere. God has His own plans and does things in His own time. What good comes of me trying to hurry the process along? All I've ever gotten as a result was a broken heart and bitter feelings.

So, I need to continue working on being patient in the hubby aspect of life. It is frustrating to see kids (my friends got married a few months ago at the ripe old ages of 21 and 22) being able to maintain relationships and getting married when I can't even keep a boyfriend who is actually invested in the relationship as much as I am for more than a few months at a time. How can you be that confident in another person, especially that young?

Whether God intends for me to marry or not, I'm going to live my life. I'm going to have experiences from the wild and unpredictable (this deployment) to the everyday (finding a book I didn't know I wanted at the used book store -- ha ha!) and learn and grow from all of them. I'm going to continue to cultivate my own interests, happiness, identity, and financial and career success independent of any other person.

Most of all, I'm going to take being single not as a mark against me ("What's wrong with HER that she's not married at almost 27?"), but as a wonderful and beautiful gift that gives me the opportunity to get closer to God. He is the Provider, the best of Planners, the most Loving, Compassionate, and Merciful Father. No man or woman on Earth can compare to Him!

(Sorry this turned into such a ramble. It's late and I need to get to sleep! Another long day tomorrow... le sigh.)

Is this weird?

2010-09-29T15:46:00.000-07:00

This post has been spurred by a friend of a friend who posted a photo of her pregnant belly on Facebook. I can't hold it back anymore.

Lately I've noticed so many people are having babies. For example: I saw two pregnant women in less than five minutes while I was having lunch at the PX today. I see pregnant women everywhere I go. On post, off post...even online -- a couple of folks I know have been posting ultrasound photos of their babies and/or pictures of their stomaches on Facebook.

A couple of my friends who married a few months ago were going to have a baby, but she lost it recently. I feel sad for them, of course, but it also feels like a forced effort to be happy for anyone having kids. It's not that I don't want my friends to be happy; of course I do. It's not jealousy, either. I don't like kids very much, and have never wanted them.

My kneejerk reaction to said belly-post was "Ugh. Not another one." Is it strange for me to be somewhat revolted by the plethora of offspring in the making?

Lecture

2010-09-21T17:31:00.000-07:00

I'm currently listening to a lecture by Dawud Adib called "What Was The Religion of Christ Jesus?" on YouTube. Enjoying it very much. : ) Have any of you listened to any of his lectures?

Beautiful adhan

2010-09-20T15:07:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a beautiful adhan I found on YouTube. : )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knu-HYHA0wM

If anybody has any as good (or better) than this, please post a link so I can check it out. : )

"Thankful"

2010-09-20T14:31:00.000-07:00

Here's a YouTube link to a song called "Thankful". It's from Josh Groban's Christmas album "Noel", but I don't think it has to be Christmas for us to listen to Christmas music. This song is about being thankful for all the good things we have, and, if you're religious, that God has given us. I hope those of you who listen to music enjoy it. : )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2M0GQOgYGg

All Together Now; Or, As Many As Possible

2010-09-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

LK made a lovely and thought-provoking post about God and people insisting theirs is the "right" religion, i.e. "God loves us all, can't we just get along?" I'm paraphrasing, of course, and my brain is a little fuzzy from lack of sleep, so if I forget things or don't make much sense, please don't hold it against me. ^_^

God loves all of us. It's the one factor that we can all depend on, at any time and in any situation. Even when it seems everything else in our lives has gone to absolute poo, and we think nobody could love us and that nothing will ever go right again, God is there with a shoulder for us to cry on and to reassure us.

God is loving and faithful. Just writing that is so comforting to me. : ) So, in the great "my religion is the true one" debate, to me it would make sense that God would offer us many paths to Him, because He wants as many of us with Him as possible! These paths all have the same basic rules (the Ten Commandments, for lack of a more concise label), with the primary one being, of course, to worship and love the Lord our God.

Take no other God before Me. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with your mind, and with all your strength. That is the true path. Simple.

However all the other doctrines and miscellaneous details and quarrels between Judaism, Christianity and Islam may fall, that is the core our respective religions. It's our common thread. So we're all following that greatest commandment. We're all on the "Straight Path".

Senseless quarreling over who is "right" only causes anger and hurt feelings. Can you really claim to be loving your neighbor as yourself in circumstances like that? It's one thing to have discussions, to make your viewpoints known so that others can enrich their understanding of you/your motivations/your religion. This breeds understanding and support -- which all of you ladies are excellent in providing. It's another thing to stand on your soap box and tell someone they're wrong and going to Hell and here's all the reasons why -- which basically boils down to "You aren't Catholic/Protestant/Muslim/Jewish/etc like me."

Unfortunately, that level of intolerance is how Christians are often viewed, even in (or perhaps I should say, especially in) the U.S. So many sermons are the fire-and-brimstone type. Who wants to be part of a religion that seemingly talks about little else? Where are all the sermons on love, forgiveness, peace?

Let's just keep it simple: Love God. Love your neighbor.

Jesus: The Great Divide

2010-09-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

Okay. I've been having some random religious-based thoughts here lately, and it kinda goes right along with what Jesus said about not bringing peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34). This is generally understood to be a figurative sword (namely, his teachings) that would divide families. Mothers from their children, men from their wives, siblings from one another, etcetera, so on and so forth.

That division has carried on down to Islam. Christ is, to my way of thinking, the sword that divides Christianity and Islam. Not that he isn't present in both - there's no denying that - but that his role in each is so different. For me, it all hinges on Jesus. How does he really fit into God's big picture? I know what each religion says about him. Christianity: Son of God, Savior. Islam: Great Prophet and Teacher.

My problem is figuring out which of these is the honest-to-goodness truth.

It's more than a little difficult not to be biased in one direction as a result of a lifetime of religious teachings, and therein lies my trouble. Just contemplating conversion (or reversion) is extremely difficult because I'm one of those people who holds fast to what my parents taught me. It's familiar. It's safe. And I have a major tendency to guilt trip over anything that goes against that.

*sigh* Living in my head is such a minefield sometimes...

Link, and quizzy thing from Caraboska and LK.

2010-09-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

I have a hard copy of this pamphlet. I wanted to know what you ladies thought of it, as you are all so bright and knowledgable. I learn something new almost every time we get into a religious discussion. Anyway... Read it here: http://www.beautifulislam.com/tellmemore/true_religion_p.html

Now, on to Caraboska and LK's survey-quizzy-thingy. : )

Books I've read recently...

1. The Holy Koran (ISBN: 978-0-976187-00-4)- currently reading

2. Pride and Prejudice - currently reading

3. The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening by L.J. Smith - currently reading

4. Seeking the Treasures of the Qur'an

5. Jesus, Interrupted by Bart Ehrman - currently reading

Songs or albums I listen to all the time...

1. All of Josh Groban's work.

2. Darren Hayes "This Delicate Thing We've Made"

3. Scissor Sisters "Night Work"

4. Tinted Windows "Tinted Windows"

5. Hanson "Underneath"

6. Lady GaGa "The Fame Monster"

I love...

1. God

2. Family

3. Friends

4. My kittens

5. Books

6. Good food

Things I've learned this year...

1. That good friends are priceless and hard to find.

2. Life is so full of surprises.

3. That religion is hard and confusing, but God is easy.

4. To appreciate my family, especially my mother.

5. Not to take quiet time at home with my kittens for granted.

New recipes I want to try and make...

1. None. I don't cook! The drive-thru at Taco Bell is my best friend. ; P

Favorite online hangouts...

1. Blogs

2. E-mail

3. Facebook

4. Amazon

Projects I need to work on...

1. Reading the books I've brought with me and culling out the ones I won't read again. Everything else will have to wait until I get out (again), get an apartment, and get my stuff out of storage. : )

Tasked out to: whoever wants to do it!

9/11 Koran burning

2010-09-06T17:23:00.000-07:00

Granted, this hasn't happened yet. I hope it won't. Such ignorance reflects poorly upon us all, especially when it feeds right into the mass belief in the Middle East that all Americans hate Islam and Muslims. How can a "Christian" (and I say that loosely, since that type of person isn't someone I really want to be associated with) leader advocate such mindless hate and intolerance? Hmmm... Sounds like the same bigotry that those "leaders" accuse Muslims of harboring for Christians and Jews. How lame. I mean, really, really lame.

What is even harder to believe is how the guy said on tv that it would be "tragic if someone were to die" as a result of his actions. Yeah. Okay. Let's see how tragic you'd think it is if you were the one facing injury or death overseas because of the actions of a stateside pastor you'd never heard of, much less met.

*sigh* People can be such morons. Sorry, I'm not too articulate tonight. Really peeved off about this whole situation. It's so senseless. I mean, some 60 Muslims died in the WTC attacks 9 years ago. Innocent people who worked in the towers, or were EMTs, or firefighters... Americans aren't all lily-white Christians. We're all different religions, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, we speak different languages.... and we're free to be and do so. That's what makes America so beautiful.

Also propagates the "ignorant redneck" issue that Florida (really, the South as a whole) can't seem to overcome. Thanks. Really appreciate that, guy.

Renewing the search

2010-09-01T15:21:00.000-07:00

Hi, all! I'm doing well. How are all of you? I just got a lil' Toshiba netbook computer, so I can get online more often now! : D I'm very excited about it.

But now I have a problem. A big, unsatisfying, frustrating problem. One I thought was resolved. Namely: I'm back in the intellectual and emotional debate between Islam and Christianity. I started reading the Bible - from the beginning - and have also been reading the S.V. Mir Ahmed Ali translation of the Koran. Found a couple of interesting books about the Bible, too - "Jesus, Interrupted" and "Jesus Wars: How Four Patriarchs, Three Queens, and Two Emperors Decided What Christians Would Believe for the Next 1,500 Years".

Now, I am not one of those folks who believes the Bible is perfect and has never been changed by so much as a word. People have been involved with the Bible from the get-go, and we all know that people tend to screw things up (intentionally or not). After all, we aren't perfect. We make mistakes. So... I'm cool with people talking about the Bible having been changed. The two books mentioned previously are all about the influence of humans on Christianity and it's source and teachings.

But it's leading me to another spiritual crisis. I'm reading both the Koran and the Bible, and I'm realizing... as much as the uninformed person claims that Islam is a religion of violence, Christianity also has a violent history, full of mysogyny and war and all those other horrid things. The Spanish Inquisition, anyone? The way I look at it, in terms of violence, the actions of extremists in the Middle East are on par with those of the Catholic Church centuries ago and, later - to an extent, with prejudice, etc - the Protestant church. Hmmm, I didn't say that quite right, so please don't take offense. I'm trying to organize my thoughts on this topic, but I'm a bit out of practice on religious intellectual discussion.

To my way of thinking, the issues right now are what the Christian world was going through 2 or 3 or 4 centuries back. So are we really that different, after all? All I see is a difference in time, and maybe not even so much that, considering the 600 years between the foundation of Christianity and that of Islam - Christianity was suffering many of the same problems at the age that Islam is now.

I'm so confused... But I'll keep reading and praying and, with God's help, may finally rest 100% certain in the validity and rightness of my faith. Whatever that might end up being.

I wonder how my deployment will affect my questioning soul.

Biggest fear: Picking a religion, but then finding out after I die that it was the wrong one and that I'll go to hell for it.

Families, converts/non-Muslims, and hijab/niqab.

2010-07-22T18:18:00.000-07:00

So...For those of you ladies who wear hijab/niqab (either as a convert or non-Muslim)... Do your families know? If so, how did you tell them, and how did they initially react? If not, are you planning on telling/showing them?

I don't really know how to break the hijab to my family. Let's not even get started on niqab. I don't think they'd understand. Granted, it would be some time before I'll have to deal with seeing them, but... yeah. The thought of wearing hijab around my family is kinda scary and hard.

Interesting article, and question.

2010-07-21T11:46:00.000-07:00

Found an interesting article titled "Women in Islam vs. Women in the Judeo-Christian Tradition".

http://twf.org/Library/WomenICJ.html

One issue with it: all verses are taken from the Old Testament or the Catholic Bible. Does anyone know of a similar article where the comparative verses are taken from the New Testament and Jesus' teachings?

I think I might look up all the verses used here and see how many are pretty accurate in their interpretation, and how many were taken out of context. You ladies know how often that occurs. One religion wants to look better than the others, so they take more negative verses out of context from the other holy books and then pick the most positive ones from theirs.

It makes studying religion objectively rather difficult to do, but religion is such a deep-seated thing that I doubt anyone could ever actually BE objective in discussing it.

Saying hello.

2010-06-28T17:05:00.000-07:00

Hi, everyone. Just saying hi and letting you know I'm around and well. Hope the same can be said for all of you.

Busy, busy...

2010-06-07T11:19:00.000-07:00

I'm so busy. There's quite a bit involved in all the moving prep. *sigh* I hate moving. I really do. All my beautiful books go in boxes... It makes me sad, lol!

I hope you're all doing well. I'm taking advantage of the delicious things I won't get to have for a bit -- like cotton candy sno cones. They're an awesome way to beat the heat. And they'll rot your teeth out! ; P

I got a very nice copy of "The Soldier's New Testament" to take with me. It's Army green (what I think of as "pickle suit green" -- the same color as the Army Class A uniform) bonded leather, has the Army seal on the front cover in gold. Very nice, and compact and light enough to fit in a cargo pocket. It also has little extras, like prayers written by Army Chaplains, and some basic info about the Army. : )

Kitten antics continue to keep me laughing. My babies are so funny! I'm enjoying the time left before I have to take them to stay with my friend while I'm gone.

Sure wish I could've gone home, but no time, and no money. Oh, well. : (

How are all of you doing?

"Bullet" = FAIL!

2010-06-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

LKH, you are fail. "Bullet" is fail. It is the headstone on the grave of the once-awesome "Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter" series. *weep*

Obligations, deployments, and the Army values.

2010-05-27T07:54:00.000-07:00

While replying to a comment Caraboska made a couple of posts ago, I decided I needed to do a little post and expound on the subject.

Conscientious objectors. We all know what that is, and I'm sure you've seen news coverage of soldiers who have filed that status in conjuction with finding out about that they're going to be deployed.

Let me tell ya - I don't want to be "that guy". Soldiers do NOT look lightly upon others who use that status. There's a level of resentment and disdain that comes with that status -- as a shirker who is fine with serving in the US, but when it comes time to do a soldier's most basic duty -- you're considered a dirtbag. You're tossing your buddy out there in your place. You've defaulted on the Army values.

The following are the seven Army Values, the guidelines that soldiers are supposed to live their lives by:

Loyalty: Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. constitution, the Army, your unit, and other soldiers.

Duty: Fulfill your obligations.

Respect: Treat people as they should be treated.

Selfless Service: Put the welfare of the nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own.

Honor: Live up to all the Army values.

Integrity: Do what's right, legally and morally.

Personal Courage: Face fear, danger, or adversity (physical or moral).

Is it always like that? Of course not. The Army is made up of people. People are flawed. But these are the things to which we aspire.

You have to know what the military is and what service entails. Simple, really, but I'm continually astounded by the things that people say and do when they find out they are going to deploy. Is it such a shocker? We're at war, folks. It's not pretty, and it's not right, but that's the way things are. If you have enlisted in the last 9 1/2 years, you know it, and you voluntarily signed that paper anyway.

On a more personal note...

Have any of you ever been walking through an airport and seen a group of soldiers? Maybe there's just one or two at first, but then you see another. And then another comes along. They gravitate to one another. It's reassurance of the familiar, in unfamiliar surroundings. The uniform is a recognizable constant. They may never see each other again after that minute or hour, but they're brothers and sisters -- bound not by blood, but of the spirit. That's the bond that makes wounded soldiers wish to be back in the desert with their units, that makes old soldiers nostalgic, and keeps young ones coming back for more.

My brothers and sisters in arms have been going over there for years. Some for 3, 4, or more deployments.

There is no soldier worth his or her salt that will allow a brother or sister to deploy in their place, not when they themselves can go instead.

Am I worried and a bit scared? Yep. But would I try to get out of it?

Not on your life.

Rage Against the Niqab (and other ramblings).

2010-05-25T13:32:00.000-07:00

My caption: Hell hath no fury like a niqabi who is told she can't choose to wear her niqab.

All this anti-niqab sentiment... I don't like it. Yes, I can see where some folks might have cause for concern -- but that's where we step in and lovingly educate them. Yes, I am against "forced Niqab" because it totally contradicts what hijab/niqab means to me -- namely, freedom. Having the choice is what makes it so beautiful.

However...given my online persona as a non-Muslim niqabi, I am totally an advocate of wearing what makes you comfortable. For some folks (like most of us), niqab and/or hijab is a level of coverage that is comfortable, in both a physical and spiritual way. My hijab/niqab are things that allow me to place more emphasis on what should be emphasized -- God and my relationship with Him.

If anything, I could use a break from the cheap, clingy fabrics and -- to me -- dubious level of "essentials coverage" that seem to dominate Western clothes. Especially those meant for women my age. But, that's why I like Avenue. It's a plus-size store for women. I got this in two colors:

I pair it with jeans, sandals, and my favorite pink scarf. : ) It's utter cuteness.

Found this little hijabi photo somewhere online. Total props to the artist. Isn't she adorable? The world needs more manga hijabis. ^_^

Preparing for the transition...again.

2010-05-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

I've been going through all of my books and the occasional CD and plucking out what I haven't read/watched/or ever will -- after all, the less stuff I have to pack, the better. Sold a bunch of books at Hastings -- not my favorite place (because it's LAME -- what kind of establishment doesn't take regular size paperbacks in trade?), but it's the only new book store in town. I got enough in credit that I was able to get this:

I'm on a major Star Trek binge after watching the Nu!Trek film a time or 12 in the last month. ; P Watching the first season for the first time in a long time is truly Geeky Bliss. ^_^

Have any of you seen the new "Veilkinis"? I got the ad from HijabGirl.com. They're pretty cute -- all sorts of different color options, and a good bit cheaper than the Burquinis from Ahiida.

Searching again...

2010-05-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

My life has done the upheaval bit again. I had a phone interview today, though, and I'm seriously hoping for some good news.

I'm really trying to make a run for my hijab again. The whole incident, in which wearing my hijab -- as a CIVILIAN -- was in violation of the military dress code and therefore part of the total package of "getting fired"-ness, has made me step back from it for a while.

I need to wear it again, though. I need the spiritual mindset that having a physical reminder of my faith gives me, so that I can work harder at stepping up to the plate and trusting more in God and giving Him more of me. It's a constant work in progress, with varying degrees of success.

Prayers for me, and prayers for you. I need the support of my covering Christian sisters right now. You are all wonderful, generous, and a total blessing when society at large comes on a little too strong in their secularism.

And the next job I get, the hijab will be part and parcel, non-negotiable.

Not AGAIN...

2010-04-12T15:43:00.000-07:00

Great. I have a week, or two at the most, before I'm jobless again. And I find myself in the same situation as last time -- little money saved. Except now I have a house, so I can't just up and move elsewhere. This is SO STRESSFUL. Friends have given me all sorts of good advice about making lemons into lemonade or that maybe God is putting me where he wants me to be... but I honestly can't see anything good in it. Not as a single woman with many obligations. I'm scared and worried and... yeah. Life isn't so good right now.

I started covering again last week...but that was just another thing in a list of complaints they had against me that they hadn't bothered to address with me. Just "oh, gee, we don't like you. And we told the guy in charge. So you're fired, and you can't do anything about it." Worst of all... they're right. It's legal. There's nothing I can do. I can try looking for another job in my company, but... I can't move now, so it's highly unlikely I will be able to stay with the company. I've found a couple of jobs and other stuff I'm going to try and pursue. Right now it feels like the whole universe is stacked against me...

I'm going to go home and cry. And then I'll get up tomorrow and start the job hunt all over again. Any and all prayers/good wishes/whatever would be Highly Appreciated right now.

Spring is coming...

2010-03-27T15:42:00.000-07:00

Hi, everyone! I hope you're doing well. I've been busy and generally unable to get on the computer for a while. My own computer seems to have gotten a virus or suffered a meltdown...or something. So, hopefully that will mean either a repair or new computer in the future.

What have all of you been up to? I've been working and sleeping..and working and sleeping... ; P My house is a wreck, but cleaning it isn't much of a priority right now. Maybe tomorrow I'll do that.

I went to a great book sale yesterday and spent waaaaaay too much money, but got a ton of awesome books.

And even kitties get allergies! Did you ladies know this? Three of my four cats have allergies and are itchy and over-grooming, and have balding patches in their coats. Thankfully, the boys have an appointment with the vet next week and will be taken care of then.

Moving.

2010-01-16T13:05:00.001-08:00

Yay, taking my couch and other stuff back with me tomorrow! Long weekend party at a friend's house tonight -- it'll be fun.

My followers are up to 30. That's cool!

Almost 400 books listed on LibraryThing. : D

Moving right along, "Life as a Prayer" book, more.

2010-01-12T15:14:00.001-08:00

Literally and figuratively. Moving is a pain. I have too much stuff. Hence...yard sale! Eventually, anyway. *grin*

Found a super-fun website called LibraryThing. You can catalogue all of your books (okay, 200 for a free account, but as many as you want with a paid account). I'm addicted. So far I've listed over 350 books, and I know I have more than that. I know I will accumulate many, many more with my bookstore addiction. ^_^

Speaking of books, I read Michele's book "Life as a Prayer: Recapturing the Wind of Head Covering". It was really good, I thought. I kinda want to buy a few copies and give them as presents. *big grin* ...But who would I give them to?

Work is same ol', same ol'. I found the library here, so...yay! I'm going to start checking out hardcovers, since they're so expensive, and wait for my favorites to come out in paperback.

Cats + running across wood and/or ceramic tile floors = slip 'n slide FAIL. LOL One of them totally spun in a circle. Another fell on his booty. Who needs TV when you have cats? I'm constantly entertained.

And...my DVD player broke. For No. Flipping. Reason. ????? I think I'm cursed when it comes to electronics. With the exception of TVs, which seem to last forever. : )

Hope you're all doing well.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T12:57:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone! Have you made your resolutions? I did. I resolved to learn how to ride the Christmas present I bought myself:

It's a Trikke. Cool, huh? I've already hopped on the TrikkeTalk chat room and gotten all sorts of helpful advice from the experienced riders there. : )

I also resolved to never again date a man who wants me to take off my hijab, who treats me like his property, and complains that I "think too much". *eye roll* In case you can't tell, I've reached the "ticked off" stage in the post-break up cycle.

Anyway...how are all of you? Sorry I haven't been around much. No computer at my house yet, but I hope to change that in the next few months.

Hello Kitty lamp

2009-12-06T13:54:00.001-08:00

This is the lamp that I got last week:

Cute, huh?

Cold....

2009-12-05T17:05:00.000-08:00

It's been really cold for the last few days. It actually snowed yesterday morning! It was awesome. I was so excited about it that I woke up early and sat in the recliner and watched the snow falling. It was so pretty!

I went shopping with a girlfriend today. She found "Hello Kitty World" at a flea market, so she took me with her today to see it. I got a Hello Kitty "My House" play set, a pink Hello Kitty car window decal, and a little lunch container with a fork and spoon. It was great. I haven't spent time with my friend in over a month, so I really enjoyed just hanging out and goofing off.

How are all of you doing?

Question

2009-11-28T15:39:00.001-08:00

Okay, I'm confused. It's Eid again? I thought that was right after Ramadan. Can somebody clarify this for me?

Sooo cute!

2009-11-28T14:36:00.000-08:00

I was out and about today, doing some of my favorite things: lunch with a friend, shopping for books, stopping by the Goodwill. While doing so, I found the cutest thing:

Prayer Dress Fulla! I've been wanting a Fulla doll for a while. This is the official New Boy product. Something like this would probably go for at least $30 on eBay (not including shipping).

I got it for $5.99. Score!

While browsing on the Net, I found this:

It's a Fulla prayer set, complete with prayer rug (not shown), two-piece prayer outfit for girls 6-12 years old, and a bag to hold it all. It goes for $59.99 on www.muslimtoysanddolls.com, a U.S.-based website. Yeah, I'm not Muslim and never will be, but holy moly! It's soooo cute that I want one! But, I digress.

I also got a Hello Kitty lamp and a Hello Kitty waste basket ($4.99 and $2.99, respectively). Today was an awesome day for thrift store finds. : D

On another random note: this is epic cool. Who wouldn't want to live here? :

It's a Hello Kitty HOUSE!

Sooo...

2009-11-26T23:14:00.001-08:00

What's going on, you guys? I've seen Kimdonesia's name mentioned in several posts -- is she okay?

Sooo busy. New job kinda has my head spinning. It's like I'm flailing about, all "I dunno what's going ooooooon!!!" And it's *cold*! I hate the cold.... However, it is good for sleeping and having 4 cats curled up around and on me as my own personal space heaters! LOL I love my kitties.

Hope you've all had a lovely Thanksgiving filled with turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes and green bean casserole! I'm looking forward to seeing "The Road" (which comes out tomor...oh, today, LOL). Viggo Mortensen is my favorite actor.

Man...now I totally want to cook a nice big dish of green bean casserole. I love it! It's my favorite "Turkey Day" dish.

Anybody planning on going out and braving the madness of Black Friday today? Not me! The noise and crowds stress me out so bad. I'm just going to go to the grocery store and get some basic food stuffs for GBC, then sit in front of the t.v., watch my new season 1 dvds of "That 70's Show", and pig out.

Hello

2009-11-14T16:41:00.000-08:00

Hi, everyone. I've been very busy with my new job and trying to buy a house. Life is hectic.

How are all of you?

Time change

2009-11-03T17:34:00.000-08:00

I'm so glad the time has changed! I feel much peppy-er early in the morning now than before, although that will not last once it stays dark a little longer and gets dark earlier. For now, I'm enjoying waking up at 7:30 and feeling wide awake and refreshed. ^_^

The weather here is cooler in the evenings and mornings, too, which is Fantastic. I love fall weather, especially when I can switch off the a/c and open a window to let in the chilly, fresh air. : D

You guys liking the time change?

Some favorite Storm costumes, and another female character.

2009-11-03T14:21:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of my favorites. I can't find them all, so this is only partial, and in no particular order.

The white costume, originally designed by Jim Lee. This is what Storm wore when I first started reading X-Men. Below is a more "comic book-y, animated" version as seen on one of the variant covers for X-Men #1.

Next we have Storm in her "X-treme X-Men" costume. I loved this costume and this series --- the first 18 or 19 issues had truly superb artwork.

Last, we have Storm from the '90s "Age of Apocalyse" storyline miniseries "Amazing X-Men". I thought this was a cool outfit, and the plot was interesting. Unfortunately there are so many parts to this Marvel storyline (a common problem, particularly in the X-titles) that it becomes hard to follow if you want to know the whole story. Getting all those back issues would be an epic pain, and Storm is the only character I really liked, anyway.

Moving on from Storm, there's another, more recent X-character that I like. Her name is Dust.

Nit-picky religious/political/whatever discussion aside (because that is not my focus here and I'm not in the mood for it), it impressed me that Marvel put an Afghani niqabi character in the New X-Men book only 3 months after 9/11, and that she wasn't cast as a terrorist. Some people may complain about stereotypes, but I'm not going there. To me, it doesn't really matter. I see her as a positive character, even though I've only read a couple of books featuring her.

The only part that bugged me is that her clothing is under-researched. It's constantly referred to as a "burqa". However, what she wears is an abaya and hijab with a quasi-half niqab. Equally annoying is that they really do the whole "nijabi" thing. She looks like a ninja! FYI, dudes at Marvel, the abaya isn't supposed to accent the chest area (or any area, for that matter).

Muslimah niqabi clothing research by Marvel = Epic Fail.

Comics and vampires and superheroines, oh, my!

2009-11-03T13:50:00.000-08:00

Okay, I know this is a little late for Halloween, but I thought it would be a cool, fun post anyway.

Did you know that Dracula made a couple of appearances in X-Men? Check these out:

Uncanny X-Men #159 -- Dracula attacks Storm, tries to make her his vampire queen.

X-Men Annual #6 -- the saga continues. Kitty Pryde as would-be vamp slayer. Also features "Rachael", the last of a line of vampire hunters (I think it was Van Helsing, but can't remember). She hunts down Dracula and tries to kill him, but ends up vampire chow, then a vamp herself, instead.

The cover below is a much later reprint of the annual:

After reading these two issues, I'd always wondered what would have happened if Dracula had succeeded in making Storm his bride. In the now-ended series "Mutant X" (a sort of alternate timeline), Storm is renamed Bloodstorm and retains both her elemental powers and vampiric powers. She also has the awesome "punk" look that she had back in the '80s.

How cool does she look? After a year of the series running, Marvel had gotten so many requests for Bloodstorm's story that the thirteenth issue was "The Origin of Bloodstorm".

Coming up next I'll be listing my favorite versions of Storm's constumes.

Pumpkin pie

2009-11-03T11:12:00.001-08:00

I love food. I am a foodie. Therefore, I am so happy that it's finally "Pumpkin Pie" season!

And Whataburger has such excessively delicious pumpkin pies. : D

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving, even though I won't be able to go home. I'm going to make turkey and green bean casserole and eat allllll day. ^_^

It's so easy to make me happy. Just give me food.

What's your favorite food this time of year?

More changes!

2009-11-02T15:17:00.000-08:00

Yes, more changes in my life. I've already quit the job I just got because I got a really great offer to do something that is awesome. Plus, the pay is Super Great. Unfortunately, it involves moving, which isn't cool.

However, it isn't too terribly far away, so I can come back and see my friends and everyone on the weekends.

I start next week, so I need to get a move on with the packing and finding a place to live. : )

My new "casual" hijab style

2009-10-25T20:21:00.001-07:00

Okay, I don't have a camera, so I can't show you. However, I will do my best to explain.

In my attempts to find a style of covering that doesn't look specifically Muslim, I found a pretty casual way of wearing the shayla scarves. For this, it is better if you have longer hair that you can put in a bun.

First, you center it on your head with the ends hanging in front of you (like you would if you were going to pin it at your chin -- but you don't pin it!).

Then you pull the ends tightly from the front, so that they hang down your back like a ponytail. Don't let them go, or you'll have to start over!

Then you twist the ends at the nape of your neck so that they hold the scarf in place, and pull the ends in front of you so that they hang like pigtails. I leave them hanging down, since the weight helps keep the scarf in place longer. They can get in the way, so I don't recommend using a very long scarf.

The end that starts on your right will be on the left, and the one that starts on the left will be on the right. It's very simple, and the small excess of fabric that is left in the back covers your bun. Do a double check in the mirror to make sure it's covered, though -- it can be sneaky and just sit on top of your bun.

The only downside is that I have to redo it several times a day, as it slips up and starts showing my hair. : P I haven't tried wearing an underscarf, though, so I'll give that a shot and see if that helps. : )

Still, it is very comfy.

Sick.

2009-10-25T18:33:00.001-07:00

Hi, gals. Sorry I haven't been around. I started my new job last week (yay rent money!), and then I was sick all day yesterday. Some weird, unexplained dizziness, which prompted nausea a couple of times when the world did back flips and somersaults. I'm okay now, just confused about what was going on yesterday, and peeved that I missed my Saturday to go shopping. : ( There was a lady in my class who was out both Thursday and Friday because she was sick, so maybe I somehow got it from her? Who knows.

Loving all the posts you gals have been busy with. LK, loving the "hijabi-fied" Utena and Anthy, but, like I said, I could totally see Anthy as a gorgeous niqabi. : )

I can't believe Monday is almost here already... *weep* My weekend was an almost total waste.

On a happy note, I got letters last week from a couple of friends I hadn't heard from in close to four years. I just randomly decided about three weeks back to send letters to friends I hadn't talked to but wanted to reconnect with. I'm glad I did, because they were both excited to hear from me and said that they'd thought of me many times in the last few years.

Epic cool Army commercial.

2009-10-20T22:40:00.000-07:00

Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlzdZqSVbJ4

It's an epic cool Army commercial from three years ago, when they debuted the "Army Strong" slogan (which replaced the "Army of One"). Almost enough to make you want to sign up, huh? I like watching it because it reminds me of all the good things that happened during my time in. I actually miss it, but I can't and won't go back. I'd end up crippled if I spent another four years there.

Anyway.... I already feel like I need a vacation from my job! So much information....brain hurts....can't...contain....it all.... LOL!

Amber, that Star Trek bloopers thing was hilarious. I love the new Star Trek film! I can't wait till the DVD comes out next month. : D

New job, day 1.

2009-10-19T21:12:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of my new job. There wasn't much to it --- just orientation. Still my first impression was good, and the cafeteria has yummy food (which we all know is epic important). LOL Everyone was really nice, too.

I'm looking forward to going home and hopping in bed with my kitties. I'm kinda tired... : P

Fire

2009-10-13T17:05:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been gone. Very busy preparing for new job, and there was a fire in my apartment complex last night --- friends called me and told me about it, so I went flying home from Walmart after begging them to go to my apartment and check on my cats. They said everything was fine and that the fire was on the other side of the pool -- close enough to smell smoke but no real danger to my babies. I still rushed home and cuddled kittens for a little while. I think that the thing that worries me most about living in an apartment building is a fire breaking out and me not being home to save my babies.

Boy, was I tired after that adrenaline rush! : P How are all of you doing?

Amethyst

2009-10-09T14:23:00.000-07:00

I wanted to tell you all about a cool series that I got started on after finding a couple of random issues in the quarter bins at a comic store back home: Amethyst Princess of Gemworld.

This is a little-known, under-appreciated "girl comic" maxiseries (12 issues) from the early 80's. It was expanded to an annual, a special one-shot, a regular monthly series that ran to 16 issues, and finally a 4-issue miniseries in 1988. It details the adventures of Amy Winston, a 13-year-old girl who learns on her birthday that she is actually the Princess Amethyst, heir to the throne of the Gemworld. She was sent to the Earth realm as a baby to save her from the planet-wide civil war on the Gemworld. She gains magical powers through the amethyst pendant (her birthstone) and grows to the age of approximately 20 when she travels from Earth to the Gemworld (time runs differently there). Surprisingly mature, but also a lot of fun.

Interesting note: Amethyst and the Gemworld, though little-known, are one of the three roots (for lack of a better way to explain) of the DC comics universe. So, if you ever see any of these comics, I recommend that you get them!

Favorite comic books, part 1.

2009-10-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

I've already posted my favorite manga/anime, now I have to share my favorite comic books of all time. The next post will be my favorite comic book series.

Number 1: Batman #503

I love this book (actually bought 3 copies) because the writing is SO GOOD, especially the first few pages, when pseudo-Batman Jean Paul becomes obsessed with Catwoman and wonders why the real Batman never arrested her.

Number 2: X-Men Unlimited #1

I love this book. The artwork is gorgeous, the storyline is solid. This is one of the first X-Men comics I remember reading (waaaay back in third grade, if you can believe it).

Number 3: Uncanny X-Men #289

This is one of the first comics I ever remember buying. Storm has always been my favorite "X" character, and "Knots" was a hard story to read. I was actually pretty devastated that Forge ended up taking back his proposal in the next issue and left the mansion with Mystique, all because he thought Storm would refuse him. I've been wishing for years that Marvel would do a "What if Forge and Storm had married?" issue. Of course, I was epic peeved when they made Storm marry the Black Panther. Grrrr... That's not the way that was supposed to end! //end rant// Now, that leads to my next comic...

Number 4: Uncanny X-men #186

Lifedeath! The second issue featuring Forge, and it details the start of his on-again, off-again relationship with Storm as he cares for her after she lost her powers. They don't make 'em like this anymore, folks. Just check out the quality of the artwork on the opening page:

Gorgeous.

Number 5: Catwoman #1 (Jim Balent series)

Okay, so her costume is very tight and her endowments are... ahem, well-endowed. This is Catwoman as we all love her: strong, sneaky, and sassy.

Number 6: Catwoman Annual #4 (Pulp Heroes)

I don't know who drew this book. Definitely not Jim Balent. However, it has Egypt and mummies and the cat goddess Bast. I love the awesome mythology in this story. A plus: when Selina changes on the plane before landing, she changes into an abaya, hijab, and Saudi-style niqab! Cool. : )

Number 7: Amazon #1 (Almagam)

This was part of the Almagam line that was done by DC and Marvel after the big DC/Marvel crossover in the mid-90's. Amazon is a combination of Storm and Wonder Woman, and I think it turned out awesomely. The only downside is that the stories were one-shots, but they were ended with cliffhangers. No me likey. Still, the art was very pretty. : )

Number 8: Magik #1-4 (miniseries)

Very cool miniseries from the early 1980's starring Ilyana Rasputin, sister of X-Man Colossus. The artwork isn't great, but it's good, and the storyline - which I didn't like intially - really is awesome: Ilyana's struggle to choose between good (as represented by Storm) and evil (as represented by the demon lord Belasco). This was reprinted in oversize graphic novel format last year.

My top three favorite manga/anime

2009-10-07T17:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, Amber, you spurred me to this. *grin* I now give you three of my favorite manga/anime.

Number One:

Revolutionary Girl Utena. This manga/anime is awesome, beautifully drawn with a complex and surprisingly spiritual storyline that seems to do more backflips and somersaults than an acrobat. Not to mention, it's just plain cool. The film is beautiful, as well, but since it's a wacky synopsis of the television series, you won't get it if you haven't seen the show (and maybe not even then, LOL).

In this photo, Utena is taking the Sword of Dios from the chest of the Rose Bride, Anthy. Hovering over them is Dios himself. Utena fights duels with the academy student council members (the playboy council president Touga, the abusive vice president Saionji - whom she first fought upon arriving at the school -, the disillusioned "prince" Juri, and the sweet, naive Miki) for possession of the Rose Bride, who does whatever the victor desires. Through her, the final champion will obtain the power of Dios, and access to eternity and the castle in the sky. Wild, huh?

Number Two:

Vampire Princess Miyu: the story of a centuries-old vampire who is the guardian of the Earth realm, which she protects from the Shinma (demons). Her job is to find them and send them back to the darkness. Larva (tall handsome guy with the mask) is a Western shinma who became Miyu's servant when she drank his blood. He helps her capture free-roaming Shinma. Shinma usually prey on the weaknesses of humans, and people die as a result. Miyu lives on the blood of the human victims --- her bite sends their souls to her own shadow realm, where they take up residence in one of the many orbs that float in and around the trees. The souls stay forever in a place that made them happy in life. For one character, it's caring for her flowers in a greenhouse. For another, it's his apartment and his beloved pet cat. Creepy and epic cool.

Number Three:

Sailor Moon. This is the first anime I ever saw. It's a fun "super girl team" story. Basically, Sailor Moon and the scouts, plus other characters, are reincarnated versions of themselves. They fight the evil Negaverse and its minions, seeking to restore the Moon kingdom and prevent the destruction of Crystal Tokyo (the future/past Tokyo), wearing really cool sailor costumes that change as time goes on and accumulating new powers. Yeah, it gets confusing, but it sure is pretty. : ) Interesting note: Kunihiko Ikuhara directed the Sailor Moon anime, and he also directed the "Utena" movie and series.

Update on mean niqabis.

2009-10-06T18:57:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine asked some folks he knows who go to the mosque, and he found out that me being driven out isn't a solitary event. Evidently there are many Muslims there who are paranoid, about theft if nothing else, since there used to be a woman who would come in during prayers wearing a hijab and then steal from the women's purses. It's not really an excuse, though.

There are groups with a "the mosque is for US, not YOU" attitude and they're trying to discourage non-Muslims from attending.

That's horrible, isn't it? Muslims here can hardly complain about themselves and their religion being misunderstood but do everything they can to keep "other" people at a distance.

Winter Sonata, Korean drama

2009-10-06T18:44:00.001-07:00

On a lighter note, I just found out that they're doing an animated version of my favorite K-drama, "Winter Sonata". It stars these two lovlies: Bae Yong-Jun and Choi Ji-Woo. I admit, I have a bit of a crush on the handsome Yong-Jun. He's a huge star in Asia, and has a massive following in Japan. ^_^

Continuing discussion

2009-10-06T15:24:00.000-07:00

LK has a most interesting entry in her journal, entitled "I guess I'm not a Christian", and since I had some more thoughts, I figured I may as well do a post on it. : )

Like LK, I believe in evolution. I also believe in creationism. As circumstances (particularly environmental ones) change, everything has to adapt in order to survive.

This was my initial reply to her journal entry:

"In regards to your "nobody went to heaven before Jesus"...statement, I guess, is that the reason sacrifices were performed prior to Jesus' death was to obtain God's forgiveness of sin. Jesus is often called "the Lamb of God", and that pertains to his role as the final sacrifice. After He died, animal sacrifices were no longer necessary."

As far as the concept of "original sin", I'm like LK. I don't believe in it. That's why, in the church I was raised (the Church of Christ), baptism was a choice to be made by the individual when they were old enough to understand the need for it. Babies are born innocent, and young children can't really sin because they don't have the sense of right and wrong that adolescents and adults do. *Knowing* the difference between right and wrong is the key. Once you have that knowledge and wilfully do wrong, that's when you have sinned.

I've met many Christians who believe that Jesus IS God. I was always taught that He was the Son of God, the final sacrifice which would atone for our sins for eternity, if we were willing to believe in Him as the Son. As a man, Jesus experienced sorrow, anguish, love, fear, hope, etc. That's why He prayed in the garden for God to take the burden of the cross from Him. However, that was the reason for Jesus to be on Earth, and He submitted to the will of God, although He knew that He would be tortured, that the Father would turn His face from Jesus when the Son assumed responsibility for every sin that had been or would be committed, and that He would die. But He also knew He would rise on the third day.

The Christ I have always believed in was a man of peace and hope who delivered miracles and the message of salvation. For me, Christianity has always been a very simple faith to follow, because all that is required is that you believe. However, that is not carte blanche for you to do whatever you want and then say "Oh, I'm a Christian, so I'm forgiven." It doesn't work like that. Salvation is a gift that is freely given by God out of love for us, his children, but you try to be obedient to God's commandments and do good works AS A RESULT of salvation, not as a path TO salvation. Does that make sense?

I do believe that Jesus was the Son of God, sent by a loving God to be our savior, the final sacrifice. I don't believe that doing good works will get you into heaven -- as the verse says "for we all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God". It is only because of my loving Heavenly Father that I can be redeemed.

Well, I guess I could never be Muslim.

This has been an interesting journey. My searching for understanding in Islam has helped me to become a more spiritual person with a deeper, stronger faith than I have ever had in my life.

* * *

Okay, that's all I seem to have to say tonight. I've got some more "job preparation" stuff to do tomorrow, so I'll check back with you guys then. Have a good night!

Re: snubbed by mean niqabis

2009-10-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

I got a text the other night from my friend Z. (the nice lady who had me over to her house for iftar one night). She asked me if I was going to jummah, and I wrote back and told her that the sister had told me about some niqabi "sisters" saying mean things about me to others at the mosque, and that I didn't want to go back because I didn't want to deal with people like that. (I'm not chicken, but I don't like confrontation, and definitely don't want to be the cause of drama in a place of worship.)

She was very sad about it, but said she wants me to come drink Turkish tea with her and she wants to introduce me to her friends, who she thinks would all be very nice company for me. Z has a heart of gold and is one of the nicest people I've ever met --- she couldn't be dishonest or spiteful if she tried, I think. Hopefully we can set up a "tea date" soon. : )

Found a store here that has some jilbabs -- the owner's going to be expanding the adjoining restaurant, so he's selling the grocery store merchandise at a discount. I need to go get one or two of them! A jilbab would fit in better in the business casual world than an abaya (as much as I love my abayas).

I love Saturdays

2009-10-03T14:38:00.000-07:00

I had left-over garlic bread sticks and sweet tea for breakfast. Yummy! Took my foster kitty to the vet -- I thought she had a fever and worried about her being dehydrated, but she's fine.

You guys will notice I deleted one of the posts I made up. Your comments were interesting, and you definitely read more into what that lady had to say than I did. My thought process (which, being up late last night, wasn't exactly in the best working order *LOL*) was very simple, and based upon something I read once: that women need to be shown that they're loved in order to feel loved (you know, hubby doing something sweet and thoughtful to show he cares), and men need to feel respected and needed (but not TOO needed, there's a balance, as with everything) to feel loved. Okay, I didn't get that quite as the person wrote it originally, so I'll see if I can find where I read it.

I'm not going to say that I agreed with everything (let's face it, I always have something to say about virtually everything ^_^), but there were some things that I did like. I do agree with you guys that marriage should be an equal partnership -- my mom and stepdad are like that, and they've been happily married for somewhere around 18 years.

My dad's marriages have not been like that, because it is "his way" or else you're wrong -- that includes with me and my brother. That was a huge problem in his marriage with my mom -- he was the man, the boss, the head of the household, he was controlling (which I now see), and he didn't like the way the Episcopal church did things; he thinks only the Pentecostals are right. His family is fairly fundamental -- being mostly men, they all go for "the man is the boss" stance. Since two of my aunts (by marriage) believe much the same, those marriages have worked (did work -- one uncle passed away at 44 from liver cancer my senior year of high school, but he'd been with my aunt for 30 years -- the only woman he ever dated), and both parties have been happy. My dad's one sister is something of the boss in her marriage, I think, but I've never spent enough time around her to really know for sure. My grandparents were married for around 40 years, until my grandfather passed away when I was 12, and my dad said they loved each other, but they argued all the time.

All in all, my dad's family isn't the best example to follow, so I look at my mom and stepdad, and the wonderful marriage my grandmother and grandfather (mother's parents) had. I've never seen two people love each other as much as my grandparents -- my grandmother loved my Poppy, and he adored her. A few months before she passed away, I asked her if she and Poppy had ever argued -- with my dad's parents being like they were, the fact that I never heard either of my mom's parents raise their voices at each other stood out in stark contrast. She couldn't think of a single time they'd argued, which is extraordinary.

Of course, I don't expect that for myself -- I've seen enough with my dad's many divorces on one hand, and my mother's 18-year marriage on the other. I also know that I can be difficult sometimes, so I'll need a hubby with patience and lots of love for me, even when I'm a brat. ^_^

But God is good and knows me better than I know myself, and he already has picked out the man for me, so I just have to trust Him to point us towards each other when He decides it's time. Of course, I won't be sitting around doing nothing in the meantime. : )

I will say I didn't write down everything that I think on this topic, but I'm too lazy. Lots of typing = aching knuckles.

Anyway, on to more frivolous discussions. : P Are you guys having a good weekend? So far I've slept in and sat in the vet office for 3 hours. ^_^

Friday night...

2009-10-02T19:09:00.000-07:00

Wow. It's Friday night and I have nada to do. Totally dead here. I guess I could always go home, order pizza and bread sticks and watch "Winter Sonata" (my favorite Korean soap opera). Pigging out sounds really good... ^_^

Hope you're all having a fun Friday!