Messy

Our apartment looks kind of messy with boxes yet to be emptied. There is no storage space. Yesterday I had asked Son whether he will have some extra time in tidying up the corridor, and his room. What is he doing? Still asleep in bed, as I wait for him to wake up……

The first day I reached here, I was tired, and sleep crazy with the long journey. I was on auto pilot longing for sleep, when Son dragged me to the local mosque telling me he had arranged a dinner in my honor, and I had to be there. Later on he laughed when I confronted him on his bare faced lie. Actually it was a monthly get together of families, and everyone contributed a dish except for Son, and single folks like him.

It’s obligatory on Muslim men to say their five times prayer in a mosque. Thank God it’s not obligatory on women. They can say their prayers at home. At moments like these it gladdens my heart that I’m a woman.

It was supposed to be a get together this evening. Due to bad weather it has been cancelled this month. I had taken a bag full of chicken breasts to make Haleem. I have to utilize it, as it’s defrosted. I suppose I will have to put the rest of the Haleem in the freezer for another day.

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DAILY PROMPT

Messy

Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/messy/

Astral

I’m not worried as to where my astral body will go after my death, but getting worried as to where I’ll be buried once I’m gone? I searched for a Muslim graveyard in New Bedford, then onwards in Boston. It doesn’t exist. I phoned the Muslim Centre there today. Let’s see what answer will they give me?

I wasn’t bothered earlier, cause I had told my children to take me back to Pakistan, and bury me alongside their father in his ancestral village. A step aunt got buried alongside my late husband, despite my telling everybody there. My place was gone.

Last year when I went to visit, I was all set to enclose a space towards the foot of my husband’s grave, trying to ensure that I would get buried there eventually. I gave up that dream once I encountered my evil step brother in law, and his greedy ways. I don’t want to see him even after death. I want to be a million miles away.

Now the question arises: where is my burial space?

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Astral

Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt

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Unfurl

Trump has unfurled hate among his neo- Nazi followers. It’s okay to be a racist, and run down immigrants, Muslims, women, foreigners and poor. 

Son told me early at morn when he came back from the mosque from Fajr prayers, that tomorrow ie  on Friday, the Trump bigots are going to hold a rally in front of the mosque. In case you don’t know that from Friday Zuhr (noon) prayers, a Muslim can’t be exempted from not saying his prayers in the mosque.

It’s obligatory (from religious point of view) on Muslim males to say their five times prayers within a mosque. For females: they can say their prayers at home. Many can’t fulfill this obligation due to various reasons. For example they live far away from a mosque, or because of the timing of their jobs, but keeping away from Friday noon prayer is considered a grave sin.

In Texas you can carry firearms, and these supermacists maybe carrying guns. To a mother’s heart it looks scary, so told Son, “Please keep away from the mosque tomorrow”. Son was aghast at my suggestion.

“How can you tell me not to say my prayers in the mosque?”

I can only hope, and pray that at morning prayer it’s too early for the trouble mongers to assemble there, and at noon Son doesn’t get the time from his job, and is not free to go to say his prayer at the mosque.

My heartfelt prayer is for love and peace to reside in every heart.

Verses 85 and 86 from the Quran. Surah (Chapter) 10 Yunus:

فَقَالُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِلْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ  ﴿٨٥﴾؅

وَنَجِّنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ  ﴿٨٦

Translation:

So they said, “Upon Allah we rely. Our Lord make us not (objects of) trial for the wrong doing people.

And save us by your Mercy from the disbelieving people”.

Ameen.

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DAILY PROMPT

Unfurl

Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/unfurl/

Rebuild

I am sad at what happened in Orlando. Lives lost and families inundated with grief. It’s a very difficult time for all of us.

Questions arise in my mind.

When the killer was known to FBI, why was he allowed to carry firearms?

Why wasn’t he watched closely?

Why does a tragedy happens when FBI is having a drill and no police is there? It’s the scenario taking place every time an act of terrorism is done.

How come the killer is portrayed as a Muslim when he doesn’t even follow the basic tenets. He was a drunkard, didn’t say prayers.

Why isn’t a killer brought into an open court before people so that they know who is the real culprit behind and the motives of these senseless killings? Why is a killer killed outright? 

Why is this drama enacted after every few months?

Why are innocent people made to lose their lives due to the thoughts and actions of a few intent on spreading hatred and animosity? 

…………..

DAILY PROMPT

Rebuild

Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt. 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/rebuild/

Diverse

I came to know what the word diverse meant when I first started looking for a home. My realtor used the word — this neighborhood is diverse in outlook. This is a good place for you. This meant there was an amalgam of white, black and brown races, where I wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb. I wouldn’t draw attention to a different me.

I liked a brand new house in a black neighborhood, but my realtor said you look too white here. In a white area I was an only Muslim, plus the head covering made me stood out. It wasn’t for me.

Finally in a diverse neighborhood I wasn’t the only one looking different with my scarf covered head. There existed others like me.

DAILY PROMPT

Diverse

Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/diverse/

Wearing Hijab



Dialogue between a Muslim mother, and her daughter. The daughter finds it stifling wearing a hijab. The mother insists she wears it to school, or going outside.

D says, “I don’t want to wear it”.

M, “why not?”

Silent

M, “tell me!”

D, “you won’t go off your rocker?”

M, “allright”.

D, “I feel a complete ninny, cause none of my classmates wear it. I am the odd one out”.

M, “but they are not Muslims. Why should they wear it?”

D, “why should I?”

M, “you have to wear it, because it’s ordained by God for us, and as such clear guidance is written in the Quran.  In Surah Al-Nur, and Surah Al-Ahzab, “believing women are told to cover themselves when they go out of their homes”.

D, “I feel ugly, and it’s depressing”.

M, “now you are objecting, but a few years onward you will find wearing hijab beneficial, and time saving. It protects your skin, and hair from the harmful effects of sun rays. You save time by not spending un-necessary hours in getting ready. It shows you as a modest person not given to appearances, so you gain respect, and most important it’s God’s injunction, not to be violated.

Besides, young lady you are getting late for school, and you better leave now”.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/a-house-divided/

Here is a Christian lady who is wearing hijab for forty days. Please visit her journey of hijab. It’s quite interesting.

https://chutesandleaves.wordpress.com/2015/03/15/day-23-40daysofhijab/

DAILY PROMPT

A House Divided

Pick a divisive issue currently in the news. Write a two-part post in which you take on two personas and approach the topic from both sides. Bonus points for a creative format (roundtable discussion, debate transcript, etc.).