Flotilla & Gaza;

If you haven't heard, Turkey sent 6 ships to Gaza full of medical aid for the people under the Israeli Siege. This morning (31st May), Israeli forces have attacked this international aid convoy en route to besieged Gaza, killing 20 people and injuring approximately 50 others. One amongst many of those who are moderately injured and are still fighting for their lives is Sheikh Raed Salah.

I don't know about you but people are dying just to bring in aid and make better the situation in Gaza and mind you these people are mere civilians like you & me yet so many of us out here, living in the comforts of homes, are still unable to let go off simple comfort food like "McDonald's, Coke & Starbucks". I don't know about you but I am ashamed. Ashamed that I am not part of the 20 who died for Gaza.

A'qilah Saiere

The bible is not scary you know.

I realise that the Muslims have issues with reading the bible. Of course I'm not asking everyone to read the bible instead of the Qur'an but I think that the bible is just another reason for you to bring yourself closer to the Qur'an.

Read the Qur'an and understand and internalise the meaning of the verses that are in the Qur'an and imagine it like as if Allah is speaking to you. Afterwhich, read the bible and understand what the Christians are saying in their holy book.

Read the bible and understand their perception of Jesus (pbuh) & compare it to Jesus in Islam.

Speak about this to your Christian friends.

Engage yourself in intellectually stimulating conversations. My 6 year olds back in the center ask me about God each and everytime I go back there to teach. Asking me about Jesus etc. So if my 6 year olds can engaged me into intellectually stimulating conversations then I think you can to :)

It's an alternative to your daily bitching session over lunch you know :)

Also, you'll be surprised by just how much the bible can bring you closer to your Qur'an.

A'qilah Saiere.

One of the most disturbing documentaries.

I have watched a ton of documentaries but this one, that I watched in class, woke me up from my slumber in that icy cold lecture theater and moved me to tears. The disturbing images are fresh in my mind and the voices of the children are still ringing in my ears. Watch this little teaser and tell me if it makes a difference to you.

I want to be an agent. An agent of change for children.

A'qilah Saiere

Muslims, where are your morals?

It is clear that Islam teaches us to give charity and act morally and to always be in our best behaviour. The Prophet saw taught us to not be aloof and arrogant for those are but the characters of the unbelievers.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The believer's shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity." - Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 604

Yesterday, I witnessed for myself how disgustingly arrogant some people can get. I was at a Thai restaurant with my family members having dinner when an old Chinese couple approached our table to ask for a little donation and in return they'd give us 3 packets of tissue. All they asked for was $1.

Now tell me, if you can afford to sit comfortably to eat in a restaurant that sells a plate of rice for at least $6, don't tell me you can't afford to donate $1 to an old and helpless couple.

Nevermind if you refuse to buy from them. The least you could do is, smile and apologise, politely telling them that you don't wish to buy from them.

There was a family that was seated in front of ours and when the couple approached them, a lady from the family, without even bothering to turn at look at the old woman that approached them, raised her hand and shooed them away.

Now how disgustingly rude and arrogant is that? Astaghfirullah!

I was enraged :( I have a soft spot for Old folks and I hate it when they are being treated like that. But the point her is not that they are old people but the fact that they are human beings too despite the fact that they are not as well to do as you are. Should they not be treated with just as much respect?

Where are your morals, oh Muslim?!

May Allah swt grant us patience, strength and courage as we set out to be better Muslims everyday. Ameen ya rabb!

A'qilah Saiere

Is Sarcasm the right way to make Da'wah?

Recently, several sisters have come forward to me to express how disappointed they are with a couple other sisters with their failed attempt to give advice by being sarcastic. Astaghfirullah. May Allah swt guide them.

Personally, I have been a victim of this myself. With that, I grew to be an exceptionally sensitive person when it comes to accepting criticism because everytime I receive an advice, I can't help but think that the person is out to bring me down but alhamdulillah, now I have understood how to not generalise everyone that way.

See, these sisters or even brothers start out with a good intention mashaAllah; that is to advice the person to be a better muslim but unfortunately, their approach is wrong. What I mean by being sarcastic with attempts to make da'wah is for example, when you see someone that you know has not been a very practising Muslim prays, you make unnecessary comments like "Wow *inserts name here* us praying!!! MashaAllah!". That too, in front of a large crowd. Hence, embarrassing the brother/sister.

My dear advisor, you've just bruised the ego of a person who's attempting to make tawbah & thanks to that, he is never going to pray in front of you or anyone else anymore.

These people do not practise for a reason and it is up to Allah to guide them. I understand how we are to advise these people but there are other ways to make da'wah. For example, should you see this person staying put despite having heard the athaan, encourage him to join you for prayers in a subtle way. If he refuses, leave him alone. Continue doing that for as long as you see him that way while praying to Allah swt to guide him.

Same goes to sisters who observe that Sister *inserts name here* does not wear the hijab. Do not ask questions like "Heyyy sister! When do you plan to wear the Hijab?" Rather, ask questions like "What do you think of the Hijab?"

Also, at the Masjid when you see sisters who are not Hijabees entering the Mosques, DO NOT glare at them with faces that read "Hey sister where's your hijab?" Trust me, they do not appreciate that.

Please, Islam does not teach us to da'wah in such a way & all of us are trying to be good Muslims at the same time. We can only hope that Allah continues to guide us. InshaAllah Ameen.

Take this as a humble advice from your Sister in Islam.

Allah ma'ak,

A'qilah Saiere.