I recently received an email from a person in Australia asking about a specific unpleasant incident she’d had with a Muslim couple. What was the protocol? Ever since I wrote an article on my website about Muslim Etiquette and Shaking Hands I often receive queries about people using the article in dealing with Muslim newcomers, […]

Last night I was shocked to hear about the attack at the masjid in Quebec city. Apparently two gunmen went into a masjid during Isha prayers (around 8 pm) and opened fire using automatic weapons. So far six people have died. Others are still in critical condition. And this happened after a weekend of protests […]

I just got back from Atlanta, Georgia having presented two sessions at the National Council of Teachers of English convention. My goodness what an exciting trip it was! But it took its toll, because I am sick, sick, sick! I’d been through Atlanta’s airport on the way to other places, but this was the first […]

I remember hearing on Dr. Phil that when a person shows anger they’re actually at their weakest. And that anger and sadness are often symptoms of a more basic emotion: fear. I don’t know about all that, I just know that I often have to balance how much news of the world’s events I take […]

I’ve been thinking and thinking about why Trump, despite all his lies, and all the detritus that is spewing from his blowhole is so popular among a certain demographic of American population, and I think I may have come up with the reason. When I was looking at the faces of the Trump supporters, most […]

when it becomes too depressing is not only wise, it’s prudent. We have such limited time on this earth. You have to pick and choose your battles. And yet writing this is giving myself the advice I need reminding of. Foolishly I started watching the Republican National Convention footage. Watching all these white people’s faces […]

I don’t usually get very ‘religious’ on my blog, ironically it seems to be ‘bad form’, but I think I want to talk about what faith is actually good for. Yesterday was July 7th and I happened across a very infamous video of Philando Castile’s girlfriend documenting his shooting and eventual death as her four […]

take a deep breath and carry on, and remember that all this too is within God’s plan. It has been confirmed that Eid will be on Wednesday July 6th insha Allah, so a few hours of this fast and one more to go. Just heard the news that there was a suicide bomber at the […]

are upon me, and although I haven’t done much ‘writing’, not physically anyway, I’ve been rereading the Quran, immersing myself in the language that has basically defined my life. It was first revealed in Ramadan, and Ramadan is always a good time to recharge, reacquaint myself with its message. I’ve realized that much of my […]