Articles filed under

An Open Letter to Mr. Single-and-Looking

I heard what happened and it really irritated me. It’s not that I was upset myself, not at all! I was just miffed to the point that I knew this was something I had to blog about. That’s because I have a heart, you know, and it’s not a cold boulder – it’s alive and it can feel pain and joy, both. You said what you had to say but, unlike many others, I couldn’t overlook the ridiculous nature of your “preferences”. Why... Read More →

Speak up on the Day of Silence!

The Day of Silence, which is sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), fast approaches. This year it will take place in most public schools on April 16. On this day, thousands of public high schools and increasing numbers of middle schools will allow students to remain silent throughout an entire day-even during instructional time-to promote GLSEN’s socio-political goals and its controversial,... Read More →

Taming the Tongue

By: Mariam Al-Kalby Most of us have done it. We do it when we want revenge. Or to make people laugh. We do it out of peer pressure. Or to make ourselves feel better. Without even realizing it, many of us backbite – we take out our fangs and plunge the serrated edges deep into the flesh of evil. As Islam teaches, backbiting is wrong and a major sin. Backbiting, or gheebah in Arabic, is when a person talks about someone... Read More →

Bowing Our Heads in Humility

By: Mariam Al-Kalby Moi, mi, ana, and well, me. The reigning attitude or motto that has permeated our way of thinking is all about the individual. I slaved through stacks of textbooks to get to UCLA, I have worked so much overtime interning at the law office to pay my tuition. I got this position as a director to pay for the house I bought; my Lexus is the money I earned by selling my shoe business. Our life is saturated... Read More →

No, My Hijab Isn’t Glued On

By: Ameera Khan I’ve been a Hijabi for a couple of years now, Alhamdulillah. When I think back to my first attempts to take the head-cover in an environment where it was something just not done anymore, it was a time of great excitement for me. I was passionate about covering up and, looking at myself in the mirror; I’d feel an Iman-rush that I was doing it exclusively for Allah(swt), even if people didn’t approve. Fastforward... Read More →