With the onset of Spring, the birds become chirpier in the way they tweet their songs, flower petals begin to emerge from their protective buds, and the growing grass is a reminder to dust off lawnmowers.
Spring is a time when many stretch out after hibernation through the cold winter months to start afresh.
Spring not only brings warmer weather for most, but also a feeling of renewal and regeneration, and as the new editor of Islamic Ink, I bring you a new design and a focus on new beginnings.
One such beautiful beginning is the Islamic Writers Alliance first Short Story Contest which will be running alongside this year's 5th Annual Poetry Contest. I'm sure that there will be many fabulous entries to shine light on the vast talent we have amongst Muslim writers. And I'm sure that this issue is the beginning of many more exciting issues of Islamic Ink, inshaa`Allah.
Was-salaamu 'alaikum,
Umm Junayd Editor-in-Chief, Islamic Ink
IWA Headlines
IWA CONTESTS!
This Year EVERYBODY can write!
Announcing The Islamic Writers Alliance 5th Annual Poetry Contest!
ALSO NEW THIS YEAR: The Islamic Writers Alliance Short Story Contest!
Both contests begin April 1, 2009 to midnight April 30, 2009 Pacific time.
~ Both Contests have CASH prizes ~
The theme for both contests is open so whether you are a poet or a writer or a combination of both, there is an opportunity this year to write what you believe is a winning poem or short story and show the world you believe in what you write.
"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart." ~ William Wordsworth
ISNA Convention Participation Sister Safiyyah, IWA Director, has announced that the IWA will be participating in the ISNA Convention to be held in Washington, D.C. on July 3-6, 2009.
IWA Non-Profit 501c3 Status The IWA Board of Directors continues to work on applying for incorporation as a private non profit foundation which supports and promotes literacy, and will also be filing for non profit tax exemption. We ask for your continuing dua as the Board of Directors works on this important project in 2009.
IWA Catalog Comprehensive listing of books written by or including the work of IWA members! Children's books, English Language Islamic Fiction for adults, teens, youth, and children, inspirational non-fiction, poetry, magazines, CDs … the IWA Catalog has something for everyone. Download it at: www.islamicwritersalliance.net/projects/IWAcatalog2007/catalogmenu_index.html
The updated IWA Catalog is expected to be completed and available April 7th.
IWA Web site Have a look around our site www.islamicwritersalliance.net- check out the selections in our member showcases, browse through the bookstores, read a bit about IWA history or dig in depth with our current and past news pages, and check out our members. Our Web Administrator, Sister Amel, continues to add content and enhance our site on a regular basis. Be sure to return often to see what’s new!
MWP Book Catalog Update Sister Widad, IWA Financial Officer, had the Muslim Writers Publishing Book Catalog updated this past month. Added to the full-color catalog are new pages promoting Islamic Fiction eBooks now available at An-Najm Publishers, a page promoting the new teacher study guides for fiction novels, an advertising page promoting the Islamic Writers Alliance, and pages describing new books published in 2008 and forth coming books to be published in 2009. Optimize It. Designs did the layout design update for the catalog.
Coffee Table Dawah Book Sister Widad has been nominated to be included in a coffee table styled dawah book to be published in 2009 - 2010. The photo-journalist author has been traveling across the United States photo documenting a day in the life of American Muslim women in hijab who are from diverse backgrounds and professions. The author-photographer will travel to Arizona sometime in July to do the photo shoot and interview in Sister Widad's home.
Newly Established Blog Mehdad Maryam Sinclair has recently established a blog where you can find samplings of her majestic manner of story-telling: entertaining, informative, inspirational, all the while delivering an important and valuable Islamic lesson with Islamic morals, principles and manners. You can also find at her blog links and information on how to purchase her work. Check it out today, and find enlightenment in her world of story-telling. It is a great tool also for home-schoolers. It is also parent-approved, as well as child-approved! www.nuralqasas.wordpress.com
New Births
IWA member Shirley Gavin gave birth to a boy, Fuad, on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009. Alhamdulillah, mother and son are reported to be doing well. Congratulations, Sister Shirley.
Irving Karchmar reports the best news he has received. His very first grandson, Jack Christopher Karchmar, was born on March 19th, Alhamdulillah!
Poem Published Sister Safiyyah (S.E Jihad Levine), IWA Director, has announced that her poem about hijab, For Allah was published in a new book, Islam (Religious Signs & Symbols) by Cath Senker.
The author was commissioned to write a series for children about the signs and symbols of the world's major religions. Although she has been published in various periodicals both online and hard copy, this is a major milestone for Sister Safiyyah seeing as how this is the first publication for her in a book.
Book Exhibition
Jamilah Kolocotronis, author of the Echoes Series, reported that there will be a book exhibition in Philadelphia, Pa. on the weekend of April 18-19, 2009. Although it is a non-Muslim festival, it is still a good chance to make your work available to a wider audience.
Master of the Jinn now in Kindle format Brother Irving's widely translated and published book Master of the Jinn is available on Kindle, ebook format. You can find out more about this through Amazon. To learn more about his book Master of the Jinn and its progress, see his website: www.masterofthejinn.com
New Book Published Linda Delgado, owner and publisher of Muslim Writers Publishing is pleased to announce the publishing of the 18th print book for MWP titled, The Gift by Malaysian author Zaipah Ibrahim. This new novel will be released in approximately 2 weeks for sale. Sister Zaipah is also a member of the IWA. The new fiction novel is the first Islamic fiction "halal" romance novel published by MWP.
Walk for Cancer Sabah Negash is participating in a walk for cancer in may and is now
signing up sponsors. Please visit http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Sabah.Negash to learn more about this charitable activity for this worthy cause.
Teacher Study Guide Project
Sabah Negash continues her work on the teacher study guide project
sponsored by Muslim Writers Publishing. She is currently working on the TSG
for the fiction novel, Muslim Teens in Pitfalls and Pranks authored by IWA
member Maryam Mahmoodian.
Editor of 'Sisters' Place' S. E. Jihad Levine (Sister Safiyyah) has agreed to assume the responsibility of being the editor of the "Sisters' Place" section of The Islaamic Beacon which is the masjid monthly newsletter of The Islaamic Center of Williamsport, PA.
Spotlight IWA
This issue's feature interview is with IWA member, Salma Hooshmand, a US-based publisher of Islamic fiction.
Salma, whose ancestry is East Indian, was born in Nairobi, Kenya, but her family immigrated to the US when she was a year old. She grew up in Minnesota, and currently lives in Houston, Texas. She is the owner and publisher of Mishkat Publishing, with four books published to date.
This is your chance to learn about some members of IWA, and in this issue we have...
Irving Karchmar
Irving Karchmar is the son of Holocaust survivors who became a darvish of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order in 1992. He has been a writer, editor, publisher and poet for many years, has an M.A. in Philosophy from DePaul University in Chicago, and has worked on such varied magazines as Hustler and the American Bar Association (ABA) Human Rights magazine. Between 1977 and 1985, he published Fantastic Films magazine. In 1986, Mr. Karchmar was on the staff that won the Trade Magazine Press Editors Award for work on the ABA’s Barrister magazine.
In the same year, he published his first book, It Was Mostly You, a collection of poetry. He also writes the popular Darvish blog.
He is also the author of the Master of the Jinn: A Sufi Novel, a mystical adventure tale on the Sufi path of Love. The book has already been translated and published in Russia (Povelitelʹ dzhinnov), Turkey (Cinlerin Efendisi), Indonesia (Sang Raja Jin), Germany/Switzerland (Meister der Jinn), and Croatia (Gospodar Duhova, May 2009). Other languages in which the book is now being translated include Spanish, Japanese, Urdu, and Lithuanian.
Jamilah Kolocotronis
Judy Elwady
Born and raised in the USA, Judy Nelson-Eldawy has written since adolescence, and poetry has always been her favorite voice. A writing teacher once told her she has talent and flair but needed to work on production. Decades later, this statement remains true. University yielded a BSN and a varied career in med/surgery, home health and psych ensued.
She got married in 1996 in 1999, she embraced Islam. Judy currently spends the school year in Egypt and summers in the States. Occasional freelance editing or writing jobs provide a welcome change of pace.
Judy has had several poems published, as well as a couple of articles. She enjoys researching material for scholarly articles of both a secular and Islamic nature. Other hobbies include reading everything, cooking, herbal and alternative medicines, and improving her Arabic language skills, written and spoken. Her first venture into the realm of fictional prose is under construction.
The Tip Off
The IWA has a wealth of members with inside knowledge about the writing and publishing business, and The Tip Off is where you'll get exclusive writing and publishing advice.
In this issue, Linda D. Delgado shares some handy tips, from how to format text from right to left in Microsoft Word, to what to do if your computer crashes along with all your PDF eBooks.
We all love reading a good book, and in this issue Farzana Hussain reviews 'Imagine that Today is Your Last Day', by Zohra Sarwari.
Imagine that Today is Your Last Day!’ is a sequel to ‘9 Steps to Achieve Your Destiny‘ by Zohra Sarwari. It consists of 8 chapters, and a bonus chapter, with both fiction and non-fiction, and thus is ideal for readers of all tastes!
The Reflections section is the hub for non-fiction pieces and essays. In this issue J. Samia Mair tells you about what every writer needs.
Every once in a while when I am particularly discouraged about my publishing progress, I go to the grey metal file cabinet in my husband’s closet and pull out my high school transcript. It includes a box at the bottom where I self-rated my skills. I scored creative writing and written expression among the lowest.
Islamic Writers Alliance is a great advocator of Islamic fiction, and in this issue Balqees Mohamed's 'From Dan to Dawood'.
Dan gets a promotion at his job, which lands him in Saudi Arabia, but his Mother is dead set that he has become a supporter of those who oppress women.
Whether it's free-verse or sonnets, I am a lover of poetry and prose. In this issue, 'The Night Before Eid' by Sabah Negash and 'Writer's Prayer' by Tiel Ansari can be found.
Salma, whose ancestry is East Indian, was born in Nairobi, Kenya, but her family immigrated to the US when she was a year old. She grew up in Minnesota, and currently lives in Houston, Texas. She is the owner and publisher of Mishkat Publishing, with four books published to date.
In this issue she is being interviewed by Linda D. Delgado
Linda Delgado: As Salaam'Alaykum Sister Salma Hooshmand Thank you for agreeing to interview with Islamic Ink Magazine. Let's begin by you telling our readers something about your family, background, and education.
Salma Hooshmand: I was born in Nairobi, Kenya, but my family immigrated to the US when I was a year old. My ancestry is East Indian, but my ancestors lived in East Africa for several generations after migrating from India.I grew up in Minnesota, and currently live in Houston, Texas. I have been married for twelve years and we have a son who is 11 years old and daughter who is 9.
We moved to Houston mainly because of the diversity. I love being in the center of a multicultural community. Being in a mixed-ethnicity marriage (my husband was born and raised in Iran), we wanted our children to be raised in a tolerant, diverse community--and that is what Houston offers.
I am currently completing an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction.
L.D: When did you begin writing and what was it that inspired you to write?
S.H: I was an avid reader as a child. In elementary school, I won a few short story writing contests; in seventh grade, my creative writing teacher noticed that my writing was at a different level than my classmates, and she would send me to the library during class time each day with a new prompt and have me write independently. That was one of the most wonderful experiences I have had in my life. I have always been fascinated with language, and I studied linguistics and literature at the University of Minnesota.
L.D: You are the owner and publisher of Mishkat Publishing at www.islamicfiction.com. What prompted your decision to publish books and why did you chose specifically to focus on publishing Islamic fiction books?
S.H: I began in order to publish my own writing. I wondered if other writers would be interested in having their books published, and I realized that there are many talented Muslim writers who simply don't have an avenue to have their writing published. I focus on Islamic fiction because it was lacking in my childhood; I read so much as a child, but I never had any books available to me that were about Muslims. As a teacher and a mother, I know how important it is for children to be able to identify with the characters they read about.
L.D: Many people understand what fiction means but may not understand that Islamic fiction is different. Please explain what is different about Islamic fiction.
S.H: Islamic Fiction can be compared to Christian Fiction in that it steers away from profanity and inappropriate conten. However, it portrays reality and is not necessarily didactic. Islamic fiction is fiction with Muslim characters. Another function of Islamic Fiction is that it utilizes fiction to illustrate Islamic teachings.
L.D: Who are the readers you target for the books you publish (age/reading levels) and would you say that your books will appeal to a non-Muslim audience?
S.H: The books we have published are a balance of children and adult literature. Some of our books may appeal to non-Muslims who are either in the Muslim experience or interested in catching a glimpse of the Muslim experience. One of our books by Nadeem Haque, would be particularly interesting to non-Muslims. It discusses religious and philosophical ideologies, without even mentioning Islam.
L.D: What are your thoughts on the future of Islamic fiction?
S.H: I believe that Islamic Fiction will continue to flourish and the demand for quality will increase.
L.D: What are some of the challenges you have faced as an author and publisher?
S.H: As with most endeavors in life--time and money. As a teacher, a mother, and a student, I find that I produce slower than I would like. However, I do fulfill all of my commitments, and I have learned that determination can overcome many obstacles.
L.D: Are there mentors or persons who inspired you to write and publish Islamic fiction books?
S.H: I would have to credit my parents, for instilling in me the love of reading and libraries; and all of my teachers who critiqued my writing and continue to help me improve; and finally, the authors of the each book I have ever read, cherished, and marveled at.
L.D: Where may readers purchase the books you have published?
S.H: I recommend they visit: http://www.amazon.com/shops/mishkat_publishing
L.D: Before I close the interview, I am sure the readers would be interested in knowing what you do when you are not busy taking care of your family, writing, and publishing.
S.H: I love spending time with my family--the kids are growing up way too fast, and I want to cherish every moment of their childhood together. I enjoy home improvement, travelling, current events, and our pets.
Thanks, Sis Salma. The IWA organization and the Editor in Chief of Islamic Ink appreciate you taking the time from your busy schedule to sit down and tell readers about yourself and your work.
Linda D. Delgado is the award winning author of the Islamic Rose Books series and is the owner-publisher of Muslim Writers Publishing: www.MuslimWritersPublishing.com
Handy Tips and New Trends Blurbs by Linda D. Delgado
Changing right to left format for margins in MS Word Documents
Select all the text and copy it (CTRL + C), open Notepad (not Wordpad), paste the text into Notepad (CTRL + P), open a new word document, reselect the text within Notepad and copy it, then paste that into the new Word document. This should give you all the text without any formatting. (Notepad strips all the formatting out.) You will lose title formatting and stuff like that, but it is the best way to get rid of formatting you cannot otherwise seem to get rid of. (Pamela K. Taylor – IWA Member)
Worried about losing your eBooks in a computer hard drive crash?
Most computer owners worry about that computer crash lurking out there which could cause the loss of all those eBooks on their hard drive. If your eBooks are in Mobipocket or Kindle format or you bought eBooks from Fictionwise, you don’t need to worry about losing your books. Amazon and Fictionwise keep a record of the books you own, so that you can download them again.
For the Kindle, you can buy a book and share it between your family's Kindles (same credit card/account) and now iPhones. And the newest feature with Kindle 2 is the capability to allow reading aloud the book and recording this with the Kindle eBook reader.
I own eBooks in PDF format. What if my hard drive crashes? Can I get a replacement for the lost PDF eBook? I own an eBook reader can I load my PDF eBooks on it?
Some of the handheld eBook readers will let you upload PDF formatted eBooks. Some of the formatting in the PDF version may be lost but the text is still readable. When you buy a PDF eBook you could contact the retailer and ask if a record is kept of eBook buyer purchases in case a buyer’s hard drive crashes. Ask if an eBook replacement request would be honored. If you have an eBook reader for a different format you might also ask for permission to upload the PDF eBook from your desktop computer/laptop to your handheld reader.
It doesn’t cost anything to ask. You just might end up saving dollars and time as well as having your favorite PDF eBooks portable and more conveniently available.
Can you put images in books with Kindle?
Yes. But grayscale, low resolution, raster images only (no vector drawings).
Big Publishing House Expanding—March 2009
Random House announced their acquisition of previously independent Ten Speed Press. Ten Speed's four imprints are Ten Speed Press, Celestial Arts, Crossing Press, and Tricycle Press.
Phil Woods will act as publisher emeritus but a new reporting structure will be announced in the coming weeks.
Need to print a catalog?
You need to print your product catalog. Do you need a short print run: under 500 copies or are you thinking of having and offset printing of 2,000 or more copies?
There are many places to get short run (POD-print on demand) printing. Two businesses I have used or which have received favorable remarks by publishing associates are:
Imagine that Today is Your Last Day! by Farzana Hussain
Title: Imagine that Today is Your Last Day Author: Zohra Sarwari Publisher: Eman Publishing U.S. Price: $14.95 (paperback)
‘Imagine that Today is Your Last Day!’ is a sequel to ‘9 Steps to Achieve Your Destiny‘ by Zohra Sarwari. It consists of 8 chapters, and a bonus chapter, with both fiction and non-fiction, and thus is ideal for readers of all tastes! In addition to this Zohra includes inspirational stories in the book, which are worth the price of the book on their own! It continues with the character’s from Zohra’s previous book, Zeba and Wali in ‘9 Steps to Achieve Your Destiny’, and takes you on a journey that you will never forget! However reading the latter is not a prerequisite, as it is easy to grasp the story, although the book does contain gems of knowledge in it too. The book is sold for just $14.95; a bargain for the amount of wisdom this book contains masha’Allaah.
The book is about a brother and sister who have successfully signed a contract with Microsoft, and are now ready to use the money to help others around them. However, quite unexpectedly they face a situation which they had not really prepared for, and the book captures your attention as you travel with Zeba, Wali and their families through a roller coaster of emotions.
The book is very educational and helps you explore your life and what the purpose behind it is, all without preaching. It takes you through some of the rituals and practices of the Prophet - peace be upon him - when dealing with a death. This makes it quite an informative book, however it is done indirectly. It is an easy read, and for those who can’t get themselves to pick up a ‘scholarly’ book on these issues, this book deals with the fundamental matters without getting complicated.
The information in this book has been thoroughly researched and backed up with authentic evidence from both the Qur’aan and Sunnah, and has also been verified by various scholars; thus this book is a real find. One can trust and rely on the information provided without second guessing insha’Allaah.
The book is written in a clear and concise manner and is suitable for all ages, and for people of all religious backgrounds. It is definitely a must for all bookshelves as it is something that we all need to think about; our last day! The book explores the various journeys one takes in life and it really helps change one’s outlook on life and death. A book which motivates you to be the best that you can be; a book that encourages positive and immediate action; a book which makes you think! This book helps you see what the purpose of life is, and how living a fruitful life involves thinking and preparing for one’s death.
Every once in a while when I am particularly discouraged about my publishing progress, I go to the grey metal file cabinet in my husband’s closet and pull out my high school transcript. It includes a box at the bottom where I self-rated my skills. I scored creative writing and written expression among the lowest.
Although in grade school I loved to read and write poems and short stories, most of my childhood memories include playing football, riding bikes, swimming, Speed Racer cartoons, and T.V. dinners—purple milk and all. By the time I entered high school, writing and reading had become a chore and my interests as a non-Muslim American teenager do not bear repeating.
It was not until a year or so after college that I fell back in love with reading. I read all the classics that I should have enjoyed much earlier. After a few years of catching up, the desire to write resurfaced. My first attempts at writing leave much to be desired. I kept a few examples and to this day, it still pains me to read them. The writing is absolutely awful. The fact that I continued to write testifies to the power of denial. Nevertheless, I’m glad I didn’t give up.
I believe almost anyone can learn to write well. Some people are natural writers, while others of us must work much harder. Over the years my writing has evolved, which I attribute to a few things. First, writing requires practice. You need to actually write to write better. Some of my best training came in law school; I wrote and wrote and wrote. Albeit, advancing a persuasive legal argument is far different than writing a story that will entertain children, but the underlying idea is the same: you are trying to capture the attention of a particular audience; you carefully choose the best words to describe what you want to convey; and you have to be credible, even if the story is a fantasy involving mythical creatures and princesses.
Second, good writing requires feedback, and feedback requires listening, and listenin requires a thick skin. This, of course, is easier said than done, especially if you have spent a great deal of time writing something and the criticism is harsh. I have spent days, weeks, and even months choosing a particular word or getting a sentence just right, only to have an editor remove it. Occasionally, I will go back and forth with an editor, but the overwhelming majority of the time—once I allow myself to let go—I end up agreeing with the editor’s comments. Barring one exception, my work has always improved with an editor’s input.
Editors can disagree though. For example, I received this not-so-pleasant comment from a paid reviewer hired by a small publisher who wanted to publish a children’s story I wrote: “In my opinion, in its present form, [the manuscript] lacks uniqueness in plot, characterization, and storytelling techniques.” However, another paid reviewer felt completely differently: “The plot is extremely creative…The author has done a wonderful job so far…The creativity and talent illustrated by the author up to this point will no doubt carry into tweaking and making the suggested changes.”
Writing requires a balance between confidence and a healthy dose of realism. A sense of humor and not taking yourself too seriously are immensely useful as well.
Finally, like a marathoner contemplating the long road ahead, you need patience and endurance. I re-read past bad writing because it reminds me how far I have come and encourages me to continue. Very few writers “make it” without years of effort and most writers will never earn a living writing. Depressing? It doesn’t have to be. Sure, I would like to have my writing critically acclaimed and compensated generously, but that is not why I write. I write because I love it; I write because it satisfies my desire to create; I write because of that incredible moment when I find the perfect word after months of searching.
J. Samia Mair is a freelance writer with publications in magazines, books, and scientific journals. She is a columnist for SISTERS magazine (“Tea Talk”) and an author of two children’s picture books, expected to be released this year. She is currently working on several writing projects, including a chapter book, a historical novel, and educational materials for Muslim children. She is a member of the Islamic Writers Alliance, Muslimah Writers Alliance, and National Writers Union.
"You've gotta be kidding!", exclaimed Vickie to her son Dan after he announced his plan to accept a promotion at work, which would entail transferring for at least 2 years to Saudi Arabia.
"You can't be serious-going off to that God-forsaken land! I won't let you do it! I forbid you to go!"
"Aw, Maa-com' off it, now. Saudi Arabia's not God-forsaken, for God's sake. Why, it's the cradle of Islam, the third in the succession of the three major religions of the world. In fact, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the U.S. today," replied Dan in attempt to calm his mother down into acceptance of his decision.
"See what I mean?" screamed Vickie in return. "See? Exactly what I've been trying to point out to you. Those heathens...those savages...it's not enough that they don't let us in to tour their lands. Who'd wanna tour there anyways? Nothin' to see but dead, desolate desert."
"No, son-it's not enough that they oppress their women to covering up with all those black veils or prevent them from driving. It's not enough that they'd like nothing more than to have Israel wiped off the maps and off the face of this earth. No-to make matters worse they're invading our lands, minds and hearts now with the spread of their hedonistic religion. Islam! Hmph!"
"Ma, you've got it all wrong."
"Oh, I have, have I? How is that, pray tell?"
"Well, to begin with, as I understand it, it is not the Saudis or any other man on this earth who commands the Muslim women to cover as they do. It's a divine command to them coming directly from God, as revealed in the Quran. Why, I'm sure there's many a Muslim man who would like to see his own wife in her full blossoming beauty when they go out for dinner, but they all need to abide by God's command if they want to live as true Muslims. For them, the religion is a way of life to be implemented daily. Not just an assigned time on any particular day for some isolated sessions of worship as it is with us Christians."
"My goodness-you're beginning to sound like them! Are you...? Are you one of them now? Have you turned on me? I forb..."
Dan did not let his mother finish her attempt at declaring her forbidding upon him. Stopping her in mid-sentence with his response, he announced:
"No, mother, I'm not one of them. Not yet, anyways. But to tell you the truth, everything I've learned about Islam so far makes so much sense. In truth, it's nothing like what you understand it to be. Or, rather I should say, misunderstand it to be."
Not able to hold her burning tongue any longer, Vickie blurted out: "You're sympathizing with them! That makes you not different from them!"
"Maybe so, Mom, but in your eyes only. Anyways, we've drifted way off here, and for no real good reason. The gist of it is that I've accepted my appointment of promotion, which means I have to travel to Saudi Arabia and work there if I want to continue on. And that, for sure, I do want. I would like to go with your blessings. But if you don't see it in you, then so be it."
"You see?! There you have it! Solid proof! You're a sympathizer for them. Why, I'm afraid you might even be a full-fledged supporter!", Vickie chimed in, so tightly wound she might burst spinning out of control any minute-as if she wasn't already.
"Supporter of what? If you mean that I can't ignore the truth or justice when I see it, then yes-I guess I do fall into that category. But Ma-I'm going there to work, to advance myself in life-nothing more, nothing less."
"Well, I don't approve. I forbid you..."
Cutting in before she could finish her threatening demands, Dan stoically announced: "Mom, I know I'll always be a baby in your eyes. But ya' gotta face it-I'm all grown up now. Or almost, anyways. According to the laws of the land, I'm an adult-have been for the past six months since I turned eighteen; responsible for myself and my own decisions."
"Oh, so you're gonna drop that bomb on me now, eh? Well, then, suit yourself. Go ahead against my wishes if you like. See how that settles with your conscience."
"Aw, Ma, I wish you wouldn't make it so hard. Don't be like this...please."
In a vengeful type of retaliation, Vickie bid her only son farewell: "Now you see how it is to stand up to a brick wall? That's how frustrated I feel when I try to reason with you. I don't want you going there and that's final. That land is treacherous and those people are heathens. But if you insist to go, then by all means-get going. Jus' don' ask for my blessings. I don' have any for you anymore. Go on...get outta here! I don' wanna see you anymore. I'm jus' too exhausted to keep on fighting..."
Trying to make some sense of peace with her before he left, Dan approached her in the most tender and loving manner: "Mom..."
But Vickie was adamant. She would not break or let her guard down for even a split moment. "Go on. Be off wid' ya." And with that, she turned her back on him, as Dan left her house in a state of mourning-mourning for his mother whom he sensed was lost to the truth forever.
Upon his first arrival in Saudi Arabia, all of the horror stories he had heard from his mother and many of the other country boys back home in Tennessee were proven wrong. First thing he noticed was how there were indeed ladies abound in every possible public venue: the airport, hospitals, market places, parks, and much more. And contrary to popular belief back home, he noticed that not all the women were covered in black from head to foot. Some were adorned in attractive colors, while others yet still were not wearing the outer covering at all, revealing not only their faces but their hair and stylish western clothing to boot! (He eventually learned that these ladies were most likely not Muslims themselves).
His instincts told him that this sense of tolerance not only for the ladies in general, but towards the non-Muslims in their non-coherence in abiding by the more traditional dress rules was due to the fact that he was witnessing the effects of the modern westernized metropolis of Riyadh. But as his job soon required his traveling to some of the more remote rural areas to give educational training seminars, he soon found that theory go up in smoke. Why, even in the lowlands of Tihama, in the villages of the Sarawat mountain range, and in the Bedouin settlements of the desert region, he noticed how remarkable it was to note the high level of tolerance these very strictly humble and orthodox Muslims had for those of other faiths, religions and backgrounds. Why, he was awoken to the fact that these very traditional Muslims, perhaps the most strictly orthodox of the world, were more tolerant of people from different lands and different faiths than were their American counterparts.
It was an interesting idea that he was awakening to, that America, professed all these ages as land of the free was really not so free after all. He began asking himself questions like: "If it's so free in America, then why do they hate the women covering so much? Why all the pressure for her to reveal herself? If it's so free in America, then why is it looked down upon so much to buy or carry Islamic literature? If it's so free in America, then why is it so hard to find any books on Islam that are not of the nature of Islam-bashing?" These and many more questions of similar nature kept on nagging at his mind.
One year had passed so quickly for him that he hadn't even realized it was vacation time yet. He wasn't ready for a vacation, but he knew that he had to go; for his Mom, if not for anyone else. The pain of his last confrontation with her was so vivid in his mind, it was as if it had happened only yesterday. But a whole year had passed now, and some monumental changes had taken place, although he knew now that they had been a growth in progress all of his life previously. The only thing making him override the temptation to simply remain on without going for a visit was the realization and recognition of his mother's rights over him, coupled with his own personal desire and hope to share with her as well as others the utter peace he had been so fortunate to have found. The peace and tranquility that can only be had when one submits in full to the Creator of the universe. The peace and tranquility that comes when one turns humbly and sincerely to Allah in Islam (submission to Him).
She wasn't able to come to the airport to meet him. She was just too weak. Exhausted. When he first opened the door and saw her sitting there on the couch in front of him, not even able to get up to greet him at the door, he could not help but notice the aging that had taken its effect upon her in the past year. Most people change little if any within one year's time. But his mother, she had aged in appearance at least ten year's worth in this past year. He knew that it was at least in part because of his rejection of her demands upon him to keep his distance from Muslims and the Muslim lands, if not perhaps even the full cause. But he just could not then, nor now, reject the truth once it had become clear to him. Whenever he found himself drowning in his sorrows at his mother's angry rejection of anything having to do with Islam or Muslims, he would gain some strength recalling the struggles faced by his pious predecessors: Abraham, who had to confront the idolatry of his father and his people; Noah, who's own son would not reckon with the truth; and Mohammed, who could not convince his own beloved uncle even at the expense of his last breath. The thought of these incidents never really eased the sorrow any, but gave him a sense of belonging and community with some of the most honored company in the history of the world. It also served as a defining reminder to the utter perfect truth of Allah's own words: "You cannot guide those who you love, but Allah guides whom He wills."
He knew it was going to be a shock, telling all the folks back home of his conversion. But somehow, he sensed that his Mom sensed it coming all the while. And this was even more evident by her reaction to his own reactions to everything surrounding him. Back home in Nashville, it was no longer refreshing to hear, smell and see all those familiar sounds, smells and sights. Smells, such as a roasted ham coming out of the oven or wine poured after dinner, no longer had an appetizing appeal. Sounds, such as the tangy country music pouring out from everywhere all day and night, gave him no sense of relaxation or enjoyment. And sights, such as Barbie-doll-figured girls scantily clad in bikinis or halter tops and skin-tight jeans or hot pants no longer served as a welcome attraction to pass the time. All of this was haram (forbidden) in Islam. He had had the sensation before, but now, after being enlightened to the truth, he had the supportive backing of divinely revealed knowledge to strengthen him. And now it was time to tell Mom about all this. But how?
It was actually Vickie who made the first comment, giving Dan the springboard of opportunity from which to continue.
"Dan, darling, why aren't you eating? Don' you like my cooking anymore?"
Just then, it was as if a light and perhaps a loud bell similar to that on Wall Street seemed to go off in her head simultaneously. As she opened her eyes wide with recognition, she also visibly shook her head briefly yet violently in obvious disgust. And although her reaction displayed her obvious disappointment, still it was void of the anger and despise that had consumed her a year ago.
With widened eyes but a calm and subdued voice, albeit a bit cold, Vickie said: "I see. You've become one of them, haven't you? You've become a MOSLEM."
Unable to yet respond, trying to weigh his words carefully before speaking, all Dan could do was to look at his mother eye to eye, in silent affirmation of her voiced conclusions and accusations. His period of silence not only gave her the chance to vent her feelings, but it gave him the vantage point from which to gauge her temperament, providing him firmer ground to stand on when he did eventually begin to speak.
"I knew it. I just knew it. I mean...all through this past year, I've sensed your gradual conversion. Nothing in particular that I can put my finger on. Just this sensation. Maybe it's women's intuition. Maybe it is that a mother just knows. But whatever it is, it's sure no great surprise. Actually, it was my suspicions that prompted me to bake the ham today. I really don't have it that often, you know. It's so expensive now. But you weren't opening up with me, and I've had my suspicions about you. You just seemed so different this past week since you've been home. Jet lag doesn't take a whole week to sleep off. So, I thought I'd test you with the ham. I knew that if you had converted, you wouldn't be eating the ham. And...whaddaya know?..."
Finally warming up to his mother once more, and being encouraged by her demeanor as well as her confession to having tested him, he managed a chuckling response: "Hehehe...oh, Mom, dear ol' Mom. Back to your trying ol' ways, eh? Testing me to admit to you my religion just as you did with Dad years ago, eh?" Noticing her surprise at him even make mention of that event so many years ago, he went on: "Yea, I remember that day, alright. Well, Mom, I'm a Muslim now. But that doesn't mean that I'll desert you the way Dad did. What he did was wrong, but it had nothing to do with Islam. I promise God first and foremost, and then I promise you, I'll never desert you. You're my mother."
Not giving her the chance to pipe in, he continued:
"Did you know that Islam teaches us many things about how to interact with people in this life, not only to pray five times daily or to fast one month out of the year? And one of those commands is utter and full respect to our mothers, regardless of her religion. You're my mother. You were the one who carried me for nine months with discomfort, and you were the one who delivered me into this world in pain. And it was you who toiled over me and cared for me in infancy, and then painstakingly raised me to become the man I have become. No matter what your choice of religion is until your dying day, I cannot forget nor deny or belittle your sacrifices on my account. You are deserving of all of my worldly attentions and gains, and even that will not be fulfilling enough to repay you. But that is all I have to offer to you. As for my choice in religion, and my obedience to our Creator, no one nor nothing of His Creation can take preference over Him. As it is said in the Quran, It is from Him whence I come, and unto Him shall I return, and so I must give Him and His commands the full attention, acknowledgement and respect they demand."
Vickie replied: "My, my, my son...you have changed so much over this last year. And I don't mean by that your conversion. You're different. More sincere...if that could be possible. But it's not just that...it's....well...there's this sensation of peace and tranquility almost beaming out from you. Seems to be beaming out from your inner core."
"I know what you mean, Mom. I am at peace with myself and the rest of the world now. I feel that tranquility."
"No, son, you don't understand me. You know how the moon reflects the sun's rays on it, becoming a silver shining ball at night? Well, you've become comparable to the full moon on a clear night. The tranquility and peaceful acceptance seems to just beam off from you."
Blushing vividly at her beautiful analogy of his new found faith to the shining of the full moon, Dan was struck speechless. Taking up on the opportunity of his silence, Vickie went on to plead with him, giving him the cue to find his voice once again.
"Do go on, pray tell. Tell me about your adventures in the desert land."
Then, in a bit more timid of a tone, she added: "Tell me about your conversion."
As he looked up at her with widening questioning eyes, she responded with a silent nod of her head, reaffirming her last request.
Recalling her calm tone of voice as well as her surprisingly subdued reaction in general, he began to reveal to her his journey to Islam. Testing the waters, he began very cautiously: "Before I go into this in depth, Mom, please do remember that there is a grand difference between the religion itself and so many of its adherents, and those isolated cases of renegades like Dad or others who don't live by its laws. They do nothing but present a distorted picture of Islam to the world. What I'm trying to say is that although some Muslims might be bad or act badly, that doesn't mean that all Muslims are bad, or that Islam itself is bad. Get my point? In other words, don't judge the religion by its followers, but rather get to know it from the source, or by looking at those who follow the source."
"I know what you're getting at, son. Now, enough with the preliminaries and the histrionics. Jus' get on with your story, would you? I'm interested in you, my son. Not all those other odd folks."
Smiling at the glimmer of his Mom shining through in her impatience, he then proceeded to tell her his story of how he came to being a Muslim.
"Well, Mom, when I look back now in retrospect, I now realize that my quest began quite early, actually. Most likely dating back to my early childhood and my first introduction to the Christian dogmas and ideology. Islam also holds fast to the thought that all of mankind are born with the natural tendency towards Islam in their hearts, and this seems to prove itself by not only my own conversion, but that of millions throughout the world in all times. I mean, if you will remember well, I was always questioning about things from early on. Things like the trinity, the crucifixion, the resurrection, the atonement, and much more. My eventual silence in response to the dissatisfying answers I got was not a silence of acceptance. On the contrary, it was a silence of disgusting disturbance of the realization that no one, even the most respected Christian scholars and theologians, had a viable answer for anything. No one, that is, who had the insight and knowledge only of the inherited evolved Christian doctrines. I got so disgusted, in fact, by the ultimate final answers I got from all, that I finally gave up asking any more. What was the ultimate answer, you might be asking? Well, none other than the proverbial: "That's just the way it is. You have to believe."
"My God, I thought. Of all the most arrogant, unreasonable responses for any question in the world! No proofs, no substance, no encouragement even towards thinking logically. Just the demand to blindly follow. Didn't sit well with me, and I couldn't force myself to swallow it. I'm sorry, but my human instinct and all training in life instilled in me the belief that there has to be something more pure, true, with firm and reasonable proof, and standing on a firmer foundation."
"I never once considered Islam as a viable option. That is, not until I learned about it from its source-the Quran. I mean, I was always just as turned off from Islam as what you have been. I've been burned by the same Muslims you were. Dad left us after he became a Muslim, when I was only five. Why couldn't he have left earlier when I didn't really know him yet and when I wouldn't have remembered it so painfully? It would have hurt all the same, growing up with no father. But perhaps I wouldn't have had all the guilt I've had all these years, putting the blame on myself, thinking I was the reason he left. It's only been this past year since I've become a Muslim myself that I've come to realize the problem with Dad leaving was not you or me, Mom. It was him. He was so weak he couldn't live up to his responsibilities. I've even learned that his becoming a Muslim was in no way the true reason for his leaving us stranded as he did. Islam commands for a man, to realize and live up to his responsibilities. It's laws command the man to take care of and support his family, even if he divorces his wife. So, although Dad laid the blame on Islam, the religion itself was in no way responsible for his negligence of us all these years. He was."
"Not belittling also the various other family members or friends of mine who have had their own personal trials at the hands of their Muslim friends or family. If anyone in this world has the right or is in the position to be prejudiced against the Muslims, it certainly is me. But then, one day, I was reading a magazine article, and there were some quotes from the Quran. There were two lines which kinda jus' jumped out at me, as if trying to shake me, to wake me. And that they did. They go something like this: "And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." (3:85) and: "This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." (5:3).
"I mean...wow. If I, or anyone else for that matter, choose anything other than Islam, then it won't be accepted. And by whom? None other than God Almighty. And then, to boot, He Himself has not only completed the religion for me, made it complete and concise, but He has chosen for me Islam. Chosen it for all of mankind. Then...who are we...any of us...to deny that? There's much, much more, Mom...but to explain it to you, I might just end up quoting the whole Quran to do so."
Replying to him finally in the quietest and mellowest of tones, Vickie quickly answered: "No need to do so, son. I think I understand. Finally."
"Really?"
"Well, perhaps I need to hear a bit more, but it all seems to be fitting into place. Kinda like a jigsaw puzzle, if you will."
"Yea, Mom...know what you mean."
It didn't take long for Vickie to learn enough about Islam to become a Muslim herself. Perhaps a few days, no longer than a week. She had mellowed out considerably. Her mellowing gave Dan the window of opportunity to speak to her in logical manner, quoting from the Quran here, then the Sunnah of the Prophet there, until she had learned enough to realize her own belief in this eternal message of truth. She lasted for only two more months after becoming a Muslim. As it turns out, she had been ill that year after Dan left for Saudi Arabia. At her initial diagnosis only one month after he first left for Saudi Arabia, the doctors had told her she would last perhaps only two months. It was so serious, in fact, that they didn't even recommend the traditional chemotherapy or radiation treatments, even though that option was always open to her. But she held on until Dan returned, and for another two months on top of that. He was terribly saddened to realize his loss of his dear mother. But the greatest consolation to him was that God was so gracious and merciful to guide her to realize the perfect truth of the last message, the eternal message, the one message of the One and Only God.
Noticing her illness, he had extended his vacation for an undetermined period. He remained with her until she breathed her last breath. Upon his return to Saudi Arabia, he then opted to make the last change in his life that he thought proper in accordance with his conversion. Although he had been told by various scholars that there was no real need to change his name, he felt compelled to do so, in an effort to expel all remaining shackles from his previous non-Muslim existence. Even though he had thought of doing so before, he had refrained from the name change on account of his mother. He did not want to do anything more to cause any pain to her. He knew that changing his name would be a great deterrent to softening her heart to Islam. But when she herself became a Muslim, and opted for a more traditional Muslim name (she asked to be called Aasiyah), he thought more seriously about it. But he never brought up the topic while she was still living. It wasn't that he thought she would be offended by it anymore, for she had become a Muslim and even changed her name herself. But there just didn't seem to be the right time to do anything. He didn't want anything, even something such as simply changing a name, to take away from the precious time he had left with his mother. But now, with no family left, he felt the need to make a stronger tie to the only family he had-the Muslim community of the world. It was at this time and in this manner that Dan became Dawood.
Situated in Saudi Arabia, but coming originally from the US, Balqees Mohammed is using her experience gained from before becoming a Muslim in combination with the experience and knowledge she has gained after becoming a Muslim, to educate people about the teachings and ways of Islam. She directs her attentions equally to non-fiction works as well as fiction, all with the underlying theme of teaching Islamic principles.
Sabah Negashwas born and raised in Southern California. She graduated with a liberal arts degree in 1993 from Victor Valley College and Insha Allah, looks forward to continuing her education in the field of Early Childhood Education. She is from a family of teachers and enjoys traveling and experiencing new things. Her teaching career has given her the wonderful opportunity to live and work in many countries. She enjoys story writing and has written many short stories and poems for children for which she hopes to one day Insha Allah have published.
Writer's Prayer by Tiel Aisha Ansari
Look not to me, but through; I'm only glass,
a window dimmed by soot, a slab of quartz
sliced to translucence, letting visions pass
within like sappers creeping into forts.
What medium cannot say it distorts
the message given, bends and dims the light?
The channel's full of static, circuit-shorts
prevent transmission. I can get it right
in one way only: giving up the fight.
My will's not mine. Surrender is the key
and I the lock will tumble, falling free
and open into Silence. No more chatter:
if I am glass, then God grant I may shatter,
if I must write, then God grant I may write!
