It started with a spark when I was in my last year of school at the age of 16; all she said was "Keep writing" and flashed a warm smile that I would never forget.
My English teacher always had a way with words, and it was no wonder that English was one of my favorite subjects at school, along with Science -- yes, call me geeky! She dissected Romeo & Juliet with such meticulous skill that it made even the toughest girls in class get all soppy. It was during my years studying with her that I started trying my hand at poetry.
When I unearth my long buried scrawls, I cringe and squirm at just how amateurish they seem. I consistently strived to make each line rhyme, which resulted in un-metered and badly written poetry that couldn't have even passed on as nursery rhymes! But I didn't stop, because then - at the age of 16 - my writing was the best around, and I would proudly show them to friends who also praised me for 'how good they were'.
And now that I am in my twenties - yes, a baby to some! - I appreciate how my pen has matured, along with my thoughts and continued life experiences, and I've come to appreciate the fantastic poetry that flows from the pens of my fellow writers; so much so that I'd much rather indulge in the good poetry of others than write any myself. As such, I'm nervously excited about the return of the IWA's annual poetry competition. It's only a moment's beat away since the last one, which revealed poetry of excellent quality. It will once again be that month when dusty pens are lifted and rusty pens are oiled and fingers will be alive with activity fashioning and shaping imagery with words.
Can you tell I'm excited? Yes, it's one of the many reasons why I simply love being a member of the IWA.
Was-salaamu 'alaikum,
Umm Junayd Editor-in-Chief, Islamic Ink
IWA Headlines
Linda D. Delgado, (Sr. Widad), wrote an article for her monthly FOCUS column, "Reflections-A Decade Being Muslim", which was published in print and on line in the January 2010 edition of the Crescent Times-Australia. She is also pleased to announce that MWP books will be listed and available with a new Muslim wholesaler, IMC Books at www.Imcbooks.com.
In December, Sr. Enith Morillo became part of the Associate Editors team at the popular online publication AltMuslimah.com, which is currently featuring a series of articles written by her on Corrupt Scholars. For Part 1 of the series, please visit "Entitled to Diplomatic Impunity?"
Sr. Marwa Elnaggar launched her blog, Writer, Reader, Chocolate Eater, at http://marwaelnaggar.wordpress.com. and has set up a Twitter account and invites all members to follow her at @marwame.
Br. Yousuph Ola Abdl-Azeez joined the IWA during the month of December 2009, after the invitation by Sr. Widad. Although his more formal training is in Food Technology and Television Journalism, he began his own writing career in 2000, publishing his first story My Little Angel in December 2002, and went on to publish an Islamic short story The Obedient Faruq in 2005, and the sequel the following year. He currently has 20 self-published books to his name, and the first of the Islamic short stories was adapted to a home movie. Additionally, he organized an Award Ceremony Program for School Children, distributors, retailers and more, on December 20, 2009. To learn more about his organization and work, visit: http://www.crescentaward.blogspot.com
Sr. Brandy Chase has taken great strides to promote literacy and encouraging reading among adults and children alike. During the month of December 2009, she hosted a Poetry and Book Party, which she reports was a fabulous success. Sr. Brandy is planning to open an Islamic Bookstore in UAE, which she plans to call The Crescent Pen Bookstore & Cafe. After doing much research, she has found a need for such a business, and hopes to make a successful go of it. We are looking forward to hearing more good news from Sr. Brandy on the developments of this venture. To learn more about this, you can view her blog at: http://americanmuslimawriter.blogspot.com
Sr. Balqees Mohammed, IWA Secretary, published author and experienced editor, announced the completion of a second editorial review of the novel manuscript she previously reviewed, this time the editing was of the 'artistic style, as per the author's request. She also completed a rush-order editing of a manuscript of over 30,000 words, which was a translation into English from Arabic, of a recently written book explaining the manners and etiquettes of Hajj or Umrah. During the month of December, Sr. Balqees established her own website as well as officiating her presence in the business world, offering her services online to the worldwide audience. www.writers-consultant.com
Sr. Julie Mair has had her second children's book published: The Perfect Gift, published by The Islamic Foundation. To view more about this, please follow the link here.
Linda D. Delgado (Sr. Widad) is pleased to report that a teacher at the Islamic School of Rhode Island requested a copy of the teacher study guide (TSG), authored by Saba Negash, for the IF novel, Sophia's Journal: Time Warp 1857 authored by Najiyah Helwani. The book and TSG are being used in the classroom with students as part of their reading program. Linda is also pleased to report that an ESL teacher living in Saudi Arabia has ordered three MWP published books to use with students in the reading program she teaches. The books selected for students are: Sophia's Journal: Time Warp 1857 with accompanying TSG, Star Writers: How to Write Islamic Stories, and The Gift.
Linda, the Director of IWA, and IWA Secretary, Sr. Balqees Mohammed,were busy during most of the month of January editing and putting together content for the new IWA web site being designed by Sr. Balqees. www.islamicwritersalliance.net
Br. Yahiya Emerick's recent translation of the Holy Quran, A Journey Through the Holy Quran, is now available to the public. Please log onto: www.ifna.net/bookstore.htm to view this as well as much more of his remarkable work.
Br. Tarek Chamkhi, Editor-in-Chief of Crescent Times of Australia, announced the special limited edition of the first of his publication of this New Year. A pdf copy of the limited edition of the January 2010 publication of Crescent Times was sent to all IWA members via the IWA egroup. For more information on how to view this as well as other editions, please log onto: http://www.cresecenttimes.com.au.
Sr. Umm Junayd is now a writer for Reading Islam, and had her first article titled What to Do After Saying "I Do"published in January. She has also revamped her blog and will continue adding to her current fiction series at: http://www.UmmJunayd.info.
And Introducing...
This is your chance to learn about some members of IWA, and in this issue we have...
Eshe (Aisha) Asale
Eshe (Aisha) Asale is a published freelance writer with non-fiction, fiction and poetry published in a diverse selection of magazines and newspapers. She writes on various topics including Islam, Culture and Identity, Race and Representations, Holistic Health, Nutrition, and Independent Cinema. Eshe has a Bachelor of Arts in Writing and Publishing/Film Studies, and a Masters in Media and Communications.
Eshe has written for Iqra newspaper and is a DC Examiner. Her short story 'Staying Firm' was published in the Islamic Fiction Anthology 'Between Love, Hope and Fear'. She also writes for Demand Studios and Constant Content and is a Certified Massage Therapist and Holistic Practitioner.
Although Eshe is originally from London, UK she has been living in the USA for almost 4 years and currently resides in Washington, DC. In her spare time, Eshe loves to do Yoga, meditate, write poetry and attend visual arts and theatre events. She enjoys travel and is always keen to learn about different cultures.
Amel S. Abdullah
Amel S. Abdullah is an accomplished and versatile freelance writer, editor, researcher and Arabic to English translator with more than seven years of experience providing clients with top-quality work, meeting daily deadlines and finding creative solutions to everyday business and marketing challenges. Amel is frequently consulted for her expertise on Islamic topics and has written and translated nearly 1,000 published articles on topics related to health, science, technology, culture, history, language and education.
Ayman Nassar
Ayman Nassar is founder and chair of the board of directors of Islamic Leadership Institute of America (ILIA), and former member of the board of directors at Dar Al-Taqwa Masjid in Maryland. He works in technology leadership as a technical project manager, systems engineer and IT architect. He volunteers at area correctional institutions and youth organizations offering leadership coaching and mentoring. Ayman is an adjunct project management instructor at Prince George’s Community College, holds graduate degrees in Engineering Management, Systems Engineering and Electrical Engineering, and is certified in project management, systems engineering, IT architecture and six sigma.
Spotlight Interviews
In every edition Islamic Ink tries to bring you exclusive interviews with IWA members, but in this issue you're getting a double serving, with interviews with Debora McNichol (IWA Legal Counsel) and Mahasin Shamsid-Deen (IWA Assistant Director). Enjoy!
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 tips and advice.
In this issue, Marwa Elnaggar gives a humorous account of what to do when writing ideas come at the least convenient time.
The Reflections section is the hub for non-fiction pieces and essays. In this issue Enith Morillo provides a poignant piece about forbidding evil.
The majority of Muslims are familiar with the alleged story of Jesus (as) asking those free of sin "to cast the first stone" in their condemnation of an adulteress. Pericope Adulterae, as the story is typically referred to, is claimed by Biblical scholars to be attributed to the Bible even though its origins are not divine. Based on the significance of the story and the fact that it does not contradict the noble character of Jesus (as), most scholars have agreed upon its inclusion in the later versions of the Bible.
In this issue, Islamic Ink shares with you an excerpt of a novel-in-progess, written by Saba Negash
The House of Hanaf rulers gathered for an emergency meeting. It was the largest of these gatherings held in centuries. Twenty heads of the the Hanaf House gathered secretly inside the Kabah. Sheik Ali Al Hanaf, regent prince of the South Arabian Peninsula, sat watching large alien ships fly pass heading west. He looked at his watch, he was late. He grabbed his briefcase and ran for his chopper. He was taking with him to the gathering a report he compiled that would predict the outcome of the recent global alien attacks that was slowly but systematically approaching the outer Arabian borders.
Whether it's free-verse or sonnets, Islamic Ink is a lover of poetry and prose. In this issue, 'True Intentions' and 'The Path' by Tahira Abdul-Jalil can be found.
Linda D. Delgado, Director
Mahasin Shamsid-Deen, Assistant Director
Balqees Mohammed, Secretary
S. E. Jihad Levine, Financial Officer
Zabrina A. Bakar, Marketing Officer
Debora McNichol, Legal Counsel
Mailing Address
Islamic Writers Alliance
PO Box 299
Sunbury, PA 17801
InkSpots Islamic Ink's Spot to highlight IWA members' publications.
Layla Deen and the Case of the Ramadan Rouge Yahiya Emerick
$6.95
Somebody's trying to ruin her Ramadan! Layla Deen and her family were just settling in to break a long days fast when their mother came running from the kitchen and cried, "Someone stole the food for Iftar!" Layla knew it was a terrible crime and decided to get to the bottom of this mystery.
Jameelah Salih is a 27 year Muslim woman born to what appears to be one of the inner city's stronger blended American Muslim families. She works as a hair stylist with her two best friends in the city's only Muslim women's owned and operated hair salon, Covered Pearls. On appearance and material possessions alone Jameelah seems to be doing okay.
Power Poetry for Wide Awake Youth by Habibullah Saleem
$11.95
Power Poetry For Wide Awake Youth is a collection of life relevant poems that speak in a language our youth and teens understand. The fast-paced and rap-type rhythm of the poems covering teen relevant topics make the poetry fun as well as educational.
If you're like most people, you dream of something different.... whether it's a different job, more money, a better relationship, greater self-esteem... You're dreaming of the good life but what exactly is holding you back on the road to achieving it? What if a book, a book of answers, is the missing link?
Your window to the world. The Fountain is committed to illuminating both the minds and the hearts of readers by covering scientific as well as spiritual topics, addressing both components of human existence. The Fountain adheres to the belief that the entire universe and whatever exists beyond our senses are manifestations of the Divine Names of God Almighty, and that scientific discoveries open up new gates and reveal broader dimensions leading to the Truth, making us realize the essence and meaning of creation.
Meet Debora McNichol - IWA Legal Counsel by Linda D. Delgado
As Salaam Alaykum Sis Debora
Debora: Wa alaikum asalaam!
You have been an active member of the IWA organization for about five years and more recently were voted by the membership to serve as the IWA's Legal Counsel. As legal counsel you are a non-voting member of the IWA Board of Directors. As the Director of the IWA organization I want to tell you and Islamic Ink Readers how fortunate I believe our IWA organization is to have you as a member and our Legal Counsel.
Debora: Gosh, thanks! I'm blushing. And I love you, too.
Readers always want to know a little bit about the person being interviewed... something about their personal lives so let's start off with this. Please tell us about your life as a Muslim, wife, and Mom.
Debora: I've been a Muslim since 1996, alhamdulillah. To say that that was the best thing that's ever happened to me would be a gross understatement. I used to be a hard-working, hard-living, hard-drinking hard head, and now I'm just a Muslim hard head. Reading the Quran converted me to Islam.
I have a really wonderful husband, who is as patient as his wife is impetuous, and I have a beautiful little girl who, alhamdulillah, has a temperament more like her daddy than her mommy.
In 1997, my (new) husband and I opened a restaurant in southern Virginia, and thanks to Allah, it's been open since. We both came into the business with plenty of experience, but at some point, I decided that I wanted my marriage more than I wanted to run the restaurant, so I only go in now when Ahmed wants "the mean one" to get the job done... There is really only one thing that I obsess about, and that's work, whether it's restaurant work, writing, editing, or lawyering.
Laila was born after several years of trying, alhamdulillah. She will be nine years old very soon, insha Allah. She's a lot of fun and so sweet, masha Allah, except when she torments Kiki the Cat. Laila is noisy. I would not mention that except for the fact that I spent so much time in loud places when I was young that I have some hearing loss and there are certain pitches and sounds that send me through the roof with pain. Laila is familiar with all of them.
Please tell the readers about your education and don't exclude information about your work and business. This interview is designed to inform readers about who you are, what you do, and what inspires and motivates you.
Debora: Back in the '80's when I was in my 20's, I attended college to be a math teacher. I love math! (Would that I could scream it from the rooftops! I think in numbers and see in patterns. Oddly enough, I think practical math like accounting is a complete bore. I like the abstract stuff.
I skated through my math classes with little problem despite working full time and trying to have a personal life, but had to work to get A's in the other classes. I came to a point in my life, however, where I had to get a 'real job' in order to live above the poverty level and I went into restaurant management. Anyone who has been a restaurant manager or knows one, knows how much time and self is involved in the career, and I eventually quit school in order to devote myself to it.
Now, some might say that quitting school was a bad decision, but Allah knows best, and I realized as I got older that I did not have the patience to teach high school math after all. I would have ended up hating math and hating my students, and math is just too important to hate. Now I love it from afar.
Back in 2001, I was inspired by an incredible woman and Allah to return to college, finish the degree, go to law school, and become a lawyer. Years later, I graduated from law school and passed two bar exams, and now I'm a lawyer licensed in North Carolina and Virginia. Incidentally, I changed my major to political science in order to practice reading for law school.
Some people are very good readers and they understand what they read very easily. I am not one of those people. The schooling I've enjoyed since returning to school has been very difficult for me but possible. Frankly I say for anyone interested in law school, if I can do it anybody can do it.
I was very fortunate that my husband and my daughter were so patient throughout my school years, and alhamdulillah, neither has kicked me out of the house yet.
As bad a reader as I am, I am a worse writer. As I took classes that required written reports, I was fortunate to have IWA member Judy Eldawy look over them for me so eventually what I turned in were papers good enough to get good grades - usually A's. I was always a little embarrassed because Judy ripped up my papers in order to make them better, so in time, I learned to edit my own work and Judy had less and less editing to do.
When it came time to go to law school and to write legal memos and briefs, Judy could not help me much anymore. It's not that she was not a good editor, it's just that I became a better editor of my own work then she could be. She cares about my feelings, after all.
I turned out to be such a good editor, in my ever so humble opinion, that I eventually opened Sawa-Lad's Editing Services to keep me busy during law school and into my first lean years as an attorney. I find that my best skills as an editor have less to do with the mechanics of writing and more with critique and analysis. That worked well for me in law school and works well for me in the legal profession.
Readers may not know you well because you don't write fiction and non-fiction books and aren't involved with art and/or design work.
Debora: But I've edited plenty of members' work! Among the writers I've edited are sisters Julie Mair, Saba Negash, you - Linda Delgado, and Zabrina abu Bakr. I have edited a couple novels of IWA authors, too, including The Gift, by Zaipah Ibrahim and most recently The Size of a Mustard Seed by Maryam Sullivan.
Ooh. I also edited Judy Eldawy's "You Jist Never Know" which is featured in the latest Many Voices, One Faith II- Islamic Fiction Stories anthology, and the winner of IWA's 2009 Islamic fiction story contest.
Judy is my best friend, incidentally. I've known her since middle school, which was a long, long time ago! She is the best friend a person could have.
Besides editing, I do a little writing, but usually it is task work. If you need a biography, campaign materials, or a cover letter, I'm your girl!
Last year, I began contributing op-ed pieces to the Crescent Times in Perth, Australia. Tarek Chamkhi is the editor-in-chief and produces the monthly newspaper with the help of his wife Joanne, and the paper has gone national! I have really enjoyed the opportunity and privilege of working with Tarek and to be featured with such a talented staff.
Today, Tarek and Joanne are planning a magazine called Hijrah! to be published from Australia and distributed to English-speaking Muslims around the world. I have committed to acting as the magazine's overseas editor and insha Allah, will manage marketing and gather content for it.
If by the way, any writers in the IWA are interested in contributing to Hijrah!, please contact me!
The IWA membership is mostly comprised of individuals involved in these endeavors. I am curious as may be our readers. As a lawyer, why did you join the IWA?
Debora: Well, I wasn't a lawyer, but a law student, when I joined the IWA. I probably wouldn't have joined, though, if it weren't for being psychologically and psychically pulled into it by its founder. All in all however, this has been a good move for me. I love intellectual property law and a writers group is a perfect place to discuss intellectual property. Or rather, I should say that it is the perfect place for me to talk to myself about intellectual property and if someone can benefit from it? Alhamdulillah.
In 2009 you became the Legal Counsel for the IWA organization and serve on the elected and volunteer Board of Directors. You work directly with Board members. What has been the most challenging work you have completed for the organization to date and why?
Debora: Oh, it's all been challenging. Wink. I've learned a lot, too, including how to fill out an IRS application for a nonprofit organization. That is probably the most boring thing that I have done, but it is probably the most critically important task, too. Nonprofit status for the IWA is important not only for tax purposes, but also for donation purposes. Membership dues only go so far! Sadly, the IRS is very, very, very picky about their paperwork and very choosy about the groups to whom nonprofit status is granted.
(Unfortunately, the nonprofit application has been put on hold for a while. Insha Allah, the IWA will continue the application process in the first half of this year.)
The IWA promotes literacy as its primary purpose and as a goal promotes the Islamic Fiction books and stories authored by its members and in general the literary sub category of Fiction: Islamic Fiction. Why do you support the organization's goal of promoting Islamic Fiction?
Debora: Boy, that is a loaded question! I think the simpler question is, "why wouldn't someone support Islamic fiction or the goals of the IWA?" (Answer: I don't know.) Literacy is vital to society, to Muslims, to science and advancement of humanity. If we cannot read it is so difficult to learn -- this is not to say that people cannot learn if they cannot read.
When I think of literacy, I am reminded of a couple things during my first trip to Egypt in 2005.
First was how alien everything seemed to me because all the writing was Arabic writing and I did not read Arabic let alone speak Arabic. Each traffic sign, each label on food product, each Egyptian commercial was something that I struggled with. After three months, I am ashamed to say, my Arabic had not improved as much as my sister-in-law's English. Enough said on that.
Second was my satisfaction at learning a semester of college Economics while I was in Egypt. Before leaving the United States, I visited eBay and found an Economics 101 textbook for something ridiculously cheap, like $13. I took the book to Egypt and read that book until I understood Econ 101. That is the power of literacy.
The importance of Islamic fiction especially for Muslim children and adolescents seems to me self-evident. Our children and adolescents need to feel a connection with their religion and morals that just cannot be obtained by reading other fiction. They also need to learn how to read critically. Hopefully they will enjoy reading. What more wholesome way to get our children to read than to provide them with Islamic fiction?
It has been a pleasure to interview you sister Debora.
IWA Member Interview: Mahasin Shamsid-Deen by Balqees Mohammed
A second generation American Muslimah, Mahasin began writing as soon as she could write and began entering and winning contests at the age of eight. Throughout high school and college she won numerous essay and short story awards for various writing techniques and entered a gifted writers program. Her professional writing has largely focused on technical journals, handbooks, educational papers, business reports, grants, pamphlets, brochures and some advertising publishing more than 100 writings. She began writing plays in high school and focused on poetry, short story, essay and of course theatrical plays. Her plays have won critical acclaimed and been translated and performed in America, Europe, Asia and the middle east. Mahasin is married with three children and often serves as a guest speaker conducting educational workshops for organizations. Mahasin's goals are to "Impact! Expand! Inspire"
Email: info@islamictheatre.com Web site: www.islamictheatre.com
Sr. Mahasin Shamsid-Deen, a member of Islamic Writers' Alliance, Inc. since 2004, is one of the founding members of this non-profit organization for Muslims intent on producing quality Islamic literature. One of her major roles of contribution to the establishment and operation of the organization has been her keen interest in overseeing the annual poetry contest, which is in its fifth year this year, 2010. Sr. Balqees Mohammed, IWA's Secretary for 2009-2010 presents the results of an interview she conducted with Sr. Mahasin, who is the IWA Assistant Director for 2009-2010, concerning Sr. Mahasin's role as the conductor of this important international contest.
Balqees: What is the IWA Annual Poetry contest?
Mahasin: The Islamic Writers' Alliance Annual Poetry contest is an opportunity for poets and inspiring poets to write poetry and have it evaluated. Many writers don't have an opportunity to artistically convey their Islamic thoughts to the public. This poetry contest gives them a forum to do just that - get their work to the public arena.
Balqees: How is it run?
Mahasin: The contest is divided into 3 categories: Youth, Adults, and IWA members. Children can submit their thoughts on the subject of interest for the years' contest, or about Islam in general. Often, Islamic schools use the contest as a writing exercise for their students. The "Adults" category includes anyone 18 yrs and older, who is not a member of the IWA. Sometimes the contestants are published poets, and other times they are aspiring poets. All are most welcome to participate. The last category is IWA members. Members are separated from other adults, because they may have more experience. The contest runs each April, from the first to the thirtieth and is a completely online process. It is advertised online and submissions are only accepted online during the month of April. When the judges are later finished reviewing and marking each entry, the winners are then announced.
Balqees: Who are the judges?
Mahasin: We try to have judges that are themselves experienced writers and poets. When selecting judges, we choose someone who has actually written children's poetry to judge the youth category because it takes a special understanding of the thoughts and abilities of children to judge them. For the adults and IWA members we solicit published poets. What we don't do is ask for instance someone who only writes research papers to be a judge because the intricacies of poetry and poetry writing may elude them.
Balqees: Well then, who are the contestants generally?
Mahasin: The IWA annual poetry contest is truly an international event. We have received poems from practically every continent on the earth. People write from the Middle East, north, west, east and south Africa, Canada, all over Europe, Islands, and both north and south America. We tend to have more women submitting poems than men, but it is not an all women contest by any means. Even the children that submit poems are coming from Egypt, London, British Columbia and parts of the United States so far. It is always a tremendous and wonderful display of the thoughts of Muslims worldwide.
Balqees: Do you ever have non-Muslim contestants?
Mahasin: Yes. We have received poems from non-Muslims, but these are few.
Balqees: Has anyone ever submitted an inappropriate poem?
Mahasin: Yes. Part of what I do is review the poems submitted by each contestant. If there is information missing I will contact the poet. But also, if the poem is somehow inappropriate - meaning there is lewd language, insulting imagery, strong negative political opinion, sexual in nature or even off topic - it is rejected. Since we have a public website, some people may send in a poem that is meant to attack Islam or Muslims. Others simply don't know how to write an Islamic poem.
Balqees: Why must the poems be Islamic?
Mahasin: There are thousands of poetry website and contests on the internet. However, most of these either do not allow or don't have an appreciation for religious poems. A Muslim who wants to express himself Islamically may find that these other sites don't understand the terminology, imagery or passion that the Muslim may feel. The IWA poetry contest allows the poet to be unabashedly Muslim in his expression.
Balqees: What do people write about?
Mahasin: The IWA alternates between being open or themed. Open contests mean the contestants can write on whatever their heart desires as long as it is not Islamically offensive. When the contest is open the poets write on a variety of subjects from love of their Lord to divorce. Some write very personal poems about their family life or culture, others write scathing reviews of society, others write stories of beauty, the wonder of nature, the character of the human being or their understanding and belief in Islam. Some poems are achingly poignant and others are scathingly raw. The open contests are truly a challenge for the judges to determine a winner.
Balqees: Why do you have theme contests?
Mahasin: The first time we had a themed contest was when we chose to have the contest submissions be about the Prophet Muhammad (Prayers and Peace be upon him). At that time there was a disheartening incident in Holland with demeaning cartoons and there was the equally disheartening response, from parts of the Muslim community. From these painful incidents the IWA Board of Directors decided that the world needed to have a way to express what they felt and knew to be true about our dear beloved prophet. Oddly enough, that year was the year that we had the most submissions from non-Muslims to the annual contest. After that we next chose a more open topic - Iman for poets to express themselves.
Balqees: Is there to be a theme for this year's contest? If so, then what is it?
Mahasin: Allah (S.W.T.) says in Surat At-Dhariat, (Verse 56), what can be translated as, "I did not create the Jinn and the humans but to ya'bodoon (submit to me)." The root word Ibadah is usually translated as worship, although it is connected to related words that mean to be obedient and submit with humility. Ibadah is the ultimate obedience, the ultimate submission, the ultimate humility to Allah along with the ultimate love to do these things solely for the pleasure of Allah. Ibadah encompasses our beliefs, practices, commandments, prohibitions, intentions and sincerity. It is a broad topic that leaves the poet with much to express. When the contest is themed, we want it to be broad enough for poets to really delve in and examine. We pray Allah accepts our efforts and intentions.
Balqees: On behalf of the IWA Board of Directors, the general membership of the IWA, and those reading this interview, I would like to thank Sister Mahasin for her cooperation in this interview, as well as for her hard work and dedication to the IWA and the annual poetry contest. I would also like to invite all to participate in this wonderful annual event, and to distribute the news of this competition far and wide to all those you know, and perhaps even schools in your area, to give opportunity to the talented and gifted youth to participate as well. For more information on the contest (submission guidelines) as well as a view of past winning entries, please go to: http://www.islamicwritersalliance.net/iwaprojects.html
The Best Writing Ideas Come at the Worst Times by Marwa Elnaggar
I've always wondered why for me, at least, the best writing ideas come at the worst times.
It started out as a rather peaceful Thursday, the last day of 2009, with just a slight difficulty in swallowing to tell me that the peace wasn't going to last. It didn't. Two highly feverish days later of foretelling my impending death to my mother, who knew better, yet still - mother-like - teared up at my babbling, the crisis passed and I survived.
Too sick to work, I spend most of my time in a half-asleep-half-awake state, and find myself daydreaming.
Predictably, it is only when I am too exhausted, busy, or not-quite-awake, that all the really good ideas related to one of my writing projects float lazily by in my mind... so slowly, that I can visualize the words, and then the sentences start forming themselves into tidy little paragraphs that suddenly, by a leap of brilliant imagination of the unconscious, are somehow neatly fit into a previously gaping hole in my plot... so slowly do those ideas swim by smiling and waving, that the few conscious or rational or idle cells in my brain (depending on my state) start hyperventilating and run around trying to reach the Code Red button that would alert the rest of my brain and make me GO WRITE IT DOWN, ALREADY!
My exhausted, or busy, or not-quite-awake mind tries - usually successfully - to bat away those few panicky cells, preferring, instead, to smile back at those floating swimming brilliants and murmur love-sick endearments. Oh my, but you are a brilliantly formed piece of plot beauty. You are so breathtakingly lovely. You are the embodiment of all that is beautiful about language. Where did you come from, so perfect, so stunning? Do you have any relatives?
And so on, and so forth.
Panicky Brain Cells start arguing their point, usually in upper-case letters, GET UP AND WRITE IT DOWN AND TREASURE IT FOREVER!
Shhhh... you'll scare them away... Love-Sick Brain Cells whisper.
LISTEN, YOU FOOLS, YOU CAN EITHER DROOL OVER THEM NOW AND THEN WAKE UP AND FORGET THEM IN THE CONFUSION OF YOUR DREAMS AS YOU ALWAYS DO--
Oooh... just look at that one!
OR YOU CAN JUST BE A TINY BIT INCONVENIENCED NOW AND WRITE THEM DOWN AND BE INFINITELY HAPPIER THAN YOU CURRENTLY ARE!
Love-Sick Brain Cells don't really mind being called fools, but they do get annoyed at all the shouting, which distracts them, and they can see parts of the floating ideas starting to blur a bit at the edges. This gets them in such a state of agitation that they - who said love was peaceful or merciful? - start to viciously attack the vastly outnumbered Panicky Brain Cells and beat them into silence.
That is what usually happens.
Every once in a while, Panicky Brain Cells manage to bully Love-Sick Brain Cells into tardy action, and the result is an exciting one or two or three or more pages of good writing, or perhaps an entire outline of a subplot or major plot point.
I have never ever regretted getting up from that dazed sleep and capturing those ideas onto paper. Or if I had been driving or otherwise engaged, repeating at least the key points of the ideas to myself until I could record them.
I should listen to the whiny, annoying, high-pitched voices of Panicky Brain Cells more often.
But like the sirens of Greek mythology, Love-Sick Brain Cells have such lovely sweet voices...
The majority of Muslims are familiar with the alleged story of Jesus (as) asking those free of sin "to cast the first stone" in their condemnation of an adulteress. Pericope Adulterae, as the story is typically referred to, is claimed by Biblical scholars to be attributed to the Bible even though its origins are not divine. Based on the significance of the story and the fact that it does not contradict the noble character of Jesus (as), most scholars have agreed upon its inclusion in the later versions of the Bible.
In Pericope Adulterae, Jesus (as) is approached by a group of hypocrites, with stones in hand, to judge in the case of an adulteress. The woman, commonly referred to as "the prostitute", is caught in the act and brought to Jesus (as) for judgment. Knowing their deceiving nature, Jesus (as) addresses the hypocrites by saying: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her". Haunted by their conscience, the group of men retreat from the scene, leaving Jesus (as) and the woman alone. He then asks her if there were any accusers who condemned her, and in their absence, he then tells her to "go on and sin no more" .
This story presents us with the human dilemma of forbidding evil when we ourselves are guilty of sin. As Muslims, we are constantly deliberating between enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, as Allah (swt) commanded us in the Quran, and keeping our sins in front of us when judging others. All too often we encounter fellow Muslim brothers and sisters publicly transgressing Allah's boundaries in our communities: the brother with the convenience store who sells liquor, the sister who is always backbiting other sisters, the brother who abuses his wife. In these situations, we ask ourselves: "Who am I to say anything? Isn't it hypocritical to admonish them when I am not without sin?"
In Islam, we can approach this moral predicament through the hadith reported by Abu Said Al-Khudri (ra), where the Prophet (saw) said "Whoever amongst you sees an evil, he must change it with his hand; if he is unable to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is unable to do so, then with his heart; and that is the weakest form of Faith" . Muslims have an obligation to forbid evil in all cases or they run the risk of being cursed by Allah for not condemning it, as stated by Prophet Muhammad (saw) in his saying: "Nay, by Allah, you either enjoin good and forbid evil and catch hold of the hand of the oppressor and persuade him to act justly and stick to the truth, or Allah will involve the hearts of some of you with the hearts of others and will curse you as He had cursed them."
Moreover, Muslims face many a challenge when forbidding evil, and often lack the wisdom and sincerity to do so effectively. For instance, we might be quick to judge the new sister in our community who does not wear hijab, but fail to admonish the veteran sister who attends the study circle and backbites. Or we might firmly stand against the brother who sells liquor in his convenience store, but will not dare speak up against the religious leader who commits wrongdoings.
In situations such as these, we are reminded of the hadith reported by 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud (ra), in which the Prophet (saw) stated: "The first defect (in religion) which affected the Children of Israel is the way that man would meet another and say to him: 'Fear Allah and abstain from what you are doing, for this is not lawful for you'. Then he would meet him the next day and find no change in him, but this would not prevent him from eating with him, drinking with him and sitting in his assembles. When it came to this, Allah led their hearts into evil ways on account of their association with others."
Forbidding evil is a duty that we all need to assume responsibly for our own sake and the benefit of our communities. No one amongst us is free of sin, yet we must forbid evil nonetheless.
Enith Morillo, a revert from Venezuela, is a freelance writer whose work is featured in the recently published books "Many Poetic Voices, One Faith" and "Many Voices, One Faith II: Islamic Fiction Stories", and the popular online magazine AltMuslimah.com. She is also the media liaison for the Healthy Families Initiative, a program addressing domestic violence in the RI Muslim community.
The House of Hanaf rulers gathered for an emergency meeting. It was the largest of these gatherings held in centuries. Twenty heads of the the Hanaf House gathered secretly inside the Kabah. Sheik Ali Al Hanaf, regent prince of the South Arabian Peninsula, sat watching large alien ships fly pass heading west. He looked at his watch, he was late. He grabbed his briefcase and ran for his chopper. He was taking with him to the gathering a report he compiled that would predict the outcome of the recent global alien attacks that was slowly but systematically approaching the outer Arabian borders.
Minutes later, he exited the chopper and was rushed inside the Holy Kabah. He paused as he stepped up to the grand door. No one in his generation or his fathers or even his grandfather's generation had entered these doors except the royal house keeper, usually the grand king himself. He clutched his bag, "In Your Name, Ya Allah, I enter Your House," he whispered. He stepped on to the earth stone ground of the holy Kabah. The door closed from outside as two armed guards stood watch. For a moment, it was total darkness. Then, one of the sheiks lit a match and lit an oil lamp. He looked around the room, the Kabah was the only structure to remain simple and of natural material. The stone walls smelled of earth, righteous earth. A circle of men, mostly elderly, sat in a semi circle. He sat down on his knees.
"As salaamu alaikum honorable shuyuk" he greeted the house heads, including his father.
"Wa alaikum as salaam, what news do you bring us; and be frank."
Ali looked at his father, then to the others.
"News from across the globe speaks of chaos, havoc and destruction. These aliens are attacking cities and burning them to the ground. Those cities which are not totally destroyed, are enslaved. The aliens are swift and methodical in their attacks. We have lost most communication with the western world and with the Global World Space Station satellites. The Americas have fallen, Australia and the Aus Isles, Europe, Asia Minor and Major are under attack as we speak. At the rate they are attacking, they will converge on Makkah soon," he said, looking at his reports.
"How long before this will happen?" the elder Hanaf asked.
"We have less than three weeks," he answered.
The heads of the House of Hanaf looked at each other in alarm. They began speaking at once. Finally, elder Prince Hassan silenced them all.
"Ya Ikhwaan! Silence! Now is not the time to panic. We must think rationally and fast. We must preserve what we can if our future generation will have something to inherit from us. By Allah, if nothing else remains after we leave this world, this house, the house of Allah and His Kitab, the Qur'an, must remain," he said passionately.
"But the aliens will not leave anything left standing, they are godless creatures they will not respect the house of Allah or His Kitab! Look at what they did to the great cathedrals and synagogues not to mention the libraries of knowledge," the other house heads nodded in agreement.
"If I may speak," Ali asked looking around the room at his elders.
"Speak Ali," his father nodded.
"What if we hide the Kabah and the Holy Qur'an deep within the earth. I, along with my colleagues have developed a way to instantaneously move objects through mass. We can then erect a false Kabah in a different location. The Kabah will remain buried until it is safe to return it to its original location, its true kibla."
The men looked around at each other, it was acceptable but did they have time to do so. Ali stood up.
"I will get to work on making the arrangements." He started to leave then turned to address the circle of Hanafs, "Oh, it is important to mention that the Black Stone should not be buried with the Kabah. We should hide it in a different location."
"Why is that?" Asked one of the elder Hanafs.
"It is my understanding that the aliens are here because of it. They seek to use it as a power source. If they find it, it should not be with the Kabah."
His father raised his eyebrow.
"Why not?" He asked.
"Based on intelligence reports just before the collapse of the communication grid, intel believed the stone may be most powerful when in the vicinity of the Kabah. Though we have not had time to confirm those facts to be truthful, it is better to be safe, than sorry."
He took his briefcase and left. The heads of the House of Hanaf all stood and left the Kabah. The House elder was the last to leave, he looked around.
"Ya Rabb, no one can protect your house better than you, so I leave it in your hands." His eyes filled with tears as he kneeled and prostrated inside the house of Allah for the last time. He got up and stepped outside.
Three weeks later, Ali and a group of engineers were standing with a huge machine. The House of Hanaf stood behind them. It was a solemn atmosphere; in a few moments, the most sacred house of all muslims would disappear. Ali turned on the machine. It hummed for a moment, then an electrical charge built up in the machine. A single blue charge shot from the machine. It enveloped the Kabah, after two minutes, the brightness of the light nearly blinded them. When they opened their eyes, the Kabah was gone, as was the seat of the black stone - nothing but sand remained all around them for miles. Ali's father walked up to him, he pulled the black stone from under his cloak.
"The Black Stone, son, take it to somewhere safe," he handed the stone to Ali. "May Allah (swt) protect you both." Ali nodded. A chopper stood by waiting for him and the Stone.
How often has Allah shown me
The falsehood in my deed
Long past the moment of the action
Caution later unmasked as fear
Inaction as insincerity
Or worse - a lack of faith
Hostility disguising wounded pride
So many things hiding inside me
For years and years
Until, in His Mercy, Allah lets
Truth, repentance and tears
Come crashing through the walls
My real intentions hid behind
Imagine the reactions of so many
Self-made martyrs when too late
They discover their own true intentions:
Personal vendetta, fame, camaraderie-
Maybe even cowardice in seeking a quick way out
Of this life with all its hardships and distress
Fast-tracking oneself into Paradise
Nicely done, if only Allah doesn't notice it
Personally, I wouldn't risk my soul on it
Hurrying down a path
A small, ordinary stone
Caught my eye
I nearly passed it by
A second, third, fourth and fifth
Were strewn along the way
I was really in a hurry
But stopped each time that day
For the small, ordinary stones
That caught my eye
When I had nearly passed them by
Later that night
Before I went to bed
I took them out of my pocket
And discovered what I had
When I dusted them off
And polished them clean
They were the finest, brightest jewels
That I had ever seen
Now each day
As I travel on my path
I never pass it by
When a small, ordinary stone
Catches my eye
