Brown People
I invited my co workers to my sister’s sweet sixteen party. They left the party, dazed and amazed and said that it felt like they were in another world.
That’s how brown people do.
KONY 2012
My religion teaches me that all the people of this world are my brothers and sisters. The people in this world who believe in Allah and His messengers are my brothers and sisters in Islam.
In Uganda, a little boy, who doesn’t look anything like me, who isn’t a blood relative and who’s name I do not know, IS MY BROTHER. He, with many other children, live in fear everyday because of one man and his army, Joseph Kony. Please visit this site and watch the video, and do your part to raise awareness, donate money and organize a movement that will insist on more U.S. assistance.
2012: Most Islamophobic Election Ever
I knew that this would be the case. It’s hard to watch these politicians with supporters waving and cheering, while they spew hatred and racist ideas from their mouths. What is even harder is when you realize that these ideas are more widespread than you think. Islam is a beautiful religion. It’s the Muslims who are fucking it up. Why can’t anyone see that this is politics, the pursuit of money and power. All of this HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ISLAM.
Muslim Fathers-Not what you thought, now did you?
What an amazing father!!!
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(it was the first, proper break-up to have occurred in my life, I was probably 18 or so, it was a cold, bitter winter and I was lying in bed, crying my eyes out and hugging my pillow for the past week and a half without eating a morsel of food)
Dad: May I enter your room, Holy Princess?
Dad: Ha ha, stop crying. Foolish girl.
Dad: Astaghfirullah. What is that smell? Did you burn something?
Dad: It is the smoke rising from your head to see me this positive, yes?
Dad: Okay. Okay. No more to joke.
Dad: I am a Muslim, Pakistani father. I never liked the idea of you being with him but I said, "Let it be, yaar. She is young. She is free. I still love her. She is my baby princess." Wipe your snot. So I was okay with him being with you. But it hurts me a lot more to see you like this.
Dad: You are not chubby anymore. What kind of diet is this, hmm? Ha ha, I made funny joke.
Dad: (pushes my hair behind my ear) Allah created hearts to break and heal every now and then. That is why we are humans. If we did not hurt, we wouldn't be who we are today. But having a broken heart means you have two options: To heal it and become invincible. Or to mope away and become a pathetic shadow of the person you once were. What would my little girl do?
Dad: She would eat lotta chips. Ha ha ha.
Dad: Okay, sorry. She would fight back and win her strength to become who she was and will be forever. You are going to meet someone amazing. Boys are idiots. I thank Allah for not giving me sons. They are foolish donkeys. Daughters are warriors. You are my warrior. When you were born, I had tears. I was so scared. I did not want anyone to hurt my baby. Today he hurt you. Allah will take revenge. But you take your time to heal and know that I am always here for you even if my English is not too good.
Dad: That boy was a bastard, foolish dog from hell. Bastard.
Dad: I love you.
Happy New Year
While everyone else was dressing up, drinking and dancing tonight, this was what I was doing.
10 p.m. After begging my parents to come over, they do.
10:30 p.m. After begging them to come outside, they do. We do fireworks. They ooh and ahh.
11:00 p.m. We sit on the couch and my dad turns on the news.
11:30 p.m. My sister and I go outside for some last fireworks.
12:00 a.m. We wish each other a Happy New Year.
12:02 a.m. My mother heats up the food.
12:30 a.m. My dad burps. My parents say good night. They leave.
1:00 a.m. I go on Facebook and see everyone’s drunk status updates.
Sigh. My Muslim Life.
Questions About Hijab
I used to wear the hijab, or headscarf, ordained for women in most religions. Here are some funny/interesting questions people asked me:
Did you get that sowed on?
Do you shower with it on?
Do your parents/husband force you to wear that?
Aren’t you hot?
When was the last time you took it off?
Do you shampoo your hair?
Do you have dreads under there?
What color is your hair?
It’s just a fucking scarf, people. I never said that out loud.
