I love Islam and cream soda

#aSipOfIslam ...the Arabic word we generally use for prayer is " salat ", which at it's root has many different meanings, including "connection" (like how a hinge connects a door and a doorway) and "attention"... Salat therefore implies a connection between man and God whereby both turn attention to each other. Man seeks God's mercy, help, healing, forgiveness, etc. And God listens and responds. In Islam salat is a formal prayer ritual that is to be performed repeatedly and perpetually. Doing as such creates a constant connection between man and God and also instills a constant sense of paying attention to God. One of the worst things that we do, besides not actually praying, is when God gives us the things that we ask for, we become distracted buy those achievements/gifts and we forget to continue our connection and attention. Even though we get what we asked for we must continue to ask for the things that we need and or we must be sure...

As a Muslim, when I pray, it is usually at a quiet place for the sake of focus and solace. On Saturday, February 4 th , I prayed in a place in Denver where I experienced the most powerful silence in my life. It is hard to imagine the moment occurring on a blustery afternoon in the midst of nearly Thousands, observing the prayer 10,000 people gathered in protest and support – protest against the current administration and support for the local Muslim community. The event was (aptly named) “Support Our Muslim Neighbors”, held at the Civic Center Park, and organized by several local activists led by Queen Phoenix and Nadeen Ibrahim. I was immediately impressed as I walked into the park, coming across about 7-8 thousand people but to be honest, my first impression, despite the many signs of support for Muslims and lambasting Trump’s ban, was that most were gathered moreso to protest Trump than to support Muslims. I wondered to myself as I wove through the crowd how many ...

Relating the story of Jonah, the Quran has it that it was his anger at the people of Nineveh for refusing his message of salvation that led him to flee from them and eventually end up swallowed by a big fish/whale. I have an inkling of what that type of anger feels like, having been in the belly of the beast (prison) once as a teenager/young adult and inexplicably again recently (being in my 40s). I am sure that Jonah’s own belly burned white hot with righteous indignation that covered up feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. My own fire burned during my latest stint fueled by the fact that it came after nearly 2 decades of turning my life around from my first time down, as well as this latest conviction being the result of largely false accusations of domestic violence.