My family and I are the biggest soccer fans! Especially my father, the house could be burning and his eyes would still be glued to the television screen. Although the same four teams usually make it to the final rounds, it still remains one of the most highly anticipated events at my house (at times I think its even more festive than Eid). Anyway, this upcoming year marks another exciting FIFA world tournament in South Africa! I was sadly reminded today because the second sales phase is nearing its end, and soon enough its going to be a sold out affair *tears*. I always wanted to go to South Africa, with its beautiful natural scenery (sunny skies, fluffy clouds and plenty of rays of sunshine) and wildlife parks. Back in 2006, during the last world cup (btw still stands as one of the most watched events in television history), since my brothers didn't have the slightest interest in travelling with me, I used to kid and say I was going to attend 2010 games as a honeymoon trip upon graduation. But I didnt realize how fast four years passes us by subhanaAllah. Maybe I'll be taking the trip to Brazil come 2014. But back to the issue at hand, I'm still super excited even though I'll be watching it from home. I am rooting for Portugal to take it. They just recently secured their position, and with Cristiano Ronaldo's recent recovery I am hopeful it will happen or maybe its just wishful thinking...
Sunday, October 25, 2009
2010 Fifa World Cup!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Life and Work.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
David Foster Wallace's commencement speech that he delivered back in 2004 is by far one of the most thought provoking pieces I have read up to date. Here's a link to the speech: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178211966454607.html
My thoughts on the article:
I admit, the article is a little extensive. So, if you dont have the time to read it I'll quote a sentence that struck out to me:
"There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship. And an outstanding reason for choosing some sort of God or spiritual-type thing to worship -- be it J.C. or Allah, be it Yahweh or the Wiccan mother-goddess or the Four Noble Truths or some infrangible set of ethical principles -- is that pretty much anything else you worship will eat you alive."
This is undoubtedly the truth. By way of example, one of the possessions that many of us hold dear is our wealth. If you spend so much of your time and effort investing, working or even gambling (for those of us that like fast cash) we are worshipping wealth. You fall in depths of despair however, come recession and wealth slowly departs. All the time and hard work you have dedicated to its attainment, and it has nothing to offer you in times of hardship. This is likewise for any material possession. It is only through spirituality where loyalty and aid dont dissipate. Through his many writings and experiences he concluded with such an intriguing rationalized thought.
As humans our natural propensity is to search for answers regarding life and purpose. All the works produced by renowned philosophers,scientists, innovators and even leaders always had the objective of fulfilling this inclination. Throughout their many years of experience, they generated numerous theories but to their disbelief, none of them proved successful, simply because they needed empirical evidence. Science claims to be revolutionary, in that they work towards objectivism and incorporating all relevant ideas into their sphere of knowledge. Why have they then limited themselves to empiricism and discarded rationalism?
Science has proved many times, namely through the visual spectrum that humans are extremely limited. The human visual system is sensitive only to a small portion of the electromagnetic field. SubhanaAllah this is a clear example of how limited we are as creation. Alhamdulilah though Allah (SWT) has provided us with the ability to REASON and submit our worship to a higher power. Despite the many complex technological advances that are being produced we will never be able to find the exact composition of oxygen, or process in which plants supply themselves and procreate asexually (can you tell I'm a science student) simply because of our bounded dimensional spheres. I find it hard to believe that many of the learned scientists we've studied, have absolutely no attachment to faith. Having personally studied the intricate field of science, I find this extremely peculiar. Science has been around as early as the 16th century, and there are still many natural processes we fail to explain, this should indicate a superlative existence which should ultimately lead to submission. They instead, dig around mess and bring themselves to believe that there will eventually be an explanation. The Quran states : "That is the Book, wherein is no doubt, a guidance for the God-fearing who believe in the unseen.." (2:1) Emphasis on UNSEEN. We are unable to empirically substantiate the power of the unseen but our rational capability (proving the restriction of man) should be sufficient proof of existence beyond man. This is the solution to the meaning of life. The rest of the struggles and experiences we go through serve minimally to the relevance of the recondite purpose of life...
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The Day I Realized..
سم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Alhamdulilah, I have been wearing the Hijab a little over 15 years now and throughout the years I have witnessed the many faulty notions that have manifested regarding its meaning.
I will take you back in history to the year 1994.
Islamic customs and practices constantly surrounded me growing up. I was intrigued by and absolutely enamored by the beauty of the Hijab. My mother was always hesitant in allowing me to start wearing it at such a tender age, but after carefully persuading her into buying me one, she slowly but surely accepted my incessant plea. I was thrilled to begin showcasing my new image. First day as a hijabi was a comforting feeling. My mother didn't tug at my hair that morning, I didn't have tears trailing down my cheeks from tightened braids and I was sent off to school with the gentle kiss of my mother and the warm praises of my father, who was overjoyed to see his eldest daughter taking a giant leap into adulthood. My parents happiness, was my happiness and to think I elicited such strong jovial feelings for a piece of cloth? that was unbelievably exciting to me, little did I know however, the many distressing events that were ahead.....
I skipped all the way to school that day and upon arrival to the schoolyard, I remember many of my teachers and peers inquiring about this cloth that covered my head. They instantly started labeling me and I noticed many of the children distancing themselves from my proximity. Now, as a child the bondage you build with other children delineated your inclusion in school activities. I couldn't manage the dilemma of rejection, I was steadily on my way up the social ladder of popularity. It was just another extra piece of clothing I had to wear in the morning right? They shouldn't have a hard time understanding it. I tried my best to explain it to them in my accent ridden, incredibly shaky voice but to my disappointment, my articulacy failed and I was ridiculed, ostracized and shamed.
That night, I sat alone contemplating to myself...why was this a blameworthy fabric? Why did it evoke such strong negative messages? This is when I realized the striking distinctiveness of this beautiful cloth as well as the many contemptuous feelings it carried...
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Getting Started...
سم الله الرحمن الرحيم
A warm welcome to my blog readers! May Peace and Blessings be Upon You..
I will share my various struggles at trying to stay focused while amongst various diversions. I am in no way perfect, it is a composite course of development that requires plenty of patience and the convoluted procedure of ingraining meticulous discipline. Stay tuned :)