Umm Zakiyyah's Blog, page 16

Prejudice Bones in My Body

“Good,” she said so matter-of-factly that I was momentarily confused.  Blinking, I held the phone’s receiver as I processed this simple response that held little connection to what I had just said. It was months after the 9-11 attacks, and I had just shared with my friend my distress over Muslims being unjustly detained and […]

The Walls of My Father’s Church: Story 2 Realities of Submission series

Click HERE for ALL STORIES in this series In all honesty, it is Darnell to whom I’m indebted for my interest in Islam. It was he who introduced me to the term while I was still preoccupied in my world of The Church and the Sunday school classes I taught to the children of members, […]

He Prayed in a Club!

Somebody Should Slap Him? It was a normal day at the college, and some of the Muslim students lounged in a break room after class. One of them had just shared the story of a Muslim boy who liked to party and often frequented clubs. “But when it’s time for prayer,” the student said, “he […]

Realities of Submission: Story 1

Click HERE for ALL STORIES in this series “And nearest in love to the believers are those who say, ‘We are Christians’ because among them are those devoted to learning and who renounce the world, and they are not arrogant. And when they hear what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes […]

Can’t Believe They Did That: a short story

“You should really consider accepting their offer,” Munira said. Barakah sighed as she balanced the cell phone between her shoulder and ear as she finished typing an email to the editor of the university newspaper. “It’s too much to think about right now,” Barakah said, her voice exhausted. She pressed send and leaned back in […]

Realities of Submission, online series coming soon…

Coming Friday, November 13th 2015… ‘Realities of Submission‘ series* based on the novel by Umm Zakiyyah Renee cannot date, listen to worldly music, or wear fashionable clothes. These are the rules of her father’s church, and they embarrass and annoy her, especially amongst her peers. But she tries her best to be a good daughter. Her only friends […]

A Prisoner in This World: Story 15 ‘Hearts We Lost’ SERIES FINALE

CLICK HERE for ALL STORIES in this series “O Messenger of Allah, who are the people who are most severely tried?” He replied, “The people who are tested the most severely are the Prophets, then the righteous, then the next best and the next best, and a man will be tested in accordance with his […]

His Gift To Her: Story 14 in ‘Hearts We Lost’ series

The bright red bow was the first thing Hasna noticed when she entered her office early Monday morning in mid-October. The red ribbon bound the small box that was wrapped in iridescent gold paper and sat on her desk next to a stack of papers she had been reviewing the day before. Vernon. It couldn’t […]

Their Sincere Adviser: Story 13 in ‘Hearts We Lost’ series

“There is a group of Allah’s angels who move about the streets searching for people who mention Allah. When they find a gathering of dhikr, they call out to each other, ‘Here is what you are looking for.’ They then cover that group with their wings right up to the sky. When these angels return […]

A Single Good Deed: Story 12 in ‘Hearts We Lost’ series

“Among the people who came before you was a man who killed ninety-nine people. He asked who was the most knowledgeable man in the world, and he was directed to a monk. He went to him and said that he had killed ninety-nine people and was repentance possible for him? The monk said, ‘No,’ so […]