Umm Zakiyyah's Blog, page 17

Heaven Has Moaned: Story 11 in ‘Hearts We Lost’ series

“I see what you do not see and I hear what you do not hear. Heaven has moaned and it has a right to moan. By Him in Whose hand my soul is, there is not a space of even four fingers width in which there is not an angel who prostrates his forehead before […]

Second Thoughts: Story 10 in ‘Hearts We Lost’ series

There are people who walk the earth without sin, and when they err, as all humans do, Allah says, “I have forgiven him for the sins of his past, the sins of this moment, and any sins he may do in the future. For he has asked Me for forgiveness, calling out My Name, and […]

Fully American and Fully Muslim: Story 9 in ‘Hearts We Lost’ series

The law offices of Wynmore and Associates sat unobtrusively in an office park in Bethesda, Maryland, surrounded by freshly mown grass and pines that sweetened the air as one ascended the flower-lined walkway leading to the polished oak wood double doors of the suites. A light glowed from one of the windows behind a cypress […]

True Dreams: Story 8 in ‘Hearts We Lost’ series

“Dreams are of three types, a true dream from Allah, a dream that causes distress which is from Satan, and a dream that comes from what a person thinks about while he is awake and he sees it while he is asleep.” —Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (Bukhari and Muslim) When Iman was three years […]

With a Heavy Heart: Story 7 in ‘Hearts We Lost’ series

“Say [O Muhammad to the people] ‘If you love Allah, follow me. Allah will love you and forgive your sins. For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’” —Qur’an, Ali Imraan (3:31) Sharif sat quietly on the carpeted floor of his living room, having completed Asr prayer minutes before. The conversation with Hasna returned to him, this time in […]

In His Father’s Shadow: Story 6 in ‘Hearts We Lost’ series

“Iman!” Mona stood at the bottom of the carpeted steps leading to the girls’ rooms. It was Tuesday morning and she had just returned from the store. After Mona had unloaded the car, paper bags of groceries lined the kitchen table and floor, and she was exhausted. She had been up most of the night […]

You Don’t Get It. I Have Feelings Too

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This blog was originally posted via VirtualMosque.com “The one you are looking to for help and guidance needs patience and good treatment too. No Muslim is perfect, whether revert or born into a Muslim family, student or Islamic teacher, layperson or scholar.” —from the journal of Umm Zakiyyah It took years before I […]

No Place Like Home: American Teacher in Saudi

AUTHOR’S NOTE: I lived as an expat in Saudi Arabia from 2005 to 2013. This blog was written about my first experience as an English teacher there. Some time after the tears of euphoria dry and reality sets in, anyone who has emigrated from their native land experiences what is commonly referred to as “culture […]

The Woman in His Dream: Story 5 in ‘Hearts We Lost’ series

“No,” Hasna had said flatly to Sharif’s inquiry to determine if she was willing to consider wearing hijab after marriage. That night, it was this one response that kept playing over in Sharif’s mind, precluding any likelihood of sleep although his body was desperately in need of rest.   He couldn’t help noticing the uncanny parallels […]

His Family and Faith: Story 4 in ‘Hearts We Lost’ series

“Are you a scholar?”  Asma grinned at Sharif from where she sat across from him at the dining room table Sunday morning, a forkful of eggs poised midair as she eagerly awaited his answer.  She looked younger than she had the day before at the airport when the white cloth framed her face.  Her hair […]