Umm Zakiyyah's Blog, page 18
August 9, 2015
Walking Wounded: Spiritual Crisis After the Zeal
An Honest Discussion with Authors Umm Zakiyyah and Na’ima B. Robert “For some, this period [of religious development] was characterized by increased insularity, intolerance, and estrangement, sometimes from family…At the time, this felt right…But a curious thing happened to many of us as we aged…We began to see ourselves as individuals rather than members of homogenous […]
August 6, 2015
Hasna, His Love: Story 3 in ‘Hearts We Lost’ series
The dark maroon vertical blinds covering the glass door danced gently when Vernon pulled the handle. He stepped back, releasing Hasna momentarily to let her inside before him. Instantly, Hasna relaxed in the intoxicating sound of Marvin Gaye singing “Mercy Mercy Me.” Minutes later, Hasna sat across from her best friend at a private booth, […]
July 30, 2015
Finally Home: Story 2 in ‘Hearts We Lost’ series
Sharif had first heard of Yasmin through Hisham, a close friend of one of his instructors who had heard about him and invited him over for dinner nearly two years after Sharif began studying at the Islamic university. Eager to meet a Muslim brother from the region, especially the friend of a favored professor, Sharif […]
July 27, 2015
Marrying at the “Right Time”
Our Dilemma: Placing Our Trust in Allah It’s one of the most difficult questions faced by adult Muslims, especially women: When should I get married? After I finish my studies, or now? When I think of this dilemma, I often remember the advice of my parents: When it comes to marriage, the most important question is not when to get […]
July 23, 2015
Hearts We Lost: Short Story 1
“This world in comparison to the Hereafter is as if one of you were to put his finger in the ocean. Consider how much you would have when you pulled it out.” —Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (Muslim) SHARIF If I were to look back at my life and pinpoint a single event, a […]
July 15, 2015
And Then I Gave Up: The Ramadan My Brother Died
Oh, I had so many high hopes that Ramadan. My schedule included completing my Qur’anic reading in English and supplementing it in Arabic. I was going to memorize a new chapter of Qur’an and read an Islamic book every week. I was going to listen to an Islamic lecture CD each day, and I even […]
July 11, 2015
Yesterday, I Cried
Author’s Note: This blog was written when I lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and taught English at an international school. It was one of those moments when you feel the tugging at your heart and the moisture behind your lids before you decide whether or not you want to… The day started off as normally […]
July 9, 2015
Hearts We Lost, online series coming soon…
Coming Friday July 24, 2015… ‘Hearts We Lost’ series, based on the novel by Umm Zakiyyah Read the short story series FREE online, or read Hearts We Lost, the novel* by purchasing the hard copy or eBook (on sale now thru Eid). *HWL online series will not feature full novel, only parts relevant to the short story […]
‘But I Don’t Want Forgiveness’
Some years ago, I was sitting with a friend of mine and she started telling me about her struggles with hijab after becoming Muslim. She had grown up Christian and accepted Islam while she was in college. “For me, hijab was the hardest thing,” she said. “I just didn’t want to wear it. So I made […]
July 6, 2015
Strawberry Prayers: A Lesson of Ramadan Love
My little brother loved strawberries. Whenever my father would come home with a cardboard box full of fruit, the sweet scent would seep through the slots on the side, and my little brother would come running. His chubby legs moved him swiftly up the stairs and landed him first to the dining room table, where […]
