Some Clarification

Assalaamu alaikum, I think that it's time I clarify some things to those who happen upon this blog. When I post about things like bouncy balls or chocolate, some readers tend to summarize me by those posts. Some tend to wonder why I am maniacal in such a manner as to post about such "meaningless objects." So, I would like to make some things clear. Muslims, and people in general, have issues these days in terms of not being able to be satisfied with the little pleasures and small and "meaningless" things in life. But I tend to be satisified with little things, and I find joy in some of the most unusual places. I don't need expensive things to be happy or to define who I am. If I am not satisfied with who I am, with how I practice Islam and with my journey for more knowledge, I will not find that satisfaction anywhere else. And although I am always unsatisfied with my level of Iman, I think I'm trying really hard to become a better person, a better Muslim, and I put my trust in Allah (swt). But people can't see that. People can't see beyond what they limit themselves to. And because I have that trust, because I know full well that Allah (swt) is there for me to turn to at any time, I am at ease. I can find enjoyment in little things and be happy just because I'm alive and my mind is working, alhamdulillah. And though this should be clear, I will say it anyways because I don't think people realize this: my life doesn't revolve around complete silliness. I have tests and trials and difficulties like everyone else in this world. I have faults, great faults that I'm trying to mend, and I have pain and bad days. But why should I add to the fury? Why add to the misery that brings people down and prevents us from achieving things? Why can't I endeavour to make people happy, even for a moment, or to make people smile without being questioned about my motives? A smile is a charity, and if you make people smile, even for the briefest of moments, isn't that also something? Why is it that we feel we cannot leave people alone but must judge someone by the littlest of things? People have been doing that to me for my entire life, without realizing that every single person here is on their own journey. To limit and define that person to only a few things that he or she has said or done, is a great injustice. I dislike that. And I will even venture to say that I dislike the very people who are the most imperfect of judges - who judge without knowing anything about who they are judging. And Allah (swt) is the most Just.

If you thought I was joking in my last post...

I wasn't. Before: After: Aaaand, just in case you need a better look at my super-amazing awesome wrapping talents: Man, who invented round things anyways? They're so hard to wrap...these things took me an hour to do. Okay, so now I'm thinking - do I actually want to give these away, or should I just keep them myself? Let me know if you want one and how much you're willing to pay. (chocolate is also considered a form of payment) (The funny thing is that the last time I bought bouncy balls, they were a bad batch. They were hard and they didn't bounce that high. So now I buy bouncy balls like fruit. I have to feel them to make sure they're ripe enough.)

Tiny bows

Ever feel like you're so busy that you can't keep track of anything anymore? That's how I feel now. Right now I'm thinking of those small bouncy balls, wrapped in gift wrap with a tiny bow on them. I think they'd be so funny. In fact, I think I'm going to do that tomorrow. Buy bouncy balls and gift wrap them. For no reason at all. You can look forward to a blog post with some pictures of wrapped up bouncy balls. Like, yay.

Blast from the Past

I have this habit of volunteering at my old elementary school. Hey, it looks good on my resume: "worked with special needs children" (all the kids in that school seem have special needs - a special need to be smacked. But anyways.) There are some really old pictures (15-20 years old) of the kids in the school, propped up on the walls near the entrance. Some of which are vaguely familiar... Look at this nerd. My younger sister now goes to that school. Last week she was looking in the mirror before she left for school and she said: "Oh my God! don't tell me this is going to a bad scarf day." (yes, the other, more Muslimized version of a bad hair day.) She's mean, too. We'll be somewhere and then she'll give me this dirty look. And I'll be like "umm what's your problem?" and she'll say "why is your scarf so messed up?" Then I look in the mirror and it looks normal to me. :( Time is an interesting thing.

Pez and MSA

I'm in an MSA (Muslim Students' Association) meeting right now. Wow, it's really incredible how bored I am. SubhanAllah. Right now I'm getting dirty looks from some of the other execs around me who know that I'm blogging. It's okay, the president is talking and he generally talks a lot without much content. Anyways, in other news, someone gave me a patrick Pez dispenser today. And that gave me some laughter during this dry MSA meeting. Mine is the one on the left... I wonder how much nutritional value Pez has. Oh wait, let me check. Per 9 grams of Pez: calories: 35 g Fat: 0 g Sodium: 30 mg Carbohydrate: 9 g Sugars: 9 g Protein: 0 g Not a significant source of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, fibre, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium, or iron. Oh well.

Gumbo

Okay, this is how it is: today, my sister found a chocolate bar from Egypt (from her trip last summer) in a pair of shoes that she hasn't worn since then. Yup, shoes. She claims she was hiding it to give to a friend. The lies. Anyways, I am now facing a dilemma. You see, the chocolate bar is expired and on top of that, it's from Egypt. Apparently it expired in March. My other siblings refuse to eat it, but I am considering doing so. Here it is: (Note that it's actually called "Jersy" but Egyptians replace all J's with G's.) Egyptians also have the tendency of Arabizing English words. For example: That says "Jumbo" jeem/geem, alif, meem, ba, waw. I don't really understand how random Egyptians would get what "Jumbo" means, just because it's written in Arabic letters. But anyways. So, should I, or shouldn't I?

Mother's Day

Mother - that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries. -T. DeWitt Talmage

Anger Management 101

Woke up today. Was angry for reasons that will not be disclosed. And persons who caused my anger will not be revealed. And under-the-table attempts to change scheduled occurances without my approval will not be specified. Wow, it's funny how someone can perpetually make you angry and not even be aware that they're doing so. But, I keep trying to remind myself of the hadith: a strong person is not the person who throws his adversaries to the ground. A strong person is the one who contains himself when he is angry. (Bukhari) It is reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) said that while Sulaiman was with the Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam), two persons were blaming each other. The face of one became red and his jugular veins swelled. the Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "I know a statement if he or she say's it then the person with anger will cool down. The person with anger should say: 'I seek refuge in Allah from satan the outcast.'" (authu billahi min alshaytan alrajeem.) And it works :)

Snippets from a Mind Tired of Studying

So I have an English exam tomorrow, but I'm bored. I don't want to study. I have this issue with exams and tests - I just want to write them and get it over with. Studying is such a waste of my life. For this course, I just finished reading Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and The Grass is Singing by Dorothy Lessing. Both of which were disturbing. The human mind without Islam is disturbing. Yeah, that's what I said. In other news, my friend bought me this flower for my birthday (she was five months too late, but it's okay): I asked her just now what I should write about it and she's like: "write, u know about how much u love me and stuff." So I will write about that. She occupies a space in my heart that no one else will ever occupy. This tiny place deep, deep, deep inside somewhere. In other news, I was eating apple pie yesterday for the first time in years (okay, maybe months). Me: This pie really brings back memories. My sister: memories of what? Me: umm, memories of pie. In other other news, someone said to me on Sunday: "Asmaa, I visit your blog pretty regularly, hoping to find something good. But none of your posts are worth commenting on." I'll give you something worth commenting on. *Shakes fist* Hater.

History of my Dinner

So, my dad washed his kufi today. This is his new, and amazingly clean kufi after it came in contact with our dryer: There is a small part of his kufi left, but it looks more like a Jewish scullcap now that it shrank. I really doubt he'll wear it. Oh well :) In other news, my mom cooked chicken today. So my dad, who's very particular about food and how it's cooked is like "what's the history of this chicken?" (he meant, how was it cooked, but when you translate things from Arabic into English, they sound messed up.) So I started telling him about the chicken's history. "Well, abee. You see, first an egg was hatched. Then it was fertilized. Then after some time it cracked open and a cute little chick came out..." etc. I think he was annoyed. Hehe.

No Bounce

I bought a bunch of bouncy balls (how's that for alliteration?) a few days ago to make me happy because I wasn't that happy. But they don't bounce very well at all. Now I'm even more unhappy.