1. Millard J. Tidings Memorial Bridge. Oh Millard, thank you! Every time I’m traveling south bound on Interstate 95 from Philadelphia, I simply cannot wait for this bridge. This is the bridge you never see coming. After a sudden curve to the left, “bam!” You find yourself in a wide open space, on a “high-level six lane bridge over the Susquehanna River between Havre De Grace and Perryville in northeast Maryland.” It will simply take your breath away, and if it’s windy? It’ll take your car too. Read on »
“O humankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth…”
– Qur’an, Translation of 2:128
While driving to Worcester, Massachusetts this past weekend, I spontaneously decided to stop at the “Islamic Society of Central Jersey”:http://iscj.org to pray. It had been years since the the last time I took the time to explore ISCJ.
Back then, the Sunday school curriculum consisted of memorization as well as reading through various Islamic stories. Unfortunately, none of those ideas were applicable to my [then] current reality as a pubescent Muslim kid growing up in America. The lessons certainly didn’t contain anything about eating right, for instance. The closest they came to engaging my life outside the mosque was the oft-repeated slogan, “Islam isn’t a religion; it is a way of life.”
Read on »
“Only a house of worship founded, from the very first day, upon God-consciousness is worthy of thy setting foot therein…” Qur’an, 9:108
I’ve been to mosques in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Pakistan, Canada, Argentina, Malaysia, and the United States. And I’ve only felt comfortable in a handful the Noor Cultural Centre in Toronto is one of them.
Growing up in upper/middle-class white-suburbia without a mode of transportation, much of my life has been spent looking for a Muslim community I felt comfortable in. In fact, that was the primary purpose of HijabMan when I started it twelve years ago. For the last twelve years (!!!) I have been part of such a community on-line, but its members are spread throughout the world. And in 2004, I finally found them all in one place at the Noor Cultural Centre.
Read on »
Note: The following is the second part of Freckles’ response to the Muslim Marriage Monster.
Before my previous post appeared on Hijabman, I mentally prepared myself for the onslaught of the judgmental, hurtful, and hateful comments I’ve become all too accustomed to receiving from my so-called brothers and sisters on the issue of my marriage. When the comments were positive and thoughtful, I was happy and relieved. The genuine curiosity and respectful inquiry was certainly a refreshing contrast to my expectations. Now, to answer a few questions.
Read on »
1. Cafe Latakia, run by Malek.
Sometimes, when I travel to a new city, I’ll check out reviews for a nice cafe to sit in. Since I usually don’t have a solid plan, my day is often flexible enough that I can steal away a couple hours writing or just being thankful while sipping on a mixture of lemonade and iced tea.
Read on »
