Author Archives: najaaba

Ramadan

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment

Breath of Life

Life is a series of breaths, the first being the unexpected inhale and the last being the anxious exhale.  But even before we are born into the world, breath defines us.  Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said that when the fetus is … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment

The Sea

I walked on the shoreTo gaze at the sea.Then one still mornMy reflection I saw.A drop of water!A miniature oceanFrom the great sea of Love. I inched toward the waterIt pulled me in!I fell, resistance goneTumbling, flailing, overcome.Too much to … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment

Jesus in the Quran

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment

Islam

Posted in Articles | 1 Comment

Finding Peace

One of the most difficult times of my life was after the birth of my fourth child, when I suffered from severe post-partum depression.  Like many kinds of hardship that leave us broken open, healing involved a process of deep … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | 1 Comment

Discovering the Quran

My first Quran was the 1934 translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.  With English and Arabic text side by side, plus ample commentary, it was a good introduction to the Muslims’ holy book.  However, I didn’t find it an easy read.  … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | 1 Comment

Home

The concept of “home” has always been a big issue in our house.  The children grew up among American, German, Egyptian and Kuwaiti cultures, making them what is known as “third-culture kids” or TCKs.  This special breed of people, having … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment

Kindness

I’ll never forget that kiss – an unexpected display of affection from Busybee.  I had leased her to improve my equestrian skills and with the hope of training her for a therapy program for autistic children.  But she had a … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | 2 Comments

Unconditional Love

If love is a sublime and sought after emotion, then it follows that unconditional love is even more lofty and desired.  We seek love because it is enjoyable, affirming, exhilarating. We usually love others for their positive traits – their … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment

An Enigmatic Smile

One of the companions of Prophet Muhammad said, “I haven’t seen anyone smile more often than the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.”  With that, one would assume he was particularly cheerful, since smiling usually is an … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | 2 Comments

Singled Out from the Crowd

The teacher walked into the classroom with a big smile as I and my 20-odd classmates waited to hear our final marks.  We had spent the term memorizing 20 pages of the Quran.  Every Wednesday, the teacher called students one … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment

The Transformative Power of Ramadan

The Transformative Power of Ramadan

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment

Al-Fatiha

When we meet someone new, we usually introduce ourselves with our name and a relevant role.  “Hello, my name is Teresa.  I’m Salem’s mother.” Likewise, when God sent His message, the Quran, He began with an appropriate introduction:  His name, … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | 1 Comment

Taking Control

It is not unusual to sometimes feel overwhelmed by the many responsibilities of modern life – family needs, work schedules, social commitments, and the pressure to develop professionally or face obsolescence.   It’s also not uncommon to lack focus because of … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment