Make It An Eid to Remember

October 11, 2013December 2, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 26 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

As the air becomes crisp and trees lose their leaves, something strange begins to happen in the West.

It commences with people young and old donning garb that might land them in the loony bin any other time of year; sporting baggage that would never make it past the most lax airport security checkpoint; and painting their faces- for one of two purposes- begging for candy or to go parading off to parties and bars.

But, then about a month later, everyone gathers with their kinfolk for awkward, sometimes annoying, and downright passive aggressive conversations while eating to the point of contemplating a trip to the ER for a quick stomach pump. Yes, turkey and stuffing can be that good.

But, then yet another month after that, folks ritually go out and kill a tree so they can drag it into their homes and fill it with lights and baubles. This dead tree will be the epicenter around which presents bought on borrowed money will be shared all while claiming an immortal fat man from an uninhabitable part of earth brought them.

Welcome to the holiday season. There is so much hype and pomp that goes along with it that Muslims often feel drawn to participate in the “cheer”. But why celebrate these holidays when we have the two Eids that can be as cheerful?

But when you live in the West, the Eids pale in comparison to the blow outs the non-Muslims celebrate.

What are our Eid traditions?

1. We wake up. Dress up. Go to the Eid prayer.

2. We may or may not stay for the khutbah (lecture) after.

3. We may or may not go and have breakfast.

4. Since we are in the West and the Eids are not recognized as national holidays, it is highly likely that we will have to rush off to work or school at some point.

Even though the morning is filled with activities, the rest of the day falls flat like a bad souffle (not that I have ever made a souffle).

When I first converted to Islam and for several Eids after, I was bummed that Eid seemed like weak sauce compared to the holiday celebrations I had left behind. It seemed like the entire country glowed around the major holidays, but when the Eids came around, sure there would be tons of congrats exchanged at prayer, but then the Eid outfits would come off and the workaday clothes would come back on. And it was back to the daily grind almost instantly.

But then I decided that if I wanted Eid to be special, then I needed to make it special.

If each Muslim family, individual, or community made their Eid special for themselves and told those around them what Eid is, then Eid would be special. What is stopping us? Do we really need department stores to tell us to celebrate by having a holiday sale? Do we have to be reminded by a hallmark commercial that Eid is time for happiness?

Are we waiting for big corporations to commercialize our holidays? Are we waiting for community events or our bosses to ask you if we want Eid off (it will likely never happen)?

Let’s make the Eids special for our families and communities so that we don’t feel cheated out of holiday happiness. Celebrate your holidays. Take the Eids off. Keep the kids home from school. Make memories. Make it something to look forward too.

Decorate the house. Play games with the family. Make special dishes that everyone loves. Send gifts to your neighbors (if they don’t know what Eid is, then tell them).

And husbands, don’t sit back on the couch while your wife runs around making Eid merry. Get off your butt, and make Eid merry with her!

Download free decorations for your home here or click on the pic below:

Have activities for the whole family. Clickity click here.

Make something tasty for your loved ones. Try some traditional Eastern Eid dishes (recipes here) or make your own fav comfort foods.

from www.craftionary.net — from http://www.craftionary.net

Make it an Eid to Remember!

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Where Were You? Where Are You Now?: The Anniversary of 9/11

September 11, 2013December 1, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 12 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

When people remember 9/11/01 they often ask one another, where were you? So, where were you?

I was on the verge of my 21st birthday, and on my way to the first day at a new job. I heard of the first plane crash on the radio (as it was thought to be an accident at that point) and didn’t think much of it, but that it was a sad loss of life.

By the time I reached the mall (I was to be the new sales girl at New York & Co.) and went to the back of the store for training, the morning news anchors on the small TV used for training videos were telling us of the second plane crash.

My new coworkers and I were shocked. We stood around the tiny screen in silence. I can’t remember what happened next except that I sat down. I think the training videos were playing, but my mind was somewhere else.

I felt a certain sense of urgency in the air like a weather forecaster had just announced a Cat 5 hurricane was making landfall in the neighborhood. The who, what, why, or how was unknown.

An hour later, after more was known about the crashes, the mall was closed because our country was officially under attack. I never got to finish watching (or even start) those training videos.

Like most people’s, my life was never the same. At this point, I considered myself an unofficial Muslim. I believed in God, and his messengers from Adam to Moses to Jesus to Muhammad (Peace be upon them). I believed in the original revelation of the Torah, the Bible, and the Quran.

I held these beliefs in my heart, but never made my declaration of faith out loud (the shahada). I had been studying religions since my journey began in 1998–read more about it here, and here.

Then the backlash came. Since “Muslims” were taking credit for the attacks, the natural reaction for the public was to attack back. The religion in whose name the atrocities were committed and all those who followed this religion were slandered, drug through the dirt, tried and convicted as backward, corrupt, and guilty in the court of public opinion.

Life changed for Americans. Life changed for Muslims. Life really changed for Muslim Americans.

I saw the way people treated my Muslim friends. I saw Muslims being cursed in public. I saw Muslim owned businesses close because people no longer went to them or even started rumors about the owners. I saw Muslim women being targeted in public with slander and slurs.

Because of backlash like this, I could not keep quiet while people who I shared a belief with were slandered and suffering. I spoke up. “This is not Islam”; “This is not a part of what Muslims believe”; “Muslims are just trying to make there way in this world, and raise their families, just like you and me”; “Muslims aren’t all terrorists”, “They believe in, we believe in making peace not starting war”.

“Ash hadu an La illaha ill Allah wa ash hadu anna Muhammad ar Rasulullah“: I bear witness that there is no god but God, and that Muhammad is His messenger (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him). Two months after 9/11/01 I said this testament of faith or the shahada out loud, for the world to hear.

I couldn’t pretend to be something other than a Muslim anymore. I couldn’t sit back and watch my fellow Muslims being slandered and not say anything.

After coming out of the closet as a Muslim, it was as if a cloud in my mind had cleared. The world that had been so chaotic, sad, and confusing, came into perfect focus. It was more than metaphorical: it was a physical clearing away of senseless actions that lead to a mass of cluttered and confused paths. Paths that had been lain before me. Paths that I had been pulled toward by the generations that preceded me and pushed toward by those who were waiting to come after.

By the will of Allah (SWT), I removed myself from this deafening destruction that had me chasing my tail and the approval of those who would eternally withhold it. My path became singular. I was made to please my Creator, and that is what I intended to do.

After becoming a Muslim, for the first time in my life I became the “other”. I came to my conversion knowing this would be the case. But the reality of it was both liberating and oppressing. On one hand, I finally knew where I stood.

As a Muslim, I know I was valued as a member of my community and as a believer. As an American, I knew I would be disliked for exercising my freedom of religion. I was still being judged, but at least now I wasn’t being judged for my jean size, I was being judged for standing up for my beliefs.

As a human being, I never knew how lonely it could be to be the “other”. I never knew how hard it could be to be thought of as less than human. I never knew how unnerving it could be to be stared at like a freak.

And I never knew how strong a belief could make me. I never thought I could withstand the curses yelled at me and still smile. I never thought I could love something so intangible as faith. I never thought I could be a better version of myself.

The world has changed since 9/11/01. A lot of it for the worse, but I think there are millions of little silver linings. My life has changed since 9/11/01: a lot of it is far, far better, but nothing in this world is perfect.

So where were you on 9/11/01? And where are you now?

What Muslims Are Doing to Stop Terrorism

September 5, 2013December 1, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 19 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

You hear it all the time: if the majority of Muslims aren’t terrorists and radicals, then why don’t we hear about them trying to stop the ones who are? Well, it might be news to you, but we are. Big Time!

What the Imams (religious leaders) are saying:

1. All acts of terrorism targeting civilians are haram (forbidden) in Islam.”In the light of the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah we clearly and strongly state:

2. It is haram [unlawful] for a Muslim to cooperate with any individual or group that is involved in any act of terrorism or violence.

3. It is the civic and religious duty of Muslims to cooperate with law enforcement authorities to protect the lives of all civilians.

We issue this fatwa [ruling] following the guidance of our scripture, the Quran, and the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him. We urge all people to resolve all conflicts in just and peaceful manners.” read more here.

What the Muslims are doing:

All over North America, Muslims are doing their civic duty and informing the authorities when they learn of a radicals planning to harm their fellow citizens. Read about one such foiled terror plot where a tip helped stop an attack on a passenger train in Canada here.

In another case in New Jersey, the families of men accused in terror plot aided the FBI.

In fact, Muslim communities have helped U.S. security officials to prevent nearly 2 out of every 5 Al-Qaeda plots threatening the United States since 9/11, according to a study done by Muslim Public Affairs Council. Read the report here.

As Samia from Muslimgirl.net writes:

“I just finished reading a string of comments claiming one after another how the ‘majority ‘Moderate Muslim’ population’ is not doing anything to denounce the radical Muslims which means that they are, in actuality, in agreement with their actions.

“[…] As far as I have heard and read in numerous places, the scholars right here in the United States have continuously spoken against terrorism in plain words.

“[…] Did anyone notice the convention that they had [in Pakistan] with the most respected scholars of the country that came together to denounce such actions? That might not seem important enough to some but then I would like to remind them that as of now, Pakistan is currently involved in a very heavy war against terrorism in its own turf. That convention happened in the middle of an Islamic country which is being plagued by many of those 7%* terrorist who are not afraid to call every Pakistani who does not follow their ideology non-Muslim.

“[…] Not to mention, the suicide bombers, roadside bombs, random shootings are not hard to miss during this war which has claimed many innocent lives. And in that entire ordeal, an Imam was killed with such a suicide bomber after he proclaimed that the extremist actions were indeed un-Islamic.

“[…] The self-proclaimed-intellectualists continue to ask, ignoring all the efforts that Muslims have been doing to scream that violent tendencies are against Islam, if moderate Muslims have done anything at all. I would like to ask him or her in return: What would you have us do? As a moderate Muslim, you are telling me to do something. What exactly would you suggest?

“[…] Please tell us, what more can we do to show you that we are indeed peaceful and not agreeing with the hateful speech spoken and preached by those 7%*? It is my humble observation, and I say this with all due respect to those who vehemently deny any efforts by Muslims to go against violence, that you are not seeing what is laid out before you and are seeking only what you wish to seek.“

*7% is an over exaggerated estimation of the amount of terrorists in the global Muslim community. In a number of other studies the number is estimated to be as low as 1%. But it is difficult to tell.

Eid Time

August 6, 2013November 30, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 2 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

Eid is in the next few days. It is celebrated to mark the end of the month of fasting (Ramadan). I have never really celebrated Eid except to go to Eid prayer then go back to work or school. That’s Eid in the West for ya! This year will be different inshaAllah. I will leave you an Eid present. It’s a video making fun of Muslims who use fasting as an excuse for everything, even as an excuse to get out of prayer, among other Ramadan no nos. Hope it makes you smile.

islamwich out!

Stereotypes About Muslim Women

August 1, 2013November 30, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 11 Comments

On The Matter of Not Muslim Enough

July 17, 2013November 25, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 32 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

Islam is not meant for a specific nation, a specific race, or a specific place. Islam is meant for all mankind for all time.

It can be amazing to see young and old, rich and poor, people from all corners of the world praying together as one, breaking fast together as one big, happy family, and sharing thoughts and knowledge with one another as beloved companions.

It is truly beautiful, and I look forward to this kinship in the masjid (mosque), no matter what city I happen to be living in. And I feel like my home town has a very blessed community with brothers and sisters of great humility and sincerity.

However, I have, in the past seen and heard terrible tales of astounding acts of ugliness that come with the pride of culture or nationalism.

I am referring to any person born into a Muslim family who feels the need to treat converts as if their faith is less valid, always eyeing them as if they cannot be trusted and will apostate at any moment, always excluding them as if they are not “Muslim enough” because they don’t have a certain last name or skin tone (and unfortunately this kind of ugliness is not only dished out to converts).

As many converts have before me, I came to Islam loving the example of the Prophet (PBUH) and his companions (RadiAllahu Anhum: May Allah be pleased with them) and hoped to meet their present day heirs, the Muslims.

I am sad to say that sometimes I and other converts cannot find them. While, I advise new Muslims to be patient and gracious as they navigate the politics and culture of raised Muslims, I do not excuse this kind of behavior.

It must be easy for those who are born into Muslim families to practice, while we converts have to struggle against what feels like the entire world just so we can be practicing Muslims.

Don’t be arrogant, you had no choice in where you were born and to what family. Had you been born in the West to a non-Muslim family, would you have made an effort to look for the truth? Would you have been open to the truth of Islam in the face of all the lies your culture and community have told you about it? Would you have the courage to stand up and say you are a Muslim, even if you were the only Muslim in your school, in your town, in your state?

Perhaps it is the convert that should question the faith of those who claim Islam through their parents and have never had to fight for it. Perhaps it is the convert who should question the faith of those who call themselves Muslims, but only practice what their culture dictates, and then only when it is convenient for them.

No, perhaps not, it is not for anyone to question anyone else’s faith, whether convert or otherwise. Let us leave this to Allah, and we can only know each other through our actions. We will never be able to see what is in each others’ hearts.

BUT Don’t be confused. You may be an Arab, but that doesn’t make you the owner of Islam.

Don’t get it twisted. You may be Asian, but that doesn’t make you the keeper of the faith.

All too often converts come to the masjid to find that it is nothing more than a cultural center. Arabs going to the Arab masajid and Asians going to the Asian masajid.

Brothers and sisters take it upon themselves to become the “haram” police with no manner of tact or gentleness. And for the few fortunate converts that are accepted into an almost tribal clique, the leaders try to impose their own culture (which all too often is confused for Islam) upon the newly converted.

There is nothing wrong with having a cultural community center, but don’t call it a masjid if you are not open to all Muslims. Do not call it a masjid if you are not there to help the Muslims in the community. Do not call it a masjid if you are not there to create a multi-ethnic/cultural, Muslim community.

And please:

Stop asking converts if they know how to cook some dish from your country or dessert your mother made back home. This doesn’t make anyone more or less Muslim. This is your culture.
Stop telling newly converted Muslims that they must wear the thobe, abaya, or a shalwar khameez, because “this is how Muslims dress”. This is your culture. As long as men and women dress modestly, they can wear the clothes from their own culture.
Stop grilling converts about their stance on all aspects of politics in the Middle East and “back home”. They didn’t come to Islam as if it were the Democratic Convention. Teach them the religion. Then discuss politics as a separate matter.

While it is true that if you are Arab, you are from the same general area, ethnicity, and you speak the same language (kind of) as the Prophet (PBUH), but did you forget that it was also the same people from that same ethnicity that tried to kill the Prophet (PBUH)?

While it is true that the Asian persuasion boasts the biggest percentage of the Muslims in the ummah. It is also true that in the Prophet’s (PBUH) last sermon he urged his followers to understand that:

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.

Say “Salam” to a new Muslim. Even if they aren’t from your tribe, they are still your brother or sister. Don’t be ignorant. Don’t be exclusionary. Don’t be racist. And the fact that I feel the need to even say this reflects the seriously sad state of the ummah.

Have you forgotten that ALL the companions of The Prophet (PBUH) were converts?

And you are supposed to be the Ansar (the helpers).

Truly think about that. If you have had the occasion to meet a convert, have you tried to help them? I mean truly help them by offering protection, financial assistance if needed (many converts lose everything when converting), your time, and effort to teach them how to pray? Or have you spat out a list of haram and halal, and then just lectured them about how they aren’t “doing” Islam right?

Just like those who make dawah (invite to Islam) and give the message of Islam to the people will be rewarded for their efforts, so too will the people who push folks away and out of Islam be rewarded with a punishment from their Lord for their evil actions.

Arrogance, national/cultural pride, haughtiness, etc. have NO place in Islam. We are all Muslims however we came to our faith, in whatever part of the world we originate from, we are all one community, one ummah (nation of Muslims).

Follow us (upper right of the page). Email us (islamwich@yahoo.com). Like our face with your face on Facebook (facebook.com/islamwich). Tumble with us on Tumblr (islamwich.tumblr.com). Pin with us (pinterest.com/islamwich). Follow us on twitter (@islamwich).

Like the post, share it, pin it, comment on it, and/or do whatever social media magic it is that you prefer. Find out more about us in the understandably named “About Us” page and browse other posts in “Table of Contents”.

Summertime And The Livin’ Is Crafty: Crafting Hijab Friendly Clothing

June 27, 2013November 29, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 8 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

This week I have been a busy little bee, sewing, baking, writing, editing. In my endeavors to be productive, I noticed something vitally important … it is flippin’ hot (this being my first summer since I moved back to Louisiana). Snowball stands are open for their delicious cooling business, the heat is all anyone is talking about, and people are starting to peel back the layers of clothing.

This is not really a surprise to me, and not really much different from the place I moved from to get back home to NOLA. It is hot all over The South, but the New Orleans area is just so humid. And since I refuse to undress for the heat for many reasons including modesty (read my blog post about my hijab habit), I have decided to get off my sweaty you know what and get started on putting together a new wardrobe.

Sure I could order abayas off the internet, but I like to keep my own style. A quick look around the mall and Target had left me with the conclusion that the fashion industry wants to make women as exposed as possible.

Any shirt that you pick up is either see-through, or barely covers anything, and when you do, by some miracle, find a shirt that looks relatively modest, i.e. long sleeve, it is either so low cut it is pointless or the moment you put it on it turns into shrink wrap, suctioning itself to the skin.

I remember wearing clothes like this in my pre-Islam days, but I guess I was used to the level of discomfort my clothing collection offered. These days if an article of clothing doesn’t offer a potential breeze to circulate between me and it, I cannot stand it.

I see people in short shorts and tight tees and cringe, not because of the amount of skin showing (I don’t judge. You do what you wanna do), but because I cannot imagine what kind of nerves-o-steel and tolerance for torture by clothing it takes. I would freak and run home for PJs.

ANYWAY, the wheels in my head were churning, the dust on my sewing machine was collecting, and then it happened. My sister asked me to join her on a fabric store expedition. I know good and well that when I get into a craft/fabric store I will not come out the same person. Usually the monster that emerges that was once me is loaded down with fabric and notion and tons of happy ideas about how wonderful life will be once I make such and such.

All my Pinterest activity sprang to life in my head and I bought two cuts of fabric. This was only the beginning. It was a gateway shopping trip. I won’t go into the details, but it got pretty ugly. And as of now I still have 5 projects pending.

I have managed, however, to make a pretty solid start to a summer wardrobe.

My first adventure was in the land of headscarves. I found a great hemming tutorial on Pinterest that has worked wonders on those slippery fabrics that I love to buy and hate to hem. This tutorial from cratsy.com works miracles.

And this was my first product, a minty green square hijab with black filigree looking patterned edges.

With one scarf over my head, I was well on my way to a new summer line. So, I started on a maxi skirt. This tutorial of course was also from Pinterest and I had been thinking about trying it out for a while. It’s from the blog Individual Rivalry and was super easy. I used linen (the official fabric of The South) in one of my favorite colors, mustard, and it turned out splendid.

But, a scarf and a maxi skirt does not a wardrobe make, so, what’s next for islamwich you might be wondering? More maxi skirts, for sure. One in sheer sucker-a light and breezy fabric for sipping alcohol-free mint juleps on the veranda- and some upcycled men’s shirts like the one from cutandkeep.net, but with long sleeves.

All these tutorials and more crafty ideas can be found on the islamwich Pinterest board “Just DIY“. Stop on by and see what else islamwich is pinning on Pinterest.

islamwich

one slice muslim. one slice 'merican. and all that comes between.

Category: Stuff by Theresa Corbin

Make It An Eid to Remember

Where Were You? Where Are You Now?: The Anniversary of 9/11

What Muslims Are Doing to Stop Terrorism

Eid Time

Stereotypes About Muslim Women

On The Matter of Not Muslim Enough

Summertime And The Livin’ Is Crafty: Crafting Hijab Friendly Clothing

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