Building the now for the promise of the Infinite

"Love" by Mos Def

They say the goodness in life belongs to those who believe.
So, I believe.

I start to think, and then I sink
Into the paper, like I was ink.
When I’m writing, I’m trapped in between the line.
I escape when I finish the rhyme.

My pop said he was in love when he made me.
Thought about it for a second, wasn’t hard to see.
I could hear he was sincere, was no game of promotion,
The entire affair was probably charged wit emotion.
When love call your heart, I guess you got to pursue.
12-11-73 my life is testament:
Praise the Beneficent, Element-at-Rest,
The Void in the form that make love manifest.

I spent my early years in Roosevelt Projects,
It was a bright valley wit some dark prospects.
In ‘83, Venny C was the host wit the most:
I listened to the Rap Attack and held the radio close.
I listened to the Rap Attack and held the radio close.
This is far before the days of high glamour and pose!
Aiyyo, power from the street light made the place dark!
I know a few understand what I’m talkin’ about,
It was LOVE for the thing that made me wanna stay out,
It was LOVE for the thing that made me stay in the house

Spendin’ time, writin’ rhymes,
Tryin’ to find words that describe the vibe
That’s inside the space
When you close yo’ eyes and screw yo’ face…

Is this the pain of too much tenderness
To make me nod my head in reverence?
Should I visit this place and remember it
To build landmarks here as evidence?
Night time, Spirit shook my temperment
To write rhymes that portray this sentiment:
We live the now for the promise of the Infinite.
We live the now for the promise of the inifinite,
And we believe in the promise.
(Yes, YES, y’all, and we don’t stop) because

I got love, l-o-v-e and I be

Love, l-o-v-e to MC
Get love, l-o-v-e and I be
Love, l-o-v-e I MC
Get love, l-o-v-e and I be
Love, l-o-v-e to MC
Get love, l-o-v-e and I be
The m-o-s-d-e-f-initely

My folks said they was in love when they made me.
I take the love they made me wit to make rhymes and beats
(Can you feel?) The raw deal, it’s all-wheel-driven
Contemplate the essence of beats, rhymes and livin’
Speech in line wit the rhythm, designed wit the rhythm,
Ears and eyes keepin’ good time wit the rhythm.
I shine wit the rhythm, the Black Star Gallactica,
Big number fleetin’, we ancient like the abacus.

After us, I see we proceed to be trees -
Sproutin’ leaves, givin’ breeze to the we who believe.
I MC, which means I Must Cultivate the earth,
Straight back, straight backs, hard beats and hard work.
I be the funky drummer to soften the hard earth.
(Amin) Pray Allah keep my soul and heart clean.
(Amin) Pray the same thing again for all my team.

This go out to Fort Greene and on out to Queens
Uptown to boogie down, yo’ just look around
And shook up the world!, like Ali in 6-3

I’m reachin’ the height that you said cannot be,
I’m bringin’ the light but you said we can’t see.

Saw the new day comin’
(it look just like me!)
Sun burst through the clouds
(my photo ID!)
I bring light to your day and raise yo’ degree,
The Universal Magnetic, you must respect it
From end to beginning,
praise True and Livin’,
Ever-changing, but Sustaining Magnificent!
Building the now for the promise of the infinite
Building the now for the promise of the inifinite.

Entry #1: Eye On The Prize

It's necessary for us to keep this world and the next - meaning we can't just go into a forest and worship all day, because there's no dunya or temptations involved in that. So it's about finding that balance which is probably our hardest job as Muslim-American teens. Good advice that I've gotten is that in everything you do in life, make sure the Hereafter is the biggest part of the equation - if dunya related stuff is bigger and the Hereafter is waay small, then rethink what it is you're doing. As Muslims it's our duty to keep our eyes on the prize... that is Jannat. Keep in mind that everything can be an act of worship if we keep our intentions straight.

"Our Sustainer
Let not our heart deviate now after You have guided us, But grant us blessings and mercy from Your own presence, For You are the granter of bounties without meaure" (3:8)

"O God! I seek Your protection
against knowledge that profits not
and a heart which fears not God
and a mind that is not satisfied
and aprayer thatis not answered." - from Islam The Natural Way...suppplications of the Prophet

"And keep yourself content with those who call on their Sustainer morning and evening, seeking His countenance, and let not your eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this life, nor obey any whose heart we have permitted to neglect Our remembrance, who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds." (18:28)

It Has Potential

I'm in Pakistan for the summer and as the internet connection here is pretty slow it'll be tough to find videos and search for clothes - but I still wanted to post so I had an idea the other night: I'm making an Iman Strengthening book for college to use as a pick-me-up when my iman feels weak and I decided that everytime I add something to the book, I'll add it to my blog as well - that way I'm potentially helping more than just myself :)

here's page 1:

"...a person has the need to keep his imaan (faith and awareness) alive to strengthen it. He must strive to preserve and develop his innate goodness. Quite clearly, it is not enough for you to say "I believe" and expect that your moral sense will remain sharp. It is easy to be forgetful and become engrossed in the business and cares of life. Through neglect or even deliberate disobedience, the moral sense can also become so blunt that the ugliness of vice may seem beautiful and attractive." (p. 66 Islam The Natural Way - AbdulWahid Hamid)

Islamifying "Pocketful of Sunshine"

Recently I was listening to the radio and I heard Natasha Bedingfield's "Pocketful of Sunshine." From the first listen I loved it! After a few listens I tried to figure out why I liked it so much because I don't generally like love songs - they make me want to fall in love haha and I have way too many things to accomplish before I start thinking about falling in love... So I came up with an interpretation that works for me and inspires me. Most of this is probably influenced by sufi poems I've been reading lately. Thought I'd share it with everyone :

I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine.
I got a love, and I know that it's all mine.
Oh.
she has nur in her pocket, her love / connection with Allah swt

Do what you want, but you're never gonna break me.
Sticks and stones are never gonna shake me.
No.
Talking to the dunya and materialism – she’s so deeply engulfed in her love for Allah swt that these other things just don’t get to her

Take me away: A secret place.
A sweet escape: Take me away.

Take me away to better days.
Take me away: A higher place.
Pleading with Allah swt in these four lines – asking to get this test of the dunya over and done with already. To take her to Heaven

I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine.
I got a love, and I know that it's all mine.
Oh.

Wish that you could, but you ain't gonna own me.
Do anything you can to control me.
Oh, no.
Talking to the dunya and materialism again, she’s too busy seeing Allah’s magnificence and knows what she’s on this world for – so worldly temptations don’t get to her.

There's a place that I go,
But nobody knows.
Where the rivers flow,
And I call it home.
In the Qur’an Heaven is constantly described as being full of gardens with rivers flowing underneath, so here she’s talking about reading the Qur’an where she is taken to a different place imagining what her reward will be (I’A) and she calls it her home because we all return to our Creator.

And there's no more lies.
In the darkness, there's light.
And nobody cries.
There's only butterflies.

The sun is on my side.
Take me for a ride.
I smile up to the sky.
I know I'll be all right.
She gets her strength from Allah swt and when you put your full trust in Him then you know you will be alright (:

Graduation Party Outfit #1

Graduation party season is still going strong and sometimes it can be hard to figure out what to wear to all the parties when your friends are getting off easy by wearing sun dresses, anyways it's not impossible to find something cute and covered - that's what my next few posts are going to be dedicated to - check it ouuut:

The Silk ruffle-front dress, bridget fit wide leg pant, and Chandelier thong sandals are all from Victoria's Secret (there's a huge sale there by the way). The floral metallic scarves are from Forever 21 and the metal beaded bangles are from Urban Outfitters. Click the names of items to get linked back to the sites (if you didn't already know that).

Also congrats to all the graduates!
Salaam

Getting Back On Track

So I know I've been super MIA and I apologize. I got caught up in the whole school's ending forever thing... amongst some other stuff that doesn't need to be mentioned (haha nothing BAD just like minor things that would lead to deterring me off the straight path - which I'm already trying hard to not slip off of). But yeah, when I noticed that I was rushing through prayers and choosing horrible radio rap over my Imam Suhaib Webb cds... I put on my "emergency brakes" & did some self evaluation.

Life is full of little (and big) tests and I was most definitely failing mine - but the beauty of Islam is that we're encouraged to come back to Allah and ask for His forgiveness because He is Ar-Rahim (The Merciful) and Al-Ghafur (The Forgiver and Hider of Faults). As humans we're bound to make mistakes and all the better right? because the blessing's in the struggle. Anyways, alhumdulillah I am back on track and have my priorities set straight once again. :)

Salaam