"Islam Is Peace" by Luqman S. Rasheed, III (Our Sun)

After completing his reading assignment from his dad, a portion of Islam: The Religion of Peace by Imam W. Deen Mohammed, our 1st son, Luqman III, took notes and then had a discussion with his dad before he left for work this morning.  Later in the day, being the writer that I am, LOL, I asked him to write a brief summary of what he had read including his recollections, thoughts and comments and this is what he produced!

Luqman S. Rasheed, III (2nd born, 1st son)

"Islam is Peace. Islam wants peace for the community and individuals. If you are a Muslim, you want peace for yourself, your family, and your community. One reason Islam is peace is because our greeting means peace.  If you are at peace, you don't feed anger. Having peace in a community can be working together and helping each other. Peace in a family can be no fighting or yelling. Getting along in general is peace. So strive to be peaceful and the people around you will feel peace too."

Short and sweet but direct and to the point!!! As Muslims we are ALWAYS encouraged to speak a word directed to the right!!! Baby boy has spoken!!!

#Writing4Peace
#TheRIPPLEeffect
#Peace
#Passion
#Purpose
#FutureLeaders

MUSLIM MARRIAGE MAKEOVER: A "Literary Equation" - One Band, One Sound

Last weekend when the menfolk stepped out, my husband Luqman and our 2 sons, Sajdah and I finally had some alone time ... just mother and daughter.  So we were talking - sharing and talking, talking and sharing.  At some point she went to get her clarinet and she began to share with me an observation that she had made earlier in the week during band at school.  She was telling & showing me that during rehearsal, a piece on her clarinet had come loose.  She made the observation that ONE particular piece being dislocated on her clarinet had altered the sound of ALL the other notes on the clarinet.  But once the piece was firmly back in place, everything was back to normal.  I of course smiled inside my heart and outwardly with my lips as she related this story to me.  

I was instantly taken in my mind to a saying of Muhammad the Prophet (PBUH). There are various translations for this particular saying but here is one: "The Believers in their affection, compassion, and love for one another is like one single body.  If a part of it suffers from pain, the whole body will suffer in pain."  So, I immediately shared this analogy with Sajdah so that she could also make the connection between what happened with her instrument and what happens in real life not just with the individual human body, but with the human family and the human community!  G-d says: "On earth there are signs for those with sure faith and in yourselves too.  Do you not see?" (Holy Qur'an 50: 20-21)

And THIS is the reason why G-d has moved me to write "MUSLIM MARRIAGE MAKEOVER: Modeling Muhammad the Prophet to Make Waves in Your Marriage with the R.I.P.P.L.E. Effect" (Respect, Intimacy, Partnership, Peace, Love, & Equality). Even as a young child, my sensitivities were directed towards the preservation of family life.  Inspired by personal family experiences, at the age of 13, I coined a speech on "Broken Homes" which I subsequently delivered in oratorical competitions including ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) sponsored by the NAACP.  After winning at the City Level, I was mentored in public speaking by the renowned Civil Rights Activist Julian Bond to prepare me for the competition at the State Level.  And so my journey towards speaking out about preserving families began and after 15 years of marriage, this journey has come full circle.

I am an advocate for the preservation of healthy marriages, families, and communities.  I see communities as a group of healthy families, marriages, and individuals that are "banded" together as one, helping each other as in a relay race, striving together towards all that is good.  In the movie Drumline, one of my FAVORITE movies, the main character has to learn that even though he is GREAT as an individual musician, when the entire band is on the field, the motto is "ONE BAND, ONE SOUND."  If one individual is trying to steal the show or if one section is off key, this dysfunction disturbs the inherent UNITY of the BAND.

This principle of "One Band, One Sound" is the same that is present in the saying of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) about the "band" of Believers - that in terms of affection, compassion and love, if one body of a Believer aches then the whole body of the Believers aches.  The same holds true for marriages in community - if one marriage or family aches, then all families and marriages in the community ache.  This simply means that we should all be concerned about the condition and longevity of ALL marriages and families, past, present and future.  They are the foundation upon which model communities are built.  This simply means that we should want and desire for our brothers and sisters what we want and desire for ourselves.  It's no coincidence that the development of mathematical and musical abilities are in the same portion of the brain.  As a math major, I have concluded that this "formula" of care and concern for one another is also the "solution" for establishing healthy, productive and happy marriages, families, and communities.

Our beloved spiritual leader and teacher Imam W. Deen Mohammed has said, "In your education, your schooling, the academic world tells you that the family is the first unit of society and this is what we have lost, family.  This problem is not germane to any one group.  It has taken over all people and all religions.  All religions are suffering the corruption of the family."

As I merge my degree and passion for mathematics with my passion for using my writings to help build, heal, and sustain healthy marriages, as a Duke administrator recently expressed to me, "This is a Literary Equation!"

"MUSLIM MARRIAGE MAKEOVER" is a solution-oriented book that is sure to do just that - help to build, heal, and sustain healthy marriages, families and communties!!! While the book itself is universal in its application, it uses faith-based strategies from the Qur'an, the authentic life example of Muhammad the Prophet (PBUH) and the commentary of my spiritual leader and teacher Imam W. Deen Mohammed to address common marital issues such as: the treatment of women, gender stereotypes, distribution of household labor, work-life balance, and the rearing of children.  These issues transcend race, religion, socio-economic status, & spiritual and educational achievement.  

You can PRE-ORDER my debut book "MUSLIM MARRIAGE MAKEOVER" for a discounted price for a limited time on my website www.writing4peace.com

Let's make waves TOGETHER with the R.I.P.P.L.E Effect!!!

#MuslimMarriageMakeover
#OneBandOneSound
#Unity
#Cohesion

Be Not Afraid - To Put Yourself First

Imagine being a fire woman and getting a call to the station that a fire is burning with a family inside - a mom, a dad and 2 children. Your first thought is to make the selfless decision to get to the fire as fast as you can to save this family. In order to save time and to make this rescue happen as quickly as possible, you make the conscious decision to enter the burning fire to save their lives with no protective gear, no gas mask, nothing that is fire retardant, nothing that repels or protects your body from being burned by the flames. You selflessly leave the station as quickly as possible, not taking the time to "gear-up", risking yourself and your life to save the lives of others.

This is the equivalent of being a mom who selflessly sacrifices herself for the sake of her kids and family. A woman who gives and gives to the point of neglecting herself does so with the BEST intentions - to provide the best love, support, education, comfort and nourishment that her children and family need. She somehow feels empowered when she feels that she is sacrificing her needs, wants and desires so that her children and family can flourish and have their needs met. However, just as the above scenario indicates, in all likelihood at some point, the mom is going to get burned or rather burnt-out (no pun intended).

The person entering the fire may save a few lives, but unprotected themselves, eventually they can no longer withstand the harsh conditions and may possibly suffocate from smoke inhalation, get burned, or be unable to save themselves and the lives of others. A mother who gives endlessly without giving to self as well, will eventually suffer from exhaustion, lack of optimal health and happiness and possibly anger, depression and resentment.

Had the person who entered the fire taken a few moments to protect themselves first, the outcome may have been different. They may have had the protection needed to save 2 lives instead of 1, 3 lives instead of 2. They may have had the protection and endurance needed to make it out alive. In the proper gear, they could have breathed a little longer, withstood the heat and the flames a little longer because they consciously chose to protect themselves first.

Likewise, if we as mothers find balance in being selfless and selfish we too can save ourselves, our children and our families. When we consciously choose to put ourselves first (with the unspoken understanding that G-d is ALWAYS first priority in our lives), we are consciously choosing to save 2 children instead of 1, 3 children instead of 2. When we spend on our own souls/selves, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically and yes even financially, we are consciously choosing and acknowledging the inherent value and power in having high quality interactions with our kids and family.

At times, moms may neglect self to focus on the quantity of time that is spent with kids and family. However, if the quantity of time is not fully embraced with quality, then we selfishly cause deterioration of invaluable relationships with ourselves, spouse, children and others. Fatigue, exhaustion, lack of patience and lack of fulfillment can creep into our lives and create a space of chaos and negativity rather than the peace, happiness, contentment and tranquility that we all seek and desire.

So I challenge all moms, myself definitely included - be not afraid to put yourself, your health and your happiness first. It may not always be the easiest thing to facilitate, but make yourself and your survival, your personal nurturing and self-fulfillment a VERY important priority in your life. Your true strength literally and figuratively, is found in your mutual selflessness and selfishness. It takes great courage and strength, for me anyways, to not feel guilty about not giving all of myself to my kids and family. (Positive self-talk: Tell yourself, I am a pretty fabulous person myself and I deserve to have a quality piece of me as well.)

Think of a rested, healthier, happier you. Imagine all the lives that you can enhance and save, including your own, when you are at your best. Rest, Recuperation, Rejuvenation - make these 3 Rs a Regular Routine in your daily life and the ripple effects will be profound. Be not afraid ...

A Mother's Conversation With Herself

"I am tired today.  My body is tired.  My back is tired.  I am tired.  I need rest.  I need sleep.  I need free time.  I need peace.  I need me.  I can feel that I am operating in superwoman mode - where you give despite having nothing left to give.

I pull from deep within and find the strength from somewhere ... from somewhere ... from somewhere deep within.

Mind over matter.  Mind over reality.

My reality says that I must heal.  My reality says that I must go deep within myself to rest, to rest to heal, to heal to rest.

The spirit within me says that I must fight for my children.  That I must  find a way to expose them to new opportunities, to new places, to new experiences despite being worn down, despite being tired, despite being physically weak.

I am mentally strong and this mental strength propels me forward despite needing to rest, despite needing to care for myself.  Despite needing to heal, despite needing new energy.  Despite needing quiet, peaceful solitude.

I am here ... listening to the drums of my ancestors, listening to the sounds of my ancestors, listening to the Heartprints of Harriet Tubman, listening to the Heartprints of Sojourner Truth, listening to the Heartprints of My Mother, listening to the Heartprints of Me."

Ameen - G-d is with those who Believe, have Faith, and put their Trust in Him.