Thanks!

Assalamu Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu.

A few days ago, my friend, mentor and amazing sister in Islaam lost her battle with an aggressive and hereditary form of cancer. I never got to meet her face to face but she was one of the best friends that I have ever had and in some ways was like a mother to me. I miss you Aisha but Jannah gained another beautiful servant of Allaah.

Also in the same few days, thanks to my generous younger sister, I was able to enroll in my first semester in the Islamic Online University's Bachelor of Islamic Studies program, alhamdulillah! I am so excited to begin this journey of learning for the sake of Allaah, increasing my deen and enhancing the state of my eemaan! In sha Allaah I will meet other amazing brother and sisters who share my love of learning and gain some life-long friends along the way!

Thanks to my friends and family who have supported me so far in this trip that is sure to continue for the rest of my days. With the help of Allaah, I plan on acing this semester as well as those to come and I do it for Him, myself, you all, and my friends who have joined Him in Paradise.

I do plan on eventually finishing my Bachelors of Sociology/Criminology with my minor in Middle Eastern Studies from OU and some how incorporating my knowledge in both areas of study together. There is never enough knowledge sought for the sake of Allaah.

"If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will cause him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise."  - Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

"Knowledge is my companion, it is with me wherever I go. My heart is its container, not the bookshelf."    –Ali RA

Finding Strength from the Hate

Assalamu Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu.

After my last post I received a pretty hateful reply. I chose to leave it posted so that others who read this can see what I deal with and so there is no, or at least, less satisfaction given to the writer of the reply.

I knew when I decided to start writing and putting my life out there for the masses to see that there would be those who disagree with what I do. This person may or may not know me in my life and words are always tougher when they are coming from the other side of a computer screen.

So that is what this post is about - not letting those who spew their hate get to you. No matter what it is that you do in or with your life, there will always be someone somewhere that will not agree with you. There will always be the most negative and hateful words being used against you but as long as you're passionate about what you do and you truly believe in yourself and what you stand for, don't let those who are against you win. 

People fear what they do not know. Be strong for yourself and be an inspiration to someone else who may need that one kind word or smile or that one good deed. Take the hurtful, hate-filled words and use them to make you a stronger person and you will come out the winner. 

Those words and names that I was called only strengthen my resolve to be a better person and Muslimah in all aspects of my life. So for that, I thank the writer of that reply.