Dear Love InshAllah, I’m reaching out to you now because no one in my life understands, but you might. I always felt I never fit in, too “white” or “liberal” for my strict Muslim community in the Midwest, too “conservative”, too Muslim to be with a white guy. I met someone online who changed that, a white guy who understood. He even read ‘Love InshAllah’ because he said he wanted to understand where I was coming from. We have been... Read more
Dear Emi, In a couple weeks’ time, I will be ironing a navy blue pinafore and a crisp white Peter Pan collar blouse and hanging them in your closet in preparation for your first day of kindergarten. I will be cutting the price tags off of your new backpack and lunchbox, filling the latter with sensible snacks and a note reading, “So proud of you! See you soon!” I will update my Facebook stream with an ironic comment that will... Read more
Bhohlo You make me yearn for my mother tongue. My brown fingers intertwine yours as I pull you, eedhigay, towards me, Lips graze your neck, asthay, as my instincts form soft sounds, Saved only for special people. “Choloh” I whisper in your ear as I tug you into the dark. (more…) Read more
Our love this Friday for this beautiful act of kindness on the basketball court. During a high school basketball game, one generous player passes the ball to a mentally challenged player on the OPPOSITE team. May we all strive to embody such compassion in our own lives. Read more
I hate writing about death. It brings up unpleasant family memories. Mother died at the age of 62 in 1982 from a series of brain infarctions, which is like Alzheimer’s, only accelerated. Dad died in 1994 at the age of 75 from pancreatic cancer. By the time he was diagnosed, it was so advanced the doctors sent him home after surgically opening him up. He died a couple of weeks later. These were huge personal losses. But I could comfort... Read more
Last year, I was invited to an interfaith banquet to be recognized for my efforts in weightlifting clothing accommodation. Although I was busy with competitions and training, the organizers had supported me in the past and I wanted to support them in turn. My friend Hiba accompanied me as my guest. I wore a shalwar kameez with a hijab and Hiba wore a business suit. A South Asian lady recognized me from a previous event I had spoken at and we... Read more
We love this video, “To This Day,” a project based on a spoken word poem written by Shane Koyczan that explores the profound and lasting impact of bullying. To This Day on Vimeo. Read more
Dear Love InshAllah: I am a virgin, and I really don’t know what to expect come wedding night. I’m definitely excited (one of the greatest understatements of all-time lol), but I am just so utterly clueless as to what I should do to blow the mind of my wife-to-be! I’ve never kissed a girl let alone done anything to have had any experience whatsoever in the female-pleasuring department. I have never dated. I don’t watch pornography or anything like that,... Read more
It’s 6 o’clock in the morning and though the house is still and dark, I am awake. It is the way it is these days. As much as I want to hibernate like a bear storing up my unconscious hours like an extra padding of fat for the coming months ahead when a little one will be waking me up every few hours, I can’t. I treasure my sleep. I adore my sleep. I could sing odes, sonnets, and serenade... Read more
♥ this! We are never too old to want — and deserve — love, security and parents. Read more about 13-year-old Latrell Higgins and his adoptive mother Kelli’s beautiful idea for this “newborn” photo shoot, here. Read more
Love, InshAllah
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