Poems

(Just a note: this one was written for little kids, so yeah!)

The Salam

 Peace is tranquility,

For me, it’s a greeting

A prayer for the person

I say it upon a meeting.

Peace be with you

Are the words which I choose to say

Having said what I’ve needed

Now I’ll continue on my way.

This is the greeting

So beautiful, it’s true

The salam, so simple

It’s our prayer for you

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Because I Am

I am who I am

Because I can.

I dream,

I hope,

I pray,

Because I can.

I write,

I read,

I wear my hijab,

Because I can.

I dare to hope,

Dare to challenge,

Dare to change,

And all this because I can

I dare to dream

Because I believe if I close my eyes

I’ll truly believe,

And if I believe,

Then it’ll become a reality

All because I’ll believe enough

To take the actions that’ll make it real

And all this because I can.

And if I can dream and hope

And change because I can

Then can’t you?

Because I know you can!

   4/18/09

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If I Could Be???

If I could be anything

I’d be the way G-d wanted me to be

I’d be able to see the

Errors of my ways

I’d be strong enough

From the straight path to not stray

I’d be able to see when

I do something wrong

And I’d be able to come back

Back on track

I’d be able to see the facts

I wouldn’t be forced off course

By Shaitan’s blind-full lies

I’d be able to break the three ties.

I’d have full control over my emotions,

Wouldn’t give in to thoughts that cause a commotion

I’d be working to be the best

Fulfilling all my tasks

I’d be acing through life’s tests

But then wait,

Stop,

Are you listening to this?

What nonsense,

I shouldn’t say if I could be,

It should be what I want to be

Nay,

Who I will be

InshaAll-h, one day

Time to change

Changing from today!

 ~  4/15/09

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Because the holy month of fasting is around the corner here’s the poem I wrote last year:

Ramadan

The month of blessings has begun

Month of mercy and forgiveness

Of strength and hopefulness

This is the time of change

When our priorities rearrange

This is the month of making amends

With family and friends more time do we spend

Helping each other in faith to ascend

And a free hand we do extend

This is the time of fasting and sharing

The time of giving and caring

This is the time for us to rise and succeed

It’s time to plant the seed

That one day will bear the fruits of good deed.

Its time for the ummah to unite

Time for us to do what’s right.

Its  time for us to make a difference

Time to end the violence

The cries of the desperate can be silenced

Its time for us to join as humanity

Time to learn about humility

Time to build a better society

Its time to stay blessed and strong

Time for us to take our place and know we belong

Time for us to do what’s best

Living life, passing its tests

Time to put differences aside

Because we’re ready to help those whose needs have been denied

We’re ready to face the challenges in stride.

                                                            ~  9/12/08

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My sisters

I saw the girl whom they claim is oppressed

Because she’s covered, they view her as suppressed

They view her as one who’s upset

But they don’t know her,

They’ve never met,

They judge based on false information

They don’t see her as a source of inspiration

My sisters in faith please remain brave

Your piety is something many do crave

This hijab protects you from their insanity

Keeping us guarded from being objects of impurity

My sister,

In life there is always an obstacle

Don’t mind this worlds’ struggle

But always remember that after pain

There’s always a gain

Be patient because soon you’ll be at ease

Remember it is He whom we please

Here’s from one sister to another

We’ll stand proudly together

We’re veiled from the ever-changing fashion

Our unity and hijab show our passion

We don’t want anything in this world

But are waiting for the greatest reward

We are in want of His pleasure

Insha’Allah we will have our just measure

Insha’Allah we’ll receive Jannah’s treasure.

                                                                    ~7/29/08

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Who Will We Be?

 What will we be if these crimes persist?

Who will we be if we don’t resist.

Who will hear the cry of agony?

Who will be left to end the misery?

Who will we be?

Can’t you see?

We’re all one and the same

Can’t judge by gender or fame

Nor by color or creed

It seems that we have to take the lead

Begin to enlighten

Help those who are frightened

You hate based on the color of skin

And yet somehow we are all kin

We’re all from Adam and Eve

So tell me what you achieve.

Nothing except pain is caused

It seems we’ve become lost.

It’s time we change

Learn about those who seem strange

Time to end the hate

It’s still not too late

Just have to turn the page

Let our minds out of its cage

We need to learn tolerance

End our ignorance

We can’t show arrogance

Nobody is superior

Nobody can be inferior

Doesn’t matter if we’re

Muslim, Christian, or Jew

Nor Buddhist or Hindu

I’m me, you’re you

Now here’s what we must do

Stand united and tall

Don’t be divided and fall

Learn about the other race

Put hatred into chase

We need to put differences aside

And face the challenges in stride.

                                                            ~ 7/25/08

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Prayer for Those in Poverty

 I saw your hunger,

Your pain,

And I left you alone

No good deed did I gain

I left you there on the street,

Left you there in the hot summer’s heat.

I wish I could help you

But now there’s nothing much I could do

I didn’t bother to turn and see

Even when I heard your plea

What now I wonder,

Will become of me

Why did I realize so late,

Was this my fate?

Why did I lose a good deed?

Is this the punishment of greed?

I can’t imagine your suffering,

 The way you must be living

Oh how I wish I could end poverty

It would be such a feat for humanity

If nothing else it would save my sanity

My dear sibling in humanity,

Now all I can do for you is pray

But that’s all I can say

I pray you’ll find peace

Your life’s struggle I hope will ease

And I ask you to forgive me please

Forgive my not being prepared

I promise I did care

This time has gone

All this is done

Now, there’s nothing left,

Only this feeling of hopeless regret

~7/17/08

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THANK YOU

I have to say this

Because it’s something I forget to say

Something that I tend to miss

Shookrullah (thank you All-h)

Thank You for giving me a source of peace

For giving me a chance to repent

Thank You for giving me a chance

To fix my every mistake

For giving me hope

With every breath I take.

Thank You for showing my strengths

And my weaknesses

For showing me Your guidance

Your love

I only wish I could repay you

Something indeed

I will never be able to do.

                                    ~ 5-31-08

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UNTITLED

 My sole peace of mind

No, I’ve lost track of time

Hope and dreams I’ll find

For now it’s claiming what’s mine.

Look up

Work hard

There’s always a diamond in the rough

Just have to remain tough

Find that empty space

Mark my words

I’ll be in that final race

Cause I’m strong

I believe

I know when I’m wrong

And that’s when I denounce my belief

That I’m powerful

I don’t need anybody else

Because I know there’s One

I can always rely on

And He’s the Almighty One.

When the world is glum

I turn to Him

He sees what’s in my heart

Every ache, every pain

Every hurt.

He helps me find

My peace of mind

And with His help

In the end I’ll succeed

In His name I’ll proceed

Just have to remember

He only helps those

Who help themselves.

                                                ~5/18/08

 

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Peace Be Ours

If only they saw the world through your eyes

If only they saw what you see everyday

If only they could count

The countless times you saw a loved one die

If only the world could be seen through your eyes

If only we didn’t listen to all those ignorant lies

If only my actions were as true as my words

If only nobody ever betrayed you.

If they saw the world through your eyes

If they saw the terror, the bloodshed

If only they had to bury your dead.

If they could see the ignorance

That led to your suffering

If they would only open their eyes

They would see what they did

See what they’ve done.

If only…

If only…

If only they knew

Maybe the wars would end

Maybe the cries would be silenced

And maybe the deads struggle wouldn’t be in vain,

Let each of us see what you’ve seen

And carry these words

Spread them far and wide

And maybe

Maybe one day

There will be a change in the tide.

If only there was unity

In this fight for humanity

The fight to find, search

Bring about peace

The finality of joy

The peace

Sweet peace

Peace be ours

Sincerely forever

One day…

                                                            ~  4/14/08

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Have I lost my way???

 I pray all day and all night

For the end of the suffering

The end of their plight

I pray for the end of the war,

The bloodshed.

The end of the terror,

The fight.

I pray for the innocent lives at stake

And as I do,

I question myself

Am I a fake?

For if I’m not

What actions did I take?

What did I do for the Muslims sake?

Did I preach and not practice?

Tell not show?

O’ All-h please tell me what I need to know.

Did I just sit and pray

Hoping the suffering will end someday?

Did I not try to end all that’s gone astray?

Try to fix what’s in dismay?

Did my deeds fall into darkness?

Do I have time to repent?

Or is it too late?

Have I lost Your guidance?

Your love?

Your light?

Is there a way for me to strengthen myself?

A chance to make it all right?

I sincerely hope

I sincerely pray

That I will rise one day

And do what should be done

By practicing what I preach

By practicing for what I pray.

                                                ~  2/20/08

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Simply Me

 Looking in the mirror one day

I began to wonder

What do people see

When they look at someone like me?

Do they think of me as that girl

With a smile?

Say, she’s so small and fragile,

Don’t they know I’m smart, strong

And agile?

What do they think

Of the way I dress?

Do they think of me as one who’s oppressed?

Suppressed?

Maybe even depressed?

Let me just make it clear

That’s not true

So here’s a hint

I’m giving you a clue.

I’m just trying to pass life’s test,

Trying to show I’m one who’s modest

Do these people want me to take the blame

Of the deeds I didn’t do?

Because me?

I’m not going to propagate a false claim.

Do they look at me and say

“Hey, there goes a terrorist!”

But let me just say

I’m simply Muslim

Not an extremist,

What do these people wonder?

Are they just waiting for a blunder?

So that they can tease

Even though I’m at ease

Because simply put

I’m a Muslim

I am me

And everybody

That’s something

I’m PROUD to be.

                        ~ 7-10-07