By This week was heavy.
I left Eid prayer early because it seemed too bittersweet to be celebrating among all the chaos of our world: From bombings to police brutality, and everything in between, this week was heavy.
You know that feeling when there aren’t any words, but you feel too numb to cry, and all that makes sense to you is solitude?
You curl up into a ball and pull the sheets over your eyes and drift off into sleep. Because maybe your dreams will be better. Because maybe our nightmares aren’t nearly as frightening as the reality that surrounds us.
Maybe our nightmares aren’t nearly as frightening as the reality that surrounds us.
How do you care for your heart in a world that’s constantly telling you your skin, your lifestyle, your religion is the enemy?
How do you care for your heart in a world that’s constantly telling you your skin, your lifestyle, your religion is the enemy?
Let’s be real…it’s hard to be Muslim right now. It can be even harder to come from smaller sects of Islam, like Shia, or Sufi, or Ahmadiyya, and harder still to be a Black Muslim.
Our throats are parched from calling out the hypocrisy in media. Our fingers are numb from scrolling and reading comments left by faceless Facebook warriors calling for violence against us, justifying our deaths, and quoting scriptures that they’ve never actually read.
Our throats are parched from calling out the hypocrisy in media. Our fingers are numb from scrolling and reading comments left by faceless Facebook warriors calling for violence against us, justifying our deaths, and quoting scriptures that they’ve never actually read.
So how do we heal, when it seems there is always something trying to take our light?
Like this.
Surround yourself with love.
You are loved. And in times like this we need to remind ourselves of just how big our love is. Give your time to those who love you and help you grow. Say it out loud. Text your friends, call your loves ones, and tell them how valuable they are. How much you cherish everything about them? Because chances are they are hurting too. Love heals hurt, loves does away with pain, and love is brighter than hatred.
Give yourself love.
Take long walks alone and with good company. Surround yourself with solitude and nature. Hold space for people and for yourself.
Love the parts of you the world tries to tell you to hate.
I’m going to be honest…I don’t think it was until this year that I accepted that being Black was what made me as beautiful as I am. I grew up with crazy racism – the type that makes you question your memories.
Love yourself so fiercely, it makes people uncomfortable.
My favorite act of self-care is moisturizing and then sitting outside and looking at how my skin glows. I actually sparkle. Like, I look like I was rolled in coco glitter. Thank you Allah (SWT).
Be Shonda.
Remember that time Shonda Rhimes shut down the fools who tried to start a petition against Jesse Williams (aka Bae, aka future baby daddy)?
They tried to have him removed from Grey’s for giving the most honest speech out there. And what did Shonda, (a baddie Black woman), do? She clapped back by reminding those fools about #Shondalandrules. She owns primetime TV and no one can tell her what to do with her shows.
Our positions won’t protect us from police brutality, but we can shift the power dynamic by building each other up, by investing in each other, and by constantly wanting to see each other succeed.
If they don’t give you a seat at their table, build your own table, and make it better.
If they don’t give you a seat at their table, build your own table, and make it better.
Do not engage.
They are not worth your time. Believe me. You do not need to reason with people with ugly hearts. You do not need to justify your existence or your right to equality. You simply need to demand it. And you do that by living your life and by loving yourself.
Indulge in everything that makes your heart happy.
I love facials, and massages, and long runs, and bubble baths. And that’s exactly what I plan on doing this weekend.
Be so loving and gentle and caring with yourself that the chaos in the world becomes background noise. It’s okay to check out of Facebook and check in with yourself.
It’s okay to check out of Facebook and check in with yourself.
I hope this helps you in refocusing your inner peace to the light it needs to see, especially since the world seems so ugly at times.
Please, please, please don’t forget that in order to be able to honestly love others, we must learn to love ourselves first.
Learn and get to really know your Rabb. Study the Asmaul Husna and really try to get to know Allah. His love and mercy is limitless with no flaws and insyaa Allah we, all Muslims will face life optimistically knowing our Lord Almighty is the Most Gracious Most Loving Most Merficull. allah give you ease, sister..