Category Archives: Noor

Amid A Crowd of Stars

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Amid a crowd of stars we rest,

souls made of flaming stardust,

that light dark and deep city skies

when the sun sets

and the moon fails to set forth,

and the night is pitched in layers of black.

 

Amid the path of sweet moonlight,

we dance and twirl,

sticking arms out to catch loose dreams

when restless love

keeps us awake at night.

 

Amid serene dreams, behind closed eyes,

we wonder where the worlds treasures are found,

and plan sunflower yellow happy-days,

when the pain does not get to us,

and the tears are washed away.

 

Amid the sweetest silence of the night,

that drips over our heads like sugary honey,

whispers travel further distances,

and voices hush to a bare minimum,

for they fear their hearts deepest layers will be heard,

instead distractions of laughter break the transparent film.

 

Amid the shaded colors of blacks,

are lost moments of lost wanderers,

walking through the crooked sidewalks

and through the sheltering necks of trees.

Moments of friendship and love,

and all those good and bad thoughts,

the fireflies fluttering in their subconscious brain.

 

Amid soft silk covers,

atop crumpled and ripped sheets,

lie dreamers and lovers,

over-worried souls and those tired laborers.

Where layers of heart and mind

are peeled back

and the days darkest minutes

are left afloat as young and old minds

rest with temporary peace.

 

And amid all the nights unbelievable serenity

I lie restless and awake,

drowned in smiling conversation of friends

and looming shadows of odd stabbing worry.

The night a red ribbon-tied gift more intricate,

more beautiful,

than the days and their chaotic hustle and bustle,

and the moon rules with a little bit more royalty

even though the sun glitters gold,

because the moon lies lazily,

amid a crowd of brilliant stars.

 

This comes from an emulation done in class. The original poem is “When You Are Old” by WB Yeats. I took the last line “amid a crowd of stars” and it inspired me to write this poem. The poem focuses on the beauty of the night. For some odd reason, while writing this poem, I kept thinking of the “Starry Night” painting by Vincent Van Gogh. It was also one of the first thoughts that came to my mind when I first read the line “amid a crowd of stars” hence my poem formed its way to talk about the night. I highlighted the last few lines as I feel like they stood out to me, and I would have to say that they are my favourite lines from this poem. In fact, reading these lines on their own gives a short and beautiful poem as well.

My Islam of Beauty and Light

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My religion, Islam, is so vast, beautiful, and complex that it can often be misinterpreted. Many Muslims are unaware of the true depth in Islam, along with many non- muslims. Often, this unawareness can lead to Islam, as a religion, to be shown in a negative light, just because of the actions of a few horrible people. However, there are a few things about Islam that should be talked about and shared, so that everyone may see the true beauty behind this misunderstood religion.

Islam’s most beautiful concept is the huge emphasis on helping those in need. Islam is built on the basis of five necessary pillars. One of these is compulsory donation or charity. Otherwise known as Zakat. This is something that comes around annually. The idea behind it is that every person, not family, but every individual is to give some part of their wealth to someone in need, or who is struggling with poverty. This amount is calculated based on the wealth that you have. For example someone with greater wealth is too donate more money, whereas someone with less wealth will donate less. The idea of Zakat is just one thing that highlights the importance of giving to others in Islam, and sheds light on the beauty and kindness of this religion.

Many of you may know that during one month of the year, muslims are fasting, and this month is referred to as Ramadan. During these thirty days, muslims are not to eat from dawn to sunset everyday. But Ramadan is not just about staying away from eating, but rather the idea behind it is to be your best possible self. Aside from food, muslims are not to be angry, are supposed to forgive others, say kind words, and stay away from all forms of sin. Muslims are also encouraged to worship and pray, and again there is a huge emphasis on helping others during this month. For instance, during Ramadan, many mosques will hold large iftars, this is the name given to breaking your fast at sunset. Doors will be opened, and poor and homeless people will come in and be given delicious food to eat. Normally these people are not able to afford food. Though Ramadan may seem like 30 days of fasting, it’s real idea lies in kindness, humanity, and being a better person.

One of the biggest misconceptions within Islam nowadays is that women are oppressed within this religion. This idea is absolutely absurd. Islam puts men and women on a completely equal position, with neither superior nor less to the other.

 

Oppression towards females may come from backward traditions and cultures, or misunderstood ideas of religion, but Islam most certainly gives all women liberty and freedom. It may be common to hear that Islam does not want girls receiving education, but again this is an incorrect idea embedded in the mind of extremists. In fact, Islam encourages, and even in a way orders learning and education. It says in the Quran (the holy book of Islam) that both men and women have a responsibility to learn knowledge and actively seek out more knowledge. The wife of the prophet was a very prominent scholar within her time period, with others coming to seek knowledge from her. Islam does not order women to stay in their homes. Historically, Muslim women held different positions in society, whether it be as a nurse, or an economic figure in the bazaar or marketplace. They were not forced to stay in their homes as housewives. Other historical examples can be used to clearly show the importance of women in Islam. At a time when daughters were buried alive and sons kept alive, Islam came to criticize this act and bring a halt to it. Islam also gave women the right to inherit property of deceased loved ones, as this was not a right given to women originally.
Another misconception is that Muslim women are forced to cover themselves. Though women are encouraged to cover their hair and face, Islam absolutely does not encourage the forced wearing of a hijab or burqa. Rather Islam tells women to adopt this concept when they are ready to do so, and the idea of covering yourself comes from giving women complete respect, and so that their bodies are not sexualised and the focus is not on their beauty, but rather on their personality. Islam is one religion that gives women complete liberty and freedom, placing them in complete equality with men.

These are just a few concepts that really show the true beauty of Islam, rather then the misconceptions that exist in our society nowadays. Islam is a religion of kindness, peace, equality and humanity above all else, and there is zero room for violence, hatred, and oppression. Being Muslim is not about how much you worship, but rather how great of a individual you are. It is time that this religion is not painted in a negative light, but rather it is shown as a source of light.

 

 

All images taken from www.pixaby.com

 

https://www.islamichelp.org.uk/zakat/

http://ias.org/sufism/women-in-islam/