Many converts report that one of the major factors that influenced there decision to convert is the welcoming Muslim community. Whenever they say this, I wonder what they are really looking for and if they could easily be attracted by a cultish personality figure. Okay, you might just think that I am ingesting sour grapes. … … Maybe you are right. Yet, I have an unease with the fervor in which they revere the Muslim community. I admit to being a bit skeptical to the expedience in which they cultivate these friendships and I find it disconcerting when these people quickly adopt beliefs and traditions based on said fast growing friendships. Alas, I’ll leave that analysis for another time.
I do understand that yearning to belong. We have a desire to understand and be understood. This is human and is a huge selling point for every religious community. Whenever people convert to another faith, they most often mention the overwhelming comforting acceptance of the community.
When people talk about the church being a community, they often reference the community of Acts in the New Testament. It seems that very few non-cultish people are actually living this community with the generosity and inclusion that seemed to be manifested in the fifth book of the New Testament. But, I know that this is many people’s fantasy.
I even have a friend D who would not mind sharing her home with another family of the same religion. That means that our family is out, not that my husband would feel comfortable doing this. Anyway, she exemplifies our need to be more communal with each other. Many of us have yearned for that utopian type of society.
Quaker core values include: simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and stewardship. Their emphasis on community and social justice with a theological bent captivates me. I am perplexed that the community, at large, is one of the whitest that I know, yet try to approach and advocate for humanity on such subjects as abolition during times of slavery and white privilege in the present.
LDS members are brought into and cocooned by a loving community. Sisters are to visit sisters and brothers are to visit brothers at least once a month. If you are LDS, you can get an address list of all of the LDS members in your area. It is quite common for families to visit, bring dinners in times of need, share with other LDS families and really make every attempt to nurture a close relationship with all of those who share their faith. Community and family are highly valued. Yes, I understand that cohesion comes at a price. But, many are willing to pay it.
That desire for community is not just found in religious folks. You can find people manifesting that desire in every type of cause and movement possible.
I have to admit that I have not felt particularly embraced by the Muslim community. Maybe my children will. But, for a myriad of reasons, I do not. I have tried to find a small group to belong to. It would certainly help with social, emotional and spiritual growth. Yet, as of now, it has not happened in the physical sense. I have a friend, E, who is married to a Turkish educator, who’s family grew up closely identifying with Quakerism, who is busy homeschooling her six children (two of whom are my younger children’s age. I did seem to share quite a bond with her. I do connect with people online in a couple of Muslim groups. They feel like my community. But, obviously, we can’t physically fellowship over a meal and intertwine our family’s lives together.
I have tried connecting with Quakers or “Friends,” online. I think, however, that many of these people are choosing to live a more simple life and don’t visit Facebook as much as they would need to, if they wanted to actually create that type of community.
Some people have felt that connection within Muslim communities, though. I can’t argue with their experience and don’t begrudge them any happiness. I found some songs that support the communal Muslim experience.
The first song by Raef talks about the significance of Home.
The second song is also by Raef. He reminds of us of our social responsibility to help others in our community. We must help others achieve their dreams, just as others should help us.
Technically this next selection is not an Islamic song. I have this song several times on my reflection playlist. It is just too soulful and simple to neglect it. It began with Bill Withers and has been remade at least five more times by various artists including Imagine Dragons, Club Nuvo, Ben Stancomb, a nick Jonas and Shawn Mendez duet and even John Legend. Note: if you have not heard of Ben Stancomb, he is worth your time to find him on YouTube.
Here is a popular Muslim artist, Ilyas Mao singing his version of this powerful song. Just in case you do not know the song of which I speak or did not click the link above, the song is titled Lean on me.
Dawud Wharnsby reminds us of our simple need to love and be loved in his rhythmic hit Love Strong.
Another gem by Ilyas Mao directs us to love our community as Allah loves us. It is called Real Love.
I have been married for almost ten years and my family still calls a mosque a “Muslim church.” Half of the time I want to correct them, but fifty percent of the time, I just want to let it go and comfort myself with the fact that they did not call it a “den of radicalization.” Okay, I’ve set the bar pretty low for most of my family who aren’t Muslim. My mother still forgets that bacon comes from a pig. And, if I didn’t remind my family that we were observing Ramadan, they’d not bring it up or forget about it entirely.
It is the last Friday of Ramadan. Every Friday is called Jumuah or Jummah or Juma. Jumuah is the day of worship for Muslims, much like Sunday is the day of worship for most Christians. In Muslim majority countries, businesses leave work early to attend prayers at the mosque or Masjid. It’s Jumuah and although we can’t physically go to the mosque, this song, its Jumuah, by Raef always gets us ready. Okay, I admit it, almost every song by Raef inspires us. But, this one, at least, reminds my children that it is time to go to the mosque.
Of course, our first song about the mosque was from Yusuf Islam and children. I was just searching around on youtube and found it. My smallest child wanted to hear it over and over. I did preview it on day06. The song is aimed at children and getting ready to go to the mosque. It is called Upsy daisy. The tune is infectious. We use to sing it when we were in Indianapolis and decided to make the twenty-five minute walk to the mosque. My littlest could not walk the entire way and we had to carry him in a front pack. I am sure that I was in better shape, then. My children and I would sing this song to pass the time.
”Upsy daisy,
Now don’t be lazy,
It’s time to go to the Masjid.
Wash your face up,
And pick the pace up,
It’s time to go to the Masjid…”
Here is another children’s song about going to the masjid. This is from the popular series Omar and Hana.
Another popular hip-hop Jumuah song is Friday by Deen Squad. I am sure that my children will like it more as they become preteens.
We’ve talked about the call to prayer and how people are called to the mosque to pray. I have not watched “the message,” which is supposed to be a movie about Prophet Muhammad, but I am sure that it is not audio described. Anyway, I am always moved by that first enactment of the former slave Bilal as the first muesin and hearing all the people coming to the mosque. The clip is in my post on Day07.
Some mosques just seem to be places for shelter and prayer. Other mosques seem to morph into community centers to address many other needs of the Muslim population. I think that it is short sided for a mosque to stand only as a place of prayer. It doesn’t assist in meeting other needs of its members. My husband reports that Pakistan has neighborhood mosques like some neighborhoods have liquor stores. But, these mosques don’t seem to be centers where people can congregate after the prayer. It seems a waste of a building. Of course, not a total waste. There is great value in having a place for corporate prayer. But, many nonwestern mosques have less than equitable accommodations for women. Some people see a masjid as a place to only fulfill spiritual needs. Maybe they pass out literature or give an inspiring khutbah. But, they don’t see a masjid as a place to address such things as hunger, poverty, education or health. Many masjids in western countries and more modern cities of other countries are used for a place to learn or get a meal or to assist in a thousand other communal needs.
Some people use the word “mosque,” and others use “Masjid.” Masjid is the correct Arabic term, but Mosque is definitely a common term to explain where the Muslims worship. Some people don’t like the word “Mosque,” because of some early historical Spanish references. I am not sure that I totally agree with this analysis, but it is thought provoking and I’ll give the argument more space in my head along with some research concerning its claims later. Just know that I have no ill intent and are using the terms interchangeably. If you want to read about the argument, this link might wet your appetite for knowledge on the subject.
I love any place that encourages spiritual contemplation and communal eating/learning/socializing. All that said, I do believe that too many mosques are definitely following cultural norms instead of Allah’s word when they segregate for prayers, eating, socializing or any combination of the three. Many progressives and moderates are working diligently to change rules around gender. Inclusive initiatives and mosques that would support them are popping up in the USA, the UK and around Europe. To learn more, check out these masjids.
Although, I will admit that rarely do people think about those with disabilities when they talk about “inclusiveness.” I support my marginalized brothers and sisters. I just wish that they would support us, as well. Supporting other marginalized groups does not lessen my claim for inclusiveness.
I remember the first time I entered a mosque. The first mosque that I entered was a large one in Plainfield, Indiana. It is called The Islamic Society of North America. I had little knowledge about it then and was overwhelmed at its vast structure and community. I had a service dog, at the time. I did not take my dog, but I hear that this masjid is one of the few where service dogs are welcome. I wish that I had tried to bring my dog. But, as a first-time attendee, I did not want to push the issue.
I have even visited Badshahi mosque in Lahore Pakistan. My husband, A and I went to visit family in Pakistan. This was about six years ago and my then, almost two-year-old was in awe at the stone structures and the amount of steps. I know that I have a picture of us in Badshahi masjid. I don’t know which picture it is and it would take me too long to look for it. So, hopefully, here are some images from Wikipedia.
Here is a video with Badshahi masjid along with other iconic masjids.
There are songs discussing the destruction of mosques and the Muslims who had come to pray. Here is a song about Aqsa Masjid called the farthest Mosque by Waheeb Nasan.
We are almost finished with the thirty days of harmony and melody. I have previewed many songs about many subjects important to Muslims and specific to Ramadan. I have listened to, literally days of music. Yet, still, my favorite song about a mosque is one that I found more than four years ago. Dawood Wharnsby’s Mosque. I have thought about using that song to showcase lots of great mosques around the world. I wonder if that video has pictures of various mosques with people praying in them. If it doesn’t, maybe it needs a makeover. This song is a CW influenced upbeat selection about a mosque. It is informational, yet apt. It references Beverly Hillbillies, “Take your shoes off, stay awhile.” A couple of my favorite parts of the song are:
“The heart of every mosque beats within a Muslim’s chest, that’s the thing about a mosque, I really think is best… … Where you rest your head just set your mind and place your heart that will be the special spot for a new mosque to start.”
Eid is finally here. My husband wants to go to at least one Pakistani friend’s house for dinner. I think that we should stay home and just zoom it. We will at least zoom the prayer, but I know that my husband wants to cause enough drama that we go to someone’s house for a dinner celebration. Note to self: find the masks, even though I know that my husband will try to find any moment to remove the mask and show his selfishness. We will see.
Most years, we go to the mosque, pray and eat. The children’s activities are getting more and more elaborate. Muslims seem to be in this catch 22 when they start thinking about others and comparing Eid to Christian, secular or western holidays.
I think that many Muslims try to make Eid as special as possible because they feel like they must compete with Christmas. Sometimes, at the mosque, there are bounce houses, ice cream, pony rides, carnival games and barbecues. I wonder if Muslims will have hay rides when Ramadan is in the fall. Even more interesting is what Eid will be like in the winter.
My first Eid was in 2010 and it was in August, then. It slowly moves backward about eleven days each year due to the fact that it is determined by the lunar calendar and not the Gregorian calendar.
There is really nothing wrong with fun on Eid. The problem becomes when Muslims do this in response or reference to other Christian holidays. Anyway, the other extreme is the desire not to “imitate the Christians,” This leaves the Muslim in a quandary. Not imitating the Christians really means that there is less fun to be had for the children. Apparently, fun is decidedly Christian. Conversely, things that aren’t fun are not Christian.
It seems as if both positions are comparing themselves to Christians and therefore, miss the true intention of Eid. Both positions can be nauseating for different reasons.
At the end of the day, I want to try to make Eid as special for the children as possible. I don’t care if we are imitating the fun of the Christians. Yet, I try to be less materialistic about it than I see many Muslims being – even though they might criticize the Christians for doing that very same thing. I have seen expensive Eid outfits, women being decked out in their most elegant outfits and sparkling jewelry and feasts that could feed hundreds of people set for thirty or forty guests. Children want gifts and money. Yet, I always feel a little guilty and encourage my children to be extra generous. We celebrate Christmas and all of the other calendar holidays, whether secular or religious. We’d celebrate Hanukkah and Diwali, if it didn’t feel like cultural appropriation and if we had some willing people to usher us through the celebrations. Many Muslim children do not get to celebrate so many holidays. Their parents are quite conservative about celebrating anything other than Eid… … or their native country’s holidays, sometimes. That is another hypocritical story. . I have always wanted to make (and get my children to help me make) little bags for others with small toys and candy in them. And, maybe have a carnival type of celebration which could include the playing of Islamic games, Islamic trivia, the making of treasure boxes to get out for next Ramadan. I’d like to create an Eid treasure hunt with Arabic clues and a twist to make it really Eid like. Of course, we can’t forget lots of Eid music.
Actually, I have had a few ideas for some really neat Islamic games which could double as cool Eid gifts for families. I do wish that I could construct some of these and just pass them out to the children at Eid.
Maybe I could produce a laminated Islamic coloring book of the fifty most popular mosques. A small picture of a well-known mosque with facts would be on the right hand side of one page. The next two pages would contain an elaborate picture of the mosque and an outline for someone to color in. On the left-hand side of the next page are ten questions to answer. The questions would come from the facts on the previous page. It would be laminated, so dry erase markers could work. This would be especially educational since the controversy and uncertainty of one of the most famous silver domed masjids, al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Click this link for more information about this mosque. I have also written another post about the mosque. Check it out for more about famous mosques and stunning pictures.
Why not make a trouble like game of seven layers or rows. The board is square. Each role of the dice gets you closer to the Kaaba. There are three spaces on each side. That means that it will take 84 moves to get to the Kaaba. You must go around seven times. The first person to circumambulate seven times and get to the Kaaba presses the button that calls the prayer.
I have been looking in many Islamic book stores and toy stores. I have not found magnetic Arabic letters. The letters that I do find have all been reviewed as not very durable. Has anyone ever made magnetic Arabic letters? I am certain that a durable magnetic letter set with the accents could be made. If someone really wants to get technical, they could make an electronic part to the magnetic letters, similar to the leap frog system. I thought about them being magnetic, but like the wicka sticks so we could change the shape to fit the word that it would go in. sometimes the letter slightly changes shape depending on the accent put on the letter or what comes before or after it.
Card games that help a child match the correct Prophet to the story could be laminated and made for a great Eid gift and/or activity for the mosque.
During Eid celebration, kids could also play a Guess the Trash game. First tell the story of the Prophet and the bag of Trash. Then, there is a cloth bag with a glove to stick your hand in. The glove has no fingers. There is a zipper at the other end to take out or insert more objects. Fill the bag with objects and see how many a person can guess by touch in one/two/three minutes. Timer is by the wrist of glove. Included objects: replica of Masjid, moon shape, camel, sheep, grapes, prayer rug, minaret, cup, dog, sandal, Replica of Kaaba, small book, star shape, lantern, scarf, bird, prayer beads, date, sword, ark, cradle and staff. Another game is to find one object in the bag and either think of a verse that includes this object or tell a story about this object.
The Little ones could play a version of Hungry Hungry hippo where the marbles are dates or pieces of fruit. The concept could be expanded upon by making the food different shapes. Dates, samosas, water melon wedges, flat bread, chicken leg, water bottle, French fries, puff puff bread and pizza could all be food items.
It would be fun to have a maze like game for the children. The children could go through the maze and it could be labeled with different places that the Prophet went. One maze could be like a cave. But, each person would have to figure out how to move the dogs from the cave. We could talk about that story.
If I could sew, I would make a collection of three or four books in one binder. There would be felt objects and animals. On one page would be the story and the other would be a piece of material for any child to set the scene.
Why not engage the children in an Islamic Bingo game of sorts. This would mean that they would have to know their Arabic alphabet and some Arabic words.
There are so many possibilities with stone mosques, the Kaaba and statues. An idol could be built and two teams could take turns throwing stones at it. Two teams could build a large fort like mosque and the team to put the minaret on top is the winner.
I have not heard Eid celebratory songs being played at the Mosque, but I am sure that some people play them in their houses. I have not heard people do so because, whenever I have been invited for Eid celebrations, the crowd has been quite conservative. Gender mixing is not even a thing, much less music. Usually when my family is invited for Eid, though, it is by an Auntie who is a friend of my mother-in-law. This means that most often the invitation comes from conservative Pakistanis.
Eid and/or Eid celebrations are usually not complete without at least four of the following experiences occurring.
shoved into a crowded mosque for prayer,
My little child pulling off at least one head scarf (Okay, less likely to happen since my children are older but certainly was an occurrence at least twice a year for the last eight years),
not being able to find my shoes for at least twenty minutes after the prayer and before eating even with sighted assistance,
Having at least six different rice dishes on the menu
Being in the middle of a stampede to eat,
My children wanting to play and have ice cream and do everything that is available to do at the mosque(pizza, hot dogs, ice cream, cotton candy, yard games and a video game truck),
Any party decorations (Birthday, Christmas, etc.) that can be purchased put on tables and my in-laws encouraging my children to collect them all into a bag for them to play with when we get home,
Uncles and Aunties giving my children various denominations of money that my husband use to hold for them but now are grasped tightly by my eight-year-old),
My mother-in-law telling everyone that I am blind so that she can get to the beginning of a food line (last time, I told her how much I disliked this practice and tried to get little girls to go ahead of me, so I got no pizza – the exact thing we were standing in line for),
African, Asian, Middle Eastern and American perfumes, aromas, languages, foods, expressions of joy all praying and experiencing Eid together
Gender segregation, either at the Mosque or at someone’s home afterwards (sometimes, if we eat outside, gender segregation is not practiced),
I know that people have to play Eid music in their homes, though. I have found some celebratory songs. Here are a few songs that they and you might play on Eid.
One of my favorites is the song Festival, by Khaled Siddiq. There will probably never be another song that mentions Biryani and Fanta in the same verse. BTW. I have never had eid without Biryani and Fanta. This year, there is no fanta because I am not a fan of soda. And, while we did not have biryani, we did have hummus, tabouli, meat and rice and goat feet gravy.
This Eid Song called Eid Mubarak by Sami Yusuf is live and it makes you think that you are at a concert.
Eidun Sed by Zain Bhikha is exactly what we would expect from the South African musician. The joyous selection thanks Allah for Ramadan and the blessings of Eid.
Eid Morning Takbeer by Native Deen is all in Arabic. It is close to what we hear at the mosque before Eid. It is an elaborate Takbeer chant that is said between Fajr and the extra prayer at Eid. Takbeer just means the phrase that God is great. But, during Eid, this takbeeri chant can be heard about ten minutes before the Eid prayer begins. Many imams give a Khutbah (similar to a sermon) after the prayer and before eating.
Here is the percussion version.
Its Eid day by Zaky is a child’s song discussing and celebrating Eid. My children like the video and the music.
Eid Mubarak everybody is a fun rap by Native Deen (I believe), about Eid. I believe that it was performed on the Deen Show. My children like the video, I am not sure why.
Omar Esa has a fun celebration song about Eid and being a Muslim. His pride in being a Muslim and excitement over Eid is apparent. The song is called Celebrate Eid.
We’ve scanned the Sky by Dawud Wharnsby tells about eh progression from the beginning to the end of Ramadan. It reminds us that we look for the moon to indicate the beginning and end of Ramadan.
It is amazing how much this month is “not” suppose to be about food, but in reality, really “it is” about food. We are supposed to think less about food, but we end up thinking more about food than ever before. We are suppose to give to those in need, and while we may do that, we also do a lot of taking.
I tried to practice clean eating this Ramadan and wanted my children to do the same. It seems that people load up on food when they break their fast. So, from sunset until sunrise the next day, they seem to eat like a bear does before hibernation. In fact, many will tell you that they gain weight during Ramadan. It is like the way that some people think about heaven. They believe that all sins are not necessarily bad, only forbidden for a time. Then, they act as if Iftar is practice time for Heaven.
The morning meal is before the prayer that is before sunrise. The meal is called Sohoor. I tried to do green smoothies. My in-laws always have milky tea, fried eggs and parathas. This is a recipe of flaky flat bread. They smell as good as they taste and every American that tries them, eats at least a whole paratha. My husband yearns for all Pakistani food atSohoor, especially since Covid-19. We have had some wonderful men bring over cooked wonders from their wives’ kitchens. We have parathas. But, just in case you might want to make your own. I found this recipe. I can’t verify its accuracy because, for me, paratha making is like spinning yarn into gold.
We do seem to be incorporating more fruit into our sohoor and I love that.
I’d like to have oatmeal and fruit for breakfast. Maybe oatmeal with a veggie/fruit smoothie. Then again, I know that I should be exercising more and taking advantage of this Covid-19 emergency home time. And, this has largely been a fantasy, also. Before Ramadan, I tried to limit my meat, dairy, sugar, oil and processed food consumption. That is, I had been trying to adopt a Whole food plant based way of eating. I was pretty successful, I must admit. This has gone completely out the window since the effects of Corona on Ramadan 2020. Sometimes my little boys will get up with me and either sit in the kitchen while I prepare Sohoor or try to help. I actually would do the same with my mother-in-law, last year. This makes Sohoor go so much more smoothly. It makes me feel less like a maid with benefits and more like a valuable team player.
I am going to dive into the intricacies and roles of food, instead of all of its rich flavors, for the time being. As we know, food or the consumption of food is so much more than enjoying a taste or the intake of nutrients.
First, I admit that I have a bit of an emotional addiction to food. I was a prime candidate for such a dependency. I was a preemie at birth. I always felt on the outside of family events, etc. What started as a way to fatten me up, soon became a way to combat bordom or a way to connect with others who felt that they could not possibly have anything else in common except the most basic thing, food. There was also the emotional pull. Eating just ttastes and feels good… … at least for the short term. I understand food addictions and the deeper challenge when we can’t exactly go cold turkey. For information, check out these links.
my husband’s sister and I are part of the same facebook group. It is a local Muslim group and even though she is not local, she joined the group to intermittently post requests for help for her brother. They know that I am part of the group. But, they know that I won’t ask for help unless we really need it and other avenues have been exhausted. Honestly, that was her sole purpose of joining. At the beginning of Ramadan, she posts that her brother needs food. I post sometimes in the group, but I don’t out myself as her needy brother’s wife. I find my husband and his sister a bit too eager to accept help that might or might not be needed and even less likely to be reciprocated.
Actually, we don’t need food. Okay, my husband might *WANT* Pakistani food that he feels I am substandard at making. Yet, we do have the money to buy food. My husband makes a sustainable income at his job. According to the US census, we are considered upper middle class. And, even though many have lost their jobs this year, my husband has the opportunity and privilege to work from home. But, no one knows this. They see a blind man with a blind American wife and assume that he must be lacking for meals because either we don’t have the income or I can’t cook his traditional dishes. The second would be a perceptive response, the first would be an assumption with enormous consequences or benefits, depending on how you want to look at it. The brother and sister duo does seem to want to capitalize on the pity and ignorance of others. .
Okay, I admit, I am possibly a lower than average cook. I am not horrible. But, I am not great, either. It has nothing to do with sight and all to do with skill and attention to detail. I don’t have the skill to make roti nor the patience to make Biryani. Yet, no one is scraping burnt bits off of their chicken… … well, not most days. With Shan Masala’s help, I can make Dhal or Chana or even butter chicken. Even though I am trying not to eat as much meat, etc, I am not insisting that my children follow my way of eating. This issue is complicated more by the fact that my husband’s preferences seem to change. No one will ever cook like his mother. Accepting or rejecting food sometimes is more about making said person feel important, as opposed to what he might actually find most palletable. When my in-laws are here, and I make something that he has previously noted as “pretty good,”(Because he doesn’t get more verbal than that) he will only nibble the contents of the meal. My father-in-law will never eat anything that I make unless it has been prepared in advance and my cooking consists of warming it in the oven. my husband won’t touch my food for fear of offending his mother. If he does, he only takes a very small bite so she knows that he prefers her food over mine. He tells me that he does not like scrambled eggs. Yet, he will eat her fried egg and omelette every day. That is their breakfast of choice every day. The only other possibility is that he is not being honest when he tells me of his preferences in the first place. I understand that these strands just complicate issues surrounding food.
And, did I mention that my husband and in-laws love to hoard. It isn’t just hoarding the resources, but being able to distribute them as they see fit. It is easier when hubby’s parents are not here. Still, he does hoard things. Half of what he hoards is consumable. He will stash it in his parents’ room and lock the door. This has resulted in my 8yo sneaking. This is a horrid vitious circle.
Anyway, lots of families are bringing over food to share with us. Every dish has an abundance of meat, an ample amount of rice, oil as a lubricant for the dish, sometimes sugar infused to make the dish more palletable and there is a significant lack of leafy greens. Sometimes they will bring a salad of lettuce and cucumber slathered in dressing. I am not sure why the average salad consists of only lettuce, maybe a tomato, cucumber and possibly carrots. Mushrooms, spinach and/or any other ingredients are left out entirely. The one exception was when someone brought a giant Greek style salad with plenty of olives. My eight-year-old and I shared the salad. Actually, I think he ate all of the tomatoes, olives and cheese off the top. But, I am digressing.
We have also received samosas, pakoras, flat bread, dates and lots of fruit which I am eternally greatful for. There are so many dishes that contain rice. I think we have probably had every rice dish at least once. I have not found a food that has not been put in rice. I have had rice and pasta, rice and potatoes, rice and all types of fruit, rice and nuts, rice and any meat imaginable, rice and every kind of vegetable and just plain rice. Rice can even be mixed with other grains. I don’t think that I would like the texture of rice and rolled oats, but I am sure that I have had rice and oat flour.
I am still struck by the amount of food that is consumed during Ramadan. For the entire month of Ramadan, there have been many people bringing over food. Somehow, I believe that some of these well meaning helpers think that we have ten people in our family instead of four. I don’t want any to go to waste, so I portion it out into containers and thank Allah for my small deep freezer. Maybe after Ramadan, when I start eating more healthy, again, I can just warm up one of these containers for my husband and he won’t grumble. Although, I have had to throw some food out because my husband has not finished it in time. I feel so ungrateful and guilty to do so.
I know that I should be grateful. I know that people mean well. And, I am greatful. They are sharing their resources with us. Masked or not, they are delivering us sustenance. These people wouldn’t necessarily come in and physically share a meal with us. Nor would these people ever consume anything that I would offer. That is apparent and disheartening. But, still, I know that I should be greatful. And, I am appreciative. I know what it is like to go hungry. I know what it is like not to have the resources to feed your children. I know what it is like not to have fruit on a daily basis, etc. I am truly greatful for having the ability to fill my stomach. I know that I am privileged when I can choose what I want to eat, as opposed to eating what we have in the pantry. I am aware that I have an abundance of choices that would overwhelm others. Yet, gratitude is not the only emotion that I feel.
I feel guilty. I think that we are hoarding resources that could be shared with those who have less than us.
I feel deceptive. We make enough money that my husband should “give,” not “take.” If we are going to take food from others, then pay them for their assistance.
I feel insignificant. Okay, this is a frequently occurring feeling. We only seem to be vessels for people’s charity. My husband is fine with this, but I am not. We aren’t seen as whole and giving members of the community. Now, I admit, even when I have tried to extend a hand of friendship or help, (to those within or outside the Muslim community) it has summarily been rejected on some unknown grounds. But, my husband does not even try. And, his sister’s request has opened the flood gates for us to continue to be the poor benefactors of the community. Our role has been cemented within this community. They revel in this role, I despise it.
I am exasperated. It isn’t just that the community can’t see past our blindness to appreciate our strengths, my husband is perfectly willing to fill this role for his own personal gain. There are days that I feel crushed by the weight of these resources. It is extreme irony that before I married my husband, I had very little. I did need government assistance. Yet, even with the little that I had, I would try to help those who were in such dyre straights that they lowered their pride to request aid from a disabled person. Now, we are considered upper-middle class with no significant debt or loans to pay off (with the exception of my Dr. bills). And, since I am not the money maker, I can’t give back to the community. I can’t be a reciprocal part and my husband has no interest in being such a member.
I feel ungrateful. I have grown up hearing how we should not waste food. Since I was born prematurely, my parents got into the habit of over encouraging me to eat. At family functions, most people did not know what to say to me. Food became the language of love and my emotional crutch. If anyone is old enough to remember that little boy on the life box, the commercial stated that Mikey would eat anything. My sisters use to tease me and say that I was Mikey. I still eat my children’s left overs because I don’t want them to be thrown away. And, now, I am eating lots of unhealthy things out of this misplaced gratitude. I know that rejecting food does not make me ungrateful, yet, I still hear that loud insessant speech of the voices in my head telling me that I should just be greatful for the food that I have. Additionally, by not eating it, I am thumbing my nose at those who made it and those who don’t have it. And, I’ll eventually have to throw pounds and pounds of food away.
I feel sluggish. I am eating lots of unhealthy things and it is making me feel even more sluggish, tired, cranky and bloated. I don’t have much energy. My gas to energy ratio is at least three to one. Furthermore, my stomach and hips are expanding while my patience and positivity are diminishing.
It must be noted that after only four days of “Ramadan eating,” I had stomach problems which tethered me to the restroom. These have plagued me about every five days or so. It is time to get back to my regular eating patterns, no matter what.
I do remember when we went to the Mosque. People would gordge themselves. Many times, women would take three and four plates of food home. Sometimes, they would take pans of a rice dish home. If my husband was as smart as he claims to be in financial matters, he would have purchased stock in the company that makes Basmati rice or maybe that ethically bankrupt company of Nestle. People sure do drink lots of bottles of water. Additionally, it should be apparent that no one is woke enough to bring their own re-usable water bottle. . Sometimes, people from the Mosque would even give us pans of rice to take home. There would be many aluminum pans, lots of Styrofoam plates, plastic cutlery, water bottles, (I know that they weren’t even recycled) and tons of left over food. I would wonder if Muslims could or would actually finish all of that food. Would they throw it away at home? Do many Muslims have eating disorders? If I ate this way year after year, I would.
There is a strange balance of giving and gluttony. On one hand, women make enough food to feed several armies, each night of Ramadan. On the other hand, they consume more food in one day than they usually consume within a three day period. The other option, of course is that they just throw lots of food and trash away. Isn’t that antithetical to what is actually supposed to be emphasized and practiced during Ramadan? I fear that my children will carry on this hypocrisy.
I want to get another freezer so that no food goes to waste. I still feel like a resource hog. But, I am trying to weigh out my options.
Anyway, here are some songs about food and fasting.
The First song is by a new group called Jordindian. I think that they have been producing songs for awhile. When I say “new,” I mean “new” on my radar. Here is a hilarious song about fasting. It is called Fasting and furious.
Dawud Wharnsby reminds us with this vocal and percussive performance to give of ourselves. He reminds us that when we give, we purify our wealth. The song is called Give a Little of Yourself.
Dawud Wharnsby’s People are a lot like candy, really has less to do with food and more to do with comparing people to different types of candy. But, there is so much candy listed, here that I couldn’t leave it out. It makes my mouth water.
Pizza in his Pocket produced by Zain Bhikha, but sung by children is a song with a lesson. It reminds children … … okay, everyone … to be greatful and not to be gluttonous.
The word Chant comes from a Latin word that means to sing. When one chants, they sing or speak words or syllables either on one note or a few repetitive notes. Chants have a repetitive quality and are usually sung in unison. They are usually sung in worship, in times to center one’s self, when a group has a goal of unity or to reflect one single idea. To find out more about chants, check out Wikipedia. This site doesn’t always give good information. But, in this instance, the information aligns with what I have learned in music classes.
There seems to be an immense power when one group sings the same words on a limited note progression with fervor and concentration. I am not sure, but sometimes, it can feel like the power increases when a large group sings either in very tight harmonies or in unison. This type of power can be either like an enveloping hug or a frightening mob. I’m sorry Hildegard Von Bingem, I can support your awesomeness as a woman composer, but on a personal level, Gregorian chants have always creeped me out.
There is also a feel of unity in a chant. Everyone knows how and what to do and when to do it. It is like the prayer. Actually, if the prayer could be sung, it would feel even more powerful because everyone would know the right words, the right movements and the right note in which to place the words. Everyone has a singular goal. And, everyone knows that there is more power in a group as a whole, as opposed to anyone wanting to display their individual vocals. Chants can feel succinct, focused and powerful.
I found a blogger comparing the Islamic chants to the ones used in mass. It is an interesting article, even if he did not know about Erdogan and his akp party’s authoritarianism. And, I’ll let it slide that he doesn’t know the difference between a Quran reciter and a prayer caller. The person who recites the Quran is muqri’ , tālī, murattil, mujawwid, or most commonly a qari. Yet, the person who calls the prayer is the muesin.My blog post on the seventh day of Ramadan talks more about muesins and the calling of the prayer. There are some women and children calling the prayer. If you are interested in the Azan, (call to prayer) check it out. And, I think that the call to prayer would have more of a chant feel if one hundred muesins performed the call at once in perfect unison and on the same note at the same time.
I did not know the long history that the performing of chants had in Islam. And, even though many prayers sound like chants, I did not want to offend anyone by calling it such. Of course, I knew about the Sufis. But, I thought that chanting was only for them and the practice had not branched out to other Muslim circles.
I have previewed so many songs on this blog. Some, of course, seemed to be more chant-like than others. These I have specifically picked for their chant-like qualities. But, please try out some of the others, especially those choral pieces. You might find something that speaks to you. Here are some Islamic chants that seem to touch our heart and some are even easy to remember. We find ourselves chanting along. Sometimes, that helps us block out the outer exterior and prepare to pray.
Before amercing my children in a full blown chant, here is a song to get us in a chant-like mood. It is called Ceal of the Prophets by Yusuf Islam and Raihan.
LaBbeyk, alhuma LaBbeyk is a prayer chanted by Talbiya. It is simple enough to get stuck in your head. Yet, its words seem so potent.
Next is a pulsating Indian chant. The strong beat and Tabla make it kind of South Asian. The song
Is sung in unison and is sure to entrance the listener. It is called every beat of my heart says Allah byRashiq Al Rasul.
The next selection is by Abdulllah Role. It is called I bow to The Creator. The words are simple and the melody is repetitive.
Here is an authentic chant performed by the Ragazi Boys Choir. They are performing ZIKR. Zikr is a repetitive prayer.
I have to remember that each child is different and responds both to Ramadan and Corona differently. Sometimes when we don’t talk to people much and we don’t change our scenery, we get depressed and/or cranky.
My eight year old loves soccer, prodigy and the color red. He is competitive. He is a people person. He wants to connect with friends all of the time. He is rarely shy when meeting new people. He is outgoing and friendly. Joy, anger, sorrow and excitement are all in abundance. I can usually get him to try new foods, projects or ways of doing things. He also needs lots of movement during the day. He unfortunately seems to push the envelope way past everyone’s comfort zones. When he is feeling stressed, he bothers and annoys people. When A is sleepy, the annoying behaviors escalate to astronomic proportions.
My four-year-old is more serious and quiet. Certainly, he can get the giggles, like most children. It just takes him longer to warm up. He is shyer when he meets others. When we are alone, he is a happy little guy. He will be five years old quite soon. When we are alone, he will often draw, or play with toys while singing one of his favorite selections. He does not like to try new things and can be a bit clingier. When he gets sleepy, he either becomes whiny or slap happy.
During Ramadan, I feel like I have less control than I have throughout the rest of the year. It is more difficult to remain healthy. My husband (and subsequently my children) refuse to wear a mask. I can’t make them keep on their masks when we are out. But, I have set my boundaries on this subject. If they decide not to wear a mask, I will not accompany them outdoors. My husband has asked the community to bring over food. He misses his Pakistani faves. So, I am not cooking and we eat whatever is brought. While I appreciate what has been made and dropped off at our house, it certainly is not healthy. I am not trying to foster an attitude of ungratefulness or dissatisfaction. Sometimes a couple of different choices are brought and it feels more like we are eating from an extensive buffet instead of family dinner. It isn’t anyone’s fault. I am grateful for the community who wants to help. I feel torn between wanting to be more healthy and moderating what I am eating and like a guilty glutton. I feel like we are taking more than our share of the resources, yet if I waste them, I feel ungrateful and impractical. So, I am gaining weight, not getting out much, making everyone stay inside even on the nice days. That is making us all grumpy.
We all need some waves of positivity. I have decided to do this with music. This helps A get his energy out and it helps Z find a quiet place to hum and sing. I do both. I exercise with A. I let him make up my routines and let him know how much of a task master he is becoming. I hum with Z and these songs stay in my head for a long time. It is strange that these positive selections give each of us what we need, yet what we need is so very different. I admit to secretly fearing that the innocent positivity of my children will rapidly decrease with age increase. This makes me sad and I know that I am grasping for these positive moments to last.
Ilyas Mao starts us off with a medium paced snapping fingers song that reminds us of all of our wonderful blessings. Of course, his song is called Blessed.
Wonders by Ilyas Mao is a pop sounding song that talks about Allah’s creation.
My four-year-old will sing this song without even thinking about it. It always puts him in a good mood. The song is Good Day by Maher Zain
My children’s new favorite artist this year is Harris J. They love the song Asalamu laikum. But his song Good life is their second favorite.
Rae’f has many that my children and I play for a pick me up. One is called So Real.
The second Raef song is one that my child likes and I find a bit annoying. I know that it is just my trigger. I am annoyed at songs that talk about Freedom, especially when the songs feel a bit smug. This is one of those songs. But, my children love it. It is called freedom ain’t free.
I can’t believe we have gone almost three weeks into Ramadan and we have not talked about the messenger and Prophet, Muhammad (PBUH). This seems unfathomable, I know. So, let’s delve into it.
Most of my childhood was spent in a residential state run facility. Many blind people during the 1970’s and 1980’s attended state run schools for the blind. There was, most often, a separation of church and state. Certainly, at the school, there were religious services, if one wanted to attend. There was a short prayerful silence before eating, if someone was so inclined to pray. We recited the updated version of the pledge every day and every assembly had an avocation where God was mentioned. However, my parents were barely cultural Christians. Besides going to a Seventh Day Adventist camp for one week in the summer just for blind people and occasionally being dropped off at Sunday school as if it were a free babysitter, I did not have regular contact with religion.
In 1997, I was raising small children as a single parent. I tried conservative religion for about eight to ten years before becoming so disillusioned and frustrated with the hypocrisy, that I social distanced without corona. When I had questions about racism, social justice issues and things that seemed to be contradictory, I was told that God knows more than I do and sometimes we just had to accept those things that we did not understand. When asking questions about the trinity, I was told that God could do anything. I felt guilty continuing to ask questions… guilty and stupid. Surely, those older than me understood more than me. I yielded.
When learning about Islam, I never had qualms about the Prophet, Isa (Jesus) as the Muslims believed him to be. In my mind, Muslims made much more sense. Their depiction of Jesus was much more plausible, to me. Okay, the exception is when he spoke as an infant in the cradle. But, miracles are miracles, after all. If I believed the depiction of Jesus as it appeared in the Quran, I didn’t have to contend with Jesus being white, born in a snowy landscape or rack my brain trying to understand the trinity. Some Muslims that I encountered thought that this alone should qualify me as Muslim. They wrongly assumed that my conversion would be easy. After all, they would not even have to convince me that Jesus wasn’t God or that Worshipping any other than Allah/God was shirk (an unforgiveable sin). How disappointed they were when I would not be a white convert trophy. They had reduced Islam down to the identity of Jesus. My conversion had very little to do with who Jesus was. For various reasons, Muslims and Christians might both gasp and shudder at this statement. It had more to do with who the prophet (pbuh) was. Who Jesus *IS* or *IS NOT* is not the only difference between Christians and Muslims.
I embarked on a journey to read what I could about Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). There are Muslims that seem to worship the Prophet (Peace be upon him) like Christians do Jesus… and have the nerve to say that they aren’t associating partners. There are Christians that portray Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) as a seventh century blood thirsty misogynist. I had to try to find the truth.
I was looking for objective sources. Of course, I did not want to find books by conservative Christians, but I did not want to find books by Muslims who might want to gloss over events or sayings that they found troubling.
Many of the most interesting books have been written by Karen Armstrong. She is quite the religious historian. Many of her books talk about Islam and a couple talk about the Prophet specifically. She wrote a biography of the Prophet.
And this one called Muhammad: a prophet for our time.
The next book that I read was by Martin Lings. It is called Muhammad: his life based on the earliest sources.
Both books are on Book Share (for any print impaired individual) and both authors wrote interesting and seemingly objective accounts of the Prophet (PBUH). You can find reviews on both Amazon and Good reads. Both books have been written quite some time ago and both are revered for their objectivity, research and astute observations by those regardless of religion. You can find both on Amazon and at almost any book store. Armstrong’s can even be found on Audible.
There are a few stories that I really enjoy that have been recounted about the Prophet (PBUH). Of course, those that I like best embody the characteristics that I try to emulate. I like the stories that canvas his humanity and wisdom.
I do like Seeker’s hub. But, if we are specifically talking about the prophet, I found the Re-sight Islam podcast quite entertaining and the hosts make it relatable. Okay, they are gamers and reference pop culture a bit too much. I am not that knowledgeable about pop culture and gaming. Yet, I found the podcast thoroughly engaging despite my lack of knowledge. And, bonus points, they have translated the words of Tala Al Badru Alayna into roman Arabic letters so that I can write them down and try to sing the song.
I do want to say that we actively celebrate both Jesus’ and Muhammad’s birthdays (peace be upon them both). Many poems have been written about the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and sung at gatherings to honor him (Mawlids).
When looking for songs that either talked about or praised Prophet Muhammad, I found tons. But, I found less that were in English. I have already previewed some of them on this blog. All of the Tala Al Badru Alayna songs, for example, were about the Prophet entering Mecca. I have also profiled at least two songs that talk about wishing peace and blessings on the Prophet. Here are some more songs about the Prophet (PBUH). By the Way, if you are yearning for more English selections about the Prophet (pbuh), it would be worth your time to check out Islamic cartoons. Almost every Islamic cartoon talks about the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and has at least one song to illustrate their point.
Don’t talk to me about Muhammad is a song about one of the Prophet’s (PBUH) encounters. He sees a woman on the road who needs help carrying a heavy load. He helps her and her only request is that during their long journey, he not talk to her about Muhammad. She blames Muhammad for her hardships and does not like him at all. After she arrives at her destination, she finds out that the very same man who she thought was causing strife among people was the man who carried her load, even when she said horrible things about him. This is by the story teller, himself, Dawud Wharnsby.
Another selection by Dawud Wharnsby is simply called the Prophet’s Nasheed. This song talks about the Prophet’s (pbuh) anxiety over the fate of future Muslims.
Harris J talks about all of the characteristics that make up Muhammad (PBUH) and why he tries to emulate the prophet in the song My Hero.
Harris J also has a pop style, upbeat song called Rasool’Allah, which means messenger of Allah.
Maher Zain sings about Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) destiny as The Chosen One. Of course, I chose the vocal version to profile on my blog.
Zain Bhikha and Native Deen come together to sing Zamilooni which talks about his first revelation. His wife Khadijah comforted him and believed him. This song is as much about his vision, as much as about her belief in her husband.
The Prophet (PBUH) was also known as the trustworthy one. Pagans, Christians, Jews and Muslims knew that they could entrust him with their things. He was honest and truthful with them. His reputation was one that could be trusted with people’s business and livelihood. Even as a child, he was called Al Amin, which is the name of this next tribute by Irfan Maki.
The song Al Mu-Allim also refers to the Prophet (PBUH). Sami Yusuf talks about him being a great teacher.
There are many songs simply called Muhammed. This one is sung by Saif Adam. This is a rockabilly tune with a flute at the beginning.
Apparently, the Ghazali College Choir is accompanying Hussein Kalla on this piece. Al Ghazali was a Muslim mystic and philosopher born in 1050 in Iran.
Here is the song by Hussein Kalla and the college choir.
Khalid Belrhouzi has a song in Arabiccalled Allah’s Messenger. I like Khalid’s voice, so was getting a bit excited. I hoped that it would be in English since the title was in English. I was wrong. Yet, it is a melodic piece. So, I added it here.
Since I did not know about Belrhhouzi’s version of Tala Al Badru Alayna, thus, did not include it in my post about the moon, I am adding it here. It is slow and melodic. Maybe if I write the words in a kind of Roman Arabic script, I can sing along. It is sung in both English and Arabic.
I want to take a minute to talk about spouses and significant others. Most Muslims believe that finding a good partner will “complete their Deen.” This means that the partner will help them grow spiritually. The two together will assist each other in living a happy fulfilled life. It is similar to the “equally yoked,” concept in Christianity. It feels a little lame to me, but I admit to being a bit jaded. Certainly many Muslims report bonding over long fasts, early sahoors, late night iftars, making every attempt to be especially virtuous this month and shrouding their children in childhood traditions. And, of course, acting together as one family unit is important. I understand the sentiment, even if I think that the words are a bit corny.
There is this stereotype that Muslims don’t talk about love relationships outside of the relationship that they have with God or Prophet Muhammed. Part of this stems from the ignorant prohibition of music. We have talked about that before. If you don’t remember, check out my first post. Maybe some of this stereotype comes from the cultural practice of either forced gender segregation or arranged marriages. Neither of them are particularly Islamic, yet most people don’t bother to separate the strands of culture and religion.
There are many people who decide to marry during the month of Ramadan. They have their festivities after the If tar. Some people decide to sign the marriage contract (nikah) during Ramadan, yet have the wedding celebration after Ramadan is over. Whether people with at least one Muslim partner marries during Ramadan or not, they still have music and songs that talk about marriage.
So, today, I am highlighting songs that speak about Muslims finding a partner. For those Muslims that enjoy music as much as I do, these selections might help your celebration be even better. If you are already married, these will encourage you. I hope that it is a comfort to know that other Muslims are acknowledging your partnership through song. I do want to say that there certainly are songs in other languages written and performed by Muslims that talk about finding a wonderful partner. I did not add them to this article because I could not verify the content of the song. Yet, I don’t want anyone to think that the only Muslim relationship songs come from people who reside or have lived extensively in the west.
Maher Zain has three selections that are considered wedding songs. The first two are more wedding celebratory songs. The last song is from one person to his/her love. The first song is Rabbee Yebarik. Don’t be hesitant to check it out. You will be able to understand most of the song because there is an English version.
The second Maher Zain wedding song is Baraka Allahu Lakuma.
For the Rest of My life is good addition to Zain’s collection. In one part of the song, he says “I was always thinking love was wrong, but everything was changed when you came along.” I don’t want to imagine something that is not there, but it seems to be referencing arranged marriages and not really developing an emotional connection until after the marriage. This is common more in specific cultures, maybe, than actual religion. However, religion often takes the responsibility for this practice.
Raef sung this song to his fiancé as a marriage proposal. I thought that it was a cover, but I can’t find the original song, so maybe not. In any case, it is a snappy carefree love song. It is called You are the one
I think that Omar Esa has cataloged his relationship through song. First, there is the cover from Keyna Grannis’ “see you again,”
Then comes the wedding with the appropriate title track, The Wedding nasheed:
Finally, he can sing about this woman actually being his wife with the appropriately titled song, You’re my wife:
Siedd has a song thanking Allah for his partner. I think that it is a cover of a more popular song. He hopes that they remain close to each other and Allah. The song is called Keep us close.
I believe that I profiled Siedd’s Perfect cover before, but it is about relationships, so I am putting it here, as well.
Khaled Siddiq has a cover of Justin Beber’s song called My Love. The only weird part of this song is “My mama, she likes you and she likes everyone, and so that’s how I knew that …” That doesn’t make sense. Other than that, the lyrics are pretty good.
I have to give Zain Bhikha and Maher Zain their props. They wrote wedding songs without using a cover. Check out Zain Bhikha’s wedding song
I guess it is time to talk about covers. I am not a fan of covers in general or “Covering.” To each his/her own, of course. Everyone has to make their own decisions. But, by in large, unless it is a blanket on a bed, covers are not for me. Coveralls are the most inconvenient piece of clothing. Covering up secrets is usually a recipe for future drama. Cover girl never gets my business (although I confess, I am not a makeup person, in general). If you have a good resume, cover letters could possibly be a bit redundant. I think that I have made my point.
… … … lest you think that I am going to talk about head coverings, let me ease your mind. This post is not about hijabs, gilbabs or burqas. Although, if you want an awesome hijab song, check out Mona Haydar’s Wrap my Hijab.
It seems inevitable that at some point, I’ll talk about women in Islam. Additionally, I realize that many artists have written and sung about hijabs, I choose to focus on the one artist that has a large stake in the game. That is, Men’s opinions about what women wear really don’t concern me.
Women and what they wear might be discussed at some point, maybe when I profile some awesome songs either by women or about women. … Maybe. This subject will be discussed later
And I will revisit Mona Haydar. (Sorry, I do love a rhyming lymric… …).
The covers that I want to discuss today are those of songs. There are some artists that sing other people’s songs and do not change a word. There are those parodies, like all of the Corona parodies that are popping up. [I admit, I have a corona parody play list].
As I have said before, I generally don’t like people who try to sanctify a song. First, the artists who do the covers are rarely as good as the original artist. If there are words changed, the song sounds lame or cheesy. And, lastly, there is something that feels inherently dishonest about taking someone else’s song arrangement and melody……as well as most, if not all of the words, and trying to either pass it off as your own or sing the song at least as good as the original artist. The lyrics have to fit well, both in meaning and syllabically. At least, I like some of them. Bonus points if they rhyme without compromising on meaning. Even when I only listened to Christian music, I found it truly cringe-worthy when Christian artists would take a perfectly good secular selection and inadvertently contaminate it by trying to make it Holy. It wasn’t only Christian artists, though. Even though I enjoyed the movie “Sister Act,” I could not stand the Motown covers. I don’t like when Kids Bop does clean covers of songs, either. I do have a couple of exceptions. I admit to liking covers done by groups like Pentatonix, Straight no chaser or BYU Vocal point. I don’t like all of the covers that these groups do. The ratio of covers that I like does go up. I think it is something about the vocal arrangement. Anyway, for a cover to work successfully, in my humble opinion, at least two of the following requirements must be met.
The artist must be able to vocally sing the melody, at least as well as the original. The artist does not need to imitate the original artist, but they have to be able to hold their own vocally.
The artist has to work diligently at making the words sound authentic, if they change them.
The artist has to change the arrangement in some way so that the song becomes their own. They can’t be trying to emulate the original in every detail.
The older the song, the better.
Muslims have jumped on the ban wagon and have made covers of popular songs. Many covers just fall short. But, here are a few of the ones that I feel have passed Muster.
Note: I left out the “Tala Al Badru Alayna,” song and other Islamic nasheeds and songs because I don’t even know who did the original. And, while it is more of an authentic cover and not a parody, I don’t call these songs parodies because I reserve “parody,” for Weird Al and/or funny word changes like those done by the Holderness family.
As I have mentioned, there are a few artists that perform many covers. Khaled Siddiq, Raef, Omar Esa, Waheeb Nasan, Rhamzan Days, Siedd, Deen Squad, Nadeem Mohammed and Kareem Ibrahim are pretty well known for their covers. For an extensive list of covers, visit this brother’s site.
So, now, let’s reveal my favorites!
I think that Khaled Sidiqq’s perfect cover from Ed Sheeran’s hit record is awesome! Z knows this song better than he knows the original. Actually, that song, I believe has gotten the most Muslim covers and remakes.
In fact, I think that Khaled Siddiq should do more ballads and less rapping. The acappella version is heart stopping. I actually like it better than the original and changing the lyrics didn’t sound like he was trying too hard to make it a Muslim song. I do admit, however, that this particular song seems to be a popular one.
One other cover of the same song worth noting for its originality or performance is this hip-hop version by Waheeb Nasan featuring Kareem Ibrahim. It is vocally sound and is uplifting.
I thought about including this song when I talk about community, but I must include it with my post about covers, simply because it *is* a great cover. Zain Bhikha does a stunning rendition of Michael Jackson’s Heal the world. While I love Michael Jacksons songs, I admit that I have stopped listening to him. Having young sons, I just can’t listen in good consciousness. I won’t chide or bash anyone who does, I just can’t. Yet, I found Zain Bhikha’s cover a really charming alternative. Bhikha has a good falsetto without trying to actually be or sound like a replica of Jackson. I am not saying that his voice doesn’t resemble Jackson’s. I am saying that his voice is the same on this recording as it is on many of his other albums. Thus, you can tell that he is not trying to sound like the original artist. He doesn’t try to imitate Jackson’s inflections and/or lilts and expressions. But, he sounds a bit like Jackson and it doesn’t make the song sound too off balance, as it would if I or a baritone male voice would. His voice is just his own.
Belal Muslim and Omar Esa’s cover (or maybe more applicable an extensive sampling) of Where is the Love, is lyrically on point, even if it is a bit lengthy in parts.
Waheeb Nasan and Kareem Ibrahim have also collaborated on a version of changes that is brilliantly written.
If I have to pick a Deen squad cover, this one about Ramadan is hands-down the best. I might have previewed this song in an earlier post. I am not sure, but it bears repeating.
Raef does a few covers. I am on the fence about his remake of Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson. The Chris Brown song without you is okay. I really like his cover of Jessie J’s Price tag, but I’ll talk about that when I talk about materialism and gluttony. But, one of his best covers is Maroon 5’s won’t go home without you called Mercy.
Another Maroon5 cover Girls like you has been remade by Ramzan Days. He has good vocals and the lyrics are pretty sound and fit the song well.
Muhammed Yaseen does a cover of John Legend’s All of me that I actually enjoy. I did not think that I would like this remake, but he carries the vocals and his lyrics are not cheesy. This is a new artist on my radar. Most of his songs that I first found were not in English.
One really integral part of church attendance is the corporate singing of hymns. Yes, there are corporate chants that are very moving and I will talk about chants and corporate prayer in a later post.
Today’s topic is about the corporate singing of hymns. Being in the middle of a room, singing harmony or the melody of a particularly wonderful song just fills the body with awe and gratitude at the same time. It just moves you to worship.
I am always personally disclosing something. This time, it is that my husband has become paranoied about myself and my children attending *any* church service. He had attended much more conservative services with me before our marriage. Honestly, I have become much more of a liberal Christian since our marriage. Before our marriage, I never knew that there were Christians who ascribed to the notion that it was inappropriate and emotionally damaging as well as spiritually manipulative to publicly call children up to an altar and accept Jesus as their savior. Public confessions are traumatic enough, but specifically children have yet the maturity to understand such a choice. When you add the public declaration in the mix, it is a recipe for psychological turmoil.
Sometimes, we are taught something and when we get that uncertain feeling deep in our bones, we are taught to second guess ourselves and squelch it, especially if it is for the good of God. How are we to argue with what God wants us to do? I had always felt uncomfortable when the time came for an end of the service altar call. During my conservative Christian days, my discomfort would be followed by a sharp wave of guilt. I certainly felt uncomfortable with the subtle … and not so subtle coercions to the altar. Then, I would feel guilty, as if I were trying to keep people from God. This would be a weekly progression. Yes, sometimes church could be so emotionally exhausting. The dichotomy was that it could also be so fulfilling, especially if there was good music involved. Sitting with these two opposites, especially when this range of emotions was present in each service could definitely make one reflective, to say the least.
If I attended church, I confess, it would be more for the fellowship and communal aspect. And, maybe that is not the correct reason to go. Yet, fellowship is very important and I am sure that there would be something that I could take from a good sermon or even the silent leanings of a Quaker worship.
My husband is afraid that someone will try to convert the children to Christianity. I think he is just afraid that he will have less power and they will resemble my character and demeanor more than his. Fears are rarely rational, so it is useless to combat them with rational arguments. I have looked for Unitarian Universalist churches that don’t have an altar call at the end of each service. I honestly no longer feel comfortable in churches that take the Bible literally, use manipulation and make every attempt to convince you to believe everything that they do. I prefer finding congregations that certainly speak and teach, but respect everyone’s own faith journey. I find respect among Unitarian / Universalists and solace in the silence of the Quakers. I have spoken to my husband several times about my personal views on church and what I would and/or would not be comfortable with, if my children attended service with me. . Still, he won’t budge and it is just not worth a fight.
So, here I am, missing some of the hymns of the past. I admit that many hymns that I use to enjoy so much, seem to have a hollow ring. As my understanding of faith has evolved, I no longer feel comfortable singing some hymns that I feel are theologically inaccurate and, if taken literally, can contribute to the psychological and/or spiritual abuse of others. I am confessing right here, I never liked the hymn Amazing Grace. First, I never felt comfortable calling myself “Wretched.” Surely, if I was fearfully and wonderfully made, I could not be “wretched.” Second, it just made blindness sound so close to death, itself. I could hear the collective body thanking God that they were BLIND NO MORE. I will skip over even the best and most harmonious vocal version. It is just too cringe-worthy for me.
I have thought about getting the instrumentals to some hymns and changing the words entirely. My memory seems to be going and I am certain that I could not retain my new words, however. It is worth mentioning that others have suggested that I overthink certain subjects and concepts. I am certain that their assessment is accurate. Yet, these are my own opinions and since songs are forms of worship, I choose to either change the words (if it can be done without too much effort) or not sing songs that cause me to cringe.
I am painfully and embarrassingly aware that when I say “HYMN,” I automatically think of and am talking about the western definition and sound of “hymns.” This precludes chants, which I will discuss later. But, this also precludes hymns like the South Asian Ismaili hymns discussed in this lecture.
I confess that I am introducing more music into my playlist and my tastes are always evolving to become more eclectic.
Still, because I am western, I was looking for western sounding hymns for me to sing. I can already hear the Wahhabis in my head,”We are not trying to imitate the Christians.” But, I dismiss this voice and the argument that goes along with it for a different venue. These debates are about as useful as those fire and brimstone preachers.
I already had a few favorite hymn-like selections, but I scoured the net to see what others were saying or contributing to this subject. I found a wonderful discussion from 2011 about Islamic choral music. Is it a coincidence that this was the exact year that my child, A, was born?
The Choral version of Tala al Badru Alayna, sung by a Canadian children’s choir to welcome refugees was performed in 2015, the year my last child was born. Oh, how I wish that it could be performed in America, with the accompanying sentiments, of course.
There is actually a site called Islamic hymns that has some really good hymn-like songs. Check out this piece set to the music of Cannon in D.
Many, like the one listed above, are sung by the president of Muslims for progressive Values, Ani Zonneveld. Check out her biography and listen to her other songs.
As long as we are talking about Cannon in D, here is Al Habeeb which also follows this progression.
Here is a Muslim children’s Choir in the United Kingdom performing a contemporary Islamic nasheed called Insha Allah by Maher Zain. I might have posted this song somewhere else in the blog, but not this specific version. The choir gives it a regal feel. I do wish they had added some harmony, instead of it being sung in unison. Yet, it is beautifully sung. .
Next is a choral arrangement of a newly written nasheed Ya Habeeb Allah. There is a soloist and the song is a bit like a chant. Yet, it felt more like a hymn to me, so I included it here.
One of my absolute favorite choral Islamic selections is by Zain Bhikha. The song is called Here I am Lord. The song is sung with an accompanying choir. Although I really enjoy Zain Bhikha’s voice and music, I do wish that the entire piece was performed in harmony by the choir without a lead voice. Here is the song. Tell me what you think.
One really integral part of church attendance is the corporate singing of hymns. Yes, there are corporate chants that are very moving and I will talk about chants and corporate prayer in a later post.
Today’s topic is about the corporate singing of hymns. Being in the middle of a room, singing harmony or the melody of a particularly wonderful song just fills the body with awe and gratitude at the same time. It just moves you to worship.
I am always personally disclosing something. This time, it is that my husband has become paranoied about myself and my children attending *any* church service. He had attended much more conservative services with me before our marriage. Honestly, I have become much more of a liberal Christian since our marriage. Before our marriage, I never knew that there were Christians who ascribed to the notion that it was inappropriate and emotionally damaging as well as spiritually manipulative to publicly call children up to an altar and accept Jesus as their savior. Public confessions are traumatic enough, but specifically children have yet the maturity to understand such a choice. When you add the public declaration in the mix, it is a recipe for psychological turmoil.
Sometimes, we are taught something and when we get that uncertain feeling deep in our bones, we are taught to second guess ourselves and squelch it, especially if it is for the good of God. How are we to argue with what God wants us to do? I had always felt uncomfortable when the time came for an end of the service altar call. During my conservative Christian days, my discomfort would be followed by a sharp wave of guilt. I certainly felt uncomfortable with the subtle … and not so subtle coercions to the altar. Then, I would feel guilty, as if I were trying to keep people from God. This would be a weekly progression. Yes, sometimes church could be so emotionally exhausting. The dichotomy was that it could also be so fulfilling, especially if there was good music involved. Sitting with these two opposites, especially when this range of emotions was present in each service could definitely make one reflective, to say the least.
If I attended church, I confess, it would be more for the fellowship and communal aspect. And, maybe that is not the correct reason to go. Yet, fellowship is very important and I am sure that there would be something that I could take from a good sermon or even the silent leanings of a Quaker worship.
My husband is afraid that someone will try to convert the children to Christianity. I think he is just afraid that he will have less power and they will resemble my character and demeanor more than his. Fears are rarely rational, so it is useless to combat them with rational arguments. I have looked for Unitarian Universalist churches that don’t have an altar call at the end of each service. I honestly no longer feel comfortable in churches that take the Bible literally, use manipulation and make every attempt to convince you to believe everything that they do. I prefer finding congregations that certainly speak and teach, but respect everyone’s own faith journey. I find respect among Unitarian / Universalists and solace in the silence of the Quakers. I have spoken to my husband several times about my personal views on church and what I would and/or would not be comfortable with, if my children attended service with me. . Still, he won’t budge and it is just not worth a fight.
So, here I am, missing some of the hymns of the past. I admit that many hymns that I use to enjoy so much, seem to have a hollow ring. As my understanding of faith has evolved, I no longer feel comfortable singing some hymns that I feel are theologically inaccurate and, if taken literally, can contribute to the psychological and/or spiritual abuse of others. I am confessing right here, I never liked the hymn Amazing Grace. First, I never felt comfortable calling myself “Wretched.” Surely, if I was fearfully and wonderfully made, I could not be “wretched.” Second, it just made blindness sound so close to death, itself. I could hear the collective body thanking God that they were BLIND NO MORE. I will skip over even the best and most harmonious vocal version. It is just too cringe-worthy for me.
I have thought about getting the instrumentals to some hymns and changing the words entirely. My memory seems to be going and I am certain that I could not retain my new words, however. It is worth mentioning that others have suggested that I overthink certain subjects and concepts. I am certain that their assessment is accurate. Yet, these are my own opinions and since songs are forms of worship, I choose to either change the words (if it can be done without too much effort) or not sing songs that cause me to cringe.
I am painfully and embarrassingly aware that when I say “HYMN,” I automatically think of and am talking about the western definition and sound of “hymns.” This precludes chants, which I will discuss later. But, this also precludes hymns like the South Asian Ismaili hymns discussed in this lecture.
I confess that I am introducing more music into my playlist and my tastes are always evolving to become more eclectic.
Still, because I am western, I was looking for western sounding hymns for me to sing. I can already hear the Wahhabis in my head,”We are not trying to imitate the Christians.” But, I dismiss this voice and the argument that goes along with it for a different venue. These debates are about as useful as those fire and brimstone preachers.
I already had a few favorite hymn-like selections, but I scoured the net to see what others were saying or contributing to this subject. I found a wonderful discussion from 2011 about Islamic choral music. Is it a coincidence that this was the exact year that my child, A, was born?
The Choral version of Tala al Badru Alayna, sung by a Canadian children’s choir to welcome refugees was performed in 2015, the year my last child was born. Oh, how I wish that it could be performed in America, with the accompanying sentiments, of course.
There is actually a site called Islamic hymns that has some really good hymn-like songs. Check out this piece set to the music of Cannon in D.
Many, like the one listed above, are sung by the president of Muslims for progressive Values, Ani Zonneveld. Check out her biography and listen to her other songs.
As long as we are talking about Cannon in D, here is Al Habeeb which also follows this progression.
Here is a Muslim children’s Choir in the United Kingdom performing a contemporary Islamic nasheed called Insha Allah by Maher Zain. I might have posted this song somewhere else in the blog, but not this specific version. The choir gives it a regal feel. I do wish they had added some harmony, instead of it being sung in unison. Yet, it is beautifully sung. .
Next is a choral arrangement of a newly written nasheed Ya Habeeb Allah. There is a soloist and the song is a bit like a chant. Yet, it felt more like a hymn to me, so I included it here.
One of my absolute favorite choral Islamic selections is by Zain Bhikha. The song is called Here I am Lord. The song is sung with an accompanying choir. Although I really enjoy Zain Bhikha’s voice and music, I do wish that the entire piece was performed in harmony by the choir without a lead voice. Here is the song. Tell me what you think.
The melodious journey through Ramadan: 