May Peace Be Upon Him

Human kind was trapped in a corridor of darkness, a corridor that extended far beyond one’s sight. There was no hope in this corridor, you see, until that one day came. You know how you suddenly have the urge to shoot yourself in the head when everything goes wrong? Have you noticed how this act happens more outside the Muslim world rather than in it? How we, and I’m mot generalizing, have a voice in the back of our heads that permits us from falling into the trap of evil? We owe that to Allah, Islam, and one man.

This day, 1441 years ago, marks the birth of the greatest man alive. Everyday, we follow in his footsteps, because we know he’s leading us to the road of righteousness and goodness. He is our prophet Muhammed, Peace Be Upon His Soul.

A week ago I was sitting with my friends and we were wondering whether or not our school’s going to give us a day off on Saturday, since it marks the birth of our prophet. As we moaned and mumbled after realizing we won’t have a day off, I suddenly felt guilty. First of all, this is a day that’s worth of recognition, and not a break from school. I looked forward to Saturday, knowing that I’ll even more proud that I’m a Muslim. I always will be proud so long that I’m breathing and still am alive, but I was looking forward to this day to show the world just how amazing our Prophet is. On Thursday, our school had a simple celebration and tribute to our prophet, and I was sitting next to my best friend who is not a muslim. We exchanged information about both our religions, and our conversation was simply beautiful. I told her about how Muhammad PBUH was kind to women and children, how he was respectful to others. For a few seconds, I felt the world come in peace. She told me how she felt goose bumps when she heard a girl reciting a tribute to our prophet, and I just wished the world would adapt our beautiful understanding on a bigger scale.

So Saturday came, and I felt joyous as everyone on BBM, Blackberry, and even Facebook showed their gratitude and appreciation towards our Prophet.
Muhammed, PBUH, has saved us. He has taken us to a whole new level, and I for one am very blessed to walk this Earth knowing that I am a Muslim.

Why is it that we live in a judgmental world? When you judge someone, all you’re seeing is the exterior of this person. What gives us the right to predict a person’s end? What gives us the right to know whether or not our religion is frowning upon the acts of another person? When you judge a person and express hate, what is it that you’re gaining? In 5 minutes, will this person that you’ve judged have any significance in your life? There’s a thin line between fighting what is wrong and expressing a loud and unnecessary opinion. Don’t talk for the sake of being heard, and don’t speak when your words are empty. Don’t rain on someone’s parade and don’t put out any spark. Have pure intentions, look for who you really are as a person, and walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. We're respecting Christians and acknowledging their holidays, and you label us as non-believers. We celebrate our own selves, and we're still bad. With all the hate you're showing, you're doing the EXACT opposite of what our prophet would expect of us. Ironic isn't it?


Our lives aren’t perfect, but our religion is. We are not perfect, but our prophet is.
Islam is a lighted corridor, so don't be the person responsible for blowing out the candles.

Death To Our Brain Cells

We sit for our exams, as a whole week passes
Thinking, did we even take this in our classes?

We solve the first page, a piece of cake
When will this end, for Heaven's sake

After the fourth unsolved question, we can't seem to find our way
So we flicker through the pages, see what points we'll take today

We start to forget the attitude we tried to grow
That, 'I'm ready for the exam, come at me bro!'

How will all this help me, I seriously need an explanation
My future wouldn't have the likes of Volume or Acceleration

How are Newton's Laws supposed to do me any good?
Much rather focus on my ambitions, I will and I should

How about Maths, I most definitely won't enter a store
And ask for an item that costs 'two squared minus four'

And with Trigonometry, I can never finish studying on time
With it's names like Pythagorean, Tan, Theta, or Sine

Oh an Arabic, don't even get me started with the grammar
Makes me want to hit my own head with a hammer

'Your grades will determine your future', I fail to agree
Stop pressuring us with our 'future', just let us be

We nervously wait for the school's bells
So it's official; It's death to our brain cells

The Notebook.

Here are a few quotes from the New York Times Best Selling author, 'The Notebook' :

'Time, unfortunately, doesn't make it easy to stay on course. The path is straight as ever, but now it is strewn with the rocks and gravel that accumulate over a lifetime.'

'They are friends and we talk often, but I am sure they wonder about me and the things I go through everyday.'

'I have always been a firm believer in God and the power of prayer, though to be honest, my faith has made for a list of questions I definitely want answered after I'm gone.'

"And I learned what is obvious to a child. That life is simply a collection of little lives, each lived one day at a time. That each day should be spent finding beauty in flowers and poetry and talking to animals. That a day spent with dreaming and sunsets and refreshing breezes cannot be bettered. But most of all, I learned that life is about sitting on benches next to ancient creeks with my hand on her knee."

"You can't live your life for other people. You've got to do what's right for you, even if it hurts some people you love."

'It's the possibility that keeps me going, not the guarantee, a sort of wager on my part. And though you may call me a dreamer or a fool or any other thing, I believe anything is possible.'

'I realize the odds, and science, are against me. But science is not the total answer; this I know, this i've learned in my lifetime. And that leaves me with the belief that miracles, not matter how inexplicable or unbelievable, are real and can occur without regard to the natural order of things.'

'Dusk, I realized then, is just an illusion, because the sun is either above the horizon or below it. and that means that day and night are linked in a way that few things are; there cannot be one without the other, yet they cannot exist at the same time. How would it feel, I remember wondering, to be always together, yet forever apart?

The Singapore Diaries.

Hello Readers!

I've just gotten back from our trip to Singapore, and i've got to say, it's been one heck of cultural experience! A part from the must-visit tourist attractions, not to mention hanging on nothing but a rope and flying from the very top of a mountain, it's been a very art-productive trip. I've worked on 3 different artworks, one of which I created as I went along, which i'll be posting more information on in the coming weeks. What I wanted to share in this blog post was our trip to one of the temple's in China Town, Singapore. I've always been interested in seeing and learning about other people's beliefs, so the visit to the Temple was an eye opening experience. I didn't exactly get to know what or who the people where worshipping, but I saw sincerity and humanity in their eyes. Of course, I felt BLESSED knowing that I'm a Muslim, with all due respect to other religions, and that I worship the one and only Allah. Going there, I visualized being Liz from Eat Pray Love, who I've previously blogged about previously. Different colors, incense in the air, and a very packed Temple, here are my best shots!

This is the water that's been used to bathe one of the statues. To them, it's supposed to bring luck and good fortune.










Till then readers,

- Dubai.

Harry Potter.

We defended the Stone, we found the Chamber, we freed the Prisoner, we were choosen by the Goblet, we fought with the Order, we learned from the Prince, and we dominated the Deathly Hallows. Harry Potter didn't come to an end, but to a start of an eternal legend. We are the Potter generation.

Stuck on Red

The traffic light was stuck on red
Fate was defying what we've said

Red is to stop, and stuck is to uncertain
Is it over, time to roll down the curtains?

One by one, cars began to fall in line
Desperately waiting for the green light to shine

As loud as horns went, the red was still there
And the endless waiting was too much to bare

The people realized something, a certainty
You can never, ever control destiny

Inside Out Project

"TEDxDubai is participating in TED Prize winner J.R. InsideOut global art project."

Hello readers!

I've been meaning to talk about TedxDubai's participation in J.R's 'Inside Project' and now's my chance.

"TEDxDubai is participating in TED Prize winner J.R. InsideOut global art project."
The project basically combines art and effort along with community work to send out a message that might potentially change the world.

An idea that I propose for the project is the following:

Each person willing to participate would submit a black and white version of themselves when they were
children (ages 5-8); studio portraits. The moral behind this is to recapture innocence and rekindle one's childhood, and for those who grew up in Dubai, to reawaken the free spirits that used to roam around the streets playing and enjoying being children. People grew up, and will continue on growing, and watching defiant yet innocent faces, who haven't been exposed to the realities of life, would provide the pure base of inspiration needed to 'change the world'.