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2010 Update

Asalaamu alaikum! I hope all of you all are doing well and you had a wonderful winter break and new year! I'm doing good, a few new things going on. M.O.S.U. has started. A friend of mine Abdul got it started before me, but it's all good.. we're working together! Last week I saw my only muslim cousin Rasheedah at her mothers funeral, and we had a good conversation about the deen and her helping me become more knowledgeable in the deen and she is too excited to teach me! I'm so eager to learn! I'll keep you all posted on my growing success in the deen!

Pic Flick

Dropping In

It's been a while since I've written, but this semester is slowly coming to an end, so I'll have more free time to write. I celebrated my 21st birthday on October 14th, Masha'Allah. I used to drink before becoming Muslim, so it's a challenge now that I'm 21 and I'm in college, but I'm managing well. My group M.O.S.U. hasn't come to full circle yet, I've had so much on my plate with my radio show [Mondays and Fridays WRAM 90.5] that I haven't found an adviser. Next semester I hope to have more time to find an advisor, Insha'Allah. Along with my radio show, I am a mentor, I'm a part of CLMC [campus life marketing committee], and I plan on trying out for flag girl in the spring. This Muslimah is doing it all! :-)

Salaams

New Friend!

So today I made a new friend. His name's Davin and I just happened to have lunch with him and find out that he is also Muslim! Second person I've found on campus now. My group is coming together slowly, but surely lol. Davin's a very nice guy and he's a knowledgeable Muslim.

I also got my translated Quran and my prayer rug in the mail today!! (better late than never)

M.O.S.U.

So I spotted another muslimah on campus today! Her name's Persia and she just converted this summer! I don't know her personally, but I'm planning on getting to know her, especially since we're the few muslimah's on campus (that we know of anyway).

I met with my Student Activities friend Mr. Stevens today, and he is helping me getting my campus group M.O.S.U. (Muslims Of 'SU) started. It won't be recognized as an actual club until next semester Insha'allah, but at least I'll have it started!

Ramadan && Minor Set back

I haven't posted in a few days because I was moving in and preparing for school. I'm finally here, Alhamdulillah! I start classes tomorrow. Ramadan has been a tiny challenge for me because I love to eat and I'm an emotional eater, so during the day there's a lot on my mind, and I want to eat, but insha'allah I have been managing and Allah will make it easy for me.

Before school my hijabs were taken from me, due to people's personal feelings about them and about me wearing them at school. I am broken, but not destroyed. I will still be a proud modest Muslim, minus my hijabs. It's just a minor set back, it won't stop me from praying, fasting and so forth, I'll just have to replace them when I get some money. Without my hijabs, it does kind of alter the depth of my blogs though because I was looking forward to sharing my experience on campus with my hijabs with my readers.

I might not be writing as often, but keep checking in!

--B. Alula

Why such a Big Deal?

It really bothers me that people are bothered about me wearing "that thing on my head". That thing on my head is properly called a Hijab. In my opinion, there is nothing negative about a hijab. Many people have worn their own type of hijab and many still are today. Mary and other biblical figures wore a form of "hijab". Nuns wear certain clothes, dress modest and wear a form of "hijab". No one looks at a nun crazy or as being oppressed, so why do they look at muslimahs crazy and oppressed?

A hijab does not change the person underneath it, it just changes their physical appearance. I know it will take some getting used to for my family, friends and teachers, but why is it such a big deal? I will still be the silly, fun loving, smart, friendly girl that I was when people met me. I don't understand why others can't see that.

If you think about it, a hijab has the same effect as if I got in a car accident and lost a leg, if I was burned in a house fire, or if I dyed my hair pink or something. I am physically and somewhat mentally and emotionally changed, but it doesn't take away from the wonderful person that I am on the inside and the wonderful friend I've been for years. A hijab doesn't take away from my talents in art, poetry, computers or music. Hijab doesn't take away my goals and my passion in life to succeed. So why is it so controversial?

-- B. Alula [a proud hijabi]