So, today the plan was to wake up at 9AM and then head over to the library with Sara. In fact, I woke up at 9AM and rolled over to sleep for two more hours. Called Sara, she said she was going to grab some food. Rolled out of bed, made wudhu, prayed, dragged on some boots...Realized that Sara probably wasn't calling back, went to grab some food.
A lot. Of. Snow. Had been snowing most of the night, was still snowing, is still snowing now. *sigh* But it's nice. Met up with Alicia, Emily, and Kendra on the way to get lunch. A burger, fries, and mint tea never tasted so good. Eventually beat a path to the library, where I pouted and read. Eventually Sara met up with me at the library. We read for a while, then head over the masjid to pray.
I love that there is a masjid on campus. It's the most beautiful feeling to walk into the masjid as if it's my home, to run down the stairs without shoes on, throw my clothes off in the room for wudhu, splash water on myself in that familiar rhythm, and run back upstairs where I know, that a sister is waiting to pray beside me. Where I know that I am moments away from pressing my forehead to the floor, in a Presence I cannot imagine or fathom, just feel as the quiet comes to reside in my heart, and mere walls begin to fill, to buzz, to fade away.
Afterwards, we headed to the store to get some bread for dinner. Sara made lentils :) Apparently, the smell wafted down the hall, because two girls ran up the stairs yelling, "Who's cooking?" And Sara laughed and opened the door to give them some. Sara, it seems, cooks for everyone. I felt bad, after a while, showing up at all hours to talk and eat her good food. I kept apologizing, and still intend to buy some of the ingredients it takes to cook dinner. But, after a few reassurances, Sara explained to me a little bit about Islamic ettiquette that I never quite got back in the states. She said that in Islam, it's bad manners that your neighbor smells your food or sees you cooking, without you offering to share with them. She said, almost apalled, "What kind of selfish person would I be, to think, Oh no, she's eating all my food? We, Moroccans, believe that there is blessings in feeding people - what can feed one person can feed ten, we say." Neither of us are sure of the exact hadiths, but I remember the hadith about the Prophet, peace be upon him, and the hungry neighbor. I can't help but feel they are connected, or in the same vein.
It's been a while since I have lived surrounded by Islam. I recall Professor Doyle's conversion to Islam, his story about his time in Turkey, living with those young Muslim students. "This is the way life should be, I thought to myself," he told me. Yes, I get that sense, in my bones, in the smiles I see, this...this is the way life ought to be.
I'm discovering an Islam that isn't mired in politcal correctedness, isn't worried about stereotypes or terrorism, isn't cluttered with definitions or rules, isn't being stuffed in whatever stupid label or need for categorization of the Cartesian modern world...It's as organic, alive and breathing, like you and I.
Live Islam before you judge it, I will say, from now on.
After dinner the plan was to build snowmen with Jeff, Michael, and Luke. However, Jeff never told anyone, and it seems got caught up somewhere. So, Sara and I decided to take revenge and built a snowwoman... In Jeff's Image. :)
this is a really beautiful post nasreen! you are very eloquent.
ReplyDeletelet it snow, let snow -- I am happy to see you are having such a great experience Nas. Your friends are beautiful people, inside and out.
ReplyDeletesalaams babe... I've missed you so much. I have to catch up on reading your blog. You look so beautiful and happy in the pictures! Love you tons.
ReplyDelete