Free verse: You love me flawlessly

You loved me flawlessly

There was a time when there was only you
You loved me perfectly
You loved me flawlessly
You always forgave me
You still do

Then my love changed
Into little nightmares
Sometimes you may feel i don't love you
And so you ask me, to be sure
That i still do

I'm sorry, little boy
I'm so sorry

You love me flawlessly
You do

There was once, there was only you
In a world where there was only me and you
Our special place
Just me and you
I wanted to be perfect for you
Wanted everything to be perfect

And then i changed
I forgot about you
I forgot that you love me and need me
I forgot that you love me
Flawlessly
And that YOU are flawless

Even if i don't say i'm sorry
You would still go on
And love me
And love me
And love me

I am your world, yet i am not your master
You love me flawlessly
My little boy

I can't erase time
But i can change me now
Prayers and prayers
For me
That i may always remember

You
Are
My
Trust

My gift
My baby

You are not wrong for anything
You are white
You are clean

While i am stained

I love you
And you love me

Thank you for loving me
All your four years
And should more years come
For all those years too

You love me flawlessly

Islah: Returning to Fitrah via Permaculture

excerpts taken from:
http://www.suhaibwebb.com/society/domestic-affairs/solving-problems-with-gardens/

1)Do we ever hold ourselves accountable? Are we willing to make the changes, the real sacrifices, that are required to rid ourselves of our guilt in destroying trees, animals and other people? We ARE guilty.

2) We think we are peaceful but we outsource our violence to corporate military entities in exchange for an illusion of security.

3)We think we do not steal or cheat, but we outsource our thievery to banks and financial systems that give us an advantage over people who live worse than slaves and make the things we hold in our hands

4) We think our food is delicious, because of artificial sugars, but it lacks nutrition and conceals toxins that accumulate slowly in our bodies and our children’s bodies.

5)Permaculture is a combination of the words permanent and agriculture. Permaculture seems to be and has been primarily concerned with food production, but its design principles can be and are applied to all areas that people are concerned about including water, energy, industry, transportation, architecture and more. But since we need to eat healthy and wholesome food before we can do other things, it makes sense to focus on food first.

6) Much of the food today is grown in dead or dying soil and must be fed with petroleum-based fertilizers and kept alive with pesticides. This food is not nutritious and much of it is probably toxic. This is what we eat. How did this happen?

7)Food wasn’t always grown this way.  Traditionally, food was grown locally and was mostly nutritious and of course it was pesticide and chemical-free. But traditional agriculture is very labor intensive. Due to capacity constraints of traditional agriculture and advances in technology, agriculture moved in a different direction in what is called the “green revolution.”

8) If one goes into a natural jungle or forest, no one is watering, giving fertilizers or spraying pesticides and yet the system is teeming with vibrant and diverse life and energy. Permaculturalists work with nature, not against it, and observe nature in order to develop designs. Permaculture, then, is a science and art of designing man-made systems by using  nature  as a guide

9) I will make the following two assertions:

1. The current systems are unsustainable, meaning that at some point they will no longer be able to satisfy human needs and wants effectively. (For many people on Earth they are already failing.)
2. The current systems are unethical, destructive, wasteful, and rife with injustice.

10) Permaculture is not the only alternative solution that has been proposed, and the wide range of problems occurring require a wide range of solutions. Permaculture, in my opinion, is one of the many solutions proposed and it is one of the most comprehensive and effective means that exists.
Permaculture is not about destroying or completely replacing the current systems but about humbling them. This is accomplished by empowering dedicated individuals and groups to become independent of the system to satisfy their basic needs and wants.

Giovanni Galluzzo blogs at www.murujan.com

Hijab: the social responsibility

QUESTION:
Is hijab a piece of cloth?

ANSWER:
No.

Excerpts taken from:
http://www.missionislam.com/comprel/brochures/8.pdf


Excerpt 1:
"But the greatest responsibility related to hijab is the understanding that there is more to hijab than just the scarf; the internalized modesty really matters. This internal moral system gives meaning to the external scarf. This can be perceived from the overall demeanor of any Muslim woman – how she acts, dresses, speaks, and so on. Only when the internalized modesty manifests itself through the external hijab can sisters represent Muslims according to the beautiful example set by the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and followed by his companions."

Excerpt 2:
"Hijab is not worn for men, to keep their illicit desires in check. Rather, Muslim women wear it for God and their own selves. Islam is a religion of moderation, of balance between extremes. Therefore, it does not expect women alone to uphold the society’s morality and uprightness. Rather, Islam asks men and women to mutually strive to create a healthy social environment where children may grow with positive, beautiful, constructive and practical values and concepts. Men are equally required to be modest and to conduct themselves responsibly in every sphere of their lives."

Excerpt 3:
"The concept of modesty and hijab in Islam is holistic, and encompasses both men and women. The ultimate goal is to maintain societal stability and to please God."

Excerpt 4:
"Furthermore, modest clothing and hijab are precautions to avoid any social violations. Contrary to popular belief, this is not limited to women only."

Conclusion:
As women, covering our awrah properly is our responsibility to Allah, our obedience to Allah results with benefits for the society in general.

We cannot control everyone around us in with absolute control, but we can obey Allah, and obeying Allah results with thousands of benefits we are unable to think of. And similiarly, disobeying Allah results in many problems for man, society and even the environment. It is significant to understand this, and it is a fundamental belief, as the syahadah involves a "disclaimer" or "denial" a There is NO God (ilah) but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger. The definition of "ilah" and the essence of this "denial" as a proclamation of belief will be discussed in another entry, inshaallah.

Suggested reading:
http://seventythousand.blogspot.com/2010/06/rape-hijab-and-love.html

Why should you become a Childbirth Educator?

1. To generate income 

2. To work from home at your own time

3. To support, encourage, promote and be involved in a noble cause (Gentle and Natural Childbirth)

4. To empathize and enlighten people about their choices and responsibility in child-bearing and birthing

5. To promote labor and birth as an ibadah (act of devotion/worship to God)

6. To promote labor and birth as a tool for spouses to gain taqwa (bewaring of God)

7. To guide expecting couples towards better birthing experiences and outcomes

8. To improve maternal and infant health from the outcome of labor and birth through a better understanding of the female and infant anatomy, and labor and birth process as well as the options involved

9. To assist in lowering the rates of unnecessary ceaserean sections

10. To help lift the worthless and misleading norm of fearing childbirth

11. To provide support and information for mothers working towards Vaginal Births After Ceaserean(s) or VBAC

12. To become a better human being and member of society by spreading love and knowledge:

Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 2, Number 12:

Narrated Anas:

The Prophet said, "None of you will have faith till he wishes for his brother what he likes for himself."  

For more info to become a Childbirth Educator and/or Doula:
(Training held in November 2012)

Website: http://amanimalaysia.blogspot.com/
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