Testing. Testing. Test – Oh. Hi.

*ahem*

I am hereby announcing a new set of plans.

Plan A will be to complete/construct/cobble together a book of poems, insha’Allah, by the beginning of the year. That means that I may not be posting as many poems here for a time.

Plan B will be the attempt to finish at least one of these novels I have started, or perhaps a book of novellas. I haven’t decided yet.

Plan C will be the attempt to record the recitation of some of my better poems.

You may now return to whatever you were doing before this appeared on your screen.

Thank you.

*turns off microphone*

Revolutionary. Trouble maker. Confident. Obnoxious. Informed. Misguided. Enlightened. Shadowed.

“Manjani Jackson is a mouthy New York teenager who believes her life purpose is to lead her ‘deaf, dumb, and blind’ brothers and sistahs into The Revolution.”

Freedom Speaks Diaspora has written a novel about what it does – and does not – mean to be a Revolutionary. Set in 1996, “Manjani” is the story of an (often misunderstood) young sistah who is trying to find her place in The Struggle. Family secrets, loss of friends, questions about her sexuality, and political agendas dog her steps from start to finish. She learns on her journey the true definitions of struggle, leadership, birth right, and power. At turns amusing, thought-provoking and awe-inspiring, “Manjani” is a story of discovery and consciousness as seen through the eyes of a self-proclaimed “warrior of The People.”

I grant this book 5 out of 5 stars. Buy it, borrow it, but please don’t steal it!

Masha’Allah, I recently had the pleasure of reading “The Size of a Mustard Seed” by Umm Juwayriyah.

Book Jacket:

It’s a new era of fiction; Urban Islamic Fiction that is! Stepping up out into the spotlight is Jameelah Salih. Jameelah is a 27-year-old Muslim woman born to what appears to be one of the inner-city’s stronger blended American Muslim families. She works as a hair stylist with her two best friends in the city’s only Muslim women’s owned and operated hair salon, Covered Pearls. On appearance and material possessions alone Jameelah seems to be doing big things; she has a loving family, owns a fly car, she has her own apartment and she’s not too far off from getting her second degree. What most don’t know is that she is one traffic jam away from losing control of her life. Being a single Muslim woman isn’t easy plus post 9/11 stresses still seem to haunt her. Jameelah prays for a change, but what will she do if change actually comes?

When a prominent Imam proposes marriage to Jameelah she feels as if it’s the blessing that she has been waiting for from Allah. She knows marrying him will change her life, but when an unexpected family crisis erupts and secrets are exposed, Jameelah is forced to make hard choices and put her complete faith in the only One unable to break it.

The author has made the characters stunningly realistic, and has given them the ability to draw you into their plights and dilemmas. Not only do we have Jameelah, the main voice of the story, we also have her sister, Khadijah, their younger brother Adam, and a lovely young Muslim convert named Shevon.

Follow Jameelah as she struggles with her personal demons of attitude, family obligations and the single life. Learn about the struggles of a young Muslim convert named Shevon whose family does not accept her chosen faith. Understand what it means to be a Muslim in a post 9/11 world.

This book is a MUST READ, not only for Muslims, but for anyone seeking to catch a glimpse of being Muslim in the 21st century. Buy your copy today, insha’Allah.

I am currently reading this slender volume titled “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran. It is filled with gems that speak to us of life and making it worthwhile. Some of my favorite quotes are:

“For in truth it is life that gives unto life – while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.”

“It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked; through understanding;…”

“It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”

“For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?”

“You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.”

“For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of life’s procession, that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite.”

“Work is love made visible.”

“Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.”

“The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.”

“Forget not that modesty is for a shield against the eye of the unclean.”

“The righteous is not innocent of the deeds of the wicked…”

“You delight in laying down laws, yet you delight more in breaking them.”

“… you can muffle the drum, and you can loosen the strings of the lyre, but who shall command the skylark not to sing?”

“… yesterday is but today’s memory and tomorrow is today’s dream.”

“For what is evil but good tortured by its own hunger and thirst?”

Absolutely beautiful. However, don’t take my word for it; visit your local library or bookstore for a copy.