Single (American-Muslim) Mother
Posted: May 8, 2013 Filed under: Editors, Thoughts of a Wasat Girl | Tags: American converts, American Muslim women, American reverts, Deonna Kelli, Deonna Kelli Sayed, Divorce, in-between spaces, intercultural spaces, Islamic divorce, Love InshAllah, motherhood, Multicultural, Muslim love, Muslim men, Muslim motherhood, Muslim relationships, Muslim women, raising biracial kids, raising multicultural kids, single mothers, single Muslim mothers, single parent, Thoughts of a Wasat Girl, women and parenthood, women and writing 6 Comments »
A “Wasat Girl” embraces being in-between multiple cultures, because this transcultured space is globalism living out loud. It was where culture happens, the place of power, that middle space – “wasat” culture. The children of wasat girls are pretty amazing, as well. In honor of Mother’s Day, Deonna Kelli Sayed explores the challenging yet rewarding terrain of being a single, American-Muslim mother.
I told my son that his father and I were no longer together while eating at one of those snazzy serve-yourself yogurt bars.
“How would you feel if your pader and I weren’t married anymore?” I asked.
I had no idea his thoughts on the matter. His father was abroad and had been for several years. They saw one another for a few weeks every couple of months. I know that they both loved each other.
“Well, I guess I’d be a little sad, although I suppose not much would change,” he commented.
I inhaled and nervously told him that we had decided to end the marriage. He remained silent for a minute, took a spoonful from his bowl and said in his 10 year old way, “Well, you know, now that I’m eating yogurt, it doesn’t seem that bad.”
Thus, I entered the ranks of being a divorced, single Muslim mother.
The Poetry of Motherhood: Waiting to Unfold
Posted: May 6, 2013 Filed under: Editors, Literature, Poetry Monday | Tags: Muslim women, motherhood, Love InshAllah, Muslim love, interfaith, interfaith dialogue, Muslim men, Jewish spirituality, poems about motherhood, female Rabbi, Rachel Barenblat, Waiting to Unfold, experience of motherhood, Jewish motherhood, Jewish female writers, postpartum depression, spirituality and motherhood, muslim relationship, Rabbi Rachel Barenblat 1 Comment »
Love, Inshallah reviews a beautiful collection of poetry from poet, mother and rabbi, Rachel Barenblat. In her fourth poetry collection, Waiting To Unfold (April 2013, Phoenicia Publishing), Rabbi Barenblat documents her pregnancy and the first year of her son’s life through her powerful voice, unfurling the jubilations and challenges of motherhood.
A perfect Mother’s Day gift – purchase your copy, here!
Love, Inshallah (LA): You are a writer, a poet, and a Velveteen Rabbi. Tell us a little bit about the link between creativity and a woman’s spirituality. Why is it important to write/speak/create art?
Rachel Barenblat (RB): For me, creativity is a tremendous spiritual gift. I’ve learned over the years that I am most spiritually healthy when I’m creating, which usually means writing poems. Having a regular writing practice gives me a creative outlet. And having a regular prayer practice gives me a spiritual outlet, too.
Some years ago, in my early 30s, I suffered from a few strokes, and the way I made it through that adventure (which was scary and unfamiliar) was through writing poems, and through working with my spiritual director on the spiritual qualities I needed most. For me, the two — writing and spiritual life — are deeply interconnected.
Jewish tradition says that God spoke the world into being, and that God continues to speak the world into being now. There’s a connection between words and creation, between words and life. When I write poems, I feel as though I’m connected with God — my words also create worlds, though on a much smaller scale! And when I became a mother, I felt a new kind of connection with God as the Parent of all creation.
Leader. Inspiration. Muslim.
Posted: April 20, 2013 Filed under: Editors | Tags: activism, courage, education, girls' education, inspiration, leader, Love InshAllah, Malala Yousufzai, Muslim girls, Muslim love, Muslim men, Muslim relationships, Muslim women, Pakistan, TIME 100 Leave a comment »Congratulations to 15-year-old Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai and the 34 other women who made the Time 100 list!
Prayers for Boston
Posted: April 15, 2013 Filed under: Editors | Tags: ansar, Boston, Boston Marathon 2013, Fred Rogers, helpers, Love InshAllah, Mr. Rogers, Muslim love, Muslim men, Muslim relationships, Muslim women, Prayers For Boston, solidarity Leave a comment »Our thoughts & prayers are with everyone in Boston, their families & loved ones.
Michael Muhammad Knight on Tripping with Allah: Islam, Drugs, and Writing
Posted: April 15, 2013 Filed under: Editors, Love Inshallah Podcast | Tags: american muslims, ayahuasca, Deonna Kelli Sayed, Islamic expression, Islamic identity, Islamic spirituality podcast, Love InshAllah, Michael Muhammad, Muslim love, muslim media art, Muslim men, Muslim relationships, Muslim women, postmodern Islam, redefining Islam, spiritual Islam, Tripping with Allah 1 Comment »Love, Inshallah is excited to debut our first podcast!
LoveinshAllah.com editor Deonna Kelli Sayed recently interviewed author Michael Muhammad Knight about his new book, Tripping with Allah: Islam, Drugs, and Writing, where he discussed his spiritual use of the hallucinogenic plant, ayahuasca, and the struggles between his writing voice and emerging academic persona. Deonna produced the following podcast, where Mr. Knight revealed his inspiration for the book and how the ayahuasca experience changed him.
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