3/23 in the belly of the fish
Ramadan joy, fasting joy, seerah joy, Qur'an joy etc. It's a joyful month. Thank God.
Ramadan started 11 days ago and I am trying not to be prematurely sad for its ending soon. It’s my favorite time of the year and I am just thankful that God let me live to see yet another Ramadan. What a blessing and an opportunity, I hope I make the best of it and leave the month as a better version of myself than as I entered it.
On that note, here are some recommendations for things I am watching/listening/reading.
Qur'an Studies: Finding Myself in the Story of Adam | Dr. Ali Mermer — This podcast is so fun. They are doing a session each week, and making me want to go back to school (and not just any school, to NYU specifically, so I can be on campus and listen to these lessons in person). First four lessons are mostly about methodology. I am patiently awaiting the next upload.
A random snippet from a discussion — I recently joined a halaqa (a discussion group) and someone shared that they view prayer as an invitation from someone who is willing to listen to you at least five times a day, without any barriers or middlemen. Your Creator cares so much about you that He asks to see you for every quadrant of the day. He listens to you whenever and wherever you turn to Him. Isn’t that nice?
🇹🇷 Herkes İçin Siyer — This is a seerah series in Turkish and I have been watching an episode every day during Ramadan. Perhaps once I am done with our hadith project, I will reach out to this channel and tell them I can translate their episodes to English. Make it accessible for more people.
Life is beautiful, intentionally so. Cherry blossom trees bloomed and now their delicate flowers fall like snow. Why is there beauty in the world? Why do I like it? If we are not asking ourselves these questions, then what are we doing here?
Dispatches from childhood by Simon Sarris — All I want from my husband is to look at me and our children (God willing) the way Simon looks at his wife and kids. Embodying a view of the world that pays attention to its surroundings, humbles itself before the miracle of life, and appreciates the people who are on the journey with you.
The Creative Underclass is Still Raging by Freddie DeBoer — A very human piece, I thought, exploring (indirectly) our common and uncomfortable feelings of envy, ingratitude, and anger. Note: I think “count your blessings” is actually a brilliant saying. Once we start “counting” there really is no end. That should tell us something about the nature of the world.
Episode #176 - Susan Sontag - Do you criticize yourself the way you criticize a movie? on the Philosophize This! Podcast — This was a neat little podcast episode on how we use analysis to distance ourselves from our feelings and how prevalent this is in modern society.
What is Good Within Social Networks by Simon Sarris — On Substack as a new kind of social network and what might be the appeal in that.
Bear Nation by Drew Schorno — On the state of torpor and its possible connection with the obesity epidemic. Very entertaining writing style, I just subscribed!
You Are You. We Live Here. This is Now. by Freddie DeBoer — Let’s continue this topic of collective torpor. I don’t agree with FdB’s worldview (in that it’s a broken place or that it’s inherently tragic) but he makes a good point that we are collapsing deeper and deeper into ourselves and doing everything we can to not live like human beings. Bonus points for the Fight Club commentary.
The podcast below which accompanies me on my walks sometimes. From a family friend who recently lost her 9-year-old daughter in a car accident. She reflects on her grief, on how she is understanding her loss, and where she finds comfort and strength with God.
How to Paint Like Hayao Miyazaki by Animation Obsessive — The tools don’t matter as much as the attention you put into the work itself.
Why is Everyone Suddenly Obsessed with "Generational Wealth"? by Freddie DeBoer — I laughed so hard at this, “Financial strain is a part of life. Daddy’s not gonna be there cutting checks whenever things get tough. And my great-great-grandchildren? They can kick rocks! I’m never even going to meet them.”
I think he’s right on material generational wealth. We put too much importance on it. I want to leave my kids (if I have them) something more valuable than being able to just pay for everything they want.
On the importance of leaving some things to the imagination:
A lot with a little by Simon Sarris
#140: The art of pandering by Haley Nahman
Ramadan Kareem 🌙
May April be a source of blessing, mercy, and forgiveness for you all.