“Lord, please give me the courage to change the things that I can, the serenity to accept the things that I can’t and the wisdom to know the difference” The prayer above is known as the alcoholic’s prayer. While I am not an alcoholic (though my first two years of university might have brought me dangerously close), this prayer resonates deeply with me. It reminds me, just as when my mom used to say “Aides-toi le ciel t’aideras!” (God helps those who help themselves) that God, while almighty, is a facilitator and that I need to change the things around … Continue reading Five pillars examined: 2 – Prayer (Salat)

As Ramadan is fast approaching, with it is my conversion to Islam. In my public declaration of faith, I will be declaring my belief in the five pillars of Islam, the first one of which is the Shahadah: the declaration that “God is the only God and that Mohammed is His prophet” (in Arabic: La ilaha ilalah, Mohammad-ur Rasule lilah). This declaration, while I do believe in it, has always bothered me. To me, it ressembles the Catholic’s apostle’s creed “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ, His only son, our Lord” … Continue reading Five pillars examined: 1 – Shahada

And the controversy begins… In Islam, there seems to always be this continuous debate about what is hallal (permissible) and what is haram (forbidden). One of those topics that seems to always strike controversy – and I’m addressing it anyway – is sexuality.  Sex, according to most religion – Islam included – is only permissible within marriage. I’ll agree to that. Where I will argue is in the definition of marriage. Ideally and at its very core, marriage is a contract, an agreement, between two consenting adults. While religion will debate that it is a contract between two people before God, governments … Continue reading Hallal, Haram, Sex, and Shaytan