My love for the deen and my passion for poetry once got me labelled as a walking irony and a paradox when I started to recite and perform my poems at open mic and gigs. You see I mostly live in abayas and “modest” clothing and my faith is something that I take very seriously (inshaAllah. That’s Muslim-speak for touch wood). I also incorporate many Islamic terms in my everyday vocabulary which I found were not palatable by the audience I was performing for and the poets I was sharing the stage with. The conventional poetry scene has made me question if my type of religious identity would ever fit in and be accepted by the poets society. But I soon realized that I couldn’t wait for others to welcome me in, so I decided to create my own space. Inspired by gatherings that are beneficial and that which remind us of the Almighty, The Writeous Circle was born.
Join me in this journey of fossilizing thoughts that swim within the boundaries of the Shariah, without shame or fear of being judged as backward or restricted in the eyes of the Arts community. I like to think that we’re just a bunch of ordinary people living normal lives who enjoy rhyme and rhythm and who believe in the power of words just like the artist next door- the only difference is that we just happen to think about God more often than others. Our writings reflect God-consciousness, more than piety. Remember, it’s not about religiosity. It’s about our experiences being a part of this beautiful deen.
-Y.Z.
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Having spent the last 10 years moving countries, and continents, I came across many spiritual, God-conscious individuals/Muslims who had journeys of spirituality and stories that they were more than eager to share with fewer platforms for that – I am one of them. I would always write reflections in confidence and share them with as few people as possible, partly because I treated them as personal experiences and partly because I was shy to share them. Slowly with time (About 8 years, really), I realized that more people related to my writings than I thought. A good friend of mine, Y.Z. up there, offered me to help her run this blog and contribute to it, and there! I saw my chance to be part of others’ God-conscious reflections and open up the doors for others to be part of mine. So I hope that you as a writer, a reader, a seeker enjoy and relate to all poems on this blog. And from a personal experience, take a leap of faith and send us your poems! You’d be surprised how many people can relate to your experiences.
To kick start this, I’d like to have my two cents in and invite you to poem #2 Bismillah by yours truly.
-Ali Al-Qaisy