Now That You're Muslim, You Have To Hate America, Right?

I will credit my lovely friend Sarah with this gem.  I love her, but this question is absolutely ridiculous. She asked me during the middle of a meeting as if it was dancing around in her head for years, and she thought it would be appropriate to ask at that exact moment. "So, now that you're Muslim, they make you hate America, right?"

I cracked up. I thought she was joking.  But within a second I saw in her face that she was DEAD SERIOUS.

"Umm, no Sarah, I love America.  Being Muslim has nothing to do with America."

Then, she asked "Didn't your Prophet hate America or something?"

"No, Sarah, our Prophet Muhammad (saws) lived hundreds of years before America was founded."

"Oh, I always thought that was a rule."

I considered shaking her and forcing her to read a book.

The media is so manipulative of people's thoughts that they make hundreds of assumptions based on what they see on television. So much so that they think hating America is one of the pillars of our religion.

America was never mentioned in our religion's fundamentals - it's not in Quran, Hadith, etc... - in either a positive or a negative way.

And NO, I DON'T HATE AMERICA! I LOVE AMERICA! 

If I didn't, I wouldn't live here!

I don't love how all people act in America, I don't love that people wear booty shorts in WalMart, I don't love that people think I don't speak English because I look different, I don't love corn dogs and bacon, But I LOVE AMERICA.

I love our freedom, I love my grandfathers for serving in America's Armed Forces, I love that in a 40 hour drive from the East Coast to West Coast I saw every possible climate you could ever imagine, I love that I can love the soldiers while still hating the war, I love that I can write this blog because we have freedom of speech and freedom of religion,

I participate in the Pledge of Allegiance, and I know the National Anthem. And still, I took my shahada, and I know Al-Fatiha.

Being Muslim doesn't make me hate my country. Unfortunately, however, this country makes you hate Islam.

You've heard of Islamophobia, but I've never heard of Americaphobia.

I'm sure the vast majority of my Muslim brothers and sisters don't look at you with hate when you walk by them on the street, however, we often are looked at in this way.

Being a Muslim in America does change my perspective, yes.  It makes me critical of the lack of morals people have, yes.  It also makes me critical of how "God-less" people can be.  How some people think nothing can control them, but they forget God made them, and His plan is THE PLAN.

Just because you're the CEO of the company, doesn't mean you're the CEO of your fate.

It's ironic to me that people have these terrible misconceptions, and yet when shows like "All American Muslim" are shown on television, no one watches them.  The show was cancelled because of its lack of popularity.  Controversial statements against Muslims are wildly popular on Fox News, though!  Please take some responsibility for your ignorance.

For my Muslim friends, can we please make it a priority to show how proud we are to be Americans? And that Islam and America can "go together" peacefully? Put on some red, white, and blue hijabs or SOMETHING. Wave a darn flag once in a while!

And for my nonMuslim friends who don't want to be ignorant, please read a book.  And don't believe every single thing you hear or see on television, or what the first thing on the top of Google says.

May Allah (swt) clear up all misconceptions about our religion and help us to learn to live together in Peace.

What Are Some Moments That Drew You Nearer to Islam? One of The Life Changers

I've had a lot of amazing moments in time that drew me closer to Islam and that helped to build my love for it... reading Surah Ad Duha, the first time I read a full sentence in Arabic, praying Taraweeh every night in Ramadan, listening to the sheiyk's recitation at my "home" masjid, there are hundreds of amazing moments that shaped my faith. They are the kind of moments that when I look back on my conversion, I find the most peace in. They put this feeling in my heart that I can't describe. I can recollect them with so much detail, but one moment really melted my heart.

Everyone who has ever met me knows that I cannot wait to be a mother - more than anything else in this entire world. I've always loved children.

The day I went to take my shahada I was anxious, nervous, thankful, excited, a million emotions going on at one second. But, I got to the masjid, met the women that had helped me to make the "shahada appointment," and went to pray jumaa in the masullah - or the prayer room.

Once I got inside, I sat towards the back.  It was before I knew the sunnah of praying two rakat when you arrive at the masjid.  So I sat while everyone else did their thing.

I was so confused! Why are these people praying now? I thought we all do it together? I thought the sheiyk led it...  I get it now, but was just confused at the time.

While I waited for everyone to finish their two rakat, secretly freaking out in my head that I had no idea why these people were praying right now, I looked around.

Our masjid at home is set up so that the women sit behind the men without any partition except for a significant area of carpet that the men leave between them and us.

While I was sitting there, an old Indian man in his eighties came and took a spot in the the men's section with his two-year-old grandson.

I was already in love with this little boy's outfit.

He was wearing a SWEATERVEST, people! A SWEATERVEST.  What in this entire world is cuter than a little Indian boy in a sweatervest? I will tell you, absolutely NOTHING.

His grandfather started to pray and the little boy mimicked every single movement that his grandfather was doing with such excitement and passion.  He obviously wasn't required to pray at age 2, and I would have expected that he would be all over the place running around, jumping, screaming.

No, he was as standing there, completely still, with his hands folded, his giant eyes (mashaAllah) checking to make sure that he was doing the same thing as his grandfather every few seconds.

And he prayed.  He put his forehead to the ground and prayed. Just like every other grown man at that masjid.

The difference was, however, he was so extremely excited to do it.  He couldn't wait to learn. He couldn't wait to pray.

Yes, I may have had an extra 18 years on this little guy, but he and I were the same on that day. We're both newly Muslim. We were both learning.  We both had that passion and excitement that had dwindled in the hearts of the other people around us.

And at that moment I felt at peace. I knew that this religion was no doubt for me and all the nervousness went away.

When I watch the children at the masjid, the little three year olds with their hijabs and their bangs out, the little boys in kufis and thobe, I love that passion.  I love that sincere love for Islam.

And, I think we need to bottle that and sell it as a fundraiser ;) I don't care about your baklawa, I want this excitement!

That little boy will never know how much he impacted me, but I honestly believe that Allah (swt) put him there as a reminder for me. May he be rewarded for this tremendous gift Allah gave me through him with that memory, and may he continue to have this passion for his entire life.

Next time you're at the masjid - whichever one you go to- come a little early and just look around. Watch the little kids, and find that passion in yourself all over again. May Allah (swt) grant you, myself, and all Muslims that love for Him and Islam that the little boy showed me every single time you pray.

Why Do You Believe in Allah Instead of God? The Meaning of His Name

This is such a huge misconception.  Actually, I think this one of the main reasons that Muslims are looked down upon.  People think we're worshipping another god besides what they know of as God. I would love to explain this to every single nonMuslim on earth if I could.

But I can't. So I'll explain it to you instead.

Allah is God.

If you believe in God, you agree with this concept.

"God" is an English term.  In France they call God "Dia." In Italy, "Dio."

In Arabic, "Allah."

I know you may feel very attached to the word "God," but keep in mind that Jesus never uttered the word "God." He did not speak English.

Allah is simply the Arabic word for God.

The name Allah literally means THE God.

Arab Christians and Jews call God "Allah" as well. Not just a Muslim thing.

When I first converted, to be honest, I couldn't get over the difference between the words Allah and God.  I didn't feel like I had a real connection to Him when I used the term "Allah," but as I came to understand the word, I realized I like it better than "God."

The word God was not uttered by any prophet.  It doesn't have any profound meaning in English.

It's beautiful to me that Prophet Muhammad (saws) spoke Arabic and used the word "Allah." Who cares what it is in English?! The Quran mentions Allah in Arabic for a reason.

Forget about the word though, the more important part is the concept.  What the word means.  I know it may be hard to put aside in your mind that Allah is God in another language, but just try.

Try to realize we are all brothers under the same God.  Allah. Rabb. Dia. Dio.

I don't care what language, we all belong to Him. Whatever you call him. Whereever you live.  Whatever language you speak. If only everyone on earth could have this understanding.

A Poem I Wrote for My Mother, Allah Yarhamha: "The Sun"

No, it's not 100% related to Islam, but this is a "poem" I wrote when I was thirteen about my mother, Allah yarhamha.  She passed away only a few days before I wrote this, and I thought you may like to read something that is very much from my heart. Although it's not directly related to my conversion, Islam does teach us to respect and love our mothers - more than any human being we know.  Someone came to the Prophet Muhammad once and asked who he should love the most.  Besides Allah (swt) and Prophet Muhammad, he was instructed to love his mother.  He then asked who he should love next.  The Prophet Muhammad said his mother again.  And he asked a third time and Prophet Muhammad said his mother.  Then on the forth time Prophet Muhammad responded with his father.

I know a lot of people think that women have no rights or respect in Islam, but that's completely untrue.  I've never been so respected until I became Muslim.  And Muslim men treat women with the right kind of respect.

No, my mother never took her shahada, so technically she didn't die a Muslim, but she rarely discussed religion with me, and when she did she never mentioned anything that would lead me to believe she was Christian.

Whoever you are, I hope that you take a second and realize how lucky you are to have your mother - and what a blessing that is from God.  Even if you are mad at her.  Even if she pisses you off.  Even if she's annoying...Go hug her, go kiss her, go annoy her.  If I had any wish in the entire world, I would wish to spend one more day with my mother.

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother"

I'm sure I'll speak more on this subject going forward, but I hope you enjoy my poem from nearly 9 years ago.

The Sun

As the day goes by, I realize how blessed I was to have the sun.  She shined bright, rising as gorgeous as the sky herself; more beautiful than any creature she warms.  She awakened with each morning breeze.  I loved her more than anything.  She lit up my life, and now she lights up the sky.  Her radiance touched everyone through her day, but she dies at night, where the sky turns red & orange.  I hate those colors.  But does she really disappear?

Perhaps I just cannot see her anymore.  She is shining on someone else just as beautifully.  She is painting a picture somewhere else in the world.  She is inspiring an artist in a foreign country.  Somewhere I am not, and I wish I was.  Sometimes I feel so lonely, for I am the moon.  I can never see the sun when she is the most happy.  She lives in a golden utopia.  She lives where the angels sing in the sky  I am always on her opposite side, and when I bring night, she brings the gift of day.  After all, I revolve around the Earth, but the Earth revolves around the sun.  I am not as beloved, not as fun to play in.  I turn the world dark and cold.  The sun reminded me of my importance and special qualities.

But now, she is gone. Gone from my sight, yet she will always return - or I will return to her, instead.  I wish I could see the sun and meet her for a longer part of the day than I was able to.  But, it's not possible.  And when I did see her, which was seldom, clouds often hid her.  The clouds hide the memories.  The clouds are time.  We did not spend enough time together.

But, someday the clouds will disperse. They will leave and never come back.  I'll be able to see her after all and I shall proudly join her in her utopia.  I will be reunited with all of the other stars that I have missed throughout my life, but the brightest- not only in the sky, but also in my heart - is the sun.

I'll dance in her glory, I'll spend all of my time with her.  I have always admired her.

However, I do not know when that day will come.  For now, it is dark and daulight burned out hours ago.  She's on the other side of the world looking magnificent.  Others, who I am jealous of are frolicking in her rays.  Are clouds covering her there? Perhaps I'll never know, but I know that I will see her.  Eventually.

While the people on Earth look for chirping birds and morning breezes to signal her arrival, I anticipate wrinkles and gray hair.  I anticipate the day she will rise and I will finally be by her side and all will be right in the world.

For now, though, the birds are in their nests asleep and I, the moon, have several hours left.  But I'll see her sometime soon.

- Hannah Nemec-Snider

March 2004 - thirteen years old

Dedicated to my sun, my mommy, Allah yarhamhaa...♥

Don't Men Beat You If You Don't Cover Your Face?! Why I Choose Not To Wear Niqqab...Yet

Such a great question that I get from my nonMuslim friends.  I also am quite surprised that I get this question - in a different form - from Muslim men and women. I guess it's a valid question.  I care about modesty, but I don't cover my face. Why don't I wear niqqab? What am I thinking?

Well, please know that: No, men won't beat me.

And, also please know that I have so much RESPECT for niqqabi girls that do choose to cover their faces.

And, to be honest, I hope someday to wear niqqab - but under the right circumstances!

Obviously, don't take what I have to say as what God would think - Allah (swt) knows best of course! - but, I don't think that in my life it is a good decision for me right now.

So, why don't I wear niqqab?

1. It is not required.

(Pardon my paraphrasing...) There is a hadith saying that Asmaa - the daughter of Abu Bakr - came to the Prophet Muhammad (saws) wearing clothing that was not appropriate.  When the Prophet saw her, he said that it is not acceptable for a woman who has passed puberty to walk around in clothing that exposes anything except this and this and he pointed to his face and his hands.  

To me, this tells me that it is not required - or "fard" - to wear niqqab.

If Allah (swt) wanted it to be so, He would have mentioned it in Qur'an when He spoke about hijab.

2. I have a job.

Now, this is one of the much lesser arguments for me, but it's still valid.  My job requires me to have human interactions.  It's hard to have these interactions when I don't look human.  I drive little old, rich ladies around to see houses.  Do they want to get into the car with a niqqabi? Hell no. As if the hijab wasn't enough adding the niqqab would be TOO much for their little hearts.

3. It's HOT!

Holy cannoli, have you ever put on a niqqab in Southern California? And walked outside? Saudi Arabia is SO HOT I can't imagine how women live there! But it gets hot in California, too! And I can barely breathe in hijab! What if you wear glasses? Half of the day you're cleaning steam from your glasses - that's not even a life! May Allah (swt) reward the women who wear niqqab in stifling heat - especially when their husbands are walking around in tank tops!

4. It would make me unapproachable.

Part of the reason I choose to wear hijab is because it allows people to ask me questions about my religion.  Anywhere I am.  Although it gets annoying sometimes, I like that I can set the record straight and help people to understand our religion.  I can't imagine anyone coming anywhere within 400 feet of me if I have niqqab on.

5. I would probably never find a husband.

At least 14% of my appeal comes from the fact that my face is decent.  This reason is just to make you laugh. Therefore, I won't even count it as a real number.

5.  The most important reason: I live in America!

This is the truth.  This is the REAL reason I don't wear niqqab.

I live in America.

I am not saying America is right, but people in America care a lot about looks and identities.  Personal connections are critical.

No, I don't think niqqab is oppressive.  No, I'm not scared of not being pretty.

But, what I am scared of is SCARING OTHER PEOPLE.

I don't want to walk into a room and have everyone in that room praying that nothing happens to them.

I don't want an entire plane ride to be spent with the woman next to me reciting "Hail Mary"s until we arrive at our destination.

When you wear niqqab in Saudi Arabia or in some of the other Arab countries, people aren't scared of you. It's a cultural norm.

Here, in America, when I walk down the street in niqqab EVERYONE is staring at me. And, that's exactly the OPPOSITE of the point of wearing niqqab.

Women wear niqqab to show their ultimate modesty.  They wear niqqab to protect themselves from perverted stares.  They wear niqqab to avoid being judged based on their beauty.

But, if you wear niqqab in America, you are going to be the most obvious person.  You will be stared at like meat everywhere you go.  You will be judged based on nothing except how you look.

It completely defeats the purpose.

Now, I do love niqqab.  I've worn it to the mall before - just to see what my niqqabi sisters experience.  And, I was stared at.  No one spoke to me.  People avoided me at all costs.  People walked on the other side of the walkway only to stay away from me. It made me uncomfortable.

So, why do I want to wear it someday if I just gave a million reasons against it?

The Prophet (saws)'s wives wore niqqab.  Who better to try to emulate than the Prophet's wives?

I think it will also teach me to care less about how I look - Hijab was a big step in this lesson in my life.  Niqqab will really finalize it for me.

That being said, it's on my "bucket list."  Someday, God willing, I will live in an Arab country, and at this time, I will find it appropriate to wear niqqab.

May we always remind each other of the purpose and meaning behind everything we do.

May Allah (swt) reward us all for our pursuits of doing anything to please Him - whether we're right or not - and may we be judged based on our intentions.

Who Would EVER Hire You With a Scarf On Your Head?

Well, one of the Top 100 Most Influential Realtors in the country, that's who. When I started wearing hijab, this was one of the biggest concerns my grandma had... that I would never be able to find a job.  When I decided to wear it permanently, I was working for La-Z-Boy, Inc. in Interactive Marketing.  When my boss found out that I was Muslim she was a little standoffish and I could tell she wasn't very comfortable with it, but you obviously can't fire someone because they started wearing hijab.  This is Amurica.

Then, four months later, I decided I wanted a new job.  The first job I interviewed for hired me.  In hijab.  I was shocked! I had absolutely no problem finding a job. Later, I got to know my boss better and found out he was gay, we had an African American realtor working with us, several gay employees, and now he has someone who is Hispanic.  He didn't care about what was on my head - or what religion I followed - or what my nationality was.  He cared that I was a very hard worker, that I had nearly a 4.0 GPA, that I had experience.

And, he himself was different.  So, how could he discriminate against me when other people had discriminated against him before?

A year after working for that company, I wanted to move to Los Angeles.  This was the first time I had a problem with my hijab involving work.

In Los Angeles, although people are much more accepting, companies care about how you look.  People are very looks-conscious here.

So I interviewed for one job, they loved my experience, they loved my grades, they loved my personality... until the Skype interview.

Yes, I know my name is American, and yes I know they had the right to be a little surprised when they saw my name and thought white girl, and a hijabi came onto the screen.  But, what I didn't think was that they would use it against me.

I did great in my interviews - answered all of their questions well - and could tell that I was impressing them. I'm not just saying that, I really mean it. I would tell you if I bombed the interview.

Surprise! The next day I found out they didn't want to hire me "for that office".  I called the recruiter and asked her how I can better myself in my upcoming interviews - what did I do wrong?

She said I was amazing, that there was absolutely nothing I could have said or done better and that, they "just decided to go in another direction" - but, they offered me positions at other locations!

I didn't buy it.  Boston might be less looks conscious of my hijab, but I didn't want to move to Boston. But, what can I do? I'm sure they could come up with another reason if I really challenged them on it, so I had to keep searching.

The next interview I did was with a white guy - working for his agency - and although he too was impressed with me, he "decided to go another direction" as well.

I knew my next interview was going to be with a woman, so I started wondering - for only a SPLIT SECOND - if I should take off my hijab for an interview? Then put it back on when I showed up the first day to work.  After thinking about it more, however, I realized she really needed to know and that I wear hijab - It could affect her business. And, Allah (swt) will provide for me with whatever job He thinks is best for me.  I wear hijab for Him. Not so that I can make money.

So then, my next interview began.  With me in hijab. At the end of our interview - when I absolutely was SURE she loved me - she asked me about my hijab.  She told me she's not very politically correct, so let's just get it out on the table.  So, I spoke with her about my faith, my hijab, etc...

Her closing words to me were "so, I love you! and, I HAVE TO HAVE YOU ON MY TEAM!"

I suggest that if you decide to wear hijab, and want to look for a job, you have confidence in your hijab.  If they have an issue about it, then it's their loss.

And, if you have trouble finding a job, try looking at companies that have a diverse upper management - whether it be ethnic diversity, religious diversity, sexuality diversity, etc...

They will be more likely to accept you

Despite all of the struggles with finding a job here in Los Angeles, Allah (swt) provided me with the most interesting, and highest position of all those I interviewed for and was not accepted.

My persistence and my strength in faith ended up helping me to get further ahead then I had even originally planned.

We make plans, and Allah makes better ones.

He is the BEST of Planners.

He is the Best of Providers.