Month: November 2021

“The Cairo House” reminds me a lot of a book I read for fun called “A Woman is No Man” because they’re both about young women from non-western cultures who live in a man’s world. Both the girls in the stories are thrown into arranged marriages, determined mostly by status and wealth and not at… Continue reading “The Cairo House” vs “A Woman is No Man”

While reading the poetry of Rumi, there was a poem that focuses on the idea of fasting. This poem I found especially interesting because I felt that I could appreciate it more after watching the video of the Butler alum fasting. I was able to understand the mental fortitude that it takes, and it added… Continue reading Fasting

In another poem by Rumi, number 9, drunkness is once again connected to the spinning and feeling of dizziness. This recurring image of drunkenness and being overwhelmed by sensation appears in mystical tradition numerous times and the aim is not to mimic this but to use either in order to have a deeper spiritual connection… Continue reading Final reflections from poetry of Rumi

On the night of November 7, I attended the Parent’s Banquet for the Nur Allah Islamic Center.  I helped with a few tasks that night.  At the beginning of the night, I helped seat guests when they came in.  I was able to meet a few of the members of the Islamic Center that I… Continue reading Nur Allah Parent’s Banquet

I recently read a text that detailed the Night Journey of Muhammad, and it was especially interesting because it reminded me of Dante’s Inferno. In that narrative, the poet Dante travels, with a guide (who is the famous poet, Virgil) as well, through the seven circles of hell, through purgatory, and then through paradise, or… Continue reading Muhammad’s Night Journey and Connections to Christianity

Rumi’s poem excerpts were a little confusing to understand, but I found a unique kind of beauty in the words. I like #12, which basically reveals how the important things in life do not cost anything. Their turban and robe cost almost nothing while their self cost less than nothing. This shows how you can’t… Continue reading Rumi Blog Post

This journal is more about a broad lesson/realization that I have just been starting to take notice of. I like to read the news on my phone everyday, from things like sports to US news to international news. Plenty of times, I just read the headline and assume that that is what the major takeaway… Continue reading Importance of Reading Every Line

Reading these chapters, the main part that stuck out to me was the roll the Egyptian Officers Coup played on the perspective of the book. I was surprised to see that even the name of the book was influenced by Pasha being under house arrest so he could not leave his house arrest. I fully… Continue reading Cairo House’s readings today gave me a new perspective on Nasser

What do we sacrifice to get the American dream? Peace and tranquility. In class today we talked about some benefits that we have in the U.S and how other countries view us as a glorious place where dreams come true. But what I think the reality turns out to be is much different than what… Continue reading Western Peace

During this meeting of our IACA ICR we got to experience a session of martial arts training. We met at Ling’s Oriental Martial Arts and got to meet Master Ling. We began the evening by doing a short run followed by supplemental exercises such as jumping jacks, pushups, and sit-ups. This got us warmed up… Continue reading Ling’s Oriental Martial Arts ICR Reflection