online rihla

Day 1 down, 2 to go.

Went to Jummah at a Somali Masjid yesterday, which alhamudlilah, what a much better experience then I’ve had in the past when venturing out to jummahs in new, exciting, unknown locations.  It was in an old garage, and when I asked the group of men in front where the women’s section was, a teenage boy personally walked me around back.

The sister’s section was the curtained off back section of the hall, and was festooned with fake flowers, glittery streamers, holiday lights and giant misbahas on the wall.  Whenever a sister would enter, she would go around to everyone in the room, kiss her hand, then shake yours, giving salaams.

I arrived very early, as I had taken the bus and wanted to make sure I left wiggle room in case I got lost, so I chilled out with some Imam Zaid lectures on my ipod (this weekend is all Imam Zaid, all the time).  Closer to jummah time, Imam Zaid’s wife came.  mashaAllah, what a beautiful and patient sister.  I can’t imagine how stressful it must be to be constantly traveling around the country, but she had such a beautiful smile on her face and a sense of sakina, it was awesome.

The khutbah started at 1 pm, and Imam Zaid spoke on the address Abu Bakr (ra) gave after being elected khalif.   I took notes and inshaAllah will write more when I have time (just getting the blog post in before I run out the door for another Imam Zaid filled day).  In particular, I was struck by how he took just a few lines from this address and pounded home their importance in our american muslim community:

Now, it is beyond doubt that I have been elected your Amir, although I am not better than you. Help me, if I am in the right; set me right if I am in the wrong. Truth is a trust; falsehood is a treason

Seriously think on these few lines, and how much our ummah would change if we took them to heart and implimented them.

Well, I’m off to masjid an nur to set up for the all day workshops alhamdulilah.  More updates to come inshaAllah