Literary
Reflections of a Parent & Teacher by Hamida Amanat
Reflections of a Parent & Teacher in a Public School
twenty years ago
Once, in a crowded high school Classroom
I saw a Muslim name
On closer observation
The faces looked the same
Neither posture nor attire
Gave out any clue
Christ, Moses or Muhammad
Whose follower are you?
There was no way of telling
One from the other
Lost in the ;Melting Pot’
Was the muslim sister, brother
Is America the Beautiful
Becoming a cultural wasteland
Why folks flock to it’s shore
It is hard to understand
Where the sacred Institutions
Church, Family & the School
Have succombned to the Youth
Simply ‘freedom’ is the rule!
Why produce and raise children
Why to go through all the pain?
Ask any parent here
What’s the ratio of loss or gain?
spontaneous reflections of
Hamida Amanat
Afterthought….Now
This is how I had felt
More than twenty some years ago
After learning some hard lessons
This is what I now know!
Do not just go on judging others
Based on what you see,
Instead of seeing the surface
Seek the inner reality!
Reflections on Life by Sr. Hamida Amanat
The Holy Quran in our Lives
The Quran is our Holy Book!
Search it’s pages & you will find
Answers to problems of every kind!
What to do and how to live?
What to take, when, how to give?
What is right and what is wrong?
A concise clear cut Message strong
What’s halal, haram and in between?
Major, minor sins defined and seen…
Surah Shams, yes, it says all!
By contrasting earth-sky, sun-moon, day-night
Clear distinction between wrong and right!
The story of Isa-Ibne Maryum’s miraculous birth..
His amazing brief life upon this Earth!
Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice
To gain Allah’s pleasure at any price!
And Yusuf forgiving his brothers one & all!
Amazing example of forgiveness to recall!
Musa & Muhammad (saw), two of a kind!
What nobler examples, where else could we find?..
Which other long book could you memorize by heart?
You would give up before you even start!
Yet, memorized by thousands for a long time!
The melodious meaningful verses sublime!
None other the Holy Quran…..
Hamida M. Amanat
spontaneous reflections
Oct. 18, 2013
Poem by Shahid Mahmood
Remembrance of God
My sleepless nights of restlessness…
Have been turned into calmness
I believe this is a Divine Blessing in that God has
opened the channel of communication with me
The medium of communication is the holy Qur’an
On such nights I have found a solution
Instead of seeking remedy by watching television
Or reading books authored by man
I turn to the Book authored by God which is the Holy Qur’an
From it I learned the magical benefits of Tahajjud prayers
My body moves ease
And recitation of the Qur’anic verses sound like music to my ears
It is nothing but a miracle
This is the best thing that has happened in my life
For which I am grateful to Allah