Mansfield Park

Wow! What an amazing book! What great felicity I feel in my heart after the happy completion of such a tale.

Yes! I've finally finished the tale of Mansfield Park! And I must say that Jane Austen certainly did not dissappoint!

Much like the hardships and struggles followed by periods of peace, tranquility and joy chronicled through the novel, my reading had its ups and downs! But, alhamdulillah I perservered and finished a book I was skeptical that I may.

And now I'm writing in the style of Jane Austen. How predictable yet how fun!

It was refreshing to read a tale in which morality, perserverance, patience and good character triumph especially in a time when everthing opposite seems to take the limelight.

Fanny is quite a herione. So principled and disciplined and kind and patient. She showed some very Islamic characteristics, mashallah. I'm glad to have read a tale which inspires me to be a better Muslim!

Fanny was first and foremost modest and humble and had a great appreciation and thankfullness to God. She trusted in the advice of her elders and did not questions them even though it pained her to leave her home and everything she knew and loved (particularly her brother William) to live with her Aunt and Uncle Bertram where she would have the chance at a better life.

As soon as she moved in, she was constantly reminded of her inferiority in all respects by her spoiled cousins Maria and Julia and her snotty Aunt Norris. However, she never once lost her temper or sought revenge. She quietly endured and did not try to prove herself better or show even the slightest hint of pride.

She had an intense and disciplined moral code which she strictly abided by. This came up when her cousins and their friends decided to put on a promiscuous play. Everyone got involved, even her apparently moral cousins Edmund after some insistence from others. Even Fanny was constantly pressured into taking part, but she stood strong to her morals and did not participate knowing it would greatly anger her uncle.

Mr. Crawford even noticed her excellent character in the following similie: "and a most fortunate man he is to attach himself to such a creature--to a woman, who firm as a rock in her own principles, has a gentleness of character so well adapted to recommend them" (325).

She always used her mind very carerfully and didn't let whims, ambitions and desires get the better of her. When Mr. Crawford was relentness in his proposals to her she did not give in. She was well aware of his indiscretions and flirtatous, non-commital ways with women and choose to remember his character over everthing else. A less moral, normal girl would have given into his attentions but not Fanny. I was even beginning to think as I read the novel that she should or at least would give into to Mr. Crawford, seeing all that he had going for him but she refused to compromise his greatest fault (that of his character) for any of his lesser strong points.

Remaining humble and never talking to talk (saying how upright she is), she most certainly walked the walk (the much harder of the two) and she was thus liked and respected and treated as a confidante by all.

This reminds me of a hadith (loosely translated): "If you renounce the things of this world, people will love you."

Fanny certainly renounced the things of this world (fame, money, etc.) and earned the love of more better of people in the book (Sir Thomas, Edmund, Lady Bertram, Susan) and even the love of the wretched (Mr. Crawford, Mary Crawford).


She appreciated and remembered God through her interaction with nature.

The book also gave me some insight into the upbringing of children and how greatly it affects their future and how they turn out.

The principal parent in the book was Sir Thomas. He regretted the way he had brought up his children with his harsh regard and the allowance of his Sister-In-Laws constant praise of his daughters. He summed up his regret by recognizing that "They had been instructed theoretically in their religion, but never required to bring it into daily practice."

That struck a nerve with me as we're trying to figure out exactly how to teach Islam to encourage practice of it. Learning the theories does no good. Actions speak louder than words. The Prophet (SAW) taught by example. It's not a difficult concept to grasp. But teaching it and encouraging it to the point of actually seeing results is not as easy.

The possible solutions are perhaps setting high standards, consistenty, and consistent, through example. All thing I seriously need to work on. And throwing some fun and humor in also. Relating to the kids, asking for their feedback and being genuinely concerned for them. Inshallah!

Grasping at Moonbeams

I just finished reading a teen book. I don't know what it is about young adult books that keeps me hooked. Perhaps its all the different activities and events that young adults involve themselves in and the optimism and "lessons learned" ending!

Even though this book was definitely not the typical teen book I'm used to reading and enjoying, I really enjoyed it and actually learned from it! Amazing!

Perhaps, because a central aspect of this book was religion. The main character of Grasping at Moonbeams by Jane Vogel is Becca McKinnon, an athlete and a devoted Christian. Becca was quite an inspiring girl. Reading her story and seeing her grow made me realize how spiritually weak I truly am and how many of the moral, values and lessons taught through Christianity are very similar to those on my faith--Islam.

Becca actually went through some spiritual confusion through the book, almost giving into the Wiccan religion in an effort to try to get her friend Solana to accept Christianity. She learned a lot about God as she took this spiritual journey.

Simply the fact that she made it her mission to try to get Solana to accept Christianity struck me. Most teenagers have no concern for their own faith much less their friend's these days. But Becca is much different--as a devoted Christian she understood the importance of spreading her faith. But, she didn't the proper route. She felt it was her job to make Solana a Christian and in the end she realized the God is truly in control and only he can change a person's heart and put them on the proper path.

Becca admitted that the ability to control events was what may have led to her interest in Wicca. And that's probably why her prayers and actions to help Solana become Christian didn't work. One of the basic tenets of Christianity and Islam is that God is completely in control and we as human beings must completely relinquish control and submit to God. This is something we all struggle with including myself.

Another thing I liked about the book was all the great Islamic/Christian values and manners that Becca followed that I seriously need to work on. Asking for forgiveness was a popular theme among Becca and her friends--from God and others that one has hurt. Immediately after Becca realized that the Wiccans were calling on some being other than Jesus, (whom the Christians believe also to be God but in Islam Jesus is considered a prophet and God is only one and we only call upon God ((Allah)) she left the scene feeling horribly for almost giving up her faith. And even with her non-Christian friend Solana there she immediately seek refuge with God and asked for forgiveness. Mashallah! This is what I and all of us Muslims and Christians alike should be doing.

I remember listening to a lecture about one of the wives of the Prophet (SAW). She was in a state of great difficulty and immediately went into sajdah seeking refuge with Allah.

Honing My Writing Skills

I say I love English. I love to read and write. I say those are my skills. I'm always saying how I'm terrible at Math. Everyone has to be good at something. So, whether my English skills are up to par or not I say I'm good at English and writing.

The only problem is I NEVER write. I get anxiety over writing and I procrastinate writing as a habit. And rarely do I read any longer.

So, I'm making a commitment, which is long overdue, but nevertheless a commitment. And that commitment is to write everyday and keep track of my writing through this fabulous blog! So, I have proof--some level of accountability.

AAAHHH! I'm a little terrified and I'm not sure if I can keep up with this but I'm certainly gonna try, inshallah!

Another goal I'm trying to accomplish through this blog is improving my writing skills. Just like with everything else, in writing, practice makes practice...and sure theories on how to teach writing are numerous, but in all honesty--I truly believe that writing comes from a few very simple words taught to us from Allah (SWT). The first ayah to be revealed of the Quran was Iqra which means to "read." And as Surah Al-Alaq continues Allah tells us that he "taught man the use of qalam, or pen. Hence, Allah (SWT) in the first revelation revealed to Muhammad's (SAW) ummah was to read and then to write! Subhanallah! And that's exactly what I intend to do...and inshallah I shall succeed!

I'm so glad that a fellow teacher at school reminded us all of this fact as us teachers and they students embarked on their summer vacations. May Allah shower his blessings and mercy upon her. Ameen.

I've also been on and off thinking about purusing an M.A. in Literature, not because I'm in love with literary theory and critical analysis but because I want to teach English at the community college level. I love the community college atmosphere, at least what I remember of it and would love to work in that environment and since I like English and like to read I thought why note teach English? After all, no matter what he/she majors in, all college students have to take at least two basic composition classes. So, it seemed like a good idea. But, realistically can I succeed and am I competent enough to take on such an endeavor as an M.A. in Literature?

I had the pleasure of looking at some of the old writing I'd done for my undergrad literature and language arts courses. I was pleasantly surprised to read my own writing and thought not bad...but after years of taking accounting courses I'm not so sure I have what it takes to turn an already medicore pack of writing ability into a superb one. I'm way to fond of "trite" and "cliche" expressions as my English teacher in high made a point to notice and write all over my essays. Triteness is highly looked down upon in academe. So, I don't know...we'll see I suppose. May Allah help me find my true purpose and pursue it. Ameen.