“He shaped you and then made your shapes beautiful (Fa aḥsana ṣuwarakum)” (40:64) This Quranic verse has been kicking around in my head for the past week, trying to unravel its intrinsic meaning. I’ve read the tafaasir on it but wasn’t satisfied. Usually, the first question that pops into one’s mind is, if Allaah shaped […]
Aug 25 2019
Nidaamka Federaalka Soomaaliya
Jahawareerka ugu wayn ee ku dhacay dadka Soomaaliyeed waa qaabka dawladnimo ee aynu qaadanay iyo sida khaldan ee loo isticmaalay. Tusaale, inta badan goobaha shaqada waxay la daala dhacayaan farqiga wayn ee u dhaxeeya qaabeenta shaqada (work-as-designed) iyo qabashada shaqada (work-as-done). Midda hore waxay si toos ah u hagaysa sidee loo qaban karaa shaqada taalo, […]
May 28 2019
Unexpected encounters
Thirteen Ramadhans ago, I was in the midst of a spiritual transformation (from a nominal Muslim to a practising Muslim) whilst running a large Islamic discussion board. Before that, I was still practising but merely did it out of habit, mindlessly mimicking movements and routines that we were inculcated from a young age. As a […]
Mar 28 2019
Family language for love
In everyday Somali speech, it’s fairly common for people to address a stranger (non-relative) as ‘brother’ or ‘sister’ (Huuno/Walaal(o)/(A)baayo/(A)boowe). It’s a traditional practice which is relatively ubiquitous and most likely the norm in many cultures, right? But you know what’s really interesting? In the Somali tradition, it’s extremely common for soon-to-wed/married Somali couples to continue […]
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