a child is born free of mind
but is hardened into thought
and by the time one dies
most are fixed and ******* into
worlds of their making,
heavens of their fantasies*

so one thinks one's an Indian, one a Chinese
or an American or British or Swedish
or French or Russian or German;
or one thinks one is a Christian or Muslim
or Jew or Hindu or Sikh or Catholic
or Doaist or Buddhist or Marxist or Communist
or even for that matter, an atheist
- or whatever you will...
one finds a badge to pin proudly to one's chest
and each identity becomes so strong
it becomes so real
it all comes into the question of right and wrong
of evil and good
and it falls into loud declamations
and my tribe is good, your tribe is evil
my brand is holy, your brand unholy...
and so it goes,
with all sorts of justifications
that beat sense out of all loyal adherents
and it squeezes humanity out of the human
as paste out of a tube...
ah, and yes,
the energy goes on into the afterlife
as Christians go into a Christian Heaven
and Hindus and Buddhists into various Lokas
and Muslims in their own Paradise
and so it goes on,
this Human Tragi-Comedy,
yes, yes, certainly all created by the Almighty
who was created by your mind's poverty
so that
a child is born free of mind
but is hardened into thought
and by the time one dies
most are fixed and ******* into
worlds of their making,
heavens of their fantasies

I can feel your
enemy eyes gazing down on me
with that fake friendly smile
as you distress and shake your head
at the way I dress

I can feel your
hateful words slap my cheeks
as you complain about the
way our sisters are sheep
to the west

I can feel your utmost
disgust as you utter
astaghfirullah as if I am
not worthy to be part of
the ummah

Yet I can feel the way
Allah is gentle and forgiving
as I prostrate
and cry for his mercy

He never lets me down
even though my brothers and sisters
may have

You say that you are a Muslim 
You say you stand for Islam 
But how can your Islam
Be so different to mine 

Two individuals 
On opposite sides of the globe
We believe in the same God 
Follow the same voice 

If you are a Muslim
Your actions would show it 
You would follow the Qur'an 
And not distort it

If you are Muslim and this is your Islam
Then I am a non-believer
Refusing to take the blame
So oppress not in my name

At lunch
she studies on the stairs
the ones hidden away
behind some double doors
in the back of the cafeteria

I got in there
to buy my soda
(the only machine that
sells cans is in there)
and I see her

she’s not pretty,
pudgy face,
hood on her head,
eyes wild
as I put my dollar in
and hit the button for
a diet coke

I see her there
everyday

my back is turned
but I feel her stare,
I feel the apprehension at me
entering her sanctum in the air

I contemplate a greeting,
but realize that’s too much.

so I whistle

whistle plain and clear

most would think it normal,
a small task to do while I wait for my drink,
but if one listened closely
and just happened to know the tune
they’d know what I whistled
to that friendless,
Muslim girl
was that
one day
she too
would be
loved

They said he was a stranger.
They said he was danger.
This is his story
read and you'll know there's nothing to worry.

He is a boy, a Muslim
He wakes up early and prays like a soldier
He put his books under his arm
and away he goes to school reciting his favorite verses from the Holy Quran
How can you call such a person danger??
He isn't in the top class
but everyone is proud for what he is today.
he doesn't care what others think about him for it is Allah alone he obey.
He helps people when in need
His own food to the hungry he willing feed
Everyone knows him for his humble good deeds.
How can you call such a person a stranger??

With life you do realise who your true friends are.
Not those who say they are,
Then stab you in the back,
Remember to stay true to you,
Don't worry about what others think,
Make the right decision,
Don't look back,
If you do your a fool,
Look to the present and not back,
Be true to your feelings,
Don't let them hide,
Speak the truth not lies,
Don't say yes nor no,
Think and do what's right.

True friends will always be there for you,
Day and Night,
Will look after you through thick and thin,
People may say look at you,
Do what is right,
Do yourself proud,
Think to yourself,
Why is this and always remember,
You have got a friend in me.