Fiction

Poem | Ammar AlShukry

Published

February 6, 2013

Guests

By Ammar AlShukry

Cross-posted from: https://www.facebook.com/ammarpoetry/posts/532319246788139

I had some fun writing this one. Purely fictional, no offense intended.

I met Ahmed, he was a dejected fellow,

I asked him why he was looking so mellow,

He told me, when I converted to Islam,

I was told that I was joining the brotherhood of man,

At the masjid I got hugs, felt so happy and serene,

It was the most beautiful gathering I’d ever seen,

For months they took me in, like a baby they would wean,

Then someone told me that marriage was half of my deen,

So off I went! Simple enough, when all the brothers loved me,

I felt my heart was one with my brothers, tied by the God above me,

I shyly walked up to the imam sat down and eloquently stated,

That I was doing well for myself, unattached and educated,

And ever since I accepted Islam I’ve gone through a lot,

Quite frankly this community here is now all the family I’ve got,

So I would appreciate his assistance in seeking out a better half,

Someone I could share a journey with, as well as a tear and a laugh,

His response was less warm than I had imagined in my mind,

Like he was burdened with locating someone impossible to find,

He said, “Brother Ahmed, I just want to alert you,

That this might take a while, so be easy, patience is a virtue”

I asked “How long ago was this?” Ahmed laughed and said, “BRO”

the conversation that I had with the imam was three years ago!”

I sat down next to him, wearing a painful grimace,

saying “so what was your experience, from start to finish!”

Ahmed leaned his head against the wall, to silently recollect,

And then looked at me and said, “This ummah isn’t what you expect.

Side by side and feet to feet, we may gather at a plate to eat,

but all of that will just retreat, when his daughter is why you meet,

So after meeting more than my share of parents insanely selective,

I have my own breakdown of the Ummah from a converts perspective,”

I interrupted “Hold on Ahmed” the story bringing me to focus,

“I’ll shout out the country, and you tell me your diagnosis”

“Sudan!” He said, “Y’all Sudanese have it rough..

“I thought we were all black but her father said I wasn’t arab enough “

I LOLed at his jab, and then went to the next country,

“Palestine” he laughed and said, “Maybe if you have 20K for a dowry”

“What about the people of the Nile?” He said, “You wont believe it,

They asked me if I was willing to buy an apartment out in Egypt..

I approached a Pakistani family, and they were really nice,

They said, not a chance..but we hope that you make it to paradise,

There was a Somali family and they didn’t hesitate to say no,

But said if only you were a WHITE convert, you would have been a go,

There was an Indian father who I still just wanna smack,

He said, “You are Muslim now, how do I know you will never go back?”

Like any of us really know, aren’t we all quite possibly,

liable to be misguided or astray by deviance or apostasy,

Its just frustrating when you hear that, like theyre trying to say,

That Islam for them is more engrained in their hearts, blood or DNA

When I am the one who faced my family and cultures antagonism,

To jump into an Ummah made prison, not at all what I envisioned,

His head, still resting against the wall tilted towards the sky,

“I haven’t given up on the Ummah, I just sit and wonder why?

Why is it that we can convert from our entire religion,

But all of these born Muslims can’t convert from tradition.”

0 Shares

Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah

Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.

The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.

Related Topics:Ammar Convert Marriage poem Poetry Prejudice Racism revert

Up Next

The Deal: Part #5 The Price of Faith

Don't Miss

The Deal: Part #4 Zanshin

Guests

14 Comments

Salma

February 6, 2013 at 3:32 PM

MashAllah! What an incredible piece and VERY on point. Although, I must admit I’m concerned that everyone will assume it is typical for Palestinian/Egyptian/Arab families to expect huge mahrs/apartments. I assure you this is atypical and many families (including mine) don’t care where the brother is from or about an excessive mahr as long as he is practicing, pious, and compatible.

Yes, our ummah has a huge problem and isn’t what you would expect. InshAllah, I truly believe the next generation will bring with it a new mentality… where the lightness of your skin doesn’t correlate with marriageability. And where money isn’t priority while everything else is secondary. We shall overcome. InshAllah.

Reply
muslima

February 6, 2013 at 3:35 PM

I hear you brother, Alhamdulilah I married a long time ago.
It must be much easier for the sisters.

Reply
Muna

February 6, 2013 at 8:38 PM

It’s not easier for the sisters and I have heard/read accounts where racism and convert discrimination very much affects women as well ie. black converst not being considered for marriage yet white converts first in line (both of which comes with its own set of problems). Racism is the very fabric of American society and Muslims are not immune to this reality. We can pay lip service of Islam’s teachings of equality, however race as well as socio – economic status divides the people in the masjid just as much as out of it. When it comes time to pray we physically come together, but unfortunately our spirituality and hearts are not connected. This is from personal experience and observation as well as some research on other’s experiences. How can change come when these things are not tacken seriously and brought to the forefront?

Reply
Mister Splinter

February 6, 2013 at 9:34 PM

This is definitely an issue that is not talked about enough. I’m happy you brought it up in this manner as opposed to just blatantly complaining about it. It sort of shows how beneficial and versatile poetry can be in that it can convey something in a softer tone.

Reply
Aseey/Nigeria

February 7, 2013 at 3:33 AM

jazakallah kayran for this beautiful post. Muslim all over the world have this problem of racial classification as the greatest threat to form a united ummah. May Allah assist the muslim in eliminating racism.

Reply
Khidr

February 7, 2013 at 11:43 AM

I don’t know whether to cry for the brother or to cry for this eloquent piece. Tell the brother there are others like him; me as well. Gift him a hug akhee. And Ammar, I would like to learn poetry with you! :)

Like the brother, I am slightly the same,
a lonely traveler on the journey,
asking Allaah for a blessed name.
A glimpse in my dreams, maybe?
Making dua’ everyday,
with the help of my mother’s plea.
I, too, hope for a future with my half.
Secretly hoping it won’t be long till I laugh
or just smile to finally see
the answer to my call,
then to her sweet love
I drop my heart to see it fall.

Reply
fathima Sumaiya

February 8, 2013 at 9:50 AM

Assalamu Alaikum,

Masha Allah. beautifully written…
i went into lauhgter in the last bit.
wat about a srilankans response..
Alhamdullillah.Allah has blessed me to read this.

Reply
Umm Shaharazed

February 8, 2013 at 1:15 PM

MashaAllah, powerfully written! InshaAllah, the next generation will change things.

Reply
Pingback: Poem by Ammar AlShukry | Shajahan Ahmed's blog
Bint Muhammad

April 14, 2013 at 8:13 AM

That was VERY good mashaAllah! :)

Reply
aaisha muzzamil

August 20, 2013 at 8:12 PM

ma shaa Allah.his poems are a breathof fresh air from the stupid songs that always recieve airplay.i jsu wish people would promote his work like they promote a celebs work.

Reply
Halima

January 8, 2014 at 5:54 PM

Wow, this poem was so real and good. I really feel for the brother, even though it’s all fictional. Yet, this is what a lot of converts go through in our community. Also would just like to point out these lines:

“There was a Somali family and they didn’t hesitate to say no,
But said if only you were a WHITE convert, you would have been a go”

That’s actually far from the truth. Most Somali parents are very hesitant to allow their daughters to marry outside of Somali’s. Regardless of the suitor being black/white. Yet, some allow their daughters to marry them in the end. But in a way it’s sadly true, because Somali parents see white people so highly. If push came to shove they would rather their daughter marry a white man then black. Even they can be prejudice against black people. When they themselves are black. It’s ironic and sad.

But good poem brother Ammar. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Reply
tauheedah

April 10, 2014 at 9:24 PM

Good poem my dear young brother. We “home growns” sit and chuckle (most times) about this topic. Speaking strictly from the point of view of a Muslim parent trying to be obedient to Allah (swt) and follow the Sunnah of His Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa salaam), if I or my husband ever turn down a marriage proposal for any of our children solely on the basis of race (or “culture” as some like to profess), I pray that our children will completely ignore us and get married anyway because that would surely be a sign that Allah (swt) has left their parents in misguidance. Aoudhu billah.

Reply
Abeer

November 28, 2014 at 10:02 PM

This poem is so beautifully written from the heart, fictional or not. This seems to be the sad reality and state of our Ummah today, Allahul mustaan. It’s not just the sad reality for converts, but born Muslims too. If we don’t go back to practicing our faith the way Allah intended and follow the Sunnah, I fear things will only get worse. Marriage shouldn’t be about culture or race but about two people who love Allah coming together to create a beautiful life together, that never ends because it will continue in Jannah. I have faith that things will change for the better iA, but we have to realize that change often happens one person at a time. May Allah make it easy for all who want to get married to find their better half regardless of what color they are or where they’re from. Ameen

Reply