3 Comments

1. 

   Noor

   July 22, 2015 at 9:52 AM

   While I do consider faith an important factor in overcoming difficulties, your word choices were ableist.

   You should put something at the beginning that addresses there are also biological causes for depression and the need for medication. I like the song, but it fails to acknowledge when people need medication and it also speaks of being disabled in a negative way. And it also mentions disability in a way that is ableist.

   The Muslim community needs to educate more on mental health and illness and disabilities. I would ask you to educate yourself Shahroz on the topics of mental illness and disability, including ableist attitudes & then do spoken word on the topic. It would be a great gift to many who are now struggling in the ummah and in the world.

   Just the fact you mentioned medicaid like you did shows you have no knowledge on what it means to be disabled. Medicaid is often the insurance provided to those with biological diseases like bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder includes episodes of mania and depression which must be controlled by medication. There are many causes of depression that require medication. Some of them create such severe symptoms a person is unable to work and may end up so poor, their insurance is medicaid.

   Once you educate yourself on this, perhaps you will not unknowingly offend them. I know it wasn’t on purpose and your song is about devotion to God during difficult times, but it is also very offensive to those who do need prescriptions and medicaid …. and they are God’s gifts to many who struggle with the biological diseases.

   May God bless you.

   Social Justice Project: Ableism: https://youtu.be/P7_cMziG1Fc

   NAMI on Depression: https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Depression

   Reply
   • 

     Shahroz

     July 22, 2015 at 11:16 PM

     I think you completely misunderstood the piece i’m not talking about mental health or illness. In fact it’s something I studied throughout my college career, it’s a personal thing, Specifically i’m speaking about myself and how I don’t need to turn to certain things, even with any issue we have to realize any healing comes from a conversation with Allah. i don’t have any mental illness thats why I start off the verse that way. And in fact in the chorus I’m drawing an analogy between having a conversation with god being as important to the mind as medication is, a prescription for the soul. I think you’re blowing one line way out of proportion and context.

     Reply
2. 

   Naz

   July 24, 2015 at 12:45 AM

   JAZAKALLAH KHAIR for this piece. This is definitely what I needed. Ive been feeling reli conflicted with things and what you wrote reli provided clarity. Thank you for writing n posting this, it will be very beneficial to many.

   Reply