Wednesday 10 July 2013

Ramadan Reflections

“Remind for the Reminder benefits the believers”.

Indeed, Ramadan is about more than just abstaining from food and drink. It is a time to reflect, revive and reform one-self for the better. Reformation of the self is best achieved through reflection; reflecting on life and death, reflecting on human relations, reflecting on true meaning of happiness and most importantly reflecting on what it means to be good. As part of my journey to reform myself this Ramadan I have chosen to share on this blog my own reflections. I will post short comments – containing either a verse from the Quran or a saying from the Prophet (SAW) – with the aim of reminding for the purpose of reforming. I am sure many of you will be very familiar with the verses and sayings I will use however, as the Quran says ‘Remind! For the reminder benefits the believers’. Thus, through these posts I aim to remind, so to reflect, so to reform. This Ramadan aim to become a reformed person. Ramadan Mubarak to you all.

Ramadan Reflection Day 1:

Prophet (SAW) said: “Al-Quran lima quri’a” /”The (blessings of) Quran is with the reciter”.

As all of make efforts to attend taraweeh prayers, we tend to go home feeling quite good with ourselves. We have fasted a full day; had delicious iftar; gone to the masjid and prayed taraweeh with fellow brothers and sisters who have undergone the same rituals we did during the day. But stop for a minute and sincerely ask yourself; how much of the Quran that was recited in tonight’s prayer did you actually listen to attentively, how many verses did you feel with the core of your being? Knowing the fact that today was the first day of Ramadan most of us probably stuffed ourselves too much and went to the masjid to “do the duty” of praying taraweeh but really spent most of our time wishing the Imam would hurry up a bit so we could go home and sleep! You may ask yourself – so what, does it make me a bad person to behave like this?

Well, no it doesn’t. But it does highlight to you how unaware you are of your worship – which I am sure you aimed to perfect during the month of Ramadan. OK, so what is the solution you ask? Follow the Prophet (SAW)’s advice above; “The (blessings of the) Quran is with the reciter”. For instance, you can bring a Quran with you when you go and pray taraweeh and read with the Imam leading the prayer. You can also pick up the Quran when you get home and read half a chapter or more – depending on your ability and time.


The month of Ramadan is the month when the Quran was revealed, thus it has more right upon us than any other month. Spend time with it, reflect on it, reform yourself according to it, hold it against your soul as you would hold a mirror to your face to correct any defects. But most importantly, take time to read it – even if it is for a page. Gain the full blessings of it, focus on it so you can find the wisdom you need to become that better person YOU wish to be….. 

Friday 14 September 2012

A Man not a Player


Ain’t looking for a guy to my equal

For that would be near impossible


Ain’t looking for a guy to give me the world

For material things won’t feed my soul


Looking for a guy who appreciate

I’m made from his rib

Who knows he is my boss

But I’m the queen of our crib

Looking for a guy to be my homie

Who can help me raise a family

Looking for a guy who can do the simple thing in life

Make me giggle, dry my tears and honour me as his wife

If you want all my love

I am willing to give

But first you gotta prove

That my love is what you wish to achieve ;)

(c) NomadicEmpress

Saturday 12 November 2011

A Letter to My Somali Brother


I write this letter because I am heartbroken

Heartbroken because of my brother’s misunderstanding

Misunderstanding because you ain’t listening

You’re not listening to what we ain’t saying

We ain’t saying for fear of being forsaken

Forsaken because of the naming and shaming

Shaming because of the games you be playing

Playing because you ain’t respecting

Ain’t respecting because you ain’t appreciating

Ain’t appreciating because you too have been forsaken

Forsaken because nobody is understanding

Ain’t understanding because nobody is listening

Ain’t listening because you ain’t speaking

Ain’t speaking because you too fear the shaming

The shaming for being a man with emotions

Emotions that you really should be celebrating

Celebrating because you are a man that is living

Living because you’ve learned the art of expression

Yet, you ain’t expressing because you are hurting

Hurting because you no longer respecting

Ain’t respecting because you have been broken

Broken because you took a shot at loving

Now, you no longer loving

No longer listening

So you stay cold while I..

While I be heartbroken

Because I am a woman

Longing for your loving

Sunday 8 November 2009

We have the Potential

We have the potential to meet the need
We have the potential to succeed.
Hear me, my friend!
We have the potential indeed.

We have the potential to make past mistakes right
We have the potential to bring the hopes of daylight.

We have the potential
to save the next generation
We have the potential to rebuild our beautiful nation.

We have the potenital
to do away wth tyranny & backward mentality
We have the potential
to bring ourselves from the brinks of insanity.

We have the potential
to be like one family.
We have the potential
to find unity amongst our diversity.

We have the potential
to be the definition of inspiration
We have the potential
to end circle of violence and extermination.

From Boroma to Baidhabo
We have the potential
From Burco to Beledweyne
We have the potential
From Qardho to Kismaayo
We have the potential
From Hargeisa to Xamar
We have the potential

We have the potential to succeed
Hear me, my friend!
We have the potential, indeed!
All we've got to do is believe
In the powers of you and me

Wednesday 29 July 2009

My Mission

I am on a mission
a mission to save a nation
a nation on death row

My mission is one of eradication
the eradication of deep desperation
desperation resulting from deprivation
the deprivation of a nation
a nation on death row

I am on mission
a mission to provide a vision
a vision of emancipation
emancipation of a nation
a nation on death row

My vision is of a nation
a nation free of frustration
frustration replaced by liberation
the liberation of a nation
a nation on death row

My vision will soon come to realisation
the realisation of a nation
a nation free of destruction
destruction replaced with the hopes of a nation
a nation no longer on death row

Sunday 31 May 2009

Qaraabooy qalad maa ku dhaqaaqay?

Hadaan Qarankeyga u istaago
Qabyalada hor istaago
Qaraabooy qalad maa ku dhaqaaqay?

Hadaan Qaadirkii weynaa talo saarto
Qurankiisane midigtayta ku qabsado
Qaraabooy qalad maa ku dhaqaaqay?

Hadaan Qalin qaato
Dhalinyarta qiiro geliyo
From Qardho to Qatar qeeladeeyda gaarto
Qaraabo qalad maa ku dhaqaaqay?

Ilaan dadkeeni qaali badnaa
Qaad baabiyo, qabuuro booxiyaan
ama qah iyo qoxootinimo ku dhintaan
Qaraaboy qaasidkeena ma yahay?

Qaraaboy, Al-Qayuum talo saarta
Quraanka qalbigeena ku qaboojista
Qarankeena qiimeesta
Qabyaalada badala
Qiyaamo isku diyaariya
Gargaarka Qaadir waa qariib

Saturday 30 May 2009

The A.K.M Syndrome

It is the A.K.M syndrome
that is driving us mad
It is the A.K.M syndrome
that divides you and I

It is the A.K.M syndrome
that creates war and not peace
It is the A.K.M
that prevent us from being polite, never saying please

It is the A.K.M syndrome
that made you divorce your wife
It is the A.K.M syndrome
that made you take another person's life

It is the A.K.M syndrome
that got the MPs stealing public money
It is the A.K.M syndrome
that make us so ugly and grumpy

It is the A.K.M syndrome
that got us destroying & invading nations
It is the A.K.m syndrome
that lead to the fall of previous civilisations

It is the A.K.M syndrome
that made you loose quality time with your family
It is the A.K.M syndrome
that made you lose track of reality

It is the A.K.M syndrome
that turned you into slave of money
It is the A.K.M syndrome
that made you forget your duties to the Almighty

It is the A.K.M syndrome
that got the Devil kicked out from paradise
It is the A.K.M syndrome
that is ruining your life