I'm concerned that Islam has not just been politicised but that it's becoming an identity. This is like turning religion into a football match; it's a distraction from the real thing. Leila Aboulela More Quotes by Leila Aboulela More Quotes From Leila Aboulela All through life there were distinctions - toilets for men, toilets for women; clothes for men, clothes for women - then, at the end, the graves are identical. Leila Aboulela clothes toilets men Why do bad things happen? For pedagogical reasons, so that we can experience the power of Allah, catch a glimpse of Hell and fear it, so that we can practice seeking refuge in Him and, when relief comes give thanks to His mercy. Darkness was created so that, like plants, we could yearn and turn to the light. Leila Aboulela light practice giving The sweetest things in life were not necessarily what one strove for and grabbed. Instead, many many times the All-Merciful, the All-Generous would give His servants without being petitioned, without waiting to be asked. Leila Aboulela things-in-life waiting giving I must settle for freedom in this modern time Leila Aboulela modern-times settling modern The Mercy of Allah is an Ocean, Our sins are a lump of clay clenched between the beak of a pigeon. The pigeon is perched on the branch of a tree at the edge of that ocean.It only has to open it's beak Leila Aboulela clay ocean tree I wanted to be good but I wasn't sure if I was prepared Leila Aboulela prepared be-good wanted I've come down in the world. I've slid to a place where the ceiling is low and there isn't much room for me to move.Most of the time I'm used to it ... I accepted my sentence and do not brood or look back. But sometimes a shift makes me remember. Routine is ruffled and a new start makes me suddenly conscious of what I've become - Leila Aboulela routine ceilings moving Allah tests our patience and our fortitude. He tests out strength of faith. be patient and there will endless rewards for you, insha'Allah" - Utaz Badr Leila Aboulela rewards tests patient Control yourself, it is not worth it. You will regret your rudeness afterwards, your sensitive nature will be troubled Leila Aboulela rudeness sensitive regret The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, When Allah loves a people, He tries them. Leila Aboulela prophet-muhammad trying people That's what religion teaches: that life is a temporary thing which is going to dissolve one day. Leila Aboulela life-is-a day life religion I grew up in a very westernised environment and went to a private American school. But my personality was shy and quiet, and I wanted to wear the hijab but didn't have the courage, as I knew my friends would talk me out of it. Leila Aboulela me friends personality courage It was 1989, and the word 'Muslim' wasn't even really used in Britain at the time; you were either black or Asian. Leila Aboulela muslim you black time I was 24 years old and stuck in a strange place with two boisterous little boys, and my husband was working offshore on the oil rigs. It was a life for which I wasn't prepared. Leila Aboulela place strange husband life Sudan is not Arab enough for Arabs and not African enough for Africans. Leila Aboulela arabs african sudan enough My characters are not role-model Muslims, but they struggle to make choices using Muslim logic. Leila Aboulela make logic choices struggle I wasn't trained to write non-fiction. Leila Aboulela non-fiction trained write I read a lot of fiction. Leila Aboulela read lot fiction My father married out of the family. I also married outside the family. Leila Aboulela outside out family father When you write about a Muslim woman, like I did with my previous novels - 'Minaret', for example, which is about a woman who starts to wear the hijab - it sets all the alarm bells ringing. Leila Aboulela wear woman like you
