(I’m in that picture! Tan and white striped shirt. Its two up from the guy wearing blue behind the imam :p)

Abdul Qahhar of Islamic Relief Louisiana sent me this article recently from The Advocate.

LAFAYETTE — Reem Alferahin’s American dream has become her worst nightmare.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the Louisiana woman has lost her home and seen her husband forced out of the country indefinitely.

Being a Muslim and former flight training student whose first name is Osama made him a target of suspicion. Having omitted information about an ex-wife on his U.S. citizenship application opened him up to prosecution.

“Now if you’re an Arab and you’re a Muslim — that’s it — you’re a terrorist,” Reem Alferahin said. “You’re guilty until proven innocent.”

Read the rest of the article here: Area Muslims retain their faith despite hardships

This photo original taken by Tracy Byrns

If you are ever in New Orleans, take a stop by the French Quarter and get yourself one of these beignet at Cafe du Monde.

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Its amazing how pressures can really pile up. I came back from my trip to new orleans Wednesday, and without break I got thrown into the rush of every day life.

Upon arrival from my three day journey, having only a couple hrs to freshen up and go to my two evening classes back to back for th start of the semester, followed by a morning class the next day, I spent Thursday in a daze. A daze that resulted in me being late to the evening class that day.

Friday and saturday I spent loathing and sleeping, trying to gather where I am, and what I’m doing, only to remember that I have a client deadline to meet. 48 hours of nonstop crunch-time, and a few hours of sleep in between allowed me to complete the client’s first draft just in the nick of time. (I’ll post up the final draft for you all to see later this week)

Having had two hours of sleep, Imam Abu Abed’s words began ringing in my head. On my last day in Baton Rouge (which by the way has an interesting ‘red’ history) Imam Abu Abed mentioned something after Isha prayers. For dawah to be successful four elements must be utilized:

• Sincerity of intention

• Patience through tasks

• Persistence and struggle in the cause

• Consistent du’aa to see it through - This sets the efforts of falsehood apart from the effort of truth.

This space is going to be dedicated to celebrate the gems of this trip…

• This trip was a struggle, but it was sooooooo worth it. The people I met. My partner I traveled with and the things I learned from him and the people along the way were priceless.

• Allah (swt) put people in my path to help me along the way and make this happen. From the travel expenses this time and the previous trip I took back in June. The hospitality in food, and stay. The warm welcome and affection of the people I met and interacted with. – — – “Southern Hospitality” is REAL

• I met with amazing people in Knoxville, TN. Baton Rouge, LA. New Orleans, LA, Mclean, VA, and here in NJ — all of whom provided assistance when it was needed without really asking for it.

• I have a very solid idea of what I want in this final production, and inshaAllah it will be my best project to date. My goal is to bring $250,000 in aid to victims. To do this I will need to bring forth half a million bucks in one year inshaALLAH!

• I have soooo many more OUTSTANDING ideas that I want to do after this project is done. A documentary film on the Injustice of the American justice and prison system and the Resilience of Muslims there. A Narrative epic on the life of Uthman Dan Fodio, and much MORE!

• A few money generating ideas have come about from this trip in the time spent with my travel buddy.

• I didn’t complete filming — but it will be completed by end of this week inshaAllah with the help of some sincere individuals from Louisiana that Allah (swt) put in my path

• I am PUMPING with energy as I type this. — – On this trip I saw the beauty of the beautiful sunsets, lightning, storm clouds, scattered sun shower downpours, starry filled skies with the milky way galaxy visible, a turtle on the side of the highway, the endless range of the Appalachian mountains, and the calm rivers that descend it.

Here are the pictures. Enjoy

• First Trip
• Second Trip (one I just came back from)