A sermon I gave about confronting prejudice and intolerance within ourselves, as well as making an active effort to improve both our society and ourselves.
In the wake of the Paris attacks, there was the expected backlash against many Muslims in "Western" countries who were being blamed for and associated with something they didn't condone and were arguably no more or less culpable than their fellow non-Muslim citizens. However, what was unexpected (for me, at least), was how many non-Muslims (as far as I'm aware) in my social circles took an active stance in refuting the claim that "all Muslims are to blame" (and similar sentiments) made by others, out of their own (presumably) internal belief and motivation. And this gave me some Hope.
The first sermon I've ever written and delivered, on two things that I believe are fundamental for me to develop and progress in a society and, by principle of equality, thus important to everybody else - Critical Thinking and Tolerance.
A brief history of my 'personality' changes to date, loosely likened to software updates.
When your mother gives you things she's looked after for you since you were a child, but not because you're old enough to look after them yourself from now on, but because she feels she won't be able to look after them much longer...
Many of the non-Muslims I know have asked about Ramadhan - the nine month of the Islamic calendar - and why I would put myself through the process of fasting from the break of dawn until sunset every day for a month. So, to that end, I thought I'd write why here so that it's all in one place for people to read at their own leisure and pace :)