my dear friend ShazmaFor my mother-in-law, whom I called Ammi, preparing and sharing iftari was an act of faith. EVERY single day of Ramzan

SaanyaNani and I have always had a special relationship. I was writing her a thank you card today that started out being for her graduation present,

SaanyaNani and I have always had a special relationship. I was writing her a thank you card today that started out being for her graduation present

My father is an amazing storyteller. Especially vibrant are his stories that take place in his hometown of Calcutta. I’ve heard them over and over again

As we’re thinking about traditions to share on this year’s blog, I thought why not start with the blog itself – now in it’s fourth year, it has certainly become a tradition in our home

Asif Shaikh sits behind his black granite table in his office in Ahmedabad, India, discussing fabrics, colors and designs with the mother of a groom.

Stories evoke emotions. They help us cultivate a relationship and develop a sense of familiarity. By revealing personal vulnerabilities and universal longings

As thousands celebrate the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela in South Africa, I’m grateful that the snow has slowed down our hurried morning pace to allow me to take pause too

Last year, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. A routine mammogram led to a more in-depth one and then to a biopsy. I was certain that nothing would turn up

Hope you all had a wonderful Eid day and hope the fun continues all weekend! We had a great time -- a variety of life's experiences wrapped up in a day.

with Dr. Azizah al-HibriI met Dr. Azizah al-Hibri on the first day of my Law and Leadership Summer Program with Karamah, the organization she founded 20 years

One of the most inspiring places on the Internet is “Humans of New York” (HONY), a blog started in 2010 by Brandon Stanton that features photos of every day

I have no idea how to preface this one ... except with tears. Thank you Khala. Love you.

Uzma IqbalUzma is an oncologist and lives in Houston. That's about all I know about her. She messaged me yesterday on the "30 days" facebook page to ask if she could contribute a dua

Nazish KhaliqI met Nazish just a few months ago (thanks MaDiha!), but she has been a loyal reader of the blog since the beginning. It almost seems like she's waiting for each post

Guest blogger: my dear friend MaDihaMaDiha is another friend who came into my life through my writing (thank you Gayle!). It's a friendship that didn't take years to blossom

One of the most rewarding parts of keeping this blog has been hearing from people in different parts of the world who have come across the blog.

Salma is mad at me. She’s been asking me for a dua for two weeks and I haven’t given her one. It’s not because I haven’t wanted to or don’t feel the importance of contributing.

I must have typed ‘dua’ a hundred times this month writing this blog. Each time, the autocorrect would change it to ‘due’. Messages come in unusual ways.

It’s hard to watch your parents grow old. Really hard. I wish I could take away their aches, their pains, their worries, their fears. But I can’t.