Red Coconut: Bridging the Racial Divide: A Collection of Poems and Essays Surrounding Interfaith Relationships

By Habeeb Alli

I present to you my eighteenth book entitled Red Coconut: Bridging the Racial Divide. Bridging the racial divide is what I do every day, and my collection of poems and essays this year speaks precisely of this.

A man who picked up a dying fish as he and his friend walked the seashore was asked, Why do you do that? You cannot save all these dying fishes! He replied, But it made a world of difference to this one!

One heart at a time, one community a time, we can make a difference.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524559359

Habeeb Alli

Habeeb Alli originates from Guyana where he studied at Queen’s College. He also studied in India and obtained a master’s degree in Islamic theology and Arabic language, along with a diploma in journalism. He has lived in India and speaks Urdu and Arabic. Alli is the author of seventeen books on Islam and poetry, his previous book being Five White Roses and a Red. He is a member of the Canadian Council of Imams. He presently serves as vice chair of the Guyanese Canadian Writers Association. Red Coconut is dedicated to children of Haiti.

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Copyright © 2016 by Habeeb Alli.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2016919095

ISBN:   Hardcover     978-1-5245-5937-3

             Softcover       978-1-5245-5936-6

             eBook            978-1-5245-5935-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 11/10/2016

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Contents

Foreword

Foreword

Editor’s Note

Regards for the Author

Pink Coconut

Cruising next year in de Island Islam!

Challenges of a Prison Chaplain

9/11: Multicultural Eid Commemoration 2016

Black Love in protest

Alicia and Tariq: Meant to be!

Sam and Daryl: In love marriage

Remembering My Mother Lyla Ali - 1st Anniversary

Marry the one who loves you!

Slave of Allah gives up racism

Canada Day Fundraiser: Could you make it diverse and inclusive?

Muhammad Ali: Stinging into our hearts

Poem on Guyana’s 50th Anniversary: Buxton Spice at 50!

Two are better than one.

Meeting with Mufti Abdul Hamid Patel CBE of the UK: Rethinking Islamic Schools paradigm

Visit to Maroons of Jamaica WI - Islamic legacy of a forgotten people

Obituary for Hafiz Patel, God’s mercy be with him, of the UK - saint and legend

Merry Mixing wedding

Poem for Oldeen 60th

#JasmineJuma

Youth Help Line

So adorable, Sasha!

Remembrance Day with Jasmine: Edmonton Gala

Poem on Interfaith in Toronto: Past and Future

Thierno and Gabrielle wed interfaithfully.

Hajjis shrouded in martyrdom

Peace

Omar Ibbott, my son, Rahmatullahi alaihi, God’s mercy be with you forever!

#AlanKurdi

Poem about Attawapiskat April 2016

Muhammad and Shauna

Canadian Council of Imams Declaration

About the Author

Foreword

This volume contains the work of a very simple, humble and dedicated Muslim poet, Imam Habeeb Alli.

In this collection, his poems speak of his experience in regards to racism and discrimination in the community and insight into the lives of those incarcerated. His poems stimulate a clear sense of the truth, struggles, power, love and feelings within the prison system.

Chaplain Habeeb was born in Guyana and migrated to Canada with his family a decade ago. He now works in the Federal Institutions as a Muslim Chaplain and it is clearly observed that he is well received, highly respected and revered among the Muslim population and is see as one of modern days finest mind in Islamic teaching and studies.

His poems tell of remarkable stories of incarnated individuals, whose lives were inspired, challenged and impacted by his teaching and life style.

Red Coconut: Bridging the racial divide is his 18th book.

Desmond M M. Khanoo PhD(s)