Islamic Arts Museum

Despite its angularity

Houses turquoise dome roofs.

With vibrant tile work

Ancient handwritten Qur'ans

Artworks in themselves

My favourite gallery

Displays intricate models

Of mosques worldwide

Their beauty fuels a desire

To explore the Middle East

When tensions dissipate

At National Mosque, we're cloaked

Feeling more Hogwarts than Islam

My borrowed orange hijab

Clashes with purple robes

Volunteers greet us

Outside the prayer room

Ambassadors to a faith

Diminished by extremists,

recently, by torturers

of the Jordanian pilot.

"Terrorists are not Islam.

Islam values human rights and equality."

His passion, patience, and explanations

Inspire confidence and sympathy

***

The reference to the Jordanian pilot refers to January 2015 when Muath Safi Yousef al-Kasasbeh's tragic and horrific murder by fire was filmed and shared by ISIS. 

Thank you for reading. I plan to update this book once or twice a week as my work schedule allows. Hopefully, that will bring us through Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and into the Philippines :) 

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