We are blessed in so many ways, most especially to have our parents and a huge family network near by. The most important thing I want to teach our children

Hope you and your families had a wonderful Eid. Our warmest wishes and duas for an inspired post-Ramadan!

O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Quran, Surah al-Hujurat (49:13)

The only name they could come up with is the "Interfaith Iguanas" (?!), but they did brainstorm an exciting list of community service activities for the coming year.

We kept debating all day whether or not to have our neighborhood iftaar party. Hurricane Irene was bearing down. The main worry was if we lost electricity; cold chicken curry, in the dark, is not too appetizing

We've tried to be good during Ramadan -- pray on time, be kind, care for others -- but what's going to happen in a few days when the month is over.

A man asked Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), 'Oh Messenger of God, who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Prophet said: 'Your mother'.

“And the earth, We have spread it out, and made in it mountains standing firm, and grown in it every thing in balance.” Quran Al-Hijr 15:19-20

"God is the Creator of everything. He is the guardian over everything. Unto Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth." (Quran 39:62, 63)

For it is He who has brought into being gardens [both] the cultivated ones and those growing wild -- and the date palm, and fields bearing multiform produce, and the olive tree, and the pommegranite

I didn't realize that planting trees is so valued in Islam. As the above saying of Prophet Muhammad makes clear, even if the Day of Judgement arrives when you're in the middle of planting a tree, continue planting.

My father is an amazing storyteller. He has such vivid, wonderful anecdotes about his childhood and growing up years in Calcutta and London.

Today I asked the children to write a letter to someone they care about and share their feelings towards them. Zayd chose his first best friend, James, his buddy from pre-school who moved to California a few years ago.

Guest blogger: SaanyaHer name is Yusra, and her smile can light up a room. She and her brother Akram are two of the first kids I started supporting to go to school, in a village in Gujarat

Zayd has always been passionate about trees, the environment, and all living creatures. I remember when he was little, whenever it would rain and the worms would come out

Guest blogger: SaanyaMy family and I attended the Montgomery County Muslim Council and Foundation's Iftar with the County Executive and other representatives.

Guest blogger: ZaydWow, am I tired! This morning I went for a walk on the C&O canal near my house. I picked up trash for my good deed. I was also fasting so it was hard.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Do (good) deeds according to your capacity…God does not grow tired of giving rewards unless you tire of doing good…

I love cupcakes. I confess I even had a cupcake tasting party to try out the various cupcakerys and figure out which one I liked the best. The winner: Georgetown Cupcake, hands down.

Before we left home, I had a long conversation with my nine year old Zayd. I explained to him that we were going to Staples to shop for school supplies for deserving children in Montgomery County.