Ayman Ismail

And now, you know, because now I have kids.

I have two kids, alhamdulillah.

And...

I'm starting to feel really insecure in my ability as a parent to transfer that knowledge by myself.

I don't think I can teach them to really understand the mechanisms of being a Muslim because it is like a physical practice, just as much as it is a spiritual one.

I'm not totally confident in my ability to teach them that.

I don't even speak enough Arabic myself to pass it down.

And there was this moment the other day, you know, I have an aunt in Egypt.

She and I talk on the phone all the time.

I love her dearly.

And I was really excited because my kids were in the car.

And so I put her on speakerphone and I was like, they're in the car.

You should say hi.

And she said all these really nice things.

All in Arabic, I'm imagining.

I love you.

All in Arabic, right?

She doesn't speak English at all.

And my kids were just like staring out the window like they have no idea what's going on.

And at that moment, I'm like, oh, no, it's not just like about religion.