finding guidance...

Things Unclear

2012-02-06T01:41:00.001-06:00

Salam

bismillah

I got this from a sister's blog, little auntie. InshaAllah will find a link soon but I wanted to post it before I forgot. This is one of my favorite hadith and I think that I refer to this at least daily...

“What is lawful is clear, and what is unlawful is clear. And in between
the two are doubtful matters [whose rulings] many people do not know. He who guards against the
doubtful safeguards his religion and honor, and he who falls into the doubtful falls into the unlawful,
just as a shepherd who grazes his flock around a preserve will likely soon graze them in it. Indeed, every king has a preserve, and the preserve of Allāh are the things he has declared unlawful” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)

Go with the Flow

2012-02-01T16:23:00.001-06:00

Salam

Bismillah

I have had a problem concentrating during salah. I would fidgit, my mind would wander, and sometimes I would just go through the motions without a lot of feeling or meaning.

I tried a lot of techniques to help me try to concentrate but I still always felt like I was sort of impatient with my salah overall.

But finally alhamdulillah I found something that has been working for me.

I love being in water. To me there is nothing more relaxing or comforting than moving through water. SubhanAllah it feels like a hug and a pat on the back and a pillow around your body taking the stress from your bones and your muscles. When I am in the water my mind is free to concentrate on anything.

So I decided that when I made salah I would pretend I was in the water. When I am standing or sitting I can feel weightless and natural, when I'm moving I can feel the resistance and support of the water and my movements are less rushed and jerky and impatient.

SubhanAllah when I take care of the motions of my body in this way, my mind is free to concentrate on what I am saying and meaning. Its like when I started slowing down my body movements and relaxing all of those muscles, my mind was so much more focused. I feel so much more comfortable in salah this way, and I feel like I am using my time in salah much more productively alhamdulillah.

How do you keep your concentration in salah? Do you have techniques that help you?

Twitter

2012-01-31T02:00:00.001-06:00

I just realized it is exceedingly difficult to have a meaningful theological discussion over twitter.

Also it is sad that people need excuses like football to bond with other people of different beliefs instead of being able to bond over our shared humanity... Or is football a metaphor for our shared humanity? :-P maybe not.

In any event, visca barca

Eyebrows

2012-01-29T20:42:00.002-06:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I know... it has been an embarrassingly long time again. Please accept my apologies.

Today I want to share with you how I deal with my eyebrows. I know it's a strange topic but it is definitely something that I wish someone had given me tips on when I converted to Islam.

Okay, first things first. No plucking obviously. The idea behind it is that plucking eyebrows is a kind of vanity and deception. So with this in mind, I find that it is equally vain and deceptive to cut the eyebrows and also to bleach them in such a way as to make them look smaller. There are different scholarly rulings on this issue and most of them don't agree with mine, this is just the level of comfort I have achieved with what I believe is the spirit behind the prohibition. I'm talking about my own comfort zone here, not my scholarly opinion or anything since the hadith as far as I understand doesn't specifically say that coloring eyebrows is wrong or anything.

So that being said, and inshaAllah clarified, what am I supposed to do with my new Muslimah eyebrows? lol

I think my eyebrows have cow-licks, they grow in every which way and never like to stay neat and orderly. I'm not concerned with the volume or anything because subhanAllah most people's eyebrow's correctly fit their features but just the overall messiness. I have found that my eyebrows do look more shapely and thinner when they are orderly.

So, in the spirit of keeping things in order, I have found that the secret to nice Muslimah eyebrows is clear mascara. You can use a little clear mascara to shape your eyebrows without trimming and it gives a little hold during the day so they don't freak out again inshaAllah. (if you can't find clear mascara you can also use a little hair gel and an old cleaned mascara wand).

First use the wand to brush your eyebrows upward. You want them to be as close to straight up and down as possible. Then, take the mascara brush and run it along the top of your eyebrows following the natural shape, just pushing down the hairs that are at the very top, leaving the lower eyebrows somewhat in place. Start at the inside corner of your eye and move outward. This will give you a nice arch and sweep inshaAllah!

Here are some products I used before:
Anastasia Clear Brow Gel
Covergirl Clear Mascara
Disposable Mascara Wands and Hair Gel

How do you all deal with the natural eyebrow that comes with Islam??

Halaqah: Sorat Al-Ikhlas #112

2011-08-09T12:44:00.003-05:00

Salam 3laikum!

Bismillah

Sorat Al-Ikhlas

word by word translation: http://corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp?chapter=112&verse=1

English Interpretation of the Meaning:

1. Say "He is Allah who is ONE

2. Allah, the Self-Sufficient

3. Neither did He beget and nor is he begotton

4. And there is none comparable unto him."

Notes from Tafsir:

Imam Ahmad reports that the idolaters asked the Prophet Muhammad, sal Allahu 3laihi wa sallam, what is the lineage of your Lord? (this means where did Allah come from? what is his progeny? Etc. It is common for polythiests to have complicated stories about the origins of their gods and their relationships to each other) In response, this surah was revealed. Allah has no lineage because there is nothing like him in the whole of the existence subhanAllah!!

Verse 2~ As-Samad is one of the names of Allah: one who does not give birth, nor was He born because all things that are born die and nothing dies except that it leaves inheritance => Allah does not die or leave an inheritance because he is self-sufficient. He is self sustaining so nothing can cause Him to die so He has no need of progeny to inherit for Him.

(This is in contrast to the Christian idea of Jesus "inheriting" the Earth/World/Kingdom/Universe that can be found in Hebrews 1:1-4 and several other places. If Jesus is God (audhu billah) how can he inherit from himself? If he is not God, how can he inherit unless God dies? This is a common statement of Christians that I believe not many people actually think about the implications as it comes out of their mouths.)

Verse 4~ None comparable: none similar, none equal, nothing at all like Him. You can not even describe Him except in the ways that He described Himself subhanAllah.

New Design

2011-07-20T14:58:00.000-05:00

Salam 3laikum!

How do you all like the new design?

I was hoping that the wider 3 column design would be a little more user friendly and you wouldn't have to scroll down for miles to see the bottom of the page :-P

Can you read all the fonts with the current sizes and colors? Can you find all the stuff on the page that you want?

Anyway, let me know what you think inshaAllah

<3 NeverEver

Halaqah: Surat Al-Falaq #113

2011-07-20T13:30:00.000-05:00

Salam 3laikum!

bismillah

Surat al-Falaq

Word by Word Translation: http://corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp?chapter=113&verse=1

English Interpretation of the Meaning:

1) Say "I seek refuge in the Lord of the Daybreak

2) from the evil of that which He created;

3) and from the evil of the Darkness when it is intense,

4) and from the evil of those who blow in the knots,

5) and from the evil of the envier when he envies."

Notes from Tafsir:

Al-Falaq means the Daybreak

Verse 2~ Allah is responsible for ALL of creation, the seemingly bad and the seemingly good. This refers to Jahannum (Hell), Iblis (Satan, Devil), and the shayatin (followers of Satan).

Verse 3~ the Darkness when it is intense refers to when the sun goes down (Al-Bukhari) or when specifically the moon rises (At-Tirmidhi)

Verse 4~ blowers of knots refers to those who cast spells and practice magic/witchcraft

The last two suras of the Qur'an offer powerful du3a for protection from the evils of this word. It is highly beneficial to memorize this suras and recite them frequently in the day and night inshaAllah.

Common mistakes in Ramadhan

2011-07-19T20:50:00.002-05:00

Salam 3laikum,

Bismillah

I just got this email from our sisters email group. Anything that I add will be in [brackets] as usual.

Some Common Mistakes in Ramadaan

Lets Strive Not to Repeat the Same.

By Asma bint Shameem

1 : Taking Ramadaan as a ritual

For many of us Ramadaan has lost its spirituality and has become more of a ritual than a form of Ibaadah. We fast from morning to night like a zombie just because everyone around us is fasting too. We forget that its a time to purify our hearts and our souls from all evil....we forget to make dua, forget to beseech Allaah to forgive us and ask Him to save us from the Fire. Sure we stay away from food and drink but that's about all.

Although the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Jibreel said to me, May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person to who Ramadaan comes and his sins are not forgiven, and I said, Ameen. Then he said, May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person who lives to see his parents grow old, one or both of them, but he does not enter Paradise (by not serving them) and I said, Ameen. Then he said, May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person in whose presence you are mentioned and he does not send blessings upon you, and I said, Ameen.’”

(Tirmidhi, Ahmad, others. Saheeh by al-Albaani)

2 : Too much stress on food and drink

For some people, the entire month of Ramadaan revolves around food. They spend the ENTIRE day planning, cooking, shopping and thinking about only food, instead of concentrating on Salaah, Quraan and other acts of worship. All they can think of is FOOD. So much so that they turn the month of fasting into the month of feasting. Come Iftaar time, their table is a sight to see, with the multitudes and varieties of food, sweets and drinks. They are missing the very purpose of fasting, and thus, increase in their greed and desires instead of learning to control them. It is also a kind of waste & extravagance. ".....and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allaah) likes not Al-Musrifoon (those who waste by extravagance)" [al-Araaf :31]

3 : Spending all day cooking

Some of the sisters (either by their own choice or forced by their husbands) are cooking ALL day and ALL night, so that by the end of the day, they are too tired to even pray Ishaa, pray Taraweeh or Tahajjud or even read Quraan. This is the month of mercy and forgiveness. So turn off that stove and turn on your Imaan!

4 : Eating too much

Some people stuff themselves at Suhoor until they are ready to burst, because they think this is the way to not feel hungry during the day and some people eat at Iftaar, like there is no tomorrow, trying to make up for the food missed. However, this is completely against the Sunnah. Moderation is the key to everything.

The Prophet (PBUH) said: "The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach; for the son of Adam a few mouthfuls are sufficient to keep his back straight. If you must fill it, then one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for air." (Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah. saheeh by al-Albaani). Too much food distracts a person from many deeds of obedience and worship, makes him lazy and also makes the heart heedless.

5 : Sleeping all day

Some people spend their entire day (or a major part of it) sleeping away their fast. Is this what is really required for us during this noble month? These people also are missing the purpose of fasting and are slaves to their desires of comfort and ease. They cannot bear to be awake and face a little hunger or exert a little self-control. For a fasting person to spend most of the day asleep is nothing but, negligence on his part.

6 : Wasting time

The month of Ramadaan is a precious time, so much, that Allaah calls this month "Ayyamum Madoodaat" (A fixed number of days).Before we know it, this month of mercy and forgiveness will be over. We should try and spend every moment possible in the worship of Allaah so that we can make the most of this blessing. However, there are some of us who waste away their day playing video games, watching TV, movies or even listening to music. Subhaan Allaah! Trying to obey Allaah by DISOBEYING him!

7 : Fasting but not giving up evil

Some of us fast but do not give up lying, cursing, fighting, backbiting, etc. and some of us fast but do not give up cheating, stealing, dealing in haraam, buying lotto tickets, selling alcohol, fornication, etc. and all kinds of impermissible things without realizing that the purpose of fasting is to not stay away from food and drink; rather the aim behind it is to fear Allaah.

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)” [al-Baqarah 2:183]

The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, and ignorance, Allaah has no need of him giving up his food and drink." (Bukhaari)

8 : Smoking

Smoking is forbidden in Islam whether during Ramadaan or outside of it, as it is one of al-Khabaaith (evil things). And this includes ALL kinds of smoking material eg.cigars, cigarettes, pipes, hookah etc.

9 : Skipping Suhoor

The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Eat suhoor, for in suhoor there is blessing."(Bukhaari, Muslim). "The thing that differentiates between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book is eating suhoor." (Muslim)

10 : Stopping Suhoor at Imsaak

Some people stop eating Suhoor 10-15 minutes earlier than the time of Fajr to observe Imsaak. This is a kind of bidah (innovation)."…and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night)" [al-Baqarah 2:187]. And the Prophet (pbuh) said: "….eat and drink until you hear the adhaan of Ibn Umm Maktoom, for he does not give the adhaan until dawn comes." This imsaak is a kind of extremism in religion, and the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Those who go to extremes are doomed, those who go to extremes are doomed, those who go to extremes are doomed." (Muslim)

11 : Not fasting if they missed Suhoor

Some people are too scared to fast if they miss Suhoor. However, this is a kind of cowardice and love of ease. What is the big deal if you missed a few morsels of food? Its not like you will die. Remember, obedience to Allaah overcomes everything.

12 : Saying the intention to fast out loud or saying a specific dua to start fasting The intention is an action of the heart. We should resolve in our heart that we are going to fast tomorrow. That is all we need. It is not prescribed by the Shariah for us to say out loud, "I intend to fast", "I will fast tomorrow" or other phrases that have been innovated by some people. Also, there is no specific dua to be recited at the time of starting the fast in the correct Sunnah. Whatever dua you may see on some papers or Ramadaan calendars, etc. is a Bidah.

13 : Delaying breaking fast

Some people wait until the adhaan finishes or even several minutes after that, just to be on the safe side. However, the Sunnah is to hasten to break the fast, which means breaking fast whenever the adhaan starts, right after the sun has set. Aaishah (RA) said: This is what the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) used to do. (Muslim). The Prophet (PBUH) said: "The people will continue to do well so long as they hasten to break the fast." (Bukhaari, Muslim). Determine to the best of your ability, the accuracy of your clock, calendar, etc. and then have tawakkul on Allaah and break your fast exactly on time.

14 : Eating continuously until the time for Maghrib is up

Some people put so much food in their plates when breaking their fast and continue eating, enjoying dessert, drinking tea, etc., until they miss Maghrib. The Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) was that once he broke his fast with some dates, then he would hasten to the prayer. Once you are done with the prayer, you can always go back and eat some more if you wish.

15 : Missing the golden chance of having your Dua accepted

The prayer of the fasting person is guaranteed to be accepted at the time of breaking fast. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Three prayers are not rejected: the prayer of a father, the prayer of a fasting person, and the prayer of a traveler." (al-Bayhaqi, saheeh by al-Albaani). Instead of sitting down and making Dua at this precious time, some people forego this beautiful chance, and are too busy frying samosas, talking, setting the food, filling their plates and glasses, etc. Think about it....Is food more important than the chance to have your sins forgiven or the fulfillment of your Duas.

16 : Fasting but not praying

The fasting of one who does not pray WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. This is because not praying constitutes kufr as the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Between a man and shirk and kufr there stands his giving up prayer." (Muslim). In fact, NONE of his good deeds will be accepted; rather, they are all annulled.

17 : Fasting and not wearing Hijaab

Not wearing the Hijaab is a sin as it is obligatory for Muslim women. (See Surah Nur, Surah Ahzaab). So fasting and not wearing hijaab certainly takes away enormously from the rewards of fasting, even if does not invalidate it.

[I want to note that this goes for guys too, not just ladies. You guys playing soccer or going to class out there in your short shorts and sagging pants... haraaaam! the area below your belly button, your butt, your thighs, and your knees are all for your ladies alone so have some respect and cover up!]

18 : Not fasting because of exams or work

Exams or work is NOT one of the excuses allowed by the Shariah to not fast. You can do your studying and revision at night if it is too hard to do that during the day. Also remember that pleasing and obeying Allaah is much more important than good grades. Besides, if you will fulfill your obligation to fast, even if you have to study, Allaah will make it easy for you and help you in everything you do.

"Whosoever fears Allah, He will appoint for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect, Allah is Sufficient for whosoever puts his trust in Him." (Surah at-Talaaq 2-3)

19 : Mixing fasting and dieting

DO NOT make the mistake of fasting with the intention to diet. That is one of the biggest mistakes some of us make (sp. sisters). Fasting is an act of worship and can only be for the sake of Allah alone. Mixing it with the intention of dieting may become a form of (minor) Shirk.

20 : Fighting over the number of Rakaah of Taraweeh

There is no specific number of rakahs for Taraweeh prayer, rather it is permissible to do a little or a lot. Both 8 and 20 are okay.

21 : Praying ONLY on the night of the 27th

Some people pray ONLY on the 27th to seek Lailat ul-Qadr, neglecting all other odd nights, although the Prophet (PBUH) said:"Seek Lailat ul-Qadr among the odd numbered nights of the last ten nights of Ramadaan." (Bukhaari, Muslim).

22 : Wasting the last part of Ramadaan preparing for Eid

Some people waste the entire last 10 days of Ramadaan preparing for Eid, shopping and frequenting malls, etc. neglecting Ibadah and Lailatul Qadr. although, the Prophet (PBUH) used to strive the hardest during the last ten days of Ramadaan in worship (Ahmad, Muslim) and not in shopping. Buy whatever you need for Eid before Ramadaan so that you can utilize the time in Ramadaan to the max.

Aaishah (RA) said: “When the (last) ten nights began, the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH)) would tighten his waist-wrapper (i.e., strive hard in worship or refrain from intimacy with his wives), stay awake at night and wake his family.” (Bukhaari and Muslim).

23 : Iftaar parties

Although inviting each other for breaking fast is something good and encouraged, some people go to extremes with lavish Iftaar parties with all sorts of disobedience to Allaah, from flirting, mixing of the sexes and hijaab-less women, to show-off and extravagance, to heedlessness to Salaah and Taraweeh, even to music and dancing.

Halaqah: Surat An-Nas #114

2011-07-19T13:25:00.001-05:00

Salam 3laikum!

This will be the beginning of a new series of posts inshaAllah. In our halaqah (small study circle) we started with the last sura and are moving backwards with recitation, translation, and tafsir.

Every week I prepare for the lesson by:

1. writing out the sura in Arabic

2. writing the translation of each word below the Arabic word

3. writing out the translation by phrase/ayah

4. taking notes on the important sections of the available tafsir

Since I am doing this anyway, I thought inshaAllah I will do my best to share here what we have learned :-)

So to begin inshaAllah:

Surat An-Nas

Word by Word Translation: http://corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp?chapter=114&verse=1

English:

1) Say "I seek refuge in the Lord of Mankind,

2) the King of Mankind,

3)the God of Mankind,

4)from the evil of the whisperer, the one who withddraws after whispering-

5)who whispers into the chests/hearts of mankind-

6)from among Jinn and mankind."

Tafsir Notes:

Lord, King and God of Mankind are three attributes that are completely unique to Allah and reserved for him alone.

Verse 4: Al-Waswaas is the whisperer. Every person is assigned a whisperer (devil, shaytan) who makes evil look beautiful, compelling, and enticing

It is reported that the devil sits on your heart/chest and whispers when you are heedless about what is expected of you and then withdraws when you remember Allah or when you obey him
Abu Dawud reported that one of the compantions of the Prophet Mohammad, salAllahu 3layhi wa sallam, told him that sometimes he would say things to himself in his mind that he would rather fall from the sky than to say aloud and the Prophet Mohammad, salAllahu 3layhi wa sallam, responded "Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Alhamdulillah aladhi rabba keidahu ila-al-waswasa" meaning Allah is most great! Allah is most great! All praise and thanks are due to Allah who sent his (shaytan's) plot back as only a whisper.

So we see that our whisperer is constantly working on us and it is a great achievement when we hear a whisper and overcome the urge to act on it subhanAllah.

Ya Rabb, Ya Malik, Ya Allah protect us from the whisperer and give us the strength to stay on the straight path ameeeeen.

Ramadhan

2011-07-18T14:30:00.002-05:00

salam 3laikum!

you guys it is seriously time for me to start getting ready for Ramadhan. This weekend one of my best friends got married mashaAllah May Allah bless her and her husband in this life and the next ameen. I have been so wicked busy lately and astaghfirullah Ramadhan prep has totally flown out the window this year.... :-/

so things I need to to ASAP inshaAllah, hopefully before Ramadhan starts!!

~ clean my kitchen

~ clean my room

~ set goals for Ramadhan reading and 3ibada

~ find some way to pay my bills and still have enough for food/sahoor (inshaAllah i will be able to get fatoor at the masjid)

~ find some other way to get $ for gifts I am planning for my girls

~ clean out my closets and under my bed, looking especially for donations since I don't have $ for sadaqa

~ steadily increase my 3ibada in order to avoid burnout in Ramadhan

~ wash ALLLLL of my clothes. Every piece. if i can swing it, i only want to do laundry once during ramadhan inshaAllah

Ya Allah help us and make it easy for us to enter Ramadhan ready to worship you to the best of our ability. Ya Rabb forgive us and have mercy on us ameen.

Stylish Blogger Award

2011-07-09T01:08:00.006-05:00

Salam 3laikum!

Way back when I got an award from a very Stylish Blogger named Jnana from Spill Beans! So thank you very much sister!

And the Rules are:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave me the award
2. Share seven things about myself
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers to tell them of their award

So Seven things:

~ I wear a necklace every day that my aunt gave to me. I even wear it in the shower lol.

~ I hate soggy cereal. I put only enough milk in the bowl to make the cereal ever-so-slightly wet on the outside but still retain the awesome crunch.

~ I have been Muslim now for over 2 years subhanAllah alhamdulillah and I started this blog when I was still Christian.

~ I credit facebook with killing my appetite for blogs. I am thinking of shutting down my facebook again temporarily after Ramadhan (since I don't want to miss out on the iRamadan facebook group :-P)

~ I am a huge fan of football (aka soccer), especially Barcelona. I usually watch games in Spanish or Arabic even though I'm not fluent because it is more exciting lol.

~ Alhamdulillah I finally have finished my Bachelor's degree in Physics!!! (And i always wondered why girls don't get Bachelorette's degrees...)

~ I find it infinitely easier to say what I mean when I am writing than when I am talking. If I try to explain my thoughts to someone in person, I will often have to explain several times before my true intention and thought is expressed.

I Tag:

I haven't read blogs in so long that this will be really hard for me... I will tag as many as I can inshaAllah

Umm Squeakster: The lady with the cutest cat mashaAllah :-)

Umm An-Nu'man: Seriously striving to educate Muslim children mashaAllah

Tuttie: A truly inspiring lady who loves turtles almost as much as me mashaAllah :-

Noor: Combining my two culinary loves: southern/comfort and middle-eastern/Saudi and doing it smashingly well mashaAllah

Banana Anne: Telling it like it is and striving in the way of Allah mashaAllah

Little Auntie: Giving great examples of gentle naseeha mashaAllah

Rene: An insightful and wonderful sister with a beautiful little girl who is an absolute pleasure to be friends with mashaAllah

Okay I know I didn't make it to 15, but that took me 30 minutes lol

I'm alive Alhamdulillah

2011-07-09T00:29:00.003-05:00

Salam 3laikum!

I'm still alive alhamdulillah. For a long time I couldn't think of anything to write... so I didn't write anything.

I still can't really think of anything to write, but I know how frustrating it is to find a blog, read a few posts then wait forever for another post that never comes and I definitely don't want to be that kind of blogger.

So thanks you all for your patience with me and I am going to try to do better inshaAllah!!

What do you guys want to hear about?

~Non-Muslim Family interactions

~Something funny

~Something serious

~Something about Islam

~Something about football/soccer :-P

~Other

Ready to Go

2011-03-07T00:01:00.004-06:00

Salam

Bismillah

So I haven't been here in forever, please forgive me.

Today I want to talk about leaving.

I am soooooo ready to leave this country. I seriously just want to pack a bag and go somewhere else.

There is a mythical place in my head where wearing 'abaya isn't unusual, being Muslim isn't anathema and being born in America isn't a stigma.

demagogue

\ DEM-uh-gog \ , noun;

A leader who obtains power by means of impassioned

appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the

populace.

I see my home country being over run by demagogues. I see it creeping slowly into my family. I see the distrustful looks that my aunts and uncles and cousins give me.

I find comfort in the women around me who know what it feels like, and I thank Allah for them because they keep me sane. I'm not sure if they really know just how much.

I am saddened by the thought that the people who accept me and make me feel at home are usually not my family members. That my family members who have known me since birth have suddenly found inside me their enemy.

I am ready to go.

And yet I realize that no matter where I go, I will always be different. In my hometown I will always be Muslim, always be that covered woman. If I go somewhere else I will always be that convert, always be that American woman.

I realize that no matter what, I will always face some prejudice in this life.

i AM different, alhamdulillah

i AM muslim, alhamdulillah

i AM white, alhamdulillah

i AM covered, alhamdulillah

i AM american, alhamdulillah

These are things I cannot change, things I will not change inshaAllah.

Even if I get a new home and new citizenship, I will always be "that American sister." And maybe that's okay.

And so I put it in Allah subhana wa ta'ala's hands. He is the Most Generous, He is the Most Merciful, He is the Best of Providers.

I ask Allah to help us all with our issues of disenfranchisement. To make us content with the provision he has given us and to help us find peace in this life and the next, ameeeeeen.

wa alhamdulillah 3la kul 7al

Homosexuality

2010-12-06T11:43:00.003-06:00

Salam!

Bismillah

So a sister posted an article about homosexuality in Islam HERE. She asked us to tell her what we thought about it.

I started to compile my thoughts and it started to get pretty loonnnggg lol. So I thought I would write a post here and share the link inshaAllah.

So, in my opinion this issue breaks down into two separate ideas:
I. How I would treat gay people as a believing Muslim
II. What Islam and the Qur'an actually say about homosexuality

I. How would I treat gay people
Simply: with tolerance. Would I condemn someone who is struggling not to sin, maybe winning sometimes and losing others? Absolutely not. I have been and am in the position where I struggle daily with a certain sin(s). Would I condemn a brother who drinks but is trying desperately to stop for the sake of Allah? No. This is jihad and is something commendable!
Allah gives tests to EVERYONE. Whether you see them as good or bad, easy or hard: It makes no difference. Allah knows better than we do. He clearly told us what to do in the Qur'an subhanAllah.

However, if I see someone who tries to warp the teachings of the Qur'an to suit their viewpoint, I will not support this. It is wrong to say that something that is haraam is halal in any way, even makruh (disliked). If it is forbidden, then it is forbidden. It is our job as brothers and sisters in Islam to give gentle naseeha (advice) to help correct this, but we should not do it in a way to make others turn from Islam.

So to me, I see two categories of gay people:
a. those who realize that these actions are a sin and struggle in the way of Allah to control these actions
b. those who try to say that being homosexual is not a sin, just another way to love. This is shaytan wispering you guys. He's waswas-ing all over the place! The Qur'an is clear on this, there is no ambiguity! (as I will show in the next part) To say it is not that bad when Allah says it is crossing the line is WRONG!

II. What the Qur'an says about homosexuality:
I believe that if we are going to talk about Islam and homosexuality we should throw out some daleel (evidence). Saying things like "I don't think Allah would do this" or "I don't think it is fair for Allah to do this" is not daleel. Allah and HIS WISDOM is above what we "feel" or "think" because we do not have the knowledge. HE does, subhanAllah Alhamdulillah.

26:165-166, 168-169
"Must you, unlike other people, lust after males and abandon the wives that God has created for you? You are exceeding all bounds... So he (Lot) said, 'I loathe what you do: Lord, save me and my family from what they are doing."

In this passage, lust for men and abandoning women as mates are the only charges brought against Lot's people, and these alone are enough to cross Allah's line. Allah created man and woman for each other and He knows best why.

11:78
"His (Lot's) people came rushing towards him, the used to commit foul deeds. He said, 'My people, here are my daughters. They are more wholesome for you, so have some fear of God and do not disgrace me with my guests. Is there not a single right-minded man among you?'

When the men of the town came to take the messengers, Lot offered them his daughters (or the daughters of his people). IF rape was the main objectionable crime (as some claim), he would not offer his daughters to such a fate! Would your father offer you up to be raped? Then how can you claim that Lot, a prophet of Allah 3layhi salam, would do that?!? Rather, he was asking the men of his town to turn away from other MEN and instead have conjugal relations with the WOMEN of the tribe, which is more wholesome.

Again, for those that claim that RAPE was the issue with Lot's people and not homosexuality, note that there was not ONE SINGLE right minded man in the town. This was not an issue of rape, but rather an issue of ALL of the men lusting after each other. As they say, "you can't rape the willing."

27:55
"How can you lust after men instead of women? What fools you are!"

Here the objection is not over "lust" vs "love" as some claim, but lusting for MEN vs. lusting for WOMEN. This is a contrast between what is crossing the line and what is acceptable.

4:16-18
"If two men commit a lewd act, punish them both; but if they repent and mend their ways, leave them alone-God is always ready to accept repentance, He is full of mercy. But God only undertakes to accept the repentance from those who do evil out of ignorance and soon afterwards repent: these are the ones God will forgive, He is all knowing, all wise. It is not true repentance when people continue to do evil until death confronts them and then says, 'Now I repent'..."

I don't think it is coincidence that these verses appear together, and this is the verse that gave me the idea of the two kinds of homosexuals. One is the repentant person who realizes it is wrong and struggles to control themselves. The other is the repeat offender who is not actually repentant.

Allah says punish those that don't repent and repentance means
a. realizing that what you did is wrong
b. asking Allah for sincere forgiveness
c. not repeating the action

Those that try to say that homosexuality is not really "that" haraam are not fulfilling the requirements of repentance.
If you are living in sin and indulging in the same sin repeatedly, then you are, as defined by the Qur'an, not truly repentant.

Now that said: am I the judge of these people? Nope. This is just my personal view on the Qur'an from my own personal study. I am not a scholar and this is not a reproduction of someone else's research, and Allah knows better. However, I do not believe there is any ambiguity. Allah forgives and punishes where he will, so "wait if you wish, I too am waiting (52:31)" and Allah will be the best of judges.

Awesome Website

2010-12-05T16:09:00.002-06:00

Salam sisters,

bismillah

I found a great website mashaAllah. Check it out!

www.productivemuslim.com

How to Hijab: Wrap Up

2010-11-22T01:09:00.001-06:00

Salam!

Bismillah

So ladies, this is the end of How to Hijab. For now anyway. Maybe inshaAllah one day I will add an appendix about How to Niqab :-P

I've shown you how I made it to where I am. Also, I would like to talk about the timeline involved with this.

I started learning about Islam about 8 or 9 months before I converted. I almost immediately started with step one at that point and I got to step 6 by the time I converted. So it took me about 8 months to wear hijab full time. It took me another month or so after I converted to get to step 7.

I know this isn't an on and off switch kind of thing. And I'm not saying you need to follow my timeline either.

Find the pace that works for you. Set goals for yourself if you need to. For example: InshaAllah This week I will do step 1, next week I will start step 2, next month I will start step 3... etc.

Make sure that your end goal is to wear complete and proper hijab inshaAllah. Focus on that and know that any step from here until then is a stepping stone on the road to modesty. The journey isn't over until you make it to the end.

And through it all, make LOTS AND LOTS of du'a. Allah wants you to do what he commanded, and He is on your side subhanAllah. Sincerity is the key :-) Be sincere in your efforts and be honest with yourself about your intentions.

Please sisters, let me know if you need someone to talk to about this or anything else. Feel free to email me at findingguidance (at) hotmail (dot) com or add me on facebook under the same email.

Allah make it easy for you, ameeeeeeen!!!!!

much love.

How to Hijab: Step 7/7

2010-11-21T01:01:00.001-06:00

Salam

Bismillah!

So we've made it to step 7. This step is the step where I went from skirts and maxi dresses to abaya.

Step 8 by chastain featuring a maxi dress

This was a personal choice for me, but one that I definitely advocate.

One piece outerwear is really convenient and cuts down on layers (which keeps you a lot cooler once it starts warming up).

Also it is MUCH MUCH easier to find modest cuts when you are looking at abayas/jilbabs.

However, if you want to still buy clothes from a regular store, you can occasionally find long sleeve maxi dresses. Just buy them up a few sizes so that they are loose enough to conceal your stuff.

Another benefit is the ease of getting dressed every morning. You spend less time on vanity (making your outfit look nice so other people will notice/comment on your cuteness). I'm not saying that you should look frumpy or anything. You should still wear nice clean clothes in good repair that match. However, you shouldn't be spending an hour or two every morning picking shoes then matching your shoes to your top and your jacket and your skirt and your hijab and your hijab pins and and and...

This is a waste of your time, and ultimately a means of vanity; a way of getting attention. It is counter productive if we cover up our adornment with MORE ADORNMENT!

How to Hijab: Step 6/7

2010-11-20T00:57:00.001-06:00

Salam!

Bismillah

Step 6 is getting that hair covered! I know most people think this is the most important step of hijab, but really all of the other stuff is much more important! Imagine throwing a scarf on your head while still wearing a t-shirt and jeans... makes no sense right? The loose clothes are much more important.

Step 7 by chastain featuring a rachel pally dress

NOW WE FINALLY HAVE HIJAB!! We are wearing loose and concealing clothes, our hair/chests are covered, and you can't tell our body shape.

When donning your scarf, look for options that COVER YOUR CHEST!!

I know you will be temped to try out that new Turkish style, but girl that doesn't fulfill Qur'anic requirements!

And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their zeenah (charms, or beauty and ornaments) except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their khimar (veils) over their bosoms and not display their zeenah except to their husbands, their fathers .... and that they should not strike their feet so as to draw attention to their hidden zeenah (ornaments). (24:31-32)

Did you read that? Clear as day it says COVER UP THOSE BOSOMS with your veils!

So do it.

How to Hijab: Step 5/7

2010-11-19T00:45:00.001-06:00

Salam!

Bismillah

Step 5 is making sure that you are wearing two layers.

Step 6 by chastain featuring a tank dress

Why you ask? Let me tell you...

O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should draw over themselves their jilbab (outer garments) (when in public); this will be more conducive to their being recognized (as decent women) and not harassed. But God is indeed oft-forgiving, most merciful. (33:59)

And know that women advanced in years, who no longer feel any sexual desire incur no sin if they discard their thiyab (outer garments), provided they do not aim at a showy display of their zeenah (charms or beauty). But it is better for them to abstain (from this); and God is all-hearing, all-knowing. (24:60)

We should draw our Jilbab (outer garments) around us. This means there should be something INSIDE our outside clothes.

If a woman is allowed to take off her thiyab (outer garments) when she is advanced in years, is she now allowed to walk around naked or in her underwear? No. Now she is allowed to wear the clothes she had on inside. This means that the clothes she wears inside her outer garments should also be modest enough to not display your charms or beauty, but still somewhat different than the recognized outer garment.

My rule of thumb: my inside clothes should be modest enough that I could take off my jilbab (outside layer) and still be able to be around other women. This means no inordinate amount of chest showing (because thats icky) and you should be covered from your belly button down to below your knees (this is awrah for women around other women, just like it is awrah for men).

How to Hijab: Step 4/7

2010-11-18T00:41:00.001-06:00

Salam!

Bismillah

Step 4 is switching out jeans and slim pants for skirts and maxi dresses. I know some people consider pants to be proper hijab, but I don't/they aren't. I will be explaining why in the next post so stay tuned.

Step 5 by chastain featuring a denim jacket

Now we're getting pretty modest right! Now, apart from our hair/neck no part of our body shape is apparent or on display, alhamdulillah. We are getting there!

How to Hijab: Step 3/7

2010-11-17T00:37:00.002-06:00

Salam

Bismillah

Step 3 is adding a scarf around your neck. It keeps you cozy if it's cold and more importantly it keeps your chest covered! THIS IS STILL NOT HIAJB, but inshaAllah a step in the right direction.

Step 4 by chastain featuring plaid scarves

Alhamdulillah this is in fashion now so no complaining!

If you're already carrying/wearing a scarf every day, it won't feel weird to eventually pop it up over your head. Plus you get the added modesty of covering up the "twins" as Stacy and Clinton say. :-)

How to Hijab: Some Clarification

2010-11-16T11:42:00.003-06:00

Salam!

Bismillah

Because there has been a little confusion I decided to clarify a bit for you all.

The posts I have done so far represent positive change toward a more modest wardrobe. They DO NOT fulfill the Islamic requirements of hijab. I will cover this in more detail in later posts.

I will not be showing an outfit that is proper hijab until about post 6 or 7.

These early posts are about making positive changes instead of being stagnant and *wishing* you could wear hijab. It is about being proactive.

It is also a chronicle of what worked for me. This is how I actually went through the process but something different may work better for you.

In any event, slapping a scarf on Step 2 is not proper hijab, and I don't want to represent it as such.

I think inshaAllah I will go back on put disclaimers on the other posts as well.

much love.

How to Hijab: Step 2/7

2010-11-16T00:32:00.002-06:00

Salam!

Bismillah

Step Two: Loosen and Lengthen!

THIS IS NOT HIJAB YET, JUST MORE MODEST CLOTHES THAN BEFORE

Switch out short t-shirts for long ones, tunics, or dresses that cover your tush and thighs.

Step 3 by chastain featuring a long sleeve t shirt

A good self-check for this one: If you bend over to pick something up from the floor, can someone behind you see your rear? They shouldn't be able to...

Nobody wants to see that girl...

Cheap places to find this stuff? Thrift stores. You can find tunic things there and also XXL t-shirts. If you are kind of short you can take an XXL t-shirt and sew in the sides to make a cool and cheap tunic inshaAllah.

How to Hijab: Step 1/7

2010-11-15T00:27:00.003-06:00

Salam!

Bismillah

For step one toward hijabness... (THIS IS NOT HIJAB, JUST A STEP IN A MORE MODEST DIRECTION INSHAALLAH)

ADD SLEEVES

Step 2 by chastain featuring a short sleeve tee

The first thing to do is to get yourself use to wearing something that covers all of your body. It is an adjustment for the way your body cools and heats itself so it is good to get this step going while it is still cool/cold outside! This way you don't feel overheated when you first start covering all parts of yourself.

Also at this point, you can start wearing looser t-shirts and cardigans (instead of just sleeves under a t-shirt).

Best place for cheap, loose t-shirts? Brother/Uncle/Dad's closet! I'm telling you, your dad probably has some really sweet t-shirts from the 70s/80s. Go look for 'em!

How to Hijab: Introduction

2010-11-14T00:16:00.003-06:00

Salam!

Bismillah

So I decided to go ahead and do it since I had some time to put it together.

This is a pictorial guide to how I transitioned from jeans and t-shirts to full on hijab/jilbab/abaya wearing awesomeness :-P

Alhamdulillah it was quite the process and I will walk you through it inshaAllah!

Step 1 by chastain featuring dark wash jeans

THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY NOT ANY KIND OF HIJAB.

This is where I started. Jeans, t-shirts, hoodies with pushed up sleeves. Typical college wardrobe, really.

This is how I still dress in private. I still have my massive t-shirt collection, lol. I don't wear jeans as much as I use to, but they are still a staple in my wardrobe.

When I'm with the ladies, I try be a little bit more put together now. Like maybe I will wear a real blouse and a cardigan or something. Since I'm 23 now and everything... lol. I also usually wont wear tight or revealing clothes around other women.

How To Hijab

2010-11-13T22:25:00.002-06:00

Salam sisters,

Bismillah

I was thinking of doing a series of posts about how I went from tshirts and jeans to abaya.

I know most people can't switch cold turkey, and I certainly didn't either, so inshaAllah a how to will be helpful.

Plus it's fall (for us in the Northern Hemisphere) which is the PERFECT time to start covering.

let me know what you think inshaAllah!

much love.

Note to Self

2010-11-09T17:08:00.002-06:00

Don't forget:

"I'm not ready for that" = "I don't trust Allah enough to do that"

Love, another one by Me

2010-10-29T22:27:00.000-05:00

Love:

Love is a test from Allah, like every thing in this life.

Bliss for some.

Misery for others.

But always an opportunity to do the right thing.

Allah grant you all fulfilling and halal love ameen

My Hijab Says, by Me

2010-10-28T13:20:00.000-05:00

My Hiab Says:

Dear Allah,

I heard you.

I believe you.

I trust you.

Out of love and wisdom you gave me free will and out of love and awe I give it back to you.

Dear Future Husband,

I kept myself for you: you can trust me with your heart and your home and your family.

I know where my priorities are, and you were one of them before I even met you.

Dear Sisters in Humanity,

I respect you as a fellow creation of our Mighty God. I respect your feelings and the stability of your home.

I will not be the cause of your unhappiness, I will not be the downfall of the men you love, I will not betray you.

Dear Brothers in Humanity,

Peace and the Guidance of Allah be on you but, BACK OFF!!!

Dear Self,

We came a long way, but alhamdulillah the steps were worth it. We have respect for ourselves and for others. We think about the consequences of our actions. We are conscious of ourselves and our place in the larger universe.

Alhamdulillah

Allah forgive us all for our shortcomings, give us guidance and protect us from the fire ameeen.

99 Names Part X

2010-09-20T08:53:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I realized I never finished posting up the 99 names astaghfirullah so here we go with the last 9!

الضار
Ad-Dārr
The Distressor, The Harmer, The Afflictor

النافع
An-Nāfi
The Propitious, The Benefactor, The Source of Good

النور
An-Nūr
The Light

الهادي
Al-Hādi
The Guide, The Way

البديع
Al-Badī
The Incomparable, The Unattainable

الباقي
Al-Bāqi
The Immutable, The Infinite, The Everlasting

الوارث
Al-Wārith
The Heir, The Inheritor of All

الرشيد
Ar-Rashīd
The Guide to the Right Path

الصبور
As-Sabur
The Timeless, The Patient

So Behind

2010-08-29T22:44:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

So an update: I got a job alhamdulillah but now I'm super duper busy. I'm currently doing the job of about 4 people (as in the University could have legitimately hired 4 different people to do the stuff I do there, but decided not to).

I'm only getting a couple of hours of sleep a night, but I'm hoping that things will even out once we get into the swing of school again.

Anyway, InshaAllah I will be resuming posts again once things cool off a bit.

As for my goals, as you can probably tell I am horribly behind astaghfirullah, but I'm hoping to put in a lot of real effort for the last 10 days/nights inshaAllah.

Keep me in your du'as!

much love.

99 Names Part IX

2010-08-19T23:40:00.001-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

81	المنتقم	Al-Muntaqim	The Avenger
82	العفو	Al-Afuww	The Pardoner, The Effacer
83	الرؤوف	Ar-Ra'ūf	The Kind, The Pitying
84	مالك الملك	Mālik-ul-Mulk	The Owner of all Sovereignty
85	ذو الجلال والإكرام	Dhū-l-Jalāli wa-l-'ikrām	The Lord of Majesty and Generosity
86	المقسط	Al-Muqsiţ	The Equitable, The Requiter
87	الجامع	Al-Jāmi	The Gatherer, The Unifier
88	الغني	Al-Ghaniyy	The Rich, The Independent
89	المغني	Al-Mughni	The Enricher, The Emancipator
90	المانع	Al-Māni'	The Withholder, The Shielder, the Defender

99 Names Part VIII

2010-08-19T00:29:00.001-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

70	المقتدر	Al-Muqtadir	The Determiner, The Dominant
71	المقدم	Al-Muqaddim	The Expediter, He Who Brings Forward
72	المؤخر	Al-Mu'akhkhir	The Delayer, He Who Puts Far Away
73	الأول	Al-'Awwal	The First (Alpha)
74	الأخر	Al-'Akhir	The Last (Omega)
75	الظاهر	Adh-Dhāhir	The Manifest, The Evident, The Outer
76	الباطن	Al-Bātin	The Hidden, The Unmanifest, The Inner
77	الوالي	Al-Wāli	The Patron
78	المتعالي	Al-Mutā'ali	The Exalted
79	البر	Al-Barr	The Good
80	التواب	At-Tawwāb	The Ever Returning, Ever Relenting

Week 2

2010-08-18T03:21:00.005-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

So summary of week one achievements: Alhamdulillah I made it through pretty much all of my weekly goals except for keeping my 1 new sunnah which was miswak. I never really got the hang of using it... but inshaAllah I will keep trying through Ramadhan! Also I jumped ahead a little by learning Al-Kafirun in English and in Arabic in the same week instead of splitting it.

Here is installment #2!!!

1. Du'a (بالعربية and English): Ayat Al-Kursi

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Allah! There is no deity except He, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter . And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.

[This Verse 2:255 is called Ayat-ul-Kursî.]

Picture Credit

2. Hadith (بالعربية):

عن ابي رقية تميم بن أوس الداري راضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال:

"الدين النصيحة. قلنا: لمن؟ قال: لله ولكتاب ولرسوله ولائمة المسلمين وعامتهم". رواه مسلم.

3. Sunnnah: to sit with right knee up when on the floor, especially when eating.

4. Surah (in English): Al-Falaq

1 Say, `I seek refuge in the Lord of the day break,
2 `From the evil of that which He has created,
3 `And from the evil (that usually prevails in the times) of darkness when it overspreads (at night),
4 `And from the evil of those who blow on knots,
5 `And from the evil of the envier when he envies.'

99 Names Part VI and VII and NEWS

2010-08-17T23:40:00.004-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I'm so sorry that I missed yesterday's post! I was totally distracted :-P

Yesterday alhamdulillah! after searching all summer I finally, by the grace of Allah, got a job on campus in an office/ teaching.

ALSO! A few hours later I found out that my sister in law is PREGNANT! mashaAllah!!!! please please say mashaAllah you guys. This inshaAllah will be my brother's first child and my sister in law's second. May Allah guide them ameen.

So on to the post!

51. الحق Al-Haqq: The Truth, The Real

52. الوكيل Al-Wakīl: The Trustee, The Dependable

53. القوى Al-Qawwiyy: The Strong

54. المتين Al-Matīn: The Firm, The Steadfast

55. الولى Al-Waliyy: The Friend, Patron and Helper

56. الحميد Al-Hamīd: The All Praiseworthy

57. المحصى Al-Muhsi: The Accounter, The Numberer of All

58. المبدئ Al-Mubdi': The Originator, The Producer, The Initiator

59. المعيد Al-Mu'īd: The Restorer, The Reinstater Who Brings Back All

60. المحيى Al-Muhyi: The Giver of Life

61. المميت Al-Mumīt: The Destroyer, The Bringer of Death

62. الحي Al-Hayy: The Living

63. القيوم Al-Qayyūm: The Subsisting

64. الواجد Al-Wājid: The Perceiver, The Finder, The Unfailing

65. الماجد Al-Mājid: The Illustrious, The Magnificent

66. الواحد Al-Wāhid: The One, The Unique

67. الاحد Al-'Ahad: The Unity, The Indivisible

68. الصمد As-Samad: The Eternal, The Absolute, The Self-Sufficient

69. القادر Al-Qādir: The Omnipotent, The All Able

70. المقتدر Al-Muqtadir: The Determiner, The Dominant

99 Names Part V

2010-08-15T17:49:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

41. الجليل Al-Jalīl: The Majestic

42. الكريم Al-Karīm: The Bountiful, The Generous

43. الرقيب Ar-Raqīb: The Watchful

44. المجيب Al-Mujīb: The Responsive, The Answer

45. الواسع Al-Wāsi': The Vast, The All-Embracing, The Omnipresent, The Boundless

46. الحكيم Al-Hakīm: The Wise

47. الودود Al-Wadūd: The Loving

48. المجيد Al-Majīd: The Glorious

49. الباعث Al-Bā'ith: The Resurrecter

50. الشهيد Ash-Shahīd: The Witness

99 Names Part IV

2010-08-15T00:13:00.003-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

Today I didn't wake up for sahoor... subhanAllah it was like a totally different kind of fasting today than every other time I fasted before!!!

Don't forget sahoor you guys!

31. الخبير Al-Khabīr: The All Aware

32. الحليم Al-Halīm: The Forbearing, The Indulgent

33. العظيم Al-'Azīm: The Magnificent

34. الغفور Al-Ghafūr: The All Forgiving

35. الشكور Ash-Shakūr: The Grateful

36. العلي Al-'Aliyy: The Sublime

37. الكبير Al-Kabīr: The Great

38. الحفيظ Al-Hafīz: The Preserver

39. المقيت Al-Muqīt: The Nourisher

40. الحسيب Al-Hasīb: The Bringer of Judgment

99 Names Part III

2010-08-13T18:32:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

"The Most Excellent Names belong to Allah: use them to call on Him, and keep away from those who abuse them..."

Al-Qur'an, Al-A3raaf 7:180

21. الباسط Al-Bāsit: The Extender / Expander

22. الخافض Al-Khāfid: The Abaser

23. الرافع Ar-Rāfi': The Exalter

24. المعز Al-Mu'izz: The Giver of Honour

25. المذل Al-Mu'dhell: The Giver of Dishonour

26. السميع As-Samī': The All Hearing

27. البصير Al-Basīr: The All Seeing

28. الحكم Al-Hakam: The Judge, The Arbitrator

29. العدل Al-`Adl: The Utterly Just

30. اللطيف Al-Latīf: The Gentle, The Subtly Kind

99 Names Part II

2010-08-12T17:40:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

So I think I will move the schedule up for the 99 names. Instead of 5, inshaAllah I will do 10 so that we have more time toward the end of the month for other topics :-)

So today I will catch up and do 15 :-D

6. المؤمن Al-Mu'min: The Guarantor, The Affirming

7. المهيمن Al-Muhaymin: The Guardian, The Protector

8. العزيز Al-Aziz: The Almighty, The Sufficient, The Honorable

9. الجبار Al-Jabbar: The Irresistible, The Compeller, The Lofty

10. المتكبر Al-Mutakabbir: The Highest, The Greatest

11. الخالق Al-Khāliq: The Creator

12. البارئ Al-Bāri': The Rightful

13. المصور Al-Musawwir: The Evolver, The Fashioner of Forms

14. الغفار Al-Ghaffār: The Forgiving

15. القهار Al-Qahhār: The Subduer

16. الوهاب Al-Wahhāb: The Bestower

17. الرزاق Ar-Razzāq: The Provider

18. الفتاح Al-Fattāh: The Opener, The Victory Giver

19. العليم Al-'Alīm: The All Knowing, The Omniscient

20. القابض Al-Qābid: The Restrainer, The Straightener

Try to incorporate these beautiful names into your du'as!!

99 Names Part I

2010-08-11T17:45:00.000-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I was planning to start one of my goals for Ramadhan of posting something useful each day to the blog. I will start inshaAllah with the 99 names of Allah, five each day. That will leave the last ten days for other posts inshaAllah.

"Say, 'Call on Allah, or on Ar-Rahman- whatever names you call Him, the best names belong to Him..." Al-Qur'an 17:110

1. الرحمن Ar-Rahman: The Most Compassionate

2. الرحيم Ar-Raheem: The Merciful

3. الملك Al-Malik: The King

4. القدوس Al-Quddoos: The Most Holy

5. السلام As-Salaam: The Most Peaceful, The Source of Peace and Safety

Week 1

2010-08-11T13:12:00.006-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

Each week (hopefully each Wednesday) during Ramadhan I am planning inshaAllah to update you on my du'a surah, sunnah, and hadith of the week.

This is the first installment!

1. Du'a (بالعربية and English): When leaving the home

"In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah and there is no might or power except with Allah."

from makedua.com

2. Hadith (in English):

"On the authority of Abu Ruqayya Tamim ibn Aus Ad-Dari (radhiAllahu 'anhum), that the Prophet (salAllahu 'alayhi wa salam) said:

Religion is sincerity. We said: To whom? He said: To Allah and His Book, and His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk."

Related by Muslim

3. Sunnah:

Miswak!! :-)

4. Surah (بالعربية): Al-Kafirun, 109

قُلۡ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرُونَ
Say (O Prophet): O ye who reject faith! (1)
لَآ أَعۡبُدُ مَا تَعۡبُدُونَ
I worship not that which ye worship; (2)
وَلَآ أَنتُمۡ عَـٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعۡبُدُ
Nor worship ye that which I worship. (3)
وَلَآ أَنَا۟ عَابِدٌ۬ مَّا عَبَدتُّمۡ
And I shall not worship that which ye worship. (4)
وَلَآ أَنتُمۡ عَـٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعۡبُدُ
Nor will ye worship that which I worship. (5)
لَكُمۡ دِينُكُمۡ وَلِىَ دِينِ
Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion. (6)
(from wikipedia)

Ramadhan!!

2010-08-11T00:04:00.003-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

RAMADHAN

MUBARAK!!!!!

We start fasting tomorrow, so tonight was our first tarawih prayer :-D

Allah make this Ramadhan blessed and accepted for you all!!!

Facebook

2010-08-07T00:18:00.003-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I finally cracked to the pressure and started up a facebook account for this blog! I really really wanted to join in the iRamadan group :-)

Anyway, now that it is open if you guys want to add me my name is Finding Guidance and my e-mail is findingguidance (at) hotmail (dot) com

Please just add that personal note thing to the invite letting me know who you are, like your user name here or your blog address/name so I can recognize you.

I wont add people that I don't recognize from somewhere (like iRamadan or the blog), nor will I be adding any brothers.

hope to see you there inshaAllah!

Ramadhan Objectives 2010

2010-08-03T16:27:00.003-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

This is my list of objectives for my second Ramadhan inshaAllah! I am planning to post later which du'a, surah, and sunnah I am working on at the time.

Let me know what you think and your goals as well :-D

1. Pray all 5 prayers promptly with sunnah: Alahmdulillah I am close to this as I have been working year round on it. I need to start adding the Dhuhr sunnah.

2. Eat sahoor every morning: This means waking up! I'm trying to find foods I can pre-assemble and freeze, then cook quickly.

3. Pray tarawih each night, at the masjid if possible: This means carefully arranging school and work schedules.

4. Memorize 2 new surahs: My plan is to memorize in English and Arabic two of the relatively shorter surahs. That gives me 4 weeks total if I switch surah or language each week.

5. Memorize 2 new hadith: Same as surah plan.

6. Finish Qur'an in English each week (4 times total): Alhamdulillah I read English quickly, so I want to take advantage of that. I may not be able to read Arabic that quickly, but I want to make sure I am reading something with understanding.

7. Read at least 2 pages of Qur'an بالعربية each day: Reading in Arabic can become physically tiring for me, so I am setting my goal relatively small, but hoping to read much more than this inshaAllah!

8. Avoid TV, movies, gossip, idle talk: This means keeping in mind the spirit of Ramadhan at all times. Ramadhan is not for socializing, watching nifty new tv series or catching the Barca game.

9. Post something useful/religious to the blog each day: This will encourage me to learn more and also to share it with you all inshaAllah :-D

10. Incorporate a new sunnah each week (4 new sunan total): I feel like I am not very knowledgeable about a lot of sunnahs that would be very beneficial for me.

11. Keep a daily checklist and journal of spiritual progress: This inshaAllah will help keep me motivated. It will be sort of a mash between checklist and heart wheel journal with a lot of contemplation on the state of my iman. InshaAllah I will give you guys a better idea of what this will look like later.

12. Work on making the intention before taking action: This is something I lack right now. I try to do the right thing always, but rarely take the time to form an actual intention in my heart and mind if that makes sense. I feel like I am missing on the blessing because I do not make the intention. For example when I get dressed and throw on my abaya and scarf. I do it because it is right to dress this way and it is automatic now, but I don't usually remember to make the intention to use this as an opportunity for worship through obeying Allah subhana wa ta'ala.

13. Help provide food for sahoor/iftar for someone/group once per week: We have iftar each day at the masjid and I am planning to try to take sahoor frequently with some of my friends inshaAllah.

14. Memorize one du'a per week (4 total): I want to be more knowledgeable about the du'a from Qur'an and Sunnah especially.

Last Ramadhan

2010-08-03T16:25:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

These are some of my posts from last Ramadhan that I thought might be helpful to post up again inshaAllah.

If you have questions, my e-mail is findingguidance (at) hotmail (dot) com

http://finding-guidance.blogspot.com/2009/10/ramadhan-objectives-revisited.html

http://finding-guidance.blogspot.com/2009/08/sunnah-prayers-ii.html

http://finding-guidance.blogspot.com/2009/08/heart-wheel-journal.html

http://finding-guidance.blogspot.com/2009/08/ramadhan-objectives.html

Las Tapadas Limenas

2010-08-03T15:40:00.003-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I saw an article about tapadas limenas and I was so excited! Tapadas Limenas (there should be a tilde over the n but I don't know how to do that on my keyboard) literally translates to "Covered Women from Lima." Lima is in Peru :-)

Photo Credit

Look, one eye! They follow the sunnah!

So these ladies in Peru covered everything but one eye using a shawl. Why did they do this? For freedom and protection :-D

From the article:

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=117479#axzz0vZsmfpuZ

The attire [of clothing] “was clearly intended to serve as a cover, to protect women’s virtue and ward off temptation,” explained Alicia del Aguila, a sociologist who has studied and written about the subject.

Over time, the bourgeoisie and the middle class appropriated the saya and the manto, which became a way for women to hide from unwanted male attention, cover their faces and also conceal their social rank and skin color.

The modest clothes provided “more freedom to those who wore them than ordinary women,” argued del Aguila.

Such an approach is a far cry from the controversy stirred by the veil throughout Europe, where it is seen as a sign of the perceived Muslim oppression of women.

The lower house of Parliament in France, where rundown city suburbs are home to Europe’s biggest Muslim minority, has voted overwhelming to ban full Islamic veils in public spaces, and similar laws are pending in Belgium, Spain and some Italian municipalities.

But in Lima, the tapada loosened the stranglehold on women, giving women a level of greater freedom while protecting their honor.

...

There is no place on Earth were women have more freedom than in Lima,” Franco-Peruvian socialist and feminist Flora Tristan said in 1837 as she enthused about the women who, while covered, were free to stroll in the streets, at amphitheaters and even in Congress.

Ramadhan Reminder

2010-08-01T21:44:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

Just a reminder (for myself and you lovely ladies ;-)

Use your time in Ramadhan wisely.

There will be reruns of Bab Al-Hara but there WONT be reruns of Ramadhan.

Choose what is really important to you and focus on it, grip it, don't let it go.

Concentrate as if your life depends on it... because it does.

much love.

My Evening

2010-07-25T01:27:00.004-05:00

Salam

Bismillah

Alhamdulillah today I was feeling much better, thank you all for your du'a and advice.

I made plans with my friend Dusty to spend some time together since it had been literally ages since I had seen any of my friends outside of jumm'ah. Dusty is from my hometown and converted to Islam just a few short months after me at the end of last Ramadhan mashaAllah. She is a real sweetheart and very sincere while still silly, lol. My kind of lady :-P

First we went to the mall and looked around a bit for long skirts. We found several at maurices of all places in dark denim, khaki, and brown.

Then we went to the masjid to pray asr and we stayed in the masjid library looking for books until maghreb (we both came out with stacks of free books alhamdulillah). Most of my books were about Christianity and explaining Islam as I am looking for materials to show my family to help explain Islam better inshaAllah.

After that we decided to eat dinner at Arby's. I had a large jamocha shake. I don't know if you know how huge that is, but I think i gained 10 lbs LOL.

Next we went to wal-mart so I could get some cookie sheets since my old ones rusted out.

Walmart happens to be next to the movies so we decided to catch a flick before we went home.

Overall it was a good night alhamdulillah. Me and Dusty both had a blast :-)

I think maybe my issue isn't overall loneliness, but I just feel that way when I am with my family.

Allah kareem, inshaAllah khair

feeling a bit low

2010-07-24T03:53:00.002-05:00

salam

bismillah

hey ladies

i'm feeling a bit low

i've been having these intense feelings of loneliness even when i am in a room full of my family

i feel a bit set adrift

inshaAllah things will brighten up soon

Friday Khutba

2010-07-20T23:08:00.004-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

A few weeks ago a brother at our masjid who regularly gives the khutba talked about men's hijab :-) (what I mean by men's hijab is the covering that Muslim men are required to give)

I know, right! A dude bringing up the subject of men's hijab? It was so great subhanAllah!

He basically said "look brothers... you guys would talk endlessly about those sisters that you think don't cover correctly and yet you don't even come to the masjid in proper clothing."

He talked about how our brothers sometimes are so aghast if they see a sister who isn't covered and yet can't be bothered to properly cover their awrah when praying, let alone outside the masjid and in public.

He reminded the brothers of what areas they are commanded to cover and also that if the awrah is not covered, then salah is invalid.

mashaAllah it was great! This brother is one of my dear friend's husband and is a convert from Arizona. Allahu alem, he appears to me to be very sincere and intelligent. I always enjoy when he gives the khutba, especially this one :-)

Ramadhan the Flylady way :-D

2010-07-18T23:06:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

Eva at handmade beginnings just did a post about her Ramadhan Organizer and gave a link for this awesome(!!) site for Ramadhan planning the flylady way. I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with flylady, but you can find her at flylady.net She teaches us unorganized people how to function as born-organized people. :-) Anyway, someone got the brilliant (mashaAllah) idea to adapt flylady for us Muslim ladies, especially during the potentially stressful time of Ramadhan prep.

The blog is Ramadhan Planner and I suggest you all go and take a look around, especially if you are in charge of planning for your family as there are a lot of resources there.

Award :-D

2010-07-16T05:38:00.000-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

A while back, my dear sister Rukhpar Mor gave me a blog award :-D

Our task was to write about where we see ourselves in 10 years time. I'm sorry this took my so long dear sister. Honestly, this really really threw me for a loop. I had no idea what to say! I still have no idea what to say... but I am going to give it a go anyway.

So in 10 years I will be 32/33 years. I would like to be married inshaAllah to go a good man and living somewhere where I feel accepted. I have no idea where that will be or if that place exists, but that is my goal.

I would like to have at least 3 children by this time inshaAllah. I have always wanted to have a lot of kids, mostly boys but I'm starting to think girls would be okay too. *dreamy look* My friends tease me because when they first asked how many I wanted I said "between 5 and 10" lol. I would like to take care of my kids at home, hopefully homeschool them.

If I am not able to stay at home, I think I would like to teach. Although recently I have given a lot of thought to getting an MBA... maybe working for a non-profit.

I would like to be fluent in Arabic or at least proficient enough to read the Qur'an with understanding. I would also like to have at least one juz memorized, preferably more.

I hope and pray that in 10 years we are all happy and fulfilled, ameen.

I'm not sure who has been tagged at this point and who hasn't, so if you haven't done it, please tell me where you would like to be in 10 years in the comments or on your blog or in an e-mail :-)

with love

My Daddy

2010-07-16T05:11:00.003-05:00

Salam

Bismillah

My dad doesn't care that I am Muslim. He doesn't care that I believe in God. He doesn't care that I live a more clean life now.

All he cares is that I do not believe that Jesus is God.

For several months now, my Dad has quit talking about religion. Honestly, I was really relieved because I HATE the feeling of disappointing my daddy and I knew that my beliefs would be disappointing to him.

But today he gave me some papers he printed from the internet entitled "Is Jesus God?" and talked about those "cults" that don't believe that Jesus is God.

It gave a lot of Bible verses that supposedly explain how Jesus is God and also tried to answer some more popular arguments against the trinity (although it did in no way try to explain the trinity, why there should be a trinity, how the trinity is different than polytheism, etc.).

How do I explain to my dad that even if he could provide verses from the Bible that say Jesus is God, or can be interpreted/twisted to say that, that I will still most likely not believe them since I have so much doubt about the authenticity of the Bible in the first place?

I don't know if this will be the beginning of more conversations or arguments or what. Honestly I hope it wont be. Not because I am scared of argument or changing my mind or anything (Allah keep us on the straight path, ameen) but because I hate to see that look of disappointment when my daddy realizes he still didn't convince me.

Also on another note, my bother is becoming more and more conservative in his beliefs. Now he has decided to reject science completely since it contradicts with a literal reading of the Bible.

Ya Rabb, Ya Raheem, have mercy on our families and show them the straight path ameen.

Me Myself and I

2010-07-10T02:45:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I like to think that I am the same here online that I am in real life.

I would probably say all the same things in real conversations and stuff.

..........

But of course I don't broadcast my faults here on the world wide web.

I make a lot of mistakes, may Allah forgive me.

......

And most of the time these posts are reminders to myself about stuff I am struggling with or trying to learn and incorporate into my life.

But I feel like I am real.

.........

Anyway, I didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea about who I am.

This is me!

VIVA LA FURIA ROJA!!!

2010-07-07T15:33:00.001-05:00

Thats All :-)

MSN

2010-07-05T02:32:00.004-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

soooo hey ladies! I wanted to let you all know that I opened up an MSN account for finding guidance so that I could receive/send e-mails and also chat with you if you want :-D

so the address is findingguidance (at) hotmail (dot) com

if you would like me to add you to my msn chat thingy, just send me an e-mail with your blogger name on it and stuff so that I know it isn't some weirdo, lol. I wont add anyone in general unless I know who you are.

so... YAY! hoping to have some conversations outside of blogger with you all

Naseeha on Naseeha

2010-07-04T01:02:00.004-05:00

As-salamu alaikum,

Bismillah ar-rahman ar-raheem

After witnessing some interesting conversations, I would like to give some gentle naseeha on the subject of gentle naseeha. I am not an expert or anything, and as always this reminder is for myself first. Allah save us from intentionally or unintentionally pushing others away from our beautiful religion, ameen.

I found this quote that pretty much sums up the topic I wanted to discuss:

Shaykh Kamil Mufti writes in his article Directions to Giving Naseehah:
Naseehah is a wonderful weapon, but like most weapons, if the user does not know how to use it properly, it can cause more harm than good.

We should all be aware of the dangers of giving naseeha in the wrong way and the guidelines for giving effective advice.

1. Be sincere. Give advice for the sake of Allah and the love of your brothers and sisters in Islam. It is important, before you give naseeha, to check your intention. Are you doing it to make yourself feel better, or to please Allah and help a fellow Muslim? Be truthful!! This is really really important.

2. Be kind. Anger or rudeness is a quick way to guarantee the person you are advising will not listen to you and could be pushed farther away. Always Always Always Always Always use kind and understanding language with your brothers and sisters. As the saying goes, you can catch more flies with honey.

3. Give it privately. I know this one is tough online since our problems are posted publicly and so we feel compelled to correct people publicly, but this is a sure way to turn your naseeha into criticism and embarassment for the person you are trying to help. When possible, send an e-mail or give the person a call to discuss the issue calmly.

4. Be mindful of time, place, and setting. This includes privacy, giving yourself time to cool off if you are upset about the issue, and the mode of conveyance (e-mail, msn, phone, in person, etc.) Think of the best time and place to have the conversation and make sure that the mood is light and everyone is clear on the purpose of the discussion.

5. Be patient. The person may not implement your naseeha right away, but know that if you have done it correctly, there is a greater possibility that they will eventually change for the better. Don't keep pushing.

6. AVOID CHASTISING THE PERSON. Contrary to popular belief, naseeha is not the same thing as chastisement. It is not your job to "scold" others as if they are children.

7. Do not EVER EVER EVER question their faith. No matter a person's outward actions, only ALLAH knows what is in their hearts and you have no right to judge their level of previous, current, or future iman or their status as a Muslim.

8. Follow up. Show concern for the sister or brother outside of the initial naseeha. Praise them if you notice them doing something good. Express happiness if they achieve a goal. Let them know that you continue to think about them and care for them, even if they are still struggling to move forward.

If any of you have any other pointers to add, please feel free to discuss and leave comments below

Note: Some of the ideas in this post come from an article I read here, and the rest is from my own experience here online and in real life :-)

Paraguay vs Espana!!

2010-07-03T05:41:00.005-05:00

Salam!

And the MAIN EVENT!! lol

For Paraguay: http://simplejilbabs.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=134

I actually quite like this one :-) InshaAllah I may get it later for Barca games HAHA

And for ESPANA!!

Something Spanish inspired ;-)

Hoping this game goes well inshaAllah! Viva la furia roja!

Germany vs Argentina

2010-07-03T01:15:00.003-05:00

Salam!

Here we go for Germany and Argentina!

For Germany: http://www.modestlook.com/french-nobility-trendy-modern-abaya.html

Something classy. Throw in some red accessories and you are good to go!

For Argentina: http://www.essenceofblack.com/images/ca27fullblue.JPG

Something laid back and relaxed :-) Add cute white sneakers!

I'm definitely rooting for Argentina in this game, so InshaAllah we will see how it goes!

Remember Allah in the World Cup

2010-07-01T18:09:00.000-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

Lets face it ladies... we live in this dunya. We should strive for balance in this life of remembering Allah while also living our daily lives.

Daily life for a lot of people right now consists of World Cup action, but again we have to find the right balance!

Some Tips:

1. Make dhikr when play is slow

2. Make wudu and pray voluntary rakaat during half-time

3. Make the intention to dedicate the same amount of time to Allah that you spend watching games each day or reading about games (this will be more time than a lot of people usually spend). You can read Qur'an, pray sunnah prayers, make dhikr, read books or articles, etc.

4. Avoid watching games in mixed company. Get some girlfriends (or guy friends if you are dude) together and watch at a friends house instead of going out to the cafe, bar, or restaurant.

5. If your team doesn't win, avoid throwing a big fit or yelling and screaming etc. Say "Alhamdulillah 3la kul shay'" All praise belongs to Allah in every circumstance. Practice our anger steps: if you are standing sit, if you are sitting lay down, if none of that works make wudu and pray :-)

Any tips?

Brazil Alternative

2010-07-01T04:01:00.003-05:00

For a girlier look for Brazil, go with floral ;-)

I'd keep this one for an all ladies event, but that is my personal preference. If you wear it outside, make sure your arms are covered

from http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__YmYxWe9w-U/SemETXoWtHI/AAAAAAAAClY/OIhiyp6qrp4/s400/KA2008062004608+GREEN+Batik+Cotton+Caftan+Kaftan+Dress+USD45.00.jpg

Netherlands vs. Brazil

2010-07-01T03:39:00.003-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

This one is for my dear HalfCalf ;-)

Brazil and the Netherlands are going head to head on the 2nd as well! Their match history is pretty even, with Brazil only slightly ahead.

For Brazil: designer Eman Joharjy, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=121314521888

For Netherlands: http://2hijab.com/abaya_samar_style_010.asp

I'm picking Brazil for this match, but the two different styles of ball will make for some excitement on the field!

Uruguay vs. Ghana

2010-06-30T17:53:00.001-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

Hey guys! I thought it would be cool to do a little feature for each game in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. I'm planning to feature WC inspired outfits and maybe a little game-talk or prediction. Something for everyone sah!?

SOOO first game in the Quarterfinals will be on the 2nd of July InshaAllah

It will be Uruguay vs. Ghana

The Uruguay Outfit: http://www.eastessence.com/products/Aftab_Abaya-193-9.html

I'd break up the Blue with some nice accessories and a scarf in a different color :-)

And for Ghana: http://2hijab.com/abaya_sabrina.asp

You don't have to plaster yourself with flags or team slogans or compromise your modesty to support your group!

I think this will be a cool game to watch. Ghana is the last African team in the running and has a lot of heart, but Uruguay has got more experience at this level.

Salat Al-Hajjah

2010-06-29T17:40:00.001-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I found this on sunnipath and thought it would be nice to share :-)

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, and all blessings and peace upon our master Muhammad, his Folk, Companions and those who follow their noble way,
Abullah ibn Abi Awfa (Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever has a need with Allah, or with any human being, then let them perform ritual ablutions well and then pray two rakats. After that, let them praise Allah and send blessings on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). After this, let them say,
لا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِين
أَسْأَلُكَ مُوجِبَاتِ رَحْمَتِكَ وَعَزَائِمَ مَغْفِرَتِكَ وَالْغَنِيمَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ بِرٍّ وَالسَّلامَةَ مِنْ كُلّإِثْمٍ
لا تَدَعْ لِي ذَنْبًا إِلا غَفَرْتَهُ وَلا هَمًّا إِلا فَرَّجْتَهُ وَلا حَاجَةً هِيَ لَكَ رِضًا إِلا قَضَيْتَهَا يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ
There there no god but Allah the Clement and Wise.
There is no god but Allah the High and Mighty.
Glory be to Allah, Lord of the Tremendous Throne.
All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
I ask you (O Allah) everything that leads to your mercy, and your tremendous forgiveness, enrichment in all good, and freedom from all sin.
Do not leave a sin of mine (O Allah), except that you forgive it, nor any concern except that you create for it an opening, nor any need in which there is your good pleasure except that you fulfill it, O Most Merciful!”
[Related by Tirmidhi and Ibn Maja. The hadith has some weakness, but it is slight: such hadiths are acted upon for virtuous deeds (fada’il al-a`mal) by general agreement of Sunni scholarship]
The prayer of need is very simple: It is essentially to raise one's need to Allah Most High, by performing ritual ablution (wudu), praying 2 rakats (or four), and then making whole-hearted dua to Allah. If one uses the abovementioned Prophetic supplication, or other similar supplications transmitted from the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), it is best. [Ibrahim al-Halabi, Sharh Munyat al-Musalli; al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
The inward manners of supplication is exhibiting our neediness and absolute slavehood to Allah, consigning one's matters to Allah, and knowing that the only one who gives or benefits is Allah Most High. With this, one should be certain that Allah Most High answers our duas, but in the way He knows is best for us.
When circumstances do not permit us to pray 2 rakats, one should still turn to Allah in supplication, raising one’s needs to Him, for He answers our supplications and loves being asked.
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?id=1117

World Cup 2010

2010-06-26T16:29:00.005-05:00

Salam!

The last time I tried to talk about football/soccer, it didn't go over well. However now I am hoping that everyone is all psyched up about the World Cup so I will try again :-D

My Final 8 Predictions:

Uruguay

Ghana

Argentina

Germany

Netherlands

Brazil

Paraguay/Japan (No idea... this one is a coin toss for me lol) Although I am rooting for Japan as the last Asian team in the running!

ESPANA! Por Siempre! :-D

Supporting any teams in particular?!?

One Year Again

2010-06-25T00:49:00.004-05:00

As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullah

Bismillah ar-rahman ar-raheem

SubhanAllah wa Alhamdulillah today is the one year anniversary of my conversion to Islam.

I look back and marvel at what I have learned and I am appalled at what I have forgotten, subhanAllah

I look forward and realize that I am one year closer to the The Day of Judgement and wish that I had done better during this time, astaghfirullah may Allah forgive us for wasting his precious gifts intentionally and unintentionally.

I am overjoyed to be a Muslimah. Overjoyed. Overcome. Verklemmt. Gobsmacked. Exhilarated. Euphoric. Rapturous. Jubilant. Just plain tickled pink.

But most of all I am grateful. Grateful to Allah subhana wa ta'ala, grateful to my friends, my teachers, and even my family. Alhamdulillah 3la kul shay'

Still Alive

2010-06-18T23:04:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I'm still alive alhamdulillah...

still haven't found a job, but alhamdulillah...

got a computer virus, but alhamdulillah...

InshaAllah khair

Some Announcements!

2010-06-07T01:44:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

Here are some updates from the fair lady Amber at Sisterswhoblog :-D

Check out this website in support of The Muslim Rosa: A group that is for fair treatment of Muslims in the image of Rosa Parks

http://tinyurl.com/support-muslim-rosa

I would also like to announce the 2010 Best Blog Award: To honor the best hardworking Muslima bloggers on the web

http://swbmagazine.blogspot.com/2010/06/2010-blog-award.html

Happy blogging sisters!!!!

Thoughts

2010-06-06T14:38:00.005-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I appreciate diversity............ But I do not appreciate vulgarity

I appreciate progress............ But I do not appreciate loss of morals

I appreciate free thinking..... But I do not appreciate hypocrisy

I appreciate free speech........ But I do not appreciate the government sanctioned hate that spews out of people's mouths and fingers and hearts

I appreciate charity............... But I do not appreciate those who do it for the sake of appearances

I appreciate education.......... But I do not appreciate teaching children warped views of their or other religions, cultures or values

Heart Wheel Journal

2010-06-01T20:45:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

Last year I wrote a post about the Heart Wheel Journal (read it here). Now they have an online version that you don't have to print out. You just point and click then start typing! It is quite nice, mashaAllah so go give it a try!

http://heartwheeljournal.com

Ya Allah

2010-05-31T19:38:00.001-05:00

"Oh my Lord! Forgive my sins and my ignorance and my exceeding the limits (boundaries of righteousness) in all my deeds and what you know better than I. O Allah! Forgive my mistakes, those done intentionally or out of my ignorance or (without) or with seriousness, and I confess that all such mistakes are done by me. Oh Allah! Forgive my sins of the past and of the future which I did openly or secretly. You are the One who makes the things go before, and You are the One who delays them, and You are the Omnipotent." (Bukhari, vol. , pp. 271, #407)

stressssss

2010-05-28T17:50:00.003-05:00

salam!

bismillah

I am really really really really really really really really really really stressed out right now.

My brother, his wife and my parents are all moving into a house together. They made this decision about a week ago and are moving into the new house this weekend. I cannot live full time with my brother. It will cause problems.

SO now I have to find a place to live. More importantly I have to find a job in order to find a place to live.

Did I mention that summer has already started? Did I mention we are in a recession? Did I mention that I wear hijab?

If I can find even a part time job that pays around $800 a month, inshaAllah I will be okay.

please make du'a for me...

Summer Wear

2010-05-21T20:46:00.005-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

It is getting hot outside on the top half of the earth and one of our sisters (Elizabeth) asked what are good/comfy things to wear for summer.

So here are my physiological reasons for wearing abaya (beyond religious ones, which are of course the most important :-P)

I am mostly talking about abayaat that are loose, not fitted close to the body and that have sleeves that are open at the bottom (not closed at the wrist). Also watch the fabric because some abayaat are definitely made for cooler weather.

A-line is a good shape for hot weather because it lets the air flow

The open bottom and sleeves will create a breeze when you walk that allows your sweat to actually do its job to cool you down, even when there isn't a breeze outside. Mini skirts and blue jeans will not do this for you.
When you wear tight clothes, your sweat does not do anything to cool you off, you just get wet and sticky.
The loose abaya actually makes it to where your body is walking around in the shade.
There is a reason why shade is cooler than out in the direct sun. The ambient temperature of the air does affect your body, but your body is strongly affected by the ultra violet (UV) and infrared light that hits your skin. The energy of these photons causes the cells in your body to heat up (that is why UV rays cause burns and cancer) by exciting them to higher energy levels which increases your body temperature as well as the temperature of your skin. The more skin you cover, the more you protect your cells from this energy.
As a bonus, you wont get as dehydrated, lol. Because the abaya is helping you to use your sweat productively, you will sweat less meaning you will loose less water during the day (a bonus for those of us who are fasting during the summer months!).

Now some reasons for why covering in general is not necessarily more hot than being naked in the sun

The above reasons are good for this as well (using your sweat productively, portable shade, etc.)
Also, your body slowly adjusts to what you are wearing outside. If you are usually naked outside and you all of the sudden throw on more clothes, your body will struggle to regulate its temperature with these new conditions (this is why women you do not usually cover will feel hot if they temporarily wear abaya). It is age old wisdom (from my great grandma lol) that if you wear your coat when it is hot outside, you will get cold easier. My mother use to tell me NOT to wear my jacket until it got really cold outside so that my body wouldn't adjust. That way I wouldn't be too cold when I was INSIDE the house.
Same rules apply here as in the jacket case. Your body will adjust to where you are no more hot or cold than anyone else. I use to never get cold. We kept our house at 63F all year round and I wore t-shirts and shorts all of the time, but now 63F is wickedly cold for me since my body is trained. Now I have to wear sweat pants and sweaters with my tshirt and shorts. (also amazingly I sweat less than I did before, lol)
There is no such thing as "hot blooded" and "cold blooded" people. It is all about what you condition your body to do :-)
Another added benefit is that you will spend less money on electricity, lol. You wont need to keep your house as cold during the summer months because your body is ready for it.

Tips for those of you who are thinking about starting to cover:

If you are able, try starting when the weather is cooler and then just continue to wear the longer clothes as the weather starts to change. This will give your body time to adjust slowly. (I know that advice is a little late in coming, but inshaAllah it will be helpful for someone! :-D)

7 Things

2010-05-19T21:13:00.002-05:00

Salam!

I got tagged to share seven random things by Tutti and since she ACTUALLY went through the trouble to tag me (to type my name and everything!), I decided I had better do it. :-P

1. Repetitive action is incredibly soothing to me. I seriously think I was made for factory work. Collating is my passion, lol. Something about doing the same exact motion over and over sets my mind free. I love it!

2. I use to hate TV, but then I realized it was just because all the good shows got cancelled. (RIP: Freaks and Geeks, My Name is Earl, Firefly, Dead Like Me, The Tick) Fox and NBC can eat my shorts.

3. I like the taste of canned fruits and vegetables. When I feel like a snack, sometimes I will just open a can of corn or tomatoes and tuck in. I prefer canned pears to fresh ones 100%. I don't like for my pears to be crunchy.... ewww

4. I've only worn makeup outside my house once since I converted. It was for an Eid party lol. I also covered my face on the way because I felt like I looked like a total skank (lol, I was wearing eyeliner, mascara and cherry chapstick :-P)

5. I LOVE LOVE LOVE grilled food. If it wasn't a pain in the butt to light up the coals, I would have at least one grilled meal per day.

6. I take pictures of alllllll of the food that I make. It is like a compulsion now. I can't start eating unless I take a picture. wow... I just realized how freaky that was once I wrote it down, lol.

7. I use to swim a mile every day, but I haven't been swimming since I converted. I bet my stamina is awful now...

I tag: wafa', sara, stacy, rene, banana ann, safyiah, and inkblotsblueabayas

Contact

2010-05-19T16:25:00.005-05:00

Salam!

If you have issues and you want someone to hear you:

Contact. Your. Representatives.

If you live in the US: http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

Contact for the President, VP, House, Senate, State Officials
You can even TWEET your representatives now

If you live in Canada: http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E

includes phone, fax, e-mail, office address

If you live in UK: http://www.parliament.uk/

scroll down and you can enter your postal code to find your local MP
will usually give you an office address, maybe a phone number or e-mail address

If you live in the European Union: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public/geoSearch.do;jsessionid=061E6CBA8B57665E972117F236828A0F.node1?language=EN

Click on your country, choose a region (in some cases) and pick a representative to contact
usually includes address, phone, fax, and e-mail

If you live in South Africa: http://www.parliament.gov.za/live/content.php?Category_ID=97

gives e-mail for many, but not all representatives

If you live in Australia: I couldn't get any of the government websites to work yet but inshaAllah, I will figure it out

If you live in New Zealand: http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/

If you live in Switzerland: http://www.parlament.ch/e/organe-mitglieder/nationalrat/mitglieder-kanton/Pages/default.aspx

This is a list by canton
Find yours, click, and then search for your representative and click again :-)

If you live in the Republic of Ireland: http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/tdssenators/senators/ and http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=12684&&CatID=138

e-mails for senators are on the first link
e-mails for TD's are on the second link

If you know of any other websites that have contact information for representatives please feel free to leave them in the comments (especially if they are written in another language). I only speak English fluently, so those were the ones that I could find.

Thanks!!!

Niqab Ban: A Rant

2010-05-18T20:16:00.005-05:00

Salam sisters,

I think that this is my first rant. It may not make sense and I may take it down later, but I need to get some of these feelings out.

I apologize ahead of time if I hurt anyones feelings. If I do so please let me know because that is not my intention.

Rated PG-13 for liberal use of the word "crap" lol

START RANT:

I am starting to get really PO'd with all of this niqab banning crap. If you want to cite security reasons, okay whatever, but in France security isn't their issue. (And for the record, I firmly believe that the "security" issues are ultimately red herrings thrown out there to divert the population away from the actual issues at hand: the stripping of a population of their rights due to their religion.) The issue in France is that niqab just isn't "secular enough" for the right wing good ol' boys. So their response? Take away people's rights to make little men in suits feel better about their "secularity."

Why would you want a woman walking around who reminds you of the fact that God and doing good things for people along with yourself isn't a priority in your life, right? We wouldn't want you to feel guilty or uncomfortable with your life choices...

And seriously they are going to fine a dude thousands of euro for "forcing" a woman to wear niqab. #1) how often does that really happen in France??? #2) How are you going to enforce that??? "oh your wife wears niqab so you obviously must force her. Here is your fine and one year jail time." Ridiculous.

Who is going to patrol the French Alps to make sure that every teenager in a ski mask is fined and ever father who puts a ski mask on his child goes to prison for a year with a heavy fine?

Who is going to patrol the countryside churches to arrest that bride in her veil and her father who lovingly covered her face with it before she walked down the isle?

Who is going to fine the doctors in their hygienic masks or the send the hospital administration to jail for requiring its use?

Who is going to fine the fumigators and painters for covering their faces?

If Joe Schmo can wear his lovely swastika on his sweater sleeve because it makes him feel powerful then I should darn well be able to cover my face for the Creator of the Worlds!!!!!!

All of this crap is directly related to the minaret banning crap. What is your reason for banning minarets??? Is that security too? Or secularity? Or just plain Islamophobia???????

And REALLY does Quebec have to do EVERYTHING that France does? I'm frankly appalled that this xenophobic crap has spilled over onto the same continent that I live on. I makes me physically ill.

On top of that they are denying people the right of public healthcare. They are denying CITIZENS the right of healthcare on the basis of RELIGION and freedom of EXPRESSION!!! And no one realizes how dangerous this is for human rights everywhere? Are we the only ones who seeeeeeee this madness?

I'm just really pissed and I have no idea what to do to fix the situation. Who do I write to? Who do I call? What do I need to say? Where do I need to say it? HOW do I help make this madness STOP?

And my favorite quote by Benjamin Franklin:

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

Marriage

2010-05-13T03:50:00.003-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I'm pretty sure that my parents are counting on my religious conversion as a "phase" of my life, maybe just a "fad" or something.

They treat it as temporary which means a lot of time they don't treat it with respect.

The other day my mom was asking me "How are you going to get married?" "Who are you going to marry?" etc.

I explained to her that inshaAllah Allah will provide from where he wants and I will be patient. I don't have a muslim family looking out for the right husband for me. If my dad and brother were to pick a husband for me, he would be an American Baptist dude.

I explained that I will marry a muslim man. InshaAllah one who fears Allah and will treat me with respect and eventually love will grow.

Mom doesn't understand why I can't go out and find my own husband. She thinks I should fall in love with a man I've dated and then get married, like everyone else.

But what happens if that passion fades? What values will we have in common? What will decide between us if we have an argument on how we should direct our lives?

In Islam, these questions are answered for us, alhamdulillah. My marriage inshaAllah will have passion, but it wont be the foundation. Islam will be our foundation.

How do I make them understand? Is it just a matter of time?

Muslim Countries: Continued

2010-05-08T15:47:00.003-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

The other day I wrote a post called "Muslim Countries" and I received this response in the comments and thought it would be good to address it and have a discussion.

Please keep in mind that Islam encourages us to always argue in the best way (with RESPECT) so if I see anything other than that I will go ahead and delete the comment. I didn't bring this up for a firing squad and I would really like each of you to put yourself in the situation of someone who knows nothing about (or little/ media interpretation of) Islam. :-D

Pásik Kroch: look, if Egyptian, Moroccans etc do not want European/NA tourists to come to their countries, just tell it plainly and frankly.

there is plenty nice places in South Europe/Caribic where we can spend our money.

and as for this niqab problem - main problem is the religous exception to obstacle to identification and state security.
not only in UK, but in many moslem countries were countless robberies in bank/jeweleries committed by burka/niquabed men.

so niquabi is putting over her supposed piety above the potential safety and lives of other people.

It seems childish to me.
but if someone is so self-centered.. there is no help against it.

My Response:

I think on this issue it is really all about which side you are looking from.

as for the egypt/morocco thing, I had no idea that they ask tourists to cover in those countries as tourism is a major market there. I actually don't think they ask people to do that there (but maybe one of the sisters from there can answer that question for us). I was speaking more along the lines of Saudi, which is not a tourist centered economy, where they do ask women to cover (in abaya). People tend to get upset at this, yet they want to impose similar (but anithetical) laws on other women.

As for state security and identification, it is not such a problem to have a woman officer or security guard on duty to identify women. In actuality, women who veil are creating jobs for UK/EU/NA women :-D

As for robberies, people will continue to cover their faces when they rob places regardless of whether innocent women are also covering their faces. If you have a high risk situation (like a jewelry store or a bank) have a female guard id covered women on their way in. They would generally have to be id'd before purchase or withdrawl/deposit anyway, so just move the process to to the door.

A religious person will put obeying their Creator/God/Master/Lord before everything. This is what it means to submit to God. You do the things you know are right whether or not people agree with you or make it easy for you.

I don't think that these women are self-centered. I think they are God centered. And I thank God for women like this because their modesty and piety is a breath of fresh air when surrounded by butt cheeks and boob jobs on every corner.

It is difficult to put yourself in someone elses shoes. I know because I do try to find a way to see the issue from the other perspective. I know that, in western culture, a covered face means shifty motives, but in actuality the world doesn't always work that way. And however many security issues people have brought up, I always see a potential solution without having to deny anyone their right to freedom of religion and pursuit of happiness.

Pasik: Please feel free to comment again, as I would love to continue the discussion :-) And thanks again!

Ladies: If you can think of any other specific issues that people have brought up about veiling and laws or rights of women, please feel free to post them to the comments so that we can all address them inshaAllah once and for all.

When we are all through I am convert this post (or compile a new one) to showcase all of our problems and solutions inshaAllah.

Sawm: How do Jews Fast?

2010-05-07T10:35:00.001-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

This is the continuation of yesterday's post on fasting :0)

Major Fast Days in Judaism: Fasts on these day are from sunset to sunset the following day

Yom Kippur: the Day of Attonement
Tisha B'Av: a day that Jew's remember the tragedies that have befallen them, such as the destruction of the temple

Minor Fast Days: Fasts on these days are from sunrise to sunset

The Fast of Gedaliah: to mourn the righteous king
The Fast of the 10th of Tevet: In observance of the destruction of the 1st temple and the holocaust
The Fast of the 17th of Tammuz: commemorates the scaling of the walls before the destruction of the 2nd temple, and also the day that the tablets of the 10 commandments were destroyed
The Fast of Esther, which takes place immediately before Purim: commemorates the 3 day fast in the story of Purim

Other optional occasions for fasting:

before your wedding
when you need to seek repentance
groups may fast to avert impending catastrophe
before battle

Why do Jews Fast:

for atonement of sins
to commemorate a solemn event, or to show gratitude
to mourn
in order to realize how dependent are we upon God for our sustenance and survival

How Jews fast like Muslims:

Often fasts occur from sunrise to sunset and include abstaining from food and drink and on the Major fasts from sexual intercourse as well
Mondays and Thursdays are considered recommended days for voluntary fasting (While in the early Christian church, Wednesdays and Fridays are good fasting days)
Specific days are prescribed for fasting

How Jewish Fasting is different than that in Islam:

There are some fasts which are 24 hours while in Islam, all fasts are from sunrise to sunset
During the Major fasts, it is not permitted to clean yourself (brush your teeth, bathe, use lotion or perfume) for that 24 hours
Jews have special dietary rules for Passover: this would be considered "fasting" in the Christian sense, but is not considered fasting in the Jewish or Islamic sense

Muslim Countries

2010-05-06T21:04:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I don't understand this logic...

When we want to cover in "Western" countries, we are told to "go to a Muslim country if you want to do that."

Yet when "Westerners" go to Muslim countries, they are highly insulted when someone asks them to cover up properly.

Can anyone explain this to me?

Sawm: How do Christians Fast?

2010-05-06T14:22:00.006-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I am fasting today and it struck me that Muslims are not the only people in the world to fast. Christians and Jews are commanded to fast along with Muslims. However, coming from a Baptist Church as a child, I realized that I was completely ignorant of the way that Christians and Jews fast. (Our denomination did not practice Lent or any other organized fast, nor did they encourage us to fast on our own.)

Time to rectify the situation inshaAllah!!!

It seems that there are three basic categories of Christian Fasting:

1. Abstaining from one certain thing: like chocolate or coke or meat

2. Abstaining from all solid foods: Drinking only water (or for extended fasts, drinking water and juice, vegetable broth, decaffeinated tea, etc.)

4. Absolute fasts: abstaining from all water and food

Fasts can be for one meal, one day, one week, 40 days: you are encouraged to fast however much you feel you are being convicted to fast.

The purpose of Christian Fasting is to humble yourself before God and to seek his pleasure. (To seek God's "face," as quoted from the Bible)
Christian Fasting should be intimately connected with increased prayer and meditation on the scripture
Fasting is prescribed in both the Old and New Testaments and Jesus says "when you fast" not "if you fast" in the New Testament.
Fasting is a private concern and you should not advertise the fact that you are fasting to others around you.

Some things that seem different than Muslim Fasts:

They do not necessarily have set times and procedures for fasting. They fast when they feel like it to whatever degree they feel like.
You can be eating or drinking and still be considered "fasting" in some way.
You can go through periods when you fast with no water or food, even through the night. You can usually fast up to 3 days without any food or water, but this should always be done under the observation of a doctor.

InshaAllah I will have another post up tomorrow about Jewish Fasting!

The Importance of Men's Hijab ala Kobe

2010-05-05T01:30:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I was going to write a whole post about the importance of men's hijab.

Then I saw this picture and couldn't stop smiling.

InshaAllah I will save the lecture for another day, enjoy the photo!

ONE YEAR!!

2010-05-05T00:40:00.003-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

ALHAMDULILLAH I MADE IT THROUGH ONE WHOLE YEAR OF BLOGGING!!!

Things that have happened this year:

1. I converted to Islam, alhamdulillah

2. I fasted my first whole Ramadhan, alhamdulillah

3. I ~~took~~ survived two semesters of Intensive Arabic, alhamdulillah

4. I wrote 141 blog posts here + 33 on my food blog

5. I got a sister in law and a niece all on the same day :-D alhamdulillah

6. I wore hijab for the first time this year, alhamdulillah

7. I started to wear jilbab and hijab when I converted this year, alhamdulillah

8. I made ridiculous amounts of blogger friends alhamdulillah (*muah* xoxoxoxooxoxo)

9. I *almost* graduated college, inshaAllah next semester!

10. I followed over 200 blogs and had around 1870 profile views

ALHAMDULILLAH WA MASHAALLAH it has been such a great year and inshaAllah I hope to see you all here for another one in the best of health and iman ameeeeeeeeeen.

much love.

In the Car

2010-05-03T18:35:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I talk to myself in the car. About everything.

I give myself pep talks...

I make dhikr...

I have arguments with people...

I define my beliefs...

I tell jokes...

I practice speeches...

I say things out loud that I would never say in front of another person...

I get everything off my chest.

When I am in salah and when I am in the car are the two times that I know completely who I am. When it is only me and Allah.

What do you do in the car?

The Countdown

2010-05-03T00:18:00.000-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

Today it is three days until my one year blog anniversary inshaAllah :-D

So excited!!

much love.

NeverEver

One Down, Two to Go

2010-05-01T18:37:00.003-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I worked about 16 hours straight on my Arabic project trying to fix all of our technical difficulties and still ended up being almost 24 hours late, but alhamdulillah ustadhaty took it anyway and gave us a B+. I really needed an A, but alhamdulillah 3la kul shay a B+ is INFINITY times zero. :-)

I have left now to write a resume + cover letter for my advanced comp class and a 20 pg paper on socio-cultural phenomena throughout the history of Physics. YAY!

How is everyone else progressing? School? Finals? Work? Life? I'd love to have an excuse to take a break for a couple of minutes :-D

much love.

EEEEKKKKK

2010-04-30T13:06:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

SubhanAllah I have 100 followers... I really never expected that you know...

When I started this blog, it was mainly a way for me to 1) comment on other blogs I was reading and 2) write something when there wasn't anything else to read.

Alhamdulillah it has come to mean a lot more to me than that and has been so much more useful.

I have met some of my best friends through this blog (love you dear rayyan) and continue to make more and more as the days pass, ALHAMDULILLAH

So thank you all, Jazakum Allah khair, for reading and commenting and keeping me motivated.

much love.

NeverEver

Remember Allah

2010-04-30T11:04:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

Jum'ah Mubarak ya sadiqaaty

I wanted to share with you one of my FAVORITE hadith.

"I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed." (Bukhari)

SubhanAllah wa Alhamdulillah

Procrastination

2010-04-29T23:58:00.003-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I think I am supposed to learn a lesson about procrastination today.

I have a video presentation that was due about 12 hours ago that I still haven't been able to finish... so many technical difficulties it is ridiculous!

InshaAllah I will get it done though :-) I can be stubborn ya know.

Projects Projects Projects

2010-04-28T23:56:00.001-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

My head is swimming with all of the projects I have to do...

eck

Also my mom broke her arm today, so please make du'a for her.

Alhamdulillah for everything

DIY

2010-04-27T22:59:00.004-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I have been looking for an abaya since mine are getting ~~a bit~~ a lot worn, and I looked around a bunch of websites that you all suggested (thanks so much!!! :-D)

I must just be too picky or something. I couldn't find anything I actually liked... especially not something that I would consider decently priced.

I don't always have enough money to eat something besides ramen (alhamdulillah I really love ramen), so how am I supposed to shell out $40-50 per abaya when I need at least two or three news ones?

My solution:

DIY

Oh yeah, inshaAllah when classes are over I'm going to set about trying to make an abaya/jilbab for myself :-D

I plan to document my progress so inshaAllah I will let you all know how it goes.

Wish me luck!

Barca Barca Baaaaarca!

2010-04-26T20:06:00.003-05:00

salam!

Bismillah

Apparently no one thought the "guess my team" thing was as cool as I did (Thanks Rukhpar Mor for participating!!!) lol

Anyway my favorite team is FC Barcelona. They have a game against Inter Milan on Wednesday inshaAllah and it is pretty big, so I'm a little hyped up.

Also this is my last week of classes this semester and my schedule is pretty rough. I will keep updating inshaAllah, but some of the stuff may not be very thought provoking. Just a heads-up :-P

Biltawfeeq inshaAllah to those of you with finals and papers and general stressful things going on.

Much love.

NeverEver

The Rights of a Sister Over Another

2010-04-25T20:02:00.000-05:00

As-salam alaikum

Bismillah

I received this in an e-mail and thought I would pass it on :-)

The Rights of A Sister Over Another Sister

A fundamental principle of sisterhood requires all Muslim women have the same basic understanding of Islam. This understanding should be based solely on the Qur’an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The Muslim woman must then be aware of her obligations as a Muslim, firstly towards Allah (swt), then the Prophet (pbuh), then her family and peers in the community. She must then do her best to fulfill her expected roles, duties and obligations. As Muslims we have God-given rights over one another.

Six of these rights are outlined in the following hadith: Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated: A Muslim has six rights over another Muslim: when you meet him, offer him greetings; when he invites you to a wedding feast accept it; when he seeks counsel give him; and when he sneezes and says al-hamdulillah: (praise is to Allah), you say yarhamuka’llah (may Allah show mercy to you) and when he is ill visit him; and when he dies follow his bier. (Muslim)

In Islam we also have certain obligations towards and rights over our neighbors. This not only applies to Muslim neighbors but also to those who are non-Muslim. We should maintain good relations with them and keep them safe from our harm and mischief. We must be polite and considerate of their feelings and show sincere concern for their welfare and well-being. We should also try to give them the best of what we have, e.g. food, money or possessions, and ensure that their needs are sufficiently met.

Aishah (ra) asked the Prophet (pbuh): “I have two neighbors, to whom shall I send a present?” He asked: “To the one whose door is nearer to yours.” (Bukhari)

Aishah (ra) said, “The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Jibril kept instructing me about obligations towards the neighbor so much so, I imagined that he might be included as one of the heirs with rights to inheritance!” (Bukhari & Muslim)

The Importance of Sisterhood in Islam

According to the Qur’an & the Sunnah

Ruqaiyah Abdullah

Du’a

O Allah! Verily I have done myself a grievous wrong and none forgives the sins but You. So grant forgiveness to me from Yourself and show mercy to me. Verily You are the Most Forgiving and Merciful.

My Sisters’ Charity

Poll

2010-04-24T17:14:00.005-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

So this will sound pretty random, but I am super interested to see what you guys come up with :-D

I follow a particular football (soccer, futbol, korat al-qadam) team and I am interested to see if you all can guess which one it is

Choices:

Manchester United
Inter Milan
Real Madrid
Barcelona
Bayern Munich
Arsenal
AC Milan
Olympique Lyon
FC Porto

Any guesses?!? :-D

Do you have a favorite sports team?

A Day in the Life

2010-04-23T19:55:00.000-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I added a group on SistersWhoBlog and I'd like to invite all of you to come join me!!!

It is all about sisters who write about our *incredibly interesting* daily lives and thoughts :-D

HERE is the link

Let me know what you guys think inshaAllah

Abayaat

2010-04-22T04:52:00.000-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

Several sisters gave me abayaat when I converted alhamdulillah, but they are starting to show some wear (i.e. they are starting to fall apart, lol).

Does anyone know a good place to find good quality light weight abayaat on the cheap? I'd like to find some with a bit more color since the ones I have now are all black (though I do love my black ones) maybe brown, navy, white, purple, etc.

Thanks!!

My Mojo

2010-04-21T03:07:00.002-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I seem to have lost my mojo.

If anyone has seen it please let me know.

But seriously, I've been really stressed out lately with school and everything and I am feeling a bit low on energy and enthusiasm.

InshaAllah this feeling with pass once school is done, but I think it will be rough the next couple of weeks.

Please make du'a for myself and the rest of our stressed out sisters

Jazakum Allah khair

Low Fat Yogurt

2010-04-21T00:09:00.003-05:00

Salam!

Bismillah

I love yogurt. Unfortunately MOST of the (affordable) brands use gelatin. Meaning there could be little piggy parts swimming in my strawberry yogurt. Either I fork over a ridiculous price for the "expensive" kind or forgo my yogurt.

But alhamdulillah the other day I found out that Great Value (Wal-Mart Brand) uses kosher gelatin. Read: no little piggies in my strawberry yogurt!!

YAY!!!!!

Safety Pin

2010-04-19T16:24:00.004-05:00

As-salamu alaikum

Bismillah

I'm pretty sure everyone has ruined a favorite scarf with a regular safety pin right?

What to do?!?

I live in a pretty small town so we don't get those fancy "no snag hijab pins" down here, so I decided to get industrious!

This is what I do to save my hijabs from the safety pin monster.

I use a piece of thick fabric to act as a buffer between the safety pin and the cloth of my scarf :-D

What do you guys do to avoid snags?

Keeping yourself in Check

2010-04-18T00:31:00.001-05:00

السلام عليكم

بسم الله

I got this in an e-mail the other day and thought I would share :-D

Daily Checklist for Introspection Self-examination and Self-Rectification

Answer the Following Questions and Improve /rectify your action accordingly

Did I pray five times today?

Did I read Holy Qura’an with understanding today?

Did I sincerely complete my duties and responsibilities today?

Did I Speak lies today?

Did I misbehave today?

Did I tease anyone today?

Did I make fun of someone or laugh at someone’s mistake today?

Did I show off today?

Did I behave arrogantly with anyone today?

Did I backbite today?

Did I get jealous today?

Did I get angry today?

Did I improve in any way today?

Did I waste any time today?

Did I feel proud or superior today?

Did I spend money extravagantly today?

Did I do my Hijab today?

Did I see any vulgar/obscene program today?

Did I disrespect my parents today?

Are my family members happy with me today?

Did I thank Allah for everything today?

Did I disobey any commandments of Allah today?

Did I ask forgiveness of Allah today?