Reflections Of A Muslimah

Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi Wabarakath,

I came across this clip on Youtube. It's chilling but a reminder that we need to keep reminding ourselves with.

May Allah SWT save us from the torment of the fire! Ameen.

It's been raining for the past few days and I absolutely love the weather. I thought Summer was back with a bang because it had gotten incredibly hot the week before and then all of a sudden it was raining and cold again.

I can't seem to get enough of it! And it actually hailed a bit as well which is surprising because we're technically in the desert. People really need to give a thought to global warming.

Coming back to the rain, it is such a blessing of Allah SWT. But I remember when this weather actually started there was a huge wind-storm & it reminded of the verses in the Qurán which talk about the coming of wind before disaster strikes.There are two types of winds, one that is a bringer of good tidings and one that is the bringer of torment and destruction by Allah. Looking at the raging wind that day I was praying it was the one that brought good news, because surely the destruction of Allah Azza wa jal can strike anytime.

May Allah subhanna wa ta'ala keep all of us on the straight path and make this rain a blessed rain! Ameen.

They say being alone is more dangerous with your nafs than being with people in the open. With people, you are easily able to control your actions and keep yourself from sinning but when you are alone, with only your nafs present and nobody to keep you in heel - that is the real test.

That is the time Satan tries his level best to get to you, to whisper in your heart and mind, making the bad seem so beautiful. That is the time when your Imaan is tested - if you believe and worship in Allah as if you see because although you see him not - he sees you.

I've realised & experienced that the more closer you try and become to Allah and come into the deen, the harder Shaytan tries to tempt you away from the straight path. And the only protection which you may attain is only through asking Allah and trying harder to come closer to him.

But sometimes people slip - we are all humans. When this happens, one should never give up hope, for the doors of mercy of Allah are open for those who sincerely repent.

O you who believe! Enter perfectly in Islâm (by obeying all the rules and
regulations of the Islâmic religion) and follow not the footsteps of Shaitân
(Satan). Verily! He is to you a plain enemy. (208)

I got this letter e-mailed to my inbox. I think it's exceptionally beautiful and an inspiration for all those struggling Muslim Women out there. :-)

Between the Israeli assault on Lebanon and the Zionist “war on terror,” the Muslim world is now center stage in every American home. I see the carnage, death and destruction that have befallen Lebanon, but I also see something else: I see you. I can’t help but notice that almost every woman I see is carrying a baby or has children around her. I see that though they are dressed modestly, their beauty still shines through. But it’s not just outer beauty that I notice.

I also notice that I feel something strange inside me: I feel envy. I feel terrible for the horrible experiences and war crimes that the Lebanese people have suffered, being targeted by our common enemy. But I can’t help but admire your strength, your beauty, your modesty, and most of all, your happiness.

Yes, it’s strange, but it occurred to me that even under constant bombardment, you still seemed happier than we are, because you were still living the natural lives of women. The way women have always lived since the beginning of time. It used to be that way in the West until the 1960s, when we were bombarded by the same enemy. Only we were not bombarded with actual munitions, but with subtle trickery and moral corruption.

Through Temptation

They bombarded us Americans from Hollywood, instead of from fighter jets or with our own American-made tanks. They would like to bomb you in this way too, after they’ve finished bombing the infrastructure of your countries. I do not want this to happen to you. You will feel degraded, just like we do. You can avoid this kind of bombing if you will kindly listen to those of us who have already suffered serious casualties from their evil influence. Because everything you see coming out of Hollywood is a pack of lies, a distortion of reality, smoke and mirrors.

They present casual sex as harmless recreation because they aim to destroy the moral fabric of the societies into which they beam their poisonous programming. I beg you not to drink their poison. There is no antidote for it once you have consumed it. You may recover partially, but you will never be the same. Better to avoid the poison altogether than to try to heal from the damage it causes.

They will try to tempt you with their titillating movies and music videos, falsely portraying us American women as happy and satisfied, proud of dressing like prostitutes, and content without families. Most of us are not happy, trust me. Millions of us are on anti-depressant medication, hate our jobs, and cry at night over the men who told us they loved us, then greedily used us and walked away.

They would like to destroy your families and convince you to have fewer children. They do this by presenting marriage as a form of slavery, motherhood as a curse, and being modest and pure as old-fashioned. They want you to cheapen yourself and lose your faith. They are like the Serpent tempting Eve with the apple. Don’t bite.

Self-Value

I see you as precious gems, pure gold, or the “pearl of great value” spoken of in the Bible (Matthew 13: 45). All women are pearls of great value, but some of us have been deceived into doubting the value of our purity. Jesus said: “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7: 6). Our pearls are priceless, but they convince us that they’re cheap. But trust me; there is no substitute for being able to look in the mirror and seeing purity, innocence and self-respect staring back at you.

The fashions coming out of the Western sewer are designed to make you believe that your most valuable asset is your sexuality. But your beautiful dresses and veils are actually sexier than any Western fashion, because they cloak you in mystery and show self-respect and confidence.

A woman’s sexuality should be guarded from unworthy eyes, since it should be your gift to the man who loves and respects you enough to marry you. And since your men are still manly warriors, they deserve no less than your best. Our men don’t even want purity anymore. They don’t recognize the pearl of great value, opting for the flashy rhinestone instead. Only to leave her too!

Your most valuable assets are your inner beauty, your innocence, and everything that makes you who you are. But I notice that some Muslim women push the limit and try to be as Western as possible, even while wearing a veil (with some of their hair showing). Why imitate women who already regret, or will soon regret, their lost virtue? There is no compensation for that loss. You are flawless diamonds. Don’t let them trick you into becoming rhinestones. Because everything you see in the fashion magazines and on Western television is a lie. It is Satan’s trap. It is fool’s gold.

A Woman’s Heart

I’ll let you in on a little secret, just in case you’re curious: pre-marital sex is not even that great. We gave our bodies to the men we were in love with, believing that that was the way to make them love us and want to marry us, just as we had seen on television growing up. But without the security of marriage and the sure knowledge that he will always stay with us, it’s not even enjoyable! That’s the irony. It was just a waste. It leaves you in tears.

Speaking as one woman to another, I believe that you understand that already. Because only a woman can truly understand what’s in another woman’s heart. We really are all alike. Our race, religion or nationalities do not matter. A woman’s heart is the same everywhere. We love.

That’s what we do best. We nurture our families and give comfort and strength to the men we love. But we American women have been fooled into believing that we are happiest having careers, our own homes in which to live alone, and freedom to give our love away to whomever we choose. That is not freedom. And that is not love.

Only in the safe haven of marriage can a woman’s body and heart be safe to love. Don’t settle for anything less. It’s not worth it. You won’t even like it and you’ll like yourself even less afterwards. Then he’ll leave you.

Self-Denial

Sin never pays. It always cheats you. Even though I have reclaimed my honor, there’s still no substitute for having never been dishonored in the first place. We Western women have been brainwashed into thinking that you Muslim women are oppressed. But truly, we are the ones who are oppressed; slaves to fashions that degrade us, obsessed with our weight, begging for love from men who do not want to grow up. Deep down inside, we know that we have been cheated.

We secretly admire and envy you, although some of us will not admit it. Please do not look down on us or think that we like things the way they are. It’s not our fault. Most of us did not have fathers to protect us when we were young because our families have been destroyed. You know who is behind this plot.

Don’t be fooled, my sisters. Don’t let them get you too. Stay innocent and pure. We Christian women need to see what life is really supposed to be like for women. We need you to set the example for us, because we are lost. Hold onto your purity.

Remember: you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube. So guard your “toothpaste” carefully!

I hope you receive this advice in the spirit in which it is intended: the spirit of friendship, respect, and admiration. From your Christian sister with love.

... you want things so badly. And you wonder why Allah azza wa jal didn't give them to you or why you couldn't attain them. And no, I'm not talking about materialistic things. People might have these things and not realise how Allah has blessed them.

Obviously, there is wisdom and judgment of Allah behind everything. And sometimes, somethings are not given to a person for a reason. Maybe there is some good in it and we, as mere humans may not realise it and somethings might seem good for us but in reality are not.

So in reality, a person should strive and attain for good. If Allah wills, then who will stop him/her from attaining it? At the same time, there is a constant reminder that I give myself and we all should give to ourselves is that if Allah azza wa jal means to give us something, no one will take it away.

In the end, Alhamdulilah in all situations.

Okay, so I too have joined the Twitter bandwagon.

Actually, I joined it a few months ago but didn't really use it. I'm back on it though.

I can be found at: http://twitter.com/ha09h

If you're a fellow blogger, add me. :)

On a side note, I don't usually have sibling arguments, but when they do happen, they suck. People in general all need to learn to forgive & forget. It'll make life easier for a lot of people

And my second side note, in case you're wondering where everything disappeared, I'm using a 1 Column template and everything else is at the bottom. I think I'm obsessed with templates - can't stay with one too long!

On Monday I went to Jumeirah Beach Park with my friends. On Monday, the Jumeirah beach is exclusively for Women and so Women who wear Hijab can enjoy the beach. The Park is very strict about who enters and who doesn't, only letting Women in.

Although it was a fun day, on the way back what I saw had me panicking to put my Niqaab on. Parked inside the parking lot in the Park were cars which had boys standing outside them. Or what I thought were boys. I was first surprised, because Men were not allowed inside the Park at all and then to my horror I realised these were girls pretending to be boys.

This was not just one or two, these were whole groups of girls together which had 'guys' in them too. I remembered how my friend had called me when she was visiting this same beach a month back, telling me about how she had seen these girls pretending to be boys. I could hear the shock in her voice and only when I saw what she had seen did I realise why she was so shocked.

These girls who were pretending to be boys had made themselves to be so much like a boy that it was hard to differentiate between a real boy and them. The only way I realised they were in actuality girls was because they were in a all Womens beach. They had their hair absolutely cut short, jelled, they wore shorts and full boy clothes. They spoke and met others of their groups, girls and 'guys' just how guys might meet them. They walked and hung around just like boys would and they even drove cars the same way.

And to top it all, these were Arab Muslim youth, with the girls who were not pretending to be Men actually wearing Abayas.

All I could think was that if the Ahzaab of Allah does not come on us, then what will? My friend repeatedly kept on saying Allah yahdeekum - and I really hope Allah gives them hidaya.

But there were some questions that kept on running around my head after what I saw. What led these teenagers to do something like this? And I'm sure not all of them are young, especially if they were driving Cars, some of them could possibly be in their early twenties. Where are their Parents? You cannot be like that without your Parents finding out, especially with the hair-cuts. Why isn't anyone trying to speak to them about their condition?

Surely something in such large groups cannot pass the attention of the community at large? These are our children of tomorrow.

Is it just me or have people been falling ill lately?

I've been down with fever, a cold, a headache and a backache. Sigh. And sleepless nights because of the fever that keeps on going up and down. I don't want to take too many pills because the last month I've literally been surviving on painkillers for various different reasons.

I have a feeling it's do with the changing weather. I was so sure Winter was gone a few weeks back, but just day before yesterday it got 'Cold' again.

But still, I guess I'm better than a lot of people, alhamdulilah. Better than people who are dying of starvation or don't have medication to treat themselves. So Alhamdulilah aa'la kulli haal.

Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi Wabarakath,

As Muslims we sometimes have the thought that we're the chosen Ummah - the one which will ultimately gain success and then we sit back and fall into pits of laziness. However, if we look at the Qur'an, in numerous places it talks about how there were many nations before us which were destroyed and put in trials and tribulations because they left the path of Allah.

It says in Surat Al-An'am:

Have they not seen how many a generation before them We have destroyed whom We had established on the earth such as We have not established you? And We poured out on them rain from the sky in abundance, and made the rivers flow under them. Yet We destroyed them for their sins, and created after them other generations

O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion (Islam), Allah will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him; humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the Way of Allah, and never afraid of the blame of the blamers. That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He wills. And Allah is All­Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All­Knower.

• An Ummah he loved & those who love him back

• Humble towards the believers

• Stern towards the disbelievers

• Fighting in the way of Allah

• Never afraid of the blame of the blamers

Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi Wabarakath,

Polygyny [A form of Polygamy where a Man has more than one Wife] has indeed been a most controversial topic. In our times it isn't as desired. Even in traditional societies most Men opt to take only one Wife although it maybe legal to take more than one.



n Islam Polygyny is allowed. It says in the Qurán:

And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan ­girls, then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one or (the captives and the slaves) that your right hands possess. That is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice. [Surat An-Nisa : 3]

Obviously Allah azza wa Jal is the most just and the most wise - therefore the verse that permits Muslim Men to take more than one wife also has a clause - that those Women have to be treated equally and with justice.

The discussion on Polygyny is vast and includes both pros and cons. However, this is not what I mean to actually discuss.

I was just looking at my own views about polygyny and how they had changed over the years and they prompted this post. I went to a British School and I studied with a wide range of people from all around the World. I'm really grateful for the upbringing and experiences I had. However, I recall my views on Polygyny then. I too, affected more by Western influence then my own religion considered Polygyny to be taboo & and a thing of the past. I frowned upon Polygynous marriages and felt exceptionally sorry for Women who were involved in them.

When I started 'practicing' Islam in the truest sense of the word and not just someone who fulfilled the condition of praying five times a day and not committing big sins - my views on polygyny changed drastically.

I accepted it as a part of Islam, a command in the Qurán and a Sunnah of the Prophet Sallalahu alayhi wasallam. I no longer was shocked or surprised when I heard someone was involved in a Polygynous marriage. I don't know when the change started, but I think Allah Azza wa Jal softens your hearts and gives you understanding of the religion when you strive to come closer to him. Also, I became more and more exposed to Women who were in Polygynous marriage. And no, these weren't old Women or grandmothers but young Women in their twenties. In fact, two of my friends are involved in polygynous marriages and it was their own decision to come into such a marriage.

Obviously, a Polygynous marriage is not what every Woman can handle. You need to have a lot of taqwa and Imaan to go through it.

Secondly, not all Men should actually go ahead and marry another Woman if it's going to break his household to the extreme. I heard of a Woman who committed suicide when she heard her husband married another Woman.

There is a lot of Western critique of Polygyny which is practiced in Muslim Countries and this critique extends to the Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu alayhi wasallam for taking more than wife. It should be noted here though, that most of the Wives of the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam were either old, widows or divorced and were in fact given his protection when they entered into the marriage and this argues their claim that the Prophet Muhammad SAWs married Women because of his own personal desires.

I find this critique of Islam by the West to be hypocritical. Considering how dating and having illicit relationships with different partners is the norm there. In fact, compared to that the Islamic system of such a thing is better. It protects the Women involved, gives them their rights and they can't be just 'thrown' away or changed.

I was doing some research on Polygyny and I was surprised to find that it is not only Islam who permits polygyny. In fact, Polygynous marriages have been quite common in different parts of the World in the past. Including China and is also permitted in some parts of Christianity. Here is a wikipedia article on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygyny

Saying all of that, I still wouldn't involve myself in a Polygynous relationship. I still believe in a One Man & Woman marriage, however I wholeheartedly defend the Islamic concept of Polygyny against critique because above everything else, it was practiced by the Prophet Salallahu alayhi wasallam.

What some people fail to realise is, [Including Muslims] that there is a difference between not liking something for yourself and not liking the concept itself. Polygyny is a part of Islam & therefore needs to be defended, however, there is choice in the matter involved so you can choose to not be involved in a polygynous relationship.

Ridiculing the concept of Polygyny is where the trouble arises as it is ridiculing the Qurán & Sunnah.

Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi Wabarakath,

I came across this recitation and i've been listening to this over and over again.

MashaÁllah he is beautifully talented and gifted from Allah. A beautiful qiraat is not easy to come by, it requires time and effor, sometimes years for a person to perfect. And some people are just blessed by Allah with beautiful voices when it comes to reciting the Qurán.

Qari Ziyad Patel is from South Africa and has one of the most sweetest voices which does not fail to move the heart.

Here he recites some of my favourite verses from Surat An-Nur [The Ayah of Nur]:

Is it just me or has all the hubub died down? No, don't get me wrong. I'm happy that there are no more current air-strikes in Gaza but Palestine is still a Country oppressed and Gaza is still suffering.

But, why do I feel that we've become silent once again. That the fund-raising, the rallies, the protests - they've all died down?

Do we only rise when worse comes to worse and become silent again when it's not so bad? Or when it's something that we've become indifferent to? Is that what our state has become?

Our lands are still under attack. Our people are still oppressed. Our leaders still need to either step down or be changed.

However, I have a feeling we will again become silent spectators. This is our state and it is a pathethic state. Everything will go back to normal and we will only think a thought or two when we, maybe, read the newspaper. 'O, those poor Iraqis' or 'Oh, my Muslim Brothers & Sisters in Palestine' - and then we'll go back to earning a living, meeting our friends, laughing and forgetting.

Until another Muslim Country is attacked. Until more people are killed in brutal genocide.

My Sister mentioned this to me the other day and then I saw this on Yahoo News.

This is so interesting! A Woman had 8 children and they're all healthy and kicking. And to add to that, she already has six children!

Although, I don't know how she would be able to handly 14 children at one go. If she can, props to her. I know for a fact, that with children who even have a one year age gap, Mothers still have a hard time handling them and apparently, Nadya Suleiman is not married but is going to support them on her own.

Let's just say, I think she has her work cut out for her.

The six boys and two girls, the second octuplets born alive in the United States, have garnered worldwide attention as media have attempted to find out more about the mother and her family. Hours after media gathered outside the Whittier home, Kaiser issued a statement on behalf of the mother requesting privacy.

"Please know, in our own time, we will share additional details about this miraculous experience," the statement read. "The babies continue to grow strong every day and make good progress. My family and I are ecstatic about all of their arrivals. Needless to say the eighth was a surprise to us all, but a blessing as well."

Within hours, media had camped out at the family's home in Whittier, where the babies' grandfather pulled up in a minivan in the evening and briefly spoke to The Associated Press. Beside him were two children — a 7-year-old and 6-year-old — who said they were excited to have eight new siblings.

But the grandfather warned that media may have a tougher time finding the family after the babies are released from the hospital.

"We have a huge house, not here," said the man, who would only identify himself as Ed. "You are never going to know where it is."

The mother also has two children, ages 5 and 3, and 2-year-old twins, neighbors told the Times.

Suleman said her daughter had embryos implanted last year, and after finding out she was pregnant with multiple babies was given the option by doctors of selectively reducing the number of embryos. The woman declined.

"What do you suggest she should have done? She refused to have them
killed," Suleman told the Times. "That is a very painful thing."

It was narrated that Abu Umamah Al-Bahili (radiAllahu anhu) said:

The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:

"Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi immediately after each prescribed Prayer, there will be nothing standing between him and his entering Paradise except death."

[an-Nasa'i, Ibn Hibban, ibn Sunni, at-Tabarani, ibn Hibban - Sahih]

I slack sometimes. And when I do, I slack really badly. This is one part of me that I really want to make better. The part that gets lazy & doesn't feel like doing any work. The part that somehow or the other ends up reading Isha at 12 or 1 AM regardless of the intention to read it early. The part that leaves the work to be finished till the last minute. The part that leaves things unorganised and loathes the fact that it is left unorganised.

Sometimes I'm normal. At other times, I'm a bad case of a Slack-errr.

Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi Wabarakath,

I came across this video on this blog and I'm not sure the shock of what I watched has actually settled in yet.

I keep on realising how many blessings Allah azza wa jal has blessed me with. The comfort of my house, the food I eat, the clothes I wear and yet I know I'm not grateful enough.

This video is not for the weak-hearted. It's about a toddler, a baby, who was killed in Gaza. Burned. My Sister is pregnant and about to give birth and I know the feeling of attachment a Woman has with her child. I also know how innocent and adorable little children are... truly a blessing of Allah.



I think only people with cruel soulless hearts can do something like this. Something so inhumane. The Israelis said they did not intentionally target children, but this is a lie. Doctors and other witnesses said Children were deliberately killed and from short-range.

Why so? My Sister and I were discussing it and it all seems so similar to what Pharoah did to the people during his time- the children at that time were killed so that they could not defeat the Pharoah.

We all know generations after generations of Palestinians are involved in defending their Country... could this have been one of their policies?

Wa Allahu Aaalam... :(

I have to give it to the Palestinians for their sabr and tawakkul in Allah. I noticed that whenever they came upon the dead they would say, 'HasbunAllah wa na'mal wakeel' [Allah is sufficient for us and he is the best disposer of our Affairs]. A Muslim is required to call to Allah in times of need and calamity and our first reaction to any calamity is a test from Allah.

At the end, the doctor says, 'Where is Islam? Where are the Muslims?' - and that is something we should all be thinking. Where are we?

May Allah SWT easen our affairs. Ameen.

We decided to visit Ras Al Khaimah yesterday in search for snow. We left Dubai around 3:30pm and it was a long drive all the way to Ras Al Khaimah. We planned to visit Al Jees mountain and see the much talked about snow but we turned back halfway up the mountain because by the time we reached the sun was setting and the road back was slippery and dangerous. So although we didn't reach the intended place and see snow I still had fun.

Sometimes living in Dubai makes you forget the other emirates and their beauty which are in the same Country. Dubai is such a contrast to all the other emirates but for some reason, while I was in Ras Al Khaimah I found it more peaceful. Although it didn't have Dubais [fake] glamour and glitz there was something about it which was touching. Small kids running around playing, Masajids after every corner, trees and mountains. It reminded me of old Dubai. People were more down to the earth in RAK, and you actually felt you were in a 'Muslim Arab' Country. I liked the little boards on the way to make dua, do adhkar and I really liked this particular one on a signal which reminded people to to do istighfaar while you are waiting for the signal to open. :)

Dubai, on the other hand, makes you feel like you're in the West.

I didn't see a single Woman without Hijab, in fact, majority of the Women I saw were Niqaabis [Women who cover their faces] and I know for a fact that in Dubai wearing the Niqaab among Muslim Women is becoming less and less. I didn't feel so odd over there because I fit right in.

Anyway, although we didn't come across any snow, I took a few snaps of the mountains. :)

There is talk about recession everywhere. Of people leaving their cars on the airport and running away because they don't have money to pay their loans. And people cutting down on their extravagance and their spending.

However, how does or did the recession affect Women?

I wanted to book myself for an appointment at the Salon the other day so I asked my Sister to call and do it for herself and me. The Woman told us she was booked for three days continuous.

Laughingly she said, 'Recession? What recession? People should come and look at my parlour! When it comes to Women and their beauty, there is never any recession!

Which, in my opinion, I think is true to an extent.

Speaking of the recession though, I've realised that although it might have affected some people drastically, others are just complaining because they have to cut down on their extra extravagance and luxury. All I have to say to that is, be happy you have food to eat!