He is only worth it if he respects your obedience to your Lord ❤

Hijab seems to be a very controversial topic nowadays and though I have posted on this topic before I think it is important to address certain issues that constantly come up. I have recently read something and been asked to talk on the topic of "will he like me if I wear hijab" and a friend made an important point to me which was that we need to love ourselves before wanting someone to love us. I think one needs to be confident enough to adorn the hijab and remember that it is to please the Creator of the creation that you are trying so hard to please. If the Creator is happy with you then HE will open the hearts of those around you and if a brother comes along and has a problem with what the Creator has ordained for you then is he really worth it?

we are indoctrinated by the norms of today and made to believe that beauty has a criteria when really, the only criteria beauty should have is love for the Creator. I strongly believe that beauty is manifested through character and knowledge because if someone is beautiful on the inside, has a beautiful heart and mind then their outward form becomes beautified by that.

Islam came to change the norm of society and bring it back to its default position and the default position of mankind is good character, modesty and most importantly love and consciousness of the Creator. We have allowed our animalistic natures to manifest so much to the point of forgetting our humanity and allowing ourselves to drown in worldly desires. 
This unfortunately is the root of where the above mentioned question stems.

Coming from a niqabi's perspective, I think that if things are done the right way then it is more than just possible for 'him to like you with hijab' because traditionally as well as religiously, a boy and girl's family usually knows they are ready and of marrying age and look for someone suitable and they meet and can see from there if they want to pursue the relationship. Nowadays however, it seems that we have 'westernised' or 'modernised' the way in which we find partners and hence we find sisters having difficulty in adorning the hijab due to worry that they will be unable to find a suitor but let me assure you all, there is definitely a way because if you please the Creator, He will grant you someone who can help you in attaining His pleasure and someone who appreciates your effort.

As a niqabi, I have realised that it is possible for someone to fall for you by looking at your character first but yes, at the same time we all know males were created as very visual beings so though it is possible, it may get complicated, however, I don't think that any hijabi or niqabi should allow societies norms to dictate her dressing and being especially if It goes against shari'ah because what the Lord Himself obligates us to do can never be to our detriment or to make us unattractive but rather more attractive and to safeguard us because HE Knows what we NEED and He created beauty and loves beauty so may we all find the strength to please Him and may He help us to rediscover ourselves and find HIM and be directed to our default position in shaa Allah!

My Journey As a Student Of 'Ilm

Growing up I was always exposed to the traditional saying that is attributed to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) which states "SEEK KNOWLEDGE FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE" (though a weak chain of narration) and I grew up having firm belief in this statement and here I am today doing exactly that In-shaa-Allah. I sit today in the company of such esteemed scholars and have the opportunity of being taught by these most knowledgeable people alhamdulillah and I have no one else but Allah ta'ala to thank for that. 

The knowledge I am exposed to now forces me to think and analyse and not just accept everything that is thrown at me.

I have learnt that islam is not a religion of mere acceptance but filled with challenges to the mind. Yes there are things which are explicitly and clearly indicated but there is room for understanding as well and if this wasn't the case then there would not be so many different opinions on one issue. This room for different interpretation isn't there for us to change the deen but rather to facilitate ease for us and to make us realise that the deen and the Book is there for all eras and all ages! We should never change the deen to fit our lives but change our lives to fit the deen because the deen is made for all times and ages. Also, we should not make it hard upon ourselves because Allah ta'ala doesn't love extremism and wants ease for us! 

Most importantly, through this journey I am on I have learnt that whatever one learns, one should pass on, as it is so beautifully stated in a poem by abi ishaaq al biri on the virtues of knowledge:

يزيد بكسرة الانفاق منه    و ينقص ان به كفا شددتا

This line of poetry can be translated as "(knowledge) increases the more you spend of it and it will decrease the more you keep it to yourself" 

so my intention in-shaa-Allah is to share whatever little I do know because I am no scholar and neither do I claim to ever be one because I have a long way to go but in-shaa-Allah I am a student of ilm and hope that the little I do know can be of benefit and ignite something in the heart of even one of you reading this and I hope that with your dua and prayer I am able to be successful in fulfilling my intention ♡ 

Ameen

My Niqab Experience...

Alhamdulillah a few years ago Allah had granted me the hidayah to adorn my hijab and though I may have started off not adorning it in the completely correct manner, we all have to start off somewhere and now when I look back, I realise hijab was the best thing that could have happened for me.

Many think that hijab is covering the hair but hijab is covering ourselves completely in a beautiful manner that pleases Allah Ta’ala. This means not wearing tight or revealing clothes and staying away from being too extravagant.

A year ago I made a decision to adorn niqab and many around me were rather sceptical but Alhamdulillah a year later and Allah ta'ala has given me the strength to persevere and manage through many circumstances. I had many people try to discourage me and the usual concerns were that I am young and need to enjoy life and niqab may inhibit that and also how I would cope in a secular world or a working environment because there may be a situation in which I may be refused a job due to my dressing but Alhamdulillah I never allowed that to stop me and I chose to do it anyway.

I cannot describe the feeling that overwhelmed me on that day, a year ago, because it was one of the most amazing feelings ever. It was the beginning of a new chapter, something that illuminated my heart with happiness. I had never felt so liberated, so free, so confident…

People may wonder how something that covers you can make you feel so free but as I said, it’s a feeling that I cannot describe because for some reason I felt as if I was looking at the world with an entirely new perspective. I felt like a new person and ready to take on the world and I had it all planned out..

Obviously we can have all the plans we want but Allah ta'ala has the best of plans for us and whatever I was faced with as the year progressed, I am ever grateful to Him for that because I know it was the best for me and I know that everything and every situation that I have faced this year has made me stronger and helped me to find my way.

I have realised that hijab (and niqab) make a muslimah so much more conscious of Allah ta’ala. It makes you think thoroughly before doing something because you are a representative of your deen. You need to be an example and one that others look up to إن شاء الله. A friend once said that we may sometimes be the only Qur’aan another person reads. We should manifest the beauty of our deen. Unfortunately nowadays people judge the deen based on the people who make no effort to correctly portray the deen in the first place. May Allah ta’ala save us and guide us all ameen.

However, we should never judge another but rather pray for our fellow sisters and advise them quietly because remember that we all started somewhere and we aren’t all saints. We forget that this is a process we all go through especially living in the morally corrupt society that surrounds us, nevertheless hijab is still a fard and this is only because Allah ta’ala loves His servants and wants the best for us. We should look most beautiful in His presence and save our beauty for our husband because if we are to show our beauty to every man around us then the person we’re made to be with will never truly appreciate it and won’t be able to see our true beauty because it has been shared to so many others already.

My advice to my fellow muslimahs is:

If you are in a situation of extreme heat and tempted to remove your hijab or niqab, remember that the heat of hellfire is worse!

If you are in a situation where you are surrounded by males in a working environment, school environment or sometimes even a student accommodation environment, remember to persevere no matter how hard or tempting it may be because you shall be rewarded for it and nothing is better than gaining the pleasure of your Lord.

Also, always carry an extra niqab when going out to eat or for coffee (I speak from experience with coffee) because it can sometimes be a task depending on what you eat but eventually you will get used to it, I assure you, and it becomes so easy… and there are some advantages to eating with niqab, that I can tell you for sure! ;)

May Allah ta'ala safeguard and guide us all ameen.

ma'assalamah
 

"Every Soul Shall Taste Death"

Death is something many find difficult to comprehend and yet it's the only guaranteed thing in life. Many people take this life for granted not realising that death is always following us and is on its own clock. Death knows no age and no status and we cannot escape it so are we prepared for this visitor? 

Each passing second and each breath is a second and a breath closer to our death yet we seem to forget this very often. This world is filled with temptations surrounding us and slowly trying to reel us in and the sad thing is that some of us are reeled in so fast we don't even realise it. We are like fish in an ocean and the fisherman is shaytaan who's waiting with a rod and bait and we so easily fall for the bait and get caught and once we're caught it seems to be too late... 

Alhamdulillah lucky for us Allah swt always gives us another chance we're always given opportunities to turn back because in Islam U-turns are always allowed no matter where you are or what you're doing there's always an opportunity to turn back and repent. Allah swt loves those who when they make mistakes they repent for it and ask for forgiveness. 

Sadly nowadays we see many who are so caught up in the temptations of this dunya that they lose sight of the aakhirah yet Allah swt tells us that this world is but an enjoyment and we know that this world is a paradise for the non-believer and a prison for the believer so which category do we fall into? 

If you ask a youth what's their vision or goals they'd tell u what career they wish to pursue or what car they dream of driving or where they wish to live or what possessions they wish to have etc but very rarely do you find one saying that their goal is Jannah and all they want is to go through this journey wisely and with the guidance of Allah swt and to remain on the siraatul mustaqeem until they reach their ultimate destination after meeting with their Rabb Subhana'Allah. 

The world we live in and society we live in encourages one to follow fashion trends and live a lavish lifestyle or else one would be outcast and this is the sad reality especially knowing that many have fallen prey to this lifestyle. Islam is about simplicity. 

“simplicity is the ultimate satisfaction”

The simpler life is the better life is but many fail to realise this. How many people live such lavish lifestyles yet feel so empty inside. What's the use having everything yet being depressed. When death knocks on your door all your wealth doesn't get you anywhere, it's your deeds. Nothing goes with you except your good deeds. 

Death is something none of us can escape and it's sad to see how many people have forgotten that and how many people think that they'd live forever and can use science to bypass or prevent death na'oozubillah. Science comes from the quraan and from Allah swt so how can one escape death, the one thing that Allah swt has guaranteed us, by using the knowledge that He has given us. Nothing and no one can bypass death. 

“every soul shall taste death”

Death is something we should remind ourselves about every single day because the more we think of death the more we'd fear doing any wrong or engaging in any sin. We need to remember that the way we die shall be the way we are resurrected so don't die in a state of sin a'oozubillah. Imagine if you decide that you just want to have a little fun and "you only live once" which is what many youth say today as well as adults, and you decide to go to a club and the angel of death is right behind you and when he stops you there's no going back, would u like to die in that state? 

Always pray to die in a good state with Imaan in your heart, your forehead in sujjood, your lips moist with zikr and tears in your eyes filled with love for Allah swt. Alhamdulillah. May we all die in a beautiful state such as that. 

We attend funerals and some of us still don't take lesson from it. We ought to take lesson that life can be taken away at any time and death is on its own clock subhana'Allah and every worldly pleasure one has can be taken away in an instant. 

Never go to sleep thinking you'd see the morning and never wake up thinking you'd see the evening because you never know when the angel of death could visit you. 

You could be the richest person, most beautiful person, whatever the case may be, nothing will entice the angel of death to give you another chance because to the angel of death you're just another name on the list so be prepared because it could come at any second. One second you're here the next you're gone. 

Pray to always be one whom just as when you were born everyone was smiling whilst you were crying and pray for a death where when you die everyone is crying yet you are smiling AllahuAkbar. And always remember to be good to others because they will be the ones making dua for you and bring up good and pious children who will pray for you when you leave this dunya in shaa Allah. 

The beauty of mothers

Dedicated to my mum...

Mothers are very special women and yet they’re usually the ones we take for granted. One never truly realises the worth of their mother until one becomes a parent then only are they able to identify with their parents. Mothers do so much for us yet we never truly appreciate what gets done for us.

Every morning, a mother is up before the rest of the family, she’s the one who wakes everyone else up for salaah, and by the time the rest of the family awakens, the breakfast table is ready, the school lunches are packed, the work lunch is packed, the supper is already cooked and the house is almost cleaned. Ever wondered how all this gets done? Or is it that we just take for granted that all this will be done for us and never really stop to consider the amount of work and effort it takes.

They say a mother’s love is unexplainable and I may not be a mother yet but I definitely agree with this because I’ve realised that a mother, no matter what she may be going through, will always put her children first.

When you lay sick at night or cried all through the night, who was the one who had sleepless nights and lay awake with you trying to calm you down and do her best to make you smile? Who was the one that made sure you were comfortable at all times and ensured that your temperature came down and your illness disappeared? Who was the one who sat up praying all night for your health? That’s right! Your MUM

As you got older, who taught you your first words? Who helped you take your first steps? Who was there to catch you every time you fell on your bottom like a little lamb trying to take its first steps?... that’s right! Your MUM

When it was time to go to school, the very first day, who did you cry for? Your MUM and she made sure she was right there by your side to make sure you’re alright. The hardest thing she had to do was leave your side on that very first day but she had no choice, it was for your own betterment... yet she never failed to wait outside the school gate at the end of every day or never failed to wait at the door for you to arrive so she could welcome you with a big hug and kiss and ask you all about your day. When something was wrong, she’d run to your rescue and leave behind everything she was doing. When she was called in to the office she always took your part and always believed the best in you. Your first fight, she was the one to cover your wounds and ever ready to help you fight those battles, anything for her little baby to be safe. She’d even do all your projects for school just so that you wouldn’t feel stressed and you’d always get the highest because of her effort...

Then you went on to high school... imagine how it felt to watch her baby grow up and move on to the next phase of life... being a teenager isn’t the easiest phase in life and almost always it’s the time when children move furthest from their parents.

I write this from my own experience as an older teen, it’s one of the most difficult phases that one goes through in life because it brings about uncertainty. The one person who’s always waiting to help you when you fall is your mother. During this time one goes through mental, physical, emotional, and hormonal changes and it can be quite overwhelming for most and at times one just wants to be left alone but I can assure you that it’s not the best option. I know that many teenagers, myself included, sometimes feel like no one understands and sometimes all you need to do is cry, or find a way to get rid of these emotions, some use anger, tears, frustration, etc as defence mechanisms but that’s never a good thing because over the years I’ve learnt that it’s better to say what you feel and when you feel no one understands you, turn to your Lord, but when u want someone to listen and just hug you, instead of a best friend sometimes the best option is actually a mother.

We tend to move away from our mothers and feel like they’re trying to control our life or whatever the case may be, but the truth in fact is that mothers only want the best for us and we may not realise it but at the end they’re always right. It took me long to realise that my mother is always right but eventually I did, and so I appeal to all out there especially teenagers to listen to your parents, especially your mothers they always have the best advice.

I realise that fathers also have good advice but sometimes they aren’t the most understanding because quite often they worry about us financially, which is a part of their role as a father but it will always be your mother who understands you emotionally even when you feel no one else does, she definitely does. Talk to your mothers my dear sisters in Islam and turn to them, don’t push them away because someday when they’re no longer there or when you become a mother, then only would you realise the true value of a mother.

Eid ul Fitr - Sisters' Dressing

The days of Eid are beautiful and blessed days; Eid-al-fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadaan and the beginning of the month of Shawaal. It is sad to know that Ramadaan has passed us by and many of us may not have taken full advantage of all it's blessings but what's even more sad is to see how in ramadaan people strive harder to be better muslims yet throw it all away on the day of Eid.

It's a beautiful sight to see and recognise our muslim brothers and sisters through the month of ramadaan but it's heartbreaking how many of these brothers and sisters then remove their beautifully adorned hijab on the day of Eid and many brothers shave their beards to look 'neat' for the day of Eid. Eid has so many blessings in it and a lot of young sisters, as well as older sisters go shopping days on end to find the perfect outfit and go to salons to do their hair and make up for the day of Eid. Is all this really necessary? Yes we are supposed to adorn new or good clothing on yaumul Eid but that doesn't mean we ought to rid our hijab and plaster our faces with so much of make up that eventually stops some sisters from performing salaah on this most beautiful day because they are afraid of messing up their hair and make up.

Shaytaan gets happy to see muslims with weak Imaan return to him as soon as the day of Eid arrives. Why is it that a sister can wear hijab for a whole month but then suddenly find it hard to wear it afterwards? Who are you trying to impress dear sisters? Is it really worth it?

Remember, Ramadaan isn't people putting up an act for a month but rather it is an insight into what one is really capable of doing everyday so you had an entire month to pick up good habits and rid bad habits and if you can wear the hijab and do good for that month then why can't you do it out of Ramadaan too? #think about it.

Allah swt ordered women to cover themselves and wear the hijab, etc because الله swt loves us and wants us to be protected like precious jewels subhanaAllah and how can we openly ignore الله's orders when we know that الله swt always knows what's best for us.

“Any woman who puts on perfume and passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance, is an adulteress.” 

Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 5126; al-Tirmidhi, 2783; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb, 2019.

Slaves to Fashion

Every season is a new trend, styles are constantly changing, and as time passes, the clothing seems to be getting less and less...

Media unfortunately has an impact on people globally, especially young girls of today, tugging on their self esteem. Images of half-naked females with what seems to be the perfect figures bombard the media: billboards, television adverts, magazines, etc. These images make young ladies believe that this is what 'perfection' looks like and they aim to be just that. That's just talking about a person's figure, what about the dressing? Have you ever stopped to look around you and notice how every item of clothing nowadays seems to lack modesty? They look good because that's what the media portrays as nice but are they really modest? I mean, if they're long, they're tight, if it's loose, it's short, if it's loose and long, its see-through!

"There are two types of people who will be punished in hell and whom I have not seen: men having whips like the tails of cows and they will be beating people with them, and women who will be dressed but appear to be naked, inviting to evil; and they themselves will be inclined to it. Their heads will appear like the humps of the Bactrian Camel inclined to one side. They will not enter Jannah and they will not smell its fragrance which is perceptible from such and such a distance"

Everything that the prophet had said can now be seen everywhere one goes because there are females all around that seem to, and claim to be 'covered' but appear to be naked because of how figure-hugging and see-through the clothing of today is.

Wake up my dear brothers and sisters! Yes, it's not only the female fashion trends, it's also the male fashion trends! Everything mentioned in the first paragraph of this post applies to males too.

"The Apostle of الله cursed the man who dressed like a woman and the woman who dressed like a man."

I quote this hadith because it's become a growing trend among men and especially young males to wear what is known as the skinny jeans. Skinny jeans has become the new fashion amongst males and females and this is disturbing because if we had to look at a male and female, judging by just their pants, we are unable to tell the difference at times! And not only that my dear brothers and sisters, what about the many young females who dress like brothers nowadays? The over sized hoodies and tackies?

I mention all of this not because I'm against fashion but because I have been told that I don't need to use my cloak/abaya and scarf to be dressed modestly and be covered, I can also "dress up" and still be modest, but when I actually looked around me, I realised that there's nothing modest anymore, including abayas/cloaks nowadays. A'oozubillah nowadays when we walk into a cloak shop we find every different style and type of cloak, cloaks and abayas are even being branded nowadays, and apart from brands, the cuts and sizes and styles...are appalling! The abayas and cloaks nowadays are made such that they attract more attention than anything, they are also starting to become figure-hugging na'oozubillah.

Forget the cloaks and abayas my sisters, what about the hijab? Where is the modesty? Hijab is supposed to protect us not attract more attention from brothers around us. Sisters nowadays "bling" their hijab so much, and not to forget half the head of hair that's always showing out the scarf. Sisters when will all this change?

I look around and see sisters who dress with tight jeans, tight short-sleeved tops, the highest of heels, and throw a scarf over and claim that if their head is covered (with half of their hair showing) then they're modest. Sisters that's not how it works. الله knows best I have been there and I know it takes time but sisters think about it, are we really guaranteed time? We need to make a change. Alhamdulillah it is now Ramadan and we find sisters in cloaks and hijab and brothers in their kurtas and beards but let's try and keep it this way even after Ramadan.

Modesty is an important part of life and hayaa(modesty) is most beautiful on a sister or even a brother. Apart from modesty in character, modesty in dress is imperative and it's time we all open our eyes to that.

Sisters is it really worth it to be slaves to fashion and look good now and attract attention from ghair mahrams whilst our aakhirah remains a mystery?

Don't get me wrong I'm not against fashion I do admire the clothing I see but I think to myself is it really worth it. All these clothing and fashion trends that just lead us towards jahannam, is it really worth it?

Do u want to be called hot here because of the way you dress and then experience the blazing hot fire of jahannam or would you rather be modestly covered and be called beautiful and enjoy the beauty of jannah in the aakhirah? Think about it.

It appalls me to see people around me lose their purpose in life which is to serve الله swt and instead find a sense of belonging and purpose in serving and slaving towards fashion. There's nothing wrong in wanting to look good, but don't do it for the wrong reasons, and there are many ways you can look good without dressing in tight clothing or short clothing. It saddens me to watch my sisters in Islam wear short clothing and enter into the modelling industry because they have the perfect body type for certain clothing. الله has blessed you with a stunning body, which is just loaned to you, you shouldn't be flaunting it to everyone out there just because the clothing 'looks good on you' and shows your curves. Your body is made to be cared and looked after by you, and that's not the way to care for it.

I know brothers nowadays say they like curves on a lady, etc but that's no reason to be flaunting your beautiful body to brothers to catch their attention, it really isn't worth it sisters.

REMEMBER, You don't need to wear figure-hugging and see-through clothing just to attract others or to feel good about yourself.

A TRUE MUSLIMAH NEVER FORGETS THAT ISLAM, WHICH ENCOURAGES HER TO LOOK ATTRACTIVE UNDER THE PERMITTED LIMITS, IS ALSO THE RELIGION THAT WARNS HER AGAINST EXTRAVAGANCE.

This is not only for muslims but for all, let us all open our eyes and be true to ourselves and let's explore the beauty of modesty. 

Ma'assalamah