Eid Essentials: Pixie's Picks for husband and wife

a funky take on the traditional Eid dress for her http://www.al-anwarfashion.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=55_58&products_id=215 for $63.99 USD. a kashkha (cool) Eid thobe for him http://www.lomarthobe.com/shopping/index.php?target=products&product_id=29833.

Nabila's Pick Of The Week

Nabila's outfit is a cute but simple and easy to pull off:

Here's my version:

Purple Cardie by Zaenab

More coming soon, Insha'Allah!

Why I haven't Posted

Sorry I am not posting. I dislocated my arm and it is swollen and hurts too much. Give me two days:P Maybe some Jum'a Thoughts and a fashion post---my best buys for Eid and Ramadan:D

I have a new nephew.

Assalamualaikum dear friends and visitors. Once again I've been lacking in updating this blog for almost 4 days. I have so many things going on this week and could not spare much time on the internet. Furthermore, this few days, the connection is very slow and uploading pictures really take a lot of time and time is what I don't have.

Anyway, I have a good news to share with you guys. Yesterday morning, at 6.15 am, my younger sister gave birth to her fourth child, another boy. Weigh only 2.5 kg, he's rather small and light not like his older brother before him who's more than 3 kg. It was an easy birth and after a few hours at the hospital she came home with the wonderful baby.

Look at him, sleeping so peacefully. Welcome to the big family my dear. He'll be my parent 18th grandbaby.


I cradled him in my arm and a feeling so overwhelming crept in my heart. So heavy, that I cried just from looking at him. Subhanallah! Just last night he was still in his mother's tummy and now... Allah is GREAT!

Looks like our home would be more chaotic after this with 6 children under the age of 6. And I can't wait to get home to be with them.

Outfit Ideas

Cute ideas for a formal event:

Breakfast at Tiffany's Abaya Set

Sooooo elegant. A "tiffany box blue" hijab, white abaya, little black book, oversized sunglasses, and a pearl bracelet, and voila!

White jilbab/abaya from http://www.maryamsboutique.com/product_info.php?products_id=737&osCsid=536 for $54.99 USD.

As salaam alaykom ramatullah wa barakato

Asalaam alaykom ramatullah wa barakato my sisters:

I am going to be posting a little less fashion for this Ramadaan (excepting Eid outfits and gift ideaas:D) and focussing more on my deen by doing Islamic posts. Hope nobody minds. Love you all for the sake of Allah subhanhu wa ta ala and I wish you a blessed month of Sha`baan, ameen.

For Umi: what the Bible says about Islam and why Muslims don`t follow the Bible

This video above shows with quotes from the Qu'ran and the ahadiths and the Christian Bible the commands to call the prayer, wash for the prayer, and motions for the prayer.

This video below shows the proofs and prophecies in the old and new testaments of the Christian Bible that foretold the coming of the Prophet Mohammed sallalahu alahi wa salaam:

And why Muslims do not follow the Bible (I studied archeology and history and after studying the subject, I just couldn`t BE a Christian---but the Qu`ran's sources had not changed, unlike the Bible):

AND this is what was banned from the Bible`s sources:















































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Request: Chanel Scarf Outfit

Someone (I can't for love nor money remember their name..) asked me a while back to put an outfit together that she can wear with a vintage Chanel scarf she bought. I decided the only way to go is prim and polished with a long skirt and tweed jacket (very on trend right now on the Chanel runway).

My take on the look:

Chanel Inspired Outfit by Zaenab

Hope this helped!

If you have anymore requests either pop them in the comments or email me :D

Something different to read in a fashion blog.

Rights of Women in Islam

By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

Progress and evolution of society depends upon the two basic factors: i) proper human relationship and ii) inter connection of rights and duties. Oppression, exploitation and injustice are detrimental to a progressive society. It then begins to degenerate and tumble headlong towards destruction. In a just and balanced society, it is necessary that both men and women work together for the betterment and upliftment of society - that they work in coherence, completing and complementing each other. It is as much necessary that all members of the society are granted their due share of rights, and their duties too are well defined. In a just society, the weaker sections are looked after properly and compassionately while full care is taken to ensure that they are not deprived of their rights or oppressed in any way.

Women have all along belonged to the category of the weaker section of humanity. As such, a society that tries to uplift the status of women and installs them on the pedestal of dignity, looking after their welfare and making provisions for their protection can be considered a just society. At this juncture, while we are preparing to equip ourselves for the 21 century, would it not be worthwhile to examine, in short, whether we have tried to grant women the rights that may lead them to a better future, to a more peaceful just and dignified coexistence with all human beings?

The modern world may apparently be much concerned about women and make very fair promises to them. It promises them freedom from slavery, from male-domination, even from the established institution of marriage, from the boredom of being a housewife to a much more glamorous world. It promises them freedom from the burden of birth pangs, and the pains of rearing a family. But instead, what does it actually have in store? Nothing but exploitation, injustice, oppression, aggression, harassment, neurosis and indignity. In the name of emancipation, women today have to bear with rape, mutilation, abuse, inequality, discrimination and harassment.

Coming nearer home (India), we find that the apparent glamour of the feminist movement has overawed us. We have our own roots in the culture and religion embedded in our soil, but we try to blindly imitate the West in as much of our activities as possible. On the one hand, our women with their demure and bashful nature seem to us symbols of virtue, on the other hand we try to instigate our women to reveal as much of their bodies. Then, when our women are way laid and their modesty torn, we shed crocodile tears. The present Indian scenario, with events of female harassment ever on the increase, we have a most pathetic sight. Even our workplaces (not to talk about our homes) are not safe. Even those women holding higher bureaucratic posts are not spared. Laws against sexual harassment and rape are being moulded and remolded but the escalation in gender related crimes keeps rising unabated. Female foeticide is on the increase. Most dowry deaths go unreported. In fact, with the present day status, who would refuse to accept that women are poised suicidally on the brink of disaster? The facts and figures showing deliberate women's subjugation under the cover of pleasure making cannot put them to sleep. There is wave of restlessness to be found everywhere.

Many suggestions have been made in this regard like it is being felt at certain quarters that women need rights, not power. At other places, education is being recommended for women's over all development. Some recommend political empowerment. Yet some say that women can only be truly emancipated by becoming economically independent. Whatever be the case, we cannot isolate the various aspects of women's development into different channels and work for any one or the other. We have to devise a comprehensive system which, while recognising women as respectable human beings, may at the same time lend them confidence, dignity, poise, self-respect and freedom from exploitation of all kind. Only then could the human race become stronger, of superior breed, capable of taking up the responsibility of spreading welfare, love, friendship and goodwill to make this beautiful earth a better place to live in.

Till now, a dispassionate study of the position of women in Islam has rarely been made. Orientatalists are in the habit of quoting and misquoting, even misinterpreting the Qur'anic injunctions and the Sunnah, which form the source of the Islamic system. The Muslim society is also by and large responsible for stultifying the dynamism of Islam and creating misconceptions, because they have lost their capacity to represent Islam in its true spirit. The Muslim culture that we see around us is not truly the Islamic culture that the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) had evolved, but a sad mixture of many cultures, where un-Islamic infiltration have nearly altered the very essence of what should have been the Islamic society. So while presenting these points regarding the rights of women in Islam, one thing should be clear in our minds that these are purely what should have been in the Muslim society and not what is existing today.

One significant point that we have to understand about Islam is that it does nowhere raise the question of superiority or inferiority of any sex, while talking about men and women. Islam considers each sex unique in its own sphere of activity and allots roles to each sex, best suited to them and according to their nature and needs. Men and women in Islam are not antagonists, but separate entities created to complement and complete each other. Each sex is given a definite set of goals, to be achieved by his/her own individual efforts. The unit of society is the family. As such, the well being of the family would mean the well being of the whole society.

Islam makes the family the key social unit. All the members of this unit play specific roles for its welfare and upkeep. The position of women derives from the very premise that the family is the cornerstone of the Muslim society. The Islamic system is very sensitive about protecting and safeguarding the foundation of the family. Hence there is strict prohibition of extramarital relations or indulgence in free sex, as this weakens the base of the family. Under the Islamic system, discrimination on grounds of sex, power or wealth is not allowed. Indeed the Qur'an states very simply the origin of mankind by rejecting any distinction or discrimination on account of birth. The Holy Quran explicitly states:

"O Mankind, reverence your Guardian Lord who created you from a single person. Create of like nature His mate, and from the twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women."(Nisa)

While conceding equality of the sexes, the Qur'an categories men and women according to their deeds in this world. It states that all men and women are answerable equally to God:

"Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, verily to him will We give a new life, a life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their rewards according to the best of their actions." (Al-Nahal:97)

"Even while seeking the blessings of Allah, both men and women are promised full returns of their labour, apart from the excessive bounties showered by Him: "To men is allotted what they earn and to women what they earn but ask God of His bounty. For God hath full knowledge of all things." (Nisa:32)

The wisdom of the principles and laws of nature have been employed in regulating mutual relationship. The Qur'an states: "All things We made in pairs" (Az-Zariat:49). This acknowledges men and women as distinctly separate entities, yet relates the two mutually making each the guardian of the other: "The believers, men and women are protectors of one another. They enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil; they observe regular prayers, precise regular charity and obey God and His Messenger." (Tauha:71)

Personal development, intellectual pursuits and the acquisition of knowledge are human rights that should be conceded to males and females alike, without discrimination. Islam allows for equal opportunities to both the sexes in the pursuit of knowledge. Here is nothing of the reaction or hatred that the modern society preaches. There is no derision, no underestimation anywhere. Each sex is encouraged to build up the individuality in every way. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) he said "It is essential for every Muslim man and woman to acquire knowledge." Women's guardians are advised not to obstruct their pursuits in education but to encourage them and provide them with opportunities. Examples exist of a number of educated women scholars during the Prophet's time and after who have contributed poetry, Quranic interpretations, medicine and so on. The wives and daughters of magnates and sovereigns have known to patronise knowledge and lavish endowments for the establishment of institutes of learning and social service. All such actions as go for the construction of society and building up righteousness will not go unrecognised. Allah says in the Quran: "If any do deeds of righteousness, be they male or female and have faith, they will enter Heaven and not the least injustice will be done to them." (Nisa:124)

Spiritual attainment is not exclusive for men only. Women have as much right over spiritual purification as men. The Qur'an is very explicit about this. "For believing men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast (and deny themselves). For men and women engage much in God's prayer. For them has God prepared forgiveness and great reward." (Ahzah:35)

Islam treats of women in four dimensions: as mother, as daughter, as wife and as separate human being, and gives them rights accordingly.

Mothers contribute enormously to society. Their love and sacrifice for the off springs cannot possibly be ignored. The Quran recognises the pain and hardship the mother experiences while keeping the human race alive and evoking. "In travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in two years twain was his weaning" (Luqman:14). Keeping this noble service in view, the mother is evaluated to the highest pedestal of human glory. "Paradise lies at the feet of mother," taught the Prophet (peace be upon him). Islam makes it compulsory for children to obey their mothers. A mother's interest and welfare must be preferred thrice before a father's. A mother deserves gratitude, respect, love, kindness and obedience.

A daughter, women always belong to the paternal family. Marriage does not break this bond. The Islamic social order makes elaborate arrangements for fair treatment of the daughter. They must receive love and best maintenance. They have as much rights as the son in educational, physical and mental upliftment. They have their share in the father's property, which is recognised and granted at every cost. If, by chance, a woman becomes a widow or is divorced, Islamic law reverts her back to the paternal home where she may looked after with love and affection. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, "Should I not tell you what is the best charity?That you should show kindness to that daughter who(becoming a widow of having been divorced) has been returned to you, and who has no other maintainer or supporter." (Ibne-e-Majah, Abwahul Adab).
Islam encourages marriage and prohibits any deviated forms of sexual gratification. Marriage helps men and women to develop along natural lines and head towards development and success through mutual co-operation. Marriage prevents immorality licentiousness and irresponsibility. The spouses in marriage agree to share rights and responsibilities to develop a happy family. In this regard it is a contract entered upon by both participants who vow to be ruled by the established law of Allah. The consent of the girl is essential for the completion of the marriage. What a contrast this is to the prevalent system of marriage in our country where the women are given over in the possession of greedy people who cannot be satisfied without demanding for a handsome amount of cash as well as other items of domestic luxury together with the girl. Islam does not five any concept of Tilak or Dahej (dowry). On the contrary, the woman receives the Mahr in marriage, which is the bride - money an exclusive right of the bride. This Mahr may be paid at once after the solemnisation (Nikah) of marriage or any time in life. But if it is not paid during the lifetime, it is considered a debt and like all other debts must be paid from the legacy of the deceased even before distribution of property among the legal heirs. Apart from the Mahr the wife is entitle to share of the deceased husband's property also.

It has been found that Islamic laws can work in offices and factories but society has no preventives to protect them. The educational system that is followed completely ignores the moral and spiritual guidance of human beings. This is the reason why society itself is ignorant about how to respect the women. Islam draws out the complete code of conduct and provides for maintaining the honour and dignity of the women through a modest dress code. All the exploitation and crimes regarding the women mostly centres around their physical charms. So, to put a full stop on any such exploitation believing women have been encouraged to follow the modest dress code and come out of their houses only when in need, not loiter aimlessly. But only this is not sufficient for the safety by making it a rule that in long distance journeys, where night stay is also involved, they be accompanied by a male Mahram (close relative with whom marriage is not possible). Who can safeguard women's honour better than Islam?

The rights of women in Islam are really God's blessings. In this age of violence, misogyny, subordination, exploitation and oppression, women are frantically seeking fair ways and means of deliverance. They want the assertion of their motherhood, in whole, their womanhood. They want to retain everything they own as their own, even their names. Who else can restore these to them if not Islam?

But today, more often it is the women falling prey to the male dominated society. Muslim women are not any the better. They have also remained lagging behind particularly in education, and this is one reason why they have misrepresented their religion. During the era of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the Caliphate, Muslim women played an indispensable role in the construction of society. They took active part in opinion building and decision-making. They delivered religious discourses, ventured outside their homes for the pursuit of knowledge and carried on independent trade. They even participated in Jihad.

But later on, the Muslims themselves started to lose their mark of identity. Stagnation set in their society, and with this the position of women also gradually deteriorated. Today Muslim women, like the rest of their counterparts are in more or less the same deplorable condition, deprived of their rights and opportunities and kept under extremely rigorous conditions.

Hence, to improve the present status of Muslim women and to give them their due share in what is their right, it is indispensable that the Muslim organisations should come forward and make efforts to improve the status of women. It is their duty to see that Muslim women are not deprived from proper education. They have to see that more and more educational institutions for girls are opened and run efficiently, for the benefit of women. A fully planned strategy must be chalked out for vocational professional training to make them self sufficient, so that they may stand on their feet when any such need arises. More centres should be opened for self-defence, training and guidance for girls, to equip them with adequate methods of safety.

It is generally thought that Muslim women are only duty bound to their husband, family and home. They have no other activity outside their home. This a gross mistake, very much against the spirit of Islam, which does not restrict the women within the four walls of their houses only. Whenever there is a need of their positive and constructive contribution outside the home, they are allowed to do so. In doing so, their main motive should be to obtain the pressure of God and service to humanity.

It is a great responsibility for the educated Muslim women to speed up their movement and work among all sections of the society, be they educated, semi-educated or uneducated to awaken them to the true knowledge of Islam, and to revolutionize their lives so that they can stand as examples before all womenfolk. Islam has got the solutions to the problems of women. The need is to exert, to come out with the message to spread this message of peaceful existence with a freedom that is in absolute conformity with the will of Allah.

Date: 15 February 2000
Source: http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/insights/insight20000215b.html

NEW FEATURE: Niqabi Diary

I have decided to make this a new feature of ILOVEHISHMA. Since I have decided to start wearing niqab, inshaAllah, when I leave my job (I put in my notice for Aug. 20th), I thought I'd document my experiences, so those considering it can know what to think.

July 24th, 2009

Well today, since my husband would not be able to accompany me out to the Masjid, I decided to wear niqab. I do this for two reasons. A. I AM most comfrotable this way. and B. the brothers coming to the Masjid for Jum'aa deserve it from all the sisters in our city for us to wear good khimar and jilbab and practice good hijab so they CAN serriously make no excuse for any lack of hijab on their part, ever.

I put on a black abaya, and a very light and breathable black flip-niqab from Oman. It doesn't have a string and I NEED a string (since this thing slips up into my eyes without a string), but it is the lightest most breathable niqab fabric so I didn't care. I flipped the flip part of the niqab to one side, and pinned it into place with a white flower hair pin (that has a crystal center---found in a bridal accessories sale). People find the black niqab less threatening with a big giant sparkly flower strapped to the side of it.

The girls at the hair salon next to my flat are all smiles at me when I walk by and so is the middleaged Doctor who was having a lemonade break outside his offices (but then, these people know me on a daily basis of me running errands and being, ya know, normal, in the village). And the Doctor has always been kind in a normal way to me and my husband, saying goodmorning to us as if we were anyother married couple out for a stroll in the village.

Walking by myself down the street towards downtown people passed peacefully without even too much staring, until I heard a group of four teens from across the street. "Tell her to take that mask off her face" one of the boys (cowardly) urges another. "She's white" says the girl with them. Yes, even forty feet away and nothing but my hands and eyelids showing, the glare of my hands, and the odd green-ish grey of my eyes remains noticeable. I am no Saudi-exchange student.

"I can also speak English, so I can hear AND understand you," I say as they cross the cross walk to intersect with me. "I am a convert to Islam, and my family has lived in this city since the 1800s." Canada isn't even all that old, and my city, relatively young, so this makes some impression.

The cowardly one (urging his idiot friend to tell me to take off my mask but unwilling to do so himself) pipes up. "I am one third Pakistani."

So you want to fit in here, I get it. I am not afraid of anyone but Allah when it comes to my identity as a Muslim.

Idiot (might be drunk) friend decides to pipe up. "I am nine inches and you can have me in you"

Yes, because in ANY other circumstance it is TOTALLY okay to propose sex to a stranger on the street in a threatening way. But you know, I am a Muslim woman. And I am veiled. So I don't deserve the same rights as another plain dressed woman walking down the street. If he saw me in what I was wearing under my abaya (chiffon floaty knee-length dress and stretchy sweater with hair in a bun and diamond drop earrings---underneath I look like a ballet dancer on the way to practice at the studio) I'm sure the incident would not have happened. But it is because the media objectifies Muslim women, and especially the munaqaba woman.

"No thank-you," I politely decline, not threatened, but almost laughing. The guy is not sexually attractive whatsoever, to make such a statement. Never in my life would I ever contemplate dating the guy. These "crony-type Men" always propose sex in a rape like way when they feel out of control. It is something I have learned from past experiences (but that is another story entirely).

The girl's eyes follows me as I move away, and she is left with those sad two, the man that feels sexually and physically threatened by diminuative but empowered me enough to act out like an evil pig, and the other, that is afraid of not fitting in. I saw that she did not hate me, fear me, objectify me. She doesn't know what I look like exactly, but she saw ME. My essence. And it was essentially normal, and it was STRONG, and DIRECTED. I know the look of being lost one's self. And realizing it. That was her look, helpless and lost.

I continued one way, she went another, may Allah guide her (she's the only one out of the three that was intelligent enough and maybe strong enough to increase in any kind of understanding but Allah knows best).

There's alot of construction on the luxury end of the downtown stretch between my more artsy humble area (we can call the area I was walking towards the uptown downtown) so I passed by alot of construction workers. Two gaped, but most went on with their work normally, which is something that never happened when I was a non-muslim ESL teacher and men from the construction sites would actually leave the worksite to try and give me their phone numbers (and I was never the sexy one--I am more the librarian bookish girl type---lol I learned to dress more sexy after I started wearing abaya and met alot of arab women:D).

I have to mention, even before Islam, I never recieved a cat-call in my life, or a whistle. I always understood that how we presented ourselves in clothing represented the level of respect we would eventually recieve from strangers. Men ALWAYS treated me with respect because I dressed like a woman who deserved to be treated that way (although they still saw me as approachable in respectful-but-still-sexual way). My bestfriends (still not Muslims) Am and B always wondered how I found the "hopelessly dedicated" one guy in the nightclub, when B found the weekend fun guy, and Am the creep [and lol, I gotta mention, I never kept a phone number or gave out mine since I didn't want find my true love in a bar]. It was, I told them, because of how we dressed. I dressed in a way that was intimidating for all but those who were serrious. One of Am and B's string of boyfriend's put it as, "[Pixie] dresses like a man wants his wife to dress." The creeps, and the immature, could read clearly, that they need not apply. My husband said that when he first saw me as a teacher in his ESL school (I was never his teacher and did not know him as a student---I only met him at my going-away party from when I left the school) what he liked about me was how I dressed. A childhood friend put it best. "Some women, how they dress, says I want to be touched. Some women dress in a way that says I need to be held. You are the kind of a woman, that when I man sees you, he knows this is a woman he cannot just touch, he has to hold her."

My niqab says, I am beyond the touching and holding of all of those on the street. It says, my beauty is for myself and for Allah.

I think it is good for the men (male construction workers). And the older ones looked like they were thinking of their daughters when I passed by. Or maybe that is because they remind me of my father. I think they were thinking, what would I do if my daughter dressed like that? It would ease some of my problems but it would make her life hard, almost impossible to get a job, get married, lol. Of course I cannot read minds.

I cross up the cross-walk up to the mall. Most people don't stare. Women in their thirties or over DO. And they are, in my experience, the worst when it comes to prejudice. Young tween girls are capable of making ignorant comments among themselves, but at least don't stare and get off telling someone else how to live their lives, lol.

But believe it or not, I am totally aware of not a single man enjoying the sight of my face. I feel comfortable and less self-concsious. And people know that I am Muslim. And they see my little flower. It shows that I got my own way of dressing. They seem to like to hear me talking in plain English on my cell as I prepare to meet up with my little sister. They like to eavsedrop and smile at my conversation, so normal, so NOT what they expected.

My sister and I hug outside a bookstore. She's in skinny jeans and a longish white tee, and pink gelly flip-flops. She's got a bit of cleavage. My sister is the curvy one. I am a bit too slim. People seem awed by our pairing. As if I am not supposed to be able to hold a conversation with a non-scarf wearing female. We break down a billion stereotypes.

BTW, my sister is fine with my Islamic clothing. She says she can still see me in everything that I wear. That I cannot hide myself in anything less than a blue afghani chador with mesh. We joke about my father finding out that I am going to be wearing niqab.

It is summer. Jane is not the most naked chica out there, so it hardly draws any attention whatsovever, till we hit up the Masjid. Then I feel uncomfortable, because the Arab guys think that she is Arab (she can pass for Saudi or Mexican) and do notice her. But they see her with me, and tend to give her a little more respect than eyeing her up as potential convert-marriage meat soon to be on the market---that'd probably happen if she arrived by herself. They'd see her as somebody's girlfriend. Instead of a Muslimah's guest.

We put Jane in a cotton prayer garment in the masjid (which she informs me smells like BO) and she looks soooooooooooo cute. Women say salaam to her, and she responds a bit hesitantly in English "and upon you" to let them know they've made a msitake and she is NOT a Muslim. I, of course, can take of my niqab since there are no men in our side. Then we head back downtown for shopping, Jane rejecting the prayer garment (lol). We have to buy her some jewelry to go with her dress for my civil-service weddings (btw way, Boxie, I found a glam blue [not seafoam]pashmina and it'd look sweet with anything white that you own if you want to wear it for my day]. Only one woman in the stores there give me that odd look that you know isn't curious, but hey, she's working in a store for trendy 20-somethings, and she kinda looks like she's in her late 40s. The young girls of Le Chateau are helpful, and understand that I know what I am doing when it comes to styling stuff, and we can discuss fashion with no barriers and lots of smiles.

We are done our day, Jane catches the bus home. I go grocery shopping. I hear a little boy ask his father why I am wearing what I am wearing. The father says, "Because that is her religion, she is a Muslim." The little boy keeps staring. "But why is she wearing so much black." I laugh and come up to the little boy and wink. "I wear this colour because I don't like to get as dirty as I would be if I wore white or lighter colours. I only wear my pink one for weddings because I am so messy," and I lift the hem of my abaya to show the boy my feet that are kinda grey with dirt. Both him and the father smile. The girl at the checkout is completely normal. I walk down the last stretch of road before my flat and see two arab guys drive by. Don't be ashamed of your deen brothers, I silently urge them, and then, in my home, I flip up my niqab, pray Asr, and then take it off. Day one on the journey to niqab recorded.

Simply beautiful

Assalamualaikum and happy weekend everyone.

This is totally nothing important.
I'm sorry girls, I just can't resist posting this pictures here. They are so beautiful.

I don't know how she wrapped her pashmina until it can form a niqab like that. If I were to do it like her, I think I would suffocate. But... it's beautiful on her. And the colour too is very pretty.

And this one below, I just love the colour and she looks mysterious and beautiful. MashaAllah.

Everytime I see a sister wearing niqab and she is also very good in her akhlaq, I would praise Allah because He give me strength just from looking at them. And I would be more confident in my belief and my intention.

I hope to be a very good servant of Allah not just from my following the sunnah of the wives of our Prophet in fashion but also in everything else.

I am a modern Muslim woman who is trying my best to fulfill my responsibilities as a Muslim.

Pixie is going nude.... Not really:p: a beige niqab

So I recently purchased a forest green flip niqab from this site http://www.themuslimclothingstore.com/ and because they were late shipping it out, they included a free beige niqab. I am going, hmmm, I would never have thought to order a beige niqab. How will I wear that? I wondered, and then I was like, well nude was a BIG trend this spring, so I can add turquoise accessories like Sandra Bullock, or nude patent pumps and little (teeny bit) of sparkle like Eva Longoria. Mauve would look nice too. Actually, it was nice of them to throw in a spare niqab. BTW, know that, in restaurants too, you are welcome to screw up Pixie's order any time if her dinner comes free:D

I could rock it with pink pumps---champagne satin----cherry red. LOL, anything so long it is not as see-through as Angelina's beige number, or as tight as Mariah's usual style (and this is the most modest I've SEEN Mariah in a long time). Go beige niqab, go. Fly to me, from across the seas:D

Honest Scrap Tag

Assalamualaikum dear friends and visitors. Happy Jumu'ah to all of you.

It's 10.51 am and I should be in my tutorial class now but I choose not to go because Ummi is not well and I think keeping her company is better. I don't want to leave my mother at home alone with my nieces because they would not let her rest.

And... I'm really sorry for being away for a few days. Actually I am here but I have no mood to right anything due to some workloads from my bookshop. It's the time to balance the account and paying my suppliers. So I was a bit tired to write although I did have so many ideas to share with you.

Anyway, I think to boost my energy and start a meaningful Jumu'ah, I'll do the tag from GULSHAN of My Innocent Paradise. It's an HONEST SCRAP TAG.

Hmm... what would I tell you about me that I haven't tell? I've got to scratch my head a bit to get 10 honest thing about me. Let's see...

1. I love books so much and the most that I have are a very contrasting type of books. Maybe 40% of my books are Islamic books and around 30% are Historical Romance Novels. Besides that are other type of books. Very contra isn't it? I think my English improve a lot from my reading of those novels since my teens but nowadays I prefer to tone them down and venture into more books for my deen.

2. I'm a very confident person and I always believe that what is good that I want to do, insyaAllah I'll do it the best that I can although I have to defy tradition and culture. For example, it's not common in my boarding school to see girls wearing an abaya and at the same time involve actively in so many school and social activities. Usually if a girl wears abaya and bigger hijab, she would be quite unapproachable because that's the norm. However I think this situation has change after more than 17 years.

3. I like watching Korean dramas. I even know some Korean words and keep thinking of learning the language. Well at least I gain something from watching those dramas.

4. At the age of 30 my Periodontist sister encourages me to straighten my crowded teeth by wearing braces after I have been suffering quite long of gum ache and tooth ache. Two teeth have to be taken out to give more space for my other teeth and after enduring more than 2 years, the braces were finally out. Now, there's no more ache in my mouth, alhamdulillah. I have a more beautiful smile too, hehe.

5. I was always mistaken as a Chinese. People see me (those who can see me), give me one look and say, "are you chinese?". I don't know... I think I'm 100% Malay but who knows maybe one of my ancestor was Chinese and the gene gets to me. And I love Chinese food.

6. Every month I wish that my period would not come and my doctor would tell me THE GOOD NEWS but it looks like my wish has not come true yet. I know Allah knows best and He's weaving my life so good so far and He wants to test me with this test. I will keep trying though and pray that soon I can be a mother too.

7. After so many years hating black, I finally fell in love with the colour 2 years ago and just look what has happen to me since then. My closet is getting blacker and blacker inside from all those black abayaat.

8. I am thinking of furthering my studies in Early Childhood to become an expert but I haven't tell my husband yet. Maybe when I finally decided I would have to take a rest from my job at the Library and be a full time student. Being a long distance learner is convenient for now but maybe not if I want to complete my studies before I'm 40.

9. I am so happy that my married life so far is full of happiness and there's up and down just like everyone else. The best thing that makes our relationship more beautiful is the memory of the first time my husband got to see me which was on the morning after the nikah. He had never see me before that although he did try once, hehe. I'm so thankful to my niqab and of course our Lord.

10. Usually women love flowers and tend to plant them around the house but not me. I love greens and I plan to have them a lot when my house is complete and we move in. I know I'm not good with plants but people are telling me that to make them grow nicely, just talk to them as we talk to someone we love. We'll see either my plan will work or not.

THERE, at last I finish this tag. Gulshan, I hope that will do. NOW, let's see who would be my next 10 PERSON to tag. I choose:

1. Sasha of HAZRIN & SASHA
2. Baran of SALAMS
3. Lin of LINSHARLIANA.COM
4. Enon of MULUT LASER NURUL
5. Nadia of AIDANISM
6. Ayscha of TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
7. UniMuslimah of UNIVERSITY BOUND MUSLIMAH
8. Wnorhaslina of UNGU VIOLET
9. Syaz of BERJALAN.MELIHAT.MENTAFSIR
10. Gurl of BLUSH HONEYDEW
    

Yey! Finito. Now I can prepare our lunch.

Hijabi Beginner: Style Trial

If you are thinking about becoming a hijabi but don't know where to start, my advise would be start with your clothing by gradually making them looser and longer. Funnily enough, this post isn't about clothing, it's about the headscarf. Converting to more modest clothes is one thing but as soon as you wrap a scarf around your hair instead of you neck, you automatically define yourself as a Muslim and this can be a very daunting experience in the Western world.

The thing you have to remember is that Islam and the Quran were revealed to the Prophet (SAW) and his people in small chunks over time, if it had come down all at once, it would have been too much for any of them to digest. It's exactly the same with wearing hijab, you need to do it gradually and over time otherwise you will just bite off more than you can chew and then just turn off to the idea altogether.

If you haven't covered your hair before and want to give it a go, here is a style that I suggest, it is far more discrete than a shayla or amira style and is kind of a 'hijabi half way house':

Here are the steps:

And this is what it should look like:

If you are confortable with this, you could start wearing it with a polo neck top or wrap another scarf around your neck in the winter.

Waking up for Fajr

My goal this month is to pray the two sunnah prayer before fajr comes in. And before that, to practice for Ramadaan, having suhoor (a small meal) before the adhan. Let's see if I can do it:p

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NEdcRWj-C0. Prayer clothes from http://www.hijabyonline.com/HijabyonlineShop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=124 for $18.99 USD.

Today I Cried at Work

Today I cried at work. Something I have managed not to do on serveral tear-worthy occasions.

Was it because of that racist lady that refuses to let me serve her? No. Was it because someone asked me if I was wearing a halloween costume (in July)? Nope. Was is that crazy old bat that says I am not Canadian anymore if I wear a scarf and am thus not entitled to employment. Nada.

So what was it?! you might wonder. It was running into a fellow ESL teacher (in case you didn't know, I also used to teach ESL). She was telling me about her new students.

Guess what country they were from?

Clue number 1, they come to class drunk. Clue number 2, they come on waaaaay too strong for the shy Asian girls. Clue number 3 they hit on their teacher asking her if she'd be willing to change her religion.

They were Saudi.

Don't get me wrong. My husband is Saudi. There alot of Saudi brothers out there better Muslims than my husband. His words, lol, not mine. I'm not hating on Saudis, or even Muslim men.

I am hatin' on Saudis who THINK they are Muslims (cuz of birth, not practice) who are invading my city and taking advantage of MY sisters (non-Muslim Canadian girls).

btw way this is a random pic of Saudi esl students and I am not saying any of these guys whatsoever is bad example of his countrymen and Islam

They come here, on government money (Saudi). They rent an apartment in a luxe downtown space for $1000.00. They spend another $1000.00 on expenses. Eating out in fancy restaurants every night, going shopping, nice celi, ya know. Their tuition is already paid for. And you know what they are studying here? Not their uni. . They are studying ENGLISH. Not as a degree, but to speak. And Emirati dudes too.

They miss their classes cuz they stayed up to late and are hungover, or they show up still drunk. They hit on their teachers. They hit on the shy Japanese girls. They study pick up lines and how to lie to girls in english more than the reading and vocab they'll need to enter an English-speaking university. They find some non-muslim girls who have no concept of self-respect. As a non-Muslim woman raised in the Western world myself I know that world is one of materialism and survival of the sexually-attractive-fittest. These girls are taught that their only value is their attractiveness and what they have or are capable of buying (through career or what not). So these girls meet these guys, charming, foriegn, who say they love their bodies, even if they are not curvy, or are too curvy... and they meet these guys who find them attractive, who take them out for dinner, take them shopping , tell them they wish they could marry them, that they deserve to be treated better than Canadian guys treat them (and then these girls TOTALLY change their whole lives around for these guys) and then the guy tell them he can't marry them because they're not Muslim but he would if such a small thing wouldn't matter to his mother...

And then, cuz they've taken these girls shopping, and out to dinner, and bought them drinks at the nightclubs, they ask their families to send them more money for expenses.

In my opinion, Saudi men need maharams. They need their Mom's. They shouldn't be allowed to come here without their mothers. I am serrious. The one's that have Mom's here, mashaAllah, they're pretty good brothers. Even the one's that have their sisters with them are better than the one's without.

I nearly cried when she told me her story. Because I was angry. Because I was hurt for the sake of our Ummah. They want the West to become Muslim? Why, so they can all order halal Chinese food as take-out without worrying about pork in that?! Is that ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!?! Is that all the makes us Muslim? You can eat your halal chinese food take-out from the Western chinese food joint while seducing some Canadian girl with no self-respect (not because she is immoral---but because her culture has not taught her the value of a woman). And I want to wear niqab.

I was kicked out by MY OWN FAMILY to practice Islam in my WESTERN country. I had them drive behind me HURLING insults at me, because I DIDN'T WANT TO insult MY DEEN by dating, wearing tight clothes, drinking.... I WANTED TO BE A MUSLIM in every possible way.

And you, come from an Islamic country, and have to bring haraam to mine. Mine that is ALREADY enough haraam for me to deal with, without having MORE PEOPLE confused about Islam like you are doing.

BE the society that you want to live in BY EMBODYING IT. That is all that it takes. All that it takes if for you to BE MUSLIM.

No offense, I mean, I won't call you an apostate or run around town lashing you eighty lashes, Canada's muttawa, but you AREN'T a Muslim if you aren't BEING a Muslim. And I am gonna start telling you this. I am not going to go out of my way, looking for your sins, but I am going to forbid evil when I see it.

You can say, this is Canada. So does that mean, if you die here, you'll still go to Jannah? Hmmm.

These girls don't know any better. The guy at the liquor store and the waiter at the restaurant you buy your booze from, they don't know any better. They are kuffar. Disbelievers. They have not the guidance of the Qu'ran, the MERCY of that, that we have. I was once one of them. As a woman, of this country, I beg you, know HOW lucky you are. And how at a disadvantage they are.

Your sister is only a woman with self-respect because she has Islam. Your mother is only a woman who has self-respect because she HAS Islam.

YOU are trash if you are not practicing Islam. Because you had the mercy with no struggle, and the guidance, without having also to face rejection, and you STILL put it aside, leading others to sin. And you know what, if they don't know the sin of their actions, Allah subhanhu wa ta ala might just hold you responsible. Because you know better... and they don't. And don't pretend you don't avoid me when I am in my my abaya and hijab and you are out with a girl who has NO IDEA you don't intend to treat her Islamically and marry her (which is her right in Islam).

I just cant understand you. Or forgive you... without reformation. I want an Islamic nation. And you make my sinful nation even worse than it was before you, a MUSLIM, came.

La illah il Allah. May Allah guide you. May I be guided as well, ameen, 'cause I recently read this post by http://theline-mev.blogspot.com/ and came out with something extroidinary from the text [I'll re-post a bit of it]:

"Authoo bilahi minash shaytaani rajeem.

Bismillah,

Allah subahnu wa ta'ala says, in Surah Ma’oon:

أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِالدِّينِ
فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي يَدُعُّ الْيَتِيمَ
وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَى طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِينِ

Translation:
Have you seen the one who denies the Repayment?

For that is the one who drives away the orphan, and does not encourage the feeding of the poor.
[Surah Ma'oon, verses 1-3]

Notice the connection here–verse one, the one who denies Ad-Deen, the Day of Repayment. And verse two and three? He drives away orphans, He doesn’t encourage feeding of the poor. It’s not that he doesn’t feed the poor. It’s that he doesn’t encourage feeding the poor.

If you’re a Muslim, and you practice your five pillars, you’re giving zakah, and chances are it’s going to poor people (two of the eight categories of eligible zakah recipients).But are you encouraging feeding of the poor?"

MashaAllah, what a great post Mev, and it made me think. Alot of the ayaat in the Qu'ran that speak of Jannah say that it is for those who encourage righteousness. So it is not enough for me to be righteous, if I do not also encourage others to good deeds and righteousness. So it is not enough for my husband and I to be righteous ourselves and not encourage our brothers in Islam to the same. So the next time I see a brother doing something haraam I am going to "gently" encourage him towards something righteous, in the example of the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam when he spoke to the woman of the sahaba : Narrated by Asmaa: Allah’s Apostle passed by a group of women near the mosque. He waved his hand to them in salutation and said: "Beware of being ungrateful to your husbands, beware of being ungrateful to your husbands.”

I will say something like, "Islam is a gift brother, and do not deprive this woman you are with of it. Let her know her rights in Islam which is to have a man lower his gaze from her, and to not touch her, without offering first to marry her. Such are the rights Allah has given her. Guard yourself from evil."

Allah give me the strength to, not only speak righteously, and be righteous, but encourage others to do so as well. Ameen.

TO CALM ME DOWN I LISTENED TO THIS

AND THIS

an old Modesty-Makeover from BM: Kierra Knightley

I still love that Empire-waist dress Kierra Knightley wore a few years ago so much, so of course I had to re-post this old Beautiful Muslimah set, even though almost all the items in the set are sold out. Isn't it pretty?

1. white empire waist abaya from http://www.shukr.co.uk/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=wD5601&Category_Code=women-dresses for $39.95 GBP
2. pink kuwaiti hijab from http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.simplyislam.com/images/products/57318.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.simplyislam.com/iteminfo.asp%3Fitem%3D57318&h=400&w=340&sz=28&hl=en&start=24&tbnid=FML6jCjB1dgSVM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=105&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpink%2Bhijab%26start%3D18%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN for $7.86 USD

Sporty Spice: Abaya and Hijab Set

I was shopping for hijabs and I found this fab grey shayla that so perfectly matches my grey workout jilbab. Shayla available http://www.2hijab.com/proddetail.asp?prod=hl006&PARTNER=nor for $7.90 USD, and not only does it come with they grey and black hijab, but is comes in a set of three. I like the lace up pink one too, and it is too pretty for the gym. These are great sets for the sister looking to increase her hijab drawer. Three hijabs for ten dollars USD? I'm all for that.
Grey workout jilbab from http://www.everythingislamic.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idProduct=366 for $30.99 GBP.

JUST A NOTE FROM MYSELF, when working out, I wear modest fit pants and wear a jilbab over. I cut my jilbab so that is has a side split so that is allows my movements, when running or rock climbing (which are two sports I personally do regularily). As for hijab, I tend to wear a stretchy al-amira made from swim suit material and I pin my shayla over top, partially tucky the back portion of the shayla into my clothing, and pinning the front portion with saftey pint so that id doesn't fly off my chest and over my face. Niqabis advise doing the same thing with niqab---pin it to the chest to prevent it from flying up in action.