Eid Mubarek - I hope you are all enjoying it :) I miss Ramadan already!

The Fruit Market

A conversation that took place in a fruit market yesterday...

Me to my mum: ..you're making kabab..?
Random Pakistani woman in a salwar kameez: *laughs*
Mother: Did you understand what she said?
Woman: Yes, how do you not like kabab?! It's great for fatoor..
Mother: You're Muslim?!
Me: Obviously.
Woman: Yes, of course!
Mother: Oh sorry it's just because you don't wear hijab, I assumed..
Woman: I used to wear it but I took it off, you know.
Me: Why?
Woman: My husband didn't like it.
Me: ..why?
Woman:  He thinks I look Bengali in it *laughs*
Mother: Oh.
Me: Err, what's wrong with..?
Woman: You know.. lots of them wear hijab.
Mother: He really shouldn't be telling you not to wear it..
Woman to me: Well, it's good your husband doesn't mind.
Me: I'm not marri-
Woman: Mine just doesn't like it. Trust me, if your husband is happy, so are you.
Me: Right.


Mother: So when's Eid..?

[Photo source]

Keep going Libyans! May Allah (SWT) defeat your oppressor and allow you to celebrate eid in peace. Ameen.

Ramadan Adverts

Adverts on Arabic TV are always tailored for Ramadan. Here are a few I like:

Pepsi Ramadan 2011



Nandos Ramadan 2006, this cracked me up XD



Vimto Ramadan 2007



Subway Ramadan 2011



Etisalat (UAE phone company) Ramadan 2011



Coca Cola Ramadan 2011 (Egypt)

Translation:

"There are many reasons to believe in a better tomorrow: For every corrupt person, 8000 people donate blood. For every person who thinks the country won’t stand on its feet, 3 million children are taking their first steps. For every lazy person in Ramadan, 13 million mothers are preparing Iftar. For every piece of bad news, there are more than 50 jokes. For every dark street, 32 million lanterns shine in Ramadan. And for every person who sees the glass half empty, millions offer each other Coca Cola".

Overly heart-warming? Perhaps.. but I love it! Statistically accurate? Highly doubt that..

Rant #329,431

Is it just the ones that I am related to or do all men (while their wives slave away in the kitchen) feel the need to act like they are THE only human beings who have to endure the hardships of fasting, giving off this impression that they might die/fall unconscious about an hour before Iftar?
 

If so, forget marriage!!!!!

Oh and I hope Ramadan is going well.. :)

Hijabi Beginner: Is The Hijab REALLY Required?

A non-hijabi Muslimah recently wrote to me because she is not convinced that the hijab is a requirement in Islam. She asked me to put forward the Islamic evidences of hijab. In this post I will try my best to do just that using Quranic iyas and authentic ahadith. 

1. Surat Al Nur: 

- Bism'Allah Al Rahmaan Al Raheem -

"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be protect their private parts, and not to display of their zeenah except that which is apparent, and to draw their headcovers over their juyub, and not to reveal their zeenah save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or sisters' sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed." [24:31]

- "..and not to display of their zeenah except that which is apparent" i.e. they should not show anything of their zeenah to a non-Mahram man, except for whatever it is apparent (clear, impossible to hide..) - most scholars agree that this refers to the hands and face...


- ...however, slight differences have arisen amongst the scholars concerning the precise meaning of ...except only that which is apparent... from Surat Al Nur which according to Ibn `Abaas (RAA), includes "the face, the two hands, and rings. This view is shared by Ibn `Umar, `Ata'a, and others from the Tabi'een." [Tafseer Ibn Kathir]. Imam Ash-Showkani states that it includes: "The dress, the face, and the two hands"; Ibn `Abaas and Qatadah have stated: "The adornments include eye shadow (i.e., Kuhul), bracelets, hand dye, and rings, and it is permissible for women to (uncover) them." [Fateh Al-Qadeer]

- 'Zeenah' (adornment) means 2 things: natural beauty and physical adornments e.g. makeup, jewelry etc

- "..draw their headcovers over their juyub.." The women used to cover their hair but leave their necks and bosoms uncovered. This iya makes it clear that women should cover their 'juyub' - which most agree refers to the neck and chest area (and some say includes the ribs) - with a head covering. I know that some Muslims use this iya to back their opinion that Islam only requires women to cover their breasts, however, why would Allah (SWT) have mentioned the 'khimaar' (a headcover) when telling these women to cover? The Quran is timeless and applies to nations at any time, if the headcover was simply cultural it would not have been mentioned at all.

2. Surat Al Ahzaab:

"O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their outer garments about themselves (when they go out). That is better so that they may be recognised and not harassed. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." [Al-Ahzaab, 33:59]

- Abu Dawood related that Aishah (R) said: "After this Aayah was revealed the women of the Ansar appeared like crows." (because of the color and shape of the cloaks they wore).

- "..to be recognised.." i.e. as Muslim women (would modest clothing alone allow people to recognise you as a Muslim woman?)

3. Ahadith

There are other ahadith on the hijab but these are the ones I have picked to post:

- Aishah (R) said: "May Allah bestow His Mercy on the first Muhajirat (emigrants). When Allah revealed:...and draw their headcovers over their necks and bosoms... they tore material and covered themselves with it." [Al-Bukhari]

- Usamah ibn Zaid said: Allah's Messenger (S) gave me a gift of thick Coptic cloth he had received as a gift from Dahiah Al-Kalbi, and so I gave it to my wife. Thereafter the Prophet (S) asked me: Why didn't you wear the Coptic cloth? I replied: I gave it to my wife. The Prophet (S) then said: Tell her to wear a thick gown under it for I fear that it may describe the size of her limbs. [Narrated by Ahmad, Al-Bayhaqi, and Al-Haakim]

- Narrated by Aishah: Allah's Apostle used to offer the Fajr prayer and some believing women covered with their veiling sheets used to attend the Fajr prayer with him and then they would return to their homes unrecognized. [Bukhari]

- The Prophet (S) said: There will be in the last of my Ummah (nation of believers), scantily dressed women, the hair on the top of their heads like a camel's hump. Curse them, for verily they are cursed. In another version he said: ...scantily dressed women, who go astray and make others go astray; they will not enter Paradise nor smell its fragrance, although it can be smelled from afar. [At-Tabarani and Sahih Muslim]

Also keep in mind that the concept of 'hijab' is not an Islamic one but a command from Allah (SWT) to the Jews, Christians and the all of the monotheistic religions before that. It has only been recently that the question of the obligation of hijab has been risen amongst the Muslim ummah, before it was accepted and expected.

I hope that has cleared up your doubts, if not, perhaps you should focus on some other part of your religion and I am pretty sure you will want to adopt the hijab sooner or later, Insha'Allah :)

Islamic Reminders

Some Islamic quotes; I especially like the last one:

 

Source

5 Things To Do Before Sleeping

Source

Ramadan..

..I hope it's going well for you all!

Can anyone beat an 18 hour fasting day?? XP

The Bisht Abaya

I love the bisht abaya - it is traditional and the cut is modest yet elegant. I bought two on my recent trip to umrah as I usually wear them to the mosque.

Below, are examples of bisht abayas. The abaya is essentially two very large pieces of material sewn together whereby the main body of the abaya extends over most of the sleeve area. If you were to stand with your arms stretched outward in a bisht abaya it would look like a massive square with short arms sticking out on either side..

Although more expensive than what you would pay over there, Sunnah Style sells some nice plain bisht abayas for those of you who want one but aren't going to Arabia any time soon.

An outfit idea..

Bisht Abaya by stylishmuslimah

Lace Look

Here's an outfit idea for a formal-ish occasion where comfort is key (I can't walk in heels to save my life):

Lace by Zaenab

Top photo from Rayannes Designs

My Favorite Reciters

I really love the Quran recitations from Sheikh Maher Al Muaiqly and Sheikh Abu Bakr Al Shatri, here are a couple for you to listen to:

Hope you liked :)