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 :)

Smart-Casual

I'm liking the casual-but-smart look these days.. perhaps it's a sign that I'm getting old.. :( Anyway, here's an outfit idea for you: 

Smart-Casual by Zaenab

NHS Tips For Ramadan

With ramadan around the cornor, I thought I would post some health tips for fasting that I found on the UK's National Health Service website.

Here are some helpful FAQs (taken from here):

These answers have been put together by medical experts and Islamic scholars and researchers.

1. Should a person with diabetes fast?

People who have their diabetes under control, either by their diet or using tablets, may fast. However, their GP may require them to change their medication to help them take tablets outside fasting times. Those who need insulin to control their diabetes should not fast.

2. I get severe migraines when I don't eat and they get worse when I fast. Should I fast?

People with uncontrolled migraines should not fast. However, managing your migraines is possible with the right medicine and certain lifestyle changes. Ask your GP for further advice on controlling your migraines.

3. Should a person with high or low blood pressure fast?

People with well-controlled high blood pressure may fast. Their GP may require a change to their medicine to help them take tablets outside fasting times. Someone with low blood pressure who is otherwise well and healthy may fast. They must ensure they drink enough fluid and have enough salt.

4. Is fasting harmful when a woman is expecting a baby? Must pregnant women fast?

There's medical evidence to show that fasting in pregnancy is not a good idea. If a pregnant woman feels strong and healthy enough to fast, especially during the early part of the pregnancy, she may do so. If she doesn't feel well enough to fast, Islamic law gives her clear permission not to fast, and to make up the missed fasts later. If she is unable to do this, she must perform fidyah (a method of compensation for a missed act of worship).

5. Is Ramadan a good time to quit smoking?

Yes. Smoking is bad for your health. Ramadan is a great opportunity to change unhealthy habits, including smoking. Find out more about stopping smoking.

6. From what age can children fast safely?

Children are required to fast upon reaching puberty. It isn't harmful. Fasting before this age is tolerated differently depending on the attitude of the parents and the child’s general health and nutrition.
Fasting under the age of seven or eight isn't advisable. It's a good idea to make children aware of what fasting involves and to practise fasting for a few hours at a time.

7. Can I use an asthma inhaler during Ramadan?

Muslim experts differ on this issue. Some say that using an asthma inhaler isn't the same as eating or drinking, and is therefore permitted during fasting. In their view, people with asthma can fast and use their inhalers whenever they need to.
But other scholars say that the inhaler provides small amounts of liquid medicine to the lungs, so it breaks the fast. They say that people with poor control of their asthma must not fast until good control is achieved. Some people with asthma may opt for longer-acting inhalers so that they can fast. See your GP for further advice.

8. Can I swim during fasting?

Yes, but do not drink the water. A bath or shower or swimming has no effect on the fast. But no water should be swallowed during any of these activities as that would break the fast.

9. Can a person fast if they are getting a blood transfusion in hospital?

No. A person receiving a blood transfusion is advised not to fast on medical grounds. They may fast on the days when no transfusions are required.

10. I am on regular medication. Can I still fast?

If the medicine needs to be taken during fasting, do not fast. If this medication is required as treatment for a short illness, you can compensate for missed fasts by fasting on other days when you are well.
If you are on long-term medication then you could talk to your GP about whether you could change your medication, so that you can take it outside the time of the fast.
If your disease is unstable or poorly controlled, do not fast. Those who are unable to do the missed fasts later, due to the long-term use of medication, should do fidyah.


11. Does a breastfeeding woman have to fast?
No. Islamic law says a breastfeeding mother does not have to fast. Missed fasts must be compensated for by fasting or fidyah once breastfeeding has stopped.

12. Can a Muslim patient take tablets, have injections or use patches while fasting?
Taking tablets breaks the fast. However, injections, patches, eardrops and eyedrops do not break the fast as they are not considered to be food and drink (though there are differences of opinion among Muslim scholars on these issues). Islamic law says sick people should not fast.

13. Could dehydration become so bad that you have to break the fast?

Yes. You could become very dehydrated if you do not drink enough water before the fast. Poor hydration can be made worse by weather conditions, and even everyday activities such as walking to walk or housework.

If you produce very little or no urine, feel disoriented and confused, or faint due to dehydration, you must stop fasting and have a drink of water or other fluid. Islam doesn't require you to harm yourself in fulfilling the fast. If a fast is broken, it will need to be compensated for by fasting at a later date.

14. Can I fast while I have dialysis?

People on peritoneal dialysis must not fast and should perform fidyah. Haemodialysis is performed about three times a week and causes significant shifts of fluids and salts within the body. Such patients must not fast and should perform fidyah.

Also check out this neat meal plan that they put together for suhoor and fatoor. Somehow, I think sticking to it would be easier said than done :/

Full time abaya-wearers in the West

For a while last year I toyed with the idea of wearing an abaya but in the end I decided against it. Obviously, in Saudi Arabia pretty much all the women wear abayas or jilbabs of some sort so I was wearing a black abaya and black shayla for 3 weeks on our recent trip to umrah - boy was that hard! I have been to Saudi Arabia for 5 or 6 weeks at a time before but never did I miss my wardrobe so much!

I have to say kudos to you young ladies who give up your 'normal' clothing to wear the jilbab/abaya full time outside of the house because it must be bloody hard. I have never really thought about it before but I genuinely hope that every Muslimah living in the west who decides to wear an abaya for the pure sake of pleasing Allah (SWT) receives abundant rewards in this life and the next. Seriously, I have a new found respect for abaya-wearers for not conforming and putting their religion and desire for modesty first. I know people who say that what you wear does not reflect your religiosity and I kind of agree; what I will say though is that to wear an abaya/jilbab every single day requires serious jihad al nafs (" jihad of the self") that deserves so much more reward than a girl like me who just dresses modestly with a headscarf. Allahu a'lem.