City Hijabi

British Museum Blogs about Hajj

2011-11-01T18:13:00.000-07:00

Read the experiences of a British Museum worker and his wife as they prepare to perform hajj.

http://blog.britishmuseum.org/2011/10/28/altafs-hajj-preparation/

A great introduction to Hajj and in advance of the special Hajj exhibition opening in January 2012.

http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/hajj.aspx

As a British Muslim living in london -I love this!

Now here's an idea...Ethical banking, anyone?

2011-10-18T12:56:00.000-07:00

Why this suggestion? Do you know where interest comes from? Look it up - the guilt should be just about horrific enough to make you pick up a placard like this yourselves..

Live Traffic

2011-09-18T17:42:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed the "Live Traffic Feed" widget at the bottom of my blog homepage? I love it. I always look at it and wonder about the people who visit my blog...I'm going to go ahead and insult you all by saying I think it's extremely rude of you those of you who visit my blog but do not leave comments. There, I said it. Therefore, due to the aforementioned rudeness committed by yourselves, I shall not be offering you tea and biscuits, which are available to my blog visitor-commentators. Here's a snapshot of the people who visit Hijabi in the City and where they are from (and even what they were looking at!)

FEEDJIT LIVE TRAFFIC FEED
A visitor from Solihull
viewed "City Hijabi: I want to Work in a Bookstore!" 3 hours 32 mins ago

A visitor from Dudley
viewed "City Hijabi: Dua for Distress" 11 hours 31 mins ago

A visitor from Leeds
viewed "City Hijabi: **Updated** Where to Buy Hijabs and Jilbabs" 1 day 7 hours ago

A visitor from Groningen
viewed "City Hijabi: Dua for Distress" 1 day 8 hours ago

A visitor from Mumbai, Maharashtra
viewed "City Hijabi: Dua for Distress" 1 day 9 hours ago

A visitor from Omaha, Nebraska
viewed "City Hijabi: Playing with the Tube Maps-if place names were emotions.." 2 days 6 hours ago

A visitor from Malaysia
viewed "City Hijabi: Rain Rain Go Away" 2 days 11 hours ago

A visitor from Kuwait, Al Kuwayt
viewed "City Hijabi" 2 days 18 hours ago

A visitor from Singapore
viewed "City Hijabi: Dua for Distress" 2 days 22 hours ago

Malaysia, Nebraska, India, Singapore wow. I am a keen traveller but I haven't been to any of these countries...Please send for me. I am tidy and don't take up much space. I like tea and books and I will write nice things for you in return for a place to stay and a tourguide. RSVP.

PS where is Groningen?!

I Hate London

2011-09-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

Ah, London. I never wanted to live here. You read that correctly. Noisy, dirty, busy, full of rude and pushy people, far too expensive...I never considered London as a place to live. But I found myself moving here without rhyme or reason, and I can honestly say I am now madly in love with London.

I love everything about it! I love the noise, the rush, the underground system. I love the people (who truly are generous, open-hearted, kind and welcoming). I love the sights, sounds and smells and I love the opportunities. London is like no other city in the world.

More on my London-crush later. In the meantime, because I like juxtaposition, here is William Blake's take on London in the 1700s. Blakes poem is a condemnation of a dark and tragic London. Some elements still exist - others not quite in the same form - but read and enjoy. Just remember, the poem is devoid of the immense beauty contained in London, which my blog will detail in due course.

London by William Blake

I wander thro’ each charter’d street,
Near where the charter’d Thames does flow,
And mark in every face I meet
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

In every cry of every Man,
In every Infant’s cry of fear,
In every voice, in every ban,
The mind-forg’d manacles I hear.

How the Chimney-sweeper’s cry
Every black'ning Church appalls;
And the hapless Soldier’s sigh
Runs in blood down Palace walls.

But most thro’ midnight streets I hear
How the youthful Harlot’s curse
Blasts the new-born Infant’s tear
And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse.

William Blake, 1757-1827

Ramadan Kareem

2011-08-04T16:14:00.000-07:00

Twice the birthday, twice the presents!

2011-06-02T17:06:00.000-07:00

I have never really understood the oddity of the Queen's two birthdays - except for
twice the birthday, twice the presents of course - which is just plain clever. In any event, one of her birthdays (the official one) is on June 11th. The real one is in April.

As part of the official celebrations, Trooping the Colour will be taking place, which visitors flock to see. This takes place in the Horse Guards Parade (the large parade ground off Whitehall).

This Saturday (4th June), a practice run will take place and a representative for the Royal Family will receive the salute. Meander along the mall and Green Park in order to see it.

Visit this link for more information
http://www.royal.gov.uk/RoyalEventsandCeremonies/TroopingtheColour/TroopingtheColour.aspx

Taken from the official Website of the British Monarchy

The tradition of Trooping the Colour:
Although The Queen was born on 21 April, it has long been the tradition to celebrate the Sovereign's birthday publicly on a day in the summer, when good weather is more likely.

Trooping the Colour is carried out by fully trained and operational troops from the Household Division (Foot Guards and Household Cavalry) on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, watched by members of the Royal Family, invited guests and members of the public.

Another dream

2011-05-31T12:14:00.001-07:00

I dreamt of a word and woke up thinking of it. I liked the way it sounded when I pronounced it - "ma-a-roof". I was QUITE positive it was "ma-a-roof" and not just "ma-roof". I scribbled down the word after I woke up - even the spelling of the word came to me "maarouf" .

I didn't know what it meant though and I don't think I have heard it before or read it anywhere.

I googled it today: "maarouf" and I was surprised.

This is what it means:

Maarouf: making peace among mankind. (Quran 4:114)

Why would I dream that? I don't know the word and I haven't been reading Quran or any Islamic books lately (or for a long time I should admit ashamedly). Hm. if anyone has a theory, please comment below.

Modern day Noah Miracle

2011-05-20T06:34:00.000-07:00

Rain Rain Go Away

2011-05-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

Most people hate the rain - apart from a few wierdos who love it. I'm not a water baby - I don't like to be rained on, freezing and wet, with mascara running down my face. Right now its raining in London and it's pretty miserable. But then I remind myself that the rain in general - from a Muslim point of view - is pretty awesome.

In Islam, rain is a sign of God's (Allah's) mercy. The rain benefits us by way of irrigating crops, "reviving the earth after its death" (Quran). Without doubt, a land without rainfall is one that is suffering. Some of the driest countries are Niger, Chad, Gambia, Burkina Faso,Senegal and Sudan. The lack of rainfall affects crops and food supplies as well as clean, safe drinking water. These countries have "wet years" but otherwise are very dry. A country that receives rain is blessed with Allah's mercy.

While I'm frowning (and jumping over puddles) at the rain, I cannot deny that is is an essential component of the life cycle. So, the next time I look out of the window and see rain, before moaning about the fact that its cold and damp and my plans have been ruined, I will try and remember to thank God that the rain exists, without which none of us could survive.

Royal Wedding

2011-05-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

(Image taken from www.mirror.co.uk)

April 29th - Wills & Kate tied the knot. I was glued to the television like everyone else, deciding to avoid the mad crush of people along the procession route and Hyde Park (not to mention I wasn't in London at the time!)

Highlights:
-The couple are now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (as well as holding two other titles)
-As a (forner) commoner, Catherine's family did not have a coat of arms, so her father commissioned one costing £4,000 approx to be made before the wedding took place. Catherine's new cost of arms is a combination of her own and William's coat of arms.
-The couple had two wedding cakes - one a large several tiered white cake chosen by Catherine, and a second chocolate one chosen by William, and based on his favourite chocolate biscuit, that they asked McVities to create.
-The RAF flew overhead on the day of the wedding in a very brief display. It would cost £90,000 to have one of the planes fly for an hour so keeping it brief was a good idea.

Congrats to the clearly happy couple and a surprisingly simple but beautiful dress.

P.S. Thanks for the extra day off work!

London is Buzzing...

2011-05-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

A strange change has quietly been occurring in London. London has been buzzing with more tourists than usual and the colour trio of red, blue and white has sprouted left, right and centre. It’s no big secret what this is all in aid of – you only have to glance at the Wills & Kate tea-towels flying from the souvenir shop windows to realise – the Royal Wedding is looming.

Prince William will be marrying Catherine ‘Kate’ Middleton - the first time a member of the Royal Family has married a “commoner”.

Only, by the time you read this, it will have passed. This is because I’m too busy winding up work before I take a three week sabbatical. Ahhh, three weeks away from work! Bliss! It’s been a long time – a loooooooong time – since I had a holiday that long. The nature of the City beast is that you never really have a holiday – I will most certainly be making up the time away from my desk before and after I return. So while away, I will be making the most of it…

The concept of tawwakul

2011-04-16T06:11:00.000-07:00

Have tawwakul: a concept that I am learning about daily and one that I am falling in love with.

Tawwakul is a key ingredient in faith and right now, for me, is combined with faith and hope in Allah SWT.

Tawwakul is having such faith in Allah SWT that your heart does not grieve when things go wrong or when you are wondering about your provision, because you know the Almighty SWT will provide for you. Tawwakul is being like the birds: who leave their nests empty in the morning and return with their bellies full. That's true faith.

After Sin Comes Seeking Forgiveness - and Hope

2011-04-16T05:34:00.000-07:00

I always forget one thing about myself in terms of the deen – how much potential I have. It sounds arrogant but it’s not and I won’t let whispers of this encourage me to abandon the flicker of light and become engulfed in darkness again (which is the result of berating myself for having evil qualities and thoughts. We all have them.) It is not arrogance to acknowledge you have a bad side but also tell yourself that you are not as bad as you often think. Constantly berating yourself means you will fall into despair – you start to despair of ever achieving Allah’s mercy.

The key is…hope. I know (must keep reminding myself) that I have the potential to be something great in the deen. I have potential to be waliullah, which I desperately want. There is a loooong way to go to achieve this. My imaan is lower than it used to be due to the ups and downs over the last four years but I realise now that my goal is still achievable.

Do you ever feel like that? Like you want to be soo good but you know you have done such wrong? That you have wronged your own soul? (as Allah SWT describes it in the Quran.) Well, my advice is, never give up. Have hope (hadith) and be cheerful (hadith), the help of Allah SWT is near for the believers (Quran).

Yes I’m bad, yes I do bad things and I am liable for punishment for those things because He is very fair and just. But He is also merciful and He is giving me the chance to turn back to Him and be sorry, thereby earning His forgiveness and having those bad deeds written off. The way to achieve this is to have sincere intentions that you won’t fall into bad ways again.

Whilst you must be sincere, you must also be hopeful that you achieve goodness. Don’t fall into a pit of misery thinking you’re so evil you won’t be able to change. Those people who sin and then drown in the guilt of their sin, thinking that they cannot go back to the deen, who think they are not worthy, have lost their chance – what fools. Allah SWT points out that mankind was ever created weak (Quran) but that He the most High will forgive if we seek His forgiveness. So don’t stop seeking forgiveness for your sins, vow not to do them again and be determined in this. Then pick yourself up and replace bad deeds with good actions and strive to reach the high goals that Allah SWT knows you have the potential to reach. Remember that He is with you and will help you get there. Remember He loves you because if He didn’t you wouldn’t be thinking all of this/reading it/writing it and deciding that you will endeavour to reach the high goals He wants you to attain, and that you have the potential to reach.

We all mistakes: be determined to improve yourself and whilst you can’t belittle a bad action - the believers rightly see their sins as mountains, whilst the disbelievers see them as nothing (paraphrased hadith) - you can have hope that if you try very hard to seek His forgiveness, making an effort to repent, you can overcome your slip in judgement and be a better Muslim than ever before.

Charging for Culture

2011-03-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about living in London is that it is filled with amazing culture on every corner. The architecture, the sights, sounds and smells, not to mention the numerous museums and art galleries. The culture is one of the things I love most about London. So when I heard that the new government is mooting plans to charge visitors to enter London's museums I was not pleased. It's true that by charging tourists we could net thousands for the economy - but then residents would lose out. And is it really worth families missing out on free weekend trips to the Natural History Museum, school children missing out on free entry to the Science Museum or art lovers missing out on the appreciation of emotion and beauty - all for the sake of making a few quid?

Besides, tourists already bring in a lot of money for the economy when they visit London. They may receive free entry to the museums and art galleries but then they spend a few million each year here on food, souvenirs, travel and on the surrounding shops. Why charge them (and us) to enhance our cultural knowledge? I vote NO!

Sometimes you have to weigh up what chasing the pound could ultimately cost you - potentially, in this case, a cultural void, with kids growing up lacking in creativity, inspiration and knowledge.

Enjoy a few photographs I took whilst visiting the wonderful British Museum recently - and think about whether you would like to pay me for the privilege!

I want to Work in a Bookstore!

2011-02-18T12:43:00.000-08:00

I want to work in a bookstore! Some may say that is not very ambitious but hey, the heart wants what it wants!

I met a senior colleague within my firm today. I expected her to look very corporate and instead she looked to me like a writer. Do you know the stereotypical image of a writer? In my mind, writers (much like artists) always look a bit quirky. This colleague had beaded earrings, lots of rings and a beaded necklace. Glasses and a long skirt, with a cute grey-haired bob completed her look. Very bohemian. I felt like I was speaking with Jaqueline Wilson. Now SHE looks like the archetypal writer.

Clearly, I have stereotyped writers, but I am also a writer and I realised after our meeting (where I daydreamed about Tracey Beaker and how much I loved the first book in my youth) I look nothing like the stereotype. I look, on some days very plain and non-assuming. Its part of my guise to blend in with the crowd so that they can be observed and studied and used in my writings --- or more accurately because I’m such a busy little City Hijabi, doing two jobs, that I don’t have time to make an effort every day. Yes, that’s more like the truth of it. Other days I look corporate. I was likened to the Apprentice candidates not so long ago – I'm still unsure whether this was a compliment or not.

So when I’m in my suit – do I look like a writer? No. But my heart sings a different tune.

I was visiting Waterstones the other day and quite literally (ha) felt as if I had walked into a different world. I wanted to spend hours there, looking at every section and leafing through every book. I felt the overwhelming desire to work in a bookstore. I felt like I was home almost. It’s a far cry from the corporate environments I have always worked in.

An appointment via work recently led me to even more corporate – but lush – surroundings. Pink marbled reception desks, glossy floors, rainbow-coloured skittles in bowls for visitors and grey, grey, grey suits all around me – I definitely wasn’t home. But I wasn’t in a foreign land either. My work has always been exciting. Arguing cases, analysing technical areas of law – who wouldn’t enjoy that? I love the intellectual challenge that will come up in the odd case now and again and the corporate environment is where I want to be at least two or three days a week. But the rest of the time I want to be in a bookstore, wandering dream-like amongst the shelves, flicking through Crochet for Beginners (I was searching for my mum), jumping into the philosophy section, feeling my heart swell over Three Cups of Tea, browsing biographies, history, art…how can corporate coldness compare to the rich diversity and brilliance of a bookstore – where a thousand and one doorways lead to different dimensions?

I want to work in a bookstore and be a writer, enjoying the life of a retiree (I’m not even 30 yet, so this is especially funny), sipping Whittards of Chelsea Jasmine tea (currently – but I prefer Twinings) and tapping away at my laptop, producing pearls of brilliance that will enlighten the world. I’m such a dreamer. How can I work in this field when I am so easily distracted?

How many of you are in an odd tension like me? Do you work in corporate environments but yearn for a more soulful existence? How do you reconcile these oonflicting leanings? My problem seems to be getting worse possibly because, a) I’m getting older or b) because I have started to indulge my literary tooth more and more. I seem to want even more to work as a ticket-taker in a cloud. *sigh* It could also be secret option c) lack of job fulfilment, but I think enjoying your job will only distract you temporarily if it involves being someone who you are only comfortable being 60% of the time.

Sometimes, if you conclude its c) that is a sign that one needs to make a change. I wish I were financially very well off so I could afford to be reckless, leave my current role and undertake an internship that I have been considering for some time. There are two in fact – one relating to social improvement in third world countries (desperately want to do this but on nil pay? It’s tough to do) and another working for an international newspaper that will inflate my writing CV to four times its size just by its typed presence on the page.

Now, how do I undertake these two amazing internships with only three weeks holiday and a million and one things to do?

Revolution brings Results

2011-02-11T15:51:00.000-08:00

Subhanallah! Today we all share in Egypt's joy as Mubarak has finally resigned. The protestors brought down the regime and success has finally been achieved. Now move quick Egypt - before the US arrives and takes over.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/8319219/Egypt-crisis-Hosni-Mubarak-steps-down.html

Today I shiver at the parallells between Pharoah (noted in The Books of God, and in the Quran as Firaun) who oppressed the Israelites, and Hosini Mubarak. Firaun ran to the Red Sea and met his end and now Mubarak has run to the Red Sea (resort). Ok, we are in modern times now but the sentiment is still the same. Both evil doers, both oppressors of the people.

I also remember those who have lost their lives during this battle for liberation and pray that Allah SWT gives them martyrdom. They did not die in vain inshallah and inshallah we will see a happier and successful Egypt.

US Sends Warships, troops to Egypt

2011-02-07T15:34:00.000-08:00

Press tv article: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164038.html

The US is sending warships, including one with 800 troops, and other military assets to Egypt as the revolution in the North African country gains momentum.
Officials in Washington have stated that the move is to be prepared in case of an evacuation of Americans from Egypt.

Pentagon has dismissed widespread assumptions that military intervention in Cairo is being contemplated, asserting that the objective of the deployment is mainly for the evacuation of US citizens in case the situation in Egypt further deteriorates.

Separately, a US aircraft carrier has been asked to abort its mission and stay in the Mediterranean.

The move comes after reports last month that a US Army aviation regiment had been mobilized for deployment to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula to back the Multinational Force and Observers overseeing the Egypt-Israel peace treaty.

The recent move comes against the backdrop of deepening political stalemate in Egypt, where swarms of demonstrators are still spilling out into central Cairo's Liberation Square, demanding the ouster of embattled President Hosni Mubarak.

On Sunday, opponents of Mubarak, including Egypt's main opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, held negotiations with Vice President Omar Suleiman as part of efforts to extract the country out of its political standoff.

Muslim Brotherhood, however, has discarded the regime's proposed reform plans, asserting that protesters would not accept anything but Mubarak's resignation.

In another development, US President Barack Obama called for a "representative government" in Egypt after government and opposition parties failed to narrow down their differences.

Millions of Egyptians took to the streets on Sunday to honor hundreds of protesters killed during the anti-government rallies of the past 13 days.

According to the United Nations, at least 300 people have so far been killed and thousands more have been injured during nationwide protests in Egypt.

HA/AGB/MGH

Some of the comments at the end of the article are very illuminating. The US is going there to do WHAT exactly? Rescue American citizens? What citizens? Wave at us guys if you're still in Egypt; last I heard you had been evacuated to British bases in another countries already.

Visitors to HITC

2011-02-05T10:55:00.000-08:00

Cambridge, Queensland, Ontario, West Virginia - wow, people from all over the world are stopping by and checking out my blog! Fantastic! Except for one thing - none of y'all are leaving me comments!! Come on...no-one likes a one-way conversation! Reply to my posts and let's keep the dialogue going!

:)

Gordon Gecko's spirit is alive in the City

2011-02-04T16:13:00.000-08:00

I have learned from working in the City that Gordon Gecko's spirit is alive and well in every coporate fat-cat in every major business - including the one I work for - DOH! Greed is gooooooooood (not!)

This is the antithesis of Islam. Islam does not support consumerism, capitalism or greed. So how do Muslims find compatability between their religion and their careers if they work for these types of businesses?

Post your comments and I'll come back and update this blog with ideas too

Masalam

Walk Like an Egyptian

2011-02-03T16:06:00.000-08:00

Christians protecting Muslims whilst they pray in Tahrir Square, Egypt. Picture by Nevine Zaki

This brought tears to my eyes, subhanAllah, how sweet.

Looks like they all linked hands and made a circle around them.

I read a comment from someone who said they dont know who is right/wrong in the Egypt situation. Well, I know nothing about the political situation there (and frankly, little about politics in general) but I am a humanitarian and all I know is: the people of Egypt say they have been oppressed by a dictator and they want freeedom from that regime. No one group wants this; most of the public wants it. I don't think u need to understand politics to understand they are rising up out of a desperate need. So "WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN" - as the placards of protestors in London read - and support freeing humanity from oppression. One day it could be you who is fighting for the same.

Watch this amazing video on youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThvBJMzmSZI

Follow #Egypt and #Jan25 on Twitter

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/02/egypt-revolution-turns-ugly

UPDATE:

Reuters video: Muslims Protect Christian during Coptic Mass

Egypt is an example to all of the world - this is how humanity should be: united

Four Lions

2011-01-08T06:27:00.001-08:00

I just watched the British film Four Lions - I know, it was out almost a year ago, I'm not quick off the mark!

Read the plot summary here:
www.imdb.com/title/tt1341167/plotsummary

Truth be told, I didn't want to watch it - a film about terrorists? Obviously it will be offensive, I thought. But having watched it - it was actually sad but relevant. It was a tragedy about 5 idiotic men, who - according to the Telegraph's review of the film - are wannabe playas and chumpheads. They have no idea what Islam is. They have no idea what matyrdom in the Islamic sense actually is (for example in Islam, people killed in earthquakes are martyrs). But these guys have no idea that suicide is forbidden in Islam, as is killing innocents. But, worryingly, people like the "lions" exist in the UK.

I didn't read much about 7/7 in the newspapers or on TV. I couldn't bring myself to read about 7/7 as, apart from finding it awful in general, I know someone who was hurt in the attacks (a Muslim by the way). That's the thing about this idiocy - terrorists don't care who they target. The film made me realise, there are wannabe suicide bombers who actually think they are doing people a favour by ending their lives (i.e. the cafe scene where Waj says he will take the "brothers" to paradise with him.) It was awful. I really hope done of them would speak up and say- but this isn't allowed in Islam! You're not fighting a cause- you're committing murder! and maybe Waj would understand and then stop.

The character weren't evil guys per se - they were idiotic (apart from Barry - his character was freaky). Their plans were evil, their actions were evil and their thinking was evil - but they were scared to go through with it (except for the psycho Barry) and in the end all three of the young guys realised it was wrong. Too late.

I don't get where their thinking comes from. But the film made me react in a different way to that of fellow Muslims who saw the film and said it was a funny comedy - to me, it was: ok, so this is happening in the UK, this is a massive problem for the whole community (i.e. all races and religions) and this is something that Muslims MUST take responsibility for. How can we not? I mean, we're the ones who know it is haram (forbidden) to commit suicide bombing so it's essentially down to us to educate the ignorant youth.

It was horrific in parts and I found it very difficult to watch so please be warned if the idea of dismembered body parts (but they don't actually show it, just talk about it) turns your stomach. Also, if you are a humanitarian like me I warn you, you will cry your heart out at the loss of life - everyone from the numpties themselves (for example Waj, he was special needs - it was like a child killing himself, it was so sad), to the Wookie, another innocent, killed by incompetant police - reference to Jean Chearles De Menezes no doubt. It was awful.

So, how do we stop another 7/7? I don't know. We need Muslims to learn about true Islam - suicide bombing forbidden, killing civilians forbidden and encourage them towards leading good, fulfilling lives. I mean, what did those guys do all day? Their lives were banal (Telegraph review pointed that out) and its almost as if they needed a goal to focus on - and picked the stupidest thing ever.

I have to say, the wife of Omar was also slap-worthy. They all deserved a slap and a shake telling them to wake up but she is one I could scream at for hours. She seemed intelligent so why, with no excuse of being special needs, did SHE not say: hang on, this is dumb and against Islam? And what about their child?? It was wierd to see the whole family backing Omar. When I have read about the wife of a suspected bombe being questioned I always felt sorry for her - how would she know what was going on? If she knew she would never encourage it, she would fight for her family to stay together, fo her children to have a father - surely? What wife and mother would support this? The film showed a different side and I was shocked that ther could be women, and other family members potentially, who would support this. It really depicted ignorance.

They were all uneducated at the end of the day - so what is the Muslim community doing to educate? Ok, people are annoyed with foreign policy and sad about innocents world-wide dying but what the heck kind of reaction is this?!

Come on Muslims- get involved in teaching true Islam, wiping out terrorism, being involved in charity and other important pillars of Islam. We must do something before we're all blown up by idiots like the Four Lions. Stop sitting around feeling sorry for yourselves - yes media portrayal of Muslims is that we're all like that - which is unfair-and many Muslims have been pushed into a corner by Islamaphobic extremists who attack us for our scarves and beards (also depicted in the film in the form of Omar's brother - a practising Muslim who encouraged peace but was arrested- but we have to address the issues, not feel like we have no voice now because we're being victimised and are too busy licking our wounds. You can eliminate terrorists. Muslims must play an active part.

Ramadan, Iftar on the Thames, & Pakistan

2010-08-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

Assalamwalikum bloggers! Hope your Ramadan is full of blessings and ibadah inshallah. Keep going- nearly half way though! Ensure you take advantage of it though, you will miss this blessed month when its gone!

The Sahabah RA used to spend the six month following ramadan asking Allah SWT to accept their ibadah and fasts. They then spent the next six months making dua that Allah SWT would let them live to see the next Ramadan. It is as if their whole lives revolved around this wonderful month, which just goes to show you how special it is!

In other news, the terrible events in Pakistan (the floods) have been devastating to see :( In this month of mercy I hope everyone will dig deep and give with an open hand, just as the Prophet PBUH used to do year round, but especially more so in Ramadan.

Islamic Relief in association with WharfMA have organised an Iftar on the Thames, and if you attend you may spot a certain Hijabi in the City on board!

Love amd peace!

Ramadan Highway Code

2010-08-04T14:00:00.001-07:00

A useful reminder! 1 week and counting until the blessed month begins. Make the most of it dear brothers and sisters. Prepare for its arrival and get the most out of it inshallah

Busy City Hijabi - and comments on my blog

2010-08-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

Assalamwalikum dear bloggers and followers!

Well, its been a while since I blogged but it seems that not all of you appreciate my ramblings. Recently, I have been told that my blog is a "modernisaiton of hijab". LOL. Well, Im dumbfounded. Have I portrayed the hijab at all in this blog? Not really. I've given my view as a hijab-wearing city-working female living in London. Please to the person who made this comment, educate me because I have no idea what you mean!

As an aside, I have been a busy little bee. As many City workers will know, the City is now a target-driven saturated environment and City Hijabi has been no less busy...distinguished only her little hijab among the suited and booted masses. Will be back soon with more insights inshallah

Masalam

Well said that man!

2010-06-08T16:32:00.000-07:00

Ah Boris Johnson, our illustrious Mayor of Landon! Sometimes I wonder about him. His wierd, perma-ruffled haircut, he school-boy suit and tie combo and his forever-frown all amuse me yet create a dubious image of a mayor. One may be forgiven for wondering whether he has the skill to lead London. Well, he did come up with (or did some flunky or obscenely paid 'designer' do it?) the We are Londoners sign which I adore. Shame that as a hijab-wearing City worker I still get dirty looks every time I step onto a train (despite the fact that I am praying to Allah Almighty there are no suicide bombers aboard and sticking two fingers up - one from each hand- to the culprits behind 9/11 & 7/7 along with everyone else).

But I digress....Old Boris, he's not so bad y'know. Especially when he sticks up for Blighty. Read the following and tell me what you think.

http://www.boris-johnson.com/2010/06/07/harry-potter-theme-park/#more-3931

I ranted about this exact topic -losing British made things to the US or other countries and this just takes the tea dunked biscuit. Traditional digestive or custard cream? Not even! Now our saucer-less mugs invite Oreos into their depths. We are becoming more and more Americanized (sic) daily but to lose our - yes OUR JK Rowling-British-Born-writer-who-created-Harry-Potter-who-attends-a-British-school-and-the-books-mention-Tottenham Court road etc which I'm-so-proud-of - OUR Harry Potter is ours no more.

Why, does it seem, that I am the only one crying about our loss of National identity? (Multi-cultural-ness included of course!) Our loss of everything we made and have lost credit for? Well, Boris and I are crying about it anyway. At least I have Boris' company to sit and lament the loss of our British successes to other parts of the globe, while the world sniffs its nose in disdain at the only thing anyone remembers we ever did well - tea. Cuppa Boris? I'll only serve it in fine china accompanied by cucumber sandwiches - there's an offer you can't refuse!

Media Bias

2010-06-06T16:39:00.000-07:00

How can anyone believe anything they read in the newspapers? We unfortunately have an incredibly biased media. Look at the recent flotilla disaster:

Newspapers were not fair in their reporting and other media such as SKY and the BBC were atrociously biased, showing only Israeli Defence Force videos but no accounts from the eye witnesses on board the ships.

I for one have lost all respect for the BBC and am boycotting it, as well as SKY.

Thank goodness some people have been fair enough to reportr both sides. In the wonderful Queen Rania's case, we have heard the true voice of justice:

Queen Rania of Jordan attacks Israel over Gaza

By Paul Peachey

Monday, 7 June 2010

Queen Rania of Jordan calls today for an end to the Israeli blockade that has turned Gaza into a "barely functioning, open-air prison." The human rights campaigner and wife of King Abdullah II says in an article for The Independent that "humanity remains under siege" for every day that the blockade continues.

Jordan is one of the few Arab countries that recognises the Jewish state and has peace treaties with it. However, Queen Rania is highly critical of Israeli policy from the "monstrous" military campaign against Gaza 18 months ago to the attacks on the flotilla last week. She criticises the Israeli operation against the flotilla for its "blatant and absurd disregard" for international law and human rights that "appalled our global community."

"Although, I was stunned at the glaring outrageousness of the attack, I am not surprised by it," she writes. "By its very nature, hard-line ideology is self-serving and self-perpetuating, its primary goal is to survive – and that precludes everything."

She also criticises Israel for defending its actions. She writes: "Assigning themselves authority and immunity, Israel's leaders feel licensed to do whatever they like and not expect an international outcry."

Finally, the voice of reason.

Playing with the Tube Maps-if place names were emotions..

2010-05-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

Barbara Kruger's amusing map- Untitled (Tube Map) is currently gracing the covers of underground maps all over London. Follow this map to get from Memory on the Bakerloo line, down to Perfection on the Central Line, change at Power, hop on the Northern Line to Brilliance and then take Circle/District lines up to Laughter. Hilarious.

Previous amusing versions of the much-loved staple for both visitors and seasoned Londoners alike, include Simon Patterson's The Great Bear designed in 1992. Patterson's version replaced the place names with names of famous people and sold at auction for £14, 950.

Mahinur Ozdemir- Hijabi in Politics

2010-05-20T21:35:00.000-07:00

Read all about her on Islamonline.com
http://tinyurl.com/3anmr3g

Palestinian girls win Intel Science Fair award

2010-05-19T16:50:00.000-07:00

Junior Apprentice 2010 and delicious cheese!

2010-05-14T13:49:00.000-07:00

Its back!! And I love it!

The Apprentice is such good viewing for several reasons:

-The format of the show

-The business element- turning a base figure into profit, selling and using business acumen

- The creative element - coming up with fantastic ideas and using your street smarts to turn a profit

-The gameshow element of people fighting to stay and one pereson being kicked off at a time

I really want to take part in the tasks, I love the challenge, every single task I've ever seen I always think I can do better :D and if it wasn't for the fact that I have no desire whatsoever to be 'famous' (no offence to anyone who is a celeb or near-celeb but I like to keep it "real" as the yoof would say *does the Westside hand gesture*). Otherwise, I would jump at the chance to pit my wits in this way.

It's a truly excellent show and the junior version has exactly the same elements in it as the senior version. Sure, the kids are a bit bratty but as with the senior version you have your favourites and the ones you immediately dislike (Jordan and Zoe). I haven't worked out my favourites yet but the best thing about this episode was.......................

................the CHEESE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ohmygosh I loved loved loved loved it...I adore cheese, I'm like Monica from Friends (a fat person is hiding inside my size 6 disguise- yes far too skinny I know, I'm working on it).

So forget about The Apprentice and let's talk about cheeeeeese. Dd you know you can buy cheese wedding cakes? Yum! I'm sure I'll write again about The Apprentice (and cheese!) so check back for updates.. Clearly, that killer combo will draw fans to my blog like Wallace to Wensleydale, but for now, I'm off to raid the fridge for a nice piece of the boy's daily special (it was so lame) mild cheddar (because that's all we have, but I'm thinking of ordering a cheese wedding cake too)......now, where are the crackers?

Feel like milking a cow on a city farm? Nah, me neither

2010-05-13T15:50:00.000-07:00

But if you DID fel so inclined....you wierdo....then make sure you put the following into your diary. The Camden Green Fair is an annual event featuring stalls, live music and men wearing socks with sandals (what? it's summer...this is what happens in summer in the UK!!). Also at the event you can enjoy various exhibitions, workshops and food and mingle with about 20,000 people. It might sound like a glorified village summer fete - and in many ways it is, if Regent's Park could pass for a village field - but it's actually an award-winning, environmental event and very popular.

If you're thinking of visiting, note the date- Sunday 6th June, midday until 7pm, and entry is free.

http://www.camdengreenfair.org.uk

Losing your Innocence -when you realise the truth about the world

2010-05-05T14:29:00.000-07:00

One of the worst things about "growing up" is losing your innocence....no, its not what you think, I'm talking about how you begin to realise that life is not the strawberry shoelaces, playing in the ally, reading books-wedged-between-door-frames world you always thought it would be. I'm talking about the day you realised that the world is a very, very, very dark place indeed. The point when you realise that human beings are not the ones to have faith in; where people hurt one another, lie cheat, backstab, steal - and worse.

Every time I pick up the newspaper I feel a little more numb, or truthfully, dead inside. How can people DO those evil things? How can they torture and injure, abuse and harm other people? How can they ruin people's lives with their disgusting, awful actions? Opressing innocents and harming them, destroying their happiness and the essence of their characters and the essence of themselves until there's nothing left........

I'm not kidding when I say this, I realise that I am a "grown-up" now so this is embaressing, but I hate to see the news. I've given up collecting my morning Metro to read on the tube and instead I am content to write, or read a book or magazine, there's always something to read in my bag.

I know it's good to know what is going on in the world; I definitely can't shelter myself from the outside, that can't be healthy, but to avoid reading traumatic things that play in my mind months - and sometimes years - later, I avoid the news.

I often wonder why Allah SWT gave me so much empathy. It can be frustrating. City Hubby once commented that I think a lot about other people and I agree; it's not necessarily a good thing though.

But one thing I love is charity. At least having empathy for people means I work harder to help people. It's not me trying to seem noble or selfless- it's actually purely selfish. I don't like seeing people unhappy, distressed or suffering, so I do what I can to help. I love fundraising and this is something that I want to do more.

So, when life reveals its true nature, the thing to remember is that you can be the difference. You can help and try and make things better. And when it looks like a mountainous task in front of you - I mean, really, how can I end world hunger? Or help create world peace? How I stop child abuse and violence and the oppressive mistreatment of ordinary prisoners or captives of war? How can I stop racism? And Islamaphobia? How can I stop bullying and anorexia? How can I stop the breakdown of society and families and the social fabric? - When I'm feeling like this I remember that Allah SWT gave me empathy and I do whatever I can. However small, however seemingly insignificant when compared to these problems as big as mountains, I just do what I can.

When I was young and idealistic I would think that humanity was incredible, amazing really and I had real faith in the goodness of people. Maybe it was a different time then, when you could rely on a stranger to offer to help you when your car broke down or to defend you when the odd yob shouted a racial slur (random ideas but they happened). But maybe it really is more like losing your innocence but gaining perspective - humanity is amazing mashallah but also incredibly flawed.

The one being that is constant and perfect and flawless and who, in the end, is the only help is Allah. The one who, in the darkness of the suffering of humanity, in the oppression of humanity by one another, gave me empathy and opportunities and the ability to help.

SubhanAllah. No matter what awful things some of us do, He will always guide others to do right.

Work and discrimination - Are we reading too much into things?

2010-04-20T14:41:00.000-07:00

Sometimes its hard being a Hijabi in the City - I'm not just talking about myself ,but about the hijabis around me.

A friend of mine recently left work due to being bullied by her superior.

Friend was, understandably gutted about this and her last weeks were spent agonising over the reasons why the woman didn't like her. She considered every possible explanation.

Was she jealous because Friend is educated, pretty and has an infectiously bubbly personality? (mashallah). All of these qualities made her popular with her peers and Woman could have been jealous.

Was Woman jealous because Friend was young and at a good point in her career, landing a job that other girls her age would envy? Woman was, let's face it not quite past it, but teetering between Botox-Has-Made-Me-Expressionless and Past-It-Rock-Bottom.

Or was it...? Maybe....Something to do with the scarf? Or what the scarf represents? (Islam for those Joey types who are still waiting for the penny to drop!)

It's difficult not to raise this as a possibility. We know Muslims are discriminated against (as are numerous types of other people) but I would hate to raise that as the reason for everything (or at all, if it isn't true). But she did wonder.

Discrimination can take many forms, hwoever, and the issue could just as easily have been about her being Asian or female or her age (she was younger than most doing the same job).

It made me wonder what other hijabis in the City were facing. I would love to hear from other sisters (and brothers) working anywhere who can relate stories such as the above and tell us how they overcame obstacles.

By the way, it's worth noting one other explanation before I go....sometimes in life people just don't like you - for no reason at all. No tangible reason anyway. You can't explain it, you can't understand it but that's just the way it is.

Malcolm X

2010-04-20T14:24:00.000-07:00

For those of you who haven't yet read The Autobography of Malcolm X, I highly recommend it. Come back here for a review on that soon inshallah.

In the meantime, have a look at the information below...365 days celebrating Malcolm X or El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz...

We are pleased to announce the Keeper of the Word Foundation's project of www.365-50.com celebration of Minister Malcolm X. We are celebrating Malcolm X's contributions to America and his spiritual transformation to Malik Shabazz as a world leader. The celebration commences on May 19, 2010 and shall address Malcolm X's contributions to humanity for 365 days with notable landmark dates. The notable dates shall lead up to the 50th anniversary in 2015 of Malik Shabazz in our efforts to help secure for his legacy the Presidential Freedom and Congressional Medal awards as an advocator of human rights.

We are interested in collecting poetry in honor of Malcolm X's transformation as a world leader for human rights.

The celebration will highlight the release of "The Lost Chapters" from the Autobiography of Malcolm X. There were three censored chapters titled, "The Negro," "End of Christianity, " and "Twenty Million Muslims," omitted from Malcolm X's autobiography. They were discovered and saved by KWF, founder and attorney, Gregory J. Reed, in 1992 when he acquired them at Alex Haley's estate auction.

Ms. Ilyasah Shabazz, Malcolm X's daughter, will pen the introduction to Volume One of her father's last known words of his Autobiography.

Ms. Shabazz stated, "It is an honor as my father's child to pen the introduction for the missing chapters of my father's uncensored words of his Autobiography, one of the greatest books of the 20th Century." Mr. William Alexander Haley, Alex Haley's son, has penned a commentary to the missing chapters.

If you are interested in submitting one or two poems for the anthology presentation with the unpublished writings of Malcolm X's quotes, please provide your work and contact information within 10 days or sooner.

Also, if you desire to host an event in your area for the following, please let us know. 1. Schools, Colleges 2. Community organizations3. Churches 4. Book appearances, private or public 5.City agencies 6. Poetry festIf you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office founder, Gregory J. Reed. gjrassoc@aol. com

ATTN: Malcolm X – Malik Shabazz Lost Chapters Design Competition1201 BagleyDetroit, MI 48226Entries may also be submitted online through the Contact Us pageAll entries must include a cover sheet with:Name, School/College, Grade/Year, Return Address, E-mail & Phonewww.365-50.com Sincerely,

Help buy a prosthetic limb for a brother in Islam

2010-01-25T14:49:00.000-08:00

Salams all

I came across this whilst googling (as you do!) I didnt read the entire article but here's the gist: a brother who was to Guatanamo and later freed as innocent has a prosthetic limb...with it, he can't stand for more than 15 minutes. There's fundraising going on to help him get a better prosthetic limb to make life easier.

Here's where I read the article..

http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?246532-Help-Buy-A-Prosthetic-Limb-For-Former-Guantanamo-Prisoner

Work, work and more work,...

2010-01-21T14:57:00.000-08:00

Assalamwalikum

Wow, im so busy...sorry blogland friends but I have work, work and MORE work.

But I'm remembering that this life is temporary and I need to put in more "work" for Allah T'ala and the next life...

Never lose perspective my friends and remember that the Prophet SAAS said to live this life as if you were a traveller...just passing through.

M'salam

Donate to charity!

2010-01-13T16:25:00.000-08:00

Salams all! Please help a good friend of mine raise money for a children's charity. They were recently in Gaza providing aid and help people regardless of race or religion.

I'm asking people to help her achieve the goal of £3,000 by donating just £1. You can use paypal, credit/debit card and do it anonymously. Jazakallahkayrun!

Donate now!

Muslim Wedding in Eastenders

2010-01-10T12:42:00.000-08:00

Does anyone still WATCH Eastenders any more? I havent watched it in years and didn't particularly like it then (but was forced to watch it due to family members being fans).

A recent storyline has caught my attention though- a Muslim wedding involving a secretly gay Muslim man...

They never feature Muslims on tv as it is but running a GAY Muslim storyline? This is very typical of the BBC. They're afraid to represent Muslims in the media in a positive way, so to get around having to portray them at all, they run storylines that in reality affect a very small portion of the overall Muslim community and show issues that are contentious within the Muslim community. Why not try running a "Muslims being attacked for no reason" storyline - millions of Muslims are experiencing THAT right now...

Im back!

2010-01-09T15:37:00.001-08:00

Assalamwalikum!!!!

Wow, I cant believe four whole months has passed since I last posted anything! Hope you're all well out there in Web Land..

Dua for Distress

2009-08-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

Jazakallahkhairon to the dear sister who posted this online: i found these very useful alhumdulillah and wished to share them with all of you.

http://infoguide.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/duas-for-relive-from-distress/

Duas For Distress :

1. Allahumma inni a’oodhu bika mina al-hamm wa’l-hazn wa’l-ajz wa’l-kasal wa’l-bukhl wa’l-jubn wa dala wa’l-dayn wa ghalbat al-rijal

Trans: O Allah ! I seek refuge in You from distress, grief, incapacity, laziness, miserliness, cowardice, the burden of debt and from being overpowered by Men.

2. Allahumma inni abduka ibn abdika ibn amatija nasyati bi yadika, mada fiyya hukmuka, adlun fiyya qada’uka. As’aluka bi kulli ismin huwa laka sammayta bihi nafsaka aw anzaltu fi kitabika aw ‘allamtahu ahadan min khalqika aw ista’tharta bihi fi ilm il-ghayb indaka an taj’al al-Qurana rabee’ qalbi wa noor sadri wa jala huzni wa dhihab hammi

Trans: O Allah! I am your slave , son of your slave, son of your maidservant; my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over is just. I ask you by every name belonging to You which You have named Yourselves with, or revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the unseen with You, that You make the Quran the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety.

3. La ilaha ill-Allah al-Azeem al-Hakeem, laa ilaha ill-Allah Rabb al ‘Arsh al-’Adheem la ilaha illa-Allah Rabb al-Samawat wa Rabb al Ard wa Rabb al-Arsh al-kareem

Trans: There is no God but Allah, the All-powerful. The Forbearing; There is no god but Allah. Rabb of the mighty throne; there is no god but Allah, Rabb of heaven,Rabb of earth, Rabb of the nobel throne.

4. Ya hayyu ya qayyum bi rahmatika astagheetu

Trans: O Ever-Living , O Eternal, by Your mercy I seek help.

5. Allah Allah Rabbee la ushriku bihi say’an

Trans: Allah, Allah is my Lord , I donot associate anything with Him.

6. Allahumma rahmata arjoo fa la takilni ila nafsi tarfat ayn w’aslih li sha’ni kullahu la ilaha illa anta

Trans: O Allah, for your mercy I hope, so do not leave in charge of my affairs even for the blink of an eye: rectify all my affairs. There is no God except You.

Ya Allah-Khair

Help Muslim Charity- women & children's shelter

2009-07-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

director@mnisaa.org

Please Visit www.mnisaa.org to purchase your tickets!

Muslimat Al-Nisaa
provides food, clothing and service-enriched shelter housing for Muslim
women and children who come to us from states nationwide. The hurting
Sisters who come to us are clearly in need of more than the obvious
food, clothing and shelter, which they may be lacking. Some seek a
refuge from violence. Some want help finding assistance in overcoming
immigration issues. Some seek educational assistance or
job training. Those who cannot help themselves turn to us, and we
respond to every call for help. But, because requests for shelter are
coming in ever-increasing numbers, we need your help.

Please attend our upcoming September 6th fundraising iftar

or send your zakat/donations on behalf of
our Sisters as they transition through the healing process on their
journeys through and out of homelessness and domestic violence.

Alhamdulilah to everyone who is able to be vital in the financial support of our Sister’s basic human need for food and shelter.

Jazakallahu khairun from our Sisters for not forgetting that they to are a part of the global Muslim community.

Muslimat
Al-Nisaa is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, so all donations are
tax deductible. Please help us to help feed and shelter the needy.

Give Someone a Helping Hand

Donate to Muslimat Al-Nisaa at www.mnisaa.org

For more information:

Email: director@mnisaa.org

(410) 466-8686

Asma Hanif, Executive Director Muslimat Al Nisaa, INC
5115 Liberty Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21207
(410) 466-8686 fax (410) 466-5949 www.mnisaa.org
A Registered 501(c)3 Charitable Organization

"In Service To Those Who Serve ALLAH(SWT)"

HIjabi Killed (Ina-lil-ahi-wa-ina-lilayhi rajioon)

2009-07-07T13:08:00.001-07:00

Egypt mourns 'headscarf martyr' (BBC article)

The body of a Muslim woman, killed in a German courtroom by a man convicted of insulting her religion, has been taken back to her native Egypt for burial.

Marwa Sherbini, 31, was stabbed 18 times by Axel W, who is now under arrest in Dresden for suspected murder.

Husband Elwi Okaz is also in a critical condition in hospital, after being injured as he tried to save his wife.

Ms Sherbini had sued her killer after he called her a "terrorist" because of her headscarf.
The case has attracted much attention in Egypt and the Muslim world.

German prosecutors have said the 28-year-old attacker, identified only as Axel W, was driven by a deep hatred of foreigners and Muslims.

'Martyr'
Medics were unable to save Ms Sherbini who was three months pregnant with her second child. Her three-year-old son was with the family in court when she was killed.

Axel W and Ms Sherbini and family were in court for his appeal against a fine of 750 euros ($1,050) for insulting her in 2008, apparently because she was wearing the Muslim headscarf or Hijab.

Newspapers in Egypt have expressed outrage at the case, asking how it was allowed to happen and dubbing Ms Sherbini "the martyr of the Hijab".

Senior Egyptian officials and German diplomatic staff attended the funeral in Alexandria along with hundreds of mourners.

Media reports say Mr Okaz was injured both by the attacker and when a policeman opened fire in the courtroom.

Pray with the people in your household- or the devil will divide you

2009-07-05T13:27:00.001-07:00

Assalamwalikum my dearest brothers and sisters in Islam. I hope this blogpost finds you in the best of health and imaan inshallah. I feel at peace alhumdulillah because I prayed little while ago (which usully helps me to feel sakoon - peace) and also because I prayed with my husband today. I've been trying to get us to pray together for ages but we've never managed to do it regularly together. Today we prayed zohar and Asr together alhumdulillah and its wonderful. The family that prays together, stays together! I recommend it to all of you.

I cant find the hadith right now but there is one that says that all the members of a household should pray salah together- because the one or two who dont will become separated from the family by sheytaan, like a wolf who snatches sheep who stray from the flock. Something long those lines. If anyone knows the hadith I'd appreciate it if you could post it on here. Here's something about husband and wife praying together.

Q3. Can a husband and wife pray together as a Jama'ah? How to perform such prayer? Please explain.

A3. Jama'ah prayer can be performed by two or more people. The minimum requirement of Jama'ah is two people, an Imam and another person, whether a man, woman or child. It is very good that the whole family pray together, especially in this society where the mosques are so few and most people do not get chance to pray in Jama'at every day.

Husband and wife can also make a Jama'at prayer. It is reported by Imam Abu Da'ud that the Prophet -peace be upon him- said, "Whoever wakes up during the night and also awakens his wife and then both of them pray together two rak'ah prayer, their names will be written among 'those men and women who remembered Allah most' (referring to surah al-Ahzab 33:35)."

If there are two males praying together in Jama'ah then one of them will be Imam and the other person should stand one step behind at the Imam's right side, but if the husband and wife are praying together then the wife should stand behind the husband. A male and a female -just two individuals- who are not married to each other or who are not mahram are not allowed to pray together in Jama'ah

Tea and I'tikaaf- two essentials in life

2009-07-04T01:21:00.000-07:00

SubhanAllah! Its the weekend! I'm just relaxing with a nice cup of tea...I love tea its delicious and helps me unwind...In fact, I love it so much I would go as far as to say I'M ADDICTED!

OOh just look at the lovely lovliness of hot sweet tea *drools* Ahem, but anyway I finally have some time to do the housework and work on writing some brilliant stuff...Hope everyone out in blogland is doing well too inshAllah.

If you're got some time this weekend too I recommend taking some time out to devote to Allah SWT. Im planning on sitting I'tikaf this weekend for a few hours. I'tikaf doesnt have to be done during Ramadan or even for as long at 2 weeks...it could be for an hour...Any time where you block out the world and focus on your Lord. The Prophet SAAS used to take time out like this and perform extra prayers and zikr often and I think it helps you to gain perspective, re-focus your priorities and strengthen your imaan. We liv ein such a fast-paced world I think it's important to STOP and remind yourself of why you're really here. Thats what Im going to try to do anyway inshAllah. Have a great weekend, masalam x

City Hijabi

2009-07-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

Assalamwalikum all, someone has created an outfit for me! Well actually, the sister just created an outfit appropriate for hijabi's in the city....but as im the original online HITC I'm going to suggest the outfit is for me! lol

http://caribmuslimah.wordpress.com/2009/05/14/hijabi-in-the-city/

My verdict: thumbs up!

Im tired!

2009-07-01T17:25:00.000-07:00

City Hijabi is very very busy. I wish I had more time & energy to get things done :-(
I pray that Allah SWT helps me...and all of you who are feeling the same way

Aurangzeb has left a new comment on your post "Im tired!": have a cup of cold coffee... well I mean mix some coffee in cold milk, add some sugar, shake it well and drink it ;) InshaALLAH you'll be fine!PS: hey if you don't drink coffee, a teaspoon (of coffee beans) is enough.

LOL. Jazakallahkairon brother as I can tell you are trying to help me. I actually need more sleep though, I look like a panda these days! Coffee will only hype me up and I'll push myself to do more and more and more....sometimes i think we need to slow down and not take on so much...

Procrastination

2009-06-21T16:21:00.000-07:00

اَللّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعِجْزِ ، وَالْكَسْلِ، وَالْجُبْنِ ، وَالْهَرَمِ ، وَالْبُخْلِ ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ. [1][1][

Allâhumma innî aûdhu bika minal-ajzi wal-kasli wal-jubni wal-harami wal-bukhli, wa a'udhbika min adhabil qabri, wa a'udhubika fitnatil mahya walmamat.

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, anxiety and sorrow, and I seek refuge in You from the torments of grave, and I seek refuge in You from the trials and tribulations of life and death.

A sister new to blogging mentioned procrastination being a problem...hope this helps.

Laziness and or procrastination (not the same things) is something we all fall prey to...Im going to try and read the above dua regularly...remember, being lazy about the small things can lead to lazyiness about the big important things including salah. Fight the whisperings, turn off the tv (and the computer!) and pray, read, learn and achieve.

Make lists of things you need to do and maybe another for what you want to achieve, pray to Allah specifically for what you are wanting and inshallah He will bring you closer to your goals and make (halal goals) easy for you.

Support Muslim businesses!

2009-06-18T13:24:00.000-07:00

http://www.muspages.com/index.php

Assalamwalaikum to all

ive discovered the above- a great way to support Muslims businesses which is incredibly important. People moan for example about the Palestine situation and say they want to help the Palestinians- yet they shop in M&S who officially declared that their primary purpose was to provide money to fund the Jewish state of Israel (and Israel then spend that money on Caterpillers used to flatten whole Palestinian villages). Well, why don't we donate money to the children of Palestine who are being denied an education? Can't we donate or fundraise to provide books for those children? If not that, then can't we at LEAST stop sending money that will pay for more bullets used against those very children? SUPPORT MUSLIM BUSINESSES! And then encourage those businesses to donate a % of their earnings for charitable causes.

Walikumasalam x

Someone - anonymoous- posted this comment, which I think is very useful:-

Some more business directory sites for finding muslim businesses to support:
www.tijarapages.com
www.muslimdirectory.co.uk
www.halalfire.com

The Inmates of Hell

2009-06-13T07:50:00.000-07:00

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said: "There are two types of the inmates of Hell whom I have not seen in my time: people having flogs like the tails of oxen with them, and who would be beating people, and the women who would be dressed but appear to be naked, who would be inclined to evil and make their husbands incline towards it. Their hair would be like the humps of the bukht camel inclined to one side. They will not enter Paradise, and they will not smell its odour, whereas its odour will be smelled from long distances." (Muslim)

Note 1: "Flogs" means whips or sticks.
"Bukht Camels" means Persian camels.

Note 2: When the Prophet Muhammad --- [PBUH] Hell, he saw many different types of people there. However, there were two types of people he did not recognize because they did not exist in his time (the Seventh Century). The types of people he did not recognize were:

1. People carrying whips and sticks -- the oppressors beating up others

2. Women wearing different types of clothes. Their outfits were very revealing, much like the "fashionable" clothing of today. Also, those women had unusual hairstyles, perhaps like the kinds worn by women today.

Note 3: The Prophet Muhammad --- predicted the nature of women's clothing in our time. He foretold that fashionable clothing would be revealing of the body. Also, he predicted the nature of women's hairstyles and wigs in modern times.

I remember reading the hadith about the women with hair like the humps of camels, leaning to one side and I thought of this..... Persian camel...

Canary Wharf MotorExpo

2009-06-11T10:39:00.000-07:00

As I work in Canary Wharf...fabuloso, I know.......Ive been walking past the mini-exhibition (a display of a selection of cars and bikes) which are part of the Motor Expo. Its running all this week until Sunday ad is free to attend. If you like flash cars and bikes check it out........ http://www.motorexpo.com

I went past this today in Jubilee Place mall..... Also on dispaly as part of the Motorexpo- a Ferrari made out of wool!!!

Lauren Porter’s Knitted Ferrari has travelled internationally and received wide acclaim. Her work is not just a knitted car, but questions the relationship between male symbols and feminine craft, playing on the hard edged object and soft textured material. The result is visually stunning and will be on display within Jubilee Place Mall for the duration of this year’s Motorexpo.
http://www.lauren-porter.co.uk/

Tube strikes!!!!

2009-06-10T11:10:00.000-07:00

Who else suffered today?????? I was like a SARDINE in a tin...only worse than a normal sardine tin, it was like 60 sardine tins emptied into one....I was so squashed and as a female I felt even more uncomfortable to be so close to non-mahrem men;there was the odd elbow poking me and someone's arms touching mine (which was covered in the sleeve of a cute pink coat lol but nevertheless....NO TOUCHY MI AMIGO!!!!! kEEP YOUR DISTANCE!!!!) so I prayed aytul-kursi and blew on myself....SubhanAllah, the woman next to me moved and suddenly I had a tiny bit of space all around me, with no-one touching me at all. Praise be to Allah, the Merciful of the Merciful. At the next stop two more people got off and I moved to the corner (standing all the time). When I looked round, everyone was squashed to the left of the carriage but I had loads of space- even enough to unfold and read my newspaper!

Remebering Allah SWT in times of need (any need) is a blessing....let me know your similar stories where you've felt He has answered your duas,

masalam x

Wait a sec...hijabi are WOMEN?

2009-06-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

Black hijab...black abaya...quiet, shy, reclusive..........is it possible these very women are also interested in make-up, clothes and fashion? The following article was a good reminder that hijabi are women! Its easy to forget that women who cover are still ladies interested in much the same things other ladies like! But please remember sisters...........

1. Showing off (ostentatiousness) is not correct in Islam. The characteristic based on modesty (hayaa)

2. Restrict discussions about make-up and what you're wearing beneath your abaya to the confines of your home- its not right to cover and then let non-mehrem know what you look like without it (defeats the purpose!)

3. Dont waste excessive amounts of money on make-up & clothing and remember most fashion (especially Western) is dictated usually by MEN...Versace, Georgio Armani, Calvin Klein.

4. Spend extra time you have in good, Islamic pursuits. I like make up and clothes too but i'd rather spend an extra hour learning about Islam and propagating it or just increasing my knowledge of Quran by heart instead of testing 30 different eye-shadows in order to get the "right one" lol.

Check out the article here:-

http://simplymuslimah.blogspot.com/2009/06/hijabi-are-not-women.html

My comment:- (balance is key!)

...this kind of thing is really useful:- we can wear what we want at home! Of course there are limits- if you spend a lot of time, money & effort on make up, clothes etc its not really in the spirit of Islam. Balance is the key i think.... x

Enough about the hijab!

2009-06-09T13:45:00.000-07:00

Assalamwalikum,

I just read an interesting article called Enough about the Hijab! Its not anything negative; its about a study conducted into why women in Quebec wear hijab and what it ultimately means for the Quebecian (?) society overall. I found it on this sisters blog http://nazia-canadianhijab.blogspot.com and she gives reference to the original source for the article on her blog. Take a look:-

http://nazia-canadianhijab.blogspot.com/2009/06/enough-about-hijab.html?showComment=1244580336438#c5939399621636326789

My comment:-
That was an interesting article sis...enough with going on and on about what is essentially a peice of material! Of course it means so much more to us, alhumdulillah, but for non-Muslims it shouldnt represent anything negative (as its only a peice of cloth- you dont see them getting this worked up over bandanas!)....and inshallah one day, for the vast majority, it wont represent anything negative & people will see it for the beautiful symbol of piety it really is! Great blogging x

Work clothes part 3....

2009-06-07T07:25:00.000-07:00

Work wear part 2.......

2009-06-07T06:47:00.000-07:00

Black & brown--one of my favourite combinations!

Work Wear Part 1

2009-06-06T17:20:00.000-07:00

Assalamwalikum all! We're moving on to clothes (for the time being- will be back to complete the story of my "reversion" later....) So ladies (and gents, im equally interested to know what issues brothers may have when it comes to attire), what do you wear for WORK? I've tried to inspire readers to share their hijab styles, enouraged London hijabis especially and even offered an incentive (free hijabs!!) but you're all either too shy or dont care! C'mon ladies!! (and gents).

In this commercial, capitalist world, we Muslims and Muslimahs are having to go out to work........so what do we wear that is both suitable for the office and also modest? I used to have a hard time with shirts worn with trousers in particular (as they were all too short!!). Here's a nice combo for now (long skirts are life savers!) and I'll be posting more on this soon.

I'd like to point out correct that Islamic dress is full abaya/jilbab as well as hijab. For those who dont wear abaya/jilbab (like myself, but are working towards it inshallah) this is useful to bridge the gap. I strongly encourage all sisters to work actively towards full correct Islamic dress as its fardh and inshallah Im with you on that too! walikumasalam :-)

Muslimahs at Home continued...

2009-05-31T14:58:00.000-07:00

Jazakallahkhair to the positive- and to the constructive- comments left regarding the last post. My objective certainly wasnt to offend. It might be easier if I explained what my own experience re working and being at home are...but I want to remain anonymous so am unsure at this stage how much to divulge....in any event, it is every Muslimah's personal choice on how to live and Allah SWT knows best how to reward His servants. Many women are doing very worthwhile jobs mashallah. I would like to balance that with the comment made by the sister- your PHD isnt worth as much to Allah as being a good wife or mother (and I'll add "we think" to that, because we can't say what Allah SWT would say, but we do know that the Prophet SAAS encouraged the traditional roles and he mashallah was the ideal servant of Allah SWT. I'm still keen to see evidence to support this if anyone has any?

Wasalam x

Islamic Impressions

2009-05-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

I would like to take a minute to tell you all about this wonderful site mashallah....just about everything you could possibly need as a Muslim is here! There are stores dotted around the country or you can order online. I strongly encourage Muslims to support Muslim businesses. If you are looking for a Quran in English, another prayer mat for your child, some new hijabs or even halal productive board games, such as Quran Challenge, to give as gifts (Eid isnt too far off!) then look no further!

http://www.islamicimpressions.co.uk

Adhan Clocks
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Tasbee's
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Wall Mounts

Muslimahs at home

2009-05-27T12:35:00.001-07:00

Assalamwalikum

Work is hard!!!!! In Islam the ideal muslimah is one who stays home and looks after the house. Believe me ive almost always worked yet I completely understand why this is the case in Islam. Life for a muslimah outside is hard. Really. You have to deal with non-mahrem men....'nuff said! It's hard...running for a tube, holding your own in the workplace...running back to the tube lol. I love being at home despite my wish to have a career (I have an idea for a career from home so that would work out great one day inshallah). To all sisters who have read about how muslimahs should be at home but didnt know why....think about it..

Ok I'll update this when I have more time...

Re: comments:-

Maryam, Asiyah, Khadijah and Fatima (RA) are known to be the best women to ever walk this Earth and their status in the Sight of Allah and the Prophet's s.a.w wasiyyah to take an example from them are both well known. Why is this the case? Why THESE 4 women and not numerous other women who, mashallah, defended Islam, propagated Islam, fought for Islam etc. Why these 4? The common link between them is...........they were either great wives, or great mothers! Mashallah! I dont disagree with working, I do myself, but I can see the blessings, benefits and protection of being in the home and subhanAllah that Allah is so merciful to women!

As for the person who said it's about preventing us from acheiveing our potential...I disagree. I ran a business FROM HOME, wrote and published various works FROM HOME, helped in dawah work and charity work FROM HOME. SubhanAllah there's a lot of blessing in being at home and you can fulfill your potential from home too. Food made by my hand tastes like no other alhumdulillah, the house is clean and tidy and I feel more relaxed even though I could have an extremely busy day there are pressures etc that I avoid being at home.

The main point is: those who are at home should feel like they are contributing and are achieving..because they are mashallah! You can say it's your right to work and thats fine but dont delude yourself into thinking your job is (prima facie) going to earn you more sawaab than a wife or mother or being a good daughter and sister. Of course Allah SWT knows best who deserves His sawaab and jazakallahkhair to the sister who pointed that out to me.

I dont belittle anyone's choice- we have been given free will after all. I just want to show sisters who feel pressurised to work- ignore those who belittle your choice to be at home. I can think of so many benefits to being at home! Your actions in raising families etc are so great mashallah, dont be discouraged. I dont have time to point to daleel right now but inshallah I will...from the top of my head I can think of something I read but as I cant find the daleel please be aware...I read somewhere that a woman who sweeps her home earns as much sawaab as if she had swept the kabah mashallah....Women play a vital role and I think whether it's in the home o outside, they deserve respect. We always hear about a woman's choice to work being defended (and rightly so) but I hear little these days about a woman's right to stay at home if she chooses....

I agree it's a personal choice - in Islam women are permitted to work- but we're talking about the ideal and why it is the ideal....heres why!

The following are another sister's words...(taken from 7cgen)

Asiyah r.a, too raised another dear prophet, Musa a.s. Imagine living in a life of luxury. All the gold you want, a palace, a powerful and welathy husband, a life that is dear to the hearts of every woman. Sisters it is not that easy to give up such a life! What is more to contemplate on is the fact that she lived in a surrounding where NO ONE else believed except her! It is very rare and difficult for someone to stay steadfast in such an environment. Today we have scholars to refute the false claims of the enemies of Islam, and yet we are still affected by doubts as to who is right and wrong. Asiyah had none of that, she didnt want the pleasures of this world and her response to the torture that was issued by her own husband was "Oh Allah build me a house in Jannah"....SubhanAllah...

Khadijah r.a, where do we begin with her? The prophet s.a.w said of her "she believed in me when people disbelieved, she told me i was on the truth when people told me i was on falsehood, she aided me with her money when others deprives me of it, and she bore me children when Allah deprived me children of other women." She could've easily casted the prophet s.a.w aside as "insane" as did the wives of prophets Lut and Noah may they burn in hell, but she did not! She lived through the poorest conditions when she could've lived a life of luxury. But did she? No by Allah she did not! SubhanAllah...

Fatima r.a, Ali r.a. narrated that he would see her work so hard that her hands got rough. She had marks on her neck from retrieving water from wells. Her clothes were stained and dirty in the long process of her keeping her home clean for her husband and children. Sisters, note that Aisha r.a was a scholar of Islam and she was the most beloved to the prophet s.a.w after khadijah, however she did not attain that level as these 4 regardless of her great knowledge and the fact that it is her whom people saught for advice and councel after the prophet's death!

For those who have husbands, take care of them and please them for wallahi he is your heaven and hell. For those who dont, it is now our time to work on fixing our mentalities for the future. It is time to start thinking about our true purpose and what REALLY elevates our status in the Sight of Allah.

Do not look down at your married sister, for wallahi, if she is pleasing her husband she is better than you in the sight of Allah and that PHD means nothing to Him. Take example from these four great women my sisters. Do not let the sick mentality of the feminists get to you. Know your true purpose on this earth, work on it, implement it and await your reward inshAllah...May Allah aid us to be like these great women in every way possible. Ameen

The prequel to...

2009-05-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

My Reversion Story

I'll just clear up something..In normal language people say "convert" which describes a person who has changed religion. When I use the word "revert" to describe someone who used to follow one religion or no religion & who became a Muslim- it's because in Islam we believe that every human being was actually born a Muslim (had knowledge of the truth) but each person was raised according to what they were taught & this means some people left Islam (the truth they were born with) & became followers of another religion/no religion. So when a non-Muslim becomes Muslim- they have reverted: gone BACK to Allah. Convert/revert in this situation means the same thing.

I personally was raised a Muslim and have never described myself as a follower of any other religion. My upbringing was good but I didnt attend any madrassas (Islamic schools) or learn a great deal about Islam (knew how to pray, all of the kalimas, some stories of the Prophets PBUT but not many, dressed modestly but didnt wear hijab etc). In this blog I desrcibe "My Reversion Story"...I came back to Allah (in a sense though, i never left) - I became more religious, more knowledgeable and more devoted to Islam and Allah. I put on hijab and Im still learning about Islam and trying to show existing Muslims - you think you know.....but you dont know..educate yourselves! And I want non-Muslims to have the opportunity to see the truth. If they dont revert that's fine- each to their own and im totally against forcing people to change religion. But I wish I had learned the things I now know sooner....so I dont want people to miss out on the truth. Hear it, understand it..if you dont want to adopt it fine...but dont say later you never knew..coz I told you! :-)

Why Did I Look into Religion?

2009-05-22T00:23:00.000-07:00

My Own Reversion Story

I always felt a connection with God, I enjoyed attending the Mosque and I FELT God's prescence so I didnt look into religion because I was confused or unsure of life. I looked into it because I wanted something more substantial than emotional feelings. As a Muslim (non-hijab wearing and not the most knowledgable but I knew 1/3 of what I know now), I would tell people why I believed in Islam. I was never persuaded by what other people said about their religions. I was confident Islam was right. I spoke to atheists and agnostics who said that there was no God and no hereafter. I told them they had better double-check that because once they were dead it would be too late. I recall one conversation with a colleague who was atheist and I told him that he didnt KNOW there was no God...and an intelligent person would make sure of their chosen way of life otherwise they could end up regretting it in the hereafter. What if he died and then came face to face with God? He said but I dont want to sit on the fence...i want to be a man and make a decision either way. Lame. How can you make a decision based on no research?

Anyway, this led me to consider my own position. I FELT the truth...I would call on God and would see His signs...but infrequently...so what if I were wrong? I couldnt see God or speak to Him or guarantee that I was right.

Another problem was that I would look at people of other religions and think...poor them...on the wrong path....they're only Hindu/Christian etc because their parents are and raised them that way. Hm. BUT Im only Muslim because I was born one. How could I know that I was born into the right religion? Everyone thinks they are right and yet there are numerous religions...so who is right? If one person follows the path of their forefathers and is too stubborn to change because “this is what our parents believed”- whose to say who’s right?! They can’t all be right!

So there I was, telling an atheist he better look into religion before his time was up- and I had no guarantee I was right. It made me feel afraid of waking up one day (after death) and realising I had followed the wrong religion or even discovering something as superficial as- "hey, I never went out and got drunk or partied and enjoyed myself, instead I covered and was good because I thought God existed and now im dead...I see there's nothing after death!" [Of course that's very silly because "nothing after death" means oblivion so I wouldn’t have any consiousness regarding this but anyway...]

I wanted to know if the WAY OF LIFE I had adopted was right. Was there more? Was Islam the right religion? I did a lot of research and felt convinced the other religions had flaws and lack of support for the beliefs. Islam, in contrast, was flawless and the proof that God existed and that the Quran was the word of God was overwhelming. So much so that it strengthened my beliefs when I saw that there was actual physical evidence that God exists.

I was shocked to discover that there was more to ISLAM! The very religion I was born into was not only the one that was correct after research but also had so much more it than I ever knew. The most significant thing was---God likes some things....and dislikes other things....until I know what He likes and dislikes I can never please Him (and attain reward/Paradise). I didnt come to this brilliant conclusion immediately- it was more a case of...hey I never knew that if you dont allow your neighbour to have peace you are "not a believer" (the words of the Prophet SAW). I had so much to learn! And Islam is a sea of knowledge...but Im going to break it up into categories for you inshallah (God Willing). The first step was...I wanted to know, DID GOD EXIST?

...and more on that later! wasalam x

DIscrepancies in other Religious Books

2009-05-21T03:36:00.000-07:00

My Own Reversion Story

I was discussing this topic with someone who is also interested in Islam and I was explaining how I came to the conclusion Islam is the truth. Below are some of my comments to her and when i have time I will re organise this post to fully explain the journey i went on to discover the truth!

I agree with what you said about some parts not being fitting for a book of God; I felt that when I read the Bible too and I finally understood why some parts sounded wrong when I read that people of the church have edited the Bible themselves (and freely admit they have). I couldnt put my trust in a book that had some parts that were man made. (Human error and all that!)

When I first read Quran in English there were some parts that made me think- God would never say that! things like..surely God would think of women as well as he does men because we're all His servants... & what I was reading seemed to contradict that. It wasnt until I did some more research that I realised I had missed parts of the jigsaw. Another thing I didnt know was that ONE word can make all the difference to interpretation & the English versions are all transliterations (translations of the meaning of Quran) not translations exactly. By checking sentences which sounded wrong against other versions i discovered e.g the word "man" (seemed like God was addressing only men) had been used in an English version but the Arabic word actually translated to "mankind" which refers to all humans and of course includes women too. Its only a little difference but it altered the way i interpreted the message.

After researching other religions I found that the books of other religions were also flawed-the Torah is now also not in its original form and the other books also had flaws that included repetition, vulgar wording and other things. In order to explain that more fully I would need to go into detail regarding each religion...look out for future posts!

My Own Reversion story

2009-05-21T02:22:00.000-07:00

I Wanted to share with you all how I "found" Islam. I was born a Muslim but I feel like a revert as I learned the majority of what I know about Islam later in life. I looked into various religions as I wanted to be sure I had chosen the right one for me. It may sound false but Islam is perfect, I couldnt find any flaws- and I really did look! I was intellectually, spiritually & emotionally convinced it was the right religion and now I am a Muslim by personal choice. This is why I always say I feel more like a revert than a born-into-it Muslim. Reverts choose to revert, making a consious decision about their way of life and as a result they are usually firmer in their belief andmore pro-active in seeking knowldege and applying it.

With regards to Christianity and Islam is because the core values are the same (except for the Trinity concept- in Islam we believe that God is one with no partners and Jesus is not his son, which Im sure you already know). Have you read or been told how the Bible is the word of God- but is now not in its original form? And the Quran is another book sent by God to confirm what came before it (the Bible, the Torah and the Gospel) and it IS in the same form that God sent it down as (lots of evidence to support that), which is why we can rely on it.

Calling all London HIjabis!

2009-05-21T00:52:00.000-07:00

I would love to put some pictures of London hijabis on the site to show how London girls wear their hijabs. You can rub out the face if you want to- its all about the hijab and clothes! Or turn your face to the side if you prefer.

This isnt a competition- I'll feature every picture sent it as long as it meets the below requirements, but I'll pick one submission each month and provide a free hijab for your efforts! (Maybe more than one depending on how many hijabs I get!)

Send in:-
One clear picture of yourself (full-length preferably but focus on just the hijab is fine as I want people who are new to hijab to discover new weays of wearing it)

2. List what you are wearing and where you bought items from - especially the hijab!

3. Write a little about your hijab style and anything you want to say about your hijab

4. I have seen pictures on other sites of hijabis that are wearing eg very tight jeans and this does not conform to Islamic guidelines about modesty so please ensure the clothes are not too tight etc. If in doubt, send in a picture and I would be happy to advise you!

If you would like to feature on Hijabi in the City send your pictures to hijabiinthecity@live.co.uk

At the moment this is a London style feature im trying to put together specifically; if you're from another city or country and would like to contibute please do as I can always create another section specifically for those outside of London!

I Wear Hijab- Help!

2009-05-20T14:46:00.000-07:00

Many many sisters find that putting on the hijab is a daunting task. I went through it myself some years ago and alhumdulillah it was the best decision I ever made!

I did however find out that there were a lot of changes I had to make to my life to accomodate the new level of modesty as well as practical issues. Over the next few weeks I'll be discussing some of the problems new hijabis have and will be trying to resolve issues for you. Please fell free to email me with your suggestions for topics you wish to discuss and tips and suggestions for sisters at hijabiinthecity [at] live. co. uk

Hair Loss

Many non-hijabis think that wearing hijab contributes to hair loss. In actual fact there could be a number of reasons causing the hair loss- including medical reasons.

A woman's hair will sheds about 100 strands a day on average. Even with hijab on this will still occur- but your hijab is keeping the strands close to your head and your ponytail/bun/plait etc will stop them actually falling out until the end of the day when you brush or wash your hair.

I would love to hear from readers who have experienced this themselves and can give tips on how to prevent hair loss/dryness and other damage from occurring.

Paisley Maxi Dress

2009-05-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

We havent had much sunshine but I found another looovely maxi dress from an American website called wetseal. It costs $27.50 which is roughly £17.46- not bad at all. I love the summary colour and pretty paisley pattern. Long and modest- maxi dresses are the best- now we just need some sunshine so I can wear them!

Rachel from London's Blog

2009-05-20T07:02:00.000-07:00

http://rachelnorthlondon.blogspot.com/2006/12/hijab-shopping-revelation.html

The above link leads to a blog by a lady called Rachel- a fellow Londoner!- who had an experience that I found interesting. She wore "hijab" for a day and found that she was treated very differently to the way she is in her normal attire. I was reminded of Allah's words advising that we wear hijab so that we "may be recognised". Rachel was recognised and shown respect, which she deserves and all women deserve regardless of what we wear.

My comment, which I would like to share with you as it includes my own pre and post hijab story (more on that later):-

Hi, I just thought I would commet on how I viewed your piece. I put on hijab aged 23 and have been wearing it for 4 years. As someone who has experienced life "before and after" I can assure you of several things from my own experience:-1) Pre-hijab all types of men would stare at me, ask me out randomly on the street, propose to me, hassle me and 1 even stalked me. Race made no difference- it was all men 2) Post-hijab I gained the same respect you mentioned and it was a relief. All men treated me in an opposite fashion to the pre-hijab period. Because you had an experience where your appearance altered the way you were treated I would like you & all women to consider- regardless of your religion- how women SHOULD be treated...We all deserve respect despite our appearance.

As a professional hijab-wearing woman now I am respected, I am seen as intelligent, my opinions are sought and men look at my face/eyes when talking not elsewhere. I feel safe and protected and have a dignity and self-worth that came from being covered. Women SHOULD be able to walk down the street as you did and NOT be harassed but the real world is an unsafe place- the day I put on hijab I felt protected and my self-esteem grew. All women should try it and I'm glad you got a taste of it x

My Blog Followers and The Apprentice

2009-05-20T06:52:00.001-07:00

Assalamwalikum (peace be upon you),

I now have FOUR followers! Woohoo! *Does a little dance* Yes, it's a relatively small number but also relatively huge! (compared to 3,2,1 or 0) so I'm going to look at it in a glass half-full kinda way and do my geeky dance. Thank you all :-)

One of my favourite shows, The Apprentice, is on tonight and I can't wait to watch it. The tasks are always excellent- testing creativity, sales ability and business acumen- the two teams battle it out to make the biggest profit from that week's money-making venture. The team that loses must face Sir Alan in the boardroom and one of them gets fired! *Crows* Yes, its all a bit evil but well worth watching if you havent ever seen it! BBC1, 9.00 Wednesdays.

Inset: Alan Sugar flanked by his henchmen..I mean "aides" Margaret and Nick who spy...I mean "observe" the two teams to see who's crap and should be fired...I mean...actually, that's exactly what I meant!

***Update***

I think Debra should have gone personally but Ben was annoying too and James is such a nice guy so overall not a bad result in today's firing!!

Palestine

2009-05-20T06:21:00.001-07:00

Assalamwalikum,

I am back again...I lead several lives (which I dont want to mix with Hijabi in the City! but include the Boring Day Job, Hobby I Love and Family Life) and Ive been busy with those lately.

I wanted to take a minute to mention Palestine, a topic near to my heart. I discovered the issue of Palestine some years ago now and after hearing eye-witness accounts of the situation there I felt compelled to learn more and educate others as well as fundraise to help those in need. I know that if people knew more about the situation they would be willing to help too. Well, for a long time I thought the majority of the world was anti-Palestinian but have recently realised that the majority of the world's countries actually support the Palestinian struggle to retain their land. It just so happens that the countries who are against Palestine seem to have the "louder voice" (i.e. an all-encompassing media).

I was also pleased to realise that many members of the public understand the situation and whether they are pro or anti one group or the other they know a lot of the facts. But there are still many people who have no understanding at all of what's going on and why there's fighting at all. If you have work or school colleagues, uni or college buddies, educate them if you can, on this important topic.

How does London feel about it all? Well, mixed reviews really. A lot of anti-Israel protests that occurred after the recent attacks on Gaza took place in London and the following article gives you an idea of what's happening in the universities. Despite the title being "London Students Divided over Israeli-Palestinian Conflict" the majority are still Pro-Palestine, with groups supporting Palestine despite not falling into the category of Muslim or Arab. Most people don't view this as a religious issue anyway- they see it as a humanitarian problem. www.london-student.net/2009/01/19/londons-students-divided-over-israeli-palestinian-conflict/

I like to hear the views of those who are not connected to the conflict in some way e.g. being Muslim or Jewish, as there's something wonderful about people standing up for other people for no other reason than simply because they wish to see an end to human suffering. Aww, I feel all warm and gooey inside....like a melted Wispa (mmm Wispa!)

There's a lot of information on Palestine and I suggest becoming a member of Friends of Al Aqsa (http://www.aqsa.org.uk/) if you would like to learn more about it all. There's also some great info on http://dawahinfo.spaces.live.com/

If people would like to discuss Palestine and their experiences or feelings regarding the conflict please leave a comment!

Walikumasalam x

P.S If you would like to learn more about the wonders of Wispa, go here http://www.fortheloveofwispa.com/

Tower Bridge

2009-05-01T07:58:00.000-07:00

(Especially for a sister planning to visit London inshallah here's some info on where to visit!)

Tower Bridge can be accessed from the Tower Hill tube stop on the London underground system. Tower Hill is a raised area of land North-West of the Tower of London, famous for the public executions carried out (yikes) of numerous criminals, many of whom gained notoriety. There is a church there which containes Romanesque architecture (see http://hijabiinthecity.blogspot.com/search/label/London for more info on this).

Tower Bridge is set over the River Thames and a 1 minute walk past Tower Hill itself will take you to a great view of the bridge.

Canary Wharf Tube Station (Jubilee line)

2009-04-30T06:28:00.000-07:00

I have the pleasure of seeing this amazing architectural feat on a daily basis and wanted to share it with all of you....No, it's not a great statue or peice of art- its the Canary Wharf tube station! Odd as it may seem I find this part in particular incredible; the structure, the light, the shape...It's better than most tube stations!

Canary Wharf Underground StationArchitect: Foster and Partners (1991-1999)Photographer: Janet Hall (1999)Source: RIBA British Architectural Library Photographs Collection

The Jubilee Line Extension was one of the triumphs of British engineering and architecture of the late twentieth century. Accompanying the regeneration of the London Docklands, it opened up huge swathes of south and east London for redevelopment. The architecture and planning of Docklands have been much criticised. Most, however, agree that aesthetically and functionally the Jubilee Line is a great success.

Each station on the line is striking, but perhaps the most impressive is Canary Wharf (1991-99). Designed to allow access to the vast office and commercial development there, its scale is phenomenal. Unlike most other tube stations, for once, space was available. Thus, rather than being hidden deep beneath other buildings, above this can be found landscaped gardens and great glass canopies, lighting the station beneath.

Users are met with light, spacious interiors. The architecture is restrained: smooth grey concrete and cool steel dominate. The glass melts into the concrete vaulting
Below, the sleek, shiny escalators take centre stage, carrying many thousands daily. Who would think that this was once a busy dock, the new station walls holding back the might of both earth and water?

Article copied from: http://www.architecture.com/HowWeBuiltBritain/HistoricalPeriods/TwentiethCentury/OnwardsAndUpwards/CanaryWharfUndergroundStation.aspx

Hijabs High

2009-04-28T01:57:00.001-07:00

Assalamwalikum all!

I know, I know...some weeks I barely post anything and other weeks I post several things in one go! Although I'm busy with work (life in the City is always a mad constantly-on-the-go rush) I just had to take time out to let you know about an excellent new site called Hijabs High. The concept of the site is simple yet briliant- photographs of everyday Muslimahs from around the globe wearing their hijabs with pride. Mashallah the sisters are inspiring and I love seeing how other sisters wear their hijabs for work and for play.

If I wasn't so keen on remaining anonymous I would post pictures of myself in my work suits & hijab here...Alhumdulillah that isn't such a rare sight these days but still in the City there are few Muslimahs who wear hijab at work. Perhaps I just haven't met any yet! If there are other sisters out there like me, let me know! And if you're not shy I'll post your picture online!

http://hijabshigh.blogspot.com/

Maxi dresses!

2009-04-26T13:00:00.000-07:00

Assalamwalikum all

If you've been following the site since it's inception you'll know....I love maxi dresses! They mean you can cover up in a similar way to a jilbab, loose and flowing. Maxi dresses also mean elegance and femininity - and are perfect for the hot summer weather we will hopefully have this year!

Cover bare arms with a cropped cardigan or lightweight jacket. If it's really warm try a light white shirt which will deflect the sunlight.

This month's "Grab It!" features a rather expensive maxi dress by Monsoon- at £110 it really isn't affordable so here's a cheaper alternative by Littlewoods- and costs £29!

Littlewoods Maxi Dress
South Maxi Dress, £29

I've also just discovered Goddiva, a site which sells clothing in the style of celebrities (like asos.com). They have a selection of great maxi dresses right now, some suitable for day others for evening,click on their banner to the right of the screen and see if any take your fancy!

***If you have a favourite maxi dress please send in a picture you are happy to have featured on the site and we'll show visitors of HITC how to stay cool this summer***

Happy 4 mth Blog-i-versary to Me! 9th June

2009-04-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

My blog is now 4 months old! *Ce-le-brate good times, c'mon!* While I do a geeky dance for joy, all of you lovely readers can do three things for me:-

1. Leave a comment! Anything at all...I want to hear from you! I love getting your comments!

2. Follow the blog. I get comments etc from people who look at the blog and message me saying they like it- but many people haven't joined up as followers!

3. Tell people about the blog! Email it to your friends and let people know all about it!

London Eye!

2009-04-25T17:50:00.000-07:00

Nothing wrong with a bit of shameless self-promotion I always say...as long as it's handled tastefully! So here's some LOndOn promotion (dont forget to click "London" in the menu to the right for more articles and pictures of London). I spent the weekend sightseeing with a friend....people who live in London absolutely do not tke advantage of what's out there- so for this weekend we were tourists! More lovely London pictures coming soon x

Sponsor Kelly-Ann- she's raising money for Afghan Aid

2009-04-24T14:21:00.000-07:00

http://www.justgiving.com/kellyann

About my charity : Afghanaid Afghanaid has worked with Afghan communities since 1983 to address the issues of poverty. Through 300 local staff it works in agriculture, animal health, micro-finance, income generation, basic health education and women's resource centres.

Charity Registration No 1045348

Fundraising target:
£3,500.00

Donations so far:
£ 3,081.00

Abayas with a French Twist

2009-04-24T10:12:00.000-07:00

Salams and hello to all!

I've just discovered a wonderfully stylish line of Shaylas and Abayas called Arabesque who describe their products as "Sheilas and Abaya with a French touch". I've included some pics for you all to draw inspiration from - enjoy!

This is my favourite- floral and feminine- who said Abayas always have to be boring black? For special occasions try this sewing some lace to the edge of your abayas

See http://www.arabesque-hc.com/ for more!

It's Not Me- It's You!

2009-03-10T05:00:00.001-07:00

Some people don’t do well in interviews- their hands shake, their palms sweat and they can’t seem to get their words out- and that’s just the interviewers! Following a recent spate of interviews I undertook recently for- I won’t say what exactly but a new job- I was baffled by why some of the interviewers were, well pants, to be frank.

One of the interviewers seemed poorly prepared and barely knew what the role entailed. It’s all very well being high up in HR but if you don’t know anything about the job because you don’t do it then either gen-up or get the people I’ll be working with to interview me.

I had one interview last week where some decent questions were asked and included the typical “what are your strengths?” question. How this really assesses ability is beyond me: surely a savvy candidate would simply rehearse some lines and then trot them out at the appropriate time? I mean, I could have said “I’m faster than a speeding bullet” and they wouldn’t know if that was true or not (ok, they could be fairly certain THAT wasn’t true but you get my meaning). Saying you’re brilliant at something doesn’t make it so. Conversely, NOT saying you’re brilliant at something doesn’t really mean you’re completely useless either but in interview-world you are marked down for not having a great answer. The purpose of the question is to allow you to market yourself and show the interviewer why you are a better candidate than the other eager hopefuls they have seen.

I went to another interview for exactly the same role this week and when I wasn’t asked the “what are your strengths?” question, I was gutted. Where was my moment to shine, dazzling the interviewer with my brilliant strengths? It didn’t come. “Faster than a speeding bullet” is a pretty good skill to have and let’s face it, with the growing number of jobseekers competing for the same roles, it may have given me the edge. All of the questions I was asked were generic and I couldn’t find a way to let the interviewer know that I knew what the job entailed, the daily ins and outs, the likely problems, the clever solutions. There was no opportunity for me to say it and she didn’t discuss what they were looking for in a good candidate (even when I asked). That says something about the interviewer; she didn’t ask me enough relevant questions and acted like she didn’t even know what the company was looking for.

Furthermore, I didn’t like the interviewer. I read somewhere that interviewers are supposed to use psychological tricks to make you relaxed so that they can figure out your personality, such as offering you a drink and repeatedly using your name so you feel like they are a friend. “Friend” would be going too far in this case- “annoying woman sat across from me at desk” would still not be descriptive enough.

She then asked me what I liked to do in my spare time. Typical question and I feebly muttered something about being a writer (which I actually am- it wasn’t one of those lies you tell in interviews to impress –like “I’ve done a First Aid course”- but secretly hope no-one ever remembers that you said it if you do actually get the job. Especially if one of your colleagues keels over, prompting everyone to turn in your direction, leaving you no choice but to run out of the nearest exit.). My interviewer failed to look impressed at my declaration of being a writer (I could have said I spend my weekends training monkeys for the circus and her too-amused smile would have been justified) and she asked me what I write. Well, everything actually. When I began to describe the type of writing I did she interrupted me with “but WHAT do you write?” I felt my patience sprout wings and fly towards the window (where it would have slammed into the closed glass and sunk down to the carpeted floor) as that was precisely what I had been doing- telling her what I write. Her patience had clearly suffered the same fate as mine; why else would she ask me what I had already begun to answer, rudely, in the middle of my explanation?

Whereas last week’s interview lasted an hour (and was followed by a second interview) this was a paltry 10 minutes with brief questions and then “do you have any questions for us?”. Did I have any questions? I was too busy trying to work out how to let them know I was good in this type of role (and could do it with my eyes shut) as none of the questions had given me the opportunity to really talk. I know some people reading this will say: but that’s strategy! You have to fight for the chance to market yourself and be self-promoting. But when an interviewer fires a series of questions at you like a machine gun, barely listening to the answer, and then says ok it’s your turn, how does one begin to promote themselves? It’s bad enough candidates need to do so much to get to interview stage and then have to deal with a host of interview issues- only to then realise their interviewer is unprepared, aggressive, sarcastic, demeaning or all of the above.

I was offered a job with the first interviewers. That offer made sense; they had taken the time to get to know me (and had raved about my abilities and personality to the agency that organised the interview) unlike interviewer two who had been rude and came across as arrogant. I concluded: some people aren’t good at doing interviews and some people just aren’t good interviewers. I always think of interviews as an opportunity to assess the company and I certainly would not accept the second role now even if they do offer it to me. Interviewer two may have binned my application anyway but given my skills and experience I really do feel it’s their loss and I feel comforted realising: poor interviewing skills lose good candidates.

Write for Hijabi!

2009-03-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

Are you a female Hijabi living in London? Do you have something to say about your life in London, or about wearing hijab? If so please email me at hijabiinthecity@live.co.uk and send me your articles for publication on the site!

You've Got to Laugh...

2009-03-06T15:35:00.000-08:00

I love these- funny but also really pretty!

Toe socks or half socks, commonly worn by dancers, have now come in a new fashionable style that can be worn by anybody.’Toe footsies’ by Transparenze have a textured, velvety black polka dotted pattern, finished with a black, stretchy band. The floral detailing on the front of the footsie adds to the glam quotient. These are meant to be worn with strappy stilettos or flats, showing off the sexy, sheer design.

At £19.95 by Transparenze they're not cheap but if worn as above- how fash!

Visit http://www.mytights.com/ for more info

Why Do We Wear Hijab?

2009-03-06T06:59:00.001-08:00

Why do nuns wear it? Even Mary wore hijab...They and we are all obeying the command of our Lord... God...Allah- the One.

Mashallah

2009-03-06T06:40:00.000-08:00

An Arab Israeli girl stands next to a photo during an exhibition about Muslim Albanians who rescued Jews during the Holocaust, marking the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in the northern Israeli town of Ramle, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009. An exhibition on Albanian Muslims who sheltered Jews during World War Two opened in the mixed Jewish-Arab town of Ramle on Tuesday to mark the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but the event was overshadowed by tensions in the wake of Israel’s recent offensive in the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)

Categorized in Everyday Muslimahs

Taken from http://samah007.wordpress.com/

Londoners rude? I wont hear a bad word said about them!

2009-02-22T17:57:00.000-08:00

coming soon

(c) Hijabi In The City

How I Came to Love the Veil

2009-02-20T15:50:00.000-08:00

By Yvonne RidleySunday, October 22, 2006; LONDON

I used to look at veiled women as quiet, oppressed creatures -- until I was captured by the Taliban.

In September 2001, just 15 days after the terrorist attacks on the United States, I snuck into Afghanistan, clad in a head-to-toe blue burqa, intending to write a newspaper account of life under the repressive regime. Instead, I was discovered, arrested and detained for 10 days. I spat and swore at my captors; they called me a "bad" woman but let me go after I promised to read the Koran and study Islam. (Frankly, I'm not sure who was happier when I was freed -- they or I.)

Back home in London, I kept my word about studying Islam -- and was amazed by what I discovered. I'd been expecting Koran chapters on how to beat your wife and oppress your daughters; instead, I found passages promoting the liberation of women. Two-and-a-half years after my capture, I converted to Islam, provoking a mixture of astonishment, disappointment and encouragement among friends and relatives.

Now, it is with disgust and dismay that I watch here in Britain as former foreign secretary Jack Straw describes the Muslim nikab -- a face veil that reveals only the eyes -- as an unwelcome barrier to integration, with Prime Minister Tony Blair, writer Salman Rushdie and even Italian

Prime Minister Romano Prodi leaping to his defense.
Having been on both sides of the veil, I can tell you that most Western male politicians and journalists who lament the oppression of women in the Islamic world have no idea what they are talking about. They go on about veils, child brides, female circumcision, honor killings and forced marriages, and they wrongly blame Islam for all this -- their arrogance surpassed only by their ignorance.

These cultural issues and customs have nothing to do with Islam. A careful reading of the Koran shows that just about everything that Western feminists fought for in the 1970s was available to Muslim women 1,400 years ago. Women in Islam are considered equal to men in spirituality, education and worth, and a woman's gift for childbirth and child-rearing is regarded as a positive attribute.

When Islam offers women so much, why are Western men so obsessed with Muslim women's attire? Even British government ministers Gordon Brown and John Reid have made disparaging remarks about the nikab -- and they hail from across the Scottish border, where men wear skirts.

When I converted to Islam and began wearing a headscarf, the repercussions were enormous. All I did was cover my head and hair -- but I instantly became a second-class citizen. I knew I'd hear from the odd Islamophobe, but I didn't expect so much open hostility from strangers. Cabs passed me by at night, their "for hire" lights glowing. One cabbie, after dropping off a white passenger right in front of me, glared at me when I rapped on his window, then drove off. Another said, "Don't leave a bomb in the back seat" and asked, "Where's bin Laden hiding?"
Yes, it is a religious obligation for Muslim women to dress modestly, but the majority of Muslim women I know like wearing the hijab, which leaves the face uncovered, though a few prefer the nikab. It is a personal statement: My dress tells you that I am a Muslim and that I expect to be treated respectfully, much as a Wall Street banker would say that a business suit defines him as an executive to be taken seriously. And, especially among converts to the faith like me, the attention of men who confront women with inappropriate, leering behavior is not tolerable.

I was a Western feminist for many years, but I've discovered that Muslim feminists are more radical than their secular counterparts. We hate those ghastly beauty pageants, and tried to stop laughing in 2003 when judges of the Miss Earth competition hailed the emergence of a bikini-clad Miss Afghanistan, Vida Samadzai, as a giant leap for women's liberation. They even gave Samadzai a special award for "representing the victory of women's rights."

Some young Muslim feminists consider the hijab and the nikab political symbols, too, a way of rejecting Western excesses such as binge drinking, casual sex and drug use. What is more liberating: being judged on the length of your skirt and the size of your surgically enhanced breasts, or being judged on your character and intelligence? In Islam, superiority is achieved through piety -- not beauty, wealth, power, position or sex.

I didn't know whether to scream or laugh when Italy's Prodi joined the debate last week by declaring that it is "common sense" not to wear the nikab because it makes social relations "more difficult." Nonsense. If this is the case, then why are cellphones, landlines, e-mail, text messaging and fax machines in daily use? And no one switches off the radio because they can't see the presenter's face.

Under Islam, I am respected. It tells me that I have a right to an education and that it is my duty to seek out knowledge, regardless of whether I am single or married. Nowhere in the framework of Islam are we told that women must wash, clean or cook for men. As for how Muslim men are allowed to beat their wives -- it's simply not true. Critics of Islam will quote random Koranic verses or hadith, but usually out of context. If a man does raise a finger against his wife, he is not allowed to leave a mark on her body, which is the Koran's way of saying, "Don't beat your wife, stupid."

It is not just Muslim men who must reevaluate the place and treatment of women. According to a recent National Domestic Violence Hotline survey, 4 million American women experience a serious assault by a partner during an average 12-month period. More than three women are killed by their husbands and boyfriends every day -- that is nearly 5,500 since 9/11.
Violent men don't come from any particular religious or cultural category; one in three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime, according to the hotline survey. This is a global problem that transcends religion, wealth, class, race and culture.

But it is also true that in the West, men still believe that they are superior to women, despite protests to the contrary. They still receive better pay for equal work -- whether in the mailroom or the boardroom -- and women are still treated as sexualized commodities whose power and influence flow directly from their appearance.

And for those who are still trying to claim that Islam oppresses women, recall this 1992 statement from the Rev. Pat Robertson, offering his views on empowered women: Feminism is a "socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."

Now you tell me who is civilized and who is not.

hermosh@aol.com
Yvonne Ridley is political editor of Islam Channel TV in London and coauthor
of "In the Hands of the Taliban: Her Extraordinary Story" (Robson Books).

Princess Hijab covers Kate Moss

2009-02-20T15:03:00.000-08:00

A young Paris-based guerilla street artist who calls herself Princess Hijab (PH) has been "hijabizing" advertisements, spray-painting veils and chadors onto the lightly dressed models. MENASSAT had a chat with the mysterious artist who says she is fighting Jihad through art.

(Jihad= to struggle in the way of Allah; this includes everything from praying 5 times a day to controlling your anger. In this case, the lady responsible for the above is struggling against advertising which she says she is doing for Allah, read more below.)

(Taken from the article source):-Interesting is also Princess Hijab's ad (below) that features three smiling veiled women on a blue, red, and white background, representing the colors of the French flag—clearly a reference to the country’s heated headscarf controversy over the past years.

See the full article here:- http://www.menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/5856-princess-hijab-advertising-hijabist-noble-cause

My response to the issue is this:-

Advertising places a huge burden on women (and now men too) to look a certain way, often unrealistically perfect, and to spend thousands of pounds to acheive this look. That is why the make-up industry, hair industry, plastic surgery industry and fashion industry are multi-million dollar industries. They make millions by encouraging us to spend money in order to achieve a certain look. Advertising DOES depict women as objects- tools being used to sell products. They sadly are products themselves. What's wrong with advertising that depicts modesty? Dove's campaign for Real Beauty (whilst not modest exactly) is fighting the typical advertising of models looking a certain way and people have embraced it, happy to see their peers in adverts instead of air-brushed size zeros.

(Vandelism is not something I approve of because it's not legal and will cost the companies £$ to fix them but it seems no different to Banksy's anti-establishment, pro-the people graffiti). It's about time someone spoke out against advertising which is responsible for a portion of teen suicides, high anorexia and bulima rates amongst men and women and a whole host of other issues people are suffering from because they are insecure about the way they look. That's partly the point of covering in Islam: men and women are judged by what's inside, not on their appearance. I don't know if Princess Hijab is right- some of the pictures I saw on her site included hijabis holding guns and I'm totally against that and I don't understand what her aim in that regard was (leave me a comment to explain anyone?) but the main point I can see in her aims is this- make advertising more modest, stop portraying women as objects, women are being oppressed because they are being used; we're not cars!

Some of the comments made by readers of The Times Online who also mention this article, were very insightful, I particular liked this comment by an observant reader who is non-Muslim:-

Im a british female who doesnt wear a hijab, however I have so much respect for women that do wear a hijab/burqa. These women are truly liberated. No one will ever talk to their cleavage or gawp at their legs. They never toss their hair seductively to get a man's attention. These women are judged by their minds, their true worth. Not depending on how slim they are or how long their hair is. They must be so confident to not feel the need to flaunt themselves to be noticed in life. Posted by: realist 20 Feb 2009 14:10:46

So a woman can't be seductive unless she is scantily clad? How can a woman who wears next to nothing to please a man and draw attention to herself be liberated?! These are the women who are truly opressed. There is ridiculous pressure to look a certain way and its not seen as desirable to respect and educate oneself. What happened to leaving something to the imagination? Longer lasting qualities like intellect, integrity and a sense of humour is what makes a relationship last ultimately. Wouldnt it be nice to be attractive for reasons such as these rather than the ability to groom?
I am well aware that liberation is not the only reason Muslim women wear hijabs/burqas/niqabs. It is just a bonus they get from a religious requirement.
Posted by: 20 Feb 2009 18:04:15

What is more liberating: being judged on the length of your skirt and the size of your surgically enhanced breasts, or being judged on your character and intelligence? In Islam, superiority is achieved through piety - not beauty, wealth, power, position or sex. I didn't know whether to scream at or laugh at Allen Potter Ignorance when he said ‘you have a very twisted view of Islamic culture.’…LOL… and then to say ‘The fact of the matter is, women are meant to be seductive’….this is exactly why women should cover up more modestly and not to be used as consent sex symbols or as an ornament...and WHAT they want from us-society is to judge them on their character, not their beauty. And Mr Potter you think that these Muslim women are twisted for choosing to cover up their beauty from men with views like that…Wow…how far we have come in the 21st century!….Thank you for taking us backwards…If you had any Muslim female friends or ever had the guts to ask and learn more about Islam other then what the media print…you would have respect for their decisions and are brave to do it in the west. If only you would go ask them… you would have a better understanding on why they choose to wear it…the one’s I have asked have asked, say mostly the same thing that they feel Protected, liberated, proud, safe and one friend has said that ‘I'm forcing men to lower their gaze around me while guarding my modesty and chastity. God doesn't want His slaves to be sex objects’….
…you should read this which I found quite interesting…http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/20/AR2006102001259.html
Posted by: Ms Jones 20 Feb 2009 18:28:40

In Sickness and In Health

2009-02-14T10:08:00.000-08:00

(Article taken from http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/articlerb.aspx?cp-documentid=17405323&GT1=32023)

Although this was part of an article featuring stories for Valentine's Day I wanted to post this to remind people how important marriage is. I was recently asked for advice about a couple who are married with several children (mashallah) but who are having problems and this article just made me think: we need to appreciate our spouses and the things about them that we love. How many of us spend time focusing on that once in a while?

Sickness and Health

"Is that your husband?" The ER nurse is pointing to you, the fever-spiked lump who is snoring softly and muttering beside me. We've been here for hours, and for hours I've returned my lips over and over to your scalding forehead, as if to cool it, or, perhaps, to comfort myself. In just a little while longer, we'll find out that what you have is a severe case of strep, and you will swallow the prescribed pills, and I will finally put my lips to your quietly sleeping forehead and feel a welcome coolness.

But for now the nurse's face is creased with compassion and weariness — she is waiting — and it's not really the right time to tell her about your gentle strength: the way you rocked our baby in the sling for hours on end while you graded papers, rocked another baby three years later while you did your anatomy homework, babies peacefully asleep across your broad chest for what feels like my entire adult life. It's not the right time to explain what a funny contradiction you are, a hockey-playing massage therapist, or how just last week you lay your hands on a friend's father while he lay dying in hospice.

She wouldn't understand how funny it is that you gave me bedtime coupons — promising to turn in early on the nights I redeem them — because you're a night owl and I miss you in bed, or how it feels when I come down in the morning to a toasty kitchen because you've already lit a fire in our wood stove. She doesn't know that I'm strangely euphoric, sitting here thinking about how lucky I am to have so much to lose — my rock, my mystery, the love of my life — that I'm sitting here thinking in sickness and in health. I will, I think. I do. But all I can say is yes. "Yes. That's my husband."

Catherine Newman is the author of Waiting for Birdy.

The New Hijab- Article

2009-02-13T06:19:00.000-08:00

The following article is an important reminder to all sisters about the importance of hijab and the reason why we wear it. The article discusses that too much emphasis should not be placed on fashion and how important it is to ensure we wear hijab correctly. This article can be found here and is by Unique Muslimah who kindly allowed me to place a copy on my site.

The New Hijab
There’s a growing culture in Egypt that is strictly based on appearance. You have to look your best. You must leave the house looking like something that has come out of a commercial advert (although it doesn’t always work out that way). Although there is an increase in Hijabi girls, there is also an increase in these hijabi girls wearing the tightest clothes possible to show off their ‘assets’. That is the only way I can word it. Tight jeans are worn so that the view from behind is clear for everyone to see. Tight skirts are worn with short tops, again, so that everything is on display. The only thing that is hidden is the hair with a short scarf which is often accompanied with full make-up. Are they trying to make up for what they have hidden (the hair)?

Before it used to bother me, to see sisters making fun of the Hijab and not taking it seriously. Yesterday while I went out to eat I looked quite odd with my jilbab, cardigan and long hijab. To them, I probably looked like a ‘fundamentalist’ because I wasn’t following the ‘in-crowd’. But I didn’t care. I walked in confidently, sat down, ate and left. I have stopped judging others who ridicule the Hijab, only because it gave me a headache and heartache. Sometimes I just think, you know what? Everyone is entitled to live the way they want to live, let’s not judge each other. But sorry, when it comes to a religious symbol- the hijab- I think we should take care not to associate it with tight clothes so much so that the hijabies look more attractive and sexier than the non-hijabies. I have heard many conversations from non-hijabies criticising this and not understanding the need for the hijab if they are going to all that trouble to demean the meaning of the veil.

Now there is the fashion where you wrap the hijab behind your neck, so that your chest and front bit of the neck and chin are showing. They leave a bit of the ears showing so that earrings are on display. Then in a conversation with one of them they say ’Yes, I’m so proud to be a mohajaba (a hijabi)’. I disagree. There are two categories for someone wearing the veil. One is the mohajaba who is covered with loose clothing with her hijab. Secondly there is the mohtasheema, the one who is wearing a veil but wearing tight clothes, so she isn’t a mohajaba yet, but one step away from being one. I think it’s better to have these categories so our young children don’t get confused as to what is the right type of hijab.

What’s sad is that before this new hijab came up, young men would actually respect you instantly because you wore the hijab (well that’s what I got). Now they don’t take us seriously and label us along with the girls who wearing tight clothes, hold their ‘boyfriends’ hands, etc.
They have, indeed, spoilt it for those of us who are taking it seriously. And all this in a so-called Muslim land. I think there is a lot of identity confusion among the youth, they want to cover their hair to obey God’s commands but they also want to be available on the ’attractive market’ so they can find a suitable boyfriend or husband-to-be. Maybe we should just let them be? As long as they have faith in their heart then that’s all that matters? We shouldn’t judge people from their appearance? We should just try to improve ourselves before looking at others?

Maybe the most important thing is for us to be at peace with ourselves and leave the rest to do what they want to do?

*Shrugs*

Shukr Islamic Clothing

2009-02-12T16:14:00.000-08:00

Shukr sell everything from hijabs to abayas for men and women, click the banner below to visit their site!

Why I Took the Hijab, A revert story

2009-02-10T05:29:00.000-08:00

"Why I Took The Hijab", article from the Guardian

How Hijab Protects Women

2009-02-10T05:06:00.000-08:00

Article

Mashallah, as if we needed more motivation to wear hijab, this article summarises some of the blessings conferred on those who cover.

A Noth American Hijab Experience

2009-02-10T05:05:00.000-08:00

Read article here

Updated Where to Buy Hijabs and Jilbabs

2009-02-10T05:02:00.000-08:00

(List taken from Dawah Info)

- www.hijabonlinestore.com

- www.hijabfashionstore.com

- www.maysaa.com

-Star Scarves

www.starscarves.com

-Inaya Collection

Islamic style for women with hijabs and jilbabs made to order

-www.inayacollection.co.uk/

-Headcovers

www.headcovers.com/

Hats, turbans and wigs for hair loss. For cancer, chemotherapy, alopecia, trichotillomania and other medical patients- but also hijabis!

-Headwear Heaven So much choice....! http://www.headwearheaven.com/

-Hijabs Are Us

$7.99 - $13.99 With free Shipping in US & Canada. FANTASTIC SITE WITH TIPS ON HOW TO PUT ON HIJAB! hijabs-r-us.com

-AlHannah Islamic Clothing

High quality clothing at reasonable prices, direct from the importer! http://www.alhannah.com/

-SalamHijab.com

Hijabs, Jilbabs, Scarves, Abayas, Different styles at great prices! http://www.salamhijab.com/

Special Muslim DressIslamic clothing for women. Plus Size range & Free customization http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/iclk?sa=l&ai=BPqOsevDDQqqfAbKeLa_C3ZsF6eamCPO-s-MBwI23AdCGAxADGAMgjP_4ASgKSIg5UJmCwsn7_____wGYAfK0-AGqAQh0ZXN0XzA4M7IBDWhpamFic2hvcC5jb23IAQHaARVodHRwOi8vaGlqYWJzaG9wLmNvbS8&num=3&adurl=http://www.renukasilks.com/&client=ca-dp-networksolutions

Hijab Pins http://www.hijabpins.com/

Multivisions Inc.All Islamic Products. Check us out, Give us a try . http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/iclk?sa=l&ai=BWJM7oPDDQsmlFpvuLKDfqKgFvp_FArWy15QBwI23AfCiBBAEGAQgjP_4ASgFSI05UIvihIgHmAHLS6oBCHRlc3RfMDgzsgENaGlqYWJzaG9wLmNvbcgBAdoBFWh0dHA6Ly9oaWphYnNob3AuY29tLw&num=4&adurl=http://www.multivisionsinc.com/default1.aspx&client=ca-dp-networksolutions

Muslim Base http://www.muslimbase.com/

Urban Muslim http://urbanmuslim.netfirms.com/

Eastern VogueElegant and contemporary range of quality Islamic ladieswear http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/iclk?sa=l&ai=BhAzhtfDDQsmCLoPmLOHFxa8Dm_PsCaeou6EBwI23AeDUAxABGAEgjP_4ASgISIw5UNLT5uX7_____wGqAQh0ZXN0XzA4M7IBDWhpamFic2hvcC5jb23IAQHaARVodHRwOi8vaGlqYWJzaG9wLmNvbS8&num=1&adurl=http://www.EasternVogue.com&client=ca-dp-networksolutions

Desert Store http://www.desertstore.com/

Top Ten Excuses by Muslims Who Dont wear Hijab

2009-02-10T04:57:00.000-08:00

It's not always easy to make such a big decision but may allah SWT make it easy for all of us inshallah. The first step is certainly to learn why the hijab is obligatory and to udnerstand who the Creator is and why we worship Him, follow his rules and how all of that ultimately benefits us. If anyone out there wants to know more about hijab inshallah email me and I would be happy to help. "Excuses" sounds kinda harsh, perhaps "reasons" is a better word. But inshallah you'll gte to the point where those reasons become meaningless and you can take that step towards Allah SWT and reap the benefits inshallah.

Article; Top Ten Excuses by Muslims who Don't Wear Hijab

The Aliens Have Landed!

2009-02-10T04:50:00.000-08:00

Well, not aliens exactly but Turkish hijab style, which incorporates the unusual alien-shaped cone....But they still look lovely mashallah! How many of you wear the hijab in this way?

Islam in China

2009-02-10T04:29:00.000-08:00

I've always loved China- never been there- but always loved it. China and Islam share a link and this cool blog features some amazing pictures and info. Have a look!

http://islaminchina.wordpress.com

Mashallah

London's Architecture

2009-02-09T16:50:00.000-08:00

My first reaction to this...uh..thing...in London's Tower Bridge area was "Architecturally that's fantastic...it's also really chi-chi" LOL (chi chi= a made up phrase by kids in the family to express something is gross). So said due to the full-frontal nudity--not appropriate for children! (Or my innocent eyes).

But really, London could be on par with Rome almost, there's unique architecture hidden everywhere, I just never realised it.

Reverts who Choose to Wear Hijab

2009-02-09T16:29:00.000-08:00

Jen from UK converts to Islam, see her first day wearing Hijab
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1O-BocOTEg&feature=related

Nicole Queen, an American, reverted to Islam after watching You Tube videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khjtrIkYU5I&feature=related

Mashallah, both ladies are wearing their hijabs in their own way. To cover yourself completely (except hands and feet for most schools of thought) is the correct thing but for a revert who is taking steps to dress more modestly and incorporate hijab it's excellent to take the first step and then improve your wardrobe as you go along. Look out for my "From This...to This" feature on changing your wardrobe.

FAQ About Wearing Hijab

2009-02-09T16:20:00.001-08:00

FAQ about wearing hijab

Q:- I feel uncomfortable in hijab; its like the material is choking my throat! help!

A:- That does happen for some people don't worry! You just need to find a style that will cover you but is comfortable. Have a look at the "How to wear Hijab" section for more information.

What's the purpose of this blog?

2009-02-09T15:39:00.000-08:00

What's the purpose of