Hijaab is a beautiful thing, it's just not meant to look beautiful

Before you venture forth, read this knowing it's not an attack on anyone. It's not meant to hurt or harm. It's in the light of educating and hopefully encouraging all Muslimahs(including myself) to adopt the true hijaab, In sha Allah.

Hijaab is a term used too loosely these days resulting in its true meaning being lost or misconstrued. If Wikipedia can tell us :'‎‎ Hijāb, pronounced [ħiˈdʒæːb] or [ħiˈɡæːb]) is a veil traditionally worn by Muslim women in the presence of adult males outside of their immediate family, which usually covers the head and chest."
Why then have we as Muslim women made the Hijaab out to be just the scarf or head covering?
If we choose the headscarf as our starting point or as our step in the right direction, that's great, Alhamdulillah. But we should not advertise the headscarf as 'The Hijaab',coz it's not. Another thing about the Hijaab is that it's not meant to be beautiful. The point is lost when we try to spruce it up, get in line with fashion trends and make the hijaab attractive. The hijaab is not the turban, or the exquisitely draped Layered look you've been viewing on YouTube or that humpy lumpy do . The hijaab is rather a modest covering, for all intents and purposes it's not supposed to look good. It is not supposed to be bright or appealing. It is to identify you as a muslimah and it is to be your mark of modesty. It is honouring the tradition of the wives of the Prophet SAW and the Sahaabiyyah RA.

Above all the hijaab is the command of our Creator and in order to earn His pleasure we have to strive for devotion inwardly and outwardly. When we say 'but my heart is clean' it is a poor excuse.For if that was the case then Allah would not have prescribed an external form of devotion. Make a firm intention to adopt the Hijaab for His pleasure alone, the benefits of which will be far reaching,In sha Allah. Aameen

Until you read again
Ma'assalam

Random thoughts on the fight of your life

We can live through so many moments of difficulty thinking 'this is the worst thing to ever happen to me' or 'how am I going to get through this '? only to find out that it was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

You think you've been to hell and back only to realise a greater affliction stood before you. You conquered your fears only to realise that your greatest fears were yet to be realised. You hurt so bad only to realise that the first cut wasn't the deepest.
This is life.
The tests keep coming, sometimes with a steady ebb and flow, at other times a ruthless downpour.
But do you know what? you're still here.
No matter how many times you have been broken, you're still here!

And do you know why?


He willed it.
And He wills it all for a reason.

And you often only find out that reason once you've embraced the challenge of the trial. Once you've known hurt,and confusion but still you've been patient. Once you have understood that there is good in every situation for those who believe.

So whatever your affliction, whatever your trial may be, whatever disturbs the peace of your soul...
Don't throw in the towel.
Don't say you can't.
Don't lose your trust in Him.

You're a fighter, you've gotten this far, you have won so many battles. Don't give in..
The final war is yet to be won. The rush of the Kalima from your lips as you transcend the barrier between now and the eternal.
When you'll know with certainty
All those trials, they led you to this..
This is the ultimate win.
So please,you're almost there, don't give in.
In sha Allah! Aameen

Until you read again
Ma'assalam

Freeing yourself, One Rand at a time

I grew up in a home of generous women. My Mom, my paternal grandmother, my sisters
And even though she did not live with us my maternal grandmother is counted amongst these generous ones. And what inspires me most about these woman is that you would not have considered them especially wealthy. So I know with certainty that giving isn't limited to the wealthy. It's a way for every female and male to gain closeness to Allah by giving from whatever we have been blessed with. In giving we give ourselves a great gift, ie.freedom of the love and attachment of this material world. And the thing about giving is that no matter how much you've given there's always more that you can give. Giving, which is not limited to physical wealth only. Giving of our time, our kind words, our encouragement, our sincere advice, our sympathy, our knowledge.. Giving is truly an exercise of the heart!

I would love to carry the legacy of the woman before me and I Implore myself first and you dear reader to give sincerely for His pleasure. For we know not which Rand or gift of assistance will lighten our loads on the Day of Reckoning.

I make Dua that we become an Ummah of givers, so that we can become takers of His bounteous rewards on the day of accountability! Aameen

Until you read again
Ma'assalaam

Patience pays

Ramadaan is one of the greatest 'teachers' I've ever had. Even though it's appearance is brief it's lessons live on far beyond its departure. This is a personal account of something that happened this past Ramadaan. If you're looking for a groundbreaking read, this isn't it. But it's a story which taught me a great deal about how a Muslim should behave and the blessings thereof.
During one of the days in Ramadaan I had felt really sick. The next day I was due to make a cake order for a regular customer of mine. Owing to my sickness I knew I would not be able to make the cake on time. I messaged my customer stating that the cake would be a few hours late but she would have it in time for the evening when she was due to use it only after iftar. I didn't know that her phone had gone in for repairs so she did not receive my message. When she came to collect the cake it was not ready.I read the signs of disappointed on her face but she accepted my explanation without complaint and the cake was to be delivered to her later in the day. The next day she had sent the following message to me :

"I have learnt that everythn isn't in our hands. And we always going to be tested thro our sabr. Yesterday was a perfect lesson for me.
My Riyaad dropped the table with all the sweets jus before u cud bring the cake.. Everythn went spiraling across the floor. It was a huuugggeeee mess.. But instead of me blasting him lol which I wud nrmally do under such circumstances. I was at my best inner peace self.. And jus said to him don't worry it was a mistake.. I think I mustve shocked him 2... Lol..
But when I was reflecting on the day I realised how merciful Allah is..سُبْحَانَ ﺂللَّــہ
There is always a reason for things to happen the way it shud.. The cake being delayed happened for a reason. Had I got it any earlier from u..it wudve went onto that very same table that fell moments earlier.. That cake wudve been all over the place and there wudnt be anyway of puttin it back together.. Ur hard work.. My excitement for Nabiha.. And Nabiha's exquisite cake wudve allll goone to waste.. Allah surely saved us all from such a calamity... Even tho small wdve made everyone feel sad and disheartened.. So u being sick and not having the cake ready had its reason and Allah surely knew best!!!.. So I definitely will take it as a lesson in this mubarak mnth that no small deed or form of ibadaat will go wasted.
May Allah reward us even thro times like these and even in the littlest of ways to help us all attain Janaat."

Subhanallah. Imagine the change that would come into our lives if we added just a dash of Sabr to it. May Allah assist us to behave and react in a manner that pleases Him. Aameen

Until you read again
Ma 'assalam

I love Dua

I love Dua.

It makes a place for the lonely and the broken.
The hungry and the angry.
The hurt and confused. The bruised and bloodied.
To kneel down and break again,
break down before the The One.
The One Who hears all Who sees all,
Who knows all and Who can heal all.
It gives a way out or way in.
To rid yourself of all your sin.
So you can once again move on and stand up, rise up and dust yourself.
Free yourself
Relieve yourself
Be whole again, be happy.
When you're happy you can kneel again.

I love Dua
It makes a place for the happy and whole. For the healthy and content.
For the wealthy and the strong.
The safe and the sound.
To kneel down and thank the One.
The One who gives all and blesses all. Who knows all and hears your call.
It gives a way out or way in.
To rid yourself of the pride within.
To cleanse yourself.
Free yourself
Relieve yourself
So you can worship Him. And turn to Him.
Again and again and again!
In sha Allah
I love Dua

May Allah assist us all and grant us all ease in both worlds! Aameen

Until you read again
Ma'assalaam

Old book, new page...

After over a year long absence I've finally gathered the words (and courage) to start blogging again. I started a whole new blog on WordPress and just didn't get down to posting there. So in sha Allah I've decided to rather keep this blog active and hopefully will be back to blogging more frequently .
My inspiration?
This beautiful month of Ramadan. Alhamdulillah.
Although it's not the first month on the calendar, it always seems like a time for fresh starts. So here I am turning a new page in an old book. May Allah guide me to write that which pleases Him and that which benefits the reader. In sha Allah

Until you read again
Ma'assalam

Bear hugs

I get so sad reading the news some time. It's often just one miserable headline after another.  It really gets me How they pour all that grief into clipped ,neat paragraphs when grief and sorrow are anything but neat. It all just makes me want to gather and grab all those I love into a massive group hug and just keep them there. I know that's not how life works but that's just how I feel . 

Life is short. Hug a little longer. Smile a lot more. Live everyday with a light ,clean heart and do good things with great love..  

P.s. This is really short but I want to get back to blogging,even if my literary contribution is minimal

Until you read again

Ma'assalam