20 tips to becoming more "Islamic"

Image Source*

Asalamalaikum,

Bismillah was salatu as salam ala Rasoolillah

There is no other face more pleasing than that of a humble sister returning to Islam. From beneath tender wisps of hair escaping their loosely wrapped hijabs, I see their hopefilled eyes. These eyes are soft from crying tears of repentance of a long heedless past. Their skin radiates that glow of newly invigorated iman, a reflection of their illuminated heart. With a voice that trembles from that lump in her throat, she asks: How can I become more.

They don't have words beyond these. But I understand what they mean. It happens in an instant almost, through a lecture, through a kind friend, through words overheard.A random verse of the Quran embeds itself in your heart and disperse into the whole essence of your body. It propells you forward. To light, to beauty and to happiness. And you just want more. You want it to increase, you want it to travel higher and further.

The soul is felt wanting, yearning and gravitating towards Allah azza wa jal. As I listened to a lecture about Jannah in one deep dark busy Sydney subway it seemed to burst open with luminance. I could feel Allah. I could almost touch his mercy, his love and his guidance just beaming down into that tunnel from the heavens.

Sisters never intend to be become "religious" or "pious" or "islamic". Though the world outside wants desperately to define practising muslims so. Many simply want more of that narcotic happy feeling that one obtains through listening to words of Allah. These blessed pearls blur out all the vices and woes of the dunya, they blot out the pains and melt away the worries. They give hope of new lives to come and I use that in the plural. I believe you attain two lives when you make the decision to turn to Allah, to accept the Quran and follow the footsteps of the blessed Prophet alayhis salam. One clean, happy, fulfilling life in this dunya and one honoured life after death, the life as an inhabitant of paradise. Inshallah.

I used the word Islamic in the title because in my own muslim circles that is how sisters are talked about when they return to the deen. Those sisters are referred to as Islamic who are devoted to Allah. I used to watch from afar those sisters and wondered how I could be like them for they looked so content and confident in talking about Islam.

Alhamdulilah Allah has enabled me to understand some techniques in becoming closer to Allah, although I have a long way to go in this road. I do not claim to be close to Allah at all, but rather closer than I was many years ago. I pray that Allah accepts my wanting to be closer him and pray that for you too. Ameen. 

Try all of these tips and tick them off as you go inshallah:

1) Reading Quran with translation and exegesis (Tafseer) 

2) Reading the Biography of the Prophet (Seerah) salalahu alayhi wasalam

3) Making Dua and Dhikr

4) Learning to pray Salah correctly with translation of the Arabic meanings

5) Learning why the Quran is a miraculous text in every field

     Ie. Scientific, linguistic, psychological, socio-political, historical, and the list goes on

6) Lectures on the topic of the Hereafter:

    Death

    The Grave

    The Day of Judgement

    Paradise

    Hellfire

7) Learning the etiquettes of humility (humbleness)

8) Learning about the End Times - Dajjal - the AntiChrist, Signs of the End Times and the Day of Judgement

9) Discovering the History of Islam - 1200 years of Islamic Rule across the Globe

10) Learning about the contributions scientific and technological at the time of the Khilafah

11) Enrolling in Shariah Courses, Knowledge Courses, Basics of Islam Courses, lectures by orators both Online or In Person at Local Events

12) Attending the Masjid - the Weekly lectures, Jumuah, Community Iftars, Charity events, Charity dinners, Cake Stalls, Princess Parties, Sports Days etc.

13) Memorising Quran as much as possible

14) Youtube Inspiration Videos:

  By Motivational Speakers

  Revert Stories

  Youtube Short Courses

  Islamic Youtube Movies

  Dawah Videos

15) Learn how to give Dawah - through courses, videos, 

16) Community Service - As part of organisations and in your own family and friends circle

17) Giving charity and helping the needy

18) Respecting your parents

19) Understanding how Politics, the Media and the Economic Structure affect how muslims are blamed for violence and terror

20) Learning humility (yes! again....this bit tends to get a bit rusty over time :) 

I pray that this brings some help to sisters wanting to experience the beauty of Islam. Ameen.

Allah Most High says in a Hadith Qudsi (record containing the words of God), “When my servant takes one step towards Me, I take ten steps towards him. When my servant comes walking towards me, I come running towards him.”



Umm Musk :)





*Image Source: smileysya.tumbler.com

A Gym in the Masjid!?

Asalamalaikum,

Traditional gyms traditionally mean sweat, stink and sleaze. Throughout the hard silver metal and black vinyl landscape there are images one can not escape. Images of jiggling, bouncing things at every unsuspecting corner. Everywhere you look there are round wobbling things doing what they do best - protuberate. Some are big, some are small, some young, some old, some through wrinkled skin, some covered in cellulite and others lean, mean and tight as buns.

There are some places we muslim women allow our husbands to go to. And there are many other places we do not give permission for. Gyms are one of these places.

Unbeknownst to the non-muslim world it is actually the husband in the muslim marriage who is the oppressed one. But that doesn't matter because no one will believe muslim men when they make that claim or be there to hear their cries. So we can continue to oppress them. Hence I stand firm in saying that I do not agree that it is acceptable for a brother to go to traditional gyms.

This is a contentious topic between my husband and myself.

My husband disagrees and believes there are certain types of gyms that men can attend provided they have reached a level of self-control.

I lean towards the opinion that if we have halal gyms, we should prefer those over regular gyms.

Islamic mens only gym like the one pioneered by some good brothers in South Western Sydney were a brilliant idea for possessive wives like myself. The budding new Islamic youth culture in my local community needed this halal social outlet back in 2008 when Sheikh Feiz created one of the first Islamic gyms inside Liverpools Global Islamic Youth Centre. Today there are many such halal gyms all over Sydney, the most well set being the UMA gym in Lakemba.

Call me insecure, call me oppressive, call me the overly obsessive, possessive wife It doesn't bother me. I call myself the "husband eye hog" - proudly. I disagree because I feel that pious, god fearing men shouldn't place themselves in such places where they can accidentally gawk. True disrespect of a woman is by gawking at her.

I put my argument very simply and spoke frankly.

Women are hot and their things are hot. It's a reality. We just have to accept it, get over it and tackle the situation as say it like it is. I am very vigilantly anti-jiggling things- even if it is an accident or a rare occasion. Most women are anti-jiggling "other woman" things. Muslim women however especially have a sharp eye (and tongue) against their husbands catching any sight of things- especially when this things are bending over, twerking, thumping and bouncing out of it's containing (and failing) lycra fabric all over gym equipment.

So we met halfway in this sense. I am comfortable with our agreement. It's important that in our marriages we discuss what bothers us and important too for our husbands to be let out of their prisons given parole conditions.

My husband put forward to me that he is truly honest with himself, he fears Allah (not me) and that he would never go somewhere that would put him in fitna or upset me. He said that he completely lowers his gaze, head down and glasses off and takes another pious Islamic brother with him. He says he goes straight into a tight corner where he can see no one and no one can see him. He attends a more sophisticated gym that charges triple the price of regular gyms so he can attend at 5am in the morning and other times when the venue is empty.

I am okay with this now but it took many debates for us to reach this consenses. Alhamdulilah for Islam and all of it's ahkam in preserving the muslim marriage. Ameen.

Image credit: restored2fitness.org

The horrors an joys of being a birth partner! :)

Asalam alaikum,

I have had four children subhanallah but never once have seen a baby being born. During the natural births of all my children the birthing moment has been filled with joyous hopes, immense expectations, paralysing fears, screamed out duas and intense pain. I thought that was difficult and emotionally overwhelming enough. 

Until now.

Witnessing my neice's birth set me off on an emotional rollercoaster - a bigger, faster and wilder one than to my own labours. 

If you've never been a birth support and wonder why your own mother, husband or sisters looked so washed out after your birth, let me tell you its a strickening experience that drains the life out of you. 

It is almost as if seeing your daughter, wife or sister die and be resurrected again. That moment between the transition and crowning is so petrifying. You see your relative in unbearable pain and you can't do a thing about it except allow your hand to be squeezed like a lemon (and control yourself from saying things just as sour to the midwife or doctor). You are told that the baby is coming but it is no where in sight. You have heard all the stories of things going wrong and all of them at the same time start replaying in your head. You start reciting the dhirk, quran and duas you read with your relative throughout the labour and hold your breath.   

The whole thing is akin to a sci-fi move. The bright lights, the smell of alcohol, the buzzing, the beeping machines, the cold steel tools, the monged eyed, tight lipped, scared of being sued hospital staff, the fake cheers in medical monotone and finally this blue gurgling spluterring alien that someone tells you is your niece. 

Tabarakallah. I burst into tears out of joy when I found out it was a girl. She was so beautiful mashallah. Her tiny face, arms and legs were just so perfectly created. A little girl that will take be there for my sister thoughout her life inshallah. A little girl whose tiny footsteps I pray will follow in that blessed path the females of our glorious past have tread. The path of the great women mentioned in the Quran and loved by Allah subhana hua ta'ala. 

Subhanallah I'm glad for the experience but next time I need to do that again this is what I'll be looking like:

May Allah protect her. Ameen 

Umm Musk :)

Contact Film and Leather Activity

Engaging with our children in fun Halal activities is a great way to strengthen our bond with them. Inshallah :)

Asalamalaikum,

I love colours, feathers and a good activity the children can do by themselves. This one is perfect for all these categories. Inshallah this helps sisters looking for ways to squeeze in some extra chores or ibadah.  

Getting children to create amazing art with colourful dyed feathers by sticking them onto contact paper proved out to be very fun and very pretty.

I've found it especially hard to get my 2 year old doing activities that require minimal supervision. Everything arty seems to need alot of attention and equate to cleaning up a big mess at the end. Whoever has stepped away from a toddler art table for even 2 seconds knows what I mean. (My previous house had white carpets, they were not as white when we moved out),

I love the fact that I don't have to help little BabyGirl2 with glue, tape or peeling sticker backing. There were just feathers to sweep up when they finished making this my favorite activity.  

All that is required is a sheet of contact paper, non-sticky side stuck against the wall or fridge with tape and off they go sticking away.

I used a yellow contact film (I couldn't seem to find it anywhere except at Big W and except in yellow) and the feathers were from the art section from an asian dollar store.

You can substitute feathers with pom poms, pipe cleaners, felt, streamers, cut out shapes and so much more.



Asalam alaikum :)

Umm Musk

Niqab and University Degrees

Asalamalaikum,

Niqabi with a University Degree? Where there is a niqabi will - there is a niqabi way :D. Allah will always show us awesome ways to overcome every hurdle in our path inshallah.

I have two sisters mashallah one a full time niqabi, single mum and another a part-time niqabi and alhamdulilah both are enrolled at uni. They are achieving brilliant results and have had no issues studying at campus. The universities have a very high respect policy and security and exam arrangements are carried professionally with a female invigilator inspecting the face before start-time.

I fell pregnant at 20 so I'm lagging behind a little. What with 4 children over the past 6 years I'm still in my second year of uni and all my studies are on hold for the time being. 

Being a mum of 4, full-time wife, and full-time housecleaner/chef/laundromat/chocolate-off-wall scrubber it is hard for me to attend uni physically so I study online with Macquarie University.

If attending uni and wearing niqab is hard for you, don't give up. Study Online. Tackle Modernity head on.

Open Universities Australia:
http://www.open.edu.au/

Islamic Online University:
http://www.islamiconlineuniversity.com/

Alhamdulilah I gave up my previous degree because of its incompatibility with niqab. Alhamduliah that same year Open University Australia ads bloomed out from nowhere.These are the beautiful moments I live for moments where you do something for Allah and think that there is no way some solution comes about and bang. It's almost as if to say "Gotcha! You thought Allah wouldn't find a way for you but here I am". A miracle hits you. Allah will always help us if we sacrifice in this deen. 




Umm Musk :)

Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan - NAK Sydney Tour

Asalam alaikum sisters :D


Alhamdulilah Story Night with Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan took place last Friday in Sydney. Muslims turned up in record numbers and it was said to be the largest ticketed Islamic event held in Sydney.


The amount of sincerity with which Ustadh exercises his effort in order to illuminate the world to the miracles of the Quran was demonstrated last weekend. He took time out to visit Rooty Hill masjid, Lakemba masjid for Jumuah, Sydney Olympic Park on Friday night and met with community leaders on Saturday morning.


His work brought many different people of the community together last weekend. Muslims from different cultures, ethic backgrounds and associations turned up as one.


I was grateful for meeting many of the sisters at the event too. One sister during our ritual hijab fixing bathroom session gushed over how "amazing Ustadh is", her reply was promptly met with a response by a very young sister with a smile- "he's not amazing. It is the Quran that is amazing". The commenters face lit up as if to a new revelation. So did the rest of ours as we continued to wrap, fasten and pin. We affixed this point in our own minds.


I first took ustadh seriously through my husband who watched his eulogy for Dr. Israr Ahmed on Youtube. Dr. Israr had passed away and we were awash with sadness and had an empty slot for a guide in our hearts. Ustadh Nouman filled that void. He truly picked us up and out of depression.


Because we are from an Indian/Pakistani background like Ustadh, we are deeply appreciative of his advice on how to deal with difficult family members and other members of the community. Some of our people can be very defiant and hateful of rulings in Islam to point of hating Allah and his Messenger and doubting their validity.


What Ustadh has presented is genius. Proving the miracles in the Quran brings forward immediate physical evidence of the truth. Once the Quran is proved as a real miracle, everything in it follows suit. Bringing people to the Arabic language means they can understand the miracle and follow the beautiful hidaya that comes with it.


It was a simple idea but it changed the world. It definitely changed ours. From our relationship as husband and wife, as parents and as children to our role in the community as madrassa teachers - Ustadh has influenced everything. In the most beautiful of ways. If everyone could implement his teachings the ummah would be brought so forward.


If you would like to learn from ustadh sign up to Bayyinah TV here: www.bayyinah.tv


I have video footage of three events that i'll edit and post here soon inshallah :)


May Allah reward Ustadh for visiting us. It was a pleasure and a humbling experience to be able to host him.


Ps: His wife wears niqab and has 6 six children and she still sent him here from America. What an inspirational lady - even more than her husband! :)


Umm Musk :)

5 reasons - Why I wear Niqab

Asalam alaikum sisters :D


I love niqab :) I love to discuss it with sisters who are curious about it. I believe it is a beautiful solution to so many issues the secular modern world suffers from. Here are 5 very simple reasons as to why I wear niqab. 

Please note that these are worldly reasons for my wearing niqab. I do not like to go into the fiqh explanation because once the rulings become clear to a sister (and yes the rulings surprisingly are very clear from Quran and Sunnah) then it may put the sister into stress and trouble. Inshallah if you are really interested in wearing niqab I would suggest you discuss the matter with a qualified and trustworthy sheikh - one is who is not afraid of the feminist backlash would be your best bet lol :) 

1.  I  enjoy expressing my love and obedience for Allah azza wa jal and for the Prophet peace be upon him. I love the way the niqab is the modern solution to the advice of Allah to the sahaba and sahabiyat in Surah Ahzab. Verse 33:53 (translation)

2. I dislike being "checked out" by "guys" - it happens unfortunately - even after marriage. Alhamdulilah for my niqab :) 

3. I dislike to upset my friends/sisters/wives of sheikhs during islamic discussions I have with their husbands. My niqab assures them that their marriage is not threatened in any way. It is comforting knowing they can feel at ease. It makes the conversation comfortable for everyone knowing there is no issue of lustful feelings in the way. From a sociological perspective, the niqab is brilliant in facilitating smooth relations between men and women so that we have a safe, clean, healthy environment in which to discuss pressing issues about Islam. If every masjid adopted this practice - even if just during discussion time or during lessons, as an ummah we really could progress extensively inshallah. 

4. Fabric and bodies have always been used together in art to convey expression and feelings. I use my face and my veil to deliver the message of Islam as well as projecting the emotions I feel about my modesty. My niqab is creative, symbolic expression of who I am.

5. The niqab reminds me that I am a muslim woman. Which then reminds me of my duties as a slave of God and servant of humanity. Every time I look in the mirror and see my religious outfit, it inspires me to do good deeds. 


Inshallah I will write these points up one in more detail in future. Talking about niqab is not quite high priority at the moment. I guess it is one of those things where either Allah guides you to it or he doesn't give you guidance of it. And only he knows whether the knowledge of the rulings of niqab are good for your personal situation. 


Umm Musk :)