How to 'hijabify' your wedding outfit

Warning: Image heavy post 

The wedding season is upon us and many sisters getting married this summer are probably in the dilemma on how to wear their hijab or even if they should wear it at all. I know a lot of sisters from Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi backgrounds who wear hijab on a day to day basis but take it off for their wedding. I mean to not wear a hijab on your wedding day if you know it's going to be fully segregated and men who are not Mahram will not see you is absolutely fine, do up your hair and enjoy, but a lot of Asian weddings in particular are not fully segregated, as much as they try to be, so wearing your outfit in a modest way is a must. You can still wear traditional outfits such as Lehenga's & sari's or the western & Arab white wedding dress all you have to do is adjust it so that it's within the guidelines of hijab and covers you as much as possible.

Before anyone points out, I know hijab is supposed to be not glam but I'm sure there are exceptions to occasions such as weddings. Firstly although ideally in my opinion the bride should only be seen by the women and her Mahram (father, brothers, uncles, grandfather etc) I know that sometimes you might have people who are not Mahram see you while you get into and out of the venue or see pictures of you so this is the reason I believe that you should hijabify your wedding outfit, so that even though it's not completely hijabi (in terms of attracting attention) you're still covered.

Below are some wedding hijab style pictures and top tips on how to hijabify your wedding outfit.
Most will be pictures of how to hijabify indian outfits as this is the most common request, there are some pictures of brides from other cultures to give you an idea of how your outfit could be adapted.





[Note: all images are from google images and are available to the public, no copyright infringement intended]

Tip 1

Try and get an outfit that has full sleeves

This style was in fashion a long time a go and is now back in fashion due to the demand for full sleeves from Muslim girls wanting more modest wedding outfits.











If you have something where the sleeves are not completely opaque try to think about sleeves which you can buy separately.

One thing you can think about is when your sleeves don't completely reach your wrist is you can either wear detachable sleeves underneath or if its only a couple of inches away from your wrists wear lots of bangles.

Obviously you won't be wearing something completely backless like this unless you could cover the back with the sari or a bridal scarf.

Tip 2 

If you can't get long sleeves and don't want to wear seperate sleeves, get some fabric (preferably silk or satin with indian outfits) or a fabric that matches the outfit and get someone to make you some sew on sleeves.

Even if the fabric of the sleeves doesn't completely match your blouse it will still look good as a slightly different shade in the same colour. It would be best to take the blouse and the fabric to a tailor or someone who is good at sewing.

Extra fabric added to the sleeves. Check out this sisters blog post where there are loads more pictures of her on her wedding day in hijab.

http://sliceoflemon.com/2009/06/19/this-post-is-so-long-if-i-were-you-i-wouldnt-read-it/

Tip 3

Buy a plain, thin or silky scarf in the same colour as your outfit to wrap around your head, that way you can still wear the sari or bridal scarf on your head without your hair showing.

http://sliceoflemon.com/2009/06/19/this-post-is-so-long-if-i-were-you-i-wouldnt-read-it/

Tip 4

Add some wedding hijab jewelery

Just because you might not be able to wear traditional wedding jewelery such as earrings and necklaces, doesn't mean your can't wear any jewelery. Add some hijab chains and maybe even see if you can convert traditional bridal necklaces to wear them as a headpiece.

Check out unique hijab pins on facebook and speak to sister Jhorna to see if she can make you a totally unique hijab piece for your wedding (=

Tip 5

Buy or get a hijabi bridal outfit made uniquely for you

This way you can get the perfect hijab friendly outfit without the hassle of adjusting your outfit.









In a lot of Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi cultures the groom's family buy the wedding outfit for the bride with help from a few of the brides family member so make sure your fiance and future in laws know what your requirements are inshaAllah.














So those were your hijabi wedding tips. Below are some beautiful hijabi bridal outfits from different cultures around the world [=

I hope this post helped. Leave some feedback inshaAllah, would love to know what all of you think. For all the sisters getting married, I pray that it all goes well inshaAllah, May Allah bless you with eternal happiness, love and serenity. Just remember your wedding isn't about what you wear and how you look (although you'd want to look good for your husband) it's about love, family and above all fulfilling a commandment from Allah and following the sunnah of the prophet pbuh so don't splash out on an outfit you'll only wear once, be reasonable and most importantly only buy something you'll feel comfortable in.

Spiritual | Tahweed- Believing in the Oneness of Allah

 

Assalaamua alaikum everyone

Firstly I'd like to apologise for not writing much the last couple of weeks, all of you who are in uni or college will know about the exam stress that everyone goes through, but Alhamdulillah they're all done now and inshaAllah I will have passed. Anyway this post is about Tawheed and is dedicated to sister Umme Kulsoom who suggested the topic on the iHijabi facebook page (=

There is sooooo much to be covered under the topic of Tahweed so inshaAllah I will be splitting this one up into a couple of posts.

For this series of posts I will be using the book 'Kitaab ut Tawheed' by Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab. As you know the first of these posts will be on 'Tawheed- the Oneness of Allah' but here are a list of other topics relating to tawheed that I may be covering in the future:

• Shirk
• Intercession & Idols
• Sorcery & Magic
• Qadr- Destiny
• Allah- Love, fear & Trust

So do let me know which of these you would like to read about inshaAllah.

So lets begin with todays post.

What is Tawheed?

Tawheed is to believe in Allah as the only deity worthy of worship, it is the core of our faith. 'La ilaha il Allah'
There is no God but Allah Is the testimony made by Muslim's all across the world, and the first pillar of Islam. However, it is not sufficient to just speak the words we have to truly understand what Tawheed means and what things go against it.

I know this post looks kind of long but it's only because of the summary after each section so either read the summary and see if you'd like to read the section in more detail or read the section and leave out the summary inshsAllah (=

Contents of this post:

• CHAPTER No: 1: At- Tauhid (The Oneness of Allah)
• CHAPTER No: 2 The superiority of Tauhid And what it removes of sins
• CHAPTER No: 3: Who purifies Tauhid (from Shirk..etc) will enter Paradise without giving an Account 
• CHAPTER No: 5: The Call to testify that there is nothing deserving of Worship in truth except 
• CHAPTER No: 6: An Explanation of Tauhid and the Testimony: La ilaha illa-Allah

CHAPTER No: 1
At- Tauhid (The Oneness of Allah)

Allah the Almighty said:
"And I (Allah) created not the Jinns and men except they should worship Me (Alone)."
(51:56)

And He stated:
"And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): 'Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities etc. i.e. do not worship Taghut besides Allah).' "
(16:36)

And He said:
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: 'My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.' "
(17:23, 24)

And He said:
"Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship."
(4:36)

And He said:
"Say (O Muhammad May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him ): Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because of poverty -We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not near to shameful sins (illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, and kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause (according to Islamic law), This He has commanded you that you may understand. And come not near to the orphan's property, except to improve it, until he (or she) attains the age of full strength; and give full measure and full weight with justice. We burden not any person, but that which he can bear. And whenever you give your word (i.e. judge between men or give evidence, etc.), say the truth even if a near relative is concerned, and fulfill the Covenant of Allah. This He commands you, that you may' remember. And verily, this is My Straight Path, so follow it, and  follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious)."
(6: 151-153)

Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

Whoever wishes to ascertain the very will of Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) on which the Prophet has put his seal, let him read the Statement of Allah:

"Say (O Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) ): Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him... (up to)...And verily, this is My Straight Path."

It is narrated that Mu'adh bin Jabal (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

I was riding behind the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) on a donkey and he said to me "O Mu'adh, do you know what is the right of Allah on his slaves and what is the right of the slaves upon Allah?" I responded: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He continued, "The Right of Allah upon His slaves is to worship Him Alone and never to associate anything with him. The right of slaves upon Him is not to punish any person who does not associate anything with Him." I said: "O Allah's Messenger, may I not give the glad tidings to the people?" He replied: "No. Do not inform them lest they rely on (this promise and lapse in their service to Him).” [The above Hadith is mentioned in two Sahih Books (Al-Bukhari and
Muslim)].

Important issues of the Chapter

1) Wisdom of Allah in creating jinn and mankind.

2) Worship is Tauhid, as, in this issue there had always been dispute (between the Prophets and
the polytheists).

3) Those who have not fulfilled the requirements of Tauhid are such as they have not worshipped
Allah, and in this sense is the meaning of the verse:
"Nor will you worship that which I worship"
(109:3).

4) The wisdom in sending the Messengers.

5) The message of the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) (Tauhid)
applies to all nations.

6) All Prophets have brought one and the same religion.

7) The major issue is that the worship of Allah cannot be performed until Taghut is denounced

and rejected. In this meaning is the saying of Allah:
"Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah then he has grasped the most
trustworthy handhold."
(2:256)

8) At-Taghut is inclusive of all that is worshipped other than Allah.

9) The tremendous importance of the three entirely clear verses of Surah Al-An'am (6:151-153) among the early pious predecessors. In these verses are 10 issues, the first of which is the prohibition of Shirk.

10) The clear verses in Surah Al-Isra (17:22-39) have 18 substantial issues. Allah begins them with:

"Set not up with Allah any other ilah (god), (O man) or you will sit down reproved, forsaken (in the Hell-fire)".
(17:22)

And ended with:
"And set not up with Allah any other ilah (god) lest you should be thrown into Hell,
blameworthy and rejected."
(17:39).

Allah informed us the importance of these issues by saying:
"This is (part) of Al-Hikmah (wisdom, good manners and high character, etc.) which your lord has inspired to you."
(17:39)

11) The verse of Surah An-Nisaa (4:36) called "The verse of the ten rights" to which Allah the Most High begins by saying:
"And worship Allah, and join none with Him in worship."

12) We must note the admonition of Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) which he made before his death.

13) To recognize Allah's right upon us.

14) To recognize the rights of slaves on Allah, if they fulfill His right.

15) This issue was unknown to most of the Companions of Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him)

16) Permissibility to hide some knowledge for the common good (as determined by the Shari'ah).

17) It is desirable to pass the pleasing news to other Muslims.

18) Fear of depending (of the people) upon the expansiveness of Allah's mercy.

19) The statement of one, who is asked on matters that are not known to him: "Allah and His Messenger know the best".

20) It is correct to impart knowledge selectively to someone and not to others.

21) The humility of Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) on riding a donkey with a companion behind.

22) It is legitimate to have a second rider behind.

23) Superiority of Mu'adh bin Jabal (May Allah be pleased with him) The great importance of this issue (of Tauhid).

CHAPTER No: 2
The superiority of Tauhid

And what it removes of sins

Allah the Most Exalted said:

"It is those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah and worship none but Him Alone) and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong i.e. by worshipping other besides Allah), for them (only) there is security and they are guided ones."
(6:82)

Narrated Ubadah bin As-Samit (May Allah be pleased with him), that Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said:

"Whoever testifies that there is nothing worthy of worship in truth (no God) except Allah Alone, Who is without (peer or) partner, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, and that 'Iesa (Jesus) is the slave of Allah, His Messenger, and His Word which He bestowed in Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (created) from Him, and that Paradise & Hell-fire are realities, Allah will admit him into Paradise, whatever his deeds might be." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 3252)

'Itban (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said:
"Indeed Allah has forbidden for Hell the person who testifies: 'There is nothing worthy of worship in truth (no true God) but Allah', seeking thereby nothing but Allah's Face (pleasure)."
(Al-Bukhari, Muslim).

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah's Messenger (May the
peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said:

"Musa (Moses) (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said: 'O my Rabb, teach me something through which I can remember You and supplicate to You.' Allah answered: 'Say, O Musa, La ilaha ilIa-Allah'. Musa said: 'O my Rabb, all your slaves say these words'. Allah said: 'O Musa, if the seven heavens and all they contain other than Me (Ghairy) and the seven earths as well, were all put in one side of a scale and La ilaha ilIa-Allah put in the other the latter would overweigh them.'" [This Hadith has been reported by Ibn Hibban, and Al-Hakim declared it Sahih].

At-Tirmidhi reports from Anas (May Allah be pleased with him): He heard Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) saying:
"Allah the Most Exalted said: 'O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with the world full of sins, and meet Me without making anything partner to Me (Shirk), I would come to you with a similar amount of forgiveness.' "

Important issues of the Chapter

1) Abundance of Allah's favour.

2) The abundant reward of Tauhid towards Allah.

3) Besides earning rewards, Tauhid recompenses sins.

4) Explanation of the verse 82 in Surat Al-An'am.

5) Ponder the five points mentioned in the Hadith narrated by Ubadah (bin As-Samit (May Allah be pleased with him))

6) If you look at the Ahadith from Ubadah and 'Itban (May Allah be pleased with him) and what follows altogether, the meanings of La-ilaha illa Allah become clear to you along with the error of those who are the deceived ones (Al-Maghrurin).

7) Take note of the condition in Itban's Hadith.

8) That the Prophets needed to be apprised of the tremendous virtue of La ilaha ilIa-Allah (There is no true God but Allah).

9) The point of overweighing of the Kalimah (May Allah be pleased with him) in respect to all other creation, though many who enunciate it will not get the full weight in their balance.

10) The text showing that there are seven earths like seven heavens.

11) That the seven earths and heavens are full of creatures.

12) Confirmation of the Attributes of Allah, contrary to the claims of Ash'ariyah.

13) Undoubtedly, if you understand the Hadith of Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) you would understand the statement in the Hadith of Itban (May Allah be pleased with him):

"Indeed Allah has forbidden for Hell the person who testifies: 'There is nothing worthy of worship in truth (no true God) but Allah,' seeking thereby nothing but Allah's Face (pleasure)" that it constitutes abandonment of Shirk practically and not merely confessing La-ilaha ilIa- Allah by the tongue.

14) Reflection and consideration of the shared characteristics of Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) and Iesa (May Allah be pleased with him) both as Prophets and slaves of Allah.

15) Knowing the peculiarity of Jesus (May Allah be pleased with him) being created as Kalimat- Allah (the Word of Allah).

16) Knowledge that Jesus (May Allah be pleased with him) is a spirit from Allah (Ruhan Minhu).

17) Knowing the merits of belief in Paradise and Hell.

18) Knowledge of the meaning of the statement (of the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) "... whatever his deeds might be."

19) Knowledge that Al-Mizan (the Scale) consists of two sides.

20) What is meant by the mention of the "Face" (of Allah).

CHAPTER No: 3
Who purifies Tauhid (from Shirk..etc) will enter Paradise without giving an Account

Allah the Most Exalted said:
"Verily Abraham (May Allah be pleased with him) was indeed a model, devoutly obedient to Allah, unswervingly true in faith and he was not of those who ascribed partners to Allah."
(16: 120)

And He further said:

"And those who ascribe not anyone (in worship) as partners with their Lord."
(23:59)

Husain bin Abdur-Rahman narrated:
Once when I was with Sa'id bin Jubair, he asked, "Who among you did see the shooting star last night?" I answered, "I had seen it," and then explained that I was not at the prayer at the time because I had been stung by a poisonous scorpion. He said, "What did you then do?" I replied, "I used Ruqyah1 to cure it!" He said, "What compelled you to do that?” I said, "A Hadith I heard from Ash-Sha'bi." He asked, "Which Hadith Sha'bi narrated?" I replied, "He reported from Buraidah bin Al-Husaib, who said that Ruqyah is not allowed except for the treatment of 'evil eye' ('Ain) and (poisonous) sting." He (Sa'id bin Jubair) said, "He has done well by stopping on what he has heard (i.e. to act according to the knowledge as opposed to ignorance).

However Ibn Abbas narrated us that the Prophet(May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said, 'All
the nations were made to pass before me, and I saw a Prophet with a small group with him, and a Prophet with two or three people and a Prophet with none. Then there appeared a large group of people which I took to be my nation (Ummah). But I was told that those were of Musa and his people. Later, a larger group appeared and I was told that those were my people. Among them were seventy thousand who would enter Paradise without reckoning or punishment.'  The Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) then got up and went to his house, and the people went into discussion as to who they might be. Some said, 'Perhaps they are the Companions of the Messenger of Allah.' Others said, 'May be they belong to those who were born in Islam and therefore had never ascribed anyone partner with Allah.' And while they were exchanging their views like this, the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) came out and was informed about the news. He said, 'Those people are those who do not treat themselves with Ruqyah, nor do they believe in bad or good omen (from birds etc.), nor do they get themselves branded (cauterized), but they put their trust (only) in their Lord.' On that 'Ukashah bin Mihsan got up and said (to Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) 'Invoke Allah to make me one of them.' He (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said, 'You are one of them.' Then another man got up and said, 'Invoke Allah to make me one of them.' He (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said, 'Ukashah has preceded you.' "

Important issues of the Chapter

1) In Tauhid, people are classified into various ranks.

2) What is the meaning of 'purification of Tauhid'.

3) Ibrahim (May Allah be pleased with him) was praised by Allah for he was not of the polytheists.

4) Allah praised all those Auliya for they did not make anyone with Him as the partner (did not practice polytheism).

5) Keeping away from cauterization and Ruqyah is the fullest purification of Tauhid.

6) Possessing these characteristics (traits) is Tawakkul (trust in Allah Alone).

7) The deep knowledge of the Companions of Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) who knew that such degree of trust (Tawakkul) in Allah could not be attained without action.

8) This shows how earnest the Companions were in doing good deeds.

9) The superiority of the followers of Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) quantitatively as well as qualitatively.

10) The superiority of the Ummah (followers) of Musa (May Allah be pleased with him).

11) All the Ummah (nations) will be paraded before Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) .

12) Every Ummah (nation) will be accompanied by its respective Prophet.

13) Generally, few people responded to the call of Prophets.

14) The Prophets, whom nobody responded to, will come alone before Allah.

15) The substance of these facts is that man should not worry about numbers, neither must he feel proud about huge numbers nor be disheartened by less numbers.

16) The permission of using Ruqyah to treat effects of evil eye and poisonous sting.

17) By the Hadith "He has done well by stopping on what he has heard”, the depth of knowledge of the predecessors is known, and it is also known that the first Hadith does not contradict the second.

18) The avoidance of the predecessors of praising anyone undeservedly.

19) The Prophet's statement that 'You are one of them' is a sign of Prophethood.

20) The excellence of Ukashah (May Allah be pleased with him)

21) Using Ma'areed (to mention something casually among other things, or a description open to various interpretations).

22) The excellent manners of Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) .

CHAPTER No: 5
The Call to testify that there is nothing deserving of Worship in truth except
Allah

Allah the Exalted said:
"Say you (O Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) : 'This is my way; I invite unto Allah (i.e. to the Oneness of Allah –Islamic Monotheism) (with sure knowledge), I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allah i.e. to the Oneness of Allah -Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge. And Glorified and Exalted is Allah (above all that they associate as partners with Him), and I am not of the polytheists.' "
(12: 108)

Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
When Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) sent Mu'adh (May Allah be pleased with him) to Yemen, he said, "You will come upon the People of the Book, let your first act be to call them to testify that -There is nothing worthy of worship in truth but Allah."

And in another version of this tradition (it is said):
"To single out Allah Alone in the worship, i.e. actualize the Oneness (Tauhid) of Allah-if they obey you in this, inform them that Allah has prescribed for them to offer 5 prayers (Salat) every day and night. If they obey you in this, then inform them that Allah has imposed upon them the duty of Sadaqah (Zakat) to be levied from their rich and distributed to the poor, If they obey you in this, then be careful not to take the best of their properties (as payment of Zakat), and safeguard yourself against the supplication of those who have suffered injustice because there is no veil between his supplication and Allah," [Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 1389/1425 and Muslim]

Both collectors have also reported that Sahl bin Sa'd (May Allah be pleased with him) said: On the day of Khaibar, Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) asserted, "Tomorrow I shall indeed give the flag to a person who loves Allah and His Messenger and is loved by Allah and His Messenger. Allah will grant victory under his leadership." The people spent the night absorbed in discussing as to whom might the flag be given! In the morning they came eagerly to Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) each of them hoping to be given the flag. Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) asked, "Where is Ali bin Abi Talib?" They replied, "He is suffering from an eye ailment." He was sent for and brought. Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) then spat in his eyes and prayed for him, where upon he was cured as if he had no previous pains. Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) then gave him the flag and said, "Advance with ease and gentleness until you arrive in their midst, then call them to Islam and inform them of their duties to Allah in Islam. By Allah, if He may guide through you a single man to Islam then it is better for you than the red camels."

Important issues of the Chapter

1) It is the way of the followers of Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) to call people to Islam.

2) Stress upon sincerity of intention, for many who supposedly call to the truth merely call to themselves.

3) Calling people to Allah with sure knowledge is obligatory.

4) Of the signs of the beauty of Tauhid is its being free of any blasphemy towards Allah.

5) The ugliness of Shirk is that it vilifies Allah.

6) Of the most important issues of the chapter is that a Muslim must and should remain aloof from polytheists in order to not become like them even if he does not himself commit Shirk.

7) Having Tauhid (and calling towards it) is the foremost obligation.

8) We must first begin with Tauhid before everything, even Salat.

9) The meaning of singling out Allah Alone in worship and being sincere in His Oneness is the meaning of the Shahadah "La ilaha illa-Allah ".

10) Among the people of the Scriptures are some who either have no knowledge of Tauhid, or if they do, they don't follow it accordingly.

11) Stress on teaching step by step.

12) The most important issues must be explained first.

13) How to spend Zakat (obligatory charity).

14) The scholar (learned) must try to clear away misunderstandings of the learner.

15) The best properties of people must not be taken for Zakat (obligatory charity).

16) Beware of the supplication of the oppressed.

17) We are informed that there is no barrier to the supplication of the oppressed one (to be accepted).

18) The afflictions, hardship, hunger and epidemics suffered by the head of all the Prophets and the best of those close to Allah (May Allah be pleased with him) are nothing but exact evidences of Tauhid.

19) The Prophet's assertion: "I shall indeed give the flag ..." is a sign from among the signs of Prophethood.

20) Applying spit to the eyes of Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) and the subsequent cure he received, is another sign of the Prophethood.

21) The superiority of Ali (May Allah be pleased with him)

22) The merits and virtues of the Companions (May Allah be pleased with him) that they kept speculating among themselves throughout the night (as to whom the flag might be handed over to) and their preoccupation with it over the news of lasting victory.

23) An illustration of the faith in Qadar -how the predetermined occurs to those who do not seek it and denial to those who wished it all along the night.

24) The manner of the Prophet's advice to Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) "Go to the people with ease and gentleness."

25) Calling to Islam before waging war.

26) Legitimacy of fighting with those who were previously called to Islam but rejected it.

27) Preaching Islam with wisdom as evidenced in his (May Allah be pleased with him) words: "Inform them of the obligations upon them".

28) Recognizing the duty to Allah in Islam.

29) The reward of a person by whose hand a single man is guided.

30) To swear in support of a juristic verdict.

CHAPTER No: 6
An Explanation of Tauhid and the Testimony: La ilaha illa-Allah

Allah the Almighty said:
"Those whom they call upon (like Jesus- son of Mary, Ezra, angels, etc.) desire (for themselves) means of access to their Lord (Allah) as to which of them should be nearest and they (Jesus, Ezra, angels etc.) hope for His Mercy and fear His Torment. Verily; the Torment of Your Lord is something to be afraid of"
(17:57)

And He said:
"And (remember) when Abraham (May Allah be pleased with him) said to his father and his people: 'Verily, I am innocent of what you worship. Except Him (i.e. I worship none but Allah Alone), Who did create me and verily, He will guide me.' And he made it (i.e. La ilaha illa-Allah) a Word lasting among his offspring that they may turn back (i.e. to repent to Allah or receive admonition)."
(43:26-28)

Allah the Almighty said:
"They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah."
(9:31)

He said:
"And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah but those who believe love Allah more (than anything else.)."
(2: 165)

And in Sahih (Muslim) it is reported that the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said:

"He who professed that there is no God to be worshipped but Allah and made a denial of everything which the people worship besides Allah, his property and blood become inviolable, and his affair rests with Allah."

Important issues of the Chapter

This chapter contains the greatest and most important of issues namely the explanation of Tauhid and the testimony of Faith and a clarification of it through clear matters. Of them is the verse in Surah AI-Isra '. It is a clear rejection to the polytheists who supplicate the righteous ones as well as making clear that to do so is major Shirk.

Also the verse in Surah AI-Bard 'a clearly shows that the People of the Book took their priests and their rabbis as lords besides Allah. It is also clear that they were not ordered except to worship a single deity (i.e. Allah).

The explanation of the Verse which has no ambiguity in their obedience to the scholars and other slaves of Allah in sinful things and not calling or supplicating them.

Additionally is the statement of Ibrahim (Peace be upon him) to the disbelievers wherein he excepted his Lord from other deities: "Verily, I am innocent of what you worship except Him, Who did create me."
(42:26, 27)

Allah mentioned that this disassociation and being free from Shirk explain the testimony of La ilaha ilIa-Allah, for He said: "And He made it [i.e. La ilaha ilIa-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone)] a Word lasting among his offspring that they may turn back."
(43:28)

There is the verse of Surah AI-Baqarah regarding the disbelievers where Allah said of them: "They will not get out from the Fire"
(2:167)

It is mentioned that they love those whom they associate with Allah, as they love Allah, and this points to the fact that they do indeed love Allah tremendously but this nevertheless did not bring them into the fold of Islam. Then how about the one who loves the false deity more than he loves Allah? How about the one who loves none other than his false deity and has no love for Allah?

The Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) stated:
"Whoever says La ilaha ilIa-Allah and rejects all other things that are worshipped besides Allah, his wealth and his blood are inviolable and his account rests with Allah."

This is of the weightiest statements clarifying the meaning of La ilaha ilIa-Allah. It shows that a mere pronouncement does not protect the pronouncer's blood and wealth. It is insufficient to simply understand its evident meaning and words, to acknowledge it, or even for the pronouncer to call on none other than Allah, Who is Alone and without partners. Rather, the pronouncer's wealth and blood do not become inviolable until in addition to all of the above, he totally rejects all else that is falsely worshipped besides Allah. For, if one has doubt or hesitates in this, neither his wealth nor blood is safe. What greater or more splendid an example can be given? What could elucidate the point in more clear manner? What more conclusive argument is there to cut off any dispute of the point?

You can download this book from www.islamfactory.com/books

Review | Lazy Sunday review crinkle hijab & urban decay Naked 1

Salaam all!

Well today hasn't been a 'lazy day' due to me running around trying to sort out assignments and revision!!! However I have done a Lazy Sunday post even with all the chaos. P.s. apologies for being in my Pj's in the following pic's 

Bargain Buy

Flourish Crinkle Scarf-Pink

Price: £5.99

From: Hijab Fashion Shop - Same colour currently out of stock

Grey John Richard Mood Swirl

Price: £2.40

From: Debenhams- Same one currently out of stock

I absolutely fell in love with this scarf as soon as I saw it on the Hijab Fashion shop website but it was out of stock and I waited for it to be re-stocked so I could grab myself one. The hijab is a beautiful light and airy crinkle scarf with Pink and Grey flowers on it. It looks delicate and feminine and is super for the summer! However a few downsides are I would have preferred it to be a bit bigger in terms of width and length as it doesn't provide the best coverage (also because it crinkles) the hijab is a lot lighter and thinner than the leopard print one I got from Al-Nisa, which means unfortunately it's not as opaque (you may be able to see your hair through it if you don't wear an underscarf and you will need to pull the short side round and pin it to your underscarf as you may be able to see your skin through it. All in all it's a very aesthetically pleasing scarf and would have been perfect if it was a bit wider and a bit longer.

The Swirl flower brooch is actually a brooch and a hair clip (has a brooch pin & crocodile clip at the back) so you can wear it either way. It's made of lace and chiffon and is the perfect accessory to a plain outfit.

Bargain Buy

Urban Decay Naked Palette

Price: £28.80

From: Debenhams

This palette is a brilliant neutral palette it has various neutral colours in different finishes from matte to shimmer to glitter (glitter does have a bit of fall out). I was looking for reviews for this palette online before I bought it and I realised that this palette was actually very popular (people were going crazy for it when it first came out) It's actually selling on ebay for £45 (that's how mad people are about it) 

Anyway I wanted to try out Urban Decay because it's supposed to be a really good brand (like MAC) and after asking a few sisters which one out of the naked palette and the book of shadows NY III I chose this one because I will use neutral colours more. I don't really wear eyeshadow unless it's for parties because I don't like wearing bright colours that attract attention even if I'm going out with family or friends. This palette is great because you can create really neutral subtle looks that are ok to wear out as they won't attract attention (unless you wear the glitter ones =S ) however, if you're going to a family party or out to dinner you could always glam it up a bit more by using one of the darker colours like 'Creep' to create a really smokey eye look.

The pictures here are not great because my camera wasn't focusing properly and the lighting wasn't very good either so it kind of looks like I've not put anything on, but in person you can see it better [for this reason and the fact that I just really don't have time I haven't done a tutorial I might do one later on after the uni stress is over iA].

In the pictures I have used the lighter colours [Please excuse the names of the colours]---'Naked all over the eye, Virgin in the inner corners and as a highlighter for the brow bone, Half baked to add some shimmer to the lid & Hustle for the outer V and crease'----

The older ones used to come with mini 24/7 glide on eye pencils but these ones come with a brush instead. The palette also comes with a primer potion.

I'd recommend this palette for anyone who likes neutral colours and for people who want to wear eye shadow especially when going out to eat or something but don't want to attract attention whilst getting there lol.

Below are some pictures I pulled off google to show the palette a lil better and some looks created by other people. Click on the Debenham link above and zoom in to see the colours close up and read more reviews. They have a 10% sale on and free delivery for a limited period only.

http://www.vustv.com/U8vFvwXsv1bdE

http://file.vustv.com/U8vFvwXsv1bdE.jpg

Anyway that's it for now. Make lots of dua for me to pass these assignments, exam, presentation etc iA.

Take care wassalaam!

iHijabi xxx

Review | Lazy Sunday review of Primark brooch and Unze shoes

Salaam girlies I hope you're all having a good weekend iA.

Well today is Sunday *sigh* and I'm mega sick of revising, so in between all the x-ray photons, TFT Arrays, LCD monitors and CT scanners I decided to start my lazy Sunday series. Every Sunday I'll be posting 2 items, one is a bargain buy and the other not so much of a bargain but still a good buy.

Bargain buy

Price: (I think approx £2.50)
From: Primark!

I love this pin brooch, I think it's probably my favourite! It's pretty and girly with a vintage touch. Don't know if they still have it (I was supposed to buy a few more for friends but didn't get round to going to get it again, sorry guys).

Bargain Buy

Price: £40

From: Unze

These are my fav party sandals from Unze. I bought them for my cousins wedding and I just love them. The heel isn't too high (probs just an inch) and the elastic at the back stops them from coming off. As you can see by the heels I have worn them quite a lot. I'm surprised that most of the stones have survived this long but a few small ones have fallen off.

So what do you think of these 2 items? Share your thoughts below......

If you have a bargain buy and a (not so bargain) buy and would like to share it. Send a few pictures in the same layout as above and it may get put into the next lazy Sunday post (=

Take care iA.
Wassalaam!

iHijabi xxx

Spiritual | Paradise

 Assalamu alaikum!

I hope you are all having a blessed Jumu'a. Today is the first day of the rest of my life iA. Starting from today I'm going to try and make some positive changes in my life. Sometimes when we're really busy with life it gets us down and we feel hopeless, recently I've been quite stressed with various things like uni, family etc, and then I realised that the reason I'm feeling so down is because I'm paying too much attention to my life in terms of dunya, trying to do everything and make everything perfect rather than my ibaada and the Akhira, all I have been doing is the obligatory acts and haven't spent any time trying to do extra ibaada. So today I decided that I need to get back on track with my Imaan and inshaAllah the other things in my life will fall into place. Make du'a iA (=

I have this poster on my wall in my room, it's a description of paradise, sometimes when I feel like everything is getting too much for me I read that description, it makes me feel determined and good again. Just like when we're struggling with college or uni we have to keep reminding ourselves that the reward and end goal is to gain a qualification and get a job (as well as please Allah ofc) we have to keep reminding ourselves that our reward for struggling through this life has a reward bigger than any reward you could imagine, more than anything you could ever dream of.

Here is the description, read it carefully and give each sentence much thought whilst reading inshaAllah, try to imagine it in your head.

Ibn al-Qayyim said, in regards to the description of the Paradise and the delights it contains:

"And if you ask about its ground and its soil, then it is of  Musk and Saffron. And if you ask about its roof, then it is the Throne of The Most Merciful. And if you ask about its rocks then they are pearls and jewels. And if you ask about its buildings, then they are made of bricks of gold and silver. And if you ask about its trees, then it does not contain a single tree except that its trunk is made of gold & silver.

And if you ask about its fruits , then they are softer than butter and sweeter than honey. And if you ask about its leaves, then they are softer than the softest cloth. And if you ask about its rivers, then there are rivers of milk who's taste does not change, and rivers of wine that is delicious to those who drink it, and rivers of honey that is pure, and rivers of water that is fresh. And if you ask about their food, then it is fruits from whatever they will choose, and the meat of whatever birds they desire. And if you ask about their drink, then it is Tasneem, ginger and Kaafoor. And if you ask about their drinking cups, then they are crystal clear and made of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its shade, then a fast rider would ride in the shade of one of its trees for a hundred years and not escape it. And if you ask about its vastness, then the lowest of its people would have within his kingdom walls and palaces and gardens the distance that would be travelled in a thousand years. And if you ask about its tents and encampments, then one tent is like a concealed pearl that is sixty miles long. And if you ask about its towers, then they are rooms above rooms in buildings that have rivers running underneath them. And if you ask about how far it reaches into the sky, then look at the shining star that is visible, as well as those that are far in the heavens that the eyesight cannot possibly reach.

And if you ask about the clothing of its inhabitants, then they are of silk and gold. And if you ask about its beds, then its blankets are of the finest silk laid out in the highest of its levels. And if you ask about the faces of its inhabitants and their beauty, then they are like the image of the Moon. And if you ask about their age, then they are young ones of 33 years in the image of Adam, the father of humanity. And if you ask about what they will be hearing, then its the singing of their wives from among the Hoor al-Ayn, and better than that are the voices of the Angels and the Prophets, and better than that is the Speech of the Lord of the Worlds. And if you ask about their servants then they are young boys of everlasting youth who resemble scattered pearls.

And if you ask about their brides and wives, then they are young and full-breasted and have had the liquid of youth flow through their limbs; the Sun runs along the beauty of her face if she shows it, light shines from between her teeth if she smiles; if you meet her love, then say whatever you want regarding the joining of two lights; he sees his face in the roundness of her cheeks as if he is looking into a polished mirror, and he sees brightness behind her muscles and bones;  if she were to be unleashed upon the World, she would fill what is between the Heavens and the Earth with a beautiful wind, and the mouths of the creation would glorify, praise, and exclaim greatness, and everything between East and West would be adorned for her, and every eye would be shut from everything  but her, and the light of the Sun would be outshone just as the light of the Sun outshines the light of the stars, and everyone on the face of the Earth would believe in the Ever-Living, the One who Sustains and Protects all that exists.

And the covering on her head is better than the World and all that is in it, and she does not increase with age except in beauty; free from an umbilical cord, childbirth and menses, and pure of mucous, saliva, urine and other filthy things; her youth never fades, her clothing is never worn out, no garment can be created that matches her beauty, and no one who is with her can ever become bored; her attention is restricted to her husband, so she desires none but him, just as his attention is restricted to her so she is the sole object of his desire. and he is with her in utmost safety and security, as none has touched her before of either humans or Jinn.

And if you ask about the Day of Increase (in reward) and the visit of the all-Mighty, all-Wise, and the sight of His Face- free from any resemblance or likeness to anything- as you see the Sun in the middle of the day and the full Moon on a cloudless night, then listen on the day that the caller will call: 'O People of Paradise! Your Lord- Blessed and Exalted- requests you to visit Him, so come to visit Him!' So they will say: 'We hear and obey!'

Until when they finally reach the wide valley where they will all meet- and none of them will turn down the request of the caller- the Lord- Blessed and Exalted- will order His Chair to be brought there. Then, pulpits of light will emerge, as well as pulpits of pearls, gemstone, gold and silver. The lowest of them in rank will sit on sheets of musk, and will not see what those who are on the chairs above them are given. When they are comfortable where they are sitting and all are secure in their places, and the caller calls: 'O People of Paradise! You have and appointment with Allah in which He wishes to reward you!' So they will say: 'And what is that reward? Has He not already made our faces bright, made our scales heavy, entered us into Paradise, and pushed us away from the Fire?'

And when they are like that, all of a sudden a light shines that encompasses all of Paradise. So, they raise their heads, and, behold: the Compeller- Exalted is He, and Holy are His Names- has come to them from above them and majestified them and said: 'O People of Paradise! Peace be upon you!' So, this greeting will not be responded to with anything better than: 'O Allah! You are Peace, and from You is Peace! Blessed are you , O possessor of Majesty and Honor!' So the Lord- Blessed and Exalted- will laugh to them and say: 'O People of Paradise! Where are those who used to obey Me without having ever seen Me? This is the day of Increase'

So, they will give the same response: 'We are pleased, so be pleased with us!' So, he will say: 'O People of Paradise! If I were not pleased with you, I would not have made you inhabitants of My Paradise! So, ask of Me!' So, they will give the same response: 'Show us your Face so that we may look at it!' So, the Lord- Mighty and Majestic- will remove his covering and will majestify them and will cover them with His Light, which, if Allah- the Exalted- had not Willed not to burn them, would have burned them.

And there will not remain a single person in this gathering except his Lord- the Exalted- will speak to him and say: 'Do you remember the day you did this and that?' and He will remind him some of his bad deeds in the Worldly life, so her will say: 'O Lord! Will you not forgive me?' So, He will say: 'Of course! You have not reached this position of your (in Paradise) except by my forgiveness.'

So, how sweet is this speech to the ears, and how cooled are the righteous eyes by the glance as His Noble Face in the Afterlife...


"Some faces that Day will be shining and radiant, looking at their Lord..." [Al- Qiyaanah 75:22-3]

SubhanAllah! That should be our end goal, after reading that I feel like I can overcome any struggle, I am determined to get there and be among the righteous in the highest ranks of Jannah inshaAllah.

May Allah SWT the Oft Forgiving and Most Merciful, forgive us for our sins and have mercy on our souls. May He guide us and keep us on the straight path. May He grant us a place in Jannat-ul-Firdous and make us among those who get to see His Face in Jannah! Ameen.

[To read about the brides&wives of paradise (hoor-al-ayn) in more detail please click here]

Review | Al Nisa Hijabs

Assalaamu alaikum girlies!

This is a product & company review of Al Nisa Hijabs an online hijab store. I bought 4 scarves from Al-Nisa, some for myself and a couple for my mum. I had actually only ordered 2 but after I ordered them my mum wanted some, Soooo I e-mailed Al-Nisa to see if I could add those 2 extra hijabs added to my previous order (I know it hadn't been sent because of the long bank holiday weekend) and I was glad to receive a reply saying that they had added them and an invoice was sent to me. =D I cannot explain how good the customer service with Al-Nisa is, sister Lubna replied to enquiries on the facebook page and through e-mail very promptly.

The Postage and Packaging (for UK) was around £2 if I remember correctly, which is super cool seeing as I received the package the day after it was sent (usually takes 2-3 working days), but I guess that was down to Royal Mail, who were doing quite well even with the bank holiday. Well done Royal Mail! Give yourselves a pat on the back.


Now lets get on to the actual hijabs. The quality of these hijabs is tremendous I can't find any fault at all. And what about the price I hear you ask? Welllll.......wait for it, wait for it.......they were all under £4 each! Super quality, reasonable prices what more could you ask for? I don't think you can get these types of scarves cheaper anywhere else on the ineternet (my aunt says you can get them at a market in London for only £1 less than what you get it for at Al-Nisa) not bad hey?

So:
Customer Service= Super Duper
Postage & package= Pretty good
Hijab Quality= Fantabulous
Prices= Ah ma zing!
Will I be buying from them again?= Of course iA (=

Here are some images of the scarves that I bought along with my views.....

The Leopard print Crinkle scarf

Price: £3.99

This is my fav scarf out of the 4 that I bought. It is super for the summer because it's actually quite thin and airy but creates volume due to the crinkles. The coverage I would say is not bad as its an average size scarf that crinkles and not a maxi crinkle scarf. I'd defo recommend this crinkle scarf. I've even had people tell me that they don't rally like animal print but they like this hijab. I'm not sure if you can see the detail of the tassel but it is sooooo pretty! They are little roses, click on the image to enlarge it iA. Gotta love this scarf! I recommend you store this hijab twisted and rolled up to keep it crinkly. (Also no need to iron it. Bonus!)

Pomenoir

Price: £3.50

This hijab is a thin scarf. I had to add this to my collection of floral thin scarves for the summer. Again it's very suitable for the summer as it is thin and as you can see from the picture it provides great coverage. The big wild flowers floral pattern means you can wear it with something plain to give you a delicate feminine look.

True Burgundy

Price: £3.50

Yes another floral scarf, but what I like about this scarf is the colours of the patterns. The fabric is a little different in feel compared to the Pomenoir scarf, I'd say it's much softer. The scarf is very comfortable to wear and the colours also make this hijab suitable for Autumn.

Jaane Bahar

Price: £3.50

I actually bought this with my mum in mind, she's quite youthful looking and sometimes gets mistaken for my sister instead of my mother mashaAllah though. So I bought this because it isn't as colourful (to e honest she liked my leopard print one more than this lol). So even though it was supposed to be a more 'mature' scarf I actually think it's suitable for people of all ages. The print is again very delicate and feminine. (You may have noticed that I actually have this patterned hijab in different colours from different online hijab stores lol)

So I hope you found this review useful. I'd defo recommend Al Nisa to friends and family, it is in my top 5 online hijab stores. InshaAllah the business becomes very successful (and sticks to it's amazing prices) and I look forward to buying from them again.

To visit Al Nisa hijabs click here

And to visit their facebook page (and get updates about new and up coming products) click here

Spiritual | Advice for new Muslimah's

Yesterday I published a post on how born Muslims should treat new Muslims. This post by Muslimah compass is some advice and support for new Muslims. I hope it comes in useful for all my revert sisters.

How to tell Your Family About Your Conversion

Written by Administrator

Friday, 08 April 2011 11:00

Assalamu Alaikum – (peace be with you) Congratulations and Welcome to Islam!  This segment has been specifically created for our new Muslim sisters.   It is intended to assist in nurturing your growth and knowledge through material resources covering the spectrum of Islamic life. We are introducing the segment with an essay on one of the greatest concerns that many new Muslimahs face after embracing Islam: How or When to tell her family she has converted to Islam Unfortunately, for converts in the United States and the West, there is the added complication of expansive Islamophobia that perpetuates aversion to everything related to Islam and Muslims.  So, even though this is probably the hardest thing the Muslimah has to do as a new Muslim, unfortunately, there is no one definitive, fail-safe solution.  The following essay does, however, offer new Muslimahs some guidance on broaching the subject. Recommendations On the whole, this is a situation best handled with care.  Some new Muslimahs may face the potential threat of ruptured family relationships, while others receive unconditional acceptance and support from their family.  The recommendations for teenage Muslimahs slightly differ from those for adults living on their own.  Please do also note that, although this essay speaks directly to Muslimahs, it is not intended to be discriminatory.  The recommendations are pertinent to both female and male converts.  The approach of specifally addressing women simply reflects our focus on Muslimah Compass’ core objective of serving as a channel for Muslim women. Teenage Muslimahs and Muslimahs living with Parents Many subject experts and converts recommend that, if possible, it is better for teenage Muslimahs, and those living at home, to wait at least six months to a year before informing their family about their conversion to Islam.  The primary reason being the time the Muslimah needs in order to be more established in Islamic practices, and to make friends and build a support system within the Muslim community. This makes her better prepared should her parents react with attempts to "deprogram her," or schedule "an appointment" with their local non-Islamic minister.  The Muslimah will then be able to draw on her knowledge and support system.  This can help to guide her in properly addressing any questions or concerns her family may have, and to provide a lending hand should her parents decide that she no longer can live in their house. While taking time to wait is advisable, in all likelihood, however, new Muslimahs who aptly adopt the hijab (head cover), may have little choice but to inform their family at that juncture. If the Muslimah is afraid that her family may resort to physical abuse, or a kidnapping and "deprogramming" attempt (yes, it happens), she should arrange to have someone there as a witness and source of support.  In the event that the family does become abusive, she is to immediately seek necessary assistance to get her out of that environment. Experts also contend that waiting awhile, before the Muslimah announces her decision, is to allow her parents time to witness positive changes in her as she commits to living the exemplary character, actions and moral values required of Muslims.  This includes wearing modest clothing; exhibiting more discipline in her daily activities and schoolwork; making better choices for her circle of friends; abstaining from alcohol, drugs and premarital sex; willingness to honor and respect her parents; and being more helpful around the house.  Such admirable conduct will very likely cause her parents to react more positively to her becoming a Muslim. Adult Muslimahs that are married or living on their own In the case of adult Muslimahs, that either are married or living on their own, their family already is accustomed to conceding to their autonomy in decisions about their life choices.  There are some converts who are not concerned about how their family may react to the news.  But, understandably, for many other Muslimahs, it is tremendously important that they have their family’s respect and acceptance, especially, when there are children involved. Since the Muslimah does not live with her parents, it will be easier for her to allow them the time and space they may need to deal with the news.   If there are children involved, it is recommended that Muslimahs  grant their parents access to their grandchildren.  But Muslimahs also need to set some boundaries for when the children are with their grandparents.  These include that the children not be taught any doctrine other than Islam, served any food items prohibited by Islam, such as pork, and asked to participate in activities counter to Islamic instruction. Talking to Siblings As it is with their parents, it equally is important that Muslimahs individually address their siblings, and give them an opportunity to ask any questions or voice any concerns.  The Muslimah needs to reassure her siblings that she still is the same sister they have always known.  It is imperative that the Muslimah strongly emphasizes her love for her siblings, particularly if they are very young.   Above all else, the Muslimah must ensure that she conducts herself as a good role model for her brothers and sisters. In some cases, adult Muslimahs may not necessarily be located in the same city and/or state as their relatives.  Hence, when dealing with adult siblings, it is best for the Muslimah to write a letter or place a telephone call to inform them about her conversion to Islam.  She should prepare herself for any resentment that may surface, and, if necessary, siblings also should be allowed time to work through any issues they may have with regards to the Muslimah and/or her decision. Concluding Thoughts It is very important that new Muslimahs not allow themselves to engage in any interfaith debate or religious conflict with their parents and/or other family members.  If anyone is verbally insulting, Muslimahs are to avoid responding in kind.  They also should avoid being baited by or upset about any "anti-Islamic" rhetoric from their family members.   Additionally, Muslimahs should refrain from any aggressive and/or incessant attempts to convert family members to Islam.  The call to Islam should be gentle, and one of the best ways of inviting people to Islam is by being an exemplary living example of its teachings. For many people in the United States and the West their knowledge of Islam comes only from sensationalized negative news reports.  So, the apprehension that many families may harbor is that their offspring will become “radicalized.”  There also is a strong aversion to Islam as a life choice for women. This is primarily due to the inaccurate and widely spread notion that Islam is oppressive to women, hence, parents may be concerned about their daughter’s ultimate fate as a woman in Islam.  Muslimahs are, thus, encouraged to be compassionate and take time to effectively enlighten their family about true Islam. Across-the-board, this issue is one that needs to be handled tactfully and in a very loving manner.  Islam demands that Muslims honor their parents and be kind to them. No matter how their family reacts to their conversion, Muslimahs are obligated to nurture a loving relationship with them because this is what Allah commands.  Regardless of the situation, new Muslimahs must keep in mind that their actions have to always display the perfection of Islamic moral qualities and the truths of belief.  Patience is a great virtue of a believer and some things may take time to materialize.  Nevertheless, the new Muslimah can always take solace in the fact that He who led her to truth is the Power over everything. Muslimah compass

Spiritual | How to treat reverts/new Muslims

It's sad to hear that some many new Muslims/ reverts feel as though they are being bombarded with do's and do not's, which either makes them feel Islam isn't for them or that Muslims are mad extreme people with extreme views. So I wanted to write this post to born Muslims to explain how we should be treating new Muslims.

A revert is like a new born baby, free from sin and completely pure, before you start pointing fingers at what they are doing wrong have a think of this: It took you your whole life to get to the stage you are at now, your parents taught you about Islam and living an Islamic lifestyle since you were young so you've had yeeeeaaarss of information and the Islamic lifestyle isn't something new or strange but the only lifestyle you know. How do you expect a new Muslim to do everything you are doing overnight?

Personally I think born Muslims need to give new Muslims the support they need, now this isn't telling them that they must wear hijab and abaya and not listen to music and not speak to men from the words 'la ilaha il Allah..' . Every person is on their own journey and you have to understand that new Muslims have it really hard, changing their lifestyle, pressure from their families and having to make changes in what they eat, how they dress, as well as the fear of not being accepted by the Muslim community. All you need to do is be a sister/brother to them, not make them feel inferior to you (because in terms of sin they are much more superior than any of us born Muslims [they have no sin]) and help them on their journey of seeking the truth.

I also came across this detailed and very useful article on how to treat a new Muslim sister, inshaAllah have a read, it's worth it.

Humble & Humility: How born Muslims should treat new Muslims

-Sr Katherine
Turn to Islam

"At our mosque at that time when we assigned an ansaar to a new muslim we called them Heart sisters. So just take that into account when reading this"

Introduction:

Today we are going to discuss the topic of what it means to be Humble to another person and what does it means to be Humiliated by another person. Under this topic, we will be focusing closely on how Muslims should give proper Dawa.

Let’s look at what the dictionary meanings of humble and humiliated means. According to our trust worthy Webster dictionary, Humble means the following:

1 : not proud or haughty : not arrogant or assertive
2 : reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission <a humble apology>
3 a :UNPRETENTIOUS b : not costly or luxurious <a humble contraption>

This is a great word to describe our Prophet. The second definition, “2 : reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission”, really gives the essence of his nature. We know this to be true according to our knowledge of Hadiths. He was a humble man, the ultimate human being, and the role model to guide us to the submission of Allah. In order to be humble, you have to submit your faults and bad behaviours and redirect them to good ones. Allah has given us many rules how to treat one another…but still we struggle every day in Islam with the attitudes of people from different cultures and backgrounds.

Next let’s look at what humility means in the good ole’ dictionary.

Humiliated:

: to reduce to a lower position in one's own eyes or others' eyes: MORTIFY

This word does not have a positive meaning at all, as we can see. We know what it is like to be humiliated in front of our peers. We know how it felt when we went through puberty, been there and done that!

As we know the Prophet did experience some humility in his life because of what he was teaching to the masses, but not once did he dampen the spirits of his inquirers. He was always a man eager to answer the questions they asked with of course, the guidance and inspiration of Allah at his side. Most of the time on different occasions, the inquirers asked the prophet, “How can I be a Muslim and what does it take to go to Jannah?” The prophet always explained the five pillars of Islam to the newcommers. Here is an example of a hadith that supports this statement:

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
One day Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) appeared before the public. Then a man came to him and asked: Prophet of Allah, what is Iman? Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) replied: That you affirm your faith in Allah, His angels, His Books, His meeting, His Messengers and that you affirm your faith in the Resurrection hereafter.

He (again) asked: Messenger of Allah, what does Islam signify? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Islam signifies that you worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him and you perform the prescribed Prayer and you pay the obligatory poor-due (Zakah) and you observe the Fast of Ramadan. 

He (the inquirer) again asked: Messenger of Allah, what does Al-Ihsan (Faithfulness) imply? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: That you worship Allah as if you are seeing Him, and in case you fail to see Him, then observe that He is seeing you. 

He (the inquirer) again asked: Messenger of Allah, when would there be the Hour of (Doom)? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: The one who is asked about it is no better informed than the inquirer. I, however, will narrate some of its signs (and these are): When the female-slave will give birth to her master, when the naked, barefooted would become the chiefs of the people; these are some of the signs of (Doom). (Moreover) when the shepherds of the black (camels) would exalt themselves in buildings, this is one of the signs of (Doom). (Doom) is one of the five (happenings wrapped in the unseen), which no one knows, but Allah? Then he (the Messenger of Allah) (may peace be upon him) recited (the verse): Verily, Allâh! With Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die Verily, Allâh is All-Knower, All-Aware (of things) He (the narrator, Abu Hurairah) said: Then the person turned back and went away. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Bring that man back to me. They (the Companions of the Holy Prophet present there) went to bring him back, but they did not find him. Upon this Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) remarked: He was Gabriel. He came to teach people their religion.

Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 10

There is also a very nice Quran verse that supports this:

Piety does not consist in whether you face east or west during worship. True piety consists in this: believing in God and in his final judgement; believing in his angels, in the Book, and in the prophets; giving your wealth, for the sake of God, to your relatives, to orphans, to the needy, to wayfarers and to strangers; ransoming slaves; attending prayers and paying the poor-rate; being true to your promises; and being steadfast in times of distress, adversity and war. Those who show true piety are genuine in their faith; they honour God.

-Quran, Al-Baqara, Surah 2:177

These two examples do not give way to humility of the person reading it…but give it spirit to submit to the will of Allah. When giving dawa we must realize this way of approach a brother or sister by being humble about it. You never know if angel Gabriel could show up on your doorstep to test you without you knowing!
Here (so and so) are going to do a mock up how to handle an issue with a new Muslim: I am sure we all have experienced either one

Finger nail polish!!!!!!!!!!
Look. Correct. Offend!!!!!

Now that was an example of being humiliated with out trying to put some effort into the relationship of the person you want to help

Look. Approach. Talk…ask her name…how is she…how did she come to Islam…ask her has anyone showed her to do salah…. or wudu…if no so…then take the sister to the bathroom and show her how you do wudu…this would be the proper time during wudu practice to explain why water has to touch all parts…I sure in the end she would thank you for being thoughtful of taking the time to help her out with the basics.

Here are some other guidelines to help you out with doing dawa:

Islamic Education / Practice

o Take things one-step at a time.

o Do not perform a “core dump” of Islam on the new Muslim and overwhelm him/her with information

o Start out by helping them review and master the material tahara and salah are core ibadat.

o Discussion of other topics will present themselves through the course of natural conversation. Do provide information and discuss as needed. However, do not engage in detailed discussions of fiqh for every topic that might come up (again so as not to overwhelm the new Muslim in the beginning).

o Do not take anything for granted. Some new Muslims may have more knowledge than long time Muslims in certain areas as they may have been studying Islam intensely before reverting. Others may be very unfamiliar with even the most basic Arabic phrases which long time Muslims take for granted.

o Do not take for granted the new Muslims ability to pronounce simple Arabic phrases. Be patient. Help by demonstrating the correct pronunciations as needed. Listen to an instructional tape together.

o Do not criticize them for any perceived deficiencies in Islamic practice – that’s why they are new Muslims.

o Initially do not direct them to a multitude of information sources be it articles, books, or websites – again to not overwhelm them with information. However, do not discourage from exploring more literature / information if they show the desire and interest to do so.

o Encourage them to attend any other new Muslim classes being offered at the Masjid.

o You can sensitize the new Muslims to legitimate differences in Islamic fiqh (they will eventually encounter this) but do not vigorously push any particular madhab on them.

o Do not compromise any commonly accepted Islamic principle or practice because you think it might be too hard for the new Muslim or they might take it the wrong way (provide any background information / explanation which would minimize them taking it the wrong way to begin with). However, do be patient for them to either accept or practice them.

o Do not avoid any topic of discussion initiated by the new Muslim but refer them to someone more appropriate if you do not have enough knowledge in that area. It is best not to initiate discussions of a political nature.


Social / Spiritual Support

o Be their sister and friend

o Ask questions to understand their background and past experiences and way of thinking. However, do not interrogate. Be sensitive when a new Muslim starts to feel uncomfortable with the direction of a conversation.

o Expose the new Muslims to your friends’ circles and encourage your friends to also befriend the new Muslim so he/she can be truly integrated into the community.

o Invite the new Muslim to social gatherings either at the Masjid or at your home. For community events, don’t assume the new Muslim will feel comfortable just because he/she may have heard the announcement. They may need extra encouragement to feel comfortable in attending. The best is to accompany them to any such events.

o For at the least the first couple of months accompany them to Jumaa salah at the minimum.

o Depending on how your and the new Muslim’s schedules coincide, try to accompany the new Muslim to other salahs at the Masjid as well.

o If the new Muslim does not have a car it will require extra effort to ensure that the new Muslim is able to attend salah and other gatherings. Offer to pick them up and drop them home. If needed, develop a rideshare schedule with the Associate HEART SISTERs and other friends who can assist in providing rides to the new Muslim.

o As with any relationship chemistry and personality play an important role. Ideally the best of HEART SISTERs will be able to adapt and respond appropriately to the specific personality of the new Muslim. However, be sensitive if you feel the new Muslim just can’t relate to you or vice versa. If you feel this is happening have a discussion with the relevant Co-Lead to see whether someone else might be more appropriate.

o If you are a foreign born Muslim who is an HEART SISTER for an English speaking reverted Muslim, be sensitive to the fact that communication may be inhibited because of your own accent. The sisterhood is what is important, not your accent, but do realize it may require some extra effort (e.g. speaking slower, repeating) on your part to ensure smooth communication.

o If the new Muslim has a family, ideally you were linked with him/her because you also have a family and children of similar ages. Sensitize the rest of your family to some of the guidelines on interacting with the new Muslim family (all of whom may not actually be Muslim). Remember that the children of the new Muslim (i) may find the parent’s reversion a stressful and inexplicable event (ii) may be resentful towards Islam and/or the parents (iii) do not have the same background / Islamic education as your children. Set the expectations of the relationship appropriately. Don’t do Dawa to the rest of the family by talking but by example. Do try to make children of the new Muslim feel welcome.

Economic Support

o If some one is facing economic hardship do not take things for granted in how to be of service to the new Muslim. For example, if the new Muslim does not have a car, instead of offering to meet them at the Masjid for salah you will need to offer them a ride to and back from salah.

o If you choose to personally help the new Muslim with any economic needs, the best method to help anyone is to provide the service directly rather than give cash to help them. For example if someone needs a bus pass go with them and purchase one for them or help them do their grocery shopping or make a check payable to an apartment complex to help with rent.

o Speak to the Outreach office coordinator to request assistance from the Masjid. The new Muslim will need to fill out a brief Zakah assistance form. It is our responsibility to tactfully and delicately verifies legitimate use of acquired Masjid funds (in most cases this will be automatically done if the check is made out to a specific service provider).

o Do not attempt any “fundraising” on Masjid premises or any public forum even though the cause is legitimate. You may end up embarrassing the New Muslim publicly.

o Help the new Muslim become familiar with Muslim businesses such as halal meat stores, restaurants, etc.

In all to have great performance, we need a lot of practice! Giving dawa takes lots of practice to be successful at keeping a new sister interested, personally and spiritually. Massaging and Modifying attitudes of the giver/receiver of information can help to this solution. Humans are made up of three physiological components: Emotional, Behavioral, and Cognitive Knowledge. Being aware of yourself and the other’s components is essential to pass on what you know without causing humility. Here is a good Hadith to remember:

Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 88

'Abdullah bin Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
Allah's Messenger (may peace and blessings be upon him) observed: Abusing a Muslim is an outrage and fighting against him is disbelief.

It takes only a few simple steps to catch yourself in giving unsatisfactory dawa to a new Muslim:

o Watch body language– if it is negative, (Like crossing the arms or if standing changing foot positions often) change the subject to something about her personality and you like

o Analyze your behavior – Are you doing it out of emotion? OH! OH! Just cuz I know that rule in Islam I have to tell her!!!!?

o Watch Verbal language – Are you being hostile in the conversation? Is the revert becoming hostile? Is there any interest from the revert in asking more questions?

Take heed to these thoughts when in the process of giving out Islamic knowledge…in no time you will be doing a smooth job if you can pick up these signals!

To conclude to this speech, the whole goal is to get both parties to the same point. What I mean by that is, take a look around at your sisters…these ladies could be the one to share your paradise! You would want your neighbor to be there just as much as you do! But then again, look at her sitting next to you….Ask yourself do I really know her? Have I ever spent time to get to know her? Have I truly been humble to her as the prophet was to the strangers? If this is the person that is going to share my paradise, how will I know her in Jannah if I have not done anything to build a relationship? The key issue is here in giving dawa to a sister…you must be a friend, humblily. You must build a relationship, and a trust with your neighbor in Dunya.

Here is a good hadith to remember about intention of a good deed:

Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 5092

Jundab Al-'Alaqi, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: He who wants to publicize (his deeds), Allah will publicize (his humility), and he who makes a hypocritical display (of his deeds), Allah will make a display of him (his real intention).

We as the female species are limited to understand ourselves without social and emotional attachment. Also without the building blocks of showing your love and affection to your sister, no one would want to listen to someone that just is selective friend and tells every Muslim what to do as in pertaining to Islam. This selective behaviour is something we don’t want to happen. Even then, you have varied results of people’s perceptions on their emotional needs for spiritual growth. Some will respond and some will just leave. But taking control of your actions and becoming a good listener is a good way to start to change one of the umma’s problems.

Imagine holding your sister's hand....Take hold of that hand next to you. Feel the life in that person…feel the love…Feel the sisterhood….Now hold tight (hands) I want each and every one of you to be my Neighbour in Jannah!

Takbeer!

 <<< I don't but I just thought that was cute, I will smile and say salaam though (=

Hope you enjoyed the article!