When in the Masjid...

Yesterday, I was tagged by my beautiful sister, Umm Travis so here it is:

The Rules:
Link back to the person who tagged you;
List three hadith you’d like to pin up in your masjid... and why;
Tag some of your fellow bloggers by linking to them in your post and send them a comment to let them know they've been tagged

All hadiths were taken from Sahih al-Bukhari

Volume 1, Book 2, Number 40:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "If any one of you improve (follows strictly) his Islamic religion then his good deeds will be rewarded ten times to seven hundred times for each good deed and a bad deed will be recorded as it is."

To remind us that if we hold true to our religion and do what is right (even though it's easier to do what's wrong) we will be rewarded on the Day of Judgement for our efforts

Volume 1, Book 2, Number 32:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "The signs of a hypocrite are three:
1. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.
2. Whenever he promises, he always breaks it (his promise ).
3. If you trust him, he proves to be dishonest. (If you keep something as a trust with him, he will not return it.)"

This one would be posted so we make sure we keep ourselves in check....

Volume 1, Book 2, Number 27:
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr:
A person asked Allah's Apostle . "What (sort of) deeds in or (what qualities of) Islam are good?" He replied, "To feed (the poor) and greet those whom you know and those whom you don't know."

To remind us not to forget our brothers and sisters !

Okay, I will tag my sisters listed here:

Chronicles of Super Hijaabi

Desert Veil

Chasing Jannah

Hijabi Couture

Beautiful Poetry

Again, going through some stuff here and found another piece that use to adorn my desk... enjoy!

Pity Me Not

Pity me not
For the clothes I wear
Nor for the scarf that covers my hair

Pity me not
For my black garb
My modest air
My humble heart

Pity me not
For my lack of speech
Because my silent voice can always find a heart to reach

Pity me not
For my Muslim name
It is the sign of my honor and the badge of my fame

Pity me not
And call me oppressed
Because from society's norms I'm differently dressed

Pity me not
But try to understand
That I love my religion and I'm proud of who I am!

Pity me not
For following the divine way
But pity those who have been led astray!

Hmm... maybe this is why everyone (not all but some) in my office took such a disliking to me when I reverted- too much Muslimah pride! Oh, well.... LOL

Slowly... but surely

Well, just wanted to say that things are stagnant right now with the moving process... I guess there's not much else to be done except find a credible shipping company that can come to my home and pick up what I need to ship. The hubby keep long hours and I can't get these boxes to any of the many local carriers by myself as I need a commercial van or open pick up truck to get the stuff there- and it's all heavy! This seems to be the hardest thing left to handle before I bid my home adieu...

Not looking forward to arriving in Cairo in the winter but it'll still be WAY warmer there than it is here! lol

Hijabi Poem

Greetings Sisters....

Going through some files from my office and came across this one that was sent to me from a very dear girlfriend who resides in England now... Anisa, if you read this, I love you!

Who I Am !

What do you see when you look at me?

Do you see someone limited... or someone free
All some people can do is just look and stare

Simply because they can't see my hair
Others think I am controlled and uneducated

They think that I am limited and un-liberated
They are so thankful that they are not me

Because they would like to remain 'free'
Well free isn't exactly the word I would've used

Describing women who are cheated on and abused

They think that I do not have opinions or voice

They think that being hooded isn't my choice
They think that the hood makes me look caged

That my husband or dad are totally outraged
All they can do is look at me in fear

And in my eye there is a tear
Not because I have been stared at or made fun of

But because people are ignoring the one up above

On the day of judgment they will be the fools

Because they were too ashamed to play by their own rules
Maybe the guys won't think I am a cutie

But at least I am filled with more inner beauty
See I have declined from being a guy's toy

Because I won't let myself be controlled by a boy
Real men are able to appreciate my mind

And aren't busy looking at my behind

Hooded girls are the ones really helping the Muslim cause

The role that we play definitely deserves applause
I will be recognized because I am smart and bright

And because some people are inspired by my sight
The smart ones are attracted by my tranquility

In the back of their mind they wish they were me

We have the strength to do what we think is right

Even if it means putting up a life long fight
You see we are not controlled by a mini skirt and tight shirt

We are given only respect, and never treated like dirt
So you see, we are the ones that are free and liberated

We are not the ones that are sexually terrorized and violated
We are the ones that are free and pure

We're free of STD's that have no cure

So when people ask you how you feel about the hood

Just sum it up by saying 'baby its all good'

An excellent poem about Muslim women- this is me... is this you?

Educating our daughters

I look at the current state of the world today and wonder sometimes how the world might be when my children are older... and when they become adults. Especially my daughter since most people are of the premise that we should not really send them out to school beyond high school (if even high school) as it is better to keep them home and teach them how to cook, sew and keep the house tidy- but in this world now, is that enough? We all hope and pray that our daughters will find good, honest, pious, hardworking husbands who will love them, care for them and treat them with the utmost respect but not to seem hard, the current state of men today leave alot to be desired. Not saying these brothers don't exist but I can't see too many of them out there!

I have had this discussion with more than a few of my sisters here when we talk about our children and them growing up in this world- some laugh at my criteria (a system I almost pretty much have completely established) that I intend to use, Inshallah, for "weeding out the undesirables" when the time comes to marry off my children- which is many years from now, Inshallah! I personally feel we have a responsibility to our children but especially our daughters to educate them well just in case things don't work out in life where they can stay home and tend to their children and husband. What if she NEVER marries? What if the husband is suddenly disabled and can't work? What if he is abusive to her? Should she leave one marriage to enter another because she doesn't know how to support herself? And sadly enough, alot of men today see an uneducated woman as a slave they can do anything to and she'll HAVE TO TAKE IT as she doesn't have many or ANY other options- what should our daughters do? Become a doormat because she has no other options??? And what about her children if he decides to divorce her... do they suffer and starve as well? We as parents are going to live but so long and after we're gone, what do they do? As we know this world is quite competitive now just to be able to survive- are the "basics" for them still enough?

I'm a total advocate of educating ALL our children equally to become whatever they choose as long as it is not something haram... she can be a doctor, nurse or nurse practitioner, teacher, scientist, chemist and the sorts just like her brothers AND be a good wife and excellent Mother to her children. I feel we should equip our daughters with all the education we can as we can not predict the future and to send them out into this unforgiving world with less, I feel, is a great disservice to them. I want ALL my children to become scholars in their worldly academe and their Islamic studies as one need is for this world and the other is for their hereafter... give your daughters the education they need to succeed in this world... so let her get her bachelors, or masters or Phd- (not in lieu of marriage, of course) just in case IF they have to use it and pray to the Almighty Creator of all things that they never need to.

Reflections...

I came across this little reminder that I use to have in my office sitting on my credenza- it brought back memories... enjoy!

"The secret to life is living it… one day at a time. Our lives are made up of a million moments, spent in a million different ways. Some are spent searching for love, peace and harmony. Others are spent surviving day to day. But there is no greater moment than when we find that life, with all its joys and sorrows, is meant to be lived one day at a time.

It’s in this knowledge that we discover the most wonderful truth of all. Whether we live in a forty-room mansion, surrounded by servants and wealth, or find it a struggle to manage the rent month to month, we have it within our power to be fully satisfied and live a life with true meaning.

One day at a time… we have that ability, through cherishing each moment and rejoicing in each dream. We can experience each day anew, and with this fresh start we have what it takes to make all of our dreams come true. Each day is new, and living one day at a time enables us to truly enjoy life and live it to the fullest."

And 2 thoughts from my favorite poet:

- You pray in your distress and in your need;
Would that you must also pray in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.

- Our appearance, our words, our actions are never greater than ourselves.
For the soul is our house, our eyes its windows, and our words its messengers.

-Khalil Gibran

Where has sisterhood gone?

I've been reading a couple of blogs here and there and one or two made me reflect upon the current state of our sisters today... where has our "sisterhood" gone?

Some people naturally become close or gravitate to one another for many reasons: culture, color, school, choice in clothing (fashionably modest to unmodestly "how-is-that-Islamic-wear"), kids, neighborhood and such- but when we ONLY to speak to each other because of culture or color, how is that Islamic?

I know when I first reverted and attended my first few gatherings at my mosque, it wasn't exactly friendly... I was one of two actual Americans who attended there- and I felt it. There were some sisters who made me feel welcomed but others didn't even bother to give salaam and some would look and then look away. I notice these days that alot of sisters are just too much into this "clique" thing. I even read "either you're in or out"... how is that Islamic? I tend to gravitate away from drama (we have enough of that just trying to get through the day) that might be going on with any sisters but I don't exclude or include someone because of the color of their skin or the region they hail from... to me that's just plain stupid.

Love and respect your sister wherever she may hail from: Bosnia or Boston, Morocco or Maryland, Canada or California, Germany or Georgia, Turkey or Texas, Somalia or South Carolina- we are joined by a common bond and we should love one another and show no indifference towards each other because of our culture, native tongue or hue of our skin- we are Muslimahs first and we should conduct ourselves accordingly.

And on that note, I love all of you... MY sisters, from wherever you may hail for the pleasure of Allah!

Superwomen!

It's been a short while since I've had the chance to sit down to breathe... and even contemplate about sharing something with everyone... busy food shopping, shopping for winter clothes, doctor appointments, gatherings with family, gatherings with my Muslimahs, paying household bills, selling stuff, buying stuff, rearranging part of my old life to start life anew in a new land, Inshallah.

I always try to schedule my days with errands grouped together to make things more efficient since it's always me and my three little ones in the back seat. One day, I had to stop for my usual frequent visit to the salon/barber shop where I get my daughter's hair braided every 2 weeks as it's very long and curly/wavy to boot, Mashallah, and this is the only way to keep neat and tidy. So in one section of this shop, the African sister who braids my daughter hair was talking to me about my big move and how things were coming along- so I started rattling off all the things I have done, in the process of doing and what's in the cooker to be handled next... and she started smiling and said, "You're busy!"... which I always am and sometimes I do feel like a single parent as my poor husband works such long hours- an average day for him is about 11-12... so this move is being orchestrated by me, alone. When I come to the shop to either braid my daughter's hair or cut my Big Papi's hair, all of them are with me and I'm ALWAYS on my cell phone trying to conduct business with someone in some part of the world! This day in question, I had spoken to a few of my Muslim sisters out there and we were all talking about what we did, had to do and such- and in this shop they have a huge flat screen where they show videos for their customers viewing pleasure and on came this song that I never heard before but I knew the voice and the lyrics is what caught my ears and made me look. To be honest, whenever I'm there, I always just "tune it out" since I don't listen to music any longer but this day, the song caught me and I felt it explained us women, especially us Muslimahs! We usually have more than a full plate with studying, keeping our home(s) organized, rearing our child(ren), maintaining ourselves, keeping the hubby happy (or at least trying to), working outside the home, paying the bills and the list goes on! Now, I don't advocate listening to music but I wanted to share this with you all- and for those NOT interested in hearing it, just look up the lyrics on the internet...

We are strong, diligent, beautiful, smart, resilient, merciful, loving, forgiving, understanding, thoughtful, mindful, objective and whatever else you can think of that I forgot to mention here. Superwomen... Yes, we are!

(It's bedtime so there's no time to figure out how to embed the video so do the obvious below which will navigate you away from the page):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK8t0gP4isE

In the spirit of entrepreneurship...

Greetings sisters!

I was sitting here toying with the idea of making a new batch of my brown sugar scrubs while the kids are busy and I thought it might be a nice idea if all you ladies (not only sisters read these blogs) who make items or provide a service that you feel the rest of us might be interested in utilizing, send me your business in the comments so I can post them... that way we can know what's available out there.

As for myself, I make all natural brown sugars scrubs and I offer organic bath salt scented with essential oils. My "flavors" on the scrubs: chocolate, coconut, lemon & poppy seed, coffee, golden goddess and ohsosexy empress! :-o

The bath salts are nice as well, they contain either lavender buds, rose petals or chamomile buds based upon the scent you select- great for those who have TIME to soak! Scents currently available are ocean, passion and calming.

I started my little side business while working... I am one in the masses of people who've been laid off- my office was the satellite location and due to a business restructure, we lost our jobs last year... but Alhumdulillah, I've been busy with this and added a new addition to the family! (Mashallah)

So send your comments- I'm interested in seeing what's out there... we can support each other!