Monday, July 16, 2012

Ramadan is Coming!

Asalaamu alaykum wa rahmatallahi wa barakato,
May the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you,

I just wanted to make a pre-Ramadan post because things are about to get REAL real quickly.  I am so excited for Ramadan this year!  What a great time to grow in Islam and get closer to Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala (glorified and exalted be He).

I want to start having some Ramadan traditions this year -- since I live in the U.S. and am a revert and all, (and I don't know many other Muslims) I think it would be nice to have an activity that makes me feel more involved and festive-y.  Crafts maybe?  Make some cute lanterns, a banner, a garland?  Invite the neighbors to Iftaar (I saw that idea on the internet, so cute and nice, masha'Allah (God has willed it)? I dunno though, because when I fast, I don't have too much energy.  It can be challenging to keep up with chores, do homework, and study the Qur'an when your brain is muddling by on a few calories from the iftaar (after sunset meal) you ate the night before.

Here's some cute crafts that I could make in sh Allah (god willing):



My spiritual goals for Ramadan:  I want to learn two new surahs a week.  That may sound ambitious (or not, I dunno) but my summer classes are over soon, so ins ha'Allah (God willing) I'll have enough time to do more memorization.  I also want to work on my Arabic and read the Qur'an in Arabic.  In sha'Allah!

Lastly, Ramadan Kareem to anyone and everyone out there!  Hope you all enjoy a blessed month from Allah (swt), insha'Allah.  :)


Tuesday, July 10, 2012

My Day at the Beach :)

My Day at the Beach :)

Asalaamu alaykum wa rahmatallahi wa barakto ~
May the peace, mercy, and blessing of God be upon you~

Today, my husband and I enjoyed a relaxing day at the beach.  The weather was gorgeous, and there's a lake not too far from our home.

I got a few leery eyes at my unique beach apparel -- I guess these people aren't used to seeing a covered gal at the beach ;).

Seeing as I don't yet own a "birkini" (I plan on getting one soon), I just wore a breathable black maxi and basic tee, and relaxed with a trusty Jane Austen novel.

I love lazy summer days :)

Monday, July 9, 2012

What is hijab?

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatallahi wa barakato~
May the peace, mercy, and blessing of God be upon you~

I recently started covering (alhamdulillah (praise God)) and I decided to do a post on what hijab is, because before I educated myself on the subject, I really had no idea.  Being a revert, you begin from the ground up.  And I'm the sort who doesn't accept anything unless I learn it myself.

One day, I was doing a Google search and randomly happened upon the I Love Hishma blog.  I have no idea how, it was for something completely unrelated, if I remember correctly.  Anyway, after I read some blog posts, I really felt the need to research the hijab more fully.  When I looked into religious verses, this is the conclusion I came to.

Is hijab mandatory?
You betcha.

What is hijab, anyways?
What I consider hijab is based on revealed scriptures:  

"And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision (lower their gaze) and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed." 24:31

And secondly,

"O Prophet, enjoin your wives and your daughters and the believing women, to draw a part of their outer coverings/cloaks/jilabib around them. It is likelier that they will be recognized and not molested. Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful." 33:59

And lastly, hadith:

"Ayesha (rad.i-Allahu `anha) reported that Asma’ the daughter of Abu Bakr (rad.i-Allahu `anhu) came to the Messenger of Allah MHMD while wearing thin clothing. He approached her and said: 'O Asma’! When a girl reaches the menstrual age, it is not proper that anything should remain exposed except this and this. He pointed to the face and hands." [Abu Dawud] 


From these three evidences, one can deduce that hijab must 
a) consist of a headcovering that covers the chest
b) a loose outer garment -- i.e., jilbab -- that is not see through nor form fitting

c) not show anything except face and hands

That is all :)))