POST RAMADHAN- I FEEL SO LOST!

So, it's just over a month since Ramadhan has departed and yet, it feels like an age ago. To be honest, this has probably been my worst post-Ramadhan ever. I have never missed the month so much! :( 

 

During Ramadhan, SubhanAllah, I was so happy. I think my soul was happy, which naturally made me happy. I read this post online that goes somewhere around the lines of "Do you know why you are so happy in Ramadhan? It's because your soul is doing exactly what it's meant to be doing, that is worshiping Allah". That is so definitely true and I'm sure most of you'll can relate to this as well. Not for a single moment in Ramadhan did I feel bored, depressed or any negativity for that matter. There was just one focus and that was worshiping Allah. No wonder I was so happy.

 

And then, Ramadhan ended and there came all the negative thoughts that washed over me like this huge tidal wave. We have given Shaytan so much of power over us that we allow him to dictate our thoughts and moods without trying to fight back ourselves and this naturally leads to a pit fall. 

 

I'm not saying depression or sadness or worry is a bad thing. It's natural but we should not allow it to dictate our lives. Why is that we had so much of hope and life in our Duaas during Ramadhan but now, we feel like Allah is not even listening to us. If you do feel that way, and I'm saying this to myself first, it's because we have gone far away from Allah. Allah is the same merciful Lord as He was in Ramadhan but are we the same obedient slaves to Him as we were in Ramadhan? Allah is still there with us, He still descends to the lowest heavens every single day during Tahajjud so that we may ask Him whatever we want and that He gives it to us. And what are we doing during this time? Sleeping. If we feel so low and depressed, then it's our own fault.

 

Sometimes the only way you can get out of all this is by just talking to yourself. Constantly remember and remind yourself that Allah is always there with you, ready to answer your Duaas but are you ready to talk to Him? Remind yourself that Shaytan wins us over by making us depressed where we start questioning what Allah has decreed for us and when you feel this way, remind yourself that accepting fate is part of faith. Good and bad both come from Allah so ask Him to enlighten and inspire you. Ask Him for strength to overcome Shaytan and your own nafs. 

 

If you miss Ramadhan and you want to feel that spirituality you felt during that month, then do some things that you did during Ramadhan. Recite the Quran, at least 2 pages per day. If we could recite 2 entire chapters a day during Ramadhan, then 2 pages isn't a huge deal, is it? It might take anywhere around about 10 minutes, at the most. Also, study the Tafseer of the Quran. There are plenty of free resources online where you can listen to the Tafseer of the Quran so dedicate an hour a day for this as well, In sha Allah. (You can listen to it on Youtube where Ustaad Noman Ali Khan is teaching the Tafseer of Surah Baqarah. It's amazing, SubhanAllah so listen to it). Pray your Sunnahs and give charity. In sha Allah, your soul will be content and you mind will feel refreshed.

 

We need to re-connect with Allah. And that shouldn't be something we do only during Ramadhan. Push yourself to worshiping Allah with humility and submissiveness and see for yourself if your soul doesn't rejoice at that.

 

May Allah make every day of our lives an opportunity and a means to come closer to Him. 

 

 

THE LIFE OF A REVERT- AN EYE OPENING INTERVIEW

Alhamdulillah, I got another opportunity to interview a Muslimah and to say I learnt a lot from it is really an understatement! The interview was wonderfully insightful and it really gave me a much better understanding of the life of reverts to Islam and of polygamous marriages. 

Please do read this interview right up to the end, because trust me, it'll really enlighten you on so many things! While your at it, do give a follow to her lovely blog. You can check it out here: http://leavesofknowledge.blogspot.com/

HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU ACCEPTED ISLAM?
Journey to Jannah: I was 19.  I became Muslim four months out of high school.

TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU FOUND ISLAM
Journey to Jannah: As a child I was abused by the men in my mother's life, emotionally neglected by my mother, and bullied all throughout school.  I became an Atheist at 7 years old (before that having gone to Sunday School from 1-6 years old when we lived in Maine).  I thought that God was punishing me for some reason or that God just didn't like me and only put me on earth to be a slave for any man who happened to get into a relationship with me.  I ended up becoming suicidal and depressed from 13-18 years old.  I even tried running away twice as a child-once at 14 and once at 18 years old.  I had briefly learned about Islam in sixth grade during our medieval unit in Social Studies when we learned about the five major religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism).  I was 14 when the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon occurred and that was my second experience with hearing about Islam though of course I didn't know anything about Islam having never seen or met any before in my life.  Like any other American citizen I believed what the media said about Islam-Muslims were terrorists who would kill you if you didn't submit to their religion and will.  I'll be honest and say the bombing of the Twin Towers and Pentagon didn't faze me or affect me at all.  I came home from school and watched a bit of it on the news-I remember it being on like every channel as I had been in Math class during the time of the Twin Towers being hit and our teachers hadn't let us watch the news or explain what was going on.  I found out later that one of the planes had actually flown over OH (the state I live in) before turning to go to some destination and again that didn't faze me.  Well at eighteen I was in a Yahoo chat room (back when Yahoo still had a section on their website for actual chat rooms) and met this 19 year old guy named Imran.   He was from Pakistan and a Muslim.  He began teaching me about Islam and even a bit about his home life and culture as he wanted to marry me but I wasn't ready for marriage at 18 and my mother wouldn't have been pleased that I had married a foreigner so I told him no and we remained friends until I got married and he informed that we would no longer be able to be friends under Islam.  It hurt me having to delete all my male friends (I had some friends in Pakistan, Egypt, Morocco, one in Turkey, one in GA, one in Nevada).  The ones in Pakistan, Egypt, Morocco and Turkey were all Muslims but it was Imran who began teaching me of Islam and I pray Allah (SWT) gives him lots of ajal for that.  Imran wanted me to become Muslim so I did for him because it made him happy.  But I didn't believe in the message of Islam or of Muhammad (SAW) or Allah (SWT).  Later I found out from Ahmed (one of two Ahmeds in Egypt) that I had never been Muslim since I didn't believe in Allah (SWT) or Muhammad (SAW).  I became Christian September 2005 though I didn't accept Christ until June 2006.  At first I was happy being Christian and tried to pray every day.  I actually cried because I felt that finally I had found a religion for me.  But after a while I began to feel that God wasn't listening to me at all and I got a free Bible from some Mormon website.  Now I had already ready the Bible (Genesis, Revelation, some of Exodus) as a child as I had a children's Bible growing up and my mother's old bible.  I didn't understand how Jesus (alayhi salaam) could be God, the son of God, and the Holy Spirit but whenever I asked questions I was pretty much brushed off.  I also went to church for the summer at 15 (at the order of my mother) and didn't enjoy it aside from learning how to make a lizard key chain.  Well I read the ten commandments and for some reason kept reading the first commandment over and over again so it clicked in me somewhere that I was doing something wrong by worshiping Jesus (alayhi salaam) but I wasn't sure what I was doing wrong.  I ended up leaving Christianity because I felt like God wasn't listening to me and began to doubt that faith.  Then I became Agnostic in September 2006 and began looking at other religions.  I originally looked at Hinduism and Sikhism.  I found out from my research that to be a Hindu one must be born into the religion and Sikhism didn't make any sense to me due to the whole belief of reincarnation of the soul until it obtains 100% goodness.  I wasn't even looking at Islam as a religion.  But I slowly began researching it.  I ordered a free Qur'an and some Islamic books and looked at them in my room.  I had been looking up information also at school about Islam when I was supposed to be writing news articles and doing research as my last class was Freelance Journalism which was basically writing the school newspaper.  Then for some reason I became Muslim.  I believe it was Allah (SWT) who led me to Islam and that if it hadn't been for my abuse and bullying as a child I would never have become Muslim.

MOST REVERTS FACE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR FAMILIES ABOUT THEIR FAITH. HOW TOUGH WAS IT FOR YOU?
Journey to Jannah: Being Muslim in a family that hates Islam is very tough.  I still face issues to this day six years later with being the only Muslim in my family.  I knew when I became Muslim that I would have to wear hijab. However I had no access to Muslims, mosques, halal food markets, halal food, or clothing stores.  I had found a clothing store online that sold hijabs and other Muslim clothing but since I had quit my job at 18 years old I didn't have the money to buy anything and had quit receiving allowance at 10 years old. So when I prayed I would throw on my jacket and a hat which I would stuff my hair under and pray.  Now I have no sense of direction whatsoever so I had no clue which way was east (in fact I have to depend on my husband to tell me which way to pray if we are outside).  I had to hide my new religion from my mother and step father.  I had also hidden when I was Christian as well as my family isn't religious and my step father doesn't believe in religion at all.  I had a book called Islam in Focus.  It described different prayers (the funeral prayer and how it differed if it was a child under puberty, a rain prayer, a drought prayer, the eid prayer, a ton of others I don't remember, and of course how to pray.  It also had information on fasting and some other topics).  Well Islam in Focus author didn't exactly explain that Sunnah was optional.  It just had 2 Fard and 2 Sunnah for Fajr; 4 Sunnah, 4 Fard, 2 Sunnah for Dhur; 4 Sunnah, 4 Fard for Asr; 3 Sunnah, 3 Fard for Maghreb; and 4 Sunnah, 4 Fard for Isha.  So I totaled everything up and prayed like this: 4 Fajr, 10 Dhur, 8 Asr, 6 Maghreb, and 8 Isha.  At first I tried to look at the DVD "Pray As You Have Seen Me Pray" and that was difficult trying to pray and look at the DVD to make sure I was doing it correctly.  I also used Islam in Focus for learning how to do Wudu so I would take the book into the bathroom, lay it on the sink and try to do Wudu while looking at the book for instructions and making sure the book didn't get wet.  If mom or my step father came into my room I'd rip off my hat and stop praying as I knew I'd be in trouble.  Then I would go back to praying but since I had lost track of my prayers I did it all over again from the beginning.  So I was often well past one prayer time and into another prayer time by the time I finished the previous prayer.  If we were outside eating at a restaurant when I got home I immediately prayed whatever prayers I had missed due to being outside and then pray whatever prayer it was time for.  Because praying while watching a DVD was hard I quit that and instead tried praying with Islam in Focus in my hands!  I did my best to pray in Arabic which took me forever as I was trying my best to sound it out so that also was part of the reason my prayers were so long and took me well past their allotted time.  Sometimes I prayed in English but it didn't make much of a difference. I had become Muslim during Ramadan.  I knew only that Ramadan consisted of no food and drink during daylight so I tried to fast.  That wasn't easy as I would get sick and feel like I wanted to throw up.  I ended up often giving up due to being so sick that I ended up drinking soda in mid-day to keep from being sick until dinner.  After I got married it was only the last few days of Ramadan so it was easier for me to fast for some reason.  But even today I still get sick during the first two weeks of Ramadan and I get sick when I don't eat so fasting is very hard for me.  I don't think having to fast during Ramadan is something I will ever get used to doing.  Since my husband and I are forcibly separated due to Saudi laws it is hard with me being with my family.  I face issues for wearing hijab, having to wear pants and long sleeve shirts outside in the spring and summer months, not being allowed to eat pork so they have to make different food for me on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, my husband and his family being bashed by my family.  It isn't easy at all.  They still don't know I'm not allowed to not celebrate any of these old holidays with them even though for my family it is one of the few times we see each other. 

HOW DID YOU COPE WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS YOU HAD AFTER ACCEPTING ISLAM? 
Journey to Jannah: Well it's hard.  I get very defensive and upset when my family bashes my husband's family.  I confess I love my in-laws more than my own parents.   My brother mocks me when I pray if I am at my mother's.  When I was studying at The Ohio State University Newark, OH branch I would often cut the rest of Geography 120 during the summer quarter to pray.  That was hard finding a quiet place to pray.  Often I'd pray on the grass or in the Warner Center up on the second floor.  After History 151 spring quarter I would go do Wudu except I hate people staring at me so I would stop wudu if someone came into the bathroom and then continue doing wudu (there is a very small Muslim student population at my old school so no room to pray and nothing set up for Wudu). I would sometimes throw my abaya on as I wanted to get used to walking around in it.  Of course with a backpack on my shoulders my abaya would come up a bit above my ankles which freaked me out as I was worried I was doing something wrong.  I continued wearing sweat shirts and pants so I was often hot under my abaya but I reminded myself that it's better than burning in Hell forever.  If my step dad came to pick me up from school (I don't drive) I'd have to take off my hijab or else my step father wouldn't let me in his truck.  So I'd have my hijab off for like an hour or two waiting for someone to get me from school.  I'd also skip Art EDU in summer quarter to pray Asr prayer.  I figured that prayer was more important than some stupid classes.  I tried to arrange my class schedule so I could have time to pray but it's not easy with how prayer times change every few minutes every day.  So to summarize I guess I just try not to get upset about the problems I face but it isn't easy.  I often take my anger and frustration out on my husband but he's understanding and just tells me not to listen to them because they just want me to become non-Muslim again and go to Hell. 

WHAT'S THE GREATEST CHANGE YOU SEE IN YOURSELF AFTER YOU ACCEPTED ISLAM? 
Journey to Jannah: I feel more at peace and no longer depressed or suicidal since becoming Muslim. 

ANY PARTICULAR HADITH OR QURANIC VERSE THAT REALLY INSPIRES YOU IN ANY SITUATION?
Journey to Jannah: Well I really enjoy listening to Sura Maryam and Sura Yusuf.  As for Hadith I don't really have a favorite.  I don't really have a favorite Qur'an verse either.  

BEING A REVERT, HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE "FREEDOM OF WOMEN"?
Journey to Jannah: Well I think "freedom of women" is the ability to be taken seriously for your mind and not your looks.  Let's face it: women are always at competition with each other.  I think the majority of women dress bad to upset other women.  And men don't seem to care about women's mind and just about certain assets.  I think a lot of women don't realize they are being objectified and they have been brainwashed to think this is real 'freedom' so they call Muslim women and girls oppressed.  I think it's hypocrisy to say Muslim women and girls are oppressed but Nuns who wear their clothing are serving God.  Women are worth more than certain assets and I think that partly feminism is what distorted that viewpoint and true assets of women. 

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE WEST BELIEVE THAT WOMEN IN ISLAM ARE OPPRESSED. DIDN'T THAT BOTHER YOU WHEN YOU WERE THINKING OF REVERTING TO ISLAM? 
Journey to Jannah: I think it is hypocrisy how women who dress in niqab or hijab are 'oppressed' but Nuns are 'serving God'.  Same with if a Muslim has a beard he's a 'terrorist' but a Jew who has a beard is 'religious'.  Pure ignorance on the part of the people.  No that didn't bother me when I was thinking of becoming Muslim. Saving my soul was more important at the the time than going to Hell forever.  It does bother me though to this day.  I get stared at for wearing my hijab in public.  Even have been forced to take it off twice (read my Discrimination post).  I ask those who think all women are brainwashed into becoming Muslims-Have you even met a Muslim woman and talked to her about why she became Muslim?  Or do you choose instead to not use your brains and believe what the media tells you?  Let me say this to all who are out there: Yes there are some Muslim women who are forced to become Muslim.  But if you become Muslim for your spouse than you are not a real Muslim.  You have to believe in your heart and soul in Allah (SWT) as the only God and Muhammad (SAW) as the last and final messenger of Allah (SWT).  Take the time to get know a Muslim woman and not believe what the media-who has their own agenda against Islam-says about Islam.  The only way to know a people is to get to know those people for yourself and you can only do that by going out and meeting them and talking to them.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST WAY TO COPE WITH HATE TOWARDS ISLAM- AND TO THE WOMEN OF ISLAM AND THEIR HIJAB AND NIQAB IN PARTICULAR?
Journey to Jannah: I think that Muslims need to remember we will be the blessed ones on the Day of Judgment (depending on your deeds Insha Allah) and that this life is a hell for the believers and paradise for the non-believers (non-Muslims).  If we react with anger and violence towards a bunch of ignorant fools who slander Allah (SWT) or Prophet Muhammad (SAW) then we are only proving what the vast masses believe-that we are a religion of violence and I'm sorry if any Muslims get upset with me at this.  Martin Luther King Jr. made his followers put up peaceful protests when they were being hosed down and being sicked upon by dogs during the fight of the Civil Rights in America during the 60s.  When our beloved Prophet (SAW) and his early Ummah was being kicked out of their homes and killed for refusing to go back to the pagan Arabs way of life they resisted peacefully and fled to Madina and Abyssinia.  He did not strike back violently against the people who cursed him and called him a hypocrite and threw garbage at him.  As for the hatred towards women and their hijab and niqab-Sisters remember that our mothers (RA) were the best of women.  Mariam (RA) was the best woman of her period and Allah (SWT) chose her to bear Prophet Isa (alayhi salaam).  As Muslim women and Muslim girls we should strive to follow the example of our mothers (RA), just as the men and boys need to follow the example of the Prophet (SAW) and the Sahaba (RA).  Sisters remember that hijab is an obligation upon you when you reach puberty and that we are told throughout the Qur'an by Allah (SWT) to follow the Apostle.  Following the Apostle means following the Sahih Hadeeth.  It irks me to no end knowing that there are Muslims who say "oh we don't need to follow the Sunnah" or "oh we don't need to wear hijab" or "oh we need to 'reform' Islam" astaghirfullah!  Islam does not NEED to be reinforced. But the Ummah could sure do with being retaught the teachings of our religion in my opinion.  We need to go back to the Qur'an and Sunnah and use those as our guide to teach the future Ummah and once again  (In sha Allah) rise up to be like we used to be for 700 years before our fall.  Sisters remember that you are the blessed ones Insha Allah on the Day of Judgment.  We are queens and princesses and it doesn't matter what people say about us.  Hold your heads up high, make sure your children are raised properly to be good little Ummah, and keep them from the haraam and bad influences of the world.  Give them an education so they can help shape our future.

IF YOU COULD GIVE ONE VERSE OF THE QURAN TO A NON-MUSLIM, WHICH QURANIC VERSE DO YOU THINK WOULD REALLY LEAVE AN IMPACT ON THEM?
Journey to Jannah: [14.23] And those who believe and do good are made to enter gardens, beneath which rivers flow, to abide in them by their Lord's permission; their greeting therein is, peace.

A LOT OF PEOPLE, EVEN MUSLIMS, ARE AGAINST THE VERY IDEA OF A POLYGAMOUS MARRIAGE. TELL US YOUR VIEWS IN THIS MATTER? 
Journey to Jannah: I am sorry but this is one thing that really gets to me.  As an American Muslim woman who is one of three wives it annoys me that I as a Muslim woman and a revert can accept polygamy but born Muslim women have issues with it and threaten to divorce their husbands.  Polygamy is legal in Islam.  You CANNOT make something haraam that Allah (SWT) has allowed.  You just can't!  That is why we are mortals and Allah is Allah (SWT).  Allah (SWT) knows what is best for us.  As one of three wives yes there is jealousy between the three of us-women are naturally jealous.  But we accept polygamy as being a right of our husband and know better than to make something haraam that is halal.  Are there 'men' out there who use polygamy for free sex and not for the lawful reasons allowed? Yes but if your husband is a good man who fears Allah (SWT) and can take care of more than one woman then don't be a baby and forbid him from doing so. Let me tell you sisters something.  My husband had a wife before me.  I knew nothing of polygamy being a new Muslim other than that the FLDS practices it.  I didn't even think to research polygamy before becoming Muslim.  Yes I was jealous and it took me 10 months to get used to being another wife because I was thinking with my American upbringing that polygamy is 'disgusting' and 'bad' astaghirfullah!  I did a lot of thinking of the state of the world and finally saw the wisdom of why Allah (SWT) allowed it and never banned it.  I went into this marriage without any second thoughts or hesitation knowing I would be my husband's second wife.  *They later divorced but that's beside the point*.  My husband and I used to watch Al Jazeera during the Saudi/Yemeni war.  It broke my heart to see all the poor Yemeni women and children crowded into tents and dying from malnutrition.  I told my husband he should go to Yemen and marry a poor Yemeni woman to save her from a life of hardship.  Did it bother me that Allah (SWT) allowed polygamy for men?  Yes it did.  So much that I wrote a letter to my husband and  a diary entry.  I cried as I wrote the letter to him.  But I realized I had no right to forbid what Allah (SWT) has allowed.  I then put the diary and letter that was in the diary on the TV and slept on the couch.  My husband woke up the next morning, read the letter and diary entry and woke me up.  He said that he hated seeing me sad and if I didn't want him to marry he wouldn't do so because he would never do anything to hurt me.  I suffer from Poly Cystic Ovarian Disorder.  I wanted my husband to be able to have children (we have been TTC #1 for our entire marriage) and I knew that one of the reasons a man can marry again is if his wife is barren and can't give him babies.  I loved my husband so much that I told him to marry another woman.  He likes that about me.  He says I have a big heart and am a compassionate soul and person.  I cannot believe how hard it was to find a woman who would agree to be in a polygamous marriage.   It took us a few months for my husband to find my husband's third wife (he and his first wife divorced last year).  I tried to be nice to my husband's first wife-even making my husband buy her a present from me (that later went to my husband's fourth wife) and bought my husband's third wife a present (it's a gold necklace with a blue gem on it with matching earrings).  My husband's third wife and I get along swimmingly as we have some things in common.  After some issues both of us (myself and my husband's third wife) made him look for another wife (he would never have done so without our permission) and again began a long journey of finding a woman who accept polygamy.  But Alhamdullilah Allah (SWT) brought my husband and his fourth wife together.  Now it is the four of us, (husband, me, his third wife and fourth wife).  I love my sister-wives very much and would do anything for them.  Now would my husband get married again?  No because I know I could not take it if he married another person.  Do I resent my sister-wives? No.  I ask those women who refuse to let their husband get married again.  If you were in a country where your government was oppressive, you had no education because in your culture or country women didn't 'need' an education because they were seen as nothing but breeding stock, would you not want to become the wife of a man who could take care of you or would you rather suffer on the streets and be forced to prostitute yourself in order to survive?  If polygamy was good enough for the Prophets (alayhi salaam) why is not good for the Ummah today?  What makes those times and these times any different?  Polygamy does not become 'invalid' because we (or most of us) are in the 21st century.  We are not better than Allah (SWT).  We are not better than the Prophets (alayhi salaam).  Polygamy can work and does work if all involved are in it together.  It isn’t a death sentence sisters if your husband chooses to get another wife.   Would you rather him go out and commit az-zina and bring home diseases to the marriage bed?  At the same time Muslim brothers polygamy is not an excuse to screw everything that moves!  You are just giving into your urges and in my opinion suck as Muslim men if you don't do polygamy for the right reasons.  Remember that the Prophet (SAW) was married to Lady Khadijah (RA) for all those years and then only after her death did he take all his other wives.  Today and in the past there were and are women who are suffering in the world due to being unable to find a husband who will marry them.  These poor women are often disabled, widowed, divorced, barren and tossed out onto the streets.  These poor women are forced to become wards of the state or prostitute themselves to survive or watch their children slowly die of hunger.  One reason a man can get another wife is to help the widows and orphans whose husbands/fathers are killed in war.  Sisters would you not want the same thing for other women that you yourselves want?  Brothers how would you feel if it was your mother or your grandmother or your sister or your aunt who was cast into the world because no decent Muslim man would marry her?  And your poor sister or mother or grandmother or aunt has to prostitute herself to survive and feed herself.  This brings me to another point.  I am so sick of hearing about so called cultures that see divorced and widowed women as 'lepers' and refuse to marry them-preferring teenage virgins!  Lady Khadijah (RA) was a WIDOW and the Prophet's (SAW) senior!  Many of the Prophet's (SAW) wives (RA) were widows and divorcees!  I think only Lady Aisha (RA) was the only virgin the prophet (SAW) married.  Brothers if you marry a teenager that doesn't mean she'll magically pop out babies.  It doesn't mean she'll be a good wife or a good mother.  At the same time brothers if you practice polygamy please don't treat the wives you already have like crap because they are having trouble conceiving or are barren.  That's just hurting the wives you already have.  Remember that the punishment for not treating your wives fairly on the day of judgment is that you will approach Allah (SWT) with half your body paralyzed!  *Rant over*

ANY SPECIAL MESSAGE YOU WOULD LIKE TO TELL MUSLIMS IN GENERAL?
Journey to Jannah: I fully believe part of the reason we have lost Al Andalus and Palestine is because we listened to the non-Muslims who told us we were weak and fell into doing bad things. I fully believe it is our own fault and it continues to be our fault because instead of uniting under one banner like we did in the days of our glory we have scattered into tons of different stupid sects and continue to fight with ourselves like little children. As Muslims we need to be an example to the rest of our Ummah and to the world. We will never get Al Andalus back or Palestine if we continue to be divided into separate nations and sects. Remember that Sura 6 Verse 159 says to not make yourselves into sects like the Christians and the Jews. Yet we choose to ignore this verse and instead are divided. What purpose does that serve except to divide the Ummah and make us vulnerable to attack. There were no sects until after the time of the Prophet (SAW's) death. What does that say to our children and the future Ummah if we are too busy killing each other to help our suffering brothers and sisters?  As Muslims we need to be an example to our children and the world.  We must come together again under one banner, under the Qur'an and Sunnah and no longer be divided by nation or sect.  I fully believe we would better off if we succeed at overthrowing these monarchies and dictators and elect a new caliphate.  Make the entire Muslim world one country without borders where Muslims can travel without visas or passports.  Only when we are once again united will we stand a chance at getting Al Andalus and Palestine back!  Ummah, sisters and brothers, please remember that if we behave like animals when something doesn't go our way we are driving people from embracing Islam instead of bringing people to Islam (In sha Allah).  Use the Qur'an and Sunnah as your teachers and the Prophet (SAW) and Sahaba as your guide to show the world we are not an evil religion and not people to be feared.  I ask that every Muslim think about why are we so attracted to this world instead of striving towards the hereafter and why we choose to follow our own desires and become about 'me me me' instead of helping our brethren who are dying every day in Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Palestine, etc.  Remember that our children will look to us for guidance and follow our example.  Do we really want our children to grow up in an Ummah where each Muslim only cares about their selves and doesn't care about the plight of the Ummah?  If we do not change ourselves today then how can we expect our children to change the Ummah and how can be a bunch of cowards and refuse to go to the aid of our people who desperately need our help but can't get it because we're more afraid of America, Israel and their allies instead of Allah (SWT)?  Sometimes I think that it would have been better to live in the time when the Muslims ruled half the world and there were no poor people than to live today because I'm sometimes ashamed to be Muslim and ashamed of the Ummah for being so concerned about this world instead of our dying brothers and sisters who cry for help and who seem to care only about this world instead of fearing Allah (SWT) and striving towards Jannah. 

HAS ANYONE BEEN INSPIRED BY THE CHANGE IN YOU AFTER ACCEPTING ISLAM?
Journey to Jannah: No sadly. I think most people think I'm an extremist because I believe it is fard to wear the niqab and do my best to follow the Sahih Hadeeth as well as the Qur'an.

WHAT DO YOU REALLY WISH AND PRAY FOR?
Journey to Jannah: I wish for the Ummah to get their act together and unite into one country again, one great empire and help take back Palestine and Al Andalus.  I wish and pray that Palestine becomes free from Zionists/American control and that the Ummah can come together and bring about great changes for the world.  I wish and pray for a second great Islamic Golden Age when there are no poor people anywhere and everyone flocks to Al Andalus for knowledge.  But sadly I will never be around to see that.  I wish I could build a time machine so I could go back and walk those streets of our kingdom Granada and walk the roads of our great empire when Muslims were smart and cared about others and feared Allah (SWT). 

ANY SPECIAL DU'AA YOU WOULD REQUEST THE READERS TO MAKE FOR YOU?
Journey to Jannah: Not for me.  I do wish the Ummah would pray for Palestine, for Syria and the rest of our Arab brothers and sisters who are in civil wars to topple their corrupt non-Islamic governments.  I wish for the Ummah to think about what I said in this interview and imagine themselves going through the situations our brethren are going through.  I wish for the Ummah to pray for great leaders to rise up and there be another great Ummah, another great Islamic Empire that is another shining light on the world.  For if we fail to unite then we will be destroyed and our teachings forgotten.   I do not want the Ummah to be destroyed or Islam to be snuffed out from the world.  

*          *          *

I did ask if Journey to Jannah wanted the reader to make any Du'aa for her, but she wanted nothing for her- only for the Ummah. Subhanallah! But anyway, do remember her in your Du'aas. She really has put in a lot of effort into answering the questions, and she did it super fast too, MashaAllah! I'm sure all of you would have learnt a lot from the interview, so please make Du'aa for her and her family. May Allah bless her with the best in this world and in the Aakhira too, In sha Allah!

Jazakallah khair for the interview sis! Thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed every single bit of it! May Allah reward you for it!

Note: If any other Muslim bloggers (sisters only) want to be interviewed, please contact us through niqablovers@gmail.com

A SHORT ADVICE FOR THOSE WHO GIVE DAWAH

In The Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
This is first a reminder to myself, and then to others.

Verily, actions are judged by their intentions

How many of us give Dawah? It has to be every single one of us, because we have all been encouraged to enjoin what is good and forbid evil. Dawah doesn’t have to be something big- not necessarily. You give some good advice to someone based on the Quran and Sunnah- that’s Dawah. When someone drinks water without being seated and you remind them if the Sunnah way of drinking water- that’s Dawah.

Dawah can be any small action through which you enjoin good and forbid evil, but the magnitude of it depends on your intention. Masha Allah, there are plenty of Islamic Dawah pages on Twitter, Facebook and on blogs, etc, but not everyone has the audience they need. Sisters and brothers, please remember this- Dawah isn’t about the audience you have. It’s about how you affect the audience you have.

We have to have sincerity in whatever we do, and even the smallest action can become significant due to our intention and the greatest action can become small in the Sight of Allah due to our intentions. Whatever it is, at the end of the day, all that matters is what you have done for the sake of Allah.

I agree- purifying our intentions may not always be that easy. For example, on Twitter and Facebook, its natural that when we post something, we’d like to have a lot of retweets, likes, shares, etc. But if this is our intention, our Dawah is pointless. Its absolutely pointless and it would hold no value in the Sight of Allah whatsoever. Remember that.

Before doing something, while doing it and even after doing an action, make sure that it’s only for Allah’s Sake. Even if we have only a 100 FB likes or followers, make sure that when you post something beneficial, purify your intention. Keep telling yourself “I’m doing this for Allah, no one else”. Do this, and trust me, Allah will reward you upon your intention.

Please watch this small video. Its less than 1 1/2 minutes, and its extremely beneficial, especially for all those who give Dawah. Do watch it for the sake of Allah.

You see, you don’t have to have a whole lot of people. Say for example, you have about 10 followers on Twitter or a few friends on Facebook and you post something like “Say Subhanallah, and get a tree planted for you in Jannah. Who can spare 2 second to say Subhanallah?” wouldn't at least one out of your 10 followers/friends say it? And if they do, wouldn’t you get rewarded for it as well? 

Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wasallam said "One who direct towards good is rewarded equal to the doer of good" [Sahih Muslim]

Brothers and sisters, its virtually pointless if you have 10000 Twitter followers and Facebook likes if your motive behind posting is for gaining like or retweets. For the sake of Allah, please purify your intentions. Only that will matter.

So now, In Sha Allah, why don’t you go and post something beneficial on Twitter or Facebook ONLY FOR THE SAKE OF ALLAH? Trust me, you’ll feel so good about yourself for the purity of your intention.

And finally, don’t ever belittle any small word of encouragement and Dawah. If your intentions are pure, you have no idea how many people your Dawah will affect!

OF ISLAMAPHOBES, NIQAB HATERS AND GENDER CHANGE

My dear Muslim brothers and sister... it's official: Islamaphobes are pathetic jokers. Here's the most recent example:

Hilarious, isn’t it? Apparently she was hell bent on trying to prove that the Niqab was oppressive and we kept saying that it was freedom in every aspect. It looks like she couldn't stomach the thought that we Muslim women really do love our Niqab and take our modesty seriously and from what we see, they are probably envious about us and our modesty. So here's what she does- she does a gender change! Rather convenient for her… tut, tut, such appalling behavior.. (And we NEVER said anything about "faces are immodest". That's another convenient assumption she made).

May Allah guide her and all other Islamophobes and may Allah make them all see the real beauty of the Niqab and Islam and come to realize the freedom and happiness we Muslim women enjoy.

Aameen Aameen Ya Rabbal 'Aalameen!

And for those who are interested, you can look up on our blog post Why they hate our Niqab 

If you can, do make Dua for those people who are against Islam. May Allah really guide them!

WHAT THE HIJAB MEANS TO US- VIEWS FROM MUSLIMAHS ALL OVER!

Bismillahi Rahman Ar-Raheem!

So here's the compilation of what Muslim women from different countries, of different ages and of different backgrounds have to say about the Hijab and what it means to them.

Subhanallah, the response was overwhelming and it's great to know that there are so many strong Muslimahs out there who genuinely love their Hijab! May Allah bless all of you, keep you strong and reward you immensely for your sacrifices and efforts! 

*        *         * 

WHY I LOVE MY HIJAB AND WHAT IT MEANS TO US

Here's the response we got on Twitter: 

•  "My Hijab is my pride & joy. Without it I feel as if I have a big part of my character missing" @The ModestLady
• "I feel safe and confident with myself :)" @shafynanas
• "Hijab is a big part of a Muslimah's life. The best thing about wearing it is it show everyone that you're a proud Muslim" @Islam1st_
• "Hijab is modesty in action. I love wearing something that makes Allah pleased with me <3" @NabilaAbib
• "Hijab protects me and people show more respect towards me :) Yes, hijab is my pride and saver too!" @ezrarawr_
• "It's my crown. And my Abayah is my gown. I'm a walking queen who no one gets to see unless I give them permission to." @MkElZahaby 
• "Hijab has many advantages, And the best thing that I like about it is that it helps you to maintain your modesty." @SalamIamHeyn
• "It's my protection shield." @SaraAlgohary
• "When I wear it I feel protected! I have the power to let people see only what I want them to see!" @ukhtizulaiha_ 
• "It serves as your protection from evil and harmful things.." @SalamIamHeyn 
• "The Hijaab makes the statement that a Muslim woman is not available and not interested in any advances."~(Dr Bilal Philips) @delegateofallah
• "My Hijab isn't just a material covering me. Its' my Protection against fitnah. It's my way of Jihad & it guards my modesty all fisabiliallah" @IAmTassnim
• "The Hijab demands what women deserve: RESPECT" @AmberMedjadji 
• "One feels protected- & gets to understand Allah's love for us - Thus leading to immense apreciation of the Muslim identity" @MiziShaikh 
• "I Love My hijab because it's my shield from the dunya, it's my crown that I wear proudly. Its' the way of a true modest muslima!" @bmuslima 
• "Hijab means representing Allah's order" @lotes25
• "My hijab is my dignity. I feel naked without it." @DiyanahSani 
• "My hijab is my pride,it's my identity,it sets me apart from others.. It liberates me" @kabzzzzy
• "It's a command of Allah- that should be enough. Never felt more free after going in Hijaab. Besides, bad hair days don't exist now" @ayesh309 
• "Hijab is a protection for me. I wear it to please our creator" @Astridcornelson 
• "When you wear the Hijab, you obey your Creator." @asmashake 
• "Hijab sets me freeee =D I'm no slave of society and I only care about what Allah thinks of me and whether He's pleased with me." @DialaBean
• "It's my identity as Muslimah. I feel so much safer and more appreciated. And it also controls my attitude, words, and behaviour." @marsiany  

Response via mail:

"The hijab actually means everything to me. It's the most amazing covering ever for every Muslimah! The best protection for every women!" -  Fatimah Zahra 

"I love my hijab because it's my protection shield against this world that we live in. It's my modesty. For me it's my life" - Sarah El Gohary

"What the hijab means to me??? Where do I even start? My hijab has liberated me- I feel soo free! I can finally identify myself and my purpose, I know who I am I know who I want to be. And above all wearing hijab makes me feel like I'm a fufilling my deen and a step closer to what my creator Allah ta' ala asks of me. #Alhamdulillah" - Bolanle Adebowale

"Hijaab is the distinctive Islaamic dress whose features have been clearly defined by the beautiful Qur'aan and Sunnah. Hijaab is Imaan, Taqwah, Tahara and a Shield. This path is a straight one that is surrounded by virtue from all sides and attends to the best of moral characteristics, which are increased by the clothing of purity, concealment, and chastity. The determination of many modern societies that women should be uncovered and living immoral lives, is an indication of how far they deviated from the guidance of ALLAH, not only in the Muslim lands, but in all countries of the world. The Westerners may not care about this, and may go ahead and invent more means of immorality without finding any deterrent in their corrupted books. But the Muslims who worship ALLAH by reciting HIS perfectly preserved Book Al-Qur'aan night and day, will never accept such deviance, no matter how negligent and weak they are in their practice of Islaam, because they constantly hear the definitive words of the Qur'aan and Sunnah, warning those who disobey ALLAH and HIS Messenger (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Sallam), of the test in this life, and the severe punishment to come in the Hereafter.

"... Let those beware who withstand the Messenger's order, lest some trial befall them, or a grievous Penalty be inflicted on them." [Qur'aan 24: 63]

Hijaab is a high form of worship that is not subject to the opinions of people and their orientations and choices because the One who legislated it is the Most Wise Creator, ALLAH TA'ALA. When ALLAH - the High and Almighty - commands us, HE knows that in HIS command lies our best interest and happiness. Consequently, when HE commands the woman to cover up her modesty, HE knows that in this command lies her happiness, glory and dignity.

Our beloved Messenger (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) so beautifully said:

"ALLAH, Most High, is Heaven, is Ha'yeii (Bashful), Sit'teer (Shielder). HE loves Haya' (Bashfulness) and Sitr (Shielding; Covering)."

A beautiful rose protects itself by thorns and a woman protects her beauty by Hijaab, Subhaan-Allah!

My Beloved Sisters! All I want to befall you is good. My worry about you is what makes me pray, from the depth of my heart, that ALLAH protects you from all evil; I pray to ALLAH to fill your heart with HIS light that never fades, to aid you with enough power with which you can overcome human and Shaitaan, and break their shackles; I pray to ALLAH to free you from the captivity of whims and desires, and to open to you the world of freedom, honour, integrity, and the world of purity and chastity. In'Shaa'Allah, Aameen!!!

My Hijaab, no doubt, is a celebration of my Muslim womanhood and I am proud to be a Muslim woman, Al-Hamdulillah!" - Sister Shahnaaz Bemath

"You asked for our thoughts on what Hijab means to us! I would just like to tell that initially when my brother asKed me to observe hijab, I was defiant.. I used think it was something unnecessary and also thought it would keep me oppressed.. But it proved me wrong as wearing hijab and niqaab made me feel liberated like never before. It became a form of freedom which I regretted not having earlier! I simply love it! I pray to Allah that ALL our muslim sisters realize the significance of it and start observing it, in sha Allah..!" - Farzana R

"My hijab is my suit of armour. It protects me and gives me strength. Its a constant reminder of my duty towards Allah SWT, and of His mercy towards me by blessing me with Imaan."- Zaakiyah

"As I am a grown up, I realise how protected a woman is in her Hijab, and I feel it. A Muslim woman is a slave to only Allah swt. I'm not to show my beauty to men and to fulfill their lusts!
I love my creator. For him I can do anything in sha Allah. I can even lay down my life and I should. Then why shouldn't I just perform a simple command of Him and cover myself?" - 

Ayesha Homaira

*       *       *

MashaAllah, I loved reading each and every single one of these! I wanted to write about what the Hijab means to me, but what can I say- it's all written here!!! If there's one thing I can say, the Hijab means everything for me. I love every single moment of wearing it and I'll never take if off for anything in this world!!!

Hijabis for ever and ever! :)

Jazakallah khair again for all the lovely contributions! May Allah bless you all!

Note: I had to edit a few tweets because of spelling mistakes, etc. I do hope it's ok.

*Note: If you have anything more to say about what the Hijab means to you, you can still comment below or send me an email on niqablovers@gmail.com and I'll include it in this post In Sha Allah.

NIQAB IS NECESSARY IN ISLAM

I already made a post on whether wearing the Niqab is necessary in Islam here.

But not all people are convinced of the necessity of the Niqab. The other day in Madrasa, my teacher was explaining the importance of the Niqab in the light of the Quran and Hadith. I think I wrote everything in my post about the Niqab being obligatory. But here are a few more proof that wearing the Niqab is actually very important and obligatory in Islam. 

People who argue that the Niqab isn't necessary in Islam usually bring forward two Hadith. The first one is:

1) Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: Asma, daughter of AbuBakr, entered upon the Apostle of Allah (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma', when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to her face and hands. (Narrated by Abu Dawood # 4092).

As we all know, the Quran wasn't revealed overnight. It was revealed in stages. Which brings us to the time the verse from Surah Noor was revealed. 

Narrated Safiya bint Shaiba:
‘Aisha used to say: “When (the Verse): “They should draw their veils over their necks and bosoms,” was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces.” Volume 6, Book 60, Number 282: (Sahih Bukhari)

So, this proved that the Sahabi women covered their faces the moment that verse from Surah Al-Ahzab, verse 59 was revealed. Now tell me, wouldn't Asma (ral), the daughter of Abu Bakr (ral) a prominent Sahaba, have covered her face too? Of course she would have! They were the Sahaba women, and they followed Allah's orders the moment it was revealed!

So, isn't it obvious that the Hadith mentioned above would probably have taken place before the revelation of the verse in Surah Ahzab? Niqab wouldn't have been necessary before that verse was sent down, but it's obvious that the wives and daughters of Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wasallam clearly saw the Niqab as obligatory after that verse from Surah Al-Ahzab- which is why they covered their faces immediately after that verse was revealed!

The next Hadith now. 

2) The Prophet (saws) said: "A pilgrim woman must neither cover her face nor wear gloves." Related by Bukhari and Ahmad

People who argue that the Niqab isn't necessary bring forward this Hadith too saying that if women weren't required to cover their faces in Hajj they obviously wouldn't have had to cover their faces outside of Hajj as well.
Well, this Hadith doesn't show the Niqab isn't necessary. It shows that the Niqab IS necessary. Doesn't this Hadith actually imply that women outside of their Ihram actually covered their faces? Otherwise, Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) wouldn't have mentioned that women should uncover their faces in Hajj if they weren't required to cover it in the first place.

Furthermore, there is another Hadith that you'll be interested in:

It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said: The riders used to pass by us when we were with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in ihraam. When they came near us we would lower our jilbaabs from our heads over our faces, and when they had passed by we would uncover our faces. [Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1562]

You see sisters, this is the difference between us and the Sahabi women. When Allah ordered them to do something, they did it immediately. They recognized that verse in Surah Al-Ahzab. They understood that they were required to cover their faces. So they never hesitated in following it. 

And we? When the Sahabi women never wasted a minute after that verse was revealed to cover their faces, we spend years and years contemplating- even arguing- that the Niqab isn't necessary!

If the women at the time of Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) covered their faces, shouldn't we be doing it as well? After all, aren't they the women we should be following? 

It's up to us to decide whether we ought to wear the Niqab or not. I've done by best explaining it. Following it or not is up to you.

Wallahu 'Alam.

Jazakallah Khair!

Note: You can read our post about Is Wearing the Niqab Obligatory in Islam here  

http://niqablovers.blogspot.com/2012/07/is-wearing-niqab-fardh.html

I AM FREE MUSLIM NIQABI

I know that a LOT of people out there immediately associate a modest women in her Hijab or Niqab as limited, oppressed, subjugated and uneducated. Well, people who think that way ought to know that they are the ones who are limited, oppressed, subjugated and uneducated so much to the extent that they fail to realize that we Muslims women wear what we want and they have absolutely no right to question what we are doing out of love. 

For those who live under the wrong impression that the Niqab limits my freedom, take my word on what freedom really is. 

I don't have to enlighten anyone on the time and effort women make to beautify themselves. How many hours do women spend in front of the mirror, applying make-up, choosing the best dress, the best shoes, the best hair-do, the best hairpins, etc, etc, etc? But for whom do they do all this? Are they so insecure with the way they look, that they have to spend hours in front of the mirror beautifying themselves so they look appealing in the eyes of others? 

Well, I certainly don't. I'm perfectly secure with the way I am and when I go out with my Niqab, I don't have to spend hours before the mirror beautifying myself for people to see. 

No.

I dress for myself. I'm free to dress the way I want. I am free to cover up. I am free to walk outside, knowing fully well that I don't have to impress people to make myself feel secure. 

In other words, I am free. So much more free than all those Niqab haters can ever perceive. To them my Niqab might appear to oppress me, but they'll never understand how liberating it is for me and all those countless Niqabis out there.

You know why? Because I don't dress for people or the world. I don't have to follow the latest fashion trends to be beautiful. I don't have to apply make-up to make myself beautiful. I don't have to spend hours before the mirror before going out just so I look presentable to the world. 

I wear what I want, for myself and for pleasing Allah. Because only in doing so do am I free. I feel free. I know deep inside of me that I am free.