For my African Sistaz

2 Face Idibia African Queen


By the way you guys....I love this song. It just appeals to my afrocentric side...

EID MUBARAK

I truly pray that each and every one of you had a blessed Eid. And that you enjoyed yourselves immensely. I pray that Allah (SW) enables us all to witness many more Ramadans, enables us to keep up all the good habits that we have picked up. I also pray that we are able to continue with the spirit of Ramadan throughout the year…….ameen ya Rabbil ‘alameen.

Already I seem to be missing Ramadan, it was a magical moment. It was a special Ramadan because I had my family with me (as opposed to last year’s which I spent alone). I had a lot of Iftars having home cooked meals as opposed to takeaway. I spent a lot of time with the family and was able to strengthen our ties. The best part was praying Fajr every morning together as a family and the long dua’s my uncle would make after Maghrib prayers. I miss having family meals nearly everyday of the week ( for some reason we make extra effort to make it home for our meals during Ramadan). Another great thing was that I spent some time with my friends and got to know them all a lot better, I feel as though we bonded on a level this Ramadan which might not have been possible if it was any other month. For real, this Ramadan was a month to cherish and truly look back on in the future with fond memories.

The night before Eid hardly anybody slept in the house. Courtesy of having families on different time zones. I stayed up until 5am and then had to promptly wake up at 6am for Fajr paryers. After this we didn’t sleep because we had to get ready if we were going to make it to the 8:30am Eid prayer at Didsbury mosque. Left home at 7:45am and all bundled into the car. The sky was gray and the birds were chirping. It looked peaceful and calm. We did the takbir al Eid inside the car on our way to the mosque. It was just beautiful. We got to the mosque 15mins later. The place wasn’t very crowded and we could hear the men saying the takbir. MashaAllah…..it was beautiful. Everyone at the mosque was dressed beautifully and the kids were overexcited. You could just feel the positive vibe emanating from the room. It was a time when the concept of Islamic brother/sisterhood could be best observed and universality of Islam was exhibited. It was wonderful. The khutba was an emotional one. People were in tears. A reminder that made us appreciate the mercy Allah has bestowed upon us

We got home and had our breakfast as a family (another thing that doesn’t usually happen because we all have different schedules). Called Africa and spoke to the family….that was great! After this the children in the neighbourhood started their rounds (it happens most Eids…they knock on the door and wish us Eid Mubarak…..and then one of us distributes sweets to them. Kinda like treat or tricking but without the fancy costumes and the tricks). I enjoyed handing the sweets to the children….it was nice getting to chat to them and finding out their names.

After this we got a special package all the way from Canada. It contained a cousins wedding video (among other things) so that was nice. A few guest came and we had the usual Eid wishes and chitchats.

Later on around 5pm I went to see NM because I promised I’ll pop in. I went with my slippers (even though hoyo and uncle insisted I wear my sneakers because I won’t be coming back anytime soon). My intention was literary to pop in and out, just spend enough time to wish every one at the house Eid Mubarak. As it turned out hoyo and uncle were right…..I left NM’s house at 9:30pm. However , it was nice seeing all the girls….most of them were there and we had a chilled out get together.

When I got home I just took some painkiller and went to bed. I haven’t been feeling too good lately and this past week I have been having headaches coupled with a feeling of nausea. I made an appointment to test my bloods as I think my blood count is low. I need to test my blood sugar as well as I have some suspicions about that (but I’m too scared to go do that because I don’t want to find out……. )

But inshaAllah kheyr. There is nothing too big wrong with me……it can all be resolved ( and inshaAllah it will be resolved).

All in all…….Eid was wonderful!
May Allah enable us to witness many more…………….ameen.

Kulu ’amuun wa antum bil kheyr!

EID MUBARAK EVERYONE!!!

I am aware....and I am praying....I have not forgotten....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmsXIN5JYJE


Sitting here with eyes filled with tears I wonder how the Muslim Ummah ended up in this state. How is it that our children, brothers and sisters are being oppressed and killed from left, right and centre?

With Muslims making up a large number of the worlds population how can we let this happen? I have no doubt that nearly every Muslim prays for our fellow brothers and sisters experiencing hardship. But why does it seem like nothing? Why does it seem like our prayers are not being answered? What are we doing wrong? These are questions that have been haunting me for quite some time, especially at night (the time when I get to reflect and contemplate). Why? Why? Why? Why is it when billions of Muslims are putting their hands up in prayer do we not see a change?

The answer to my questions in the end was very simple.

If I wanted to lift a heavy container that weighed a lot, something that would definitely require some careful thinking before lifting. Would I just sit next to it and pray that Allah lift it for me to my destination? Would I just sit not doing anything hoping for a miracle from Allah that would help me move this container from A to B?

The answer is NO! I would pray that Allah makes it easy for me, that Allah doesn’t cause any harm to me through it and then I would proceed to lifting it.

Then why don’t we employ the same mentality that we do in our everyday lives to sort the issues affecting the Ummah? Why are we content with just sitting down in our cosy houses just saying a silent prayer? Why don’t we be proactive? Why don’t we go out there and do something?

I say this to myself before anybody else because I myself I’m not as proactive as I wish I could be. There is plenty more I could do. There is plenty more I should do. I can’t sit down enjoying life anymore while my brothers and sisters live in terror. While they are being persecuted. While innocent children die in the name of the so called democracy.

There is a hadith where the Prophet (SAW) says that if we see something we should first try to change it with our actions and if we can’t then we should try to do so with our tongue and if that isn’t possible then we should do so with our hearts and that is the weakest form of iman (keep in mind I am paraphrasing the hadith)

The Ummah is like a body if one part hurts then the whole body is not at ease. We should make the Ummah's problems our problems. We should try and do something about the state that we are in.

I have been praying for the Ummah for a while now…..throwing stones with my heart. It is about time I threw stones with my pen……with my words.....

Ten Thought To Ponder For the Muslimah......

Remember that your Lord forgives those who ask him for forgiveness and he accepts the repentance of those who sincerely repent, and he accepts those who sincerely come back to him.

Show mercy to the weak and you will be happy; give to the needy and you will be well; do not bear grudges and you will be healthy.

Be optimistic for Allah is with you and the angels are praying for forgiveness for you, and paradise awaits you.

Wipe away your tears, think well of your Lord, and chase away your worries by remembering the blessings Allah has bestowed upon you.

Do not think that this world is ever perfect for anyone. There is no-one on the face of the earth who gets all that she/he wants or is free form all kinds of distress.

Be like a tall tree with high aims; if a stone is thrown at it, it simply lets its fruits drop.

Have you ever heard that grief brings back what has been lost, or that worry corrects mistakes? So why grieve and worry then?

Do not except trials and calamities; rather expect peace, safety and good health, if Allah wills.

Extinguish the flames of hatred from your heart by forgiving everyone who has ever hurt you.

Ghusl, Wudu’, siwak and being organised are effective medicines for all kinds of stress and worry.

Taken from 'You can be the happiest woman in the world'.

'A treasure chest of reminders'

by Dr 'A'id al Qarni

For the Muslimah.......

Yes to your beautiful smile that sends a warmth and friendliness to others.

No to wasting time in trivial pursuits, love of revenge and futile arguments.

Yes to your kind words that establish friendship as permitted in Islam and dispel rancour

No to giving priority to money and accumulation of wealth over one’s health, happiness, sleep and peace of mind

Yes to acceptable charity that brings happiness to the poor and feeds the hungry

No to seeking other people’s faults and backbiting about them, whilst forgetting one’s own faults.

Yes to sitting with the Qur’an, reciting it, pondering its meanings and acting upon them, and repenting and seeking forgiveness.

No to indulging in physical pleasure alone and giving in to every whim and desire. To wasting money on haram things, being extravagant with regards to permissible things, and falling short in acts of worship.

Yes to raising your children in Islam, teaching them the Sunnah and guiding them to that which will benefit them.

No to wasting time with shallow people and spending hours in idle pursuits.

Yes to modesty and Hijab as enjoined by Allah, which is a means of self protection.

No to neglecting physical hygiene and cleanliness in the house, and being disorganised at home

Yes to friendship of good women who fear Allah, love Islam and respect high values.

No to haram drinks, cigarettes, shisha (“hookah pipes”), and all foul things.

Yes to honouring ones parents, upholding the ties of kinship, honouring one’s neighbour and caring for orphans.

No to thinking of past calamities and dwelling on past mistakes.

Yes to reading useful, interesting and beneficial books.

No to forgetting the Hereafter and neglecting to strive for it, and to being careless of what will happen in the Hereafter.

Taken from the book 'You can be the Happiest Woman in the World'
'A treasure chest of reminders'
by Dr 'A'id al-Qarni

Its been a year gurlz!

So its just been over a week and things are going great alhamdulillah. Work has been flexible since it’s Ramadhan…that’s the joy of working with Muslims

So Friday was the MAB iftari………..and boy did it take a lot out of me!
First of all I walked from Moss Side to Levenshulme where Nawab Restaurant (the place where the iftari was held). Then when I got there they told me that they had run out of tickets. I just looked at the brother and thought “What?”

He just looked at me and shrugged his shoulders.

Brother: I’m sorry but all the tickets are booked we don’t have any more

Me: brother don’t play us like that….you must have a few that you can spare….I mean we payin

Brother: I’m sorry…..there is nothing I can do

Me: we walked from Moss Side…..brother have some sympathy!

Brother: sorry (shrugs his shoulders)

Me: ok….kheyr inshaAllah. Guess it wasn’t meant to be.

So I’m really disappointed by now but not yet despairing…..so I call everyone on my line that might be selling tickets. Get a massive disappointed because no-one has any left. I decided to call White African to see if she is going and she tells me she is. It was exactly a year ago at the same event that I met her…..so this event had some sort of a special meaning for me.

As I am about to leave the brother comes up to us (now our group consisted of Shuks, Gdon, Fdows, BabyH and myself) he says he only has two tickets for Gdon and Fdows. So we ask them to take it.
One of my friends from uni comes up to me and says “I have one ticket…do you guys want it?”

I reply “we want three…..aint you got 3?

She says “I only got one”

I call Shuks over and ask her to have the ticket coz I can’t leave Baby H and she can’t leave me (we are attached at the hip). She accepts reluctantly.

By now I’m consoling myself by saying it wasn’t meant to be. As BabyH and I were about to leave the brother comes back and says “I have two tickets”. I look at him as if to say are you for real?
Then Shuks speaks up and says “we want three…..there’s three people left (while looking for a ticket we met this girl who was in the same dilemma as we were…..so we couldn’t leave her by herself).

“I thought you wanted two?” says the brother

“We can’t leave our sister hanging” replies Shuks

“Sister? She is not your sister” says the brother

You should note that the sister was Pakistani and the rest of us were Somali.

“She is our sister is Islam” I reply

The brother then smiles and gives us the ticket.
I wanted to hi-5 the brother……..but then that kinda act aint exactly appropriate (especially in an Islamic event…..u feel me).

Went inside and had a good time. A lot of talents were showcased. The story of the King and the boy was entertaining and a good reminder.

Poetry by the Quest was one of my highlights together with the play. I have to say that the two brothers were talented hands down. The play was hilarious and White African provided an excellent narrative.

The best part was the dua delivered by White African’s father……..it was just beautiful!

All in all…..it was a night well spent.

This event marked the first anniversary of my friendship with the Group…….it was what got the ball rolling…..by the will of Allah.

MashaAllah it has been a blessing knowing these girls……they have increased me in knowledge and encouraged me to be a better person.

Just wanted to say that I love y’all…….4real.
You my sistas and my homies………….may Allah keep us together for many more years….ameen.

By the way…..I know I live in Moss Side and I walk around as if I’m a gangsta (albeit a hijabi gangsta…lol) but I did not sneak into the iftari. Allah just showered his mercy on me…alhamdulillah. That myth should be dispelled of………lool

Luv ya'all