#BackToSchool

HEY!!! Going back to school is just around the corner! And everyone is pumped up for it... But are you ready for it?

I'm not going back to the conventional class room setting school, no absolutely not! However, I want to take my Arabic Language course more seriously.  I plan to learn how to read, write & understand Arabic (Fus-Ha).  Now everyone tells me it will be incredibly hard to learn all by myself, but then again no one really knows how I've survived as a single, revert, niqabi either.  So, I'm not about to take their word for it.  I understand that if I need help I will seek for it and I pray that Allah Subhana Wa Ta'Ala makes things easy for us all when trying to learn something.

So, I have my 'Medina Books' ready (book 1,2,3) and I did a bit of shopping!!!  Just for school stuff haha.  As you may see here I bought very little and mostly from Dollarama!

My current plan is to work around my work schedule (unless they fire me LOL).  I've worked it out to  do my online (YouTube) classes on one of my days off.  Like from morning till night kinda thing and then the "homework" part during the week before I go to work.  I don't have any responsibilities other than working to pay for basic necessities: rent, TTC pass, food & phone.  The rest I do my best to save (and then I fail at that too lol... but I'm working on it).  So ya, where there's a will there's a way and I pray that Allah makes the way for me.

It has come to my attention that some sisters are feeling the pressure from the Muslim community about not going to school/university/college because it's a mixed environment.  Now, I just want to make it clear that you are not a lesser muslim for wanting a proper education and that it is a RESPONSIBILITY AS A MUSLIM WOMAN to get one.  You will be educating the next generation of Muslims InshaAllah (God Willing).  Please get an education to not embarrass yourself nor the Ummah.  There's nothing wrong with going into class as sitting with girls or in back of the class or just being by yourself.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with being anti-social towards men LOL... Are you there to talk to people or study, pass all your exams and leave inshaAllah with a degree?  Take it as you're on a mission and no one other than Allah is going to stop you.

SO GO TO SCHOOL.  And for the extremely shy women that are afraid to venture out into the beautiful land of Canada, did you know that there's an excellent Islamic online university that has been established by Dr. Bilal Philips called literally called IOU and there are some really great programs there that are really affordable so once again, no excuses!  Also, try to enrol in a program that you know you're career will mainly revolve around women like becoming a Nurse, Doctor, Midwife, Teacher, Early Childhood Educator, Business Administration, Fashion Design, etc.  The list continues.  Did I forget to mention no excuses?  You can easily modify your goals around your lifestyle.  I know this because I did and if my so-called "goals" get in my way (affecting my beliefs, niqab, lifestyle) I modify them because I'm putting my Deen first.  Even if you're in a rough situation, as long as you are working towards bettering yourself and working to get into a better state (lots of praying and duaa will help) do you boo and let Allah do the rest!  At the end of the day, don't be extreme because Islam is meant to make your life easier, so find the middle path.

With anything you do in life, have tawakkul (absolute trust) in Allah and HIS Plan.

We may plan but Allah Subhana Wa Ta'Ala is the Best of Planners


Take Care & InshaAllah Khair

Duni

Hand Me Your Bag Mary!

Today was one of those days where I wish I had a brother or a husband by my side.  Thankfully I had my friend Mary but it wasn't enough.

My friend and I were walking down King Street today looking forward to visiting a co-worker that had just come out of surgery.  She and I were very excited to see our friend.  As we are walking I couldn't help but notice that we were being followed.  At first I didn't think much because this follower was on the opposite side of the road and I'm used to people staring are me due to the fact I wear the veil or niqab.

So we continue to walk, we start hearing someone talking and saying things (we couldn't make out what was being said, it was just weird hearing it above the loud cars driving by).  We both turn around, this man as looking at us saying something unclear.  Continuing to walk to our destination we turn to look behind us across the street the coast seemed clear... but clearly not because this man had found his way to our side of the street and is not walking literally 50 ft behind us and gaining.  He was still talking/saying something unclear...

I told my friend "step on it!" meaning let's walk faster because things are about to get real.  I've never been this persistently followed before and there wasn't anyone else in sight that I would ever think to help us if this man became aggressive.  My first thought in my head was my friend. She was the one I worried for because I didn't want anything to happen to her.  I told her to give me her bag.  She had cooked some food to bring to our co-worker and it was in a pyrex casserole dish.

"Hand me your bag Mary" I said, "why?" She asked. "Because I have a stronger swing" I replied.  Then we got into talking about how we use to play baseball.  Now, I don't know how this became a competition but my main concern was her safety.

Finally we arrived at our destination.  I honestly thought this follower/stalker would of left us alone by now seeing that we are at our 'destination'.  NOPE, boy was I naive!  He actually continued to follow us all the way to the door, in the foyer.  We had to get buzzed in by our friend. This man had the guts and the nerve to open the foyer door and try to address us.  He tried only to talk to me.  Now this is the thing you all that are reading this need to know and understand, I do not talk to strangers.  If you are acting out of the norm do not expect or feel entitled to getting a response from me.  I refused to talk to him so my friend addressed him.  He was asking to see my face and still I did not answer him.  She called our co-worker down to come get us right away.  I was shaking, I have never been confronted in such an aggressive way before.  He was inching his way closer and closer to me but was still in the doorway.  *I would also like to note that I turned away from him to signal that I do not wish to converse with him.*

I guess people that lived in the building saw what was happening from outside and came to help.  I was so thankful that they intervened.  Another man on a moped bike and a woman (a friend of his I suppose) with a pitbull saw us in distress.  The man on the moped bike came into the small foyer with his bike to open the door for us and the woman stayed in between the strange man and me.  I ran into the building (at this point our co-worker finally arrived).  The woman with the dog stayed at the door of the foyer to make sure the stranger did not come in.  The man on the bike stayed secured to elevator.  All I could remember was getting into the elevator with my friends and pressing the 'close door' button.

Strangely enough the strange man that was being blocked by the woman with the dog began to call me his mother and was trying to convince the woman that he wants to talk to his mother.  The woman said straight up: "She doesn't want to talk to you.  That's not your mother!" Clearly she could tell that I was young and frightened. And we could all tell that this man was mentally ill.  I was so relieved that we were saved by this couple.  As we get in settled into my co-workers apartment both she and my friend begin to cry as the incident was being recited.  I couldn't cry, I was in shock.

Alhamdulillah! I feel Allah Sent them to help us.  This just goes to show you that Allah Works in mysterious ways.  And I feel so blessed for being Protected by HIM.  To all Niqabis please be safe when you go outside.  May Allah protect you all always, Ameen!


Take Care & InshaAllah Khair!

Duni

I Only Eat Halal!

Considering that I'm a very picky eater, it can get pretty hard to find a good place to eat.  I'm also a creature of habit, so I tend to eat at the same places.  Well to my surprise I found an awesome burger joint.  Now, let me take this moment to explain my eating habits- my diet is mainly plants based do to allergies to red meat. So beef and my digestive system aren't really the best of friends but I have a soft spot for a good burger and it MUST be halal or I refuse to eat it.

So I found Jackson's Burger joint downtown Toronto about 2 blocs north from Dundas Square.  Yes, they serve pork bacon there, however to my surprise they also have halal beef bacon. I know right!  My only concern was how do they grill the food there?  I spoke with one of staff there and he explained to me that they have a designated grill for everything beef and another strictly for the pork.

I was extremely impressed!  They cater to everyone!

Oh and by the way there customer service is on point! Yes I'm a stickler for customer service (I'll explain in another post later).

So head on down to Jackson's Burger!  The variety of gourmet burgers will leave you drooling from more.  My favourite is the Burgerito, it's most likely an extremely popular gourmet burger there.  It's a nice juicy beef patty with sour cream, fried onions with a light salsa.  Now what makes this burger so great if this avocado patty with cheesy awesomeness (they call it 'avocado explosion').  This will make you go back for another.  This is the 'crack cocaine' of the Burgerito that makes you completely ignore the $10 bill you're about to give up.  Let me tell you it's worth every penny!


Take Care & InshaAllah Khair

Duni

So What Do I Do Now?

I feel like I'm in a rut that I can't escape.  But I need to hold myself accountable for my current situation.  This is after all my life I'm living therefore I have the power to change it right?  Ok so alhmadulillah for the crummy call centre job I currently have! I need it to keep me afloat until I make it big InshaAllah. All I need to do is prioritize my time... I keep trying and failing because of laziness/procrastination whatever. 

First things first: I need to start praying and on time! That's #1 

#2 I need to get my diet back on track and actually start a daily routine with proper eating habits... I need to complete my juicing fast and actually do 10 days of religious fast for the month upcoming Holy month of Hajj.  

#3 Exercise : I need to get back into cycling and also complete my at home gym. 

#4 Save my money for my future endeavours- this only means that I need to cut back stupid expenses where it could be eating out with friends, not packing a lunch for work, stupid spending.  This means I need to to start being smart with money and learn when to be 'cheap' I knoooooow it's bad and I suck at it but InshaAllah  I will learn.  Also to not be so strict on myself I should allow some spending money for the month... Like 100$ for example for emergencies. 

#5 Do groceries at Asian markets!- going vegan is actually really cheap & extremely healthy. If I buy fruits for the day and a few veggies at night my expenses could be less costly every month.

I'm always trying to find some type of motivation to keep me going... I don't care about making others happy with my lifestyle only Allah.  I'm 26 weighing in at 93kg. I want to lose 30kg before November by juicing and exercise.  That's my goal and InshaAllah I will reach it. So starting from now I will begin this quest for excellence.  I want to be the best that I can be and accomplish things I may have never thought I could do inshaAllah.

Take Care & InshaAllah Khair

Duni

Over Praising Much?

Well today felt like a splendid day to be lazy and to skip on on work. I was exhausted and tired, mildly depressed and was looking for a solution.  So why not take the day off? And I did! I usually start these days with a organizational spree that means I need to get my life back together and figure out what's important to me and  actually prioritize them. I worked something out, held myself accountable for the stupid things I've done and told myself enough is enough.  But anyways that was this morning.  Now it's the afternoon and I'm feeling peckish and I'm making my way downtown Toronto to get something good to eat.  Usually I would just stay in and order take out but not this time... I wanted to get and get some air. Change environment ... Strut around proudly in Niqab haha.  Well I took the bus to the subway station and looked for an available seat (there was tones available) and as I go to sit in a seat a man was curiously looking at me and pronounce "Jesus Christ!" Lol! I've never been called that before.  I clearly ignored him acting as though I heard nothing.  And as I go to sit in my seat I whisper a correction on his remark - 'No, I'm not good enough to be Jesus... Duni will suffice'.

Some people really need to sit on some ice and chill.  It's 2015 people! Wake up.

Take Care & InshaAllah Khair

Duni