Importance of Fasting the Day of Arafah

The Holy Month of Hajj has already begun and this is the time where your will find over 2.0 million pilgrims performing the 5th pillar of Islam: Hajj.  Now if you haven't already started fasting since day 1, you still have the opportunity to fast tomorrow day 9 of the Month, which is also known as the Day of Arafah (Wednesday September 23rd, 2014).

The main Virtue of Fasting the Day of Arafah:  Know that fasting this day is a Mercy from Allah Subhana Wa Ta'Ala for all who did not get the opportunity to make Hajj, in hopes that your past years sins and your upcoming year will be forgiven through SINCERE repentance.  

"Fasting on the Day of 'Arafah absolves the sins for two years: the previous year and the coming year, and fasting on 'Ashura (the 10th day of Muharram), atones for the sins of the previous year." (Reported by all except Al-Bukhari and At-Tirmidhi)

It's only one day, it can't be that hard.  

If you are on your menstrual cycle obviously you are exempt from fasting however keep in mind that this is still a good time to make lots of Istighfar and you can all prepare meals for those who are fasting.  That way it will be as though you have fasted as well.

It was narrated that Zayd ibn Khaalid al Juhani said: The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: " Whoever gives iftaar to the one who is fasting will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the reward of fasting person in the slightest." (Narrated by At-Tirmidhi)

Take Care & InshaAllah Khair!

Duni

Book Review: Princess: A True Story of the Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia

LET'S NOT CONFUSE THE TITLE IT'S "A TRUE STORY" AND NOT "A STORY OF TRUTH"

A co-worker leant me a book the read titled: Princess: A True Story of the Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia, and began to explain the horrors "Muslim women" faced in KSA.  In that moment, I thought of the importance of education and how I feel blessed for actually being a Muslim!  I dreaded reading this book thinking that I would begin to hate Muslims. So I read it from an objective point of view, as a counsellor, and not taking anything personal. I tried to read it in the point of view of the people that wrote the book (even though secularly educated individuals) as though they were extremely ignorant people trying to deface Islam completely disregarding the disclaimer at the beginning of the book because it also included that this was, in fact, a true story.  So clearly I was on the defence.

My initial thoughts before reading:

1. This book is about men that pertain to the Islamic faith mistreating women and manipulating religion to do so.
2. This book is to spew hate.

What the book was actually about:

1. The corruption that is found within the royal family in KSA at the time of the Princess from her point of view
2. How hypocrisy runs ramped with some individual within circle of  "Religious Police"
3. A love story of how the princess tries to save her marriage
4. The extremes of family feuds
5. The way some servants are ill-treated (which is a problem that still occurs till this day)
6. How actually IGNORANT muslims are... yes even in KSA
7. THAT EVERYONE IS HUMAN AND MAKES MISTAKES (men and women)
8. That no one is perfect and you have to be strong to survive...
9. Money buys you freedom
10. How women are treated based on culture and not Islam
11. This is a story of a princess, some of her experiences in life, and only Allah Knows if this book is truth or fiction.

My thoughts after reading this book:

1. Totally loving the love story of the princess
2. People are corrupt everywhere not just in KSA not only in Royal families either
3. Education is key to success
4. Honour Killings are HARAM (prohibited in Islam)
5. There are good and bad people everywhere not exclusively in KSA. 
6. I feel that the author and narrator generalized a lot about the people in KSA and that it's not a true reflection of the people nor their culture. 

Honestly speaking, this is the type of book people like my parents, CNN, Fox News would rant and rave about! Anything and everything to frighten people from Islam completely disregarding the love story of the narrator.  This book is captivating & exciting and it keeps you wanting more! The author wrote this book so delightfully that I actually want to read her other books.

I had to explain to my co-workers certain facts about women's rights in Islam, facts about how FGM is Prohibited in Islam, etc... Just to defend myself because they know that I had made the executive decision to become Muslim on my own.  I know that when people ask about my reasons for being Muslim, its only out of concern (like an untold love for a sister in humanity) but then I tell them my decision was based on the ample amount of women's Rights in Islam that lead me to where I am today actually grasped their attention and I then begin to explain all the pros that outweigh the bad they here in the news and that it's really culture that most people follow.  That some 'men' try to keep women uneducated in order to manipulate the religion in their favour when in fact it favours women.


All in all, I recommend this book!

Take Care & InshaAllah Khair

Duni

Really? Is that the best you can do?

So I've had a crummy day yesterday, and I thought it would be good to share it with you.

The blog post will be about being verbally assaulted on the streets.  Now, most people don't know that here in Canada it's against the law to Publicly Humiliate, Verbally Assault someone... And you can be taken to court and get charged for it.

Now, my problem is that I find a small/minor group people (mainly middle aged men & women) feel the need to voice their ignorance towards my religious attire, which is Abaya and Niqab.  And at this point in life fully realizing it's 2015 and that there's so many resources out there in public libraries, google, knowledgeable religious figures you can easily retrieve information about women in Islam.

I would like to also point out that as grown adults we shouldn't be acting like we are in middle school.  So with that being said, to all the islamophobic "women-that-cover-drive-me-insane-because-I-can't-make-out-the-shape-of-your-body" haters, could you please come up with something better than:

"It's not Hallowe'en!!!"

"Can you even f**ken see with that on?"  (and then runs off scared)

Obviously, if I'm out walking around and NOT BUMPING INTO THINGS, I can see perfectly fine.  Thank you for your concern, Sir/Ma'am.

Because this only tell me and the people that are witnessing your ignorant outbursts that you are uneducated, self-loathing, clearly don't have anyone that loves you in your pathetic life, and that you are a low-life because clearly you have nothing else better to do with you life than attack innocent people on the streets.  Also that you follow CNN and FOX News religiously.


NOW HOW TO HANDLE SUCH UPSETTING SITUATIONS??? This is for my dear sisters

• The best thing to do is to pretend like you didn't hear as though you speak a different language (a more educated language)
• Know that you're too good and on a whole other level that you wouldn't dear reply to pond scum
• In the case that the verbal attack has the actual guts to try to confront you in public, STAND YOUR GROUND!  And shout out "what did you say?... SECURITY! SECURITY! SECURITY!" 
• And if its not in a public location but there's houses around SCREAM on the top of your lungs FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!  Trust me people will come rushing to your rescue.

Always keep in mind that this is Canada, and no one will be actually brave enough to say something in such a confrontational manner because your fellow culturally educated Canadians will intervene long before you do.

Trust me!

Take Care & InshaAllah Khair

Duni

My Choice to Dress vs. Being Naked

I'm a niqabi... covered from head to toe... only my eyes are seen and quite frankly, its just so society doesn't completely freak out with utter ignorance (because I would cover my eyes too... with sunglasses).  For some ridiculous reason people are so jealous they can't see me.  They can't see my skin, can't see my face, can't gawk at my beauty and my physical attributes.  You know someone at my work place actually whined and complained to me about not being allowed/ able to see what I look like.  Ya, it was a man crying to me... lol!  I only laughed at him and told him straight up that he wasn't my husband, nor brother, nor father so he will never see me.  Oh how I felt satisfaction when I saw him succumb with utter disappointment and defeat.

Another incident was when I was stopped by a woman randomly and she asked me why I chose to wear what I wear (niqab, abaya, etc) and she continues to tell me that it's not fair that I can see her in what she is wearing but she can't me - I simply told her no one forced her to leave her home wearing whatever she was wearing.  And that she chose to allow people to see her body & clothing...  So she cannot get upset nor frustrated nor have a sense of entitlement to see other people when they choose to cover.  She didn't like my comment but I don't care because I'M RIGHT!

I get to choose what people get to see of me.  And people are not entitled to see me nor have the right to judge me by me outter appearance.  Understandably, this is unfortunately the type of society we all have to live in but I don't care because I'm doing me and I only obey my Creator.  If people can walk around 75- 90% NAKED (meaning booty shorts and pretty much a bra for a shirt), then I should not be judged/shunned/discriminated against /insulted/harassed/verbally assaulted for being 90-100% COVERED.

I challenge you all to get to know someone before ever seeing them!... Oh wait that's what social media is for!  Millions of people meet and learn about each other everyday online or by phone (because pen pals are rare nowadays).

So what's the difference? - It's the shock that your imagination created a visual of what the individual may look like but you cannot actually see a physical description.  And it's upsetting because you crave to physically see, that visual desire eats you alive... All because you refuse to accept the utter appearance that remains mysterious.  Perception can drive a person mad when their expectations don't match.


Cute story:

I went to do one of my friends makeup and her brothers were there in the room.  They, the brothers, were so respectful towards me.  I acted as normal with my friend and we all had a great laugh.  Now the funny part, the brothers, who never saw what I looked like (meaning they only heard my voice), told my friend a couple of weeks later that I was 'cute'.  My friend was taken aback and asked them what did I look like or whether or not they remember actually seeing me.  But the truth is, they couldn't recall because they never did see me.  They could only hear me and they 'saw' my personality shine through my curtain-like clothes.

So you see, if you have good intentions and take away perversion you're left to judge a person solely on personality.  So for everyone out there that hate the veil, you are ultimate jealous and perverted (regardless if you are man or woman, Muslim or non-Muslim lol).


Take care & InshaAllah khair

Duni