smilemerijaaan asked: As-Salamu Alaykum :] i recently converted to Islam and one of my closest friends (who's Muslim) has been very supportive but often i feel like she's a bad influence. when im with her i sometimes do what i know is wrong and then when i come home i feel bad, i question whether or not i should spend so much time with her but she's a great person and her family has been soo supportive (my parents don't know i converted and they've invited me to stay with them if things ever come to that)

Peace and many blessings,

I must say, it’s ultimately amazing to have people as brave as you sacrifice their safety and friendships to recognize the religion of Islam as a path of sincerity and truth. I feel that we should feel all obliged as Muslims to congratulate our sister for her conversion and try to make her feel very welcome here; let’s leave her messages in her inbox here!

With that said, it honestly depends on how you feel about the situation. If you feel that her family are awfully supportive, then don’t sacrifice that because she isn’t perfect. But at the same time, if you feel like she’s a really bad influence and not helping you in any form, then have her know what bothers you (or slowly walk away). Honestly, it depends on you and how you feel.

Much love. Dee.

esendoran asked: salam, i've been thinking of starting to wear a hijab. any suggestions where i can get one and/or how to tie/wear it? thanks.

Salaam!

Hijab giveaway on Facebook here & search for simple hijab tutorials here. InshaAllah this helps.

Dee.

fromadreamer asked: Salam sisters :) I have a problem with the hijab...I live in a non-Islamic country and also I have never shown my peers myself with the hijab on so I am quite scared. Also, my parents are basically forcing it on me which makes me hate it, but I really want to start wearing it. Plus, I don't feel pretty enough for the hijab. I don't consider my face very attractive and I feel like I would have had more confidence to wear it if my face didn't look so awful in it. Help? :( Shukran jazeelan.

Salam wa Rahmatullah,

Glad you pointed out a few things about this; hijab isn’t supposed to be worn so you can look pretty or cute or nice. It’s just hijab. I wear hijab because I like to identify myself as a Muslim woman; also, even if I wanted to take it off, my parents would be highly against it. So you can say that to some extent, my parents have had a huge role in defining why I’ve kept it on. Sure, that’s based off of fear, and it’s how I felt for a while (and of course, it’s not the right reason for wearing it). But now, I’m learning to realize that a hijab is a part of me and I always want it to be. So I’ve been through several transitions myself from having it on because I couldn’t take it off to wearing it because I want to. 

Also, hijab is a big commitment; a huge sacrifice. It’s not only the covering of the hair, but the entire body. Its a means to humble ourselves from being drawn to flaunt what we find so beautiful about ourselves; or at least, that’s how I perceive it. I know so many Muslim women who are drop, dead gorgeous without hijab, but they find strength to wear it every day because they love it so much. 

It’s not easy; that’s the point, it’s not supposed to be easy. It’s for strong women. And when I say that, I mean both physical and mental hijab. I mean both piety and modesty from the inside and the outside; I mean hijab of the heart and hijab of the mind. So it’s not to suggest that women who don’t wear the hijab that covers the hair are weak women; oh, not at all.

It means that every single Muslim woman who strives to perfect her hijab is a strong woman. Every single woman that tries is a strong woman.

InshaAllah this helped; Dee. 

late85:

يَاهـَمُّ إرْحـَلْ لـَمْ تَعـُدْ تُؤذِينِي فـَإنْ أبْكَيْتَنِي فـَ رَبـِّي يُــدَاوِينـِي 

(via reallifemuslimgirl)

Going Out for the 1st Time in Hijab

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[armariode] Muslim woman in Istanbul

bowsies asked: Assalamu'Alaikum! I really appreciate all of the effort you put into this beautiful blog. I would be very grateful if you could share some information about niqab. Is there evidence for its encouragement, or is it referenced solely in relation to the Prophet's (pbuh) wives? As a convert who initially struggled with my transition into hijab I'm extremely surprised over my desire to wear niqab, and I would really like to learn as much as I can before I make such an immense decision. Thanks :D

Peace and Many Blessings,

it’s interesting that you bring this up, because I was just talking about the notion of hijab and niqab just yesterday. In fact, I made a personal post about the notion of modesty here (if you’re interested in reading it).

History teaches us that the women during the time of the Prophet used to veil their faces and wear an outer garment that completely shawls the entire body. Before this religious practice, the Arab women pagans used to dress the same way. In fact, the very rich Arab women during this time (like Abu Sufyan’s wife, Hind) used to wear fancy garments that covered the entire body (and at times, the hair).

During Muhammad’s Prophecy, the notion of modesty was completely changed. Not only were women uplifted in social status, but they were forced to be treated with respect and dignity. You will realize that Surah Ahzab recalls this declaration of Allah unto Muhammad about informing his wives, his daughters, and the believing women to draw a cloak in that they may be not be harmed (mentally nor emotionally). I get into greater detail about this whole notion in my personal synopsis on modesty (the link provided above). 

Personally, I find the niqab remarkably lovely. Not only does it come as some sort of rebelling affirmation of a woman’s choice to please her Lord, but it’s also quite inspiring. 

However, this whole notion of niqab differs with the scholars (so don’t worry too much about what is “correct” for no one knows that but God). Some say that covering the face is mandatory while others believe that it’s simply an Arab custom that holds no value to the religion. And then you’ll have moderate scholars declaring that it’s a woman’s right to choose to wear it, and even though it is quite desirable, it is ultimately her choice to do so.

Hence, it really all comes down to your personal stance and situation in accordance to how you view and understand Quran. If you believe its mandatory, all power to you (so long as you don’t force other women to believe that). And if you believe it’s a spiritual uplifting that will ultimately make you feel stronger about Islam, all power to you (again). 

I think it would be best if you consider your personal situation and how other Muslim women who wear niqab feel about niqab. At the end of the day, it’s about your intention.

InshaAllah this clarified and served justice to this ask.

Salam!

The Jihad Project

spinning-stars:

“And behold, with every hardship comes ease.” (Al-Quran, 94:5)

So wipe away those tears and smile :)