Beauty Tips For Muslimahs!

The virtues of hijaab

The virtues of hijab:

1. An act of obedience.

The hijab is an act of obedience to Allah and to his prophet (pbuh), Allah says in the Qur'an:

`It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His messenger have decreed a matter that they should have an option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, has indeed strayed in a plain error.' (S33:36).


Allah also said:
'And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc) and not to show off their adornment except what must (ordinarily) appear thereof, that they should draw their veils over their Juyubihinna. '(S24:31).


2.The Hijab is IFFAH (Modesty).

Allah (subhana wa'atala) made the adherence to the hijab a manifestation for chastity and modesty. Allah says:

'O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) over their bodies (when outdoors). That is most convenient that they should be known and not molested.' (S33:59).

In the above Ayaah there is an evidence that the recognition of the apparent beauty of the woman is harmful to her. When the cause of attraction ends, the restriction is removed. This is illustrated in the case of elderly women who may have lost every aspect of attraction. Allah (swt) made it permissible for them to lay aside their outer garments and expose their faces and hands reminding, however, that is still better for them to keep their modesty.

3. The hijab is Tahara (Purity)

Allah (swt) had shown us the hikma (wisdom) behind the legislation of the hijab:
`And when you ask them (the Prophet's wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and their hearts.' (S33:53).

The hijab makes for greater purity for the hearts of believing men and women because it screens against the desire of the heart. Without the hijab, the heart may or may not desire. That is why the heart is more pure when the sight is blocked (by hijab) and thus the prevention of fitna (evil actions is very much manifested. The hijab cuts off the ill thoughts and the greed of the sick hearts:
`Be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy or evil desire for adultery, etc) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner.' (S33:32)

4. The hijab is a Shield

The prophet (pbuh) said:

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

The Prophet (pbuh) also said:

'Any woman who takes off her clothes in other than her husband's house (to show off for unlawful purposes), has broken Allah's shield upon her. '

The hadith demonstrates that depending upon the kind of action committed there will be either reward (if good) or punishment (if bad).

5. The hijab is Taqwah (Righteousness)

Allah (swt) says in the Qur'an:
O children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts, etc) and as an adornment. But the raiment of righteousness, that is better.'(S7:26).

The widespread forms of dresses in the world today are mostly for show off and hardly taken as a cover and shield of the woman's body. To the believing women, however the purpose is to safeguard their bodies and cover their private parts as a manifestation of the order of Allah. It is an act of Taqwah (righteousness) .

6. The hijab is Eemaan (Belief or Faith)

Allah (swt) did not address His words about the hijab except to the believing women, Al-Mo'minat. In many cases in the Qur'an Allah refers to the 'the believing women'. Aisha (RA), the wife of the prophet (pbuh), addressed some women from the tribe of Banu Tameem who came to visit her and had light clothes on them, they were improperly dressed:

'If indeed you are believing women, then truly this is not the dress of the believing women, and if you are not believing women, then enjoy it.'

7. The hijab is Haya' (Bashfulness)

There are two authentic hadith which state: 'Each religion has a morality and the morality of Islam is haya'' AND 'Bashfulness is from belief, and belief is in Al-Jannah (paradise)'.
The hijab fits the natural bashfulness which is a part of the nature of women.

8. The hijab is Gheerah

The hijab fits the natural feeling of Gheerah, which is intrinsic in the straight man who does not like people to look at his wife or daughters. Gheerah is a driving emotion that drives the straight man to safeguard women who are related to him from strangers. The straight MUSLIM man has Gheerah for ALL MUSLIM women In response to lust and desire, men look (with desire) at other women while they do not mind that other men do the same to their wives or daughters. The mixing of sexes and absence of hijab destroys the Gheera in men. Islam considers Gheerah an integral part of faith. The dignity of the wife or daughter or any other Muslim woman must be highly respected and defended.

Ideal Muslimah

As Salamu Alaikum wa rahmatullah

Dear sisters,

Here's an extract from a book - Ideal Muslimah. I guess most of us must have read it many a times. Though we may not possess all the qualities {as none of us can gain perfection } but atleast can try to near perfection by adorning ourselves with these qualities in our character. Here it goes

It is abundantly clear that the Muslim woman who is guided by Islam is pure, constructive, productive, alert aware , educated and refined. She fully understands her duties towards Allah swt and towards herself, her parents , her husband, her children, her relatives, her neighbours, her friends and sisters in Islam and her society as a whole, with all the different types of people, events and transactions it includes.

She believes in Allah swt and the Last day ; She is alert to the trials of this life and the traps of Shaytaan ; She worships Allah obeys His commands , heeds His prohibition , accepts His Will and Decree, returns to His protection and seeks his forgiveness when she stumbles or becomes negligent ; she is aware of her responsibility before Allah towards the members of her family ; She is keen to please Him by whatever she does ; she understands the true meaning of being a servant of Allah and supports His true religion ; she enjoins what is good and forbids what is evil as much as she is able.

She is aware of her obligations towards herself, understanding that she is human being composed of a body , mind and soul, each of which has its own needs and requirements. Hence she is careful to strike the right balance between her body , mind and spirit ; She does not devote attention to one at the expense of the others, rather . she devotes to each of them the attention that is needed to form a balanced personality , always guided by the wise teachings of Islam as seen in the Qur'an , the sunnah and example of the righteous salaf {predecessors } who followed in the footstpes of the Prophet with all sincerity.

She takes care of her outward appearance without going to extremes of excess or showing off, and she takes care of her inner nature in a manner that befits the human being whom Allah has honoured by making the angels prostrate to him and subjugating all that is in heaven and earth for his benefit. In this way , she develops a balanced , likeable character, one that is attractive both in appearance and in her thinking, reasoning , behaviour and reactions

She does not allow ger care of her body and mind to distract her from spiritual matters ; she devotes just as much attention to her spiritual development and polishes her soul thru worship , dhikr and reading Qur'an . Her guideline in all of this is to maintain a precise balance between all aspects of her personality.
She treats her parents with kindness and respect. She knows their status and her duties towards them, and she is very cautious not to disobey them. She never spares any effort to find the best way to treat then properly, and she surrounds them with every type of care, honour and respect.

With her husband , she is an ideal wife, intelligent, respectful, obedient, tolerant and loving, eager to please him and to respect and honour his family. She conceals his secrets and helps him to be righteous, to fear Allah and to do good deeds. She fills his heart with happiness, peace and tranquility.

With her children, she is loving, compassionate mother who wisely understands the great importance of her motherly role in bringing them up. She makes them aware of her love and care for them, and never withholds right guidance from them if they need it, so that they will grow up with an ideal Islamic upbringing that will cultivate in them the best morals and attitudes and a love for the highest things.

With her daughter-in-laws and Son-in-laws, she is kind , fair and wise and offers them sincere advice. She does not interfere in their private matters. She treats them well and strives to strengthen the bonds o flove and to ward off the evils of disputes.

With her relatives, she upholds the ties of love and does not neglect to keep in touch and treat them well. She is keen to maintain the relationship even if they do not uphold ties, acting in obedience to the teachings of Islam , which urge the upholding of the ties of kinship with love and affection.

She treats her neighbours well and is concerned about them. She knows the great rights they have, which Jibreel emphasised to the Prophet { PHUH} so strongly that the Prophet thought he was going to make them his heirs. So she likes for them what she likes for herself. She treats them well, respects their feelings, puts up with their insults , turns a blind eye to their faults and mistales, and is careful not to mistreat them or to fall short in her treatment of them.

With her friends and sisters in Islam, she is distinguished from other women byway in which she builds her relationship with them on a basis of love for the sake of Allah swt, which is the highest and purest love that exists among human beings, as it is free from any impurity pr ulterior motive and its purity is derived from the light of Revelation and Prophetic guidance. Therefore , the muslim woman is sincere and tolerant in her feelings with hostile arguments and disputes , bear grudges or withhold any favour she cud do for them, and she always greets them with a cheerful , smiling face

In her relationship with her society , she is a social being of the highest class, because of what she learned of the wise teachings of Islam concerning social dealings and high morals. From the rish spring of Islam she derives her customs , habits and behaviour and the ethics and values which purify her soul and form her distinct social character.

She is of good character { has a good attitude towards others } and is sincere and straighforward with all people.

She does not cheat , deceive or stab in the back. She is not a hypocrite, She does not speak falsely { or bear false witness }. She offers sincere advice and guides others to good deeds. She keeps her promises. She has the characteristics of modesty and respect.

She does not interfere in that which does not concern her. She avoids slandering the honour of others and seeking out their faults. She does not show off. She is fair in her judgements of others. SHe does not oppress others. SHE is fair even to those whom she does not like. She not rejoices on the misfortune of others. She avoids suspicion. SHe restrains her tongue from malicious gossip. She avoids cursing and obscene speech. She does not make fun of anybody. She is gentle with people. She is compasisonate.She tries to benefit others and protect them from harm. She eases hardhip of one who is suffering. She is generous. She is tolerant.

She does not bear grudges or harbour resentment. She is easy -going , not harsh. She is not envious. She avoids boasting and show-off. She does not speak in an exaggerating manner. She has a likeable personality. She is friendly and likeable. She keeps secrets. She is of cheerful countenace. She has a sense of humour. SHe tries to make people happy. She is not over-strict. She is not arrogant. She is humble. She is modest in her appearance and dress. She pursues noble things. She is concerned about the affairs of muslims. She honours her guest. She prefers others to herself, She measures her habits and customs against standards of Muslims. She uses greetings of Islam.

She does not enter any house except her own, without permission. She sits wherever she finds space in a gathering. She does not converse privately with another women when a third women is present. She respect elders and distinguished people. She chooses work that suits her feminine nature. She does not imitate men. She calls others to truth. She enjoins what id good and forbids bad. SHe is wise and eloquent in her dawah. She mixes with righteous women.She hastens to reconcile between muslim women. She appreciates favours from Allah and is grateful for them. She visits sick . She does not attend funeral procession { i.e follow bier }

This is the personality of a muslim woman as defined by the teachings of Islam.No doubt the Muslim woman is the most refined example womanhood ever known in any human society. Along with all the qualities listed above , a muslim woman also possesses wisdom, purity of soul , a high level of spirituality, a sound concept of life, the universe and humanity and a deep awareness of her important role in life.

Surely women 's reaching such a high level of intellectual , psychological , spiritual and moral development is a great human blessing, which is unequalled by any of the many blessings that human beings enjoy.

The great hopes that are pinned on the Muslim woman , who is aware of her role , require her to be even stronger in proving her Islamic identity, wherever she may live and whatever her circumstances may be. By reinforcing her Islamic identity , she clearly demonstrates her awareness, high aims , sincerity and devotion to Islam and its distictive culture. This is also indicative of her ability to contribute to the revival of the ummah to which she belongs and the development of the country she lives in.

May Allah swt, help and guide every Muslimah to possess these qualities and overcome any weaknesses of hers. Do remember me in your duas

True Story: " When He Said My Friend Was Ugly"

True Story: " When He Said My Friend Was Ugly"

A Woman ---

In this simple but beautifully written piece, guest writer Aamir Shamsi shares his answer to the question of “What is a Woman?”

What is a Woman…?

A woman is one of the most beautiful creations of Allah. A woman is the jewel of mankind. A woman is the shining star of the moonlit sky.

She is the foundation of our houses, the honour of our souls, the carer of our children, and the guidance without which we would stumble.

Our Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said, “[Women] are your partners and committed helpers.” [Sahih al-Jami']

You can see their innocence in the form of a daughter, their care in the form of a sister, their warmth in the form of a beloved, their dedication in the form of a wife, and their unconditional love in the form of a mother.

But most of all, you can see their shame and modesty in the form of a Muslimah, subhanAllah. Their heads are covered, their beauty saved only for their husbands and their actions are pure. They only associate with decent company that is the best for their deen, and absent is all lewdness, vulgarity and shamelessness.

They do not belong to the world of other women where free-mixing, promiscuity and boldness reign supreme. Gentle, humble and sweet are they. Their values differ so greatly from such an ugly society. Such is their dedication and belief in Islam. And some pious women are even lucky to have Khudah-se-Noor (light from Allah) bestowed upon them.

The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said “The whole world is a provision, and the best object of benefit of the world is the pious woman.” [Saheeh al-Jami']

We men are truly blessed by Allah to have them among us. Their love can make our world, and their rejection can destroy our world; we men are truly nothing without our women.

The Final Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said “Hayaa (shame and modesty) is a branch of imaan.” [Bukhari]

May Allah guide all our women to have as much Hayaa as gifted to them by ar-Rahman ar-Raheem, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. And may Allah grant me and all other men with a life partner that has Khudah-se-Noor, both outside and inside. Ameen.

_______________
Aamir Shamsi, 20, wrote this while he was missing his mother who was abroad at the time. He is studying Medicine at Imperial College London and is a part of IC Islamic Society and ICSM Muslim Medics, as well as heading Islamic Relief’s ULU Charity Week for his university in 2010. He has been a fan of IGIC since January 2009. You can follow him on Twitter @aamir2727

Glorifying Allah while cooking

True story

Translated By: IslamWay Team

I will not keep it a secret that I am not the one of cooking fans, as I used to consider it as a waste of time and effort.

When I got engaged, I discovered that my mother in law is one of those who spend most of their life time at the kitchen, moreover she loves to give variety to new kinds of food from time to time using different kinds of Arabic and western cooking books.

This matter – of course – used to make me worry because

I thought that my fiancé, after marriage, would compare between my cooking and his mother’s. So when we have finished with all marriage arrangements and the marriage date was determined, my fiancé noticed that I was delaying the wedding and every time I used to invent a different excuse so finally he came and asked me “you are delaying the marriage for a reason I do not know, what is it?” then I felt the matter is being discovered and I do not have anything to do but saying the truth, so I said “ frankly, I hate kitchen!” then he laughed in astonishment and told me “anyway I like simple kinds of food and also I do not mind if I eat the same kind of each two days ” these words calmed me down and I did not delay the marriage any more, on the contrary after I got married I started feeling responsible for the house and all its matters which include the kitchen! So I told myself “you have to do your best in the kitchen even if your husband likes simple kinds of food”.

At the first day I entered my kitchen for cooking I asked God for help and trust on Him then I pleaded Him that my food would not come to be much less that of my mother in law. Then I started to cook and during that time I remembered--with God’s help-- some words of one of our sisters who was giving us lessons at the mosque during Ramadan and she said – God Rewards her—“the Arabian woman spends most of her life time at the kitchen, especially in Ramadan, which wastes much of this great month. Ramadan is like a scent flying away easily! So do not miss it in the kitchen and such kind of works, and if though why do not you mention God while at the kitchen? Has anyone of you tried to cook while she is glorifying Allah?!”

I felt I need to do that, not to take the opportunity of Ramadan—because we were in other month which I do not remember now—but for the hope that God Will Make my food tastes good!!

And I decided to start with saying God’s name before each step; starting with turning the fire on , passing through putting butter, then onion and garlic , then tomato and ending with turning the fire off.

The second time I asked myself why do not I say Surat Al-Ikhlas (the loyalty), after mentioning God’s name, during each step? I love this Surat very much, it is short and there are a lot of rewards with saying it too!!

So I have started doing that with God’s help and then, subsequently, God led me to glorify Him while the food is being cooked and during washing the dishes or cleaning the kitchen.

My husband’s reaction was to praise my food to the extent that he said my food has been better than his mother’s! —And of course I did not believe him then—because I am not the one who would pay much attention for the taste of food as long as it is fitting for eating and the salt is not too much, and I thought him saying that as a compliment, after all I was still new bride and such compliments are very normal. But I have noticed that he is repeating such words very often and this made me so happy but I never believed him and thought it is just encouraging from him especially when I discovered that he is one of the greatest fans when it comes to well cooked food , moreover he pays much attention to the way each kind of food is cooked, and thus he told me before marriage turned out to be encouragement , nothing more!!!

When I used to invite my mother in law to spend few days with us she used also to praise my food and I thought she was making a compliment as well. I have noticed that she used to spend her time with me at the kitchen while I was pleading her to have rest at the living room however she used to refuse. Because we were chatting with each other—I did not notice that she was watching my cooking till she asked me once about the method of cooking a certain kind of food and when I mentioned it she was surprised but I did not understand why till she called me once, after months from my marriage, to tell me “I adjure you to tell me the secret of your food taste” so I asked her if she is joking but she swore that she was not!!!

This was a surprise for me and I started thinking deeply to find out the reason but I could not find any but mentioning God’s name and surat Al-Ikhlas and sometimes glorifying God so I told her: “do you want the truth?” she said “sure” then I told her the aforementioned , she was surprised but she seemed as if she did not believe me, I noticed the next time she visited us that she was watching me while cooking to make sure of what I had told her!! And when she believed she told me that she “is doing the same thing now” and that she started noticing a progress in her food taste too!!!.

The funny thing about this matter is that I do not hate cooking or spending time at the kitchen anymore, especially when I play a cassette there; in the kitchen, to listen to Quran and different kinds of religious lessons. Subsequently the time I am spending at the kitchen has become amusement and I do not feel the pass of time except after finishing with everything.

Not only that but also—with God’s help—I am not confined to cook just the ordinary dishes but also baking foods like cake, pizza, and sometimes making jars and pickles to the extent that my friends and relatives did not believe that when they knew!!!

Glory to Allah that mentioning Him has secrets we do not know, but such ignorance dose not prevent us the amazement of such secrets. So Glory to you God how great you are!!!!

Source: Saaid.net

For beautiful hair

Source : I got it covered.org

To most sisters, hair is a big deal. Whether it’s feeling unglamorous in the morning because your hair is mashed and tussled, or feeling elegant and ladylike on the rare occasions you get your hair all done up; whether it’s the meltdown at the site of split ends, or the happiness at a new style or haircut – whatever it is, women worry and care about their hair. That’s why when I noticed a change in the state of my hair a few months after beginning to wear the hijab, it really depressed me. My hairs weren’t as shiny, silky, or smooth as before (perhaps from being tied in a bun and covered every single day), and it was finally when I saw them getting weaker and more brittle that I complained to my mom in a state of total despair.

I was so upset that day, and as I held a few strands of hair in front of my eyes and pouted, I said to my mom, “My hair has gotten so bad; it used to be so much healthier before! Sometimes… sometimes… sometimes I wish I didn’t have to wear the hijab!”

I had done it. I had let Shaitaan win against me in this internal battle I had been having for the past few days. I had succumbed to weakness and had expressed anger at something that was supposed to be a blessing from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala for all believing women.

My mother looked at me, and I could see that she was disappointed in my words. Then she said something that would be etched into my mind forever; something that I remember to this day, four years later, as clearly as I might have heard her say it yesterday.

After a moment of silence where guilt slowly overcame me, my mother said, “Wouldn’t you rather have beautiful hair in jannah?”

Those few words held so much weight, and hearing them was like a shockwave of realization that spread across me. Of course I wanted beautiful hair in jannah! Of course I would give up everything in this world simply to be in jannah! Of course the temporary lackluster state of my hair did not matter if I would get an eternal lifetime of gorgeous, lustrous, (and I mean this quite literally) heavenly hair in jannah!

Surprisingly, I never complained about my hair ever again. Her words stuck with me and continue to remind me that tests from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala come in many forms, some big and some small, and the best thing to do is to remain steadfast in faith and seek everlasting reward for the life that comes after this one. Will yourself to do anything for the sake of Allah, ‘azza wa jal.

So instead of wasting my time moping and complaining about something that was just a minor consequence of a greater deed, I decided to invest my time in finding tips that would make my hair better. Through the years, I have collected a few, some that are spiritual and some that are homemade and through products, and am going to share them here so that they can benefit anyone seeking them!

– First and foremost, dispel any negative thoughts that you may have about the hijab, regardless of whether you wear it or not. Allah ta’ala says in the Quran, “O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy” (2:208). Those negative thoughts are brewing simply because of the whisperings of Shaitaan, and so to love wearing hijab for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, you must love it in its entirety.

– I have recently started a habit of making a regular, personal du’aa to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala about my hair. I say, “Ya Rabb, give me beautiful hair,” among other things. You will notice a miraculous difference in your hair after a few days, insha’Allah.

– If you take vitamins (which you should!). Fish Oil pills are good at strengthening the hair.

– When you are at home, or are not in the company of non-mahrams, leave your hair open! Do not tie it back or even clip it, simply so that your hair can “breathe” as it is covered most of the time.

– Change the part of your hair often (if you part it), or brush it opposite to the side you usually do. If that means having to tilt your head forwards and brush your hair upside down, do it! Hair flattens since it is kept right-side-up all the time, so changing it up a bit allows the hairs to move around into positions they are normally not in. (On another note, do not brush your hair too much! This strips it of its natural oils and makes the hairs more dry and brittle. Try brushing your hair just once, lightly through the ends, after showering).

– Hair care experts say that you should technically shampoo your hair only once a week, since shampoo is too harsh to be used every day! If your hair can’t handle that (mine certainly can’t!), shampoo every other day (or every two days) and only use a quarter-sized amount of shampoo and a dime-sized amount of conditioner.

– Make a paste of egg yolk (not egg whites) and pure yogurt. Massage it into your hair, focusing more on the dry ends. Leave it in for half an hour and then shower. Your hair will be noticeably softer after just one use! Do this once a week or every two weeks. (If you don’t want to waste the extracted egg whites from this, whip the egg whites in a small bowl and apply a layer onto your face for fifteen minutes. You will feel your skin tighten, which helps prevent wrinkles and makes pores appear smaller).

– Apply about 1 cup of organic mayonnaise to your dry hair and massage it into your scalp. Leave it in for twenty minutes before shampooing. This will make your hair super soft!

– Apply Extra Virgin Olive Oil into your hair and thoroughly massage it into the roots. Leave it in all night and wash it out in the morning. To prevent oil stains, cover your pillowcase with a towel. Doing this keeps the hair shiny and prevents dandruff.

(On an interesting note, Saied al-Ansari narrated that the Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu alayhi wasallam would say: “Eat olive oil and massage it over your bodies since it is from a blessed tree.” [at-Tirmidhi and ibn Majah; al-Albani classed it as Sahih]. )

– And finally, I don’t use any hair products except one, which is the only one to make a noticeable difference in my hair. John Freida’s Frizz Ease is really good at minimizing frizz and making your hair silky, and you can find it at any retailer (like Wal-Mart, Target, or Shoppers Drug Mart) for under $10. Apply a dime-sized amount into towel-dried hair after every shower, and brush your hair with your fingers from roots to ends.

All this tips are tried, tested, and true! Alhumdulillah, I have not had a split-end in my hair for two years and counting, so they are definitely good ones to test.

Lastly, remember that when we do something for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, He will reward us in ways that we cannot imagine (insha’Allah). So if you are contemplating wearing the hijab, or are already wearing it, do not let Shaitaan get to you and only keep what should be your main goal in mind: jannah – with beautiful hair and all!