New Baby!

Asalaam Alaikum

No I haven't given birth! That would be news to me too! But my best friend gave birth over a week ago alhamdulillah! I am still to go see my new niece but the weather seems to have other ideas. I am not keen to travel to another city in the snow. 

The birth of a child is a miracle in itself and a cause for celebration. In Islam it is encouraged to have children:

Allah says, "So now have sexual relations with them, and seek that which Allah has ordained for you." [Noble Quran 2:187]

In Islam there are a number of things to do when a baby is born: 

Give the good news of the birth

The Tahnik

Naming the child

The Aqiqah

Shaving the baby's head

Circumcision

But back to my friend.....mashAllah I am so excited! I absolutely adore buying for babies! Especially girls.... all those cute outfits! I googled islamic gifts for babies and one of the first sites that came up was The Muslim Baby Shop. Please note I have yet to purchase from the site so cannot comment on their goods or customer service so please do not take this as a personal recommendation to buy from them.

They appear to have a wide variety of toys, books, clothes and even food. I quite like the look of the arabic alphabet whale! 

As the baby is still only a week old I think perhaps buying toys teaching the arabic alphabet is a bit premature.  However I couldn't resist this cute octopus on a visit to Toy's R Us

Next stop...Next or Gap for some baby clothes!!! I so love shopping :)

Snow

Asalaam Alaikum!

It has snowed!! And I don't think we have seen the last of it. I have a 'bah humbug' attitude to snow. I don't like it and thats putting in mildly!! What's to like? Slipping and almost  breaking your leg, travelling at 5 miles an hour in the car when it's really bad?? However I did find it funny one year sitting in my warm cosy office watching all the cars slide by and get stuck in a particularly dodgy street. Is that mean? :p

This year in February I also got stuck at the airport as my flight got postponed. I was then walking around the airport at midnight, with no coat, freezing and ended up spending the first week and a half of my holidays in bed with a really bad cold. But as they say, Alhamdulillah for everything!!

The year before munchkin was particularly excited and wanted to build a snowman! Now I haven't ever properly made a snowman in my life so my effort at one was a bit pathetic.....not that munchkin minded.

I was glad when finally it melted!

Help!! I'm melting!!

Sister's Magazine

Asalaam Alaikum

Just wanted to share a magazine I subscribe to: Sister's Magazine which is now going out monthly mashAllah. 

As described on their facebook page:

The SISTERS team is an eclectic group of writers, journalists, artists and readers who are based all over the world. We are all committed to filling our magazine with uplifting, inspiring and enlightening material to help you become the best Muslimah

I do believe they are fulfilling their commitment and are well worth subscribing to.

The latest issue is the November issue with the focus understandably on hajj with numerous other articles including family issues, article by a life coach and many more. There are also yummy recipes including Turkish Lamb Kofte and a competition to win a spa day! Oh I so need to win that!!

So if you haven't already subscribed then what are you waiting for? :) 

http://www.sisters-magazine.com/index.php

Proud Mummy Moment!

Asalaam Alaikum

So those of you who are mummies can know what a tiring job it can be but alhamdulillah so worth it!

My munchkin who is 4 has just been awarded her first merit certificate at school! (No idea what that is but hey it's good!) She is going to be presented it in assembly on Friday. Unfortunately I'm likely to miss it as I have to work. That, I think, is the worst part of being a working mummy, missing out on some school things. However at least her dad will be able to go inshAllah as he does not work on Friday mornings!

I told munchkin her dad will be at assembly and the shock on her face was comical...... 'WHY???'  

As if to say school was her domain and why were we even thinking of invading her school and potentially showing her up!! lol

Kids! Don't you just love them!?

Biased Media?

I came across a programme yesterday on the BBC.  It was Panorama entitled British schools, Islamic Rules.

Yet again another programme making out muslims to be extremists. It was completey biased and was itself extreme. It's main focus was of schools taking the curriculum from Saudi Arabia. 

One part that did make me laugh was the focus on hatred towards Jews. I'm sure if the programme's team went into a Jewish faith school, what they see in there against Muslim's will also be extreme. However the Jewish did not allow access to their schools. The Muslim's did. Is that not in itself saying something?  If they hadn't allowed access that in itself would be an issue. Muslim's just can't win can they?

Franky I'm not going to waste any more of my time discussing this. Whatever Muslim's do they will be accused of being extreme, things will continue to be twisted.

Eid and Diwali Dinner and Dance. What??

Asalaam Alaikum

Well I have recently discovered that some 'muslims' are organising a dinner and dance in my home town which is for Eid and for Diwali. Mixed, with bollywood music, dancers and who knows what else?

I feel ashamed of this event. Our holy festival is turning into events for Muslims which are filled with fitnah and haraam. If they really wanted to organise something then why not a more religious themed event which ties in with what the Eid festival is about. If I had any more time on my hands I would have organised something. 

Rant over. (I could have been a bit more harsh but I will refrain from really ranting)

Housewife v Working Mum

Asalaam Alaikum

So next week I increase my working hours from 18 hours to 28 hours. However I will still be able to drop my munchkin to school and pick her up which is great Alhamdulillah. 

Now alot of mums (muslim and non muslims) can look down on women who work. They feel the children are not getting the attention they deserve if the parents are at work.

Some muslims, both men and women, can think a women doesn't need to work because it's wrong, technically speaking her husband MUST provide for her. It can also be difficult to find a suitable job for a muslimah in the west.

Now I personally don't like seeing my husband working all hours and driving himself to an early grave. I have the ability to work and I enjoy working. I get mad sitting at home doing nothing and I will end up obese if I stay at home, I could munch through the kitchen contents like a hungry caterpillar that is getting ready to transform into a beautiful butterfly mashAllah! (If only that would work with human's....)

As I work, I will contribute to the household bills, it seems to me kind of selfish to keep it all to myself although in Islam it is mine. Don't get me wrong, a women in Islam is perfectly correct if she says to her husband I earned it, its my salary to do as I please, you have to provide for me. I just can't do that. Maybe I need to toughen up and exercise my right!

For those mummies who stay at home, well they should be totally respected also: 

"Each one of you is a shepherd and each one of you is responsible for those under his care. A leader is a shepherd and is responsible for his citizens. A man is a shepherd of his family and is responsible for them. A woman is a shepherd in her husband's home and is responsible for whatever is under her care. A servant is a shepherd of his master's wealth and is responsible for whatever is under his care. Each one of you is a shepherd and each one of you is responsible for whatever is under his care.

[Bukhari#853 & Muslim #1829 ]

It takes alot of time, effort and patience to be a mum and be the 'shepherd'

Eid ul Adha

Asalaam Alaikum!

So today was Eid! Eid ul Adha is the latter of 2 festivals celebrated by muslims and is celebrated to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Isma'il (Ishmael). I won't go into the whole history of it as I'm sure those of you who don't know can google it!

Here in the UK I don't find Eid overly exciting. Family members can find it difficult to get time off work and if we all do get the time off I see it as pretty much a normal day! I spend alot of time at my mums house anyway so going over on Eid is nothing different! For those who celebrate Christmas my families Eid is pretty much the same.... the family gets together, we eat and there is usually a family argument!! 

But shock horror!!!!? This Eid there were no squabbles! LOL. It passed of quite pleasantly and we had a laugh. I made the effort to take my daughter and her cousins bowling.... my 4 year old beat her 15 year old cousin! Oh the shame!! He tried to make out he wasn't making the effort but you could still see he was gutted! (well wouldn't you be? Particularly if you thought you were a 'bad boy' )

On an aside, the PM has also wished Muslims a happy Eid. The question is, is he actually being sincere? 

http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2010/11/pms-message-for-eid-ul-adha-57204

Muslimahs United

Asalaam Alaikum

I just wanted to share a forum with you that I am a member of, in fact I am also admin.

It's a lovely forum mashAllah, even if i do say so myself. The security is also tight as it's  for sisters only. Our group of sisters are very close.

www.muslimahsunited.com

http://muslimahsunited.blogspot.com/

If you have any questions regarding the forum then please feel free to ask!

Asalaam Alaikum and welcome to my blog!

InshAllah my first post finds you all in the best of health and imaan!

Well heres me in the wonderful world of blogging. I tried before when a friend suggested I blog about my work. I  started it, did about 3 posts and then forgot about it. Well do you blame me? I was working in a job I hated and then didn't want to come home and blog about it!! But more about that later! (If I can find it again I may link to it!)

So why have I decided to do a blog? Honestly? I was a bit bored so thought I'd try this out! :)

Also I thought it may be nice to do a blog just chatting randomly, to also show the non muslims that muslim women aren't all oppressed sitting at home all day in their burkhas and not seeing anyone, and have no social skills!  Well that appears to be the general stereotype does it not?!

So if you are interested in what I have to say then follow me! If not, then you can just close your browser on me!

InshAllah I will do the blog justice!

:)