Friday Elegance (4) - Aqua (fresh)



Outfit by my all-time favorite "Elegant Muslimah - Roudah Mooradd
Scarf by "Scarf STOP"

Outfit: "Elegant Muslimah" - Rhoudah Mooradd
Scarf by "Scarf STOP"

Friday Elegance (3) - Pumpkin

Outfit BY: Elegant Muslimah - Roudah Mooradd

Outfit BY: Elegant Muslimah - Roudah Mooradd

Friday Elegance (2) - Flower Power

Today's Outfit is by "Oranges and Lemon - Aliwia Jattiem

What Porn is doing to Men

 By Faraz Omar | Saudi Life



“You cannot fight them even when they are busy in Salah. You cannot unless they are weakened in their faith. So display all your riches and temptations, and even your women. And when they indulge in the dunya, then fight them.”

ROMANS felt humiliated when Jerusalem had to be surrendered to the Muslims during the caliphate of Umar (رضي الله عنه). They were plotting to take back their lost glory by any means they could.
The advice was taken. They publicized their luxuries and paid their women to appear semi nude, especially on the pathways of the Muslim soldiers. “Everything” to them after all “is fair in love and war.”
The Companions of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) were powerhouses of faith. They lowered their gaze and none of them fell for the sleazy ploy. They did not desire the worldly riches. “It is Allah’s provision, He gives it to whomever He wills,” was their response.*
If we look into our history, we find that the strength of Muslims was always in their Imaan. The more Imaan we had the more Haya (modesty) we had in our societies.

Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “Every religion has a distinct characteristic, and the distinct characteristic of Islam is modesty.” (al-Bayhaqi, Ibn Majah and Muwatta)

We not only personified Haya through exemplary examples – and the seerah is full of them –, but we also influenced this virtue – a natural disposition Allah created in humans – among people of different faiths.
For example, one of the famous fatwas Islamophobes like to quote is a scholar’s reply (some centuries back) to a letter complaining about how non-Muslim women in Egypt were imitating Muslim women by wearing the niqab and that it was becoming difficult to differentiate between the believer and the disbeliever.
Also, it is not strange to hear that when a non-Muslim family living in Saudi Arabia goes home on vacation, the father finds it difficult to freely interact with his female friends and the little son asks mom why she isn’t wearing an abaya anymore and then demands that she does.
And “even today,” my friend said in ~2007 while narrating about a small, backward Muslim town populated around a madrasah in south India, “a non-Muslim rickshaw driver will lower his gaze when burqa-clad customers approach him for a ride.”

It is quite sad therefore to note how Muslims today are losing this precious virtue of Haya and are becoming influenced by the promiscuity and shamelessness that has permeated our homes through satellite channels, Internet and the “global lifestyle”.
Gone are the days when just looking at veiled women would be considered inappropriate; gone are the days when, on finding a neighbor’s apartment door open, men would lower their gaze and pass by quickly to avoid catching any embarrassing glance.
Today’s men, by their own shameless admittance, not only gaze, but also meticulously scan every curve of a woman from the top to the bottom. Children, let alone adults, dress up like immoral women and men, because haute couture doesn’t find modesty “cool”.

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "When there is no Haya left, then do as you please."
He also said, "Indeed Haya and Imaan are Companions. When one of them is lifted, the other leaves as well." [Bayhaqi]
  


 “O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe.” (Qur’an, 7:27)


Media has been very successful at getting rid of our modesty and turning a large segment of our society of men into porn addicts. Porn addicts, just like drug addicts, need more and more dosage to satisfy their desires. In short, they become enslaved, intoxicated animals ready to do anything for their raging, uncontrollable hormones. Most of them, however, are unfortunate victims who turn into criminals. And like all addicts, they say they feel miserable and not the least satisfied.

While searching forums on how to effectively filter YouTube content on an Android tablet. I found a non-Muslim recovering porn addict who wanted to not just filter, but also get YouTube permanently off his device. His “extremism” was hinting at the torture and subsequent realization he must have had experienced.
Pornography through music, movies and the Internet is unfortunately leading to the demise of men. It has put us on the fast track to Hellfire. How will we answer Allah on the Day of Judgment when He gave us lives long enough and the choice to choose between good and bad?

The most effective way we, as common Muslims, can purify our gaze and tackle this “legitimate” onslaught on our souls is by building our Imaan.

Here’s how:

• Repent to Allah, for He is Most Merciful and Oft-Forgiving. Do not give up hope and remember that it’s not impossible to quit.

• Know that there is no fitnah greater for men than the temptation of women. This is our weakness. Consequently, it is not permitted for a man to look at any non-Mahram woman. Allah says in the Qur’an:

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze, and protect their private parts. That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do.” (Qur’an, 24:30)

• Stay away from the footsteps of Satan. There is no casual chatting or friendships with non-Mahram women.

• Get rid of the three M’s – Music, Movies and Masturbation.

• Trash filthy celebrities and their stories in the bin. In Google News, you can personalize the content and get rid of the “Entertainment” section.

 

By now you’ll have effectively closed the majority of fitnah outlets and you’ll notice the difference in your life.

Have Taqwa of Allah. Be conscious that He is watching you and your behavior. Feel shy of doing wrong in His Presence. Constantly remember the Day of Judgment and Paradise and Hellfire.

Read the Qur’an everyday and other Islamic books as well. They’ll scrub your heart clean and model you with the qualities of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and the Sahabah.

Choose good friends and stay away from atmospheres of sin.

When desire strikes and you find it overpowering you, immediately make du’a and seek Allah’s help.
“Allahumma-kfinee bi halaalika an haraamik, wa agninee bi fadlika amman-siwaak. [O Allah, suffice me with what You have allowed instead of what You have forbidden, and make me independent of all others besides You.]” Although this du’a, recorded in Al-Tirmidhi, is usually asked for relief from debts, I find it’s meaning applicable here. We are asking Allah to make the Halaal outlets of desire sufficient and satisfying for us instead of the Haraam ones.

May Allah forgive us, strengthen our Imaan, Haya and adherence to the religion, and bring back our lost power, which Abu Ishaq Al-Fazari (d. 777 CE) describes well in the following narration:

 The enemy was never able to stand up to the Companions of Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), so when the news of the defeat of the Romans came to Heraclius at Antioch he asked [his people], “Woe to you, tell me about these people who fight you, are they not humans like you?” They replied, “Indeed, they are.” He asked, “So are you more in number or them?” They replied, “We outnumber them greatly in all places.” He said, “So how is it that you are defeated whenever you meet them [in battle].” A senior and esteemed elder amongst them replied, “Because they stand in prayer at night, fast during the day, fulfill their agreements and promises, enjoin what is right and forbid what is evil, they are fair and just amongst themselves; and because we drink wine, fornicate, commit sin, break our agreements, steal, oppress and do injustice, enjoin the committing of what angers Allah and forbid what pleases Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and we cause evil and corruption in the land.” Heraclius said, “You are the one who has told me the truth.”^{[Ibn Kathir, Al-Bidayah Wan-Nihayah, vol. 8, p. 5, Quoted from Sayings of the Salaf]}

Friday Elegance (1) - Green Glow

Outfit by "Elegant Muslimah" - Roudah Mooradd

To B or not to B ?

To Blog, or not to Blog has been the question on my mind for a few weeks now. I guess if you are reading my post you know the answer to that question.

A more serious question that had me thinking lately is, To Be or Not to be Muslim? May Allah swt protect us all, AMEEN. Surely, not one I ask myself, but to many in my mind, who are Muslim by name and/or birth, but has denied themselves the beauty of a religion that liberates us from our desires of this world.

I should have been Walking on the Great Wall of China for Muslim Hands today, but a day before my departure to Beijing I received a phone call from the Chinese Consulate informing me that my visa has been cancelled due to technical reasons. On enquiry from the other trek participants I was informed that the entire groups visa's were cancelled due to security reasons, but that no further explanation was given. On the last hour the majority of the participants from UK and 2 from South Africa had their visas issued. Myself, 1 other participant and the Alim for the group were not granted new visas and thus could not leave.

Despite feeling disappointed, I believe that Allah knows Best, nothing happens without his knowledge and He wills everything. So I moved on.....but where to you may wonder?

To a place that has made me ponder and pray for those who struggle daily with prejudice, known as Islamaphobia and I pray that the Almighty Allah ease their pain and suffering, Inshaa Allah (God Willing)!Alhumdulilah, All praise is due to Allah. The opportunity that I was given to raise funds for this initiative, has opened my heart to the prejudice felt by Muslims all around the world, and sadly also opened my eyes to the prejudice by those whom you call "Friends" and "Family".  May the Almighty Allah keep us on the straight path, Inshaa Allah.

I ask that the Almighty God (Allah) be forever in my thoughts, my heart, my tongue and be my shield against my enemy - Ameen.

I say Shukr (thank-you) Allah for all those who supported me and to my kind, caring husband! He came back from china 2 days before my intended departure to china and was very happy at the thought of having me home, but also sad for my dissapointment. He has offered to take me away for the weekend wherever my heart desired, Alhumdulilah!

Oh Allah, please grant us good in this world and good in the life to come and keep us safe from the torments of Hell.
Any Good in this blogpost is from Allah (swt) and any bad is only from me.

Where have You Been?

Well, to be honest, I have been trying to find myself too! And where may you ask have I been?

Since my last post I have celebrated my Husband's birthday on 15th February, mourned his departure to China on yet another business trip on the 16th February, and eagerly awaited his arrival back home on 28th February. Shukr to Allah.

Then it was March, celebrated my birthday on the 15th, left for the Vic falls with the love of my life on the 16th and here I am on the 21st March, enjoying a mid-week break thanks to Human Rights day. Alhumdulilah!

Since I am contemplating walking 45 km on the Great Wall of China to raise funds for Muslim hands Orphan programme, my Husband insisted that we walk on the Sea Point promenade and every other opportunity I get, including walking the dogs, so that I can be physically fit to undertake this challenge.

April will see us move our business to new, bigger premises, Inshaa Allah and May 29 my departure to Beijing China for the Walk, Inshaa Allah.

I am truly Thankful and Blessed.

Thank You. Shukran. For reading my Post, I humbly request your prayers, love and support towards this venture! God Willing. Inshaa Allah.