Eid al-Adha Mbarak & the virtues of Friday

Salam everyone! Eidkom Mbarak Insha'Allah! Insha'Allah you are all having an amazing Eid. It's really nice that Eid is on a Friday this year. Every religion has its special day of worship; the Jewish people have Sabbath (Saturday), the Christians have Sunday, and we, as Muslims, have Friday. It was narrated by al-Bukhari that the Messenger of Allah (sall Allahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) said, "The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. On this day Adam was created, on this day he entered Paradise and on this day he was expelled from it." (Narrated by Muslim, al-Jumu'ah, 1410)

Salaat al Jumu'ah (Friday prayer) is held in high esteem. Although it is not fard (mandatory) for girls, Jumu'ah prayer is fard for men to pray in congregation at the Masjid. There are many ahadiths glorifying the virtues of Jumu'ah prayer. Coming to prayer early is highly recommended and if one walks to the Masjid for Jumu'ah prayer, for every step that person takes will be a reward equivalent of fasting and praying qiyaam for one year!

Another virtue of Fridays is exemplified in a hadith narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim from Abu Hurayrah which states that the Prophet (sall Allahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) said, " On Friday there is an hour when, if a Muslim happens to pray at that time and asks Allah for something good, He will give it to him."

In reference to when this special time to make Du'a, it was narrated by Anas ibn Maalik that the Prophet (sall Allahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) said, "Seek the hour in which there is hope that prayers will be answered, on Friday after 'Asr (mid-afternoon) prayer, until the sun goes down." (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb wa'l-Tarheeb, no. 700).

Insha'Allah Allah (SWT) accepts all of our righteous deeds and sincere Du'a. Ameen!

-Princess

Get Inspired

I really appreciate people who give back as humanitarians or just by being productive members of society. I think that giving back to others is such great charity and charity is so important in our magnificent Deen of Islam. Masha'Allah, in the Middle-East, one superb example of true inner beauty, intelligence, and philanthropic efforts is the remarkable, H.H Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser al-Missned, wife of, and consort to, the Emir of Qatar, H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani. Her Highness greatly values education and has done so much to stress the importance of having education made available to everyone.

According to her website, http://www.mozahbintnasser.qa/output/page2.asp:

"As Consort, Her Highness' roles are many and varied, and extend beyond domestic borders. She is a social activist and the driving force behind a host of innovative and ground breaking programs in Qatar, the region and the world.

A public figure with significant responsibilities, Her Highness shares the Emir's vision to make Qatar a prosperous, developed and sustainable society. She has been instrumental in setting up centers of excellence to enhance opportunities for the people of Qatar and to build the nation's resources in regard to education, science, community development, health and other areas. She is also actively involved in preserving and protecting Qatar's cultural heritage..

Her Highness' commitment to progressive education and community welfare in Qatar and her strong advocacy for closer relations between the Islamic world and the West have earned her the respect of numerous international groups. Her most recent award is the Prize of the Royal Institute for International Affairs from Chatham House, a world renowned British think tank that focuses on contemporary global affairs. Her Highness is the first Arab and the first woman to be awarded the Prize.

An international leader, Her Highness currently serves as UNESCO's Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education. In this role, she promotes literacy in the Arab world and Asia. She is also developing a proposal to put before the UN Security Council to declare schools a safe haven in regions where there is instability and conflict, and to establish an international tribunal to prosecute crimes against education.

On the 7th of October 2009, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned delivered a speech at the 35th session of UNESCO's general conference in Paris emphasizing the importance of quality education in shaping a peaceful world. Her Highness noted in her address that the right to education amounts to the right to live stressing that quality education prepares children, teenagers and young men to face life armed with the necessary knowledge, experience and skills enabling them to adapt to all the changes and pressures regardless of their causes.

Her Highness is also a member of the High Level Group of the UN Alliance of Civilizations which was established to assess the forces that contribute to extremism and recommend collective action to counter those forces. As part of this effort, she has proposed groundbreaking initiatives to create a region-wide youth employment program and to promote media literacy to counter the under-representation of Islam and Arabs. Her Highness has also proposed a youth mobilisation movement for Muslim youth to focus on West/Islam cross-cultural understanding.

In all aspects of her work, Her Highness is guided by her faith in Islam, her dedication to the Emir's vision for the future, a deep respect for traditional values, and a commitment to the highest possible standards."

To learn more about H.H. Sheikha Mozah, you should definitely visit her website. She's truly an inspiring individual and an amazing role model for young women and everyone really, to aspire to be like. In addition to all of her efforts, H.H. Sheikha Mozah has great style! She always looks very elegant and poised while remaining modest. She has landed on many best-dressed lists, and it's pretty clear why. Enjoy the pix!

Home-Maid

Ok so, in the Middle-East, maids are very commonplace. Anyone from the paupers to the wealthy and everyone in between could employ them, and some people do and others don't. Having a maid is by no means some sort of status symbol. Ultimately it's a personal decision and the choice of the family looking to employ one. Everyone has a different situation though, so basing one's decision on other people's experiences may not always work.

I've heard stories of families choosing not to have a maid because they like taking care of their own house and family, they feel uncomfortable with a stranger in their home, there is no need for one, etc. etc. the list goes on and on. I've also heard of varying experiences that families have had who have chosen to employ a maid. Everything from firing the maid because the woman of the household felt her to be a threat to her marriage to having the most amazing maid that she has become part of the family!

There's this new book that's out now called "An Unsolicited Gift," by psychiatrist Dr. Dennis Friedman and it claims that boys who are raised by maids or nannies will grow up to be womanizers! The reason behind this theory is based on the idea that the child will get used to the fact that two women are taking care of him; one woman is his mother, the one he admires and respects and the other is the one who takes care of all the physical things, prepares meals, cleans the house, does the laundry and other chores. Having grown up in an environment where he has seen that it takes more than one woman to take care of him, the son, now a married adult, may seek out another woman, outside his marriage. Dr. Friedman also mentions that when a girl is raised with a nanny, a "cascade of need" is created where some females might later fill in with detrimental relationships, drugs and alcohol. Why the negativity?? Can't they fill this need with things that are fulfilling and proactive? Dr. Friedman's does, however, say that it would be "safe" to get hired help after the first year.

In Islam, cheating on a spouse is haram and forbidden. So as not to form an illicit relationship, among other reasons, a man is allowed to marry up to four wives, so long as he is able to treat all of them fairly and equally and is able to support all of them financially as well. And of course, pre-marital relationships, alcohol and drugs are all forbiddenn as well. So, I guess the most important thing to note is having a stable familial base and teaching strong moral values might be what effects a child the most.

Maid or no maid, Insha'Allah our children, brothers, sisters, cousins, all grow up to be intelligent, stable-minded, rational adults who are able to make the right decisions in life. Ameen!

Everyday is Earth Day

A lovely reader of my blog asked a question with regards to whether Earth Day (April 22nd)/ Earth week (April 16-22) is celebrated in the Arab world and how green living is incorporated in everyday life. I think it's a great question and I will do my best to answer it, Insha'Allah.

In the Arab world, many actions are taken, informally, on a daily basis, to contribute towards the well-being of the environment, such as recycling and preservation of water and electricity. However, Earth Day is being formally celebrated for the first time in the Middle-East this year. The Kingdom of Morocco will announce a National Charter for Environment and Sustainable Development on the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, which would be the very first celebration of it's kind from a Muslim, Arab and African nation, since Morocco falls into all three categories. To commemorate Earth Day, environmental education will be introduced in schools and the country will be no longer be utilizing plastic bags.

Since we are referring to the importance of environmental protection and awareness, with regards to Earth Day, I think it's necessary to discuss how important this topic is in Islam. In Islam, we are taught to protect and preserve the earth. The Qur'an states that the earth was created as a dwelling place; a sanctuary of peace and rest for humans and all of God's creations. An example in the Qur'an of just how close humans are to the earth is that humans were created from the earth; out of dust and water:

"And Allah has caused you to grow as a growth from the earth, And afterward He maketh you return thereto, and He will bring you forth again, a [new] forthbringing. And Allah hath made the earth a wide expanse for you. That ye may thread the valleyways thereof." (Surah 71:17-20)

As Muslims, we are taught to cherish and protect the earth and the elements because it is a creation of God, and we must cherish all of God's creations. As humans, we do not own the earth, but we were placed here amongst plants, animals, insects and wildlife, to maintain the earth's balance. The Prophet Muhammad (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam)said, "All creatures are God's dependents and the best among them is the one who is most useful to God's dependents." The Prophet Muhammad (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam) was a prime example of environmental awareness. He would pray for rain to water the trees when water was not readily available and he enjoyed nature very much. The Prophet Muhammad (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam) has said that those who help take care of the earth will be greatly rewarded, saying, "If any Muslim plants any plant and a human being or an animal eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he had given that much in charity." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 8:41) There are over 700 verses in the Quran that reflects on nature and the word "earth," or "ard" in Arabic, is mentioned 485 times which shows just how highly important our environment is.

"Earth Day" is not an Islamic holiday, however I think that everyday should be earth day. I think regardless of faith or nationality, we should all take care of the earth because it is our responsibility and we shouldn't wait for a holiday to do so. There are so many small additions you can make to your daily schedule that can bring great benefits. Here are some examples:

1. At home, if you're not using the lights or if you notice the lights are on in a room that nobody is sitting in, turn them off. Same goes for the TV, computer, printer, etc.
2. Keep a separate garbage can as a recycling bin for glass, paper and plastic and label them.
3. Don't waste water!
4. Reuse shopping bags or carry a cute tote bag instead.
5. Plant a tree in your backyard or join a community tree planting program where you can plant at your favorite public garden or park.

What do you do to help preserve our gorgeous earth?

Ramadan Kareem!

Ramadan started yesterday August 11 and it is truly the most beautiful time of year. For those that are not aware of Ramadan, it's the most important time of year for Muslims. It is a month of fasting, prayer and zakat (almsgiving) and the best time for reflection and doing good.

Fasting is the fourth pillar in Islam and for good reason. By fasting, we learn to appreciate the value of food and drink by not having them from sunrise to sunset and we in turn become grateful for them. There are so many people and animals that go hungry on a daily basis due to poverty and homelessness and during Ramadan we become more aware of their feelings. If you are able to feed the hungry and help the poor and needy by donating, food, clothing or just simply helping someone out who may need you, it's truly an honor.

It is also importatnt to treat everyone with love and respect and forgive others, because remember nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes. If somebody has wronged you in the past, find a way in your heart to forgive them and if you have wronged someone else, you should ask for their forgiveness. The Prophet (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said, "A person only increases honour by forgiving."

Ensuring that our words, actions, and appearance are humble and respectable, along with everything else I discussed are attributes we should strive for on a daily basis, but if you haven't always done so in the past, it's never too late to start, during Ramadan especially.

Ramadan Kareem wa kul 'am wa intom bi alf alf khayr!

Headscarves on the Runway

So, New York Fashion Week just came to a close and there was one thing that I noticed in a lot of the shows....headscarves! It wasn't worn as hijab because the rest of the outfit was not in accordance with hijab i.e parts of the body such as the arms and legs were showing. Nonetheless, it was pretty neat to see the headscarf being integrated into fashion, even though it wasn't full hijab. Of course, the hijab is not meant to be some sort of fashion statement, don't get me wrong but i think for all fashion loving Muslimahs, this was definitely refreshing to see.

*Starting from the very top:
1. Victoria Beckham
2. Ralph Lauren
3. Oscar De La Renta
4. Mara Hoffman
5. L.A.M.B by Gwen Stefani
6. Donna Karan