Apparently Arab mums are all the same

This is sooo true xD

Video by YouTuber fouseyTUBE

Pink & Gold

An unmistakably beautiful combination. I absolutely love the look in this photo so I obviously had to copy it instead of doing microbiology (bleuurrghh..) :P

Pink & Gold by stylishmuslimah

Chiffon gown, $118; Clutch hand bag, $19; 18 karat gold jewelry, $45; Debut, £18; Yves Saint Laurent Eye Pencil -8: Amber Brown, $28; Madden Girl Cleary, $40

Avoiding Zina Of The Heart

I have had many discussions with Muslims about whether or not having a crush is haram, and have heard all sorts of opinions. But I think we can safely say that it is not haram since you have little control over your feelings; what you do about it on the other hand, may well be...

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Abu Hurayah reported that Allah's Messenger (S) said:
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"A son of Adam's share of zina has been predestined for him, and he will inevitably fulfill that. Thus the eyes commit zina by looking, the ears commit zina by listening, the tongue commits zina by speaking, the mouth commits zina by talking/kissing, the hands commits zina by acting (or touching) the foot commits zina by walking (toward the sin) the soul wishes and desires and the private part confirms all of that"

[Bukhari and Muslim]

According to this hadith, zina, to some extent is inevitable for man. Islam has told us that the best way to control zina of the heart is to lower the gaze.. prevention being better than cure and all that..

 

"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do.

And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc).

[Qur'aan, 24: 30-31]

Simple problem, simple solution. But who really does it?

Meow ^-^

Smart Hijab Style

 

Here's a smart outfit idea for you. It can also easily be worn causally with jeans or with the right change of accessories.

 

 

Smart Dressing by stylishmuslimah

The Gamboo3a: Love it or Shove it?

I shan't be diplomatic about this.. I hate them. I literally can't stand those tacky flower clips that hijabis seem to have gone crazy over.

Besides making it look like you have a really abnormal body fat distribution, the thing which I really don't get about the gamboo3a is that it is fairly pointless whichever way you choose to look at it. I mean I presume that women are wearing them in order to tell people - men in particular - that they have masses of luscious hair underneath their scarves. But nobody in their right mind thinks it's hair and men don't find it attractive. They find it weird, like everybody else.

I have never seen a girl make a gamboo3a look good, and I have seen many hijabis use them. It just makes them look 1. really disproportionate and 2. like they are begging for attention, because I for one notice the abnormally huge bun before anything else.

I am not going to get into a religious "Camel hump" debate about this, I personally wouldn't sit hear calling it haram, because by saying that you are basically stating that it is a punishable act. I really don't know about that.  

Perhaps I am totally wrong and behind the times and maybe I have completely lost touch with what it means to be stylish and the gamboo3a is actually a fashion breakthrough. And maybe electric cars will actually catch on and Saudi Arabia will make it to the cup final. Maybe.

Idle Words

"It is better to sit alone than in bad company; and it is better still to sit with the good than alone. It is better to speak to a seeker of knowledge than to remain silent; but silence is better than idle words."

Prophet Muhammed (S) - [Bukhari]

Happy Eid - Eid Sa'eed - Eid Mubarek

...I didn't know which one to put.
 

I hope that everybody's Hajj was accepted and that we can all go next year insha'Allah :)

Enjoy your day!

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Chiffon Dress

An autumn/winter outfit idea from yours truly :) I really like the dress but would give the belt a miss to keep it loose.

Every item is under $50.

Aztec by stylishmuslimah

"If you guarantee me 6 things I shall guarantee you Paradise: Speak the truth when you talk, keep a promise when you make it, when you are trusted with something fulfill your trust, avoid sexual immorality, lower your gaze (in modesty) & restrain your hands from commiting injustice." - The Prophet Muhammed (S) [Al Tirmidhi, Hadith 1260]

Arguing In Islam

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The Prophet (S) said:

"Do you know what is better than charity and fasting and prayer? It is keeping peace and good relations between people, as quarrels and bad feelings destroy mankind."

[Narrated by Muslim and Bukhari]

“I guarantee a house in the outskirts of Jannah (Paradise) for one who gives up arguing, even if he is in the right; and I guarantee a house in the middle of Jannah for one who abandons lying even when joking or for the sake of fun; and I guarantee a house in the highest part of Jannah for one who has good manners.”

[Narrated by Imam Abu Dawud]

When I read these I felt sickened with myself.

Who am I to dictate who does what on their blog when I didn't create my eyes, hands or brain, without which I could do nothing let alone make some outfit on Polyvore and then complain because my pride can't handle that somebody else is taking credit for it? 

I forgot that my goal in writing this blog was for Allah (SWT) and to better myself as a Muslim, not to inflate my ego.

I am sorry that I tried to stir up fitnah just to get my own back on somebody who had damaged my pride.

I get why there is such reward for controlling oneself in an argument. The more I live the more I seem to realise how much of a slave I am to my own weaknesses and that when it comes down to the important things in life, I know next to nothing.

I am sorry to have wasted your time and my blog space - which could have been filled with something positive and pleasing to Allah (SWT) - on useless gossip.

A Simple Hijab Look From YouTuber 'makeuphijabs'

From 'makeuphijabs' YouTube user. I would personally give the fake bun thing a miss, and also the broach but I like the general headscarf style.

Justice Served?

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Apparently Gaddafi's last words were pleas for mercy. I am not sure if he was granted this by being barbarically killed - some say martyred - and spared the degradation of a public trial, or if he deserved his bloody end. Of course the only justice he will ever receive in full is from his Creator.

I also find filming the killing of a human being nauseating at best and at worst, desensitizing. And was there a need to drag his mangled body through the streets? In Islam we must respect the dead, whoever they are. I must admit I found the actions of my fellow Arab Muslims today quite disappointing.

That said I am glad that the Libyans can now look to the future with hope. I wish them all the very best.

Oh brother, cover up.

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I am growing a little weary of our Muslim male counterparts and their declining modesty. I would just like to say that Muslim men, just like us, have a duty to adhere to their own hijab, but I fear that the concept of "the male hijab" is quickly fading. Although I doubt that many males are avid readers of 'Stylish Muslimah', I have decided to make a post about what the male hijab actually consists of and if it makes even one 'brother' think twice about purchasing a top three sizes too small, I shall be content.

I will try to make this as short and painless as possible.

Although Islam dictates that men should cover from the belly button down to, and including, the knees, this is the BARE minimum and is not acceptable attire in a mixed environment when there are clothes available to cover up the top half of the body.

This is illustrated in many ahadith, including:

1. The Prophet (S) said: The best shroud is a lower garment and one which covers the whole body, and the best sacrifice is a horned ram.

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari 1.357, Narrated Said bin Al Harith

2. I asked Jabir bin 'Abdullah about praying in a single garment. He said, "I traveled with the Prophet during some of his journeys, and I came to him at night for some purpose and I found him praying. At that time, I was wearing a single garment with which I covered my shoulders and prayed by his side. When he finished the prayer, he asked, 'O Jabir! What has brought you here?' I told him what I wanted. When I finished, he asked, 'O Jabir! What is this garment which I have seen and with which you covered your shoulders?' I replied, 'It is a (tight) garment.' He said, 'If the garment is large enough, wrap it round the body (covering the shoulders) and if it is tight then use it as an Izar (tie it around your waist only.)' "

Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 7.693, Narrated Uqba bin Amir

The above ahadith illustrate an important message about appropriate attire for Muslim men:

Covering the whole body in loose clothing is better than only covering the bottom half, but covering the whole body in tight clothing is worse than just covering the bottom half in loose clothing. In short, tight clothing that reveals the figure is not acceptable attire for a Muslim man. If he has gone out of his way to wear tight clothing for the purposes of attracting women, he is disobeying the commands of Allah (SWT).

Male attire should also be plain and simple:

1. The Prophet (S) once prayed wearing a garment having marks. He looked at its marks. When he saluted, he said: Take this garment of mine to AbuJahm, for it turned my attention just now in my prayer, and bring a simple garment without marks.

2. Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar (R.A): The Prophet (S) said: “Whoever wears a garment of fame and vanity, Allaah will dress him in a garment like it on the Day of Resurrection.” According to another version, “…then set it ablaze.” And according to a third version, “will dress him in a garment of humiliation.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4029

You may be surprised to find that there are generally six main critera for hijab, five of which apply to both men and women. The only one that differs is the extent to which each sex has to cover.

Clothing for both males and females should be:

1. Loose enough to cover the figure

2. Thick enough so that it is not transparent

3. Simple and not purposfully attractive to the opposite sex

4. Not resembing clothing of the opposite sex

5. Not resembling clothing of people of other religions e.g. having religious symbols etc 

(6. Worn by a humble Muslim who lowers their gaze and does not strut around hoping that they are the best thing since sliced bread.)

“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.” - [Quran 24:30]

Friday Khutba

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The take home message really stuck in my mind from yesterday's khutba at university. It was that your beliefs mean nothing and have no significance in the hereafter if you do not allow them to manifest into actions.

It's so simple and so true, yet it can be so decidedly difficult to live by.

Is it just me..

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..who thinks that those Bloomingdale bags appear to be describing their owner rather than the actual bag..? I don't know why, it just gets me every time :D

Simply Zeena Review

I recently came across a new Islamic clothing website, simplyzeena.com, that sells some really cute modest items. They sent me a lovely long hoodie to review. This is going to be a 100% honest review of the service, quality and value for money of the top and site in general.

Being 100% cotton the hoodie is very soft and comfortable. It reaches just above the knee (I am 5'6'') and what I really like about it is that it is not tight around the hips (though I did get a size up), which is a problem with long hoodies on the high street even if you do get a bigger size.

Here are some pics I took:

The colour is really versatile so it goes with practically any headscarf. I am currently liking the floral look so I paired it with floral scarf ^-^

What is great about this top is that is it long and loose enough to wear layer-free :D

Value for money: Considering the price of cotton as been steadily increasing I think $40 for this is a steal. The other items on the site are priced similarly. Overall, the top is good quality so I would be happy to pay that price on the high street.

Shipping: I have bought many things from the US before and this site definitely shipped the fastest. I was so surprised to see that it arrived in under a week.  They are a new Islamic company so show them your support and check them out! :D

www.simplyzeena.com