Review: Modefa

I was recently sent two lovely scarves to review from mymodefa.com, a US based store specialising in hijabs and accessories. Both of the scarves were from the Turkish "Aker" range.

The first thing that I noticed was the beautiful packaging of the scarves. I think that attention to these details really sets a store apart from others, especially with so much competition these days. I really wanted to show you guys the wrapping of the scarves but my mum accidentally recycled the card before I could take some snaps, sorry!

Anyway, here are the scarves.

I really like the square silk one even though I don't tend to wear square hijabs. It also looks great on bags. Both scarves arrived without a crease by the way, that was totally my fault :/

I got my mum to model them for me :)

You can find the pink one here. It currently retails at $27.50 - not bad for an Aker scarf, although it is very thin and therefore would need to be worn with an underscarf if you want more coverage. I really like the dusty pink colour and the boarder of the scarf, it's very summery.

The silk scarf is not big but it is big enough to wear in a shayla style if you don't like the common Turkish style. You can find it here. It retails are $49.99 (down from $54.99), I think this is a little pricey, although it is 100% silk.

I adore the combination of the ditsy flowers with the stripes, too cute!

There is currently a sale doing on at Modefa so definitely go check them out. Also, SM readers can get an extra 10% of the Spring 2012 silk scarves by using the code "ramadan12".

Hope Ramadan is going well :)

Three kinds of modesty

Ramadan mubarek everyone! 

I came across this video earlier today and wanted to share it with you. Lately I have been having a bit of difficulty with the issues he discusses and I felt that his talk helped. I highly recommend it if you have 30 minutes to spare :)

P.S. Anyone fasting longer than 18 hours?

Is cosmetic surgery wrong?

As far as I can remember I have always hated my nose. I have wanted to have it done for ages but I am in two minds as to whether or not it is halal to do.

I know that a lot of people are going to think that I simply want to do it out of vanity (having such a vain blog and all..) but my nose has always been a source of great anxiety; it sounds awful but I am constantly wondering what people are thinking about it and what angle they are looking at it from, it drives me mad. I am obviously not going to post a picture of it but it is similar-ish (but worse) than Lea Michele's nose.

I think that she is really pretty but on me the nose is horrible. Being unlucky Arabs, both of my parents are nasally well-endowed and so I guess my fate was sealed when they married.. 

I was thinking of getting it done but I really don't know if it's the right thing to do. It's so embarrassing to ask people who know me in real life so I wanted to open the question to you guys. If someone is really unhappy with the appearance of their nose, should they just get it done?

"We will surely test you with something of fear & hunger & loss of wealth & lives & fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, 'Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return'. Those are the ones upon whom are blessings & mercy from their Lord. And it is those who are guided."

 [Surat Al-Baqarah: 155-157]

Channel 4's First Hijabi Reporter

I was delighted to discover that the popular UK channel, Channel 4 has recently hired a hijabi reporter, Fatima Manji, as one of their new journalists. Check it out here :)

Abayat

I was flicking through my SM photo file when I noticed that I have an awful lot of abaya photos that I've never used. I'm going to stick them into a single post because I'm too impatient to wait for a more appropriate time to use them.

  

 I'm getting some seriously mixed up messages with some of these styles...

 Fake blue fur sleeves eweweweewwwwww

 Love this next abaya ^-^ Shame about the foot..

 The next one just makes me LOL.. don't ask why..

Last is always the best :D

Blazer Styling

I went on a little shopping trip with my mum today and bought a nice black blazer from H&M. Blazers are super versatile and can be styled in lots of ways - I like to keep the dress underneath plain and shapeless as I think the blazer provides enough structure and style on it's own.

Unfortunately the Chanel bag in the outfit is wishful thinking :"(

Waterfall Blazer by stylishmuslimah

"The Haram Police"

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I have been putting off writing about this subject for some time now, however I feel like I really need to get this off my chest. These days, I feel like I just want to give up (on life) whenever I read a "haram" comment not only on this blog but on other people's blogs and YouTube videos. Don't get me wrong, I do not mind at all being given advice from time to time but I can't help but think that more often than not the people giving it are just a combination of bored and holier-than-thou. I may be wrong but I do not think that the majority of these "advisers" actually care about the people they are publicly humiliating advising.

If you are wondering what brought on this outburst, it was a YouTube comment that I read earlier today on a hijabi's video that was telling the girl that if she isn't going to cover her neck she might as well take her headscarf off altogether. WHAT. Who on earth does this person think they are? And that pathetic argument never fails to piss me off, not because I uncover my neck but because the argument itself is ridiculous. Let me explain..

Allah (SWT) has not stated the full reasoning behind everything that He (SWT) has commanded us to do. One of those things is hijab. Let us examine the reasons that Allah (SWT) has given in the Quran for wearing the hijab:

Bism'Allah Al Rahmaan Al Raheem

"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be protect their private parts, and not to display of their zeenah except that which is apparent, and to draw their headcovers over their juyub, and not to reveal their zeenahnaught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed." [Al-Nur:31]

NOTE - A reason for covering has not been stated in this iya except the implication that following the commandments will result in success. 

Bism'Allah Al Rahmaan Al Raheem

"O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their outer garments about themselves (when they go out). That is better so that they may be recognised and not harassed. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." [Al-Ahzaab:59]


NOTE - The reason given in Surat Al-Ahzaab is that the hijab should be worn so women will be recognised (as Muslims) and not harassed.

In conclusion, the reason given in the Quran for the commandment of hijab is for women to be recognised as Muslims. Therefore, telling a Muslim woman that if she shows some of her hair/neck/ears it is basically the same as if she is not wearing it at all and advising her to remove the scarf altogether is totally absurd because even if she does only loosely wear the scarf, most people on the street will still recognise her as a Muslim.

I am not saying that the hijab should not cover everything but the hands and face but I am saying that people should realise that adherence to hijab is not a black and white subject. Whether or not we like it, the definition of hijab is still widely disputed amongst Muslims and we are simply never going to all agree on one thing.

Bottom line is, please stop calling people out in public on the Internet. If you care so much about them (which I doubt, sorry) you would send them a private message or pray that Allah (SWT) guides both you and them. As a general Internet rule, if you wouldn't say it to their face, don't write it.

"Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should not harm his neighbour. Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should entertain his guests generously. And anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should say what is good or keep quiet."

- Prophet Muhammed (S) -

How to speak - according to the Quran



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Following recent events in the country I have been feeling so very glad that Allah (SWT) made me a Muslim. Now I should show it by following these rules a little more stringently.

Smart Hijab Tip #2: Wedges

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My second smart hijab tip is about what has recently become my favourite type of shoe - the wedge. Wedges are great for both short and tall and I think that they instantly smarten and streamline any look.

As a general rule, I wouldn't wear open-toed or strappy wedges to work, it just doesn't look right. Also, make sure that the trousers almost (but don't quite) hit the ground.

Here's an outfit for some inspiration:

 

Wedges by stylishmuslimah

Just be careful when you walk though.. I was getting the tube the other week and do you know when you think that the last step is actually the floor and your ankle twists in? Yeh that happened to me with a pair of wedges on.. I couldn't walk for a week :(

Trends: three I like and three I just don't get

Contrary to what you might think, I generally do not follow trends. I'm not a particularly trendy person at all. Of course, if there is something trendy that I like I go right ahead and get it but I don't buy things just because everyone else has them. Though recently, certain recurring trends have caught my eye. Here are three I really like, and three I find utterly pointless:

Gold watches: I had been on the hunt for the perfect watch for probably about a year until I found this beauty. I am in love.

 

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 Who needs a man when you can just have a man-watch?

Crosses: Is it me or has everybody suddenly become enraptured by this religious symbol? I am not even a Christian and I get offended by how the cross has become a mere fashion item. It's everywhere, and half the time it's upside down, I mean WTH? I don't care if I'm taking this "too seriously", the reality is is that even of you're an atheist you can't deny that the cross used to be used to torture and kill people. How is that now a fashion statement?

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Evil eye jewelry: It may not actually have any protective powers but the eye certainly looks pretty good on jewelry.

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Creepers: I don't care how much of a hipster you are. You can instagram all the filtered, weird-angled pictures of them you want but just remember that no one, NO ONE can make those fugly things look good. Got to be the worst trend since jeggings.



I refuse to credit the source.



Loafers: Love them! Everyone should own a pair. Or two.



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The "What's in my bag?" tag: This isn't a fashion trend per se but it's certainly a YouTube trend that I find unbelievably pointless. Have I missed something here because I simply don't understand who would care what's in some random person's handbag? These videos can be longer than 20 minutes of someone just pulling crap out of their bag and then explaining everything in mind-numbing detail. Don't they feel a bit silly sat in front of a camera filming it, what if someone randomly walked into their room..? The whole thing would look ridiculous. I mean I've actually seen someone pull out a legit sanitary pad and then explain why she carries it. WOWOWWWOOW.

"One who covers up the failings of somebody in this world will have his shortcomings covered up by Allah (SWT) on the Day of Judgment"

Prophet Muhammed (S)

Career Choices

Everybody gets to a point in their life when they have to make a decision that will probably change the rest of their career forever. I am currently surrounded by people who are not only making this choice but are showing tremendous passion for what they want to do. And that's great, fantastic actually. But it leaves me wondering why I don't have a passion for my future career. My heart is not set on anything at all. How sad is that? 

Actually it's quite horrific, because I was thinking the other day that if I were to be 100% honest in any future job application I fill in, when asked why I am interested in working for their particular company, I would stick in a photo of the following:



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Yep, I definitely have my career priorities right..

But seriously, do you think that someone can be happy in a job without being passionate about it? Because if not, I am clearly destined to a life of misery, with or without a 370z.

Advice from our Prophet (S)

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iPhone apps

When I initially got an iPhone I thought that the whole app function was the best thing since sliced bread.. then I took it abroad and realised that the iPhone is of next to no value without an internet connection. Without WiFi the iPhone takes you back to 1999 where the only thing you could do was use the calender, play snake and have a torch at hand.

Luckily for me, I'm not abroad and I DO have an internet connection so my iPhone is currently working great YAY!

I feel like making a list today so I thought I would share with you some apps that I like (I am hoping that somebody in the world will half care but I'm not holding my breath or anything..).

I should actually be writing up my university dissertation, due in 22 days, but I can't be asked right now.

So here goes:

1. Whatsapp

The app that you kind of have to have even if you don't want it. It's great for instantly sending photos and having group chats but not so great if you don't want to reply to someone but you've read their message so you know it's double-ticked and then they're online when you read it and they start typing and you go offline and then feel bad and you wish you still just used conventional SMS and - it's just one big mess.





2. MailOnline

Sometimes I just wish that I was intelligent enough to actually enjoy reading something like the Independent or the Financial Times. Instead I prefer to read a slightly right-wing paper that doesn't think grammar is overly-important and produces articles that are just a little bit too juicy and controversial to not be made up.

3. PicCal

This is a recent download and I'm really liking it so far. Basically it's like photo diary where you take a photo a day and it stores them as a calender. I hope that it's not going to end up like a real life diary where you're really excited about it at the start and you write in it twice a day and then you've forgotten about it a week later.  



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4. R-type

A TRUE 90s kid would understand :D

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5. iPray

Great for prayer times. I had the lite version then I bought the full version, honestly I can't tell the difference. Something to do with the compass or athaans. 

6. TVCatchup

Best app for live TV on your phone. And it has Dave. I mean who doesn't love TopGear??

7. Alafasy Radio

So I really liked this app at the start. Mishary Alafasy is an excellent reciter. The only thing that's not great is when you use the app you're greeted with his giant face:

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Now this was not a problem until my mum saw it on my phone and somehow convinced herself that I chose the background and so I must have a crush on him.

I don't think that I've listened to  this app  since my mother's rather traumatising accusation. Not that it made much of a difference to her anyway.. she still started smirking at me when he was on TV the other day in a "I know that you know that I know" sort of a way O.O 

Yeh, not my favourite app actually.

"Nothing is heavier in the scales of a believer on the Day of Judgement than his good manners (akhlaaq) - Allah (SWT) detests a person who is obscene and shameless"

- The Prophet Muhammed (S) -

Request: Graduation Look

Minha Aliya requested that I suggest a graduation outfit for her upcoming (middle school?) graduation. I think that she said she is 14 years old and the only girl who wears hijab in her year.

As you mentioned that the other girls generally wear pencil skirts, I would suggest that you follow a similar theme. Here is an outfit for some inspiration, hope you like it! I have tried to keep it young and fun but I might not be the best person to ask as I did not wear hijab until quite a few years after secondary school so do not have experience dressing in hijab for prom/graduation.

Graduation by stylishmuslimah

Brochu Walker racerback tank, £193

Gucci cropped blazer, £999

Vero Moda, £14

Yves Saint Laurent platform high heels, €600

Box clutch, $634

Black Lily silk scarve, 359 DKK

I hope that this helps! I would have liked to suggest other looks for you but I am so behind on work at the moment, I really don't have the time. Let me know how it goes!