Blessed Pilgrimage

Hajj

A fifth pillar in the religion of Islam,

A duty compulsory for those who can,

A land of holiness and history I yearn to be brought to,

To make prostration to the creator who I will return to,

Zamzam water quenching not just a physical thirst,

But bringing a fresh outlook, and a spiritual burst,

Allowing me to correct and realise,

Any weaknesses that have limited my mind’s eye.

To obey without question and to love without fear,

The aim of my existence I hope to bring near,

Not limited by the wealth you own,

But if the invitation is written for you to enter this blessed home.

A dream I wish to fulfill,

A goal I hope to achieve,

Given to creation to act upon,

For those who truly believe,

A life-changing experience that I pray

Will change me to my core,

Which has changed so many that have made this blessed pilgrimage,

So many times before.

A time for Reflection

If I Could

If I could talk to a rose, I’d ask the secret to its beauty,

If I could talk to the moon, I’d ask how it captivates so many,

If I could talk to time, I’d ask why are you in a rush to go?

But there are things in life we were never meant to know.

We were created with the capacity to question our lives,

To contemplate our creation, reflect on our design,

However there are limits to the human mind,

Events only clear with the passing of time.

You are not burdened beyond your scope,

Trials you are given, He knows you can cope,

Fully aware, All-Seeing and Hearing,

Tests designed for you, you should have no fear in,

Seek strength from Him alone; seek His guidance & mercy,

In the darkness of the night, cry out urgent pleas:

For a grateful heart at all costs,

A patient soul when all seems lost,

A tongue that brings benefit or remains closed,

The secrets you have not to be exposed,

The strength to face each day with determination,

And persevere in your unique destination.

The questions that don’t have answers should not fill our days,

Place your trust in your Lord, who guides your way,

Live life with gratitude and give thanks for your blessings,

Don’t dwell on what you can’t change, pray for what tomorrow brings,

Let the rose bring joy with its beauty

Let the moon bring wonder with its shine

Let the dial on the clock keep ticking, as we reflect on the mystery of time.

My journey to wearing hijab

Asalamu Alaikum all ! The article below was written for the  blog Pearls of Naseeha which can be seen here: http://pearlsofnaseeha.com/2011/07/21/what-the-hijab-means-to-me-halimat-shode/

The reason I began to cover began with the question why am I a Muslim? Although born into a Muslim family, I never took an interest in studying my own faith until the end of secondary school. I had always seen the Qur’an as a big scary book ready to condemn me – or so I thought. I pushed ignorant assumptions and fears of the unknown to the side, and what I read led to deep reflection on my creation and purpose in life. This noble book of wisdom showed me how to live my life, how out of touch I was with my faith, but ultimately the infinite mercy of Allah and how I could return to him before it was too late. The decision to wear the hijab was a firm belief in my heart of what my Lord wanted of me:submission to him alone and my heart not my body. 

The steps to actually wearing it were slow but I kept at it, at the same time as trying to increase myself in knowledge. It went from a tie back scarf to an additional scarf covering the neck, to finally full hijab Alhamdulilah. The first time wearing full hijab I felt like my face was illuminated with an unknown light, and a confidence I had never known before was running though me like adrenaline!

Although I had known of the benefits of hijab before wearing it, it was strongly reinforced to me when I practiced it. It was first and foremost a reminder of my duty to my Lord and with this secure conviction, came an inner peace and contentment I had seen on many Muslimah’s faces before, and now had the pleasure of experiencing. It was also a major sign of modesty that I was unfamiliar with but now attached to, and respect came from unexpected places. I would have non-Muslim men lowering their gaze and offering me their seats on public transport and these acts of kindness would further assure me of the wisdom of the commandment of hijab.

As I entered college a full hijabi, the benefits remained however there would also be tests to face, such as free mixing which I was not familiar with coming from an all – girls’ school. This was also when I realized the concept of hijab in not just your appearance but also your speech, and how you conduct yourself with others. I realized I wouldn’t be doing hijab justice if I were to speak freely and not maintain boundaries with boys, so with prayers to remain steadfast and continuously seeking knowledge, I kept my distance which at times was hard, but Alhamdulilah I got through.  Being someone who doesn’t like to draw attention to myself, I realized that by wearing hijab I was also a living breathing example of Islam to many of the non-Muslims. This made me more aware of my actions and words and reminded me of the accountability I would face on the Day of Judgment if I were to act not according to Islamic guidelines.

Although I didn’t like the spotlight on me, I would see the attention girls would get from their revealing clothes and Shaitan would make me feel as if hijab was unnecessary baggage or something that could be compromised. This was one of the hardest trials I had to face, however I realized any pleasure I would get from their lustful gazes would be short-term enjoyment compared to gaining the eternal pleasure of the Lord of the Worlds by refraining from such activity.

In facing these trials of college life, Allah blessed me with the friendship of sisters who practiced deen for his pleasure and reward and would always be there with a helping hand and an attentive ear as well as a reminder of our duties to our creator and the final destination when our temporary lives have ended.

The hijab became my identity and to this day I have never left my house without it. No matter the struggles I may encounter with hijab I remember that it’s a command from my creator, a reminder, a blessing.

Comments & Feedback  :).....x

Patience is a virtue

Asalamu Alaikum all, a poem that intends to remind & encourage :

Verily after hardship comes ease

“But lo! with hardship goeth ease, Lo! with hardship goeth ease; so when thou art relieved, still toil And strive to please thy Lord. (Surah Ash-Sharh verses 4-8)

Climbing the world’s highest mountains,

Swimming in the deepest seas,

Running through the hottest fires,

Verily after hardship comes ease.

The peak you’ll reach, the fire will cool,

The water won’t drown you,

Patience is your tool.

To overcome your trials and have release,

Patience will open the doors to peace

Peace of mind, heart, and soul,

Giving you strength to continue your goal,

Of eternal bliss in an eternal abode,

A place the soul yearns for and wishes to go.

For how often does happiness last in this life?

Before it’s replaced with bitterness and strife?

You weep and a moment is gone, a sigh and there goes another,

Mothers lose sons, sisters lose brothers,

This is to remind those who feel burdened with troubles

That your Lord is not punishing you, nor making your tests double.

The seasons of life from good to bad,

Are not for you to mourn over what you may have had,

The tests are designed for the return to your Lord.

So you can seek comfort in his reassuring words,

That relief is promised to those who will persevere,

In this tiresome journey of life, which will bring a few tears.

No matter the heights, no matter the depth,

Even if it feels like it could be your last breath,

Never give up the fight, keep pushing, you’ll see,

That verily after hardship, there will come ease.

Comment & Feedback :)....x

Say a prayer

This second poem was recently written, as a reminder to myself before others.

Raise your hands


Raise your hands for those who are unable,

For those who can not place food on the table,

For the orphan boy and homeless girl,

In the sight of their Lord, treasured pearls,

For the victim of war, and the physically abused,

The helpless, down-hearted and confused,

Bring your hands together and say a prayer,

To the Lord who sees all suffering, the Most-Aware.

Lift your hands; make dua for your loved ones,

For the mother who raised you, there when it all begun,

When you were brought to this earth, and placed in her arms,

You never left her loving gaze, she was under your charm,

Seek forgiveness on her behalf, a high status in Jannah too,

For she wouldn’t hesitate a heartbeat to do the same for you,

Raise your hands for your father, your siblings, and community,

For the power of dua will surely bring all unity.

Whether it’s the dawn of the day or the stillness of the night,

Whether it’s the sun’s beaming rays or the stars gleaming bright,

Ask your creator for the goodness of this worldly life,

But also the blessings of the next one not yet in sight

Our time is short, a precious gift,

It is with this in mind that we must lift

Our hands in praise to Him time and time again

For he hears words said and unsaid and only He remains.

Comment...x

First Post ! :)

Asalamu Alaikum all, this is the first poem of the blog which some of you may have seen. It was written for a Eid poetry competition I won and can be viewed here: http://www.stunninghijab.com/

The jewel

In a world that defines less as more,

Where worth is judged in how many looks you score,

The Jewel was crying out for shade,

Covered from the world’s gaze.

And wouldn’t society be amazed?!

The Jewel never knew her true worth,

Assuming that from her birth,

That time would go on and she’d have her layers uncovered,

For others to gape at her in awe and wonder.

She never wanted perfection, only protection,

The protection of her Lord was what she slowly began to crave for,

She was given guidance by the Qur’an with its blessed spiritual sustenance,

And they say her fate was sealed when she read the verse that revealed,

“On no soul do we place a burden more than it can bear.”

Tears poured from her eyes and even more from her heart,

Because right then she knew that with a fresh start.

Her title Muslimah would not be in vain,

And the deeds of her life which slowly became,

To hold more significance than just day to day,

Her Lord she began to call on to ease her way.

Into this beautiful way of life with unmatched wisdom,

Of which there were obstacles to overcome,

Many out to snatch the Jewel’s shine,

But she fought back with all her might every single time.

A comment, a stare, an unkind laugh,

Made for a challenged heart,

But she remained firm and steadfast,

Against all cruelty, so she’d stand last.

The Jewel had Sister gems who she also wanted to protect,

From the snare of Shaitan so they wouldn’t be next.

So she taught them what she knew and prayed for their safety,

Monthly, weekly, especially daily.

She knew a day would come when they would question life,

And when that time came, she wanted for them less strife,

She wanted their hearts resistant to temptation,

For She Knew Fitna was ready to corrupt their destination.

May Allah make it easy on all beautiful girls,

The Muslimahs striving for Allah, the well guarded Pearls,

Because we are Jewels with beauty undiscovered,

Our Lord, Most wise, gave us this cover.

Feedback & comments are appreciated :)....x