Grand Opening! Nov. 18th

Assalaamu 'alaykum!

We are very excited to invite you all to the grand opening of Urban Muslim! Here's your personal invite...

Dear Muslima, Muhajjabah, Mumina,

You are cordially invited on November 18th to the Grand Opening of Urban Muslim at the Flea Market.

Location: Dundas and Mavis right beside Canadian Tire which is directly across from Home Depot.
Booth number: 86-87

Do bring your sistaz, friends and loved ones to come chek out what the buzz is all about at Urban Muslim. Drop by our booth... we would love to meet with you and get to know you better inshaa Allaah!

After all you get to express yourself thru Urban Muslim...

Hope to see you there!

With love,
Urban Muslim

Beautifying ourselves...

Assalaamu 'alaykum,

Alhamdulillaah, I had a chance to get a facial today... I love my facial lady, Frazey... I wouldn't trade her for anyone else (only in TO tho!) I tend to have amazing people who do facials everywhere I visit... alhamdulillaah. Considering my skin is uber sensitive and acne prone, it isn't the best idea to switch your facial lady... especially if you find one thats totally awesome. Frazey's number is (416) 500 6470. I also have a hair lady, Shireen... who does hair very well... n when I say very well, I mean very well... her number is (905) 569 6020 for those interested. However after I finished beautifying myself...( hey its always important for a muslimah to look well put together!), I came across this lil article and realized how very true, subhan Allaah... the beautification isn't meaningful unless you beautify yourself inside and outside... a thorough beautification...

My dear sisters in Islam, please take a look at this advice, so that you can stay attractive and beautiful for the rest of your life.
1- To beautify your eyes, lower your gaze towards strange men, this will make your eyes pure and shiny.
2- To have attractive lips, always remember to speak the truth.
3- As for blush and rouge, "Modesty" (Haya') is one of the best brands and it can be found in any of the Islamic centers.
4- To remove impurities from your face and body, use a soap called "Istighfaar". Insha'Allah this soap will remove any bad deeds. (Ameen)
5- Now about your hair, if any of you has a problem of hair split ends, then I suggest "Islamic Hijaab" which will protect your hair from damage.
6- As for jewelry, beautify your hands with humbleness and let your hands be a power to forgive people who hurt your feelings. And the necklace should be a sign to pardon your fellow brothers and sisters.
Insha'Allah, if you follow this advice given to you by the Creator, you will have a beautiful and attractive inner and outer appearance.

Empower yourself...

Assalaamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullaah,

In our day to day grind, in the hustle and bustle that is our society, in the controversy surrounding the muslimah... we take this very defensive stance... our walls come crashing down and our heads seem like they are pounding... constantly pounding...

Yet subhan Allaah if we take a moment and ponder on the beauty of this deen, on the mercy of our Creator, we will understand that Allaah has empowered the Muslimah... indeed He has... by placing the responsibility of an entire nation at her feet... after all, a Muslimah impacts a nation through her roles of teacher, mother, daughter, friend, confidante among many other roles... let's take a breath, let's pause, let's breathe and ponder... let's empower ourselves!

The status of the Muslim woman in Islaam is a very noble and lofty one, and her effect is very great in the life of every Muslim. Indeed, the Muslim woman is the initial teacher in the building of a righteous society, providing she follows the guidance from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah[1] of His Prophet , since adherence to the Qura'an and the Sunnah distances every Muslim - male or female - from being misguided in any matter. The misguidance that the various nations suffer from, and their being deviant, does not come about except by being far away from the path of Allaah - the Most High, the Most Perfect - and from what His Prophets and Messengers, may Allaah's peace be upon them all, came with. The Prophet said: "I am leaving behind me two matters, you will not go astray as long as you cling to them both, the Book of Allaah and my Sunnah."[2]

The great importance of Muslim woman's role - whether as wife, sister or daughter, and the rights that are due to her and the obligations due from her - have been explained in the purified Sunnah.The secret of her importance lies in the tremendous burden and responsibility that is placed on her, and the difficulties that she has to shoulder - responsibilities and difficulties some, which not even a man bears. This is why from the most important obligation upon a person is to show gratitude to the mother, and kindness and good companionship with her. And in this matter, she is to be given precedence over and above the father. Allaah - the most High - says:"And We have enjoined upon man to be dutiful and good to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness upon weakness and hardship upon hardship, and his weaning is in two years. Show gratitude and thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination." [Soorah Luqmaan 31/14]

Allaah - the Most High - said: "And We have enjoined upon man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship, and she brings him forth with hardship. And the bearing and the weaning of him is thirty months." [Soorah al-Ahqaaf 41/15]

A man came to Allaah's Messenger and said: O Messenger of Allaah! Who from amongst mankind warrants the best companionship from me? He replied: "Your mother." The man asked: Then who? So he replied: "Your mother". The man then asked: Then who? So the Prophet replied again: "Your mother." The man then asked: then who? So he replied: "Then your father." So this necessitates that the mother is given three times the likes of kindness and good treatment than the father.[3]

As regards to the wife, then her status and her effect in making the soul tranquil and serene, has been clearly shown in the noble ayah (verse), in His - the Most High's saying:"And from amongst His Signs is this: That He created from you wives from amongst yourselves, so that you may find serenity and tranquility in them. And He has put between you love and compassion. Indeed, in this are signs for those who reflect." [Soorah Ar-Rum 30/21] Al-Haafith Ibn Katheer (d.774H) - rahimahullaah (Allaah have mercy upon him)- said, whilst explaining the term mawaddah means love and affection, and ar-rahmah means compassion and piety - "since a man takes the hand of a woman either due to love for her, or because of compassion and piety for her, by giving to her a child from himself…"[4]

And the unique stance that the Prophet's wife Khadeejah took, had a huge effect in calming and reassuring Allaah's Messenger (upon whom be peace) when the angel Jibreel (Gabriel - peace be upon him)- first came to him in the cave of Hiraa. So the Prophet returned to his wife Khadeejah with the first Revelation and with this his heart trembling and beating severely, and so he said to her: "Cover me! Cover me!" So they covered him until his fear was over, after which he told Khadeejah - everything that had happened, and said: 'I fear that something may happen to me." So she said to him: "Never! By Allah! Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good ties with relations, you help the poor and the destitute, you serve your guests generously and assist those who have been afflicted with calamities."[5]

And do not forget about Aaishah and her great effect. Since even the great Sahaabah (Companions) used to take knowledge of Hadeeths (prophetic narrations) from her, and many of the Sahaabiyaat (female companions) learnt the various rulings pertaining to women's issues from her…And I have no doubt that my mother - may Allaah shower His mercy upon her - had a tremendous effect upon me, and has a great excellence over me, in encouraging me to study; and she assists me in it. May Allaah greatly increase her reward and reward her with the best of rewards for what she did for me.And there is no doubt also, the house in which there is kindness, gentleness, love and care, along with the correct Islamic tarbiyah (education and cultivation) will greatly affect the man. So he will become - if Allaah wills - successful in his affairs and in any matter - whether it be seeking knowledge, trading, earning a living, or other than this. So it is Allaah Alone that I ask to grant success and to guide us all to that which he loves and is pleased with. And may the prayers of peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his Family, his companions and his followers.

Footnotes:

[1] The word 'Sunnah' means the 'legal way or ways, orders, acts of worship and statements of the Prophet , that have become models to be followed by the Muslims'.
[2] This hadeeth is hasan (good): Related by Maalik in al-Muwattaa (2/899) and al-Haakim (1/93), from Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him. It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no.1871).
[3] Authentic: Related by al-Bukhari (no.59710) and Muslim (7/2), from Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him.
[4] Tafseer Qur'aanul-Adheem (3/4439) of Ibn Katheer
[5] Related by al-Bukhaari (1/22) and Muslim (1/139), from the lengthy narration of Aaishah (may Allaah be pleased with her).

Long Jacket anyone?

Subhan Allaah... I remember starting my first year of university... soon it was presentation day... ahhhhhh... I mean what does a practising muslimah wear to present in front of a university lecture hall?!?...

• Pants from Dynamite... too tight
• 3/4 Jacket from Chado... ugh why does it have to show the shape of my waist?!?
• Shirt under the jacket... man this just makes the jacket look tighter... no one will notice if I have a tank top on will they? After all its covered by my hijab

Seriously, the only article of clothing that I felt comfortable with on my body was the scarf wrapped on my head... o well, what can one do?

Later on, I decided thats it... this is nuff! I have many presentations thru out uni and this tight "suit" is simply not going to cut it... therefore I purchased nuff material and on my first trip back to the "mother land", I went and got this beautiful dark blue, long jacket sewd for a decent price... alhamdulillaah!

Ever since then it has truly been an investment mashaa Allaah... I pull out that jacket every presentation, get soooooooooo many compliments on it... 3 years later mashaa Allaah. And to me that jacket is priceless alhamdulillaah.

Everytime I have an article of modest clothing that looks good, I feel this huge accomplishment and also feel that the investment is so worth it! I'm sure many of us go "score!" when we find clothing that doesn't hug our butt or our waists or get stuck up there (u know what I'm talkin about)...

And now... finalement! Urban Muslim carries "long jackets" :D Mashaa Allaah! This is what I call exciting... so make ure investment while they last!

Baby, it's all good!
Author unknown

What do you see when you look at me
Do you see someone limited, or someone free
All some people can do is just look and stare
Simply because they can't see my hair
Others think I am controlled and uneducated
They think that I am limited and un-liberated
They are so thankful that they are not me
Because they would like to remain 'free'

Well free isn't exactly the word I would've used
Describing women who are cheated on and abused
They think that I do not have opinions or voice
They think that being hooded isn't my choice
They think that the hood makes me look caged
That my husband or dad are totally outraged
All they can do is look at me in fear
And in my eye there is a tear

Not because I have been stared at or made fun of
But because people are ignoring the One up above
On the day of judgment they will be the fools
Because they were too ashamed to play by their own rules
Maybe the guys won't think I am a cutie
But at least I am filled with more inner beauty
See I have declined from being a guy's toy
Because I won't let myself be controlled by a boy

Real men are able to appreciate my mind
And aren't busy looking at my behind
Hooded girls are the ones really helping the Muslim cause
The role that we play definitely deserves applause
I will be recognized because I am smart and bright
And because some people are inspired by my sight
The smart ones are attracted by my tranquility
In the back of their mind they wish they were me

We have the strength to do what we think is right
Even if it means putting up a life long fight
You see we are not controlled by a mini skirt and tight shirt
We are given only respect, and never treated like dirt
So you see, we are the ones that are free and liberated
We are not the ones that are sexually terrorized and violated
We are the ones that are free and pure
We're free of STD's that have no cure
So when people ask you how you feel about the hood
Just sum it up by saying, 'Baby its all good'

Welcome to Urban Muslim!

Assalaamu 'alaykum!
Welcome to Urban Muslim... A new way for the Urbanite to express their identity. We aim to provide clothing that promotes Modest Elegance while promoting the importance of Islamic Identity. We do hope that you enjoy your stay here... feel free to visit us at www.urbanmuslim.ca
Fatma