We Are Not Alone


Scenery: created by Allah (swt)
Photographed by: iMuslimah

Mode: auto, point and shoot camera
Editing/Manipulations: desaturated, contrast adjusted
*Image may not be used or reproduced*

Help!

Salaams peeps :)

I can't stand my layout. So many sisters have such beautiful pages, and I am just stuck. There aren't many template options on blogspot, can any offer some advice? I want to know how you do it! I would like to stay here, is there any way to import templates, preferably free/halal ones?

Help a sister out with an e-makeover.

Shukran ;)

Spoken Word

As'salamu alaykum all :)

I'm not talking about poetry....

Abud-Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said, "Nothing will be heavier on the Day of Resurrection in the scale of the believer than good manners. Allah hates one who utters foul or course language" [At-Tirmidhi who said that it is good and authentic.]

Since becoming muslim, I am amazed by how specific and thorough our faith is! We are warned about everything, whether in the Holy Quran or through hadiths. It seems that for every issue we face in this life, it is addressed in our Book and sunnah. What a gift!

I hope I can raise my son, together with my husband to understand this very important and beautiful aspect of Islam, inshaallah.

...And it goes without say, that potty mouth will not be tolerated, and we will set the example inshaallah.

Minding our Manners

As'salamu alaykum all.

I purchased a really good booklet: "100 Ahadith about Islamic Manners", published by Darussalam. It is the "bees knees" for those of us who are new to Islam. I am really enjoying it; hence I will share with you, one hadith that spoke to me today:

Abu Harairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said, "He who believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him show hospitality to his guest, and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day let him maintain good relations with his kin, and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day let him speak good or remian silent. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

These recommendations are sound but challenging at times. While I think I am doing ok in the hospitality department, I can work on the "speak good or remain silent" principle and try to improve my relationship with family members I don't see often, or at all.

I haven't seen my father in three years....

Unknown

As'salamu alaykum ;)

For those of you who have been kind enough to read my pointless blog, I thank you.

We are expecting our first munchkin, and while I am in my mid thirties and have had the benefit of watching my siblings raise their children; I don't REALLY know what to expect. Here I am, with my unborn son squirming around in my belly, loving him endlessly and wishing my due date would get here. I have this intimate relationship with him already, but once again, I have no idea what comes next.

I will love him more than life.

My love for my husband will continue to increase exponentially.

I am willing to LIVE for my son, not just give my life.

I will love rocking him to sleep.

I will be nervous about so many people holding him.

I will be anxious to inspect him from head to toe at birth.

I think his hair will be as fine as kitten fur.

I will experience true exhaustion like never before.

I will feel guilty and cry my eyes out when I return to work full-time.

I will forever cherish this gift that Allah swt has bestowed upon us.

That's about all I know right now. I hope I am right. Inshallah I hope it's better than what I think I know. Alhamdulillah for everything.

In Loving Memory

As'salamu alaykum one and all.

Subhanala.

Several years ago, newly muslim, I wandered into a chat room for muslimahs that changed my life forever. I met the young woman that introduced me to my husband several years ago. A few weeks ago, Ukhti passed away after an ambitious campaign against a serious illness.

I will never forget her dedication to, and her indepth knowledge of the deen and her connection to the ummah. I will forever cherish her character and honesty; I will always have a special place for her in my heart, for the good deed she did for my husband and I.

Most importantly, all praise and thanks is due to Allah for sending Ukhti into my life. He truly works in mysterious ways.

May Allah subhana wa tala grant Ukhti peace and warmth in her grave, and a most special place in jennah inshaallah.


I want a Burquini

As'salamu alaykum sisters and brothers- especially to whom might have the same internal struggle- I MISS SWIMMING.


I miss frolicking through the waves on a brutal summer day, letting the current whisk me away weightlessly, tossing my cares and worries to the wind and enjoying one of Allah's most magnificent creations: the ocean. Let's face it folks, I would even take a chlorinated swimming pool at this pool, if one were available.




For some reason, one of the most difficult modifications I have made to my lifestyle since becoming muslim, has been the removal of aquatic activity. Recently I found the genuine Burquini online, and my heart went a pitter-patter. My husband and I thought seriously about it, and then decided against it. There is just too much controversy over the subject. The thoughts we keep coming back to are that, when I emerge from the water, the shape of my body will be visible and there will be men present. I realize my intentions are not to fraternize with the opposite sex, but I am not comfortable with the idea. Doesn't that stink? There is not a single "women's only" swim club ANYWHERE in my region. Not to mention, the beaches are all co-ed and very crowded.


I wish there was a gym with a real athletic swimming pool, for women only. Swimming is an awesome all-over body work out, and I have received the most benefit from this excercise in the past (chronic back pain sufferer here). I would also love for one beach to be for religiously conservative communities (I know, I know, wishful and outlandish thinkging here), where a family could picnic and witness a salacious ocean sunset and not have to face men and women in thongs making out on beach blankets. I lament that when my baby comes, the lifestyle I enjoyed so much as a child, will not be available for him- pales and shovels, sand castles, digging for crabs, collecting sea shells...... there is so much joy and delight in these simple activities.

This is where I am supposed to cling to my belief...that the rewards in the next life will be greater than anything I can imagine here inshaAllah. I find myself, forgetting this sometimes, and feeling deprived. I suppose that is what makes me human. I don't know- my thinking is flawed and I cannot seem to reverse it.


Why does this mean so much to me, when there are so many other really awful hardships being faced by muslims everday???? I actually feel rotten for having these thoughts. Alhamdulillah I have so much that I am grateful for.
Ma Salaama.

Have you ever???

As'salamu alaykum :)

Today was interesting. I had a prenatal appointment that sort of went like this:

Sonographer: Hi there (insert pleasant small talk here)
Me: (silent, non-verbalized thought) Save the small talk and show me my baby.
Sonographer: Is it just your husband that is muslim or are you muslim too?
Me: Alhamdulillah I am muslim.
Sonographer: Oh, so you converted for him after marriage?
Me: No, I converted for ME before we met.
Sonographer: Oh.

I did not ask her a single question in return. I am slightly annoyed with myself for satisfying her curiosity. I am a hijabi; my husband was not with me.......

I'm Already Sweet Enough

Lately I have been having wicked urges and cravings for things I wouldn't normally eat. A colossal vanilla ice cream sunade smothered with hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream, bananans, walnuts and rainbow sprinkles would make my heart sing, but first I would indulge in a huge greasy pizza covered with extra cheese.

This is not wise, nor is it possible. From day 1 of pregnancy, because I carry extra weight already, I was terrified of poisoning my baby with garbage, and I was afraid of developing Gestational Diabetes. Low and behold, three weeks ago, I failed my glucose tolerance test, and now have to monitor my blood glucose 5 times daily. My fingertips are sore, and I am a little frustrated that I can't give in to a single craving BUT I am happy to report that all my hard work and prevention tactics from the beginning of pregnancy have paid off! I had to adjust my diet very little, and I have not had a single abnormal fingerstick. I haven't gained an ounce thus far (and this OK for me as per my OB/GYN, it might not be ok for everyone). I do need to step up and be more active, and my doctor recommended walking.

Essentially the test that I failed demonstrated that I have the inability to process sugars, and if I do not watch my intake, there could be complications. Inshaallah the condition should resolve itself after delivery. Inshaallah I will remain good until the end. I do understand that this can change towards the end of pregnancy so I must continue to do my best and keep my faith strong that Allah (swt) will do what is best for my unborn baby and myself.

Complications that can arise if the sugars are not well controlled are: insulin therapy (sometimes even watching the diet is not enough), large babies, c-sections, and baby not being able to stabilize his own blood sugar after birth (thus being whisked away from me until he can- which can impede my ability to nurse him, and that kills me). G.D. also means that later in my life, I have a good chance of becoming non-insulin dependent diabetic...so if I get a handle on it now, it won't be a surprise, nor will I struggle with the lifestyle changes. I might even be able to prevent it!

My wish inshallah is to continue on this healthy path after he is born, so I may be an example for him as to how to nourish and care for the bodies Allah (swt) has loaned to us. I don't want him to have the same issues I've had with weight, and I want my husband and I to enjoy an active, outdoors lifestyle with our little miracle!

Time for lunch....

As'salamu alaykum


Who am I ?


As'salamu alaykum ;)

I am starting to realize that I am no longer who I thought I was. Does that make sense? If I analyze my feelings, common sense tells me that my identity is not defined by the things I used to do, but by my virtures, moral compass and intentions. The idea that I will never be alone, ever again, is scaring me. I am more nervous and aware of my surroundings at all times, and have an instinct to always be close to home. The notion of being seperated from my husband (for any any reason I can think of) brings anxiety. Now, every thought and deed revolves around my unborn son, impending motherhood, and my husband. It seems like a very natural progression, and life has taught me that whenever there is a new experience on the horizon, balance is key to enjoyment. I am alomst certain that I will adjust to my new role, as I find myself aching to embrace my new baby, in Allah's (swt) time inshaAllah.

There are times when I ponder the days when it was just 'me'. I came and went as I saw fit, never having to consider anyone else. I rarely cooked lol, shopped at will, journeyed into the night for prolonged exposure photography (alone, and yes- stupid) and if I left my underthings on the bathroom floor for a day, it was no sweat. There was nothing more satisfying that logging onto to travelocity and booking a flight on a whims notice. Alhamdulillah living alone was a valuable and rich experience that I will never forget. The mistakes, failures and successes will never leave me, and I hope that the lessons learned will serve me well in my new role as "mom". I wouldn't trade my married/family life for anything in the world, I am just learning how to navigate through the next chapter.....




Hooked






I made these! I adore crocheting sweaters and blankets for babies. It is a very
satisfying hobby, and when I give these items away as gifts, they are treasured, even though they are imperfect.

Interested? Give it a try! I learned from a booklet that came with all the fixins'. It's super easy to get started :)