مجلة المسلمات الجميالت الملتزمات
ممّرح
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From the Editor Bism Allah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatu May the peace & mercy of Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala be on you.
Dear MBM Readers, Whether or not you are aware of it, to be a Muslim is to be a leader. But why so? Isn’t a Muslim one who submits to Allah swt? Yes, indeed. However, by consciously submitting to Allah SWT , we are striving to please Him instead of pleasing others. The foundation of Islam is a leader foundation—not a follower foundation. But aren’t Muslims very similar since Islam is a way of life? Muslims are very similar in many aspects of their life, yet even in that being true, each Muslim is a leader because they have chosen to lead a life that is not the norm in today’s society.
“Islam began as something strange, and it shall return to being something strange, so give glad tidings to the strangers.” [Sahih Muslim] Let’s face it—as Muslims we stick out in many different ways and are pretty “strange”. But this is not a bad thing—no not at all—this is actually a wonderful thing. Some leaders lead by example, while other leaders lead by an arrogant force and dominant authority. Which method should we be implementing as Muslims? If we look at the beautiful narration of our beloved Prophet’s (SAW) life, we will see that he was the ideal leader. Just as we strive according his Sunnah for everything else, we should strive according to his Sunnah when looking to lead others. As evident in many hadiths, it was very clear that the Prophet SAW lead by a beautiful, humble example. He also never forced anything on anyone.
In Surah Al-Kahf, ayah 7, Allah SWT says:
"That which is on earth We have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them--as to which of them are best in conduct." How does this ayah relate to leadership? One quick look at this ayah may allude to how worthless the dunya is. However, this is far from the truth. The dunya has huge value, because it is our key to Jannah, inshaAllah. Also, as Allah SWT has commanded, we must best conduct ourselves. Take this issue as a invitation to make yourself a better leader. Are you already a good leader? Great. Become even better, inshaAllah. May Allah SWT grant us all this wonderful virtue. — As a reader, your comments, criticism, and suggestions are highly appreciated and encouraged. By the will of Allah SWT, let us all engage in a deep collective search for truth, guided by the primary sources of Islam: the Qur’an and Sunnah. As always, JazakAllah khair for being an MBMuslima reader—this magazine would be nothing without you.
Enjoy the issue, inshaAllah.
Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu, Sister Yasmin Essa Front Cover Image: Smphoto | Dreamstime.com Image: Dreamstock | Dreamstime.com
Contents
December 2010
Editor's Letter ….. page 2 5 Tips to Awaken the Leader in You ..... page 5 Le Leader Musulman (French) ..... page 7 Hakim and Leila Remember Allah ….. page 11 Garden of Knowledge ….. page 12 Walking into Jannah Barefoot ….. page 13 Too Much Pride? ..... page 14 Brazilian Chicken Soup ….. page 15 Brazilian Coconut Shrimp & Rice ….. page 16 Baked Bananas Latin Style ….. page 17 Book Review: Love in a Headscarf ….. page 18 Qur'an Challenge: First 10 Lines of Surah Al-Kahf ….. page 19 Boost your Marriage ….. page 20
Copyright Modest Beautiful Muslima© Magazine 2009-2010. Reproduction or redistribution of anything from MBM requires proper credit to be given.
It’s Friday!* BY REHANA MALIK Friday’s here, no time to waste, Got to go and set the pace, I’m not running a marathon, Just fulfilling my Friday fun. It’s Friday! Jummah is hot on the list, Sura Kahf I must not miss, (provides light from one Friday to the next). Salutations on the Prophet (PBUH) will get me far, If I recite it often my sins will fall, Ten wiped away and ten rewards gained, Not to mention the elevation attained. Seems easy but why is it so hard, Must be doing something ungrateful!
Ok I am going to change my stance, Praising my Lord may give me another chance. In His remembrance my heart will find rest, Peace, serenity and success! Between Asr and Magrib, I will make excessive Dua, As during this time Dua’s are specially answered. Maybe I’ll try smiling at the next person I see, That’s easy and effortless continuous charity. It’s Friday! Now I know what I need to do, Fun Filled Friday, I love you!
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By Nadia Ali “Each of you is a caretaker (ra’iy) and responsible for those under his care” ~ Bukhari, Muslim, Hadith 335 ~ “Men are protectors of woman because Allah Ta'ala has given them more strength and because they support them from their means.” Al Qur’an, An-Nisaa (34)
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Though Allah Subhaan Wa Ta'la has chosen men to have authority over women, every Muslim woman is a caretaker for those under her care, be it within the household, within education or in the work world—so develop the leadership skills within yourself to set an exemplary role to successfully reach every goal you set.
1. Vision Be a person who can look beyond now, to a realistic goal and set a plan to obtain it. You may start with the things that are attainable and then reach for a bigger goal. When given a choice, choose the easiest option. There is no shame in doing this.
2. Motivational Be someone who can inspire others. Keep those whom you are responsible for motivated by giving sincere praise, recognition and encouragement. Subhaan Allaah! Simple gratitude (shukr) for a job well done goes a long way.
3. Communication The ability to communicate effectively determines your value as leader. Always use an appropriate tone of voice, key the emotion when speaking and say it with authority, while still maintaining a connection. In turn, the ability to listen is equally important, as it helps to understand others, be supportive, provide feedback and gain more information. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a master of communication—skillfully delivering the message of Islam to mankind.
“Set your face to the deen in sincerity which is Allah's fitrah upon which He created mankind …” Al Qur’an, Al-Rum (30)
4. Integrity Be known as a woman of integrity. It is the highest virtue of mankind. Live in accordance to Islam. Many will identify you with attributes such as trust (amanah), humility, being ethically, dependable and a person with high standards and reputation.
5. Mentoring Muslim women are natural mentors—available and approachable, most of the time, particularly where their children are concerned. Giving help, support, encouragement and advice is part of a mother’s heart. The best of leaders are those who inspire others to be just like them simply by leading through example. Developing leadership skills will empower you by learning your own strengths and weaknesses. Even though nothing can equate to the leadership qualities of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who spread the word of Islam and is revered as a universal leader, inshaAllah, we can all aspire to be a better Muslim by awakening the leader within. We are all leaders in our own way.
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By Tayyaba Syed
There are times when the most profound statements come from none other than my five-year-old daughter. Her words teach me great lessons and remind me of the innocence and understanding that Allah gifts within children. One night as I was laying her to sleep in her bed, she asked me a very deep question. “Mama, how can I walk into Jannah barefoot?” I looked at her curiously and asked her what she meant by her question. “Well, if we can’t take anything from this world to Jannah with us, then I will have to walk in there without my shoes,” she stated. I was dumbfounded and had to find the right words to say to her. “Hmm, well you may be right, but what’s wrong with walking into Jannah barefoot?” I asked her sincerely. She looked at me anxiously and a little disheartened. “Nothing is wrong with that, but I want to be able to take my toys and clothes and books with me to Jannah.” Oh. Now it all made sense to me. I had to remind myself that children are very literal, and this was her understanding of how we leave the duniya behind. I reminded her that what we have in this duniya is nothing compared to what is waiting for us in Jannah inshAllah. In turn, her words made me realize that the relationship we have with this duniya is only temporary, and there is no need to be attached to this world.
A perfect example of detaching oneself from this duniya is when one embarks on the great journey of Hajj. It is recommended that you tie all loose ends before you leave for Hajj. Any debt or financial obligations must be discharged and any outstanding differences with any person should be resolved. If you hurt anyone in your life, you should seek his/her forgiveness before leaving. You prepare for Hajj as if you will be meeting death. You perform the Hajj with the utmost simplicity where every person is considered equal regardless of one’s color, age, or status. The importance of this duniya is set aside at Hajj. The beloved Prophet Muhammad (S) stated, “Live in this world as (if you are) a wayfarer (traveler) or a stranger” (Bukhari and Tirmidhi). In other words, the abode of this world is only for a short period of time, therefore man must continue his journey towards his real destination: the hereafter. Fatima (R) was the daughter of the Prophet (S). Her name means “the one who is weaned.” We should look to her example, because she was “weaned” from the duniya. She had no attachment to this world and lived her life in preparation of the hereafter. Our vision of the world should be the same as hers. It should be like the view of a bird in flight: distant enough to see a large scope of the world without actually being “in” the world. In this way, if we live our life as a traveler, our shoes will wear off by themselves. We can then easily walk into Jannah with bare feet.
TAYYABA S. SYED A wife, mother, and writer. She is also a certified substitute teacher and teaches on a part-time basis. She has written for numerous publications including the *Chicago Crescent Newspaper*, *Azizah Magazine*, and *Muslim Quarterly Magazine*. She has been featured on air with National Public Radio's "Speaking of Faith" program as well as Soundvision's Radio Islam. She also does public speaking on marriage and family for Muslim women. She is a lead volunteer for the Refugee Assistance Program (RAP) as well as Camp Busy Bees in Illinois. She finds inspiration for her work through her wonderful family and community. Visit her blog at www.tayyabasyed.blogspot.com Image: Maureen Rigdon | Dreamstime.com
By Amani Zidan Do you remember in the second grade when you got your first A on a spelling test and just couldn’t wait to show your parents? Remember when mom would put it up on the refrigerator door so that everyone can see how great you did? Or when your parents came to your first orchestra concert and were so proud to see you playing on stage. It was the greatest feeling. Every time you did something good or achieved an accomplishment, nothing was more rewarding than the happiness of pleasing those whom you love and care about most. As a child, these small things would make us feel proud and strong. What about your friend who didn’t do as well as you? In situations like this, many children are unintentionally too concerned with themselves and fail to notice how others feel. We never realized that in some way, unintentionally others would get discouraged and would even envy us for it. In our teen years, we start to become aware of this, and become full with pride that may or may not be deliberately bestowed on your close friends or family. As we get older, we don’t realize that this pride we were taught to have as children could turn us into something dreadful and dangerous. It has the power to ruin everything that we as Muslims stand for. Because it’s not so noticeable, we don’t look at it as a big deal or realize that it is something bad for us. This pride we share is something that remains active within our daily lives, and travels with us everywhere we go. It could be shown by the way we treat each other, or simply in the way we dress. For example, there are so many of us that are proud to be of a certain background and share a common culture. Unintentionally, we favor those who are most similar to us. When we single each other out and make our Muslim brothers or sisters uncomfortable, this is very hazardous. As Muslims, we should be the most diverse and respectful of people. We must embed understanding in our hearts. Imagine if we replaced our nationality with our deen (religion). What if we replaced that sense of pride with humbleness? Humble in the way we practice Islam, humble in the way we present ourselves when doing righteous acts, and humble when treating one another with respect and fulfilling our duties of giving/ returning the peace or Salaam.
“Indeed, they who have believed and done
righteous deeds and humbled themselves to their Lord - those are the companions of Image: Yanik Chauvan | Dreamstime.com
“And the servants of the Beneficent Allah are they who walk on the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant address them, they say: Peace.” (25:63)
Paradise; they will abide eternally therein” (Quran 11:23) The smallest things can help you attain so many blessings. SubhanAllah. For instance, at the masjid, you might notice a young brother or sister who is trying to read Quran and you hear them reciting it improperly. If you know the correct way to read/recite, the best thing to do in this situation is to help them in a sincere and kind manner. This is the difference between those who have pride versus those who are humble. In college, you make a lot of new friends with people who might have shared the same experiences as you. There are many different Muslims you become in touch with and can practice your deen with while on campus. Every time you pass by or encounter those whom you know, you should stop to say hello. Do you ever notice all the Muslims on campus or in the public who pass by each other without any acknowledgment of each other? Who so ever thinks that when they pass a Muslim brother or sister they aren’t deserving of the peace, or Salaam?
"And turn not your face away from men with
pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not each arrogant boaster.” (Quran 31:18) Giving or returning Salaam to another Muslim in this life is something obligatory and ordered by Allah swt for us to do. Islam is a religion of peace. When someone who is proud to be a Muslim sees another brother or sister, they are likely to greet them with salaam, purely for the sake of Allah swt. If for some reason the Salaam isn’t returned to you, it is okay because it is given for the sake of Allah swt. It is not hard to convert your feeling of pride to acts of righteousness and modesty. Sure, you won’t get any stickers or a tap on the back from mom anymore, but instead you will be pleasing Allah swt. May Allah bless us in being humble to Him, and guide us on the straight path, Ameen! Jazakum Allahu Khairun for reading.
E-mail writer Amani Zidan at Amani.Zidan@yahoo.com
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Brazilian Recipes Courtesy of Yvonne Maffei from My Halal Kitchen
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*Special Feature* Q&A with
Halal Culinary Expert, Yvonne Maffei from My Halal Kitchen!
Email your question to info@mbmuslima.com We will make sure it gets answered in our next issue,
Photo courtesy Halal culinary expert, Yvonne Maffei
just for you! Jazakum Allah khairan!
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Translation Credit: http://noblequran.com/translation/index.html Transliteration Credit: http://www.islambasics.com/view.php?bkID=30&chapter=18
Boost your Marriage
BY FATIMA KHAN
Read Up On His Hobby “For the times you think your husband spends way too much time on a hobby, consider your own favorite past-time and the kind of joy it gives you. Read up on his hobby to gain a better understanding of what makes your husband tick. If possible, ask him for a personalized lesson; your interest will excite and please him. You can choose whether you want to be a proud wife, or a disgruntled one."
These tips are so simple to implement yet result in such beautiful, long-lasting results. Guaranteed! (inshaAllah) Brought to you every month by talented Marriage Coach, Fatima A. Khan Visit Fatima at www.LifePepper.org
Photographer: Sameh Abdallah www.samabdallah.com
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WORDS EXPLAINED FOR THE NON-MUSLIM InshaAllah Simply translated from Arabic to English, InshaAllah means „God willing‟. This is a very commonly used phrase, as Muslims believe God has power over everything. MashaAllah Simply translated from Arabic to English , MashaAllah means 'Whatever Allah (God) wills'. Often, it is used as an expression of delight or achievement. JazakAllah khairan Simply translated from Arabic to English, jazakAllah khairun means „May Allah reward you for the good”. This is commonly used to thank someone or to acknowledge someone‟s effort. SubhanAllah In Arabic, SubhanAllah means „Glorious is Allah”. This is used when praising God. It is also commonly used as a exclamation like “Wow!”. Masjid The Masjid is simply the Arabic word for Mosque. Many Muslims refer to the Mosque as a Masjid. Masjids are primarily used for Salah (Prayer)
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Jummah prayer The Friday prayer services that Muslims attend weekly. SWT: Subhana wa’ta3la Arabic Praise used after the name of Allah meaning „glorious and exalted is He” Hijab Headscarf prescribed to Muslim women for modesty purposes Shahadah Declaration of Islamic faith. Assalamu Alaykum May peace be unto you.