Daily Hijabi Issue 1

Daily Hijabi August 2009

GET RID OF CONSTIPATION Get natural relief

WHY I WEAR THE NIQAB Join me or leave me alone

JOURNEY TO ISLAM SERIES Sister S.S Lai follows Geography to Islam

HIJAB STYLE

TUTORIALS PAGE 14

FIVE FABULOUS FINDS

MOSQUE ETIQUETTE

7 mistakes we’re making in the mosque

PAGE 4

START THE RAMADAN

COUNTDOWN TODAY

NURI

DAILYHIJABI.COM

WELCOME TO THE BEGINNING Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullah, We welcome you to our first issue and look forward to growing together as Muslims.

We started Daily Hijabi to create an alternative for Muslim Women. Our goal is to help our sisters with their task of being Muslimahs in these trying times.We’re not the type of magazine that focuses solely on beauty because we believe that there is more to life than this duniya. At the same time, we’re not the type of magazine that’s solely about preaching and that calls everything Bidi’a. We believe in creating a safe space for sisters where we can be each others keepers. A place where we remind each other to uphold truth and the word of Allah. A place where we can have fun being women. A place where we can share tips with each other, inspire each other and encourage ourselves to be the best Hijabis we can be. Being a Hijabi is a daily task, it’s not something that you stop being when the clock turns to midnight. It’s a way of life. It’s following a code of honor, of respect and of complete submission to the will of Allah.

With Ramadan just around the corner we decided to do a Pre-Ramadan issue to get us all thinking about ramadan and preparing for it. Please join us next month in the Ramadan issue and insha’Allah many more monthly issues to come. In future issues, we plan to bring you a Q & A section, Fitness section, a beauty feature, new website and lots more exciting things to look forward to.

We hope this issue inspires you and gets you thinking. We welcome your support and contributions so please send us emails or call us if you’d like.We’re open to ideas and we’re not infallible so if you find us making any mistakes please let us know immediately.

Jazakhillahu Khairan Send editorial enquiries to: editorial@dailyhijabi.com Advertising Sales Ads@dailyhijabi.com Call/Text: +234 703 6622 601

Please address comments and suggestions to: comments@dailyhijabi.com To submit an article please email us at: write@dailyhijabi.com DAILYHIJABI.COM 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1 - August 2009

IT’S TIME TO START WALKING.................36

TALAQ: A FITNAH FOR OUR SISTERS.........8

A HIJABI’S GUIDE TO RAMADAN & EID.....35

WHY I DON’T WEAR HIJAB...YET..............26

KNOW YOUR VITAMINS...........................38

PERFECTING YOUR SALAT......................10

FETA SALAD RECIPE...............................44

AN ODE TO MOTHERHOOD.....................14

6 HEALTHY GUIDELINES..........................42

ON THE COVER

4

18

28

MOSQUE ETIQUETTE

JOURNEY TO ISLAM

HIJAB STYLES

12 mistakes we make in the mosque that can cause fitnah for our ummah.

Sister S. S . Lai’s inspiring journey to Islam and the lessons we can learn from her.

Some hijab tutorials from our Hijab Style expert. This month add a bit.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 2

WHY THE RAMADAN

COUNTDOWN STARTS NOW PAGE 22

6

32

24

WHY I WEAR NIQAB

FIGHT CONSTIPATION

5 FABULOUS FINDS

If you’re thinking of wearing niqab or want to understand why sisters wear it, find some answers here.

It’s time to fight back! Get relief the natural way with the help of fruits and veggies.

Here are five things you can’t afford not to know about!

DAILYHIJABI.COM 3

MOSQUE ETIQUETTE

12 mistakes we’re making in the mosque 1. SITTING BEFORE PRAYING

As soon as you enter the mosque you are required to offer two raka’ats before sitting down.

2. EXCLUDING OTHERS

Sometimes when the majority of the people who frequent a mosque are from the same tribe or nationality, they treat any new visitor to their mosque as an outsider. They make anyone from a different background attending prayers there to feel excluded and unwelcome. Islam does not believe in nationalism, infact, the Blessed Prophet (pbuh) said to his companions “Nationalism has a bad smell so stay away from it”*. Do you really want to drive someone away who may be visiting your mosque for the first time seeking knowledge about Islam? We are all brothers and sisters in Islam so the mosques belong to all of us.

3. TALKING DURING FRIDAY SERMONS (KHUTBAH)

The purpose of the Friday Sermons are to act as reminders and to help strengthen our faith. But, they can only benefit us if we actually hear them. This is why it is important to keep quiet during Friday Sermon so that you can listen to the Imam. During Friday Sermons you are not even supposed to say Salamu Alaikum to your Sisters upon entering the mosque because doing so would cause disruption and prevent all of you from hearing the sermon.

4. MAKING A MESS

It never ceases to amaze me that a sister or her kids can make a mess in the mosque and she can get up and leave without cleaning up after herself or her kids. Fear Allah sisters, and remember that you are in His Mosque not in your own house. Also know that you will be held accountable for any discomfort that anyone feels because of your mess.

5. ARGUING

In Islam whenever two people are arguing, the first person to give up the argument regardless of whether they are right or wrong, is forgiven their sins. If you argue with someone in the mosque, you may stop going to mosque so as not to see that person again thus depriving yourself of all the benefits of going to mosque. That’s one of Satan’s many tricks to keep you away from the house of Allah. So the next time you find yourself arguing with someone in the mosque, remember Allah and hold your tongue.

6. NOT SETTING UP COMMITTEES

Most mosques around the world unfortunately do not have committees set up to greet visitors to the mosque or to help new muslims feel welcome and to help answer any questions they may have.

Go to any church in the world, and automatically someone will be assigned to help answer your questions or make you feel welcome and special. If you’ve been at your mosque for a long time and there’s no committee think of it as your responsibility to start one.

7. PREVENTING WIVES FROM GOING TO THE MOSQUE

Some brothers today forbid their wives from going to the mosque. They have no right to do so because the Blessed Prohet (pbuh) told his companions not to prevent their wives from going to the Mosque*.

All husbands can do is tell their wives their preference. Even the wife of Omar Bin Al-Khattab went to the mosque despite the fact that Omar did not want her to go. He disliked it, but he couldn’t prevent it. In our society today there is even more danger in men not allowing their wives to go to the mosque because the mosques are the best places for us to learn about the quran and sunna. They are also the best places for us and our children to feel like part of an Ummah. If your husband does not wish for you to go to the mosque, he has to provide you with an alternate source of knowledge. Sisters do not use this as an excuse to be rude to your husbands. And remember that if you don’t go to the mosque in order to please him, Allah will reward you. So basically it’s a win-win situation for us sisters.

8. REQUESTING SADAQAH FOR THE MOSQUE

The Mosques need our financial help, but the way some mosques go about it is bordering on harassment. In some mosques a brother or sister goes around with a money box stopping in front of each person. This is a very bad idea because if someone did not intend to put any money in the box, they may feel pressured to do so because the box is placed in front of them. Or someone may feel embarassed if they don’t have anything to put in the box. This contribution is completely voluntary but shoving a box in front of people makes it feel compulsory.

Continued on page 13 * Sahih Buhari

Nationalism has a bad smell so stay away from it DAILYHIJABI.COM 5

WHY I WEAR THE NIQAB

by Umm Kulthum Idriss

I noticed that whenever I put on my Hijab and Niqab, I upheld Islamic manners more.

I

started wearing niqab six years ago at the age of 14 not because I wanted to put it on, but because I was forced to.

It all started sometime in march 2003 when I was attending Islamiyya in Kaduna. Our teacher left the school for another, and a new teacher replaced him. The new teacher instructed all the female students to put on Niqab

before attending his classes or else they should stay at home. I thought that was unbelievable. I was really disturbed because I didn’t want to wear the Niqab. I kept asking myself how could he say so? Is the hijab not enough?

Besides the Niqab is not compulsory. Well I didn’t have a choice as I didn’t want to miss my classes. He gave us a one week grace

period. On the D-Day, I tied a black scarf on my face because I didn’t want to buy a Niqab.

Those who came to school with their bare faces were beaten seriously and sent back home. I was fortunate not to share their fate but was warned not to come with the scarf again. That is how I started wearing the Niqab but only to Islamiyya.

In my Niqab I started to realize that I felt nice in it, and was not inconvenienced at all. Nevertheless, I didn’t wear it when I was going to other places. I noticed that whenever I put on my Hijab and Niqab, I upheld Islamic manners more. I was more polite, kind and so on. I also felt purified and protected. I started to want to wear it more often. So I began researching it because in Islam you are not permitted to do anything untill you know it’s legal standing. In my research I came across a lot of hadith in Sahih Bukhari, Muslim & Tirmidhi which indicate that the wives of Rasulullah and of his companions covered their faces.

I also researched Juristic opinions to find out whether it was obligatory or recommended. After my research, I decided that I would wear the Niqab full-time because our service to Allah is through obedience and we can do more than what is mandated upon us by doing something extra to seek the love of Allah. Of course it must be in line with the sunna. The moment I committed to wearing the niqab full-time, I started getting criticism from every angle; family, friends, lecturers etc. It felt like no one supported my decision. I remember my sister asking me one day “Umma will you please accompany me to my friends wedding?” I said “off course”

and she added “But if you know you are putting on that thing, then don’t even bother”.

At school I faced a different kind of criticism. I would be told “Don’t even dream of coming to my lectures with that” or “ I don’t think you belong here.” or even “ Yes you the girl with the mask, I won’t allow you to write this exam because I can’t identify you.” And on and on...

Some people would even stop me on the road asking me questions like “Can you breath?” Are you married?” and how do you intend to get married?” Some people would tell me that Niqab is only recommended to those who are extremely beautiful.

When you wear the niqab, people look at you as a primitive and uncivilized person. They are always surprised when they hear me speak english. Alhamdulillah, I ignore them all and still put my Niqab on. I believed that everything is destined and covering my face would not stop me from getting married if Allah wills. For those who said the Niqab is for the extremely beautiful, Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You might see a girl as ugly, but someone is there somersaulting to please her. Surely one man’s food is another man’s poison. Since the face is the source of beauty and enticement in most cases, it is better for a woman to hide the face so as not to trouble men who are weak at

resisting this kind of temptation.

Also, when you keep something hidden, it increases it’s charm even for the eye of the same sex.

In my Niqab I feel like a princess saying “You can’t see me coz you don’t have the right to.”

The Niqab helps you develop taqwah by conforming with a standard of behavior expected of a Muslim. One feels no more uneasiness when passing by a crowd of men. They treat you with courtesy and in a more respectful manner.

And for all those naysayers out there, I am married, and I got married inspite of my Niqab and I know countless of non-Niqabi’s who are single. So you’ll have to find another excuse.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 7

TAL

A FITNAH FOR OUR SISTERS Talaq: Divorce, an act detested

by Allah yet permissible.

The rate of divorces are alarming these days (a common feature in northern Nigeria) owing to the lack of patience exhibited by this generation.

The truth is relationships form the msot central factore of our very existence as humans. Yet most of our problems stem from difficulties (social, economic, psychological etc) In the beginning Allah created Adam and then Hauwa e.t.c the rest is history as we know it. For the occurrence of past events has led to Jalabiya (boy) meets Jilbab (girl), Jalabiya likes Jilbab, Jilbab likes him back, Jalabiya proposes and jilbab accepts. They live happily ever after? Not always! A number of factors come into play and it’s bye bye blissful union.

The issue here is not the divorce

rate but how some Muslimahs of this generation are unjustly being treated after a divorce.

Take the cases of Sister Fahmeeda* and Asma*.

Fahmeeda*: As the realisation of my new found status struck home, my mind was crowded with questions. Oh Allah where did I go wrong? Did I not carry out my duties as a good wife should? Meeting Hazeb wasn’t exactly on a love at first sight basis. He was a regular visitor at a point in time to my office.

I recall vividly the first time he approached me. He had a disposition of one who couldnít hurt a fly. Though I had suitors lurking around, what drew me to Nazir were his religious qualities. Though I didnít give in easily, we eventually did marry and had two kids. Then he started keeping late nights under the pretext of attending meetings. His excuse? Can’t you see I have to look after the fam-

ily? I was an orphan and also had a not so close relationship with my extended family. Nazir didn’t allow me to get a job, with the assurance “Fahmeeda you will be well provided for.”

Imagine how dumb founded I was when Nazir came home one evening to throw me and my kids out on the street with nowhere to go and an amount only slightly higer than a widows in my bank account.

Couldn’t he atleast have allowed me to observe my iddah?

(At-Talaq:2) When they fulfill their term appointed either take them back on equitable terms or part with them on equitable terms.

(At-Talaq:5) Let the women live (in Iddat) in the same style as you live according to your means, annoy them not so as to restrict them.

Q A

BY NAFISA ATTA

Asma*: My ex-husband Faisal was my childhood friend. His family moved to another part of the country as about the time I gained admission into secondary school. I was into Faisal years later while attending a youth conference in Lagos. A beautiful relationship began.

Both families were excited.

Almightly Allah blessed us with 3 beautiful children and then the troubles began. It was phone calls from one lady or the other. I pleaded with him to take them as wives being a Muslim. But my pleas fell on deaf ears. Faisal became distant from me. Through the months that followed, I kept praying for Allahís intervention. It was during the month of Ramadan, a few days to Eid precisely that Faisal and I had an argument.

He went out only to return with a piece of paper saying he has divorced me. Friends and family intervened and he pretended

to listen. Days later I fell ill and was hospitalized. On my discharge I was greeted by a house devoid of furniture, electronics, cheque books, etc. He even went as far as to disconnect the electricity. My car too was gone. I later found out he had sold it to my ìbest friendî. He took every thing but Alhamdulillah he left me my kids.

Unfortunately, some of our Muslim brothers do not imbibe it. They should try and imagine if these women where their sisters or daughters.

* Names have been changed to protect identities

(At-Talaq: 7) Let the man of means spend according to his means and the man whose resources are restricted, let him spend according to what Allah has given him. Allah puts no burden on any person beyond what he has given him. After a difficulty, Allah will soon grant relief.

The so called Alimony practiced in the western world and even among non-Muslim Nigerias was adapted from the Quran.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 9

Hopefully these tips will help bring you closer to perfection in your salat. May Allah accept all our prayers, have mercy on us and guide us to the right path. Amin.

TIPS ON PERFECTING YOUR SALAT

By Salim Mohammad

Count tasbeeh with your right hand.

The Prophet (SAW) used to count tasbeeh on the fingers of his right hand after salah. Ibn Qudamah (RA) said: ‘ The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used his right hand for tasbeeh.’

(Abu Dawood).The above hadeeth indicates clearly that the Prophet (SAW) used only one hand for counting tasbeeh. No Muslim with sound mind would imagine that the Prophet (SAW) used his left hand for counting tasbeeh.

Aa’ishah (RA) said that the Prophet (SAW) used his left hand only for Istinjaa’, or cleaning himself after responding to the call of nature. He never used it for tasbeeh.Yasirah (RA) reported:The Prophet (SAW) commanded women to count tasbeeh on their fingers.The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: ‘They (the fingers) will be made to speak, and will be questioned (on the Day of Resurrection. )’ (At-Tirmidhi) ...The above Hadeeth indicates that it is preferable to count tasbeeh on the fingers of the right hand than to do so on masbahah (rosary).

Rest your forehead, nose, two hands, two knees, and two feet on the floor in sujood.

The Prophet (SAW) said: ‘I am commanded to prostrate on seven bones the forehead and the nose, the two hands [palms], the two knees, and the two feet.’ (Sahih Muslim) Applying the above command necessitates resting the forehead and the nose on the ground during sujood.

Keep your breath smelling clean.

The angels do not like bad smells and neither will the person standing next to you in Jam’i so make sure you don’t smell like garlic or smelly socks. And don’t reek of perfume either.

Focus your eyes on the place where you will place your head during sujood.

We are commanded to lower our gaze, and look at the point at which the head rests during sujood.The Prophet (SAW) warned: ‘Let those who raise their gaze up during prayer stop doing so, or else their sights would not return to them. i.e. lose their eyesight].’ (Muslim) The correct spacing between your feet is determined by matching the space between your feet to that of your shoulders.

Keep your elbows away from your body during sujood and ruku’u and don’t rest your stomach on your thighs in sujood.

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: ‘Let not one of you support himself on his forearms (in sujood) like the dog.

Let him rest on his palms and keep his elbows away from his body.’ (Sahih Muslim) .The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to keep his arms away from his body during rukoo’ and sujood that the whiteness of his armpits could be seen (Sahih Muslim).

Pause after each verse in Suratul Fatiha.

The Prophet (SAW) used to pause after each verse of this surah. (Abu Dawood) Do not perform a hasty salat especially slow down your sujoods and ruku’us remember that you are prostrating before Allah.

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) saw a man who did not complete his rukoo’ [bowing], and made a very short sujood [prostration] ; he (SAW) said: ‘If this man dies while praying in this manner, he would die upholding a religion other than the religion of Muhammad.’ Abu Hurairah (RA) said: ‘My beloved friend, Muhammad (SAW) forbade me to perform postures of prayer copying the picking of a rooster; (signifying fast performance of prayer), moving eyes around like a fox and the sitting like monkeys ( i.e. to sit on thighs).’ (Imam Ahmad & at-Tayalisi) The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: ‘ The worst thief is the one who steals from his own prayer.’ People asked, ‘Messenger of Allah!

How could one steal from his own prayer?’ He (SAW) said: ‘By not completing its rukoo’ and sujood.’ (At Tabarani & al-Hakim).

To complete ruku’u is to stay in that posture long enough to recite ‘Subhana rabbiyal Adtheem’ three times, SLOWLY, and ‘Subhana rabbiyal-a’ala’ three times, SLOWLY, in sujood. He (SAW) also announced: ‘He who does not complete his rukoo’ and sujood, his prayer is void.’ (Abu Dawood & others)

DAILYHIJABI.COM 11

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MOSQUE ETIQUETTE / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

9. NOT KEEPING BURIAL CLOTHS ON HAND

Allah has promised us that we will all taste death but some of us do not want to accept that fact. We feel that perhaps if we don’t think about it or talk about it we can delay it’s inevitability. Wake up! You will die, perhaps today, tomorrow or in a hundred years. The fact is when death comes we need to be prepared. Our mosques should have a bather on speed dial and have the burial cloths ready as donations or even for purchase. I remember when a friends mother died and there were no burial cloths at the mosque so we had to run around trying to find some and then a tailor to sew it. If you have time, buy lots of plain white cloth and donate it to your mosque. Better yet, get the cloth, have a tailor sew them or do it yourself and then donate them to the mosque. Not only will Allah reward you, but when your time comes, your family and friends have one less thing to deal with at a very diffiicult time.

10. BULLYING

I know I’ve experienced them, have seen others experience them and have heard numerous stories about the occassionally well meaning bullies. They take it upon themselves to be the law enforcers and sometimes end up turning people off from going to the mosque. Sister if you’re one of these bullies, do yourself a favor and give up your power trip. It is not your duty to embarass sister Amina for wearing a skirt that you think is too short or for not making a straight enough line. If you feel sister Fatima has made a mistake, wait until you can speak to her alone, or as quietly as possible and explain yourself to her. Perhaps she is a new muslim and still learning the ropes, if you act mean and embarass her, not only will she be scared to ask questions, she may start avoiding the mosque all together.

11. NOT OFFERING CLASSES FOR NON MUSLIMS

Alhamdulillah some Masjids have this part down but for the most part, we don’t have enough classes for new muslims or those wishing to learn more about Islam. If someone stops you today in the street and says “I’m curious about Islam where can I get more information?” what’s the first thing that pops into your head? If it’s the mosque then Masha’Allah may Allah reward your community. If on the other hand you start listing names of people you know, then it’s time to take a step. Talk to your Imam and volunteer your time to organize a class. All you need is a class that is scheduled once a week or even twice a month. Make sure the masjid has posters or flyers lying about with that information so that if someone is seeking Allah, you can help make it easy for them.

12. FEW OR INSUFFICIENT MENTORING SYSTEMS

Having a role model is crucial to a child’s development. Take any successful person and chances are he or she got there because someone believed in them and gave them a helping hand. In today’s society our children’s role models are celebrities they see on TV, corrupt politicans in fancy cars and rappers who promote violence. Don’t you think it’s time we set up peer groups and mentoring in our ummah?

12. HAVING KHUTBA’S OR FRIDAY SERMONS IN ARABIC

The first time I went to the huge central Mosque in Nigeria’s capital city Abuja I was really excited. I had never been there but had seen the gleaming gold dome whenever I drove by the central area. Imagine my shock when I realized the sermon was being delivered in Arabic in a country where non of the 200 dialects are arabic and where english is the official language! What was the point of the sermon if only a handful of people could understand it? Islam isn’t about being flashy or showing off your ability to speak arabic, it’s about your Iman and your faith in Allah. If the point of the sermon is to remind people of Allah and warn them against vices, then the goal should be to communicate in a language they understand. If your mosque is doing this, speak up! Don’t pretend to understand when you don’t.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 13

M

otherhood is highly respected in Islam and it is a means through which a woman may gain immense spiritual rewards. A woman becomes complete when she becomes a mother. She enjoys her power of creativity and grade of superiority over man. She experiences those feelings and sense nature only gives to women. Allah has created this role specifically for women as part of his mercy.

The Holy Quran says: “And your Lord has commanded that you shall not serve (any) but him and goodness to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you say not to them “ugh” nor chide them, speak to them generous words and make yourself submissively gentle to them with compassion and say oh Lord have compassion on them as they have brought me up (when I was) little.”

Q 17: 23-24 The above verse indicates that in childhood we needed the protection, love, care and nurturing of our parents but when they become old, they need our protection and care.

In the edifice of any society, mothers are the foundation because they provide the love, care and support needed for growing the next generation. A good mother contributes her whole life to her family and puts them first before anything else.

A believing mother understands the crucial nature of her responsibility and evaluates it seriously by instilling good habits into her children. On the other hand, a society without mothers and homemakers will put youth at risk. Motherhood is not an easy job. No wonder the prophet S.A.W said “paradise lies at the feet of mothers.”

In another hadith, Hakim bin Hizam came to the prophet and asked to whom should I be kind? The prophet replied “your mother” Hakim asked “then to whom?” Your mother” he replied again. Only when Hakim asked for the fourth time did the prophet reply “your father”.

Suratul Ahzab V 10 indicates that motherhood is a fulltime career as it includes pregnancy, giving birth, breastfeeding and many years of childbearing. These are sufficient responsibilities for one individual and do not necessarily preclude work outside the home. In the sight of Allah, a truly respectable woman worth immense rewards is that woman remains within the home to diligently

An Ode to

Motherhood

By Umm Kulthum Idriss

DAILYHIJABI.COM 15

serve her family and manage her domestic affairs. It is indeed strange that women instead of serving her family who look at her with respect as their mother, she would rather serve people who look at her as a servant reading to jumping at there bidding. Why is it that when a woman prepares food for her husband and children enjoying their loving gazes and conversation, she is labelled backward and oppressed, but when she serves food to thousands of strange people as an air hostess or hotel waitress becoming the target of countless lustful gazes, she is regarded as being liberated & progressive? The prophet SAW says in this regard addressing the women “Take care of your homes for that is your jihad.�

Employment must fit the special nature of women in accordance with Islamic norms. She must adhere to the principles of Islam with regards to her dressing.

The job must not in anyway lead to transgressing. She must always keep in mind that Allah limits excessive mixing with the opposite sex.

It is painful to realize that mothers who sacrifice their careers to stay at home are not making a huge difference in their children’s lives. Some studies show that on average, working mothers spend 11 minutes with their children while stay at home mothers spend less than 30 minutes engaged in meaningful discussion with their children.

It is said that the role of a mother is like that of the archers in the battle of Uhud. Although their position looked less important, theirs was the key to the outcome of the war. Their actions turned a near victory into a painful defeat. Mothers are the archers and if they hold the fort, the entire army will succeed. But, if they leave it for greater action elsewhere, everyone will lose.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 16

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JOURNEYS TO ISLAM S.S. Lai’s Story

“My f irst contact with a real practicing Muslim was my childhood friend.”

The day I write this, I have lived my life knowing what Islam means for approximately 5 years and 11 months. I reverted to Islam on the 5th of October 1991. I believe that every child is born in a pure state and that only their parents bring them up the way they think best and the only way they probably know how.

May Allah guide their hearts to Islam.

I come from a Chinese background. My whole family believed in worshipping the idols and the dead ancestors. Throughout my childhood I was made to believe that there were many gods, a god of mercy, wealth etc., Every year, I would have high hopes that my grandfather would bring me to the temple to worship ‘our’ gods. What drew me to them as a child was that there were many foods (I thought the foods would taste nicer because they had been worshipped to the great and mighty ones) and the ‘gods’ looked very mysterious. Some of the idols project a sense of fear, some beauty and this lists go on and on. On that day, we would burn paper money and worship our ‘gods’ using some incense sticks. We would observe all these in silence and that had more impact on my young mind.

I used to hope that one day I would know how to say the words that my grandfather said to the idols and the little secrets and tricks he used with the ‘magic stones’.

At home we had pictures of dead ancestors Every full moon, I would eagerly ask my grandmother if she would honor me by throwing the two coins. If the coins both showed heads or

tails then they (the dead ancestors) were not finished eating.

I also came from a ‘Muslim’ country called Brunei and by the blessings of Allah, I came to a school where the majority of the students were Muslims. I remembered once a friend brought a comic book with pictures of the punishment of hell fire. I didn’t fully comprehend them at the time. The only lesson I had been taught at the time was never to ‘tear any packages of sweets or crisps, otherwise we would be punished equally in the hereafter’.

A lesson in geography on why we could all stand and walk on the surface of the earth and not be thrown out into the dark space started my journey to Islam. I came home feeling confused and asked my uncle why this is so. My uncle advised me to always ask WHY for everything. Since that day I have never stopped asking WHY. In the year 1988, I won a scholarship to come to the UK to study. This had been my lifelong ambition and I had worked long and hard for it. My main aim in life up to that point was to become rich and useful and to make my parents very proud of me. The only way I knew how then was to become a doctor. The helpless feeling I had when I was forced to sit next to my great grand mother’s death bed till her last breath had never escaped my memory.

I studied A level in a girls only school. All I knew about Islam although I had many MusDAILYHIJABI.COM 19

JOURNEYS TO ISLAM / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

lim friends and lived in a Muslim country then, was that Muslims do not eat pork, they fast in Ramadan and they were the losers. All my experience with Muslims had not attracted me to them although I had a strange feeling at age seven that I would become a Muslim just like my uncle. I never asked anybody about Islam for fear that they would get very excited and this always frightened me and made me very shy.

In college, one night I dreamt I heard a loud Adhan. I walked towards it and stood in front of a big gate with Arabic writing on it. I didn’t know what it meant for I knew not Arabic writing then. I felt an immense sense of peace and security. The room was illuminated with light and I saw white figures praying (wallahu’alam).

The feeling I had was greater than I can write or express. The next day I forced myself to ask one of my Malaysian Muslim friends about it. She told me it is ‘Hadassah’ from Allah. This first conversation helped me to ask many more questions that had been on my mind for all these years about Islam. I had always been taught that Muslims were bad people and they always oppress non-Muslims etc.. That year I went back to Brunei. I told my family I wanted to take a year off for my mind couldn’t concentrate on my previous aim. I felt there was something more important than everything I had worked for all those years.

Not surprisingly, I was not allowed and had to continue in this state of mind. Days and nights I cried because I could only hear the DAILYHIJABI.COM 20

Adhan echo in my mind up to the point my best friend thought I was crazy (I even believed I was).

My first contact with a real practicing Muslim was my childhood friend. At that point in life she was also renewing her faith. I learnt a lot from her mostly from her actions. That was the first time I saw Islam in action (people praying etc). I tried fasting then and also attempted to eat only halal food for 2-3 years before my conversion.

“A lesson in geography on

why we could all stand and walk on the surface of the earth and not be thrown out into the dark space started my journey to Islam” The turning point in my life was when I was rejected from all the universities to study medicine . I pondered the attributes of Allah and promised Allah that should I be accepted to a medical college, I would believe all that my friends had told me . Allah is ever listening and ever present. Miraculously, the next day I was told that despite their initial rejection, I was accepted. What can I say after that but ‘there is no God but Allah and Muhammad PBUH is the the last prophet of Allah’.

Who said modesty couldn’t be cool and trendy? Silk Route believe otherwise!

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By Nusrah Wali

Ramadan Why the

Countdown Starts Now!

Ramadan is one of those months that’s gone in a flash. Close your eyes too long and you miss it, and no one knows if they’ll be alive to witness next years Ramadan. That’s why we should prepare for it and train like professional athletes do for marathons, so that we can get the most out of this holy month. Ramadan is not about the food, although our stomachs would like us to think it is. It isn’t about valiantly proclaiming how many fasts you did so far or assuring your colleagues that you really don’t mind if they eat in front of you. Ramadan is about TAQWA or PIETY. It’s like a video game in which you try to jump over every obstacle amassing as many points as you can before you reach the last level. It requires an extra special effort in order to get all those extra special rewards. So counting down lazily the months and weeks to Ramadan just isn’t enough to get you in the right frame of mind. As the weeks slowly dwindle into days, start reminding yourself of why we fast. Of why Allah has created a whole month for fasting.

Think about all the hungry people in the world including people within walking distance or a cars drive of your house. Think about how you’ll use the month of Ramadan to feed those people.

Plan to attend a lecture atleast once a week so that by the end of Ramadan you would have learned a lot. It’s crucial to remember that in Ramadan you’re not allowed to loose your temper so keep reminding yourself that come August 21st, you’re keeping your angry monster under lock and key. It’s not enough to just fast and pray your daily five like you do on any other day, you have to look at each day and make sure that your days in Ramadan are extraordinary. The only way to achieve this is by planning ahead.

Instead of creating that extra special complicated recipe that you only make in Ramadan, use that time to volunteer your time at an orphanage, hospital or home for the elderly. Sisters in as much as kids and even adults look forward to Ramadan for those special treats you only make then, you need to remember the true purpose of this holy month. Look to the companions of Rasulullah and Rasulullah himself. What did they eat during Ramadan? Did they change their diets in anyway?

Ramadan is about learning self-discipline, start enforcing that by telling your stomach who’s in control. Pick a bad habit of yours and choose Ramadan to give it up. Don’t give up smoking during the day just to break your fast with a cigarette. Instead, use that time to give up smoking all together. Tell your mind and body that you are in control.

Teach your children about the importance of JAM’I and the Ummah in Islam by taking them to the mosque. Prepare some baked goods to

In Ramadan, good deeds are multiplied by seventy. So if you normally get five points a day for doing salat, in ramadan you get three hundred and fifty points. share with your fellow Muslimahs at the mosque, or if you’re not going, give some to your husband to share with his fellow Muslim Brothers.

Doing this teaches your kids that love that we have for one another; remember Rasulullah said “none of you will enter paradise until you love my Ummah.” You also get the AJAR or REWARD for attending JAM’I or GROUP prayers.

And in addition you get those extra points for all those people you fed for their iftar. This is a reward that is almost exclusively for Ramadan so make sure you pounce on it. This year make sure you don’t compete with Sister’s over who has the best outfit for Eid, rather make it a competition about who gains the most AJAR, who was most loving and giving for the sake of Allah. And make sure that you do it all with a pure heart and honest intention.

Remember that gossiping about anyone will break your fast and make your hunger useless.

So learn to keep your tongue in check. Remember to keep your mouth moist with ZIKR and Quran recitation and open your mouth only to say good things, otherwise, keep quiet.

Make a committment to Allah the last ten days of Ramadan to pray Tarawih and Tahajjud. Because you don’t know if you’ll witness another, make sure you milk this Ramadan for every single drop of AJAR or REWARD it is worth. The countdown has begun Sisters, on your marks, get set, ready...?

DAILYHIJABI.COM 23

five

fabulous finds

Each month we’ll scour the world and the web to uncover five fabulous things that will change your life for the better. The items on this list are fabulous for a number of reasons. All of them will inspire you, inform you, change your attitude and at the very least will be a feast for your eyes. BY NUSRAH WALI HARUN YAHYA This Islamic author, phi-

losopher & director has written and directed countless books and videos on Islam. His books available in both kid and adult versions use science, history and philosophy found in the Quran to prove Islamic principles. If you are engaging in a debate with non-muslims or are trying to answer your inquisitive kids, Harun Yahya will prove invaluable. His book Atlas of Creation was described as “AN EFFECTIVE ATTACK QURAN EXPLORER This site is incredON EVOLUTION” by European press. For ible! It is inspiring to see technology used more info visit www.harunyahya.com for the sake of Islam. Not only does it put the Quran at your fingertips whether you are travelling, at work, or at home, it gives you arabic reciters that you know and love as well as translations in english and urdu. As if that’s not enough, you can bookmark as well so you no longer have an excuse not to listen to the Quran while you’re online. www.quranexplorer.com

DAILYHIJABI.COM 24

WE LOVE HIJAB Most of you already

know this site inside out. It was the original hijabi blog and inspired countless others around cyber space including mine (www. fashionablymodest.blogspot.com) Author Jenna is a medical student who somehow manages to find time to hijabify the latest runway trends, or give fashion makeovers to muslims. So if you’re looking for a new outfit, why not go to the source for your fix of hijab trends and high fashion? www.welovehijab.com

ISLAMIC TUBE Another excellent ex-

ample of technology working to better the ummah. We’ve all been to YouTube and while we love it for it’s clips on muslim reverts, hijab tutorials, and lets face it, the laughing baby and the cat that bit the fan, we sometimes get sidetracked into watching things that aren’t good for us. IslamicTube gives us all the videos we love like Islamic Nasheeds and Quranic recitations, basically we get all the benefits with non of the danger. Fabulous! www.islamictube.com

UMMAH FILMS These short clips pro-

duced by Ummah Films are sure to have you and your friends laughing out loud. You’ll laugh, but you’ll still get the message about hijab, haram & halal, waking up for fajr on time and any other message they’re trying to convey. It’s a perfect dose of tough love carefully wrapped in humor and we can’t get enough.

The best part is that their videos are available on IslamicTube.com so you don’t have to go to YouTube to get your fix.www.ummahfilms. com DAILYHIJABI.COM 25

As a woman living in the UK for whom Islam is an intrinsic part of life, the words of Surah Nur, that both women and men should lower their gazes and guard their modesty (Nur 24:30-31) is an important and challenging idea for me to reconcile, whilst living in the west.

Very often, Modesty or Haya in Islam is synonymous with the Hijab, but for me modesty is a far more wide reaching concept than to simply cover my hair. It means dressing modestly which is why you will often find me dressed down in my jeans and floaty dress tops. However, the concept of hijab is more than that. It also means being modest in your behavior as well as continuing that struggle to be a better Muslim through prayer, charity, fasting and performing Hajj. I feel that Hijab embodies Allah’s passage in the Quran that states that “the best garment is the garment of righteousness.” (Al-A`raf 7:26).

Despite being a non-hijab wearing sister it does not please me to hear recent developments in the western world pertaining to President Sarkozy’s recent Hijab ban in France.

In fact it saddens me. We should all have the choice to express our religion the way we see fit. Despite personally seeing the Hijab as a contentious and red herring issue in Islam, in that it detracts from some of the more important requirements in our religion, I would not like to see it banned as I have the utmost respect for those sincere hijab wearing sisters.

My issue is that none of us should be demonized or judged or have our choices taken away.

For me choice means not being judged by those within Islam as well as those outside the faith. Very often the lack of hijab has precluded me from communities and even marriage matches because simply not having a cover on my head deems me to be unreligious. As you can imagine I have found this incredibly frustrating. I think as a faith group we need to be more accommodating of our own people DAILYHIJABI.COM 26

before criticizing those outside our faith for not accommodating us. For instance I pray, fast and give zakat but in one instance I was judged to be a worse Muslim than a girl who wore a hijab (purely for cultural reasons and the fact it was forced upon her as a child) who had boyfriends pre marriage, wore tight fitting clothing and lashings of make up but yet her hijab allowed her to enter an exclusive club that I was excluded from. I’ve had similar instances while visiting Islamic Awareness events where men have in depth discussions about Islam but as soon as I request some information I get a leaflet thrown into my hands usually along the lines of “A woman’s duty in Islam is to wear the Hijab.” It saddens me to think that some people think this is our most significant female Islamic duty.

I think another consideration is that of context. I live in Colchester England. Not the most diverse area in the world and in some instances very right wing. Sometimes I envy my sisters living in Lahore or even East London, where hijab is normal place and people do not as much as bat an eyelid when a hijab wearing woman walks past. I do think this makes it easier for someone to wear the hijab.

At present I do not feel comfortable wearing the hijab in my neighborhood and workplace, Particularly after recent terrorist attacks in which my fellow Muslim sisters were attacked.

I do not feel Allah would want us to go through unnecessary hardship and would understand our actions in the context of where we are living in.

Personally, my aim remains to be the best Muslim woman I can be and to continue in that struggle. The hijab may become a presence in my life when i feel comfortable. Inshallah one day it will be the symbol of a near completion of my religious struggle rather than being that of a decorative empty vessel.

Why I don’t wear the hijab...

Yet!

By Hannah Haq

DAILYHIJABI.COM 27

HIJAB TUTORIAL BY SALSABILA M. WALI

Have a special night out? Or just tired of the same old boring look? Why not go glam with a dash of gold? Start out with a gold underscarf. Then get a bright red rectangular scarf preferrably with an embellishment on one side. Place that over your underscarf and make sure that one side is a lot longer. You want to make the side with the embellishment longer so you can see it when you fold over. Pin the red scarf right under your chin. Then bring the longer side under your chin to cover the pin then loop it around your head and let it hang on the other side of your head with the embellishment hanging loose. If you like you can use an embellished pin but we used a plain gold hair clip to secure it in place.

That’s it, you’re all set!

DAILYHIJABI.COM 28

THE GLAMOUR HIJAB DAILYHIJABI.COM 29

THE GALA HIJAB DAILYHIJABI.COM 30

It’s Gala night, there’s no need to be a wallflower. Tonight is about celebration and achievements so add some sparkle to your hijab with a bright color and a sparkling pin. Start with a square hijab which you fold once into a triangle. Place the triangle over your head and on top of an underscarf. When you have the two sides even, pin the hijab under your neck.

Take one side of the scarf and pin it to the opposite side. It’s up to you how tight you make it. That’s it you’re done in less than five minutes, now if only picking the right shoes were this easy!

DAILYHIJABI.COM 31

When it comes to constipation busting powers, the pear is king!

By Nusrah Wali

Constipation

BUSTERS We’ve all suffered from bouts of constipation. These fruit and veggies are Allah’s gift to help naturally and painlessly ease your mild constipation.

When it comes to constipation, prevention is usually the best option. Drinking lots of water about eight glasses a day really helps. Regular exercise, even as little as fifteen to twenty minutes a day makes a tremendous difference. If you’ve tried all that and you’re still constipated or perhaps you indulged a bit too much at that wedding you attended, don’t worry, these “magic” fruit and veggies should have you going in no time.

APPLES: Like the idiom says; “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” It could be because eating apples helps keep you regular and a healthy digestive system is key to wellness. Apples contain fibre which helps create bulk in your stomach thus aiding in digestion. Whether eaten as is, or taken as a juice, (we’re not talking apple juice that you buy in a store, we’re talking about natural apple juice that you get when you juice an apple.) apple packs a mean digestive punch and is an excellent constipation buster.

BANANAS: This potassium enriched fruit not only increases energy levels and fights excess acidity in your stomach by lining your stomach and protecting it, it also helps clean you out. Just make sure to drink lots of water after eating bananas otherwise they could add to your constipation troubles.

CARROTS: Everyone knows that carrots contain Beta Carotine which helps improve eye sight, but did you know that this vegetable doubles as a mild laxative? Although eating carrots can help by adding bulk to your stool in the form of insoluble fibre, its power really lies in its juice. So invest in a juicer and juice carrots whenever you feel constipation coming on. Not only is carrot juice sweet, without being unbearably so, it’s quite fragrant and delicious.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 33

GRAPES: These tiny fruit clear your system in thirty minutes so make sure to eat them first before eating anything heavy or they’ll cause you discomfort as they try to make their way out. As they are small and full of water there’s no need to juice them. Go with the purple ones because they are a sweeter while the green ones tend to be a bit tangy.

MANGOES: Have you ever overindulged in mangoes? How did your body react? Chances are you had diarrhea. Well the same way your body reacted then, is how it should react even when you’re constipated. Everyone’s body is different though so while someone only needs four mangoes to have to start running for the toilet, you may need, six, or seven. Usually the smaller the mangoes the better. Aim for the really ripe and juicy ones as it’s the sugar and water content that makes your stomach react. That being said even the big and unripe mangoes work, just experiment and find out which ones your body responds best to.

PEARS: When it comes to constipation busting powers, the pear is king! One of the main functions of this fruit is to aid in digestion. So constipation or no constipation, it’s a good fruit to take regularly to help keep you regular. As with the other fruits and veggies, a juiced pear packs a mean punch.

While these fruits and veggies will come in handy should you ever find yourself in a bind, they are only a temporary fix, what’s important is to create and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Make sure to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis and cut out as much as you can of processed items.

Stay away from processed sugar, bleached flour, canned, bottled or boxed drinks and junk food. And don’t rule out other fruits and veggies as this is by no means a complete list but merely a sampling of the most potent ones. If all these fail, then go see a doctor immediately before you get impacted.

If you suffer from chronic constipation, we’ll leave you with three pieces of advice: 1. Drink lots of water 2. Start exercising daily 3. GET A JUICER! Here’s a simple recipe to get you started: 10 Medium sized Carrots 2 Apples 1 Pear Juice together, say Bismillah and drink.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 34

A HIJABI’S By Nafisa Atta

RAMADAN & EID GUIDE Memorise the Holy Quran Go for Itikhaaf Give alms Hold a weekly halaqa for sisters Buy a babbar riga for dad or a wrapper for mom Get a new pair of sandals for me Buy a dress and a hijab for Eid Learn to cook a new dish and break the rice and stew tradition Take your nephews and nieces to the amusement park. Phew!

What a hectic venture Buy a Nasheed compilation

DAILYHIJABI.COM 35

It’s time to start

walking

I’m too busy. I don’t have the right shoes. I need a walking buddy. I’ll start after Eid, or after the wedding. I’m not strong enough. It’s too embarassing. Enough! It’s time to stop making excuses and hit the road.

By Nusrah Wali

For every woman, looking good is a top priority.

Walking takes you on a journey to not only looking good, but feeling good both inside and out. When you head out the door and take your first steps outside, the fresh air and the scenery especially if it’s green instantly improves your mood. the further you get away from home, the more your mind starts to relax and get lost in thoughts. Whether it’s because of the refreshing scenery in front of you, or because of the intriguing or maddening kaleidescope of people and places you’re passing by, you soon forget that you’re exercising and start to relax.

There’s no need to hurry, you have no appointment.

There’s no fixed route you have to take. Something catch your eye? Take a detour. Smell those flowers and perhaps take some home.

Did you ever notice the amount of birds in your neighborhood? Or that grocery store hidden by that big oak tree? What else have you been missing? Oh what time is it? twenty minutes have gone by, already? So you start to sweat a little, big deal.

You’re only releasing toxins from your body and cooling yourself down. Getting too hot? Take a nice long sip of water. Is this too easy? Don’t worry you can make it more challenging. How about tackling that hill? Or seeing how far you can go before your legs start to wear out?

So you’ve made it back home and hopped into the shower. Your breathing was normal the whole time, you didn’t have to pant at all. It was all nice and... relaxing. So why have you been putting it off all along? Tomorrow you can bring your ipod and listen to some islamic lectures or the quran. And how about that left turn you saw? You’re curious what’s down there aren’t you? Don’t worry, tomorrow you can go exploring.

“Exercise” no longer has to be a four letter word. It no longer has to put you into panic and cause a mad dash for excuses. Walking is your secret weapon.

It’s easy to do, either alone or with friends or family. Your kids would probably enjoy it more than you know. It causes very little stress to your body

and joints, so you can do it even if you’re old or pregnant. Just twenty minutes of walking a day gives you so much health benefits that you’ll wonder why you kept putting it off. Not only does walking oxygenate your blood which helps eliminate free radicals in your blood, it increases your flexibility and eases mild joint pain. Even arthritis sufferers have felt relief with continued low stress exercise such as walking. And the reason you want your blood oxygenated is so that you can stay younger looking for longer. The more free radicals in your blood, the sooner you’ll start to notice wrinkles on your face and body. And if beauty isn’t enough of an incentive, walking increases your heart rate and improves your blood circulation.

Aside from the physical benefits of walking, the mental and emotional currency you get is immeasurable. Simply walking for twenty minutes in nature increases memory retention. So if you have a big test or presentation why not take a nice stroll in a park or garden before you start preparing?

Offcourse walking with your kids, your friends or your spouse creates great emotional satisfaction.

You get to talk about the things and people you see on the way. You also get to plan your route together and take mini adventures. Together you can challenge each other to walk further and also to keep walking.

So forget the advertising that tries to sell you new shoes, because you don’t need them to walk, your old beaten down sneakers will do, or even your flip flops. Don’t worry about how you look, because in no time, you’ll start to see and feel the difference.

You’ll get to experience the natural high that athletes experience, you’ll kick off any depression that might be trying to overtake you and you’ll loose weight naturally and more permanently. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to start walking.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 37

know your

vitamins

With so many supplements out there, it’s hard to differentiate between what you really need and what’s just there to help drug companies make more money. So we asked our health editor Sakinat Azeez RN to break it down for us. She tells us which vitamins we really need and where to get them. If you have any health questions, please write to her at health@dailyhijabi.com What exactly are vitamins and what happens when we don’t get enough? Vitamins are essential elements for optimal body functioning that our body can’t make on it’s own. Mostly, they are derived from the food we eat such as fruits and vegetables.

In today’s world of fast food, and antibiotic laden meat, most people do not eat a well-balanced diet and as a result are often lacking in key vitamins.

Taking a daily multivitamin is the only way to be sure that you are getting all the vitamins you need in sufficient quantities.

Vitamins can be categorized into two, the fat soluble and the water soluble. The fat soluble vitamins which are vitamins A, D, E and K are stored in the liver and fat tissues until they are needed.

And the water soluble vitamins include B complex and vitamin C. Vitamin A prevents vision deficiency which can lead to DAILYHIJABI.COM 38

blindness and aids in maintaining healthy skin. Vitamin A can be found in eggs, milk, cheese, butter, chicken, liver, and fish oil. The daily recommended dosage is 900 units for men and 700 units for women.

Vitamin D prevents bone loss and improves tooth strength.

Our bodies need this vitamin to absorb calcium. Researchers have concluded that you can get your daily intake of vitamin D by spending 20 minutes in the sun without sunblock lotion.

However, spending more than 20 minutes a day in the sun can cause skin damage. Vitamin D can be also be found in milk, figs, eggs, liver and fortified cereal. The daily recommended intake is 1500IU. Vitamin E is also known as an antioxidant vitamin. It protects the lungs and helps maintain the tissues in our eyes, skin and liver. It also protects against prostrate cancer and heart dis-

ease as well as improve the immune system. It is an anti blood clotting agent.

Vitamin E can be found in whole grains, wheat germ, leafy green vegetables, sardines, egg yolks, nuts and seeds. The daily recommended dosage is 15mg.

Vitamin K is important for the function of blood clotting in the body. It is essential for kidney functioning and bone calcification. Vitamin K is found in leafy green vegetables, dairy products, broccoli, and soybean oil. The recommended daily dosage is 120 units for men and 90 for women.

Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid. It reduces cholesterol levels and helps to regulate blood pressure. Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, heal wounds efficiently, and keep body tissues in good shape. The main sources for vitamin C are found in fish, fruits and vegeta-

How many yellow peppers must you eat to fulfill your daily dose of Vitamin C requirements?

DAILYHIJABI.COM 39

an to write

Have you ever wanted to share your voice with the world?

Do you feel passionate about something? Hurt by something? Or inspired by it? Write it out, send it to us and we’ll help you tell your story. Become one of our correspondents, or a contributing writer. We’re giving you the chance to become a part of Daily Hijabi.

Send your articles including a short bio to write@dailyhijabi.com For more information visit us on the web at www.dailyhijabi.com/write

Taking a daily multivitamin is the only way to be sure that you are getting all the vitamins you need in sufficient quantities. bles such as oranges, cantaloupe, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, kiwi fruit and sweet red peppers. Too much vitamin C can result in an upset stomach and mouth ulcers. The recommended dosage is 90mg/d for men and 75mg/d for women.

The maximum is 2000 mg/d for both men and women.

Vitamin B1 which is known as thiamin acts as a coenzyme in body metabolism. A Deficiency in B1 leads to beriberi, a disease of the heart and nervous system.

Thiamin can be found in wheat germ, whole meal wheat flour, bread, yeast, legumes, nuts, oatmeal, and fortified cereals.

The RDI or recommended daily intake is 1.1 mg for women and 1.2mg for men.

Vitamin B2 which is also known as riboflavin is essential for the reactions of coenzymes. A deficiency causes inflammation of the lining of the mouth and skin.

Riboflavin can be found in liver, kidney, milk, yoghurt, cheese, wheat germ, meat, mushrooms, broccoli, avocado, fortified white flour and breakfast cereals. RDI 1.1mg women 1.3mg men.

Vitamin B3 or Niacin is an essential part of coenzymes of body metabolism. A deficiency

causes inflammation of the skin, vagina, rectum and mouth, as well as mental sluggishness.

Niacin is also used in the treatment of cholesterol disorders.

It can be found in liver, kidney, meat, fish, yeast, peanuts, bran, legumes and whole meal wheat.

RDI 14mg women 16mg men.

Vitamin B6 is also called pyridoxine, a cofactor for enzymes.

Deficiency leads to inflammation of the skin and mouth, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness and anemia. Vitamin B6 can be helpful in certain patients with nerve conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Can be found in tuna, salmon, banana, liver, potatoes, chicken & avocado.

RDI 1.3mg for both.

Vitamin B12 is an essential factor in nucleic acid synthesis.

Deficiency leads to insufficient and enlarged red blood cells and in pernicious anemia. Food sources include beef liver, eggs, dairy products, sardines, snapper and mackerel. RDI 2.4mcg for both.

Folate (folic acid): Folic acid is an important factor in nucleic acid synthesis. It is especially important for women who could become pregnant because folic acid can help prevent birth

defects. Folate can be found in brussel sprouts, fortified breakfast cereals, spinach, asparagus, beetroot, orange, avocado, melon, potatoes, cauliflower, peas, parsnips, dried beans and kidney.

Taking a daily multivitamin that has 0.4 milligrams or 400 micrograms of folic acid is another way of getting the recommended amount.

It’s important to keep in mind that certain vitamins & minerals complement each other and should be taken together. For instance it is good to take vitamin D and Calcium together as they work together. And infact vitamin D’s sole function is helping your body absorb calcium so if you have no calcium in your diet, then there’s no point in having Vitamin D. Your doctor or nutritionist should order a blood test to check on the amounts of vitamins in your blood. Based on what they find, they will tell you which supplements you should take. It’s dangerous to just buy an over the counter supplement as you could very easily overdose on one vitamin or another.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 41

Fruits like avocadoes and bananas are rich in potassium which controls blood pressure and helps maintain a regular heartbeat and healthy digestive system so eat up!

Nuts are cholesterol-free, generally low in sodium and a great source of vitamins and minerals.

Nuts are also a good source of energy so be sure to take some during Suhur.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 42

6GH

by Umm Kulthum Idriss

ealthy uidelines

TO FOLLOW IN RAMADAN Here are a few things to keep in mind that will help you have more energy and also avoid possible health complications during your fast.

1

Take slow digesting foods and fibrous foods such as Oats, Semolina, Beans, Grains, Vegetables and Fruits because they last longer in the body and you will stay full for longer.

2

Meals should be well balanced containing something from each food group.

3

Avoid eating too much refined food for it results in constipation which in turn may cause piles, fissures etc.

4

Do not overeat (especially fried and fatty foods) because overeating causes indigestion.

5

Acid levels increase in an empty stomach so avoid cola drinks, coffee & spicy foods to protect yourself from heartburn, peptic ulcer, gastritis etc..

6

Drink as much water and fruit juices as possible so that your body can adjust its fluid levels.

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SHORT ON TIME?

HERE IS A RECIPE YOU CAN MAKE IN MINUTES. Being short on time doesn’t doom you to eating indomie noodles yet again! You can make something healthy and filling in no time at all. All you need are some fresh ingredients, a sharp knife and some home made dressing.

INGREDIENTS: 1 Cucumber 2 Lettuce leaves 1 Red pepper 3 Inches of Feta cheese 1 Small tomato 5 Baby carrots 1 Tablespoon of Olive oil 2 Taplespoons of Balsamic vinegar A pinch of salt Cut the vegetables according to your preference and crumble the feta cheese on top. Drizzle some olive oil and balsamic vinegar over your salad and then sprinkle some salt to taste.

That’s it! Your recipe is ready in as much time as it took you to cut the veggies. Enjoy!

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THIS COULD BE YOUR

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