Monday 17 November 2008

Keep Striving!



While doing the cleaning earlier on, many thoughts started to fill my head. Thoughts about how as muslim women we haveto be strong, and we are strong Masha'Allaah. I started to think about my own personal experiences as a revert to Islam, in the beginning when I first covered my hair with the hijab I was so scared, I worried what people's reaction would be towards me, negative? postive? regardless I had to get out there by myself and face the world. What made me strong at that time and still does, was the constant awareness of Allaah and reminding myself that I was obeying my creator and insha Allaah I wouldn't be alone in this journey.

SubhanAllaah having this awareness immediately made me feel stronger and braver and proud to be a muslim woman. I came into Islam in 2001, when my daughter was just 5mths old, and throughout these years I have gone from wearing a scarf/skirt/loose top to the somali style hijab and then the overhead abayah with niqaab, as I have covered more I have experienced more negative reactions from people, there have been days when I've been out wearing the niqaab, have some narrow minded person throw a stupid comment and it would fill me with so much sadness and anger as to how some people have no respect whatsoever for others who may look different to them.

I have had people criticize me in front of my children, when all I am doing is going about my business, these kind of people cannot hold their hatred in, and so much want you to feel like a pile of rubbish.

I don't want to come across as complaining now, but I wanted to make the point that as muslim women we face hatred almost every day, I am not alone in this, and many sisters have been treated far worse than I have, but it's this inner strength, our belief that keeps us going, so that each day before we leave the house insha Allaah we make sure we're observing correct hijab, even though we may have been verbally attacked the day before, we brush that aside, and keep on striving, trying to please our Lord and hoping for the reward of Jannah.

We do this because we know Islam is the truth, and this certainty gives us strength and the courage to go out there and face whatever we may face that particular day.

For my sisters in Islam who are struggling and feel alone I say keep striving, you will have your reward insha Allaah.

So basically what I think I wanted to say, is that I admire my sisters (and brothers )in Islam for staying firm upon our belief and not letting the hatred of others break us down. And especially for my sisters I love you all for the sake of Allaah, continue to be strong insha Allaah.

Abu al-‘Abbas ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas, radiyallahu anhuma, reported: One day I was behind the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, and he said to me:

"O young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice] : Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you (have need to) ask, ask of Allah; and if you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that even if the Nation (or the whole community) were to gather together to benefit you with something, they would not benefit you with anything except that which Allah has already recorded for you, and that if they gather together to harm you with something, they would not be able to harm you with anything except that which Allah has already recorded against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried."

Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu 'anhu, reported that a man said to the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam:

"Advise me! "The Prophet said, "Do not become angry and furious." The man asked (the same) again and again, and the Prophet said in each case, "Do not become angry and furious."


On the authority of Ibn 'Umar, radiyallahu 'anhuma, who said: The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, took me by the shoulder and said:

"Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a traveler/wayfarer."
Ibn 'Umar used to say:

"When evening comes, do not expect (to live till) morning, and when morning comes, do not expect (to live till) evening. Take from your health (a preparation) for your illness, and from your life for your death."

[Al-Bukhari]


[Al-Tirmidhi relates this and says: It is a good, genuine Hadith]

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6 comments:

بنت بيتر said...

Ma shaa Allah sister, that was so beautiful!

It is not easy somedays thats for sure,but with Allah, anything is possible, and everything is worth it!

Naimah said...

jazakillaahu khairan sis. I definitely agree with you there, it is worth it.

A Muslimah - Another Stranger said...

assalamu alayku, sis Naimah Umm Khadijah,
I am new to your blog, but I have been reading you for a while, silently :)
Mash'Allah sis, jazak'Allahu kheir for sharing your world.
May Allah makes us be the strong women, the ones that have strenght and do everything for His sake and Pleasure only.Amin

Naimah said...

Wa alaykum assalam sister, Welcome to my blog, so nice to have u here. I'm glad your not following silently anymmore masha'Allaah, now I've discovered another great blog! Allaahumma baarak Feek. I just took a quick look at yours and looks very interesting masha'Allaah.
Ameen to your du'a sis.

Jamilah said...

Mashallah Sister... I too am a Niqabi and sometime people say stupid things to me (in front of my child) but it makes me feel so much stronger under that veil. I feel protected. Sometime I get sad about it, like when I was stuck in traffic (there was a concert nearby) and some girls in a car started to take my picture!!! Anyway, rambling on now...

You are following a command of Allah swt and covering. Alhamdulilah! :)

Naimah said...

Welcome sister, nice to have you here masha'Allaah.
Yes masha'Allaah I also feel more protected with my face covered, there was time not long ago, that I did not wear it, and I began to feel as though I'd let my guard down, vulnerable, I didn't feel comfortable, so alhamdulillaah I'm glad I put it back on.
There will always be someone who says something, I've lost count how many times I've been called 'ninja' or had someone say to me 'I can see you' the best thing to do is just ignore it, even though it can be hard sometimes, especially when your having 'one' of those days.