Life of a muslima

I grew up in a small town where you’ll find mansions that were built at the time of the Spanish Colonial. These ancestral houses are captivating and still standing firm like the Mount Makiling that you’ll get a glimpse of from our balcony. This is my hometown where my grandmother raised me. My grandmother got married at a very young age to an older man who came from a well-off family. She was illiterate and could only write her name for signing legal papers. She sacrificed her early age to look after her younger siblings, which caused her not to attend school. But despite this, she is contemplative, selfless, affectionate, and a loving daughter. Even with her husband's problematic habits and age difference, she remained committed to being a dutiful wife. She neither disrespected her husband nor rebelled against him. Her passion for keeping the house tidy, and cooking delicious dishes are among her skills to please my grandfather, and I admire her for that. "Men are in charge o...

Someone told me that after all these years, I never changed. I’m still mean and rude with my use of words. She was right, I never changed. When I converted to Islam, it didn’t change me to the kindest person. Yet, it taught me to stop the bad things that I used to do. In Islam, we are not asked to change who we are entirely. We are asked to repent, stop doing haram, be righteous, and believe that there is only one God. Going back to my ‘being mean’ I just want to say that my words are not hurtful but they are truthful . An honest speech will always be hateful because truth hurts. Nevertheless, they are not meant to hurt the innocent. Words can be painful or beautiful not because of their sound. But because of their meaning and use. And the sharp words are a weapon to straighten the sick heart and stubborn soul. In Islam, we are not expected to be perfect and each one of us has our own phases to improve ourselves to be a better muslim. Still, that is not an excuse to neglect what...

  Alhamdulillah, here is another episode for my  Muslimah Today  section, where I interview our muslim sisters around the world to share their stories, knowledge, and wisdom to inspire us to increase our Iman. This week I decided to interview the person behind ‘The Khalifah Diaries’ she’s a friend, a dear one to me. From how I know her, she has the pure heart to please Allah and to help young sisters navigate life in this world. May Allah keep her well and right; I pray that you also benefit from this interview and visit her site where you will find lots of gems.   Here are what you should know about her: "My name is Aimi Afeeqah. I'm a proud new stay-at-home mum to baby Maryam Firdaus. I love to inspire and uplift others to be the best version of themselves. That is why I created my blog - The Khalifah Diaries  My dream is to see it grow into a credible source of knowledge for Muslimahs around the world insha’Allah. When I was in my early ...

Some of us grew up with parents who nag us what’s haram and what’s halal. Some parents with an iron fist punish their children when they make mistakes, and some parents drag their children to Madrassah at a young age. Until being a Muslim becomes a burden. As a result, some of us choose to live a life without rules. Till we lose our way and live a life that is detached from our Creator . A life far away from modesty verging into nakedness. A day bombarded by music until we abandon listening to the Qur’an. Laughing with the Kaffir instead of praying in congregation with the Ummah of Muhammad. Yet Allah is the most merciful, most forgiving, and most loving. Allah will have mercy on you, though you forget about him. He will still forgive you as long as you repent to him. He will still love you even though you have disobeyed him for the sake of friendships, careers, or dreams. So, don’t lose hope in yourself, and don’t lose hope in Allah’s mercy . Purify your heart, repent to him, and run ...

  To reach a goal and succeed, money is just a means. The right attitude is what you need. Before we tackle attitudes, first we have to set our goal or objective. Our goal should be realistic. The other day, my toddler told me he would transform into a scooter; he even said, ‘Insha Allah. Well, we all know he is not going to reach it, even if he has the right attitude, simply because his goal is unrealistic. So, set a realistic goal before anything else. Then plan and implement. 1st attitude: gratitude. Your task should always start with gratitude. Thank Allah for everything—for having the tools, materials, resources, and means to reach your goal. Alhamdulillah. Most of the people that I know who have succeeded in their careers always start with gratitude before doing their task. It is really effective, as I always do this before writing or doing anything, and I always get the result that I want.  It is important for us to take time to express gratitude to all t...