IISDIANZ MUSLIMAH LIBRARY

Hajj - A journey of a lifetime Hajj - A physical, emotional, mental, spiritual rollercoaster Hajj - A journey of resetting your priorities Hajj - A journey of humble beginnings Hajj - A journey towards your akhirah Hajj - A journey towards a new perspective of life Describing this journey in words is close to impossible. Only those who have experienced this will truly relate to my words. Hajj is hard, powerful, inspiring, but in the end, Hajj is a change. Hajj is filled with hardships and tests as it is physically and emotionally demanding. However, the reward for it is unlike any other! It reminds us that as we go about the trials of life, things get better. ‘For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease’ (Holy Qur’an, Surah Ash-Sharh 94:5-6). An advice to anyone planning Hajj is to travel with an open heart and mind. Don’t set any expectations. Keep making dua and asking for forgiveness constantly. Absorb everything around you. Hajj showed me a whole new perspective towards life. The feel...

TOXIC MARRIAGES: Dont stick to it  When my daughter was younger, she got sick and needed antibiotics. But she refused to take it. I would literally have to force it down her throat, but she would still find a way to spit it out. She had a fever. She was in pain. But she refused to take the very thing that would cure her of that pain. My daughter is not the only one who does this. Recently, I wrote about a very sensitive topic and one that I feel quite passionate about. I spoke about women who refuse to leave  toxic relationships, no matter what. But I did not mention one of the reasons why this happens, because it's very deep. And will be difficult for many people to hear. Last year, I had to do something that was difficult for me. I met a woman who told me that her husband had hired a prostitute a year or two prior. She told me that he ended up building a relationship with her. So he was now in an ongoing affair with this prostitute for more than a year. And this woman not on...

What can we do against CAA? Amidst the tension that persists in our country , we all have this question arising in our minds . We assume that there’s nothing that can be done as citizens of India . But , we have the strongest weapon in our hands . Do you know what it is .. DUA ! Allah is all merciful , he knows what is happening and is watching for us to unite and rise . We Muslims have been divided by so many groups and ideologies. The citizen Amendment act is a test from  Allah . To test how much we are united , to test our faith , to test our unity and above to test our power to turn back . So friends , don’t despair ..we may not be able to protest like the real heroes ladeeda, Ayesha or shaheen . We may not be able to reach out and express our concern . But we have our biggest strength - prayer ! So don’t look back , start your dua today , Your dua to keep safe , our brothers and sisters representing us at jamia, at courts , at streets and every other place . Our dua for a chan...

I was eight months pregnant with this child and I was struggling to bend down and put on my own shoes. He knelt down, kissed my feet, put my shoes on for me and tied the laces. Then we left the house, all without him saying a word. Amr. He never said to me begrudgingly, “Remember how well I took care of you?” or “What will you give me in return for me doing this favour for you?” That wouldn’t be love. Love isn’t empty grand gestures or keeping score on who wins which arguments. It’s a quiet mercy, a steady stream of empathy and compassion. It’s the ability to seamlessly be yourself while simultaneously being the person your partner needs you to be at any given moment. Amr taught me that love is many things and, above all, that love and mercy is from Allah. Prophet Muhammad (saws) said: “Allah divided mercy into one hundred parts, out of which he retained ninety-nine parts with Him and sent down one part to earth. From this one part emanates all the compassion that all of creation exerc...