Reflections of a traveller

According to my pregnancy countdown, only 100 more days left insha-Allah! I am very excited but also quite worried as well. I really don’t want to have gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia again. I hate thinking about getting induced especially before 38 weeks. This time alhamdulillah I am trying hard to avoid any sugary and carbohydrate-rich food as much as possible. Since last couple of weeks I have started my high protein diet. I know diet during pregnancy is not really recommended but I don’t think I am doing a proper high protein diet as my body does need a bit of carb as well. I am trying to eat as many veg and fruits as possible with a little bit of rice or wholemeal bread. Whenever I feel hungry, I am eating fruits, cheese string, cottage cheese or couple of nuts and drink lots of water ( no juice alhamdulillah) to fill myself up. I am also trying to have lots of fish through out the week thanks to my dear friend J as she occasionally sends me some yummy fish dish alhamdulill...

Nowadays, we are witnessing a very disturbing trend in hijab style. Sisters are wearing hijab (?) but not really fulfilling the basic requirements of hijab. Thanks to most of the young hijabi sisters, it has become a norm to wear lots of make up, wearing very eye catchy and tight-fitting and see-through clothes. May be only one thing hasn’t changed that much and that is not to show the hair as if hijab is only to cover our hair and everything else can be on display! I feel very sad seeing the state of our hijab. What's the point of wearing hijab then?  Where are we heading? I am not just witnessing this new trend in the West but almost every other parts of the world thanks to global media and culture. I wanted to write about this issue for a long time but felt it can be quite a sensitive issue to deal with. Seeing my own family and friends getting sucked into this silly trend made me feel determined to write about it. Allah (swt) knows my intention. This post is first and foremo...

Alhamdulillah last year I came across this beautiful dua and I would like to share this dua with you. We all are sinners but we are told by our beloved prophet Muhammad (saw) that the best of the sinners are those who constantly repent and ask their Lord to forgive them. May Allah (swt) make us the best insha-Allah! اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ Allahumma anta rabbi, la ilaaha illa anta khalaqtani wa ana 'ala 'ahdika wa wa'dika maa s'ta'tat, audhu bika min sharri maa sana't abbu laka bini'matika a'layya wa abu'u bidhanbi faaghfirli faa innahu laa yaghfiruj' junuba illa anta. "O Allah, You are my Lord, there is none worthy of worship besides You, You have created me and I am Your servant, I a...

Since 2009 almost everyone of us are affected by recession. I know this is just part of life, a form of test from Allah swt as He mentioned in the Qur’an that He (swt) will definitely test us with loss of wealth, health, food etc to see how we deal with it and approach Him (swt). Admit it or not, we are here for a reason and that is to worship our Creator in every moment and state insha-Allah. Having said that, it can get pretty tough going through the hardship if we are not really accoustomed to loss of wealth, health and so on . There are beautiful supplications in our faith which can help us in feeling in control and optismistic insha-Allah. I have gathered some authentic dua's from the Sunnah (tradition) of our beloved prophet (saw). Do remember to recite them with the meaning as well as having firm faith that Insha-Allah through Allah swt’s mercy and generosity we will indeed get our supplications answered very soon INSHA-ALLAH! It has been mentioned by Ali (raw) that the pro...