What do you call a Muslim girl donning a radiantly illuminating headscarf, at an altitude of 1050 M, travelling at a velocity of 115m/s?

An MMDG – Muslim Meteor Defying Gravity?

Well... Before the illusion of being a shooting star is agonisingly tattooed on to my brain, I have to be quick to tell you, that it was me on the British airways flight, on the way to Oslo!

There I was, sitting, peering out of the plane window, oblivious to the fact that my crimson red organza head scarf was drawing soooooo much attention (now the so has many o’s for a reason!) Continue reading "Just ask..."...

Bismillah, in the name of Allah,

I set myself a humongous task of being positive, smiling more and exuding happy vibes to the world around me. Out with the misanthrope attitude, in with the Little Miss Sunshine.

After spending three hours on packing the last envelopes and glueing down labels for Eidy gifts, I threw on a headscarf and waited at the bus stop for fabulous public transport to post it all. I forced myself today to be extra nice to people, 'I will be nice', yep. I psyched myself to interacting with the commoners and helping more too. Smiles are infectious so I figured that's the first thing I could attack people with. It's a sunnah. A sunny-sunnah. A smiley-sunny-sunnah... Alright, I'll stop. Continue reading "Smiling. It's not just a sunnah, it's a way of life"...

A couple of days ago our house was broken into by 3 youths. I am sure that many of us have fallen victim to this and so can empathise with the total feeling of invasion.

Thinking that ours was a typical Asian household, they did not bother with anything downstairs, but totally ransacked the upstairs looking for gold, jewellery, and money. None of which we possess. On failing to find anything valuable, they returned downstairs to try and take the flat-screen, which unfortunately for these fools, was bolted solid to the wall. So, in frustration, they decided to punch it instead.

Continue reading "Broke in more than just a house!"...

If there’s one place which evokes a flurry of extreme reactions it’s… a i r p o r t s.

I remember the first few times there was nothing more exciting. Lugging our cases around in a perpetual state of nervous anxiety, our eyes couldn’t move fast enough to take it all in. The smell, the whirlwind of people, the chitter-chatter of a hundred languages, laughter, tears, life itself coming and going: all in one little terminal.

Fast forward a few years, I now seem to spend half my time in airports and there’s still nowhere more fascinating. Watching people emerging from arrivals, blinking in the light of their new, albeit temporary abode, on a conveyer belt of happiness- seeing the moment their blank tired faces suddenly transform into the million dollar ‘ding’ smile as they reach their loved ones. Each has their own story to tell. Then there are those on business- and those whose smiles you never get to see. Continue reading "The Airport"...

I looked at her once, and twice, and yet again. I did not smile at her as I did to everybody else, oh no, I wasn’t about to make her the recipient of my affection. Instead she smiled at me, the cheek of it all, but I merely looked away, ha! A smirk passed over my face and my eyes became cold, devoid of emotion. I crossed my arms and held my chin high. My heart suddenly clenched, what was unseen though was the little green arrow that pierced it. I didn’t realise, but the arrow rapidly spread a vile poison throughout my body and my mind gulped it all, producing all sorts of loathsome thoughts about that girl. Just because she has the beauty, wealth, and authority, just because she has it all, she thinks she’s better than me. I became certain that if I had all that, I would be so much higher in status than her… I became envious.

Continue reading "The Green Arrow "...

Zainab is a Guest-Writer on Muslimsinengland.com

Slowly but surely a modest smile appears on my face as I sit and remember having innumerable arguments with my mother regarding how my brother and I were treated so differently. ‘Why is he allowed out after dark and I’m not? Why is he allowed to travel to Italy with his friends and I’m not? Why is he allowed to wear what he wants and I’m not?’ It wasn’t fair. My mother’s vague answers didn’t convince me, but it was not long before I began to appreciate that I wasn’t un-equal, but simply different mentally, physically, hormonally, and definitely emotionally.

Ten months ago Allah (swt) bestowed upon me a beautiful baby girl.

I find that for some reason parents are more concerned about the security of their daughters than they are about their sons. This is not something I totally agree with, but fourteen months ago when my husband and I received the news that we would be having a baby girl, reality struck and even before she was born our nights were spent discussing the dos and don’ts of how we would bring her up. One thing that stuck in our minds was the beautiful hadith where the Prophet (saw) said "Whoever takes care of two girls until they reach adulthood - he and I will come (together) on the Day of Resurrection - and he interlaced his fingers (meaning in Paradise)." (Reported by Muslim). However, living in a Western society full of materialism and distraction makes this task a great deal. More difficult for the modern Muslim parent. Continue reading "Daughters"...

Written By: Susan Lucci. Susan Lucci is a guest-writer on Muslimsinengland.com from Chicago

“This isn’t my home, I’ll be leaving soon,” Mary declares as I escort her to the first floor to join the rest of the residents at “Casino Night” the afternoon of October 27th. “I’m just here to recover from the shock treatments they gave me for depression,” she explains matter-of-factly. It didn’t matter to me whether her story was fact or fiction, my goal was simply to entice her to join the afternoon’s socializing in the lobby. “They are serving orange punch and cookies,” I attempt a bribe. “Oh, why not, just for a few minutes, it would be a good break for my eyes,” Mary agrees, “I’m feeling foggy and not quite myself today.” I sympathize with this petite octogenerian. Continue reading "Acting with intentions"...

Abba jee,


Yesterday you hugged, joked, told me off, and waved me goodbye because I had to get back to the UK. You promised me that everything will be all right, and that we'll tour together on the trams of Holland and have 'lekkerbek'.

At first, I didn't speak to you because I didn't get something you promised me during our phone-calls, but earlier on today, you've done something I won't share too much about, but I'm not happy. There was still so much left to chat with you and we were supposed to walk big-time through the school of Chandni Chowk together which you've made.

You gave me your number of your new mobile phone, but who will I call now. Nor my grandmother, or you, my grandfather will attend my phone-calls.

Now that I've been to Pakistan after 8 years, I realised that you, and my grandmother were one of those couples, who were not only the great-grandparents, grandparents, father/mother, or brother/sister of our direct family. But almost every single place I went to in Rawalphindi, every single taxi I took, almost all the shops I went to, all the barbers I got a haircut from, the hospitals I walked in, the beggars on the streets, and whole the neighbourhood respected me so and so much, only for one reason: That I'm the grandson of my grandparents.

You've lived a great life over 80 years. Your name will always rise all over the world. I don't know how to start this letter, nor how to end it. I was there with you day before yesterday, I don't know where you've gone now.

But let me say this much:
"Wallahi I couldn't be more proud to be the grandson of my grandparents."
May Allah (swt) grant you Jannah and unite you with him (swt).


Azeem Mirza

Anyone who lives in the west, is familiar with the common household. Each member of the family contributes in his/her way to the household, and we are seeing more and more daughters taking on the role of the main breadwinner in the family.  There is nothing wrong with that, until this is considered an obligation...

Continue reading "The border of obligations"...

Wedding: A commitment between two people.
But how do we get married nowadays and how does it all seems to look like? One thing is sure. It’s not like we say it will be. How often do we say to ourselves that we will do it by the rules of Islam but we don’t? The wedding of the 21st century is filled with culture and traditions. It has to be big and each family tries to outdo the other. Not to mention how we love to spend all that money……. What do we reach with that? Sharing your joy is beautiful but is it really necessary to spend so much money?

Continue reading "Are we still at a wedding?"...