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?"...

Each and every day we face a multitude of challenges; the difficulty of studying for our degree, passing our exams, balancing our social and family lives or completing a project that we may have undertaken. My experience both as a final-year medical student and as an individual involved in a variety of local, national and international charity and faith-based work is that much of the past four years of my life can be described as, at the very least, challenging...

Continue reading "The Real Challenge"...

Africa and I have history. My mother was born and raised in Durban, South Africa, she left for the UK at the age of 23 when she married my father. My father, interestingly, was born in Malawi, the very the same country I will be travelling to for the first time in the coming days...

I have always been inspired by people who have grown up living the struggles of Africa, there’s almost a twinkle in their eyes. Malawi is amongst the poorest countries of the world and its people are savaged by many endemic diseases including HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB. What amazes me however is that generation after generation it is these conditions of abject poverty that have fashioned the most inspiring and forbearing characters of history. Continue reading "The Poor and the Rich"...

While the British Muslim is worrying their pounds away at whatever crises, halt for a moment to consider this: Another online marriage service has been created! (Should we sigh or cheer?) Although in beta mode, none other than the great comic Baba Ali is leading HalfOurDeen.com, an international paid matrimonial service.

Continue reading "'My Online Marriage'"...

So we all embark our lifeline accompanied by angels appointed by Allah, two of which write down our deeds, both good and bad, minor and major. Do you know what we commit everyday without thinking?...I can tell you that apart from major sins, we commit thousands of minor sins on a daily basis. So you're giving the Angel on your left plenty to write about? Yes? What are we doing to rectify this? What are we doing to keep the Angel on our right busy jotting? What are we doing to tip the scales in our favour on the day of judgement?

Continue reading "The Sunnah Bag"...

"You're a Salafi-Wahabi-Sufi-Maliki-Tablighi-Sunni-Shia?” Yes.

Labels are tricky. And sticky. I can never manage to completely peel one off whole, in once piece; annoying little patchy remnants are always left behind.
The word "label" by definition has two significant meanings. One is a restrictive definition: "a classifying phrase or name applied to a person or thing, esp. one that is inaccurate or limiting". The other is more informative: "a small piece of paper, fabric, plastic, or similar material attached to an object and giving information about it. Continue reading "Labels"...