Ramadan Charities

Salaam aleykum and Ramadan Mubarak!!

InshAllah your fasting is going well. One thing strongly encouraged during Ramadan is to give charity and lots of it! In case you're having trouble finding worthy causes, we're compiling a list of various Islamic charities that could really use your help. Comment if you have a charity you'd like to see featured! We will update this list regularly, inshAllah.

Feed a Syrian Family

Help Omar Ahmed get a new kidney


Islamic Help: General relief fund


Islamic Relief USA: General relief fund



Muslim Aid: General relief fund

Muslimah's Covered With Care: To help American Muslim women with modest dress needs and also life crisis assistance.


Ramadan TV: An online/on-the-air TV channel that teaches anyone and everyone about all things Ramadan.


Save an Orphan: Orphan assistance fund

SOLACE UK: To help UK Muslim women converts with learning about Islam and life crisis assistance.

The Well Project Ramadhan: Donate to help fund 30 wells built during Ramadan - one for each day!

May Allah accept and reward your generosity!

N&Z

Changing the wardrobe!

Salaam aleykum!

It's a pretty big change to put hijab on, but it all doesn't need to happen at once. Even though hijab is fard, you need to understand that it is a commitment and once it's on, it should be on for good. We thought you would be interested in the tips and tricks we have for changing the wardrobe from non-Islamic to a more modest, hijabified closet!

1. Take a deep breath, and take it slow! There's no specific time frame for when you need to be completely hijabbed. Set a goal for covering up a little bit more of your body as you go along. You'll know when you're ready for the next step. Make plenty of dua'a as you go along. Some people will take a month, others will take years. Allah knows what is best for you, so don't forget to include Him in this very important journey of your faith.

2. Stop wearing sleeveless shirts. This is simple and really quite unnoticeable by friends and family, especially if you're a revert who doesn't want your family to find out right away. T-shirts are really easy to get away with. There are also a lot of tops made from lighter material that still cover the upper arms without making you sweat.

3. Stop wearing shorts/short skirts. Instead, opt for jeans, maxi dresses and maxi skirts. Also, some companies make awesome gaucho pants that are super comfortable, flowy, and stylish. These items can stay with you even after you don hijab, so they're a worthy investment!

4. Start wearing long sleeves instead of t-shirts. Yes, even over the summer. Doing this for a year has worked out really well for me (Zahra). You'll start to figure out what outfits look good together. You'll figure out which tops are suitable over jeans (i.e. covering the bum) and which are more suitable for a skirt. Also, at this point you may want to consider starting your scarf collection if you already haven't. Buying a few at a time will make the investment a lot smaller every month instead of purchasing an entire wardrobe's worth of scarves the week you decide to wear hijab!

5. Wear hats! Beanies are a great way to get used to having something on your head, plus nobody's going to say anything if you show up to school with a beanie on one day, and your hair curled the next. You should also practice wrapping your hijab and getting the hang of doing it. Once you're comfortable with how some styles look on your head at home, you'll feel more confident wearing it out in public.

6. Set a date and wear your hijab out in public! Figure out which setting makes you most comfortable. Tell a friend and have her go out with you, or get your group of friends together and surprise them with your new commitment! By setting a date, you'll build up excitement as the day comes closer to wearing your hijab and you'll have a special day that you can celebrate each year as your hijab-iversary comes around.

Another thing we recommend is to purchase Islamic clothing as you go along. If you prefer shalwar kameez, abaya, jilbab, or jalabiya, look around and find ones you like. As you move closer towards full hijab, start making an investment here and there of an article of clothing you really like. Having special pieces of clothing saved in your closet will help you get more excited about wearing it when you take that final step.

Of course, these steps won't necessarily help everyone. Some people go from being a non-Muslim, one day wearing shorts and a tank and the next day wearing an abaya and khimar. That's perfectly fine, but not everyone can run straight to that kind of Islamic wear right away. Anyone who wants to dress more modestly can follow these steps. Modify them as you need to for your particular religion. InshAllah these steps and tips will help ease any anxiety you may have about covering for the first time and break it down into much more manageable goals.

Until next time,

N&Z

Status update: Zahra

Salaam aleykum!

So I'm just over a week of being a hijabi, and I have to say I'm really not feeling too different. Al7amdullilah, it feels so natural to wear hijab. Of course, it's taking time to ignore the occasional stare, but that comes with patience :)

I have found that it is really hard to go to the gym or do outdoor workouts with hijab on. I get hot really easily when I'm doing any type of physical activity, especially cardio, and with a hijab on it seems like it's ten times worse. This will certainly be something to experiment around with. I will try to keep you posted on what I find that works for me!

Please continue to keep me in your dua'as as I continue with my journey. I love you all so much and thank you for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers!

Until next time,

Zahra

Conversion Story: Lauren A., Part Two

Continued from Part 1...

So, one evening I was preparing to get ready for a big function at one of my aunt’s house. So, I finally wrapped a super-cute hijab around me correctly. I would no longer tie my hijab behind my head. I would no longer feel guilty for being Muslim. I wanted people to see me for who I had become. I thought to myself on the way there on how scared I was inside. I was freaking out. I was going crazy. I was everything except for calm. Upon exiting the car I went into my aunt’s house and went where the party was- downstairs. Everyone was there. I was freaking out to the fullest extent. I was melting inside. My heart felt as if it would just drop out of me at any minute. It did. My aunt’s husband had laughed and said that I looked like a Muslim. In looking back at that I was embarrassed because everyone laughed with him. I gave that fake smile and just ignored the faces and the staring eyes. I went to say hello to my aunt. She gave me a hug and told her husband that I was Muslim.  After that clarification, I felt out of place almost. I saw how I was different. I was no longer just like anyone else. I stood out among others. The music, the lewd dancing, the smoking and drinking got to me. In being in that environment I recognized the beauty of being Muslim. I found solace in knowing that Islam frees an individual from the evils of the world. It seemed like a reality-check for me. I came into afraid and scared, but I came out realizing the beauty of Islam.

On the other hand, I was dealing with life at home. Home was a hard place for me. It was a hard place until I left for college. I would have my arguments at home with my parents about different aspects of Islam, but eventually I stopped. I found our relationship being strained by Islam and Islam doesn’t teach us to argue. When there is ignorance we should simply walk away.  Walking away doesn’t make you a loser, but it makes you the stronger person. The prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told us that the strong person isn’t the one that can wrestle an individual down to the ground, but the person that can control their anger. I soon told my parents that I wasn’t going to take the disrespect anymore and that I was Muslim. I wouldn’t tolerate the treatment I was receiving. Interestingly, my father became interested in Islam. He would ask me questions and even listen to lectures with me. He would say how Islam seemed like a peaceful way of life and how he was proud of me. He told me he had seen such a positive change in me. I didn’t understand what he meant, but I guess he saw it. So, I was accepting of such a compliment.  In dealing with life as a Muslim convert, I found myself growing in different ways. I found myself walking away from ignorance. I found myself feeling firm upon Islam. I wasn’t going to allow anyone to disrespect me or my way of life. I began seeking knowledge of the religion on a daily-basis, so that I could grow to understand myself as a Muslim. Nonetheless, this time of growing was lonely at times, but years later…extremely necessary.  I no longer hear mocking comments about Islam or Muslims. I no longer fear having my hijab or abaya stripped from my closet. I no longer fear hearing how I will be an occupant of the hell-fire. I came to love Islam and even love my family more. It seemed as though Islam has helped me in recognizing the important things in life. Family is definitely one of them. Islam wants you to keep the ties of kinship and to maintain them. In looking at Asma, the daughter of Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him), she had told the prophet Muhammad (May peace be upon him) how her mother wanted to be in her presence, but she didn’t want to see her mother since she was not Muslim.  The prophet Muhammad told Asma to entertain her mother and to be with her since she wasn’t an enemy to Islam. Islam doesn’t want us to leave our families, but wants us to strengthen the ties we have with them- Muslim or not.

So, in my experience of being a convert I appreciated the trials and the lessons learned. My story may sound sad, but it really isn’t. It’s a story about growth. It’s a story about self-realization and what it means to be a Muslim. If you seek out Allah as your protector then he will protect you, inshALLAH. In the last five years I have found myself extremely fortunate because I have seen the beauty of trials and tribulation. In addition, I have even seen the beauty of seeing my father becoming a Muslim.

We offer our sincere thanks and appreciation to Lauren for sharing her story with us and with our readers. If you'd like to share your story, please e-mail it to us at therevertshijab@gmail.com

Conversion Story: Lauren A., Part One

Finding myself alone at the local library after giving myself the shahada was exciting, but frightening. I had the immediate adrenaline rush, but I had the realization that I would be going back home to my family. I was only 16 years-old at the time of my conversion. I didn’t have any scarves to drape myself with properly except for one that could only be tied up in a bun behind my head, thus exposing my neck and ears.  I didn’t have a clear understanding on proper-dress, but I was willing to cover up as much as possible. When I went home I rushed to grab anything that resembled a scarf and tied it on my head. I was proud to finally wear hijab.  I didn’t know that it was an obligation, but I saw plenty of other Muslim-women doing the same thing.

Upon the arrival of my parents returning home I was in the bathroom performing my prayer in fear that they would catch me. Of course, they did. I was humiliated and degraded. I felt less than human at some points of my initial conversion to Islam. I would often feel ashamed out in public because I knew the intense hate my parents had for Islam. I knew in their eyes and in their comments that having a Muslim daughter was not a part of the plan. I found myself hiding from my parents when I performed my prayers. I would even try closing the door to my bedroom, but my mom would interrupt me. On the other hand, I would go to school to be around friends that were Muslim and they would openly accept me. However, I had to come from that comforting space to a place of horror in many respects. I became more conscious of my Islam and began reading more and listening to lectures every chance I got. I would raid the local library for books about Islam. Sadly, I later realized that many of the books I read were deviant on different levels, but that was the only real source of Islam for me. I would talk to other Muslims and begin going to classes online. I found strength in being around other Muslims. I even listened to how other converts dealt with family and I learned that I had to be firm. I began covering fully in my junior-year of high-school. I didn’t care anymore. I wanted to please Allah. Of course, I had my bumps along the way, but I was certain that I wanted to be known as a Muslim and be seen as a Muslim.

Stay tuned next week to see Part Two of Lauren's story, inshAllah...

The countdown begins for Zahra.

Salaam aleykum,

It seems like only yesterday that I was simply dreaming about the day that I would become a full-time hijabi. Now that day is so, SO close (inshAllah). I don't have a set date yet, but inshAllah it will be either the 17th, 18th, or 19th of May.

Finally, everything is falling into place. Al7amdullilah.

Until next time,

Zahra

We will not be moved.

Asalaam aleykum/Peace be with you,

The recent tragedy in Boston has led many Muslims to once again speak out against the false association between terrorism and Islam. We're jumping on that bandwagon as well. Islam is all over the news once again and violence toward Muslims is skyrocketing all over the nation. We call upon Americans and people around the world to educate themselves about Islam and learn that Islam literally means "peace."

I don't know how many times anyone has to say that ISLAM DOES NOT PREACH TERRORISM! In fact, the Holy Qur'an states that "whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely." (Qur'an 5:32). It also has a commandment to obey the laws of our host government (so long as it doesn't go against our religion).

We did not turn to Islam because of the violence and horror that we saw on the news. We didn't become Muslims so we could have a good excuse to run through the streets screaming "Death to America!" No, in fact, it was the peace and joy that it brought into our lives that made us Muslims.  It was the respect that is demanded of us to others and of others to us. It was the love that our dear Prophet ﷺ had for Allah that made us want to love Allah as much as he ﷺ did.

To those of you who continue to choose to terrorize undeserving Muslims, we want to make this clear:

We will not be afraid.

Our faith will not waiver.

Allah (God) will keep us strong.

Until next time,

N&Z

Convincing family.

Many reverts to Islam are the only reverts in their family. Sometimes families tolerate and even support their loved ones going down the path of Islam while maintaining their own particular beliefs. Some families are not welcoming to the idea at all, oftentimes abandoning their child or sibling after the reversion or intent to revert is revealed.

“O you who believe, save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones over which are (appointed) angels, stern and severe, who flinch not (from executing) the commands they receive from God, but do (precisely what) they are commanded.” (Quran 66:6) 

I'm sure I speak for many reverts when I say we suffer distress at the thought of our families suffering in jahannam for the rest of eternity. “But those who reject Our signs, they are the companions of the left hand. On them will be Fire vaulted over (meaning the gates will be locked).” (Quran 90:19-20). Quite a stressful ayat when we think about how we are bringing Islam to them and many times they do not accept the message of Islam.

Zahra:

My parents and extended family are hardcore Southern Baptists, and to most Americans, you understand how intense that particular denomination is. I was raised in Southern Baptist Convention churches, although my middle childhood lacked church and religious direction due to my father's work taking us to Europe. We came back to the US and did not really become heavily involved with church until after my freshman year of high school, and believe me when I say heavily involved. My parents and I fell out of the church routine towards the end of my high school days, although I was still a member of quite a few Christian youth clubs.

When my parents found out that I had become a Muslim, they initially kicked me out of the house and cut me off. They literally left me with the clothes on my back. No car, no phone, not even a purse to carry my things in. I had to call a friend at 1 o'clock in the morning to pick me up. The next day, I closed my bank accounts, borrowed a car, and three of us drove for the three hours to my college to clean out my apartment of everything we could before my parents could get to it. I took out student loans to pay for a meal plan and got a dorm room assignment. That afternoon, my dad texted my friend telling him to contact me and tell me to check my e-mail. He wrote that both he and my mom were sorry for what they did and wanted me to come home. I went home the next day.

To this day, I still have arguments and scuffles with both of my parents that almost makes life unbearable with them. As bad as this sounds, I sometimes think that things probably would have been a lot better had they just left me to be on my own. My mother tends to go through peaks and troughs, but oftentimes I feel like she's in this awful depression, and that's both heartbreaking and extremely irritating for me to see. I would love for my parents to come to Islam and see the real peace it brings. One day, inshAllah.

Nikita:

I have yet to come out to my family about my faith, and when I say come out, I mean officially. My parents know I pray, and they've come to acknowledge that I refuse to eat pork products. My Hindu grandmother has no idea that I pray. I have yet to come out to them in fear, my parents have already said they feel I am giving up hundreds of years of family tradition. They feel hurt, and betrayed. My mom learned that I was waiting to turn 18, and move out to college to wear hijab. My parents quickly threatened to pull me out of college and make me live at home to attend community college. 

The point I'm getting at is that approaching your family about transitioning into a practicing Muslim is hard, and there are words and actions that can bring you down and hurt your iman. It is the Shaitan trying to mislead you, and make you feel like your own family is against, and disowning you. The trick is time, it is ease, it is pace. You cannot expect a couple weeks, or a couple months for things to turn around. You have to slowly bring your parents to the idea of Islam, and the idea of being a Muslim. Try to teach them about the faith as opposed to trying to teach them why you want to wear hijab, or grow out your beard, or choose to eat halal, it takes time, faith and dua. Insha'Allah the families of the reverts will accept not only their reverted family, but Islam itself.

Until next time,

N&Z

Source

Prayer.

Salaam aleykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu,

One of the most well-known traits of Muslims is prayer. The bowing and prostrating is quite distinctive to Islam, and oftentimes the fact that the required prayers are five times a day is mind-boggling to those who do not know much about Islam. One things that many Muslims strive to do is to get all five prayers on time every day in order to get maximum reward for their efforts, inshAllah. One of the first things that reverts really need to do is learn how to pray salah.

Zahra:

I learned how to pray well before I took Shahadah. After a solid semester of going to Juma'a, it was easy to know the motions of prayer. I only knew the English translations of prayer and knowing the translation made it quite easy. The translation was so beautiful, the praise of Allah and sendings blessings to Muhammad pbuh was not necessarily a new concept to me, but it was different than how I had prayed before.

I only learned two suras besides al-Fatiha, so memorizing salah in Arabic was not that hard, al7amdullilah. I was fortunate enough to find a series of YouTube videos that I used over and over again in order to memorize everything. However, I am not a creature of habit. It is really hard to get in the habit of getting myself up off the couch five times a day to pray. I still struggle with it, but I know there is great reward for me, inshAllah. Some days are harder than others, but once the prayer is finished, I feel so much better.

The transition to becoming a more adherent Muslim has been a challenge. Nursing school has made it so hard to connect with fellow Muslims in person. Granted, I have a large Twitter following that supports me in everything I do, and that helps make up for it. They have made it so easy for me to learn how to be a better Muslim and they drive me to want to be better. I also definitely do not want to disappoint Allah swt, and everything I do these days is for the sake of Allah.

Nikita:

I learned to pray before taking my shahada, and was in the habit of praying, albeit not 5 times a day, before saying those binding words as well. I had learned how to pray in Arabic and thus making the transition into praying a little easier. I learned the translation at the beginning as well so that I could complete my prayers whole heartedly.

Praying 5 times a day can be difficult, and like Zahra said, some days are easier than others. After I took my shahada was the most difficult, but one day something just happened and I knew I HAD to pray. Since that day, alhamdulillah, my namaz has been more consistent. I have been blessed to have friends that are born Muslims and have helped me learn the proper pronunciation and names for things in Arabic. (Most of these friends are south Asian, as am I, which explains my use of the words "namaz" and "azaan" instead of "salat" and "adthan")

Once you get in the pattern of making your 5 daily prayers, you get in the habit, and it is harder to break. Unfortunately this is also the case if you forgo prayer, it is harder to get back into the swing of things.

The best thing to do is to make dua, give to others, do things to raise your imam and surely prayer becomes easier each day. Insha'Allah.

Until next time,

N&Z

Charity and Islam

Salaam aleykum!

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The believer's shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity." - Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 604.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Save yourself from hellfire by giving even half a date-fruit in charity." - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 498.

There are huge rewards in giving charity. There are tons of hadith on giving, even if it's just half a date! Even smiling is considered a form of charity in Islam! How awesome is that? You can get rewards just for smiling at somebody!

Zahra:

Something that is very near and dear to my heart is charity. I have done volunteer work since I was very young and continue to do volunteer work through my college and the nursing program. I also like to donate money when I can, especially to causes that really tug at my heartstrings.

I believe that charity does not always have to be monetary. I am a firm believer in giving time to causes as well. There are quite a few programs, such as Project Downtown. You could even volunteer to clean your local mosque or Islamic center and still be rewarded for it in the hereafter. Volunteering is free for everyone and is a wonderful use of spare time. Remember, the Prophet sws told us to take advantage of our youth while we are young. Volunteering by doing handiwork is one way to do this.

Nikita:

Charity and volunteering aren't always big, or grandiose acts. Holding the door open or even helping an elder carry their groceries is not only polite, but a form of charity. Currently I am currently an unemployed student, but that doesn't mean I'm not trying to give money to a better cause. Even if it's only a couple dollars here and there, give to organizations or local organizations that helps people in need, volunteer at a soup kitchen. There are rewards in feeding your ummah, but not only your ummah, feeding others. Never let your situation hold you back from helping others, even if it's in the smallest way possible.


It is quite amazing that charity is so easy to give these days. Technology has made it very simple to pay by credit or debit card and many masjids have their own PayPal fundraiser accounts linked right on their websites. Donating to various causes has never been easier!

If you want an easy way to give charity, we are providing several links for you to donate to some Islamic causes. The last three links contain searches of justgiving.com that will always have charities on there. Feel free to revisit this post every month and donate a little bit to our brothers and sisters in need, inshAllah.

This fundraiser is in England in memory of Tehseen Khan, a great man who recently passed away.

Help a new sister who needs help paying off student loans.

Help build a masjid in America.

Help deaf Muslims go on Umrah.

There are hundreds of charities on justgiving.com that are tagged as Islamic:

Link 1

Link 2

Link 3

May Allah reward all of us for our charity and help us find new ways to give back to our Ummah. Ameen.

Until next time,

N&Z

Note: All hadith in this post can be found here

World Hijab Day! -Zahra

Salaam aleykum!

As many of you know, I recently participated in World Hijab Day this past Friday. It was a phenomenal experience and I had such a great day, al7amdullilah.

The purpose of World Hijab Day is to give non-hijabi Muslim women and non-Muslim women a chance to experience what it's like to be a covering woman. It helps spread the message of Islam to those who may not have been exposed to it beforehand.

Since I don't wear hijab and won't be wearing it for a few more months, I decided to go ahead and do World Hijab day. I ran several errands, which included the bank, hair salon, and grocery store. I also had classes that day, so I was considerably nervous for my classmates' reactions. Facebook, Twitter, and Keek all voted to decide what I would wear. I wound up wearing a beautiful black dress from Hijab-Ista and a kelly green jersey hijab. I also made a tag telling people to ask me about World Hijab Day.

Everyone was really nice to me, and I had a lot of questions. There was a considerable amount of staring when I went to the grocery store, but I didn't mind. I felt awesome wearing hijab. It was really wonderful, knowing that for that one day I was representing Islam 100%. I can't even describe how it felt to be covered. It was great to feel so modest and to know that I was protecting my entire being, even just for a day.

I truly cannot wait to don hijab now. I had long forgotten the feeling of security and satisfaction I had from covering my hair. Just a few more months and I can have hijab permanently.

Thank you all for participating and your amazing support. This could not have happened without you being there by my side.

Until next time,

Zahra

Links:

http://www.worldhijabday.com

http://www.hijab-ista.com

Following Sunnah

Salaam Aleykum!

One thing that we are encouraged as Muslims to do is follow the sunnah, or actions, of the Prophet Muhammad (sws). Sunnah, when literally translated, means a well-trodden path. There are many different sunnah we can and should follow. We can find many sunnah practices in the hadith collections and also from other sunnah practices that have been handed down since the time of our beloved Prophet (sws).

Zahra: 

Following the sunnah of the Prophet (sws) is something that I learned quickly after taking my Shahadah. It seems like I learn a new sunnah every day! Of course, establishing these new habits has been really hard, some more than others, but I love that I can do things every day that emulates how the Prophet (sws) lived his beautiful life.

My favorite sunnah to follow is reciting Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and Al-Nas before bed. I live in a not-so-awesome part of town, so I don't always feel safe in my apartment. When I recite these and then Ayat al-Kursi, I feel at peace and I can relax enough to sleep.

Innovations or invented sunnah are out there, and they definitely do freak me out. I always try to research a sunnah before I attempt to put it into practice. InshAllah my research is sufficient.

Nikita:

I get really excited for Fridays, it's that feel-good Jummah day. I have to say, my favorite sunnah is reading Surah al-Khaf. I am unable to properly learn Arabic in my current state, and by continuously reading the surah, I have become more familiar with the Quran. Reading al-Khaf usually consists of an additional reading of other surahs, and then slowly but surely trying to memorize them. Doing one sunnah act can lead to others, and has truly opened my heart to living my life in a way that is closest pleasing to the Almighty.

Comment on this post and tell us your favorite sunnah!

Until next time,

N&Z

The hijab.

Salaam aleykum!

For those of you who follow us on Twitter, you may have noticed the amount of "SISTER WEAR HIJAB!" posts we've been getting. We want to stress that we do have some very valid reasons for not wearing hijab. If you've never been to the United States, please keep your comments to yourself. You cannot and will never understand what it's like to be an American Muslim, especially for those of us who live in more remote areas of the country where Islamophobia is rampant.

Zahra: 

I have a confession: I'm an ex-hijabi. I converted and accidentally started wearing hijab full-time. I wasn't planning to cover until after I graduated, but once I had to wear it out a few times, I decided it wasn't so bad. I made the decision to keep it on when classes started back up and I just wouldn't tell my parents about it.

Bad, BAD idea.

I needed to find a part-time job so I could have something to do over the summer. I will never forget how I went in to talk to a potential employer about completing the application process and the receptionist took one look at me, went to the back to go talk to someone, came back out and said "We're not actually hiring." Somehow, someone managed to get onto my Facebook account and found pictures of me wearing hijab. They took those pictures, went to my mother's workplace, showed them to her, and started harassing her about having a Muslim kid. My mom called me and started freaking out. "You're a target for crime! You're going to get hurt!" Some other events occurred and I knew that my life would not be stable until I got out of college and out of my parents' care.

I miss wearing hijab so much, especially over Ramadan. I feel like I had so much more respect while wearing hijab. I feel like I'm missing something, and I am. I looked like a Muslim and people were not surprised when I asked if I could be excused for ten minutes so I could go pray. InshAllah I will graduate in May and by my 22nd birthday in June I will be covered up and finally feel whole again.

Nikita: 

I guess I can say what really excited me about Islam was the beauty of hijab. The beauty of covering for the sake of God. Unfortunately, the hijab is often misunderstood as a means of female oppression, creating difficulties, especially for converts. My struggle with hijab and being able to finally put it on is not only a matter of ability to, but the commitment to wearing it for the rest of my life. Sometimes I feel ready to finally put on a scarf, other days, all I have to wear are skinny jeans.

Hijab is more than a headscarf, and as a revert, you often see both men and women adorning their respective hijab (men with beards, you know what I mean) yet they forget they are representing the faith. Hijab is more than a headscarf, niqab is more than covering your face, it goes so much deeper than that. I hold off on wearing hijab because of my family, my community, and because I don't feel I am at a maturity and understanding where I can represent Islam well. I have so much more growing up and developing to do. Hijab is Fard, and for this reason, Insha'Allah I will wear it in the future.

On this note, I'd also like to talk about something I've noticed coming from outside the faith; people are quick to say "sister, put on a hijab" or "brother, grow a beard" but we don't know the struggles the person is going through. We can't and shouldn't judge others just because of their outward appearance.

Until next time,

N&Z

PS: Follow us on Twitter, shoot us an e-mail, or ask us a question on ask.fm! We love to hear from you!

"I asked for strength..."

"...and Allah gave me struggles to make me stronger."

Asalaamu aleykum!

Juma'a mubarak! Al7amdullilah, we have made it through another week. School has started back up for most of us, which means endless nights of studying and a potentially unhealthy amount of caffeine.

We wanted to start off our weekly blogs by sharing our greatest struggle with you. Like everyone, we have struggles. Sometimes, we feel like they are magnified because we are reverts. We know that Allah would not give us anything we can't handle. We want you to know that you're not alone in your hard times, and we want to give you someone to relate to.

Zahra:

I have had my fair share of rough times since I reverted to Islam. One of my biggest battles is the fact that I cannot attend Juma'a salat. Unfortunately, my school schedule does not allow me to attend the one thing that would teach me the most Islam and give me reward by praying in congregation. Also, the closest masjid is about a 90 minute highway drive away from my college. There have been semesters where I had the time off to go, but the drive made it impossible to make it back to class on time.

I miss going to regular Friday prayers, and I certainly do appreciate it when I am actually able to attend. As the old adage goes, "you don't know what you have until it's gone." InshAllah I will be able to work in a place that will allow me to have Friday afternoons off so I am able to go to a masjid for Friday prayer.

If you are able to attend the masjid, please do. The masjid is a valuable resource and there are great rewards in praying in congregation. Take advantage of what Allah has provided for you. You don't know who would readily take your place and appreciate the value!

Nikita:

In today's world, religion isn't a big deal. I've noticed many people casually claiming to be Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish...but it seems to be more of a title than guidelines for their actions. That's why when you hear people convert, you're surprised. In this day and age, where everyone is busy and the dunya controls our thoughts and actions, really, who gives theology much thought?

I have lost friends as a result of my conversion, and having to "come out" about converting is by biggest struggle thus far. Many are surprised to hear I converted, but when they hear "I converted to Islam:" cue shocked expressions.

Alhamdulillah, with time and patience I was able to save most of those relationships, but there were definitely points where I felt completely alone and abandoned. Some friends never came around, it wasn't a huge fight that ensued "coming out" about my faith, but slowly...
"Hey, want to hang out this weekend?"
"Um no, sorry. I'm busy"
became a more frequent answer. Those things happened about a month or two ago, and at this point, unfortunately, those I considered practically family no longer acknowledge me or have any form of communication with me.

Being a born Muslim, you have the advantage of people initially accepting you for all of you. When you change part of yourself (in this case, converting to an often misunderstood faith), you can't always accurately gauge the reaction of peers, family and friends. I feel as though being a Muslim almost clears your slate, it pushes negative impacting influences away, and draws close those who remind you of Allah (swt). Ultimately I say Alhamdulillah, because though I have lost close friends, I have gained new valuable friends who remind me of my faith. Honestly, I'm much happier because of it.

Until next time,

-N&Z

Meeting the Baby; I'm Nikita :)

Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatulahi Wa Barakatu.

I really hope I spelt that right. My name is Nikita, a 17 year old "baby muslim," if you will, on account of my actual age and time I've been a muslim.  I took my Shahada August 18th 2012, right before the last maghrib of Eid ul Fitr. The first thing I usually get when people hear I converted is, "Masha'Allah! 17?!" I've never felt my age was an issue, to be honest. The truth is the truth, and regardless of age, recognition of the truth should be acted upon.

I'm growing up in a mixed race household. My mom was born and raised in India, while my dad is a mixture of most things European. I was raised exposed to both the Hindu and Catholic faiths of my family, never fully understanding either, always feeling out of place in both.
I'm far exposed, and proud more into my Desi (South Asian) heritage than my European heritage, and with that comes the religious aspects as well. For those who are also South Asian, I'm sure you can relate to the huge, close knit communities, and in that has come my fear of "coming out" about my faith.

I've been a muslim for almost 5 months, and not a single family member (or community member, Alhamdulillah) knows about it. I have a fear of them knowing; because I'm young, because of my extended family on BOTH sides, because my religious hindu family that raised me would be torn. For this reason, I am holding off on hijab, at least until I'm in college.

I live the diverse DMV area, thats DC, Maryland, Virginia for you, and we have a very large, welcoming community here. I sometimes think about my safety, I sometimes think about how my community would view me. Insha'Allah, with time, I will have the strength, and willpower to wear my hijab and keep it on.

I cant say I knew everything I was getting into when I took my shahada that day. The little things I used to love, (I was a nailpolish FIEND) suddenly became limited. There are days where I upset myself because I feel im not doing everything right, or that my actions are not pleasing my creator.

With time. It all comes with time.
Insha'Allah may you continue reading these blogs, whether a muslim or just a curious internet surfer, you can only learn, right? :)

Thank you for reading, and sorry for the grammatical errors; I love using commas.
Assalamualaikum,
      Nikita :)

Meeting Zahra.

Salaam aleykum!

My name is Emily, better known as Zahra. I'm a 21 year old nursing student with two cats. I love riding my bike, going to museums, and drinking too much coffee. Oh yeah, I'm an American Muslim.

Allow me to share my story with you:

I was 17 when I first started studying Islam. I actually gave a speech on Islam for one of my classes in high school. I graduated high school and went straight to the University of Kansas to study pre-nursing. I met some wonderful Muslims, one of which invited me to attend Friday prayer at the local Islamic center. One cold Friday, I covered up my hair and sat on a chair in the back of the men's section and listened to the khutbah. I was totally mesmerized by watching the men pray in congregation. The recitation of the Qur'an captivated me.

I wanted more.

I continued going to the masjid for several months, each week learning more about Islam. I met many wonderful people and began to study Islam not for expanding my general knowledge about the world, but for my own personal gain. I celebrated Ramadan and Eid ul-Fitr that following summer. I watched as some people I knew converted to Islam, yet I still couldn't do it. I started to lapse in my studies, falling into some very stupid situations. I left Islam behind to pursue worldly gain.

Eventually, my time at KU had to come to an end. I moved to Central Kansas to start the two years of craziness that is nursing school. I realized that I really missed going to the masjid. I missed the wonderful people I used to spend a lot of time with. I missed feeling close to God. I picked up my books again and began to research. I read, and read, and read. Then, I read some more until I got to an online book about the science in the Qur'an. I had never come across anything like this before. I sat for hours, looking at this online book. Something said to me: "it's time."

December 17, 2011. I sat in the office at the masjid in Kansas City, just after praying Isha prayer. Four of my closest friends surrounded me. This was it. This was the day that my life would gain new meaning. I cried as I choked out the words that I had practiced over and over again.

Ashadu ana la ilaha il Allah, wa ashadu ana Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh.

-Z

So what's this blog all about, anyway?

Salaam aleykum!

We are Nikita and Zahra, two relatively recent reverts to Islam. We have never met, but have been brought together through the wonderful invention of social networking. We do have one thing in common: we don't wear hijab.

"Sister, why don't you wear hijab?"

"But sister, you don't wear hijab! You are not a good Muslim if you don't wear hijab!"

"Say what?! You're Muslim?! But you don't wear that head thingy!"

These are just a few of the various comments we get when someone finds out that we are Muslims. We don't wear hijab for various reasons, so please don't tell us that we need to put it on tomorrow. We know we're in the wrong for not wearing it, so please do not berate us for being a "bad example." Let us explain.

There is a reason why this blog is called "The Reverts' Hijab"! We wanted to start this blog to share our journey with Islam with all of you! The vast internet audience! We want you to see our struggles and our victories, things we learn, and the situations that might not go so well for us.

Eventually, we want you to watch us as we take some major steps in our lives, such as graduating high school and college, starting work, living in the real world, and as we put on hijab (inshAllah).

This blog is our way of connecting with brothers and sisters of Islam, and also to help spread the sweet and amazing message of Islam. We want those who want to learn more about Islam to see that we are very real people that have lives just like you do! We just happen to be Muslim!

Don't be afraid to give us advice, share your stories, or ask us questions. We'd love to hear from you!

Until next time,

-N&Z