In assalaamu

The Day of "Ashoora

We are in the holy month of Muharram. Today is 'Ashoora, the 10th of Muharram.

Today we fast to celebrate the victory of the Prophet Musa (alaihis sallam). He led his people out of bondage in Egypt away from Pharaoh. 

 

This year, I am hoping to fast on the 10th and 11th of Muharram

My Fancy Sewing Tie - Completed

 

Preparations for Embroidery

I have joined the Take A Stitch Tuesday Facebook Group. However, I have not been able to get the time to do any of the stitches as yet due to the quantity of work at my regular job. I have been rather jealously looking at everyone else's work.

I have been able over the last few days, to organize so that I can do some embroidery. 

I wanted to make a long sampler with each of the stitches...

Firstly, I sourced some material. In Trinidad and Tobago, this fabric is called brown cotton even though it is off-white. It is a cotton material that looks natural. 

I cut four long strips as you can see in the picture and then I used a regular pencil to draw lines. I decided that 8" X 4" would be a good sample size that I could use.

A close up of the pencil markings on the fabric. I haven't decided as yet if I'm going to use a back stitch for the lines.

I also have one of my chatelaines. 

And for this I made three chatelaines with split rings of stranded embroidery cotton. Stranded embroidery cotton is easily available here.

Sigh..........

To get other types of thread for embroidery, I'd have to purchase them online. Later on, I may decide to do that.......

I'm currently pleased with myself...

I have organised so that I can start stitching very soon.

Islamic Year - 1438

Today is the first day in the new Islamic Year 1438 A.H.

It marks 1438 years since the Holy Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina.

It is also the start of  Muharram; the second holiest month of the Islamic year after Ramadhan.

Muharram means 'forbidden' so many Muslims fast during this month. And in fact fighting is forbidden during this month.

Abdal-Hamid Kishk - Abu Yazeed and the Pope

The following was a video that I found while surfing the internet. I am not sure if it is about a true incident, but I was so fascinated with it.

What drew me to it even though I did not understand most of what was said was the voice of Abdal-Hamid Kishk. I felt as if it pulled at my heart. I like this video because of the subtitles.

Abdal-Hamid Kishk was born on March 10, 1933 and died December 6, 1996. He was an Egyptian preacher, scholar of Islam, activist, and author.

Abdal-Hamid Kishk was born in Shibrakheet, a small village near Alexandria, Egypt. His father died before Abd al-Hamid reached schooling age. He joined one of the schools of Azhar and by the age of 8 he had memorized the Quran. It was at this time that he was inflicted by an illness which took his sight. 

However, rather than demoralize him, the loss of his sight encouraged him to learn more and persevere further. He graduated as a scholar from the faculty of Usoul al Din in Azhar and was appointed as an Imam, giving khutbas throughout Egypt.

According to Kishk, the greater jihad is a continuous struggle aimed at subduing one’s baser nature and attuning oneself to Allah’s moral standards. It is the basis for personal moral development, creating pious and philanthropic activism, promoting justice and prosperity in society, while combating ignorance, injustice and oppression. 

As a result of this greater jihad, says Kishk, Islam "heals those societies which follows its guidance and are built on consciences which have been awakened and hearts which have been illuminated by the light of belief.

The choice to wear the hijab

A few days ago, I was speaking to a convert