The Noor Collection - GIVEWAY

I really have neglected The Noor Collection Facebook page, in case your wondering what I am talking about its the Facebook page I set up for my little creative venture, which  I started last year. The main reason for my absence is that little thing called life (nothing to do with the fact I am rubbish on facebook honest) and the other reason is I am terrible at photography, and I do sell my hijab pins by recommendation and word of mouth so I have been a little lax to say the least. Therefore I have come to the conclusion that I need to do a little give way to liven things up on the Facebook page. 

So I have decided that when I get 30 LIKES on the Facebook page for The Noor Collection. I shall randomly select a winner, the winner will be anyone who has liked the page (past or present) and they will get to choose any two beautiful handmade hijab pins.


However If I get 50 likes the winner can choose 4 hijab pins and I shall add an additional bonus prize for them. There are no restrictions, you can LIKE the facebook page from any corner of the world, I have added some pictures for you to get a taster and I shall be uploading more on the facebook page, so do come and have a look !!!!!!!!

The Noor Collection

The Noor Collection

Inspire me

Charitable Intentions

I have recently been having a nagging feeling inside me that I need to give/do more for charity.  I was at loss as where to start – this may sound silly but I live in the UK (though we have pur problems) it’s hardly a war zone what can I do to help my ignorant mind told me, but my heart and my conscious keep telling me that if I look in the right place I can do plenty to help, I dont have to actually be there in the midst of a tragic event to do a charitable act.

The best of you is he (or she) who is of most benefit to others- Prophet Muhammad (saw)

Like many people I try to give to charity whenever I can I make a monitory donation whether that be to a Islamic channel that is doing a water project or a charity that is collecting to build houses for people who have suffered a loss through a natural disaster. I always wish even at that point that, if only I could do more.  However by just giving a donation I am not satisfying that need, this time I want to do something more, maybe it’s because I want to give something more personal like my time. Hence why my desire to help is not been quenched by donating money as I am not actually putting any effort in via my physical self and we all are aware that there are many forms of charity.

As I was contemplating what I wanted to do once again I came across a blog, with a interview of an author Suma Din she was been asked about her writing and they mentioned her book titled Dr Hany El Banna – A servant to the world’s poorest people, she mentioned that he was the founder of Islamic Relief. Islamic Relief is such a well-known charitable organization and one I donate to regularly.  I have often wondered about the people behind these charities and how they get recognition that they do and how they reach the heights they do and what is the motivation behind them.

 I may also need to mention at this point that I love reading autobiography’s so I went and bought the book the following day. It was a fascinating read a huge insight in to a man who was touched by people suffering and who did whatever he could by going the extra mile at times at the expense of his own career and family, it portrayed Dr Hany as such a selfless and hardworking man who believes if you put your mind to it and your trust in Allah (swt) you can achieve great things.

They ask you as to what they should spend. Say: Whatever wealth you spend, it is for the parents and the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, and whatever good you do, Allah surely knows it Qur’an chapter 2, verse 215 

A little about the man in the book Dr Hany Abdel Gawad El-Banna OBE  is the co-founder of Islamic Relief, the largest Western- based international Muslim relief and development (Non Government Organistaion), that was established in 1984 in Birmingham, UK.

Dr Hany El-Banna’s main aim was to alleviate the poverty and suffering of the world’s poorest people, he is a  pathologist by education, Dr. Hany attended a medical conference in Sudan in 1983 during a time of famine in the region. The poverty and desperation he witnessed compelled him to return to the UK and set up Islamic Relief  an organisation to help people in need. He was born in Egypt and completed his MBBCH Medicine at Al Azhar University, Cairo, where he also obtained a Diploma in Islamic Studies in 1976. Dr Hany El Banna was awarded the Hamilton Bailey Prize in Medicine at City hospital 1981, Birmingham UK. He then went on to further his medical training and completed a Doctorate of Medicine (MD) in foetal pathology from the University of Birmingham Medical School in 1991. Dr El-Banna was awarded the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth in 2004. However he has stepped down as president of Islamic Relief but still is actively involved in humanitarian work.

it is a well written book and I would highly recommend anyone who is intrested to read it, it is very thought provoking snapshot of the work Dr Hany has done , it certainly inspired me to email Islamic Relief to become a volunteer.

Inspire me

Mothers

Islam gives mothers so much importance and ranks mothers so highly, Islam commands kindness, respect and obedience to parents and specifically emphasizes and gives preference to the mother. Islam raises parents to a status greater than that found in any other religion or ideology.

The command to be good to one's parents begins right from the Qur'an. Allah says:

"Worship God and join not any partners with Him; and be kind to your parents..." [Noble Quran 4:36]

A man once asked the Prophet to whom he should show the most kindness. The Prophet replied: "Your mother, next your mother, next your mother, and then your father."

 In other words, we must treat our mothers in a manner befitting their exalted position. The prophet Muhammad went on to say in another such narration that ‘Paradise lies at the feet of your mother'

What can be greater evidence of honouring women than this? Islam has effectively placed the ultimate reward for human beings in their devotion to their mothers. So each of us should appreciate what we have in our mothers. They are our teachers and our role models. Every day with them is an opportunity to grow as a person. Every day away from them is a missed opportunity may Allah have mercy on our parents in this life and the hereafter.

The Scared Relics - Coffee Table Book

(N.B.   previous post went missing (think I accidently deleted it) so I had to re-write it, so apologies if your reading this and think 'im sure she didnt say that before' I had to re-write it from memory)

I love interior design and décor, I am forever changing the colours scheme and accessories at home. One thing that I have always liked is books on the coffee table. I usually browse interior home magazines and they normally have art books and travel books displayed on their coffee tables. I know there is no hard and fast rule as you can have anything you like really.

I knew what I wanted something that had beautiful photography but also encompassed my love of Islam in it, when I was out shopping for Eid clothes I went in to an Islamic store in Birmingham,  and came across a  book called the Scared Trusts, I was looking through some other books on a table in the middle of the store when I stumbled upon this large gift boxed book, as I opened the book I was really impressed I thought how beautiful are the high resolution photographs and more importantly they were not any old images these photographs were images of items that belonged to the Prophet Muhammad  (saw) and many other prophets. I flipped it over for the price and realised it said £99 that I was not expecting  and as I was in a rush I walked out the store and didn’t buy it. I have regretted it ever since as I didn’t know the name of the book or the author I didn’t think I would ever find it again until I came across it the internet. Alhamdulilah

The Sacred Trusts in an album presenting the marvellous collection of Scared Relics, the description of the book, states that it contains a collection of more than 600 invaluable belongings of prophets such as Abraham, Moses and Prophet Muhammad (saw), as well as the Prophet's Companions, it includes the entire collection of items some which are not on exhibit for daily visits.

The items are housed in Topkapi Palace in Istanbul many items and relics collected and donated over a large period of time in history. Many relics of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) were brought to the palace by Yavuz Sultan Selim I, upon the conquest of Egypt in 1517. Sacred Trusts captures and contains these items and relics in their full glory combined with a fascinating history. The images are absolutely breath-taking and I am so honoured to have discovered the book, as I get to set my eyes are items that I didn’t even realise where available in some parts of the world.

Evening of Inspiration 2012

I am pretty sure that everyone has heard of Islamic Relief, if you havent then let me explain, they are an international charity organistaion, which aims to alleviate the suffering of some of the poorest people in the world, it is an independent non- government organisation that was founded in the UK and is the brain child of Dr Hany El Banna, all the way back in 1984 and  ithas become one of the most well-established charity organisations in current times. We are all aware that charity is such a integral part of any muslim’s life.

The Qur'an states: 'And be steadfast in your prayer and pay charity; whatever good you send forth for your future, you shall find it with Allah, for Allah is well aware of what you do' (2:110).

The best charity is to satisfy a hungry person, said Prophet Muhammad (saw). He also said "No wealth (of a servant of Allah) is decreased because of charity."  (Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 2247).

Islamic Relief presents - Evening of Inspiration 2012

One of the events Islamic Relief organise annually in the UK is the Evening of Inspiration this is an event to raise funds for various things like Syria appeal, Orphans and children, East Africa crisis, Water for Life etc. The one I have booked tickets for myself and my sisters is to be held in Birmingham,  The Symphony Hall on the 8^th of April 2012 and it is been arranged to raise funds for Orphans and Children, they do many more of the same event in other locations  like Cardiff, Manchester,  Bradford and London. The performers for the night will be well known names like Zain Bhika, Native Deen, Outlandish and Junaid Jamshed. If anyone of you are interested, do click on the links below for more information. I think it’s a well worthy cause and a lovely evening with family and friends InshaAllah.

http://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/

http://www.thsh.co.uk/event/evening-of-inspiration-2012-12/

Inspire me

Michael Kors

I have been eyeing up this watch since November and always talked myself out of it, because I own about 4 watches that I never wear but every time I come across a model wearing it in a magazine article or a blog I want it again. The dilemma I had was that I wanted one silver watch and one rose gold watch, because I thought that if I buy the two tone silver and rose it wouldn’t be so wearable as it would clash with something or another (don’t ask I think random things). I had this conversation with myself many a times and didn’t buy the watch.

Then on Monday I went to return a pair of jeans to  H&M and on the way back I passed  Goldsmiths before I had time to think, the man behind the counter was handing me a little brown gift bag and I was walking out the store with a gorgeous Michael Kors two tone silver and rose gold watch, the watch is a chronograph watch which is a large chunky design, the rose gold is very subtle not bling at all. Honestly the online images and my photography do not do justice to it ,the colour looks terrible on my photographs but you will have to take my word for how gorgeous it is and how much I love it ..

Inspire me

Lunch Time Reading

Pause to reflect

On my lunch break at work on most days I sit at my desk eating my lunch whilst browsing the internet, I start off with a online newspapers to see what the plight of the world is and somehow end up on website looking at clothes bags etc etc , however from this week we are no longer allowed to eat hot food at our desks and as its cold I am still obsessed with eating soup (it warms me up) so we have to either go to the canteen (busy and noisy) or sit at one of the designated spots around the office, I love reading so I bought a book with me in case I didn’t have company, we all have to stagger our breaks to keep management happy.

The book I took with me is called Don’t be Sad by Dr A’id al-Qarni.  I had bought this several months ago and only had a quick flick through it. I sat down with my food and opened it to the page that said “repel boredom from your life” I mean it couldn’t have come at a better time over the last two weeks at work we have had major computer problems and only 40 % of staff have been able to enter the system at any given time, so you can imagine sitting idly for hours on end making yourself look busy when its known to all that nothing can be down without the computer system – boredom really starts to creep in and Alhamdulillah this chapter really made me think. I also enjoyed the art of happiness and the pause to reflect chapters they really are thought provoking I struggled to put the book down.

 

The next part is directly from the book…

Do not be sad. If you are poor, then someone else is immersed in debt. If you do not own your own means of transportation, then someone else has been deprived of his legs. If you have reason to complain concerning the pains of sickness, then someone else has been bedridden for years. And if you have lost a child, then someone else has lost many children, for instance, in a single car accident.

Do not be sad. You are a Muslim who believes in Allah, His Messengers, His angels, the Hereafter, and Preordainment both the good and the bad of it. While you are blessed with this faith, which is the greatest of blessings, others disbelieve in Allah, discredit the Messengers, differ among themselves concerning the Book, deny the Hereafter, and deviate in their understanding of Divine Preordainment.

The book goes on to say that an activity that brings about joy is for you to read a book and develop your mind through the acquisition of knowledge, and reading repels anxiety and grief, all I can say is that I really enjoyed spending this time reading and been lost in my own little world of peace and tranquillity rather than wasting time on the internet.

It’s a reminder to us all that we need to have time out to reflect and read and broaden our horizons. More importantly you and I all know that we need to focus and reconnect with the most honoured and noble book of all The Glorious Quran.