Inspire me

I read something beautiful today, it went something like this, We often think of this ayah as meaning if we suffer through hardship, ease will come afterwards, but that’s not all it means at all. It doesn’t say after it says with. This helps us to understand that Allah (SWT) is telling us that no matter what your are suffering, there is ease within it. So when we are strugglying or suffering we turn to Allah swt and pray more so our iman increases so you have that ease within your hardship. The hardship you are going through is not in vain  Allah swt is erasing your sins and making your stronger and a true believer. Allah swt knows best never lose hope.

Clear skin

I thought I would share my new purchases with you, I needed a new foundation and boy have I  tried many everything from, MAC , Bobby Brown, Iman, Clinque, Lancome, YSL,  Dior and I have only ever been happy with MAC NC35 and YSL.

 I have only ever bought full coverage foundation as I have combination acne prone skin from my teenage years, when I say acne I use the term lightly it’s more like a few dotted spots on my cheek and chin etc  I have never had spots covering my whole face or anything like that and it’s never been anything that foundation couldn’t cover Alhamdulillah but they were still there and guaranteed I  would have a couple spots a week that take ages to clear and I would get a whopper if there was any occasion or an event I was attending when all my friends had gorgeous clear skin.

 I have learnt to deal with it and cover up using all kinds of lotions and potions over the years, but the main reason I have always wore full coverage foundation is to cover the scars these dreadful spots leave behind, even if it’s the tiniest of spots it always leaves a red mark that stays for months and is very visible when I take my foundation off. I have used Chanel Matt Lumiere in the past this was a full coverage foundation but they discontinued a couple out of there range and introduced this new one Chanel Perfection Lumiere, its still matt finish but a lighter coverage though its buildable if needed. I really like have it feels on my skin and i have tried not to cover my whole face only use it where needed and it lets your natural skin come through.

Also recently I have started to use rose water on my mom’s recommendation after cleansing and this had started to do wonders for my skin, it looks much more even toned and the pores look smaller on my nose and cheeks and more importantly the scars are fading, so all my life I have wished not to have wear a base and though I am nowhere near that and certainly not brave to go out with bare skin I can however wear a lighter foundation and cover the blemish scars with concealer.  I have also heard rave reviews of the touch éclat number 2.5 so I also bought this, I have worn it twice now and each time my eye area looked so bright and I looked like I have had lots of sleep.

I would love to have even toned mark free skin so I could wear a little tinted moisturiser this would be so much easier more so to read Salah as I would not have to re- apply several times a day I am not vain but it’s the confident thing as when your around people your face is what people see first……. Alhamdulillah for what Allah (swt) has blessed me with and ultimately he knows best. Do you ladies have any secrets or tips you can share to get rid of old and new blemish marks?

Chanel Perfection Lumiere £36.00

YSL touché éclat£25.00

Inspire me - Reflection in difficult moments

Alhamdulilallah for productive muslim, they are so inspirational, many a times when I have felt low about some issue I have ventured on there, and found a insiprational quote or article that has become a subtle reminder of Allah (swt), and once again motivated me and made me realise where I should be putting my efforts and focus.

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