Assalamu Alaikum Sisters:
Saw this article in the LA Times on Imam Suhaib Webb--American revert Imam who sounds like what our Ummah here needs more of. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-american-imam-20110527,0,5640663.story?page=3#tugs_story_display
I haven't looked around much, but his website looks very rich: http://www.suhaibwebb.com/
Peace.
Wa salam. :)
Suhaib Webb has a major case of the awesome, in my not very humble opinion. :D Really cool that the LA Times profiled him. Check out his tafsir series.
He's one of a very few contemporary religious leaders who, when people talk about how certain scholars were beloved in their own time, I get how that happens. I mean in a "here is a fantastically respectable and likable person to whom people are drawn," sort of way, not a "religious celebrity superstars" sort of way. My husband is always listening to him and saying, "That guy ... we need the kids to grow up to be just like him."
(Thus concludes Liquesce's gushing fandom. 
)
Wa salam. :)
Suhaib Webb has a major case of the awesome, in my not very humble opinion. :D Really cool that the LA Times profiled him. Check out his tafsir series.
He's one of a very few contemporary religious leaders who, when people talk about how certain scholars were beloved in their own time, I get how that happens. I mean in a "here is a fantastically respectable and likable person to whom people are drawn," sort of way, not a "religious celebrity superstars" sort of way. My husband is always listening to him and saying, "That guy ... we need the kids to grow up to be just like him."
(Thus concludes Liquesce's gushing fandom. )
LOL :D
I'm glad the LA Times profiled him, because honestly--I'd never heard of him before.
Salaam sisters! It has been a while! I've been in the wild world of my two year old boy in which I don't seem to be able to get on the internet without marker getting on the wall etc. But I'm loving the posts recently - they all convey a sense of sisterhood and love for sure.
Salaam alaykum and welcome Noorjahan, May Allah protect and bless your baby and make the baby among the dhakireen wa shakireen (the ones who remember and who are most thankful). As far as dua when you are pregnant, in addition to surah mariyam you should absolutely read the dua that Mariyam's mother made for her (recorded in the third surah) and the dua of ibrahim (alahi salaam) both available in English here -- I recommend looking up the arabic too if you prefer. I just listened to a lecture where the speaker said that pregnant woman should recite that dua of mariyam's mother as much as possible during pregnancy! Subhanallah!
As far as our family, things are in motion. My husband is visiting the new job location and we are waiting for one more thing to go through. At the same time, we may be pursuing an international position. Things are just very flexible here lately, and we do not know which direction we should go in. We are so young and we want to make the right choice. Please please keep us in your dua and pray that Allah guides us and sends us clear signs and certainty. Ameen
By the way I wanted to share with all of you dear fabulous women this great book I stumbled across on Amazon -- the reviews are amazing, and it looks like a treasure of a resource for the whole family. Check it out (does anyone already have it?):
Also, we are now in the month of rajab, which I hear is a month of repentance. Any knowledge that anyone has about this special month, please share as I am lacking.
to those around the world in need and fighting injustice
I have been tempted to order this one, but have not seen a copy firsthand. it sounds great.
Two years ago I was working on overcoming my shyness about visiting a masjid, in order to meet muslimahs IRL. the love and support here was—and continues to be—critical for me. now I come to a new step: I will be spending about half of Ramadan with my completely nonmuslim family in Boston. In order to ease loneliness, I want to visit a masjid while there....and it will be another first time. closest to my mom is Islamic Society of Boston. any chance any of you have been there? I'm afraid, due to size alone, it might just overwhelm me, and I'd love any hints, referrals to helpful sisters, anything. but I think I'll need it, too. i have 2 months to build up courage, inshaAllah 
youngspiritmom, alhamdulillah for your post--so nice to hear all you have to say! That book has been on my "buy later" list for years. It looks very rich. I'll make du'a for your family in this exciting time of change. About rajab, I know some people fast during it, but that is all I know. I hope others will have more knowledge to share.
kangamitroo, I asked a Muslim friend who has lived in Boston. She suggested Wayland mosque, north of Boston, might be a good option, and wrote of her experience or knowledge of a few others. I will PM you her note.
Salamu Alaykum Sisters!
YSM, looking forward to hearing what happens for your family as time moves along. Kanga, good luck--it will be fine, insha-Allah, and maybe you will even meet a friend or two.
We are in Dubai now, and it is turning from hot to hotter as summer begins. Hoping to move into our home next week, and as one might imagine we have had a few obstacles and hold-ups, but it goes on. Insha-Allah meeting an online friend IRL for the first time tomorrow. I have not told the kids yet, but there will be children for them to meet, too!
Missing our friends and family deeply, but trying to trust that all is as it should be. And trying to enjoy discovering what we find here.
Salaam sisters,
I am posting for the first time on this forum. I really need some input from you all.
My DS5 has had a crush on this little girl in his class, Jessica. He just came home today and told me he and his friends were talking and Jessica is his girlfriend. I have no idea how to address this. He's told me that he's played the "married" game on the playground with Jessica and another boy and another girl. I eventually learned that the "married" game meant that a little boy was supposed to catch a little girl and then kiss her and that meant they were married. I discouraged him from doing that, telling him only grown ups get married. Well, he kept insisting it was another boy in the class who was trying to "marry" the girl and DS was only helping his friend out.
When he told me that Jessica's his girlfriend, I asked what that meant. I tried to say, it's ok to have friends who are girls and anyone can be a friend, whether it's a boy or girl. I tried to say that Jessica can be his best friend but not his girlfriend. He seemed embarassed. I don't want to be harsh and shut down all communication. I still want to make sure he feels free to share what's going with him rather than be embarassed to share the truth with me.
Anyway, I am worried that if I don't discourage this behavior that later in life, he'll want to date when he's older. I'd really like for him to learn proper muslim behavior and follow Islam for his relationships. I really don't know what to do. Please help!!
Thank you so much!
Wa'alaikum Assalam:
I'm not sure the right thing to do, but I'm facing that too. :)
DS1's best friend is a girl--and he has a major crush on her. I'm happy to report that when I ask him, "Why do you like V--" He says, "Because she's smart and nice...." So, I just said, "Well, when you're older and it's time to think about marriage, I hope you choose your wife by being smart and nice and being a good Muslimah." He's 7. Both DS1 who is 7 and DS2 who is 5 seem to have marriage on the brain. It must be something they talk about at school. We've had to talk about why they can't marry me when they grow up. :)
I'm glad that neither of them has brought up kissing anybody yet. They think kissing a girl is yucky--which I'm fine with right now. We say that Muslim boys and girls kiss their Mommies and Babas (and Aunts, Uncles, grandparents, etc.).... and that's it. When they're married, then they get to kiss their husband or wife because that's how Allah(swt) designed it.
My plan is that when they're older, we'll actually look at online matrimionials and talk about why this is a good ad or not... what qualities this person values, etc.
Sorry I don't have anymore advice. Insha'Allah, somebody else will have some good advice.
Salaam sisters,
I am posting for the first time on this forum. I really need some input from you all.
My DS5 has had a crush on this little girl in his class, Jessica. He just came home today and told me he and his friends were talking and Jessica is his girlfriend. I have no idea how to address this. He's told me that he's played the "married" game on the playground with Jessica and another boy and another girl. I eventually learned that the "married" game meant that a little boy was supposed to catch a little girl and then kiss her and that meant they were married. I discouraged him from doing that, telling him only grown ups get married. Well, he kept insisting it was another boy in the class who was trying to "marry" the girl and DS was only helping his friend out.
When he told me that Jessica's his girlfriend, I asked what that meant. I tried to say, it's ok to have friends who are girls and anyone can be a friend, whether it's a boy or girl. I tried to say that Jessica can be his best friend but not his girlfriend. He seemed embarassed. I don't want to be harsh and shut down all communication. I still want to make sure he feels free to share what's going with him rather than be embarassed to share the truth with me.
Anyway, I am worried that if I don't discourage this behavior that later in life, he'll want to date when he's older. I'd really like for him to learn proper muslim behavior and follow Islam for his relationships. I really don't know what to do. Please help!!
Thank you so much!
Thank you Umsami for your post. It's comforting to hear your sons are thinking about marriage and this seems to be on par for this age group. I know my son heard the term "girlfriend" at school b/c I have never used that term.
I am a little less worried about this from when he first told me about his "girlfriend". I'm trying to just keep the lines of communication open and hope he continues to fill me in on his thoughts and feelings.
Insh'Allah, this will pass soon and he'll enter the "girls are yucky" stage quickly.
My dd is more trouble than my ds re: relationships. She never declared that she had a "boyfriend," (she's 7yo but went to daycare and that kind of thing happens there all the time) but she's more precocious about the subject. Ds (10yo) talks about someday getting married and having a family. Dd was into the princess thing for a while, and princes just seem to go with that package. Anyway, I do hope that they can see a lot of what passes for "relationships" among young people are often abuse situations. I've seen so much mistreatment, and the social insanity of the back-and-forths...it's just too much to comprehend. Good luck to us all, and insha-Allah they will see the good of building firm, stable, loving family lives when the time is right. We do say, "we don't have girlfriends/boyfriends. We have friends." And we're pretty firm about it when we talk. I think, with this consistent approach, and honest talk about a lot of what goes down between boyfriends and girlfriends, we're doing all we can and should.
Of course, modeling a fun and loving relationship at home should help, right?
I'm also ready to hook up with a dhikr group in Dubai, if anyone knows anyone. I'm not well-networked, esp among Sufis. We have a mosque right across the street from our house, so I should be able to meet some Muslims. It's a very mixed bag in the mosques, and I am trying, but if anyone knows anyone, please let me know. Love to my sisters. 
Salaam,
curious, which name are you talking about?
Sorry it has taken me this long to answer your question. I saw it earlier, and was gonna reply and then things start to happen like crazy!
It's Eliana... though it's definitely Hebrew in origin, on wiki it says in Arabic it means "the bright"..and citation needed! I really really like this name!
This is how it is pronounced "Eliana" . For boy, I like Musa...and my mother recently came up with "Tamjid" and she is adament about it. So, if it's a boy I think I will name Tamjid Musa. Let's see!
I am having such rough time with this pregnancy!!! I am abt 31 and some weeks now, around 30 weeks, slipped and fell from the stairs. Ended up in L&D and stayed there for 5 hours, they monitored the baby. Alhamdulliah baby is fine!!!!! Thanksssss Allah!! But I was having this crazy pubic bone pain since last couple of months, it just got elevated. So, kind of on modified bed rest. Having Braxton hicks (more at night)...very uncomfy!! However, just praying that baby stays put at least till full term. My DH is in Bangladesh (re-locaed couple of years ago due to his some health issue..he needs that envirorment change thingy)...so, I have been extra emotional last few weeks to top everything...though we are constantly on skype and all that...but some days I wish he were here! Anyway, I guess c'est la vie!
Thanks for the info on duas. I will keep you ladies updated. I am finally getting really...excited about the baby! :)
Pls keep us in your duas.
assalam alaikum warahmatullah dear sisters,
Originally Posted by kangamitroo 
assalamu alaykum ladies,
I am trying to find information about the life of Khadija ra & Asma bint Abi Bakr. this is for my own education, and also for my daughter (age 7). we are going to watch a dars competition for girls, and I thought we should do some reading together. the amount of information online is so overwhelming, and many of the websites are not exactly high-quality. (I have always liked knowing the source of information....and the little booklets in a masjid do not exactly provide this.)
i welcome any suggestions you might have for good books/websites for teaching about these or other historically important muslimahs.
here's an excellent series by sheikh suhaib webb http://www.enjoyislam.com/lectures/Imam%20Suhaib%20Webb/index.html may Allah reward him, and all of our teachers abundantly, and bless us all to benefit from their knowledge. ameen!
Hi seawitch, Assalamu Alaikum:
I do think there are plenty of Muslims like you--who feel free to call themselves Muslims as well. Among non-Arabs I do know, there is a bit of resentment of the Arab-centric nature of Islam. While it's understandable given the language of the Qur'an, Arabs are <20% of the Muslim population--so it does get rather annoying. :) (I say this as somebody who is married to an Arab. LOL)
There are some progressive Muslim communities out there where I think you'd totally fit in. Just Google "progressive Muslims". I know there are a varying level of Progressive Muslim Mamas here. I'm definitely on the spectrum. I've been known to say my salat in both English and Arabic--because I honestly feel closer to Allah(swt) when I pray in English. Most of my du'as are in English as well. These days, I sound like translation Barbie (or Fulla ;)) as I tend to say things in both languages because I want my kids to understand what we say. So I'll say "Assalamu Aaikum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh" when they come home...and also say "May the Peace and blessings of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate, be upon you." It just feels more natural to me--although I also see the value of a unifying language.
I don't think anybody thinks one has to adhere to Islam 100% to be able to call themselves Muslim. Nobody I know does. I say I'm an aspiring Muslimah... because I aspire to submit to God... but sadly, I usually fall quite short. We all have areas where we struggle. Just because you see a woman in hijab... or see somebody who prays 5x/day... it doesn't mean that they are perfect Muslims. Only Allah(swt) knows their hearts--and where they struggle. That reminds me, when reading Qur'an, I know that one gets more reward from Allah(swt) if one has to struggle with it. I assume it's like that in many aspects of faith. Faith is a path...and areas where we struggle at certain times of our lives might become easy...and other areas will become more difficult, or we'll be more aware of areas where we struggle. Enjoy the journey. Know that Allah(swt) meets you and loves you where you are right now.
Peace. :)
A few things to keep in mind that may be helpful:
The other thing is, I don't think it's the Koran necessarily that is Arab-centric. Yes, it has some imagery and some references to its culture. I'm talking more about the religion as a whole. For example I read a long time ago about a woman who didn't want to break the fast with dates, I think? Because she didn't like them, but that was the traditional food to break it with, etc.
I suppose this is my current struggle.
The breaking fasts with dates thing is a hadith thing anyway, not the Qur'an. (Which is not intended to be dismissive of following hadith ... they're just different things with different levels of importance.) The prophet liked dates, and at the same time they were locally a readily available, accessible to everyone, thoroughly non-ostentatious food. So breaking fasts with dates is following the word and habits of the prophet, which is good, breaking fasts with simple foods is following the basic spirit of the idea, which is good too, and breaking fasts however you choose is completely valid -- it's not eschewing religious practice so much as it is choosing to not participate in a bonus act of veneration.
I just mention that because there is a lot of information on Islamic practice out there which really doesn't distinguish between what is obligatory, what is recommended, and sometimes even what is basically neutral. It can lead to the impression that Islam has a much more complicated set of very detailed obligations than it really does.
Originally Posted by Liquesce
6. While reading the Qur'an it is sometimes helpful to keep in mind the differences between "this is a statement I think is wrong," "this is statement which seems like it may be contextual," "this is a statement regarding which it seems like there may be interpretational differences," "this is a statement I don't understand," and "this is a statement I'm just not able to or willing to apply." (Context-specificity and interpretation are not endlessly malleable, but they've been discussed and discussed ad nauseum and you may find people working within very traditional frameworks agreeing with you more than you might expect.)
7. And lastly, I think you would really, really like the book Journey to the End of Islam. :D
on #6--it's a relief to see i'm not the only one who thinks these things while reading Qur'an. Liquesce, your comments and feedback as a more experienced sister are always helpful. thank you.
on #7--read it last month, and it was a wonderful description on one person's struggles and exploration of faith. really, really enjoyed it.
Jo--I hope your family is enjoying the adventure, inshaAllah.
salaams to all of you
Hello!
I hope you don't mind if I subscribe to this thread. :) I have been in previous Muslim Mamas threads, even though I am technically neither. I just like learning about Islam and want to be a mother.
I recently read an English translation of the Qur'an and have gone to the local masjid several times. They are very welcoming to me, and its been a wonderful experience that I hope to continue. I don't really have anything to contribute, but I like to lurk and read what everyone else posts :)
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