Exercise & Hijaab

Exercise Tailored to a Hijab

By ABBY ELLIN

Published: September 9, 2009

THE first time Julia Shearson rode her bike after converting to Islam seven years ago, her headscarf became stuck in the wheel.

She lost her balance, and by the time she got going again she was met with stares as she whizzed along, arms and legs draped in loose clothing, her scarf billowing in the breeze.

“You have to overcome the looks,” said Ms. Shearson, 43, the executive director of the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islam Relations. “It’s already hard enough to exercise, and if you look different … it’s even harder.”

As a Muslim woman in the United States, Ms. Shearson has found it difficult to stay fit while adhering to her religious principles about modesty. Islam does not restrict women from exercising — in fact all Muslims are urged to take care of their bodies through healthy eating and exercise — but women face a special set of challenges in a culture of co-ed gyms and skimpy workout wear.

Many pious Muslim women in the United States, like Ms. Shearson, wear hijab in public, loose garments that cover their hair and body, which can hinder movement and add to discomfort during exercise. Women may show their hair, arms and legs up to the knees in front of other women.

Muslim women are often limited in their choice of activity, as well. Some believe that certain yoga chants, for example, are forbidden, as well as certain poses like sun salutations (Muslims are supposed to worship only Allah). For the sake of modesty, working out around men is discouraged.

That modesty can be a benefit and a liability. On the one hand, Muslim women are spared some of the body-image issues that other women face; on the other, that freedom can be a detriment to their physical well-being.

“We don’t have the external motivation that non-Muslim women have,” said Mubarakha Ibrahim, 33, a certified personal trainer and owner of Balance fitness in New Haven, a personal training studio catering to women. “There is no little black dress to fit into, no bathing suit. When you pass through a mirror or glass you’re not looking to see ‘Is my tummy tucked in? Do I look good in these jeans?’ You’re looking to see if you’re covered.”

After gaining 50 pounds while pregnant with her first child, Ms. Ibrahim studied exercise and nutrition, and became certified through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. In 2006 she opened her studio, which offers a safe environment for women to exercise (she says she has more orthodox Jewish clients, who also adhere to rules of modesty).

Ms. Ibrahim said she would like to see exercise become as natural a part of a Muslim woman’s life as praying.

In July, about 120 women from around the country attended Ms. Ibrahim’s third annual Fit Muslimah Health and Fitness Summit in New Haven. She offered yoga, kickboxing, water aerobics and core conditioning classes alongside workshops on weight loss, nutrition, cancer prevention and diabetes at the two-day, women-only event. She plans to hold another one in Atlanta in February.

“An important part of your spirituality is your health,” said Tayyibah Taylor, publisher of Azizah, a magazine for Muslim women, and co-sponsor of the summit meeting. “You can’t really consider yourself in good health if all parts of your being are not healthy — your body, your mind and your soul. It’s a complete package.”

This is especially true now, during Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting from dawn until sunset. “The Muslim prayer is the most physical prayer — the sitting, bowing, bending,” said Daisy Khan, executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement. “The physicality of our prayer forces us to create flexibility in our body.”

But how to mix one’s physical and spiritual needs with practicality? Some Muslim-Americans go to women-only gyms like Curves, which has thousands of branches across the country. And some gyms and Y.M.C.A.’s offer gender-segregated areas, hours or days.

Other women, like Umm Sahir Ameer, a 27-year-old student in Shaker Heights, Ohio, take matters into their own hands. Last year, Ms. Ameer started the Muslimah Strive Running-Walking Group so she and 12 of her friends could exercise together.

“I wanted to establish this group as a way to further unite Muslim women in my community while gaining physical endurance,” she said.

Those who do work out in co-ed gyms have learned to make accommodations in their clothing. Loretta Riggs, 40, an educational coach in Pittsburgh, started exercising two years ago after divorcing her husband. She wears a scarf made of spandex, long-sleeved Under Armour shirts and Adidas or Puma pants.

“Some women don’t think you should be working out in a co-ed gym,” she said, “but I’m around men all the time in my workplace, when I take my kids to the park, when I walk outside.”

She added: “Why would I deprive myself of being healthy because I am a Muslim and I choose to cover? It’s very important to take care of myself.”

Mariam Abdelgawad, 21, a math teacher in San Jose, Calif., said that in high school she played hockey, soccer and ran track and field, all while wearing hijab.

But today she works out at home, since there are no female-only gyms in her neighborhood. Her parents, with whom she lives, have a treadmill, elliptical machine and Pilates equipment, as well as weights. She exercises about three times a week, but said she missed the camaraderie of the gym.

Though working out at home is convenient, she said, it is also very easy to procrastinate and not do it. “I don’t have all the options that a gym would have,” she said.

Swimming also poses problems. Although some Muslim women have been known to hop in the water in their street clothes, this can be cumbersome for a workout. The burqini — a one-piece outfit that resembles a scuba wet suit — has received a lot of attention in recent months (most notably in France, where a young woman was banned from wearing one at a pool), but it tends to be too form-fitting for some women.

“I tried it once, and it sticks to your body,” said Marwa Abdelhaleem, a 26-year-old teacher in Toronto who started a female-only swimming group to avoid the burqini question. “It’s really fitted. I wouldn’t wear it in public.”

Ms. Ibrahim, however, is more focused on the private.

“One of the ideas I promote is that when you are married and you take off your clothing, your husband should not be like, ‘You should put this back on,’ ” Ms. Ibrahim said. “Even if you wear a burqa, you should be bikini-ready. You should feel comfortable and sexy in your own skin.”

Source: The New York Times

President Obama’s Back to School Speech

Hello everyone – how’s everybody doing today? I’m here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we’ve got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through twelfth grade. I’m glad you all could join us today.
I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it’s your first day in a new school, so it’s understandable if you’re a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you’re in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could’ve stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.

I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday – at 4:30 in the morning.
Now I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I’d fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I’d complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, “This is no picnic for me either, buster.”

So I know some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I’m here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I’m here because I want to talk with you about your education and what’s expected of all of you in this new school year.

Now I’ve given a lot of speeches about education. And I’ve talked a lot about responsibility.
I’ve talked about your teachers’ responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn.
I’ve talked about your parents’ responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don’t spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with that Xbox.
I’ve talked a lot about your government’s responsibility for setting high standards, supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren’t working where students aren’t getting the opportunities they deserve.

But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world – and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.

And that’s what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.
Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide.

Maybe you could be a good writer – maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper – but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor – maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine – but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a Senator or a Supreme Court Justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.

Jeter Ties Gehrig!

With third hit of night, Jeter ties Gehrig

Captain even with Iron Horse atop Yankees’ list with 2,721

By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com

09/09/09 9:25 PM ET

NEW YORK — With a bunt, a blast and a rip, Derek Jeter tied Lou Gehrig on Wednesday night for the most hits in Yankees history.

Jeter laced the first pitch Rays starter Jeff Niemann threw him in the seventh inning past diving first baseman Chris Richard for a single, the 2,721st hit of his 15-year career. He then stood at first base and twice doffed his helmet, soaking up an extended standing ovation from the Yankee Stadium crowd.

MLB.com we will carry Jeter’s at-bats live until he passes Gehrig.

Entering the game hitless in his previous 12 at-bats, Jeter laid down a bunt single on the first pitch he saw to move within two of Gehrig, then shot a double over center fielder B.J. Upton’s head in the fifth inning for his second hit of the night.

Jeter also swiped second base in the first inning to record his 300th career steal.

Jeter and Gehrig are now tied for 54th on the all-time hits list. Pete Rose ranks first with 4,256 hits, followed by 26 others with at least 3,000.

Among active players, Jeter ranks second behind Ken Griffey Jr. of the Mariners, who has 2,751.

Source: The New York Yankees

Pearls of the Qur’an

SubhanAllah this looks so good, juss look at the speakers and you’ll see what I mean, I’m making du’a that my parents will let me go inshaAllah! Make du’a for me too and I promise I will take really good notes and share with you all!

For more information click here!

Keep everyone in your du’as!

-radf

Allahumma sali ala sayyidina muhammadin an-Nabbiyil ummiyi Wa ala alihi wa sahbihi wa salim.

Confused? Didn’t understand something? Click here!

Du’as For Our Brothers&Sisters!

In this blessed month we must take full advantage of it and try to make as much du’a as possible. Look around, unfortunately there is someone in need where ever you look, so please keep all the brothers and sisters in your du’as-especially the Brothers and Sisters in China, read about them below:

China’s Muslim Uyghurs Forbidden to Fast During Ramadhaan

Chinese authorities in Xinjiang Province have issued a notice that any Uyghur cadres or workers found not eating lunch during Ramadan could lose their jobs.

It is part of the campaign of local authorities in Xinjiang, home to the Muslim Uyghur ethnic group, to force the Uyghur people to give up their religious rituals during the fasting month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is a holy month in the Islamic calendar, which begun this year on Aug. 22. It requires not eating during the daytime.

“Free lunches, tea, and coffee—that authorities are calling ‘Care from the government’ or ‘Living allowance’—are being offered in government departments and companies. But it is actually a ploy used to find out who is fasting,” said Dilxat Raxit, World Uyghur Congress spokesman, speaking to The Epoch Times.

According to Dilxat, Uyghur Communist Party cadres throughout Xinjiang had been forced to sign “letters of responsibility” promising to avoid fasting and other religious activities. They are also responsible for enforcing the policy in their assigned areas, and face punishment if anyone in these areas fasts.

For the first time, Dilxat said, the crackdown has extended to retired Communist Party members. Current cadres are required to visit them to prevent them from participating in the fast. If anyone violates the ban, local leaders will be held responsible and severely punished, he said.

Muslim restaurant owners are forced to sign a document to remain open and continue selling alcohol during Ramadan or have their licenses revoked, he said.

Uyghurs arrested during the July riots in Urumqi are also prohibited from fasting; those who insist on fasting will be force fed food and water while enduring insults for their misbehavior, he said in the interview.

Monks in mosques are forced to preach to others that fasting is a “feudal activity” and harmful to health, said Dilxat. Otherwise, their religious certification will be cancelled.

When asked about Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Hu Jintao’s recent visit to Xinjiang, Dilxat said: “Xinjiang’s situation has not yet returned to normal. Rather than asking the local Han people to respect the religion and culture of Uyghur people, Hu encouraged the use of military troops to suppress and further restrict our religious freedom. The communist regime often talks about ‘maintaining stability,’ but what they do is always different from what they say. They are actually the ones who are destroying stability.”

An Epoch Times reporter contacted the CCP’s State Ethnic Affairs Commission to see whether the restrictions claimed by Dilxat were official, or what the official stance on Ramadan was. The media contact wouldn’t speak on the subject, instead giving two numbers in Xinjiang that he said the reporter would be able to call to find out more. Both numbers were continually busy, and when the reporter called the State Ethnic Affairs Commission back, the man hung up.

The directives are communicated on official Web sites in the region, however.

Source: The Epoch Times

Choose Wisely

“It is astonishing how people can influence others, simply by keeping their company. Don’t take a companion unless their state elevates you, and that they take you closer to God. Don’t have friends that complain all the time. There’s nothing worse than to be around a complainer. Be around people that uplift you, that are positive, optimistic. Help people with their problems, but put yourself in environments that help you move forward. And don’t be of the people out there that don’t want to see others succeed.”- Shaykh Hamza Yusuf

Keep everyone in your du’as!

-radf

Allahumma sali ala sayyidina muhammadin an-Nabbiyil ummiyi Wa ala alihi wa sahbihi wa salim.

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“30 Mosques in 30 Days”

I found this on HAhmed, I think it’s such a cool idea. It’s about two brothers going to a different masjid on each day of Ramadhaan in the New York area [hence 30 Mosques in 30 Days]. It’s a cool idea, I’ve been to uhm…..two different masjids, clearly no competition but at least there are many masjids around me hamdulillah. Check out the site it’s interesting, and quite entertaining. Anyway, no more blogging time, the semester started last week for me and considering it’s Ramdhaan, time is quite limited.

Keep everyone in your du’as!

-radf

Allahumma sali ala sayyidina muhammadin an-Nabbiyil ummiyi Wa ala alihi wa sahbihi wa salim.

Confused? Didn’t understand something? Click here!

An Untold Story

Holocaust’s Untold Heroes: Their Story is Rarely told, but Albanian Muslims took in Fleeing Jews During World War II, Saving Thousands of LivesBy: SHAZADA IRFAN

HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Aug.28, 2009, 10:47PM

When no other European country dared to withstand the wrath of Nazi Germany, it was the Muslims of Albania who saved a large number of Jewish people from extermination.

Albania, a Muslim majority country in Europe, opened its borders during World War II and took in thousands of Jews fleeing from different countries. They were treated like honored guests, and many were given fake names and even passports.

This little-known chapter of history is the focus of the photographic exhibition Besa: Muslims Who Saved Jews During the Holocaust , which kicked off in July at the Holocaust Museum Houston and continues through February.

The exhibition displays photographs taken by Norman Gershman, a Jewish photographer based in Colorado, who traveled to Albania in 2003 to research the topic.

Gershman said it took him six years to complete the project. He interviewed Albanians who had harbored Jewish people at that time and were still alive and the relatives of those who were not. He took their photographs to accompany their individual stories in his book Besa: Muslims Who Saved Jews During World War II.

The photographs and stories displayed at the exhibition are taken from this book.

Everyone had a different story to tell, but one thing was common.

“They were compelled to act the way they had by Besa, a code of honor deeply rooted in Albanian culture and incorporated in the faith of Albanian Muslims,” Gershman said.

He said they were dismissive of the attention they were getting.

“To them it was nothing unusual,” he said. “They believed any Albanian would have done the same in a similar situation.”

Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum in Israel, is the sponsor of this traveling exhibition.

Taking action

Marci Dallas, director of Changing Exhibits at the Holocaust Museum Houston, said the exhibition gives the message that no one should stand by during human suffering.

Eileen Reed, a visitor to the exhibit, was surprised how different people could decipher teachings of their faith differently.

“The Albanian Muslims derived inspiration from their religion to save Jews,” she said. “They were so different from those who perpetrate violence in the name of the same religion.”

Unknown history

These stories have remained unknown for decades, even to students of the Holocaust. Rob Satloff, director of the Washington Institute of Near East Policy in Washington, D.C., offers an explanation.

“First, we — Jews, Israelis, Western historians — didn’t look very hard,” Satloff said. “And second, they — Arabs and Muslims, even those who rescued Jews — often did not want to be found. The result is a tacit conspiracy of silence about this lost chapter from the Holocaust.”

Satloff wrote the book Among the Righteous: Lost Stories from the Holocaust’s Long Reach into Arab Lands.

Ellen Kennedy, interim director of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of Minnesota, believes these stories remained untold because many surviving Jews and Albanians were reluctant to share them.

“When survivors first began speaking about their experiences in the years immediately after the war, they were met with disbelief,” Kennedy said. “The public simply could not imagine that such horrors occurred.”

Gershman’s work is an attempt at building bridges between Muslims and people of Jewish faith.

“Islam and Judaism are Abrahamic faiths, and we have lot of things in common,” said Dr. Aziz Siddiqui, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston. “We must strive to highlight these as Gershman has done and avoid everything that tends to divide us.”

Source: Chron, Houstan&Texas News

Keep everyone in your du’as!

-radf

Allahumma sali ala sayyidina muhammadin an-Nabbiyil ummiyi Wa ala alihi wa sahbihi wa salim.

Confused? Didn’t understand something? Click here!

Ya Allah Bi Nadhraa

SubhanAllah, I wish that one day I can go to such a place, inshaAllah<3

Keep everyone in your du’as!

-radf

Allahumma sali ala sayyidina muhammadin an-Nabbiyil ummiyi Wa ala alihi wa sahbihi wa salim.

Confused? Didn’t understand something? Click here!

Ramadhaan Kareem

Ramadhaan Kareem everyone! I know, a little late, my apologies. But better late than never Hamdulillah by Allah’s grace we’ve been able to see another Ramadhaan! Let’s try to make the best of this Ramadhaan! Make a mends with those who may have been hurt by us, intentionally or unintentionally. As usual here are the notes that I post each year, inshaAllah they will benefit you or someone in some way.

(Note: the following information was mostly taken form Faza’il-e-A’maal and some random lectures, any mistakes made is my own fault/misunderstanding of the context and may Allah(SWT) forgive me, InshaAllah.)

• In Ramadan fasting is Fard by day, and Taraweeh is Sunnah by night.
• In Ramadan performing a Nafl act is equivalent to the reward of Fard act.
• In Ramadan performing a Fard act is equivalent to 70 Fard acts any other time.
• This is the month of patience.
• Show sympathy to one another.
• The first 10 days of Ramadan bring’s Allah’s mercy.
• The next 10 days of Ramdan bring’s Allah’s forgiveness.
• The Last 10 days brings emancipation from the fire of Jahanam.
• Allah turns to us and sends us his special mercy.
• Allah forgives our faults, accepts our prayers.
• Allah boasts to his Malaa’ikah about us.
• Try to recite Kalima Tayyiba.
• Try to think of Ramadhaan as a month of purification.
• Make Istighfar (to please Allah).
• Beg for entry into Jannah.
• Seek refuge in Allah from Jahanum.
• The fish in the sea seek forgiveness for the fasting person on their behalf until the person breaks their fast.
• The smell from the mouth of a fasting person is sweeter to Allah than the smell of musk.
• Allah prepares and decorates a special garden in Jannah everyday and says to it “The time is near when faithful servants cast aside the greatest trials of the world and come to you.”
• Angel Jibrael said to Prophet Muhammed(صلى الله عليه و سل) ”Woe to him who found the blessed month of Ramadan and let it pass without gaining forgiveness,” and Prophet Muhammed(صلى الله عليه و سل) said “Ameen!”
• The du’aa of a fasting person is not rejected until he breaks his fast.
• Allah and his Malaa’ikah send mercy upon those who eat suhoor.
• Daily recitation of the Qur’aan is encouraged.
• Great time for Dawah.
• Make sure you pay your Zakah.
• Try to stay in Wudhu at all times.
• Respect to all Adults(***especially children to parents***)
• Fasting is a protective covering for a man as long as he does not tear that protection.
• Try to think of this month as your last month of Ramadhaan.
• Try to be in continous Istighfaar. (Think, if the Sahaba and our beloved Nabi(SAW) made so much Istighfaar how many times a day should we be making Istighfaar?)
• Think of Ramadhaan as the month of training. Shaytaan is locked up, if you want to become a better person start now and do it continuously for 30 days, so when Ramdhaan is over it will not be as hard for you to continue throughout the year. (***Sisters this is a great time to start practicing Hijaab ***)
• Don’t waste a minute of your time, always make du’aa, or ask for forgiveness, or make du’aa for our Ummah, not everyone is as blessed as we are so think of our Ummah and keep them in your hearts and ask Allah to have some ease on the ones who are suffering!
• If you watch T.V. try to keep it off during the month of Ramadhaan.
• If you listen to music try to say goodbye to it for a month.
• If you find that you have nothing better to do simply pick up a Mushaf and start reading the Qur’an. If you don’t know how to read the Qur’an ask your fellow brother or sister to shed some light on to you, there’s no better time to learn than now and the blessing for reading Qur’an in Ramdhaan is tremendous.
• Husbands shouldn’t keep there wives stuck in the kitchen. If you are married try to help your wives out in the kitchen or by not throwing a lot of crazy iftaar parties.
• Make sure to help whoever is always in the kitchen with the coking and cleaning whether it be your mother, wife,sister etc…
• Also remember that during Ramadhaan you see people that you normally don’t always see, try to get to know a couple of new brothers and sisters and keep in contact with them after Ramadhaan as well, you never who you may effect for the better and vice versa.

Suhr:

• Waking up at a certain time before Fajr to eat.
• Make sure you wake up for Suhr because there is great barakah in Suhr.
• Allah and the Angels are giving blessings to those who make Suhr.
• The difference between a Muslims and Ahlay Kitaab is waking up for Suhr.

Also, Perform Salat-tu-Tasbeeh, this Salah can be prayed once a day, every Friday, once a month, once a year, or at least once in a life time (Its been reported that the reward for this Salah is forgiveness for all sins, whether committed knowingly or unknowingly, minor or major.) Many people tell me that they aren’t familiar with Salat-ut-Tasbeeh so here’s juss some quick notes about how to perform it:

• Make niyyah for 4 rakaats Nafl Salat-ut-Tasbeeh.
• After Takbeer Tahrima recite Thana.
• Recite the 3rd kalima 25 times.
• Recite Surah Fatiha.
• Go into ruku and recite the 3rd kalima 10 times (while in ruku)
• In qaumah recite the 3rd kalima 10 times.
• First sajdah read 3rd kalima 10 times, repeat for second sajdah.
• Continue above steps, when you are done the 3rd kalima will have been read 300 times!

May Allah give us all a beneficial Ramadhaan. May Allah make us all come out of Ramadhaan as a better person. May Allah keep us all preoccupied with countless forms of Dhikr. May Allah accept all of our Salah’s, du’aas, Fasting, etc… May Allah protect us from Adhaaban-Naar and put us in a higher level of Jannah by the end of the month. InshaAllah.

“O Allah, make us firm on the path of steadfastness, and safeguard us in this world from matters that will bring shame on the Day of Judgment, and lighten for us the burden of our sins, and grant us lives of the righteous and protect us from the evil ones. Save our necks and the necks of our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters from the fire of Hell by Your Compassion, O Most Powerful one, Most Forgiving, Most Knowledgeable, Most Overwhelming, O Allah! O Allah! O Allah! By Your Mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O First before the first, Last after the lasts, O Possessor of Strength, Everlasting, Compassionate to the destitute, Most Compassionate of those who are compassionate. There is no god but You, glory be to You, verily I am of the wrongdoers, And may Allah bless our Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings be upon him) and all his Followers and Companions. All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord and Cherisher of all the worlds.” [Taken from Imam al-Ghazali's 'Dear Beloved Son']

Ramdhaan Mubarak everyone!

Keep everyone in your du’as!

-radf

Allahumma sali ala sayyidina muhammadin an-Nabbiyil ummiyi Wa ala alihi wa sahbihi wa salim.

Confused? Didn’t understand something? Click here!