~Love Nyla's Blog is Up!~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Evening My Stylish Sisters...

I just wanted to stop in quickly to let you know that I have (finally) launched my other blog for Love Nyla Designs (my handmade jewelry line).

It's been a long time coming, but I decided that it was necessary to have a nice place for customers, potential customers, and even critics to get together and address any questions, comments, or critiques they have for me or my merchandise.

I will also (and here comes the fun part) be giving you amazing Muslimahs some helpful hints about things like cleaning your sterling silver jewelry with normal, everyday household goods as well as fun ways to use my handmade hijab pins, interesting facts about the different materials that I use, and random jewelry related anecdotes.

I'm hoping insh'Allah that you ladies will join me on my other blog and help to support a fledgling, muslimah owned small business.  In return I will make sure that whenever I have coupon codes, special sales, or contests, YOU sisters will be the first to know!

Click Here To Check Out Love Nyla's Blog

Ma'Salaama and Happy Blogging!

Lovingly Yours,
The (thanks for the support!) Mujahada in Prada 

~It Came From My Imaan~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Night My Stylish Sisters...

The weirdest thing happened to me today.  As I mentioned previously, I have been struggling with some anxiety and stress lately, so my wonderful husband suggested I take the day to venture out on my own and spend some time relaxing for a change.  Of course this "day" turned into an afternoon and eventually dwindled down to a couple of hours, but nonetheless the thought was there on his part alhamdulillah, I just lacked the execution.

Well, I chose to spend my precious hours of peace and tranquility by going and getting a mani/pedi done at a new nail salon/spa that I saw a couple of weeks ago while running errands.  The ambiance is peaceful and elegant, the chairs are oversized with massage options, and the service is fantastic.  So, no problem there.  The problem lied with the woman who they sat me next to.

When I first walked into the spa I immediately recognized that this woman was of Middle Eastern descent, and so (incorrectly) sensing an ally I flashed her a genuine smile.  *crickets* I received a death glare in response. 

I shook it off as a mistake, or a mis-interpretation on my part and went about choosing the color of nail polish, selecting the newest magazines they had, and waiting my turn for a seat in those luxurious chairs.  Of course, as luck would have it, I was seated right next to Mrs. Mean Face.

Aformentioned glare out of my head, and with a strong determination to enjoy my time of silence and solitude I began leafing through the magazines I had selected, filling my brain with nonsense about Kim K's divorce, Jen's new romance, and who wore what where.  Then, Mrs. Mean Face's voice overtook my gossip filled conscience as I overheard her starting to bash Islam, her home country, and everything remotely related to either one to the lady who was doing her nails.

:O   *jaw drop*  AstaghferAllah I was seriously shocked.  I won't go into details about what she said, but it was definitely cringe-worthy and the poor lady who was working on my pedicure kept bonking me on the knee telling me to stop curling my toes.  I couldn't help it.  She was sitting here defacing my beautiful religion and the one True and Complete Book to some lady who didn't know any better, and probably believed everything she said.

I wanted to yell at her "I'm sorry if you've had such horrible experiences with people who claimed to be Muslim, but that was CULTURE....it was NOT true Islam, and it is wrong and inhumane and just plain haraam for you to be lying to this lady about our beautiful Islam and all of the Truth that it holds!"  I wanted to jump up and defend Our Prophet and offer to help her see the other side of Islam.  The side free from the influences of greedy men who use it in their own twisted ways to fill their social agendas.

But....of course....I didn't.  I chose to sit still, and keep quiet because I knew in my heart she was saying these things to get under my skin.  And I knew that the best way to prove that she was wrong, and to get under her skin in return was to simply be myself.  To be kind, and nice, and show her an example of how a true Muslimah acts.

In short...I forgave her.

There is a part of me who feels guilty that I didn't do more to stand up for Islam.  But in my heart I know I did the right thing, because only Allah swt will guide those who are meant to follow the straight path.  She was so determined to believe what she believed that no matter what I said she would have twisted it around and it would have just solidified what she already felt to be true.

So, instead, I caught her eye.  I gave a her a smile that came from deeper than my mouth, deeper still than my heart even.  It came from my imaan.

And you know what?  She smiled back.  As I turned to grab my things and come home to my beautiful daughters and my loving husband she even called goodbye out to me, and I could feel her watching me as I walked to my car.

And at that point, the only thing I felt was pity for her.  Pity that she had been through such horrible experiences, and pity that she had strayed so far from the Straight Path.  Instead of yelling at her for what she said, I will instead make du'a for her.

And insh'Allah you will all make du'a as well.

Ma'Salaama and Allah Ma'aku.

Fashionably Yours,
The (newly painted) Mujahada in Prada