5 Tips to Keeping up stay at Home for Muslim Moms

By
admin
-
0

Being a stay-at-home mom to the general public sounds like the easiest gig in the world, right? Wrong! The misconceptions that come with being a stay-at-home mom are actually alarmingly way off from what the reality is. I was always a working woman who contributed to society. I paid my taxes, worked two jobs, and maintained a regular healthy lifestyle alongside my husband. I was up at the crack of dawn and came home just before midnight. I never had time for anything let alone myself during the busy Monday to Friday hectic work schedules I had so my weekends were gold to me. Given this fact, I still found it hard to do grocery shopping, do my weekly DIY facemask, make a home cooked meal and find time to spend with my husband, family, and friends. Sounds like the rest of the world right?

As soon as I gave birth and went on maternity leave, I became a stay-at-home mom. My son is now 10 months old Alhamdulillah, and the constant question of going back to work has been on my mind. But when I thought about the pros and cons of going back to work or staying home with my son, I barely saw a difference besides I’d be getting paid for my hard work if I had a job.

Being a stay-at-home mom is a not a part-time, full-time, or casual job. It is a 24/7, all hours, everyday career. People often say things like ‘but you’re home! You can sit on your couch all day and do nothing!’ ‘You must be bored!’ ‘You get to sleep all day!’ Newsflash: I don’t even have time to take a shower long enough to wash my hair thoroughly. This is also how I feel with only one child, so obviously, my heart goes out to those mothers with more than one child.

In between diaper changes at 3am, making bottles at all hours of the day, cleaning up the house, making all the meals for everyone else in the home, grocery shopping, preparing my baby’s meals for the day AND using the bathroom – yes I factor in this time as well – it is hard to keep up with my 5 daily prayers. I found myself downloading apps, setting reminders, making wudu and then also found myself choosing to make my baby’s bottle, change a diaper first and by the time I was ready to pray it was already time for the next prayer. I needed to make a change ASAP because this wasn’t working and my faith is everything to me as a Muslim. I came up with a couple of ideas as to how to pray on time and effectively to ensure I never missed a prayer when I was physically able to pray.

1.Download Apps So You Get Notifications to Alert You When It’s Time to Pray 

Apps like Athan: Prayer Times & Quran are extremely helpful. They also have duas and provide with help finding the prayer direction and where to face for the Qibla. Also, check with your local mosque and see if they have their own app. Some mosques have their own application and the prayer times are more accurate for your location. They can also have details about events happening at the local masjid.

2.Set Aside Your Prayer Clothes in a Specific Location in Your Home Beside Your Prayer Mat 

This was a big help for myself personally. I had a designated abaya and hijab I love praying in. So instead of putting them away after every time I offered prayer, I decided to keep it in a separate location along with the prayer mat. This made praying on time more effective for myself instead of scrambling to go to my closet every time I was about to pray.

3.Make it a Habit to Make Wudu Every time You Use the Bathroom 

This one right here was a game changer for me! I didn’t realize how time-consuming it was to make wudu just before praying, knowing I had barely 5 minutes to pray and rush back to care for my baby. So I made it a habit to always have wudu on me. I did this by making wudu after every time I would use the bathroom. I was already in the bathroom anyway and this would save me a trip to the bathroom while my baby unsupervised when I was home alone with him.

4.Ask For Someone to Watch Your Baby While You Pray 

As a mom and I think it is safe to say as a woman, we tend to often not ask for help when we need it. If you aren’t home alone and it is time to pray, ask that person to watch your baby for you. It won’t take more than 10 minutes usually and if that person is also a Muslim they would understand the importance of praying on time.

5.Set Up a Safe Play Area for Your Baby to Play or Lay in While You Pray 

If you are home alone and your baby is just not cooperating with you, then set up a safe play area or clean out their crib and place them in there. This has helped me immensely. When we finally had our Crib delivered for our baby, I would pray in our room where the crib was and place my baby in there. That way I knew he was somewhere safe and I would be able to tend to him when I was finished praying quicker than if he was in another room and not in a secure place.

I hope this helps all the new moms and current moms who are already dealing with a million and one things. If you have any other tips to contribute please let me know below. To comment you need an account, so please sign up and join the conversation. Your comment can benefit others!

How to Keep Your Hijabs Clean and Look Brand New – 7 Easy Tips for Home Hijab Care

By
admin
-
0

If you wear a hijab every single day yet don’t think twice about taking care of it – you are not alone. Believe me, you’d be surprised. It’s very easy to just throw it off as soon as you get home and don’t think twice about the creasing or delicacy of the material until you have to wear it again the next day.

Even those of us who actually take the time to care for their hijabs have normal wear and tear damage that can take a toll on our go-to favourites. Here are a few hijab care tips we think will help keep your hijabs in great shape for all seasons and occasions.

1. Wear an Underscarf

If you wear your hijab directly on top of your hair, whatever hair products you have on your hair will rub and smear all over your hijab. It can also cause hair damage if the material of the hijab isn’t soft or light. By wearing an underscarf, preferably silk, it can make your hijab look much smoother on your head and keep your delicate hijab clean.

2. Use Special Pins

For those of us who like trying new hijab styles and trends, we use the help of pins. The thing is, many of us use the wrong techniques when doing so and end up ruining the threading of our beloved hijabs. By using special pins designed to do exactly what you are looking for while not tugging at the threading of the hijab, you can complete your look discreetly and achieve your style.

Great hijab-friendly online stores such as Heart Hijab and Modanisa have great hijab pins that are wearable for any occasion. Even though they are based in the UK and Turkey respectively, they both offer worldwide shipping!

3. Handwash as Much as Possible

It sounds so old school but believe me – it works. Most hijabs are made from soft and light fabric that can be more easily damaged by the spinning of a washing machine. Separate your lights from your darks to prevent staining on your lighter coloured hijabs.

4. Air Dry

Hang dry your hijab on a towel bar in your bathroom to help maintain their shape. You can also lay them on a flat surface. If you prefer to hang them to dry outside, but make sure it’s in a shaded area away from direct sunlight to avoid fading of the fabric.

5. Iron on Reverse Side

If you need to smooth out the material and are in a rush, you can use an iron. Make sure the iron temperature is as low as possible and press on the reverse side of the fabric. If it is a silk hijab, make sure the hijab is still a little damp when ironing to not burn the material.

6. Treat Stains as Soon as Possible!

If you can get to a sink as soon as you get a stain on your hijab, spot treat it ASAP! The sooner you get rid of it, the better the chances you’ll be able to save your hijab. Just use a dab of detergent, dish detergent works best, and work on the stain with your fingertips. You only need to wash the stained part and the small surrounding area in cold water. If you don’t have access to running water, just blot clean by using a paper towel to dab the stained area.

Pro Tip: sunscreen, lotions, and makeup usually have oil in their products. By using dish detergent on these stains, it can effectively help lift the oils off your hijab without damaging the material.

7. Store Your Hijabs in a Different Area From the Rest of Your Clothes

Keep all your hijabs in clean and dry areas. I personally like to fold and place my hijabs in a separate drawer from the rest of my clothes. If they are regular wear ones, I usually hang them but also separate from my other clothing so that no zippers or pieces of other clothing get caught on them.

For my special occasion hijabs, I like to roll them and store them away from my other hijabs.

I hope some of these tips and tricks can help with your hijab care techniques! If you take care of them, you can limit the number of times you wash or iron your hijabs and get them to last for years.

Are there any other tips you know and do that aren’t mentioned above? Let us know to help other sisters out!

Model in the photo is on Instagram, @shamhad_

5 Modest Hijab Fashion Instagrammers You Need to Follow Right Now

By
admin
-
0

Instagram is no doubt the location to find modest hijab fashion inspiration for your outfit needs and wants. Here are some accounts we found that are highly recommended and these women mean fashion business!

@shahdbatal

View this post on Instagram

Just posted an outfits of the week vid on my channel with my fav picks from @asos @asos_us ❤️ http://liketk.it/2yy7J #liketkit @liketoknow.it #ad

A post shared by Shahd Batal (@shahdbatal) on

Shahd Batal is a black Muslim woman living in LA and is no stranger to the fashion world. She brings about so much flavour to her Instagram page and shows us an inside scoop of her daily life and beauty products. She also has a Youtube channel where she has relatable videos about the Muslim community, vlogs, and a Shai with Shahd segment that is super cute and fun to watch.

@chinutay

View this post on Instagram

🎩 #lastnight 🖤

A post shared by Manal 🇪🇹 (@chinutay) on

Manal is a Canadian fashionista who is married and her Instagram photos with her hubby are the absolute cutest! She also has a Youtube channel where she and her husband travel while giving us the fun side of being married. She gives out amazing skincare tips that are helpful and easy to try! She is also expecting her first baby and we are here for the journey sis! Mabrook!

@ashwaaqfidar

View this post on Instagram

📸 Photo By @tamhid_nafi Outfit: @prettylittlething #plt #pltstyle #prettylittlething Coat: @primark #primark #streetstyle #fashion #style #classyoutfit #fashionlover #marloparis #dosesofstyle #100flavoursUk #majorstreetstyle #fashion4perfection #muslimahapparelthings #rebelgal #revolveme #streetstylelondon #theoutfitscrapbook

A post shared by Ashwaaq Fidar (@ashwaaqfidar) on

Ashwaaq is a Birmingham beauty who is killing the fashion game with her looks. She also is an amazing makeup artist and serves us looks on the gram that we cannot get enough of. HerYoutube Channel is filled with shopping hauls she does and tries on her fashion buys with cute commentary!

@forever_muslim

View this post on Instagram

#tb to summer 🌸

A post shared by Aziza Mohammad (@forever_muslim) on

Aziza is a part-time Youtuber and a full-time fashion guru. She and her husband are adorable in their photos on her page and she always brings the looks but also shows us her home decor photos and we love them! If you check out her Youtube Channel you’ll find lookbooks, recipes, and decor inspo.

@zeinahnur

View this post on Instagram

9 months preggo today!!!😬😬 I was 8 months in this photo. My bump size was the same when I was preggo with Malik too, people always said first babies bump is always small and the more you have the bigger you get, but apparently not. Everyone’s body type/shape/size is just different and so the same would apply for bumps me thinks. But I deffo don’t look 9 months, when I ask people to guess they guess 3 months, I mean.. Really? But hey, I ain’t complaining. Alhamdulillah, cause even though I have a week left, I’m not uncomfortable at all, am so so greatful for that. But I am soooooo sad my pregnancy journey is coming to an end😭😭😭 But so excited to meet baby iA! _______________________________________________________ I have a what I eat in a day while pregnant+ a pregnancy update& I share why am getting induced. It’s up tomorrow. But request for prayers for me& baby please, I’ll really appreciate it. If you want me to pray for you, let me know. More than happy to!💕_______________________________________________________ #9monthspregnant #stylethebump #boohoo #myboohoostyle #zeinahnur #induction #youtuber

A post shared by Z E I N A H N U R (@zeinahnur) on

Zeinah Nur is a beauty who does not fall short of gorgeous. A new mom and a Youtuber who shows us her cooking game for us who need recipe ideas, she is a page that has lots to offer while giving us modest fashion looks that are both beautiful and comfortable. Her Youtube Channel is filled with travel, shopping, and food – three things we obviously already love!

We hope you enjoyed our list and we definitely have more Instagram Fashionistas to feature, this is not our only list! Be sure to check out these lovely ladies and make sure to subscribe to their Youtube channels. Is there anyone else you think deserves to be recognized? Let us know below!

What’s the Deal with Skin Bleaching and How is it Still Happening?

By
admin
-
1

Skin whitening or bleaching has low-key been a topic of discussion that is so subtle to everyday conversations for so many women and girls that it actually sounds acceptable and right when people try to justify it. As dangerous as this phenomenon sounds – it’s actually extremely common and popular in a lot of countries in the world, especially in Africa and Asia. It consists of using substances, mixtures, or physical treatments to lighten the skin tone. It sounds more tasteful with phrases such as ‘toning cream’ being used to describe them and have misleading photos of women with fair skin on the packaging. These products or treatments attempt to reduce the skin’s melanin content – literally.

In the beginning, the results seem to be favourable and it does seem to be making the skin applied on to look lighter. However, over time, it makes the skin tone appear purple, feels tingly and tight. You can almost notice a strange new skin tone emerge that looks washed out or grey-ish, almost sickly.

Sound crazy and actually ridiculous? Well, it is, and most of the chemicals that are used in the skin bleaching creams are legit illegal. Substances like hydroquinone and mercury are banned in most countries, but somehow still over half of the skin brightening or whitening products sold still contain these ingredients. Hydroquinone is a strong inhibitor of melanin production, which literally means it prevents dark skin from making the substance responsible for skin colour. It works to disrupt the synthesis of melanin and results in hyperpigmentation of the skin. With continue constant use of this stuff, it can cause leukaemia and serious irritation of the affected skin areas.

The pressure to be lighter and fairer affects Asian and Black communities the most. We have been conditioned for years, centuries and generations upon generations to innately believe that light skin is the right skin; white is right, fair and lovely is the only way to be attractive. The media does this daily and it creeps into our subconscious. Images of white models or fair skinned African or African American cast member in movies and prime-time shows only contribute and enhance this subliminal trend. Makeup companies, in the past at least, were notorious for not carrying a diverse shade range in products for women who are darker skin toned, which psychologically can impact how darker skinned women feel rejected from society and need to change what they look like to even purchase products to use and feel more beautiful.

You hear phrases like ‘you’re pretty for a dark skinned girl’, ‘you have beautiful features for a black girl, you’re good looking for a dark-skinned gal’

There are ways to tell when someone bleaches their skin. Some people use it every day; using it as a treatment to fix a ‘problem’ they believe they have. Those who bleach usually avoid sensitive areas like their eyes or the creases in skin folding areas such as the knuckles on their hands and the front of their knees. By doing this, these areas are noticeably darker than the rest of their bleached skin. Some women avoid placing the skin bleaching products near their eye area and it results in them having sickly racoon eyes that appear even darker against their newly bleached skin surrounding the eye area! However, those that do place the dangerous products near the eye area have that region over the years turn into a leather-like canvas.

I did a lot of digging, and the things some of the women had to say were literally cringe-worthy. They mentioned that the affected skin appears to be burnt, with visible red sores that cover the face from itching and scratching away when the skin was irritated. Some develop rashes and big pimples that don’t go away resulting in major scarring and patches of dark spots.

Some of these creams contain high levels of toxic mercury and can lead to mercury poisoning, which can manifest in psychiatric, neurological problems. This is also extremely dangerous for pregnant women who can potentially pass on mercury to their unborn child.

You think that’s all bad? Here are a few more of the side effects of the illegal creams that are so outrageous that it’s unbelievable:

  • Fetal damage
  • Kidney, nerve and liver damage
  • Scarring of the skin
  • Thinning of the skin
  • Increase the risk of skin cancer

Rwanda has been recently applauded for standing up to the efforts of skin bleaching epidemic and is now actively working to blacklist over 1000 skin bleaching products from their streets and shelves. Over a thousand. Wow.

Despite all of this, the skin bleaching market is globally getting larger. Most recently, Blac Chyna collaborated with Dencia, the creator of a “skin brightening” cream Whitenicious to promote the cream in Nigeria. The skin bleaching cream sold for $250 USD a jar. In Africa. Celebrated and beauty influencer in the Youtube and Instagram industry Jackie Aina took to Twitter to express her distaste for the product which re-sparked the skin bleaching debate. The public outcry was enormous and re-verbalized a lot of thoughts and anxieties people faced with this issue. Jackie was never one to shy away from the topic of colourism, and made it her YouTube mission to show why representation matters.

Jackie Aina also uploaded a YouTube video in regards to her thoughts and opinions on the matter and discussed the importance of why representation matters in the black community. She beautifully broke down the reasons as to why black women need to uplift themselves and those around them, the importance of having a platform and using it wisely to address topics that are dangerous and harmful to both the mind and body and to educate the masses on trends and misconceptions in the beauty industry. She shared her opinion on popularizing skin bleaching and the impact it has on black women especially those who are vulnerable and don’t have the financial accessibility to even purchase the pricey products.

 

 

Sidenote: I stan for Jackie Aina. Okay, end of sidenote.

 

The skin bleaching market is on the rise and it does not look like its losing momentum any time soon. It is extremely painful to know that countries and regions in areas filled with naïve, uninformed consumers are being taken advantage of due to the world view them as less appealing to the eye to market their dangerous products freely. A lot of African countries like Nigeria and Jamaica continue to have underground markets for blacklisted products. Celebrities like Vybz Kartel who use the skin bleaching products personally even glorify it in their work. Vybz released a titled track called Cake Soap and even went on to defend his use of skin bleaching products.

So why do people still do this knowing all the harmful side effects it causes? Some people have low self-esteem, confidence issues, and some are just young and still figuring out their place in this world. I have watched YouTube videos of women and even young girls talk about how they feel dirty, unclean, and even ugly. By bleaching their skin, they feel like they are working on boosting their self-confidence levels and finding themselves. It’s so heartbreaking to see and hear beautiful and smart darker skinned women describe their skin to be so unattractive to them. You hear stories of young impressionable teenage girls starting to bleach their skin at higher rates and it is truly devastating. Like this woman for example, who destroyed her beautiful face with years of skin bleaching products and stunned her husband when she gave birth to a dark-skinned baby boy.

If anyone can stop this epidemic, I hope it is the doctors and social media influencers who have a platform to speak out and denounce this lethal and awful phenomenon. I applaud makeup brands increasing their shade ranges to be more inclusive. I also want to give a shout out to fashion brands on social media featuring different skin toned women wearing their clothing and encouraging representation of their consumers.

Have you or a loved one had experience with skin bleaching products and want to discuss its effects? What do you think of this topic and do you believe it will go away anytime soon? Let us know. Sign up and join the conversation. We would love to hear your thoughts.

– Hijab Forum

If you already are not following Jackie Aina on Instagram, we’ve attached a direct link to her page here:

View this post on Instagram

here for a good time not for a long time ✨ drenched in @narsissist Monoi Body Glow I, Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation in Macao, Radiant Creamy concealer in amande, Taj Mahal + Exhibit A blush, Bord de Plage highlight palette, Atomic Blonde shadows on my eyes, Slow Ride powermatte lip pigment and @lillylashes Miami lash ❤️ photo by my one and only @mrworksmarter #NARSissist

A post shared by Jackie Aina (@jackieaina) on

 

How to Start Your Successful Instagram Business Journey into 2019

By
admin
-
0

Instagram is one of the major apps social media users have an account with, with the most recent stats of more than 800 million monthly active users and that was back in September 2018! Of those active users, over 60% of them log into the app every single day and share over 95 million photos. That alone shows how effective the app can be to support the growth of a business or service. Learning how to set up an Instagram account for those who don’t have a physical store or a website is super easy and convenient. From a business standpoint, Instagram has made it simple and less time-consuming than other sites to help entrepreneurs with little to no start-up accessible funds start and grow their business from the ground up. You can use micro-stories to find out what entertains your audience and quickly grow a following based on those who share similar interests and goals. Here are a few steps I put together to help create a profile and start promoting your business on Instagram without breaking your bank.

 

1. Create a Profile that Lets People Know you Mean Business – Literally!

Your profile is the first impression people see when they click on your page. Here are a few tips to enhance your Instagram profile:

  • Have a display photo that is your logo, if you have one. This will set the tone your brand and be the first thing people see. Aim for a quality profile photo that accurately reflects your branding.
  • If you’re an influencer or a blogger, choose a picture of yourself that communicates who you are and what you do as accurately as possible.
  • Have a username that ideally is your brand name. Try not to make it too complicated and limit the use of symbols like underscores. If you have a website, make sure you link it in your profile.

When it comes to completing the Business Information section, link it to a Facebook page if you have one already created. That way whatever you post on Instagram will automatically post on your Facebook Page for your brand. Choose a category that is the closest to what your brand is about. Lastly, make sure you choose the most ideal contact option so that others may be able to reach you.

Pro Tip: If you don’t have a creative eye but don’t want to pay ridiculous prices for help with a logo, try Fiverr. It has great pro services like logo making, promo videos, and graphic designing individuals who are looking for a quick gig. You can also negotiate and ask for more than one of each service or product to ensure you are satisfied with what you want to be completed for you.

Pro Tip #2: Include a keyword with your name. To make sure those who are in your niche notice your page and can find you, add a strong keyword in your name to help with searchability scores. For example, use the keyword as your ‘middle’ name even if the keyword isn’t apart of your official Instagram handle. If you need help finding a strong keyword, enter your niche into Ubersuggest Tool and see how you can use your keyword to the best of its ability.

 

2.Write an Eye-Catching and Appealing BioFirst impressions are everything and it literally takes a half a second for someone to form an opinion on who you are and what your brand is all about. Your bio plays the key role in the actions someone decides to take once they come across your page. It can make or break the decision for you to be followed, scroll through your content, or even click the link to your website. This is why it is incredibly important to make a great first impression with the content of your Instagram profile and what you write in your bio.

       A great Instagram bio should:

  • Explain a bit about you or your brand and what you do
  • Appeal to your target audience – know your niche!
  • Use your brand tone and voice to help you build a connection

3. Engagement Count Matters more than your Followers Count

You may have over 10,000 followers but only average about 2 comments per photo or video. The following count may seem high but when Google and Instagram see the ratio between your followers and your engagement, it actually does not look so good. This could mean a number of things: people probably like your page and what it stands for but your photos aren’t appealing or have a call to action. In some cases, it could mean the people liking the photo or following the account have been bought from a third party app. Now if you have a lower followers count but a high engagement ratio on your photos, this actually looks better when your page is analyzed by Google and Instagram algorithms. Also, companies that do sponsored ads and affiliate programs will take you more seriously when your ratio is more appealing and you will gain their attention better this way. If you aren’t sure if your numbers add up to algorithmic standards, try to average at least about 10% engagement when comparing your likes to your follower count.

4. Pay Attention to Your Colour Palette on your Account

A majority of the most successful Instagram accounts tend to use a colour palette for their photos. You can either pick colours that relate to your brand or use very soft colours with light backgrounds on your images. If you use a lot of quotes or do a lot of content posts, use the same font styles and alignment for each post.

Another thing that is extremely important is your captions! Captions are a great chance to enhance your content and to connect with your followers or customers. Think of it as a sharing section or a mini-blog. Use this space to ask questions and encourage replies and increase engagement. Try to also make it connect to what your photo is about so it is not messy and stays consistent.

Pro tip: Instagram captions have a limit to 2,200 characters and a maximum of 30 hashtags, so pre-write your captions and edit them in your Notes app on your smartphone before pasting it to your photo.

5. Consistency, Consistency, Consistency!

No matter how great you believe your product or service is, or how important your brand is, it won’t appear that way if you aren’t consistent with your activity on Instagram. This includes publishing and engaging in connecting with other users and how frequently you do so. By staying consistent and publishing regularly, it can help your audience learn when to expect new content from you. Try to set up a posting schedule for your page to maximize engagement without hitting any long stretches without any activity. People have a short attention span and will lose interest quickly, and can even unfollow you for lack of posts.

Pro tip: Use a free posting app like Hootsuite to help set up scheduled posts in advance. That way your page will stay active and interactive while you continue living your everyday life.

6. Respond to Comments and Direct Messages

Responding to comments is a great way to build a strong community on your Instagram page. If someone took the time and energy to share their thoughts or ask you a question, it’s very important to respond back to them and show them you appreciate them and are listening. By responding to comments and direct messages, your audience can be a great way to encourage positive feedback, word of mouth and function as brand advocates without you paying for marketing or ads. The more users feel connected to you, the more they are likely to recommend your product or services to their followers, friends, and family.

Bonus tip: Try creating a brand-specific hashtag

An Instagram marketing strategy to post consistent, quality content that aims to build your brand while also connecting on an individual basis with our community members are the key basics to Instagram success. One-on-one interactions and connections are vital, and by creating a brand-specific hashtag it can allow your community to tell a story about what they’re passionate about both personally and professionally. Also, when people search your hashtag, it can help others catch a glimpse of what your business is all about and see who else endorses your content!

Have any other tips and helpful suggestions that can help others grow their Instagram business? Let us know below!

7 Podcasts You Should Listen To For The Rest Of 2018

By
admin
-
0

Podcasts have become a way of life for some, and a soundtrack to day-to-day activities for others. With that said, here is a list we compiled from asking our subscribers on what podcasts they listen to and recommend. Enjoy and let us know if we missed any good ones we can add!

 

1.TED Talks Daily


Every weekday, this podcast brings you quick listens of universal and relatable topics. Hear thought-provoking ideas on every subject imaginable — from Artificial Intelligence, being a Muslim in America, malaria, zoology, and everything in between — given by the world’s leading thinkers and doers. This collection of talks are given at TED and TEDx conferences around the globe and are recorded for audio.

2. Stuff You Should Know

This podcast will have you learning things you didn’t even think long enough about before and increase your random knowledge facts. Hosted by Charles, or Chuck, Bryant and Josh Clark, these two amazing writers simplify and reveal surprising facts about common ideas. They also educate the public about common items and how they work. The diversity of their topics includes things like waterbeds, colourblindness, personality tests, and even things like vomit phobia. You can also check out their website for their archived list and their Youtube channel and subscribe for more content.

3. Journey to Launch: Launching you to Financial Freedom

The talented mother of 3 and entrepreneur Jamila Souffrant hosts this valuable podcast. She hosts episodes and interviews that include how to save money, invest, and how to pay off your debt. She also goes into budgeting, family life, and how to use your time wisely. Jamila uses her own life lessons after being raised by a single mom and learning the concept of hard work. She educated herself on appreciating the value of money from an early age. She goes through her own financial literacy journey and teaches others how to discipline on saving, budgeting, and wisely managing your money.

4. Serial

 


Serial is probably the most famous podcast that started the wave of listening to podcasts. It is hosted by Sarah Koenig and it has 3 seasons to date. In her first season, she dives into the true story of a murder case in Baltimore, Maryland about a high school girl Hae Min Lee. Her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, was convicted and charged with her murder based on facts that are broken down by Sarah. She has recorded conversations with Adnan in jail in the podcast and lets him share his experience with what has happened. Millions of listeners listen to an episode by episode, emotions run high and tough questions are asked and answered. The case is still active and he finally was granted a retrial. Catch up quick if you want to follow the current updates!

In the second season, Sarah looks into the story of Bowe Bergdahl. Bergdahl, a U.S. soldier. He had been a prisoner of the Taliban for nearly five years, and now he was going home. People said Bergdahl shouldn’t be celebrated and some of the soldiers from his unit called him a deserter, a traitor. They said he had deliberately walked off their small outpost in eastern Afghanistan and into hostile territory. For this season, Sarah Koenig attempts to find out why he decided to walk away, into Afghanistan, and how the consequences of that decision have spun out wider and wider. It’s a story that has played out in unexpected ways from the start. And it’s a story that’s still going on.

Season 3’s style changed from the prior seasons. Sarah goes to courts in Cleveland to hear several extraordinary cases to figure out the issues with the criminal justice system in America. She finds troubling technicalities and police conduct that is questionable. She tells a different story every week and helps listeners take a look at the injustice of the justice system.

5. The Vanished


Host Marissa Jones focuses on a different case in each episode about a real-life person who has gone missing and often includes interviews with their friends and loved ones. The cases aren’t necessarily the most high-profile ones, which is the beauty of this podcast. It helps families and loved ones bring awareness and get the word out about people who are still waiting to be found. Also, whenever there is an update about a missing person Marissa’s discussed previously, she updates her listeners. It could update on their court hearing if someone was arrested regarding the missing person, if they’re found alive, or if their bodies were located. Binge listeners can also enjoy this podcast because there are a couple of years of content to dive into!

6.Mufti Menk by Muslim Central

If you don’t already know who Mufti Ismail Menk is, look him up! He is a leading global Islamic scholar born and raised in Zimbabwe. His personable style and down to earth approach to spreading the word of Islam has made him one of the most sought-after scholars of our time. His topics vary and include relatable concepts like Dealing with Loss, Respect and Dignity, and Hypocrites and Forgiveness. He also occasionally has series episodes on things like Supplications, Marriage and Relationships, and Ramadan. For a quick imaan boost daily or even a reminder from time to time on what’s important, be sure to check out his incomparable podcast.

7.Casefile


True crime lovers, this one’s for you! This podcast goes over real-life cases with mysterious twists. It is hosted by an Australian but his identity is unknown, although twitter calls him Casey McCasefile. It’s a little difficult to understand because of his accent in the beginning, but once you get used to it, this podcast will get you addicted!

If you think we missed any other amazing podcasts, be sure to comment and let us know below!

Cyberbullying and What it’s Doing to Muslim Children

By
admin
-
0

Oh, the Internet. The best friend to everyone. Also, the same Internet that allows cyberbullying to be a thing and to be a tool for disaster. Especially if you are a Muslim.

Incidents of bullying against Muslim students, from hijab pulling to cyberbullying, have escalated, and a report done by the Council on American Islamic Relations school bullying report say Islamophobic rhetoric from the U.S. election in 2016 played a role.

The study discovered that out of about 1000 Muslim students ages 11 to 18, more than half reported being bullied and feeling less comfortable at school.

Several students have reported hijab-pulling incidents since the 2016 election. In Minnesota, a family of a female student reported that their daughter’s hijab had been pulled and thrown to the ground. The study also reported that 36% of respondents said they had their hijabs tugged, pulled or offensively touched. Parents fear for their daughters and have begun telling them not to wear their hijabs to school.

In addition to physical harassment Muslims have faced, there have been reports of faith-based harassment online – cyberbullying. Muslim students responded that they often see their peers posting about their faith on social media with 57% of students saying that their peers have made offensive remarks online. Maybe its because when you aren’t face to face with someone, people tend to be more emboldened online.

The media plays a huge role in this. Trump has called Muslims distasteful things, stating in December 2015 “There’s a sickness. They’re sick people. There’s a sickness going on. There’s a group of people that is very sick.” when he was asked if the ban he wants to put in place would include Canadian businessmen who are Muslim.

Not only does it affect Muslim students in schools, but it also has a dangerous second-hand effect on bystanders and observers of harassment to bullied Muslim students.

The impact on Muslim students is devastating. In an effort to be safe from harm and harassment, some choose to dissociate and prefer to not be identified as Muslim and go as far as denying their true faith. This includes taking off the hijab completely and not praying during school hours.

Cyberbullying has impacted our current social media crazed society in morbid ways. We often hear of high school kids being bullied online and suiciding shortly afterwards. A blog we stumbled upon shows a first-hand account of how cyberbullying has impacted a young Muslim woman’s life and the lengths she went through to try to stop it from continuing.

He even told me that I should be crucified, burned, and killed, which frightened me even more. I don’t even know this person…

The comments section of YouTube videos, Instagram photos and videos, and Facebook videos are riddled with intense foul language directed at destroying the self-esteem and faith of Muslims every single day.

Children are extremely impressionable ad their brains are yet not fully formed. The long-term effects of these incidents can cause are endless and horrific to even think about.

Is a Love a Muslim Day enough to counter Islamophobia?

By
admin
-
0

I’m sure you have all seen it – the deeply disturbing viral photo of the one piece of paper that has affected thousands of Muslims worldwide titled Punish a Muslim Day. The letters started circulating in late March, sent anonymously to multiple communities in Britain. It was sent to homes, businesses, and lawmakers. It detailed an extremely disturbing and inhumane point-based system that would AWARD attackers for acts of violence on Muslims. 500 points for “butchering a Muslim using a gun, knife, vehicle, or otherwise.”

 

For many, April 3rd felt like Doomsday. Muslims around the world took to social media to share their thoughts on the hate-motivated campaign. People were sending well wishes and urging Muslims to take care and look out for each other. Many were determined that the letters would not cause them to change their daily habits.

Just as quickly the letters went viral, so did another one – Love a Muslim Day. The letters promised rewards if anyone smiled or threw flowers at Muslims – while 2,500 points were on offer if a family was bought a trip to Mecca. Dozens formed a human chain around a mosque in London. Their message was clear, spread love not hate.

But is it enough to counter Islamophobia?

There may not have been a major incident, but “Punish a Muslim Day” did what it was designed to do – strike fear in the hearts of individual Muslims and those already being impacted by hate crime and racism. Many women refused to leave their homes yesterday, taking the day off work or changing their social plans.

Many argued that the best way to deal with “stunts” such as “Punish A Muslim Day” is to ignore them. Best not give oxygen to whoever is responsible for orchestrating this campaign of terror. We cannot avoid the fact that British Muslims are facing rising levels of Islamophobia, anti-Muslim hate and the mainstreaming of racism in our country on a daily basis.

This “Punish a Muslim Day” is not a one-off day of hate targeting Muslims; for many, it represents the daily structural Islamophobia we are up against and the increasingly poisonous rhetoric directed against Muslims in everyday life. Islamophobia is fully mainstream and is part of our daily public and political discourse.

To counter Islamophobia at its roots, we need a grounded and honest national conversation about the extent of the problem. We also need a strong and diverse anti-racism movement willing to tackle the politics of bigotry and division head-on. “Love a Muslim Day” is a worthy gesture but most Muslims I know are not bothered about being loved – we just want to feel safe and secure in our country. We’d like the right to live with dignity, to be seen and valued as full human beings and citizens without having to prove how good we are.

What are your thoughts on this matter? Comment below with your feedback.

1234Page 4 of 4