Hadith: Religion Is Very Easy

Religion is Very Easy

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Religion is very easy, and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded.”

-- Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Hadith 38

Halal Recipes: Summer Salad

Salam,

With summer right around the corner, people are starting to look for more fresh and light dishes for those hot days. And nothing gets better than a cool and refreshing yogurt salad to go with your meal. So we have decided to write up the recipe for you to enjoy with your family and friends :)

Ingredients:

• Mint (handfull, chopped finely)
• Cilantro (handfull, chopped finely)
• Cucumbers ( small crisp cucumbers, 5, diced)
• Tomatoes (small, hard tomatoes, 2, diced)
• Corn (handful of defrosted corn bits)
• Yogurt (3 tablespoons, enough to generously coat salad)
• Green Onions (3, diced finely)
• Broccoli (half a small head, bite size peices)
• Dell Peppers (optional, desired amount, chopped in small peices)
• Salt (3 tea spoons, more or less)
• Pepper/red or black/optional
• Lemon/a splash/ optional

Directions:

Make a salad as you usually would, coat it with yogurt, salt it, and splash some lemon on it if you wish.

Enjoy!

Square Hijab Vs. Wraparound Hijab

Salam,

As hijabi's, there are countless options as to color, fabric and even design for our scarf choices. But in General; there are only two hijab shapes, the square and the rectangle. Sometimes you can find a triangle scarf that does not need to be folded in half, or a pull on..but very few people use them and even fewer are found.

If you are unsure of which hijab type may suit your face shape best or which one is better in general for use, continue reading our pro's and con's article about square vs. rectangle hijabs.

The Square Hijab:

This hijab shape is suitable for everyone; but when it comes down to either square or rectangle, the square scarf better suits round shaped heads. This is because, when worn, the square scarf has a pointy tip at the top, elongating the face. If your face is already long in shape, this will only help exxagerate the length. And if you have a rounder,shorter, face this will help give some length. But this does not mean that people with long faces should stray from this style, because it is very simple to wear and can easily be adjusted at the top to help suit your face shape. Tucking in the corners, of the scarf, at your jaw line, will help shorten the tip at the top of your scarf and in return create a better shape for longer faces. Tying the scarf without any folds near the jaw will elongate the tip at the top, making your face seem longer, creating a better style for shorter faces. The square hijabs are very easy to wear and take virutally no time at all to put on. They are very neat, light weight and have many ways to wear them, such as the "tie back style" or the "wrap one side up style", "knot the two ends style" and even the "side bow style". The one problem with square scarfs is that if you have bangs and dont clip them back securely, they can start coming out after a while from the top and the sides, and become very irratating.

The Rectangle Hijab:

Most of the rectangle hijabs are known as pashminas and are worn in the Shayla style (wrap around). Again, anyone can wear this style, but it is preffered for people with longer faces. This is because the wrap around hugs your face nice and snug, and the cap worn underneath (to hide mini hairs), covers some of your forehead, creating an illusion that your face is a bit shorter than it actually is. If a round faced person were to wear this style, then their face would just be more shortened. But because this is a very popular style, especially for more formal outfits, to help elongate your face, you can wear the scarf without an undercap, folding the front of the scarf to curve the part that goes across your forehead and fold small creases near your jaw line to help create a pointed tip at the top of the scarf. This way, you can wear the wrap around style and still help keep it to a style that benefits your face shape. The wrap around scarf takes a bit more time to wear in general, so if you are opting for something super fast and easy, not so formal and bulky, the wrap around isn't as ideal. But, after wearing it a few times, you can get pro at it and do it faster. But I still doubt that anyone can get it on faster and neater than they can a square style.

There is no better hijab shape between rectangle and square...when it comes down to it, it all depends on your face shape. But even then, you can adjust your scarf to have it fit and suit your face shape the best it can. So anyone can wear any style, all you need to do is make sure of some things. Here is the list of those things in case you're confused:

Short/Round Face:

• Have a bit of a tip at the top to help keep your face from looking really small
• To do so, tuck in the corners of your scarf at the jaw line
• Fold the front of your scarf so it is curved and easier to create a tip
• Dont wear bulky scarfs (keeps your face from looking fat/heavy)
• Lighter scarves are recomended

Longer/Thinner Face:

• Fold a bit of the scarf inward towards your jawline to help decrease the pointed tip, this will help keep your face from looking too long
• wear a hijab cap or bandana under your scarf to cover a little bit of your forehead (to give an illusion your face is a bit shorter than it really is)
• Light scarves are okay to wear, but you can wear a bulky scarf to give some weight to your face and balance out your frame.

Hadith Of The Week: Belief

Volume 1, Book 2, Number 12:

Narrated Anas r.a:

The Prophet (saw) said: "None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself."

-Sahih Bukhari

Modern Hijabi: Summer Kaftan

Top 5:Gym Class Hijabi Tips

Salam,

We know. We've been there..Gym class. If it wasnt hard enough being in public highschool, handling the summer heat and trying to keep your hijab on right..Now you have to face Phys Ed.

Of course, its easier when you are a fan of sports and constant activity, but it can get hard when you dont.

Although PE is a good course for your physical health and well being, there are some downsides to it. Here are some tips and instructions on how to help you live happily through it all :)

1) Change Rooms and Privacy

If you are a shy one, then PE change rooms arent ideal for you. Tip: change in the larger washroom stall. It has a lot of space, and a door and lock for privacy. If that is crowded or unavailable, go into the normal stalls and have your friend stand in front of you. If you are still uncomfortable, check your PE schedule, and get ready before hand. If its after lunch, change during lunch when the room is empty, if its in the morning wear your PE clothes from home and if it is at the end of the day, wear your sweats all day for a casual look during class and be ready for PE without the hassle.

2) Bad Hijab Day

Have you played football with a silk scarf? Do you sweat a lot and have your scarf stick all over your face and head? Does your hair start coming out and insisting on not going back in? Has any of your scarfs slid all over your head and even fallen off during class? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, read the following tips: Wear a wrap around scarf with a head band under. The head band keeps all your hair in place and prevents your scarf from moving all around. Stick with a cotton fabric so its durable and soaks up any perspiration. Secure it tightly with new pins so that its less likely to break or fall apart. Make sure to bring an extra change of scarf incase it gets dirty or if you dont plan on wearing that scarf before or after PE.

3) Summer Outfit Problems

During winter, PE outfits are easy to put together. A hoodie and a pair of sweatpants. But as summer begins to arrive, the weather around you signals heat and hoodies don't go well together. Heres some tips to overcome these problems: Loose and Baggy T-shirts or Long sleeve T-shirts. These are good because they allow some air to travel in and out allowing your body to breathe. Make sure you wear sleeves under short t-shirts though. Cargo sweatpants are also a great alternative to thick cotton sweatpants. They are light and airy and stand far from your body. If you want a good pair, Nike is sure to have some. As for your hijab, a 2 peiece wraparound might not be ideal so try a one peice slip on like this picture. This is actually 2 pieces, but the one im talking about is basically the same thing but in 1 piece. They are also cotton so they soak up perspiration well and dont move around, but they are light so you wont go crazy with the heat.

4) Intermixing and Square Dancing

If you thought running 5K was the worst thing that could happen in PE..Its not. Most schools have seperated girls and boys classes; and offer them even if its not regular. But some dont, that means on several occasions you'll have to have a guy partner and play the weirdest sports you've ever heard of with them (hand in hand). Or you will have a dancing course in between the semester with the guys PE class (again, hand in hand and even worse). Realistically thinking these courses dont make any sense, they dont coordinate with physical education at all, but somehow it is still in there. Tip: talk to your PE teacher about it, bring a note from home or even talk to the principal. If it doesnt go hand in hand with your religion, it shouldnt go hand in hand with you. If they insist on you taking part, dont, stand up for yourself and your religion, it is your right and with it you can never be wrong, especially legally. If you feel nervous, dont, many Muslim kids do this in every school, every semester and every year; you are not alone. You could offer to have your PE credits completed in a womens only Gym. Or you might get a project to do instead of that one lesson, on the plus side, your getting ommited an entire lesson while you chill in the library :)

5) Clean up

Phew! Class is finally over, but now im all sticky and sweaty and smelly. What do I do? Make sure you avoid these situations by having the following items in your gym bag: A Hijab for use before or after class with extra pins. Extra set of clothes for before or after class (dont wear your PE clothes to your other classes after you have PE, you can wear them before only). Keep a body spray, a deoderant and extra socks. These handy items prevent unwanted smells and keeps you dry and smelling good. Make sure you have moist towelettes in a ziploc. Use them after PE to wipe your face, neck and underarms. It instantly freshens you up, cleans perspiration and keeps you odour free. Theres nothing worse than a stinky gym class student; so keep your self odour free and super clean :)

This article may have made PE seem like a bad thing; it's not. PE is a good course to take because it keeps you fit and healthy, allows you to get fresh air and excercise in between your hectic schedule. We highly recommend you take it; we just pointed out a few of it's downsides and gave you tips on how to keep clear of them. So dont be afraid of it; now that you have the skills on how to go through PE happily; welcome it!