ChristalBlogs

Be like the flower that gives it's fragrance to even the hand that crushes it - Ali (RA)

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LaYinka, I'm Sorry It Took Sooo Long! Evolve & Emerge Review

LaYinka, I’m Sorry It Took Sooo Long! Evolve & Emerge Review

Sorry, I Emerged Late

LaYinka, I’m sorry. I’m sorry it took so long to review this journal. I’m sorry it took so long for me

to write this review. But boy…. life’s a piece of work

sometimes.

All the way back, about 9 months ago I think, the amazing LaYinka Saani contacted me. To say I was fan-girling in my own DM’s would be an understatement.  She was kind enough to send me a copy of her Evolve…

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Harim ibn Hayyan said "When the believer knows his Lord he loves Him and when he loves Him, he approaches Him and when he discovers the sweetness of the approach to Him, he no longer looks on this world with an avid eye, nor does he gaze on the hereafter with an indifferent eye, for what pains him in this world refreshes him in the next." Taken from Al Ghazali's Ihya ulum al din - Kitab al mahabba wa'l- shawq wa'l-uns wa'l-rida (Love, Longing Intimacy and Contentment) I just got all my books back 😍 so expect more bookey quotes 😁🤓

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I always get questions from people who wanted to embrace Islam about the right time to do it. Don't I need to learn "xyz?" Shouldn't I learn how to pray first? Should I completely change myself? The answer to the above is short and sweet, "no my dear, not yet. Allah swt just wants you, right now, the way you are." You don't need bells and whistles. Allah doesn't want you to in 10 years, your invitation to a life with Him is NOW. Don't delay. Everything else can come afterwards. Don't rush from your destiny and a chance to be the best version of yourself. Don't sell your ticket to jannah (paradise) over formalities.

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The past few days have been tough. Both children teething (I know make dua for us PLEASE!), articles that need to be written, changes to my website that need to be made, looong overdue reviews to be posted..... this is #momlife. Last night, my toddler had a MASSIVE meltdown. Tears, snot, red cheeks the whole 9 yards. All while the baby was having her own mini meltdown as well because she was tired, hungry and her gums were itching. I took the BIGGEST breath you can think off (sorry for using up all the oxygen Birmingham 😂), composed myself and dealt with the situation. I took my toddler to another room and encouraged him to breath deeply, wiped his tears and gave him a hug. Trust me, losing your temper is more harmful than beneficial. Then I picked up the baby, fed her and comforted her. Fed my toddler and then put them both to bed. As I watched them both sleeping so peacefully I thought subhanAllah. You wouldn't believe the absolute CHAOS that was happening less than an hour before. The anxiety that was rushing through my body as they both cried, both pulling my heartstrings, both needing attention when there was only little old me for comfort. It's situations like this that make mother's feel like they're not enough but you are. Allah swt gave YOU this task. This barakah woven with hardship. He swt knew you were ready, you just need to believe it yourself. Parenting doesn't come with a manual and you will make mistakes but Allah swt knows your heart and will see you through. This is to all the mother's out there that have made it to Friday knowing that as a mother the "weekend" doesn't exist. Allah swt loves you, I love you. Cherish them while they are small. They are out potential keys to jannah 💜 (at Birmingham, United Kingdom)

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Blessed Monday vibes 😁 May Allah swt fill our paths with light, may He fill our heart with love, may He fill our minds with pure thoughts and may we all appreciate the blessings He has bestowed on us, Ameen 💜

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Life's Journey: Where Have I Been? What Am I Doing?

Life’s Journey: Where Have I Been? What Am I Doing?

As I sit here, children sleeping (this doesn’t happen often)… I’ve finally found some time to sit down and contribute to my blog and think about my life’s journey.

This blog started out as a passion. A burning fire inside of me that I wanted to share with the world. 4 years on and thousands of hours writing later and it’s still a passion. It just now sits on the back burner until the kids and…

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If you follow my Insta stories you'll know that we (my daughter and I) we're sent a new addition to our little family. Our Khadija (I named her lol) khaleeji doll in a new darker skin tone. I was so happy when @hijabimamatreats offered to send us this, especially when it looks so much like my daughter 😁 Jazakillahu khayrun @hijabimamatreats we love her so much and we wish all the barakah in the world for your business and new products to come. Read the full review over at christaljoan.com (link in the bio) (at Birmingham, United Kingdom)

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Hijabi Mama Treats Review

Hijabi Mama Treats Review

  If you love checking out new children’s products on Instagram, I’m sure you’ve come across Hijabi Mama Treats. She offers bags and khaleeji cushion dolls for little boys and girls.

  Supporting Small Businesses

I‘m all about supporting small businesses and Muslim female ran businesses at that. So, when I was offered my very own khaleeji doll to review I was more than happy to accept.

Nadia,…

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Serving Allah 101 💜 (at Birmingham, United Kingdom)

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Find your tribe 💜 (at Birmingham, United Kingdom)

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5 Books I LOVED Reading about Islam by Iqra Asad

Another guest post by another amazing sister masha Allah. Books have a very special place in Islam. Iqra (read) was the first revelation given to the Prophet Muhammad (saw). And coincidentally, Iqra Asad is the name of the sister sharing with us the 5 books she loved reading about Islam.

Post contains affiliate links.

  Nothing Like a Good Book

There’s nothing like a good book to draw you in,…

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It's been 6 weeks since I gave birth and I still haven't written about my birth story on my blog but this frame pretty much sums it up. My mum and dad were an integral part of my birthing process and without them it wouldn't have been the amazing experience it was. This birth, even more so than my first, really put the hard work my parents put into nurturing me (and they still do), into perspective. I could NEVER give or do enough for them to repay what they've done for me but this frame was a start. Lovingly handcrafted by my dear friend at @p_isforpicture it was a perfect thank you. EVERY frame is made with 💜 and orders can be customised like mine with any colour or design you like insha Allah

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Balancing Deen and Motherhood (With 6 Practical Tips) GUEST POST

Motherhood comes with a great responsibility of raising your next generation in best of the manners. When you strive to be a perfect mother but don’t want to leave any stone unturned in your deen matters. Don’t think you are alone in it. We all miss those days when we were energetic and active in performing all acts of worship whether it be fasting, praying or just making long heartfelt duas with…

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Always remember this is the testing place, not the resting place. Allah will test you with hardship to assess your condition and Shaytaan will test you with haraam to make sure your condition is one in which you're not doing what is pleasing to Allah. But Allah swt has promised that if we are grateful, He will increase us. So bite the bullet, take the tests, use the Qur'an and the authentic example of Rasulullah (saw) to guide you and be sure in the fact that your gratitude will bring you abundance! 📸: courtesy of @londonalima

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So this happened lol. On the 5.11.2017 life changed. I went from a carefree mother of 1 to a confused (but blessed 😂) mother of 2. This birth was so different. I felt strong when I had my son. I felt like I powered through contractions like a champion. This time I felt weak. I actually cried. Tears of joy, overwhelm and gratitude. There's something transformative about the birth experience that can't really be explained unless you've been there and done it. You plan to be organised and "get back on it" when the baby gets here but in all honesty the best thing you can do is nothing 😂 Rest. Put the laptop away. Don't feel obligated to do or take care of anyone or anything other than yourself and your children. That's a big enough task already. Everything else will fall into place insha Allah 💜

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SubhanAllah. I was so shocked/ pleased/ grateful when this dropped through the door! Instagram can be such a beautiful place to meet and greet with Muslimahs from ALL OVER the world. These beauties came from Nigeria from dear sister @fabulouslyliberated . We bonded over our mutual love of everything books and stationary (because who can ever have enough stationary?!) I'm soo excited to get into more Qur'an memorisation insha Allah and I pray Allah swt rewards her equally for every ayah I commit to memory using this hifdh log, Ameen. Don't worry girl, I've got some stationery coming your way insha Allah 😍😘💜

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I love the ethos around salah. It doesn't matter if you're black, white, yellow, green. Old, young, in between. When it's time to pray we all stand together, facing the same way, praying from the same Holy Book. And as the sister from @untouchedbyfire rightly says, the steps are so simple. Alhamdulillah I had a wonderful teacher who taught me the salah. She stressed that when my head was touching the lowest ground, Allah was near and He could hear my words in the heavens. I didn't know how it worked exactly but I felt it. When I relaxed into that sujood (prostration) I found real peace. Not that fake inner peace you fool yourself into thinking you have until a calamity strikes. My heart had finally found it's resting place. I've often wondered if those who were born into a Muslim family always had that feeling when they prayed salah or if it was something they too had to learn. It's just more proof that no matter where you're born, what religion you're presented first by your parents if Allah swt wishes to guide you He will. May Allah swt always keep us on the siraatul-mustaqeem and lighten our paths on the Day of Judgement, Ameen! ............. You can read the full article over on christaljoan.com