Stevie Wonderful

so whats there to say about thisman other than the fact that he is soul music lol!

ok jokes aside, this song popped straight into my heart the day i laid eyes on you....we wont go back into that story for the millionth time...but seriously after i recited the adhan, surah fathia these lyrics came flooding out along with the tears

"Joy Inside My Tears"

I've always come to the conclusion that 'but' is the way
Of asking for permission to lay something heavy on ones head
So I have tried to not be the one who 'll fall into that line
But what I feel inside I think you should know

And baby that's you - you - you
Made life's his*to*ry
Caue you've brought some joy inside my tears
And you have done what no one thought could be
You've brought some joy inside my tears

I've alwys felt that tomorroqw is for those who are too much afraid
To go past yesterday and start for today
I feel that lasting moments are coming fr and few between
So I should tell you of the happiness that you bring
Baby, baby it's you - you - you
Made life's his*to*ry
Oh baby, you've brought some joy inside my tears
Baby you have done what no one thought could be
You brought some joy inside my tears
You brought some joy inside my tears
You brought some joy inside my tears

You've brought some joy inside my tears
Baby, baby you have done what no one thought could be
He - y, you brought some joy inside my tears
Gotta tell you
You - you - you made life's his*to*ry
You brought some joy inside my tears
- you brought you brought you brought some joy inside my tears
Baby baby baby you have done what no one thought could be
You brought some joy inside my tears

You made it baby you made it baby made it made life's his*to*ry
- you you you made life's his*to*ry
You brought some joy inside my tears
You have done what no one thought could be
- No-body ever thought it would be
You have done what no one thought could be

You you you made life's his*to*ry
- Gotta shout about it baby
You brought some joy inside my tears

You have done what no one thought could be
You brought some joy inside my tears
You you you made life's his*to*ry
You brought some joy inside my tears
You brought some joy inside my tears
You brought some joy inside my
Tears

Hajj 2010

SO....end of the year 2010, the year your father was called to the house of Allah....and he accepted the invite with nothing but a heart ready to meet his creator. he accepted the invitation with the soul of a believer who yearns each and everyday to reconcile his flaws by journeying towards his Creator, towards Allah. Lord of the Worlds

i miss him dearly and since you do too and are constantly asking me where he's gone....this is what it is.

Hajj is the annual pilgrimage us Muslims journeying on to land where our beloved Prophet peace be upon him hails from and is currently burried. you'll read lots about this journey and you'll hear tales from your dad and inshaAllah when i recieve my call from Allah i will bring back the

memories and lessons for you. Until such time i'll be making dua that Allah accepts your fathers Hajj and that he brings him home safe to you and I.

Be YOU, be TRUE

As your mother it’s crucial that you know who inspired me to be who I am. There are a few people who contributed immensely to shaping my views about the world, my personality and beliefs. Inspiration is from Allah and He places it many people, people who don’t even know they are shaping your perspective of the world. There are people who are under appreciated whist alive and only celebrated when they die. But the amazing thing about these people is that they leave behind pieces of beauty on the earth that ultimately forever binds our souls. My mother, your grandmother is undoubtedly one of those women. I did, however, feel the inclination to first tell you about a woman so special, unique and great. She is no longer alive but I keep her with me…always.

MaBusi Mhlongo was more than a musician to me; she was unfolding before my eyes as this being who celebrated her individual style. She knew exactly what she wanted to say and how she wanted to say it. She’s influenced many other musicians who’ve ultimately broken the shackles of conformity because of her. So I thought who better to teach about this woman than you, my child. I wanted to teach you about her because I want you to be unapologetically different, I want you to celebrate your individuality and hone in all the unique talents Allah has blessed you with. Listen to her words and remember that truth is beautiful. Look at the way she dressed and remember that culture is splendor. Listen to her voice and remember that the essence of who you are is imbedded in the inner voice you have and only if you believe in yourself like she did, will that inner voice break out and touch the souls of many dying to do the same.

If I could

i heard this song on my playlist the other day....i finally feel like i totally resonate with these lyrics. i feel we are inseperable but remember...you belong to your Creator and to Him you will return. but know that our bond transcends everything. for as long as i can you'll be by my side, learnig loving and enjoying life with me.....Love always


If i could Regina Belle


If I could, I'd protect you
From the sadness in your eyes
Give you courage in
A world of compromise
Yes, I would

If I could, I would teach you
All the things I've never learned
And I'd help you cross
The bridges that I've burned

Yes, I would

If I could, I would try to
Shield your innocence from time
But the part of life
I gave you isn't mine
I'll watch you grow
So I can let you go

If I could, I would help you
Make it through the hungry years
But I know that I can
Never cry your tears, babe
But I would, if I could

If I could, in a time and place
Where you don't wanna be
You don't have to walk
Along this road with me
My yesterday won't
Have to be your way

If I knew, I'd try to change
The world I brought you to
Now there isn't
Much more that I can do
But I would If I could

If I could, I would try to
Shield your innocence from time
But the part of life
I gave you isn't mine
I'll watch you grow
So I can let you go

If I could, I would help you
Make it through the hungry years
But I know that I can
Never cry your tears
But I would, if I could

Hey, if I could

Fathers

"Fathers be good to your daughters
cause daughters will love like you do.
girls become lovers, who turn into mothers.
so mothers be good to your daughters to"

Daughters, John Mayer

The first books you need to read.....second to the QURAN of course

ok so i decided to compile a list of top 4 books that i read as a child and loved my entire life! do note that this list was difficult to comply as i left ou so many classics but don't worry this is just a start. we'll get into the rest when your reading gets a little more fluent.

I think I still base some of my life lessons on this book. firstly, The Tortise and The Hair tought me never to under estimate people who appear to be less capable than you are. i mean hello is this line up simply not to die for. dont worry we'll read this sooner than you think InshaAllah....

The very first story book I ever read. It was a tarnished copy of Enid Blytin’s Big Story book and I found it in my grandmother’s book shelf along with over 50 copies of the Reader Digest, which I grew too bored to sift through. She was an ardent reader and growing up as a black child you realised that our grandmothers were faced with the enormous task of feeding her children as well as theirs, what she chooses to feed their minds was totally left to her own discretion so for me to discover a story book for kids in her book shelf opened me to a life of imagination and I never looked back and for that I am eternally grateful!

Between Green Eggs and Ham and this book, i was so torn because i couldn't remember which one i'd read the most. so with the toss of a coing this was the favoured title. When i think of the movie I am Sam where Dakota Fanning and her father read the book Green eggs and Ham over and over again i smile to myself because Dr seuss has this effect on you. you can't help but pick this book up and fly from cover to cover in sheer enjoyment!

The funny thing about this book. And you probably won’t believe me, but way before I even read the book, I felt exactly the same as she did. Books were my passion and I felt that one day I’d just grow wings fly into the clouds and sit in there forever to read all the books I wanted to read without having to do

ANYTHING ELSE!

ok so by now you've guessed that Roald Dahl was my all time favourite. i actually chose this title to appreciate the illustrator Quentin Blake. i loved his illustrations and by now i would find myself so alone if i were to read a Roald Dahl book without illustrations. He had a unique way of showing the stroy and Roald Dahl of course has the pure gift of telling the story and together they made an amazing team!

Hijab 101

One thing I know for sure is that you have to learn this one from me. My first few months as a Muslim were bliss; I felt the world was walking to my beat. The sun never felt so kind the moon had never looked so fair. It was a mercy really and it was perfect, all but one thing. I had trouble tying the scarf….and I think I have the scars from the pins I used as proof of that! It was a modern day miracle in the world of female fashion in my eyes….I couldn't understand what kept it still for more than twelve hours in a day. Was it gravity? Was there special glue used that you base your scalp with and it fuses together the hair with the delicate fabric? I could believe any explanation because I just wasn't getting it right.

"You have to almost make it a part of who you are", advice from a beloved Turkish high school friend Betul. I’ll never forget that advice because it was so profound. It stuck with me way better than all the YouTube tutorials I’d watched. What she was saying has spiritual implications but most importantly it was almost the best piece of fashion advice I’d ever heard….what dear Betul was referring to was the fact that the scarf has to complement your face blending in with its contours. Whether you wear a square scarf a long trailing scarf or a short double pinned scarf no one should see it as your head and that odd other thing you sport every day. The scarf shouldn't even be seen as THE SCARF as though one is referring to a 1960s low budget horror film but it should be you, Hafsa. You are one with your scarf and it’s almost as though you get to choose a new wig every day. A wig that Allah is always pleased with…

So we move along. There are two things you should know about this beautiful thing is that it is a trend and not a fad. please can we not go into the many fads I have followed trying hard to forget the bell bottom jeans and toe rings….all ill say to you is that a fad is temporary a fad is something you'll look back on and think ya Allah what was I thinking. sometimes you'll even laugh and ask yourself why you thought tie dye was the coolest thing to hit mother earth and that doing it to your school shirts would take the revolution a few steps further! I’m not saying that was me…this was purely an example. And we move along swiftly!
This trend is the best type of trend because you don't get kudos from the Satorialist or E! Entertainments "Best of" awards. This trend gets the Best of the Best recording you in the Books as the "it" girl! Your Creator couldn't be more pleased at your classy taste and oozing style.

sometimes you'll have those days where you are all out of pins….all 1000 of them that you bought at Pick n Pay, sometimes you'll look outside and see the heat wave hovering and waiting to pounce on you and eat you alive, sometimes you'll look in your closet and find that not one of your 3000 scarves match your outfit, most times you'll see other girls coifing their hair in ways that look so much better than anything you've ever seen. But know that those times are Shaytaans times. Those time are the times he makes you want to think that your trend is actually a fad….so for those times, remember this.
1. Always wear earrings underneath your scarf. (to always remind yourself that you're hiding precious diamonds and jewellery beneath and only people that are precious in return can be privileged enough to behold

2. I’ve watched you sleeping so many times I’ve lost count. I think your father might think I’m stalking you but in actual fact I have been studying your face playing around with different shapes and methods in my head of what I think would be the best shape for you 9 or 10 years from now. This is just my advice but your face is just like mine and if you have the height of my cheek bones you'll definitely want to tie your scarf just the way mommy does it!

3. And finally remember who you are, be one with your scarf, make it an extension of who you are. Before you choose the scarf you wish to wear that day, before you pick up the first pin…always remember to say Bismillah. Know who you are doing it for. Know that in saying Bismillah you have asked Allah to bless you with nur, provide you with His shade for the day and to ask Allah to give you the true light of the deen in your eyes and in your actions….Ameen.