Just curious - how many muslims are on mumsnet?

[Galvanise]

Hello/Salaam,

I know mumsnet has a wide and diverse population and I tend to recognise some MN usernames as regulars. Just intrigued to know how big/small a community it may be.

Of course, I respect that there may be those who do not wish to even identify themselves for various reasons - which is fine too.

I am not asking for 'religiousness' levels or any vital stats! Nor is this a muslim-only thread or an 'no non-muslims' thread.
If you really wish to tell me that you are not a muslim, that is fine too :)

:)

mmm, cardamom tea, it's also nice in coffee.
Does anyone on here make their own clothes, abayas and things?

Salams. I get my abayas made for me. If I do buy ready made ones I get them altered as they tend to be huge! I always wonder how slim sisters cope.

Just wanted to ask what are people's views about state education versus Islamic school versus home schooling. I know it can be quite an emotive topic so would love to hear the reasons why people have made a particular choice.

I haven't completely made up my mind yet - have got a lot of time to decide as ds is just a baby. I was educated in state schools from primary to university and have had negative as well as positive experiences. Although on the one hand I think well I survived it and benefited from the quality of education and opportunities available to you attending a state school but on the other hand it makes me feel sick to think of my child facing discrimination because of their religion.

I remember in secondary school looking forward to finally learning about Islam in religious studies when I was 14. But in the first lesson the teacher started off by saying "we hear a lot of negativite things about this religion in the news do any Muslims want to defend their religion." It just killed my excitement. Imagine at 14 being asked to defend your religion in front of your whole class (at that time I didn't even know what negative things she was talking about as I was not really in to current affairs) and feeling like a total failure for being unable to do it. A Muslim friend of mine told me that in her history class whilst learning about the crusades her teacher called the Muslims repeatedly terrorists whilst looking straight at her. I know these incidents are rare but I know how it can upset and confuse you. However I feel like if that didhhappen I would be more able to kick up a fuss about it then my parents were as I understand the system better. Hmmm I am still undecided. And views?

Salaam, getting late....

So will be quick.

I would also love perspectives on islamic schooling and home schooling, though my kids will be attending state schools. Reason being that there are no islamic schools around here and i work, so cannot home school.

As for reading, a book called patience and gratitude by ibn qayyim al jawziyyah. It is a translation, but an excellent one.

It got me through a very tough time in my life. I would say every muslim should read this to help them through trials and tribulations. I cannot praise it enough. I have found one on amazon. Dont know if the link below is exactly the same version as i have, as my copy has a blue cover

www.amazon.co.uk/Patience-Gratitude-Muhammad-Qayyim-al-Jawziyah/dp/1897940610

I urge all the sisters to read this book. Will try to find the blue cover book link tomorrow. Allah has said that He will test us all, and this book is very powerful in reminding us how to be patient.

Which one of you sisters was in ilford? i am planning to start halaqas again soon in a friends house if u wanna come.

crescent, would you wear the stuff that Sheikha wears? do you think it is modest?

yeah i liked the blogs, i would wear that stuff probably, just sheikhas clothes looked sooo fitted! lol I have never been that in to fashion, i was a bit of a chav before lol

Salaam all. Found a link where u can download the entire book for free that i mentioned earlier called patience and gratitude - this time its the one with blue cover! Its a beautiful read and quite a short book too.

Highly highly recommended! Go to the following link.

www.islamicboard.com/islamic-multimedia/35198-download-islamic-books-your-choice-inshaaallaah-pdf-5.html

Scroll down the page - the third book is patience and gratitude. Click download book. Save target.

Inshallah i hope others benefit from this book the way i did.

There are also loads of other books in that link if interested.

Just been scrolling through other books in that link provided above and found some books about our prophet's wives. Have not read the books, so do not know about the style of writing or whether its an easy read. Will attempt though inshallah and report back!

NoNe of us were born with hijab on our heads so how can we judge lol, people have different understandings and go through different stages.

And yes I see what you mean about being stylish and modest.

Thanks blueorange for the recommendation, actually have that one on my shelf and it really is a lovely little book. I am now reading this:
kitaabun.com/shopping3/product_info.php?products_id=76
and finding it just sooo lovely. After reading the Martin Lings biography I still had the feeling that the true nature of our Prophet (pbuh) was veiled from me, and I worry that in truth, I don't actually love him more than my own family but I want to, and I think this book is what I need. It really opens your eyes to the blessing that Allah bestowed in every cell of his body (pbuh). It gives a deeper understanding of him than you tend to get these days, and is well referenced with notes explaining whether the hadith used are strong or weak.

As an aside, I had the honour of seeing Martin Lings speak, just a few months before his death, may Allah widen his grave and grant him the highest place on Jannat. He was awesome!
I was talking to my husband about reading Islamic books, and he reminded me that it is a form of dhikr, and I really needed that reminder, as I struggle to do much more than a daily minimum of dhikr of the tongue, and struggle even more to keep my concentration in what I do, so reading for me is a dhikr that I know my mind is fully engaged in, alhamdulillah.

Nailak you don't sound like a chav!
well crescent the shiekha and blogs that you posted are a bit flashy for my liking! My style is more scruffy student hippy boho! I do make my own clothes (not all, but all abayas, some trousers and anything else I fancy patching together) It's not much of a talent, I'd like some lessons to improve, but it is a way of being modest in my own style. My abayas are fairly plain (have done a couple of tiered dual fabric ones though) but in shapes I find modest but not sacklike, and nice colours. Currently alternating between an emerald green one and a deep purple one. You can also then easily make them pregnancy and breastfeeding friendly.
I fancy trying to make this lovely dress for the summer, to be worn with cardigan and hijab obviously!
www.made-by-rae.com/2012/08/washi-maxi-dress-in-pink-voile/

I have mixed thoughts on home schooling and state ed blue orange, I don't think there is a right answer, every situation is different. At the moment I can't imagine sending DS off into an environment where Islam isn't the centre of his day. At the moment he goes to the mosque with his dad a lot, hears Quran all the time in the house, prays with us (in a fashion) etc etc. I'm happy for him to have non-Muslim friends (he has lots on non-Muslim family as well of course, who he loves) but I fear that at school he would learn a completely different culture. I'm not saying it's the wrong thing to do, in fact maybe by the time he gets to school age he will be ready for those experiences.

How do sisters with children at school deal with these issues?

Can you describe to 30%??

Yes, that Hadith is well known (but I couldn't give a source either). We tried to implement it but I'm very English and the community here is not one that accepts children running around and playing like some do. I definately expect them to sit still for an hour or so, when they were little with millions of puzzles and snacks but now just with a own and paper to draw. I think it has done them good to be able to attend to an activity for that long.

It's hard to know if we got the balance right as both mine are still under 7. I might change my kind as they get older.

We taught them to read English and Quran from 3or 4. I know some people don't think this fits in with the ethos but it worked for us and you can lots of 'learning' in a fun format. Ds was small and we had Arabic letter flash cards, I would ask him to drive his cars to the letter cards one by one for example.

We moved areas before dd starting school as I wanted a multicultural school that got good results. We do have odd issues, I don't let her dance on stage for example and the school clearly thinks I am mad!

I will consider Islamic school for secondary with the other options.

I think it's very interesting about the 3 stages of raising your children. I had heard that hadith, but I do think you can interpret 'play with them' in many different ways. As you said littleducks you can do lots of learning through play.
I've experienced in my husbands native country, and also in mosques here how different the attitude to young children is, from the English attitude. I find some of the behaviour of the children quite awful, and the discipline very lacking. That said, these same children turn into polite and personable teenagers, so perhaps there is something in leaving them to it when they are little. I really see what you mean crescent about the Western model of giving gradually more freedom. It doesn't really seem to make sense, whereas gradually giving more responsibility does.
Certainly with DS at the moment I don't see the point in a lot of discipline, as I don't think he is yet intentionally doing anything wrong, he is normally just exploring (by tipping talcumpowder on the floor, breaking my phone etc etc), and distraction seems to be the best solution!
However, I do feel I need a certain level of behaviour, just so I can take him places and not feel embarrassed!
One thing I've noticed when we have families over, is that the kids come straight in and start taking toys off the shelves etc. They are of course welcome to play, but I think children should ask first, and will teach mine that they need to ask before doing anything other than sitting quietly in someone elses house. How do others feel about this? AIBU

i would be happy if kids come and treat my home like their home.

I also see a lot of muslims from agr of 5 expect there kids to do fromal learning of qaida.

Crescent what you say makes a lot of sense mashallah

Our madressa starts at 3 and has a huge waiting list for the preschool class. It requires a lot higher staff;children ratio though, so I can see why many centres would start later. All the teachers are qualified nursery teachers and incorporate EYFS curicullum style learning; Children give a doll ghusl in a bucket and act out the rituals of hajj with a ka'ba made from a big cardboard box and throwing rolled up newspaper as stones.

They also teach arabic phonetically so not 'alif' and 'jeem' but 'uh' and 'juh' (kindof I cant describe it properly).

little ducks, that sounds great mashallah, where is it? what is it called? my 4 year old wants to start alif baa taa class school but my older dds class is full.

I am going to go to Murtaza Khan talk today on hereafter at 313 katherine rd after maghrib, anyone up for it?