The Muslim Tearoom

[HardlyEverHoovers]

Salaams/peace to all! I'm already missing our old thread, so taking the bull by the horns and opening our very own Muslim Tearoom, all welcome (non-Muslims too of course), to chat, share, ask questions etc etc. Imagine a cosy cafe with floor cushions, tea and coffee of all kinds, and lovely cakes! Please join me!

Thanks for that crescent might come in handy one day. We already have some kohl in the house. Actually I help him put it on sometimes to be honest I hate the men in makeup look. I think if men are doing it now I have no excuse. It seems very few people stuck to the £10 limit.

I got an amazing coffee cup set! It is very beautiful, I am scared to even use it lool, might keep it until kids are older and less destructive!

peaceful

I stuck to £10, the gift set was something I got free. The brother who owns the business that makes the halal toiletries gave a box to the place where I work, as he needed some help advertising and promoting his business. So I got a set, but it is not something I would use or buy, (RRP is around £20) so I thought it would be better if I sent it to someone who would use and buy in the future

Naila does the brother have a website?

Crescent I use clear surma at night I think it contains antimony makes your eyes water but it makes my eyes clear and very soothed in the morning (if that makes sense).

My grandfather used to wear white surma I remember watching him apply it.

It's white powder you apply it with a stick. Like black kohl powder but its white.

I found it in stick form a few months ago it goes on clear and really cools the eyes.

Good morning ladies, I hope you won't mind me butting in! I am a non-Muslim and will admit to great ignorance about your faith. However, reading the 'awful thread' on here I'm sure you're all aware of, watching the channel 4 Ramadan Diaries and reading this whole thread has sparked an interest. If you are able to see some good come from 'that' thread, it made me realise my ignorance and want to learn and understand.

The most overwhelming thing I have learned about Muslims is how warm, open and lovely you are. I cannot imagine any other thread on MN with so many different opinions not descending into bitching, but you lovely ladies seem so unified in spite of differences, and keen to learn from each other, and I can only conclude that it must be because of the teachings of Islam.

I hope you will forgive my ignorance, I do want to learn.

I hope all your Eid celebrations went well :)

The website for halal, perfume free, toiletries www.essenceislam.com

baba Thank you for the amazing post you are very welcome here, and feel free to ask any questions

I havent even read the other thread. SHould I? Do you guys need some help?

Hi baba and thanks for your lovely sentiments. Just repeating what nailak said...ask away, there are loads of knowledgeable ladies on this thread, so should be able to answer your question between us all i hope inshallah.

Eid Mubarak totally forgot to post earlier. Hows everyones eid been? We ended up going to the zoo and my dd loved it. Friday was spent at my sil with the whole family, we had lunch in the garden and kids played

Crescent I don't know where he used to buy it from. It was ground up rocks type thing tho, and he had the most sparkling clear eyes ever and didn't have cataracts ever either.

The clear kohl I got is similar I think but possibly doesn't contain all the minerals in the powder surma my grandpa used. It does sting a bit when you put it on but your closing your eyes to go to sleep anyway so I don't mind.

Sorry to change the mood, but just seen the syrian children on the news following the chemical attack...and i just want to rage.

How does humanity sink so low

I have been very upset, esp since viewing today's pictures of the latest atrocity committed by Bashar the Brute, son of a B. Also the turmoil in Egypt is spiraling out of control. How can we expect the Muslim nations to do anything, when the gulf leader sit quaking in their boots incase their own people rise against then. As we know Saudi king Abdullah donated $1 billion to al-sisi, the son of Fir'awn to topple the MB, followed by the Kuwaiti Sheikh and Amir of UAE following suit with generous donations. Says it all.

There is a hadith -
Ma'qil b Yasir reported from Muhammad saw as saying: 'Worshipping during times of widespread turmoil is like emigration to me' - Saheeh Muslim

We can protest and call on our goverments to intervene or march and do whatever it takes to bring peace and security to Syria and Egypt, but as Muslims turning to Allah swt is essential. During times of turmoil and tribulation it is Sunnah to intensify all acts of worship (recitation of Quran, nafl prayer, charity, night prayer etc).

I am glad I gave my Zakat to Syria this year, and will be giving Sadaqah too iA, thanks for link.

I know what you mean about feeling disillusioned by the Imams, speaking extensively on trivial matters and ignoring the persecution of Muslims as if nothing is happening. It is a case of burying their heads in the sand and of cowardice and extremely frustrating for us all. Hmm I dont know though, its confusing because in all fairness many of them are between a rock and a hard place. They are powerless regarding the content of speeches, and speaking about international affairs though it feels absolutely pathetic how they can manage to not speak about it. I have heard that many are instructed to keep away from political matters by the mosque committees and community leaders, incase it becomes a stick to beat them with, as in used as an excuse of inciting hatred or terrorism or radicalizing etc. If somebody from their mosque decided to go to Syria to help Muslims, who would be held accountable for radicalizing the person? Imam of course, and if he is known to give political type speeches then thats pretty incriminating even if the poor bloke has done nothing but address the public with what is currently happening and how we should help others.
Not sure if you have heard of Mufti Menk from Zimbabwe, a spiritual leader who has become increasingly popular amongst the youth recently. The teenager accused of the Boston bombings is said to have retweeted a non religious quote of his, it was one of the last things he did and afterwards Mufti Menk was given plenty of grief who had to publicly defend himself against many accusations despite having never met this boy, or using any form of language or text which could even be taken out of context or be labelled inflammatory!
Point is I am not sure what the answer is, of course we cannot expect the religious leaders to remain tight lipped about current events, but I can also understand their reluctance in this climate to stand at the pulpit and invoke curses on certain leaders or to dwell into political matters which many of us Muslims already feel extremely emotional about. Thankfully with the Internet and social media, current affairs and religious information are easily accessible and we aren't heavily dependent on the Imams for these things anymore. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing, I am not sure.

Saw my friend yesterday, and she asked why I was so down. I pointed at the TV and asked if she had seen the news and informed her about the atricities being committed in Syria and Egypt. I got a funny look, as if to say why am I wasting my energy and happiness dwelling over all this. Got me thinking and actually questioning the friendship , as the Prophet saw told us we are one body and if one part is hurt the rest of the body feels the pain. But some amongst us have become so desensitized and distant from the Ummah that they feel nothing :( those are our babies dying, the children of our Ummah and our future.

Breaks my heart that the mosques and also graves of Khalid bin Walid and Zainab ra have been desecrated by the ruthless alawite soldiers. It hurts but they are still graves and buildings. There are healthy, full of life humans being murdered, we know their blood is more valuable than the kabah, and yet we just dont give enough of a shit to do something major about this crisis.